Review: Spa London - Gold Signature Treatment

As some of you may have seen in my Christmas gift guide post, I was recently invited along to a Spa afternoon at the Wimbledon Spa London and it was such an amazingly relaxing and pampering afternoon, everything really that I needed to revive me during these cold Winter months. 

Daily Greatness 12 Week Training Journal

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you've all had a lovely Christmas and Boxing Day filled with delicious food and family time. I've spent the last two days relaxing with a little bit of braving the sales which has been lovely but I'm now turning my mind towards 2015, planning, prepping and setting a few goals along the way.

Review: Guerlain Rouge G de Guerlain Rouge Parade Lipstick

The Guerlain Rouge G de Guerlain Lipstick, 820 Rouge Parade is the limited edition lipstick in  Guerlain's Night at The Opera Collection this Christmas and this is definitely a 'Wow!' lipstick. Guerlain is my favourite luxury beauty brand and I picked this beautiful lipstick up in the Guerlain store on Le Champs-Élysées when in Paris recently, which incidentally was the most beautiful and decadent beauty and perfume store I have ever been in! 

Review: Nars Sheer Glow Foundation

The Nars Sheer Glow Foundation is the Holy Grail of Foundations for many a blogger, which has intrigued me for a while so I was quite keen to give it a go. I had some N.Dulge points to splurge so I headed to Space NK and picked this up in the shade Stromboli and I have to say I've definitely been impressed by it. 

Today I'm Wearing

One of the reasons I love Christmas is the fact that there are so many chances to get dressed up and you can be as sparkly as you want! I so enjoy getting that little black dress out of the wardrobe and sparkling away for the evening and this gorgeous dress is a recent party season addition.  

OM Yoga Magazine - Banish Anxiety

Those who know me, know that I can at times be a real worrier and sometimes it's all too easy for that worry to turn into anxiety. While I love Christmas time, I do find that it can be a stressful time too for me as I try to juggle getting all my work done before the Christmas break, with a busy month of socialising and late nights and trying to find the perfect gifts for my loved ones. So when this month's Om Yoga magazine landed on my iPad with a feature on banishing anxiety, it really couldn't have come at a more appropriate time for me.

Review: Urban Decay Naked On The Run Palette

I'm already a  big fan of the Urban Decay Naked palettes so when I spied the Urban Decay Naked On The Run palette on Instagram I knew right away that it'd be the perfect little kit for doing my makeup on the go.

My Under £25 Christmas Gift Guide

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas especially with my little Christmas tree up and the Christmas lights sparkling away. It's not long to go now so I really do need to finish up the last of my Christmas shopping. I thought I would put together my top 12 Christmas presents picks for those of you, who like me are still rushing around the shops. There's quite a range and it's not just all beauty, some are ideal for stocking fillers, secret santa gifts or just for treating someone including yourself. There are decadent bath treats, luxury chocolates and even Spa sessions so if you're stuck on present inspiration hopefully this will get you back in the mood for Christmas shopping.

Today I'm Wearing

I love it when I can take a favourite item from my wardrobe like this heart print monochrome dress and give it a fresh new update as the seasons change and it gets colder by simply combining it with some well chosen accessories.

Review: Balayage at The Chapel Islington

For a while now I've been wanting to do something different with my hair. I had it cut into a bob in the Summer & I although I love it, the bob was shorter than I had anticipated so I've been growing it out into a long bob & playing with the length again wasn't an option. So I decided to take a brave step for me & play around with the colour by opting for a Balayage.

Review: MAC Relentlessly Red

I'm having quite the love affair with MAC at the moment, especially their lipsticks which it seems I can't stop buying! Relentlessly Red is the latest edition to my ever-growing MAC lipstick collection, I picked it up whilst my best friend was having a MAC makeover when waiting for our Eurostar train to Paris recently....it's difficult to exert self control in MAC. I have a number of 'red' lipsticks but there are subtle differences between them all (this is how I justify my lipstick collection) and this lipstick is just so beautiful, I love it!

Review: Urban Decay All Nighter

The party season is very much upon us which means heavy demands on the staying power of make up looks & that's where the wonderful Urban Decay's All Nighter make up setting spray comes in oh so handy!

