Monthly Archives: July 2015

Sampling Dermalogica

15th July 2015
As a relative novice to the world of skincare I’m still a bit hesitant in splashing my cash on full size products even if the reviews are brilliant. I have pretty sensitive skin and the last thing I want is to drop £20+ on a fancy new face cream only to find it brings me out in a dodgy looking rash.
I recently received a few Dermalogica samples in the post and thought I’d share my thoughts on them and whether I’ll be investing in the full size products.
Pure Bright Serum:50ml of this product will cost you £72.50 so a sample or two before you try is really quite essential. I got on ok with this, it promises to brighten skin and balance out pigmentation and un-even skin tone. I certainly noticed my skin being brighter with this, as I suffer quite a dull looking face most of the time. It’s not a product I could afford to buy unless I was feeling really indulgent but it was lovely to have a few sachets of this to perk me up when I needed it most.
Skin Perfect Primer: I really, really like this and almost wish I didn’t as again at £34.85 for a 22ml tube it’s on the pricey side. This is a product I’ll be saving up for though as a little goes a very long way- each sample sachet did three full face applications! The primer provided a perfectly smooth base for my foundation without drying my skin out which is often the case with primers. One for the “I would purchase” list.
Daily Defence SPF15:Sadly for my bank account this is another product for my “I would purchase list”. A lovely light-weight daytime lotion that helps combat skin ageing and provides vital protection from the sun. At the grand old age of 28 skin ageing is something I’ve started to panic about so this multi-tasker would be a welcome addition to my skin care collection. A 100ml pot of this will set you back £33.70 which actually seems quite reasonable to me!
Body Hydrating Cream: I’m really, really fussy when it comes to moisturisers for my body. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve bought one, declared it perfect then ended up abandoning it after a couple of uses. I hate anything that’s slow to sink in or leaves my skin feeling greasy, which this one didn’t at all. It made light work of my dry elbows and shins and also fixed up my sore, cracked hands. Prices for this range from £10.95 for a 75ml tube up to £34.95 for a 473ml bottle. I’m thinking of treating myself to the smaller size to keep in my work bag, I’m yet to find a hand cream that I really love, but this has made the world of difference especially after a morning of scrubbing my hands and wearing endless pairs of clinical gloves.
Are there any Dermalogica products you’d recommend I’d try? How do you feel about samples? I’ve seriously under-estimated them in the past, but now I’m taking a quality over quantity approach to skin care they really are the best way to make sure you’re getting value for your hard earned cash by not buying something that everyone has raved about but that you personally hate!

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The Little Grey Dress

13th July 2015
I don’t shop in Topshop very often as I can’t really afford it and find it near impossible to pick up only one thing at a time. I recently won a competition though where the prize was a £100 gift card, the perfect excuse for a bit of a spree (timed with the sale, of course so I managed to get 2 dresses, a pair of shoes and a top for that!)

Dress: Topshop (here) | Trainers: New Balance (similar) | Watch c/o Caravelle

This dress was down to £20 in the sale when I bought it, although I think it’s since been reduced further in the non tall range at least. I just love it. I don’t own anything even vaguely similar and it’s one of those dresses that just makes you feel good the second you put it on. The ribbed fabric lends itself to a sports chic approach so I popped on my New Balance trainers then added a girly spin on the look with my beloved rose gold watch from Caravelle.
No doubt my other Topshop purchases will be appearing on the blog before too long, it’s been a while since I last shopped there and in the past I’ve found sizes and quality a bit hit or miss but this time round I’ve been impressed which is kind of a bad thing as I’m itching to go back for more!

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Posted in life stuff, outfits, shoes

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The New Nautical with Lilac Rose

10th July 2015
It’s been a while since I added a really beautiful summer day dress to my collection, my wardrobe used to be heaving with them but as a few years have passed by I seem to have either sold them or given them to charity. I have no idea why I did this, I can only assume I had taken temporary leave from my senses, but still, thanks to Lilac Rose I’ve boosted what I do have left with this slightly nautical little number by Emily and Fin.

Dress c/o Lilac Rose | Shoes: Esprit at Sarenza (alternative) | Necklace c/o Lee Renee Jewellery | Earrings c/o Joy

I’ve long admired Emily and Fin dresses on bloggers such as Char but hadn’t ever managed to purchase one for myself. I’m pretty besotted with this little number, it fits amazingly (after following advice to size down) and the attention to detail is brilliant- I love that it has pockets and the straps have cute button fastenings.

I dug out these Esprit sandals which I have since got rid off, and I now regret. I am slowly but surely getting rid of my super high heels, I just can’t cope since the whole broken foot and then back surgery thing and low, ladylike shoes like these are ideal. As with my summer dresses I have no idea what came over me when I decided to part with these, but I’ve found some lovely rose gold alternatives (listed above) which might have to make their way to me.

