Spring Formal Office Wear

Office wear is something I have to think about every day and I can do smart/ casual on most days, but there are other days when I am going from meeting to meeting between my office, HQ or another associated office and I need to be a little smarter. However, travelling around London can be quite a hot and stuffy nightmare and wearing a suit is just not for me, I am more of a dress, tights, flat shoes and blazer kind of girl.

So, I have created an office wear wishlist that would see me both comfortably cool without a blazer and not to hot and stuffy when I do need to wear one and the blazers in this collage I actually own, so picking dresses to go with them was quite fun to do.

There is a lot of choice when it comes to buying office wear both online and on the highstreet and there are always a nice variety of styles to suit every one.

• Hale Bob UK Body con dress in black to the far left of the collage is the most expensive dress but I love that it goes from being a classic LBD but with a slight twist, it can be dressed up for going out with just a pair of boots and would work well with a leather jacket! 
• House of Fraser caught my eye with the Dickins Jones Fit and Flare Dress which is currently in the sale here and it again has a slight twist in that the top half is detatchable, so you can again dress it up or down.  
• In the middle is a black ruched sheath dress that I saw in TK Maxx at the weekend and almost bought, but I have one which is very similar with longer sleeves. What I love about these types of dresses is that when you are having one of those 'meh' days and nothing fits right, these dresses always make you look fabulous and again it is perfect for the office or going out afterwards.  
• The Evans Jersey pocket dress is the only one with pockets and I love the shape and design of it, perfect for wearing to work and is a dress that can be glammed up for a night out.  
• The final dress is from New Look and is a black scallop hem Tunic dress which has a v-neck, cap sleeves and a scalloped hem and is again perfect for the office, adding a blazer too or going out in.

Now that I have my office wear sorted, it is time to find some suitable shoes!  

Purrfect Box for Cats - March Edition

The big pink cat box arrived with some excitement for my boys this when the Purrfect box** arrived. Purrfect box is a UK subscription service which allows you to treat your cat, or your dog (Pawsome Box) and each month you will receive a box of treats, toys, accessories, hygiene and personal care products customized and based on the cat's age, size, weight, fur type and preferences. Anyone who reads my blog or follows me on Instagram will know what a big part my three cats play in my life, Hector even has his own Instagram!

Each month has a different theme so you get different goodies each month. The cost is £19.50 per month or £15.50 if you subscribe yearly and this was what was in the box.

Again another box which has an amazing variety of products from toys and treats to snacks. When I open the box, I always let the three of them have a look inside to see if there is anything which takes their fancy.

Starting with the food options, Trixie has become a brand that I am now aware of and my three are always fans of the food options given. The Chicken Tenders are 100% steam cooked chicken fillets which are packed in vaccum sealed packets and make a nice treat in between meals. The Cat Malt (which appears on Hector's Instagram) helps to regulate metabolism and promotes good digestion. An easy way to help resolve feline digestive problems such as hairballs. Also makes a good alternative to cat grass.

Purr by Wagg treats are designed for hairball control and they are again designed as a treat for between meals and have proven to be a big hit with my three, who love anything like this.  The treats are vitamin enriched and preserved with added natural antioxidents from rosemary extract and they contain no artificial colours or flavours.

The final products within the box come in a variety of shape and sizes for toys and thankfully each cat took ownership of a separate toy otherwise there would have been trouble!

The Skinneeeze catnip filled chicken was first out the box with Dexter who aores catnip and the chicken was played with for hours and hours and even now, it is usually by Dexter's side when he is in the house rather than out killing rats - yes real live vermin things!  Then added to the toy choices are the two Balls with an attached feather by Camon and these are designed to stimulate your cat's hunting instinct, something Dexter definitely does not need any help with, but the three cats, especially Dude, love them and spend hours throwing them around in an attempt to 'kill it'.

The final item in the box is by Karlie, a brand I am not aware of but the product in question is Thermoplastic rubber ball which is catnip scented and doubles up as a treat ball with snacks inside. It also floats and is kind to the teeth and Hector loves chases it around, more so if a treat falls out and it is a great way to encourage exercise.

