Blog Highlights 2018

Last year I did a month by month highlights. See HERE. With being away for two weeks in December (Miami, here's looking at you!) I haven't really had the time to do do a month by month review. This year I'm picking magical moments to share which occurred throughout the year.

I was absolutely over-the-moon to collaborate with Paula, at Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box in May for their 1st Birthday Box. The theme was Beauty Balm Curates... which was so much fun to do and an absolute honour. See the contents and my review HERE.

Inside was a range of products (including an edible) which I'd found to be hard working and lovely products to use (the links are to my reviews) - A.S Apothecary Wild Beauty Balm Concentrate #30, Lucky Cloud Nourishing Cleansing Balm, Bodhi & Birch Desert Rose Facial Oil, a sample of Botany Blend MERU Face Oil, Isla Apothecary Neroli Body Oil, Therapie Himalyan Detox Salts and Just Be Loved Dark Choc with rose oil & rose petals.

I love being one of Love Lula's Accredited Bloggers*. Through the program I've discovered some amazing brands such as Kathleen Naturals (REVIEW), NĀDŪR (REVIEW), ZOJO Beauty Elixirs (REVIEW), Planted (REVIEW) and Natura Siberica (REVIEW) to name a few.

In 2018 I was a Beauty Shortlist Awards Judge which was an absolute honour. I was delighted when Fiona asked me to take part again for the 2019 Awards (I'm currently testing out a wide range of beautiful products for the Awards - the results will be live on Friday 1 March 2019). See my top picks from the 2018 Awards HERE.

I'm currently taking a Formula Botanica course, which I'm behind with due to the day job and other things. I'm planning on finishing it early next year (hopefully) and I'll share with you my creations along the way. See my posts about it HERE, HERE and HERE.

Both me and my husband celebrated big Birthdays this year and I spend 4 sunny April days in Jersey (Channel Islands) celebrating mine. And, for hubby's we had 2 amazing weeks in Miami in December! I'll be doing some posts on Miami but you can see my first one HERE.

St Brelades Bay, Jersey, Channel Islands

South Beach, Miami 

Blue Skies and Palm Trees

Thanks to everyone who reads my blog - it really means a lot and here's to a fantastic 2019!

*products are sent to me as a member of the Love Lula Accredited Blogger Program for genuine and honest reviews.

April: Lately I've Been Loving

So many April loves..

I've had the real pleasure of trying exquisite and decadent Mangata Baume de la Rose* (£83 - 30ml) an anti-ageing beauty balm by Holistic Green Beauty which truly is one of the most luxurious products I've ever tried. It's perfect in every way from the feel on your skin to the beautiful scent. Expect a full review very shortly (this product has WOW factor and is likely to feature in my top products of '18).

And two products with the WOW factor in the same month! Vanderohe's No.1 Nourishing Face Serum* (10ml - £33) is one of the best skincare products I've tried. Catch my review in early May.

It was my 50th birthday earlier in the month and we went back to the fab L'Horizon Hotel at St Brelades Bay, Jersey. The hotel is right on the beach and is just wonderfully relaxing. We were also lucky to have two very sunny afternoons.

Coffee was a must in the sunshine at Jersey Crab Shack on the bay (and their wonderful crab salad was also consumed!)

We got the open top bus into St Helier (and I nearly fell off my seat trying to take selfies..haha)

Hubby treated me to the gorgeous Tom Ford Neroli Portofino EdP at de Gruchy (cheaper than UK with no VAT!) The assistant also decanted two generous samples for me. Review will follow! I love it.

Of course there had to be fizz! And cocktails..

lanique (rose attar (like liquid turkish delight yum), crushed ice and lime

Old Fashioned and Negroni

amuse bouche

 potato - quails egg- paris brown

Morel Cream - Pea - Lemon - Spring Herbs (pretty as a picture, delicious & one of our favourites) 

scallop - celeriac - truffle - apple - smoked eel

Spiced Apple - Backberry

We dined again at amazing One Michelin Star Bohemia Jersey and the food was gorgeous. Would highly recommend it if you are on the Island.

Thank you Bohemia!

My friend Nardin treated me to a gorgeous bottle of perfume from Jo Loves - Smoked Plum & Leather. See my review HERE.

My friends Magi and Derek asked their very talented neighbour and friend to draw our old dog Bess. The likeness is uncanny! Such a beautiful and heartfelt gift.

What have you been loving this month?

*complimentary

Summer Holidays: Jersey & Paris

We recently spent a week in Jersey and had a mix of super sunny days (and one afternoon of rain!) We went with my mum and dad and had a lovely relaxing break.

We stayed at Handpicked Hotels - L'Horizon Hotel & Spa which is right on the beach at St Brelade's Bay. Each room had a balcony which was great for people watching as well as catching some sun.  A couple of nights of high tides was fun to watch too.

Just along from the hotel was a lovely little shop called Fish n Beads and I picked up some really pretty hand-painted stones (a great little holiday souvenir).

We had a couple of days in St Helier - a lovely town with great duty free shopping!  I loved stopping by Feel Unique (where I bought Chanel's Le Blanc de Chanel) and de Gruchy's for my Tom Ford Scent (link).

On the Tuesday we had a very special lunch at Bohemia Bar & Restaurant which has one Michelin star and the kitchen is run by Steve Smith. The food was simply incredible - some of the best I've ever tasted.  Staff were friendly and chatty but still very professional. Definitely a dining experience I want to repeat!  We decided on the six course surprise tasting menu.  Here are some of my highlights:-

cep - potato - quail egg - sorrel

foie gras cream - sour cherry - duck salad - pistachios

lobster ravioli - sweetcorn - purslane - lobster sauce

our shared cheese selection

We also spent a lot of time on the beach, mainly walking about, a little bit of sunbathing and some time sitting on the hotel terrace with a bottle of wine or two and our kindles!  When the tide was out we walked over to the famous Old Smugglers Inn at Ouaisne Bay.

Jersey Potteries have two restaurants in the bay - CrabShack and Oyster Box and we enjoyed food from both. Sitting outside in the sun at CrabShack was such a simple pleasure!

We also had a trip to Jersey Lavender Farm which was really interesting and informative and we loved feeding the chicks!

We went back to St Helier's for another wander around and stopped by Relish Jersey, a fab deli with amazing grazing platters. 

We had an extra little mini break last week of 2 nights in Paris. I totally fell in love with the City and can't wait to go back. We stayed at Hidden Hotel (Sensation Room) which was really central, just a short hop to the Arc de Triomphe.

Each day we enjoyed a delicious breakfast at Lacombe Cafe Parisien (4.1 euros each). Will go back!

Stopping by for some Laduree Macarons was a must as was a visit to Sephora - I had a teeny spend (allowed in my spending ban).

I'm always keen to find roll-on perfumes (which I find harder to source in the UK) so I picked up one in Jimmy Choo (19.20 euros - £13.64) and a couple of Sephora branded bits - I could easily have spent a fortune as the shop was amazing (next time for sure!) The French Pharmacies had loads of cut price Caudalie too!

We found that most of the restaurants we had searched for were closed for the holidays but many were still open. We stopped by Brasserie Lorraine for dinner and shared a delicious Grand Marnier Souffle.

Another food highlight from Brasserie Le Franc Tireur was their yummy gratin savoyard a l'oignon et se croutons (French Onion Soup)

Some snaps from around Paris..

Have you been away on holiday this summer?