A Little Lush Haul

I'm a little late to writing this post, as I picked these two up before Valentines Day, but as I love chatting about all things Lush, I'm gunna share it anyway.

I never usually buy products at Lush this time of the Year; I tend to buy loads of stuff at Christmas and then come the New Year, I don't venture into the store for a good while. I saw a few pictures online and wanted to try some things out, so I went ahead and picked two items.

The main reason I wanted to make a purchase was because of this little cutie. This is the Ladybird Bubble Bar. This creates loads of bubbles and I got two uses out of this. It creates a gorgeous red/purple tinted bath water and smells a mixture of sweetness and a fresh mint scent, I cant quite put in to words the scent of this, but if you can get your hands on this I would definitely recommend having a sniff. Other than it being an all round good product quality-wise; it is also so adorable to look at, how cute!

Now if you love sugary sweet scents, Creamy Candy Bubble Bar is definitely one to pick up. It is slightly similar to the Snow Fairy scent so if you love that, you'll more than likely love this too. This turns your bath water to a bright pink and produces quite a few bubbles too. I also felt the benefits of this one on the skin as it left my skin feeling very soft. This is one of Lush's extremely reasonably priced products costing just £2.95. I managed to get two uses out of this, but I think if I bought it again I'd probably just use it in one bath for extra bubbles.

Beautiful Blooms from Blossoming Gifts

Is there really anything more lovely than having a beautiful bunch of flowers delivered to your door?

Why not treat yourself or the ones you love to a stunning bouquet from Blossoming Gifts. They cater for all budgets and have a huge selection of flowers and gifts to choose from. With Mothers Day just around the corner, Blossoming Gifts really are worth checking out.
The stunning bouquet I picked is called Rose & Iris Ready to arrange. I adore roses and they are my favourite flower. I just love to see such gorgeous bright yellow roses alongside the pretty blue iris. I love the contrast of these colours together, I think it works really well and the flowers are just beautiful.

I was so impressed with the delivery, they arrived packaged really well in a box and I was looking forward to being a little creative and arranging them in a vase. I did cut them down ever so slightly to fit well into the vase after taking these photographs. I am definitely no florist but I think I have done an okay job at showcasing these pretty petals.
I'm certainly no flower expert; yet I did mainly pick this gift as I wanted to be able to arrange the flowers myself and I just loved the vibrant colours. We have them in a shabby chic looking vase on our kitchen windowsill and they make me smile every time I walk past.
I received the flowers over 2 and a half ago now; and they are still going strong - the blue iris only recently begun opening up. I think they will probably last another Week which is pretty impressive.

*PR Sample*

Valentines Ideas ❤ Gifts and Dates!

Love it or hate it, Valentines Day is just around the corner. I know it is one of those things that some people celebrate and some people don't. I personally don't mind Valentines Day, but I also think its important to show those you love and care for how much they mean to you every single day, not just on Valentines! You don't have to be in a relationship to celebrate Valentines Day either, why not treat your parents to a take away, exchange gifts with your Sister, or have a girly night in with your best friend? 

I have put together this blog post initially to share some gift inspiration and also some general ideas of reasonably priced, yet lovely things to do to spend the day. 

Ideas for great and simple Valentines gifts

Pampering
If you are thinking of treating your loved one to some little pampering treats this Valentines, why not try a little gift set from I Love. This set is the I Love... Coconut and Cream Mini Box, which includes a body lotion, shower cream and body puff. A hand cream is always a good gift for any lady in your life, so this Yes! Nurse Hand Cream and Super Sleeve would make a perfect pamper product because we all love a good cream, right? This hand cream comes with a super cute sleeve, as Yes! Nurse are in partnership with Breast Cancer Care, whcih helps spread the message. If you are thinking of treating him this Valentines Day, The Bluebeards Revenge is always a great brand as they sell a variety of mens body, skin and shave care products; such as the shaving cream, post - shave balm, and the doubloon brush. Bluebeards Revenge products smell amazing and work really well; I know my boyfriend has tried a few of their products before and loves them. I think a bundle of products like these shaving themed ones would make great gifts in a bundle or you could even pick up a gift set.

