Taste Cocktail Kits*

Hey All

L and I are massive cocktail fans, we've spent many years sampling them on nights out and making up our own (check out are cocktail series from when the blog first started here!) so this was a box we were interested in receiving through the post.

Taste cocktails offer a subscription service where you get a box a month or you can order one off boxes. This means you can test it out to see if it's something you want or gift them as presents. With fathers day just around the corner I think they'd be great. Had we not already got my dad a bottle of whiskey I'd have ordered him the gin box but I think two alcohol gifts may not go down too well.

As soon as the box arrived I loved the packaging. It just feels like something a bit different. Sometimes simple is all you need and the brown packaging with the stamp of the logo fits this well. Everything is well protected to help prevent any breakages in transit.

Inside the box comes a recipe card explaining the background behind the spirits. I like this touch as I love to know random bits of information. You never know when it may pop up on a pub quiz! The recipes are simple and easy to follow and you get enough of the spirits to make about 4 cocktails (2 of each). The box comes with all you need except the lime juice and grapefruit peel.

I love the little glass bottles. I've kept them and like to put single flowers in them. I love the slightly vintage feel to the presentation of these. 

I am gutted my martini glasses are currently in storage so we had to use wine glass which don't look quite as good. L and I had a film night last week and got stuck into the cocktails. If we're honest the box wasn't to our taste as we aren't Chartreuse fans but the recipes were quick and easy to follow and the we're eyeing up the other boxes. The Daiquiri and Gin box we could see ourselves loving.

What are your thoughts on a cocktail subscription box? Would you like to receive it as a present? You can see all of the different boxes here.

Love M

xxx

Real Techniques Sculpting Set

Hey All

When me and the OH were in Falmouth a few weeks ago I popped into superdrug and saw this set which I hadn't noticed before. This is the Sculpting set, I'd wanted the sculpting brush since the bold metals collection was released and I loved the look of the flat contour brush but didn't want to pay for the bold metals brushes without being able to feel them. Apologies for the photos in this post I was taking photos in the pod we were staying in as I couldn't wait to use them.

The set retails for £20.99 and contains the three brushes you can see below. I used to own the setting brush but somewhere along the line it got lost. You can see my original review on it here.

I'm a firm believer of you can never have too many brushes so when this set was on offer for a third off I had to snap it up. For a long time I didn't really know what you would use a fan brush for so had never wanted one but after seeing a few you tube videos where it was used for highlighter It was in my mind that I needed it. 

As with all real techniques brushes they quality of these are great. They are super soft densly packed where they need to be and wash up great. This set does have the shiny handles which to be honest I don't like as much as the matte ones. They show up finger prints and scratches easily but it's nothing that actually effects the brush so I can't complain too much.

The sculpting brush is amazing. I love it. It's so dense and picks up product well but not too much. It makes applying contour so easy, and leaves it looking natural. I've been favouring this over the contour brush.

The fan brush is so light. I use this for highlighter. Up until getting this set I was using another contour brush. The fan brush picks up a small amount of product and is easy to dust over the cheekbone. I'm glad I've picked this set up and I've now got this brush.

The setting brush is a great little brush to use to set concealer and I have missed having it. 

Have you grabbed any of the new brushes or this set?

I need some new eye brushes. Any recommendations?

Love M

xxx

Fitness Friday: Tone It Up 28 Days to Fit, Fierce and Fabulous

Good morning!

Today I have a Fitness Friday post ( a week later than planned...) on the wonderful 28 Days to Fit Fierce and Fabulous from Tone It Up!

If you haven't heard of Katrina Scott and Karena Dawn, also known as the Tone It Up Girls, then you have been truly living under a rock.
They have an absolutely massive following in America and now worldwide and its easy to see why. They are absolutely beautiful with toned abs and winning smiles - I'd like to find any individual who doesn't want to look like them!
Not only that but they are truly genuinely THAT nice - you just need to add them on snapchat to see how happy and fun they are.

They have therefore brought out a book, full of recipes, tips, tricks, workout ideas and general life advice. It's a bible of sorts - I have loved reading it from start to finish and can't wait until all of my house moving stuff has finished so I can get on with my 28 day challenge!

I was gutted to weigh myself the other day and find that I have put on 'more than a few pounds' so I'm planning on stepping it up a gear at the gym and reigning in my eating. It is so hard when trying to be sociable but keeping your diet in check, even at work there is a constant supply of cake and 'Friday treats' that I am sometimes force fed!

With recipes and images that look like this how can you possibly not want to eat and drink healthy things like this?!
I love the recipes and cannot wait to try them all out, what I really liked most was that most days there are suggestions rather than a super strict menu plan that you have to follow - it's great to have that flexibility in your life.

Each day has a particular food and recipe to try (only if you want to) and also a mantra and fitness challenge. This doesn't only feed your body and challenge your muscles but also addresses any self esteem issues by getting you to build up your confidence.

I always think you should treat the body as a whole package and balance mind body and soul so this book is perfect for that.
There's also a HUGE section at the back with seemingly endless workouts that I cannot wait to try out, they all have pictures and guides for doing it properly so you know you are in safe hands.

This book is currently £14.88 for the paperback version that I have above, but it also comes in the kindle version for £9.49

What do you think of the Tone It Up 28 Days to Fit, Fierce and Fabulous book?

Do you love fitness plans like this? Do you need a plan to follow and tips and tricks to guide you?

I definitely need to put some structure back into my fitness regime and come up with some new diet ideas to keep me on the right track. These girls always look happy so it would be rude not to be infected by their happiness and zest for life wouldn't it??/

Hopefully in a few weeks I can get started and I'll come back with a full on review and progress report!

L xxx

MAC Toledo Blush Ombre in Ripe Peach

Good morning!

I recently wrote a post on the beautiful Cinderella Fluidline Eyeliner Gel from MAC (post here), and mentioned that I was lucky to enough to also receive the Toledo Ombre Blush from my friends too.

The Toledo collection comes from Isabel and Ruben Toledo, it consisted of so many products it would be crazy to name them all! There was lipsticks, glosses, nail polishes, mascaras, eye liners not to mention brushes and make up bags. It's a really amazing collection and the colours are so pretty, if you get chance check out this post from Temptalia (click here) which shows some of the products, make sure you look at the stunning eyeshadow palettes!

The design is totally different from the normal MAC range and I love the way it stands out. The red is so eye catching and the faces are cute and slightly creepy, meaning I mostly can't stop looking at them.

What I also can't take my eyes off is the ombre effect of the blush itself.

JUST FEAST YOUR EYES ON IT




It's just beautiful and every kind of coral that I could ever want in one blush! Swirling my blush brush over this every morning is one sure way to get me happy, it's such a lovely colour and it complements my skin tone.

Ripe Peach is the perfect name for this blush.



So how does it look on? Peachy would definitely be the right term!

This is a great colour for every day wear, but you can also layer it up a little and get the colour to be stronger and more powerful looking.

I have often thought that some MAC collections can be a little hit and miss, they can be cheap looking or the products aren't as pigmented as the ones from the normal range.
This collection however has been really worth every penny, I've heard lots of others rave about the range too.

Do you like MAC collections like Toledo? Have you tried any of the products from this collection?

Do you like the look of this Ripe Peach ombre blush?

L xxx