The Fable Bar and Restaurant

When the Mister said "Do you fancy Brunch in the City" I thought yeah why not... far from being a romantic gesture, it was for a review he was doing.  So off we went to The Fable, a bar and restaurant near the Holbon Viaduct (central London) and I knew I would love it as soon as I read about it:

"Once upon a time in a land far, far away The Fable Bar was created for the Drake & Morgan collection. Inspired by the fantasy world of fairy tales, the fabulous fables of Aesop & influences from around the globe, it is a bar & restaurant out of the ordinary, where every detail tells a story. A veritable jewel box brimming with unexpected surprises, The Fable offers seasonal food & sensational cocktails alongside bespoke events, fascinating masterclasses & unique customised experiences.

From a writing desk complete with vintage typewriter to the wine shop & florist, ‘Bottles & Blooms’ & the library lined with leather bound story books sourced from vintage markets across the country, expect to be entranced & enthralled".

Inside is this beautifully designed eatery which is everything the description gives.  It is bright, airy and really spacious, not to mention really comfy and very funky chairs.

When it came to deciding what to choose from the menu, the choice is amazing, there is something for everyone and as soon as I saw the words scotch egg and piccalilli my decision was made.  The Mister opting for Salt and Pepper Squid, the food arrived not too long after ordering and was an absolute taste sensation.  The egg was perfectly cooked and perfectly runny and the piccalilli was spicy enough not to overpower and dominate the taste, but give enough kick that there was a gentle heat.   

The salt and pepper squid was equally tasty, perfectly cooked so you didn't have that rubbery texture and seasoned enough so that you didn't have to add anything to it.

When choosing a main, this is where I struggled the most because there are 4-5 dishes that I really wanted to try.  Steve choosing a traditional sunny lunch rather quickly whereas I decided to go for the Wagyu Burger which is served with a blue cheese dressing accompanied by a tomato chutney - far too good to pass up the chance to try it.

With my burger came a choice of sides and I opted for Cowboy fries which are drizzled in honey, chilli and garlic, again they sounded too good to give up and provided the perfect accompaniment to my burger.

The beef in this burger was just so succulent and perfectly cooked.  I am one of those people who hates meat to be overcooked and resembling shoe leather.  Moist and mouth watering, the blue cheese dressing was again not too dominant that it disguised the taste of the meat, but served well as a dressing.  The chips, absolutely stunning, really well cooked but the fiery taste of the dressing on them was perfect, much more interesting than ketchup and they packed a powerful punch on the palette.

As well as sampling the food, we also got the sample a few drinks.  Starting first with some Green Tea, of which I am a huge fan, this was fresh tasting and had not bitter aftertaste to it, instead it was refreshing and thirst quenching.  Then feeling slightly more adventurous it was cocktail time.  I opted for a Passionfruit Mojito and Steve an original Mojito and all I can say is not only was it the best tasting Mojito I had ever had, but I could have happily sat there all day drinking them!

At this point we are both feeling rather full and out come the dessert menus to tempt us.  Before eating I had already spotted one dessert I rather fancied trying but I was far too stuffed to even contemplate it.  Then came the chance to try a cocktail in a teacup, my curiosity got the better of me and I ordered a Tipsy Affogato and Steve had the Raspberry Ripple.

The Tipsy Affogato with vanilla ice-cream, Amaretto and Kahula with a side helping of espresso is the perfect way to end what had been a stunning a brunch. It was tasty, though naturally teaming with alcohol, but not so much it left you with brain fog and to be served in a teacup and saucer was just brilliant. The Raspberry ripple which was a mixture of Johnny Walker Black, Drambuie and Honey Liquor was topped off with Raspberries and Cream and again it hit the right spot with a combination of being a tipple of alcohol and a dessert in one. If by this point you are still fully functioning and can eat something else, there are further options on the menu, but for me, I was fully stuffed and didn't need to see another scrap of food for the rest of the day.

If you are looking for somewhere in the (London) City, then The Fable Bar is more than definitely somewhere you should check out. Whether you want a snack, Lunch, a quick bite to eat or a full blown epic meal like we had, the prices are so reasonable and the food so flavoursome and filling that it more than good value for money.

