Keeping Toasty Warm

Is the saying toasty warm a Northern thing?

I love being cosy and wrapped up, so Autumn and Winter are my favourite seasons! I thought I'd quickly show you some winter warmers that have kept me toasty warm during this cold spell.

You may have seen this initial throw from my Bedroom Revamp post with George at Asda, it's been keeping my warm on the sofa or while I'm on my laptop in bed. It's super soft, and why wouldn't you want a throw with your initial on?!

These super soft, fluffy slippers from Primark have been a game changer for me, it's like walking around with pillows on my feet. Just heavenly.

I'm all about big comfortable jumpers and sweaters in the winter. H&M being one of my favourite high street shops for winter jumpers. Their basics range have every shape and colour for £14.99 - £19.99. I'm currently loving this rust coloured number teamed with black skinny jeans and my black suede Faith tasselled boots.

I've been doing a spot of online window shopping on Trilogy and fallen in love with their winter selections. I'm dreaming of 360 sweaters  and Helene Berman jackets.

Suzie from Hello October is one of my style icons, she always looks well dressed and very chic. I saw her wearing this Zara coat in one of her videos and knew I had to get it. I was definitely missing something like this from my wardrobe, my parka and my waterproof really weren't smart enough. This one keeps me warm while looking stylish.

What's been keeping you toasty warm?

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#LFBLACKFRIDAY - Look Fantastic Beauty Discounts & 30% Off Designer Bags

I'm a bargain hunter when it comes to beauty items, I'm always looking for the best deals. Look Fantastic always comes up trumps when I search for discount codes or offers. I recently got 20% off some Dermalogica and Bare Minerals goodies, I would recommend signing up to their emails, they always have a code to use. Look Fantastic have some amazing deals for Black Friday!

BLACK FRIDAY DEAL - Receive a HUGE 20% off Lookfantastic which can be redeemed on a wide selection of onsite Black Friday Promotions.

Code: LFBLACK 

Valid: 27/11-30/11 

*Very minimal exclusions - Can be redeemed from the following list: http://www.lookfantastic.com/offers/view-all-products.list

*All offers will be live 00.01am 27th of November throughout Cyber Weekend & expire 11.59pm Cyber Monday 

I was lucky enough to receive their #LFBLACKFRIDAY Beauty Box, (sadly just for bloggers, not on sale), which showcases the best products from Look Fantastic. So here is what's inside...

Tangle Teezer - I swear by the Tangle Teezer, I use it every time I get out of the shower, it tames even the knottiest hair!

La Roche Posay Effaclar K - If you've read my blog before you'll know I adore La Roche Posay skincare, it's always helped my acne prone skin. I can't recommend the brand enough!

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge - The original Beauty Blender isn't in everyone's price range and this Real Techniques is a great comparable dupe for a fraction of the price.

GlamGlow Youth Mud Face Mask - I've been eyeing up the GlamGlow masks for ages now but was put off by the price. I'm glad that I got to try this in a sample size, it's an amazing mask, so make sure you take advantage of the discounts!

Amazing Cosmetics Concealer - I've seen so many YouTubers raved about this concealer, under eye bags - be gone!

Eve Lom Morning Time Cleanser - Eve Lom is one of those high end brands that I have lusted over for years. Glad to get my hands on a sample! There is also discounts on the Eve Lom Cleanser too!

I've also put together some top picks below if you fancy using your discounts on high-end brands...

MY BAG AND COOGLES DISCOUNTS - DESIGNER HANDBAGS WITH 30% OFF!

My Bag - 30% off designer handbags and accessories with code BLACKFRIDAY

Coogles - 30% off - Enter code BLACKFRIDAY at the checkout to receive your discount.

You can take advantage of these offers all weekend! Let me know what you are thinking of picking up!

Christmas Gift Guide #3 - Ermana Skincare

I often read blog posts about the nasties that hide in ingredient lists, the most common being parabens and sulphates. Many bloggers are turning to natural alternatives for everyday use.

I’m in no way, an all-natural/cruelty-free blogger, but I do love indulging in honest products, Ermana being a new natural brand on my radar. They have plenty on offer this Christmas!

Ermana’s hero products, oils and balms are made from a rich blend of botanical oils and waxes, which are jam-packed vitamins and anti-oxidants, keeping the skin nourished.

I’ve been trying out their balm and oil set. Their brown bottles, reminiscent of Aesop packaging, look amazing on my shelves – I just love the branding.

The Ermana Cleanse Balm is much like the Elemis Pro-Collagen Balm, just a little firmer in texture, with a small, fine grain. I just rub a small amount between my palms and massage in. The balm contains Cocoa and Shea Butter, Coconut Oil and Sweet Almond Oil, making it an all-natural treat for your skin. I’ve really been enjoying giving myself a facial massage while I cleanse. I just take my time to work the product in, I find this really helps draw blood to the surface and drain any puffiness in my skin.

