Monthly Archives: March 2019

New Vampire Vape at E-Cigarette Direct

29th March 2019
[post contains gifted items]
You may recall at the start of the month I raved about the juice brand Vampire Vape and how awesome there flavours were.
I was recently sent even more awesome by the brand from the e-cigarette direct team and given the success of my previous experiences with the brand I understandably couldn’t wait to get stuck in to this new bunch of flavours.
Rhubarb crumble is my all time favourite dessert so I was intrigued by how it would translate in to a juice. My instant hit was of sweet rhubarb, followed by it’s characteristic sharp tang. The experience finished with a buttery crumble flavour; all that was missing was the custard, delicious!
The name “Charger’ gives no clues as to what to expect from this juice and I did check the website before giving it a whirl. Described as “red fruits and berries with citrus and aniseed”, this is a lovely little medley of flavours that is fresh and fruity with a touch of sophistication from the aniseed. Loved it.
I love sweet flavours so I was very excited by the promised of crushed candy. This is a lovely blend of super fresh fruits and bubblegum and is right up my street- you could really taste the watermelon notes in this one, another hit for Vampire Vape.
I always swore I’d avoid tobacco blends but if anyone is going to convince me to try it then it’s Vampire Vape! Luckily I got more smooth vanilla from this than I did tobacco, and whilst I wouldn’t go out of my way to buy this juice I am glad I tried it and I think it would be perfect for anyone looking to make a transition from tobacco to more adventurous flavours.
Last but not least we have “Catapult”. Another name that doesn’t give much away, this one promises blackcurrants and summer fruits as well as menthol. I love how much the brand uses menthol to bring an unexpected twist to their juices, it what really makes them stand out for me. Another simple sounding blend with a sophisticated edge.

There are still many flavours from the brand I am yet to try, top of my current wish list is parma violet as I loved those little sweets of the same name when I was a kid! You can see the full range of flavours here, if you have experience with the brand let me know which else I need to test out.

Posted in brands I love, vaping

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Is it actually Spring yet?

27th March 2019
How gorgeous is the weather right now guys? I can’t help but feel cautiously optimistic that Spring has sprung, although having lived in this country for the best part of 32 years now I know it could all change by tea time.

I’ve been sat on these photos for a while, unsure if could bring myself to post them. I appear to have found myself in hyper self critical mode again, and when I’m not overthinking every inch of my body my thoughts have turned to facial expression, my hair, my everything.

So what’s finally made me do it? Well, to be honest I just wanted to post something that wasn’t a review and reflects what I’ve been wearing lately. I picked up this dress on ASOS a few weeks ago whilst on a desperate mission for some new work clothes; all of sudden it felt like everything I owned was too tight and that I had gone up three sizes overnight. Turns out that wasn’t the case, but it’s scary how I could physically feel a difference that wasn’t there. Eating disorder recovery isn’t all about re-discovering food and living happily ever after; even being so close to the finish line it’s amazing what anorexia can make you believe.

I ended up buying two dresses from the Vero Moda brand and I think they might be my new go-to. They both fitted exactly as I needed them too (skimming over my perceived bloated belly) whilst still looking smart- this poppy printed version can easily be dressed up for an evening too, and is perfect for this between seasons kind of dressing.
I’m currently signed off work for a week with a rather nasty flare of sciatica, the likes of which I haven’t had since pre back surgery. It’s not much fun and seems to have been made that much worse by the fact I’m bloody terrified that the enforced inactivity might make me balloon further.

I’m finding recovery almost impossible to fathom at the moment. I’ve come so far but I truly feel like overcoming these last hurdles might break me.
On the flip side to that, I’m using all of my mental and physical capacity to push on through; with the holiday of a lifetime coming up soon and so many exciting plans for after that I know I can’t afford to give up.

I’ll always be able to find new clothes, like this dress to flatter and conceal a body I am not yet used to and not quite ready to love. You can’t buy true health though, nor the things that achieving it will bring.

I have no idea where all of this mental overspill has come from, but hey, I have a new dress and I love it- admire away and feel free to have skipped the babble!

Posted in fashion, life, lifestyle, outfits, personal style, recovery, shopping

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New Juices from Liquid Ice*

26th March 2019
[post contains gifted items]

One of the best things about vaping for me is the huge amount of flavours available when it comes to juice. It’s the one thing that has kept me on the straight and narrow; I’ve had the odd lapse and occasional puff of a cigarette over the last six months but can genuinely say I detest the taste now and would take vaping over smoking any day.

I was recently contacted by Liquid Ice who are launching a brand new website, hopefully by the end of this month (watch this space). They kindly sent over a few juices from some of their brands, and as they were all brands I hadn’t tried before I thought I’d pop up some mini reviews.

The selection included juices from Halcyon Haze, T Juice and Coil Hootch, three brands I hadn’t actually heard of, let alone tried. Bob had previous experience of T Juice though and rated it highly so I knew I was likely in for a treat.
First up came “Lizzie Rascal” from Halcyon Haze. Described as a fizzy berry mojito this is a punchy little number that for me started with a big twist of lime then moved in to the promised berries, followed by a hint of mint.
Second came my first experience of T Juice, “Green Kelly”. I loved this flavour, it was every bit as bold as it’s bright green colour suggested it might be. Again it’s a summery mix of berries and citrus, it packs even more of a punch than “Lizzie Rascal” and has made it on to my top tens. For a first impression of T Juice I was very impressed.
I’m not a fan of lemon flavours as a rule- both in juices and with food/drink so I was a little hesitant to try “Lemon Slice” from Coil Hootch. I needn’t have worried though, this, as with most juices isn’t just straight flavour- this is a buttery lemon curd initial hit followed by an incredibly convincing buttery pastry. I was pleasantly surprised by this and look forward to trying more from this brand.
Last but my no means least we have “Red Astaire” from T Juice. Spurred on by my previous experience I was excited to try this. I didn’t check out the flavour profile before trying this out and was instantly struck by aniseed, one of my favourites! Combined with red berries, black grape and some menthol and eucalyptus for good measure this juice has earned a place in my top five juices to date- it’s a best seller for a reason!
Have you tried any of these brands before? If so I’d love to know your flavour recommendations. Leave them in the comments below.

