Tag: Lifestyle

Appleton Estate ‘The Taste Of Jamaica’ Event

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appletonI have recently attended a rum tasting event organised by Appleton Estate a glorious and fertile land located in the heart of Jamaica. To be honest, I didn’t know much about rum before the event so I was looking forward to learning more about it. I found it interesting to hear the story of rum and really enjoyed trying different blends of rum during the event.

Event:

The vent commenced at 7p.m. and a lovely Rum Master Blender Joy Spence and Ian Burell uncovered a hidden word of crafted, aged rum to all attendees.

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To start with we tried the Appleton Estate Signature Blend-the original Appleton Estate rum.

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It was my favourite blend as it wasn’t really strong comparing to the other rums I tried. Secondly, we tried Appleton Estate Rare Blend 12 Year Old. It is an extraordinary indulgence rum that cannot be rushed.

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At the end, we had some Appleton Estate 21 Year Old Jamaican Rum. This blend is suitable for anyone who wants to experience unique Jamaican luxury. It is priced at £150 per bottle so it is the most extravagant rum from the whole Appleton Estate rum range.

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I had a lot of fun and really enjoyed my rum tasting experience!

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I hope that you enjoyed reading this review!

X

Pauline

Fesive menu at Ember London

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This week I would like to tell you about the festive winter tasting menu you should try at EMBER London. 

I visited Ember London just before I left for my honeymoon. It is a new hidden bar, dining and late night destination.

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Location and name:

Ember London is located in Monument on Pudding Lane where the Great Fire of London started in 1666. The venue’s name references this event and 2016, the year Ember opened, marks the 350th anniversary of the fire.

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Venue:

At first glance, Ember London looks like many of the small-bites eateries however if you go inside you’ll discover that it offers five unique spaces. The Main Bar is designed for dining and is complete with a DJ booth for after-hours partying in the lead up to the weekend. The Cellar Bar offers a more relaxed experience for small-group gatherings along with its own private room The Vault, which provides guests with a secluded self- service bar, for those that do not want to be disturbed. The main bar includes two further private rooms, each with their own independent identity and unique design features. The Snug is tucked away in the furthest, quietest corner of Ember and has a mysterious feel with dark mirrors covering the walls and ceiling The Retreat is a relaxing and personal space that works well for wine, whisky and sake tastings.

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Festive menu:

Ember London serves an innovative collection of Asian-influenced contemporary dishes created by Executive Chef Jonathan Villar. Ember London currently have 2 festive menus-3 courses for £30 or 6 courses menu for £60. I decided to try their 6 course festive menu.

The first dish I had was Amuse bouche-a single, bite-sized hors d’œuvre.

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For second dish I had Inari pocket tempura.

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For third course I chose to have a Thai rice taco with some minced prawns, tamarind, chilli, crushed peanuts, kaffir lime & coriander, sweet chilli aioli.

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Next I decided to have some Duke of Berkshire pork adobo taro rosti with crispy shallots Shiraz.

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All 4 small plates dishes were delicious and presented beautifully. I could even describe them as rather Instagram-friendly.

For my dessert I had some mouth-watering orange blossom panna cotta.

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The meal ended with a selection of petit fours.

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Ember London has a great cocktail menu so I also ordered a Matcha 3 cocktail which was a perfect combination of herbal and fruity flavours. It served one important purpose-it washed any residual heat from the spices in my mouth instantly.

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Overall:

Ember London is a pleasant venue that offers some great food at the reasonable prices. If you are looking for a new place to catch-up with friends or colleagues then it is a no-brainer choice for an easy meal and cocktails. I will definitely be returning there soon!

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Opening hours:

Open weekdays Monday to Wednesday 11.00 am to 12.00am and Thursday to Friday 11.00 to 02.00.

Website: 

www.ember.london

Address:

1a Pudding Lane
London EC3R 8AB

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

X

Pauline

Tried and tested: KeraStraight Intense Boost Protein 30 Day Conditioning Treatment

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As you probably remember, I recently tried a few haircare products from the KeraStraight Volume Enhance range. I liked them so much that I decided to try a signature KeraStraight Intense Boost Protein 30 Day Conditioning Treatment at Trevor Sorbie salon in Covent Garden in London.

Do you struggle with hair that is:

  • Dry / Damaged?
  • Curly / Wavy / Frizzy?
  • Too Thick / Takes Too Long?
  • or all of the above?

If your answer to any of these questions is ‘yes’, than you should definitely give this express treatment a go. KeraStraight Intense Boost Protein Treatment contains the most advanced proteins and lightweight moisture encapsulation on the market today to repair and rehydrate hair from the inside out.

