Models Own: vampy autumn Hypergel polishes

I have always loved products from the high street brand Models Own.

From nail polishes to eyeshadows and lipsticks to mascaras, this budget beauty brand has it all, in my opinion.

Recently the company launched several new autumn gel nail polishes.

Images: Models Own

Their Hypergel polishes boast a look and feel of gel nails without having pop your hands under a UV lamp.

The vampy shades include Brunette Red, Pitch Purple, Inky Blue, Raven Red and Ebony Green.

Each of these polishes costs £7.99 which is an absolute bargain if you ask me.

These polishes are out in shops now as well as via http://www.modelsownit.com/

Which colours are catching your eye?

Annalise Candles - Great stocking stuffers

Scented candles, room sprays, plug ins, I love all types of home fragrance methods. At work I was able to try some samples from Annalise Candles.

Annalise Candles is an independent home fragrance company set up by two friends, Anne and Lisa from Bolton. The sell candles, room sprays, essential oils and ceramic burners.

Their candles, oils and sprays come in a range of scents including lime and basil zest, peach, nectar and honey and black amber and lavender.

The have also recently launched their winter collection which contains scents including cranberry and orange, ice noir and fireside cocoa. 

All their candles are hand-poured and are made from pure soy wax.

I tried a tea-light, a heart shaped wax melt and a room spray. 

Firstly the wax melt sure packs a punch. Combined with the scented tea-light, these wax melts have the most incredible scent throw. 

Once melted, the whole living room was filled with a soothing fragrance.

Likewise with the room spray, only a couple of spritzes were needed. 

Any of these products would make lovely stocking stuffers this Christmas. All their goodies are affordable. A 50ml room spray costs £5, a bag of wax melts costs £2.50, a tumbler candle costs £13.50. 

www.Annalisecandles.com/

Winter bath treats from The Body Shop

I picked up some bargains at The Body Shop recently including some new Christmas goodies.

This bunch of products would have cost £50, however I was lucky enough to have a discount code so I only spent £25, not bad considering there are new products which the company launched recently.

We have Glazed Apple showergel, Argan Oil bubble bath, Camomille Cleansing Balm, Vanilla Brulee Shower Jelly, single eye shadow pot in Caramel Flirt, Pink Grapefruit Shower Gel and Frosted Cranberry Bath Sprinkles.

I had heard great things about the wild argan oil range so thought I would give the bubble bath a try. That looked more appealing than the body lotion to me. This costs £8.

The pink grapefruit shower gel was a mini and costs £2, I thought this would be ideal for travelling and I love the sharp, zesty smell, great for waking me up in the morning.

The Glazed Apple Showergel reminds me of the drink Apple Sourz. Definitely a mouth watering scent. This gel costs £4.

I had to try the Camomille cleansing butter after reading such good things about it on Youtube and on blogs. I am yet to use it but I heard it is great at dissolving all makeup, even stubborn waterproof mascara. The balm costs £12.

Finally I picked up Frosted Cranberr bath sprinkles for £7 and the Vanilla Brulee bath jelly for £10. 

The Vanilla Brulee comes with a wooden spatula  so you can scoop out the product to drop under running water. This reminds me of the Laura Mercier bath products which cost upwards of £30.

Have you picked up anything from The Body Shop recently? 

Philosophy shower gel for £7: Homemade Pumpkin Pie

I heard so many great things about Philosophy products. What's not to love, the cute packaging, the gorgeous scents and scrumptious sounding names. What I don't love is the price. A standard sized bottle of shower gel usually costs around £15. 

Up until now that is what put me off the products. However, I found their Homemade Pumpkin Pie bath and shower gel for £7 in TK Maxx in Falmouth, Cornwall last week.

Some might say £7 is still on the pricey side for shower gels, however, you could easily pay this and more for a shower gel in Lush or The Body Shop.

I couldn't pass it up considering this beauty was pretty much half price.

You can use this as a shampoo, bath and shower gel. However, I have only been using it as a shower gel. It smells divine, spicy and sweet but not sickly or overpowering. 

It leaves my skin soft and smooth and gives a lovely, rich and creamy lather. This 480ml bottle will last me a long time, a little product goes a long way. 

Each shower gel bottle includes a simple recipe, I haven't tried making pumpkin pie yet, but it is quite a nice added touch which I think Philosophy is known for.

If you have admired Philosophy products from afar then take a rummage around in a TK Maxx.

Purse friendly statement necklace from Cherry Diva

Statement necklaces are a brilliant way of instantly jazzing up an outfit. Even the most simple black jumper and jeans can be vamped up for an evening out by adding a statement piece of jewellery. 