I’d normally go in with a toner or serum after cleansing, but I’ve just been loving applying an oil straight after at night. I wouldn’t recommend this oil for day time use, unless you have very dry skin of course, as I like to let them skin in, instead of being under make-up.

It’s really refreshing to see a brand that are 100% natural yet very luxurious. Their website provides plenty of information on their ingredients, so you can see how they will benefit your skin.

I think their balm and oil sets would make a lovely gift, they are beautifully packaged and come with a muslin cloth also. You can purchase Ermana products at http://www.ermana.co.uk/

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Liverpool Travel Guide: Stay, Shop, Visit and Eat

Today, I thought I'd do an alternative to a Christmas Gift Guide, I'll be talking about what to do in Liverpool this Christmas, including the best places to shop, where to stay, places to eat and what to see. If you plan a similar day out or a weekend away to Liverpool, I'm sure this guide will come in handy.

Where to Stay in Liverpool

As part of their #BloggerLodge campaign, the Travelodge kindly offered two nights stay in one of their hotels this weekend, I brought Rhys along so we could explore the city together. The Travelodge Liverpool Central Exchange Street Hotel was the ideal place to stay, just around the corner from Moorfields train station, it was easy to find and seemed very central to the attractions of Liverpool. To give you an idea, it was around 5 minutes walk to World Museum and to Liverpool One.

Where to Shop in Liverpool

Of course, you can't go shopping without visiting Liverpool One, they already had their Christmas decorations up as well as beautiful window displays. 

Another more niche shopping area is the Metquarter, housing Jo Malone, MAC, Illamasqua and Daniel Footwear just to name a few of my favourites. I attended their Christmas Preview a few weeks ago and was very impressed with the collections that the brands were releasing. 

What to Visit in Liverpool

For those who want to take in some of the culture of Liverpool, I would thoroughly recommend the World Museum, which is great for families, and the Tate Gallery on the Liverpool Docks, both of which are free admission.

World Museum

Liverpool Tate Gallery

Where to Eat in Liverpool

My boyfriend has a gluten allergy, so when we are away from home we rely on a quick Google search to find the best gluten-free restaurants in the area. We came across Trattoria 51, which offered a huge selection of gluten-free pasta and pizza options. I was very impressed with the food and the customer service was excellent, coeliacs make sure you pay this place a visit.

I hope this post has inspired you to visit Liverpool, I'd love to do more of these posts so if you have a recommendation of a city/place to visit, comment below!

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How to Create Skincare and a Hair Mask with Coconut Oil #SwearByIt

I've recently been converted to face oils, I love using them to take my make-up off in the evening. While researching the best oils on the market, I noticed that coconut oil was mentioned a lot as a lovely natural alternative.

Vita Coco kindly sent me a mumma and baby set of their best-selling coconut oil. I immediately started researching how best to use it. It can be used in cooking but also as skincare and haircare. So I thought I'd share with you how I've been using it as beauty treatments.

How to Cleanse your Face with Coconut Oil

The jars contain a solidified coconut oil. The best way to use it as a cleanser is to scoop a little out and warm it between your hands with circular motions. It should melt a little and become more smooth and easier to work with. Just slather this balm on, it can be used to remove your make-up or just as a basic cleanser. I just grab a flannel and use warm water to remove the excess once I'm done massaging it into the skin. 

How to Make a Face or Lip Scrub with Coconut Oil

Lots of beauty brands use sugar to create an exfoliating scrub. By mixing sugar and coconut oil in a bowl, you can create a completely natural scrub which is very affordable. I would recommend only making small batches s I'm not sure how long it would be useable for.

How to Use Coconut Oil as a Hair Mask

You can just smooth the oil over dry hair when you have warmed it up between your hands, but if you love hot oil treatments you could try heating it up first. The easiest and safest way to do this is to add an egg size amount (for long hair) into a cup and then place in a large bowl with hot water. Keep mixing the solid coconut oil until it becomes a paste-like texture. You can then massage this into split ends and leave on as a hair mask. Don't forget to wash it out after though!

I've heard many people say that coconut oil has helped acne and eczema, it's an affordable, natural alternative to many beauty products. This one from Vita Coco has been fully adapted into my pamper routine.

What do you use coconut oil for?

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A Huge Lush Christmas Haul

As some of you might have seen, I attended the Lush Chester Halloween and Christmas Blogger Event a few weeks ago. I'd seen sneak previews of products online and went to the event with a huge 'to buy' list before we even had product demos. Seeing the products being used actually expanded my list. We were kindly gifted some items as well, noted with a (*), so here is what I picked up.

I'll start with my long-term favourites, Butterbear Bath Bomb* and Snow Fairy Shower Gel. At the event, we had the opportunity to create our own Butterbear, using moulds and adding a touch of brown powder to create his button nose. This is my favourite bath bomb, it has conditioning shea butter in and a lovely powdery relaxing scent.

