Lazy Sundays #3

Hello my darlings!

This week hasn’t been very much to report (same as last week and the week before) as I am still swamped in with work but I am finally able to see the finish line – thank goodness for that – which has really helped my build my motivation.

I have had some fun this week though don’t you worry. On Wednesday I had a day off from my dissertation because I needed a break to de-stress and relax. I went for brunch with my boyfriend Adam at Moose Coffee in Liverpool and we indulged in a stack of their delicious pancakes, smothered in maple syrup and topped with crispy bacon. Then – like the greedy little piggies we are – we also ordered a bagel each, which arrive with a healthy helping of potato salad. I got a Ruben, which I love but I think sauerkraut and pickles with peppered beef and cheese is a required taste. If you are ever in Liverpool this is definitely a place to visit as the food is phenomenal and the walls are adorned with portraits of famous people from history each with a moose’s’ head – they always make me giggle! Then in the evening I met up with some of my family and trotted down to the Empire Theater in Liverpool to watch Let it Be – a theatrical tribute to the Beatles. It wasn’t really my cup of tea but it was fun to do something different.

Yesterday morning I again ventured into the city center and paid a impromptu visit to BonBon Bakery on Berry Street in Liverpool.The front of the bakery is quite unassuming but trust me, there are so many treats waiting for you inside.  It is a Chinese bakery that sells the most amazing pastries and breads. Me and my boyfriend decided to get a sweet char siu bun, a pork roll on a sweet bread and a sesame peanut ball. Everything was really tasty and it was so much fun to try something new, but the char siu bun – my lordy lord – was something else. I can safely say that it was one of the best things I have ever had the pleasure to have eaten – I highly recommend! We ate these delicacies in St Georges Park as the sun was shining for a change (not that you can tell from some of the above photos), which was lovely except that a very pesky seagull was getting uncomfortably close to where we were sat.

I haven’t posted as much as I would like this week, I even missed my weekly Friday Favourites post! I have been crazy busy this week, trying to fit in all my work for university, spend some time with family and see my boyfriend around his crazy shift pattern (he is a chef and as he is in work most days and evenings we rarely get a chance to spend some time together). I will hopefully posting a little more this week and then when life returns to some sort of normality I will be back to posting on a regular basis. So stay tuned by following me on bloglovin.

Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday.

Lots of Love,

Hannah xx

The LIEBSTER Award

Hello my darlings!

The other day I was nominated by Paige from Lady Paige to do the Liebster Award. The Award is for new bloggers to promote their blog and reach new readers.

There are a simple few rules regarding the Liebster Award which include the following…

• 11 questions, asked by whoever nominated you, must be answered
• 11 new nominees must be selected by yourself
• Your chosen nominees must answer a new list of 11 questions, again created by yourself
• You must notify those you have nominated of their nomination

Where did your blog name come from?

I spent a long time deliberating over what to call my blog before I settled on Promise of a New Day. I think I came up with the name because I wanted the blog, amongst other things, to be a lifestyle blog and thought it only fitting for the title to reflect the possibilities that each fresh day brings to live your life. Cheesy but true!

Apart from the Liebster award post, what was the last blogpost you read?

The last blogpost I read was from the wonderful Love and Lemons blog. It was a recipe for Hazelnut Tahini Pasta which looked absolutely amazing! Love and Lemons is definitely worth a visit if you love healthy but delicious food, all showcased in beautiful photos.

Where is your favourite place to eat out?

It is really difficult for me to decide on my favourite place to eat as it all depends on my mood and what city I find myself in. If I had to pick I would choose Kendell’s Bistro in Leeds (where I go to university) and Moose Coffee in Liverpool. Kendell’s Bistro offers the most amazing French food and the atmosphere is second to none. Moose Coffee is completely different but equally as fantastic. My favourite things to order are the delicious pancake stacks with maple syrup and bacon, and one of the myriad of bagels.

Which types of posts do you most enjoy reading?

I enjoy reading beauty posts, in particular ones that describe a skincare regime, as they get together a range of products and explain why they all work well together. Although I enjoy a review post, I think that those that outline a regime give you so many pointers and ideas to improve your skincare collection.

What is your favourite scent?

At the moment I am loving anything that is vanilla scented! I think that is a wonderfully fresh and sweet (yet not overly so), and perfect for Spring. It is also a great to use in addition to your perfume, just a throw-in your bag scent to provide you with a fresh spritz throughout your day. The one that I am using at the moment is the Body Shop Madagascar Vanilla spray – find it here.

