No time for the blues

River Island dress (last year), Tabio tights, Laura Ashley scarf (c/o)

This dress originally came with a faux fur collar but I didn’t think it was quite cold enough to require that yet so subbed it for this gorgeous scarf which was a gift from the Laura Ashley blog birthday party. Still firmly on the tights wagon I dug out this Tabio pair which will always be a favourite. As it was an afternoon of pottering around the house I decided to give up on footwear and prance (oh I wish I could prance) barefoot-ish.

Thank you for the well wishes on the foot. Physio was great and although it is going to be a slow process and I’m still needing crutches it will gradually get better! My goal is to be in heels for the work Christmas party on the 14th December…before that if I can help it!

Happy Friday; we’re here again! What are your weekend plans? Mine involve a trip to a giant Asda and a family pub lunch…bliss.

xxx

Smelling good with Burt’s Bees

I’m not usually a fan of toiletry gift sets as generally there is one product I will use and the rest gets overlooked. This beauty from Burt’s Bees is an exception, there is nothing in there that I haven’t tried and loved, the Pomegranate sugar scrub is especially gorgeous and the scent of the entire set reminds me of Christmas which is kinda perfect at this time of year.

A quick run through of the set, which retails at £19.99 (so worth it when you price it all up individually):

Replenishing lipbalm with pomegranate oil: perfect for the trials of cold weather and central heating. Burt’s Bees is one of the only lipbalms that makes a difference and the flavour of this is just divine.

Cranberry and Pomegranate sugar scrub which smells like Christmas. Oh hello silky smooth skin, I’ve missed you!

Cranberry and Pomegranate replenishing body bar. Again this smells festive and lasts all day. This has been great in lieu of shaving foam. I will be buying this again and again.

Naturally nourishing milk and honey body lotion…one word for this…LOVE. I do kind of wish this had a fruit fragrance too though.

The signature spa pouf finishes the set off perfectly..this would make a great Christmas gift or a pampering treat for yourself.

What do you think of sets like this? What other Burt’s products do I need?

xxx

Set gifted to me with no obligation to review. All views are my own.

collared

I bought this collared jumper quite a while ago now from New Look but hadn’t got round to wearing it. I get like that with new buys sometimes, I want to make sure the time is “right” and on Monday it kind of felt like that time had come. I teamed it with the bargainous tall skater skirt which is some comfortable and flattering I shall be buying at least one other colour.
On my feet I had these Clarks loafer/slipper shoes, ideally I’d have heeled boots on but as we are all well aware by now (sorry!) that just isn’t possible; spot the chubby foot!

I have my physio assessment today, I hope something comes of it. I’m also really glad the weekend is in sight, it hasn’t been the very best of weeks and I could do with a few extra hours in bed at the very least!

Do you have any quirks when it comes to new clothes? I have far too many pieces still with tags, my mission is to wear them and sell on the old. I think I’ll feel more like wearing things when I can finish outfits off with proper footwear.

(Don’t forget my Amara giveaway)

xxx

P.S. big shout out to the lovely ladies on Twitter last night, super interesting conversation going on!

P.P.S. Have just re-read this post and it’s really badly written, sorry!

Review: Frankie & Benny’s new Cocktail Menu

What seems like forever ago now I was invited along to review the new cocktail menu at Frankie & Benny’s, famed more for it’s American-Italian food than extensive drinks menu.

I put it off and put if off (I wanted to do it, but meals out are still a big deal to me) and eventually go together a small group of my girl-friends booked a table and prepared to enjoy!

As with the best laid plans it didn’t quite happen. The date we booked ended up being the week I was housebound with my foot, thankfully my lovely friends Trudi and Louise were willing to go along without me and enjoy some dinner and drinks and report back!

The choice of venue was the Cribbs Causeway F&B who were brilliant from the word go, super helpful and friendly when I phoned them to book and they accepted the vouchers I was sent with no fuss at all. Trudi commented that although the restaurant was busy there was a nice atmosphere and the staff were incredibly friendly.