Treatment:

My KeraStraight treatment took only around 35 minutes. My hairdresser started it with washing my hair and then he applied KeraStraight Protein mask and dried my hair as the mask is heat activated. Once my hair was dried he rinsed off the mask and blow-dried my hair.

Result:

I loved the results of my KeraStraight Intense Boost Protein Treatment. My hair feels stronger, healthier and is definitely more manageable now. KeraStraight treatment is a perfect solution for everyone who finds their hair hard to manage and wants to give their hair some intensive repair and boost. I would definitely want to try more KeraStraight treatments soon!

You can see the results of my treatment on the picture below:

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Price:

Price of this treatment depends on your hair length, area etc. You can find a KeraStraight Salon near you by clicking the link listed below:

https://www.kerastraight.com/pages/find-a-salon?locale=en

I hope that you enjoyed reading this review!

X

Pauline

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

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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!

X

Pauline

 

Tried and Tested: Laila London Clay Mask With Lavender & Chamomile

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This week I would like to tell you about the Clay Mask with Healing Bentonite Aztec Clec with Lavender and Chamomile from Laila London.

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Brand:

Laila London is the leading brand for natural tooth whitening powder and skin care products made entirely in the UK. LAILA products are formulated without parabens, mineral oils, synthetic fragrances, sulfate detergents, urea, DEA, TEA or phthalates. Laila London products are:

  • Highest quality and purity of botanicals from sustainable locations worldwide.
  • Certified Organic and Therapeutic Grade essential oils.
  • Certified lead-free and metal-free herbs.
  • Free of any and all chemicals, synthetic preservatives, parabens, GMO’s, artificial scents, colors and dyes.
  • Cruelty free—non-harming to any living being.
  • Ethically handmade and produced.
  • Recyclable, eco-friendly glass packaging.

Product:

Laila London Clay Mask with Healing Bentonite Aztec Clec with Lavender and Chamomile is 100 % natural and hand crafted in London. This clay mask is highly effective at detoxifying the skin and promoting overall natural beauty and health. This clay mask draws excess oils and toxins to the surface of your skin, boosts circulation to tighten the skin and stimulate blood flow, and removes dead skin cells that can clog pores. It is hypoallergenic and free of additives, fragrances and animal products.

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Ingredients:

Laila London Clay Mask with  with Lavender and Chamomile is based on the purest Bentonite Clay, lavender and chamomile available. It is a unique clay due to its ability to absorb and remove toxins, heavy metals and impurities. It contains:

  • Calcium Bentonite Clay Powder
  • Organic Lavender
  • Organic Chamomile

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Texture and Application:

Laila London Clay Mask with Healing Bentonite Aztec Clec with Lavender and Chamomile is finely milled into flour texture. It comes with a wooden spatula which I used to measure how much mask I should mix with the water. Once my mask mixture was ready, it had mud texture and I applied it to my face and neck for 20 minutes.

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Result:

When I removed Laila London clay mask from my skin was smooth, radiant and felt incredibly clean of all impurities.  If you are looking for spa quality masks for home use then you should definitely try this great mask. I really like Laila London products as they are made of the highest quality, natural ingredients and they are very affordable so I hope to try some more in the near future.

Price:

£16 for a jar.

Website:

www.lailalondon.com You can also buy it from Boots throughout the UK and Amazon.

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

X

Pauline

Top Land-Based Casinos In The United Kingdom

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Have you ever wanted to learn about the casinos? As some of you might know, I got married recently. I am not much of a gambler however my husband could be a pro as he knows so much about the casinos and the games that you can play in them.

I decided to investigate this topic further as the wife of a pro gamer and gambler. He’s told me on many occasions that if you know the rules of the games you want to play you might have a fun and entertaining time when you visit a casino. In addition, I was informed that many casinos regularly host live entertainment events, such as stand-up comedy, concerts, and sporting events. Many of them are also offering dining experiences combined with a bit of gambling which could appeal to anyone who feels a bit adventurous. To start with, if you are willing to learn more on that topic, I would recommend you check out this informative catalogue about all the casinos located in the UK, it is very comprehensive and covers a wide variety of places. I came across this website and I liked its layout as it provided a summary of all casinos located in specific cities in UK. History: Casinos have been called by many names: gaming houses, saloons (in USA), betting house etc. According to Wikipedia: ‘In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities.’ The history of gambling is mysterious. Many believe that in some form or another many of societies had entertainment based on games of chance. The first known European gambling house, was the Ridotto, established in Venice, Italy in 1638 by the Great Council of Venice to provide controlled gambling during the carnival season. Where to go? There are hundreds of casinos in UK, many of them located in central tourist areas of hotels. As I live in London, I would recommend you to visit one of these 5 best casinos based here:

1. The Empire Casino in Leicester Square

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2. The Hippodrome Casino

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3. The Grosvenor Casino

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4. Maxims

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5. The Sportsman

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I hope you enjoyed reading this post!