As these photos were taken during Britain’s few days of heatwave weather I decided to accessorise with my summeriest jewellery- my trusty banana necklace from Lee Renee and these super cheerful pineapple earrings that Joy sent my way last year.

Are you a fan of Emily and Fin dresses? Lilac Rose is newly launched as an online shop, having run two shops in Cambridge and Leamington Spa for some years. This could be a dangerous discovery for me…really dangerous.

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Posted in jewellery, life, life stuff, outfits, shoes

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Stationery Favourites

08th July 2015
For as long as I can remember I’ve been obsessed with stationery. Going shopping for a new pencil case and it’s contents was the one consolation to the end of the long Summer holidays and over the years I’ve amassed quite a collection of pens, notebooks, pencils, stickers…you get the idea! I’ve recently added a few new items to my stash which I’m really quite taken with so I thought I’d do something a little different and give them some space on the blog.
Crazy Cat Lady Pencils (get them here): What can I say? I just couldn’t resist this set of true to life pencils from La La Land. If cats aren’t your thing (although I can’t imagine why they wouldn’t be) then there is a whole host of witty designs to choose from, the perfect addition to your desk, or for a cheeky little gift to someone.

Kate Spade Note Pad (get it here): I’ve developed a bit of a thing for Kate Spade stationery since spying it pop up on several blogs recently. I treated myself to this “short list” note pad as a pick-me-up during a not so easy time, it’s perfect for setting small daily goals and feeling accomplished. There is something so charming about the entire stationary collection, I may have added some pens to my collection since photographing this, oops!
Paperblanks notebook* (get yours here): My real weakness is a beautiful notebook and they don’t come much more beautiful than those by Paperblanks. I’ve admired their designs for years, and owned more than a few in my time- as soon as I fill one up with my random notes and musings I instantly replace it, feeling a teensy bit guilty each time for ruining something so easy on the eye. My most recent addition is the perfect size for carrying in my handbag and contains everything from shopping lists to inspiration for my next blog post.

Paperchase Organiser (get yours here): Essentially the only hope I have of ever remembering to do anything! I can’t get to grips with keeping my schedule on my phone, I much prefer the old school approach so when I saw this beautiful owl organiser in store I had to snap it up to replace my mid-year diary that was due to run out. I love that you can customise the inside of these- mine has a standard 12 month diary, plus note paper, a to-do list section and a handy plastic wallet for storing bits and bobs.
Fellow stationery addicts, where do you shop for your supplies? I can’t be alone in being a pen hoarder to the extreme!

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Posted in life, life stuff, stationary

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The Real Taste of Italy: Food & Wine in Sicily*

06th July 2015
Foodies of the world! I have a delicious new location for you, and the good news is there is great wine to go alongside. Folks, I’m talking about the southernmost island in Italy: Sicily. Sicily is famous for fresh products and simple ingredients, in both the wine and food food for the region. So I really recommend you start researching your next holiday in Sicily if you love fresh, affordable and delicious food and wine.

Another great thing about Sicily is that every town and village has their own food or wine festival during the year, usually from spring to fall. They celebrate their produce and the typical products of their town. Here are some of my favorite food and wine festivals, also known as Sagre, in Sicily.

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Sagra della Seppia is dedicated to cuttlefish. You can feast on them in all different forms, from raw to fried to baked in a pie. It is located in Donnalucata, which is a coastal village south of Scicli. It usually happens during the month of March.

Sagra della ricotta e del formaggio takes place in the hometown of the great author Giovanni Verga, Vizzini. It is one of the oldest sagre on the island and is dedicated to ricotta products in all forms. This includes sweets like cassata and cannoli as well as savory dishes like pizza and pastas with ricotta. You will also get the chance to taste many other local cheeses. It usually happens in the last week of April. All hail the cheesemakers!

Sagra del Pomodoro and I Gusti del Barocco is a festival dedicated to tomatoes. It takes place near Scicli in the town of Sampieri. Tomatoes are really just an excuse for 3 days of eating, drinking, cooking, exchanging folk tales and celebrating their culture. It takes place during the first week of May, this year from April 30th to May 4th.

Inycon a Menfi Wine Festival is the perfect opportunity to taste some of the island’s finest wines. You can also take tours of the local cantinas in one of Sicily’s most famous wine-tasting towns. You can also taste local olive oil and other food products. Of course, there are concerts and shows to entertain your desire for nightlife. As the name suggests, it takes place in Menfi at the end of June. This year it was from June 20th to June 22nd.

Sagra della pepata di cozze is a mussel-lovers paradise! It takes place at Aci Trezza which is a seaside village on the coast between Catania and Taormina on the Ionian Sea. The first week of July gives way to this seafood celebration of the peppered mussels. They are boiled and doused with pepper, parsley and garlic. Fresh and delicious, this is a festival not to be missed.

There are hundreds of other festivals around the island, so check out a side like http://www.thethinkingtraveller.com which gives you a list of all the current dates and locations of the various food festivals in Sicily. Happy holidays, and buon appetito!

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