This piece from Cherry Diva is a rainbow of colour in a necklace, like a unicorn threw up all over it. (Ok, too much)

I mentioned before that I am lucky enough to review some lovely products at the North Devon Journal, the newspaper I work for. This Cherry Diva necklace was sent for a review. 

This iridescent jewelled necklace is mesmerising. It is the Mystic Bay necklace and is priced at £8. 

Cherry Diva stocks a variety of jewellery including watches, bracelets, rings, earrings and of course, necklaces. 

All the pieces are purse friendly, the website even has a pick and mix £1 section. 

Not only can you afford to bag yourself a few items, but the pieces are quirky. I haven't seen anything like this statement necklace on the high street. The most expensive necklace I came across was £15. 

The website also stocks scarves for £7 and come in a variety of colours and patterns. 

What are your fav items from http://www.cherrydiva.co.uk/Cherry Diva? With Christmas just around the corner these pieces of jewellery could make great stocking stuffers.

BOSTON TEA PARTY: Eggs Royale, zucchini fritters, pancakes with maple syrup and bacon

Do you go to a cafe or restaurant in your home town and, without fail, order the same dishes? That is certainly true for me at Boston Tea Party in Barnstaple, North Devon.

This charming cafe makes the best coffees in town, in my opinion. It is where I discovered my love for Chinese Gunpowder green tea as well. When I go for brunch I always order eggs royale which is smoked salmon and poached eggs on muffins with a generous helping of creamy, zesty hollandaise sauce. 

My mum had the pancakes, maple syrup and bacon, I had a sneaky bite, they were tasty!

I also have Boston Tea Party to thank for my love of zucchini fritters (or courgette fritters). This cafe serves them with a delicious harissa mayo.

Boston Tea Party does a wide range of food and afternoon cakes. I have always had my eye on the portobello mushroom burger with gruyer, courgette fritters, tarragon ailoi and side salad. 

The prices are also brilliant for when you are on a budget. Let's face it, a delicious, hot and filling meal out is always better when it doesn't leave your purse trembling. This portobello mushroom burger costs £7.95.

Eggs royale is £6.95, the scotch pancakes are £6.25, while the fritters are £2.75.

For me, Boston Tea Party is just one of those places were you can sit, unwind, and watch the world go by.

Pure Lochside skin care

During those winter months I find my skin becomes quite tight and dry, usually it is combination edging on oily. While I stick with my trusty Estee Lauder foaming face wash, I like to try out new cleansing oils and serums.

Recently I have been using Organic Orange Cleansing Oil and Regenerate Pure Face Serum from Pure Lochside. 

At the paper I work for we have a dedicated health, beauty and lifestyle feature called You're Gorgeous. Every once in a while we are sent products to try and review. This set from Pure Lochside was one of the products I was sent to try.

The first thing I noticed about the set was the packaging, the muslin cloth and box was tied up with a tartan patterned ribbon which was a lovely touch. The products themselves came in glass bottles, which I think gives an added touch of luxury. However, glass bottles might not be so practical for traveling.

The cleansing oil was fantastic at taking up a full face of makeup, including waterproof mascara. You splash water all over your face and massage in a few drops of the oil to take off makeup. Then use the muslin cloth to wipe off any excess. 

I found this left my skin soft and smooth, but be careful not to go over the top with the oil otherwise it can make your face feel a oily.

Then I have been using my usual foaming face wash from Estee Lauder for a double cleanse.

Then just before bed I have been using the Pure Face Serum. I have been using serums at night for years now, I don't often stray away from Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair. Pure Lochside's serum is non sticky and non greasy. However, a little goes a long way, so a couple of drops from the pipette was more than enough to cover my face and neck. 

According to Pure Lochside's website this serum is an award winning product which contains Organic Argan Oil, frankincense, omega 3,6,7, and 9. You are meant to use the serum as a base underneath your normal moisturiser, however I find the serum alone is enough for my skin.

The company also create bath and body products as well as facial skin care. 

Pure Lochside was created by Fiona Tutte who is an aromatherapist. I always love it when companies and products are set up by people who have years in the industry, they know their stuff. 

Have you tried anything from Pure Lochside? 

PREZZO: Crab cakes, mushrooms and gorgonzola chicken

I have always been a big fan of going out for meals. I would much rather go out to a nice pub or restaurant for supper than on a night out drinking. Now I am pregnant I am avoiding alcohol all together, I know the doctors say you can have alcohol is small amounts, but I am not drinking at all during my pregnancy, that's just my personal choice. 

