Manchester Blog

REVIEW : Bills Buttermilk Chicken Burger

2021-10-18T17:30:00.001+01:00

Bill's Buttermilk Chicken Burger :- crumbed chicken breast, topped with chipotle mayonnaise, coleslaw, tomato, all within a sesame bun, with rosemary salted fries on the side.

📍 Spinningfields, Manchester
💷 £12.95
⭐️ Food Rating 10/10
🔘 Service Rating 6/10
✅ Full of flavour, piping hot and a great take on buttermilk chicken. Although I wasn’t keen on the service received I still really enjoyed the food.

The food was absolutely amazing and the portion sizes were great too. The chicken breast was tender and the chipotle mayonnaise and coleslaw complimented each other very well. The rosemary salted fries were a nice change to the standard fries you would normally get with a burger. Overall, a tasty burger and one I would definitely recommend ordering if you intend to go to Bill's restaurant anytime soon. The only downfall to my visit, was that it did take a very long time to order, approximately, 30 minutes. There were also additional items added to the bill, including glasses of champagne which were not ordered, so make sure to check your bill before paying.

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REVIEW: Circus Funtasia

2020-02-27T17:00:00.001+00:00

Circus Funtasia at Wythenshawe Park

★★★★★

Imagine a world without no internet.. Circus Funtasia have created just that indeed. They are back with their UK tour, showcasing a family friendly circus, featuring top talented performances and even dangerous world class stunts. A circus with a modern twist which is suitable for all family members, whether you are 3 years old or 103 years old.. and let’s face it who doesn’t love the circus? When Rosie at Circus Funtasia contacted me to invite* me to the show at Wythenshawe Park (thanks Rosie!), I just couldn’t say no and with the invite accepted I was ready to check out my first circus of the year and Circus Funtasia’s first UK destination of their 2020 tour.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Going to the circus is a treat for anybody and when entering the Big Top, I was just as excited as the little kids running around getting their faces painted ahead of the big event. Inside the circus tent, it was very clean and tidy and had the usual ringside and tier seating areas, along with a candy floss stand, face painting and another stand for popcorn, hot food and hot and cold drinks. It was also great to see how friendly the team are and they do all really work so hard. Not only to welcome guests and get the set ready but some were also part of the actual cast, taking on two performances each day.

THE GEEK
Not your typical clown, Circus Funtasia is modern, sleek and is definitely ‘down with the kids’, with their very own ‘Geek’ frontman. He kept the crowd entertained throughout the show and at some point took part in juggling with fire batons and other stunts himself. He was a great alternative to a traditional clown, very funny for all ages and was very much a part of the overall show.

GLOBE OF DEATH
As scary as ever, the death-defying globe of death took centre stage and not only two but three motorbikes took the plunge inside the metal caged globe, with members of the cast actually stood in the middle.. terrifying but you can’t actually stop watching. Travelling at up to 30-40mph, around and over each other and at one point in the dark, it is definitely an act not to be missed.

AERIAL AND ACROBAT ACTS
There were various acrobatic acts throughout the show, taking place at the highest point of the circus tent, including silks, aerial ropes and even walking upside down across monkey bar hoops. Each act really did showcase the talent of the Circus Funtasia cast and shows how hard they work.

WHEEL OF DEATH
Bringing Peaky Blinders to the Big Top and keeping with the modern circus theme was the Wheel of Death. Taking on the Wheel of Death at terrifying speeds, skipping, swinging in and out of the wheel single handed and at one point blind folded, had not only me but most of the audience watching in shock and at one point, the poor little boy sat near me was shouting for them to stop.

KNIVES, FIRE, MAGIC AND.. HARLEY QUINN
Danger seemed to be top of the list at Circus Funtasia and the level of danger was taken to the next level. Not only was there a fire eater, taking on dangerous fire eating stunts, but also their very own Harley Quinn (yes Harley Quinn was there!) juggling with hoops, fire batons and even with knives whilst riding around on a segway.. danger alert! The genie performed some amazing magic and there was even a foot juggler on a bike, not only juggling footballs but also fire!

OVERALL
A circus not just for kids but for adults too.. I throughly enjoyed Circus Funtasia and so did my family. There is something for everybody to see and enjoy and the cast all work very hard. The show is not only modern and contemporary but at some points it has you on the edge of your seat. I would definitely recommend, whatever your age, booking tickets to visit Circus Funtasia when they arrive at a venue near you. Be prepared for an epic and family fun, actioned pack afternoon.

You can catch the show at Wythenshawe Park until 01 March 2020 or follow where Circus Funtasia will be performing next here.

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*I was gifted press tickets to see Circus Funtasia but my opinions and views are all of my own.

REVIEW : Barburrito Piccadilly Gardens Manchester

2019-05-28T15:00:00.000+01:00

Barburrito is a Mexican style fast food restaurant where the main food item on the menu is the ‘worlds famous’ burrito. The first ever UK burrito restaurant was opened in 2005 by Barburrito and was actually opened in Manchester Piccadilly. After great success in Manchester Piccadilly, Barburrito opened further restaurants in and around Manchester and several more restaurants around the UK, including London, Bristol, Scotland, Leeds and many more. The restaurant has now become a national brand in the UK and although seen as a fast food style restaurant, they aspire to serve fresh, healthy, Mexican inspired food, namely the burrito.

Like any fast food restaurant, you have a choice of different dishes and at Barburrito you can choose either the Classic Burrito, Loaded Burrito, Superfood Burritto or the Naked Burrito. There is also the option of Quesadillas, Tacos, Nachos, Fries and even a Kids Menu.

Once you decide on the type of burrito that you want, you then choose your main filling, which can either be; grilled chicken, pulled pork, fried vegetables, chicken and chorizo, grilled steak, sweet potato chilli or spicy shredded beef. Your main filling is accompanied by white or brown rice or beans (mild or spicy which are similar to kidney beans) and then either pepper and onions or mushrooms. You then also choose the salsa (a mild, medium or hot sauce) and any additional extras like guacamole, cheese, tortilla chips and coleslaw.. trust me it does taste nicer than it sounds!

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

I’ve mentioned a few times on my blog that I am always looking out for new and different places to eat for lunch. With Barburrito on the door step of the office, I took a short stroll through Piccadilly Gardens and got in line to order my burrito. The que at Barburrito was lined up outside of the door but people were served very quickly and there was plenty of seating inside if you wanted to eat in, rather than take away.

As soon as I was served at the counter, I was asked if I had ever been to Barburrito before and if not, they would explain the concept and the options available to me. I thought that this was great customer service, especially if you are unfamiliar with the concept and it was great to hear them ask when they were so busy. I had already been to Barburrito before so I was already familiar with how to order, however it was new to my friend and they explained it clearly to her.

I ordered the small Classic Burrito (£5.95), with grilled chicken, white rice (they didn’t have brown) and a medium salsa. Unfortunately there were no pepper and onions available and I settled on ordering mushrooms, lettuce and grated cheese as my additional toppings. My friend ordered the small Classic Burrito (£5.95), with grilled steak (60p extra), white rice, mild salsa which consisted of a mix of tomatoes and onions and then for her additional toppings mushrooms, lettuce, grated cheese and guacamole (£1.00 extra).

Overall, the choice of main fillings was quite extensive for a burrito restaurant but some fillings do cost extra, so be careful to read the menu above the counter before ordering. The service of creating my burrito was very quick from start to finish, however, my burrito was not exactly what I ordered. I did ask for the medium salsa to be added to my food but instead I was given the mild salsa (tomatoes and onions). I’m unsure if the medium salsa was unavailable at the time of ordering as I couldn’t see when they were making my burrito, however, it’s important that food is made to order, especially when people have different allergies and diets that need to be catered for. I was also disappointed that they didn’t have all of the additional toppings when I placed my order as this meant that I had to basically have what they had left or none at all (I wanted the pepper and onions but had to have mushrooms), which didn’t seem fair as the toppings are included in the price of the burrito.

I was also disappointed at the length of time I had to wait to pay for my food. It took longer to pay then it did to actually order and create my burrito. The service throughout creating my burrito was very good and all staff were really friendly and attentive but it was let down by the wait paying at the end and the fact that the member of staff on the till didn’t seem to be interested and wanted you to pay and then move on as quickly as possible.

TASTE

Ignoring the fact that my burrito was not the exact fillings which I ordered, the burrito was actually very tasty. I could taste each and every individual flavour and I did enjoy it. There could have been a little bit more of each filling (for the price) but to be honest it did more than satisfy my hunger. It was wrapped up firmly, keeping the fillings in the tortilla tightly wrapped up and the foil kept my food warm which was ideal for taking it back to the office to my desk. My friend also commented on the fact that she really enjoyed her burrito and again hers was tightly wrapped and the foil kept the food warm on the short journey back to the office. Again, she commented that a little more filling could have been added to the tortilla wrap, especially the main ingredient (grilled steak in her case) but she would return back to Barburrito again.

COST AND VALUE

Both small Classic Burritos cost £5.95 each but as my friend ordered hers with grilled steak and guacamole, it cost a total of £7.55. When taking into account that a burrito is just a tortilla wrap, filled with one main ingredient, rice and beans and then salsa and additional toppings, I think that it is quite an expensive lunch option. However, I did find the burrito to be quite filling and I wasn’t hungry afterwards. Taking into account that the restaurant is in Manchester City Centre and is made in front of you with fresh ingredients, I would consider Barburrito to be a ‘mid-range lunch option’ which would be my go to lunch for a treat every once in a while. It was just very disappointing that my order wasn’t right and the toppings that I wanted were not available.

OVERALL

I really enjoyed the Barburrito concept and experience of choosing my own ingredients and toppings and having my food freshly made in front of me. Most members of staff were really friendly and added to the ‘build your burrito’ concept. However, it was let down by getting my order wrong, lack of toppings and by the final member of staff on the tills, who seemed to be trying to rush through getting payments (which I know is their job) but it felt like that were not interested in their customers and wanted to get payments and clear customers out of the building as quickly as possible.. this resulted in a que of people then waiting for a bag or their drinks at the side, whilst others paid.

It was however great to see that they were offering a small discount to customers who worked locally which I think is a really good scheme and creates a loyalty amongst local workers.

Overall, my food was tasty, still very warm when I arrived back to the office and I could taste the different flavours from the toppings and ingredients that I had chosen. I wasn’t left feeling hungry afterwards and it satisfied that lunch time hunger! The overall cost for a burrito is a little on the expensive side (for what it is) but I would definitely return back to Barburrito again.

