House décor: Time for some blinds

As some of you might know, I moved out of London back in December into a new-build house in the countryside on the outskirts of Colchester. Let’s be honest, moving out of our 2-bed apartment in London to a village in Essex was very exciting but at the same time it took a bit of time to adjust to our new routine involving a long daily commute. Thanks to Netflix and a good coffee from a station cafeteria, I got used to my commute and now I am happily re-established in Essex.

Having said this, our lovely 3 bed house still needs a lot in terms of furnishing, décor etc. In 6 months, we have managed to finish our bedroom and kitchen and slowly we are completing other bits around the house.

This month, we decided to buy some blinds and let me tell you – it wasn’t as easy as I thought it might be. Initially, we thought about using a well known company offering in-home appointment to offer perfect made to measure blinds. Unfortunately, as we have a limited budget we weren’t willing to spend a small fortune for blinds offered thus we looked online for some other providers that could help us.

After a lot of research and browsing quite a few websites selling blinds, we came across ‘Make My Blinds’. The company was founded in 2015 and strives to become the authority in the blind industry.

On their website I discovered a few values which I was impressed by:

  • Made by hand – all blinds are made to your own specification;
  • Attention to detail – all blinds are made by hand and machine to the highest quality;
  • Customer focused – company prides itself in a friendly UK customer service team that is happy to answer any question.

What I found really useful was a hub of knowledge on company’s social media platforms –  YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter providing the most commonly asked questions and answers.

The company offers a range of blinds: wooden, vertical, roller, venetian, skylight, roman and conservatory blinds. We decided to order:

  • Gibson Pewter Vertical blinds for my husband’s study – as he loves gaming and wanted something with a blackout option we selected a darker grey shade that also matches our carpets perfectly. We decided to have the vertical vanes split and bunch evenly on either side using the ‘split’ option which is great as you can control the lighting coming into your room.
  • Real Wood Gloss Daisy venetian blinds for our front kitchen and living room windows. I love this glossy, light bouncing blinds. They are also easy to clean as the dust just slides off.  They are great at controlling the light coming into our home and I really like that they have a long 4-year guarantee.

Order process:

The order process through Make my Blinds website is super user friendly and it enabled us to visualise what we were getting after we inputted sizing information, selected on which side we would like the controls to be in addition to stack side for our vertical blinds. We used a measuring guide which helped us to understand how we should measure the blinds properly to get them sized correctly. The blinds were also much cheaper than what we were quotes by a high street retailer and website states that prices are up to 70% cheaper. What is an additional plus is that you can order free samples and there is a free delivery on orders over £149.

Installation:

I will be honest and admit that we didn’t install the blinds ourselves – firstly because we simply do not have time as we get home late and secondly, we are not really good in DYI. However, if you wish to install the blinds yourselves then Make My Blinds has a great knowledge hub helping you to do that for all different kinds of blinds.

Verdict:

I loved how easy the whole order process was and the website and it’s guides were great help for us as we did not have an idea from where to start. I would recommend ‘Make my Blinds’ to anyone who wishes to purchase high quality, beautifully finished blinds build to their specifications at a very competitive prices.

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Pauline

Beauty on the spot – the worst beauty treatment I’ve ever had in London

As you all know I love pampering myself and recently I booked a package for six G5 massage treatments at the Beauty on the Spot in Monument in London. I love beauty treatments and I’ve had G5 treatments on my legs before so I was quite glad when I found a place that was offering a package of 6 treatments, just around a corner from the office I work. I haven’t imagine that I would be as disappointed as I am now and it was the worst treatment I’ve ever had.

A bit of the background. G5 treatment is done using 5 different massaging heads in around 45 minutes. My treatment with your therapist took barely 8 minutes and she only used 2 out of 5 G5 heads. It’s a spam and you should avoid going to this place under all circumstances. The company offers their own short version of the treatment which perhaps they could call G2 but in my opinion it’s definitely not something they should sell as a G5 treatment if it takes you 8 minutes to complete and you only use 2 massaging heads… The treatment is called G5 as there are 5 interchangeable heads which they clearly do not use. For more information on this treatment you can watch some YouTube videos – definitely not what Beauty on the spot offers!

