March Gambettes Box*

Although we have had our fair share of snow this month in England, I genuinely believe that Spring is right around the corner which means I may be brave enough to start wearing skirts and dresses! We shall see! When my Gambettes Box arrived this month it was perfect timing as the weather had just started to brighten up enough to wear tights! Phew!

This months box once again had two beautiful and unique pairs of tights in collaboration with Patricia Blanchet.  Patricia is a Parisian shoemaker extraordinaire. They arrived in a bag this month instead of a box, which is the ideal size for me to store my tights in from this box and previous boxes.



 Firstly was the Spectacular Spectacular pair of black lace tights 35D. These tights are great for when it is still a bit cold as they do give you slightly more coverage. The lace pattern is very flattering.

Secondly, my favourite pair of the two - Haute Voltige which is a 20D pair of black tights with a rectangle design on them. I love these because they are unique and i haven't seen another pair quite like them! They're comfortable and well fitted.

Gambettes Box costs just £13.95 a month including shipping and you get two pairs of tights delivered through your door for this price. I have loved every pair that I have received so far and have found that the quality is really good. Head over to the Gambettes Box website if you would like to subscribe or see previous boxes.

*I received this item free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

January Gambettes Box Review*

A few months ago I reviewed the new Gambettes Box and in January I was very kindly sent the second box. Since My Little Box has now gone, I needed something to fill that gap and the excitement of receiving a mystery box in the post each month. Whilst I am still on the hunt for another beauty box, the Gambettes Box has definitely satisfied the fashion side of things.

If you don’t know much about Gambettes Box then I will give you an overview. Designed in Paris, each month you will receive 2 pairs of tights which will both be different. So far all of the tights I have received have been fashionable and of really great quality. The designs are unique and not something you can pick up in any old high street store.

This months box contained a gorgeous grey pair of tights called 'Patins' with black polka dots. The tights are 50 denier so great for this time of year when you want a bit more coverage. The second pair were called 'Gadins' and were a pair of black bunting tights, 30 denier. I really like these and the pattern is unlike any other pair that I own.

You also get a couple of cards inside with ideas on how to style your new tights, which I really love. I love the excitement of not knowing what you are going to receive. Both boxes have provided me with stylish and high quality tights that I cannot complain about. I love the packaging and the inserts.

At only £13.90 a box, they make a great gift for a friend too, or a nice treat for yourself each month. Although this is a monthly subscription service you are free to cancel at any time.

Interested? Click here to order your first box. Let me know if you would like me to feature these tights in a fashion post or outfit of the day. What do you think of Gambettes Box?

*I received this item free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

Christmas Gift Guide - Collaboration with Contrado*

Ever wanted to create your own Christmas jumper or garment? Looking for a gift that would suit those who “have it all”? When I was contacted by the company Contrado, I was intrigued as to what they had to offer. The company Contrado is a creative customised printing company that collaborates with artists and designers.



I went on the website and saw that you can literally design and customise almost everything. From pyjamas to hoodies, jackets and leggings as well as home ware items such as tea towels. I thought it would be quite apt to design a Christmas jumper seeing as this product was going to be shown off in my Christmas Gift Guide. Contrado are experts at printing, especially on fabrics. I loaded up the website and couldn’t believe how easy it was to choose a design. You could change the colour of the arms, front and back of the jumper with ease. There was an option to add text, clipart or your own images to the garment.

Their products are sustainable and do not print using water. I decided to design my jumper using Photoshop. I simply cut out photos of my cat, added Christmas hats, snowflakes and then made sure the background colour matched the colour I had chosen for the jumper on the website then saved this as a JPG file. I then added the image to the jumper and cropped it to make sure it fit on the front. It looked amazing on the website when it was designed. This cost just over £50. When the jumper arrived, I was nervous to open it. I had hoped it met my expectations after seeing the preview on the website.

I needn't have worried as the jumper was even better than I expected. I have received many compliments on the jumper and when people realise it is actually my very own cat on the front they can't quite believe it! I have even had people say they want their own ones done with their pets! If you too are intrigued by what fantastic gifts you can create, head over to Contrado - you won't regret it!

*I received this item free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

Awemix Charity Watches - Breast Cancer*

Putting on my watch is one of the first things I do when I wake up in the morning and I cannot go about my day unless I am wearing one. When I saw the stylish watches that were available from a brand called Awemix, not only did I think they looked nice, I also thought they were for a very good cause and couldn’t wait to get my hands on one.

The watches have been launched by brother and sister team Michael and Sandy Niman. 20% from every £20 watch sold goes to charity which I think is really lovely. Not only does the charity benefit by receiving some money, the Awemix watch designs also raise awareness to the causes that they represent. Since wearing this watch I have had a few compliments and it always sparks a conversation. I think the watches are very affordable and stylish.

