Wonderful Things: Afternoon Tea, Busted Concert and more!

I was treated to an afternoon tea for two gift experience for Christmas which was super lovely and as I am a big foodie and a big tea and coffee drinker I was super excited to get it booked up. I went with a friend and we had the most amazing afternoon tea; with soup, hot crumpets, finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam and of-course lots of teeny tiny delicious sweet treats and hot beverages. Anyone that knows me well knows that anything ditsy and floral print is right up my street and the decor inside was just beautiful. It was such a lovely day, I would definitely recommend Jelly Pickle Jam if you are local to Evesham or are visiting.

I really like Yankee as a brand, but I just buy their sampler votive candles these days as it gives you a chance to see if you like the scent for just £2, rather than investing in a jar costing around £18. If I'm honest I've found that some Yankee scents aren't very strong and have been a bit of a let down, but not this one! Macaron Treats smells gorgeous and brightens my mood when its burning; it reminds me of times from when I was young - its just a lovely, sweet scent.

I love having false nails on my nails, it is probably one of favourite 'pamper me' type things to do. I've never been very good at growing my own nails, and after using false nails so much in the past, my nails are really weak and tend to break. I have given false nails a rest for a while so I can look after my own nails a little bit better. I was challenged recently to try the Renunail 3 Step Kit* out to see if my nails would strengthen in four Weeks. Included is their original Nail Strengthener, Nourishing Oil and their Nail Strengthener in pink. I've been using this kit for probably over five Weeks now, and I've noticed such a difference. You simply apply the Nail Strengthener every day for one Week, remove on the seventh day and then continue this pattern for the next three Weeks. Alhough my nails haven't grown all that much, they haven't broke and they do feel stronger and look in much better condition than before. I will be purchasing these products once they've run out as they have worked really well for me, so these have definitely been wonderful products for me this Month.

I am big Busted fan (13 year old Zoe was completely obsessed with them back in the day) and having seen them for the first time in over ten years last year on their comeback tour, of-course I had to buy tickets to the latest tour too. They were brilliant as always; we were standing this time and I always think its a much better atmosphere compared to seating. I think Busted will always have a big piece of my heart, regardless of what anyone else thinks, their music really makes me happy and reminds me of being young. I didn't take any photos while I was there, I try to enjoy the moment when I go to concerts (plus being a tiny 5'1 I can't really take any decent photos as I cant see the stage too much!) so here's a selfie of me wearing last Years tour t-shirt.

Secret Santa 2015

I really wanted to get this post live during December, but I took an impromptu Week (or two) off from blogging. I took part in a blogger secret santa a few years ago and decided I wanted to do it again this Year, so I signed up to Carissa's Blogger Secret Santa and I was ready to go. I loved choosing and buying gifts and being a 'secret santa' for someone else, hope she loved her gifts just as much as I enjoyed picking them! 

As you can see I received some lovely gifts from my secret santa; including A Makeup Revolution gift set, a pamper kit including some lovely face, hair, feet and eye masks, some festive Yankee Candle votives and the obligatory chocolate coins. I am so grateful for these gifts, everyone knows I love a good candle and a pamper. 

Did you take part in any secret santa gift giving this Christmas? What did you buy, and what did you receive?

Isle Of Wolf Candle in Rose Absolute

For the past few years I have been going wild with my love of candles - I am really interested in home accessories and love burning candles in the home, so my collection has grown throughout that time and I am always looking to try something new. I tried an Isle Of Wolf candle for the first time a few Months ago (you can read that post here) and I was so impressed I decided to try another one of their candles out; this time I decided to go for the scent Rose Absolute . I am a big fan of floral scents and rose is such a beautiful fragrance so I had high expectations of how this candle would scent my room. This candle proved impressive, as it left the room smelling like a beautiful rose bush. The scent really does fill the room, it is a beautiful scent and I love the fact that the scent lasts and you can smell the scent when you reenter to room. If you are a fan of sweet rose scents, I am sure you will like this.