Although, I’ve made a formal written complaint and requested to cancel the additional five G5 massages that I paid for the management of the company still haven’t provided me with any response. The way they treat their Clients is disgusting and I hope that they will get closed down as this kind of places should not exist. Honestly, I would not recommend it to anyone to even consider going there. Look elsewhere or you will end up as disappointed as I am now! On top of that, I read on their website that they ‘do not offer refunds’ so I will most likely waste over £200 as I do not want to return there.

Do not go there my lovelies!

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Pauline

Tried and Tested: OGX Beauty Niacin3 & caffeine range

As some of you might remember, a couple of weeks ago I tried OGX  Beauty Biotin and Collagen range and really liked it. As a result, I decided to try OGX Beauty Niacin3 & caffeine range. It contains a fallout-busting formula blend of niacin and caffeine to help exfoliate and stimulate your scalp while combating hair loss.

For best results, all products in this collection should be used together so I decided to try:

1. OGX Beauty Niacin3 & caffeine Shampoo. Its powerful formula blend with niacin and caffeine, alpha hydroxy acid and natural DHT blockers can help make your scalp happy and help prevent hair fallout. Size: 385 ml.

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2. GX Beauty Niacin3 & caffeine Conditioner.  This lightweight conditioner not only smells great but it also detangles fine and fragile hair. Its special formula blend includes niacin and caffeine, alpha hydroxy acid and natural DHT blockers to help prevent hair loss caused by breakage.  Size: 385 ml.

3. GX Beauty Niacin3 & caffeine Root Stimulator Spray. This invigorating spray helps stimulate the hair follicles and scalp with niacin and caffeine, alpha hydroxy acid and natural DHT blockers. It should be used at least once a day in order to create an optimal scalp environment for thicker, stronger, fuller hair. Size: 118 ml.

I’ve been using the whole range for 2 weeks and my hair definitely feels fuller and stronger. If you need to give your hair some extra boost than you should definitely try this OGX Beauty Niacin3 & caffeine range as a seasonal treat for your locks.

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

Our Lunch at Hemigie’s Restaurant, Brussels, Belgium

During the last day of our trip to Brussels we had our lunch at Hemigie’s Restaurant. I was intrigued by the philosophy listed on their website: ‘Hemgie’s is about craft, pleasure and taste. We believe in taking our time, delivering you the best flavours and ingredients, which we have hunted for months. Quality is key in our kitchen, as well as putting you instantly at ease. Luxury, calm and service belong to our daily language’.

Atmosphere:

We booked our table for 1 p.m. When we entered the restaurant, we were welcomed by a friendly waiter who took us to our table. The decor of Hemigie’s restaurant is cosy, modern and simple. We felt welcomed and relaxed as soon as we sat down.

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Food:

As we had our breakfast at the hotel, we weren’t too hungry and decided to skip the starters and only to have our mains.

For my main I decided to have some Océan Indien Salad. It had some green bans, tomatoes, avocado, prawns and smoked salmon. Its curry madras dressing made the whole combination quite unusual but very tasty. The portion size was generous and presented nicely.

My husband decided to have ‘Smack That’- one of the signature Hemigie’s burgers. He really enjoyed it and finished it in no time! I had a little bite and it was amazing!

I really liked our lunch at Hemigie’s restaurant. The food was served quickly, was tasty and the service was good so I would definitely recommend it.

Address:

Rue du Bailli 90,
1050 ixelles, Brussels

For more information and to book visit:

http://www.hemgies.be/bailli/index.html

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

Jam Hotel in Brussels, Belgium

As you probably know, a few weeks ago, I traveled with my husband to celebrate his birthday in Belgium. During our 4-days stay we visited Brussels and Bruge and when we return from our day-trip to Bruge we stayed in a modern, design hotel-Jam close to Louise Metro which is part of Limited Edition Hotel chain.

Location:
Jam Hotel is located in the center of Brussels and a short 10 minutes’ walk from the metro station and around 10 minutes metro ride from Brussels Midi-Zuid station. It is situated in a former art-school that was converted into a trendy hotel to meet the demands of even the most demanding travelers.

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Atmosphere:

The hotel has a very informal atmosphere. Due to its great location and just meters away from the shopping it within a walking distance from all major tourists attractions it will meet demands of most travelers. Everything in the hotel is presented to you with a twist-even a simple door hangers display ‘don’t even think about knocking’ rather than the usual ‘do not disturb’ sign. I really enjoyed that originality 🙂

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Facilities:

Jam Hotel has a 24-hours reception, baggage storage room, bar and restaurant and a rooftop terrace and bar.

