A Cosy Night in with giffgaff

We are living in unprecedented times, I am sure we can all agree to that and for me, I am trying as best I can to keep to my usual routine.  During the week my alarm hasn't been changed, though I might press the snooze button a few more times than I usually would, I go to bed at the same time and whilst I am now working from home, the weekends are still my downtime.  Sunday is still reserved for an hour of 'Me time' be that in a bath of bubbles, or a nap and on a Saturday night, date night is now taking place at home with a film and some snacks, though last weekend it came via a box of amazing products from giffgaff.

Inside my box, I was kindly gifted with some products to make that chilled night in a little more fun and definitely much more bearable than it might have been.  The first item out of the box is the Smartphone projector which is suitable for use with iOS and Android and Windows* compatible smartphones. *version 8 and above.  This device is simply brilliant, whether you are watching some old videos on your phone, have logged into Netflix or Amazon Prime to watch a film.  

Naturally, the room you use the projector in needs to be pitch black, your phone brightness needs to be on 100% the self assemble guide is really easy to follow too. Keep an eye on my Instagram to see the projector in action.

Added into my box is also the Marley No Bounds Portable Bluetooth Speaker System, which is not only water-resistant and dustproof, it also features 10 hours of playtime, so if you are ready to do a Star Wars marathon or even Harry Potter, then you don't have to worry about your speaker running out of charge. But if playing something out loud is likely to annoy other members of your household, then also included is an alternative option - the Marley Smile Jamaica in-ear headphones. 

These headphones have been a bit of a lifeline whilst I am working from home, they mean I can take part in conference calls without having to broadcast it across the house and because they feature noise-isolating technology, I can fully concentrate without getting distracted.  Also,  because these headphones are to all intents and purposes wireless, I am not tripping over cables, they are charged using a USB. Further to that, they work up to 10m away from the connected device, be it your Kindle, iPad or iPhone and the function of being able to answer calls, forward, rewind and pause calls and media is invaluable.

A night in for me is not perfect until the right atmosphere has been created. That means lights down, Himalayan salt lamp switched on and candles lit.  Again, another gift within the box is a giffgaff bespoke candle made by McKinley and Paget and it smells just absolutely wonderful of orange scents.  

The candle comes with 30 hours of burn time and it is a brand I am really keen to learn more about because the stories behind each candle are a delight to read.

The final items within my box include a £5 Sim credit so that I can call friends and family, something that is definitely important to be doing at times likes these and a voucher to ensure that we have a really nice meal for two, something I am very much looking forward to using at a later date.

What I absolutely love about this concept is the thoughtfulness that has gone into each box and its theme. Without question it does help to create a great night in, it is slightly different to something we might have ordinarily done to watch a film together and it certainly created a lot of laughs as we tried to get the balance just right so that we could both see and hear what was going on.

What do you do for a cosy night in?

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Making Room for Your Fashion & Beauty Stash

If you’re struggling to find space for clothes, make-up and other beauty or fashion products, chances are a lack of space is only half the problem. The other half is the way we use what room we have. When space is in short supply, using it effectively is even more important. 

Photo by Taisiia Shestopal on Unsplash

Storage and Display for make-up

Few beauty routines are complete without a little splash of colour from make-up. But even if you don’t like, or own, lots of foundations, eye colours, blushes and mascaras, chances are you’ll have favourite moisturisers, hair care products or bath and shower gels and creams.

If make-up is your thing, you’ll know how expensive it gets. And maybe you’re attracted to the packaging as well as the product. The cost makes everything worth keeping from a purely practical point of view, and the attractive colours and pretty boxes make the products worthy of display whether they’re being used or not. While you’re also considering where to store your beauty products, consider what you will be doing with your Keratin hair straightening treatments. Keeping your hair and beauty products in one place is a must, as this will ensure that you are organised. Your things need to be kept organised so that you don't have total stress when getting through your morning routine. Straightening your hair should only be done with the right products, which is why Keratin is often used.

