Nicaragua was a huge moment in my life, although it didn’t really feel that way at the time. It was my first ever transatlantic experience, the longest time I’d ever been away from my daily life (dull as it may be) and a chance to visit a place that already felt like home to me,…
Author: hdlcooks
Happy Anniversary!
This is a slightly belated post, because I’m an imperfect person and I struggle with deadlines, but last Friday it was the five year anniversary of my relationship with Fahad. Those who know me will know that Fahad is, and has been, my complete best friend for the duration of those five years, and I…
BARCELONA 2015
I admit I’m a little late in delivering accounts of my summer holidays, but among the whirlwind of adventures I embarked on this summer, I didn’t have much time! So, one by one I’ll be posting about my holidays to Barcelona & Nicaragua. It was early June when my partner and I visited Barcelona, and…
Review: Bourgeois 1,2,3 Perfect foundation in light vanilla
As a long-term sufferer of blotchy red patches on my skin, particularly in weather extremes, I have been searching everywhere for a very long time for a solution to this that doesn’t have to involve plastering my face in thick layers of concealer, foundation and powder. I know that we should always use makeup with…
Review: Loreal Lumi Magique foundation in Rose Pearl
I am always looking for the best affordable foundation I can find. As a student, only a portion of my income gets spent on beauty products, and I tend to cheap out when it comes to things like nail polish, lip colour and brow pencils. But foundation is such an important factor to creating a…
Urban Decay Naked Palette Smokey Eye Look
Having not worn any makeup for the past few days, I thought I’d break out my trusty Naked Palette and do a kinda summery smokey eye. Unfortunately, I did not have the foresight to take photos as I went in order to form a tutorial, but I’ll do my best to describe the process in…
Review: The Body Shop Vitamin E Hydrating Toner
I have been a fool for most of my adult life. Granted, this adulthood has been a recent burden (2 and a half years into being responsible for my actions and I’m starting to realise that it’s all a trap), but it is still a long enough time to recognise my supreme foolishness. In comes…
REVIEW: Island – Bel Esprit
The latest track from the Bel Esprit Lose My Mind EP is now here! After their initial success on Soundcloud with the EP’s title track, a follow up from this southern indie rock four-piece has been long-anticipated. Taking a less energetic approach, ‘Island’ explores the moodier side of the band’s songwriting, incorporating technical musical prowess…
HDL COOKS: Strawberry Avocado Babyleaf Salad
Something not many people know about me is how much I love a good salad. They range from refreshing to hearty and can combine almost any ingredients to make a healthy lunch or side dish. Something I’ve found, though, is that eating substantial salads on a student budget can prove to be pretty lacklustre –…
Review: Nivea Daily Essentials Rich Regenerating Night Cream
Dry skin has plagued my life for years. It’s been so difficult maintaining a routine of exfoliating, cleansing and moisturising that doesn’t leave my skin peeling off, breaking out, or red raw. I’m still very unsettled in my skin routine, doing different things every day, and that might be my problem. However, one thing I…
HDL food & culture 