Deborah Milano Shine Creator Lipstick || Review

Deborah Milano Shine Creator Lipstick * | | £8.50

The week before I left for my holiday, I was very kindly given the opportunity to be sent a lipstick from top Italian makeup brand Deborah Milano for review. Word about this makeup brand is becoming quite the name around the beauty community and all for good reason. Before receiving this Deborah Milano Lipstick, I already had knowledge of the brand, and have to say I was really excited to try out one of the products and see what all the hyped up fuss was about. 

I was kindly sent the Deborah Milano Shine Creator Lipstick in the shade 8, which is a gorgeous bright fuchsia pink which gives a lovely pink flush to your lips. Like most makeup brands Deborah Milano have a range of different lipsticks in their line which all give different finishes. The Shine Creator line is a collection of lipsticks which give you plenty of hydration, a pop of colour all with the high shine of a lip gloss. I personally love these kind of formula's of lipstick, so the Shine Creator Lipstick is right up my street.  Here's what Deborah Milano have to say about their Shine Creator Lipstick -

The High Shine Creator Lipstick brings together three proven properties: the shine of a lip gloss, the comfort of a lipstick, and the hydration and protection of a lip balm. 

When applied the lipstick feels ever so creamy and light on your lips and I love how for such a creamy formula, these are in no way sticky to the touch or feel sticky on your lips. Instantly your lips feel much more hydrated, a similar feeling of applying a good lip balm. The formula has a glossy shine that a good lip gloss would provide, but it has much more of a lipstick feel to it. If I had to compare this to another lip product, the Revlon Lip Butters immediately come to mind. In the bullet the colour of shade 8 looks vibrant and bright, however once applied you are left with a more sheer finish and it leaves a lovely flush of pink to your lips and if your like me and like more of a vibrant lip, then two coats of this product is a must to get that more 'pink' look. Because of the moisturising formula of this lipstick, staying power and longlivetiy is not going to be hours upon hours, but I do find that you can get a good few hours of wear from this lipstick before needing to reapply. Even when it does start to fade, I've found that your left with a faded wash of colour to your lips, which still sits evenly.

I absolutely love the way that this lipstick looks on, and one thing that I notice right away, even before application, is its gorgeous scent. I'm not the best at describing scents, but as soon as I smell it, I get a whiff of sweet smelling berries. It reminds me of something I would smell on a dessert and if it wasn't for the fact I knew this was a lipstick, I might say it was edible! As well as this lipstick smelling just delightful, I'm also impressed with its packaging. Deborah Milano have in-cased this lipstick in a pink sheer packaging, which I think is pretty and a good reflection of the product inside. I love how the logo of Deborah Milano has been embossed on top of the lipstick, which is a really nice touch. 

Overall I'm really impressed with this lipstick and I can see me getting a lot of use out of this over the summer months, especially seeing as the lipstick has SPF 15. The Shine Creator Lipstick retails at £8.50 which is around the average price for a good lipstick these days. I personally think it's worth every penny and I can definitely see myself adding a few more of these to my lipstick collection. If you fancy treating yourself to one of these lipsticks you can find them on the Deborah Milano website here - There is quite a selection on offer when it comes to shades, so there is something for everyone. However if your not looking for a lipstick, be sure to have a good browse on the Deborah Milano website as they have a good range of makeup and beauty products to offer.

Have you tried any products from Deborah Milano? Have you tried this lipstick yet?

Lot's of Love

I'm Back || Holiday Highlights

Hello everyone! I hope your all well and are having a fantastic weekend. I just wanted to get a post up for you all today to let you know that I'm back from my holiday and you can expect to see regular posts popping up on your feed again from me. I arrived home early hours of Monday morning and had to jump straight back into the swing of life with a work shift starting only a little while after arriving home *how rubbish is that?*. I think it's fair to say that this week I've had a serious case of holiday blues as the littlest of tasks have been such a big effort. Having been back in England for nearly a full week now, my holiday is feeling like a lifetime away already, so I thought whilst the memories are still fresh, I would share with you all my holiday highlights.

