Collective Autumn Clothing haul. Primark, Peacocks etc.

Last month I went into town to do some shopping, as I wanted to pick up a few early Christmas presents and I manged to bag myself a few bits in Primark and M&S for myself too. My first stop was M&S, I do occasionally really love the store for sophisticated pieces and the sale rack caught my eye. I tried on this tunic shirt with different coloured vertical stripes going down it. It was a nice fit and seemed like a piece that could be worn all year round. The next stop was Primark and they had started stocking up on their A/W range. I noticed things like jumpers and hats etc. I was still a little early for that stuff but as I was browsing the men’s section two beautiful jumpers caught my attention. The first was a navy and white striped style and the second was in a jersey fabric with camo sleeves. Although they were for men I tried them on and you couldn’t tell so I stocked up on them for winter.

A few other bits I bought from Primark included an asymmetric grey t-shirt, another multi-seasonal piece and great for layering in autumn. And lastly from Primark I purchased some cosy socks, which I always stock up on. So there are a few other pieces in this haul from another shopping trip which I wanted to include. While I was in Peacocks browsing their accessories a few things interested me such as the lovely bag charms. The fluffy ones are really in fashion at the moment so I got a pink one and another with a pink heart/tassel on. I love khaki as a colour in autumn, and I thought this fringed oversized purse would come in use for storing my phone or makeup etc. I don’t go in Shoe Zone too often now but they had a lovely selection of slippers, these animal print ones seemed great for the colder months.

Are you excited for A/W fashion? What was your fav piece from my haul? :-) Xxx

What I Bought & Prices.

Primark

Camouflage sleeved crew jumper £10.00

Blue striped jumper £9.00

Grey striped asymmetric t-shirt £6.00

Mink striped cosy socks SALE £2.00 £1.70

Peacocks

Khaki oversized purse SALE £5.00 £3.00

Pink tassel heart bag charm £2.50

Pale pink fluffy bag charm £3.00

Marks & Spencer

Yellow stripe tunic shirt SALE £28.00 £14.00

Shoe Zone

Animal print ballerina slippers £4.99

Zoella Sweet Inspirations Products

Hi all :-) Hope you are all well and are having a nice day. I’m back with a review of two products by Zoella, these include the double créme body lotion and the sugar dip scented bath salt granules. I have high praise for both of these so let’s get straight into it…..

Zoella Double Créme Body Lotion

Wow the scent of this is dreamy and reminds me strongly of macaroons or something sugary sweet. I just adore it and it’s very moreish, I like going back to smell it! The packaging is gorgeous, girly and a little shabby chic. I’m sure it would look wonderful on any dressing table. The product contains 160ml of product which seems generous for £5.00. I was seriously impressed with the quality of the body lotion. Its rich, very moisturising, sinks in quickly and I found my skin was left firm and in great condition after use. It is labelled not tested on animals but I don’t know any further in respect to this. I adore this product and would recommend it! 5/5!!

Zoella Sugar Dip Scented Bath Salt Granules

Another hit from Zoella’s sweet inspirations line! The pretty packaging makes this product very gift friendly. Even the bag inside was super cute. The gold detailing and pretty pink design is beautiful. I was surprised by the high quality of this item, it felt like a luxurious product to use. The bath salts smell stunning and look very pretty as they are scattered into a hot bath. The scent lingers while in the bath and onwards. A generous amount is included in the bag so £6.00 seems reasonable. Labelled not tested on animals again. A great transitional product as we get into autumn and want to take more relaxing baths. 5/5!!

So I hope you enjoyed reading my thoughts on these two items. As mentioned in a previous post I won these in Brigitte Hayley’s YouTube channel giveaway and was so grateful to her for sending me these. Shop the range here.

Have you tried any of the Zoella beauty product range? Do you like sweet inspirations or are you looking forward to checking out her new Christmas line? :-) Xx

August Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle Favourites

So another month has past and it’s time for another monthly favourites. I’ve been doing these posts since the start of the year and have been really enjoying the process of selecting things that sparked happiness. Speaking of which, I finished reading The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying by Marie Kondō which talks about decluttering and only keeping things that bring joy. I had very high expectations because of the success of the book particularly with other bloggers/vloggers saying such good things. I rated the book five out of five stars. I loved the mix of practical tips along with Marie’s personal experiences. I felt she had excellent insight and loved how she showed you can have fun with tidying.

I found these three postcard designs with aspirational quotes on them at Paperchase, not only do I love the words but the pretty colours. I have them displayed in my room and every time I look at them they make me feel good. Although August has been busy I made time to get back into watching films. I’ve come to the realisation that The Fault In Our Stars and Beastly are some of my all-time favourites. The Fault In Our Stars is just so emotive, and I love a good romance movie and having a bit of a weep. If you haven’t seen Beastly before it’s a modern take on Beauty and The Beast. Another gorgeous romance, with a special message.

