Forevermissvanity - A UK Lifestyle Blogger : November 2014

Winter Beauty Must Have Products

Looking fabulous during the winter season can often be time consuming and a great effort, especially when you have to contend torrential rain, gusty winds and dark mornings that make you feel like you want to stay in bed. Not only that, the weather also has a habit of making your skin feel drier than ever and the occasional winter humidity can also make your hair frizz. How are we supposed to contend with that? The key to winter beauty is keeping every simple - use a great moisturiser, always carry around a lip balm, make use of those hair masks and try going for neutral, simple to use makeup colours in the morning so that applying your makeup doesn't take as long.

The first item on my recommend products list is the Macadamia Deep Repair mask. The Deep Repair mask uses a combination of macadamia and argan oil both proven to give long lasting nourishment to dry and damaged hair which is then infused with tea tree oil and chamomile oil to give rejuvenate the hair and add shine. I have reviewed Macadamia products countless times on the blog and have never had a bad word to say. If I have a problem with my dry hair, they are my go-to brand.

Next on my list is this gorgeous Chanel blusher from their new autumn and winter range. The Joues Contraste powder blush in number 15 orchid rose is a fabulous product for adding subtle colour to the cheeks on a cold, harsh day and gives an over all refreshing appearance. This goes perfectly with the colours of the Naked Three palette, that when all is applied will give you a beautiful autumn natural look.

When it's cold outside, the first part of your face to really show signs of dryness tends to be the lips. Carrying around a good lip product like this Avene cold cream lip balm from Sknclinics* is a must. This lip balm promises to nourish, hydrate and protect the lips from 'external aggressions' such as bad weather and can be applied as often as required throughout the day.

Finally, a product I could not live without is this Dermalogica super rich repair cream. This Dermalogica moisturiser feels like a gift from heaven. Although it is listed as a 'heavy weight' skin cream, I find that this moisturiser absorbs quickly and effortlessly into the skin and feels as soft and as a light as feather. The Super Rich Repair cream suits those with chronically dry, dehydrated skin and helps replenish moisture levels whilst improving elasticity and tone. I use this everyday without fail and my skin feels better and looks so much better. In this cold weather, I wouldn't be seen without it.

Have you tried any of these products?

London has always been one of my favourite cities, but more often than not I'm there on business rather than pleasure. The last time I went to London properly sightseeing was the weekend I got engaged two years ago and even then, we barely had the chance to do anything as we were only there one night.

A few months ago my husband and I decided that we should go to London again and do things properly and last Tuesday night we packed our bag and set off for a three day adventure in the city. During that time we managed to cram in so many activities and really managed to enjoy ourselves, if I could re-live those three days, I would go back in a heartbeat.

Our first little outing in London comprised of a visit to Westminster Abbey, stumbling across a beautiful German Christmas market and a luxurious meal at Gibson's on the Yacht situated on the Thames. The German Christmas market consisted of a row of traditional wooden stalls decorated festive garlands and twinkling bright lights, wrapped with an luring air of sweet festive scents such as mulled wine and Belgium chocolate.

After smelling the sweet temptation around me, I couldn't resist treating myself to an authentic Belgium waffle topped summer fruits, cream, greek yoghurt and honey with a side of mulled wine. The Christmas markets ended up being the perfect way to spend our first day as well as get us in the mood for the festive season ahead.

We finished our night by going back to the hotel, getting on our glad-rags and heading to a swanky restaurant on the Thames known as Gibson's on the Yacht. As we really wanted to experience fine dining in London, but didn't want to spend all our budget on food alone, we bought a Groupon voucher which saved us a tremendous amount of money. The food I ate that night was some of the nicest food I have ever had the pleasure of tasting - for starters a beautiful cheese tart with a balsamic dressing and for mains a melt in the mouth spinach and ricotta tortellini in creamy parsley and pesto sauce.

The first day we had back in London was fantastic start our three day break and stumbling across the Christmas markets made it even more special. Westminster Abbey has to be one of the most beautiful places I have visited and if I had the chance, I would dining at Gibson's Restaurant on the Yacht every night of the week.

Have you seen the Christmas markets in London?