This year was my second trip to Turkey, it was so lovely having a relaxing two week holiday. For the last few years I've had some close family living out there, so not only was it amazing to get away, it was lovely being able to see everyone again and have a good ole catch up in the sun. My family and I were stayed in one of the apartments on the complex which is near a small town in the middle of nowhere and I'm not exaggerating when I tell you that there is hardly a living sole around where we stayed, especially with the nearest town being a 20 minute drive away. Out of all the complex gorgeous apartments and villas, only around 10 including ours were occupied, which meant we had the pool to ourselves most days. Our view at the  back of the complex was filled picturesque scenery with Turkeys beautiful mountains in the background and right outside the apartment you had 5 minute walk to the beach. The whole place was just so peaceful and relaxing and it felt so good to be far away from the busy hustle and bustle of what we know as life. Being on a complex meant that all our needs were catered for - With a choice of a few swimming pools, loungers and a bar open all day and all though the night meant that we didn't really have to leave the comforts of the complex. I tell you, I spent a lot of my time just chilling and relaxing on the sun lounger, catching as much sun as possible so I could come home with that gorgeous golden glow. 

However on most evenings we did venture out of the complex and went to local villages and markets and experienced the Turkish way of life. I tried some amazing Turkish food and bought tons of fresh fruit for the markets - Watermelon being one of my faves, it just doesn't taste the same once it's flown thousands of miles to the UK. It's crazy how everyone comes alive at the nighttime over in Turkey, with the temperature reaching 40 degrees plus in the day, the evening is the only time of day when things cool down a fraction. Being so close to the coast, meant I saw some beautiful sunsets on our ventures out in the evening.

During those days where it just felt way too hot to lay by the pool, the boyfriend and I would whip out our oh so sexy snorkeling gear, head off to the bay and spend hours in the sea, collecting shells and seeing all the pretty fish - We even spotted an octopus, which was a little scary and had me swimming in the other direction. One day that will be sure to stay with me for a long time was our trip to Dalyan, which was a four hour trip from our complex and back, but so worth the journey. Dalyan is home to a river which is filled with giant sea turtles and we were able to feed them on our river boat trip which was truly amazing. Not only was the boat trip really fun, but the river was situated right in the middle of the mountains and the scenery around us was just breathtakingly beautiful. There was also some ancient tombs which had been craved into the mountains, which was amazing to see. The river boat trip was topped off with two things - One end of the river lead you straight to the sea, and there was a private beach in which we got to relax on for a few hours. At the other end of the river was a Turkish mud bath and sulphur pool, which to my joy, got to experience - And what an experience it was I tell you! It was so weird dipping into a mud bath and wallowing around like a hippo for best part of an hour. Once your out the bath and have covered yourself with some more mud, you just stand out in the sun and let it all dry out, it goes really hard and feels like clay. It was so funny to see everyone walking around looking like statues all the same colour. Once showered off my skin felt ever so soft and it turned out to be a good pamper. Although I have to admit I was finding mud in all sorts of places long after we got back to our complex. 

Overall I had such an amazing holiday and I loved every minute of it. Although I am missing the sun now and the Turkish way off life now, I was ready to come home as the heat was getting a little too much and I do love my home comforts. Now that I'm back I have a long list of all sorts of posts that I want to get up for you all, so please make sure you keep your eyes pealed for those. I am also planning on making some BIG changes to Miss Sunshine & Sparkle over the next few weeks or so, which I'm really excited about. I would also like to say a huge thank you to all the lovely ladies who took their time to guest post on my blog whilst I was away and I hope you all enjoyed reading something a little different on here.

I would love to know about your holiday highlights, or where your jet setting off too.

Lot's of Love

Guest Post || Summer Essential Makeup by Rachael - A is for Ayla

Hi ladies - Today I have a guest post for you all from the lovely Rachael over at A is for Ayla Blog. As summer seams to be in full swing, Rachel is going to talk to you all about her favourite summer makeup essentials. There are some great beauty finds in this post that will keep you looking flawless throughout the summer :)

Hi there lovely fans of Miss Sunshine Sparkle! I'm Rachael from the blog A Is For Ayla. I've decided that because of all the amazing weather we are having at the moment, it made sense to write a guest post on my Summer makeup essentials. Below are a few tips and my favourite beauty products for long-lasting, durable, Summer makeup!

