Pioneer X-SMC11DAB-S

Music is quite a big part of my life, always has been, whether it is going to a gig, listening on my iPhone, listening to the radio or playing old skool CD's at home.  The one issue I currently have is that having upgraded my iPhone, where most of my music is stored, my old music system which was an iPod docking station has become obsolete due to the change in charging mechanism.  So I wanted something other than a mug to use as a speaker (I am sure you are all aware of the mug trick, if not ask!).

So when Pioneer asked if people would be interested in reviewing one of their products, I jumped at the chance, firstly because I miss playing music and secondly because I have never owned anything my Pioneer.  So the X-SMC11DAB was duly dispatched to me on loan to have a play with it and see what my thoughts were.

My first reaction was how small, slim and stylish it was in comparison to my old docking system which looked more like a brick and took up quite a lot of room.  Its main features is that I could connect it to my iPhone 5, it has a DAB radio, the ability to play CD's plus a USB port so I could my iPad into it to play back MP3's.  This device is also wall mountable and has a remote control that you can use to control everything from playing a CD, music from your iPod, setting the sleep timer and turning it all off.

No sooner had I got this item in my possession it was unwrapped and set up, literally within minutes, no need to read the handbook that comes with it, for me, everything I needed to know was on the box in front of me.  It has two speakers and two passive radiators they are called and that simply means they produce more bass than regular ported systems.  All I can say is that it can be very loud, infact I am sure my neighbours loved a bit of Queen blasting out from this, well I couldn't have it and not test the sound right?  No matter how loud you have the sound, there is no distinctive rattling or vibrating and I tested it out using different types of music from Metallica and Queen to Cheesy 80's and 90's music whether on CD or via my iPhone, it sounded brilliant.

If you prefer the radio then tuning it is also an easy task, simply press the 'Tune' button on the top and it searches for you, coming up with a lot of different options in seconds and I came across some radio stations like ABBA FM that I only wish I could get all of the time.

I also liked being able to play one of my de-stressing CD's before going to sleep and being able to set the timer to go off, a function that I never thought I would use, but did during the whole time the device was with me.  You can also use it to come on in a morning and again for this is an absolute dream, no having to get out of a warm bed to switch something on as you listen to the news before you get up

I am not too good with the techy stuff, so for a full list of specs you can find them all HERE. This device retails at around £220 and if money wasn't an object I wouldn't hesitate to buy it.

Cleanse Off Mitt

Have you heard of the #campaignbinthewipes on twitter? I have come across the hashtag quite a few times and whilst I admit to using them, more when I am in a lazy mood than everyday, I was intrigued.

When I have had a long day at week and am totally tired out, the thought of taking my make-up off suddenly becomes quite a chore, it shouldn't be, but when all I want to do is climb into bed and sleep, it is. Then I was asked if I would like to try the Cleanse Off Mitt which claimed to "quickly remove all make-up naturally - including mascara" and all you needed to do was just add water, I jumped at the chance.

The Cleanse Off Mitt** is a microfibre knit designed to remove all of your make-up, even the most stubborn bits without irritating the skin.  Face wipes aside, I do tend to use a flannel and some warm water to remove my make-up in an evening and instead of doing that, I started to use this mitt instead, not everyday and evening because I don't believe that is the intention, but when I have had one of those days and everything other than getting into bed is going to become a chore.

So all you need to do is pop it over your hand, it is after all a mitt, then under warm water, not hot, simply wipe your face as you would do with a flannel, cloth, wipe or whatever else you might use.  The first thing I noticed was how incredible soft this was on my skin and then when I looked at the mitt, I was horrified at the colour it had turned, which you can see below.  I know living in London means I am going to be dealing with a lot of pollution, but ewww it did make me feel a little bit sick.

I have seen a few people moan that this product isn't that good, perhaps they should have read more about it because it is designed to be used as a pre-cleanse, not in replacement of.  When I use it, I use the mitt first and then I cleanse before moisturising.  The purpose being to stop using wipes which I know are bad for your skin and often strip it leaving a feeling of dryness.  So if you are about to reach for a wipe to remove your make-up and daily grime, stop, think and grab your mitt.

Each mitt has a life of between 3-6 months depending on how often you use it and it is machine washable thankfully! They are also good to use for anyone who goes to the gym a lot and shower immediately after working out and also for people who travel and worry about how many products they can legally take with them, also for the mummies and those of us on the go who want a hassle free solution.