The cocktail menu really was extensive with a few non-alcoholic versions for drivers/children/those who don’t drink.
The new cocktail menu includes firm classics such as the Cosmopolitan and Mojito, along with new favourites such as Espresso Martinis and Appletinis so hopefully there is something for everyone!

Prices were reasonable, £2.95 for the non-alcoholic drinks, £5.95 for most of the alcohol containing cocktails and there was the option of 2 or 4 person pitchers too.

The first drinks my girls tried were the Strawberry Daquari and Strawberry Shortcake from the frozen range, as pictured above. Apparently the Strawberry Shortcake was like an alcoholic, slightly nutty milkshake which sounds pretty damn awesome to me!
The second round of drinks was a non-alcoholic fruit punch which had a hint of almond in it too. Ever the traveller, Louise said this reminded her of the fruit punch she had in St Lucia! The Bramble which I believe they chose in my honour as it’s right up my street contained gin, lemon, sugar and chambord. I’m amazed they didn’t sneak me some home!

All in all the girls were really impressed. It should be noted that they both commented on how the food exceeded expectations too and each had a delicious looking main course and dessert to help soak up those drinks.

Thank you to Trudi and Louise for doing this review for me,
and thank you for Frankie & Benny’s for the awesome time. I think we’ll be going back, when I can safely drink again without fear of further accidents!

xxx

P.S. for something fun:

What does your cocktail choice say about you?

Mojito
Ladies who can’t resist a bit of spice will love this cool Cuban cocktail.  Made with fresh lime, mint and sugar, plus a generous splash of Bacardi rum, a mojito drinker is sure to be the first on the dance floor, ready to spice up any night.
Appletini
This fun and flirty drink is perfect for ladies who just want to have fun.  Packed with Eristoff vodka, pressed apple juice and gingerbread syrup, this delightful drink is sure to get the party started. 
Cosmopolitan
A sexy and sassy cosmopolitan is a great choice for those who like to keep it classic.  This zingy and zesty drink comprises vodka, triple sec and cranberry juice creating a cool and crisp taste.  Cosmo ladies love a bit of city glamour and always paint the town pink.
Classic Sour
For ladies who like to be adventurous, this quirky cocktail is available with Jack Daniels, Amaretto or Midori. Finished with fresh lemon juice and egg whites for added smoothness, the drink is topped off with sugar to taste.  It’s the ideal choice for someone who likes to stand out from the crowd.
Espresso Martini
This rich and sumptuous drink is ideal for ladies looking for a classic cocktail with a twist.  Fresh espresso teamed with vodka and a coffee liqueur offers an instant caffeine hit, a brilliant blend for any modern lady in need of a pick-me-up!
Gentle Breeze
A delicious non-alcoholic cocktail for those who like to behave rather than rave!  This drink combines a delicious blend of apple juice, cranberry and citrus juices and is served over ice, offering the designated driver something delightful to sip on.
Bramble
For ladies with a mysterious edge, this deliciously dark cocktail is a tasty mix of Bombay Sapphire gin and black raspberry liqueur.  An added kick of fresh lemon means this drink really packs a punch.

return of the tights

A couple of years ago tights were “my thing” and I always had a new and fabulous pair to share. Lately my collection has gone a little unloved (I still have around 100 pairs) due to a halt in my confidence and lack of motivation. An anonymous comment the other day mourning the lack of tights (sarcasm?) made me have a root through my drawer and I dug out these beauts which best friend bought me in Matalan last year. Paired with a realllly old Primark jumper dress this was what I wore for a lazy Sunday spent mainly feeling sorry for myself + coffee with my delightful Ellie friend. Shoe wise I went for those Blink boots from Sarenza that are starting to look a little worse for wear after my awkward attempts at walking, thankfully they are one of those styles that can stand being a bit beaten up. I cannot wait to wear proper, pretty shoes again, I have two brand new pairs waiting to be worn!

After yesterday’s post involving tights a lovely twitter follower pointed out these wonderful penguin ones which promptly became a 7am purchase before work,

I think the tights fiend is back! What are the best pair you’ve seen lately? Do you have a “thing?”

Off for my 7:15am start at work now, happy mid-week!

xxx