*We were kindly sent to The Fable for review purposes.

L’Occitane Almond Velvet Collection

Following on from the beautiful Bleu & Iris Blanc Perfume, L’Occitane’s latest releases are scientifically formulated to help improve the signs of aging on the body as well as reducing age spots and hyper pigmentation, and helping to restore firmness whilst combating lines and wrinkles. The new Almond Velvet Duo which consists of a balm and a serum have been my go to products for the last month and boy are they something amazing.

I personally cannot stand marzipan but I love almonds and anything almond scented, so I was really eager to try these two products out.

The Almond Velvet Balm** (£42) is such a beautifully scented balm you cannot help but love it and want to use it. On the skin it feels luxurious and rich and incredibly moisturising. The scent was not quite what I was expecting, as someone who loathes the taste and smell of marzipan, it filled me with dread that my skin would end up smelling like someone's wedding cake. Thankfully, that was not the case at all. 

Instead what you get is a really light and very refreshing floral scent which lingers for a good few hours after application on the skin. It isn't overly sweet or sickly it is just stunning. The purpose of the Almond Velvet Balm is to target the five signs of ageing which include dryness, skin slackening, lack of tonicity, fine lines and skin irregularities. Having applied this religiously, my skin is so soft and smooth that if I could bathe in this, I would.

The Almond Velvet Serum** (£38) is the second beautifully scented product in this duo. This serum is the first ever anti-ageing serum by L’Occitane and it combines the almond youth complex of Vitamin C and carefully selected active ingredients to help even out skin tone and brighten the complexion. 

This serum is really lightweight on the skin, it has a silky texture that once applied, rapidly absorbs itself into the skin where it acts deep within the skin to reverse sun damage and plump and firm. Again on the skin, this serum, like the Balm is so incredibly moisturising, it is simply divine. Designed to be used on your entire body on its own or with the Velvet Balm. The scent again mirrors that of the soft floral fragrance previously mentioned and again once on the skin, the scent lingers for a good few hours after application.

L’Occitane promises that after only one month, skin texture will look smoother and more even. And after two months, sun induced dark spots will appear less visible and skin’s youthfulness will be revealed.

Both of these products are on the pricey side but in my honest opinion, are more than definitely worth every single penny. If you’re looking to up your skin care game then I highly recommend you try the Almond Velvet Duo out and coming from someone who is totally useless at applying bodycream, to have applied this every day for the last month without fail, they must be superb products.

The L’Occitane Almond Velvet Collection is available to purchase now from L’Occitane.

La Montana - Scented Candles Inspired by Spain

I am yet to meet someone who isn't a fan of candles, I personally am a huge fan and can never have too many. Whenever I am at home, there is always one burning in whichever room I tend to be in.

I was recently introduced to La Montana fragranced candles**, a brand that has been inspired by life in a Spain Village. Founders Cass and Jonathan Hall decided to leave London life behind back in 2011 and move to move to a Valencian mountainside where they became inspired enough to create their own home fragrance range that captured the beautiful surroundings and the new smells of the area.

I was very kindly sent two candles from the range and I was blown away by the delicious scents which hit me as soon as I opened the box.  I also really love the candles packaging, all of which have a vintage 1930s travel poster design printed on both the labels on the candle and then onto packaging. 

First Light which is La Montanas signature fragrance and is described as being 

"A unique, intoxicating blend of wild, aromatic mountain herbs: fennel, bergamot, rosemary, mountain pepper, and rockrose" Now for me, this literally brings about the sense of sunshine and mountains and what it would be like to breathe in the morning air. 

Once alight, that scent becomes more intense as it filters through the house and the entire time the candle is burning, that scent remains strong.

The second candle is called Alfredo's Café and it is the latest scent from La Montana and it is described as being 

"An unusual, rich, comforting blend of the best aromas of our village square – coffee, brandy, and black tobacco, laced with leather and incense from the church" 

The scent to me, is the kind of scent you get whilst sitting outside a cafe on holiday as all the scents mix together. It is quite a warm and comforting scent and one which is ideal for both men and women. 