I love Christmas. The smell of scented candles everywhere you go, garlands wrapped around staircases, beautiful lights shimmering in the windows and of course the array of beautiful Christmas inspired bouquets that you can buy. Each year my mum buys herself a large bouquet of flowers for the Christmas table (usually Poinsettia) a week or so before the festivities begin and every year when I visit my parents, it is symbol that Christmas time is just around the corner.

To help me celebrate Christmas this year in my own home, the wonderful florists at Floric* sent me this gorgeous bouquet for my very own Christmas table. The Yuletide Rose Bouquet consists of white, red and cerise roses with bright red hypericum berries wrapped in luxurious gold gypsophila and finished with blue erynguim. To me, this bouquet screams luxury and festivity, without being over-stated.

To help you celebrate Christmas, Floric are running a competition where you can win a Christmas Tree for your family. All you have to do is get a junior member of the family to draw a decorated Christmas tree and the one Floric likes the best will be picked. To enter, the picture will need posting to the Floric Facebook page and liked or you will need to follow their Twitter page (@Floricuk) and use the hashtag #giftsofgold. The competition closes on December 15th and more information can be found: http://www.floric.co.uk/content/61/christmas-tree-competition

Do you buy a lot of flowers at Christmas time?

If you haven't heard of Black Friday (I don't know how you have managed to escape it if you haven't), Black Friday is when all the major high street stores slash their prices to celebrate the start of Christmas. It's a one day mega sale where you can grab everything you would need at a fraction of the price and most importantly, start buying those Christmas presents.

One of my favourite French cosmetic brands Yves Rocher* are also participating in Black Friday this year and even better, rather than giving you one day of discounts, they have started their sale today. From 25th November until 1st of December, Yves Rocher are making the most of the Black Friday offers with some of their best products being up to 70% off.To celebrate this, I have put together a small wish list of the products that I would love to try from the Yves Rocher website.

If you're an avid reader of my blog, you will have noticed that I have talked about the brand quite frequently and one of my favourite products by them is the Moment De Bonheur fragrance I reviewed a few months ago. Following my discovery of beautifully Yves Rocher perfumes, I'm keen to try one of their other fragrances the So Elixir. The So Elixir is described as 'a fresh and radiant breeze of femininity' and features essence of pink berry and bergamot.

The next item on my wish list is this gorgeous quad eyeshadow palette in 'Sumptuous color'. The palette features four earthy tones that can be blended to create either a natural or smokey eye look. To finish off the makeup look, I'd love to try their Shimmering Water with Gold Pearls. Using a cotton pad, the shimmer water promises to enhance your makeup by adding extra shine.

Finally, to keep my dry skin at bay I would love to try this Intense Nutrition Night Balm which promises to repair your skin through the night, comfort and reduce skin tightness and heal dry skin on a long term basis. The product is made using nourishing Ash Tree concentrate which according to the Yves Rocher specialised Botanical Beauty Research team, holds the secret to fighting dry skin.

Have you tried any Yves Rocher products before?

When it comes to dining out in London there are far too many places that you are often spoilt for choice and settle with what you know best. Sometimes the smaller, quirkier little bars get over shadowed by convenience and larger brands - especially when you're only staying for a short period of time. When my husband and I go travelling we always make it a priority to find somewhere interesting and slightly different to eat.

Whilst in London last week, James and I visited the VOC Bar & Grill as we waited for our train home. Conveniently, the VOC bar is situated only five minutes way from the hustle and bustle of Kings Cross Station and is the perfect little place for hungry commuters to visit if they are looking for a trendy small bar with friendly, down to earth staff.

The VOC Bar and Grill takes its name from a seventeenth century maritime organisation the Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie, better known as the Dutch East India Company which in 1602 set up a lucrative monopoly of Asian spice trade. The bar follows it's maritime theme throughout the interior decor with blinds painted with pirate maps and antique looking furnishings. The pirate theme also continues through to the VOC Bar award winning drinks based on and adapted from old seventh century punch recipes using seasonal produce and the 'latest molecular mixology techniques'.

