Fill your home with flowers

It's always nice as a lifestyle blogger to wake up to the postman delivering parcels with new goodies to review but when a box from Bloom & Wild arrived packed with an array of beautiful flowers I couldn't quite believe they could survive the post. Bloom & Wild pride themselves on hand picked beautiful flowers and each flower is protected, you can see the love and care that has gone into protecting every petal.

The collection I received brings back Summer with a bang with flowers inspired by a classic English country garden. When you get your bouquet, you receive a little card explaining your bouquet and it also offers arrangement ideas – now I see myself as a pro flower displayer, if that s job title!? I believe what I have in my collection are white & yellow Alstroemeria, Madiba and Solidago. This is a great gift to surprise any lady or even a gift to yourself.

Before I give you some amazing tips to make your flowers last longer I need to inform you that mine lasted TWO weeks, I kid you not, some did die in the middle but remember if one dies take it out you don’t need to end the lives of the ones living.

TOP TIP: How to make your bouquet last longer

·         Cut the stems at a 45 degree angle 

·         Keep your flowers out of direct sunlight or they will look sad after a few days

·         Re-cut your stems every few days 

·         Remove leaves that sit below the water line

·         Keep you water topped up and change every few days – as mentioned my Alstroemerias were still going strong for around two whole weeks. (You can see this in the first three images - they also look different as I brought a new camera)

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Lipsy London Love Michelle Launch

Last week I headed to the ever beautiful, like I wish I looked like her, Michelle Keegan and her winter collection launch with Lipsy London. I got myself all glammed up wearing Michelle Keegan's Lace and Sequin Bodycon dress, I felt super skinny in it as it sucks you in and its so glamorous without having your boobs falling about the place as if you look closely the dress there is mesh detail up to the neck. There is very delicate lace detail on the front, sleeves and back, I completed the look with a pair of Primark chunky heels and my Mulberry handbag. As you can see from the photo I should of pulled the dress down a bit, fashion FAIL.

As I explored the collection, they are perfect for the party season and all very glamorous even the coats which I kind of fell in love with especially the Wool Blend Faux Fur Trim Coat, there is literally so many pieces I want although I need to plan places to wear them.

Anyway take a look at my pictures from the event below with Michelle Keegan of course and a few Made in Chelsea celebs thrown into the mix.

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Review: Fleur de Force Eyelashes

Bloggers and Vloggers are bringing out products left, right and centre these days mainly with good old Superdrug - jealous much?!? Yes!!! If I got asked to bring out a beauty product it would definitely be a toss-up between nail polishes or eyelashes and Eyelure lashes are my go-to night out essential.

On to Fleur de Force with an enviable following, I mean hundreds of thousands and a fab YouTube channel I am sure her fans will be flocking to snap up her lashes with out anyone needing to review them. On first glance Fleur has used my favourite colour palette of pastels making the packaging very girly. On a more technical level Fleur's lashes feature 'stone-ground lash tips' which is new technology for Eylure, softening each lash tip for a more natural look. 

Simply Fleur: These are not really my style for lashes, a bit thin and fan out a bit too much, they look more of a day time lash if you don't want a style that is too thick.

Fleur & Fabulous: These are my faves adding VOLUME but not so much that I scream "too much makeup love"! I sometimes feel that with fake lashes they are two crazy at the side and make your eyes look two heavy and pretty ridiculous. I always trim fake eyelashes so they don't go too far off the eye. (Fleur & Fabulous are featured in the photos below)

Couture Fleur: This style lash are literally a life saver they will bring your lashes to life when they are looking a bit 'blah' and not look fake at all - you literally just need to add two or three to the edges of your eyes for a more voluminous look and Fleurs are great.

Eyelash Tip: Once you place the glue on the eyelash run it along your lash line and then re-apply glue to the lash. So when you attach the fake lash you have a guide and some tackiness for the lash to attach.  

The collection starts from £5.25

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LookFantastic Beauty Box Contents

With so many beauty boxes out in the world, it’s hard to choose which one to go for, like I mean there are hundreds now! I did not even realise that LookFantastic had beauty boxes but my first one was special as it not only celebrates LookFantastic Beauty Boxes 1st birthday but a special London Fashion Week box – yeah I know this is really late and should have been up around LFW, please do not judge J.

