Miss Patisserie Pink and Mint Box

Hey all

Apologies for the lack of posts. L and I have been busy at Glastonbury and I've got loads on with work at the moment so I've just not had a chance to get myself sorted. Anyway today I wanted to share another love from Miss Patisserie, if you've not figured it out yet it's a favourite of L and I's. I love that everything is cruelty free and handmade. When I went on my massive spree one thing I couldn't resist was the Pink and Mint box. The boxes are great value for money and are a great way to try a selection of the products. L has shared the dotty box on the blog here.

The Pink and Mint box costs £25 and contains the items you can see on the box below. Buying it as the box not only saves you money you also get one of the gift boxes free. They are really sturdy, pretty and great for storage. These make amazing gifts for friends or family and are a great way to try different products! I really wanted the Pink and Mint box as I couldn't wait to try out the Peony and Pear fragrance!

The only thing from the box I'm get to try is bath bomb. Mainly as I already have a massive stash to work through (made bigger as C's parents got me lots more Miss Patisserie goodies for an early birthday present!). 

The first thing I couldn't wait to test out was the Peony and Pear Body Butter. I'm a huge body butter fan, I seem to get quite dry skin so this was something I was really looking forward to trying out. It didn't dispoint. It sinks into the skin evenly and leaves it feeling soft and not greasy. I was instantly won over by the fragrance and I can see why it's so popular. Light and fresh with a subtle floral hint!

L has been telling me about the Miss Patisserie masks for ages. They're unique in the fact they're a powder and you mix it with water when you need to use it. I think this is a great idea as I forget to use face masks and this keeps it fresher for longer.  You can buy a wooden spoon that is the perfect measure so I think I'll be grabbing it next as it'll make it easier to measure out the right amount. The Pink Clay mask is great for dry or sensitive skin. I'd say my skin is combination but feeling dehydrated lately so thought this would be a great one to try that wouldn't make it took greasy. It's packed with oatmeal and buttermilk which help to soothe and soften skin. I'm really enjoying using it so far and it's helping my skin. I can wait to use it more as summer comes as I think it'll be great for then!

The last product in this set was the Tonka Bean Dry Body Oil. This isn't something I'd have picked up. I love oils for my hair and I've come around to them for the face now but for the body it seems effort and slippery. I'm glad this was in the set as it has really changed my mind! I love it. Tonka bean is a fragrance I love and this is blended with sweet vanilla and mandarin. As it's a dry oil it doesn't leave me greasy and I've found my legs particularly love it after shaving. The bottle makes it easy to spray on and not cover everything with!

I think this box will have to be included in my Mum's Christmas present as she'd love it too!

I think the Peony and Pear bath ball will be being used as a relaxation this weekend!

Love M

xxx

Miss Patisserie : Rainbow River

Hey all

So a few weeks ago L and I popped into Miss Patisserie as they were having an event. When we got there we were both feeling spendy and couldn't resist grabbing the shop and trying out bath bomb, skin care, bath melts and everything in between. I'd never tried Miss Patisserie before then and haven't been disappointed with any of the bits I've bought yet. I love that it's a company that started off in South Wales and always love to support local. It's also cruelty free so one I'll be continuing to purchase from. You can see the other products we've tried and loved here. We were also kindly given a goody bag each and this bath bomb was in mine. L also loved it so purchased herself one!

Rainbow river is an amazingly bright coloured bath bomb packed with blues, pinks and yellows and certainly catches the eye. It's packed with lavender and a bit of shimmer to help make the bath even more relaxing. I do love a bit of sparkle in a bath bomb and this is great as it's not one that leaves you or the bath covered in glitter.

How pretty is it in the bath. The appeal of a bath bomb to me is definitely how pretty it looks in the bath and this one doesn't disappoint! 

This was the first one I tried as it looked so pretty but I've also purchased another 4 to try out so I'll be sharing soon. I think between L and myself we actually purchased most of the bath bombs!

They retail for £3.85 and if you're local they can be purchased from High Street Arcade in Cardiff or from their website.

Have you tried Miss Patisserie?

Love M

xxx

How I Store My Lush Products

Hey All

Today I thought I'd share something different today and do a peek into my bathroom and share how I store my lush products! For ages I just left them in the bags but they weren't preserved very well so when my mum got me these gorgeous little suitcases I knew they'd be perfect!

She picked these up from a local shop back in my home town called This is it! I know places like the range, B and M bargains and TK Maxx have similar products. I've found these are the perfect size so that I can be a bit more organised with my product stash!

