***300 Bloglovin followers GIVEAWAY*** - A big big thank you!!!

Yankee Candles Votive Happiness box

Revlon Colorburst Lacquer Balm, Coquette

Accessorize Daisy necklace

***GIVEAWAY***

Thanks to you guys I've just managed to reach an amazing 300 followers on bloglovin, yeah! I started my blog in September last year and although it's taken me a little while to get the hang of things I now absolutely love blogging, it's such a great community to belong to. I've had so many lovely comments and encouragement, it's so very much apprecited. As a BIG BIG THANK YOU I've decided to *GIVEAWAY* three of my favourites, reviewed earlier this year, I hope you like them as much as I do!

Firstly there's the Yankee Candles Votive Happiness box containing three new 'Fruit-i-licious' fragrances and a Margarita Time votive. You can see the full review here. These are only available online at the moment and should reach the shops at the beginning of April.

One of the best lip products I've reviewed so far this year is the Revlon Colorburst lacquer balm, it came top in my comparison with two other popular brands so I thought it would make a good pressie to you. To see the full review just look here.

Finally, I thought it would be a good idea to include this pretty Daisy necklace from Accessorize, it's just right with the summer fast approaching and you can check out the featured post here.

It would be so great to hear which are your favourite posts to date? 

Again, thank you so much for supporting my blog, it really really is appreciated 

BEST OF LUCK !!!

Deborah

xxx

a Rafflecopter giveaway

CONGRATULATIONS to Jasmin from Very Tropical, your goodies are on their way!!! X

CHANEL Les 4 Ombres - Tisse Venitien!

 

 Chanel Les 4 Ombres, multi-effect quadra eyeshadow

Tisse Venitien, £40

OMG! Is this the best eye shadow quartet ever? Chanel have just revamped their Les 4 Ombres range with the release of this seasons new collection of 'Tisse' colours and I have to say, they are my favourite to date. I first spotted the lovely Tisse Venitien on the back of a Grazia magazine and it soon became my mission to track it down. This proved a fairly difficult task but I eventually found it online at House Of Fraser.

The quartet consists of a pale pink highlighter along with three beautiful smokey shades of silvery grey that have just a slight hint of teal making them just a little different to the usual smokey shadows on the market at the moment. I absolutely love the lighter of the grey's and tend to wear it alone with a black eyeliner as a daytime look but you can just imagine how daringly gorgeous the darker shades look for a dramatic nighttime effect. The highlighter pink is great for the brow line or again worn solo with a black liner, this is such a versatile quartet.

As to the quality, well the colours were really intense and maintained that level of intensity throughout the day with minimal smudging. I did notice a little creasing with the darker shades but this was easily rectified with a little touch up, I consider this a small inconvenience for such a beautiful palette of colours. Check out the rest of the range at Chanel, there should definitely be a quartet to suit everybody's tastes, I've got my eye on the Tisse Riviera next, a lovely riviera blue inspired palette.

What's your favourite eyeshadow palette?

Deborah

XXX 

As a thank you to you guy's I'm holding a GIVEAWAY to celebrate reaching 300 followers on bloglovin, so keep your eyes peeled!!! 

Molton Brown Rhubarb & Rose Hand Wash and Hand Cream - A touch of colour and fragrance!

Molton Brown Rhubarb & Rose Hand Wash, £16

and Replenishing Hand Cream, £10

Having recently redecorated our downstairs cloakroom with a clean and simple white, silver and black colour scheme, we decided the room needed a touch of something bright and cheerful to give it a little something else. I thought an injection of either orange or bright pink would be the answer and accessoried accordingly with a couple of hand towels, my favourite cat trio (a special present from my mum years ago) and my ever present candles, again I do admit it's more than just an obsession!!!

The final touch came in the form of these beautiful new toiletries from Molton Brown. I've always been a big fan of their products and rate a hotel very highly if they supply Molton Brown bathroom products in their rooms, the height of true luxury. It was only natural to give my beautiful newly decorated cloakroom the products it deserved and the new Rhubarb & Rose hand care collection fitted the bill perfectly. Not only were they the perfect colour the smell is amazing. You really get the aroma of the rhubarb with just a slight hint of rose, a stunning combination evoking summer scents of rhubarb crumbles and fresh cut roses. My son said it reminded him of Rhubarb and Custard sweets, one of his favourites, so a big hit with him too, just what a mechanic needs to wash his hand at the end of a busy day!

The lovely soap cleanses without drying your hands and leaves the bathroom smelling fresh and fruity. Follow this with the hand cream and your hands feel beautifully moisturised, a must if you are constantly washing and drying them. There is also an Enriching Hand Lotion available in this collection but at £20 it's a little expensive, although you could purchase a gift set of all three for £40 here, a possible gift idea for Mother's Day.

I absolutely love the look, smell and quality of these products and will definitely be re-purchasing in the future, the hand wash bottle contains 300ml so this may not be for some time yet, however, the hand cream is disappearing more quickly as I can't resist using it every time I pop in the loo.