What is the most expensive thing you have ever bought?

The most expensive thing (is quite boring) I have ever bought was a racing bike – or maybe it was a mountain bike (I have no idea). I bought it when I was still quite young and it took me a year to save up for it. I have no idea why I bought it as I am not a fan of anything that gets you out of breath – eurgh exercise! I still have it though as it was a women’s bike but it is just gathering dust in my garage.

When was the most you ever laughed?

I can’t think of one specific time where I laughed the most I have ever laughed, but I would say that I laugh the most when I am with my boyfriend, Adam. He just has the ability to have me in fits of laughter when we are together. He is a really fun and relaxed person which I think I need because I can sometimes get quite serious and be too much of a perfectionist, and he just reminds me to relax and not take life so seriously all the time.

What is your biggest regret?

I try not to regret things in my past as I think that when we regret the past and are apprehensive of the future we cannot enjoy the present moment. I wrote a post about this recently – read it here. For this reason I haven’t got a biggest regret because although if I though about it there would be things I would have done differently, all those moments and choices have gotten me to the point where I am today and as I can’t change the past I am making the conscious decision to enjoy the present – life is too short for regrets!

The best book you’ve read?

It is difficult to choose a book which I consider to be the best I have ever read because there are so many. If I had to choose though I would have to say that the best book I have read is 1984 by George Orwell. Even though it was written in 1949 I think this dystopian novel is a timeless classic, with parallels that we can see both in history and in our present world.

If you could do absolutely anything tomorrow, what would you do?

I would pack a rucksack, get on a plane and go back-packing. I have always dreamed of just getting up and going travelling, and if I could go tomorrow that would be the most incredible thing.

If you could have been in any Disney film which character would you have liked to play?

I always wanted to Mulan! I loved how independent she was and how she wasn’t the typical Disney Princess character. I have watched Mulan more times than I can remember and I always really wanted to be friends with Mushu (the little dragon).

I would like to nominate:

• Samira from Lace and Tulle
• Lily from A Little Lily
• Melissa from Poppy Bird
• Pauline from Pauline Blogs about Fashion
• Lina from My own particularly truth
• Kim from Keybykim
• Hannah from Hannah Boxall
• Becky from Bexistential
• Lydia & Nikkie from Sugar and Sass
• Chelsea from contemporaryteal
• Nadine from The Parma Violet

I would like to ask my nominees:

• Why did you start your blog?
• Who is your favourite blogger at the moment?
• What style of blog is your favourite to read?
• What is you favourite beauty product for Spring 2014?
• What is your favourite fashion trend for Spring 2014?
• What is your favourite fashion brand?
• What is the best film you have ever seen?
• What would you consider your most positive and negative traits?
• Who is your idol/inspiration?
• What is your biggest achievement?
• If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

I would like to say a huge thank-you to Paige from Lady Paige for nominating me – check out her blog here.

Lots of Love,

Hannah xx

The Budget Guide to Blogging

Hello my darlings!

As a student at university I am well-aware of the realities of blogging on a budget. I haven’t been blogging long (I only started my blog in February 2014) but I would like to share with you some of my tips to help save the pennies.

1) Rather than purchasing items to review create wish lists, telling people why you want these items.These lists are interesting to read because they gather a number of objects together in a way that is quick and easy to view – it is essentially shopping without having to spend the time trawling through online shops and who doesn’t love the idea of that …

2) Save some money by visiting some alternative websites for your desired items. Visit The Beauty Bay; Want the Look; All Beauty; Gorgeous Shop and Zest Beauty. Such sites stock all the major beauty brands but at discounted prizes.

3) Get some loyalty cards. Both Boots and Superdrug have a loyalty card, which allows you to earn points whenever you make a purchase. You can then use these points (when you have enough) to purchase other items. Also in all major Boots stores there will be counter-points where you can print out vouchers offering various deals for free using your loyalty card.

4) Samples are a great way to save some money and still be able to provide your initial impressions of a product. They also give you a chance to decide whether you like a product before purchasing it, saving you a lot of money on items that weren’t up to scratch. Ask at beauty and fragrance counters, as some will be happy to provide you with samples to decide whether you like the product. Also try sites such as Love Me Beauty; Latest in Beauty and Freebie Site. 