Review: Seasonal Gold Nail Polishes

I have to admit that I'm beginning to feel quite festive now & I'm loving all the Gold & sparkly effect nail polishes & top coats which have recently hit the Drug & Department stores. If you can't rock Gold sparkles during the Festive season then when can you! This post is inspired by my lovely friend Kate, who loves nail polish as much as I do and yesterday I spied the beautiful Diorific Golden Shock Gold Leaf Effect top coat on Kate's nails. It looked beautiful and as I'm such a Magpie, it was definitely an instant heart eyes emoji kinda moment.

Budget friendly food: Ade's Soda Bread

I have been trying to master the art of bread making (with varying degrees of success) for the last year now, as for me you just can't beat the taste of freshly baked bread with a bit of butter and homemade Raspberry jam. However bread making can take time and be quite labourious with the proving and the kneading especially as I make bread by hand as I don't have a bread maker. That was until my lovely friend Ade revoluntionised my bread making with her Soda Bread recipe. This is such a quick, easy and budget friendly bread recipe. You don't need to let it prove and there is only a little bit of kneading involved so it's really easy to enjoy freshly baked bread more often. Perfect for those lovely seasonal Winter soups or with a bit of smoked Salmon.

Review: Lush's The Christmas Penguin

As some of you may remember, last year I fell in love with the Lush Melting Snowman and this year he's back as Lush's Christmas collection has been in stores for a few weeks now, but this year I have discovered a new favourite.....The Christmas Penguin bubble bar.

Review: Bodyshop's Wild Argan Oil Bubbling Bath

So you may have seen from my Sunday pamper edit a little while ago, that for me, my favourite pampering treat is a luxurious bubble bath with scented candles, a good book, a refreshing drink and a little bit of chocolate. The bubbles are very important, there has to be the right amount of bubbliness, a delicate non-overpowering fragrance and ideally moisturising too and this little superstar from the Bodyshop; the Wild Argan Oil Bubbling Bath has it all!

Om Yoga Magazine - Yoga is for Every Body!

This month I have been brightening up my daily commute with Om Yoga magazine. Being a fairly new yoga enthusiast, the November issue has been perfect for me with so many articles catching my eye such as the beginner's guide to meditating, but one section in particular really resonated with me; the 'Yoga is for everybody' feature.

Budget Friendly Food: My Superfood Quinoa Salad

This Quinoa dish is one of my favourite simple, healthy dishes. I cook this a lot, especially if I'm feeling a little run down and in need of really nourishing food.  

Review: Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream

As the days get colder, my hands get drier, so a good hand cream is a must for me especially during the Winter. I have tried so many hand creams over the years, never quite finding the right one, until I discovered this gem, the Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream.

Budget Friendly Food: Grandpa's Banana Fritters

I'm continuing the 'budget friendly food' series with a little bit of a naughtier recipe this week; these very delicious Banana Fritters which are like gorgeous little Banana-ry doughnuts. They are so quick and simple to make and are a great way to use up extra Bananas especially ripe ones.

Review: Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream Perfume

This year, for my birthday I was very lucky as I received three bottles of perfume (everyone knows I'm such a perfume person, clearly) and one of those gorgeous bottles was a big bottle of Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream Perfume. It is such a very beautiful light scent which is exactly right for me.

REVIEW: GHD CURVE CLASSIC CURL TONG

As some of you may have seen on my Instagram and Facebook, over the weekend I splurged the remainder of my birthday money by treating myself to the ghd Curve Classic Curl Tong. 

Budget friendly food: Chickpea Bhuna

So very recently my baby Brother Rashid, flew the nest and headed off to University. I couldn't help but do the big Sister thing and try and pass on the tips and tricks I learnt through my time at uni especially about food shopping and budgeting....hopefully he picked up some of the tips. Inspired by my Brother and always endeavouring to get the most out of my food budget, I thought I would share with you over the coming weeks, some of my favourite budget friendly recipes which are healthy, filling, only cost a few pounds to make and will provide enough to share with friends or eat as leftovers the next day. 

