Monthly Archives: October 2015

Mae Reviews: Purrfect Box

24th October 2015
It’s not just me that benefits from one of the perks of blogging. Much to the postman’s amusement we sometimes get a package addressed to Mae as well and she loves it! This is the third time we’ve been sent a Purrfect Box to review and we still think it’s a brilliant idea. The Purrfect Box is a monthly subscription which costs £19.90 a month, or £15.90 per month if you take out a years subscription. The contents of the box are guaranteed to be worth at least £30 with 4-6 premium products inside so it’s a pretty sweet deal, especially as each box is catered to your feline’s needs and preferences. Let me know if you’d decide to treat your feline friend to a box- I’ll be picking up a few on a one off basis throughout the year, I can’t afford it on a monthly basis but as an every so often treat I think it’s wonderful!
I won’t lie, Mae is not an easy cat to please. She knows what she likes and point blank ignores anything that doesn’t take her fancy. She’s also not prone to showing enthusiasm so when I bought the box upstairs to open up I was really quite surprised that she jumped straight in, literally.

Her favourite item was hands down the laser toy by Ethical. Her last laser toy broke and she has missed it. She actually pulled this out of the box and started pawing at it for me to get it open faster for her before haring around like a maniac after that elusive red dot for a good twenty minutes. Some people really dislike laser toys for cats but I think used sensibly they are really good fun for both cat and owner.

Another firm favourite was the dragonfly toy also by Ethical. Toys are one of those items she either loves or hates and she has her favourites for sure. I’ve watched her root through her toy basket countless times trying to seek out a hidden favourite in favour of nice shiny new toys so it was touch and go whether she’d give this dragonfly the time of day. The two have barely been parted for the last few days so I think it’s fair to say it’s a winner in our eyes (apart from at 3am when it’s been thrown against my bedroom door).

Food wise again I have a fickle beast but the chicken ‘n fish treats from Filous and the sachet of food from Equilibre and Instinct were both wolfed down in moments. Mae has a bit of a weak spot when it comes to treats so these are being closely rationed but I think we’ve found a new favourite here! Less enthusiastically received was the tube of salmon cream by Trixie. Meant as some kind of pudding for cats Mae won’t even get close enough to this to sniff it so I can’t really give this a fair review.

The last couple of products still have the jury out. I think the catnip tray will be a hit once it has grown as Mae loves nothing more than chowing down on plants in the garden. Whether she’ll be as taken with something she’s actually allowed to eat I don’t know but we shall see! I haven’t quite got round to testing out the shampoo from Nilaqua yet although my moggy certainly needs a good wash thanks to her love of rolling around in the mud. This is a no rinse shampoo that can be removed with simple towel drying so it sounds fantastic on paper. In reality the chances of Mae tolerating a good rub down with a towel are slim to none!

Have you given Purrfect Box a try before? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Even though there were a couple of products that are wasted on Mae I know plenty of other felines who will appreciate them so I think any box I purchased in the future certainly wouldn’t go to waste!

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Posted in brands I love, Mae, review

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Garment Quarter Wish List*

23rd October 2015
I love shopping in Bristol, alongside all of the usual high street suspects there are also some truly amazing independent shops and brands. I popped in to town the other day having not paid a visit for a while and couldn’t resist a peek in to a long time favourite of mine- Garment Quarter who I’ve called in to regularly since they opened in 2010 for a swoon over the luxury goods on offer.

The shop is absolute heaven for any fan of Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith or Comme des Garcons to name but a few and I’ve popped together a little wish list of their current offerings that I would be snapping up if I were a rich girl. Sadly I’m not but a piece or two may wing it’s way on to my Christmas list and perhaps yours too (for those not living in Bristol you won’t miss out as you can also shop online, you can thank me later).

A good two thirds of this wish list is made up of Vivienne Westwood pieces, her jewellery especially as I can’t get enough of that ubiquitous orb. I think the rose gold necklace is such a pretty piece and the silver ring is exactly what my fingers need!

With winter in mind the checked scarf would go with all of my winter coats although at £125 probably costs as much as most of them so I might have to seek out a cheaper alternative.

Out of the entire collage though I think the piece I fancy the most is the stunning little black dress by self portrait. If I had £200 right now I’d be investing in this for sure as I just love the toughened up take on a party season classic, perfect for this year and for years to come!

Who are some of your favourite designers? Has anything on this list caught your eye? Make sure to enter this fabulous competition for your chance to win a £500 online spending spree!

