50 things that make me happy

Image credit 

The lovely Lianne from The Brunette Says tagged me to do this post, so here it is.  

1. My Hubs  - Most of you probably know him better as Beautykinguk, but yes those of you who did not know, now do know that we are married!  In short he is my everything.

2. My three cats.  I love these boys like nothing and no-one else.  I affectionately refer to them as my fur-kids as we have no children.

3. Aquariums - Growing up, I have always been fascinated by fish especially those in an aquarium.  There is something quite relaxing about watching them swimming around aimlessly.

4. The Sea.  The reassuring sound of the waves, the tide coming in and the noise from the sea is something I find relaxing and it helps me sleep better.

5. Chocolate - I am a total chocoholic and would happily munch my way through endless bars of Mint Chocolate Aeros.

6. Reading - I am a total bookworm and have always loved reading.  I am never without a book on the go and really should make more time for it.

7. Baths - Nothing beats a long hot bubble bath after a long working day/week.  That one hour of me time is something I look forward to and cherish.

8. Listening to music - When I can, usually when travelling too and from work, I have Spotify going on my iPhone and I have a varied taste in music and love everything from rock and metal to 80's cheese, house and trance.  My current obsession is Paloma Faith, what vocals that lady has!

9. Cake, see number 5

10. Going to the Zoo - I love the Zoo and can spend many an hour just standing and watching the Gorillas, Meerkats and even the Otters.

11. Dvd Night with the Hubs - The two of us on the sofa, with the quilt watching a film or a few episodes of anything we both enjoy

12. Manicure - I love having my nails done occasionally, there is something satisfying about having nice nails

13. Hairdressers - Not in general but the whole experience of someone else washing and drying your hair, then styling it for you.  Okay it might look great for a few hours, but I do love it.

14. Stationary - I love pretty paper, stickers, cute envelopes and so on.  For many years I penpalled and it is something I haven't been as active doing as perhaps I could and should have done.

15. Candles - I always have one lit when I am home and I just love them

16. Sleeping - I am a big fan of sleep, never do seem to get enough of it

17. Mums homemade rice pudding - There is something amazing about my mum's homemade rice pudding that I cannot compete with.

18. My Blogging Buddies - I have met some amazing people through blogging and I just love seeing them at events and catching up, to be honest I should make more of an effort outside of blogging to see these lovely ladies too.

19. Champagne.

20. Greek Food - There isn't a dish I dislike, I love it all and if you want some of the best food ive tasted, then Fire Dog a Greek restaurant in Cockfosters is superb!

21. Massages - Something else I should make more time to have given I suffer with back and shoulder aches

22. Handbags - You can never have too many

23. Shoes - For the same reason as above

24. My nieces and nephews -  a growing brood who all make me smile

25. My local park - I love being able to enjoy the green open space that is my local park and ive shared pictures of it on Instagram a lot.  It has a huge big pond with lots of ducks and Candian Geese whom I like to sit and feed.

26. Las Vegas - I got married there and absolutely loved the place and dream of going back one day

27. Bubblewrap - Who doesn't love popping it!

28. Facemasks - Whether it is a quick 5 minute one or a good half an hour version, I do love facemasks

29. Sunflowers - My favourite flower

30. Cheese - I am a cheese fiend and the smellier the better for me

31. Cleaning - I am sure I am not the only one who has those moments of just wanting to clean everything in every room and feeling really satisfied once it is finished.

32. Anything pink

33. Disney Films - Well who doesn't love a good Disney Movie?

34. Blog Comments - I love that people leave comments on my blog, im pretty rubbish at replying to them all, so must try harder

35. The moment an aeroplane takes off - There is something about that feeling as the plane has taxied down the run way (probably just me with this one)

36. Photographs - I personally hate having my photo taken and will avoid it at all costs, but, I do love looking back at old photos