Intrigued by the history and techniques described in the menu, James and I couldn't wait to sample the cocktails. James opted for a 'Pirate's Curse' cocktail which is described on the menu as 'not for the faint-hearted!' According to the website:"The cocktail is a blood-rest twist on the infamous Reggae-Rum Punch" and comes with a flaming shot of 59% proof white rum. The Pirates Curse really packs a punch and is one of the strongest drinks on the VOC Bar menu. If you can get past the strong fiery taste and if you have a stomach for stronger alcoholic beverages, this does make for a really pleasant drink. I opted for the Raspberry Shrub which is described as 'Pampero Especial bottled with fresh lemon juice, honey and fresh raspberries and matured for at least one week.' The Raspberry Shrub cocktail has a flamboyant concoction of Chambord, Red Wine, Rum, Cinnamon and many other alcoholic treats which is matured for a week to give it a mulled wine, essence of winter appeal. The Raspberry Shrub is one of the nicest cocktails I've had in my life and in keeping with the pirate theme, comes in a beautiful bottle with the infamous black mark.

After making our way through a handful of cocktails, James and I were lead upstairs to the restaurant to sample the VOC culinary delights. The restaurant is rather spacious and classic looking compared to the bar, but is beautifully lit and has rather nice decor. James and I pretty much had the entire restaurant to ourselves as the bar manager told us that Friday is one of their quiet nights when it comes to food, as most people prefer to drink instead. The peak restaurant times are in fact Monday to Friday often catering for hungry commuters.

The VOC food menu consists of typical bar style grub, but with more refined servings and lashings of flavour. For starters I had the Grilled Halloumi with Olives and Creamy Hummus served with a freshly toasted pitta bread. Greek style food is definitely my favourite and I was pleasantly surprised to see a Greek theme running through the menu. The Halloumi was baked to perfection - chewy and mouthwatering without being overcooked, the pitta bread was soft and lightly toasted and the olives and hummus complimented the main elements perfectly. James chose the chicken wings with hot sauce for starter which he told me were succulent and hot, but tasty - not too over spiced. He told me that the restaurant had 'got the spices balanced correctly' and the blue cheese sauce on the side helped refresh the palate between servings.

When it came to the main dishes, I was also pleasantly surprised to see a variety of vegetarian dishes from falafel and bean burgers to a mix of juicy salads. As a vegetarian, finding a restaurant that strays away from the same old 'Veggie Lasagna and Veggie burgers' can be quite a laborious task and I was so happy to see several different options that are not on a stereotypical vegetarian menu. I went for the Aubergine & Courgette salad which consisted of Chargrilled ribbons and Feta cheese with a sweet basil, lemon and extra virgin oil dressing and as I had a four hour journey ahead of me, I also had a side portion of triple cooked chips. The chargrilled aubergine and courgette were delightfully mouth-watering and tasty and the feta cheese added texture and a subtle creamy flavour, which combined with all the other ingredients brought the dish to life. This dish was far more filling than I expected.

James opted for the Chargrilled Chicken burger with an organic chicken fillet in a brioche bun and a side of chips and salsa. The chicken was juicy and tender - perfectly cooked with plenty of seasoning and the salsa was a nice finishing touch with brought the dish together. The chips were crunchy, yet had a melt in the mouth creamy potato centre - they were a real treat and probably the best chips I had tasted (although I don't want to think of the calories).

When it came to dessert, James and I felt far too full and unfortunately I had to decline my favourite New York cheesecake and admit defeat. The VOC Bar & Grill gave us a spectacular evening with food that is reasonably priced and drinks to die for. The VOC Bar & Grill is a hidden gem within the heart of London and I would challenge everyone to go and try some cocktails for yourself, you won't be disappointed.

Have you been to the VOC bar before?

*This meal was paid for by VOC bar in exchange for a review. All opinions are of mine and my husbands.

As the winter season draws closers the thought of stockpiling cosy knitted jumpers and winter warming clothes sounds tempting. Winter has a tendency to creep on to us a little bit too fast and this year has been no exception. It has felt like one minute I was wearing my beautiful summer dresses and then before I knew it, I was rummaging through my wardrobe desperately searching for last years winter jumpers and praying that they would still fit.

Woolovers* is classic, world renowned knitwear retailer that has been trading for almost 25 years and sells quality, 100% natural fibre garments. For those looking to dress up warm this winter, there's a jumper for everyone. From Cashmere and Marino to 100% British wool, there's a large selection for you to browse through, whether you are buying for yourself or as a Christmas gift.

