Pierre Marcolini Valentines Collection

When it comes to chocolate, I can honestly say that I am a choc-a-holic and just absolutely love it. So when the chance to experience the new Valentines range from expert chocolatier Pierre Marcolini I wasn't about to say no.  Pierre Marcolini established his luxury chocolate brand in Brussels in 1995 and it is renowned for its use of rare and exotic ingredients such as Sichuan pepper to Moroccan pink berries. 

The Valentines range has imagery which has been commissioned by Parisian illustrator Séverine Assous, to illustrate its cases in the theme of a romantic Provençale dance and it features mythical characters and fairy tale heroines which are just totally divine.

The Duo of hearts comes presented in an incredibly cute minimalist box which is dressed in a Collection case. Inside there is a duo of raspberry hearts which are just so beautifully packaged and would make such a lovely romantic gesture. 

What you get are two hearts which are a dark chocolate ganache with a raspberry pulp and as soon as you open the box, the scent of chocolate is just mouthwateringly good. Priced at £4 you can find them here.

If chocolate isn't something you are a fan of but Macarons are more your thing then there is a gift for you too. Again the Macarons come presented inside an incredible luxe box which is dressed with a case adorned with those mythical characters and fairy tale heroines and if you do look closely enough you will see Little Red Riding Hood dancing with a wolf or throwing macarons and Snow White receiving a love letter from a beast.  Inside the beautifully presented box are 12 macarons which smell just absolutely incredible and look beautiful. 

The macarons which are neatly packaged in rows feature an array of amazing flavours such as: 

• Roasted pistachio from Iran with a hint of Maldon sea salt
• Caramel, sweet butter and Maldon sea salt flakes
• Blend of vanilla from Tahiti and Madagascar
• Rose water from Morocco
• Summer raspberry pulp and milk chocolate from Ecuador and Ghana
• Buttercream praline with a crunchy centre of roasted and caramelised hazelnuts from Piedmont
• Bergamot and lemon zest infusion
• 78% Grand cru dark chocolate from Venezuela
• Caramel and bitter chocolate ganache flavoured with vanilla from Tahiti
• Java coffee infusion
• Flakes of speculoos with cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and a hint of ginger
• Passion fruit from Brazil

If you are a fan of macarons then you will love these. They are light and pack a punch when it comes to the flavour, in fact they taste just as you imagine them to from the descriptions given above. Like all good Macarons, they are chewy but so much that they stick to your teeth and they are the best I have ever tasted. Find them right here 

With a flagship store here on Marylebone High Street where you will find a bespoke chocolate counter, a macaroon carousel, a tasting area and a sweetie bar, I cannot wait to pop in the next time I am in the area, because having had a little taste of the brand, I now want to try more!

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Valentines Day Gift Challenge with John Lewis

Valentines Day is creeping up quickly from the back and having been challenged by John Lewis to join in with their Valentines Day Campaign, the mister and I went off in search of something we thought each other would like.

I absolutely love shopping in John Lewis and always manage to spend any vouchers given to me as a gift in the beauty haul with no problem at all, but this time, I was there to buy something for Stephen and whilst I could go straight for a bottle of Creed and be totally predictable, I decided to go for something he doesn't own.  So I started in the grooming section and quickly decided that something beard related would be a good idea because he has decided to see how long he can continue to grow his beard before he gets bored and shaves it off.  With the choice between a Kent Beard Brush and a Men Rock Awakening Beard Care Gift Set, I settled on the latter which comes presented in a really nice box with four products to keep that beard in check. Inside there is a Sicilian Lime & Caffeine Beard Soap, (100ml), a Sicilian Lime & Caffeine Beard Balm (100ml), a Sicilian Lime & Caffeine Moustache Wax (25g) and the all important Men Rock Beard Comb and as an added extra, a packet of Love Heart Sweets and it is priced at just £29.95.

The second gift is something I had been toying with for some time.  For anyone who reads his blog (here), there is one thing which will stand out - aftershave, he is obsessed with it and has quite the collection, but the one thing he doesn't have is any Jo Malone. So I went over to the counter and explained I was looking for a Valentine's gift for my husband and that I didn't really know where to begin looking, so I was shown to a comfy chair, handed some amazing chocolate and told to relax whilst some scents would be picked for me to try. 

