Tag: Lifestyleblog

Shopping in Queens Centre– the most diverse borough in NYC

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As some of you know I love shopping. I was in New York City over the Thanksgiving period and as a result I was able to do some Black Friday shopping. The options on where to shop whilst in New York are all but limitless. New York has some of the best department stores in the world, including Saks, Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s and countless Fifth Avenue boutique shops. I was advised by my friend to go shopping in Queens Center and I really enjoyed it. I love shopping and for all the shopaholics among us, a destination filled with shops, boutiques as well as eateries to escape the busy hustle and bustle of shops sounds like the ideal day out. Well for me, it certainly was as I left my husband at the hotel after our breakfast and spent my day at Queens Centre. I ended up being there for 6 hours and came back with multiple shopping bags filled with goods from Kiko Milano, Gap and my beautiful new handbag and pouch from Armani Exchange in addition to some other bits and bobs. In addition, I also managed to collect almost 19,000 steps on my iWatch. Clearly shopping is not only good for your mind. I often go shopping to treat myself when I am stressed but what I also realized that it clearly made me more active on that day.

Stores: 

The Queens Centre has recently been renovated and offers its visitors an opportunity to shop in the modern, spacious surroundings. I discovered that Queens Center attracts nearly 27 million shoppers annually, compared to:
– 20 million visitors to Niagara Falls
– 17.4 million visitors to Disneyland
That is more than the combined, annual total number of visitors to: The Eiffel Tower (7 million) or The Statue of Liberty (4.2 million) so you should definitely check it out!

Everyone can find the brands they like in there ranging from a very popular JCPenney’s and Macy’s, Apple, A|X Armani Exchange, to all other known retailers such as TDisney Store, Hollister, MAC, Swarovski, Forever 21, H&M or Michael Kors. I went to many of these stores and managed to splash some cash on the goods from GAP, Kiko Milano, Armani Exchange as well as some small bits and bobs from the other brands. I was offered a first class suburban shopping experience in an urban environment.

If you feel you need a break from all the shopping, it makes sense to enjoy one of the eateries. In addition, you can also grab some chocolates from Godiva or a piece of cake from The Cheescake Factory to enjoy later.

Discounts: 

As I was in Queens Centre during the Black Friday the discounts were pretty hefty however if you decide to visit this great mall during other periods of the year then some special discounts are available to all out-of-town guests. When I went to the Concierge (that is located at the top floor of the mall) and provided her with my Business Card I received the Visitors Savings URL and the secret Password that gave me the access to the deals! You should definitely check it out!

Location & how to get there:

Queens Centre is located in the heart of Queens in Elmhurst in New York. Queens is a dynamic borough rich in Arts & Culture and can be described as the most diverse borough in New York City.  If you would like to experience live entertainment, music performances or art galleries then you should definitely add it to your travel itinerary whilst in NYC.

Queens Centre is easily accessible by public transport – I took a subway train to get there and it only took 35 min from Manhattan. It is well placed and a mass transit hub, at the intersections of Queens Boulevard, the Long Island Expressway and Woodhaven
Boulevard.

Opening hours :

These opening hours change during the special events like i.e. Black Friday when Queens Centre was open until 2a.m. but usually the Queens Centre is open until 10 p.m. at most days.

Address:

90-15 Queens Blvd

Elmhurst, NY 11373

Website: 

http://www.shopqueenscenter.com/

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Pauline

Tried and Tested: Eye of Horus, Brow Fibre Extend!

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This week, I would like to tell you about the new launch of vegan approved, Brow Fibre Extend from Eye of Horus.

brows

I’ve tried this product recently as I wanted to fill some gaps in my eyebrows. Nicely defined brows help to open the eye and make your face look more profiled and sexy. I normally use eye-brow pencils but as I love trying new products, I was looking forward to trying this eyebrow fibre. The product is made by Eye of Horus-an Australian brand of colour cosmetics that takes inspiration from the Ancient Egyptians, the originators of Beauty Products. It was interesting to discover that the iconic Eye of Horus was a spiritual symbol of the ancient Egyptians who lined their eyes with black Kohl, creating an almond-shaped eye symbol – which was believed to protect their eyes as well as providing a statement of beauty.

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Eye of Horus Brow Fibre Extend, comes in 3 shades, light, medium and dark. As I have brown hair I decide to go for a dark shade which looked natural and gave me an instant definition to my brows. The product contains organic brow enhancing botanicals such as Pelvetia Canaliculata Extract and Laminaria Digitata and Moringa Oil to assist in brow hair growth and make them looks healthy.

The key product features described on the website are:

  • Subtle colour to brow and sets in a long wearing formula
  • Water resistant
  • Vegan & cruelty-free
  • Talc Free
  • Paraben Free

Price: £19.00

Result:

If you are looking for a natural, vegan and paraben friendly range eye brow products then you should definitely try it. Mineral pigments give will fill in and gaps and define your eyes with adding a subtle color to your eyebrows. What I personally like the most that the product has a long-lasting formula and I do not need to re-apply it during the day.

