November: Lately I've been Loving

I'm a huge fan of Suki Tea and was delighted to find my favourite Peppermint at Earthy Portobello. I think this is the best peppermint tea ever made so I'm delighted to find it available locally!

I took part in the 7 days black n' white photos no explanation over on Facebook. This little knitted unicorn got a lot of comments I think people were worried I was swilling G&T's and Bourbon & Cokes before work..

I absolutely adore Bliss Botanicals and in particular their gorgeous Vanilla Rose Soy Wax Melts. They just feel like coming home for me. Cosy, heartwarming and they make me happy. See the shop HERE and my earlier review HERE.

New for Christmas from Beatitude is their gorgeous Limited Edition Christmas Comfort Candle* (£30 - 200g) which contains the essential oils in Comfort blend - geranium, clementine, lavender and eucalptus along with clove, cardamon and cinnamon for a festive treat. The blend is really beautiful and the candle has a good throw. Expect a fuller review shortly.

Every Tropic Skincare product I try I love. This Whipped Body Velvet (£28 - 200ml)** is just a delight. My dry winter skin is loving it. It melts instantly on contact with warm skin and is formulated with Madagascan rarabe butter and baobab oil and scented with mouthwatering Tahitian and Bourbon Vanilla extracts. It's one of my favourite bodycare products this year.

Being back at Heart of Midlothian FC after a spell away when the new Main Stand was getting built was a definite highlight of November. Our seats are way up at the top with a great view of the pitch.

And of course I was delighted to receive my JOIK Advent Calendar* from Love Lula not long now until the 1st!

What have you been loving this month?

*I put £57 toward the JOIK Advent Calendar from Love Lula the rest was paid for via my points from the Love Lula Accredited Blogger Program in November. My post contains an affilate links.
**complimentary

September: Lately I've Been Loving

Here's my September loves:

I was lucky enough to recently win one of Laila London's products of my choice in their giveaway and I chose their Replenishing Midnight Facial Oil 30ml* which is gorgeous. Expect a review soon!

Marie's Artisan Soaps are one of the best artisan handcrafted ones I've used. 

They are hand cut before being beautifully wrapped and the soaps are made using an ancient cold process method and are formulated using natural ingredients. They are made in small batches before being poured into moulds to set. 

Marie very kindly sent me two soaps to try and both are just gorgeous. Geranium & Rosewood* (£5) is scented with Bergamot, Geranium & Rosewood essential oils and pink clay. It's perfect for sensitive skin types. The second one is Organic Lavender* (£5) which calms and soothes. The addition of patchouli essential oil is a nice touch as it gives the soap a spicy edge. I've been really impressed with the quality, how effective and nice they are (I'll definitely buy for me and for stocking fillers/small gifts in the future). See the selection available HERE.

Another new to me brand is Magical Tree founded by Emmy and Laz. The body butters* are simply divine and perfect for dry winter skin - all the scents are a delight. Expect a full review soon.

I was so pleased to finally try Haeckels Made of Margate - my first try was bog myrtle incense cones. See my review HERE. I'm looking forward to trying more!

Latest launch from bodhi & birch (1st October) are their gorgeous new bath & shower oils* (£30). One of my readers can win their very own set (with the body oil collection). See HERE for details of how to enter.

One of our favourite local restaurants, First coast have started doing Small Plates Saturday. We recently shared some delicious plates of food - the scallops, with smoked cauliflower puree were a highlight as well as that delicious and sweet chocolate & hazelnut brownie.

I've totally fallen for these beautiful Bliss Botanicals Vanilla & Rose Soy Wax Melts which I bought back in the summer. They just feel like coming home to me. The scent calms and relaxes me and I love them so. See my review HERE.

What have you been loving in September?

*complimentary

July: Lately I've been Loving

I picked up this beautiful candle by JoJo Co at Stockbridge Market which is absolutely gorgeous - expect a full review shortly. The scent is divine and I love the simple but pretty packaging.

I've been really impressed with this reed diffuser* by The Handmade Soap Company which is available at Love Lula as it's so long lasting and I love the scent. See my review HERE.

Sunflowers down the allotment always cheer me up and make me smile.

My paperback TBR pile (which is going down slowly) I love having loads of choice of what to read next (I've also got 300 books on the kindle!)

Discovering gorgeous Bliss Botanicals thanks for enabling Ali. The products are all beautiful. See my review HERE. The Vanilla & Rose melts are exquisite.

Hake Gravalax - Jersey Royals - Lime - Balsamic

Seabass - Salmon - Cod - Sour Dough - Black Garlic - Bisque

Strawberry Tart - Woodruff - Elderflower - Custard

We had lunch at Restaurant Mark Greenaway which was delicious - it's been a while! We really enjoyed it and can't wait to go back! We went for the Market Menu 3 courses for £29.50.

We also ate at teeny tiny El Cartel Mexicana which was amazing - and I can't wait to go back! The frozen margaritas are incredible! The one above was Apricot & Blood Orange. Mmmm..

Guacamole - Plantain chips

Tacos - Baja Cod - Battered Cod - Chipotle Crema - Pomegranate Salad

Tacos - Duck Carnitas - Chipotle Pecan Salsa - Crema - Pico de Gallo - pumpkin seeds

What have you been loving this month?

*sent to me as part of the Love Lula Accredited Blogger Program

Bliss Botanicals

I first became aware of gorgeous Bliss Botanicals when I spotted them on Ali's Instagram. Being a lover of all things rose I knew they had to be mine too! So I think it was definitely a case of the blogger made me buy it! Check out Ali's blog HERE.

Rebecca (blogs at The Sparkle Nest) is the creator and formulator and the products combine her love of plants, fragrance and organic natural skincare. She's been making candles, soaps and skincare products for over 10 years.

She's currently studying for qualifications in Holistic Herbalism & Aromatherapy. All the products are charged with healing energy, comply with EU safety regulations and are handmade with love in small batches.

The products are absolutely exquisite as well as great value for money. For £4.50 you get 10 soy wax melts. The Vanilla & Rose ones come in a little bag with rose petals (making them perfect for gifting if you can bear to part with them that is!) I also love the sparkles which become more apparent when you pop the melt on the burner.  The scent is very rosey with a warm vanilla edge, has a good throw and I just love them!

The weekend I ordered Rebecca was offering free samples of the other melts so I'm looking forward to trying them also. See the range HERE.

She also sent me a new product which isn't available in the shop yet - Rose Geranium Lip Balm which deeply nourishes the lips and leaves them smelling of roses (it's one of the best lip balms I've ever used!)

I also picked up a soap - Happiness Soap - Lavender & Clary Sage (£4.75 - 90g) which is a cold process soap made with olive and coconut oils, shea butter and essential oils of lavender and clary sage. This is so beautifully gift wrapped. I've not tried it yet - review will follow!

Have you tried any products from Bliss Botanicals?