Stains

For me, my most important piece of makeup for the Summer is a cheek or lip stain. Some days I will easily go without foundation, concealer or any other makeup purely because it's too much to handle during hot weather. I love to apply a bright stain product to add some colour to my face. For cheeks I go straight to Benefit's Posie Tint. Benefit have a variety of cheek stains which are very well recommended by the blogger community. My favourite stains for lips are of course the famous Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains (pictured: Darling) which apply just like a balm, are easily built upon and come in a shades covering the entire lip-colour spectrum. For lips I'm also a fan of the Maybelline Colour Sensational Lip Gloss in 'Stellar Berry'. I know a lot of people are anti-lipgloss in the summer, and for the most part I'd agree. However, 'Stellar Berry' after an initial hour or so of wear, turns in to a bright, berry pigmented stain that doesn't lose impact at all. I love wearing the particular gloss when I go out and I guess in many ways the credentials needed for going-out makeup match those required for a Summer-proof makeup look!

Primer

Regardless of what face makeup you choose to wear during the Summer, a good primer can dramatically alter the texture and longevity of the product on your face. I know many people during Winter months skip a primer as they find it "unnecessary" however I'd say in Summer its essential! My favourites for face, and those pictured are Bare Minerals Original Foundation Primer and Smashbox Photo Flawless Light Primer. Bare Minerals is a tinted face primer, that blends is seamlessly to the skin and adds colour without going patchy (think a better version of tinted moisturiser) whereas Smashbox is a translucent primer that provides an incredibly smooth surface for makeup to be applied upon. My favourite for eyes and a recent purchase for me are the MAC Paint Pots - a cream base with less pigmentation than a traditional cream eyeshadow. Both types of primers provide a barrier between powder makeup (eyeshadow, blush ect.) and oily skin which can cause makeup to slide off the face or diminish throughout the day.

Keeping it light

I'm sure many people will agree that in Summer it's much wiser to wear light makeup. Often heavy, thick, liquid foundation can sit like a mask on your skin which will eventually slide off your face if you're active or the weather is too hot. Personally, I love mineral makeup for the Summer. My all-time best recommendation for you all is Bare Minerals. You can get mineral concealer, foundation and various 'veils' (finishing powders for hydration, tinting, illuminating and mattifying) which are all so light you can barely feel them on your skin. Bare Minerals even claim their makeup is so pure and clean you can sleep in it (wouldn't advise it though). I've heard worries that mineral makeup isn't high coverage enough for some people, however, if you can get a mineral concealer, chances are the coverage is high enough for all over the face. 

 

I hope you enjoyed this post, I'd love to know what your top Summer makeup products are! And if you liked this put even more so, you can find lots of similar posts on my blog A is for Ayla.

Lot's of Love

Rachael xo

Guest Post || Leopard Print Nail Art by Megan - Maybe its Megan Leigh

Hi girls - I for one am a huge lover of nail polish as I know a lot of you are, and there is no greater way to get creative with your nail polish, than with a bit of pretty nail art. I would love to experiment with nail art more, so today I have the wonderful Megan over at Maybe Its Megan Leigh showing you a beautiful leopard print nail art design. Megan is a bit of a whizz when it comes to nail art, so if your looking for some inspirational nail art designs, definitely check out her amazing blog. I can't wait to give this design ago as soon as I'm back off my holiday. 

What girl doesn't love leopard print?! I think it's safe to say all us girlies have a soft spot for a bit of leopard print. I'm going to share with you an easy step by step nail art tutorial for a cute & colourful summery leopard print design. 




1. First apply a base coat followed by two coats of a nude polish. Using nude really makes the leopard print pop but you could always use a classic pale French pink.




2. Paint each nail tip a different colour.




3. Using the same colour for each nail, apply little spots onto one side of the nail, this doesn't have to be neat.




4. Grab your black nail art pen & draw lines around the spots to imitate the look of leopard print & again this doesn't have to look neat & perfect because this all adds to the leopard print effect. If you don't have a nail art pen you can dip an old eyeliner brush into black polish & use that :)




5. Allow all fingers to dry & apply a top coat to seal & protect your nail art.




I hope you enjoyed this easy step by step D.I.Y nail art tutorial.




I hope your having a fab holiday Danielle! I'm off to Boots now to pick up some fake bake :p




Maybe It's Megan Leigh

xox

Revlon Colorburst Lip Gloss in Papaya || Guest Post

Hi lovely ladies,  I hope you've all had a brilliant weekend. Today I have a fabulous post for you written by the wonderful Gemma from Miss Makeup Magpie, Gemma's one of my favourite beauty bloggers so I really recommend you go check out her blog :). Gemma's a huge lipstick lover like myself and has a wonderful review all about the Revlon Colorburst Lip Glosses for you. Enjoy ...