Review: NailsInc NailKale Superfood Basecoat

NailInc has undergone a bit of a makeover, launching its NailKale range in collaboration with Alexa Chung in August. When I first heard about NailsInc's new NailKale range which has the superfood Kale infused through it, I was quite intrigued. I love Kale, I'm a huge fan of it in my meals and green juices and I don't doubt its health properties but I wasn't really sure how that would work in a nail polish. However after recently having a gel manicure before I headed off to Ibiza, my nails have been left feeling a little sorry for themselves and were in a bit of a sorry state so I turned to the NailKale  Superfood base coat polish to see if the situation could be remedied. 

Review: MAC Retro Matte Lipstick - Dangerous

This lipstick was a very sweet and lovely birthday present and I loved it so much I featured it in my September favourites. I don't normally wear orangey-toned red lipsticks as I've always been of the opinion that orange and my skin tone just isn't a good match, but MAC's Dangerous has most definitely converted me! I absolutely love this lipstick, the colour is amazing and I've received so many compliments when wearing it.

Giveaway! Mind Body Soul Experience & OM Yoga Show Weekend Tickets

As you may have seen,  I recently headed off to an amazing Yoga retreat in Ibiza and I've been trying to keep up with my yoga practice now that I'm back in London. As part of that I'm very excited about attending the Mind Body Soul Experience Show and the Om Yoga Show coming up later this month at Olympia in London and the excitement doesn't stop there.........

Life Lately: The September Edit

Review: Faith in Nature Pineapple and Lime Shampoo and Conditioner

*Pineapple and Lime shampoo and conditioner (400ml - £5.50)

I have to confess, I'm a little obsessed with Pineapple and Lime, it's true (I can't get enough of the Pineapple and Lime juice from M&S) so when Faith in Nature asked me if I'd like to try out some of their haircare range, choosing the Pineapple and Lime shampoo and conditioner took just seconds.

Today I'm Wearing

Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall - F. Scott Fitzgerald

It seems that Autumn is very much here as the unseasonably balmy days give way to colder, crisper days and it's time to reach for warmer clothes. I have to admit I was quite excited to have the chance to dig out my favourite jumper dress and team it with some new purchases.

September Beauty Favourites

So September is already over and what a month it has been, my birthday has been and gone, I'm another year older and the days are getting shorter. This last month I've been indulging in a bit of  'shopping my stash' and making amazing rediscoveries along with new finds and here are the new and old beauty products I've been loving!

Vogue Fashion's Night Out

Last week saw the return of Vogue Fashion's Night Out for the sixth time, taking place on across two of the UK's largest shopping streets - Oxford and Regent Street, London. I was invited along by Shop Rush to their Vogue Fashion's Night Out event in collaboration with Reiss at the Reiss flagship store for a fun night filled with cupcakes, cocktails, fashion shows, makeovers and a good ole' Photo Booth!

Statement Slip Ons

I am very much a creature of comfort so it's maybe not a huge surprise that the latest thing I'm loving are very comfy statement slip ons. I've also lately, got a little bit obsessed with all things animal or Pineapple print and now I've been able to combine my loves as look what I found! Happy days for me!

The Travel Edit: Ibiza Zen

So you may have seen from my Instagram pictures and Tweets that a little while ago I headed off to a Yoga retreat in gorgeous Ibiza. It was a much needed holiday and I had such an amazing time in Ibiza, I'm really still a bit sad it's all over. I'd wanted to go to Ibiza for years, so when my good friend Sarah told me about a yoga retreat in Ibiza which her and her friends were running, I thought why not give it a go and I'm so glad I did!

The Sunday Pamper Edit

This last week has been a busy week for me. Work has been busy and there has been something fun to do or go to every night and it's been lovely. I've had post birthday catch up dinners with friends, exercised my brain cells at the work quiz night and had a fabulous night at the theatre to watch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It was all so amazing, but I've definitely been feeling like a little rest and pampering is much needed today........I think being another year older is catching up with me.

Lemon Drizzle Traybake

When I'm lucky enough to have some spare time, there is something so very relaxing about Sunday baking. For me, I always find it's a great way to wind down the week and prepare me for the week ahead. I really wanted to use the new cake tin my brother gave me for my birthday so today's cake is a really quick and simple Lemon Drizzle traybake, very moreish and a perfect treat teamed with a cup of tea and putting your feet up on a Sunday afternoon.

Review: Genesis Crafty Artisan Baked Delights

When these delicious Genesis Crafty* pancakes and scones landed on my desk, to say I was excited would be an understatement. I love pancakes and scones, you can't beat homemade scones with clotted cream and jam but sometimes when things are a bit too hectic and I just don't have time to make them, the Genesis Crafty range is a pretty good alternative.

The Big Feastival

Before Bestival hit this Summer, there was The Big Feastival, the food & music festival founded by Jamie Oliver & Alex James, with the festival being held on Alex James' farm in the Cotswolds.

Review: Kiehl's Micro-Blur Skin Perfector

August Beauty Favourites

So I've already shared with you my non-beauty favourites for August and below....drumroll........are all the beauty products I've been loving this last month.

August Non-Beauty Favourites

It seems that I haven't done a favourites post in quite a while which is surprising as they're one of my favourite posts to read. There are a number of things I've been loving through August so I thought I'd separate the beauty and the non-beauty favourites for August.

Today I'm Wearing: Je ne regrette rien

With the weather getting a little cooler this week, I've had to reach for a little extra coverage (I get cold very easily) which has meant I get to wear my new favourite top!! A little while ago I treated myself to this jumper from Whistles. Of course Summer isn't the ideal time to make such a purchase, but I really love this and just couldn't resist. 

Today I'm Wearing

I am by no means a fashionista, this much you probably know, but I've just been enjoying playing around with my look, experimenting a little like with this denim dress with the buttoned up look & just having more fun with my clothes. On the weekend I did a little shopping, you may have seen my haul picture on Instagram and you know when you've bought something you love, when you want to wear it the very next day. That's exactly how I felt about my new denim oversized shirt dress, so here it is.

Great British Bake Off Inspired Victoria Sponge Cake

The Great British Bake Off will be back on our screens on Wednesday and I can't wait! I'm not much of a TV watcher, but this is one of my favourite programmes and I'm already looking forward to getting drawn into the show and being inspired in the Kitchen. In fact I'm already feeling inspired having harvested some fresh Raspberries from the garden this morning and thought I'd share with you a Great British Bake Off and Summer inspired Victoria Sponge Cake recipe, prefect for Sunday Afternoon Tea.

Review: L'Oreal Infallible Nail Polish

Whilst in Boots recently I discovered the latest nail polish offering from L'Oreal Paris, the 2 in 1 Infallible Nail Polish.

Review: Origins Ginger Souffle Whipped Body Cream

I love all things Gingery and the Origins Ginger Souffle body cream is one of my favourite things at the moment. It smells absolutely delicious and leaves my skin feeling moisturised, pampered and refreshed! I love it!!

Cheeky Parlour

Cheeky Parlour is Cowshed's cheeky little sister beauty parlour based in Shoreditch's Redchurch Street in London. It is a one-stop beauty shop, with seven hair stations, four pedicure chairs, three make up chairs and six nail stations. The Cheeky Parlour spearheaded the launch of the Cheeky product range of affordable hair, make up and body products. All products are scented with the new Cheeky fragrance, an uplifting mix of grapefruit, petitgrain, lemon and cedar wood. 

Must Have Sale Buy!!

I popped into Reiss on the weekend when shopping with my best friend and I wasn't expecting to buy anything, but while my friend was in the changing room I discovered one of my best sale purchases yet; the Reiss Vivienne Black Metal Insert Ankle Boots.

Review: Rimmel Idol Eyes Kate Moss Collection

The Rimmel Idol Eyes Kate Moss Collection has been available for about two months now where once again Kate Moss has collaborated with Rimmel London. From the collection these are my two favourite picks; the ScandleEyes Mascara in Eye Rock Amethyst and the Kate Shadow Stick in Rose Gold.

Hampton Court Flower Show

As you’ll have seen from my ‘Today I’m Wearing’ post, I recently went to the Hampton Court Flower Show after getting hold of tickets through work and had an amazing day in the Sunshine! Many of you may already know I really enjoy gardening, growing my own fruit and veg and being able to cook for friends and family with fresh produce from my garden is a feeling not easily beaten. 

Today I'm Wearing

It seems that Summer is fully here with the days being hot, hot, hot and last weekend I enjoyed the sunshine and good weather whilst pottering around Hampton Court Flower Show. I decided to wear my brand new Jackie O' Ray Bans and kimono with one of my favourite Summer dresses, so I thought I'd capture it all on a 'Today I'm Wearing' post.