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

CAKE Restaurant Payment app

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Do you live or work in central London? If you do then I would like to tell you about CAKE – the new payment application for Londoners. I decided to give it a go as I go out regularly and the application promises to make it easier to enjoy London’s best restaurants and bars.

You can pay or split your bill all in one app.

Firstly, you can plan where to eat by browsing the places nearby or see a full list of places where you can pay with the app when you tap ‘Explore’.

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As soon as you are sure where you would like to go for your meal or drinks you can contact the venue to request a table.

There is a good selection of restaurants and bars to choose from. Some of the restaurants that CAKE collaborates with are:

  • Rum Kitchen
  • Bunga Bunga
  • Tonteria
  • Lima
  • 100 Kensington
  • Aroma Italia
  • Bar American

As my husband loves Indian food, on Tuesday we decided to book a table at Cinnamon Bazaar located in Covent Garden.

The experience:

After we had our meal at Cinnamon Bazaar we let our server know that we wanted to pay with CAKE. The payment was simple-when I opened a tab in the app and showed my reference number to my waiter who then connected my bill to the app. The payment amount owed was shown in the app and when I approved it the payment was made. There was also an option to split a bill with other dinners which would be really handy if you went out with friends.

Overall experience:

I really enjoyed using CAKE app as it gives anyone opportunity to browse and pay for your meal at many local cafes and restaurants. In addition, the app offers you the possibility to quickly split your bill if you decide to use it while out with your friends.

Hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

Henley Royal Regatta, Henley-on-Thames

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I have recently experienced Henley Royal Regatta with my colleagues.

Henley_regatta

If you are keen on watching some exciting rowing events then Henley Royal Regatta is definitely an event you should attend. It is held annually on the River Thames in the picturesque town of Henley-on-Thames.

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It has a long tradition dating back to 1839 and the event lasts for five days (Wednesday to Sunday) ending normally on the first weekend in July.

The races are over a course of 1 mile and many home and international teams compete in it every year. The regatta pre-dates both national or international rowing organisation and it has its own rules.

We were lucky to be invited to join the Royal Stewards Enclosure.

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It is situated on the Berkshire bank, opposite the Finish Line and reserved for Members and their Guests. Stuarts are responsible for organising the event and in many cases are former rowers themselves. The Stewards Enclosure has a very strict dress code. A lounge suit or jacket with flannels and a tie or cravat is required for men and dresses and skirts (hemlines beneath the knee) are required for women.

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The regatta is known to be one of the most prestigious events of the English social season and lots of celebrities visit the Royal Stewards Enclosure yearly. Some of my colleagues saw George Clooney who lives not far from Henley enjoying the event.

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We had a lovely day out as a team. As the weather was amazing it was really relaxing and whilst I was sipping my Champagne I almost forgot that I was at the work event!

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I would definitely recommend attending but be careful what you wear as if you do not meet the strict dress code, you’ll be turned away.

Hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

 

 

Tried and Tested: Maui Moisture Bamboo Fibers Collection

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As some of you probably know, I really enjoy trying new hair products.  A couple of weeks ago, I came across the Maui Moisture range. The range consists of shampoos, conditioners and hair treatments. What really intrigued me was that all Maui moisture products are made with 100% pure aloe juice and are infused with pure Coconut Water instead of regular water. The range doesn’t include any:

  • mineral oils
  • silicones
  • sulfate surfactants
  • synthetic dyes

There are five ranges available however as I have fine hair, I decided to try the Maui Moisture Thicken & Restore Bamboo Fibers Collection.

Maui-Moisture-Thicken-Restore-Bamboo-Fibers-Shampoo2

The range helps to enhance and strengthen your hair and gives a fuller-looking hair that smells amazing and looks healthy. It consists of:

  • Maui Moisture Thicken & Restore Bamboo Fibers Shampoo (385 ml)
  • Maui Moisture Thicken & Restore Bamboo Fibers Conditioner (385 ml)
  • Maui Moisture Thicken & Restore Bamboo Fibers Blow-out mist (236 ml)

The unique blend of aloe vera juice, infused with coconut water, bamboo fibers, castor oil and neem oil helps to strengthen hair and encourage healthy-looking glow.

Result:

If you are looking for a natural, vegan friendly range of hair care then you should definitely give ‘maui moisture’ a go. The range not only smells sensational but it also helps you to gently cleanse, restore and rejuvenate your hair. My hair looks fuller and feels thicker and stronger and I’ve only been using it for slightly over 2 week now.

Give it a go!

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

Ross & Ross – Wedding Anniversary Foodie Gift Idea

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It is our first wedding anniversary next week. My husband is a git of a computer geek so he requested some vouchers so he can buy a new gaming equipment. I wanted to also get him something he can enjoy straight away and as both myself and my husband are massive foodies I decided to get him The XL Man Box from Ross and Ross.