So again, this box has proven to be a huge hit with my three boys, who have devoured the snacks and treats and wholly enjoyed their new play toys. The Purrfect Box and as I have said before, it is a real treat for my boys to get and as soon as they see the box they know exactly what it is and cannot wait for me to rip it open. If you have a friend who has cats, then this would make a fantastic present!

L'Occitane Shea Butter Skincare Essentials

Did you know that in the 1908's, L'Occitane was one of the first laboratories to develop a complete skincare range made with Shea Butter? Well it has gone on to be one of the best selling ranges and is suitable for all skin types.

Rich in Omega 6, Karitene and Vitamin E, Shea butter is nourishing, protecting and repairing, it is an ingredient that does it all and my skin loves it and laps it up. I was recently sent two amazing products from L'Occitane which I am absolutely loving - Shea Face Soothing Fluid and Shea Face Comforting Oil.

Shea Face Soothing Fluid has been especially designed for sensitive skin. It soothes and hydrates skin while protecting it from external aggressions which can lead to tightness, redness and prickling or burning sensations. L'Occitane have used carefully selected active ingredients rosehip and calendula and have combined with shea butter (5%) to help:

• nourish dry skin and optimise skin's barrier function
• soothe the skin
• strengthen skin’s natural defences

On the skin this fluid is incredibly soothing and hydrating.  With all of this stormy weather we seem to have right now with the wind and rain literally battering the skin, I find that I need to use products that do that little bit extra.

Shea Face Comforting Oil is a 100% natural face oil enriched with shea oil (5%) to nourish and repair the skin. Combining Shea Oil (5%) for its unique nourishing properties, Marula Oil for its antioxidant properties the formula helps the skin to regenerate by strengthening its barrier function. Skin feels better protected, soft and supple.

I have combination skin with an oily T-zone and used to assume that adding an oil to oily skin would lead to a total oil slick, this has never been the case. I find this oil absorbs really quickly into the skin leaving no trace it was ever there, the texture is a really fine oil and it has a dry finish. When using it, I pump, using the dispenser, a few drops onto the palm of my hand and rubbing them together to slightly warm the oil, massage into my face and neck. The result is one of soft, smooth and really hydrated skin, perfect for this horrible cold and windy weather.

Both of these products work exceptionally well together or on their own and are perfect for skin which needs a little bit of TLC, especially with the rapid change in weather.

L'Occitane Almond Velvet Hands Hand Cream

As far as I am concerned you can never have too many tubes, tubs or sachets of hand cream and if you are like me, there will be at least one in every handbag you own, one on your bedside table, one on your desk, one in your desk drawer and a few spare just in case. I am a huge fan of L'Occitane hand creams and until now could never pick a favourite, until now. L'Occitane Almond Velvet Hands Hand Cream is the newest release from L'Occitane and it is just amazing, more so that it includes SPF15!

Packaging on L'Occitane products is always something special and this hand cream has the traditional outer box that I recognise from the Almond range but the tube itself is a lovely light pastel pink metallic tube with a plastic lid and it is rare I meet someone who doesn't have a bashed up tube of L'Occitane hand cream in their possession.

Did you know that the Almond Tree is the first to be reborn t the end of winter when its native cells trigger the renewal buds?  Well with that in mind, L'Occitane draws upon the regenerating power of the almond native cells which help to renew and revitalise the epidermis cells of the hands. On the hands, the cream is incredibly rich and silky and it is also non-greasy and as soon as it comes into contact with your skin, it begins to absorb itself.

The hand cream has a triple-action formula which smooths hands, evens out skin tone and protects against UV rays. Enriched with an almond complex which has a blend of three active ingredients which help to stimulate collagen production and smooth the skin on your hands.  Your skin tone is evened out, fine lines reduced and there is an instant nourishing feeling.  What I love about the hand cream aside from the fact it makes my hands feel so soft and smooth is the scent.  Not forgetting that L'Occitane Almond Velvet Hands does have SPF15 which will help shield the skin against environmental damage, premature signs of ageing and of sun induced brown spots.

Anyone who knows me, will know I adore the Almond range from L'Occitane and have worked my way through two jars of the Almond Velvet Balm and two bottles of shower gel, which for me is unheard of. The hand cream is just as divine and has quickly become my favourite and a 75ml tube, which is just massive (they are usually 30ml) only costs £18, though you will have to wait until April to get your hands on it ha absolutely no pun intended.