My favourites on the website includes this gorgeous red Cashmere & Merino crew neck sweater which is perfect for wearing on Christmas day morning when you venture out of bed to open your presents, this Cashmere polo neck which comes in a variety of colours that is adaptable to any occasion or wardrobe style and last, but not least this ladies lambswool jumper with the cutest winter cross stitching.

Have you shopped at Woolovers before?

As a vegetarian, I always get asked the same question- "what do you eat?" If i'm feeling rather lazy or annoyed by that question my usual response is 'food', but every now and then I do make an effort to educate those who are not accustomed with a vegetarian lifestyle as to what I eat. The truth is, I eat most things that meat-eaters consume, but I have the vegetarian equivalent, there are so many meat free products out there these days it's so easy to be vegetarian. One thing I love more than anything is experimenting with food. I enjoy watching Masterchef and trying to figure out if I can make a vegetarian version of any of their creations and I enjoy also cooking from scratch and throwing ingredients in a pan not always knowing the outcome. After all, how will you ever discover new flavours without a little bit of experimenting?

My latest food experiment has not been through cooking, but through subscribing to a monthly food box where I can learn about new products and use them for my cooking or meals with my partner. The Degustabox is a monthly subscription box - similar to beauty boxes like GlossyBox but for food. Each month you pay £12.99 for a box of foodie delights without knowing the contents - it's all a surprise.

The October Degustabox was full of wonderful treats including Sweet Chili Sauce ( a firm favourite of ours), Special K Crisps, Alpha Bears, Cooking chocolate, Pain au Chocolat, Brioche, Jelly Beans (which I can't stop eating), cereal bars and vouchers for yoghurts. I was so impressed with all the items I received for £12.99 - I got more items in this box than I would if I spent the same amount in a supermarket and best of all, I was able to try new brands and products that I hadn't necessarily tried or was tempted to try previously. Both my partner and I have fallen in love with the concept of this box so much that we have decided to subscribe. As much as I cannot guarantee each month that the whole box will be full of vegetarian goodies - at least my partner who eats meat will benefit from the box too and it has also been a great chance for us to talk about food more often and discuss our preferences.

Overall, I'm in love with the Degustabox* - much more than I originally expected. For foodies or those who want to inject a bit of fun into their diet or those who are looking for something a little bit different, the Degustabox is an ideal solution. I can't wait for my November box.

Have you ordered a Degustabox before?

Gwen Stefani has always been one of my style icons and ever since I saw No Doubt for the first time on television, I knew that I wanted to be like her. Unfortunately I don't have long flowing blonde hair, her amazing figure and flawless makeup, but with her new collection for OPI, I can at least inject some of her style on to my nails.

Gwen Stefani has collaborated with world renowned nail care brand OPI to bring us 12 new shades of polish, 6 limited edition glitter top coats and one spectacular 18K gold top coat. According to OPI: "The culture of the OPI brand - offering something for all women, from conservative to edgy - appealed to Gwen an aficionado of colour herself. Known for her trademark red lips, Gwen considers lips and nails important accessorises to complete her look. Her collaboration with OPI has resulted in a palette as diverse as the life she shares."

The OPI Mini Holiday Stars giftset which I bought last week contains four of the new colours designed by Gwen Stefani, all of which are perfect for this festive season. The set includes: 1 x Red Fingers & Mistletoes, 1 x What's Your Point-Settia?, 1 x I Carol About You and 1 x Kiss Me-or Elf!. Each nail polish is a miniature version presented in a beautiful holiday gift set.

One of my favourite colours in the collection is the Red Fingers and Mistletoe which is pinky red glitter polish, closely followed by What's Your Point-Settia?, which is a wonderful deep red Christmassy colour. The other two colours in the gift set which are a deep purple and rich burgundy colour as equally as pretty as the other two, but slightly too dark for my skin complexion. The OPI Mini Holiday Stars box set starts from £11.99 and is available from many retailers, including Sally Express where I personally bought this from.

Have you tried any of the Gwen Stefani OPI products?

House of Fraser has always been one of my favourite department stores and every Christmas, it's the first place I head for Christmas presents for my nearest and dearest. With their style, sophistication and love for designer items, House of Fraser always tick all the boxes at Christmas and this year is no exception. Having had a sneaky look at their Christmas gift guide, I thought I'd pay homage to one of my favourite stores and give you a sneaky look at what is on offer this year.

The main person I tend to buy presents for at House of Fraser is my now husband. We shop a lot in the home department as a couple and I'm always buying things for myself in the ladies section. My husband isn't fussy and doesn't always like spending a lot of himself, therefore I always see Christmas as a time to indulge him with a few luxurious pieces. One of my favourite scents on the market for men at the moment is the Jimmy Choo Man and House of Fraser currently have this wonderful boxset with a free body lotion this Christmas. If you haven't had the chance to sniff the Jimmy Choo man for yourself, I'd urge you to give it a try. With top notes of Lavender and mandarin spray, complemented by the fruity notes of honey melon and pineapple, this wonderful aftershave gives the most sweet, yet musky fougère scent.

Next on my list of favourites are the cutest little cufflinks I ever seen. These rabbit and carrot cufflinks by New and Lingwood have a retro vibe and add a little bit of quirkiness to any shirt. As my man has an obsession with our snuggly little bunny Flopsy, these would make a great addition to his wardrobe and remind him of our furry little friend.

The final item I have chosen for him is this wonderful Marc by Marc Jacobs military style watch - a classic must have for any man at Christmas. The watch features a versatile tan strap, a black chrono/date dial with silver tones and a multi-layer dial with luminescent pops.

When it comes to us women, Christmas isn't complete without an array of scented candles and this Jo Malone pomegranate, raspberry and plum candle sounds like a treat. With notes of pink pepper, Casablanca Lily and Spiced woods, this candle evokes a sense of a dark, enigmatic atmosphere filled with luxury. Lit for guests or simply burning in the background whilst snuggling on the sofa, this candle is a perfect Christmas pick me up.

Next on my list is the Lancome Les Miniatures gift set. A few years ago my mother bought me La Vie Est Belle and to this day, it remains one of my favourite perfumes. However, with Lancome bringing out more and exciting perfumes each year, it is becoming harder to chose a favourite. This pretty giftset enables you to try a few classic Lancome scents, mix and match through the weeks and chose your new favourite scent without buying full sized bottles.

As Vivienne Westwood is one of my favourite designers, I couldn't help but mention this gorgeous red bow bag, perfect for the Christmas season. Complete with the Vivienne Westwood orb logo and bright red bow, this Vivienne Westwood handbag is a Christmas present that just keeps giving - it's beautiful, it adds a pop of colour to any dull wardrobe and is a classic, timeless piece.

Finally as a big fan of Clarins and their gift sets, I have picked out this lovely Clarins 'All About the Lips' giftset. The Clarins lip collection contains a selection of some of the best selling Clarins lip products in soft, beautiful colours.

House of Fraser this year has pulled out all the stops to ensure there's a perfect present for everyone, with a range of prices to suit any Christmas budget. It's also worth mentioning that on November 28th this year, House of Fraser will also be taking part in Black Friday, which is a great chance for you to grab all those last minute bargains before Christmas.

Do you buy any of your Christmas presents from House of Fraser?

Christmas is growing closer by the second and just about everywhere you turn, there's an advert for something to do with the festive season. This months UK Glamour magazine is celebrating the run up to Christmas by offering readers 20% off in H&M stores nationwide and being a big fan of the H&M A/W clothing, I couldn't wait to compile a wish list of items I'd like to buy with my voucher.

During the summer time H&M can often be a hit or miss store for me, but when the winter comes around, I find myself never leaving the store. I love their winter collections as they tend to sell items that can be easily layered up in the colder weather and dresses that can be easily adapted to suit the different climates. Also during the winter time, H&M seem to get their colour schemes just right with beautiful autumnal burgundies, navies and yellows contrasted with jet blacks and pristine whites.

The first item on my autumnal H&M wish list is this fake fur jacket with leather imitation sleeves. My initial thought when looking at this jacket was warmth. Fake fur is a great way to get snuggly and wrapped up this winter and the leather imitation sleeves not only help jazz this jacket up, but they add a slight sophistication to overall look. This jacket would look great teamed up with the burgundy zip top satchel - a style that is highly reminiscent of the popular Michael Kors Selma handbags, but at a fraction of the price.

Next on my H&M must-haves are these fantastic sequin leggings and simple, yet chic white silk blouse. These leggings are a great addition to a winter wardrobe as they add effortless sparkle and can be dressed up or down to suit all your seasonal occasions. My preference would be to dress these leggings with a soft silk white blouse for a sophisticated, yet fun look. I would then finish this outfit with a statement necklace like the one I have selected and a pair of understated black heels, like these ones on the wish list that are versatile and can adapt to any outfit within my wardrobe.

What would you spend your 20% off voucher on?

When I was five years old, I owned a tartan dress that I loved more than anything. It was a skater style dress with combination of red, yellow and green tartan, finished off with a white embroidered collar and a pretty red bow in the centre. I couldn't stop wearing it and my parents used to make me wear it to all the family parties. As I grew older I started to associate tartan with older people - you know, those cute little old women with dated tartan pencil skirts that cut just above their ankles. It wasn't until the last few years as I hit my early twenties, that I noticed how trendy and flattering tartan can be and with more of it on the high street than ever before, the urge to invest in a tartan dress became prominent.

I bought this pretty Hearts and bows dress on my Saturday payday shop at Leeds Ark Clothing Store. I love how this little dress is pulled in at the waist to create an hourglass figure and the warm tones of colour running through the tartan. As someone who is 5ft 2, I often find it difficult to find dresses that flatter my height, but this little beauty cuts perfectly above my knees - not too short, but also not too long.

For those who haven't heard of Ark Clothing before, Ark clothing began trading in the 90s with their first shop over 20 years ago opening in Leeds. Originally the brand were heavily music focused - selling tickets for local raves and promoting their own beanies, however since the 90s the store has delved much more into fashion, creating their own distinct clothing lines Cloak Menswear and Hearts and Bows for women. Along with their own branded clothes, Ark sells a variety of best selling fashion brands such as Motel, AX Paris, Lavish Alice, Vera Moda and many more and you can almost guarantee that whatever the latest trends are, you'll always find something to suit your style at Ark.

Have you shopped at Ark clothing before?

If you asked me a few years ago whether I would ever consider owning a pair of sheepskin boots, I would have said no. Sheepskin boots are often associated with love/hate relationships, half of the public love them and the rest despise them. I used to think boots like this made everyone look like they were walking around in slippers and as a former every heel wearer myself, I found them very far from my usual sophisticated footwear style.

Since suffering from arthritis in my feet and not being able to wear six inch heels everyday, comfort took over my wardrobe and when Emu Australia* approached me to write a review of their sheepskin boots in celebration of their 20 year anniversary, I decided to give them a try.

Emu Australia was founded in 1994 and started as an Australian lifestyle brand producing footwear and accessorises. In the early 2000s as sheepskin boots rose to popularity, EMU launched their very own success sheepskin boot range and from then onwards became one of the worlds most loved sheepskin boot retailers.

Emu Australia, who turned 20 in October have revamped their entire sheepskin originals to celebrate the occasion. The newly revamped boots include a 30% lighter outsole, water resistant material and a more flexible fit for those that have previously found their sheepskin boots to be saggy and loose.

Not only have Emu Australia revamped their classic range, they have also launched their iconic Stinger Lo Boot in 20 new different colours.

I opted for the classic Valerie Lo sheepskin booties and as someone who said they would never wear sheepskin boots in the past, I barely stopped wearing them since they arrived on my doorstep. The thick fur lining ensures my feet are all cosy and warm in the winter weather and the chestnut colour gives the boot versatility within my wardrobe. When you have aching joints in your feet, comfort is one thing that you long for on a day to day basis and these are optimum comfort for the winter weather.

Winter Beauty Must Have Products

The London Diaries: Day 1

Christmas in Bloom with Floric

Yves Rocher Black Friday Wish List

VOC Bar & Grill Review

Brand in Focus: Woolovers

My Degustabox Experience

Gwen Stefani for OPI

Christmas with House of Fraser

H&M Glamour Wishlist

Autumn Tartans

Winter with Emu Australia