What are your favourite Molton Brown products? Can you recommend any other hand care brands?

Deborah

xxx

NEW from Yankee Candles - 'Fruit-a-licious' Votive Happiness box!

NEW from Yankee Candles - 'Fruit-a-licious' 

On the 1st April Yankee Candles are set to release these lovely new Summer fruit fragrances but you could try them early with one of these lovely sample sets, available direct from Yankee Candles. This little box of Votive Happiness is the ideal way to try out a new scent to see if it's for you and at £6.99 it's a little treat for either yourself or maybe as a 'Mother's Day' gift idea! The box contains the three new fruity votives plus an extra one in Margarita Time, my favourite cocktail!

Black Plum Blossom - What hails the arrival of spring and summer better than blossom on the trees, this never fails to lift my spirits, especially after such a miserably wet winter. The scent is described as a 'deliciously enticing nectar of beautiful black plum blossoms with hints of white musk and vanilla', this sounds good enough to eat, yum!!! You can really smell the sweetness of the plum and I love the subtle hint of the musk and vanilla, two of my favourite essences in a candle. The colour is a rich shade of juicy plum too which doesn't fail to enhance the overall gorgeousness of this scent, I absolutely love it.

Orange Splash - I usually prefer orange scents in autumn and Christmas with a hint of cinnamon and spice but this one is just as lovely for the summer. It's described as having a 'burst of golden sunshine...the bright, sparkling aroma of juicy, just picked oranges'. This reminds me of past holidays spent in the Mediterranean, or fresh orange juice at breakfast time, lush!

Sweet Apple - This is probably my favourite scent of the three fruity flavours. It's not too sweet and reminds me of crisp red apples on a summers day, in fact it's described as having a 'sugary sweet crispness of a perfectly ripe apple fresh from the orchard', I couldn't have put it better myself. I'm not usually too keen on the apple scents as they can sometimes be a little too sweet for me but this one is lovely and subtle, perfect for bringing a touch of summer freshness into your home.

Margarita Time - This votive comes from the new Beach Party Collection, I will have to keep you updated about this as I haven't been able to find any information as yet. As I've already said, Margaritas are my 'all time' favourite cocktail so it's not surprising that this one was a real hit with me, it's even the same colour. I love the smell of the fresh citrus limes along with a slight hint of tequila, I know that doesn't sound good but believe me it's amazingly fresh and zingy, I love love love it!!!

Of the new fruit fragrances I love the Sweet Apple the most, however they are all deliciously lovely so please do try them all. They definitely embrace the scent of fresh summer fruit and their vibrant fruity colours would look good in any votive holder. I have to say that the Margarita Time is my most favourite though, probably due to my love of Margarita's and anything citrus, it really does smell fresh and zesty, an aroma sure to give you a lift and scream SUMMER IS HERE!!!

Have you tried any of these delicious new fruity fragrances yet, which is your favourite?

Deborah

xxx

Essie 'Disco Dazzle' - Time to put on your disco pants!

 From left to right Jazzy Jubilant & Midnight Cami, £12.99

If you've become as obsessed as I have with all this seasons beautiful pastel shades on the high street then you can consider this nail varnish duo an antidote or maybe even just a touch of rebellion, great for a night out on the town! I reviewed Essie's really pretty pink duo, A Sprinkle in Pink, in a previous post (see here) and was really pleased with the quality, colour and versatility so it was only natural to be drawn to this more daring duo.

I really love all shades of blue when it comes to nail colour and Midnight Cami is no exception. It's a gorgeous rich shade of navy with just a hint of shimmer to it, beautiful worn on it's own or even better when accessorised with Jazzy Jubilant as a top coat. As with A Sprinkle of Pink, it's great fun to experiment with an accent nail or glitter just on the tips, unfortunately my nails aren't long enough to try this look ATM so I'll have to try that when, if ever, they reach a suitable length. The Jazzy Jubilant would also look good worn as a top coat to many other shades as it contains so many different disco inspired coloured sparkles, I personally like the idea of teaming it up with a shimmery silver or a jade green.

Which ever way you decide to wear this duo, I'm pretty sure you'll find it a lovely addition to your nail polish collection. I purchased mine in Boots and at £12.99 it's cheaper than buying Essie varnishes separately (usually £7.99 ea). I'd love to know if you've discovered any other Essie duo's in other colours, I'm sure I've seen a review on a lovely pale green but I haven't been able to track it down yet.

How would you wear this nail varnish duo?

Deborah

xxx

Arthur's Antics - Happy 2nd Birthday!!!

HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY ARTHUR!!!

A present frenzy begins!

 He's not really a spoilt brat, honest!

How does this doggy puzzle work?

