Tag: #lifestyleblogger

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.

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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

Another summer ball with my family

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A few weeks ago, we was invited by my father-in-law to attend a summer ball at Porters Park Golf Club which is located in Hertfordshire.

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As I was attending a different event during the day we arrived just in time for a champagne reception. It was nice catching up to my in-laws and shortly after we were invited to take our seats in the beautifully decorated marquee.

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There were around 180 golf club members and their guests present during the evening.

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The event begun with some speeches. Soon after, whilst sipping some white wine, we were listening to the awards granted to the best players. Subsequently, we were served a 3-courses dinner. There was a live entertainment provided by performers from the Déjà vu band. 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. Even my husband who doesn’t like dancing, joined me on a dance-floor.

Summer Ball Menu included:

Starter – Sea Trout & Asparagus

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The starter was delicious and the sea trout was roasted until crisp with lemon thyme. It was served with some steamed buttered asparagus, warmed new potatoes and grilled baby tomatoes.

Main – Rosemary Roast Lamp Rump

I really enjoyed the main -a prime rump of lamb cooked with fresh rosemary till just pink. It was served alongside a rich cream & garlic dauphinouse, baby summer vegetables, a mint and some red wine sauce.

Dessert – Trio of Desserts

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Desserts are always my favorite part of any meal. During the summer ball we received 3 mini desserts – blackcurrant & vanilla cheesecake, mini chocolate pot and summer berries with a sweet coulis.

Dress Code:

Dress Code for the event was black tie so I decided to wear one of my ball-gowns from COAST paired with some Jenny Peckham’s hills.

To sum up, we both had a great evening of fine dining and dancing. Where shall we go next?

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

De Vere Wokefield Estate, UK

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I travel on business a lot and a couple of weeks ago, I stayed at De Vere Wokefield Estate.

Location:

De Vere Wokefield Estate is located 25 minutes drive from the Reading train station or 40 minutes drive from Heathrow Airport. It is set inside of a golf course in 250 acres of Berkshire parkland.

DE VERE WOKEFIELD ESTATE entrance

Facilities:

De Vere Wokefield Estate has a 24-hours reception and a Business Centre.

DE VERE WOKEFIELD ESTATE reception

Wi-Fi is available at no extra charge. The hotel caters for both business and personal events from weddings to meetings and team-building exercises. The hotel has a restaurant, bar and a room service.

The restaurant serves a nice selection of buffet items for breakfast and dinner. The bar offers a nice selection of gourmet food but I wouldn’t advise to eat in there. Firstly, the service was extremely slow-I was waiting for my steak for 2 hours… Secondly, I was disappointed with the bar staff as they should have at least warned me and my colleague about the waiting time before we ordered. Food was reasonably priced but my steak was really solid and I ended up only having half of it.

In addition, if you like playing golf then De Vere Wokefield Estate is surrounded by an 18-hole championship golf course with 9 lakes. You can also buy some professional golf merchandise on-site.

Room:

De Vere Wokefield Estate offers rooms in either the sleek Executive Centre or in the elegant Mansion House. I stayed at the Executive Centre. My room had a  modern, stylish decor. My king-size bed was comfortable and room also had a study desk and a large TV.

DE VERE WOKEFIELD ESTATE bed

The bathroom had a simple décor – bath, shower, hairdryer and toiletries were available.

Overall:

De Vere Wokefield Estate is a great place to unwind after a day of work or during the weekend. If you travel to Reading on business then I would definitely recommend it as it is much nicer then most hotels based in the city centre. 

Address:

Goodboys Lane, Reading
RG7 3AE

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

Hilton Garden Inn Hotel in Bristol, UK

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Last month, my mum came to stay with me for a few days and we decided to go to Bristol for a couple of days. We stayed at Hilton Garden Inn Bristol City Centre.

Location:

Hilton Garden Inn Bristol hotel is located 15 minutes walk from the Bristol train station in a quiet business area. In addition, it is only 5 minutes from Temple Meads Station and 10-minutes train ride from Bath Spa. The shopping centre is located barely 5 min away so if you are planning a bit of retail therapy then look no further. 

Facilities:

Hilton Garden Inn Hotel has a 24-hours reception, baggage storage room, restaurant and a room service. Wi-Fi is available at no extra charge. The fitness center is open 24 hours a day. The Races reception serves a nice breakfast to start your day with. During the evening you can choose from a range of International and British dishes but I wasn’t impressed with their quality.