Creating display areas to show off your beauty products also has the advantage of keeping your collection together, making things much easier to find than rummaging in a bag or drawer. Try one or two of these display ideas:

• Use letter racks for eye shadow palettes, especially the larger ones with multiple shade options.
• Invest in a couple of magazine racks to hold hair styling gadgets such as straighteners or tongs, rollers or ties.
• Keep your eye out for pretty mugs or small glass vases, both of which make excellent holders for eye pencils, liners, or mascara wands. Charity shops are treasure troves for unusual or vintage cups and vases that could be make-up display containers.
• A rainbow of nail polishes looks appealing when displayed on a revolving cake stand.
• Install a shelf close to or over your dressing table or make-up mirror for items you use most often.

Sort Out Your Wardrobe

Getting your wardrobe organised so you can see and find everything makes getting dressed in the morning so much easier, especially if you like putting separates together and adding matching accessories.

• Tackle hanging clothes first. Arrange the hangers so all the short items are together and all the long clothes are together. This should leave plenty of accessible space underneath the shorter clothes. Here, you could pop a plastic tower drawer to hold undies, accessories or shoes.
• Alternative wardrobe storage for shoes is a shoe rack at the bottom of the wardrobe. If you don’t have space for a purpose-made shoe rack, fashion your own with a couple of tension rods intended for lightweight curtains. Fix them at the bottom of the wardrobe a few inches apart with the back one higher than the one in front. Hook the heels over the back rod and let the sole of the shoe rest on the front rod. Tension rods are brilliant as they come in many sizes. You could even use one as a second hanging rail for light clothing.
• Loop one end of a length of chain (bought from hardware or DIY shops), over a hanger and let the other end dangle down. Use the length of the chain to hang other hangers or S hooks so you have somewhere for bags, scarves, ties or necklaces.

A Seasonal Self Storage Option

There are now so many self storage units in London and elsewhere, that it’s become a go-to option for people who’ve discovered the seasonal storage method.

You can practically double your wardrobe space in one fell swoop when you remove everything that’s out of season. Putting all the stuff won’t need for the foreseeable future into self storage also means those items are not cluttering up other areas in the house.

When searching for a self storage facility, you will want to focus on how convenient it would be for you to access your personal belongings in terms of travel time, ease of access and schedule i.e. opening and closing times. One that is local to you is more than ideal and it's within reach of a five to ten minute ride by bus or car is golden. It's really a matter of practicality and convenience for example if you live in Greenwich it would be ideal to get a storage facility in Greenwhich, the same logic would be applied if you live in a place like in Bournemouth or wherever you may reside.    

There’s a hidden advantage to tucking things away in self storage. When you haven’t seen an item of clothing for a few months, chances are you’ll have forgotten it and it’ll feel new and fresh again. Also, if you’re not sure whether you want to keep something or get rid of it, putting it out of sight gives you some breathing space so you don’t have to make that decision. You’ll know, as soon as you get it out of storage, whether you’re glad you didn’t throw it away or if you really don’t want it anymore. 

You’re allowed to install drawers or hanging rails and shelves in self storage facilities, as long as everything is free standing. It’s easy to make a walk-in wardrobe for seasonal clothes you can swap out as the seasons change.

Making room for a fashion and beauty stash without slashing your collection in half can feel all but impossible. But it’s not, with a bit of lateral thinking and a few clever strategies.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

REN Clean Skincare Atlantic Kelp Hand Care Duo Gift Set

I am a huge fan of REN Clean Skincare* as a brand and if you are a regular reader of my blog then you will see them being featured rather a lot whether it is via PR samples or products I have bought myself from the brand.  Just before Christmas, we had our bathroom renovated, which I have done a blog post about already and another addition to the sink is the REN Clean Skincare Atlantic Kelp Hand Duo Gift Set.

This Hand Care Duo Set is part of my favourite collection of products from REN Clean Skincare. This (multi) award-winning Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium body care range is described as being the non-stripping, sulphate-free.