Again once it is alight, the fragrance really comes to life and for me the scent of coffee is the most dominant and it is such a wonderful fresh scent.

La Montana candles have approximately 40+ hours burn time and retail at just £35 each.  You can find the full La Montana range via their website.

Make your blonde, Blonde with John Frieda + Giveaway

Do you remember the days of Sun-in spray? I do all to well with the promise of my hair going a shade lighter actually turning a yellowy-orange shade instead, thankfully there was no such thing as social media back then!

I do still want my hair to be lighter than it is, I think it looks so much better but I am not a fan of bleaching or using peroxide on my hair. John Frieda, the world renowned hair stylist might just have the solution to my problem with his new range of hair products - Go Blonder.

Within this range is a shampoo, conditioner, an oil elixir, a lightening spray to name just some of the products. The range is designed to gradually lighten blonde hair for that brighter sun-kissed look. Thankfully it is also an ammonia and peroxide-free formula which uses a natural 'Lightening Complex' which gently reduces colour pigments to lighten blonde hair by up to 2 shades. It has been carefully developed for all shades of natural, colour-treated or highlighted blonde hair.

If this sounds like something you would like to try, I have very kindly been given a superb prize for one of you to win:

1 x Go Blonder Shampoo

1 x Go Blonder Conditioner

1 x Sheer Blonde Tote bag

This is a UK only giveaway. All you need to do is complete the entry form below, ensuring you adhere to those sections which are mandatory.  If you are under 16, please do get your parents permission to enter as I will need your address for the prize to be posted.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Creative Colouring Book for Grown-ups

One thing my nieces and my nephews love to do is to sit with a colouring book and colour and it is something I really enjoyed doing as a child too. Then a friend of mine suggested I purchase an adult version which she has found highly relaxing and a way of helping to de-stress. So I took the plunge and I purchased The Creative Colouring Book for Grown-ups (rrp £7.99) and some pens to give it a go.  The one thing I am not is arty, I can barely draw a stickman and am so envious of those people who are talented artists because when you see them drawing or painting, it looks so relaxing, so for me, this is the next best thing.

Described as follows:

"Explore your natural creativity with some stunning and exotic patterns to colour in, however and whenever you feel inspired. Doodling and colouring have long been known to enhance one's thought processes and provide a relaxing yet highly creative way to free the mind. In this original and unique book you'll find over 100 detailed patterns to colour, providing endless entertainment and building into a piece of work that you can truly call your own"

This book is no bigger than an A5 notebook and has an elastic band, in fuschia pink to keep everything neat and tidy and to stop the pages from bending, ripping and becoming unruly. Not quite a hardback exterior, it still has a fairly rigid brightly coloured sleeve which caught my eye in WHSmiths. The reason I have started off with this one is because, if I carry it around in my handbag, it is less likely to get bent out of shaped and ripped and it is a nice little introduction into the world of adult colouring books.

Inside the book are over 100 beautiful patterns for you to pick and choose from to colour ranging from floral motifs to geometric designs, all of which capture your attention. The paper is quite also quite thick, so there no chance of anything seeping through the page to ruin the adjoining patterns. The only downside is that once you start, you quickly lose a good few hours because it is really relaxing and it certainly holds your attention.

So if you are looking for a new hobby that doesn't cost the earth, holds your attention and will engross you, seriously, buy one of these books, there are so many different ones out there to be had that you will be spoilt for choice as to which one to choose, but once you start, you will find it very hard to stop.

If it's 20-plus years since you picked up a crayon, you'll be surprised how fun it is!  Have you tried or bought one yet?

Are you comfortable in your own skin?

While my other half insists that he needs at least £10,000 of plastic surgery to rid his face of lines and wrinkles I’m fairly comfortable in my skin. That said, while BeautykingUK may look in the mirror and see someone else’s body it would appear he isn’t alone, and in fact the use of surgical procedures for purely aesthetic reasons are more popular than you would think.

It wasn’t until a snazzy new infographic from the New Birkdale Clinic popped into my inbox that the scale of procedures being undertaken across the UK really hit home. 

Would you believe that last year there were over 45,000 procedures across the country? No? Me neither, if you had asked me to guess I would have put the figure firmly in the region of around 10,000 but I would be way, way out! Even more striking is the fact that the total actually decreased in 2014 when compared to the year before.

