Asian-inspired Afternoon Tea at Buddha-Bar Restaurant, London, Knightsbridge

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As promised last week, I will be sharing with you reviews of my Afternoon Tea experiences throughout the summer. Today, I would like to tell you about my Afternoon Tea at the Buddha-Bar.

Venue and location:

Buddha-Bar is located in the prominent, upmarket area of London Knightsbridge. It is easily accessible by public transport and the nearest tube station is Knightsbridge  which is just 2 minutes away.

Buddha-Bar was the winner of Best Restaurant Bar in 2014, 2015 & 2016 at the London Club and Bar Awards. I have visited it once before for cocktails so when I found out that the Buddha Bar was serving Afternoon Tea, I decided to book it and check it out. I was accompanied by my fiancé-James.

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Service:

We were served by Annie who was professional and friendly. When we sat down, she explained what was included in our Afternoon Tea experience and asked us whether we would like to start with a glass of champagne.

Atmosphere:

The atmosphere and staff were both welcoming. On our arrival, we were acknowledged straight away by a friendly receptionist. All staff that we had contact with were helpful and had a positive body language.

As soon as you enter, you are surrounded by impressive interiors and you feel like you have just arrived in an oasis of calmness. I was impressed by the floor to ceiling crystallized dragons and  the signature Buddha artwork located on the ground floor which was absolutely stunning.

The menu:

Once we sat down at the table, we were welcomed by our waitress-Annie. We had a glass of champagne each and then we received an excessive tea menu. I decided to have a pot of Jasmin tea while James had some Chamomile tea. Our Buddha-Bar afternoon tea included a selection of sweet and savoury Asian inspired, mouth-watering treats. To start with we received 4 savoury treats which were all full of aromatic flavours:

  • Duck hoisin steam bun sandwich – definitely my number-one savory dish.
  • Tuna tartar on toasted fennel bread.
  • Vietnamese vegetables summer rolls.
  • Crispy wonton cod and prawns.

As soon as we finished them, our waitress cleaned our plates and a couple of minutes later we received a set of 4 sweet treats:

  • Pistachio macaroons
  • Chilli chocolate mousse
  • Passion fruit and mango tart
  • Green tea cheese cake

All our snacks were beautifully presented and I am sure that a lot of consideration was put into preparing them.

Dress code:

The dress code at the Buddha-Bar is smart casual. I decided to wear my Monsoon Summer fuchsia dress accompanied by some Carvela heels in the same colour and my beloved Pandora jewellery.

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Overall experience:

Buddha-Bar offers a great food, atmosphere in a beautiful surroundings. I would definitely visit Buddha-Bar again and I would love to try their lunch, dinner or one of their masterclasses next. You should definitely go there next time you are in Knightsbridge area when you want to unwind and relax.

Price: £53 for 2 people

Website: http://buddhabarlondon.com/

Address: 145 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7PA, United Kingdom

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I hope that you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

Exclusive Pandora shopping evening

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I was invited to attend an exclusive Pandora jewellery shopping event in partnership with Marie Claire UK.  The event’s aim was to celebrate the launch of Pandora Rose in the summer collection.

All attendees were able to enjoy cocktails, bubbly and canapés whilst shopping or admiring the range, which fuses a unique blend of metals to create beautiful rose-coloured jewellery.

The new delicately hand-finished collection features Daisy stacking rings and the ‘Hearts of Pandora’ necklace, which is embellished with sparkling clear stones. I absolutely love this range and decided to purchase a couple of the items from their new collection.

Throughout the event, the Marie Claire fashion team was on hand to give some more insights into the new summer trends. It was great to hear from them about the jewellery styling ideas and get a little bit more understanding about how you should wear your jewellery this summer. On the other hand, I was surprised by Marie Claire presenter who seemed unprepared and lost in her notes… In my opinion, this was the only negative aspect of this event.

I hope to you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

SlimKitten 7-Day Morning and Bedtime Teatox

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Last week, I decided to try SlimKitten 7-Day Morning and Bedtime Teatox to detoxify before I start my diet.

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SlimKitten’s Morning and Bedtime Teatox is based on 17 highly nutritious natural herbs only. According to the producer, after 7 days you should: ‘Stop feeling bloated, feel refreshed and awake, reduce sugar and carbs cravings and boost your immune-system.’

SlimKitten’s complete Teatox system contains daytime tea bags and night time cleansing tea bags:

  • 7 days’ supply of Daytime teabags;
  • 4 Bedtime Cleanse tea bags (one for every other day).

Result:

I love drinking herbal teas and SlimKitten 7-Day Morning and Bedtime Teatox has helped me to kick in my healthy regime and prepare for my diet. On another note, I feel lighter and my skin looks more radiant. I liked the taste of both teas and would recommend it to anyone who wishes to try an affordable TeaTox.

Price:

£8.99 for a 1-week supply of the product.

You can order it from:

https://www.getnutriplan.com/products/slimkitten-morning-and-bedtime-teatox

I hope you enjoyed reading this review.

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Pauline

The BB Bakery Sightseeing Afternoon Tea

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It’s warm, it’s sunny and the season for catching-up over some tea has started 🙂 Over the next few weeks, I will share with you some reviews from my recent Afternoon Tea experiences.

This week, I would like to tell you about an amazing Afternoon Tea I had on the BB Routemaster Sightseeing Bus.

I moved to London 13 years ago but then again I love discovering new sights and wonders of this city. As soon as I heard about the opportunity of combining an Afternoon Tea with a sightseeing bus tour around the marvels of London I decided to give it a go.

The Route:

Together with my friend-Magda we booked the afternoon slot leaving from the Victoria Coach Station , Gate 0, at 5p.m.

Our vintage Routemaster bus drove around Central London and we were able to see some of the City’s greatest places of interest including:

The London Eye, Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, St James’s Park, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, The Royal Albert Hall, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Harrods and many more.

The Atmosphere:

The atmosphere on the bus was a warm and welcoming. Our hosts were two lovely French attendants-J.C. and Marie Antoinette. We were sited at the upper deck (table 9). Each table is secluded enough to feel intimate. We had a great view of some of the City’s most beautiful monuments and other tourist attractions.

At the beginning of the tour, our friendly server offered us a hot drink from a large selection of the teas and coffees. Our tea arrived in a wonderful BB Afternoon Tea Bus’s cup.

The menu:

Our High Tea was accompanied by a selection of mouth-watering, sweet and savoury delicacies including:

  • Macarons
  • Mini Cupcakes
  • Sweet Pastries
  • Scones
  • Sandwiches
  • Mini Quiche

They were arranged attractively on the stand. A highlight for me was a deliciously moist quiche and a small salmon canapé.

Duration:

The London sightseeing tour lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes (depending on traffic). We were back and ready to re-join the hustle and bustle of Central London at 6:30 p.m. .

Price:

The BB Bakery Sightseeing Afternoon Tea is £45-48 per person. In my opinion it is worth every penny as it combines both sightseeing and a divine afternoon Tea experience. You can buy vouchers for this experience on:

http://shop.bbbakery.co.uk/

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Overall experience:

I loved every minute of our 90 minutes BB Bakery Sightseeing Afternoon Tea. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is visiting London and wishes to have a more exclusive sightseeing experience. I would love to try some more Afternoon Tea experiences from BB bakery.

I hope you enjoyed reading this review.

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Pauline

Gravitate Nutrition’s Weight Loss Kit

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As some of you know, I am getting married in a couple of months and as all brides do I want to look my best on my special day.

I decided to try some diet pills that don’t contain any stimulants and will not harm my health. I came across the Gravitate Nutrition Weight Loss Kit that contains 100% natural ingredients. Gravitate has been ranked as “approved” by the diet pills comparison site and it was also ranked as a second best diet pill supplement available on the market now :
http://dietpill-reviews.co.uk/top-five-best-diet-pills/

Gravitate Nutrition Weight Loss Kit offers a 35-day money-back-guarantee as well as a free diet plan and worldwide shipping so I decided to give it a go. In addition, the website states that it is: ‘the most effective non-prescription weight loss supplement available’.IMG_6380

I ordered 30 Day Weight Loss Starter Kit from their website:

http://gravitatenutrition.com/buy-now/ and it was delivered swiftly.

Price: RRP £54.99 but currently if you order directly from Gravitate Nutrition website you can get it for only £34.99.

The 30 Day Weight Loss Starter Kit Included:

  • 1 x 30 day supply of DietVits. DietVits is taken alongside Supersculpt to ensure you tackle your weight loss from all angles (speeds up metabolism, blocks carbs, can help with fat burning & reduces tiredness and fatigue).IMG_6382
  • 1 x 30 day supply of Supersculpt.Gravitate Supersculpt contains our unique source of Glucomannan, in the optimum quantities necessary to provide weight loss. Studies have shown Glucomannan is the most effective, non-prescription weight loss ingredient with no adverse side effects.IMG_6381
  • FREE Weight Loss Guide.

It is a relatively new product so limited customer reviews and testimonials are available thus I am looking forward to seeing if it really works. I am starting my Gravitate weight-loss programme today so I will let you know how I get on with it in a month.

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Pauline

Holiday destinations: Barcelona, Spain

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A few months ago, I joined my parents for a few days break to Barcelona.

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There are lots of places to visit and things to do while in Barcelona but in my opinion these are the top 3 attractions you definitely need to see:

1. Basilica of the Sagrada Familia

The Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família is a large Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, designed by Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí. It is absolutely stunning and if you ever visit Barcelona then you should definitely put it on your list of places worth seeing.

2. Park Guell

Located in the city of Barcelona, the Park Guell is one of the most beautiful icons of the city. It’s a work of Antoni Gaudi located in the upper part of Barcelona, which has wonderful views of the city. You can enjoy a fantastic green walk surrounded by a modernist works.

3. Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya

The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya is the national museum of the arts located in Barcelona. It is one of the largest museums in Spain, housed in a huge Palau Nacional dating back to 1929. The museum is situated on Montjuïc hill and leading down to the famous Placa Espanya. If you are into art then this museum is especially notable for its outstanding collection of church paintings, and some Catalan art and design from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Food:

We went to many local restaurants and bars but to be honest I wasn’t ‘wowed’ by any of them so I am afraid that I won’t be able to recommend any places in particular. Although, the food we had in Barcelona was average, I would definitely recommend you go to any local cuisine i.e. some tapas or paella accompanied by the Sangria.

Hotel:

We stayed in the city centre in the Barri Gothic area in NH hotel. Hotel was very conveniently located-just 5 minutes’ walk from the tube station. It had a nice, artistic décor and very friendly staff. We arrived around 9p.m. and were greeted by extremely friendly receptionist who checked us in quickly and made us feel welcome. When we arrived in our rooms-they were really spacious and had a clean, modern décor. I would definitely consider staying there again the future.

Overall experience:

Once again, I really enjoyed my stay in Barcelona with my parents. It is still one of my favorite cities in Europe and I will definitely visit again soon.

Non-surgical face lift treatments

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As some of you know I am getting married in a couple of months. As all brides do, I want to look my best and this is why I decided to look into non-surgical face lift treatments. As we grow older our facial muscles naturally start to lose tone and elasticity. Non-surgical procedures are quickly gaining in popularity as a means of improving facial appearance by restoring the three-dimensional contour of the face without the need for surgery.

I would like to share with you a feedback on 2 treatments I recently tried.

First of the treatments I tried was CACI Non-Surgical Facelift.

CACI Facelift is a non-surgical solution to combat loss of muscle tone using CACI micro current facial toning therapy.

It is a painless cosmetic treatment and is commonly referred to as “facial toning” or “the non-surgical face lift”.

During my 1 hour treatment session all 32 facial muscles were gently worked on by a trained therapist using a series of specific movements. Soft cotton tipped wands were used on my face to transmit the micro current energy to the facial muscles to restore tone and elasticity.

Results:

I booked 3 sessions. After my first treatment, my face felt tighter however it was difficult for me to see a visible result. When I finished my 3 sessions, my facial contours looked lifted but still there was no massive improvement.

My beautician mentioned that the results vary according to the individual and a course of twelve treatments is generally recommended and only then I will see a visible results.

Price:

£60 per treatment

Location:

CACI treatments are very popular nowadays so there are lots of different beauty spas offering them. I had my treatments done at The London Tanning And Beauty in Wigmore street.

http://www.londontanningandbeauty.co.uk

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The second treatment I tried was ChinUp Mask which is designed for home use and its main aim is to diminish all sagging skin from underneath the jaw.

I was seriously ‘wowed’ by this mask which promises the visible results after just one use. The 30 Minute Non-Surgical Face Lift Trial Pack reduces fat cells and restores the skin’s natural elasticity. This revolutionary set features a tape measure to monitor the progress made through frequent use. Fine lines and wrinkles are also eradicated, leaving the skin soft, supple and youthful.

  • Vitamin E – Conditions, protects and revitalises the skin.
  • Corum 9235 – Promotes the reduction of fat cells in the chin area.
  • Q10 Coenzyme – Diminishes wrinkles, fine lines and sallowness.
  • Skintronics – Lifts and firms the chin by converting fat cells into stabilised fibrous tissue.

Set Contains:

  • Chin Masks x 2 – Targets fat cells and firms the chin area.
  • Chin Band x 1 – Aids and secures the effects of the chin mask.
  • Tape Measure x 1 – Take measurements of the chin area and witness noticeable results.

Results:

My chin was lifted and I am seriously impressed by the results I achieved in 30 minutes. I would definitely recommend it.

Price: £29.99 for Firming & Contouring Trial Pack

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You can order it from the libbie boutique page:

http://www.libbie.club/shop/customer/offers/ref/Paulina.Lopuch/

Hope you enjoyed reading this review.

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Holiday destinations: Argostoli town Kafalonia, Greece

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I recently visited Argostoli with my fiancée. As we were there only for a day we decided to take a prearranged coach tour to see the most sought after attractions on this Island.

Argistoli is a town on a Greek island of Kafalonia. Our coach left the port of Argostoli and drove around stunning coastline to reach the Robola winery. When we arrived at the winery we had a guided tour around it and listened about the process of elaboration of Robola wines from the grapes to the bottle. In addition, our guide described the history of the area and took us around the different rooms where the wine is produced. Our experience ended with some wine tasting. Honestly, their sweet dessert wine was to die for and even though I am not much of a drinker I had a couple of glasses. The interesting fact that we learnt during the tour was that Robola winery donates all unsold wine from the previous year to the residents of the island for their August bank holidays celebrations. Would like to check it our someday!

After our visit to the Robola, we took a short coach journey to our next stop – Fragata village and the Monastery of St. Gerasimos. This part of the island is a destination for pilgrims especially during festival celebrations when it can attract hundreds, even thousands, of pilgrims. The Monastery of St. Gerasimos (patron saint of Kefalonia) is built on the side of the older church which wasn’t suitable to host thousands of worshipers thus a larger monastery was constructed next to it. It is a definitely a go to place if you are Christian and happen to visit this Island.

Once, we completed our spiritual experience, we took a trip to the Melissani lake in the village of Karavomilos. It was my favourite part of our trip to the Island. Melissani lake is known to be one of the most beautiful underground lakes in the world. After a short walk through a tunnel we reached the lake and climbed aboard a wooden boat. We were sailing slowly around the lake for around five minutes and admired the surrounding caves. The sun was getting into the caves from one of the sides which gave rise to changes in shades of water. We were admiring thousands of shades of blue. It was truly magnificent.

Following on from our trip to the lake, we took a tour around the island where we were able to appreciate all it has to offer.

To conclude, I think that anyone who is considering visiting Kafalonia should go there at least for 2-3 days as 1 day is definitely not enough to discover its full potential. I would love to return here in the future.

I hope that you enjoyed reading my review!

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Vitality Westminster Run-a healthy start of my birthday celebrations

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This year I decided to start my birthday slightly different than usual so I entered to run the 2016 Vitality Westminster Mile that took place on Sunday 29 May 2016.

Throughout the day, there were a series of races for runners of all ages and abilities. 2 weeks before the race I received my final instruction booklet that included some basic information about the race as well as the IPICO Sports Tag. I attached the timing tag to my shoe before my run in order to record an accurate time I managed to complete my race in.

The Start line

My race started at 10:20 a.m.  and I ran it as a part of the Vitality wave ‘Pink’ team. As it was my birthday I decided to wear something slightly more glamorous than my regular gym attire. The Vitality Westminster Mile course started on The Mall and headed towards Admiralty Arch before a right turn into Horse Guards Road following the perimeter of St James’s Park. The course then turned right again into Birdcage Walk. The second half of the race took me past Wellington Barracks before the final right turn into Spur Road and the Finish Line in front of Buckingham Palace.

The Finish line

The race Finish Line was on Spur Road, facing the magnificent Buckingham Palace. Once I crossed the finish Line, one of the marshals removed my timing tag from my shoe. I then received a goody bag containing my medal and some nutritional items before I returned to my fiancée.

Overall experience:

I decided that I want to lead a more active lifestyle back in April and this event was definitely a ‘healthy’ start of my birthday celebrations. I run a mile in 7:37 and I was second in my age group so not a bad result 😉 Following on from this experience I am now committed to run a 5k in a few months’ time. Who knows, maybe I will run a marathon one day!

Hope you enjoyed reading this post!

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The Vogue UK Festival 2016

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The Vogue 2016 Festival ran for 2 days on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd of May 2016. As I had some other commitments on Saturday I decided to attend it on Sunday. The event was run in partnership with Harrods and over these 2 days there were a lot of amazing speakers and designers who shared their ideas and participated in some interesting debates. This year’s impressive line-up of speakers included: Alessandro Michele, Domenico Dolce & Stefano Gabbana, Kim Kardashian West, Charlotte Tilbury and Jenny Packham.

Venue and Theme:

The event theme was Vogue’s 100th anniversary. The festival was split between two venues: Vogue World venue which is located on the East Albert Lawn in Kensington Gardens and at the Royal Geographic Society which is located directly opposite. I took a train to High Street Kensington and both venues were only 10 minutes’ walk away.

Vogue Masterclasses

Throughout both days of the Vogue Festival, at the additional fee (£40-80), all participants could attend a range of ‘Super tutorials’ with the best in the industry giving insights into the beauty and fashion.

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Vogue World Festival Beauty Hall

The Vogue Festival presented some remarkable styling sessions from Vogue’s own fashion and beauty editors. In addition, there were lots of brands offering their signature makeovers i.e. Bobbi Brown, Tom Ford and Kérastase.

All attendees were able to get a digital copy of Vogue Cover with their photo on it. I love mine:

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After a great afternoon at the beauty hall I was on my way to check what the Vogue Shop had to offer. You could find lots of the official Festival merchandise and collaborations including Dolce & Gabbana, Levi’s, Christopher Kane, J Crew and more.

There was a really stylish ‘Vogue Cafe’ on site serving some basic refreshments and some pastries:

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Ticket price:

Ticket prices varied from £25 for a one day entry ticket to £1000 for a ‘Gold Ticket’ that offered inclusive all-weekend access to every talk at the Vogue 100 Festival. In addition, each ticket included a 12-month subscription to the iPad and iPhone edition of Vogue.

Hope you enjoyed reading this post!

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