The whole there was no pressure from the amazing sales lady, she picked 6 fragrances in total and it soon became apparent where my decision was heading, Oud and Bergamot Cologne Intense, the one I was first introduced to and the one which clearly made the biggest impression and it has the most amazing description "Precious oud, reframed. The mysterious, smoky character of this revered wood, central to Middle Eastern fragrance traditions, radiates with the clarity of crisp bergamot and an orange granite accord". I purchased a 50ml bottle which is priced at £74 here.

With my purchases in hand, Stephen was somewhere in the store doing his shopping and he clearly reads my blog because he also managed to purchase two items, one I had coveted for quite some time and the other a complete and total, but very welcome, surprise. My first ever Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick and he went for a Matte Revolution Lipstick in the shade Bond Girl which is described as being a medium-dark rosy plum which has warm undertones and a satin finish and I just absolutely love it.

The second gift comes from Jo Malone too, so we obviously had the same idea in mind when we went shopping and he clearly has been reading my tweets. The scent that he chose was Oud and Velvet Rose which is just absolutely incredible. Again arriving beautifully packaged and in a 50ml which is black and so very classy looking, as a scent is described as being "Darkest Damask rose is rich and textural, wrapped with smoky oud wood. Spiked with clove, decadent with praline". I love rose scent products, there is something about that fresh scent of roses which is incredibly relaxing but is a scent which works so well with my skin that it smells amazing. As an added extra, I have also been booked in to go and experience a hand and arm massage to get the full Jo Malone experience which I am really looking forward too.

I really enjoyed this challenge and I loved seeing what John Lewis had to offer. At no point did I feel hassled into buying anything.

What do you think to the gifts we bought one another? Have you got plans to purchase things for your better half this Valentines?

*this post contains PR samples/AF Links unless indicated otherwise.

Barbour New Fragrance Range

The iconic brand Barbour, who are perhaps better known for their wax jackets, motorcycle heritage and love of the British Countryside, have recently launched a fragrance** for him and for her in Selfridges.

Designed in a beautifully etched bottle which features the iconic checked design, the fragrances are just stunning. The rounded bottle which has a more feminine touch for the ladies and the rather square and chunky bottle for the man.

Barbour for her brings into the use the trend of rose gold with a chunky lid and lettering which add a touch of class to the already beautiful bottle. The scent, as you might expect is divine and perfect for those of you who like a fragrance which encompasses both floral and fruity notes. Opening with fresh, sparkling fruity notes of red currants, contrasted by spicy pink pepper which are the first things you notice upon spritizing, it settles down on the skin to reveal an elegant floral blend of rose, jasmine and blush peony are complimented by notes of musk and sweet vanilla, which are not overpowering but instead work with the other notes to make what is a fragrance perfect for spring and indeed the summer. 

Once on the skin, it has an amazing lastability, one spritz in the morning when I am getting ready and I can still smell the perfume at lunch time, right through the afternoon, only needing to re-apply if I am going out or have an event in the evening afterwards, even then, it is more for my own paranoia than need.

Barbour for him, has been created for a man who loves spending time in the British countryside. Using a warm layer of frosted violet leaves and cinnamon which are cast on a bed of vetiver, sandalwood and musk, while a burst of grapefruit and hint of black peppercorn enliven this captivating blend makes for a truly stunning fragrance which has real longevity when wearing. 

The mister is about to do a review on his blog, so if this is a fragrance you are thinking of purchasing, then a male view point is well worth waiting for. For me, I really like it and it is a scent that lingers on the skin enough so that when you are walking down the street, you leave a trail behind you.

Both fragrances are available at Selfridges and are priced from £40. Perfect if you haven't yet got that love of your life a gift for Valentines!

Valentines Day with Blossoming Gifts

Everyone loves flowers and there is nothing better than a beautiful bunch of flowers arriving, unannounced to let you know someone is thinking about you, likewise, sending someone flowers is also an amazing thing to do and I do send flowers to friends just because I think it is a nice thing to do.

Blossoming Gifts is a new and exciting flower delivery company based right here in the UK and they specialise in the most beautiful florist designs at a low cost. What I like about Blossoming gifts is that you can shop by flower colour, price range, by occasion or you can simply spend some time looking at each and every offering that there is to see. As well as flowers, you will also find a wide range of hampers, wines, plants and personalised gifts. There is also a section called 'Flowers for Men' which I think is just amazing.  I have many male colleagues who love flowers as much as I do, so it is so good to see someone thinking of the men folk and catering for them.