What do I draw from the infographic? Well, to me it appears that as the economy picks up and most of us have more money to spend on luxury goods and services. This could explain the increase in procedures. Could it also be the explosion in clinics offering procedures and the decreasing cost of undergoing a procedure?

What was staggering for me was the sheer increase in the number of breast augmentations (boob job to you and me) - 231% since 2004 and the increase in breast reductions - 243% since 2004. Wow, there are a lot of people out there who just don’t like what they were given in the genetic mixing pot.

*Guestpost

SpaLondon - Kensington

This week I paid my first (and definitely not last) visit to SpaLondon at their newest branch in Kensington to experience one of two treatments. I couldn't wait to give it a go because I had had an extraordinarily busy six months at work and was in need of some indulgence and de-stressing.

Describing themselves as "An oasis of calm, where you can leave stresses and strains of modern life behind you. SpaLondon offers the perfect environment in which to restore both mind and body, lifting your spirits through each experience"

It was exactly what I was in need of and looking forward too and it is exactly what I got. The centerpiece of spa LONDON is the Thermal Spa Experience, comprising of an Aroma Steam Room, Sauna, Ice Fountain, Hydrotherapy pool, Monsoon Shower and Relaxation Lounge and I cannot wait to experience them all. As you arrive, everything is bright, airy and is everything you expect a Spa to be. Based at the leisure centre in Kensington, there are are over 50 health, beauty and relaxation treatments in partnership with brands such as Elemis, Murad, Fake Bake and O.P.I.

I spent the afternoon with  Copper Garden, One Little Vice, Splitthecity, House of Blog and Beauty With Charm and as we arrived, we were warmly welcomed with an amazing afternoon tea, as well as orange juice and champagne!

Our hosts for the day talked us through the SpaLondon brand to give us an insight into who they are and what they are about. One message that stood out above everything else is to bring a little bit of pampering to everyday people like you and I and to do this the key issue is affordability but without compromising on the luxury. To that end, SpaLondon Spa's are affordable (both the products and the treatments) and have been purposely located in local leisure centres, making them as accessible as possible not to mention welcoming. 

I had been offered the choice between two treatments: the Murad facial or the Midas Touch Gold Treatment. I opted for the latter as it's a signature SpaLondon treatment, and it has the word gold in it and I wanted to know why.  It also involved all of the products you can see in the photo immediately below!

The Midas Touch Gold Treatment lasts for 90 minutes (£70) and is described as being "An exotic exfoliation ritual to leave the skin glowing and hydrated". It starts with a golden elixir cleansing foot ritual to prepare you for your journey. My treatment wasn't 90 minutes long (though I am wanting to do back and try the whole treatment) but in the time I was in the treatment room (shown above) I was made to not only feel incredibly comfortable with my therapist Nicole, but she talked me through absolutely everything that was going to happen and why it was done. 

The room had a really relaxing atmosphere with mood music in the background and the treatment bed itself incredibly comfortable.

So to start with your skin is deeply cleansed, polished using the gold elixir and then it is softened with the SpaLondon signature gold body scrub. The scrub isn't overly abrasive but you can feel it being worked onto the skin and it isn't at all painful. After showering off the scrub, the use of the Thai compress massage comes into being. Shown above, these two padded items, which smell delightfully of coconut, are use to perform the massage. They are heated slightly and honestly, it was so amazing I didn't want the treatment to come to an end, I could literally feel my muscles beginning to relax and I was almost ready for a power nap.

After the treatment had ended, I was given a nice cool glass of detox water and then taken through to the relaxation room where I was asked to lay back on one of the chairs and relax for a few minutes.  I actually could have stayed there all day.  It was so peaceful and calming that after my treatment, whilst my skin was rejuvenated and glowing, my mind was ready for a nap.

For me, this was an amazing opportunity and one I am incredibly thankful for. If this sounds lke your idea of heaven, then there are six other locations to choose from - Bethnal Green, Epsom,  Oxford Circus, Old Street, Swiss Cottage and Wimbledon. Enjoy!