Company:

Ross & Ross is a small, multi award winning fine food company based in the Cotswolds. It specializes in Wedding & Event Catering and Handmade British food gifts. The company has just won 2 stars in The Great Taste Awards for their BBQ Salt and The Cotswold Pig-the beer that goes into a lot of the hampers. In addition, Ross and Ross won some other awards including:

  • Winner of ‘Gift of the Year’ Food & Drink Award 2017 (Homemade Curing Kit, Salmon)
  • Finalists of Best Independent Retailer Award at the Cotswold Life Food & Drink Awards 2017

The owners Ross Bearman and Ross Whitmill share a passion for great British food. They have worked in the fine food industry for over 15 years. Their website offers a range of fine-food gift boxes and last year they expanded the popular Man Box collection to include a cider variety in addition to launching The Homemade Curing Kit.

Who are the boxes for?

The boxes are suitable for any male that enjoy a quality food and beverage. Ross & Ross range ranges from themed Father’s Day and Wedding boxes (for Ushers, Best Man, Father of the Bride) to generic boxes suitable for any occasion.

I decided to get my husband The XL Man Box described on the website as:

‘It’s BIG, it’s spicy and totally separates the men from the boys.’

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The XL Man Box contains:

  • Premium Cotswold Lager, 5.0% 330ml Made by The Cotswold Brewing Co, Bourton on the Water. A smooth, subtle lager with a soft, fruity flavour. Additive free, preservative free and unpasteurised for the freshest, truest possible taste.
  • Cotswold Pig Ale, 4.4%, 500ml Made by Stratford-upon-Avon Brewery
  • British Charcuterie 100g – Original Salami Made by the Cotswold Curer, Cirencester. Artisan producer of salami and chorizo made from locally sourced free range pork in the Cotswolds.
  • British Charcuterie 100g – Spicy Chorizo Made by the Cotswold Curer, Cirencester. Artisan producer of salami and chorizo made from locally sourced free range pork in the Cotswolds.
  • Mr Trotter’s Great British Crackling – Original 60g Pork Scratchings made from 100% prime British pork skin from the finest British pigs.
  • Mr Trotter’s Great British Crackling – Jalapeno Chilli 60g Pork Scratchings made from 100% prime British pork skin from the finest British pigs.
  • Plum Chutney 115g jar Slow cooked Cotswold plums with spices and apples. A great all-rounder for cheeses and terrines.

Prices:

All Ross & Ross boxes are reasonably priced and offer a great selection of gifts ranging from £20-40.

Please refer to the website for more details.

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Pauline

Losing weight with The Diet Plate

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If you are one of my loyal followers then I am sure that you have realised that I may have put on a bit of weight recently… I was travelling a lot, eating a lot of unhealthy food and didn’t have much time to exercise. It is the beginning of June though and as I am planning to go for my holidays in September or October this year, I’ve decided it’s time to start doing something about my weigh.

First step was to re-join my gym. I really enjoy exercising in the morning before work and it gives me some extra energy to face a day ahead. It’s always nice to have something accomplished by the time I get to the office.

Secondly, I did some research and this time I decided to start a diet plan that I would stick to, in order to achieve my dream weight. I came across the Diet Plate.

PLATE ONLY RANGE Small

It is a visual method of weight loss by controlling the portions sizes and adjusting the nutritional food values directly at the point of serving your food. I really liked that concept because it means that I can have most foods and as long as I follow the portion sizes. It also means that I do not have to cook something separately and can have a dinner with my husband eating the same food. What else could I ask for?
I have also read that The Diet Plate was clinically trialled and the results state that anyone using it is 6 times more likely to lose weight rather than going it alone. The endocrinologist Dr Sue Pedersen from the University of Calgary, said the results were “outstanding and ground breaking!”.
The Women’s Complete Set of plates costs only £31.99 and is dishwasher and microwave safe.

How to use it?

Step 1 -get your own set of plates:

femalebowl & booklet NEW

Step 2 – Learn how to use your plates:

How to use plate

3. Fill in the plate and enjoy:

finished plate

Thirdly, I joined The Diet Plate® online programme which works independently or with the Diet Plate set. It has taken 3 years of development and what I love the most about this programme is that when you join it you can decide how much weight you wish to lose and how quickly you wish to achieve it. Consequently, the programme calculates how long it will take you to reach your ideal weight so you know it from the start of your weight loss adventure. I’ve been using it for a few weeks now and I can see a steady weight loss.
What’s great is that The Diet Plate® online programme works for anyone so you can use it. It doesn’t matter if you are underweight and wish to gain weight or if you wish to lose weight or maintain goal weight. It is very personal and it almost feels like you are using a personal dietician. I love the dashboards that display a lot of important information and help me make informed choices. I am able to see the nutritional content of my food at a glance and combine foods together i.e. for salad you can add all its components and it will display the overall nutritional KCAL value. In addition, I found them quite motivating as they display a break down with lots of short term goals that show how far I’ve come. You can access it from any device that has an Internet connection.
The programme is extremely affordable and you can decide how long you wish to register for.

Results:
I’ve been using the plan for a couple of weeks now and I love it. I can see a steady weight loss and as long as I manage my portion size and do not exceed my calories allowance I can eat whatever I wish to. The Diet Plate online programme is the best diet plan I’ve ever used and a set of Diet plates should become a kitchen must-have for anyone who wishes to lose or gain a bit of weight.

Website:

You can learn more about the programme and purchase it on the official website:

http://www.thedietplate.com/

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

 

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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