 

Hi guys, I'm Gemma and I blog over at www.missmakeupmagpie.com. The gorgeous Danielle is currently sunning herself on a well deserved holiday, so whilst she's away she has given me full reign to write a guest post for her lovely blog. I really hope you like it
I blame Tanya Burr completely for my love of the Revlon Colorburst Lip Glosses as she mentions them regularly in her video's and tutorials so I had to try them, and sure enough I love them as much as she does. They retail for £7.99 in Boots, which I don't mind paying as they regularly have 3 for 2 offers on. However you may have read my Beauty Bargains blog post, where I showed you an eBay seller where you can pick these up for just £2.99. Tanya mentions Papaya as her favourite shade, and I have to agree.. it's a little bit special.

The Revlon Colorburst Lip Glosses as a whole are so easy to wear, as they're not sticky and relatively long-lasting. They remind me of a cheaper version of MAC's Cremesheen Glasses in their consistency and appearance on the lips.

Papaya is a bright coral shade, that can be worn quite sheer and also built up for a near opaque finish. If I apply more than two coats of the glosses, they tend to slip and slide a bit so I'd recommend no more than two coats. Wear time is an impressive 3 hours, which for a gloss is pretty incredible in my opinion. Papaya has no shimmer or glitter, as well as not having any scent or taste either. These glosses glide on smoothly, with no gritty texture.. they're a pleasure to wear.

I think this shade would suit all skin tones, and would look so pretty layered over red or pink lipsticks for different effects. I love how pigmented this gloss is, it really is beautiful. If you're on the look out for a coral gloss, then this is your perfect gloss.. the shade is so different to anything I've seen before.

Have you ever tried the Revlon Colorburst Lip Glosses? What are your favourite Lip Glosses?

Guest Post || Aussie Haircare Routine by Kat - Legs Eleven

Hi ladies, today we have the beautiful Blogger and fellow Aussie Angel of mine Kat over from Legs Eleven blog, telling you all about her Aussie Haircare routine. As you probably guessed by our Aussie Angel titles that Kat and I are huge fan's of Aussie and they really are the secret to having gorgeous beautiful hair - Read on in your wanting to know Kat's favourite Aussie buys.

Hi there Sunshine and Sparkle readers, my name’s Kat & I blog over at Legs Eleven. I’m here today for a guest post with Danielle is off sunning herself, which frankly isn’t fair! Since I came to meet the lovely Danielle through being an Aussie Angel I thought the perfect post for while she’s away would be my Aussie Haircare Routine. Aussie plays the biggest part in this regime, for me, because I just find that my hair really responds to their products.

I am a serious dye-a-holic, I love to change up my hair (which is probably why I don’t have luxurious, flowing locks like Danni) as I get bored easily, and honestly find it hard making a decision. So, looking after my hair is one of my main priorities. Aussie do, what seems like, hundreds different ranges so they’ll definitely have one for you but my favourite is the Colour range. It keeps my colour looking vibrant, moisturized and healthy for longer, and I also feel like it helps it to grow too – as I’m currently battling to get it past my shoulders!

The Colour Mate is my daily shampoo and what drew me here initially is the divine smell. Packed with Australian Wild Peach extract it fills the entire bathroom with a delicious, exotic, fruity scent. It claims to cleanse and smooth your coloured hair to keep it protected from chemical damage, and I think I’d have to agree with that. Since switching to this shampoo, and range for that matter, my hair has become less frizzy and doesn't need deep conditioning anywhere near as often as before, which is a big plus in my book.

The 3 Minute Miracle (3MM) range is amazing, there are so many of these conditioners for every type of hair and, again, the Colour Deep Treatment is my conditioner of choice. While using the Colour Mate Shampoo, I have never felt like I needed to use a regular daily conditioner and really it would be too heavy for my fine hair. So, instead, I use the 3MM every one – two weeks, or when I think it needs it, to smooth out frizz and revitalize my locks. Aussie say that the Australian Wild Peach extract also contained in the deep treatment is used as a conditioning oil and it’s fair to say my hair is definitely taken care off after applying this for three minutes.

Last of all, my Aussie haircare continues after the shower. The Miracle Colour Insurance Leave-In Conditioner is probably my all time favourite product, and the one I've been using for the longest. This honestly transformed my hair after a time I really hadn't been taking care of it. I simply spritz this through my damp hair and let it dry naturally. The results are amazing, they leave my hair looking smooth and conditioned, like new. My fine hair can get very tangled during the shampooing process and this product is also marketed as a detangler, which is ideal for me. I use this one every day and it never overloads my hair or weighs it down, so don’t worry about that.