The 14th of February is on the horizon and for those people who want to send or receive some Valentines Day Flowers, then Blossoming Gifts is a site you need to look at.  I was kindly given the opportunity to choose which flowers I would like to review and actually the choice was a difficult one to choose because there are so many amazing bouquets to choose from, However, as soon as I saw Tuberose as one of the flowers in this bunch, aptly named High Tea, it was a done deal.

The flowers arrived beautifully packaged inside a cardboard box to ensure their delivery to me did not damage them.  Before the box was opened, I could smell the flowers.  Once inside the box, much to the excitement of one lively kitten, I saw the flowers for the first time and they were just beautiful, not quite open, but so incredibly fresh, the scent lingered in my kitchen for hours. The High Tea bouquet is made up of Tuberose, Sweet Avalanche Roses, White Oriental Lillies, delicate tanecetum baya and long lasting, textured, crisp white carnations. Add to that a free box of chocolates and I am one very happy lady.

I have had the flowers in a vase now for 10 days and they are just beginning to wilt, all of the unopened Lillies opened as did the roses to full bloom and they look just beautiful in my kitchen.  Priced at just £31.99 they are an absolute great value for money bouquet and one which is worth every single penny.

Now I have an amazing offer for all my lovely readers from the people at Blossoming Gifts and that is 3% off a bouquet using the code BGIFTS33, the only bouquets exempt from the discount is the 'Flowers By Post' range.  

Will you be taking advantage of my discount code?

50 Shades of Grey Valentines with Superdrug

Superdrug have gone all out for Valentines Day with their 50 Shades of Grey gift section. There is something for everyone, so whether you are wild and extroverted between the sheets or a little more reserved this range urges you not to be shy! Taking inspiration from the book, the 50 Shades collection is everything you imagined it to be and more from Grey feather ticklers, blindfolds and even a few more naughty items, it is worth having a look.

Amongst all of the items available, there were three that really caught my eye, well actually a lot more than three, but as this is a family friendly blog, I am sticking to these three products to share with you.

The first is Fifty Shades of Grey Sensual Touch Massage Oil.  Described as being a rich and indulgent.  A sweet sensation is a sensual bath oil infused with bergamot, sandalwood and musk which if you are a fan of the novels like me, you will know is Christian's signature scent.  It combines a skin-softening formula complemented by sunflower and jojoba oil to offer a luxurious and skin-nourishing bath time treat.





Fifty Shades Of Grey Massage Me Candle - "Light your Fifty Shades of Grey candle to fill the air with Christian Grey's intoxicating scent and set the scene for a night of sensual caresses" is the description and it is enriched with coconut oil and jojoba which to me sounds just amazing.  It can be used as  Massage Me can be used as both an aromatic candle or a massage oil.   It is said to be rich, indulgent and moisturising, leaving your skin feeling nourished and smelling quite delicious. I like the idea of using it as a massage oil and to use that you simply spoon the warm melted wax onto the skin and massage using your hands.

You can't really have a collection like this without something so well-known from the books can you? So here is the Fifty Shades Of Grey Christians Tie.  Again the description is "let the fantasy become a reality with Christian Grey's Tie" and if you have read the books, you will know why of its importance.  This tie is made from luxurious silver and grey quilting, it's a soft and versatile accessory that can be enjoyed both in and out of the bedroom!

So there you have it, if you are not going out to see the film, you can create your own Fifty Shades moments in your own bedroom!

Secret Valentine with Hotel Chocolat

Just over a week ago, I received an email last to let me know that:

Your blogger pal has asked me to send you something delicious from the Hotel Chocolat Valentines range to enjoy this Valentine’s Day and it would be my pleasure to do just that.
If you’re dying to know who your Valentine is, don’t worry! All will be revealed when you receive your chocolates.

So when this huge box turned up at home, it felt as though someone had sent me the entire Hotel Chocolat store. Anyway, eager to find out who my blogger pal was, I looked inside to find a card which said: 

So the lovely Laura from Petit-Moi bigworld was the person behind this. Laura and I chat most days about everything, not always blog related I have to admit, but it is a friendship that I really value and being sent this gift really put a smile on my face.

Inside the box was this huge gift bag, which contained the following gifts:

The Sleekster Valentines Selection which contains 27 heart-shaped chocolates filled with lovingly soft centres, including the Caramel Dizzy Praline and Balsamic Caramel - yes my mouth was watering as I was typing this description. Unsurprisingly they taste just absolutely amazing and I just cannot pick a favourite, there is something for everyone. 

