Brighton Birthday Bender

If you follow me on Instagram you will already have seen some snapshots from my trip to Brighton to celebrate my birthday but I thought I'd share a few more of the details today. Ben and I met after work at London Bridge station (via a pub!) armed with a carrier bag of booze intending to have a few drinks to pass the time with the expectation of a quiet night on arrival.

Things didn't go quite plan and I have to confess by the time we arrived in a Brighton we were rather merry to say the least. This was a blessing due to our hotel, The Royal Albion having deteriated to a great degree. We'd stayed many times before so this was booked for nostalgia taking the reviews with a pinch of salt - how wrong we were!

Meatliquor link

Once we'd ditched our bags we made our way to Meatliquor where the boozing continued and we devoured sloppy burgers and salty chips. It was quieter than I expected for our 8pm booking but the dark atmosphere and great staff (and our alcohol levels) made for a fun experience. From there we headed into town and continued the night away and things got really messy, eventually stumbling home via my favourite chip shop and passing out in bed.

Come morning we both woke hungover and took in the state of our room. Deciding breakfast was on the cards we made our way to the North Laines as I wanted to check out Snoopers Paradise. Typically on our bleary eyed journey we couldn't find anywhere of note to eat and dived into the closest place we could find to satisfy our hunger and then just walked around enjoying the sunshine. Of course typically after we'd eaten we found numerous independent cafes we would've prefered to dine in!

The Royal Pavilion link

After putting our Grand National bets on we had a walk round The Royal Pavilion Gardens before deciding we were hungry again and passing ASK decided that would do for our salad requirements. As standard a side of fries was added.

ASK link

Whilst ASK was lovely both of us were flagging so we decided to get some coffees to go and return to the hotel, watch the Grand National in comfort whilst deciding what to do that evening. Our exploits the previous night meant we were both happy to do something low key and with a desire for fajitas we headed to El Mexicano.

 

El Mexicano link

Unfortunately what looked promising on Tripadvisor didn't translate in house and our fajitas were lacking any mexican flavour (to us they tasted like they'd been cooked in chicken stock?!) and missing vital ingredients of peppers and onions - replaced with courgette and carrot.

With an uninviting room and only four channels to choose from on the tv we decided to go and see Fast & Furious 7. I love these films, ridiculously unrealistic they may be but I love them and it was even more poignant since the passing of Paul Walker.

Blackbird Tea Rooms link

Our last day in Brighton was the day of the Brighton Marathon which we hadn't been aware of when booking and of course the roads were closed and streets were filled with people. After checking out of our room we found the cute Blackbird Tea Rooms in the Laines and I finally felt I had my anticipated 'Brighton' experience. After breakfast we had a walk along the pier and discovered my namesake so it would've been rude not to stop for a drink.

Throughly exhausted but with smiles on our faces we tracked down a taxi and made our way to the station and began the journey home (which felt like it took days as is the way when heading home from somewhere!). All in all a very fun weekend. 

STEAMCREAM for face and body

STEAM CREAM* link

When I had an opportunity to try Steamcream recently whilst I loved the concept and cute tins I was dubious to how well a moisturiser for the face would fair on the body and vice versa. Cute packaging aside let's look at first at the steam process used to make a lightweight formula that makes it suitable for both purposes.

Unlike other products that ingredients are bound together by a emulsifying process Steamcream uses a steam process which fuses the ingredients together instantly and creates this lightweight formula that will sink past the skins surface and keeping things softer for longer. 

Steamcleans simple hand made process means they invest in natural ingredients such as orange flower water and almond and jojoba oils. 

STEAM CREAM link

Steamcream can be used as a daily moisturiser for the face, a hand cream or body lotion and I was impressed to note it functioned for all three. Despite looking rather thick in the tin this is definitely a lightweight moisturiser that sinks instantly into skin and provides much need hydration.

As a moisturiser I was able to apply make up soon after applying and as a hand cream it's excellent as there is no slip yet hands feel moisturised and it even ticked the boxes when applied as a body lotion.

Of course then we have the cute packaging. Every month Steamcream release between 2-3 different designs on their website from everyday designs to seasonal which makes this a great gift for friends or family. The 75ml tins are just the right size for travel and would be perfect to serve triple duty when you're battling hand luggage restrictions - I wish I'd had this when I was visiting Edinburgh!

Would you ever use the same moisturiser on your face as your body?

*PR Sample

My Lip Balm Collection

Lip Balms were once like hand cream, a boring beauty item that I rarely reach for yet now they are an essential part of my day to day life that as you can see I have built up rather a collection! This is not an extensive collection either, after taking this photo I kept finding others in bags and drawers or for example on my desk like the Jelly Belly lip balm.

