Friday, 27 September 2013

OOTD - Aztec Midi Dress

Technically my yesterdays OOTD but I love the Aztec Midi trend and this dress was a bargain from www.miss-glam.co.uk at £8.49 and free P&P!

Perfect for work or play, this colour combination is great for AW13!  Perfect for a work to cocktails outfit just by adding a few accessories and some statement heels.



Follow Elsie D on:

Thursday, 26 September 2013

Competition - Win a Years Supply of Clothing with MRP

MRP are the South African equivalent to Primark... except with even cheaper prices! And they ship to the UK for just £4!! With a wide variety of attractive, on trend pieces I'm confident in saying you will love this website. 

You can win a years supply of clothing simply by entering right here, just click on the link to be in with a chance.


competition, mrp, win, clothing, fashion

Check out the competition link for all the T&C's




*Sponsored Post

Saturday, 21 September 2013

Vintage Inspired OOTD

I love vintage looks and this is one of my favourite dresses.  A fabulous bird print tea dress by South matched with my original 1950's Waldybag and tan wedges by New Look was perfect for a friends wedding.

I am always on the hunt for a great vintage find and 1950's style is one of my fav era's, its fun, flirtatious and perfect for feeling great.

Check out my outfit and let me know what you think, keep your eyes peeled for my recent style challenge which involved finding an entire outfit from local charity shops fit for the catwalk.  A tough but fun task! Photos to follow!


vintage, fashion, fblogger, retro, 50's, waldybag


vintage, retro, 50's, handbag, fashion, style


Tuesday, 17 September 2013

Relax with Aroma Works Luxury Candles

Like all ladies, I love to be able to pamper myself.  Give myself a little me time, run a scorching hot bath with tons of bubbles and light some of my favourite candles to create a home spa experience. Well until this past week I never thought my regular candles could actually be doing me some harm, the paraffin in these like most candles contains harmful toxins and parabens and I've been merrily burning away not even giving it a thought.

The past couple of weeks I've come to learn that as most things natural is best even when it comes to scenting your home.  So when I was introduced to Aroma Works Luxury Candles, the science behind them wasn't my first thought.  My first instinct was to give all of them a real good sniff as that's important right!!  Well these candles aren't only healthier for you but smell amazing and visitors to my house have even commented on the spa like aromas which all in all creates a very relaxed atmosphere.

candles, oils, fragrances, beauty, lifestyle

I have tried out a fabulous range that Aroma Works has to offer and their are lots more products available on their website www.aroma-works.com .  All of the candles are made from Soy and Beeswax and the aroma is created using 100% essential oils.  Aroma Works ensure their products will be free from harmful unnatural chemicals and pesticides and guarantee none of their products or ingredients will ever be tested on any animals or living creatures. 

Serenity Candle -  This was my favourite candle of the pick mainly because of the gorgeous aroma it gave off.  The essential oils used in this candle are Lemongrass and Geranium and really creates a zingy refreshing smell which is perfect for neutralising odours and creating a fresh and pleasant room fragrance even after it has been extinguished.  

Burning time: 36 hours  Price £32.00

candles, oils, fragrances, beauty, health


Soulful Candle - Wow this candle was a lovely size and although a little pricey for my normal budget, would actually make a lovely fragrance investment.  It has lovely exotic scents combining spicy Frankincense and Fruity Juniper Berry and a total of 7 essential oils and has a long burning time and aids in deep relaxation.  A sure winner in my bathroom whilst enjoying a soak in the tub.

Burning time: 40 hours  Price £43.00

beauty, fragrance, oils, candles, soulful


Essential Rose Candle - This fragrance was my least favourite but is by no means an unpleasant smell. It has a very floral odour which I found quite overpowering so didn't light the candle for a long period of time.  The scents are provided by 7 essential oils featuring Rose and Patchouli.  This is definitely something I would buy as a gift for example for my nan as she would love this fragrance.   The size of this candle is affordable and you still get a great burning time.

Burning time: 20 hours  Price £15.00

candles, beauty, health, fragrance, oils


Inspire Room Mist - The Aroma Works room mist was another one of my favourite fragrances, its scent which combines spicy black pepper and lime to name a few creates a refreshing and pleasant smell and I loved the fact that spraying this in a room meant I was breathing in nothing but essential oils.  These oils are known to help reduce fatigue and promote calm and soothing effects.

