Dreams and Sparkles Jewellery

I was recently sent some jewellery items from Dreams and Sparkles to wear and I have had a lot of comments from friends asking where they came from. Dreams and Sparkles is owned by fellow blogger Shannon Wilson whose beauty and lifestyle blog you might recognise as being Raspberrykiss.co.uk. Shannon is really passionate about affordable and pretty jewellery, accessories and stationery and decided to set up Dreams and Sparkles to provide people with lovely items with very low prices.

I was very kindly sent three items to wear and review and I am really impressed with all three. The first item is this Dainty Gold Coloured Skull Necklace which features a lobster clasp to fasten. Made of Alloy it is 45cm in length and it sits really nice and flat against my chest when being worn. Strikingly the skull is the first thing people do comment upon when they see it, more because those who know me well, know I have a slight fascination with them.

The second item is also a necklace called the Dainty Silver Coloured Clavicle Necklace. Again it is 45cm in length and sits really nicely when being worn. Using a lobster clasp to fashion, this necklace looks great with most outfits and I love the Clavicle, it is different to everything else I own.

Finally we have a gold cross bracelet which I wear quite a lot of the time because I just love the design. I have quite small wrists, so this does move about quite freely when being worn, but doesn't fall off my wrist. It measures 21cm in length and features a lobster clasp like the other two items. The gold cross sits flat across your wrist when fastened and then as it freely moves, it hangs quite nicely.

I highly recommend having a look at what Dreams and Sparkles has to offer you because honestly there are so many great pieces to choose from and as well as UK postage, there is now also international shipping available too.

Weleda Heroes Kit

Weleda for me is a brand which really doesn't get the coverage it should or the indeed the praise it deserves and today I am going to introduce you to this really cute little Weleda Heroes Kit which is packed full of the brands most popular skin and body care products.

As a brand Weleda has a company motto which is "In harmony with nature and the human being". Which in essence means that all of their actions should serve the good of our customers, employees and partners, and should be characterised by love and respect for nature".

Inside this really cute and very handy organic cotton bag with zip, you will find and be able to try five of Weleda’s most popular skin and body care treats in trial size. Personally I think this is a great idea, I am a huge advocate of trial sized products because they give you a brief insight as to whether or not you like the product and want to buy the full version and if you are already a fan, then sample sizes are great for travelling with.

Inside this bad you will find:

Skin Food (10ml) - This is possibly the product most people will identify with and be aware of.  Skin Food is a very rich cream and serves as a multipurpose wonder balm to nourish, repair and hydrate dry skin. To deeply nourish hard working, dry hands: apply liberally, cover with gloves and leave overnight.

Birch Cellulite Oil (10ml) - With this the instructions are that for the first four weeks Weleda Birch Cellulite Oil should be massaged into damp skin with circular movements at least twice a day to improve the skin's texture and firmness. For ongoing maintenance apply once a day. Massage the oil into the skin with moderate pressure towards the heart.

Wild Rose Soothing Day cream (7ml) - This is a rich, intensive, caring moisturiser for dry skin that counteracts fine lines, dryness and dull skin. This deep-nourishing skin care helps prevent the premature appearance of ageing and leaves the skin feeling soft and supple with a healthy natural glow.

Pomegranate Regenerating Hand cream (10ml) - This cream contains certified organic shea butter, rich in fatty acids, which protects skin from moisture loss, while natural plant extracts stimulate cell renewal to keep hands soft and refreshed.

Sea Buckthorn Body Lotion (20ml)- This lotion is designed to protect the skin from moisture loss and is idea for those people who suffer with dry skin especially because it is Rich in essential fatty acids, are absorbed exceptionally well by the skin and stimulate its natural regenerative process.

This top-to-toe collection of handy trial sizes are all formulated from carefully selected plant, nut and seed oils, and enriched with plant extracts and essential oils to nourish and restore your skin and at just £14.95 it is an absolute bargain.

Amanzi Tea - not quite the tea you imagined!

A few days ago I was very lucky to go to Amanzi Tea, a stunning tea-house here in London to take part in a session of tea tasting.  Tea has become quite popular over the past few years with more blends and flavours becoming available and I am sure it won't be too long until tea-houses are more popular than coffee shops.

Amanzi Tea is just stunning.  It has lovely bright colourful decor and whist I was there the footfall of people coming in, sitting down and ordering drinks was plentiful and the whole time, the ambiance being so friendly, warm and welcoming that it is the perfect place to sit with friends and discover new tea loves and Amanzi Tea state:

"We aim to make people passionate about the world of tea by showcasing its possibilities and creating unique drinks and blends impossible to find anywhere else. With 150 different types of premium loose-leaf tea, as well as tea cocktails, chais, lattes and frappés, the possibilities are endless and we have something for everyone".

I am thankful that the lovely girls of Halpen PR invited me along for a tea tasting session which was a whole new experience for me and one I would gladly repeat.  I love tea and I used to be a Tetley tea kind of girl, anything else was a no no.  Then I gave up caffeine having decided that I relied on it far too much and now can happily go without tea or coffee.  Now tea is more than just Tetley or PG Tips, there is a whole plethora of teas out there, some with medicinal benefits and some that are just meant to be enjoyed.

We started off our little taster session with by picking a choice of drink from the menu.  This menu has a lot of options, over 150 to be precise and I found it really hard to decide what to have, that was until someone mentioned Nutella! 

So I had a Nutella Frappe which was absolutely wow and just when I didn't think life could get any better I was introduced to white tea, cinnamon tea, vanilla chai latte tea, something I never thought I would like but actually loved, black tea, bubbletea (high up on my list of tea loves), Almond Tea and cocktail tea which was the absolute highlight of the entire session, I mean who wouldn't want a Mojito Tea?  All the while not once ounce of alcohol was consumed and in total we tried and tasted over 20 different teas.

As you can see, we made short work of all the tasters we were given and there was one tea which the three of us liked the most and as a treat, we were kindly given a full sized cup to take away with us.

Having now had this experience, I wish I had got one of the tea pots (shown below) and some of the tea to try at home because there is still so many flavours I would love to try, some I want to have again and when you look at the tea, who wouldn't want to make some using these items:

Photo Credit - Amanzi Tea (the teapot I want and need in my life)

If you are looking for somewhere new to go for an afternoon with friends for a catch up or some quiet time, love tea as much as I do and want to discover something new, then I cannot recommend Amanzi Teashop enough. The drinks are so reasonably priced at around £1.99 for regular teas, £2.95 for chai and tea lattes and then around £3.75 for bubble teas.


You can find Amanzi tea at: 24 New Cavendish Street, London W1G 8TX and it is open Monday-Friday (7.30am- 7pm), Saturday (10am- 7pm) and Sunday (10am- 6pm)

Detox Diva by Maskeraide

I have become a huge fan of sheet masks and my latest choice of mask comes from Maskeraide** which you can find in Selfridges. Now for me the first thing which stands out is the packaging, I absolutely love it, not only is it bright and eye-catching, it just grabs my attention.

The Detox Diva mask is filled with really good nutrients such as Green Tea Leaf Extracts, Geranium Oil and Seaweed all of which work together to minimise pores, absorb impurities. There is also Chinese Plum, Strawberry and Lemon Fruit Extracts which work to gently exfoliate and lift dead skin cells revealing clear luminous skin.  The face sheet is also Argan Oil based to help keep skin hydrated.

The MaskerAide beauty mask sheet is specially cut to fit the contours of your face, though slightly on the larger side which leaves enough room for you to tuck it around the underside of your face to ensure it snugly fits. Once the sachet is open, the sheet is visibly soaked with what are referred to as antioxidants and they act as an incubator blocking the air from your skin to allow your pores to open and fully absorb the masks full beauty benefits. It smells absolutely incredible, really fruity and fresh scented.

As soon as the mask is on the face, there is an immediate cooling feeling which is really relaxing and it works to stimulate blood flow and awakens your skin. The instructions state to leave the mask on your face to work its magic for 15-20 minutes and then simply remove, lightly rinse your face and pat skin dry.

To add to the list of nutrients, MaskerAide masks are free of:

• Parabens 
• Harsh Dyes & Pigments 
• Mineral Oils 
• Artificial Fragrances 
• Benzophenone 
• Glycerins

My skin absolutely loved this mask.  Not only did my skin feel incredibly refreshed and hydrated but also soft and smooth to the touch.  Long gone is the dryness feeling and left in its place is glowing skin.  Since using this mask, I would be more than happy to try others from the same range, there are six in total to try and each sachet contains one mask.

Have you tried any of the masks from Maskeraide?

The Ultimate Hen Weekend

Two of my friends have hen nights coming up over the next few months and there has been a flurry of activity on Whats'app and Facebook to decide what to do for them both. Both sets of friends like completely different things which is great because it means I won't be doing the same thing twice!

Living in London there are so many things you can do and that has been most of the problem, making that final decision without the Hen finding out what is being planned. Thankfully neither read my blog, so this is a pretty safe place to share some of those ideas just incase you are planning a hen night.

Image Source

Dreamboys - Themed as being the UK most famous girls night out, there are some amazing packages available in Gold, Silver and Bronze and all priced really reasonably depending on the number of people within your group and what you want to get out of it - free cocktails, free food, poppers, goody bags or just a front row seat!

Spa Day - There are so many spa's in London which cater for hen nights, days, full on weekends or even just for one or two treatments. Some offer a glass of champagne or a meal within the price depending again on your budget and how many people are in your party.

Gaming Night - This is one we have also seriously considered because again the West End here in London is not short of a Casino and to feel the whole atmosphere rather than using online casino sites, there is a huge difference and there is also a chance to be taught how to ply Blackjack or Poker. The one reason this is high up on the list is because my friend is going off to Vegas to get married and this will be just a taster of what it is really like as I too go married in Vegas.

Thames Cruise with Disco - One of my favourite options I have to admit. An evening aboard a disco boat with an informal buffet meal from the captain's deck is not only something a little bit different, but it is something that would suit most people no matter how introvert or extrovert they might be.

The final idea that was suggested was a mixture of events with go karting in the morning near Greenwich, followed by an afternoon at the Spa and then out for the evening for dinner, some drinks and either a trip to a club. This would allow people to come along for some, part or all of the day with a range of activities that some will like, love and want to do.

I am doing one of these but am not revealing which for now.  Can you guess which one?

What did you do on your hen night?

*sp

Beautiful Bronze Highlighter - A Boots No.7 Dupe?

I am a huge fan of the Boots No.7 Instant Radiance Highlighter and have reviewed it HERE. It costs just £9.95 and has an amazing formula which dried incredibly quickly and creates an amazing highlighting effect.

I love highlighters in general and have a growing collection of them, so whilst in Primark, I came across the Beautiful Bronze range by Sunkissed, which looks amazing. The one product which caught my eye from the range was the Glow Stick Highlighter which is paraben and alcohol free and contains Vitamin E and costs just £3, so it quickly went into my basket.

It looks absolutely stunning and when I swatched it, I was shocked to find it is the perfect dupe for my favourite Boots No.7 highlighter. Infact it isn't just the colour which is a perfect dupe, but the formula is also very very similar which you can see below.

I am absolutely delighted to have found a dupe for my beloved highlighter and at a saving of almost £7 I am definitely going to check out the rest of the range.

Have you tried anything from this range?

Nip + Fab Skin Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Facial Pads

When a product that you are sent is so good, you go out and stock up on them so you never run out obviously means not only is it an amazing product but everyone needs to be using it right? Well I am a fan of the Nip + Fab range which has featured on this blog before and today I have another amazing product to share and it is one I wasn't expecting to like, infact when I realised they were infact exfoliating pads, my whole teenager years flashed by my eyes and the horror that was those Oxy pads - eurgh!

The Nip + Fab Skin Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Facial Pads (whew) are amazing and each tub contains 60 of these pads which means you either get one or two months supply depending on how often you use them. I prefer to use them once a day in an evening as part of my cleansing routine because I feel that is most effective.

Each pad is soaked in exfoliating glycolic acid which my skin reacts to really well. There is also Witch Hazel which helps to tone the skin plus hyaluronic acid which again my skin absolutely loves and finally blue daisy which soothes and calms the skin.

The pads are really well soaked with the glycolic acid and the screw-top lid is really easy to open and close, plus if you screw it on properly it prevents the pads from drying out. If you do find them drying out, simply store the pot upside down, ensuring the lid is tightly screwed on, then all the glycol ice acid from the bottom few pads will soak those at the top - same trick for face wipes! 

The pads themselves have a textured side which is used for a gentle scrub and a smooth side which I used after the textured side to remove anything which has been brought to the surface of my skin . The pads themselves as you can see are a really good size, not much smaller than my cotton wool pads and when I use them, they absorb and contain enough of the product to coat my entire face, neck and décolletage.  They are not overly abrasive and do feel cooling in the skin. After using them your skin feels so clean as though you have just had a facial, it is amazing.

The Nip + Fab Skin Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Facial Pads retail for around £12.95 but if you look out for them in Boots they are half price!

Have you ever tried these pads?