Tag: Lifestyle

Maison Christian Lacroix rooms at The Mandeville Hotel

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Last week, I was invited to attend a launch party of the ‘Deluxe Rivera Rooms’ at The Mandeville hotel.

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It was a great opportunity for all attendees to discover a revamped rooms. According to Sacha Walckhoff, Creative Director of Maison Christian Lacrouix, : ‘Bringing the flavour of the French Riviera in the middle of Marylebone is what Mandeville Hotel in London has achieved using our home decor collection ”belle Rives’ for their exquisite new rooms’. During the evening, I had some delicious canapes and enjoyed some delicious cocktails before I went to see the ‘Deluxe Rivera Rooms’.

Rooms:

The fifth floor of this luxury, boutique hotel has been completely transformed in with Christian Lacroix designer fabrics and wallpaper collections to bring the French Rivera to you. The house of Christian Lacroix has been known in Paris and London’s Haute Couture fashion scene for a while now. The newly designed rooms bring together fresh and bold colours using the ‘Belles Rives’ collection.

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I was able to view 4 spectacular rooms:

Jardin Exotique – this amazing room take inspiration from Monaco’s Botanical Garden.

Midnight Blue – my favorite room that brings a sultry and romantic mood with its contrasting interiors.

Jewel Box – a room for any fashion lovers as it features the Cartier jewels stolen in Grace Kelly’s classic film ‘To Catch a Thief’.

Classic Lacroix – is a room that is full of light and creates romantic atmosphere.

Location:

The Mandeville Hotel is located just behind the famous shopping street-Oxford Street. It is 5 minutes away from the Bond Street station and is conveniently situated in the centre of Mayfair.

Website:

For more information and to book visit:

http://www.mandeville.co.uk/

Hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

 

 

 

Tried and Tested: Paul Mitchell hair-care

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This week I would like to tell you about Paul Mitchell’s hair-care. I normally use either Kerastase or Tony & Guy’s ranges but I wanted to try something new so I got some products from Paul Mitchell. As I have quite fine hair, I went for 4 products from Paul Mitchell’s Extra Body Range and 2 products from Extra Strength Range.

The products that I tested were:

Extra-Body Daily Shampoo – is a great volumizing shampoo that cleanses and adds a body to fine to normal hair.My hair smelt lovely and had a lovely, healthy shine after I used it combined with the conditioner from the same range.

Extra-Body Daily Rinse – is a great daily conditioner that de-tangles and adds volume to fine hair, leaving locks full of body and shine. In addition, it helps repair and prevent damage caused by blow-drying and styling.

Thicken-up styling liquid – is a great styling product that made my thin hair feel thicker. What’s more important, my hair bounced and looked healthy as it added some extra shine and definition to it.

I finished styling my hair with a great Extra-Body Firm Finishing Spray that fights frizz, boosts volume and adds shine. The ingredients such as panthenol and hydrolyzed wheat protein build body so my hair looked and felt thicker.

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Secondly, I would like to tell you about 2 products from the Super Strong range:

Super Strong Daily Conditioner – its formula repairs and protects worn-down locks, leaving hair soft, smooth and moisturized. I would recommend it to anyone who wishes rebuild the internal structure of hair and get a soft and smooth hair.

Super Strong Treatment – it is a great treatment (should be used weekly) that strengthens and rebuilds troubled hair, improving elasticity and protecting from further damage. In addition, it made my hair more manageable and easier to style.

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I would definitely try some more products from Paul Mitchell’s ranges as they made my feel look and feel beautiful. You should all give this brand a go-they have lots of different ranges to choose from.

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Pauline

 

 

JAPANESE AFTERNOON TEA at Silk restaurant at Courthouse Hotel, London

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This week, I would like to tell you about my Japanese Afternoon Tea experience at Number Twelve at Courthouse Hotel. I was accompanied by my fiancé-James.

Venue and location:

The Courthouse hotel is a 5 star luxury hotel located in a Grade II Listed Magistrates Court in Mayfair, Central London. It is just situated a couple of minutes’ walk from Oxford Street Station and a stone’s throw away from the famous Liberty London department store.

Japanese Afternoon Tea is served in the Silk Restaurant. It can be found just off the hotel lobby in a classic courtroom setting. It offers innovative Asian fusion cuisine and exotic menu and it features the original judge’s bench, dock and witness stand from its days as the Great Marlborough Street Magistrates Court.