Price £16.00 on sale normally £20.00

beauty, blogger, fragrance, oils, spa, room mist, inspire


Nurture Reed Diffuser - This was another popular one for me as I love just having a light fragrance in my home which doesn't mean I have to light a candle all the time.  The diffuser releases a lovely subtle fragrance which consist of the essential oils May Chang and Chamomile.  This diffuser sits perfectly on your mantlepiece or a shelf and is in a small glass jar to fit in with any room.

Price £35.00

diffuser, beauty, health, oils, candles, blogger, fragrance


You may be thinking that these fragrances are more than what you would normally pay for candles, room scents etc as I personally thought the same but looking into the science behind these unique candles makes you think about what I'm really using in my home.  Each product by Aroma Works is carefully made in the UK even the packaging and each candle is hand poured into the wonderful and stylish glass holders.  

The packaging for Aroma Works is simple yet very elegant and if you are buying these products as a gift the box already comes with a lovely paper wrap inside.  Each item also has a great guide to ensuring the best out of what you have purchased from burning tips to wick trimming and a little guide on how its made.  

I would you love to take a look at these great products and take a peek at all the latest news, updates and products being released.  Check out the website Aroma Works  and social media links for all the up to date product information.






*This post contains PR samples from AromaWorks

Saturday, 14 September 2013

London Fashion Week SS14 Intro

The most talked about, blogged about and most glamourous event of the fashion calendar is finally upon us London Fashion Week has already got of to a great start.  Style filled days from 13-17 September have designers, press, bloggers, stylists and celebs all flocking to see the latest trends and forecasts for SS14.

London Fashion week is filling our tweets, news feeds and headlines in a fashion filled frenzy for the hottest event on the calendar.  This season is no exception with an estimated £100 million estimated in orders to be placed for the new seasons collections and over 120 designers pitching to press and buyers why they are the hot thing for Spring!

Yesterdays shows have already seen the likes of Bora Asku, Felder Felder and a favourite of mine Pearce Fionda.  Look at an example of the glamourous and beautiful detailing this designer exhibits, every piece is like a work of art.


I love the fact that blogging is now playing a huge part in #LFW and there is so much to share over this whole week that organisers have provided us with tons of socially interactive ways to get involved.  Susie Bubble one of my fav fashion bloggers was also doing a live twitter chat yesterday, everyday there will a top industry inside answering questions just tweet #AskLFW.  There are a heap of other ways to get in on the action via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

I'll be following the action over the next week so stayed tuned for lots of fashion gossip, news and beautiful designs for SS14.



Follow Elsie D on


Saturday, 7 September 2013

Fabulous Jewellery Inspirations from Seasons Online

Every women knows that completing your outfit involves matching the perfect Jewellery and Accessories.  I personally have a few special pieces but my collection mainly consists of lots lovely on trend costume jewellery perfect for all occasions.

Trends change so fast but also do come around full circle so buying something now doesn't necessarily mean it can only be used with one type of outfit.  Grabbing a bargain is also something that's very important to me but not feel like i'm dipping out of quality is also a big feature.  

I love shopping online as you can find some great items sometimes at the fraction of the cost of your high-street counterparts.  Saying that, I have recently been introduced to a fabulous Fashion Accessories website Seasons Online.   

Seasons Online has been around online for a few years now and navigating around this user friendly website I can see why, it's packed with trendy and stylish Jewellery including Cheap Earrings and Cheap Bracelets, Watches and Fashion Accessories at really affordable prices.  Definitely something that appeals to my bargain hunter instincts! 

I came across lots of different styles and types perfect for matching with current trends including Boho Chic, Glitzy and Bling, Neon, Vintage and Retro Inspired and also the very well known Charms and Shamballa Bracelets.  The website delivers quality products at a great price and also if you want something fast, orders placed before 2pm are usually dispatched the same day.

Take a look at a few of my favourite pieces from the website and go discover some fantastic Jewellery must buys!

jewellery, fashion, trends, accessories, seasonsonline
 


Keep up to date with the various offers and up to date product range on Facebook and Twitter





*Sponsored Post



Friday, 6 September 2013

New Ink Updated!

I had some more ink today and my half sleeve is nearly finished.  I've had some butterflies and another rose added to the collection and I absolutely love them.  Thanks again to my lovely tattooist Lucy from Dam Cool Tattoos in Barnstaple.  Check out her Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/LucyRoadhouseTattoosAndArt



I also have been using the Forever Ink Ink Balm and Ink Shield products from Tattoo Guardian which are fab products and would recommend to anyone who is thinking about getting a tattoo or has tattoos already.

Check out the website at http://www.tattooguardian.com/

tattoo, inked girl, ink, rose, butterfly, fashionblog, blog, beauty blog, skincare





Follow Elsie D on:

Monday, 2 September 2013

Big Beauty Review - St Grape Beauty Inc

As my readers know, I love testing new products and reviewing the next big thing to hit the high-street. So this post will be worth a read if you are looking for a natural skin-care solution.  Just recently I've been testing out a fabulous new natural skin-care range from across the pond - St Grape Beauty Inc based in Toronto, Canada.

beauty, bbloggers, stgrape, fashion, skincare

St Grape have created a pure, natural and healthy way to cleanse, heal and repair skin using ingredients as nature intended.  The range includes oils, scrubs, salts, soaps and much more to give the ultimate spa experience in your own home.

The products are made from 100% natural ingredients, with no added chemicals or parabens, making it ideal for skin types such as: sore, itchy, sensitive, acne, eczema or even for normal skin to maintain its radiance and healthiness.

I love indulging in some me time and having the time to test these products has been a pleasure in my busy schedule.

fashion, beauty, bbloggers, fbloggers, skincare


Aqua Bliss Natural Face and Bath Scrub - £12.00 


beauty, fashion, skincare, bbloggers, facial

My favourite product of the samples I reviewed had to be the Aqua Bliss Bath Scrub.  It contains 97% natural ingredients including mineral sea salt and natural oil extracts from around the world.  This scrub can be used on body and face and contains tiny particles to cleanse skin without drying out. The scrub was perfect for my skin as I find many products similar to this very gritty and harsh for my face.  Aqua Bliss is made from natural sea salt and lots of pure extracts and only requires a small scoop and some warm water to get the goodness going.  It does have a floral scent which isn't too strong which can be a turn off for these type of products but to me it just proves no additives are put in to make it smell like something it isn't!




beauty, pedicure, bbloggers, skincare, footcareNext up is another great product that I fell in love with, although a little pricey for my normal skincare regime, this product would be a perfect gift or investment buy.  The St Grape Ancient Foot Scrub does exactly what it says on the tub.  An immediate reviving feeling for tired and dry feet.  This scrub is grittier but perfect for giving your feet a good scrub in the bath or shower.  Use similarly to the facial scrub with one scoop and warm water and have a good scrub for a few minutes.
I even got my husband to try this product because he has very tough skin on his feet and he was pleasantly surprised at the soothing nature and natural scent and for a man to say that'd he would buy it! It has to be good!


Ancient Foot Scrub - £25.00 





Another product I've been trailing is St Grape's Natural Soaking Salt.  This product contains Himalayan Pink Salt and various natural extracts to give a 100% natural product.  The soaking salt can be used in a variety of ways including Foot Soaking, Bathing and even scenting a room.
The ingredients provide a natural exfoliation which removes dead cells, leaves skin feeling refreshed and stimulates circulation for a overall feeling of well-being and aids sore and tired muscles so perfect after a hard day at the office.  I used the product for scenting my room as it comes with a little linen bag, all you do is fill half way up with the salts and place wherever you want the scent to be released.  The fragrance is zingy and refreshing and gives me a little pick me up every-time I walk into the room.


beauty, skincare, reviews, fashion, footcareskincare, bathsalt, salt, bbloggers, fashion, footcare, bathingsalts




massage, oil, natural, skincare, beauty, bbloggers, fashionLast but by no means least is the St Grape Invisible Skin Massage Oil made from 100% natural essential oils.  I'm not usually a fan of very oily products as my skin can tend to be itself a little oily but if you use as directed this will leave your skin feeling very smooth and definitely refreshed.   You can also use this on your face but personally I just felt it was a little too oily for my facial skin-care routine.  However I did get my hubby to give my shoulders a massage with this oil and wow it was so relaxing and loosened my very tight neck muscles (I'm prone to back trouble!).  The fragrance again gives off a relaxing and revitalising aroma perfect for a mini spa experience.








Some people may be put off by the floral aromas generated by these products but as with a lot of natural products this shows that what you can smell is exactly what is in them.  The brand prides itself on bringing a healthy and skin friendly approach to the daily routine and with continued use of these products I have seen a drastic improvement in my skin especially on my face.

The packaging at present maybe needs modernising but I have been told that in time for Christmas the range is getting a little facelift with new packaging but if you can look past what a box looks like then these products are definitely worth a try.

I have loved trying out an exclusive and although the products are not available to buy yet in the UK, they will be hitting our shelves very soon.  You can also buy all the above and a lovely range of other products directly from the website www.saintgrape.com

Follow all the products and updates from this new beauty must have:

Twitter
Facebook
Blog



*This post contains PR samples from St Grape