August: Lately I've been Loving

In August when I was off work we had a day out in Leith. We went to The Vintage for a delicious lunch - we ate off the grazing menu and everything was really tasty. You can see the menu here.

That same afternoon we stopped by Roseleaf for a Pot-Tail - a yummy cocktail served in a teapot with cups and saucers.  We chose a Mad-Hatter which was a mix of Koko Kanu Coconut Rum with homemade Fiery Ginger Beer and Lime - delicious!  Also available are a selection of fancy dress hats to wear while supping your cocktail!

I'm a huge fan of scented candles and in August I've been loving St Eval's Sea Salt Candle. Thanks to Sam at Honey Go-Lightly for discovering this beauty! See my review here.

OV Naturals Rose Geranium Harmonising Organic Artisan Face Oil 10ml* - Lucy very kindly sent me this new face oil to review (a full review to follow in the next couple of weeks). Simply lovely to use, smells amazing and I'm sure this will be the one to knock Triple Rose Luxury Organic Face Oil off the top spot! See my review of the Triple Rose face oil here.  

Homemade Piccalilli - made with some of the glut of marrows in the garden! Delicious with cold meat, pork pies or cheese.

I'm a huge fan of hearts and I love this little one I picked up at COVE a while back.

Finally, I'm a huge magazine lover and especially like Red and The Simple Things. Currently I'm also loving Psychologies mag - I love the articles, quizzes and that it makes me think more.  I adore both Sally Brampton's and Catherine Turner's columns.

What are you loving this month?

Spending Ban - Update 8

A good week! Just a spend on a Psychologies Magazine - love this magazine such an interesting and informative read which makes you think too.

Onto my wants:

Korres Watermelon Body Scrub (150ml - £9.60) - just finished an Elemis body scrub which I really liked.  I like the sound of this fruity scrub especially as I love the scent of watermelon.

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Clark's Botanicals Intense Radiance Mask (£58) - a white clay mask to revitalise skin.  To brighten and make skin more luminous.  Sounds fab!

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Elemental Herbology Neroli & Rose Damask Body Duo (£34.50) including Body Wash & Body Cream. Already love Elemental Herbology for skincare.  The body range sounds lush.

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Diptyque Roses Candle (£40) - simply love rose scented candles and Diptyque.  A luxe want!

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Sarah Chapman Discovery Collection (£40) - since trying a couple of samples I really want to try more from the Sarah Chapman range.

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REN Moroccan Rose Otto Sugar Body Polish (£32) - I'm a huge fan for REN Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil, Body Oil, Shower Gel and Body Lotion so it would be nice to try the scrub.

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How is your spending ban doing?  Have you tried any of my weekly "wants"?

Aromatherapy Associates Support Breathe Essence

I was sent Aromatherapy Associates  Support Breathe Essence* a few weeks ago (10ml - £16.50).  I've been using it in times of stress and to relax.  

An anti-bacterial inhalation essence to help reduce stuffiness, congestion, ease breathing, relief for colds, for use in planes to protect from germs, to relax and de-stress.

With essential oils of Eucalyptus, Peppermint, pine and Tea Tree.

To use: sprinkle a few drops on a tissue and breath in deeply.

Catherine Turner, a Health & Beauty journalist who does a really interesting column for Psychologies magazine (I always see products I want to try!) suggests rubbing a few drops in the palms and inhaling to relax.

It can also be used as a home fragrance oil in an Aromatherapy Associates electric burner.

Have you used this before?  Do you use any products to relax and de-stress?

*PR sample

Spending Ban - Update 3

Things are going quite well surprisingly although I did buy InStyle magazine for the free beauty supplement.  It gives me hours of enjoyable reading and deciding what products I want to try.  I also picked up my free L'Occitane Hand Cream for L'Occitane reaching 75k fans on Facebook.  I picked Shea Butter (30ml) worth £8.  I also got a nice surprise parcel from Grace at All that Slap Blog - thanks so much Grace!  There is a little surprise in the post to you.

I'm still enjoying using my paperblanks* journal for recording my spending/wants.  I think after the ban finishes I'll use it for blog post ideas and keep recording wants.

Here are the things I've been wanting this week:

RMS BeautyLip2Cheek in Smile - £28 - a tinted mineral stain which can be used on lips and cheeks.  Such a pretty shade.

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The Organic Pharmacy Rose Balm (£25 for 10ml) - A new product from The Organic Pharmacy - a multi-purpose balm suitable for lips, nails, hair, and dry skin on the face and body.  Contains Rose, Marigold, Argan Oil, Vitamin E, Rosehip and Shea Butter.  I love a multi-purpose product and I bet this one smells divine!

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Mitchell & Peach Kentish Cobnut Scrub (£36 for 260g) - I read about this in the beauty pages of Psychologies magazine last week.  Sounds like just my kind of scrub - I like a gritty one and this contains ground shell from cobnuts, sugar, coconut, sweet almond and palmarosa, honey and lavender essential oil.

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Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler - £20 - have read so many great reviews about these especially Mez's at All Made Up.

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Badger Yoga & Meditation Balm (£6.09 - 28g) - this sounds ideal for de-stressing and calm.

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Tara Smith Shampoo & Conditioner - I'm unable to download a photo but you can pick this vegan and natural hair care range at M&S.

How is your spending ban going?  Have you been tempted to buy anything?

*complimentary sample