Healthy Recipe: Acai Smoothie ♥

So, I have a new tasty obsession. Acai Berry smoothies. If you don't know what Acai berries are they're basically a super food that taste super good! It's definitely an indulgent treat without the nasty aftermath!

I've done a bit of googling (this is one of my best skills) and created a list of the reported benefits of Acai berries:

1. Aids in heart health
2. Promotes improved skin and cellular health
3. Improves mental function
4. Gives an energy boost (which I need lately!)
5. Aids in weight loss
6. Anti-aging effects



To make it yourself all you need is:

• Frozen Acai Berries
• Yoghurt (I use vanilla but you could use any flavour and swap for a vegan alternative)
• Apple juice (if I can be bothered I will juice this freshly myself)
• Chia seeds
• Ice (about 1-2 cups, I like it a thick consistency)

It's all guess work when it comes to the exact measurements but it leaves you with a creamy delicious smoothie that will probably have you coming back for more! This is a tasty treat that could easily be made vegan friendly!

Let me know if you try it!

Also, please feel free to follow me on Twitter and Instagram for daily updates: @char_balchin

Happy sipping!

With love,

Char x

Product Rave: Let's be Frank... about Frank!

If you're an avid 'instagrammer' like myself then I'm sure you've seen the naked selfies of ladies (& gentlemen) with a dirty substance coating their skin with hashtags like #thefrankeffect #thefrankmovement etc.. No they're not covered in dirt or promoting some weird new insta-porn, in fact it's a fabulous exfoliant (and all around good stuff) from coffee grounds - a yummy scent that is sure to linger in your bathroom for hours to come. Now, I am totally all for jumping on the bandwagon of things so of course, I immediately placed an order online - hello, for only $15 and free shipping - how could I not?!

Delivery was super quick - so I was quickly able to strip down and scrub the abrasive (but not overly irritable) scrub into my poor, dry skin. The unfortunate result of having eczema since I was born -.- but here's yet another bonus, it didn't irritate it!

Safe to say the hype was spot on! This dirty looking scrub

that is making all the girls get naked is phenomenal! Never has my skin felt more soft or smooth - and the BF agrees! Frank is now a few times a week visit kinda deal and BF is okay with it, in fact BF loves Frank just as much as I do!

How I use it:
I use it on both my face and body probably every third day - sometimes more, sometimes less. On my face I do a very small coat and on my body I use a couple of handfuls.
1. Wet skin
2. Turn off shower and scrub desired amount in to skin. I scrub more vigorously in areas like knees and elbows.
3. Stop scrubbing and stand around awkwardly for 10mins - this is the most annoying step but honestly, makes the skin feel much more rejuvenated and supple as opposed to leaving it sit for a couple of minutes or rinsing it straight away.
4. Rinse and pat your skin dry.

Definitely worth the money! And I will be purchasing again (in fact, I already have)!

Let me know if you've tried it and your thoughts!

Happy naked selfie snapping! or you know.. not.

With love,

Char xo

My name is Charmaine and I'm a.....

You may ask why I decided to start a blog on a Friday night. Well, I have a confession to make. Let's just say I need to face up to the facts.

Exhibit A - I am home on a Friday night. 
Exhibit B - I have no will to do anything that crazy old 16-20 year old me would have done. 

So, here I am. Sitting at my desk. About to admit a deep and dark secret to the interwebs.

Well, here goes - at the tender age of 21 I have decided that I am officially a mature Adult. Please note that the capitalisation of Adult is definitely deliberate. I feel as though it allows you to understand the full impact and seriousness that is compacted into my new found title. 

Hello everybody, my name is Charmaine and I am an Adult. 

Believe me, I have tried to resist this status in the past year, however, I feel as though I am finally coming to accept this fact for what it is. I've attempted many times to inspire some of the energy that kept me crazy and fun during my "teen" years but have failed miserably and I can't help but wonder.. were they my 'golden' years? Or, perhaps they're yet to come? Maybe this is just a slum?

Now that I identify myself as an adult does that mean that I need to be serious all the time? Do I need to start thinking about purchasing a home? Getting married? Having children?

Let me know when you guys decided that you were officially an adult. I'm intrigued to know.

When will you start making the big decisions of life?

With love,

Char x