Yearly Archives: 2019

Holiday Post 3: Yosemite

15th July 2019

We may only have had half a day there but Yosemite National Park made a massive impression on me. Out of the entire holiday, right from the start this was the place I was most excited to visit, and I’d love nothing more than to go back there for a week or so to properly explore.

We headed to Yosemite from Carmel by the Sea, it was an interesting drive, taking us through a very agricultural part of California, through Vineyards, and as the journey progressed, through some quaint old towns that were almost frozen in time from the Gold Rush days.

The second we drove in to Yosemite and paid our entry (which gives you access for a full 7 days) we were blown away. We stopped multiple times on the way to Yosemite Village to try and drink in some of the incredible scenery.

I don’t actually feel like there is an awful lot I can write in this post because the beauty of Yosemite just defies words.

There is of course one part of the visit I have to write about, and the real reason why Yosemite will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Bob and I had just paid a visit to the gift shop, picking up some gifts for our loved ones, and for each other.
It was a warm day so we decided to grab a coffee then head on one of the shorter trails as we only had a couple of hours before we really needed to get back on the road.
We picked the lower falls trail, which was incredible. We got soaked by the waterfall and went and found a secluded little spot by a creek to dry off and soak up some more scenery before heading back.
Whilst we were there we were laughing and joking and both saying how blissfully happy we were.
Bob asked if I wanted another surprise, having already given me one in the form of a hoodie in the gift shop. I assumed he’d bought me something else, as that’s just what he’s like, so when he told me to close my eyes and hold out my hands (our usual tactic when presenting one another with a gift) I happily obliged.
He then told me to open my eyes, and when I did he was down on one knee with the ring in his hand. I just burst in to tears and hugged him, before realising I probably ought to give him an answer. I couldn’t really speak so just nodded then grabbed the ring off of him!

The spot where Bob proposed
About one minute before he proposed.
The last selfie as a non engaged couple!

After that we casually strolled back out on to the path and walked back to the car, beaming big soppy smiles (and I just kept asking if this was real!)

It was back to the car after that, and on to the single most eventful part of our trip…watch this space!

Posted in holiday, travel, wedding

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Review: Liquid Ice Nic+

10th July 2019

[post contains gifted items]

It’s been a while since I posted any vape related content, not because I’ve lapsed (although I do confess to a couple of cigarettes when I’ve had a drink in my hand) but because I haven’t tried anything that new, or that noteworthy. I’ve become quite settled in my routine, but as part of the vaping experience is the wide range of flavours and liquids available I will never turn down the chance to try something new.

I was recently re-contacted by Liquid Ice who I teamed up with a few months back.

They very kindly sent me a range of flavours from their collection of Nicotine+, their evolution of nicotine products. I was incredibly intrigued as to how this could be different and whether it would impress.

Nicotine + is the evolution of nicotine and features some of the vape world’s most famous flavours, the full line-up includes Red Astaire, Black n Blue, Green Kelly, Lizzy rascal and Gin’s Addiction and is available in 10 and 20 mg.

Nicotine + enhances flavour of e-liquids as it has a lower PH compared to normal nicotine which means you will get a smoother throat hit. It also provides faster absorption of nicotine into the body you will feel instant satisfaction.

I was sent the above three flavours, all of which I reviewed and rated highly in my previous post with Liquid Ice….so was Nic+ any different? And if so, was it different in a good way?

I would say yes, yes it is. The flavour of the juices was very much the same- all three of these juices pack a big punch and are firm favourites.
In terms of smoothness there is a marked difference- I often find the higher nicotine juices a bit too harsh but these definitely weren’t, and I definitely noticed that I was satisfied, perhaps even satiated with a much lesser amount meaning I’ve been vaping less making them slightly more economical too.

For anyone big in to their vaping I’d recommend giving Nicotine+ a go, it’s a really interesting concept and I’d like to see a bigger range of flavours available in the future.

Posted in review, Uncategorized, vaping

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Choosing a Pair of Designer Shoes: Getting the Fit Right *

08th July 2019
Photo by Charisse Kenion on Unsplash

If you’re planning to invest a significant amount of money into a beautiful pair of designer shoes or sneakers then the last thing that you want is to end up with a pair that simply don’t fit. Shoes that feel uncomfortable probably won’t be worn as often as you would like, and if you do get around to wearing them you’ll probably regret it after they’ve been on your feet for five minutes. Getting the right fit is absolutely crucial when you’re buying a pair of shoes, not only to get the most out of the money that you’ll spend, but also to ensure that your feet are well-protected. Here are some tips to keep in mind. 

#1. Have Your Feet Measured for Size:

The first thing that you should do is go to a store and have your feet measured by somebody who’s been trained to do so. Even if you’re considering buying your Gucci sneakers online from a reputable site like SSENSE, for example, you will find that many shoe stores will offer a free measuring service and will be more than happy to tell you your size. You may be surprised as to what you hear; adults don’t always stay the same shoe size throughout their life as there are many factors which can contribute to changes such as pregnancy, injuries, or weight changes. 

#2. Avoid Brand-Based Shopping:

Yes, SSENSE stock Gucci shoes with a great range of choices available, but there are plenty of other designer brands to choose from to, so don’t limit yourself to just one. It doesn’t matter just how much you love one particular shoe brand – they just might not have a shoe that’s perfect for your needs right now, which is especially true if you are planning to buy designer sneakers or running shoes. Try several different brands to find one that works – you might be surprised to find that the perfect brand for you right now is one that you’d not heard of before. 