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When we arrived after a day-break to Bruge, it was lovely to unwind in an extremely accommodating rooftop bar. There was a fireplace in the central-point of it and its cosy décor was very welcoming. In addition, there was a heated swimming pool on the 6th floor and if we didn’t go there in the middle of winter I would love to enjoy it as it offers a great view of Brussels.

All Limted Edition hotels serve a continental breakfast where you can have a  nice selection of cold breakfast items including meat and cheese. I loved the vast selection of the freshly squeezed juices and homemade marmalades. My favorite one was a strawberry one and a freshly baked croissant accommodated it perfectly.

The hotel offers a range of services ‘on demand’ including: comfy bathrobes and matching slippers, a monopoly game with a Belgian twist etc.

 

What’s more, you can also pay a bit extra and get lots of other useful traveler’s items like a shaving kit, toothbrush or a toothpaste.

Room:

Our room was large and had a simple, modern décor.

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We had a bunk bed and a small sofa in addition to a king-size bed in it.

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There were only 2 of us staying in it but there would be enough space in it for a whole family of 2 with 3 children!  In addition, our room had a nice size work-table, flat-screen TV and a safe. The bathroom was modern and simple but had everything you need-a shower, bath, washbasin, hairdryer etc. I loved a little quote on the shower tiles: ‘Save water and shower together’. Very inspiring 😉

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Overall:

If you like staying at the design hotels than you should definitely consider this hotel. Hotel Jam will be perfect for all modern-hotels lovers who enjoy accommodation with a twist and are looking to experience hotels that are original and a bit different. I really liked its location-it is just a short walk away from Brussel’s main attractions in addition to its great facilities (rooftop terrace, restaurant, swimming pool) We only stayed in this hotel for a night but I would definitely recommend you to visit if you wish to stay in the comfortable, spacious room and you don’t want to break your bank as the rooms are reasonably priced. I am sure that you will enjoy its ‘unusual’ quotes and twists as much as I did!

Address:

Chaussée de Charleroi 132, 1060 Bruxelles, Belgium

All my readers can get 10% discount on their reservations with Jam Hotel. The code to use for further reservations is « FIRSTCLASSLOUNGE » and you need to book through the official website listed below:

http://www.jamhotel.be/

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

Our dinner at The Fish Market, London

As some of you might know, I love all kinds of seafood. As a result, I was really happy to have my weekly dinner date at The Fish Market restaurant in London and I was looking forward to trying their specialties.

Location:

The Fish Market restaurant is situated just a couple of minutes away from the Liverpool Street Station so it is perfect for anyone who works in the City.

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Atmosphere:

We booked our table for 6:30 p.m. When we entered the restaurant, we were welcomed by a friendly hostess who took us to our table and introduced us to our waiter. I decided to have some champagne to start with.

Starters:

For our starter, we had a Seafood sharing platter from the A La Carte Menu.

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It was presented beautifully and I loved a selection of seafood presented to us. It included: grilled scallops, salt and pepper squid, goujons of day boat fish, garlic king prawns.

Mains:

For our mains we wanted to try some fish from the Fish Market menu. All fish at The Fish Market restaurant comes either on the bone or is filleted so you can have it cooked to your liking. In addition, you can choose to have your fish steamed or cooked a la plancha. What’s more, all fishes from the Market selection menu come with a choice of one complimentary side and sauce. I had a whole sea bream and my husband had a whole sea bass. For our sides, we ordered some creamed spinach and spiced, sweet potato fries.

Both mains were absolutely gorgeous and cooked to perfection. Sides were a nice-add on and I really liked my sweet potato fries.

Dessert:

As soon as I looked at the menu, I knew what I wanted to have for my dessert and as I love sticky toffee pudding, my choice was easy. It was nice but personally, I would want to have some more vanilla ice-cream with it. It is probably me just being greedy though 😉

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My husband, as always, ordered some vanilla ice-creams.

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I really liked the food at the Fish Market restaurant. The service was good and food was delectable so I will definitely visit again soon!

