App Review: FatSecret

I was recently introduced to an app that allows you to keep track of your eating habits and your daily, or once in a while, activities/exercises (walking counts as an exercise) called FatSecret. At first I was skeptical about downloading it because I didn't want to constantly worry about my weight as that isn't healthy at all and can lead to depression and lack of selfesteem; but I decided to give it a try because I knew I could just delete it if it turned out for the worst.

I suppose the thing that draws me the most to it is the fact that I can have everything neatly organised, I can be quite the perfectionist. When you create an account it will ask you your gender and your current weight and height and whether you want to lose/gain/maintain. It informs you about your DRI (Dietary Reference Intake) and your nutritional summary, etcetera - you just need to register daily what you eat for breakfast/lunch/dinner/snacks.

(My account is in Portuguese but you can choose your country)

If you can't be bothered to register everything you eat then maybe this isn't the app for you! It's like a personal diary for your food - if you slack on the entries then it beats the purpose of it. If, however, you're like me and you don't like having too many apps on your phone or you constantly worry about the battery, it doesn't consume that much and you can always stick to the online website, it functions exactly like the app. There's also a section for the community where you can share your weight history and support others on their journey.

This app had the opposite effect on me than the one I thought it would have - it really motivates me to eat healthy and do some exercise when I eat more than I should (as you can witness on the first photo). By eating healthy I don't mean that suddenly I revolutionised my eating habits because I love my McDonalds and a good crepe but it does help keeping track on how much I am consuming.

You also have the option to weight yourself daily so you can see the transformations on your body daily but I prefer to only do it once a month; I have heard that doing it daily can severely affect your selfesteem because our bodies are always changing and we start worrying that we are doing something wrong.

Note that right at the start they warn you that they aren't professionals and some information may be wrong! Common sense goes a long way, don't use this app wrongly. If you determined to lose weight you should probably consult a specialist.

Let me know what you think of it, whether you have already used it or if you try it now! :)

Happy Thursday! x

Book Review: Girl Online by Zoe Sugg

I love reading and I have been a fan of Zoe, or Zoella as she is best known, for a couple of years; when she announced that she was writing her own book I felt happy for her and excited with the thought of one day having it in my hands.

In this kind of situations, when we know the author as closely as we do (fans/readers) because of her blog and youtube channel, the pressure and the expectations are incredibly high. Each one of us has an idea of what we want it to be, how we want or how we expect it to be written.

Personally I was hoping for a different story. Zoe announced what it was going to be about and she shared the name of the main characters and gave a little hint at the plot and in my head I started imagining the way it would develop - it didn't disappoint me. However, there were some moments that made me cringe and I even got second-hand embarassement. Sometimes it was just too corny. I can see a Disney adaptation in the future exhibiting during Christmas time.

But the truth is, I loved it. It is honestly so easy to follow and I was completely hooked. It took me about three days to read and it could have been less if I hadn't been so busy. There were some bits that I wished had been explained better but they are insignificant, I just pay too much attention to details. It is truly well written, I have a few favourite quotes to share! It also portrays difficulties that are felt nowdays (and always) like bullying and panic attacks.

I recommend it and I will definitely read book two :)

Favourite Quotes

"(...) sometimes you just have to let people go."

"There are some people you officially fall in love with, within seconds of meeting them."

"Just because most of the world does something, it doesn't make it right"

"Because when you find someone who really likes you for you, and you really like them for them, you have to do all you can to not lose them."

"you are my inciting incident"

"It's very hard to be good all of the time."

"It's so hard to try to describe how I'm feeling. The best way to put it is that when I'm with him I feel like I've met my matching person."

"Whenever something horrible happens to you time goes by so slowly that every second feels like an hour, but whenever something really amazing happens to you time goes by so fast you blink and an entire week has gone."

Happy Friday! x

Book Review: Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Today I bring you a review of a book I had to read for a university class.

I have watched the movie adaptation of one of Jane Austen's novels, Pride and Prejudice, so when I was told we were to read Sense and Sensibility I dove into it with that adaptation in mind, even though it is two different novels.

What I read didn't differ much from the movie I saw in terms of society and plot. With this novel, Jane Austen intended to characterize and stress the differences between sense and sensibility (the title couldn't be more obvious) and how that affects the relationships and feelings of the characters.

We have Elinor who represents 'sense' and Marianne, her sister, who represents 'sensibility'. Both will learn and help each other through heartbreaks and the pressure of society, thus leading to a better division of their feelings.

The plot is engaging and it has some funny parts, especially when Austen ridicules the excess of the feelings of either sense or sensibility. There is a lot of kinships and sometimes I found myself confused, focus and rereading helped.

Overall it is a fun read and I would like to watch the movie adaptation of this novel and read Pride and Prejudice :)

Favourite Quotes
"'Of his sense and his goodness (...) no one can, I think, be in doubt, who has seen him often enough to engage him in unreserved conversation. The excellence of his understanding, and his principles can be concealed only by that shyness which too often keeps him silent."

"I wish, as well as everybody else, to be perfectly happy; but, like everybody else, it must be in my own way."

"(...) it was impossible for her to say what she did not feel, however trivial te occasion (...)"

"She said little, but every sentence aimed at cheerfulness, and though a sigh sometimes escaped her, it never passed away without the atonement of a smile."

Happy Monday! x

I, Nadia, Wife of a Terrorist - Review

The last review I wrote was in September about Dewey's Nine Lives. The family friend that I talked about in the previous review also lent me this book which I'm highly thankful for.

(Ahh, Portuguese words!)

It tells the story of a real girl, Nadia (fictional name), who lives in Algeria and found herself in the middle of the Islamist terrorists and the authorities after marrying a local hooligan who later became an emir for GIA (Armed Islamic Group of Algeria). She agreed to tell her story to Baya Gacemi aslong as all the names of people/places were changed in order to protect the ones she loves.

You will read about her sufferings and how she was reduced to a slave by a terrorist group always on the run. She had to cook for them and give them shelter but she was forbidden to talk to them. Her husband obliged her to always use her khimar (headscarf that hangs down to just above the waist) and to say her prayers every day. She was also prohibited to bathe.

The stories she tells can sometimes be shocking but it gives you the real perspective of what's actually happening there (rape, murder, injustice). It's a good and easy read, I recommend it.

Happy Thursday! x

BC Sun Protect Shampoo

The good weather is finally back, yay! I went to the beach 3 times this week and it was lovely. I'm starting to get a tan but I know I'll lose it as soon as I stop going to the beach again, as usual. Boohoo.

The annoying side of the beach is how stiff and tangled your hair gets when it finally dries after you having the courage to dive in the cold water. Thankfully, I remembered that I still had a shampoo for sun-stressed hair.

It was given to me last year and I had forgotten about it until this summer. Since I didn't buy it myself, I don't know if it always comes in a cute little bag with 3 shampoos like mine, sorry! However, I've only used one of those shampoos and that's the one I'm going to review.

It smells amazingly; reminds me of those professional shampoos they use in the salons. It relieves your hair and scalps from chlorine, salt and minerals which your hair will be filled of after you go to the beach! I like to use it before my normal shampoo as it instantly makes my hair softer and untangled, thus making it easier to apply the next one.

I haven't quite figured out when you're supposed to use the other 2 shampoos but I'll tell you more about it if I find it worthy of your time.

Happy friday! x