#3. Shop Late in the Day:

Even if you’re planning to take advantage of cheaper prices by shopping online, it’s a wise idea to go to the stores first and try shoes on in person, so that you have a better idea of what they look and feel like, and have the opportunity to try them on and have a walk around in them before you buy. The best time to do this is late in the day – your feet tend to swell more as the day goes on, so later on in the day is when they will be at their biggest. It’s better to shop now so that you don’t end up with shoes that are too small in the evenings. If you’re planning to shop online, then it’s also worth bearing in mind that shoe sizes can run small or large depending on the brand, so the size that fits you well in the store is the one you should order online. 

When you’re investing a lot of money into a designer pair of shoes, a well-fitting pair is essential. 

Posted in shoes, shopping

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Holiday Post 2: Ventura, Santa Barbara and Big Sur

06th July 2019

Following on from my previous post, where I left off in the Mojave Desert, we continued our epic drive in to California. This was the longest drive we did, if I recall correctly, with a total of around 11 hours in the car…did we tire of it? Not really, the scenery when you drive through America is incredible vs. what you see in the UK and because everything was new to us it was all incredibly exciting. The worst part of the drive was through LA and Hollywood- somewhere we elected not to stop in favour of other places within the time constrains of our trip. The traffic was INSANE, as were the other drivers- we were both relieved when that leg of the journey was over.

It was late by the time we made it to our Hotel in Ventura (we stayed at The Amanzi Hotel) so we didn’t get a chance to explore the town much. We did head down to the beach after breakfast though, but it was super overcast so we just had a meander down the pier before driving on to Santa Barbara.

The novelty of facing the beach looking one way and the mountains when you looked the other never really wore off.

By the time we got to Santa Barbara and parked up the sun had started to come through, showing us what California beach life was like. Santa Barbara is such a pretty place and although we didn’t have much time to explore we walked the pier, grabbed a coffee and spent some time watching surfers head out in to the ocean.

Surfer heaven?
The clouds finally lifted!

The next part of our journey was probably our favourite drive of the holiday, with some of the most incredible scenery along the way. We drove through Vineyards and past mansions on the way to one of most anticipated pit-stops and somewhere we wished we had stayed much closer to, and for much longer.

Big Sur and the Californian costal route in general is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful places I have ever seen. Throughout this trip I found myself constantly in awe of nature and it’s ability to create such stunning scenes.

As one might expect, staying in Big Sur was expensive and therefore we elected not to, with great regret. Our next overnight stop was pretty beautiful to though, we drove a further hour to a place called Carmel-By-The-Sea. This was a town like no other I have seen, really pretty and quaint with enviable houses and a real air of affluence (the local shops included Kate Spade and Tiffany!)
We found the local dining options out of our price range- a common story for many parts of this holiday so we headed to the Del Monte Shopping Centre in search of food. We settled on California Pizza Kitchen which proved a worthy choice in terms of value and deliciousness- I’d never considered brie, chicken and grapes a pizza topping up until now but it needs to be a thing!

We bedded down in a more authentic American Motel that night ready for our most hotly anticipated destinations of the trip- Yosemite National Park and Mammoth Lakes.

Looking back I realise we didn’t take nearly enough photos on this part of the trip. We only took our phones with us and we spent so much time drinking in what we were seeing that taking photos didn’t really occur to us until after the event. Thankfully the memories we made are ones we’ll never forget, but it would have been nice to have more visual memoirs of our dream holiday.

Posted in holiday, lifestyle, travel, Uncategorized

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The 10 Minute Miracle from Dr Botanicals

04th July 2019

[post contains gifted item]

Hot on the heels of the amazing lemon super-food butter from Dr Botanicals came another delivery; and based on the success of my first experience with the brand my hopes were high!

Cocoa & Coconut Superfood Reviving Hydrating Mask*

The Cocoa & Coconut Superfood Reviving Hydrating Mask promises to be a 10 minute miracle for your skin. Made with 100% natural ingredients including cocoa butter and coconut oil, this hydrates and revives dry and tired skin (that’d be mine!) without being heavy or sticky as some masks tend to be.

I’m not a massive fan of masks, I find them a bit claustrophobic due to the often heavy texture and I’ve never found the results worth the anxiety they provoke. Buoyed on by the success of the delicious lemon cream I bravely put a light layer of this on and waited.

10 minutes passed without palpitations; this is light enough that it didn’t feel uncomfortable and it sits gently on the skin. It was also easy to remove (another bug-bear of mine) and afterwards my skin was more hydrated than I remember it being and I felt much fresher, and dare I say slightly younger looking.

I’ve now got this stashed in my fridge, as per recommendations ready for the next application…yep, my usual use it once and forget it attitude has been banished for this product, I have every intention of finishing the tube and then purchasing a new one!

You can get this product from the Dr Botanicals website for £5.94 at the moment – usual price £9.90 as well as from all of the well known online beauty retailers.

Do you have any other mask recommendations for me? Or more Dr Botanicals recommendations…I’m so loving this brand right now, I want to try it all!

Posted in beauty, brands I love, review

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