I went to Prezzo recently with my husband for lunch. I love Prezzo, it is a chain restaurant which does pasta, pizza and grill dishes. I never pay full price in Prezzo, I will always get a voucher for money off the meal.

Usually we both have the mozzarella in carrozza to start with. This is a wedge of deep fried mozzarella cheese in breadcrumbs served with pomodoro sauce. Unfortunately on this visit they had run out, which I thought was a bit odd seeing as we went for lunch at 1pm.

Anyway in the end I ended by choosing the baked mushrooms to start with while Luke had the crab cakes which came with garlic mayo.

My baked mushrooms were stuffed with grana pandano and mozzarella cheese, garlic, onions and breadcrumbs. This was served with a little side salad and garlic mayo. It was delicious and just the right amount for a starter. 

I had a try of Luke's crab cakes which were delicious, the crab meat was chunky. I hate it when places do crab cakes which are smooth, almost like a paste, yuck. These were lovely and just the right size for a starter. 

For main Luke had penne al pollo zafferano which is penne pasta with chicken, red chilli, baby spinach and garlic with a saffron sauce. The saffron is what gives the pasta that rich red creamy colour. Luke always covers his pasta in grated cheese.

I had grilled chicken with gorgonzola which had field mushrooms and leeks in a rich creamy white sauce. You also get a choice of sides, I always go for skinny house fries.

The chicken was butterflied which I really like and the sauce was perfect, not too heavy. I much prefer creamy sauces to tomato based ones. 

By that point we were both so full so couldn't manage pudding although I was eyeing up the chocolate fudge cake. 

Do you have a Prezzo where you live? If so, what do you think?

Bath and Body Works in the UK?

A lot bloggers in the UK lust over the goodies on offer from American store Bath and Body Works. I have watched endless videos of bloggers sharing their candle, soap and fragrance hauls from this shop. I wish Bath and Body Works would consider opening a shop in the UK, who knows, perhaps one day they will. We have Victoria's Secret and Forever 21 now, so fingers crossed.

However, until then I can hopefully help quench those Bath and Body Works cravings for my fellow UK bloggers. 

There is somewhere you can buy a small selection of Bath and Body Works products. The Bath and Body Shop website http://www.bathandbodyshop.co.uk/ stocks pocket bacs, candles, shower gels, body mists and soaps. 

I have ordered from them several times and spotted that they stock a lot of B&BW's festive scents which seem to be popular in the states at the moment. 

This is what I bought: pocket bacs in Winter Citrus Wreath, A Walk in the Woods, Pumpkin Pecan Waffles and Crisp Morning Air. 

I also picked up a an anti-bacterial cleansing soap in Pumpkin Pecan Waffles and a body mist in Twilight Woods. 

On this website the pocket bacs cost £2.10, the soaps are £6.50 and the body mists are £10.99. 

What do you think of this website? I love the look of the candles, they used to sell the mini ones but at the moment they only stock the larger sizes which are quite pricey. However, the larger candles I guess are about the same price as a large Yankee.....

Stocking up on Lush

We do not have a Lush shop in North Devon. There are stores in Exeter and Plymouth which are at least a two hour drive from where I live. So when I do come across a Lush shop I tend to go a bit crazy and stock up. 

We have: Blue Skies and Fluffy White Clouds, Sunnyside bubblebar, Karma bubble bar, Ice Blue soap, Honey I Washed The Kids soap, Dream Time bath melt, Space Girl bath bomb.

Honey I Washed The Kids soap and Ice Blue soap.

I have tried Honey I Washed The Kids before, I love the smell, sweet caramel but not too sickly or overpowering. I love the top of the soap, it is like the top of a creme brulee pudding. I hadn't tried the Ice Blue soap before but it is gorgeous. 

If you ever need a soap to wake you up during a cold winter's morning then this is it. The scent is peppermint and it leaves your skin squeaky clean, where the water beads up on your skin. Also a good soap for the man in your life. 

Bubble bars Karma and Blue Skies and Fluffy White Clouds. I have used both of these before and love them. Both produce lots of bubbles and a little goes a long way. You only need to crumble a tiny amount. I never understand when people use whole products in one bath. 

I like to get my moneys worth!

Here we have Space Girl bath bomb, Sunnyside bubble bar and Dream Time bath melt.

The Space Girl bath bomb and Dream Time bath melt were two new products for me. Again I like to break these products into lots of pieces to use in several baths. You only need a small section of the bath melt, I used too much for my first bath and it made the bottom of the tube super slippery and was a pain the backside to clean afterwards, it left a bit of an oily film. 

Then finally an old fav of mine, the Sunnyside bubble bar, amazing glittery goodness. 

What are your fav Lush products?