37. Perfume - Something else I can never have too much of.

38. My friends - Meeting up with people outside of my working environment and not having to talk about work

39. Making lists

40. Lip Balm - Ive written a few blog posts about my obsession with them

41. Staying in a hotel - I love, if only for one night, checking into a hotel for the night (with the Mr).

42. Being hugged

43. Meeting new people

44. My blanket - My mum spent months and months knitting me a King Size blanket and I love curling up with it around me.

45. Discovering new products

46. Skyping with my nieces and nephews

47. Finding £10 in a pair of jeans that you had forgotten about

48. Surprises - When things arrive in the post that you are not expecting

49. Getting home after being away on holiday

50. Getting home from work and taking my bra off!

So there you have my 50 things and I am going to tag three of you to do this too:

Kimberley

Hayley

Louise

Neom Inspiration Candle

When a thank you gift of a Neom Candle landed on my desk a good few months ago, I was delighted and incredibly grateful, it is a brand I have been wanting to try for some time and have just never got around to it.  This is a 75g travel candle which comes enclosed inside a very pretty looking box.

I am a huge fan of candles and have them burning every day at home. There is something relaxing about having a candle burning as you settle down after a busy day at the office.

This particular Neom Candle is the Inspiration Candle which uses Violet, Chamomile & Cedar wood. The three scents combined are said to make you feel motivated, boost your energy and get you up and moving. Made from natural vegetable wax and pure essential oils meaning that when it is burning there is no harmful pollutants, toxins or soot being released.

Once lit, this candle springs into life almost immediately, it is quite uplifting. The scent of Violet is not a scent I would usually opt for, so the chance to try something new was interesting.  Violet as a scent is described as being a woody-floral and it is nothing like the Parma Violet sweets you might have had as a child.   I found the Violet scent to be quite powerful and really floral, more so when pair with both the Chamomile and Cedarwood which pack a powerful punch.  One alight it really does hit the senses and it is one of those scents which quickly spreads throughout the house, leaving behind it a floral trail.

As a candle, this is one that is perfect for the daytime, especially when the weather is slightly warmer than average.  I am also told that the candle works as a powerful holistic treatment as you breathe in the scented air so it is best to burn them for between 2-4 hours at a time.  As the candle does burn, an oily residue forms on the top of the candle, which you can see the remains of in the photo above, as soon as this happens, the fragrance becomes so much more pronounced and noticeable.

There is a huge selection of other candles from Neom to try and my wishlist has just trebled from using this one!

Lush Oxford Street Store Grand Opening

In just a few weeks time Lush will be celebrating their 20th birthday and now with over 900 stores in 49 countries, I was honoured to be invited to see the brand new store here in London on the well known Oxford Street last week. This store is the new flagship store and it is spread over 3 floors which I am told equates to 9500 sq ft but essentially what it is behind all of that is an adults playground.

The moment I stepped inside my eyes didn't know where to look first, there was colour and products jumping out from me in every angle and the urge not to grab and basket and run the gauntlet was a tough one and I did manage to contain myself.  I was one of the lucky people who got to have a personal tour of the store with Mark Constantine, Co-founder and Managing Director at Lush and this is one seriously amazing man whose eyes sparkle every time he got to show us a particular product.  I loved how down to earth and approachable and you could just tell how much the Lush brand meant to him.

As I have said, the new Lush store is spread over three floors.  In the basement you will find Gorilla Perfume & the Gorilla Perfume Gallery alongside Skincare, Massage, the amazing Lush Spa and down here you will also find information about Music and I saw some Lush candles too!  The Spa experience in itself sounds heavenly and whilst I have done a tour of the one on The Kings Road, ive not experienced any of the treatments.  The one treatment I do love the sound of and it is one Mark loves is a new treatment called 'The Planets' - definitely one to look up!

The Ground floor where you enter from the high street has everything you can think of - Hair, Make-up, Skincare, Soaps, Shower products and Mouth care products all of which you can break down into smaller sections to include Bath Ballistics, Bubble Bars, Bath Oils, Shower Gels, Shampoo, Facemasks and so on... all of those products you love from Lush are right here.

The final floor is known as the first floor and it is where the gift sets can be found.  This is where my eyes were drawn to the brightest, boldest and shout out loud packaging I have ever seen.  I just wanted to run up to the shelves and open all the boxes, literally there is something for everyone, every occasion and in all shapes and sizes and if I had to pick one, I would struggle.