Inside the beautifully illustrated box are a hand wash and a hand lotion both nestled inside 200ml recyclable pump action bottles. The hand wash is described as being a gentle sulphate-free daily hand wash which works to deeply cleanse, moisturise and revive tired hands. As with the name of the products, there are two main ingredients within this hand wash - Atlantic Kelp Extract and Magnesium PCA which together help to replenish the skin with essential minerals and remove dirt without drying out the skin. Using the exclusive blend of anti-fatigue essential oils, this hand wash also works to energise the senses, leaving your hands refreshed and lightly fragranced.

A hand lotion was not something I ever thought of buying before this gift set and now I already have a back up of this one ready to use. As part of the same Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium range, this hand lotion is really lightweight on the skin and absorbs really easily and quickly. Again using both Atlantic Kelp Extract and Magnesium PCA which work to replenish the skin with essential minerals whilst at the same time helping to restore suppleness and moisturisation to help soothe irritation.  As with the hand wash, this lotion also uses the exclusive blend of anti-fatigue essential oils, this hand wash also works to energise the senses, leaving your hands refreshed and lightly fragranced.

I am a huge fan of this range and these two products, they are an amazing addition to my bathroom and anyone who uses them always comments how nice the hand lotion leaves their hands feeling after using and because it is such a light formula, one pump is more than enough for both hands.  Priced at £25 from Allbeauty*, this set would make an incredible gift or treat.

You can see all that REN has to offer on their website* and right now there are some amazing savings to be had!

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Too Faced Damn Girl Mascara

If you asked me what my favourite makeup product was, you might be surprised to know it is mascara! I absolutely love discovering new mascaras and it along with lip balm, it is something I never leave the house without applying.  New to my collection from Too Faced is the Damn Girl Mascara* and whilst I am a huge fan of Better than Sex, does this one live up to it?

To look at, Damn Girl couldn't be more different to its counterpart if it tried and being the first mascara to be launched from Too Faced after that much-loved original, it is no surprise that it comes with some pretty big claims - 97% Full-on Volume, 100% Intense Black Lashes, 99% Long-wearing Results to name just a few. 

As much as I love Mascara, I am quite picky about what I do and don't like. I have fairly long lashes, so I don't want a formula that is overly wet and nor do I want one that clumps or one which leaves my lashes feeling wet and as though they are dragging on my cheeks.  This also affects the kind of wand that I like to use as well, if it is a big fat chunky wand, then it has to be one which doesn't overload itself with formula and equally if it is a thin spike wand, it has to pick up enough formula to cover my lashes.

Damn Girl is packaged inside an almost metallic purple cardboard outer packaging and the tube inside is just as beautiful, infact I prefer this tube to Better Than Sex. The formula of Damn Girl is described as being "a revolutionary creamy mousse, developed with a special blend of whipped melting waxes (waxes injected with air) that when layered together form one long, weightless super lash and delivers an immediate full load of extreme volume" and it also contains "innovative polymers", which claim to keep lashes flexible as they lift.

The wand is big, huge in fact and it is curvy, referred too as being the dual-fibre infinity brush and I fully expected to absolutely hate it as soon as I saw it, but not wanting to start off with a negative, I gave it chance and was actually quite surprised to find I really liked it, in fact, I liked it ALOT.  It does, as you can see, load itself up with a lot of product, but I not so much that it overloads your lashes, it is just the right amount to ensure the initial wiggle through lifts and coats without clumping and smudging.

The formula is the right consistency to not be too thin or too thick and it is such an intense black that you only need one coat on your lashes, two if you like that big fluttery look. As the formula isn't overly wet, it dries pretty quickly and as quick as it is to apply, it is as easy to remove using your regular eye makeup remover and a cotton pad. 

Too Faced Damn Girl Mascara is priced around £18 for a full-sized version and £12 for a travel size and can be found via Too Faced, Boots, Cult Beauty, and Lookfantastic to name just a few. 

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.