It's Arthur's 2nd birthday today (can't believe we've had him nearly two years already) and this gives us the opportunity to spoil him even more than he already is. After a morning spent investigating his new toys, which included loads more squeaky balls and cuddly's, Arthur is now set for his daily workout down our local park. This usually includes chasing one of his favourite squeaky balls around two fields, playing with new friends and a good swim if the tide is in, GREAT FUN!!!

 I'm waiting!

THROW ME THE BALL!

I am now a bouncy curly mass of energy!!!

 Poised for action!

 And we have take off!

 And again!

 And AGAIN!!!

You're not having it back now!

Oh, OK just one more throw! 

An intensive workout is usually followed by an equally intensive nap!

Having thoroughly enjoyed his birthday, Arthur now dreams of an evening spent wrestling one of the poor Ragdoll cats, who's turn will it be today?

Tonight,s your lucky night!

A thorough ear wash is what's required here!

SO SO Scary!!!

No cats were harmed in the writing of this post!!!

Here's wishing Arthur a very very Happy Birthday!

XXX

Accessorize 'Statement' Necklace and Earrings - Add a touch of sparkle to your pastels!

Accessorize 'Rio' necklace and earrings, £22 & £12

If, like me, you are a bit of a 'magpie' when it comes to anything pretty and sparkly then this necklace and earrings combo is a definite MUST for you! I spotted them a few weeks ago and had successfully managed to resist the temptation to purchase until a recent shopping trip with Lisa (Topaz & May), she's such a bad influence!!!

With pastels being such a big influence on the high street ATM, this duo can not fail to compliment your Spring/Summer wardrobe, I particularly love the pretty green and orange jewels in the necklace. They would look equally as good with a crisp white T shirt, pretty camisole or a lovely black maxi dress (my personal favourite). To me, this makes them the perfect holiday accessory, just imagine how much more they will sparkle and shine in the sun!

I've already worn the necklace several times and it never fails to draw compliments, however, keep an eye on the crystals as one of mine dropped out and I was lucky enough to find it and glue back in place, so do take a little care when wearing. I have to admit though that Accessorize have always been really good in the past if I've had a problem with a piece of jewelry. I would probably only wear the earrings in the evening as they can become a little heavy (for me) after a while but one of the good things about these pieces is that they work equally as well worn separately or together giving you options.

You can find the necklace at Accessorize online here, however I haven't found the earrings online yet so your best bet would be to pop into your local Accessorize and check them out. Let me just warn you though, these are just the tip of the glittery iceberg, there are so many other sparkly things to tempt you!

Have you invested in a 'statement' piece for the Spring/Summer yet?

Deborah
xxx

Bumble & Bumble review - Thickening solutions for fine hair!

Bumble & Bumble thickening shampoo, conditioner and hairspray, £18.50 to £21.50

I am not normally one to be drawn in by all the hype about a product and will only try something new if it's been recommended by someone who's actually used it. I have to be honest, I probably wouldn't even have considered the Bumble and Bumble products due to their price but then my lovely daughter Lisa bought a couple of their items in a recent sale to review on her blog Topaz & May (see full review here) one of these items being the BB thickening hairspray. Lisa already has really thick hair which she must have inherited from her dad because mine is really fine, so she gave this to me to try, I haven't looked back since!

Having been totally impressed by the hairspray, I wanted to try out the shampoo and conditioner but considered them too expensive until I came across the travel sized versions on a recent trip to my local Boots. Although still fairly expensive at £5.50 for the shampoo, £6.50 for conditioner and £7.50 for a travel size hairspray this was still way less costly than the full sized products and a great way to try them all before an expensive splurge.

BB thickening shampoo - Firstly, I can't describe just how lovely and fresh this shampoo smells, it's amazing. The results were equally as good, my hair not only felt fresh and clean but also thicker and stronger even before styling and drying.

BB thickening conditioner - This smelt just as lovely, it's almost like fresh cut flowers and I didn't use as much per application so it would probably last twice as long as the shampoo. The combination of both this and the shampoo left my hair feeling clean, fresh, in better condition and definitely fuller. It also looked so much healthier and shiny, result!

BB thickening hairspray - I have been using the hairspray that Lisa gave me for over a month now and have really noticed positive results, hence the urge to try the shampoo and conditioner. I usually spray this into the roots of my hair whilst still damp and give it another quick spray when combed and ready for drying. It's great for styling and holds the hair for longer than other sprays I've tried. When dried, curled or straightened, I finish off the look with another quick spray to keep it in place. You don't get the stiff hold of some hairsprays and when brushed out there doesn't seem to be any product. residue, it still feels very natural.

Now that I've tried these products for myself I will definitely be restocking, maybe even trying the Bumble and Bumble (really) thickening serum next. However I may have to do a little research to find a good deal first. So far I've spotted them slightly cheaper on the Amazon website, I will let you know if I find any cheaper stockists.

Have you tried any of the Bumble & Bumble products? Are there any other products you might recommend for thickening treatments?

Deborah

xxx