X

Pauline

Our dinner at Asador Bolixe Cocina Esencial-the best steak in Palma De Mallorca

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On the last evening of our mini-moon in Palma, we decided to have a dinner at the traditional Mallorcan steak restaurant –Asador Bolixe Cocina Esencial.

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Location:

Asador Bolixe Cocina Esencial is located opposit of Parc De Les Estations, just around the corner from the Placa d’Espanya.

Atmosphere:

We booked our table for 8:30 p.m. When we arrived only one other table was taken but within 15 minutes restaurant was full with locals and tourists. A restaurant opened in 2004 in an old mansion and was renovated but the designers kept some key features of the space such as its beautiful arches and thick walls. Asador Bolixe Cocina Esencials has a simple, modern decor making it a welcoming and pleasant place to enjoy your meals.

The menu:

To start with we ordered a selection of starters:

We accompanied them with some local red wine called Bisbals. It was rich and fragrant.

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Mains:

For our mains we decided to have a steak each.  I always debate which stake to choose as if you want the meatiest meat, choose rib-eye, though the fillet is heavenly for those frightened of fat.

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I decided to have some rib-eye and it was flawless. It had the flavor like undiluted beef cordial. With flavors as good as these, you want as many different mouthfuls as you can get. The steak was absolutely gorgeous and cooked to perfection. I would compare the quality of our steak to what you get in Hawksmore in London.

After we finished our steaks it was time for some digestive made out of Herbs of Mallorca.

Overall experience:

We both really enjoyed the food we ordered at Asador Bolixe Cocina Esencials, portions were enormous and the meal was really reasonably priced. If you like a good steak than you should definitely visit Asador Bolixe Cocina Esencials. After our starter and main we were really full and I watched in admiration as one couple sitting at the table next to us tucked into a beautifully presented desset consisting of pancakes. I will definitely need to order some of them next time I visit Palma as they looked delicious!

Address:

Carrer Eusebi Estada, 33, 07004 Palma, Illes Balears, Spain

For more information and to book visit:

http://www.bolixe.com/en/

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

X

Pauline

Tried and Tested: Laila London 100% Natural Organic Activated Charcoal Tooth Whitening Powder

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This week I would like to tell you about the natural tooth whitening powder from Laila London.

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Brand:

Laila London is the leading brand for natural tooth whitening powder and skin care products made entirely in the UK. I came across its 100% Natural Organic Activated Charcoal Tooth Whitening Powder on Amazon where it was No1 in teeth whitening and beauty product. As I recently had my teeth whitened and wanted to keep the results for longer so it was a no brainer and I decided to try it.

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Product:

Laila London 100% Natural Organic Activated Charcoal Tooth Whitening Powder is a natural solution to promote healthy teeth and gums without any toxic ingredients, preservatives, foaming agents, fluoride or artificial colors. Its formula aims to give you clean and healthy teeth and freshen breath.

Ingredients:

I read on Laila London’s website that: ‘The main ingredient in Laila tooth powder is Coconut Shell Activated Charcoal know for tooth whitening and removing impurities.’

In addition product contains:

  • Activated Charcoal – to remove toxins.
  • White Kaolin Clay – that helps to whiten and polish teeth.
  • Calcium Powder – to provide minerals and whiten.
  • Cinnamon – to discourage bacterial growth in the mouth.
  • Peppermint – to soothe the gums and freshen breath.
  • Lemon powder – to freshen breath.

Result:

Laila London 100% Natural Organic Activated Charcoal Tooth Whitening Powder really works. I’ve been using it for slightly over 2 weeks and my teeth looks whiter and healthier. In addition, it freshens my breath and I love the fact that it is 100% natural so it doesn’t contain any harmful ingredients.

Price:

£10 for a jar.
Website:

www.lailalondon.com You can also buy it from Boots throughout the UK and Amazon.

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

X

Pauline

Our lunch at Peix Vermell restaurant

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On the third day of our mini-moon in Palma, after sightseeing the most beautiful sights the city has to offer, we decided to have a lunch at the traditional fish and seafood restaurant – Peix Vermell.