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The hotel has 2 meeting rooms that can host a conference or private event for up to 60 guests and if you wish to make your stay extra special then you can request to stay in one of the rooms with a picturesque view of Temple Gardens.

Room:

We stayed in a Queen Guest Room had a nice, contemporary décor.

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Our room had a mini-fridge, work desk and a chair. I addition, there was a large 32-inch LCD TV. The bed which was comfortable and easy to fell asleep in.

The bathroom was small and had some basic toiletries were provided.

Overall:

Hilton Garden Inn Bristol hotel has simple yet comfortable facilities in addition to great location. I would recommend it to anyone who travels to Bristol on business or for pleasure.

Address:

Temple Way, Bristol, BS1 6BF, United Kingdom

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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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:

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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!

X

Pauline

 

Tried and Tested: Jan Marini Rejuvenate & Protect Duo

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Today I would like to tell you about the Jan Marini Rejuvenate & Protect Serum and Moisturiser that I’ve tried recently. I love trying new products so I was really looking forward to trying this range.

Firstly, I applied C-ESTA Serum based on vitamin C and DMAE – a powerful antioxidant cocktail which neutralizes free radicals to prevent skin cell damage. Other ingredients of this serum include: Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamins (B6 & E), Tyrosine and Zinc. They are great if you wish to prevent premature signs of aging, including fine lines and wrinkles. C-ESTA Serum is a perfect solution for younger, healthier looking skin and it protects your skin against future damage. In addition, Hyaluronic Acid stimulates collagen production for firmer, more resilient skin.

Secondly, I applied Jan Marini Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant over my Elemis moisturiser. It is a great weightless, daily face sunscreen that provides both UVA and UVB protection. This invisible revolutionary shield offers unequalled skin protection against toxins and decrease the risk of cancer and early skin aging caused by the sun. Jan Marini Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant is fast-absorbing and it contains microscopic particles for additional oil control. It can be worn with or without makeup.

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Price:

£95.00 for both products and currently you can also get a free cleanser if you purchase a set.

Website:

https://www.dermacaredirect.co.uk/jan-marini-rejuvenate-protect.html

Overall result:

I have been using Jan Marini Rejuvenate & Protect Duo for over 3 weeks now. My skin looks radiant and has a more even tone. I have a combination skin so I was worried at first whether the products will be too heavy but they are both suitable for all skin types and absorb quickly.
My skin looks younger and I’ve already seen an improvement. My fine lines seem less visible and my skin is lastingly glowing with youthful beauty. I even declined to wear make-up over the weekend as I like how radiant and fresh I look.

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

X

Pauline

 

2017 Summer Must-haves

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Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you’re having a great weekend! As I started preparing for my summer holidays I put together a short ‘2017 Summer Must-haves’ list. I hope you will find it useful and it will give you some inspiration on the products worth getting this season.

1. me&i Summer Dress

I recently came across me&i and liked their summer collection of dresses. me&i was founded in 2004 from the kitchen table in Barsebäck, Southern Sweden and since then grew massively. As of now, the company has 850 sales representatives who bring the brand and the clothes to their client’s houses.  According to the website: ‘me&i is a Swedish clothing company that makes clothes with a unique design and comfortable fit.’ All products are made using high quality soft materials and are manufactured in Portugal and Turkey. me&i launches new kids’ and womenswear’ collections twice a year- one kids’ collection and one women’s collection.

I decided to order a lively, slim- fit dress with dotty diagonal stripes. The dress has a sleeveless boat-neck and is draped at the side for a flattering fit. What I like the most about it is that you can adjust the length from calf-length to short meaning that you can adopt it for everyday wear as well as for smart occasions. As it was extremely warm and sunny in London last week, wore it on its own when I went for a lunch with one of my friends and then on another day I paired it with a simple PhaseEight jacket and wore it to work. If you are looking for a comfortable, affordable, high quality clothes than you should definitely check me&i’s website:

http://www.meandi.com/en

2. A perfect Japonesque – Brow Kit

In a search for a few summer and travel friendly products I came across a Brow Kit from
Japonesque. This beautiful set contains the professional crafting tools including:
– tweezer- to get rid of any unwanted hair;
– brow powders- to provide your eyebrows with some definition;
– wax and gel for perfect setting and finishing touch.
This summery set comes in a pink, travel friendly, small compact that not only looks
stylish but also contains a high-quality travel version of all eyebrow essentials:

https://face.co.uk/collections/japonesque/products/japonesque-brow-kit

japonesque-brow-kit-3_grande3. Nomad Design Eye Masks

All of us need some pampering and Nomand Design has some lovely lavender scented and velvet backed eye masks. They are the perfect accessory to to keep you looking and
feeling fresh. The masks will help you ensure that rested and ready to face a next day ahead. I believe in aromatherapy so I loved the concept behind the mask to combine a luxurious mask and lavender aromas that help to unwind and encourage sleep. The masks are made from the traditional silk Ikat. The masks are hand dyed and handwoven by weavers in Uzbekistan and come in a selection of four jewel colours. I got a pink masks and it looks very glamorous!

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The collection is available on Nomad Design’s website:

https://www.nomaddesign.co.uk/eye-masks/

I love all 3 products from this Summer Must-haves list and I hope you will like them as much as I do.
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!
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Pauline

Tried and Tested: SkinYoga Face Scrub

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I have recently received a box of Almond Orange Face Scrub from SkinYoga.

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SkinYoga range is 100% natural skincare that was created for people who wish to move into a more natural lifestyle. All products are fragrance-free, preservative-free and paraben-free and they are inspired from ancient times to be adopted in our modern day lifestyle.

SkinYoga Almond Orange Face Scrub comes in a lovely wooden box so it is perfect for a gift. This luxurious at home facial spa treatment is vegan friendly and contains: Almond Meal, Dried Orange Peel, Chickpea flour, Organic Turmeric. The ingredients of this lavish Face Scrub will make your skin smoother, softer, hydrated. The product aims in de-tanning, pigmentation and helps your skin tone to become more even.

Application:

This luxurious facial scrub can be used for daily cleansing or as a mask. I decided to use it as a cleanser during the evening. The website recommends to take 1 teaspoon and mix it with hot water to bind ingredients until a thick paste is formed. I applied it thickly, and after I massaged it into my skin for around a minute, I rinsed it off to uncover a clean, smooth looking

Skin type:

SkinYoga Almond Orange Face Scrub has been formulated for all skin types.

Price:

£24.00 for a 50g jar

Website:

https://www.skinyoga.co.uk/

Overall result:

I have never tried any SkinYoga products before so I was really pleased with the results I achieved with this 100% natural face scrub. I am using it daily now during the evening and my skin is soft, smooth and it looks glowing. I would love to try some more products from SkinYoga range soon!

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

X

Pauline

 

J W Marriott hotel, Washington D.C.

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Last week, I was in Washington D.C. and stayed at the 4* J W Marriott Hotel.

Location:

J W Marriott Hotel is perfectly situated just a couple of minutes walk from the White House in the heart of downtown Washington D.C. . It has a perfect location as it is close to all the major sights and museums of Washington, steps from the U.S. Capitol and a short 5-minutes walk from the National Mall.

Service:

The reception desk is open 24 hours. The service was friendly, attentive and always happy to suggest the places to visit or restaurants to dine in.

Rooms:

I stayed on the 2th floor in room 225 which features some breath-taking views of downtown. The room was chic, comfortable and it was furnished with a spacious desk, modern armchair to rest on and a comfortable king-size bed.

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The room was also equipped with Air Conditioning, flat-screen TV with satellite channels and a minibar.

There is Wi-Fi connection to Internet available throughout the Hotel at an extra charge of $12.95 per night.

Bathroom:

Our marble bathroom had a beautiful modern décor, a bathtub and a shower.

There was a selection of natural bath toiletries provided.

Facilities:

Breakfast is offered for a surcharge and provides a selection of cold and warm dishes to choose from and costs $26 per person per night.

All hotel guests have a complimentary access to the heated swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna and fitness area. There are 2 restaurants available to dine in-Avenue Grill and 1331 Lounge. In addition, all guests can grab a coffee at Sturbucks located on a ground floor past reception to recharge their energy levels.

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Overall experience:

J W Marriott Hotel offers everything you need for a wonderful visit to Washington- a great location, friendly staff and comfortable rooms.

Website:

For more information and to book visit:

https://www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/travel/wasjw-jw-marriott-washington-dc/

Address:

1331 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington  District Of Columbia

20004  USA

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline