Emmy Twenty – Fashionably Flat Shoes

There are very few amongst us that don’t own at least one pair of trusty ballet pumps. The reliability and versatility of this style means it has stood the test of time (heroines like Audrey Hepburn and Brigitte Bardot were big fans), so it’s no surprise that in 2014 we’re still besotted.

I recently discovered Emmy Twenty – a newly launched company that designs “fashionably flat shoes”. Its founder Sharon Sunners, had originally set out on a quest to find leather ballet pumps for work (many will know that London’s pavements and tube escalators can make wearing heels a daily battle). What she found both on the high street and online though was that a lot of the shoes were made from cheap materials like PU and the ones that were leather would cost well over £100. There seemed to be no middle ground. Speaking to friends, family and even surveying other shoppers they all agreed. It was then that she decided that if she couldn’t find it, she would make it and began sketching out designs. 

Given her direct experience as a consumer, Sharon paid particular attention to detail during the sampling process. For example knowing how unforgiving pavements are, a heel cushion was added to lessen the impact of the ground when walking and provide extra comfort. The colourful range is designed to be stylish and fun but also practical for the busy, modern and yet on-trend woman.

On another note, in support of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month this March, Emmy Twenty has teamed up with the charity Ovarian Cancer Action (www.ovarian.org.uk) to raise funds for research. For every pair sold of the limited edition Danson Teal shoe, £5.00 will be donated to the cause. The gorgeous teal colour is just the ticket for Spring! 

You can view the full collection at www.emmytwenty.com and if you’re tempted to treat yourself, you’ll be pleased to know that it’s free UK delivery. 

Nuxe Pamper Hamper - My Entry!

When I was emailed and told that Nuxe had launched their first UK blogger competition and would I be interested in entering to win a luxury hamper worth £250, I thought why not? The prize contains so many products that I would love to try and there are also prizes for two runners up.

All I needed to do to enter was create a spring inspired wishlist post using products from Nuxe and create a post on my blog. further details on how to enter can be found below if you fancy having a go yourself. But this is my entry and I would love to know your thoughts.

Rêve de Miel Lip Balm - I have read SO many reviews on this product that I am begining to wonder why I don't actually own it. As a self-confessed lip balm addict everytime I read about it, i feel as though I need to add it to my collection because I am missing out. Described as "A repairing, nourishing lip balm with a rich, delicious texture to restore suppleness and comfort to dry and chapped lips" and apparently one is sold every 28 seconds somewhere throughout the world!

Gentle Exfoliating Gel with Rose Petals - with the weather ever changing from being windy, to raining back to windy not to mention very cold, my skin is always in need of some TLC and a facial exfoliator is a product I use a lot of in the colder in the months.  I love the sound of this which is described as follows "A gel texture with gentle exfoliating granules to give the skin a refined appearance. Skin is purified, soft and smooth, and more radiant than ever".

Crème Fraîche® de Beauté Mask - I am a lover of face masks and try to ensure that at least once a week I have a pamper evening and use a face mask on my skin.  As with above, the weather playing havoc with my skin means that after exfoliating I also want to nourish and add moistuise to my skin and I always find a facemask does just the job for me and this one sounds amazing - "A fresh moisturising mask and source of well being to hydrate and soothe the skin reducing instantly any discomforts (tingling, redness, burning sensations, etc.)".

Micellar Cleansing Water with Rose Petals - I am yet to board the Micellar water bandwagon and it is a product I really want to try and this is one I have not read much about but intrigues me quite a lot.  Described as "In a single step, this alcohol-free Micellar Cleansing Water cleanses, removes make-up and eliminates all the impurities from your face, eyes and lips." all of which sounds wonderful and amazing but the fact it is made with Rose Petals is what draws me to it, the same as the exfoliating gel I can only imagine how wonderful this must smell.

Nuxe 24 hour body moisturising lotion - said to give a satin feel and leave your skin feeling soft, I am yet to find a body lotion that I like enough to continue using, makes a difference and smells amazing. This I like the sound of because of this description "This body lotion provides immediate and long-lasting moisturization (Wheat Extracts and Wood) and corrects skin dryness (Sweet Almond and Sunflower Oils). The skin is soothed and soft (Almond and Orange Flower Petals)" and I have no doubt it would smell amazing with those ingredients.