Underwear
Underwear is always a winner for any occasion in my eyes - who doesn't love receiving new underwear for Valentines? This set of men's boxers are from Da Da Underwear; a brand which creates comfortable underwear for men from sustainable and soft materials which are all ethically produced in Sri Lanka. The fabrics Da Da Underwear use are made using bamboo rayon and organic cotton. As you can see, they look pretty cool, and they are insanely soft! This set is called the retro white - white - red, a really simple, yet classic design. DaDa also have a subscription service available, where you can sign up to get a pair of underwear through your letterbox every 3 Months - I think this is a great gift idea, as the gifts keep on coming!

Fragrance
Fragrance is a perfect gift for any girl in your life. Why not treat her to her favourite perfume? One of my favourites is Britney Spears Circus Fantasy, which smells very sweet and is really reasonably priced.

Cards
A card is usually the first thing on my list to pick up for Valentines Day. I think its important to sit down and write a sweet message in a card; we must not forget to importance of writing - I think it is a great sentiment and something you can look back on in Years to come. These beautiful Valentines Cards are from handmade retailers Made With Love Designs. I love the cute and unique designs of these cards, they are nothing like I have seen before. You can use the discount code zoelianne at the checkout for a generous 30% off your order; valid until the 13th February.

Food
Making a meal together at home is something I think is a classic for a low-key Valentines date, and I thought this Valentines sandwich recipe was too cute not to share! It is super easy to create, and a very unique taste which I am sure will be a hit! And look - they are heart shaped, whats not to love?! You can check out the full recipe for the Robert's Bakery Strawberries and Cream Valentines Sandwich in my previous post here. Chocolate is always a winner for a small token gift on Valentines, these Lindt Lindor Strawberries and Cream chocolates are delicious and are a limited edition flavour so if you fancy a treat, grab them while you can!

Here are a few more gift ideas I have put together in this collage which I think would make fab gifts; whether you are spending the day with a partner, friends or family. 

Floral Love Letters  Living Nature Lipstick in Bloom Wooden Spice Box    Clare O 'Neill Artwork Lily O Brien's Honeycomb Hearts Cut Throat Shavette Kit LED Colour Changing Mosaic Candle Light Personalised Train Ticket
Astridelle Watch Oysters and Absinthe Date Colourful Valentines Roses Bryt Gift Set 

Candle, artwork and decor to set the mood, a shaving kit to prepare for the date, a pretty lipstick set to impress, a spice box to get you cooking together, a personalised gift to keep forever, a date with a difference - Oysters and Absinthe at the ,a pretty bunch of bright roses, a gift box full of pamper treats, a beautiful watch to remind you to enjoy every minute, and of-course some tasty chocolates to indulge in. Sounds like a great Valentines Day to me.

Ideas for a great, yet simple date

❤ Order takeaway and watch a load of your favourite films
❤ Go for a walk to your local park and feed the ducks
❤ Ditch going out for a meal, make a dish together at home and experiment with new cooking ideas
❤ Write down all the things you love about that person and tell them!
❤ Do something small but effective - the little things count too
❤ Get the train and visit a town you have never been to before
❤ Buy a disposable camera and take lots of photographs
❤ Go swimming/go to the library/go rollerblading/play mini-golf/do something you haven't done in Years
❤ Bake cakes for each other
❤ Host an indoor picnic with all your favourite treats
❤ Visit your local nature reserve and take a moment to appreciate the beautiful environment
❤ Take a walk in the country with a blanket and a flask of hot chocolate
❤ Watch a movie at the cinema that you haven't heard of
❤ Go for a hike in the country
❤  Meet for a coffee in an independent cafe


Thanks to Frankie , Ree Ree , Chloe, Erin , Kate and Lauren for all of your ideas!