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Posted in brands I love, bristol, gifts, shopping, wish list

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Four beauty tips that will make you the belle of the ball this Christmas*

22nd October 2015
With the festive season fast approaching, now’s the time to start getting yourself in party mode. To ensure you’re the belle of the ball this Christmas, here are four easy to follow beauty tips that should help you turn heads for all the right reasons.
1) Forget the LBD and go bold with colour

The LBD may be a fashion staple at this time of year, but rather than going back to black this winter, why not add a splash of colour with an altogether bolder choice? Vibrant hues like reds, pinks, greens and purples can work perfectly, and for a playful look, choose a peplum dress. With their pleated strips at the waist, these outfits create striking silhouettes, making them perfect for Christmas parties. White is also bang on trend right now, and to recreate the red carpet look, go head to toe with a shift dress, jewellery and heels in this classic colour.

2) Enhance your look with shape defining lingerie

Don’t just focus on your outerwear. To shine in your ensemble, consider using shape defining lingerie as well. There are a whole range of options to choose from, including elegant waist cinchers and corsets that can help to give you the ultimate hourglass figure. If you’re not sure which style of lingerie to go for, you can search online for inspiration. Sites like Tights and More showcase a range of different options that are designed to give you curves in all the right places. As well as helping you to look fab, these sexy underwear combinations can give you a big confidence boost.

3) Try out a textured hairstyle

Forget straighteners and pristine hairstyles this festive season. To really wow, think about mixing things up with a more textured look. If your locks are bob-length, consider creating defined waves that frame your face. You can achieve this style by blow drying your hair across your face and applying some polishing wax to give added definition and shape. If your hair is longer, take inspiration from Taylor Swift. The singer has been showcasing the classic ‘70s feathery, flyaway shoulder-length layers originally sported by the likes of Farrah Fawcett.  For added drama, apply a volumising mist to your roots before blow drying and use a round brush to smooth your tresses in different directions.  

4) Add some shimmer to your makeup

Another tip is to bring some extra glamour to your makeup by using glittering powder on the inner corners of your eyes and across your cheekbones. If you have darker skin, look out for highlighters with golden tones, but if your complexion is pale, you may be better off opting for pink-based powders instead.

Remember, a little prep goes a long when it comes to looking good for the party season but don’t leave it to the last minute to get ready. From booking your hair and nail appointments to adding outfits to your ‘I-need-this-in-my-life’ Pinterest board, there’s plenty you can do now to ensure that you stun at all Christmas bashes in your calendar this year.

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Posted in beauty, christmas

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Design a Welly Competition with Joules*

21st October 2015
It’s cold outside, and wet which means a) a general reluctance to do anything that involves being outside and b) a real need for some new wellies.

Wellies aren’t traditionally the most exciting item of footwear (although I wish I still fitted in to the ones I had when I was at primary school, they were EPIC). Fancy changing that perception though? Joules have opened up a competition where they are inviting you to get doodling and design your very own wellies, the winner of which will see their design go in to production (with all proceeds going to CHARITABLY JOULES to boot).

Seeing your design hit stores isn’t the only thing you can win, either. Also up for grabs are 3 nights in a Golden Oak tree cabin (plus lots more) worth £5000 and ten runners up will each win a £250 Joules gift card. Of course the winning design will also be available to buy via the Joules website (www.joules.com)

Tempted? Simply get your creative hat on and submit a design via the link here. Given that it’s currently pouring down outside and I have a few days off of work I think I know how I’ll be spending my afternoon!

Let me know if you enter, I’d love to see your designs!

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Posted in brands I love, charity, competitions

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Scaredy Cat

21st October 2015
I’m not one to go all out for Halloween, sure I love to buy fun-sized treats under the pretence they are for trick or treaters but that’s about as far as I go. However, this year I clapped eyes on something so brilliant I couldn’t resist getting in to the spooky spirit a bit more than usual and it’s all thanks to my friends at Brat&Suzie.

Dress c/o Brat&Suzie | Boots: Stylistpick

I saw this Scaredy Cat dress during one of my regular online window shopping sessions and declared my love for it all over social media. Brat&Suzie, bless them offered to answer my prayers and send one my way and I couldn’t be happier!

I’m working the morning of the 31st of October (it is flu clinic season after all) and you can bet this dress will be coming with me. The rest of Halloween so far is a blank page, if I have it my way Ben and I will have an evening of scary movies and buckets of Haribo and I can wear this dress to do nothing more than chill on the sofa in. Regardless of what we end up doing this dress will be a part of it- for 2015 and for many more Halloweens to come!

What are you plans for the spookiest night of the year? What’s your favourite trick or treat? I was never allowed to go out with my friends and knock on doors but I certainly never missed out on those cute little bags of Haribo!

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Posted in brands I love, life, outfits

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