So, if you like the look of my wishlist but want to do your own, all you have to do is complete the steps below:

1) Create a spring inspired wishlist style post using products from uk.nuxe.com on your blog

2) Tweet the link to your post to @NuxeUK along with the hashtag #NuxePamperHamper

3) If you don’t have twitter you can send your entry link to us at onlinepr@nuxe.com

The competition closes 10th March 2014 but please let me know if you have entered or when you do enter by leaving a comment below so I can come and see your entry.

Five Among Friends

Welcome to a new feature, Five Among Friends, where myself & some of my closest blogging friends will be linking up for a a series of Q & A's once every month.

We'd love to see your answers to the questions too - Just post your Q & A on your blog and then put your link in the Linky below and we'll be sure to check them out! Don't forget to check out other peoples answers too!

This week's theme is  Hopes & Dreams.....

This week's questions were written by Jess at Our baby blog....

The Questions

1) What is your dream job?

I want to live on a farm and be self-sufficient.  I can think of nothing more rewarding than being in the middle of the countryside, no car horns blaring and not having to be squashed on public transport.

2) If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you would buy?

A cattery.  I would love to be able to give a home to all of those unloved and abandoned cats that people no longer love or want.  I am a huge cat lover and have always said if I won the lottery, that is one thing I would love to do.

3) Picture your life in 5 years time, what do you hope it will be like?

See question one - on that farm but with the cattery.

4) If you had 3 wishes right now, what would you wish for?

Ooh I found this question really hard to answer but these would be my three wishes:

1.  I would love to know what happened to my missing cat Geezer, he has been missing for almost a year and there has been no sign of him.  I hope he has found another family to love him as much as we did

2. To speak to my grandad one last time.  He died when I was in my early twenties and I would love for him to see how I am doing and to hear him play on his guitar one final time.

3.  To win some money on the lottery to be able to do numbers 1 and 2

5) What do you hope to achieve in your lifetime?

To be happy, healthy and content with my life.  Whilst it would be wonderful to travel the world and have a millionaire lifestyle, I would rather be happy with what I have.

Don't forget to check out the other girls answers too....

Alex - Bump To Baby

Emily - London Mummy Of Two

Hayley - Sparkles & Stretchmarks

Kerry - Lived With Love

Lauren - Mrs Hippo & Me

Louise - Confessions Of A Secret Shopper

Rachel - BeautyQueen UK

x

The Radiant Orchid Challenge!

When challenged to find an outfit for £60 to celebrate Pantones colour of the year being ‘Radiant Orchid’ I readily agreed but wow what a challenge it turned out to be.  For those of you who are not aware what the colour Radiant Orchid looks like, here it is:

Described as follows "Radiant Orchid blooms with confidence and magical warmth that intrigues the eye and sparks the imagination. It is an expressive, creative and embracing purple—one that draws you in with its beguiling charm. A captivating harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid emanates great joy, love and health".

So off I went in search of an outfit that I could purchase to celebrate this colour, I thought it would be easy because a lot of stores now have their spring items coming into stores, but oh how wrong was I when it came to finding something that might represent that above.  For hours I wondered up and down Oxford Street, went to Westfield before finally finding this:

Yes I managed to find a dress which I think suits the Radiant Orchid theme and it was priced at £13 which was at least a start, but an outfit is more than one item. So, as I have an event coming up in a few weeks time I decided that this dress would be the outfit for said occasion but I needed things to go with it and this is what I bought for the rest of the outfit.

Shoes which cost £10, Bracelet and necklace £8 from local boutique, Bag £29.50 from Marks and Spencer and the nail polish and tights are my own and all of that came to £60.50 and I have a lovely black cardigan which works really well should I get a little chilly.

One of the reasons I decided I would quite like this challenge is because I love black clothes, my Husband will tell you all that my wardrobe and drawers contain items that are mainly black with bits of blue and purple thrown here there, so predominantly darker colours which I am more comfortable with.  So, now was a good a time as any to inject some colour into my wardrobe, even if it does have black accessories.

Have you bought anything that could be classed as Radiant Orchid?

**SP