5) It is always a good idea to sign up to newsletters for your favourite sites as these will keep you up-to-date with all their current offers and deals, as well as informing you of new releases.

6) As a lifestyle blogger I like to blog about where I enjoy to eat out but this can get rather pricey. But, do not fear, there is a solution! Look out for offers and deals such as 3 for 2, or see if somewhere offers an early bird menu (this is often a slightly limited menu but it is cheaper). Also there are sites such as Groupon and Wowcha where you can purchase vouchers, at discounted prizes, not only for meals but for events, attractions and activities too. Finally, you could invest in a Taste card which entitles you to a myriad of deals in restaurants all over the UK.

7) Why not blog about your money saving tips? You could write a post, like this one, which suggests ways to blog on a budget or you could write about topics such as DIY beauty tricks or beauty dubes. These types of posts are fun to write and I know that I enjoy reading similar posts on other people’s blogs.

What are your tips for blogging on a budget?

Lots of Love,

Hannah xx

Lazy Sundays # 2

Hello my darlings!

Hope you are all having a relaxing Sunday. I thought I would do this Lazy Sunday post slightly differently and include some photos from my week. I haven’t been up to that much recently as I am still unbelievably busy writing my dissertation, but I have been able to fit in some fun and enjoyment, don’t you worry.

1 & 2. On Monday I had the pleasure of visiting Pushka in Liverpool. The food is amazing, the atmosphere is wonderfully relaxed and the staff are lovely – definitely worth a visit if you are ever in Liverpool. Read about it here.

3. I spent yesterday watching the Grand National in Aintree, Liverpool. A family member of mine has a balcony that overlooks the race track so we always have a fantastic view. The photo I have included here is quite blurring as the horses speed past so quickly that it is near impossible to capture the perfect photograph (especially when you are simultaneously trying to take a photo, protect your camera under your hood from the rain and struggle for space on a very crowded balcony). I had such a lovely day, catching up with family and eating delicious food in abundance!

4 & 5. Sundays always mean one thing for me – spending some quality time with my favourite Kitty. I think I enjoy spending time with Maurice more than the other way round, as I think at times he wishes I would just let him get on with his cat-nap.

6. I have spent the vast majority of my Sunday drinking an unnecessary amount of tea.

7 & 8. Although it is officially Spring the weather outside could convince you otherwise. So I have been filling our house with as many flowers as possible, some bought and some foraged from my garden. My favourites at the moment of my indoor florist selection are these bluebells and tulips.

9. I have been looking at holiday destinations for most of today. The dreary weather outside has got me dreaming of sunny beaches and crystal-clear waters, and the opportunity to whip out these two hats which at the moment are gathering dust in our un-sunny little country.

Enjoy what is left of the weekend and have an amazing week.

How have you spent your lazy Sunday?

Lots of Love,

Hannah xx

Friday Favourites // #7

tarte Maracuja Oil 50ml // £35.16

tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Foundation with Brush // £32.00

tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hr Waterproof Full Coverage Concealer & Brush // £22.50

tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Eyeliner with Double-Ended Brush // £20.00

tarte Amazonian Butter Lipstick Trio // £29.50

Hello my darlings!

Tarte cosmetics have hit the UK and are available via QVC and so I thought it was only fitting to include my pick of best Tarte products i  this week’s Friday favourites. I am going to keep this post short and sweet as I have yet to sample these products, but all I can say is that I am loving the packaging, especially of the eyeliner and the Maracuja oil.

Hope you all enjoy your weekends!

What are your favourite Tarte products?

 Lots of Love,

Hannah xx

Trends for Spring 2014

Hello my darlings!

Spring has finally arrived! It is time to put away those big winter woolies and inject some new life into your wardrobe, all in the spirit of Spring. This season does include some injections of colour, with bursts of orange and the usual pastels with an icy finish, but it is also all about simplicity and clean-cut styles in 2014.

Here are some of the key colour trends that I am looking forward to this Spring.

Orange

Elle // Orange

Orange is set to be the colour for both Spring and Summer 2014. Depending on your complexion there are many shades of orange to choose from, and if you are not ready to brave full-on orange then try a few odd touches – maybe an orange tote bag or a splash of orange lipstick. Orange is the new black this Spring!