I spent a good two hours looking around the store going up and down the stairs and it is just amazing. When I said it was like a playground for adults I meant it.  One of the things that really stands out in this store is that you can try as many products out as you want to before buying them.  The staff are on hand to demonstrate anything you would like to see, but they are not pushy or persuasive in anyway which is really nice and I love the laid back feel as you wonder around in awe of everything whilst being able to touch, sniff and test to your hearts content.

One fact did I found out whilst on my visit was that there are over 200 new products, yes 200... to try and whilst most of them are exclusive to this store, there is plans afoot to roll them out to every other Lush store over the next 18 months and some are shown below.  

Throughout the whole of my time at the Lush store there was a few products that I just couldn't wait to get my hands on and those of you who follow me on Instagram will have no doubt seen my excitement about these two:

Yes the Comforter which you might recognise as a Bubble Bar and my favourite bath product from Lush is now in liquid form and I gasped when I saw it because it smells exactly like the Bubble Bar and it is just stunning and secondly The Flamingo, those of you familiar with the Star Wand from Christmas will understand how these work.  There is a further post coming later this week about my Lush haul, well it would have been rude not too.

If you do go to this store, the one thing you must do is use the lift, it is amazing and im saying no more on it!

Summer Handbags

I am sure I am not the only person who changes my handbags with the seasons right? I do, more so because for work, I like to be able to chop and change, I carry more in the winter than I do in the summer oddly.  

With that in mind, i've been looking at handbags for the Summer (hopefully the Mister isn't reading this) and there are a few that I have got my eye on and they range in style, range and colour:

Summer Handbags by beautyqueenuk 

Top Left is BeckSöndergaard pink handbag which retails at £57and is from Asos.com

Top Right is Red Dune Handbag which costs £55 and is from Asos.com

The Middle handbag is by Ted Baker and it retails at £149 from Selfridges

Bottom Left is a Salmon-pink Dune Handbag which retails at £75 from Asos.com

Bottom Right is the Cath Kidston blue handbag which you can find in John Lewis for around £30

The first thing I do before I purchase anything online is look around for money off coupons, discount codes, offers and whether or not I can purchase items through sites such as Quidco.   It really is worth looking around to see if you can find something, or even ask on Twitter because it is amazing how many ways there is to save money or even get cash back on some of your purchases.  Over the last year I have managed to save myself over £500 with shopping around and using sites like Quidco and discount vouchers.

The bags featured above are from ASOS, Selfridges, John Lewis and of course Cath Kidston and because in the summer I am not so brave when it comes to wearing brightly coloured clothes, I instead opt for brightly coloured accessories which may include handbags, purses, cardigans and necklaces and beads.

Do you choose handbags based on each season? Do you have a summer bag already picked out?

Lily & Lotty Jewellery

When a piece of jewellery captures your attention, you can guarantee it will also capture that of its recipient.  If you are looking for that one special item for a loved one, Lily & Lotty will have it covered.

Lily & Lotty is an award-winning family jewellery company which is based in South Devon. Carole and Gordon Stock have over 30 years of experience within the jewellery industry and their inspiration behind the brand stems from their three daughters.  Passionate about jewellery, you will find pieces that are inspired by family, nature and art and is crafted from 925 sterling silver, rhodium coated and hand set with a real diamond accent.  

The jewellery collection really does have something for every occasion, whether it is a romantic gesture, gift, wedding, birthday, for the bridesmaids, Holy Communion or just because, you will find the suitable item right in front of your eyes with a range of necklaces, rings, bracelets and earrings.

I was kindly sent an item from the collection to review on Beautyqueenuk and I have to say, as beautiful as it looked on screen, when it arrived, it was and is even more beautiful to see. The packaging is simply divine, when you get an item that has such beautiful and striking outer packaging, something where upon which you can tell a lot of thought has gone into how something will look from the very first glance.  When it arrives, it comes beautifully presented in Lily and Lotty signature packaging which includes luxury pouch, gift box, jewellery cleaning cloth and gift bag.