Again I am a real sucker when it comes to packing and the Birthday Box simply made me smile as it is adorned with sprinkles. It was definitely an opportunity to use my colourful confetti as photo decorations, made by moi if you were wondering. As we delve into the box there are 8 products, I spy Phyto and Caudalie which I have used before so even before trying anything I am one happy bunny and it is great to introduce new brands into my beauty routine without needing to fork out loads – try before you buy!

Contents of the LookFantastic Birthday beauty box from LookFantastic:

·        Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash
·        Caudalie Mositurising Sorbet
·        Caudalie S.O.S Thirst Quenching Serum
·        Codage Crème Gommante Scrubbing Cream
·        Phytokeratine Extreame Expetional Cream
·        Sebastian Penetraitt Shampoo
·        Sebastian Penetraitt Conditioner
·        Tan Worx Tan Maintainer

I cannot wait to try all these lovely looking products; the LookFantasticbeauty boxes are £15 which is a BARGAIN for all these beauties.

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Recipe: Salmon Pinwheels

This is Mummy Kay's recipe that I stole to bake for my besties Baby Shower, it's pretty delicious so I thought I would share with you lovely lot. Please do take note that I am NOT the best cook in the world but these are super simple and make it look like I am a brilliant cook.

Salmon Pinwheel Recipe:

• 200g Cream Cheese

• A pack of Fajita Wraps (I used 4 to make all of these)

• 1/2 Lemon Juice 

• Fresh Black Pepper

• 250g Salmon Sliced

• 100g Rocket (You do not need this much but this is how much is in a bag)

This is a super simple recipe that anyone can do for fancy looking canapés:

Step 1. Mix 200g of cream cheese, juice of half a lemon and a good lashing of freshly ground pepper.

Step 2. Spread evenly across a fajita wrap. 

Step 3. Place rocket across the wrap - you do not need to cover the whole thing just spread evenly, a small handful will be fine.

Step 4. Place the salmon around the wrap, again you don't need to go crazy, there can be gaps I put around six small pieces.

Step 5. Roll it up! Then cut diagonally into 1 or 2 CM slices.

Easy as a piece of pie or a salmon pinwheel!

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Happy 25th Birthday Links of London

Happy Birthday Links of London you are 25 years old, I remember when I first got given a Links of London bracelet, I was in awe and thought it was the next best thing after my Nokia! To celebrate this fabulous occasion Links of London has launched a new collection, ALTHOUGH this collection for me is more to marvel at then buy as the price point is pretty high with the 18ct Yellow Gold & Tsvorite Necklace being a mear £3,500 – YIKES!

But the innovative design which made Links of London can be seen through each design sticking true to their origins. If you have not taken a look at Links of London yet check it out, it’s not just sweetie bracelets but lots of beautiful pieces with watches and gifts, perfect with Santa on the horizon.

 

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Restaurant Review: Hunter 486

Hunter 486 is a trendy bar and restaurant in London located in The Arch Hotel on Great Cumberland Place, near to Marble Arch tube station. It takes its name from the 1950’s district dialing code for Marylebone and is styled from the same era, combining classic glamour and timeless hospitality to provide a fantastic eating experience.

We were treated to a bottle of Drylands, Sauvignon Blanc from the Marlborough region of New Zealand, which complimented our starters of Pan Fried Scallops with chili jam & mango salsa, and Baked Prawns with tomato & garlic sauce. For mains we had a lovely Peppered Loin of Venison with beetroot puree, turnip & potato gratin and a tender rib eye steak.

Other options that looked great on the menu included one of the meals cooked in the authentic stone oven such as Roast Black Leg free range chicken or the roast whole seabass with orange & rosemary butter. Hunter 486 also offer an express menu served at lunch and a Sunday roast with all the trimmings...!

The location and style of the restaurant are fantastic and the food is even better. We highly recommend taking the time to visit this cool restaurant, you won’t regret it.