Of course, I had to stock up on Snow Fairy Shower Gel! It's a favourite of many beauty bloggers, I think everyone falls in love with it's girly sugary scent. I have a large bottle and a little one which will last me up until Christmas. I normally bulk buy at the end of December, as this beauty is limited edition and I can't be without it!

If you love Snow Fairy, you'll love Father Christmas Bath Bomb, he has the exact same scent! You'll also enjoy Candy Mountain, the one that looks like a pink and white unicorn horn. Star Dust is another product I adore, this one has tiny little stars inside to create a magical bath. I would fully recommend buying these to use on the lead up to Christmas!

The jolly red fellow also features in the Dashing Santa Bath Bomb*, Peeping Santa Bubble Bar and his red outfit is reflected in the Santa's Lip Scrub*. The ladies in-store told me that the Dashing Santa* has fast fizzing parts in his feet and hands that make him spin quickly in the bath, so he dashes across the water!

Peeping Santa is incredibly cute, he has a wonderful strawberry scent, perfect for those who don't like the usual warming Christmas scents. Speaking of wonderful scents, the Santa's Lip Scrub* smells just like cola bottles and it's edible!

Sparkly Pumpkin Bubble Bar* and The Magic of Christmas Bubble Bar are in the same family of fragrances, both using warming cinnamon and zingy orange. These will be ideal for those evenings where you come in from the cold and need warming up quickly.

Two products I've not heard much about before are the Yog Nog Soap* and Buche Noel Cleanser*. Away from bath bombs and shower gels, Lush has a fantastic range of soaps, skincare and haircare. These two products have scents that are synonymous with Christmas, the soap has a toffee/cinder scent and the cleanser has a cranberry and brandy rich fragrance. I'm excited to try both out.

That was quite a haul! I can't thank Lush enough for the gifts, I'm looking forward to all the baths I'll enjoy up until Christmas.

Have you purchased anything from the Christmas Lush range?

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How to Plan Stress-Free Christmas Shopping

I've decided to plan out some of my Christmas shopping to avoid stress and save money. If you didn't know I'm saving to move out, so spreading the costs and saving money where I can means I can enjoy Christmas and save at the same time. Hopefully, my tips will help you budget and get organised this festive season.

1. Lists

I have a terrible memory; I constantly forget things, so I live off reminder apps on my phone. I've written down everyone I buy for in my phone, that includes my family, friends, my boyfriend and work colleagues.

2. Budget

Next to each person’s name I have allocated a budget to avoid over-spending. I have also decided to buy some small reserve/emergency presents in case I forget someone or want to bulk up someone’s present. This money usually goes on little accessories like scarves, jewellery, fluffy socks and everyone’s favourite, chocolate!

3. Deciding the Gift

If they haven’t specified what they would like to receive or you want make it a surprise, take a look around online. Some shops have a specific section on their website for gift ideas, or you could even have a look at blogger’s gift guides to help narrow down your ideas and choices.

4. Discounts

Shopping online has many benefits but the best one is exclusive discounts. Shops like Mango, Topshop, ASOS and Feel Unique have fantastic discounts around the festive season. Check out shopping discount sites before you purchase and look out for free delivery. Another great tip is to sign up to newsletters so you get discount code straight to your inbox.

5. Plan your Time Wisely

While shopping online means you can order 24/7, hitting town on a Saturday afternoon to collect things will leave you stressed out. Try and go in the evening after work, check out outlet villages, like Cheshire Oaks, and retail parks which are open late and offer free parking.

6. Wrap in Advance

Don’t leave it until Christmas Eve to wrap presents, as soon as you get them, mark them off the list and wrap it as soon as possible. Remember to hide them from partners, kids and friends but most of all, enjoy your Christmas with no stress.
Now, where’s the mince pies at?!

*Sponsored Post

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Christmas Gift Guide #2 - Luxurious Yet Affordable Treats from Amara

Amara has luxury down to a T, the brands stocked only produce high-quality items, making them the ideal online retailer to buy Christmas gifts from.

Two gifts I couldn't pass up on were the Voluspa Yuzu Rose Stonecrop Candle and the Ted Baker Shadow Flora Mini Notebook and Pen - as you may know, I am obsessed with stationery and candles.

Voluspa is a luxury candle brand which have amazing scents in amazing packing to put it simply. The fragrances are impressively strong and can be smelt even when the candle isn't even burning.

I've been on the hunt for a pretty mini notebook which was handbag friendly. I fell in love with the dark floral pattern, which Ted Baker have created for this Autumn and Winter. It's compact and I love that it comes with it's own pen so you don't have to scramble around looking in the bottom of your handbag.

Sometimes, it's difficult to choose gifts, so I urge you to use the Amara Gift Finder. Filtering by price and recipient will leave you with plenty of options and give you plenty of inspiration.

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