So what did I choose?  The Adelaide silver and diamond heart necklace which is simply divine. Featuring a silver and diamond double heart with real diamond accents, it is laid upon a beautiful chain which measures 18/20 inches and doesn't detract from the beautiful hearts.  What I love about this necklace is that the two hearts are two different designs with one sitting slightly angled and this is what gathers the focus and attention.

As the pendant is silver, it can be accessorized so easily with so many outfits and for so many occasions.  I have worn mine on three separate occasions now, one was to the wedding of a close friend, then I had a blogger event and finally just for a catch up with friends on a night out and each time it was born I had questions as to where I got it from.

You can find Lily & Lotty Jewellery on Jewelstreet which is an amazing online marketplace with has over 300 boutiques exhibiting a myriad of styles, materials and designs from all over the world and you will find that perfect gift in no time.

As for this pendant, I think it would make a stunning gift for your mum, sister, niece, god-daughter or close friend and even if this is not the sort of jewellery you would buy or wear, there are so many other beautiful pieces to choose from, that I am sure like me, you will struggle to choose something.

L'Occitane Iris Bleu & Iris Blanc Eau de Toilette

L'Occitane is a brand I am really enjoying the discovery of. It is a brand I have come across and only used (and loved) the hand-creams of, so to try other products has been an absolute dream.

So let me introduce you to Iris Bleu & Iris Blanc Eau de toilette, a perfume which I have worn a lot since it came into my possession and one that I have had many compliments on and people wanting to know what it is that I am wearing that leaves a trail behind me.  Now I don't bathe in this perfume, I spritz my pressure points, as I would do any other perfume and I am done.  

It uses extracts of blue Iris from Grasse, which is a small town in the South of France, with it comes the blend of white iris from the Mediterranean which is said to bring about an unexpected but intense fragrance. 

Inside this stunning packaging, which comprises of a gold and purple box is an even more stunning bottle which is designed in the same way and being made of recyclable glass, it is everything you would want to see from L'Occitane.

The description of this perfume is:

"La Collection de Grasse celebrates the fragrant know-how of this French Provençal town by bringing together precious raw materials from close and distant lands".

For me, this scent is like nothing else I own, it is quite fruity and floral whilst at the same time managing to be quite what I can best describe as being smokey. It uses the fresh fruity top notes of citruses and blackcurrant alongside a powdery floral heart of iris and ylang-ylang. Then finally we have white musk and dry accents cedar which is where that smokiness comes from and for me, it is a scent that is just pretty.

Available now, Iris Blue & Iris Blanc retails at £52 for a 75ml bottle and again, if you are looking for something a little bit special for that female in your life, L'Occitane does not disappoint.

Shoes Glorious Shoes!

The Fit Flop is quite possibly the comfiest shoe I have ever owned.  I never imagined I would be saying that about what is essentially a flip flop and my hatred of feet, but I absolutely love the pair I have had for the last 6 years, now they have totally worn away and I am in need of something new or a simple replacement. For those of you who have never heard of them, I have done a post about mine HERE.  

So I did a Google search and was not surprised to find that many brands have released what is essentially their own version of the 'Fit Flop', can you tell the difference between them?

The Flip Flops shown above come from Fit Flop, F&F at Tesco and the other from Sketchers and looking at them, they all have similarities in common.

The top option is the Bijou Fit Flop from Fit Flop in Patent Leather and what I love about this shoe is the jewel in the middle which makes them totally different to any other show I own and perfect for every outfit. They retail at £60.

The Second option is from Sketchers and what I love about this shoe is the criss cross strap and cut-out wedge heel which gives it a little different look and they cost just £39 which makes them a real bargain.

So the final option are from Tesco, the F&F Active range. At a cost of £12 they are the cheapest of the bunch. They feature a memory foam insock for better fit, support and comfort.

So now I am left with a quandary, do I buy another pair of Fit Flops because I know what I am getting and love my old ones so much, or, do I try something new?

Titanbet - Could it be Your name Called?