PapayaGold PAW PAW Moisturising Balm* 

I'm not usually a fan of balms that are in tubes as I prefer a stick that I can apply directly to my lips but the PapayaGold Paw Paw Moisturising Balm one me over for being such a great product. Enriched with Manuka Honey to soothe everything from chapped lips to skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis this is something of a multi-use product.

I had this sitting beside me on the sofa and would reach for it to apply on my lips, cuticles and sometimes if I thought about it my elbows which have some small spots of psoriasis and found it worked well for each condition.

Dr Lipp's Original Nipple Balm for Lips
A cult status originally created as a nipple balm for breastfeeding women that like Paw Paw above has many uses I brought in to blogger hype and added a tube of this to my shopping basket at one time or another. Made from 100% pure Lanolin and both tasteless and odourless this is again a product that works but I don't remember at the time being bowled over and it has since just sat awaiting use.

Palmer's Dark Chocolate & Cherry Tinted Lip Balm* 

No surprises that another Palmer's product makes an appearance on Florence and Mary and how could I not like a Dark Chocolate & Cherry tinted lip balm. This like the Barry M Cor Balmy lip balm below is the sort of product I throw in my handbag and can be used in lieu of a lipstick for touch ups if needed. I always keep a lip balm like this in my handbag and they have been a lifesaver when I forget to add a lipstick to my make up bag. Another plus for this beauty is it's SPF 15 - I may very well be adding this to my beach bag.

Barry M Cor Balmy, Jam Jar 

I didn't like this product when I first purchased it. It's far more pigmented than I would expect or want from a lip balm  and it's white packaging versus the red makes for very messy times. That said as a red lipstick wearer this has got me out of many a bind when I'm without my traditional lipsticks and still want a slick of red on my lips.

Cherry Chapstick* 

Let's be honest who isn't going to love the novelty of 'Cherry Chapstick' for it's links to that Katy Perry song. Another pleasant scented (things are getting very 'cherry' on Florence and Mary lately) and moisturising balm this is worth picking up.

Hurraw Pitta Lip Balm* 

For those looking for organic, vegan friendly lip balms Hurraw is for you. The shape of this lip balm put me off at first as rather than being your traditional rounded shape this is oval and it felt quite odd on application. As often is the case it was user error and I've not found that using holding it portrait rather than landscape is fits to the lip nicely.

I was also concerned when I saw that it's scent/flavour was 'Pitta' now I like a chicken in pitta as much as the next person but in a lip balm? I had nothing to fear as it's a minty scent with 'cooling Oregon peppermint' adding a coolness to your lips on application. This is the current favourite which I'm using on a regular basis.

Maybelline Baby Lips 

The Maybelline Baby Lips didn't set me alight when they were first released (see my post here) but it does get a special mention for being the first lip balm I remember using up (see March empties here). Whilst I don't believe they are necessarily worth of their hype as a functioning lip balm they are pleasant and of course their packaging and the collectable nature of them makes them pleasing to own.

Blistex Moisture Max Lip Balm* 

This is another that falls into the 'messy' category. I have the Blistex Moisture Max Lip Balm sitting in my bedside drawer and I think it's heading for an empties post very soon. You squeeze the product out of the small hole and then spread across your lips. I would probably not pick this up again largely for the messy application but could be tempted by it's Blueberry taste!

So there you have my ridiculous lip balm collection, spot any of your favourites in this line up or have a recommendation for me to try?

*PR Sample

Dubai Holiday Plans



This time next month I'll be boarding a plane for for a long anticipated holiday in Dubai. I've wanted to go to Dubai for years but not unless I could do it in style and I think it's fair to say that Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort and Spa will tick that box.

Currently I'm spending ridiculous amounts of a new holiday wardrobe that at the rate I'm going will require a bikini change every hour to make use of them. There's also much planning and gorging on Dubai vlogs and blog posts and I'd love to hear any recommendations you might have.

Have you been to Dubai or is it somewhere you'd like to visit?

Live Laugh Love

The website Live Laugh Love has long been a favourite of mine and I have made many purchases over the years, particularly at the height of my Shabby Chic phase. I was pretty happy when they got in touch and offered me a £20 voucher to spend on their site especially as the most difficult decision would be what to choose.

I decided to make two 'blog' purchases; the zinc heart and rose garlands* which I hope to use in forthcoming blog photos. I actually had the rose garland a few years ago and can't remember what happened to it but it's wire is great to manipulate around products or of course mirrors and shelves if you prefer to decorate your home for it.

The final item I picked was the 'Dancing like no one is watching' wooden heart. It would only take you five minutes inside my flat to notice I am rather partial to a slogan/word or saying decorative item so this one certainly has a place. It's currently hung in my hall and it's safe to say I have definitely danced like no one is watching over the years. 

Have you shopped on Live Laugh Love before, what do you think of the items I ordered?