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#LOVEYOURIMPERFECTIONS

Match.com are currently running the #LoveYourImperfections campaign you may have seen the sweet adverts of bad dancing and crazy laughing from singles looking for love. You maybe thinking why am I talking about Match.com as I have a boyfriend!? but I think its important to talk about our imperfections as they can sometimes get us down and stop people thinking positively about themselves so I wanted to share my imperfection with you.

"I am the first one to admit I am not the perfect girlfriend. I have many imperfections but it’s important to embrace and even celebrate them, my habits definitely won’t change and neither should other peoples as they make you who you are. My worst habit is that my mobile phone never leaves my side. It’s the first thing I check when I wake up and the last thing I look at before I go to sleep – I know it’s a bad habit but with running a blog I get emails all the time and social media never sleeps! #LoveYourImperfections."

Go on share your imperfection below! 

You can see me on the MatchUK Instagram account

OUTFIT DETAILS: Dress: Pretty Little Thing / Shoes: Lacoste / Phone Case: Ted Baker / Necklace: Topshop / Watch: Timex (ON SALE)

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A Lesson In How To Be Happy

The other week I headed to an event with Rituals on 'How to Be Happy' presented by The School of Life. With a lot of stress from London fashion Week and for me the Rugby World Cup it's sometimes hard to always stay positive! Happiness is a very subjective topic but it's interesting to take a step back and really have a think about what makes you happy or what is happiness? It really makes you think - you never ask these questions to yourself and that's the first battle to realise you can be sad and you can be happy BUT don't bottle it up!

From the seminar, I took away 5 tips on How to be happy:

1. SMILE, it can do wonders for your happiness and confidence.

2. Positive thinking

3. Surround yourself with positive people

4. Take a moment from time to time to think about what makes you happy.

5. Be strong and take action on your life

You may be wondering why Rituals was involved with this event but it is very apt for the Happy Buddha Collection. You may have heard of the Laughing Buddha, the name originated  from a famous monk in China over 1000 years ago, who's smile was renowned for bringing happiness and to this day rubbing his belly is a symbol of good luck and prosperity and this is what the Rituals products should bring you - happiness. The fragrance certainly makes me happy; they smell divine with uplifting scents of Sweet Orange and Cedar Wood.

Some of the products from the collection can be seen below:

• Foaming Shower Gel 
• Ultra Rich Whipped Body Cream
• Happy Hands Hand Lotion
• Happy Mist Bed and Body Perfume 

So how do you bring happiness to your life?

  

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Review: Jean Paul Gaultier Glam Edition

This is my sister’s favourite parfum and I can now see why. The Glam special edition has been launched specifically for the festive season in “Classique” and “Classique” Intense. Both are a charming edition to the Jean Paul Gaultier Eau de Parfum range and the perfect Christmas treat for any lady, boyfriends are you listening?! I would be delighted to find this under my Christmas tree.

The Jean Paul Gaultier "Classique" Eau de Parfum Intense bottle looks bootilicious and sexy in gold glitter (as seen in the images), and for the “Classique” the bottle is pink glitter adding a Christmas sparkle to any occasion and would look perfect on any dressing table. Remember when decorating your house, the same as you would your tree you have to think of every element including your beauty products, gold, silver and red hues are a must.

Although the Glam editions are a special treat for Christmas the "Classique" fragrance has been around since 1993, cemented as a firm favourite since the launch. The body shaped bottle with Kardashian style curves and a corset has been there since the onset and is still with us today but this time embezzled in glitter. The bottle and fragrance embodies strong females with the Intense version adding a diva touch.

The notes in the "Classique" Intense parfum are Tiare Flower Nestles, a full blast of Gourmand notes, wafts of Orange Blossom and Vanilla. After the fragrance settles down, Patchouli makes a grand entrance adding an era of sensuality. This is definitely a date night perfume for me.

So get ready for it, the Glam edition will be available from 5th October 2015 in 100ml with an RRP for "Classique" Eau de parfum £73 and "Classique" Eau de parfum Intense at £81 both by Jean Paul Gaultier.

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