So, that’s my Aussie Haircare Routine! I’ll be uploading my full haircare routine on my blog soon, and through hair disasters, mistakes and regrets I've learnt that Aussie’s motto is good to work with: “There’s more to life than hair but it’s a good place to start!”

Lot's of Love

Kat ox 

Guest Post || Top 5 Summer Lipsticks by Shang - The Feminine Crusade

Hello lovelies, today I have a fanatic post for you all written by the lovely Shang over at The Feminine Crusade, she has a wonderful blog and I really recommend you go check it out. Today Shang has a lovely post all about her top 5 summer lipsticks, some gorgeous picks for you to choose from. 

I am delighted at guest blogging over Danielle’s wonderful blog. And since the sun has finally decided to show up in Germany I thought I’d share with all you lovely ladies the 5 lipsticks I love wearing in summer.

If I could, I’d wear bright lipsticks all year round. That’s how much I love them. So it won’t be hard to imagine how excited I am in spring and summer, prancing around the town flaunting a vibrant pout.  

Here are my Top 5 Summer Lipsticks in no particular order.

LANCOME ROUGE IN LOVE LIPSTICK IN ‘CORAIL IN LOVE 322M’ 

Of all the lip products I own, this beauty is my ultimate favourite. It’s such a beautiful soft corally-pink which is so flattering and makes my face glow.  It is a fresh, not-too-dull, not-too-bright, girly lipstick with a beautiful glossy finish.

MAYBELLINE COLOR SENSATIONAL VIVID LIPSTICK IN ‘SHOCKING CORAL’

 If you are looking for one vibrant summer shade, this is it! A bold, loud, gorgeous pink-coral which I can never get enough off.  The semi-matte formula makes it more long lasting than the ordinary cream finishes which in my beauty book is a plus.

RIMMEL APOCALIPS IN ‘STELLAR'

 Every Rimmel Apocalips shade has been dissected into pieces all over the web. I don’t think I even need to say much about this stunning Stellar which is a neon red-pink with hints of coral. I love the intensity, the vividness and the staying power of this liquid lipstick/gloss.

 TOPSHOP LIPSTICK IN ‘OHH LA LA’

A slightly neon-ish peachy-coral this shade is a must-have. True the semi-matte finish makes the lipstick a li’l chalky and Topshopdo not have the best formulas out there; but I forgive them for their unique colours.

 TOPSHOP LIPSTICK IN ‘ALL ABOUT ME’

This is a in-your-face bright fuchsia pink! Almost as bright as Stellar. This one appears less patchy, more creamier on the lips compared to Ohh La La. Celebrate summer with it or party all night this shade is a rockstar.

There’s no summer without orange on your lips right? My most-loved orange lipstick is Astor Heidi Klum VIP Lipstick in ‘Cheeky 003’ which is available only in a few European countries thus I skipped including something which most of you cannot get.

All the lipsticks mentioned in this post have been reviewed on my blog. If you want to read detailed reviews or browse more swatches just pop over my blog and type the name in the search bar. Hope to see you around The Feminine Crusade and thank you to the lovely Danielle for having me on her blog. 

Guest Post || May Favourites by Liza - Glambeautys

Hello gorgeous girls, I hope you've all had a fabulous weekend. As a lot of you know I am away on holiday for two weeks, and as a little treat have lined up some fabulous guest bloggers for you all whilst I'm away. Today I have the gorgeous Liza over at Glambeautys showing you what she has been loving throughout the month of May. I wasn't able to get a monthly favourite post up, So a big thanks Liza for doing the job for me, you have some fab beauty faves in your list... Enjoy beauties 

Hey dolls Liza here from Glambeautys! I'm super excited to be doing a guest post for the lovely Danielle, I absolutely love her blog so its really an honour. As its now June I thought I'd show you my May favourites, I haven't done a favourites post in a while naughty me so I thought it would be a great time to, I've found a few gems recently. 

Sleek Face Contour Kit- £6.49

My gosh this kit really is a steal, I recently bought it because I'd seen so many other bloggers rave about it, I'm a fan of contouring my face, I have to do it otherwise I look like a hamster that's just stuffed 100 nuts in its mouth! I got it in the shade medium, its pretty dark but I use it lightly and build it up as I go along, the highlighter is lovely also, leaves a lovely shimmer on the skin, great for giving that summer dewy look. 

