No.35 Oak Lane Online Gift Store

No.35 Oak Lane is a fabulous online gift store based in Northern Ireland. I stumbled upon it after we followed each other on Instagram. The ranges are sourced from independent makers and artists and are carefully curated and presented - pick up gift sets, cards, postcards and a wide range of gifts which you can buy singly or make up your own gift box (which I did!)

"by supporting us you are supporting independent businesses, makers and designers and the environment. Your support allows age old traditions to stay alive and dreams to come true".

They also support the 'Just a Card' campaign which aims to encourage people to buy from a designer/maker at an independent gallery or shop and to help reinforce the message that all purchases, however small are vital to the survival of small businesses. 

Here's what I chose (some of my items were in the sale):

Isn't that packaging just gorgeous! You can chose a customised label at no extra cost. I love the simple brown paper packaging and string. When you open up your parcel inside is a re-usable brown box (p&p is £3.95)

It's the little things that make me smile!

And for a closer look..

A beautiful HOBO Soy Candle in Citrus+Basil (£12.80) this fresh and zesty scented candle is great for summer. A review will follow when I get the chance to burn it! 

From The Handmade Soap Co their Sweet Orange, Basil & Frankincense Soap (£5.95) which is gentle, sweetly scented and handmade for hard working hands. See my review on the brand HERE.

I adore nice notebooks and this one by Dusty Boy Designs is just beautiful. It's A5 in size and has 64 blank pages. It's currently on sale for £4.95.

Rounding up my selection is a single Spacemask (£3.50) which I've tried before. These are great for relaxing and soothing tired eyes and minds! My final pick is Rococo's Orange Blossom Neroli Milk Chocolate Small Bee Bar 20g (95p) which didn't last long! Milk chocolate with a silky taste enhanced with sweet neroli and orange (yum!)

Have you bought anything from No.35 Oak Lane? What takes your fancy?

October Empties

Here's what I've been using up in October (I don't have much as I chucked all the samples and trial sizes I used up in London rather than bringing them home!)

Esse Probiotic Gel Cleanser 10ml* - I simply love this cleanser. See my review HERE. I took this to London earlier in the month and it was more than enough for a few days break. Huge fan of the brand. I definitely want to try more products from the range.

MOA Fortifying Green Bath Potion Shot 10ml - absolutely love this bath treat. See my review HERE. Will definitely re-purchase.

Schmidt's Rose+Vanilla and Bergamot+Lime Natural Deodorants - I love this brand. Bergamot+Lime is my favourite scent. I wouldn't pick up the Rose one again as although nice I didn't love it.  Just opened a new B+L one.

Dr Bronner's Peppermint 18-in-1 Pure Castile Magic Soap 236ml - this is a staple for me in this scent. I use it to clean my make up brushes and sometimes the bath! I've just picked up a new one.

Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet SPF15 - 30 Beige - I love this foundation and I'll buy it again. It gives good coverage and I find it suitable for my combination skin.

MAKE Skincare Face Glow 30ml** - which was beautiful. See my review HERE. I'd consider buying when my stash reduces a bit.

Dafna's Personal Skincare Recovery Cleanser 50ml** - I simply loved this beautiful cleanser. See my review HERE. I'll definitely buy when my cleanser stash reduces a bit.

Molton Brown Coco & Sandalwood Body Wash 300ml - this is one of my favourite Molton Brown scents. Sure to buy again at some point.

Isla Apothecary Neroli Body Oil 100ml* - this body oil is divine! It has a beautiful scent and deeply nourishes the skin - what's not to love! See my review HERE. I'm sure to buy this again as I just love it! I do however have a mini one to use which came in the Discovery Set which I mentioned HERE.

My final item this month is a Reed Diffuser* from The Handmade Soap Company. I loved the scent - Lemongrass & Cedarwood and found it lasted round about three months. Would buy for sure. You can also buy refills. See my review HERE. 

What have you been using up this month?

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

**complimentary - sent to me from the founder

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

Love Lula: The Handmade Soap Co: Lemongrass & Cedarwood Essential Oil Diffuser

I'm a huge fan of The Handmade Soap Co. I first tried some of their products back in April last year (review) and I was delighted to see recently that they'd created Reed Diffusers as I'm always looking for the perfect natural one. These ones are made with a solvent which is made from a renewable source with excellent solubilising power, low evaporation rate and low odor.

I chose Lemongrass & Cedarwood Essential Oil Diffuser* (200ml - £24.95) which comes packaged in a sturdy recyclable box. The other scents available are Sweet Orange, Frankincense & Basil, Grapefruit & May Chang and Lavender, Rosemary, Thyme & Mint.

Inside the box is the Diffuser oil with 10 reeds.