I’ve been using this Pacifica reed diffuser in the scent island vanilla over the course of Aug and I’m in love, the scent is just perfect and Pacifica as a brand is one of my favs. I started using The Balm eyeshadow palette, I was delighted to win it from Brigitte Hayley’s YouTube channel giveaway. The eyeshadows are super pigmented and the colours are gorgeous and very wearable. I got these green bow ballet pumps from Primark a good while ago and started wearing them up. I have had a few lovely compliments on them which I was chuffed about. We’ve had a few rainy days and these cosy socks have been worn to keep me toasty. I bought this blue stripe dress from Peacocks earlier in the year and has become a staple in my wardrobe as it’s versatile with a flattering fit. It’s a great everyday dress!

So how has your August been? What things have made you smile? :-) xxx

Charbrew Strawberry & Kiwi Tea

Today I’m back with a one of my final summertime themed posts. I wanted to share with you a tea I’ve been trying which is the Charbrew strawberry and kiwi variety. I previously posted here about the Charbrew pineapple & vanilla tea which was absolutely delicious and my most favoured drink of the summer. I must say the strawberry and kiwi was not as tasty. I could easily guess the fruits through tasting, the strawberry was lovely and sweet but the kiwi was sharper. The taste was above average but it just didn’t amaze me or anything.

Here is some words from the brand: “This blend has been inspired by the summer months a very refreshing and extremely thirst quenching blend. The unique, tangy flavour of kiwi and the sweet taste of ripe red strawberries can be enjoyed hot or Iced!” It can be purchased for £3.49 on Holland & Barrett here. I would recommend the brand more so than this particular product. I ordered some more tea for the autumnal months including the Charbrew chocolate orange tea which I have big hopes for.

Let me know what teas you have currently been trying or are lusting after in the shops? :-) xxx

Pacifica Island Vanilla Reed Diffuser

This was the first reed diffuser I had ever tried so I was excited to see how I liked it. I went for the Pacifica brand largely for the lovely scents they offer. I opted for island vanilla and was delighted with the fragrance. I found it to be musky, fruity and unique just like the description online. The first day or so it was a little strong but after then it was just the right amount of aroma throughout the day. I can easily see myself either buying another reed diffuser by them and maybe experimenting with another fragrance. But I do love the island vanilla variety which is available as a perfume…very tempted! “The Fragrance: Inspired by the unique magic of Tahitian vanilla, this sensual blend sets sweet and sultry vanilla absolute, with honey-jasmine notes and a touch of fruitiness, against a deep and beautiful base of tea.”

I adore Pacifica packaging, it’s so bright and cheerful but modern at the same time. I did a blog post on one of their body butters here and that particular packaging is gorgeous. What’s good is they are a 100% natural. For those of you who are interested they are also vegan, gluten-free, as well as paraben, and sulphate free. Pleasingly they are cruelty-free and not tested on animals. Their reed diffusers are priced at £15.00 on Naturisimo.com and offer free delivery. Click here to view the range. So my final thoughts are that I would highly recommend this product, it gives me a warm feeling when I get a gorgeous scented breeze and the kind that would be appropriate as we come into autumn.

Have you tried a reed diffuser before? If so which one? :-) Xx

I Won A Book on Goodreads Giveaways!

I was so excited to win my first book on the Goodreads giveaways. I’ve just recently got more into the book community online and was delighted to have been sent ‘The Ice-Cream Makers’ by the author Ernest Van der Kwast. It sounds like the perfect summer read and the preface seemed quite intriguing. I really want to get my reading groove back, over the summer I’ve been quite prolific in my reading but seem to have slowed down. I’m currently reading a Sarra Manning novel and gradually getting back into the swing on things. I have a little pile of books accumulated from my birthday along with a few others such as this one. So I will leave you with a little info about this book. P.S. isn’t the front cover so dreamy? I love the pastels.

“A dazzling novel about an Italian ice-cream dynasty, tradition, ambition, and the sensation of lemon sorbet melting on your tongue. In the far north of Italy lies the valley of the ice-cream makers: about a dozen villages where, for generations, people have specialised in making ice cream. Giuseppe Talamini claims it was actually invented here. Every spring his family sets off for the ice-cream parlour in Rotterdam, returning to the mountains only in winter. Eldest son Giovanni Talamini decides to break with this tradition by pursuing a literary career. But then one day his younger brother Luca approaches him with a highly unusual request. Now Giovanni faces a dilemma: serve the family's interests one last time or choose his own path in life, once and for all.”

How is your summer reading going? Do you have any book recommendations? :-) xxx

Pacifica Hawaiian Ruby Guava Body Butter

Today I wanted to talk to you about this lovely body butter I’ve been using by the brand Pacifica. They do a variety of scents but the Hawaiian ruby guava one appealed to me most, I love this fruity summer product and have been using it every time I get out of the shower. Here’s a description… “Pacifica Hawaiian ruby guava body butter helps fight signs of aging while adding deep moisture and protection. Made with nature's best moisturizers, shea butter, almond oil and safflower oil, Pacifica's paraben-free body butter is a skin must-have. Inspired by a surfing trip to Hawaii, this sexy and sultry tropical blend combines sweet, berry-like notes of guava with a bright, citrusy top note of pomelo and a warm and subtle coconut base.”