Times:

Afternoon Tea is served from 3 pm until 5 pm Monday to Sunday.

Atmosphere:

We reached Silk Restaurant a little bit earlier so we decided to have a quick drink at the hotel’s Sky Terrace Bar located on the 6th floor.

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At around 2:45 p.m. we went downstairs to start our Japanese Afternoon Experience. We were acknowledged straight away and given a table next to the witness stand. The restaurant is very charming and offers a romantic setting to its dinners. There was also a relaxing music playing in the background. We were served by Ana Maria and Jozeph who were both extremely friendly and attentive.

The menu:

We started our Afternoon Tea with a glass of delicious, sweet plum Japanese wine. I am not much of a drinker but I really enjoyed it and will definitely try some other Japanese wines soon. Very shortly after that, we received a selection of sweet and savory treats prepared by Head Chef Rajesh Parmar and his talented team. We both really enjoyed them and emptied our plater very swiftly.

Our sweet treats included:

  • APRICOT & ALMOND CAKE
  • YUZU TART- Tart made from Japanese citrus

Our savory treats included:

  • DAIFUKU – Rice cake with Azuki beans filling
  • TAMAGO – Japanese style sweet omelette
  • INARI POCKET – Honey marinated tofu fillet with rice
  • STEAMED VEGETABLE GYOZA – Hearty and flavorful dumpling
  • CALIFORNIA MAKI – Inside out sushi roll with cucumber, and smoked salmon
  • VEGETABLE FUTOMAKI- Large sushi roll filled with vegetables

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Dress code:

The dress code at Courthouse Hotel is smart casual. I decided to wear my black and white Lipsy dress with some Aldo sandals.

Overall experience:

I really enjoyed our Japanese Afternoon Tea experience at Silk Restaurant at Courthouse Hotel. It is an Afternoon Tea with a twist so if you are tired of traditional sandwiches, scones and pastries then you definitely need to experience it. Silk Restaurant offers amazing cuisine in a magnificent settings so I would definitely advise you to visit it next time you are in central London.

Price:

Japanese Afternoon Tea costs £29.50 per person and for an additional £10.50 you can upgrade it to receive a glass of sweet Japanese Plum Wine or a glass of Champagne.

Website:

http://www.courthouse-hotel.com/restaurantsandbars-en.html

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Pauline

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

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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

Afternoon Tea at Number Twelve at Ambassadors Bloomsbury Hotel

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This week, I would like to tell you about my Afternoon Tea at Number Twelve at Ambassadors Bloomsbury Hotel. As my fiancé was on his stag last weekend, I decided that it would be lovely to catch-up with my friend-Karen and what’s better than chit-chat while having some delicious Afternoon Tea treats.

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Venue and location:

A Traditional Afternoon Tea menu is served in Number Twelve Restaurant, which provides a stress-free atmosphere. Number Twelve Restaurant can be found at an independent Ambassadors Bloomsbury Hotel that was built in the late 1800’s. It is located in central London and easily accessible by public transport and the nearest tube station-Euston is around 3 minutes away.

In addition, the Ambassadors Bloomsbury hotel, is positioned within walking distance of Russell Square, Euston and Kings Cross St. Pancras stations which are all within 10 minutes’ walk.

Times:

Afternoon Tea is served from 2:30 pm until 4 pm Monday to Saturday and on Sunday from 2pm until 7pm.

Atmosphere:

I reached Number Twelve Restaurant at around 1:55 p.m. and my friend-Karen arrived a few minutes later. We were given a table next to the window. There was a soft, relaxing music playing in the background.

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The menu:

As it was absolutely boiling outside (not typical weather for London), we both decided to try some ice tea infusion drinks rather than a traditional hot tea. They were definitely the highlight of my Afternoon Tea experience at Number Twelve restaurant. We received a selection of sandwiches and a stand of the sweet treats shortly after ordering our first ice tea drink. Ice tea infusions are a selection of normal tea infusions that are served over ice in a tall glass with fresh fruit. They were very refreshing and tasty – drinking them felt like having some non-alcoholic cocktails. We ended up having three delicious ice teas.

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Firstly, we had some marvellous Richmond Green Mint Mojito Tea.

Secondly, we had some Richmond Forest Fruits Tea.