It's a beautiful blend of fresh lemongrass with a hint of woods. The scent is calming and fragrant with a good throw. The oil is very long lasting - I've been using it since 5th July and only a small amount of the oil has been used - I'm very impressed with it and I'd buy one in the future either in this scent again or one of the others.

Do you have a favourite natural diffuser?

*sent to me as part of the Love Lula Accredited Blogger Program. My post contains two affiliate links

Shopping My Stash #78

Here's what I've been reaching for this week:

Nuxe Prodigieux le Parfum - I bought this recently from a friend who was having a clear out. I love Nuxe's dry oil so I was keen to try the scent. It's perfect for summer with notes of Orange Blossom, Magnolia and Vanilla.

Avril recently sent me a box of organic goodies* to review and I'm loving the Lipstick Pencils*. I chose 2 and this shade is Rouge Franc. With long lasting colour they are very easy to wear and apply. Love.

Some more Nuxe love! Their Rêve de Mel Lip Moisturising Stick nourishes and cares for the lips.

I've been enjoying using The Hand Made Soap Company's Sweet Orange, Basil & Frankincense Hand Cream* which deeply nourishes the hands. See my review HERE.

Rock Solid by Leighton Denny* which is a base coat and strengthening treatment. I'm a bit of a nail nibbler (but would love gorgeous nails) so I'm on a mission! Fuller review will follow.

What have you been using this week?

*PR samples

June Empties

I'm not going to use anything else up this month so here's my June empties early:

Therapie Restore Aura Spray 100ml - amazing product. Have a little trial size tucked away but will buy again. Calms, refreshes and relaxes both the body and mind. Love!

Bee Good Honey & Wild Water Mint 3-in-1 Cleansing Water 100ml - handy for a light cleanse on no-make up days. Would re-purchase.

The Handmade Soap Company Grapefruit & May Chang Shower Gel 300ml* - absolutely loved this as well as the brand and the range of products. See my review HERE. I've since bought another one in a different scent.

Freyaluna Stop and Smell the Roses Bath & Body Oil 100ml - this was simply divine. See my review HERE. Only negative as the oil has no stopper the label/outside of the bottle gets a bit messy. Would buy again though.

Aromatherapy Associates De-stress Muscle Bath & Shower Oil 7.5ml - this was great after exercise/gardening and I'd happily use it again.

Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist 30ml - this was lovely and would buy again. A refreshing and deliciously scented spritz which was nice to use.

ila Bath Salts for Cleansing sample - lovely. Would buy full size.

Beatitude Joy Body Oil sample - one of the lushest and most luxe body products I've used. Love the uplifting scent too. See my review HERE.

YTTP Age Prevention Moisture Cream 5ml - simply fell for this light gel like cream which absorbed instantly. Full size is on wishlist! This came in my ABW Spring/Summer '16 box.

What have you been using up this month?

*PR samples

The Handmade Soap Co

I've been testing out a variety of gorgeous products from The Handmade Soap Co which is based in Co. Meath in Ireland. The range includes natural bath and body care, reed diffusers and candles.

Made with 100% natural botanical ingredients with love and care using traditional methods.  Products are free from parabens, SLS, petrochemicals, synthetic colours and fragrances and there is no animal testing. Packaging is also recyclable as well as being pretty.

Founders Donagh Quigley and Gemma McGowan launched the company in 2010 and now have premises in an old Linen Mill. The ranges - Grapefruit & May Chang, Lavender, Lemongrass, Sweet Orange and a Men's range.

Here's what I was sent:

Grapefruit & May Chang Shower Gel (300ml - euro11.95 approx £9.45)* this is a gorgeous shower gel which lathers well and has a delicious scent. It rehydrates, revives and is great for use in a morning shower to awaken and enliven. 

Lemongrass & Bergamot Body Butter (200g - euro19.95 approx £15.77)* a deeply moisturising true body butter which melts on contact with warm skin leaving it feeling cared for and delicately scented. This is one of my favourites.

Lemongrass & Cedarwood Soap (160g - euro6.95 - approx £5.49)* being a huge fan of bars of soap I was eager to try this one out. It cleans and hydrates the skin and is perfect to share (if you can bear to) as it's suitable for both men and women.

Sweet Orange, Basil & Frankincense Hand Cream (50ml - euro11.95 - approx £9.44)* a rich and lush hand cream which deeply nourishes the hands and nails. This has a spicy, fruity and herbal scent. I've been enjoying using it to moisturise my hands after gardening.

Rosehip Lip Balm (15g - euro4.95 - approx £3.92)* - deeply nourishes the lips as well as healing and repairing.

I also was sent a beautiful Candle* (euros15.95 - approx £12.62) which I haven't had the chance to use yet (expect a full review shortly)

I've been really impressed with the beautiful range of products and I know I'll be purchasing quite a few of these. See the website HERE and follow on Twitter @thehandmadesoap

*PR samples