Address:

16 New St, London EC2M 4TR

For more information and to book visit:

http://www.fishmarket-restaurant.co.uk/

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

Tried and Tested: Eyelash extensions at Yasmin Tans & Lashes in London

In preparation to my honeymoon I decided to have eyelash extensions to help me look my best, even when I am bare faced. I was recommended to visit Yasmin Tans & Lashes run by an expert spray tan artist and eyelash extension specialist. She has over 5 years experience in the beauty industry and she has recently opened her own tanning and eyelash studio. It is located at Reveal Salon which is just around a corner from Farringdon station and within close proximity of Chancery Lane station and Barbican station.

When I arrived at Reveal Salon I was welcomed by a receptionist and a few minutes later Yasmin invited me to come to her room. She was extremely friendly, smiley and she prides herself in being an absolute perfectionist. She is a fully qualified, highly experienced Lash Technician and she guarantees her clients absolutely no damage to their natural lashes.

Treatment:

The treatment takes around 1.5 hours and it lifts the natural lashes from the root creating extra length and volume to your natural eyelashes without the use of extensions, adhesive or mascara. You can see my before & after photo below:

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Result:

I love my eyelash extensions. They are perfect for opening up the appearance of your eyes. As the effects last for up to 6 weeks these eyelash extensions are great for everyday, special occasions and holidays. Having them done is the perfect way to achieve long lasting, glamorous lashes without the need for mascara!

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If you wish to try them then Yasmin gave me a discount code for £20 off to all my readers. Please insert 1stclasslouge while checking out to benefit from this discount. 

You can book your appointments here.

Address:

Yasmin Tans & Lashes
11 Eagle Court,
Farringdon, London, EC1M 5QD

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

 

My new Limited Edition Pandora Club charm 2016

I love browsing the online stores. Last week, I was on the T.H. Baker website which showcases the best jewellery and watches and I came across some amazing new charms. Today, I would like to tell you about the latest addition to my Pandora charms.

As some of you might already know, I love my Pandora bracelet and I even wore it to my wedding in August so I was super excited when I saw the latest, iconic Pandora Club collection. I instantly ordered the Pandora Club Charm 2016 Heart Diamond:

https://www.thbaker.co.uk/pandora-club-charm-2016-heart-diamond-791912d

When I received my order, I was extremely excited to open my Pandora Box.

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My new charm is crafted from sterling silver. Its design is based on beautiful tiny beads and hearts that are adorned.

On the front side, this gorgeous charm has a diamond that is set in the centre. It looks very exclusive and would make an amazing gift for anyone.

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On the opposite side, the charm is engraved with ‘2016’, which is perfect as a reference point to which limited collection it was from. In addition, if you like it and you decide to order it then the person you gift it to will always know when it was gifted to her.

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This stunning limited edition, collector’s item would be a perfect addition to any Pandora bracelet. It looks amazing with all my other charms:

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You can order it from T.H. Baker a certified PANDORA retailer that was established in 1888 :

www.thbaker.co.uk

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

Tried and Tested: Jojoba Oil, Stir it Slim & Deluxe Collagen supplement

Starting from this week, I will be reviewing new products I’ve tried & tested during the previous weeks. Keep your eyes peeled for some great buys.

This week, I would like to tell you about these 3 products:

  • 100% Pure Jojoba Oil from Eden Semilla
  • Stir It Slim in Latte flavour from Forza
  • Regime London Deluxe Collagen supplements

Firstly, let me tell you about Eden’s Semilla’s Jojoba Oil. It is a fairly new brand and product that is rich in vitamins and minerals so you can use it from head to toe. I use oils on my face and hair so I decided to give it a go as it was advertised as a 3 in 1 oil  for Skin, Hair & Nails.

Name: The name is Spanish and means Eden’s Seed.

So, did I like it?:  Yes, definitely.

Fragrance: The Eden’s Semilla’s Jojoba Oil has a delicate fragrance. Some natural products can have quite a strong fragrance but not this one- the scent of Eden’s Semilla’s Jojoba Oil is very subtle.

Texture, use and benefits: Eden’s Semilla’s Jojoba Oil has a rich but non-greasy, silky texture so I use it as a serum under my night cream (1 drop is enough for my full face). I like the fact that the oil is 100% natural, pure and organic as I am sure that I am not putting anything harmful on my body. The benefits of using the oil are visible straight away. After each application, my skin looks smooth, has supple texture and a lovely radiant glow. In addition, I use Eden’s Semilla’s Jojoba Oil as a treatment on my hair. I normally apply 5-10 drops all over my hair in the evening. When I wash my hair in the morning, it looks smooth and healthy. Correspondingly, it seems like a great product for split ends so I use it daily to keep my hair in good shape.

Size: 60ml bottle which should last for at least 1 month of regular use.

Price: Great value as it only costs £16.95. At the moment, Amazon.co.uk has it on offer now for only £10.95. :https://www.amazon.co.uk/100%25-Pure-Jojoba-Oil-Moisturiser/dp/B01E7L9ZNU/ref=sr_1_225_s_it?s=drugstore&ie=UTF8&qid=1468313339&sr=1-225&keywords=jojoba+oil

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Secondly, I would like to tell you about Stir It Slim. I tried this meal-replacement shake in Latte flavour but there are 3 flavours to choose from: Hot Chocolate, Caramel Latte and Latte. Stir it Slim is a convenient hot meal replacement drink that has been designed to support safe and healthy weight loss. It is very tasty and high in protein. What’s more, it contains 22 different vitamins and minerals and only has 204 calories per individual serving.

Pack size: 3 or 7 sachets.

I tried a smaller pack as I wasn’t sure if I will like it. The Stir It Slim hot shake is delicious so I will definitely need to get some more.

Price: £4.99 for a pack containing 3 sachets or £24.99 for a pack containing 7 sachets.

You can buy it directly from Forza’a website:

https://www.forzasupplements.co.uk/cat/stir-it-slim

 

Lastly (this week), let me tell you about Regime London Deluxe Collagen supplement. If you read my blog regularly then you will probably know that I am getting married very soon. I normally use collagen supplements once or twice a year and decided to try Regine Deluxe Collagen before my big day. I went for a box of 120 Capsules which should last for a month as it is advised to have 2 capsules in the morning and 2 capsules in the evening.

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The formula of Regime London Deluxe Collagen uses Peptan collagen, which has been shown to support the elasticity of the skin and help to fight against the visible signs of skin ageing. A recent study on the benefits of Peptan® showed that it can help to enhance skin beauty, maintain skin elasticity and help to fight against the visible signs of skin ageing.

What’s more,  Regime London Deluxe Collagen contains Vitamin C which is a natural antioxidant that supports normal collagen formation in the body. This contributes to the normal function of skin, teeth, bones, gums, cartilage and blood vessels.

I’ve been using it for slightly over a week and can already see an improvement in my skin condition-it looks more radiant, plump and small lines under my eyes seem less visible.

Price:

You can get it from Superdrug stores and it costs £21.99 for a box of 120 Capsules. Currently, you can also benefit from 3 for 2 offer on vitamins and minerals in Superdrug stores nationwide 🙂

Hope you enjoyed reading this ‘Tried & Tested’ review!

Next week I will aim to review some hair-care products.

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Pauline

Summer ball at Porters Park Golf Club

Last week, I was invited by my fiancé’s father to attend a summer ball at Porters Park Golf Club. Porters Park Golf Club is located just outside the picturesque village of Radlett, in Hertfordshire.

The evening started with a champagne reception. Around 7:30 p.m. all guests were invited to take their seats in the beautifully decorated marquee. Once everyone was at their tables the speeches and awards begun. Luckily, they didn’t take too long and we were served a delicious 3-courses dinner. Subsequently, a great live entertainment from Déjà vu band begun. We all had the opportunity to show our best moves on the dance floor while enjoying the iconic songs from 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.

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Summer Ball Menu included:

Starter

Beetroot home cured Gravadlax

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Main

Prime boneless saddle of Lamb

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Dessert

Assiette of Desserts

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Dress Code for the event was black tie so I decided to wear one of my cream ball-gowns paired with some Carvela hills.

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Subsequently, a great live entertainment from Déjà vu band begun. We all had the opportunity to show our best moves on the dance floor while enjoying the iconic songs from 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.

To sum up, I had a great evening of fine dining and dancing. I am looking forward to attending another summer ball next year!

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If you would like to visit Porters Park Golf Club then you can find all the details and directions on their website listed below:

Website: http://www.portersparkgolfclub.co.uk/