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Lastly, we ordered some Richmond Peach Lemon Star Tea.

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In addition, I really enjoyed a selection of delicious cakes and pastries. Subsequently, I had a lovely, homemade scone which was accompanied by some Devonshire clotted cream with strawberry and raspberry preserve.

My friend received a nice selection of fresh fruits as a gluten-free alternative to my scones.

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Dress code:

The dress code at Ambassadors Bloomsbury is smart casual. I decided to wear navy jacket from Karen Millen, white and navy top from Next and Christian Dior black skirt. I finished my look with a pair of Kurt Geiger black hills.

Overall experience:

Number Twelve Restaurant at Ambassadors Bloomsbury Hotel offers a delicious Afternoon Tea with a twist. You should definitely visit to try one of their Ice-Teas-I loved them and they are a perfect drink to refresh with during the hot, sunny days. Number Twelve restaurant offers a British Italian fusion cuisine and is also open for breakfast and dinner so give it a go next time you are in the area. Don’t forget to have a glass of bubbly to complete your experience.

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Price:

Is very affordable – it costs £25 per person for a classic Afternoon Tea or £35 per person for a Champagne Afternoon Tea.

Website:

http://www.numbertwelverestaurant.co.uk/afternoon-tea.html

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Pauline

A fashion show organised by London Fashion Kick

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I recently attended the second edition of LFK (London Fashion Kick) fashion show at DoubleTree by Hilton hotel recently.

The event showcased some novel designers and their latest collections:

  • N’ella by Daniela Vitale
  • Swimwear by Parys
  • Shaleena Nowbuth Collection by Shaleena Nowbuth
  • Zsazsazsu by Martina Silllano
  • Chloe Simmons
  • Louise Ferdinand Lingerie by Sandra Palmer
  • 7Hills by Guada Dulce

The fashion show started at 12:30 and all the attendees were able to admire some cutting-edge collections. I was really fond of a swimwear collection by Parys.

At 13:00 we all went to the main meeting hall providing us with an opportunity to mingle with some stylists, journalists, bloggers and fashion designers. After some informal networking, with a glass of prosecco in hand, I made my way to the Italian Food Tasting experiences including some great canapes, pasta, etc. The pop-up shop opened up around 15:30 and the event closed at 19:30.

I hope to attend some more LFK events in the near future.

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Pauline

Nutribuddy’s Weight Loss Kit

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As my wedding approaches, I would love to try to lose a little bit more weight. This week I decided to try Nutribuddy’s Weight Loss Kit.

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According to the information I read on the website, Nutribuddy Weight Loss Kit is:

  • Suitable for vegetarians
  • Suitable for diabetics
  • 100% natural ingredients
  • Side-effect free

First impression:

I love how the kit looks-the combination of white and pink and peach colours of the packaging are very appealing.

What’s in the box?

Nutribuddy Weight Loss Kit contains:

1. Sculpting Whey Shake – a delicious and low-calories shake (115 calories per serving).

IMG_83352. Hunger Fix tablets – the appetite suppressing capsules that are clinically proven to help weight loss.

3. Multivitamin tablets –tablets that contain both vitamins & minerals to help maintain the overall well-being.

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4. Shaker Bottle – great, dishwasher-safe and stylish shaker bottle for mixing up the Sculpting Whey Shake.

IMG_83335. Little Book of Weight Loss – a booklet which contains lots of facts about the products included in the Kit and information on how to take them.

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6. Recipe Book –a small book with some interesting recipe ideas.

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Price: The kit is £34.99

Website:

You can read more about all the products on Nutribuddy’s website:

http://nutribuddy.com/

Hope you enjoyed reading this review! I will let you know if the kit works.

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Pauline

Gravitate Nutrition Supplements: 30 days later

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Are you trying to lose weight? I definitely am!

If you follow my blog and read it regularly then you will probably remember that I have recently started using the Gravitate Nutrition-a dietary supplement made from 100% natural ingredients. Gravitate Nutrition is a combination of two types of dietary supplements – Gravitate SuperSculpt and Gravitate DietVits, both of which are formulated to trigger key areas of weight loss. You can read more about it then please read my previous post:

https://firstclasslounge.net/2016/06/15/gravitate-nutritions-weight-loss-kit/

So, did it work? I’ve been using Gravitate SuperSculpt and Gravitate DietVits for the last 30 days and attending the gym 3-5 times a week:

  • I lost 1.5 kg.
  • My waist measurements decreased by 1cm.
  • My hips measurements decreased by 2.5cm.
  • My appetite was suppressed so I wasn’t feeling hungry often and when I did I ate less.

