May: Lately I've Been Loving

So many May loves..

The gorgeous Dook Luxury Handmade Salt Soaps have to get a mention! I fell head over heels for them this month. See my review HERE.

A new Armchair for me from NEXT.

An amazing lunch at Le Roi Fou one wet and cold Saturday. The food was simply stunning and I can't wait to go back!

The excellent invention of de Mamiel samples - perfect for try me or weekends away. See my review HERE.

Edinburgh Gin's latest invention - full strength Rhubarb & Ginger Gin. Totally delicious and very moreish.

Jo by Jo Loves 50ml which is a very unexpected and lovely gift from my friend Julie. We both have April birthdays but just caught up this month (reviews will be upcoming for all the gorgeous pressies she bought me - I was WELL spoiled!) I'm a huge fan of Pomelo (and Smoked Plum & Leather). This is the scent Jo Malone created for herself. It has notes of Grapefruit, Bitter Orange, Lime, Spearmint, Guaiac Wood, Cedarwood, Vetiver, Hedione and Black Pepper. It's simply stunning! 

I jumped for joy to receive an e-copy* of Black Summer by M W Craven (Washington Poe #2) via Netgalley. I fell head over heels for characters Tilly and Poe in the first book in the series, The Puppet Show. So far I'm loving it! (You can pre-order your copy HERE).

What have you been loving this month?

*complimentary e-book

June: Lately I've been Loving

So many June loves..

My simply stunning "The Beekeeper Mug" by Tea with Jud available exclusively at The Manchester Bee Company. It makes me smile every time I reach for this mug. See my post HERE.

One of my fellow plot holders at the Allotment made me this bunting. I simply love it.

Joanne over at Portobello Book Blog organised a brilliant afternoon meet up for Authors and bloggers in Edinburgh. It was an amazing catch up and gives me a fuzzy feeling thinking about it.  Can't wait to do it all over again. Read Joanne's post about the day HERE. Thanks again Joanne for organising it!

I picked up this total bargainous (£20) little chest of drawers at Popping Up In Stockbridge which I simply adore. It's now stuffed full of hand creams and lip balms and sits beside my bed. Made by Sally at Fishing for Compliments. Know it will bring me years and years of joy!

We attended the Gin Festival at Summerhall, Edinburgh and had a great (if chilly and a bit wet afternoon) sampling lots of different gins. Here's some which I loved. It was great also to meet the guys from Harris Distillery (I'm on my second bottle of their lovely gin). Also picked up this lovely little Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb & Lemonade Candle which smells mouthwatering.

I've been trying out Beatitude's Cleansing Bar* which makes bathing a simple pleasure. Gently scented with therapeutic essential oils and enriched with shea butter, olive and coconut oils along with colloidal oatmeal. The soap is free from palm oil and other preservatives. Pick up full size or travel size here.

I buy too much bottled water so decided to give it up and buy a bkr refillable glass bottle which is phthalate and BPA free. I picked the new teeny one in Ivy - the silicone sleeve is in a gorgeous ultramarine blue-green colour. Of course I now want the bigger one too! I bought mine at Naturisimo.

I won Joanne's (Portobello Book Blog) recent giveaway of a copy of the fab new book by SJI Holliday. We went to the book launch on Thursday at Waterstones where I picked up my prize. It was really lovely to meet Susi and get my booked signed!  It's a great read by the way.

What have you been loving this month?

*complimentary

Craft Gin Club: February 2015: Edinburgh Valentine's Gin

Louise, showed a photo of her Craft Gin Club subscription (£40 a month) on one of the beauty groups on Facebook. I rushed off to look (being a huge gin fan) and saw that February's Valentine box included a special bottle from Edinburgh Gin.

Jon and John, the club's founders are so helpful (and reply to emails almost immediately!) I was lucky as they had one February box left - so it was fate that it was going to be mine.

Get £10 off your first box with code BEAUTYBALM

Inside is:

A bottle of Edinburgh Valentine's Gin (70cl - £35) which is made with botanicals of lemon balm, chamomile, lemongrass, juniper, their signature Scottish botanicals along with rose and hibiscus. It really is delicious and perfect mixed with the Fentimans Rose Lemonade (27.5ml - £1.35).

Also inside every box is a enjoyable magazine Ginned! with information about the brands included this month, cocktail recipes and a bit of gin history.

Other extras include: An Edinburgh Gin miniature (5cl - £5), a branded Edinburgh Gin key ring (£3.50) with bottle opener and a bar of Coco Gin & Tonic Chocolate (90g - £4.50).

I like that there is a choice of subscriptions - Every month (my favourite), bi-monthly (1 box every two months) or quarterly (1 box every 3 months).  You can also skip a month if you let the guys know by the 25th of the month.