Posted in vaping

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Mother’s Day Inspiration from Newbridge Silverware*

24th March 2019
[Post contains gifted items.]

With just a week to go until Mother’s Day I left it a bit late to be doing a gift guide, but some items are just worth sharing, and these beautiful pieces from Newbridge Silverware definitely fall in to that category.

Inside the beautiful blue boxes were two items that I instantly fell in love with, and these were just the tip of iceberg when it comes to what the company have to offer, as you’ll find out if you read on.
The silverplate bracelet with coloured stones* is a gorgeous piece that costs a very reasonable £38.00. I love the spiritual meaning behind it- designed to inspire and enhance creativity, emotion and intuition. I gifted this to my Aunt who is visiting from Holland at the moment and she absolutely loved it’s delicate beauty and the meaning behind it.
I was also sent the gold plated necklace version* which carries the same sentiment – it was almost impossible to get photos that do this piece justice but you can see much better on the website. This costs a very reasonable £43.00 and looks stunning when worn.
You’ll also find a whole host of other gorgeous giftware on the website, I’ve popped some pictures of some other favourites below to help inspire your choices. My Mum sadly can’t wear jewellery due to several metal allergies but there are plenty of other options available if you find yourself in a similar situation.
All products can be purchased online at www.newbridgesilverware.com at the showrooms at Newbridge Silverware, Co. Kildare (Ireland) or to find your nearest Newbridge Silverware stockist call 00 353 45 431301. You can also follow @newbridgesilverware to see all of the latest new products and lifestyle news stories.

Posted in brands I love, gifts, jewellery

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Royals around the world: Who’s style are we searching to steal?*

23rd March 2019
It’s a well-known fact that the British royals have been stealing the spotlight lately when it comes to fashion – but there are a few other royal ladies who are ramping up the style stakes in other countries. From princesses to duchesses, these royal ladies look regally stunning no matter the occasion.

Photo by Jared Subia on Unsplash

Queen Letizia, Spain

Renowned for her enviable wardrobe with it’s designer items and high-street finds, Queen Letizia of Spain is always on point.
Take it back to King Willem-Alexander’s 50th birthday in The Netherlands for example when she wore a red one-shoulder Stella McCartney cape gown with matching heels. She opted for red again when she attended the state banquet at Buckingham Palace in 2017, turning heads as always.
Also as part of her state visit, Letizia wore a beautiful floral skirt from one of her favourite designers, Carolina Herrera. After this appearance, searches for the term ‘Carolina Herrera skirt’ rose by 50% from June to July of the same year.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, England

Research revealed that she was the most likely to convince American shoppers to purchase a UK brand. The Duchess of Cambridge has built up a loyal fashion following over the years, in fact, her influence on fashion even has its own name — ‘the Kate effect’.
It’s not only the UK nation that appreciate her either, when she wears an item of clothing or an accessory it reportedly increases the desirability among 38% of US shoppers. In October 2018, she rocked up to the Victoria and Albert museum wearing a cute tweed dress. After this appearance everyone wanted a similar garment! In fact search volume between September and October for the term ‘tweed dress’ rose by 50%.

Crown Princess Victoria, Sweden

There’s no denying that Crown Princess Victoria has her own style, but even she has succumbed to “the Kate effect”. Victoria was photographed in a mini navy pleated dress in 2015, the same one that the Duchess of Cambridge had worn a year prior.
Her wardrobe is recognisable by the vibrant colours and bright prints. At a sustainability awards in August 2017, Princess Victoria decided to wear a cocktail dress from designer Maxjenny. Not only did people want to take her picture, but they wanted a similar dress for their own it seems. Searches of the designer rose by 222% from July to August of the same year.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, England

There are 22,000 monthly global searches of the term “Meghan Markle style” — it seems that she’s made some global fashion fans! And of course, we’re all eager to copy her look.
Understandably, one of her most memorable looks to date was her stunning silk gown that she wore following the luncheon after her wedding. After she was photographed in this look, high-street designers began to replicate the look knowing that she’d be setting the next trends. Research revealed searches for ‘halter neck dresses’ were up 40% following the royal wedding and the term ‘halter neck tops’ increased 21% week on week as people tried to replicate her look on the special day.
It’s not only her outfits that have caused a storm either. When her stunning diamond ring was making headlines everyone else wanted to feel like a duchess too. In fact, global search engine data reveals a 50% increase in searches for ‘three stone ring’ from October to November 2017.
Following her official engagement announcement, Meghan showed up at a Nottingham event with a tote bag from brand Strathberry. Following this appearance a 398% increase in searches for ‘Strathberry’ occurred from November to December 2017.

Crown Princess Mary, Denmark

Following her picturesque wedding to Prince Frederik in 2004, Princess Mary has been thrown into the spotlight.
Princess Mary is known for her fairy tale dresses, statement dress coats and pillbox hat — often being compared to Jackie Kennedy. Due to her love of fashion, it’s no surprise that other women want to channel her look too. In May 2018, she attended the Copenhagen Concert Hall in Denmark wearing a blouse and pleated skirt by designer Charlotte Eskildsen. The designer would’ve been pleased for this exposure — searches for ‘Charlotte Eskilden’ rose 51% after Princess Mary was spotted wearing the brand.

Posted in inspiration

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