The beautiful combination of sweet and fruity is very noticeable after applying and easily doubles up as a perfume. It lingers on well into the day and it really is like summer in a tube. The butter is rich and moisturising, perfect for people with dry skin. It sinks in fairly quickly too. I was attracted to the packaging, it’s just gorgeous, and I love the bright colours. Each range in the brand has a different design which I think is lovely. Also what’s really great is Pacifica do not test on animals, are cruelty-free and vegan. Products are also free from nasties such as parabens. At £14.95 it seems you are paying for what you get and I’m sure the 236ml tube will last well. I would highly recommend this product! Buy it online here.

Do you like Pacifica too? What products from the brand would you like to try? :-) xxx

Higher Living Super Fruits Tea

I wanted to share my thoughts with you on this Higher Living brand of fruit tea which I put it on my birthday list. Here’s some info I found on the products taste: “A bright blend of fruit and berries that offers thirst quenching pleasure in a cup. Pleasingly tart by itself or add a bit of honey for a different taste experience. Try it cooled and over ice too. Ingredients: hibiscus, rosehips, apples, orange peels, cape gooseberry, cranberries, licorice, mango, pomegranate”. I’ve come to realise I don’t think I’m a big fan of berries in fruit tea, as they mentioned it’s a bit tart and maybe that’s the reason I wasn’t satisfied. I’ve been adding sweeteners which makes it taste a bit sweeter, I could even try their suggestion of adding honey. It was okay but just not a favourite so I might look at other options from the brand.

Having said that I was pleased with other aspects of this tea. Here’s a little info from the website: “15 biodegradable pyramid teapees within. Made with care by us in the UK. Naturally caffeine free, certified organic. £4.99” The outer and inner packaging was excellent and their values too. I was initially drawn to this before purchasing, the look of the tea is pleasing to the eye and would make an ideal gift. At almost five pounds a box, it appears a bit too much money but I get that you are paying for quality and how it’s been made. So my thoughts are a bit undecided to whether it’s a hit or not. Buy online here.

Let me know if you have tried this or have any tea recommendations! :-) xxx

July Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle Favourites

July was a nice month for me with my birthday and other little outings over this period. My actual birthday was quite quiet but I was blessed to receive some lovely gifts from my family, my birthday haul here. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been catching up with blog photography and not had as much time to experiment with new products. Towards the end of the month though, I have found myself gathering a few awesome favourites which I wanted to share with you. I’ve been enjoying the sunshine, and therefore some summer related fashion pieces. I picked up these floral cropped jeans from Peacocks earlier in the year and have been getting my use out of them. I styled them alongside this M&S blue tunic and have been wearing this outfit combo loads!

Unusually I have a lot of new homeware pieces that I haven’t really shared on my blog yet although I thought it was time I did. For example I purchased this beautiful dream catcher for my room in pretty purple and pink colours. Its fair trade and handcrafted, which is brilliant. They are stocked on Amazon and do all sizes and colours, link here. Another little piece for my room, was this collection of purple glitter coasters and I’ve already had compliments on them. These too were found on Amazon, link here. I previously mentioned over the summer I’ve been getting into gardening, so it felt right to show something, I planted these mixed bright flower seeds and now I’m eager for them to flower.

The final ‘lifestyle’ related thing is a book, ‘Don’t Even Think About It’ by Sarah Mlynowski has been a favourite of mine from a stack I’ve completed. I did a mini review series blog post here if you want to find out more. I will say I loved the unique science-fiction twist in the plot, and is suitable for younger readers. I was so lucky to win a competition online, and so far I’ve been enjoying two of the Zoella products which I was sent. Both the body cream and bath salts smell insanely good, look out for a little review. I’ve been trialling some products by a brand called Organic Surge, and I wanted to mention in particular their shampoo, I just love it! The strong apple scent is gorgeous and the brand offer more natural alternatives to everyday products. Lastly I’ve been enjoying two Pacifica products, their Waikiki Pikake roll on perfume (an old fav!) and the Hawaiian Ruby Guava body butter which is the ultimate summer time treat.

What have you been up to in July? Which item interested you the most? xxx

Beauty Products I Won In A Competition.

Last month I won a competition, and received some beautiful goodies through the post. I was really made up with what I was given, including two Zoella products and a The Balm eyeshadow palette. The lovely Brigitte over on her YouTube channel was the one running the competition, and luckily I was picked at random as the winner. Sending my thanks again! Her channel is here if you want to check it out, she does some amazing videos relating to fashion and beauty. I enjoy her videos, and I’m sure you will too! I will be doing some reviews of these products, I have already started testing some out too, and I’ve been delighted with them so far. July was a busy month for me, with my birthday along with other things, now that I have a little more time, I’m looking forward to using these products as well as some from my birthday.

Do you like Zoella or The Balm for beauty? What’s made your month? :-) xxx