Whether you like a Zingy lemon and red berries mellowed in a light and creamy white chocolate truffle, a rare cocoa truffle with natural notes of raspberries and cherries and a whisper of coffee, a Light London dry gin truffle with plenty of juniper notes and fresh citrus zing or The silkiest, smoothest dark hazelnut praline in mellow caramel chocolate, you will struggle to decide which chocolate to eat first.

If that wasn't enough there was also a small box of chocolates called Wink Wink which has the following description - "Give someone a wink and a nudge in the right direction this Valentine’s Day, with this pack of five sweethearts, cast in deep, intense 70% dark chocolate. Perfect for leaving on pillows, desks, or popping into your beau’s bag for a bit of flirtatious fun".   Well no one will be getting any of these and I won't be leaving them as gifts because I am not good at sharing and I might have already eaten them - oops!

If none of those take your fancy, then there is an entire section dedicated to Valentines Day. Thank you Laura and Hotel Chocolat for choosing me to be one of your #HotelChocolatValentines

Valentines Day Gift Ideas

I am apparently hopeless at deciding what I want for gifts, be it birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas or just because.  With that in mind I have cobbled together a gift idea post for Valentines Day, for that special lady in your life, be it your Wife, Girlfriend, Fiancée, Mum, Nan or a secret crush you want to surprise.

House of Fraser has an incredible selection of gifts to choose from, the list is literally endless and whilst I would ideally love them all, these are some of my favourites.

You can never go wrong with a perfume and as a brand, Issey Miyake has always impressed with both male and female fragrances.  City Blossom which you can see below sounds absolutely wonderful and the kind of fragrance I would choose. With top notes include citrus accords, pink pepper and calone. Its floral heart comprises of white petals such as osmanthus, freesia and magnolia, while the base hosts natural white Virginian cedar, white musk and ambrox.  It is limited edition and has an RRP £51

The second item I absolutely love because A) The tin is just brilliantly designed and B) Kiehls is an amazing brand and C) I am a lip balm obsessive, so put them together and before you, there is this beautiful lip balm set which is exclusive to House of Fraser and has an RRP £28

The third item on my list is this Laura Mercier Ambre Vanille Honey Bath. What sold it to be was the explanation behind the product and the fact I love spending a good hour in the bath with my book/Kindle.  

Twirl the Ambre Vanille emulsion into your bath and watch it transform into a decadent foaming experience. The thick, rich bubbles leave your skin supple and your senses calm and relaxed, while Shea Butter and Vanilla Extracts leave skin velvety soft. Sweet Almond Proteins, Hydrolyzed Rice, and Oat Proteins along with Pro-Vitamin B-5 offer skin moisture balance and protection. For skin that loves to be pampered, indulge in this luscious Honey Bath.  This has an RRP £32

The final three items on my list are jewellery related. Most people think jewellery when it comes to Valentines Day and quite a few people are proposed too or do the proposing.  Now I personally think Diamonds are a girl's best friend to coin a phrase, but for Valentines perhaps a little something different for that woman in your life.

This Radley watch I love firstly because it is pink and secondly because it is just so pretty, retailing at just under £100 it is an absolute bargain.  It hosts a leather strap, is water resistant up to 30 metres and comes with a 2 year guarantee!

Diamond earrings are very useful accessories to complete and outfit and I love the simplicity of this pair from JamesAllen.com. At a price of £246, it is a great gift for the special someone who loves bling.

Finally, we have these stunning Ted Baker Studs.  For anyone who knows me or reads my posts regularly, you will know that I adore Ted Baker products, be it makeup, bath and body, perfume or jewellery.  These Studs are heart-shaped, so perfect for Valentines Day and retail at just £19! 

So there you have my Valentines Day gift ideas, I hope you find them useful.

Lush The Kiss Lipgloss

As part of my goody bag at the Lush Event which I attended a few weeks ago was this brilliant solid lipgloss called The Kiss**.

Nestled inside a little tin, similar to the sample pots of Charity you can buy, this lipgloss has become an item that has found its way into my handbag and something I use a lot.  Designed and produced as part of the Valentines Day Range, The Kiss costs £5.75.

Described as 

" A delightful, whipped up gloss made from luxurious and protective butters including Fair Trade shea and cupuaçu. This preservative free tinted lip gloss gives a touch of colour to the lips. It’s so easy to apply you won’t even need a mirror!.  

We’ve created a light balm using the same aerating technique we use for our massage bars. It will moisturise and protect the lips, whilst giving them a subtle pink glossy sheen. It contains delicious organic agave syrup to leave your lips deliciously sweet".

Firstly it is pink, anything pink is going to get me excited and the scent is absolutely divine, Lush use organic mandarin and almond essential oils to give it this amazing scent, not to mention that it tastes pretty good too.  Once applied to the lips there is a very slight pink colouring and a natural gloss look.  It can either be worn on its own or over the top of your lipstick or lip crayon if you prefer.

Lush being Lush don't just put things together for the sake of it, there is usually some hidden meaning behind each product, usually within the ingredients and this one is no different.  As expected there is a long list of what ingredients it has such as - guarana seed powder which is a natural skin plumper to make your lips irresistible.  You will also find Shea Butter which has amazing moisturising properties, Organic Caster Oil which helps to lock in moisture, protect the skin and prevent damage by the elements and environmental toxins. You can find the full list of ingredients on the Lush website.

Which Lush products have you been loving lately?

February Glossybox - Be Mine!

So my Glossybox has arrived and I did feel quite apprehensive about opening it because lets me honest, January's box was awful!  To be fair, I have had one or two emails from Glossybox with a survey attached to ask questions about my views on the box because it had been noted that most of us had been unhappy with the box contents.  So issues aside, what did February have in store?

Well it is a themed box and Valentines Day the natural choice, the box is totally brilliant, I loved it and here it is:

The kisses all over the box, which in itself had a make-over for the start of 2014 - it now has more depth to it and has a glossy finish, but this box is my favourite to date.

As for the contents, well here they are:

So this is quite a full box this month with 7 things in it!  My only grumble with the box is the Eldora Eyelashes.  One thing I don't use are false eyelashes because I cannot apply them for love nor money and end up getting quite stressed out about it, so instead I settle for a good mascara.  Anyway they retail for £3.90 and are described as follows "Every cosmetic connoisseur adore these simple and beautiful, high quality lashes by Eldora.  Their extensive range means there's a style to suit everyone".  Anyway, I am sure I can find them a good home!

Next up is Nougat London with their Sparkling Body Shimmer.  This bottle is 100ml and comes with the following description "Add radiance to your skincare regime with Sparkling Body Shimmer.  This body lotion with mallow extract, vitamin E and wheatgerm enriched oil will leave your skin luxuriously perfumed with a hint of sparkle"  Its actual scent is called Cherry Blossom and it smells divine, quite a thin texture, so it easily absorbs into the skin but it does leave behind a bit of a glitter effect on the skin.  A full sized 250ml product retails for £14 making this worth around £5.60

H2K Skincare comes next and not a brand I am familar with, but with two products in my box this might change.  I have a conditioning shampoo and a hydrating hair conditioner both of which are said to revitalise and nourish my hair.  Hmm well not too much of an introduction to a brand I have never heard of in all honesty, but they will go into my jar for weekend away products which is the intention.  Both of these sizes retail at £2.48 each

Ciate London Nail Polish - Now you can never have too many nail polishes right?  I am a huge fan of Ciate and have quite a lot of different shades and I already have this one which I won in a twitter competition as you can see HERE.  That said it is a fabulous shade and is desvribed as follows "Even without the gin, this yummy berry magenta is as toxically delicious as its namesake". This is a full sized product and retails for £9.

The final product is Maybelline New York Big Eyes Mascara.  Again, I am a mascara lover and it is the one product I will never leave the house without, so whenever I get a new one, I am quite chuffed.  This is a new product and is described as follows "Double the drama with Maybelline's first eye-opening double brush mascara.  Built with specific upper and lower lash brushes, Big Eyes Mascara produces an all-around eye-opening effect". Now this product excites me and I want to rip it open and try it out, but I must use up and finish two other mascaras that are almost empty first, but doesn't it just sound like the perfect mascara?.  Anyway it is available for £8.99

In this months box was a little treat, a Lindor Treat Bar which is just fabulous and now all gone.  Retails for 79p per bar and is delicious.

So a box that has contents worth around £33 and for me a great box this month and I just hope Glossybox manage to keep this up!  What do you think to this box?