The top one I keep for scrubs, soap, shower gel and solid shampoos. It fits a surprising amount in it. I love the closures, handles and all the details on these.

The larger one is the perfect depth for bath bombs and bubble bars and fits loads of them in. I've also got a shower jelly and body conditioner in here at the moment as the top one was full! These come in a set of three and are perfect for pretty storage options around the house. These are similar from eBay. I'm currently doing out my dressing room so going to order more for in there! 

How do you store your products?

Love M

xxx

Burger and Lobster - Not Just Burger and Lobster??

Hey All

A few weeks ago we were invited to try out Burger and Lobsters new extended menu. We are both massive fans and have been a few times. You can read about our first visit here. After listening to feed back Burger and Lobster Cardiff have expanded they're menu to include a Lamb Burger, Children's Burger, Brisket Roll and different versions of their Lobster Roll as well as still doing the original options. They've also added a great new selection of sides and we couldn't wait to get stuck in. We were treated to try out the new meals!

They've also added more drinks. We didn't taste the proper cocktails cocktails but L did order and undercurrent as she was driving. The bar staff really do know how to make a great cocktail!





First up we shared a blooming onion. If we're honest we ordered it out of curiosty but we're glad we did as it was so tasty! It's an onion deep fried served with an amazing garlic dip!





We also took L's brother with us and he tried the brisket roll. I'm a huge brisket fan but couldn't resist the lobster so he let us try some. The meat is soft and full of flavour like you'd expect from brisket and a great addition to the menu.



For mains I ordered the California Lobster Roll. L and I shared our mains just because it's what we do. This was amazing, I love the lobster rolls as they come on the most amazing brioche roll. This also has avocado in. It's so light and fresh tasting!






L went for the Lamb burger. This comes with amazing relish and like they're original burgers can be cooked how you like it. We went for medium rare and it was great. I love how the burgers are jam packed with flavour and salad and sauce that compliment it.



For sides we opted for chucky cheesy chips, definitely add cheese if you try these as it's definitely worth it!



The lobster mac and cheese which was perfect. I love mac and cheese and the lobster adds a great flavour to it.



Lastly we had sweet potato fries as who can really resist them. These were great, crispy and not soggy as sweet potato fries can sometimes be.



As if pigging out on all that food wasn't enough we sampled the new desserts too. Below is the bakewell tart. Something I would never pick but L's brother tried it and it was delicious. The fresh raspberries and mint add great flavour to it.

I was the pig that ordered the Eton mess even though it's meant as a sharing dessert. I'm a huge Eton mess fan and this didn't disappoint, chewy meringue, ice cream, berry sauce and fresh mint and raspberries. It was amazing and I'd definitely order it again.



L went for brownie that was also amazing, chocolatey and slightly gooey!!

Me and my huge dessert!!

We loved trying out the new food and it's great to see the company listening to what customers want. The new additions are certainly tasty but definitely make the decisions of what to order harder as so far we love it all. The only thing I'd suggest would be the addition of a vegetarian option as I'd love to take my parents here!

Love L and M

xxx

Antipodes Certified Organic Hallelujah Lime and Patchouli Cleanser

Good morning all!

Hope you're all enjoying the weekend, I'm having a relaxing one after a crazy hen weekend and a busy few weeks.
My skin has definitely been feeling the strain and I'm looking forward to my Sunday evening bath, face mask and relax later on.
For every day though I have recently been using the Antipodes Hallelujah Lime and Patchouli cleanser, it's been a lovely treat for my skin.

If you haven't heard of Antipodes before you definitely should have, their range of  products won Best Natural Range in the Natural Health Awards in 2012.

They select bioactive extracts from sustainably cultivated native plants to create their products to scientifically and clinically promote youthful skin. They use natural products to help protect you and the environment.

I've copied the following straight from their website as this says it all:

Antipodes says NO to:

• animal testing
• genetically modified (GM) or genetically engineered (GE) ingredients
• synthetic fillers or silicon derived ingredients
• artificial colours or artificial fragrances
• sodium lauryl sulphates
• mineral oils
• petrochemicals
• animal ingredients (except honey and beeswax from living bees)
• parabens; ethyl-, methyl-, propyl-, butyl-.

Sounds like a great company to me!

In fact Antipodes aren't a new brand to me, I've previously tried their Juliet Cleanser (link here), Aura Manuka Honey Mask and Reincarnation Exfoliator (link here)  and also their Divine Oil (link here).

I have loved everything I have ever tried from them, but particularly the Divine Oil and I still regularly repurchase it. For £19.99 it's an amazing oil that solves so many skin problems that I can't be without it!

Anyway back to the Hallelujah cleanser...

It contains pure organic avocado oil, macadamia nut and lime - basically this means it smells amazing!

The avocado oil removes impurities and the carrot seed oil promotes skin with good health. The lime and patchouli essential oils cleanse, freshen and uplift as well as helping it to smell super fresh in the mornings.

I use this morning and evening, I'd say it helps to remove the majority of make up but stubborn eye make up may need additional removal. It's creamy cleanser that doesn't foam but seems to melt on your skin, I just use a wash cloth to remove it after I've spread it all over.

This cleanser is suitable for most skin types so I'd recommend it for anyone who'd like to try a cleanser from Antipodes.

I've been using this the last few weeks now and I really like it, it cleanses my skin of oil and grime and I think my skin has got a bit brighter too. It feels great on the skin and I've not had any breakouts since using it which is obviously great!

You can purchase this for £22.99 from Feel Unique, and I'd say it was worth it. It's lasted me a long time as one pump is enough for a cleanse. 

Have you tried the Hallelujah cleanser before? Do you like Antipodes and their product range?

I'm yet to dislike anything so I can't wait to try more in future!

L xxx


*the Hallelujah cleanser was sent to me for review but this has no way influenced my thoughts and opinions on Antipodes or the product itself*

DIY: Coffee Scrub

Hey All

Coffee scrubs seem to be everywhere at the moment, a great natural exfoliator that not only helps soften skin but also helps with cellulite. With summer now hear the coffee scrub trend was something I wanted to try out but to be honest didn't want to pay the price for. They seem really expensive for something which is basically oil and coffee so I decided to make me own.

To make your own coffee scrub you'll need

• Ground Coffee (ps poundlound sell!)
• Sugar or salt
• Oil (I used coconut oil but sweet almond or anything would work too, ps if you're using coconut oil you can get cheaper one's that aren't suitable for cooking but I already has this one in the cupboard)
• Bowl
• Tablespoon and cup
• A jar to store it in
• Essential Oil (optional!)

It really is amazingly simple you mix the dry ingredients depending on how much you want to make, I did 1 cup of ground coffee to 3 tablespoons of sugar.

 I then added sweet orange essential oil, though I'm not sure I'd bother next time as you can smell it slightly (I added loads!!) but I think the coffee is so strong it's not worth it. Peppermint or tea tree may work well though.

Next up melt some coconut oil and mix it all together. I used 5 tablespoons of coconut oil but it may take more less so add it one tablespoon at a time and mix. 

Lastly add to pretty container or old jar! Much cheaper than buying it and makes a great gift for friends!!

So far I'm really enjoying using it. It leave my skin so soft and the coconut oil adds moisture! It does get messy in the shower but it's worth it!

Have you made your own coffee scrub or tried coffee scrubs?

Love M

xxx

Marula Oil Rare Oil Replenishing Range: Shampoo and Conditioner

Hey All

A few weeks ago L and I headed to an event with Salon Success and were given some products to test out.

One of these is the Marula Oil Range. Marula oil is harvested in Africe and cold-pressed to help maintain the nutrients of the oil. The Marula Oil used has up to 50% more protective antioxidants than Argan Oil. It helps to hydrate, repair and moisturise the hair.

We both dye our hair so anything that helps improve the condition and hydrate it is always a win for us!

The packaging is simple but works, white and black with gold accents. I also love that it's a pump top as it just makes it easier to use in the shower.

The shampoo really lathers up well which is great as it's also sulphate free. Some sulphate free shampoos just don't have the same lather. It leaves the hair clean but what impressed me the most is how soft my hair felt after just the shampoo. My hair is bleached and regularly dyed and not in the best condition. It usually feels horrible without conditioner but after using this I was impressed how untangled my hair felt with the shampoo alone. The conditioner really added to it and just left my hair feeling so soft and more manageable. It's also surprisingly lightweight. I always expect a moisturising conditioner to be thicker but this is lovely.

Overall I'm totally impressed, my hair feels softer and in better conditioner since I've started using it.

The Marula Oil range is available from Paul Mitchell Salons, you can find your nearest salon here.

Love L and M

xxx