Dress: ASOS Shift Dress With Zip Detail // £40.00; Bag: Mango Adjustable Shape Shopper Bag // £29.99; Top: Topshop Texture Crop Tee // £32.00

Black & White 

ELLE // Black & White – 3.1 Phillip Lim Spring 2014 Ready-to-Wear Collection

It may not seem like the perfect colour choice for Spring but Black & White combinations were all over the runways this year. The key to making this trend work is simplicity and light fabrics, master this and you will have a look that is effortlessly chic.

Dress: French Connection Spring Sprinter Tunic Dress // £95.00; Playsuit: River Island Cream Two-Tone Wrap Front Belted Jumpsuit // £45.00; Dress: Mango Contrast Bodice Dress // £44.99

Icy Pastels 

ELLE // Icy Pastels – Tony Burch Spring 2014 Ready-to-Wear Collection

Pastels are a Spring staple almost every year, but  in 2014 these pastels have been given an update with a sheen finish. The icy pastel finish adds a touch of luxe to any outfit and is just another example this Spring of how you can achieve effortless elegance.

Top: LuLu’s Just My Luxe Light Pink Tank Top // $34.00; Dress: French Connection Solar Spells Pleated Dress // £120.00; Skirt: Urban Outfitters Antipodium Hot Knife Pleated Skirt // £195.00

White

ELLE // White – Cushnie et Ochs Spring 2014 Ready-to-Wear Collection

The key to this trend is to keep it simple. White can be beautiful but it can also be tacky! You can avoid the potential pitfalls by not over complicating an outfit with too many accessories and contrasting colours.

Dress: Mango Wrap Skirt Dress // £39.99; Shoes: ASOS KG by Kurt Geiger Match T-Bar White Flat Sandals // £50.00; Dress: Zara Neoprene Dress // £29.99

Hint of Pink

ELLE //Hint of Pink – MM6 Maison Martin Margiela Spring 2014 Ready-to-Wear Collection

This Spring it is all about a hint of pink, just enough to add a pop of colour to your outfit but not too much as too overwhelm your entire look. It is best to pick only one item that is pink, whatever shade you want, to achieve this easy and fun trend.

Skort: Topshop Pale Pink Ottoman Wrap Skort // £32.00; Shoes: Zara High Heel Sandal with Narrow Straps // £59.99; Jacket: Zara Cropped Jacket with Zips // £89.99

Metallics 

Elle // Metallics – Tory Burch Spring 2014 Ready-to-Wear Collection

Metallics were another of the main features on the runway this season. This trend is perfect for evening wear but it can also be adapted for the perfect Spring day look too. Take the top featured above from Topshop, this encapsulates the trend in a subdued and relaxed way – a perfect look for a lunch-date or just a stroll on a beautiful Spring day.

Top: Topshop Rose Gold Textured Tee // £38.00; Dress: Misguided Elsa Metallic Rose Print Mini Dress // £29.99; Dress: Misguided Belinda Metallic Bodycon Dress // £29.99

What are your favourite trends of Spring 2014?

Check out the upcoming trends in Men’s fashion this Spring

Lots of Love,

Hannah xx

Favourite Films from the 90s

Hello my darlings!

I wanted to share some of my favourite films from the 90s that I think everyone should see. I have included three films by Kevin Smith (Chasing Amy; Mall Rats; Clerks) because I think that a regular inclusion of ‘Jay and Silent Bob’ (watch the films and you will know what I mean!) is essential for any 90s film marathon. I was a 90s child and I was a huge film geek. My favourite has to 10 Things I Hate About You – I absolutely loved that film and still do even after fifteen years! After watching the ‘Can’t take my eyes off you’ scene in this film Heath Ledger was well and truly my teenage crush.

This is not a definitive  list to say which films were the best, rather it is just a list of the films which I still continue to watch and enjoy. I tried to keep this list down to just 10 films but I had to extend it as there are just too many films from the 90s that I love!

1. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
2. Natural Born Killers (1994)
3. Clerks (1994)
4. Chasing Amy (1997)
5. Mall Rats (1995)
6. Cry Baby (1990)
7. Interview with a Vampire (1994)
8. La Haine (1995)
9. Pulp Fiction (1994)
10. Fight Club (1999)
11. Starship Troopers (1997)
12. Trainspotting (1996)
13. Seven (1995)
14. The Big Lebowski (1998)
15. Blade (1998)

Have you seen any of these films? What is your favourite film from the 90s?

Lots of Love,

Hannah xx

Puschka // Liverpool

Hello my darlings!