Location:

Peix Vermell is conveniently located in the Old Town on one of the most symbolic streets in Palma, just around the corner from the famous boutiques and Louis Vuitton store.

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Atmosphere:

We booked our table for 1:30 p.m. On our arrival, we were greeted by a restaurant Manager-Mihail. He took us to our table and introduced us to our waiter who was friendly and attentive.

I was impressed by the restaurant lively, colorful decor and I loved some of the amazing modern paintings that are displayed on its walls.

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The menu:

Before we started our meal we had a glass of champagne to celebrate our mini-moon in Palma. While we were sipping our chilled sparkly goodness we looked at the great selection of fish and seafood dishes available to order.

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To start with we had a selection of recommended starters including:

  • Shrimps with garlic oil;
  • Small green peppers of Padrón;
  • A mixed salad.

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Our starters were really tasty and gave us an opportunity to try some local delicatessen.

Mains:

For our mains we decided to have some seafood paella and some baked sea bass with garnish. Our waiter brought both dishes to our table and divided them equally for me and my husband.

When we have first seen the amount of food we ordered, we were wondering how we could potentially finish it all however as both dishes were full of flavor and delectable, we cleared our plates clean.

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When it comes to our seafood paella it was definitely the best paella I’ve ever eaten! It was full of flavor and seafood, absolutely perfect!

Desserts:

After our massive meal I was unsure if I want a dessert however as soon as I’ve heard about the homemade Tiramisu, I changed my mind and ordered some. It was lovely….

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My husband went for some crema catalana which he really enjoyed.

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 Overall experience:

If you like seafood than you should definitely visit Peix Vermell. The restaurant offers a wide variety of competitively priced fish and seafood dishes in addition to a vast selection of wines. Their seafood paella was absolutely amazing so you should definitely try it next time you are in Palma.

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We both really liked the food, service was spot on and surroundings were modern. I am definitely not surprised that TripAdvisor awarded the restaurant the Certificate of Excellence 2016 as they definitely deserve it.

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Address:

1 Montenegro str or entrance from 7 Sant Feliu str., 07012 Palma de Mallorca

For more information and to book visit:

http://peixvermell.com/

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

X

Pauline

Our lunch at Aromata restaurant, Palma De Mallorca

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On our second day of our mini-moon in Palma, we decided to have a lunch at one of the traditional Mallorcan restaurants Aromata.

Location:

The restaurant is located in an old, renovated building in the city centre of Palma. It is positioned just a minute away from a busy shopping street in the Old Town so it is perfect to take a break and relax, no matter whether you are there for shopping or sightseeing.

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Atmosphere:

We booked our table for 1 p.m. On our arrival, we were greeted by a restaurant Manager-Patricia. She took us to our table and introduced us to our waiter who made us feel welcomed and comfortable. The restaurant has a modern decor and beautiful setting.

The menu:

Aromata’s  menus are created by a famous Michelin star chef Andreu Genestra and change on a weekly basis. There are 2 lunch menus to choose from: Aromata Migdia and Gourmet menu. I decided to try the dishes from the Aromata Gourmet menu and my husband went for a cheaper option from the Migdia menu.

Starter:

For a starter my husband had some cream of parsnip with fried vegetables and air cilantro and I ordered some marinated grilled tuna with mashed cauliflower and air nail.

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Both dishes were very tasty and cooked to perfection. I tried some soup and I wished I could prepare a similar parsnip soup at home-I definitely need some cooking classes first though 😉

Mains:

For my main I decided to have a fried snapper fillet with some fennel, garlic and pepper. James had some braised beef with mashed potato and leek crispy. Both dishes were full of flavour and simply delectable.

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Desserts:

James decided to have a chocolate brownie with vanilla ice-cream.

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I loved his brownie so I had half of it and in return gave him some of my dessert that consisted of assorted cheeses with trim and chutney.

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Overall experience:

If you would like to try some traditional, creative, gourmet, tasty Mallorcan cuisine then Aromata is a place to go to. We both really enjoyed our lunch there-food was excellent, service was great and the restaurant is very reasonably priced.

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With menus starting from 15.5 Euros it is a great destination for everyone who wants to enjoy an inexpensive, quality meal. In addition, restaurant supports Mallorcan wine merchants so don’t forget to try some faboluous local wine if you visit!

Address:

Carrer de la Concepció, 12, 07012 Palma

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For more information and to book visit:

http://www.aromatarestaurant.com/

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

X

Pauline