Illamasqua Intese lipgloss- £14.00

I couldn't do a favourites without mentioning an Illamasqua product now could I! That 50% off sale was amazing wasn't it!!! This was one of my buys and sooo my favourite lipgloss ever, I bought it in the shade Divine, its a gorgeous pink. It looks quite bright on the website but you can wear it more sheer and build the pink up. I love this colour with a tan looks lush. It glides on and is non sticky I hate sticky lipglosses, especially when my hair decides to stick to it when I'm outside, walking with the buggy and have no hands free to whip my hair back and forth, eugh!

Beauty Works Big Tousled Hairpiece- £34.99

I'm all about amazing hair and this month I have loved wearing my tousled piece, I've worn it in a pony and in a messy bun, so easy and versatile. I did a blog post on it here. Its basically a 1/2 hair piece you just clip/grip onto your hair, its synthetic but you wouldn't know! I've had so many compliments on it. 

Mac Pigment- £16.50

I saved the best til last, this is my ultimate favourite this month, after seeing that the girls from Peaches & Cream use it I had to buy! I bought this pigment in the shade Vanilla, I've been using it to highlight my face mostly, popping some on my brow bone, down my nose, cheek bones and on my cupids bow. Wow its gorgeous and I think it will literally last me forever as you only need a teeny weeny bit.

Lot's of love 

Liza xxx

See You In Two Weeks

Image: We Heart It - Edited by me

Hello beautiful ladies! I just wanted to get a little post up to let you all know that I shall be missing in action for the next two weeks. If you follow me on Twitter (@sunshinesprkle) you will have seen me expressing my excitement about me travelling to sunnier climates. Yes I am heading off on my holidays, travelling to Turkey to see some family that live out there. I am beyond excited I tell you, and I definitely need the break :) I just wanted to say I hope you all have a beautiful two weeks whilst I'm away and I will be sure to catch up with you all when I'm back - Expect to see some holiday related posts.

As I will be gone for so long (in blogging terms) I have lined up some fabulous posts by some lovely guest bloggers for while I'm away, so be sure to keep a look out for those - There are some right little beauty treats in store for you. Keep well and safe beauties and I hope the sun continues to shine for you all - If not I'll try my hardest to send some of Turkey's glorious sunshine your way.

Lot's of Love

Bikini Body Ready || The Results

Hi lovely ladies, I hope your all having a fantastic weekend and have been enjoying the lovely sunny weather. A little while ago around the end of April I put up a post all about how I was aiming to get fit for summer and ultimately get myself bikini body ready. I had such a great response from that post, with loads of you telling me that you were on the same little exercise journey as I. It's been great being able to motivate one another over Twitter and moan about our achy bums and tums. In-case you missed that post you can have a quick look all about the challenges that I took up here - I dare you to give them ago!

So seeing as I'm flying out to Turkey tomorrow I thought I would get a post up for you today with 'The Results' and to show you all how with a little bit of hard work and motivation you can see good results. I can honestly say I feel confident and ready to strut my stuff, wearing my bikini throughout the whole of my holiday. 

Just to re-cap you all I have been taking part in Carly Rowena's 30 day squat challenge and 30 day abs challenge. These challenges are really hard work, but amazing and I can't recommend them enough, especially if you are wanting to see good changes in your body. The challenges have a range of exercises for you to do that really target your bums and tums, so there really is no need to be shying away from that bikini. 

Below are the pictures of my process over the last 30 days during the abs challenge. I was going to do before and after pictures, to show you all the amazing difference in my butt after doing the squat challenge, but you have no idea how hard it is taking a picture of your behind, without it looking like your posing for a lads mag - Totally not appropriate for Miss Sunshine & Sparkle. But you will have to take my word for it that there has been a huge change in the way my booty looks and feels. To give you an idea, my bum cheeks feel a lot higher, more perkier and they feel a lot more toned to the touch. One thing that I always a hated about my bum was the little dimples on it and I'm super pleased to say that all dimples have now gone - Result. 

So as you probably can see from the pictures that there's been quite the change in the way that my stomach looks (I hope you all don't mind the bikini picture, but I really wanted to show you the change and inspire those who are wishing to get bikini body confident - You can do it!). By no means do I have six pack abs, but that was not what I was aiming for. My tummy is much more toned and I can really see and feel the difference around my waist area. Other than seeing a noticeable change in my body, the real difference that I notice is the way that my body feels. My stomach feels a lot more toned to the touch and when I move by body in certain directions I see the start of some muscles that I never knew where there before. Even my cheer coach made a comment at my last practice saying 'Danni wow what a difference in your stomach'. The fact that someone else had noticed a difference and change in my body really made me think that all the hard work does pay off. 

Overall I'm pleased as punch with the results and throughout my journey I've learnt that I actually really enjoy working out. Before doing these challenges I never really saw the hype that is surrounded by fitness these days. I always thought the point of working out was to loose weight and as I'm always trying to gain a bit of weight, I thought exercise was a no go. However after making sure I do these challenges everyday for the last month and a bit, I've totally seen the 'fun' side of exercising. Of course with exercising the most rewarding thing about all the hard work has been seeing those results - However since exercising regularly, I've seen a whole lot of other benefits that have generally improved my overall lifestyle and it's some of these points which have made it all worth while and why I've decided that I will continue to work out, even tough the challenges have been completed. One of the huge benefits is that I've had some of the best nights sleep ever. I've always been a light sleeper and a bit of a sufferer from insomnia, keeping wide awake till early hours of the morning. Since getting into a routine with exercise, I've found that I'm now sleeping like a baby! As soon as I'm in bed it only takes me around 20-30 minutes to fall asleep, where as before it would take a good few hours. I've also found that I have a lot more energy throughout the day. I don't really understand how that works, as I always thought that it would be the opposite - But either way it's a huge plus.

For those of you who are thinking about getting involved with these challenges (you can find all of them on Carly's YouTube channel here) I would like to share with you a few little tips and tricks which have helped me along the way.

1. I've found that getting up that extra hour in the morning to do the challenges is the best time of day to do them. At the beginning I decided to stay in bed a lot and would have the thought 'I'll do them when I get home from work'. But I found that as soon as I came home from work the last thing that I wanted to do was exercise. It can be hard to motivate yourself so early on, but once I completed each challenge in the morning, I felt so much more awake and felt a little sense of achievement for kick-starting my day that way.

2. Take your time - Sometimes I found that there were days where my body just didn't want to work, my butt would be aching mad from the previous day and there were countless amount of times I thought my arms were going to give way when doing the abs challenge.  I think it's really important to choose a pace that suits you. I had to give myself a few breaks inbetween exercises each day before continuing.  Although the abs challenge is only 5 minutes (sounds easy right?) It really is hard work and on someday's it would take me 10 minutes to complete - This is okay.

3. Listen to your body - There were someday's that I had to miss on the squat challenge just because I have a knee injury from cheerleading a few years ago and as a result my knee can play up from time to time. As I was coming towards the end of the squat challenge and the amount of squats to do was increasing, I found that it wasn't doing my knee any favours and I was in a lot of pain. I decided to stop the challenge and found an alternative exercise to do. 

4. Drink plenty of water and eat the right foods. I am no expert when it comes to eating healthily (although I am learning) but I found that the more I was exercising the more I wanted to change my diet too. And healthy eating and exercise really do go hand in hand.

5. Get motivated - Although I'm really sleepy in the morning. I found working out to good music really helped get me into the swing of things and made things a little more fun.

6. Have fun. It really makes a difference when you enjoy what your doing. Through comments from my last post and talking too people I managed to get quite a few people involved and it was great having others around me who were doing the same thing every morning. It was always a lot of laughs moaning at work with my friend - struggling to do the simplest of tasks like walking up the stairs! 

Now that I feel bikini body ready and confident enough to 'work it' whilst away, I really would like to take the time to say a huge thank you to Carly, she has been amazing and is such an inspiration. Carly's challenges really have changed the way my body looks and feels and she is such a sweetie. Carly has always responded to my tweets and Instagram pictures and has helped motivate me along the way. Her YouTube channel is full of tips and tricks and I promise you that if your wanting some motivation then you'll end up watching all of her videos!

You can find Carly's YouTube channel here

or follow her on Twitter @CarlyRowena

That's everything beauties, I hope you enjoyed more of this lifestyle type of post. If any of you are taking part in the challenges or have any other exercises that you're loving right now, be sure to let me know. 

Lot's of Love

P.S A lot of you have requested a flexibility post and I plan on getting one up for you all as soon as I get back of my holiday :)