Last night my boyfriend, very generously, treated me to a three-course meal at Pushka on Rodney Street in Liverpool. This is one of the best places in Liverpool to enjoy amazing food and service in a relaxed atmosphere, with the cosy cushions and even cucumber water on arrival. This is one of the city’s hidden gems, to which everyone should pay a visit.

What we ate // To start I had the Warm salad of endive, goats’ cheese, fig & cox apple and Adam had the Haggis, Parsnip Puree & Whisky. Mine was delicious but Adam’s looked amazing, the haggis arrived wrapped in a little package and the whisky was a kind-of whisky cream that came in a shot glass. For main I chose the Honey-Roasted Duck Breast with Beetroot Gratin, Cabbage, Pancetta and Adam had the Sirloin of Bowland Beef, Dauphinoise Potatoes, Cafe de Paris Butter & Kale. The duck was fantastic in its own right but with the beetroot gratin it was simply amazing. Then, as if we hadn’t eaten enough already, I had the Dark Chocolate and Orange Mousse with Vanilla Pod Ice-Cream, while Adam tucked into a slice of Pecan Pie.

This was the first time that I had visited Pushka but I will hopefully be returning very soon. I recommend that everyone who finds themselves in Liverpool should pay the Pushka team a visit!

Check out Pushka via their website (click here)

Have you ever been to Pushka? What is your favourite place to eat in Liverpool?

Lots of Love,

Hannah xx

Time for a Catch up // March

Instagram round up … follow me on instagram: @hannahelissaconway

Hello my darlings!

I came home yesterday for a break over the Easter period and to revel in some home comforts whilst I finish my dissertation. I am using this little break to re-charge and kick start a (slightly) more healthy regime of good food and regular exercise. I have been eating so badly lately – grabbing snacks rather than meals on my long library sessions, and my skin is suffering as a result! So expect this month to see some posts on tips for a healthy lifestyle, recipes to help us eat better, and beauty reviews of products that can rescue your skin and leave it flawless!

I am excited now that I am home to meet up with some friends and see my boyfriend more regularly, and I am already planning lunch dates and meals out (my favourite past-time). I will be uploading reviews of some of the best places to eat, and generally be social in Liverpool so I can share with you some of the reasons I love this city. I am keeping this post short and sweet this month because, as it is Mothering Sunday, I am going to spend some quality time with my lovely Mum.

I am also be uploading some YouTube videos this month so follow me on Bloblovin to stay updated with them. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

I have included some links below of all my posts from March if you want to have a little peak …

March on Promise of a New Day

• Friday Favourties // #6
• Friday Favourites // #5
• A Word of Advice // Be happy … don’t worry …
• Manuka Doctor // Purified Bee Venom & Manuka Honey Skincare First Impressions
• Lazy Sundays #1
• High-Street Beauty Haul #1
• Friday Favourites // #4
• Superfacialist by Una Brennan // Rose Hydrate Intense Moisture Mask & Vitamin C+ Brighten Skin Renew Cleansing Oil Review
• Percy & Reid // Perfectly Perfecting Wonder Balm Review
• Spicy Sweet Potato Burgers with Cherry Tomatoes and Avocado
• Benefit Gimme Brow // Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel
• Friday Favourites // #3
• Friends of Ham // Leeds
• Clinique // take the day off cleansing balm

 

Lots of Love,

Hannah xx

Friday Favourties // #6

LOVE POWDER BLUE WAFFLE PLEATED COLD SHOULDER DRESS // £32.00

LOVE BLACK LONG SLEEVE WRAP DRESS // £34.00

LOVE POWDER BLUE BIKER DRESS // £32.00

LOVE BLACK JERSEY CROSS OVER JUMPSUIT // £36.00

Hello my darlings!

It has been a week since I last uploaded a post, I have been so busy with university work that I just haven’t had a free moment to spend on the blog. But from today I will be uploading again almost everyday so follow me on Bloglovin or via WordPress to keep updated.

This week’s Friday Favourites has been quite quickly thrown together as I am about to leave for an all-day stint in the library – YAWN! I have chosen my favourite items that I have been loving this week from In Love with Fashion. All of the items are available in various colours, except the black jumpsuit, so check out their website for all the options. Today you can also get 25% off with the code 25PAYDAY .

Hope you like it!

What are your favourites from In Love with Fashion?

Lots of Love,

Hannah xx