The candle burns so well and clean, meaning there is little to no waste and I can reuse the holder again. I absolutely love the packaging of Isle Of Wolf Candles, they look stylish and decorative. Isle Of Wolf candles are made from 100% pure plant wax, and they are scented with 100% natural oils. As the soy wax is GMO free, this ensures for a clean and long lasting burn, while still giving a great fragrance to the room. All Isle Of Wolf candles come with a fitted heatproof and scratch proof coaster.
The entire Isle Of Wolf candle collection is available to order online at Mypure for £15 each.

Have you tried Isle of Wolf candles before? What is your favourite candle scent?

*PR Sample*

Isle Of Wolf Natural Perfumed Candle - Cinnamon Spice

If you are a long - time reader of my blog, it will be of no surprise to you that I am reviewing another candle today. I love burning candles - I know it seems to be a bit of a blogger trend but I honestly find it really relaxing and can't remember a time in my adult life that I haven't loved a good candle.

I have been burning a candle by the brand Isle Of Wolf recently - a brand that I was unfamiliar with but had heard only good things about. Isle Of Wolf make handmade candles, which are made from 100% pure plant wax and are scented with 100% natural essential oils. As the soy wax is GMO free and the wick is lead free, Isle Of Wolf claim that this 'makes a very clean and long lasting burn whilst still emitting a delicate fragrance'.

The scent I opted for was Cinnamon Spice - I know this is often seen as a Autumn/Winter scent, but I just adore the scent of cinnamon all Year round.
The packaging of the candle is very appealing - the box would make it a great gift to give to a friend or relative. Each candle comes fitted with a heatproof and scratch proof coaster, which is really thoughtful and handy.

I found the scent to be simply stunning - it is difficult to describe scents but it is quite a strong and non-synthetic smell. It made my bedroom smell very homely and inviting, a scent I would definitely choose again. I love spicy and woody scents, so this was right up my street.
The burn time for this candle is 40 hours, which I find really impressive. The candle did burn incredibly even and clean, which meant barely any waste at all.
The Isle Of Wolf Candle in Cinnamon Spice is available at Mypure online here for £20.

*Post includes PR sample*

Prices Scented Jar Candle in Cinnamon Sticks

Are you a lover of scented candles? Have you tried any Prices candles before?

I have only tried one other Prices Candle which was a good while back now and I can't remember which scent it was for sure, but I think it was a Green Tea scent and it smelt really nice. The scented candle I am featuring in my blog post today is Prices Scented Jar Candle in Cinnamon Sticks, which is available to buy from the Scented Candle Shop website for just £4.75*.

As you can see, the candle is homed in a glass jar, which I love. I love burning candles in glass jars as it is a lot cleaner and looks that little bit more presentable in the home. With a burn time of around 30 hours, this candle is great value as it lasts a long time.
The scent is completely delicious! While burning, this fills the room with a gorgeous cinnamon aroma, making it feel very cosy and warm.Personally I do not think the scent smells synthetic or fake. I love the scent of the candle as it lasts in the room - something I usually find doesn't really work with a lot of other candles.
This burns really equally and although I haven't completed finished it yet (although I have used it a lot there isn't much left to go now!), I don't think there will be too much wastage either.

I am pretty impressed with this candle, I definitely will be investing in some more!

This candle is available to buy here from The Scented Candle Shop.

*This post contains PR samples/items which were sent to me for consideration to review. All opinions are 100 %  honest and my own. You can view my full disclaimer policy on the contact tab above*

Yankee Candle Scented Glass Tumbler in Fluffy Towels

I am a huge fan of candles, and if you have read my blog for a while, you will know I am a big fan of Yankee candles. I have found that I prefer the smaller candles they stock, like the tumblers or small jars. Today I am featuring one of their glass tumblers in the scent 'fluffy towels'. 