One of my first ever jobs while still studying was calling Bingo every weekend at Gala. It was one of the best jobs ever, I even had my own music, to let regular players at the Bingo hall know that I was coming up to call the numbers. It was almost infectious watching the look of joy on the faces of people who had won, and sometimes won big. Bingo loving runs in my family, my Grandma played right up until the day she died, like me, loving the thrill of the game. She claimed it kept her mentally alert and was always obsessed with numbers and before the invention of electronic bingo, would be able to do 12 tickets at any one time using just a biro.

Years and years passed and then recently my friend and I started to play regularly, however due to her own childcare commitments we can’t go and play as often as we would like to, so when I get bored, every now and again I’ll have a bit of a play online, nothing quite like a Bingo Party. Now there are lots of sites around where you can play bingo online but personally I have registered with Titanbet Bingo, mainly because of the excellent new player offer of depositing £10 and receiving a £40 bonus (£20 bonus to play on bingo and £20 on the huge range of other games they have available) to boost my account balance.

With a great welcome bonus for new players I was really excited about trying out the site - it’s additional appeal was how clean and clear the website is. Looking at competitors it can be confusing what to click, where to play and what is on offer. With the Titanbet website everything is explained in plain English, the terms and conditions of offers could not be clearer and finding a bingo room to play in just could not be easier.  My Favourite room to play in is the Rainbow Riches room, anyone who has a flutter on fruit machines will have no doubt heard the cheery tones of the Leprechaun can hear him calling the numbers and announcing the winners which also makes me chuckle, one day he will hopefully be calling my name!

While I have had lots of luck playing bingo in person at a bingo hall, my experience of playing online is pretty much the same. I still get the shaky hand when getting close to winning, my heart beats that little bit faster and there is certainly a surge in adrenaline. Thankfully playing at home, it means you don’t have to shout ‘House’ and a room full of people turn to look at you, it is much more dignified, though I do still shout.

Would I recommend Titanbet? Of course, if bingo is your thing then you should take a peek at the Titanbet website. I don’t think you will be disappointed.

Gambling can be addictive, and if you think your own gambling is getting out of control or it just isn’t fun for you any longer and you can’t stop then you should visit Gamble Aware, where you can be pointed in the right direction for help.

*sp

She Who Dares Perfume

I am a huge fan of perfume and whenever I am asked if I would like to try something new, I always jump at the chance. She Who Dares, very kindly sent me two of their fragrances Eminence and Dalliance.

Who are She Who Dares? She Who Dares has a vision is to see women of every age being recognised, acknowledged and celebrated for doing great things. The She Who Dares range offers the perfect gift for mums, sisters, grandmothers, friends, aunties, nieces, girlfriends, daughters and wives. Inspirational women deserve to be honoured, and at She Who Dares they aspire to do just that. Their goal is to become a brand where recognition blossoms, and one that is timeless throughout the ages. In 2009 Rachel Lowe (developer and creator) was awarded an MBE from the Queen for her services to business. This achievement ultimately inspired her luxury brand that would celebrate remarkable women: She Who Dares. The brand ethos – ‘Never give up, nothing is impossible’, is a symbolic statement for everything she has accomplished.

The first thing I love about these perfumes is the bottle, both similar in style, an almost teardrop shade with a lid that most definitely captures your attention, the one on Dalliance being white and Eminence being Red.

Eminence is described as being a scent that "will capture your confidence and your femininity, a beautiful fresh floral scent with a seductive base that is soft and sensuous, perfect for every-day wear". As a scent it is most definitely a fresh floral note that captures your attention and is one favoured by those who asked to choose between the two.  Using top notes of bergamot and pink peppercorn, at the heart sits a glamorous bouquet with rose, peony, forget me not and lily of the valley and a base of sandalwood, soft musk and sensuous patchouli, it makes for a really lovely scent.

Dalliance on the other hand was my personal favourite of the two.  Described as being a scent which is "Timeless, elegant and bold, dalliance is a sexy and dynamic evening scent, helping celebrate the most special moments in life". From the two scents, for me, this one if more feminine and possibly because it uses a mix of both fruit and floral to capture your attention. Using the tropical white flower notes of jasmine, tuberose and magnolia which are then entwined with luscious ripe pears before resting on a sensual musky base.