Previous months have included: West Wind Distillery, The Sabre (not heard of this one!) and Sibling Distillery's The Sibling Gin (another new one to me!) Ones I have tried include the amazing Makar Glasgow Gin and Dunnet Bay's Rock Rose.  You can see the full line up of previous Gins of the Month HERE.

See the website HERE

Follow on Twitter @craftginclub 

Valentine's Day Gift Ideas

There are so many lovely things out there for Valentine's Day gifts. Here are a few of my top picks:

Ancienne Ambiance Colonia Collection Gift Set (£60)* this is a gorgeous trio and would make a lovely luxury gift. See my review HERE.

Lippy Girl Snog Me Vegocentric Vegan Lipstick (£6.25) which is currently on special offer at Botanical Brands. A matte poppy red shade perfect for Valentines Day as it has a long lasting finish as well as nourishing and smoothing the lips.

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4160Tuesdays Seven Small Crimes (2.25ml atomizers 5 x parfum, 2 x EdP £40) which includes all 7 crimes of passion scents in sample size. Included is: Midnight in the Palace Garden, Goddess of Love & Perfume, Inevitable Crimes of Passion, Be Careful What You Wish For, Maxed Out, Raw Silk & Red Roses and Dirty Honey.

Viridian Ultimate Beauty Topical Organic Rose Oil (15ml - £32)* a rich and lush facial oil which is scented with Rose Damascena and other oils essential for dry and mature skin types. The perfect present for a skincare lover. A full review will follow.

Charles Farris Garden of Eden Signature Reed Diffuser (£32) I've recently become a huge fan of reed diffusers and I think this one would make the perfect gift. It's scented with Tuberose, Lily of the Valley, Jasmine and Ylang Ylang.

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The Valentine's Box coming soon to Letterbox Gifts (£22.95 plus P&P) I'm a huge fan of these exquisite boxes. See my review of The Signature Box HERE and The Christmas Box HERE. There is also a new box out now called The Alice Box. See more info on the website.

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Swizzels Love Heart (£22.99) from Find Me A Gift, a fab online store which has everything you could ever want to buy! I think this little heart is super cute and would make a nice token of your affection to a loved one!

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Also from Find Me A Gift is this "Ring for Prosecco" bell (£3.99) which would be right up my street! A jokey and fun gift. You can see all the Valentine's Day Gifts HERE.

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Love Bath & Candle Duo (£38) from Bodhi & Birch which contains a 200ml bottle of Ylang Ylang Incensa Bath & Shower Therapy and a Heartwood Candle in Bergamot & Geranium. I treated myself to the Joy duo. See my review HERE.

A bouquet of flowers from Serenata Flowers there is a huge range to choose from. The ones pictured here were ones I received to review and you can see my post HERE. The bouquet* was simply stunning and lasted well.

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A Craft Gin Club subscription (£40 a month) - pay monthly, Bi-monthly or Quarterly and receive a bottle of craft gin with some extras. February's is now sold out (sob). It contains a bottle of Edinburgh Gin's special Valentine's Day gin with Rose & Hibiscus. (I also like that the company uses Royal Mail rather than courier).

What would be your ideal Valentine's Day present?

*PR samples

The Ginvent Advent Calendar - the first 6 days

I am really enjoying my alternative Advent Calendar this year.  Here's my thoughts on the first six days.

Day One: Edinburgh Gin (43% ABV) this award winning gin is distilled in Edinburgh and the botanicals used are Scottish Juniper, Pine, Heather and Milk Thistle.  Really tasty with Juniper and soft heather notes.  It makes a perfect G&T. One of my favourites.

Day 2: Filliers Dry Gin 28 (46% ABV) - I've not tried this gin before. It is made using 28 botanicals plus Juniper. It has quite a citrus taste with light Juniper notes.  

Day 3: Hayman's Old Tom Gin (40% ABV) - this has been my least favourite so far. It has a slightly sweet taste which I didn't really like. It is made with botanicals of Juniper and Liquorice root.

Day 4: Tarquins Handcrafted Cornish Gin (42% ABV) WOW this gin is amazing. I love its slightly floral notes of Devon violets and orange blossom with a fresh flavour. Delicious served neat too.  An extra special gin. (dropping hints to Santa!)

Day 5: Perry's Tot Navy Strength Gin (57% ABV) - this gin surely packs a punch! With botanicals such as Juniper, Cinnamon, Cardamon, Star Anise, Lemon, Orange and Grapefruit.  An interesting addition is Wild Flower Honey. It is absolutely delicious served over ice...and I absolutely love it!

Day 6: Two Birds Gin (40% ABV) - made using Juniper and four countryside botanicals. It tastes delicious and is refreshing and flavoursome.  It makes a perfect G&T.

Well from the first six days I'd buy: Edinburgh Gin (already a favourite), Tarquins Handcrafted Cornish Gin, Perry's Tot and Two Birds.

Have you tried any of these gins before?