For a mere €5 this Mitt is affordable and gets the big thumbs up from me, it is hassle free and easy to use and as you can see from the photos, it does remove gunk from your face without leaving it dry.  It is reusable, hygienic, lightweight, chemical free and hypoallergenic to name but a few things.  You can purchase your Mitt via the beauty emporium.ie and it should be available in selected pharmacies nationwide over the coming weeks.

Valentine's Day blogger Secret Swap

As you read this post, I and my hubby will be either on the plane or just landed in Amsterdam, but Happy Valentines Day!

I took part in a bloggers secret valentines swap organised by xx and xx and posted my package off to its recipient last weekend, so hopefully you have got it and like it, though you won't know it was me that sent it!

My package has arrived and knowing I was going to be away, I wrote this post a few days ago so that it could go live on the day itself. I have no idea who my swap partner was, but it is always exciting to get a box full of products right? Well this is what was in my beautifully packaged swap box:

How cute are those love hearts and the card, I love pugs I find them so cute and I am particularly impressed and moved that my swappee took the time to look for a card with cats on, knowing that I have 3 of them.  Thank you.

So we have quite a lot of products here and I haven't tried any of them - whoever picked this box has clearly looked at my blog because the first thing that caught my eye was this beautiful tub of coconut and cream body butter from I Love Cosmetics and it was actually on a list of things I wanted to try because I love things scented with coconut.

Then we have Maybelline Baby Lips in Hydrate.  Now I know some people are not a fan of these, but I really like them and find them so handy to have in my handbag, desk draw or on my bedside table and this particular one I have yet to try.  It states that it will give 8 hours worth of moisture and in this weather, I definitely need it!

Argan oil treatment for the hair comes next and it has a Moroccan Argan oil extract to give an intense hydrating treatment to rejuvenate and repair your hair leaving it shiny, smooth and healthy.  Again, not a product I have tried and am looking forward to giving it a whirl to see how my hair copes with it.

Then we have some make-up products from a brand called Catrice whom I have read about on other peoples blogs but have never come across them myself.  There is a colour changing lipstick which says it is a lip glow, too look at it, I was expecting to have bright Oompa Loompa lips, but it actually gives my lips a bit of a glossy look to them.  Then comes an eye palettes with 4 different shades called Never Let Me ago and this is truly stunning, I love all of the shades.

The next products is from Essence - Oz the great and powerful in shade 01 Beware of the Wicked Witch - are you trying to tell me something blogger swapper??  This is a cream blush, again not a product I have used before, though cream blushes seem to be a popular item across the blogger sphere and I am looking forward to giving this a go. It comes with a pump dispenser and you only need a really small amount on your hand, brush or whatever you choose to use to apply to your cheeks.

Barry M comes next with a lipgloss and in the tube it looks as though it is a candy floss pink colour and when you open the tube, it smells wonderfully sweet of strawberries and it is a lovely shade of pink - pics needed

Then I have three samples - Melvita Narcissus which look this up!!! Followed by Nuxe anti-fatigue moisturising cream which is for dry skin and finally an eye contour  anti-ageing and radiance cream from Avene which I am also looking forward to trying.

Last but no means least a bar of Galaxy Cookie a crumble chocolate which is just so yummy and I could quite easily east the whole bar to myself and two packets of Love a heart sweets which I haven't come across in years, so I am looking forward to seeing what each one has to say on it when it comes to eating them.

Ted Baker Purse Spray

When I took the Ted Baker test to see which Purse Spray I was most like, I was quite surprised.  The Purse Sprays comes in four different scents and are 10ml each in size, so they are perfect for popping into your handbag.

So here is the test - which one are you?

I spent a few minutes pondering my response to each question and my repsonses mostly matched B which is Polly.

So let me introduce Polly** to you:

Polly is described as follows "Girly yet grown up, Polly's a sweet Heart with a wild streak. For Ladies who like to spice things up, she's the ultimate partner-in-crime on a girl's night out.  This sweet floral aroma begins with juicy tones of mandarin, red berries and peach whilst the Heart entwines white jasmine, honeysuckle and peony with shades of vanilla, amber, patchouli and white musk in the Base".

As soon as I spritzed this on my wrist to get a scent, the first thing you notice is that mixture of floral and juicy tones together which smell simply divine. Once it has been sprayed the scent is fairly strong to begin with and once it settles down it lasts for hours and I can wear this all day at work and still smell it on my clothes when I am on my home after a 9 hour day.

I really like the bottle this perfume comes in, taking on the Ombre look with its purple bottle, the lid features the Ted Baker initials and really makes for a stunning finish.

Retailing at just £15, this perfume is perfect for carrying in your handbag and it looks pretty alongside the rest of your collection.