So whilst I prefer Dalliance, it is Eminence that lasted longer as the scent on my skin for 7 hours, pretty much the whole day at work.  Eminence was a good 5-6 hours but most definitely needed to be re-applied before leaving to go home.

Overall both are really lovely scents and costing around £32 for 50ml they are more than reasonably priced and definitely something to look out for.

Michael Kors Aviator Sunglasses

Some love it, some hate it, I am in the 'love it' declaration when it comes to TK Maxx. For me it is is one of those places where you can walk in and immediately want everything you see or want nothing at all, there is never an inbetween. My local TK Maxx isn't one of the biggest London stores, but it does have a decent sized handbag, beauty and candle section - what more could I want as a blogger!

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine had asked me to go and look in my local store for a toy she had seen for her son, it was out of stock locally for her and she wanted to see if I could find it. After a few minutes in the store, sidetracked by the new handbag selection, I was walking past the sunglasses section and happened to stumble upon these Michael Kors aviator sunglasses. I tried them on, wasn't too sure, but they did come with a free case and cloth, so I walked around the store, found the toy that was needed along with a few other pieces and tried on the sunglasses one last time. What I hadn't noticed at the time was the price tag, it hadn't even occurred to me to actually look but I am glad I did because instead of costing £120, they had actually been reduced to £19.99, total and utter bargain, whats more is that when I took them to the till to be scanned, they were priced at just £9.99, error or not, that is what I paid!

I am not the best wearer of sunglasses, I always lose them, sit on them, drop them or leave them to rattle around my handbag, so I have owned quite a few pairs. This pair are absolutely stunning, they have a really beautiful rose gold finish and with the lens colour being a slightly brown/amber shade they are perfect for not only shielding the sun from your eyes, but are also offer 100% UV protection.  The nose pads are adjustable and the Michael Kors lettering is very discreet in the corner of one lens. 

I absolutely love these sunglasses, they are comfortable to wear, they look stylish and were the best bargain I have probably ever found in TK Maxx! 

Have you bought anything from TK Maxx lately?

The Library of Fragrance - Unique Fragrances

The Library of Fragrance collection has over 300 unique fragrances, of which 101 of these are available in the UK via their own website plus a selection of favourites available exclusively at Boots. A few months ago I reviewed the Jasmine Scent which I just loved, so the opportunity to try two further scents was something I jumped at.

The two scents are Baby Powder (Female) and Thunderstorm (Male) and they arrived in these amazing tubed bottles. 

As soon as a I spritzed Baby Powder the first thought to hit my mind was Johnson and Johnsons Baby Powder, which I absolutely love the scent of and honestly, it is an exact replica of that scent. The science behind the scent states that some people find the aroma to be calming and I absolutely do agree with it, whether it is due to the emotions it is evokes or memories it brings to life, as a scent it is just lovely and it lasts for a good 5-6 hours on the skin once applied. 

Thunderstorm which is for the men is quite an earthy scent which is said to capture the electricity and raindrops of a summer storm. On the very first spritz, the first thing that sprung to mind was wet grass during the rain and then as it began to settle, it reminded me of the smell you get just before a storm begins, as the rain starts to fall and that first clap of thunder rumbles in the sky. Then once the scent has settled, the smell in the air that is left after the storm is what I can then sense from this scent, it is truly amazing.  Whilst possibly not a scent I can see my other half wanting to wear, what I do love to do is use it for is to clear the air in a room after it has been quite stifling hot, the scent for me brings about a coolness in the air.

The Library of Fragrance is for me just fascinating, if ever you are in your local Boots store and havent tried one of these scents, then do, seriously, they are just so clever and they smell so good.  They have really opened my eyes to trying some a little bit new, a little bit quirky and I am so intrigued by how some of those scents smell, I feel the need to spritz them all, just to check!

The perfumes have no artificial colours, binders, emulsifiers and are phthalates and paraben free. The alcohol used in the scents is naturally fermented from corn.

Have you tried any colognes from The Library of Fragrance? What's your favourites?