❤
What are your plans for Valentines Day?

*This post includes PR samples*

Strawberries and Cream Valentines Sandwich Recipe

Strawberries and Cream Valentines Sandwich Recipe!

Hi everyone. With Valentines being just a few days away, I thought I would share a really cute and unique little recipe from Roberts Bakery with you all. Roberts Bakery has teamed up with nutritionist Dr Carina Norris to create this special romantic themed sandwich recipe. Personally, I would choose a few light snacks on Valentines Day over a heavy meal any day, so the strawberries and cream sandwich is something I thought would be a great idea if you are planning on doing something a little bit different on Valentines Day - and it is really inexpensive to make, too!

I have included the recipe below - it is super simple.

Ingredients:

4 slices of Roberts Bakery Soft & Fluffy White Loaf

Approx. 8-10 strawberries, sliced

1-2 tubs of cottage cheese

Rocket leaves

Freshly ground black pepper

Method:

Lay some of the rocket leaves on the bottom slice. Drain the cottage cheese to remove as much of the liquid as possible. Add a generous layer of cottage cheese, and top with strawberry slices. Season with a grind a black pepper, then top with another slice of Roberts Soft & Fluffy White bread.

Add a Twist:

Use low - fat cheese for a healthier Valentines. Use a heart shaped cutter to add a little bit of love this Valentines.

I was pleasantly surprised as I found the some-what bizzare pairing of the strawberries and cheese quite a good mix. I think the flavours work really well together and I really enjoyed this sandwich. I would definitely recommend trying it out! It is so, so easy to create and takes just five-ten minutes to prepare.

As well as the sandwiches tasting great, I just love how they cut cut into cute heart shapes. I have decided all of my food will be heart-shaped from now on!

I think this recipe would be perfect for a special valentines indoor picnic or even to pop in your loved-ones lunchbox for a nice surprise at lunch time - I bet the heart shaped sandwiches will make their Day!
Be sure to check out the Roberts Bakery website to have a browse of their other products!
 http://robertsbakery.co.uk/

*Post includes gifted items*

Cute Cards for Valentines Day

These beautiful cards are available from Made With Love Designs

I love the gift of giving, and really enjoy writing and sending cards to my loved ones. Valentines Day is on its way now, so I couldn't resist to get writing some special messages inside these beautiful Made With Love Designs Valentines Day cards. I am thoroughly impressed with the quality of the cards - both of them being handmade. I would recommend having a look at Made With Love's website as they stock not only beautiful stationary, but a variety of other products such as gifts and interiors, too.

The Eye Chart Card is my absolute favourite. I love the modern touch, but it is also very sweet and sentimental, too. I like cards that are that little bit different to something you might find on the high-street, and this is definitely a card I would like to receive and keep forever. The quality of the card is fantastic, it feels like it has been crafted with a lot of thought and care. You are able to personalize both the front and the inside of the card which I think is a really great idea if you wanted to add a personalise touch.This handmade card costs just £3.50, which I feel is good value for money.

The Scrabble Geometric Blush and Gold Card is another personal favourite; particularly because it is so simple and sweet. The quality of the card is again, fantastic, and the print is really cute. I think the design is very shabby - chic and would great displayed pretty much anywhere in the home - even displayed in a frame. For this card, you are able to personalize the letters of the scrabble letters, for example; you could use yours and your partners initials, a special date or whatever you fancy. You can even use this as a greetings cards if you like, as it has no reference to Valentines Day printed on the card. This card is also left blank inside, but you are able to personalize it and add a message if you so wish.
I have an amazing 30% discount for you all which you can use on the Made With love Designs Website up until the 13th Feb, so get ordering! The code is zoelianne 

Are you sending out any Valentines Day cards this Year?

*This post contains PR Samples. All views are my own.*