PROS AND CONS

Pros

Freshly made in front of you
Tastes delicious
Discount for local workers

Cons

Order made partly wrong and lack of fillings
Slow when paying

FOODIE RATING

I give Barburrito in Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester a Foodie Rating of 3/5. It would have been a 4/5 if they would have given the option with the rice and if they had not got part of my order wrong. Paying at the till also let it down as it took longer to pay than it did to order and create the actual burrito.

Want to know more about Barburrito? You can check out their website and social media here: barburrito.co.uk

Do you like Mexican food? What’s your favourite burrito fillings? Let me know in the comments below.

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REVIEW : The Ivy Brasserie Spinningfields

2019-01-28T12:30:00.000+00:00

It was my Gran’s birthday not so long ago and as a birthday suprise we took her to The Ivy in Spinningfields. I booked The Ivy Brassiere a few weeks in advance and luckily was able to attend just a few days after it reopened from their roof top fire. The Ivy features a ground floor Brassiere, a private dining room on the first floor, an Asian bar and restaurant on the second floor and finally a Roof Garden on the third floor. I have already been to The Ivy previously on their Roof Garden shortly before it opened to the public but will blog more on that another time. This time I went to The Ivy Brassiere and as one of the newest restaurants in Manchester and also Spinningfields, I have shared my experience below for those of you who haven’t been yet and are debating the idea of booking into The Ivy.

Image Credit : Manchester Evening News

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

I work very close to The Ivy and walk past it on a daily basis. It’s one of the new and must go to places in Manchester at the moment and with everybody raving about their experience and.. the ladies toilets.. I had to go there and find out for myself.

The outside of The Ivy is an experience in itself.. the sides of the building are covered in plants and the front of the building also covered in decorative plants and foliage, is guarded by two doormen dressed in green long overcoats and flatcaps and who open the doors for guests entering and exiting the restaurant. There is also a fire pit outside the front of the restaurant with ‘The Ivy’ situated above it and a menu on display for people to have a look at before booking into the restaurant.

When entering The Ivy, I was greeted by four members of staff behind the check in desk who instantly knew my name (from my booking obviously but a nice touch!). A member of staff took our coats into the cloakroom, whilst a fifth member of staff came out and took us to our table. Another a member of staff then introduced himself as our waiter and took our drink orders and handed out the menus. He was very attentive throughout the whole of the meal and could not do enough for us.. the service from the waiter was great and couldn’t have been any better.

For our starters, we ordered two of the Prawn Cocktails (£9.75), a classic prawn cocktail with baby gem lettuce, avocado, cherry tomatoes and Marie Rose sauce, with lemon on the side and the Roasted Scallops (£11.95), with grilled chorizo and ras el hanout roasted butternut squash.

For the main course, we ordered Chicken Bourguignon (£16.50), a flat iron chicken with a crispy skin, creamed potato, chestnut mushrooms and bacon lardons. Fish and Chips (£14.50), traditional battered cod, served with mushy peas, thick cut chips and tartare sauce and the Sirloin Steak (£22.95) with peppercorn sauce (£2.75) and we ordered extra chips to share (£3.75). Desserts were skipped as we were so full but I treated myself to a Mint Hot Chocolate (£4.25).

Overall, there is quite an extensive menu for the Brassiere and they also have a set menu and a vegetarian and vegan menu. Not to mention the breakfast menu, weekend brunch and afternoon tea which is served at dedicated times. The waiter was very attentive and explained everything on the menu and the surroundings once inside The Ivy Brassiere were amazing and in keep with their decor.. everywhere you look it is filled with either plants, artwork, floral prints, textiles, chandeliers.. the works. It’s definitely an experience that I would recommend you try.. even if it’s only the once.

TASTE

Starting off with the starters, I really enjoyed the Prawn Cocktail. It was a traditional prawn cocktail with a Marie Rose sauce. The prawns and salad were fresh and the presentation added a nice touch to a simple yet traditional prawn cocktail. My Gran went for the Roasted Scallops and again they tasted delicious. You could taste the grilled chorizo and the butternut squash but they were not too overpowering - both complemented the dish well. Again the presentation was was very nice which was a theme throughout the meal.

The main courses were also delicious and although the presentation of the dishes was nice, it wasn’t as well presented as the starters. Overall everybody enjoyed their main courses. The Chicken Bourguignon, was really tasty and the layer of cream potato was fluffy, creamy and complimented the dish alongside the bacon and chestnut mushrooms. My Mum went for the Fish and Chips and she also enjoyed it. Two portions of cod was served alongside the thick cut chips and mush peas - plenty of food which was very fresh. My Gran went for the Sirloin Steak which again she also really enjoyed. Unfortunately the steak did not come with chips or a sauce or vegetables and so we purchased additional chips and the sauce separately but it would have been nice for the steak to come with a choice of sauce and a side dish. Overall I was impressed with the food served, it was really tasty, freshly prepared and I would definitely recommend giving either dish a try!

COST AND VALUE

The starters were a little small for the price, especially for a traditional prawn cocktail at £9.75 but I must admit that it was tasty and presented very nicely! It would also have been nice if the Sirlion Steak had come with a choice of sauce and a small side dish included in the price. Some items on the menu do seem a little expensive but you do need to consider the location and service. Based on the food that we ordered, coupled up with the service, the location of the restaurant and it actually being The Ivy, I was actually expecting it to cost a little more than it did.

The only thing that I would point out is that the waiter asks when you are seated if you would like some water for the table, it is worth taking note that if ordered they will bring bottled water and you will be charged (£3.50). When ordering drinks for the table, it did take a little longer than expected to arrive and the drinks service is not as quick and efficient as the food service.

OVERALL

I really enjoyed the whole experience at The Ivy Brassiere from the food to the service. The waiter was very attentive and friendly and seemed to actually care if you enjoyed the food. The only downfall was the delay in the drinks order arriving to the table but this was down to a different waitress. I would definitely recommend giving The Ivy Brassiere a try and it’s definitely a place to check out at least once. My Mum and Gran also really enjoyed the food and the experience and they definitely were amazed by the ladies toilets!

The ceiling of the toilets is covered in flowers (a theme of the restaurant and building itself) and the statue in the middle really is a talking point. When we went into the toilets.. you can imagine the que of people posing for a photograph next to the statue! Overall, it was a great evening and a great place to go for a meal for a special treat or for a special occasion. The waiter made my Grans birthday that little extra special by bringing over a little birthday celebratory dessert which gave the evening that extra special touch!

I would definitely recommend booking into The Ivy Brassiere and giving it a try. We will definitely be returning back to try The Ivy Asia in the near future.

PROS AND CONS

Pros

Staff very attentive
Amazing decor especially the ladies toilets
Great place for a special treat or a special occasion
Presentation and great food

Cons

Can take awhile with drink orders
Some items on the menu are a little expensive

FOODIE RATING

I give The Ivy Brassiere in Spinningfields, Manchester a solid Foodie Rating of 4.5/5. It would have been a 5/5 if it had not been for the delay when ordering drinks and if some of the main dishes came with a small side dish. Overall the staff were very attentive and I loved the extra special touch they brought to my Grans birthday did by bringing out a small birthday celebratory surprise. I would definitely recommend giving The Ivy a try and I know that we will be going back to try the Asia Restaurant soon.. watch this space.

Want to know more about The Ivy? You can check out their website here: TheIvyManchester . Have you been to The Ivy? Have you tried the Brassiere, Asia Restaurant or the Roof Garden? Let me know in the comments below.

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REVIEW : Bella Italia Piccadilly Gardens

2018-11-16T12:30:00.000+00:00

Bella Italia is a well known Italian restaurant and its creators have been in the restaurant industry for more than 25 years. They traditionally serve Italian dishes and really bring them to life by sourcing their ingredients directly from Italian family producers and more of where their ingredients are sourced can be seen on their website. The dishes served are all based on the creations of Italian chef, Vittorio Lettieri, who grew up in Southern Italy. Bella Italia are ultimately a sit down restaurant but also offer a takeaway option which is great news when working in the city centre. In addition to expanding to the takeaway option, Bella Italia now also have a home range in local supermarkets such as Tesco, where you can purchase their readymade popular dishes and desserts.

I’ve been to Bella Italia in Piccadilly Gardens Manchester a few times and have not only eaten inside of the restaurant but have also had their takeaway option. When ordering takeaway from Bella Italia, I have never actually ordered online or via Deliveroo, Uber Eats or Just Eat, I’ve always popped into the restaurant and ordered directly, which is ideal if you are not sure what you want to eat. With more and more Bella Italia restaurants popping up around the UK, I thought now would be a great time to check out the takeaway option again and give my honest review.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

After talking about pasta and Italian food most of the morning with my work colleagues, I decided Bella Italia would be the perfect option for lunch. I took a short walk across Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester and popped into Bella Italia to place my lunchtime order. The restaurant is placed in the heart of Piccadilly Gardens, facing the water fountains, close by to the local banks, shops and other places to eat and most importantly about a 2 minute walk from the office.

As soon as I walked into the restaurant I was met by a member of staff who raised his hand in the air from across the room to suggest to wait ‘two minutes’.. I stood at the doorway and waited over five minutes with my friend before I was finally given the takeaway menu to browse through before placing my order. I decided to order the Traditional Lasagne (£10.99) which consisted of layers of pasta, fine minced beef ragù, béchamel sauce and a mozzarella cheese. After not being able to order 2-3 options from the menu as the takeaway menu was out of date and had not been updated, my friend settled on the Sicilian Pollo Rosso (£11.39), which consisted of pasta with roast chicken, onion, red peppers and pachino tomatoes, finished with a Sicilian red pesto sauce.

Overall, the takeaway menu is an extensive menu which has plenty of options that you can order as a take out. You can view all menus online but unfortunately they did say that the takeaway menu has not been updated and that some options listed were no longer available. Once I did place my order, I was offered to take a seat in the restaurant area and was informed it would take around 10 minutes for my food to be prepared and ready to takeaway. It was not long at all from placing my order to actually receiving my food and it did actually arrive in less than 10 minutes, which is great and very convenient for a quick lunchtime collection. It was just a shame that the menu was out of date and a shame about the service when I first entered the restaurant!

TASTE

The lasagne was tasty and I enjoyed the meaty taste of the mince beef and the hint of herbs hidden in the beef and lasagne. The béchamel sauce and mozzarella cheese complimented the dish and overall I would consider it to be a nice lasagne. Unfortunately I wouldn’t consider the lasagne on this occasion to be anything special or anything really to ‘talk about’ as it wasn’t very hot and in fact only just lukewarm. There wasn’t a lot of mozzarella cheese and the portion was quite small considering the price of a straight forward dish. My friend also commented on the fact that her food wasn’t very warm but did enjoy the taste of her Sicilian Pollo Rosso.

COST AND VALUE

My Traditional Lasagne cost £10.99 and the Sicilian Pollo Rosso cost £11.39. The portion of my lasagne was quite small when considering the price of the food and there was very little mince or mozzarella cheese. I was also very disappointed with how the food was presented and felt like it was thrown together. You can see from the images taken as to how the food was presented and that half of the bowl was pretty much empty or simply just a thin layer of pasta. My friends Pollo Rosso on the other hand was a bigger portion and was presented nicely.

Taking into account the portion size of my lasagne and how the food was presented, coupled up with the food only being lukewarm, I unfortunately would not consider this to be very good value for money. I would actually consider my lasagne option to be an expensive meal as there was simply just a thin layer of pasta (I would even suggest just one layer), a little bit of mince beef with a sprinkle of cheese and sauce.. it was disappointing!

OVERALL

I was really looking forward to tucking into my Traditional Lasagne and liked the fact that a takeaway option was now available at a predominantly sit down restaurant chain. The welcoming from the member of staff and service when I first entered the restaurant really set the tone for my meal and on reflection was actually a little rude. I would however give brownie points for how quick the food was prepared and ready for taking away from placing my order but was very disappointed with the food in general.

It’s great that Bella Italia serve their takeaway food in a disposable and recyclable dish with cutlery that can also be recycled but was let down with the actual portion size, the presentation of the food and the actual lack of mince beef, pasta layers and mozzarella cheese. I’m pretty sure a lasagne has more than one layer of pasta and has a little more mince beef.. please please please bring out the true Italian taste in your lasagne Bella Italia!

Overall, I would consider my Bella Italia takeaway to be average and wasn’t really impressed. Based on my takeaway Traditional Lasagne, I would not return back to The Piccadilly Gardens restaurant but may one day consider giving another Bella Italia restaurant a try. I definitely will not be rushing back anytime soon though.

PROS AND CONS

Pros

Quick once ordered
Packaging and cutlery recyclable
Tasty (although very little portion)

Cons

Takeaway menu not updated
Presentation
Expensive (for what I ordered)
Food not very hot
Service - staff uninterested

FOODIE RATING

I give Bella Italia Takeaway in Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester a Foodie Rating of 2/5. It would have been a much higher score if they’d have had better service and if the staff would have taken an interest and had not been a little rude. My rating would also be higher if the food was hot and if the food was more presentable. It also didn’t help not having an up to date takeaway menu.

Want to know more about Bella Italia? You can check out their website here: bellaitalia.co.uk

Have you been to Bella Italia? Have you tried the takeaway option? Let me know in the comments below.

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REVIEW : Olay Daily Facials

2018-11-12T20:12:00.000+00:00

I was recently asked to become an Olay Ambassador and was given the opportunity to try out and review Olay’s new facial wipes.. Olay Daily Facials 5-in 1 Dry Cloths. After being picked to team up with Olay, I was super excited for the facial wipes to arrive and to try them out and put them to the test. As a user of facial wipes as part of my daily routine (as well as cleanser, toner and moisturiser) I hope that I can give a useful review on Olay’s new wipes before you take the plunge and buy them from your local store. If there are any questions that you would like to ask after reading my review, let me know in the comments below.

Most people, if not everybody, are aware of Olay as a brand. Since 1952, Olay have been creating and producing beauty products, expanding their brand world wide and winning hundreds of beauty awards. Olay’s aim today is to build on their understanding of developing ground breaking beauty products that actually work and make a difference to your skin and the aging of your skin.

As somebody that uses beauty products on a daily basis and as somebody that has incorporated different products into my daily routine, I am not usually a huge user of Olay as a brand. I have used Olay products in the past but have never actually used their products on a daily or regular basis. I was therefore excited to give Olay Daily Facials a chance and let you guys know my honest opinion.

WHAT ARE OLAY DAILY FACIAL WIPES?

Olay Daily Facial Wipes are similar to your ‘everyday’ facial wipe with a slight ‘twist’. To start with the Olay Daily Facials are packaged in a neat little box with the clear Olay branding. The box contains 30 dry wipes which are activated by adding water. They are textured with tiny soft pockets to remove impurities, dirt and grime. Olay refers to their facial wipes as a mini facial spa, designed to leave your face feeling soft, clean and hydrated.

They have designed their facial wipes to act as a cleanser, toner, exfoliator, hydrator and makeup remover all in one cloth (5-in 1 Dry Clothes), which are infused with grapeseed extract. They are designed to carry out the following in one use;

Remove makeup
Cleanse away dirt, oil and impurities
Exfoliate like a gentle scrub
Improve the look of your skin
Preserve moisture and leave your skin feeling soft and conditioned

They are soap free and have been dermatologically tested.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

I really enjoyed using Olay’s 5-in-1 Daily Facial Wipes and I liked the fact that they are so easy and simple to use. It’s also great that you can carry them anywhere with you, whether that’s popping one into your bag to work, at the gym, when going away for a short weekend.. whatever the occasion, the wipe will not dry out like your usual wet facial wipes. The conveniency of them is great.

I like the idea of the wipes being a dry wipe which are activated when they come into contact with water. When the water activates the wipe, it then becomes very soft, smooth and has a soapy feel.. yet not too ‘soapy’.. just enough product to remove your make up and to give your face the cleanse that it needs. It also smells amazing and is not too overpowering.

Olay also offer their 5-in-1 Daily Facial Wipes for normal and sensitive skin.

COST AND VALUE

The cost of the facial wipes are usually £6.99 unless on special offer. At first I thought that this was quiet expensive for a pack of facial wipes but when you consider that there is 30 wipes in a pack and each wipe costs around 23p each.. it doesn’t seem so expensive. It’s basically works out about the same cost as other leading facial wipes. If you also only use one facial wipe per day then they are guaranteed to last an entire month and they also don’t dry out like wet facial wipes.

OVERALL

I’m impressed with Olay’s Daily Facials and they really do leave my skin feeling smooth, soft and makeup free. I did however have trouble removing all of my eyeliner and found that I had to keep rubbing over my eyes to eventually remove all of the eyeliner. This took a little compared to other branded facial wipes. However, they smell amazing and I would definitely use them again the the future. I love the conveniency of them and enjoyed the fact that it left my skin feeling like I’ve had a mini facial spa.

PROS:

Leaves skin feeling smooth, fresh and hydrated
Smells lovely
Dermatologically tested

CONS:

Price - slightly more expensive than alternative facial wipes
Struggled to remove stubborn mascara

BEAUTY RATING

I give Olay Daily Facials a Beauty Rating of 4/5. The wipes are so easy and convenient to use and do generally feel like they give your face a mini facial. If it wasn’t for the struggle of the removal of mascara it would have been a rating of 5/5.

Disclosure: I was given Olay Daily Facials 5-in 1 in exchange for my review and honest opinion. All views and opinions are my own.

REVIEW : Frankies Toasties Manchester

2018-10-30T12:30:00.000+00:00

Toasties.. a plain cheese toastie, a cheese and ham toastie.. whichever your filling, toasties are seen as a comfort food, a retro choice of food to some people and were a huge rave at one time when toastie machines were flying off the shop shelves and our parents were in the kitchen clamping down two slices of bread with our favourite go to toastie fillings! Everybody loves a toastie.. and now there is a restaurant right on my door step in Manchester City Centre which sells toasties.. they literally offer almost any filling that you can think of.

Salford born Barry Chui is the owner of Frankie’s Toasties and came up with the idea of a toastie shop whilst sat at home one night, rading the cupboards for something to eat and with only a few items left in the cupboard and fridge.. created the start of his toastie idea. Since then, Barry’s dream was to bring back his childhood memory and open the first toastie shop and now his dreams and unique toastie concoctions are out there for all of us to try.

Frankie’s Toasties currently offer 32 different toastie fillings which are around £3 to £4 each. They also have a ‘selfieccino’ coffee machine where you can have your favourite photo printed onto your frothy coffee and are a busy little toastie shop based on Portland Street. They opened their doors for the first time on the 22nd October 2018 and I can already see these guys being a huge hit in Manchester City Centre. They have already had people queuing up outside of their doors every day for the last week and a half, eager to try one of their delicious and quirky toastie creations.

Credit: Instagram - Frankie’s Toasties
[all post images]

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

I made my way to Frankie’s the first week that they opened and I luckily got in line before the que started forming outside of the doors onto Portland Street. When first entering the toastie shop I found it to be clean, inviting and very unique. On one wall sat proudly was Frankie’s logo which is already becoming well known and a small area with a few tables and chairs for eating in. The other wall consisted of translated Mancunian phrases, which was great to see, especially as I visited with my friend who is originally from the South, she found it fascinating!

Displayed above the counter area is the menu of toasties avaliable, there are plenty to choose from and even some fillings you would have never of thought of but actually sound quite tasty! I ordered the Cheesy Bacon (£3.50) which consisted of a toastie filled with cheddar and mozzarella cheese and streaky bacon. I also ordered the Jelly Nut (£3.00) which was filled with crunchy peanut butter and strawberry jam. My friend ordered the Cheap ‘n’ Cheeseful (£3), a straight forward cheese toastie filled with cheddar and mozzarella cheese. She also ordered the Apple and Custard (£3.50) which consisted of an apple pie filling with custard and had a sugar and cinnamon dusting.

Once I had placed my order, I was given a receipt with a number on and invited to wait to the side until my order was ready. Once your chosen toastie is ready then your order number is shouted and you can move to the front to collect it.

It was great that you could see the toasties being made behind the counter and could see that it was freshly made.. you can also see the mountains of bread that is packed away ready to be used and I really liked the fact that they do not use a cheap bread, you can see they use a well known brand of bread which looked fresh and you are given the option of white or brown bread.

As you can imagine there was quite a few people stood waiting in the middle of the room (around 10-15 people) waiting for their toasties to be made to order and although the toasties were generally made as quick as humanly possible (you could see the staff in the background working none stop), the only downfall was that I had to wait 10 minutes between getting my cheesy bacon toastie and then my jelly nut toastie.. this was the same for my friend and a few others on the day which I visited.

Apart from the wait after placing my order, I couldn’t really fault Frankie’s Toasties. The staff were all very friendly and the place has a really great vibe about it.

TASTE

As a lover of toasties in general I really enjoyed both of my toastie creations. The filling of my Cheesy Bacon was delicious and you could taste the individual flavours of the cheddar, mozzarella and bacon. It took me back to my childhood when my mum would make me a toastie with the toastie machines that everybody used to have and that we probably all still do have stored in a cupboard somewhere. The Jelly Nut toastie was also delicious, again I could taste the peanut butter and the hot jam separately but then combined together with each bite of my toastie.. it was sweet, delicious and messy.. great choice for when you have a sweet tooth! My friend also enjoyed her Cheap ‘n’ Cheeseful toastie and could not stop speaking about the Apple Pie and Custard, which tasted exactly like the desert.. except on a toastie.

If you’re keen to take a sneaky look at the menu before heading down you can check their menu out via their website below, where you’ll see a huge range toasties to choose from and which include the Manc Melt (cheddar and mozzarella cheese, tuna, sweetcorn and mayo), the Salford Supernoodle Buttie (chicken flavoured noodle toastie) or even the Chocolate Bar Toastie (your favourite chocolate bar on a toastie). It seems that there is literally anything you can put on a toastie!

COST AND VALUE

Prices are around £3 to £4 each toastie. The prices vary depending on your chosen filling and there are a huge range of fillings available. I think the cost is slightly expensive when you consider that it is two pieces of bread with a filling of your choice. Although I haven’t found any other dedicated toastie shop in Manchester City Centre, there are local cafes where you can order a toastie for around the same price and which has a lot more filling packed into the toastie.

The toastie itself is a little small and compact but as Frankie’s make their toasties on a toastie machine, I imagine that there is only so much filling they can use.

I would however definitely return back to Frankie’s as my toastie was delicious and I really would like to try out their other creative fillings!

OVERALL

Frankie’s Toasties has a great buzz and feeling about the place. There are plenty of toastie fillings to choose from and my toastie choices were delicious. Although the que was forming outside of the door, it wasn’t too long until my order was taken, which was pretty impressive. The staff were all friendly, very welcoming and really work hard. The only downfall was that the toasties were a little on the small side and the waiting time between getting both of my toasties was a little too long. I understand they have only been trading for what was less than a week when I visited and I’m sure they’ll have this fixed in no time.

Overall, I would visit Frankie’s Toasties again and cannot wait to try out another one of their unique but delicious concoctions.. Chocolate Bar Toastie anybody?!

PROS AND CONS

Pros

Freshly made and tastes delicious
Unique and quirky concept
Happy and helpful staff
Wide range of fillings
Great decor ideas

Cons

Items ordered made at different times
Toasties on the small side

FOODIE RATING

I give Frankie’s Toasties FoodieRating of 4/5. It would have been a solid 5/5 Foodie Rating if it wasn’t for the toasties arriving separately and being a little on the small side but they’ve only been open a few days. I’m sure next time I visit it will be a 5/5. Definitely recommend giving Frankie’s a visit.

Want to know more about Frankie’s Toasties? They are a huge hit on Instagram or you can head over to their website here: FrankiesToasties

Are toasties a hit with you? What would be your favourite toastie filling? Let me know in the comments below.

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REVIEW : My Cookie Dough Manchester

2018-10-19T12:30:00.000+01:00

My Cookie Dough is beginning to take the UK by storm and so far can be found in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Cardiff. I’m pretty sure you will start to see them pop up in other locations very shortly, as many people are jumping on the cookie dough bandwagon.

As you may or may not know, I work in Manchester City Centre and sometimes it can become difficult thinking of new ideas and new places to grab something quick to eat, especially when you only have an hour lunch and are looking for something different to your normal ‘go to’ lunch. With Manchester Arndale only a few minutes walk away and My Cookie Dough recently opening up inside the Arndale within the last few weeks.. I definitely had to take a stroll to check out what all the fuss was about and to try out some cookie dough!

FIRST IMPRESSIONS
After a short stroll from the office into Manchester Arndale, I reached the My Cookie Dough stand which is conveniently set up close by to the food court. The stand is dressed up with the My Cookie Dough purple branding and is situated in the middle of the first floor, with a 360 degree view of the counter so that you can see your cookie dough order being made in front of you.

The menu is clearly displayed at one side of the stand and also on top of the counter where you place your order. As you can imagine the menu is perfect for somebody with a sweet tooth. The My Cookie Dough menu currently consists of;

Cookie Dough - which is a soft baked cookie dough served with your favourite topping and ice cream. There is quite a large range of toppings available and they include milk chocolate, nutella, kinder melt, oreo, white chocolate and raspberry and lotus biscoff.

Stacks - which is layers of soft baked cookie dough with double ice cream. The stacks option includes the s***y brownie, movie night, kinder and nutella, lotus biscoff cheesecake and biscella brownie stack.

There is also the option of Dough Shakes (creamy shakes with cookie dough and ice cream) and Clouds (ice cream and cookie dough with candy floss).. and if that isn’t enough of a choice for you then you can also add additional toppings including pretzels, toffee popcorn, peanut butter and many more.

After having a look at the menu and debating with my friend as to which one to settle for, I decided to try out the Cookie Dough Kinder Melt with one ice cream. Once I placed my order, the cookie dough was heated up and prepared with my chosen topping and ice cream and I only had to wait a few minutes from ordering to receiving my cookie dough. It was very quick service but unfortunately the service was without a smile which was a shame!

TASTE
I don’t usually tend to eat hot and cold foods together but in this case the warm cookie dough and cold ice cream works well together and I really enjoyed it. The cookie dough was nice and soft and tasted like cookie dough heaven. The Kinder Melt was the perfect chocolate topping and the ice cream was creamy and similar to Mr Whippy / Mc Flurry ice cream. It was the perfect combination for a sweet tooth, although slightly sickly towards the end but definitely delicious if you like cookie dough!

COST AND VALUE
Prices start from £4.25 for the Cookie Dough and slightly more for the Stacks options. The prices vary depending on additional toppings added to your order. I think the cost is about average when compared to other similar desserts in the Manchester City Centre or if compared with a dessert if ordered at a restaurant. On the other hand, if you consider the actual ingredients involved it can be a little expensive but as a treat every now and then, I would say it is worth giving in to your sweet tooth every once in awhile!

OVERALL
I really enjoyed the Cookie Dough Kinder Melt and liked the fact that it was fresh and that you can watch your dessert being prepared in front of you whilst you wait. The service was very quick and I only waited a few minutes from ordering to receiving my dessert. The cookie dough itself comes in a neat little box but I found the ice cream slightly melted through the side where the box folds. The only really downfall to my experience is that the member of staff serving was not very welcoming and didn’t seem to be very enthusiastic. I understand that it can get busy especially in Manchester City Centre but a smile doesn’t cost anything!

Overall, I would visit My Cookie Dough again and might try and see if I can tackle the Movie Night Stack next time!

PROS AND CONS

Pros

Fresh and tastes amazing
Wide choice of toppings
Large portions
Cookie dough heaven

Cons

Box design
Service without a smile (unfortunately!)

FOODIE RATING
I give My Cookie Dough, Manchester a Foodie Rating of 4/5. It would have been a solid 5/5 Foodie Rating if it wasn’t for the service when taking my order which slightly let my experience down.

Want to know more about My Cookie Dough? You can head to their website here: MyCookeDough.com . They are also on social media, so feel free to check them out.

Are you a dessert kind of person? Have you tried My Cookie Dough? What is your favourite topping? Let me know in the comments below.

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The Shambles York

2018-09-12T15:00:00.000+01:00

This isn’t a long blog post but just a quick update as to what I’ve been up to recently!

Unfortunately my blog and Twitter are not apart of my full time job and I very rarely get time off from where I actually work. The very rare occasion where I did have a few days off work was a few weeks ago and I took the opportunity to travel to and spend the day in York. The weather was lovely, it was part of my mums long birthday weekend and overall it was a lovely day out and if you're a Harry Potter fan.. which most of my family are.. then York is a must see place for you to visit.

Tucked away in a side street of York is an 'oldie worldie' street known as 'The Shambles'. It has won awards for its picturesque views and it known as one of the best preserved medieval streets, where many of the buildings date back to the late fourteenth and fifteenth Century. Before The Shambles became more of a destination for tourists, it was originally a street where local butchers used to gather and sell their cuts of meat to the locals. Some of the buildings also had slaughterhouses at the back and you can still see some of the hooks where they would display and hang their meats to sell.

The street itself is a very narrow street, with cobbles and little shops on either side. The Shambles is one of the UK’s most popular visited streets which attracts tourists, shoppers and a quite a lot of school trips and now consists of souvenir shops, cafes, a bakery and a few Harry Potter themed shops. There is also an all year round Christmas shop! There is also a local market, street performers and little cafes, bars, shops and eateries close by.

Overall, I had a really nice day and the weather was amazing. It was very busy as it was nearing the end of the school summer holidays but I would definitely recommend a visit to The Shambles, or even to York itself. It’s a really nice place and a great family day out.

Have you been to York? Have you visited The Shambles? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

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MUGGED OFF - GIVEAWAY

2018-01-13T00:51:00.000+00:00

Raise your hand if you think last year flew by.. it literally whizzed by me and Christmas and New Year came and went within seconds. At the start of this year, I published a mini 2018 goals post which you can read here and as part of my goals for this year I want to not only work on posting more content to my blog but I also want to try and do a few giveaways. So it’s the beginning of January, people are hating being back at school, work and generally have the winter blues.. I thought now would be the perfect time to run a little giveaway on my blog.. everybody loves a mug right?!

I was kindly given a selection of goodies from Scribbler and thought it would be a great idea to pass some of their generosity onto one of my followers. Firstly though I would like to tell you a little bit about Scribbler and what they do.

Scribbler offers a large range of personalised cards, stationary and gifts that you can order online or purchase from your nearest Scribbler store. The cards they have to offer cover one of the largest ranges I’ve seen online and the range that they offer is unique, innovative and bang on trend. There are some really funny cards and gifts available on the website (see the photo above and you will understand the humour Scribbler brings). I definitely recommend giving their website a look by clicking here.

Anyway let’s cut to the chase.. I want to give this lovely (but funny!) mug to one of my followers. If any of you mugs would like to enter my giveaway, it's easy peasy. There are a few terms and conditions at the bottom of this blog post which you should read but other than that it's simple... the winner will be picked at random and the mug in the picture above will be posted out.

To enter this giveaway you must:
1. Be following on at least one of the following - Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or BlogLovin'.
2. This giveaway is open to the UK only.
3. The mug will be posted out as secure as possible but any damage in transit will not be my fault.
4. Giveaway will run for 3 weeks from 13th January 2018 until 3rd February 2018.
5. The winner of the giveaway will be picked randomly by Rafflecopter.
6. Winner to be emailed. If no reply within 48 hours than another winner will be chosen at random.

You can enter the giveaway below using Rafflecopter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck and keep an eye out for future giveaways!

Keep posted by following on social media:

Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin

Change Your Settings On Twitter To Help Blind People

2018-01-07T20:17:00.000+00:00

I came across an interesting tweet on Twitter yesterday by a user who is visually impaired called Rob Long. He recently reached out on the popular social media platform asking users to change their accessibility settings to help blind and visually impaired users gain a full Twitter experience.

He explains that by changing your settings this will help visually impaired users ‘see’ the images that you post with your Twitter content. The simple change means that any images used will be described to the user, letting them enjoy the full experience of the information you are sharing on social media. Rob Long explains below how quick and easy it is to change your accessibility settings on Twitter and I encourage everybody to go ahead and do this.

I’m a blind twitter user. There are a lot of us out there. Increase your ability to reach us and help us interact with your pictures, it’s really simple and makes a huge difference to our twitter experiance allowing us to see your images our way. Thanks for the description 😎 pic.twitter.com/hCsjoFdmev
— Rob Long (@_Red_Long) 3 January 2018

Changing your accessibility settings on Twitter really is simple. All that you need to do is:

Go into Settings and Accessibility (either on the app or the main web page of your account)
Select Accessibility
Turn on Compose Image Descriptions.

When I came across this tweet it made me think for a second and made me realise how lucky we are to be able to use a social media platform like Twitter with no restrictions. I definitely wasn’t aware that such a small accessibility change could make a huge difference to a sector of users on Twitter. In fact I hadn’t given it a second thought until I came across this tweet.

It just goes to show how powerful social media can be and that technology is growing and changing rapidly in the right direction.

Keep posted by following on social media:

Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin

Blogging with a full time job

2017-10-13T16:43:00.000+01:00

The blogging community comes in all shapes and sizes.. some are female, some are male, the age range of a blogger can vary, the niche area that a blogger focuses on can also be different and some blog full time and some during their spare time. I am wanting to increase the amount of blogs that I post but blogging doesn't just mean writing and posting, it involves a lot more.. brainstorming, planning, writing, editing, scheduling for social media, speaking with companies and brands etc..

With a full time job it can often make it extremely difficult dedicating time to not only developing my blog but also creating read-worthy content on a regular basis. I've noticed that many people are in the same boat and are asking how do you blog whilst working a full time job?!

Also the fact that last week was actually National Work Life Week (2nd October - 6th October 2017) it's time to ask the blogging community what tips they have for blogging whilst working a full time job and I've found some amazing bloggers willing to offer their top tips and invaluable advice..

AARON VIRTUAL WOMBAT

Blog: virtualwombat.com

Twitter: @VirtualWombat

VirtualWombat.com launched in January 2017 so I'm still very new by some standards. I cover pretty much anything depending on what's tickled my fancy. I like to write a good comedy post and have a laugh, as well as covering nerdy stuff, gaming, tech and parenting topics. There are usually 3 or more new posts and articles a week.

What difficulties have you faced blogging and working full time?
It can be hard finding the time to get everything you'd like to do done. Especially when the inevitable pressures of a profession are at their highest. So far I've managed to keep a relative balance between working, blogging and family life with a bit of leisure thrown in for good measure.

What strategies do you use to help with blogging / planning / scheduling?
I just use the notes app on my iPhone to record ideas. I write when I feel like it and don't force a specific schedule on myself. I also use an app called social oomph to help with scheduling content for Twitter.

How do you make time away from both work and blogging?
I like to game a bit and I'm a pretty accomplished digital artist. I don't share my pictures very often though which is something I'm working on changing at the moment (Keep an eye on the site late October). When we have spare time at the weekends I like to try and get out for some fresh air and photography too!

What are your top tips for maintaining a successful work-life-blog balance?
Don't feel pressured into a fixed schedule. If your content is good enough people will read whether it's once a week or five times a week. If you push too hard you'll burn out. ALWAYS make time for your hobbies as more often than not that's where I find my inspiration.

Would you ever take the plunge and take up blogging full time?
That's a really difficult question! I'd love to be my own boss. It really depends on whether I could match the level of income I get from my job, which would be a big ask. We'll see how things develop in the future!

Anything else that you think helps maintains a work-life-blog balance?
Get to know other bloggers and communicate with them. They're a great source of inspiration. Write what you love, it's easier and quicker than trying to write an article about something you couldn't give a damn about!

SARAH SINCERELY SARAH

Blog: sincerelysarah.net

Twitter: @SincSarahSnaps

I started blogging back in December 2015 but started the blog about mental health. I work for a digital mental health service so I thought it'd be good to write about that but I quickly realised I wanted my blog to be a hobby and not connected to work so in February/March 2016 I switched tact and began writing about beauty and lifestyle. I'm not overly consistent with blogging and I definitely need to be, but typically I post about 3-4 times a month and one of the posts will be a video.

What difficulties have you faced blogging and working full time?
I find balancing FT work and my blog very challenging. Sometimes it's OK but when work gets busy or I'm travelling a lot, my blog and my social media pages suffer. It's finding the time and motivation after a long day at the office to turn the laptop on and get writing. I typically carve out at least one weekend a month where I'll just blog, take and edit photos and film videos. I'm currently finding that to work quite well for me.

What strategies do you use to help with blogging / planning / scheduling?
I like notebooks and tried a bullet journal but that wasn't for me. I now use a notebook for brainstorming and for tracking my scheduled tweets. My planning could be better but I often find I'll just end up spending too much time planning and not enough time actually 'doing'. I use my wordpress drafts section a lot of managing blog posts.

How do you make time away from both work and blogging?
Having just a weekend a month when I really throw myself into blogging helps keep a balance, although I'd be lying if I say I don't blog during the week as well. I'm never far from my laptop or phone. Most nights, I'll always stop for dinner with my boyfriend and I try to turn everything off at 9pm for an hour and then I may work a bit more before bed.

What are your top tips for maintaining a successful work-life-blog balance?
Don't be too hard on yourself. It's impossible to be 100% at work, blogging, social life, relationship etc all the time. It's OK to change focus from time to time. I realise that's not too helpful but I guess a lot of it is about gut instinct - if you feel like you're neglecting your work, ease off blogging for a bit and vice versa.

Would you ever take the plunge and take up blogging full time?
I don't think so. I adore blogging and making videos but I'm a very small fish in a huge digital pond. I also blog because I enjoy it and I would worry that blogging full time would mean there's too much pressure on it as a source of income to really enjoy it in the same way. Never say never but at the moment it's not part of the plan.

Anything else that you think helps maintains a work-life-blog balance?
Chat to other bloggers in the same situation and share tips :)

MICHELLE CHELLEMUA

Blog: chellemua.co.za

Twitter: @chelle_muablog

I started blogging properly at the beginning of this year. I then took a long hiatus because college got really hectic. In August I started blogging again.

What difficulties have you faced blogging and working full time? I don’t always get the chance to take good quality photos or the time to keep to a schedule which sucks.

What strategies do you use to help with blogging / planning / scheduling?
I always keep a notebook on me to write notes or ideas down. I generally try and do all my work for the week on a Saturday or Sunday or write blogs on my phone and email it to myself when I am waiting for my host kids as I am an AuPair. I am trying to find a good scheduling app but I am not comfortable with that yet. I think it all comes down to baby steps. I will get there eventually.

How do you make time away from both work and blogging?
I do blogging stuff on the weekend and then work stuff during the week. I generally do my blog work either before or after I work on a Saturday or a Sunday morning as I am an early riser so it helps.

What are your top tips for maintaining a successful work-life-blog balance?
Sometimes your social life has to take a back seat when it comes to work. I always ask myself what is important. You should wake up early and try and do work stuff before you leave and do what you need to do that day. In my case, I wake up and go to a coffee shop. I enjoy working at coffee shops and I feel like I do my best work when I am around people. I also ask myself what will benefit me more? How can I further myself? What is best for my future. From that, I am able to distinguish what I should be doing.

Would you ever take the plunge and take up blogging full time?
That is the hope for the near future. My hope is to cut down on the amount of work that I do so I can focus more on my blogging and makeup.

Anything else that you think helps maintains a work-life-blog balance? I always tell people to do what they are passionate about. I also believe that you should fall in love with your blog. If your main goal is to monetize your blog and nothing more than I think you will burn out and end up hating what you do. Write what you love and you can guarantee that the money will eventually come around.

JOSH LOOKDWN

Blog: lookdwn.com

Twitter: @jb_new

I started blogging properly back in 2007 with my first proper blog post however a relaunch in 2016 when I moved self-hosted to LOOKDWN.com . The blog consists mainly of travel, lifestyle and events but I have a wide range of things like creative writing and poetry and reviews that I also do from time to time. I would love to blog once a week but it tends to be more like once a fortnight.

What difficulties have you faced blogging and working full time?

I think finding time to relax after work and write blog posts can be difficult. I struggle with wanting to watch Netflix and concentrate on the programmes and writing new content at the same time! Also, I've not had my own laptop for about five years so it's really good that I have a patient girlfriend willing to let me write and edit on her laptop.

What strategies do you use to help with blogging / planning / scheduling?
I write a lot of my ideas in notes on my phone and also in a special notepad but more often than not, little scraps of paper can be where I jot down thoughts or things that come to me in the night or on the way home from work when I seem to be most creative.

How do you make time away from both work and blogging?
On the weekends and sometimes in the week I go for walks with my girlfriend around Richmond or go out for drinks with friends. Sometimes it could be checking out different restaurants as I love eating out when I can afford to, and I have a list of places I want to visit on the blog too http://bit.ly/lookdwn-places .

What are your top tips for maintaining a successful work-life-blog balance?
Do find time for yourself - try reading as that can also inspire new ideas. I find it extremely difficult to juggle the three and would be lying if I said that the blog got all the attention it needs. However, days off and weekends are a great time to do blog posts and all the admin that comes with having your own blog - checking broken links, reformatting images and promoting it too.

Would you ever take the plunge and take up blogging full time?
I would love to do this and that would be the ultimate dream! However, I'd need to make sure that I have enough money in my savings to live on before taking such an important step. I'm not really in blogging just to make lots of money or to be famous, I just enjoy writing and always have. It would be great to get some recognition as a blogger but that's not why I do it!

Anything else that you think helps maintains a work-life-blog balance?
Getting a good night's sleep means you can work well in all three areas and function properly. Try and get into a routine and don't burn the candle at both ends as they say.

For more about Josh:
I also wrote a more detailed post on my blog about why I started blogging and why I still keep at it here: and a separate post on Integrity in Blogging here

DANIELLE ALLTHINGSBLOGGING

Blog: allthingsbloggingsite.wordpress.com

Twitter: @DanielleStockport

I started blogging about 3 months ago, I blog about anything and everything hence my name all things blog it’s whatever i can relate too at that time. I blog once or twice a week depending how much spare time I have.

What difficulties have you faced blogging and working full time?
The most difficult thing I have found is time management, I work full time, bring up two children so finding time to blog can be difficult or switching off from everyday life to get into the blogging mindset.

What strategies do you use to help with blogging / planning / scheduling?
Whilst I'm at work, I keep notes/journal of things we all discuss as a morning programme is on in the background and try and gather ideas together. I use buffer for time management for Instagram. Twitter is also fab for people retweeting my stuff to get it out there.

How do you make time away from both work and blogging?
I always set one specific night a week usually a Thursday for blogging and make sure I still socialise or spend time focusing on Just myself the other evenings. Time management is hard but if your enthusiastic about something you make it manage.

What are your top tips for maintaining a successful work-life-blog balance?
Understanding balance. You need to understand that it’s key. Be strict with yourself and set limits.

Would you ever take the plunge and take up blogging full time?
I’m not I’m a position where I am able to do that with my following at the moment but if the opportunity was there completely at the end of the day we blog because we are enjoy it and it’s a passion and ideally that’s what everyone would want out of the job so if it pays the bills hell yeah!

Anything else that you think helps maintains a work-life-blog balance?
Relaxing, when you get in from work relax and have a bath and eat before you sit down to blog then there is less pressure because there is nothing to do after you writing. Make sure you blog for the right reasons and you only blog when you feel excited to write and not just for the sake of it because your due a post.

PALE GIRL RAMBLING

Blog: palegirlrambling.co.uk

Twitter: @PaleGrlRambling

I started blogging at the beginning of February this year! I blog about beauty, makeup and skincare. I always post on Monday's and Thursday's and sometimes have an extra post or two if I've been to an event or have something I'm eager to talk about!

What difficulties have you faced blogging and working full time?
Managing my time and having the energy to blog!After a full day at work dealing with little kids I'm exhausted and just want to relax, not sit down to write posts or work on my social media. I also need to make sure I take pictures in advance at the weekends so I can make the most of the daylight so this means I have to schedule my time carefully!

What strategies do you use to help with blogging / planning / scheduling?
I have a gorgeous big planner from LoveGiveInk which has calendars and to do lists. Whenever I think of something I make sure to put it on my to do list so I don't forget. Lists are my best friend, there's nothing more satisfying than having everything on your 'to do' list ticked off!

How do you make time away from both work and blogging?
I'm pretty bad at this but my boyfriend always reminds me I need to take a break and have some me time whether it be a social media free evening or a Sunday to myself!

What are your top tips for maintaining a successful work-life-blog balance?
Plan a head! Running a blog and working full time is exhausting so you need to have a schedule. I like to plan my content for a whole month in advance, then I know exactly what I need to write and photograph and when. Obviously if collaborations come along then I can swap things around a bit but having a plan is the only thing that keeps me sane!

Would you ever take the plunge and take up blogging full time?
Honestly I don't think so! As much as I love my blog, I really enjoy my job, it's always been a passion of mine to work with kids so for now I'm happy doing both. Maybe when I become a mumma I might like to take my blog full time so I can spend more time with my children but we'll see what the future holds!

Anything else that you think helps maintains a work-life-blog balance?
Having you time! Sometimes you just need to say no! Put down your phone/laptop and just relax. If your not rested your content isn't going to be at its best!

Thanks again to all the bloggers that agreed to take part in my Blog. You are all amazing and I'm sure many will agree inspiring and thank you for sharing your advice. Do you work full time whilst blogging? Let me know in the comments below.

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REVIEW : IllumiBowl The Toilet Gadget You Never Knew You Needed

2017-09-10T17:00:00.000+01:00

Everybody enjoys new technology (well most people I know do!) and when IllumiBowl offered me the chance to try out their motion-active toilet night light, I jumped on board and thought I'd give it ago. So I've been testing out the IllumiBowl* for over a month now and I'm actually impressed by this little nifty gadget.

Credit: IllumiBowl.com

IllumiBowl - around £10.00

Who are IllumiBowl?

IllumiBowl are an American company who were first featured on a program called Shark Tank in 2016. They have created the worlds first toilet night bowl light and are taking the 'bathroom gadget' sector by storm. They are on a mission to introduce as many households as possible to the IllumiBowl motion-active night light and since being on Shark Tank, now sell the IllumiBowl world wide.

So what is the IllumiBowl?
The IllumiBowl is a little box with a small arm that fits around your toilet bowl and attached to the arm is a little light, which lights up when it gets darker (during the night) and when motion is detected.. simple yet genius! It will only light up when you walk into the bathroom during the night.. therefore making it easier on your eyes when you're half asleep - no more bright lights during the night, no more walking into the sink, bath etc.. you can go straight back to bed without fully waking up..or waking others up.. perfect!

How to set IllumiBowl up..
It's so simple and easy to set up and literally only took me a few seconds, so perfect to those who hate 'DIY'. To set up the IllumiBowl just following these simple steps;

Place 3 x AAA batteries into the back of the Illumnibowl;
Lift the toilet seat up and simply bend arm over the toilet bowl, whilst ensuring the white box is on the outside of the toilet bowl.. and that's it.. you're all set to go ..once it gets dark!
For the best motion sensor detection make sure the white box is facing the door as much as possible

Why do I need an IllumiBowl?
There's no particular reason why you need an IllumiBowl but after using it for a few days you will WANT an IllumiBowl for your bathroom. Although probably aimed at small children, this little piece of technology is amazing and helps brighten up your bathroom.. literally!

Another great function about this product is that you can either set it to change through a cycle of different colours including white, blue, green, pink, purple, orange etc (once motion is detected) or you can set is to that it only lights up showing one colour - either way it's pretty cool and the light isn't too bright but is bright enough so that you can see where you are going.

The IllumiBowl will also only light up when the lights are off and motion is detected, therefore saving on battery power and making the batteries last longer. I've been trying out this product now for the past month and the batteries are still going strong. It's also simple to keep clean with a damp cloth.

Overall Opinion
Overall, I think that the IllumiBowl is an innovative product. It is a smart little gadget that it completely different to most other 'technology' products and although you may think that you don't need a gadget that lights up your toilet bowl, once you try the IllumiBowl.. you will WANT one. You will find this product to be smart, different but yet a simple little household gadget that is fun for all family members and all ages. It's also a great talking point for friends and family and I would definitely recommend trying out the IllumiBowl.

As well as IllumiBowl, the company have also expanded their cool 'light up bathroom range' to include IllumiSink (light up sink attachment), IllumiShower (light up shower head) and the IllumiSoap (light up soap dispenser) - I'd love to try more of their range to see how they actually work so watch this space.

VERDICT

Score: 5 out of 5 : Innovative and great little gadget!

PROS

- Innovative

- Easy to set up

- Great to use during the night

- Great talking point

- Great for kids, adults... all ages!

CONS

- Only works in the dark (not the products fault!)

- Doesn't come with batteries

What do you think about the IllumiBowl? Would you try it out?

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*I was given this product in exchange for my honest opinion and review. All comments are my own and I have not been asked to include any of the comments above.

REVIEW : Penclic R3 Mouse

2017-08-14T20:48:00.001+01:00

Who doesn't enjoy getting there hands on the latest technology? I know I do and I love reading about and where possible, trying out the latest gadgets, so when I was asked to try out the Penclic R3 Mouse*, I was excited and somewhat intrigued as to what the mouse would be like to use. I had never heard of or even seen a pen built into the form of a computer mouse, so I couldn't wait to try it out.

Penclic 3 Mouse - around £59.99

Who are Penclic?

Penclic are a family-run Swedish company based in Stockholm, Sweden and they create ergonomic computer accessories which are unique, stylish, smart and completely innovative to what I have seen so far.

What's included?

Include inside Penclic's smart packaging is:

Penclic R3 mouse
Rechargeable battery
USB
USB retractable charging lead
Instruction manual
Little velvet bag

First Thoughts

When I first opened the Penclic R3 I was impressed by the packaging that the R3 Mouse was presented in. It looks bright, vibrant and would stand out if purchasing from your local shop. The packaging is sturdy, well packed and prevents the R3 Mouse from moving about and stopping it from being potentially damaged.

The Penclic R3 is extremely easy to set up but you do need to let it charge for awhile before using (this was annoying as I couldn't wait to use it!). Once charged, you simply place the USB into the USB port of your laptop or computer, turn on your R3 Mouse and it connects almost immediately, turning the mouse wireless.

Using the R3 Mouse
At first I found the Penclic R3 Mouse strange to use, I have never used any form of ergonomic mouse before, so it does take some time to get used to. During the first few times using the R3 Mouse, I found that it made my hand ache but I think that this could be down to the fact that I wasn't used to using this style of mouse. After using the mouse for awhile, it became easier on my hand, comfortable to use and I found it very lightweight and easy to move around on different surfaces.

My full time job involves working in an office at a desk, so the R3 Mouse is perfect for this, not to mention it has been built to help prevent and/or ease repetitive strain injury (RSI) and after using this little gadget for awhile, I can see exactly why.. I felt that there was less strain and pressure on my hand and I didn't have to use as many movements with my hand as I usually would with a normal computer mouse. However, the only downfall was that I often found it difficult to get the mouse to 'click' where I wanted it to ..sometimes making it frustrating to use!

Features of the Penclic R3 Mouse

Can be used by both right and left hand users
Laser sensor
Compatible with PC and MAC
Wireless
Rechargable
Click and scroller

Overall Opinion

Overall, the Penclic R3 takes sometime getting used to but it is generally a smart, sleek little gadget that is ideal for using with a laptop or computer. I sometimes found it difficult to use as it often wouldn't click where I wanted but hopefully with time, practice and patience, I may be able to work out how to precisely 'select and click' exactly where I need to. The fact that it is lightweight makes it easier to transport alongside your laptop and is perfect for people who find it difficult to use an ordinary mouse.

VERDICT

Score: 4 out of 5 : Innovative, different and unique. Just wish it could be used with my iPad and had more 'click' precision.

PROS

- Wireless

- Simple to set up

- Rechargeable

- Lightweight / Portable / Smart / Sleek

- Can use on many surfaces

CONS

- Takes awhile to charge

- Can't use with iPad

- Not always precise when 'clicking' the area you want

Have you tried using an ergonomic / alternative mouse? Let me know in the comments below.

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*I was given this product in exchange for my honest opinion and review. All comments are my own and I have not been asked to include any of the comments above.

REVIEW : Dead Sea Purifying Clay Mask

2017-04-17T18:12:00.005+01:00

Who doesn't love a face mask once in awhile?! I've never actually used Superdrug's own brand face masks before but when I saw that the price tag of their Dead Sea Purifying Clay Mask was only 99p I thought I'd have a try - at 99p you can't really go wrong can you?

Credit: Superdrug.com

Superdrug Dead Sea Purifying Clay Mask - 99p

Superdrug's Dead Sea Purifying Clay Mask is ideal for oily and blemish prone skin. The clay mask is gently massaged using your fingertips onto a clean, dry face. Once the clay mask is applied, simply leave it on for 10-15 minutes and then rinse with warm water and pat face dry.

When applying the clay mask to my face I found it easy to remove the product from the packet and it held a lot of the purifying clay mask, allowing me to apply the clay evenly all over my face, without worrying that I wouldn't have enough. At first I found that it did sting my face a little to begin with but after a few minutes, the stinging stopped and I could enjoy a mini facial pamper in the comfort of my home.

After relaxing for 15 minutes, I rinsed my face with warm water ..the clay mask was easy enough to remove and it left my skin feeling so soft and refreshed!

Overall

Overall, there is more than enough clay mask inside the sachet, making it value for money. I found the Dead Sea face mask to be a creamy clay which cools your skin as soon as it's applied to your face. It deeply cleanses your face, making your skin feel clean, smooth and soft afterwards.

Verdict

I actually really enjoyed using this face mask and found plenty of benefits to using it.. not to mention price being a huge one. I will definitely use Superdrug's Dead Sea Purifying Clay mask again and will be trying out a few other face masks from Superdrug - watch this space!

Score: 5 out of 5 : Worth a buy you'll be impressed!

Pros

- Price

- Leaves skin feeling clean, soft and refreshed

- Plenty of product

- Easy to store and take with you

Cons

- Stings a little bit at first

Have you tried any other Superdrug face masks? What would you recommend?

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REVIEW : Pick 'n' Melt

2017-01-02T23:11:00.000+00:00

Everybody love candles and there are so many different kinds of candles on the market now, it makes it difficult to decide which to try. I'm lucky that I was invited to test a new range of candle in exchange for my honest review and opinion*. So after accepting, I was kindly sent their Christmas Candle Gift Set by the new and upcoming company, Pick 'n' Melt.

Pick 'n' Melt Christmas Gift Set - RRP £12.00

Who are Pick 'n' Melt?

They are a new and innovative company which pride themselves in being the ultimate scented pick 'n' mix candle company, offering over 250 different scented wax melts or scented candles. They have been established since November 2016 and offer vegan friendly candles made from natural, sustainable, vegetable soy wax.

Christmas Candle Gift Set

I was kindly sent the Christmas Candle Gift Set to try out and the set included;

A ceramic candle wax warmer
16 bags of wax melts (8 different scents)
A tea light to place under the ceramic wax warmer

The scents which were included in the gift set are;

Snow, Festive Tree, Mistletoe and Wine, Christmas Time, Cocoa and Log Fire, Robin Red Breast, Christmas Spice and Frankincense and Myrrh.

Once I received and opened my package from Pick 'n' Melt, I was greeted with a lovely ceramic candle wax warmer, which has their logo on the side, a pick 'n' mix yellow and white, candy striped paper bag which inside were the wax melt candles and a 'menu' of the different scents available - the packaging compared to other candle companies used is very unique and innovative and definitely stands out from the crowd!

The Product Itself..

I was worried at first about how powerful the scent of the candles were - very strong scented candles always seem to give me a headache! However, I found the smell to be overpowering as all 16 bags of wax melts were together in one bag! When using the candle wax melts individually, the smell is strong but not too overpowering and from the candles used so far, it smells exactly like the scent described on the packet.

It took approx. 5-10 minutes for one pack of wax melts (6 small cubes included in a pack) to turn from a wax cube into liquid and overall the scent of the candle did last a good few hours.. approx 5-6 hours in total. I did however find it useful to light the tea light candle a few minutes before placing the wax melts on top of the dish. I also found the ceramic wax warmer to be of very good quality, sturdy and is a candle warmer which can be used any time of year. It would make a perfect gift for friends and family ..or even yourself!

Pick 'n' Mix - Join the Party!

They also offer a monthly subscription where you can try more of their candle scents, exclusive offers and competitions. At the moment they currently offer two different subscriptions;

Standard Subscription £8.00
Supreme Subscription £12.00

I think this is a great idea and gives people the chance to find their ultimate favourite Pick 'n' Melt scent. Also gives you the chance to create your own scents by mixing different wax melts together! A great way for Pick 'n' Melt to develop a trend on social media / Twitter! You can find out more about this by clicking here

Verdict:

Overall, I think the Christmas Gift Set is great and I would recommend buying this. The Pick 'n' Melt brand itself is creative and unique and offers the largest selection of candle scents I've ever seen. I would class this brand to be towards the luxury end of the 'candle market' but still priced competitively. I hope to see them roll out more larger candles of popular scents in the future!

Score: 4.5 out of 5 : Definitely recommend trying Pick 'n' Melt

PROS:

Long Lasting (wax melts)
Quirky / Innovative - the packaging, brand and range of scents
Large Selection of Scents
Competitively priced

CONS:

Limited selection of larger candles (at present)

Have you tried the Pick 'n' Melt range? Which scents do you recommend trying?

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*I was given this product free by Pick 'n' Melt to try and review. All comments are my own and I have not been asked to include any of the comments above. You can visit their website here

REVIEW : Simply Argan Night Oil

2016-11-14T10:00:00.000+00:00

Simply Argan Night Oil* is the second argan oil product that I have tried over the past few months and so far I am impressed! You may have previously read about the Simply Argan brand on my Simply Argan Arbe D'or review but just to recap.. they produce some of the finest and innovative beauty care products on the market.

The core product that they use is argan oil - a high quality, pure, organic oil sourced directly from Morocco and when you purchase any product from Simply Argan you can guarantee that you are receiving the highest quality argan oil on the market as each product comes with its own individual certificate of authenticity.

Simply Argan Night Oil - £19.00 RRP £24.00

What is Simply Argan Night Oil?

It is a night oil which should be used approx. 30 minutes before going to bed. It is a relaxing and calming oil which helps to rejuvenate your skin whilst ensuring that you have a restful and natural sleep.

First Impressions

The Night Oil comes in a 15ml gold bottle with a bluey / purple and white label, showing a moon crest and stars which reflects the contents of the bottle - a restful nights sleep! Although the bottle is plastic, it still looks like a luxury product, however at first I was unsure on how to use the product as there are no instructions printed on the bottle, which I think is a small design flaw.

After having a quick look on Simply Argan website I found out how to use this product and it's very simple and easy to introduce into your nightly skincare routine. All you need to do is apply the oil to your face, body and nails around 30 minutes before going to sleep and leave the oil on over night and whilst you sleep it should soothe, repair and tone your skin whilst helping you get a good nights sleep!

With this in mind I was excited to use Simply Argan Night Oil to see if it would actually work. However, before I began using the oil I was convinced that it would not last much longer than 2-3 weeks if used everyday (15ml doesn't sound like a lot!) but I have put this to the test over the past few weeks and you can see the results below.

Overall

I have used Simply Argan Night Oil for the last few weeks and I can honestly say that I am generally impressed with the product. The oil is dispensed using a pump dispenser (as you can see above) and you only need to use 1-2 pumps which can then be applied to your face, neck, hands etc. It can be quite oily but this is an advantage as it means that you only need to use a small amount of oil.. making your product last longer!

The fragrance of the oil includes lavender, sweet orange and sandalwood but the aroma of the lavender can be smelt more than the other combined fragrances. I think that the smell of the lavender can be quite overpowering at first but this is probably down to a personal preference. I presume that the lavender in the product is what helps you have a good nights sleep and the sandalwood and sweet orange helps repair and tones your skin overnight.

When I first began using Simply Argan Night Oil I wasn't convinced that it would work at all ..how can an oil help you sleep whilst soothing and repairing your skin?! However, I've been using it for a few weeks now and it does actually work. I use it just before getting into bed and I've found that it helps me to relax after a busy day before sleeping and I do actually get a great nights sleep when applying the oil to my face, neck and hands. Although the oil comes in a 15ml bottle, it does last a long time. I've been using it on a nightly basis for a few weeks (my mum has also been stealing some each night!) and I still have plenty left to use.

I've noticed that the Night Oil has helped me sleep every night which is a bonus as I usually wake up several times a night. I've also noticed that after using the Night Oil for a few weeks, my skin has become much more softer and smoother. My mum has also been highly impressed as it has also helped get rid of and/or reduced any fine lines on her face - I know it sounds too good to be true but it actually does work and you have to try it to believe it.

Verdict:

Overall, this is a great product which I highly recommend to anybody who has trouble sleeping or is looking for a skincare product which helps tones and repairs your skin with minimal effort. When I'm close to running out of Simply Argan Night Oil I will be making my way to their website to restock!

Score: 4.5 out of 5 : I would definitely recommend purchasing!

PROS:

Lasts a long time
Great for relaxing after a long day
Helps you sleep whilst it tones and repairs your skin
Competitively priced whilst on special offer

CONS:

No instructions on how to use the product on the bottle
Can be quite oily

Have you tried any of the Simply Argan range? Let me know in the comments below what other argan oil products you would recommend.

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*I was given this product free by Simply Argan to try and review. All comments are my own and I have not been asked to include any of the comments above. You can visit the Simply Argan website here

REVIEW : Simply Argan Arbre D'or

2016-09-26T13:00:00.000+01:00

Simply Argan produce some of the finest and innovative beauty care products on the market. The core product that they use is argan oil which is a high quality, pure, organic product sourced directly from Morocco. Every product they sell and ship to their customers comes with an certificate of authenticity, ensuring that you receive one of the finest high quality argan oil products available. As argan oil is becoming increasing popular in the beauty care world, I was more than happy when I was asked by Simply Argan to try and test their Arbre D'Or perfume*.

Simply Argan arbre d'or Eau de Parfum - £29.00 RRP £45.00

What is Simply Argan Arbre D'or?

It is a perfume that has been created exclusively for Simply Argan. The words 'Arbe D'or' means tree of gold, taken from the argan tree which fruit produces Simply Argan's organic argan oil. The idea behind the product is to create a golden fragrance from a 'liquid gold' argan tree.

First Impressions

When I opened the box of the product I was met with a very creative perfume bottle where the lid of the perfume simply fits into the bottle like a jigsaw. The bottle is very sleek and has a minimalistic look. The perfume only comes in a 50ml bottle so I was automatically worried that it wouldn't last a very long time - I've put this to the test and you can see the results below!

Arbre D'or is competitively priced as it is currently on special offer on their website for £29.00 (RRP is usually £45.00).

After opening the bottle of perfume I was excited to find out what the perfume would smell like and exactly how long the smell would last, as I've found that the majority of perfumes that I have used recently only seem to last a few hours - which isn't ideal especially when you're working all day.

Overall

I've been using Simply Argan Arbre D'or Perfume for the past month or so and I absolutely love it. Not only is the oil extremely rich in vitamins, anti-oxidants and is pure organic - the perfume smells amazing! It has a combination of fragrances - including jasmine and orange blossom with a subtle hint of patchouli. It has a distinctive floral smell but also smells slightly fruity with a hint of something else, which I can't quite think of the exact smell ..either way it's a beautiful, elegant and indulgent perfume that I would recommend to anybody.

Since wearing Simple Argan Arbe D'or I have had so many compliments on how lovely it smells and how long lasting it stays without the need to keep spraying myself with perfume throughout the day. Despite the perfume only coming in a 50ml bottle, it generally does last a long time. I've been using it for a month now and I still have over a half a bottle left. You only need a spray or two as it lasts for a very long time.

As soon as I received this bottle of the perfume and sprayed it a few times, family members commented on how beautiful the perfume smelt, they tried it on and received positive feed back themselves. People have questioned what the perfume was and where was it from. They've commented on how classy and elegant it smells and some have said it smells like an expensive perfume. Others have been so impressed and have loved the smell that much that they have already placed orders on the Simply Argan website. I've also had so many people asking if Simply Argan have other perfumes available.

Verdict:

Overall, I love this product and I will be using Simply Argan's Arbre D'or perfume on a regular basis. It smells amazing and I've never had so many compliments on the perfume I'm wearing until I started wearing Arbre D'or. If Simply Argan create another perfume, count me in, but until then I'm off to order another bottle as we speak!

Score: 5 out of 5 : I would definitely recommend purchasing!

PROS:

Smells beautiful and elegant
Fragrance is long lasting - on your skin and in the bottle!
Clever design of bottle - sleek and minimalistic
Competitively priced whilst on special offer

CONS:

Only available in a 50ml bottle - please can we buy a 100ml bottle please?!

Have you tried any of the Simply Argan range? Let me know in the comments below what other argan oil products you would recommend.

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*I was given this product free by Simply Argan to try and review. All comments are my own and I have not been asked to include any of the comments above. You can visit the Simply Argan website here

REVIEW : Neuteogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Cleanser

2016-09-18T21:26:00.001+01:00

Neutrogena is a brand well known for making innovative products however I must admit that I have actually never used any of their products before so I was excited when I was invited to take part in the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Cleanser BzzCampaign*.

Cleansing water products are becoming increasing popular on the UK market because they are so easy to use, are suitable for most skin types and some brands claim that they can be used as an all in one facial wash, moisturiser and make up remover.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Cleanser - £7.99

What is Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Cleanser?

It is a gel which is activated when you add water. You apply the gel to wet skin and it turns into a lather which wipes away make up and dirt, leaving your skin feeling hydrated and clean. To make the most out of the product you need to gently massage the gel (once you've added water) onto your face and then rinse thoroughly - it's as easy as that!

First Impressions

The bottle looks sleek and the colour of the product inside the bottle looks bright and appealing - which made me want to try it out as soon as possible. Although the bottle is plastic it still looks like a luxury product, the size and design of the bottle makes it fit easily alongside other products in the bathroom and it doesn't take up too much room. The fragrance of this product is actually nice, the smell is quite strong but not over powering which I think helps with leaving your skin feeling soft and fresh.

Overall

So overall I've been using the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Cleanser for a few weeks now and I am generally impressed with how quick and easy it is to use. Especially in the morning, you don't find yourself having to use several different products but yet still get the same effect. It leaves your skin feeling soft, fresh and hydrated. Despite using the product for only a few weeks, not much product seems to have been used - it's dispensed using a pump dispenser and you only really need to use 1-2 pumps - making the product last longer than similar products on the market.

The only downfall that I've found is that although it's great in the sense that it doesn't sting my eyes, it doesn't actually take away all of my eye make up, leaving me having to use an alternative product to help with this.

Verdict:
Overall, I like this product - it removed most of my make up easily, it is quick and easy to use and leaves my skin feeling soft, hydrated and fresh. I was also given small sachets of Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Moisturiser - so watch this space for my review shortly.

Score: 4 out of 5 : I would definitely recommend purchasing!

PROS:

Removes majority of make up easily
Leaves skin feeling fresh, soft and hydrated
Simply and easy to use

CONS:

Did not take away all of my eye make up

Have you tried Hydro Boost Water Gel Cleanser yet? What other Neutrogena products would you recommend?

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*I was given this product free as part of the Bzzagent panel to test in exchange for my honest review.

REVIEW : Simple Kind To Skin Facial Wipes

2016-08-04T13:00:00.000+01:00

It's August already? It's crazy how much this year is flying by but I've recently received plenty of new goodies through my letterbox and I'm ready to try them out and tell you guys all about them.

My daily skincare routine has more or less always been the same. It usually consists of using a cleanser, toner and moisturiser, twice a day, and this can sometimes be time consuming, especially after work ..who wants to be spending all that time using loads of different products, trying to take your make up off, after being at work all day?!

Simple Kind to Skin Cleansing Wipes - £3.49

So when I found Simple Kind to skin facial wipes I thought BINGO! ..an easy one step cleansing routine.

Now I know there is a huge on-line debate about whether facial wipes are actually good for your skin, but the Simple Kind to skin facial wipes are sooo easy and simple to use when you are busy, in a hurry or when you are just having one of those lazy days. I've found these particular facial wipes to be made from very soft fibres which leave my skin feeling soft, fresh and clean. They seem to be great for sensitive skin and are more than suitable for sensitive eyes.

The only downfall that I've found is that it can sometimes be difficult to remove eye make up and if used for a long period of time, they seem irritate my skin but I will continue to use them on a regular basis and will be mixing them into my everyday skincare routine of cleanse, polish, moisture ..lazy days .. Skin to Kind facial wipes!

Verdict:

Overall, I think that the facial wipes are easy and simple to use. They are extremely soft compared to other wipes I've used in the past. I will continue to use them on a regular basis but will be mixing them into my everyday skincare routine.

Score: 3 out of 5 : I would recommend that you definitely give them a try!

PROS:

Easy and simple to use
Great for when busy or in a hurry
Easy to store when travelling

CONS:

Can be difficult to take off eye make up / sometimes need to use a few facial wipes
They can irritate your skin if used for a long period of time (well mine anyway!)

Do you use daily facial wipes? Which would you recommend? Let me know in the comments below.

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REVIEW : Garnier Micellar Oil-Infused Skincare

2016-07-12T14:23:00.000+01:00

I was invited to take part in the Micellar Oil-Infused Skincare BzzCampaign* and as soon as I seen that it was a Garnier product, I accepted straight away. Upon accepting the invitation to take part in the campaign, I waited with excitement and anticipation for the product to arrive.

Garnier Skin Active Micellar Oil-Infused Cleansing Water - usually £5.99 - offer £3.00

Oil infused beauty products seem to have become very popular recently - the term oil-infused seems to make me think it will be a product that makes my skin oily and that has always put me of even trying these kind of products - so I can't say that I've ever used oil infused products as part of my daily skincare routine before.

What is Garnier Micellar Oil-Infused Water?
It is an oil-infused water made for dry and sensitive skin. You simply apply the product to a cotton pad and wipe your face. It lifts away and dissolves the dirt, make up and oils from your skin, leaving your skin feeling soft, clean and refreshed. No water is needed, so it really is easy to use.

First Impressions
The product in the bottle looked bright and you can instantly tell that it is an oil-infused cleansing type of product. At first I was worried that the product would make my skin oily or greasy but I was still excited to use the product, so set about using it straight away. The only downfall was that I found myself questioning 'do I need to shake the bottle before use?' - it may be clear to most people but there is nothing on the bottle which tells you the best way to use the product.

Overall
I've been using Garnier's oil-infused cleansing water for a few days now and I am honestly impressed with how good the product is. It generally removes all make up, it smells so nice and it has left my skin nice and soft. It seems to be perfect for sensitive skin and doesn't make my eyes sting, like other products have done in the past.

It seems to do what it says on the tin - well in this case the bottle! and from now on I will be introducing Garnier's oil-infused cleansing water into my daily skincare routine.

Verdict:
Score: 5 out of 5 : I think that this is a must buy. Definitely worth purchasing!

PROS:

Removes make up easily

Does not make your skin oily or greasy (not mine anyway!)

Leaves skin nice and soft

Competitively priced / cheaper than other similar brands

CONS:

Need clearer instructions on the use of product (do you shake the bottle before use? I presume so!)

Have you used Garnier Micellar Oil-Infused Cleansing Water yet? What do you think of the product?

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*I was given this product free as part of the Bzzagent panel to test in exchange for my honest review.