I received the watch that has been designed for Breast Cancer, for the charity Keeping Abreast. There is also a watch that has been designed for Norfolk Wildlife Trust for Wildlife & Conservation. The community nominates and votes on which charities they want to support and these are the two that were chosen. Norfolk Wildlife Trust is the oldest Wildlife Trust in the UK and the donations have been used for vital habitat conservation in Norfolk. Keeping Abreast supports women with either breast cancer or the hereditary BRCA gene, who are considering or undergoing immediate or delayed breast reconstruction. The money that they receive from Awemix goes towards funding the services they offer including information, support and practical help.

Awemix watches have partnered with numerous universities across the country, from Aberdeen to UEA, as well as Raise the Bar; a spoken word events company. Awemix Watches can also be found in five stores around East Anglia, with further shops planned. I love that it is local in this sense, but feel proud that they will be branching out nationally.

Overall I personally think the concept is amazing. It is rare that you find a company so passionate about helping others and it really does feel like a good cause. The watches are stylish enough to be worn and I personally feel proud to wear one knowing that they contribute to such good causes.

Head over to Awemix to get your hands on one of these designs. It's for a great cause!

*I received this item free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

Gambettes Box Review and Giveaway*

If you’ve followed me for a while then you’ll know that I love a subscription box whether it be beauty, lifestyle or fashion. I recently discovered a new subscription box called Gambettes Box which is designed in Paris and made in Italy. Each month you receive two pairs of tights! They have only just launched in Italy this month and I have been lucky enough to receive an exclusive preview as well as give you guys a chance to win a box yourself ! Keep reading …

I received two gorgeous pairs of tights, my favourite being this polka dot pair. The quality feels really nice, they are sturdy if that makes sense. When I wear them I don’t feel as though I am going to ladder them by simply pulling them up, they are a good enough quality not to have to worry about this. Inside the box you also get some fashion cards with a couple of ideas on how to style these tights up. I think they really make an outfit interesting!

If you’d like to win your very own Gambettes Box then please enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below! The competition ends  in 10 days on 29th September 2017 and I will announce the winner shortly after. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*I received an item free of charge in exchange for review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

All in Flavour Phone Case Review*

I am always in the market for new cute iPhone cases so when I heard about All in Flavour, I couldn’t wait to review one. I find it hard to buy cute cases for my phone as it is difficult to buy iPhone 7plus cases in a lot of the shops I visit.

My phone case arrived in a box that was small enough to fit through my letterbox which is fantastic as I always seem to miss the postman when I have music on in the house and it is also good for people who are at work during the day and don’t want to miss their parcels.

When I opened the box, the case was inside a small drawstring bag. I also received a post card and a sticker with the All in Flavour logo on it. I thought that was a nice touch and it was good to know my phone case was securely packaged.

This particular case retails at just over £15, which for a good quality case is definitely worth it. The case is transparent and hard plastic so will protect your phone. I chose a design that was covered in cacti, which suits me to a tee.

Overall, I think this is a really nice case and good quality for the price. There were so many designs available you’d be spoiled for choice! There really is a case to suit everyone. Check out the full range at All in Flavour. 

*I received this item free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

My Little Box August - Wild Summer Edition

Another month has arrived and another My Little Box has hit my doorstep! It seems to come around so quickly. This month's box has a 1970's vibe to it and I'll be honest, it hasn’t been my favourite box of them all! The box came with a Beach Boys print saying "good vibrations". I'm not really sure where I will put this as it doesn't really match my décor but a nice print in any case.

The first item I received was this Nana Benz Necklace. In the 1970s the nana Benz girls made their fortunes selling wax print designs. Nicknamed for the Mercedes they used to drive around town they were the ultimate vintage girl gang. This months necklace design is paying homage to the badass business women and their blinged out rides. Wear it loud and wear it proud. This necklace has gold hardwear and rope detailing along the front. It easily clips on and off so you don’t have to fiddle around trying to get it on. It is quite a statement piece so I will need to find some appropriate clothing to wear this with. It's not my usual style but will be interesting to try and style this up.

This gold Gem Catcher is very interesting and when I first saw it I wasn't 100% sure what it was! This can be hung on the wall and then you can hang your jewellery from it. It is hung by a piece of string but I can’t see why you couldn't replace the string for a piece of ribbon or something else that matches your décor. I hung a few necklaces on here just to test it and they appear to be safe and secure, I don't think they would fall off but if you have bigger pieces of jewellery then they may not stay on as well so be careful what you choose to put on here.

This isn’t the first time I have received the Ren 3-in-1 cleansing water in my box. I am pleased to see it again as I had used my other bottle. This smells fresh and leaves my skin feeling clean and soft. What I love about it is that it is a cleanser, make up remover and toner in one and doesn’t require rinsing so I can settle down in bed and use this without having to then get up again.

The My Little Beauty item this month was this Blush Me Tender cream blush. The shade is said to be universally flattering and it a peachy pink colour. The Formula is very creamy and this applies very easily and blends like a treat leaving a gorgeous colour on the cheeks. This doesn’t have a cheap scent like many of the blushers I have tried in the past and has good staying power when applied with a primer and setting powder.

Finally we received this Bareminerals skinlongevity vital power infusion. This product is halfway between a serum and an essence and has a lovely light texture to it. It retails at £34 for 30ml and we received a 7.5ml sample. It claims to dismiss signs of aging, brightens the skin and promotes skin vitality. I have been applying this morning and night after cleansing with the Ren Cleanser and it applies really well. It has a lovely scent to it.

Overall, not a bad box but not really themed as such, I am not sure how these items contribute to a Wild Summer but there we go, I look forward to seeing what we get next month!

Dyson Supersonic Blow Dry Review

Last week I met up with my friend and fellow blogger Kim and she told me all about her experience having had a blow dry with the new Dyson hair dryers. I thought it sounded amazing, and Kim very kindly passed my details on to Lydia who then contacted me.

I couldn’t wait to meet Lydia and have a lovely professional blow dry with the new product, something I had heard of but never had the pleasure of seeing in action. I arrived at John Lewis in Norwich where Lydia greeted me and sat me down. She showed me the Dyson Supersonic and explained to me how it worked. It retails at £299.99 which is definitely an investment but is definitely something you can add to your Christmas or birthday list. I was sceptical at first, but trust me this product will change your beauty routine.

First off, Lydia dampened my hair and showed me how quick it was to then dry it again. My hair can take on average 45 minutes to an hour to dry, however with the Dyson I was able to get it done in less than 15 minutes. Lydia explained that there are 3 different attachments which are all magnetic and can easily be rotated depending on the angle you want to dry your hair. I tried all of the attachments out to see what styles I could create. The hair dryer itself is extremely light, I was surprised at how easy it was to hold and move around.

Another thing that surprised me was how quiet it was in comparison to my usual hair dryer. The motor has been placed in the handle which not only makes it easier to hold, the weight is balanced. The microprocessor measures and regulates air temperature 20 times every second, keeping the temperature under control. This meant it wasn’t as hot as regular dryers but due to the better and faster airflow this allowed for quicker drying times. Heat and power settings can be adjusted simply by clicking a button on the back. There are 4 heat and 3 speed settings. The surfaces of the attachments stay cool even after use so there is no need to worry about children grabbing them after use and hurting themselves. It also means you can blow dry your hair right to the root without burning your scalp.

After finding out about all the features and accessories it was time for me to put the Dyson Supersonic to the test. We decided to go with the diffuser head which would give the effect of beautiful beach waves. I cannot believe how simple it was to create this look. Firstly I tipped my head upside down, I then placed sections of the hair into the diffuser nozzle and once dry I was left with voluminous waves. The best thing about this dryer was that I had no frizz either. I loved the natural effortless style it created with barely any effort put in from myself. The cable is also 2.7m long meaning I could tip my head upside down and give myself plenty of space away from the plug in order to create this look

Overall, I really enjoyed using the Dyson Supersonic, it is definitely one for the Christmas list! As you can see in the photo above, my beach waves stayed in all day, in fact they even looked a bit better after as they settled more! Thank you to Lydia for having me at John Lewis for this blow dry. What do you think?

*This post is not sponsored however I got to try the product out for free in exchange for this review.

My Little Box July 2017 - Seashell Edition

This month’s My Little Box was a complete surprise to me having avoided/missed any spoilers and hints leading up to delivery day. I really didn’t know what to expect but did enjoy opening the outer packaging to discover a lovely nautical coloured box with the theme ‘seashells’.

Firstly we received these little pack of note cards with envelopes to encourage us to ”go offline”, put down the phones/laptops and instead write a note to a friend. I can’t remember the last time I actually wrote a letter to someone so it was nice to receive these and I will try and put them to good use.

The My Little Beauty item this month was this amazing Sandy Shore Body Scrub. I love everything about this, even down to the gorgeous packaging. This scrub is made from Polynesian Sand, Sea Salt Crystals, Tiare Flower and Seaweed Oils. It does a great job at gently exfoliating dull dead skin cells from the body, leaving skin feeling soft and supple. The scent of this is lovely and I am going to be pretty gutted when it runs out.

I really like these summer night candle holders and tealights. These paper based candle holders are supposed to be used outside, however they recommend putting the tealights into glass containers before popping them into the bags. The tealights are unscented. I like the design on the bag and the metal hangers that come with them mean that you can even hang them up on a tree branch or suchlike. Al fresco dining accessory at its finest!

This seashell sweet is quite intriguing. I heard it was the French equivalent to a freddo, not quite in my eyes! The shell was not edible so to actually eat the sweet without putting the shell into my mouth did prove difficult and if I’m honest I got bored of trying to eat it. The flavours were nice though and I do like that it was served this way.

This shower gel has a lovely scent to it and I loved the packaging, I just wish it was a little bit bigger. I gave this to my sister so hopefully she enjoyed using it!

I really like this Institut Karite Rose Mademoiselle Shea Hand Cream. Although it does not really fit into the seashell theme, it is a nice travel sized product to take along on those short breaks. The cream uses shea butter as a key ingredient and has a great scent of fresh roses. I find it leaves my hands incredibly soft and does not have that sticky residue that some creams have. I will definitely be getting my use from this.

This travel pouch pillow was one of the best things in the box in my opinion this month! You can either use it as a waterproof travel bag, or you can blow it up and use it as a travel pillow. Brilliant! The slogan says “Sea, Nap and Sun” so is perfect for this month’s theme. I just need to plan a beach trip for an excuse to use it! It will comfortable fit a couple of items in, I was thinking some sun lotion and some cooling spritz would be fine.

What do you think of the July My Little Box? I can’t wait to see what they come up with this month.

Summer Clothes Wishlist Feat. David Nieper*

Summer has well and truly begun and it's time to swap your jumpers for pretty womens dresses, shorts and t-shirts. Not only is the weather warmer, summer party and  BBQ invites are more frequent and it's important to look the part at these events. I've been looking at the range of ladies summer dresses over on the David Nieper website and have brought you a few of my favourites.

This Soft Silk Jersey Dress is the perfect day-to-night outfit. Pair it with some sandals or flip flops for a day at the beach or park and then in the evening add some tights and heels. It is also available in two different lengths to suit whatever event you are heading to. The sleeves also give you a bit more cover which is great when the evenings are cooler. You could even add a waist belt.

Another outfit that can easily be taken from day to night is this lovely Uncrushable Dress. Offered in both a maxi length or shorter, this dress is absolutely perfect for this season. The bright colours mean you'll stand out from the crowd. It's also available in sizes 10-28 which I think is fantastic and would suit all sizes with its curve skimming drape detail on the front.

Almost all of the garments are made in Derbyshire and if you live local to the area you can pop into the company shop to see the latest collections, browse designer samples and get a really personal service when choosing the perfect outfit. Delivery is just £4.95 in the UK and these gorgeous dresses can also be delivered worldwide.

If you like what you see, check out the whole range of David Nieper Summer Dresses and update your wardrobe this season,

* Sponsored Post - Photo credit to the David Nieper website.

What's in my Flight Travel bag?

I don’t go on holiday for a little while yet but I still like to make sure my travel bag is packed and ready to go. When I talk about my travel bag I am referring to the bag that I take with me on the aeroplane. When I go long haul I pack more than I would on a short flight as I like to make sure I have everything with me. My bag is the MAHI Leather Galley Bag in Navy Blue which is a great size for all of my flight needs. I have even had my initials sewn onto it which makes it so unique and personal to me. I really am in love with this bag and you can read more about the brand MAHI here.

Electronics
The first thing I have in my bag is my camera and my lenses. I do not want to put them in my suitcase in case they are broken so along they come with me on the aeroplane. I will also have my phone with me, my charger and a travel plug so I do not have to root around for it when we get to our hotel. I also carry my Beats headphones for the plane as I prefer to use these rather than the ones that they give you.

Paperwork
Of course I have my passport with me at all times, but I also have with me my flight details, accommodation details, itinerary, insurance documents, directions, maps and a notepad and pens. I will be blogging about each day so I want to make plenty of notes along the way. My purse also comes along with another form of ID and some small notes for tipping at the other end. I also borrowed a couple of guide books from a colleague at work so I popped those in for some in flight reading/planning. Speaking of reading material, you will usually find a magazine or book thrown in there too, for when I get bored waiting around!

Clothing & Cosmetics
I always take a nice comfy pair of socks on the plane with me as sometimes it can get cold. I will also throw a scarf in there too as I have no idea what the temperature will be like when I arrive at my destination. I have been known to bring an eye mask too if I want to sleep but more often than not these are supplied on longer flights and I am usually too excited anyway.

I am not one for taking much in the means of makeup on the plane, mainly because I am too lazy to decant it all into small pots and place it in a see-through bag but you will usually find Travel sickness tablets and tissues in my bag – essentials! I also bring along some Vaseline for chapped lips and some anti-bacterial gel because you never know what germs you are going to encounter on an aeroplane and at the airport.

What are your travel and flight essentials?