If you are a fan of subtle, but beautiful scents, then Fluffy Towels is for you. It smells like fresh linen, and it really is a lovely scent. I have burnt this in my bedroom and it really does make the room feel peaceful and tranquil. I imagine it would be a great candle for pretty much every room in the house, as it is really relaxing and a very versatile scent which would be great for the kitchen, lounge, or bathroom, too. I love the fact that the candle doesn't smell synthetic or fake, the scent smells lovely. The scent is strong enough to notice the smell, but isn't too over powering - a perfect - medium. Once entering the room the candle is burning in, it smells so fresh and clean. I really love the scent of this candle - it is definitely a new favourite of mine.

Yankee's Fluffy Towels burns almost perfectly, which is what I find with a lot of Yankee Candles Scented Glass Tumblers. The candle burns very equal, and there isn't a lot of waste once it has burned through. I really do think the Yankee Tumblers are good value for money, as this costs only £8.99 from The Scented Candle Shop and burns for upto 45 hours.

If you are a candle lover like me, I would recommend having a browse on the Scented Candle Shop website. They have a huge range of candles and accessories and they stock a lot of my favourite candle brands, too!

*This post contains PR samples/items which were sent to me for consideration to review. All opinions are 100 %  honest and my own. You can view my full disclaimer policy on the contact tab above*

Review: Yankee Candle Simply Home in Vanilla Frosting

                         Yankee Candle Simply Home in Vanilla Frosting  
          

I have tried a few of Yankee Candles 'Simply Home' range and I am quite impressed. Being a big lover of candles, I often get drawn into shops just to swoon over pretty scented candles. I decided to try the 'Vanilla Frosting' large jar candle, as it was on special offer in my local Asda Supermarket.
Vanilla Frosting smells very sweet but not too overpowering. I personally don't think the Simply Home Range of candles are as strongly scented as the normal Yankee Candles /(I think that is the point really) which I really like. I love sweet scents but they can sometimes become unbearable if it such a strong scent in a small space. I burn the majority of my candles in my bedroom so I find the Simply Home candles perfect.
The scent smells like butter-cream and sugar, it is super sweet. The candle burns quite equally which is something I like in a candle, as I hate waste.
Are you crazy over burning candles?

Bomb Cosmetics Candle in Very Berry

I have tried only a few Bomb Cosmetics candles but I will happily praise my love for their beautiful scented and long lasting candles. I love having a candle burning in my room on an evening as there is nothing I love more than chilling out after a long day with a nice candle burning, getting cosy in my pajamas watching a film. 

This particular scent is perfect for a relaxed night in. It smells beautifully of raspberries. It is not overpowering but lingers with a very sweet and fruity scent. The candle burns equally, so there is no waste. It is a very sweet and fruity scent which lasts a long time.

A great thing about Bomb Cosmetics candles is that there is barely any waste and it burns even.
You can check out all of their candles over at there website here!

Chupa Chups Strawberries and Cream Candle

As a child, the strawberry and cream Chupa Chup lollipops were always my favourite, I had such a sweet tooth. I was beyond delighted to see a strawberries and cream candle when I was out shopping a few days ago... and in Poundland of all places! Bargain.

The candle itself looks very similar to the Forever Friends candles that Poundland stocked a while ago.

This scent is quite sweet. It doesn't last too long and it certainly isn't overpowering but it is a very pleasant scent and great for just a pound. Just thought I would give you all a heads up on these nifty little candles as they smell nice, last well and are so affordable!
Where do you buy your candles from? 

Bomb Cosmetics Candle in Secret Santa

Bomb Cosmetics Candle In Secret Santa

I love candles, and jumped at the chance of owning some Bomb Cosmetic candles when I spotted them at an event recently. I bought two, one of them being Secret Santa. I know Christmas is over now, but I am pretty sure you can still purchase this now online for a festive treat for yourself, save it 'till next Winter or even pick it up for a super early Christmas present for next year!

As you can see it is beautiful presented. Bomb Cosmetics candles are all hand made so you can see the thought that goes into their products. The notes in this candle are spicy ginger, caramel and vanilla. It smells very sweet and festive, it fills up a room.

I love tinned candles as they are so much easier to reuse or dispose of after you have burnt the entire candle. This costs £7.99 from Bomb Cosmetics, which I feel is a reasonable price for such a strong scented candle. The website suggests the burn time for this candle is approximately 35, which I agree with. 

You can purchase this candle from their website here. 

Review: Yankee Candle in Warm Spice

                                             Yankee Candle Warm Spice

It is no word of a lie when I say I really love candles. I know every blogger and their mum seem to yarp on about the candle God of all Gods Yankee, but they really are worth all of the glory as they are the best candles I have used. That aside, I thought I would write up a few reviews on some of my favourite scents, as I haven't really done this much on my blog before.

Warm Spice is a scent which is pretty self - explantory... think creamy, home baking, cinnamon, nuts and brown sugar. The scent is very crisp and sweet, without it being overally sweet or sickly. The scent does not smell synthetic or fake, it smells like real home baking at Christmas time. The long - lasting smell is quite strong but not overwhelming.

This burns really nicely and evenly, which is good value for money in my opinion. I find when buying cheaper candles they don't burn as equal as Yankee Candles do.

The scent fills an entire room, and the burn time is really good for about 25+ hours I would say on average. I really like the tumblers, but I have no preferance between Yankees tumblers or jars.

Are you a fan of Candles?

What is your favourite?

Review: Yankee Candle Simply Home Merry Berry

Yankee Candle

Simply Home

Merry Berry

I am doing a little different post to normal today. I have a huge love for burning candles, and I have noticed a lot of you alll do too. I know a lot of people love to burn the original Yankee Candles, but I use purchase  candles from their Simply Home range a lot and I really like their burning time and scents, so thought I would share with you some of my thoughts.

Perfect for the Festive Season upon us, I bring you 'Merry Berry'. As its title suggests, it smells strongly of fruity berries.The scent is very strong, it fills a room with quite strong berry and wintery scent. It is a lovely, fresh, festive scent for this time of year.  It burns realy well, with a good 40+ hours burn time. The scent lasts well in a room. When they are burning for a long time the jar does get dirty, but that is the same with most candles anyway.

These retail at £9 and are readily available in store at ASDA.

Have you tried any Simply Home candles by Yankee? 

Recent Empties

 


Its been a while since I have written an empties post but I love reading them and thougth I would share a few bits of used up as of late.

The Body Shop Cranberry Joy Body, Room and Linen Spiriz:
I pick up things like this in the sales and fall in love with them. This scent is much stronger and long - lasting than the Avon Room and Body sprays.

Paris Hilton Perfume:
This is a repurchase as I love this perfume, it smells very girly and super sweet. it is quite hard to rack down though, so I get mine from Body Care or online.

So..? Brit Perfume:
This was just something I had in my handbag for work, it was nice but nothing I would rush out to buy again.

Yankee Candle im Warm Spice:
I bought this when I was in Yorkshire from a Clintons Cards Outlet store and it cost less than £6! Complete bargain. It lasted really well and the scent is beautiful, very strong and made my bedroom smell very much like cinammon.

Soap and Glory Scrub Your Nose In It:
This is a face/clay scrub or mask by the lovely Soap and Glry, I really liked using this as it was very fresh and smelt slightly minty. It made my skin feels fresh and awake so I would buy this again once I have used all of my other face masks.

Batiste Dry Shampoo (for dark/deep brown hair):
Another repurchase, I love Batiste dry shampoo but this is my favourite as it leaves no white marks on my hair as it is aimed for dark brown hair. It gives good volume and leaves hair looking clean and refreshed.

Soft & Gentle Extra Fresh Antiperspirant in lotus and Watermelon:
Just a random one here, this was nice but nothing extra - special, a boring empty roduct but it was pleasant and did the job!