Category Archives: review

Smelling good with Burt’s Bees

15th November 2012

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.

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Review: Frankie & Benny’s new Cocktail Menu

14th November 2012

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.

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Beauty: Naturally Nude with MeMeMe

10th November 2012

It always feels a bit like I’m treading on other people’s toes when I do a beauty post but I was sent this gorgeous Naturally Nude gift set by MeMeMe via the lovely folk at findmeagift and couldn’t wait to share my opinion.

Consisting of Blush Me Blusher, Lipstick with Shea Butter, 2 pots of cream eye shadows and a beautiful natural-look nail polish packed up in a sleek black makeup bag and costing £26.99 (which is a bargain when you add up the cost of it all individually) this straight away struck me as my dream everyday makeup kit. Gone are the days when I was all about the bold eyeshadow and glitter liner (although I do like to have fun with that at times too) this kit is perfect for creating the “barely there” look I favour for work and a base for something more dramatic.
I’m not usually a fan of cream type eyeshadow but this applied wonderfully and lasted all day which is what I tend to dislike about them. The lipstick is a gorgeous pinky shade which will suit pretty much everyone as well as feeling wonderfully soft and caring. The blusher is a bold coral colour that applies quite lightly so you can really build the colour up to suit you; as you can see I’m super pale so went with a light hand and you can’t really see it in the photos but in reality I was left with a fresh, healthy colour to my face.
I’ve not used the nail polish yet, but having used others from the brand I can tell you now they are fabulous!

This set would make the perfect Christmas gift for any beauty fan and also a lovely little treat for yourself if your looking for an instant natural look. I may not be blessed with beauty talent and know-how but I really did think this was super.

What are your go-to products for a natural look? Would you use this set?

xxx

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Casually Glamorous

09th November 2012

I appear to be on a winning streak at the moment, which is rather nice and perfect for cheering one up! Not only did I win £100 to spend in New Look this week, but I also won a competition on Glamorous’ Facebook page for this fantastic jacket! Back in casual mode yesterday I teamed with some old New Look cords which are super comfy although rather unflattering on the leg and those studded boots from Sarenza. At least my shoe horizons have broadened a little; it’s dragging on now…almost five weeks! A hobble up and down my road left with a foot doing balloon impressions so it’s going to be minimal activity for a while yet…the NHS came up trumps and I have a phsyio appointment next Thursday which I hope will work wonders. Being stuck inside is really messing with my mood; I need sunlight and fresh air and activity. I’m sorry Twitter fans who have to put up with my moaning/random outbursts…there is an unfollow button! I try to censor myself but pretty much fail!

As much as I wish I was sporting a new piece of Ink, I’m sadly not, the tattoo on my forearm came c/o Inkwear who have just launched a snazzy new website and some lovely new designs including tattoos for your face (I wasn’t that brave!)
They kindly sent me a selection of the new designs to try out so yesterday I had a proper look at what I was sent

I went with this delicate dandelion design; I’ve been toying with the idea of something similar as a tattoo for years. Application was super easy and there is a guide on the packaging as to how long it’ll last…forearm I believe is 2-3 days and 24 hours in it still looks as new! The prices are super reasonable on the site and they promise fast delivery…perfect for party season!

What do you think of my military look? Breaking even further away from my usual!
Are you brave enough for face tattoos (fake, of course)

xxx

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A Naturally Lite Energy Boost with Scheckter’s

08th November 2012

If my twitter and facebook feeds are anything to go by there is a severe lack of energy in Blog-land lately…this time of year is always madness and sometimes we need a little boost…tired of reaching for chemical filled energy drinks I was delighted when I was sent this sample of Scheckter’s organic energy lite for when I need a little boost; in an ideal world we’d all be getting 8 hours sleep, drinking litres of water and eating a balanced diet, but in reality a helping hand is sometimes (often) required.

The makers of the worlds first 100% Natural, Organic and FairTrade approved energy drink, Scheckter’s OrganicEnergy, have just made energy boosting a little lighter with the introduction of NEW Scheckter’s OrganicEnergy Lite!

Like the original, this delicious, natural, organic drink harnesses the power of nature to give a real energy lift whilst also boosting mental performance – but with the added bonus of using Organic Agave instead of cane sugar which means 33% fewer calories.

Each can of Scheckter’s OrganicEnergy Lite contains the perfect combination of organic and natural ingredients to provide sustained energy. The blend of 100% natural ingredients releases energy over a longer period of time, creating a sustainable energy lift that avoids the short lift and sudden ‘crash’ of other energy drinks.

Scheckter’s OrganicEnergy Lite drink is 100% natural and made from a blend of organic fruit juices – lemon,
pomegranate and elderberry which give it the same great taste as the Original variety and uses organic Agave instead of raw cane sugar which means 33% fewer calories. Agave has a low glycemic index and so not only helps to slash the calorie count but also helps prevent the usual ‘sugar crash’ associated with high sugar drinks. The other active ingredients remain the same as in the Original – extracts from organic raw green
coffee beans and organic Guarana give the physical and mental boost from caffeine, Ginseng helps relieve stress and Green tea helps boost mental focus. As an added bonus all the ingredients are 100% natural and organic.

Scheckter’s OrganicEnergy Lite is available from Sainsbury’s and at health food stores nationwide and costs £1.35 for a 250ml can.

I really loved this drink, it was refreshing and not anywhere near as artifical as the usual suspects. I’m really glad they bought out a lite variety, I might be on a weight gain mission but I HATE drinking my calories when there is so much delicious food to be tried!
The energy boost was most welcome, successfully stopping me from taking what felt like the 80th nap of the day…
This will be one to keep in the fridge at work, until mandatory napping is introduced at least.

Have you tried this? How do you give yourself an energy boost?

xxx

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