Verdict:

After using Gravitate Nutrition supplements for the last 30 days, I am extremely pleased with the results I achieved in such a short time. If you have any big events coming up and want to slim down then you should definitely try it.

The product comes with 35-day money back guarantee so you are not risking anything. Most importantly though, there are no known side effects of using these supplement and they are 100 % natural so you will not hurt your health.

You can only purchase Gravitate supplements online directly from the official website:

http://gravitatenutrition.com/

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

Hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

Qi Energy Treatment at Qi Wellness, London

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Last week, I tried a Qi Energy treatment at the Qi Wellness Centre in central London.

Location:

Qi Wellness Centre is conveniently located just around a corner from the Oxford Street Tube Station in Margaret Street.

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Centre:

I decided to have an evening Qi Energy treatment so went to Qi Wellness feeling stressed and tired after a full day at work. As soon as I arrived, it felt like I’ve entered an oasis of calmness. The reception area looked very bright and I was welcomed by a friendly receptionist who asked me to fill in a short form describing myself and my current physical and mental condition. She then showed me around the centre and members relaxation area.

Treatment:

After a short wait (I arrived too early), I was taken to the treatment room.

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The treatment was conducted by an extremely welcoming Leigh-Anne and took around half an hour. It started with a short consultation where my therapist explained what Qi Energy is and told me about the treatment.

Leigh-Anne explained that Qi is the fundamental energy that creates and supports life. It is nature’s primary source of energy and what keeps everything in balance and harmony. When we have sufficient Qi, we have health and vitality; but if our Qi is deficient or blocked, stress and ill health may occur. The  treatment aims to release tension, stress and detoxifies the body. It also helps to promote the body’s own natural healing ability by reinforcing the flow of Qi.

After a short conversation, I was asked to lie on the bed and my Qi Energy treatment started. It was similar to acupressure I’d experienced previously. In treatment, physical pressure was applied by hand to different points on the body with the aim of clearing any blockages I might have. However the pressure was accompanied by hissing sounds from Leigh Anne.

I left feeling happy, relaxed and calm. It was great to have some time for myself and stop thinking about my work or upcoming wedding.

Overall:

I really enjoyed my Qi energy treatment and will definitely visit again soon to escape a hassle and bustle of my busy life.

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Qi Wellness also runs classes (Qi Energy & Chanting) and ancestor healing so if you are interested then check their website or blog for more information:

http://www.qiwellness.org/

http://www.qiwellnessblog.co.uk/

Alternatively, you can always check and follow their social accounts.

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Hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

‘What A Melon’ launch party

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I was invited to attend the launch party of the ‘What A Melon’ drink last week.

Location:

The day-party was held on a rooftop beach called Brixton Beach Boulevard by the Brixton Food market. The venue is conveniently located just off Popes Road in Brixton-just a few minutes’ walk from the tube station. The rooftop space has been transformed into a 1980s playground of music, street food, cocktails and sunshine!

Drink:

Watermelon water from What A Melon has mouth-watering taste of summer that’s packed full of rehydrating electrolytes. A delicious alternative to coconut water, it’s just the water from a watermelon with a fresh squeeze of lemon. It is 100% natural and doesn’t contain any added sugar, water, artificial ingredients or preservatives.

Party:

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A famous DJ-Groove Armada was playing while we were sipping some summer cocktails based on What A Melon water. It was a lot of fun, dancing and entertainment! There was also a photo-booth so we took a few crazy photos:

All guests could also enjoy some complimentary drinks. There were a few different cocktails to choose from:

  • Miami nice – Definitely my favorite cocktail as it was refreshing and sweet. It was made of vodka, what a melon water and a handful of mint on ice.
  • Melon-rita – a classic margarita with a gorgeous splash of what a melon water.
  • The G m’T – G & T with a splash of what a melon water and some cucumber.

Dress Code:

Dress Code was Watermelon Fresh so I decided to wear one of my summery Moschino dresses and paired it with a pair of colourful sandals from Kurt Geiger.

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline