Things to do: The Magnum Pleasure Store

I have a major sweet tooth that I struggle to keep under control so how could I resist it when The Magnum Pleasure Store got in touch as asked me if I wanted to design my own Magnum! Based by the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, the pop up is in town until 30th August and open daily. Keep in mind you will probably have to queue but it's totally worth it!

Once you manage to get in the doors you get to pick there different toppings. I went for meringue prices, dried blackberries and strawberry balls. But you can choose anything from goji berries to chilli flakes. Get creative! After all three were shaken together, it's time to choose a chocolate coating. After much consideration I decided to go for white chocolate. But there's milk and dark to choose from too. Then a drizzle of even more chocolate is poured over it before being finished off with a chocolate M. Indulgence are it's very best!

It's such a perfect treat and in such a great location. I can see why it's so popular! For only £4.50, it's a great place to visit if you've had dinner in town and fancy feeding your sweet tooth. You can customise it however you want and get something unique. I'd recommend you catch it before it packs up at the end of the summer. Hurry up!

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Listerine and Louise Redknapp

When an email popped in my inbox revealing a collaboration between mouthwash brand Listerine and ex-Eternal singer Louise Redknapp I was very intrigued! It turns out that Wild About Beauty - co-owned by Louise - were helping the launch of the new Listerine Advanced White mouthwash. It's been clinically proven to help make your teeth whiter within two weeks. Snazzy! Together they have come up with three lipsticks that help to make your gnashers look whiter and brighter. Soft Pink, Fuchsia Pink and Rich Berry - I was kindly sent the last shade to test out.

Do you have any tips to help make your teeth look whiter?

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Boohoo Christmas Collection

I was invited along to have a butchers at what Boohoo has to offer for the festive season. Yep it's that time of year again. Christmas in July. Cray cray! It's always nice to have a sneaky peek at what will be hitting stores in the upcoming months.

So what has Boohoo got in store for you all? Lots of sequins, lurex, jacquard, fur and pom poms. All the best things in life! I'm always glad to see sequins come back year after year. Nothing else really quite gets you in the festive spirit. Boohoo have a selection of large sequins or tiny ones depending on what you fancy. The silver dress in the top picture had my eyes on stalks! I'm absolutely loving the pom poms on the shoes - especially the skater shoes. Gives a little something special to your everyday attire don't you think?! The red and gold crop top couldn't feel more Christmassy if it tried. The colour scheme is perfect for your Christmas party. Paired with a black pencil skirt and skyscraper heels, you'll be good to go.

Has anything caught your eye? I'll have the red clutch below please.

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A few favourites #5

More favourites! I've been accumulating lots of things recently. My bank account isn't really too impressed but money is for spending right?! 

Black double strap Birkenstocks via TK Maxx: Since last year I've vowed to treat myself to a pair of birks. A few years ago I'd have gagged and felt ashamed I'd even thought about such comfortable, sensible shoes. But alas the older I'm getting, the more I'm worried about being in pain. I still love my heels to death but need something to give my poor tootsies a rest. I am in love with my new shoes. They feel like I'm wearing slippers - what could be more perfect eh?!

Emma Bridgewater floral cake tin*: Last week I was invited along to a baking masterclass with Whitworths - more on that in a different post - and was given this pretty cake tin in the goody bag. I'd neglected baking for a while thanks to being such a busy bee but this day made me rediscover my love of baking again. I'm going to try and make more time in future - I just find it so relaxing. After all, who doesn't like the smell of fresh cakes in the house?!

Got2b All Star 10-in-1 Styling Treatment*: If you're going away for the weekend and struggling to make room, this little niffy product will be a lifesaver. It will save from lots of mishaps! I had it used on my barnet at an event recently and it gave it one heck of a shine. You simply apply 2-6 pumps of the product to damp hair and blow-dry your hair. It doesn't make your hair feel sticky and smells lovely. Some hair products make me pull a face! It's great to keep all those wispy, flyaway frizzy bits at bay too. I do love a product that multi-tasks!

X+Y DVD*: I am a massive film geek and love nothing more than popping along to the pictures with my unlimited cinema card and catching a movie. But equally I also love settling down under the covers with some cake and watch a film from the comfort of my room. I especially like a film that makes you think - during it and for a while afterwards. X+Y certainly does that. Inspired by a true story, autistic maths genius Nathan is pushed to reach his potential by his school teacher Mr Humphrys. His mother Julie struggles to understand his characteristics after the death of his father in a car crash. As a result of his teacher, he earns a place at the International Maths Olympiad in Taiwan. There he happened to fall in love with Zhang. The film made me smile as wide as a cheshire cat and well up as Nathan tried his best to understand love. It's such a heart warming film - I found myself egging him on as he dealt with his new unknown feelings. Asa Butterfield who played Nathan was superb and definitely one to look out for.

Australian Bodycare Tea Tree Oil Summer Sensation Skin Wash*: Summer? What's that? Thankfully we did have a few warm days and that's when this body wash came in handy. The elements dry my skin out and I desperately need to use a moisturising body wash to keep it under control. It helps to keep my skin soft and smells of the summer! It's going to be in my Barcelona wash bag. TWO WEEKS!

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OOTD: Floral duster coat

Outfit:
Black and white floral duster coat: Oasis (similar)
White chiffon tunic: ASOS
Black ripped knee skinny jeans: F&F (similar)
Black pony hair heeled sandals: New Look (similar)

So is summer really over? By the amount of showers, Mother Nature would certainly have you thinking so. I'm still not ready to pack my sandals away. Despite the rain, its still pretty muggy so this is where thin duster coats come in handy. They cover you up but are light enough to not make you overheat. Especially on the tube. Gosh since commuting back into the city, I've been suffering on the underground. The Central Line was reported to have reached 38 degrees recently. Keep me in your thoughts please.

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OOTD: Floral Culottes

Outfit:

Black leather jacket: Zara (similar)

Multi coloured tropical culottes: New Look

Black jersey top: ASOS (similar)

Black pony haired sandals: New Look (similar)

In less than three weeks I’ll be jetting off to Barcelona for a week to bask in the sunshine, eat lots of tapas and soak up the sights. I’m a fairly casually dressed flier and I have to be comfortable. I usually wear lots of layers as I’m always a little bit cold on the aeroplane - air conditioning is not my friend! I wear the jacket I take on holiday to save room in my suitcase. Patterned culottes like these feel like I’m wearing my pyjamas so they’re great for getting cosy on a plane. They’re made from a lightweight, thin material so they won’t be too sticky on the other side as you struggle to cope with the heat. Am I the only one who loves that first feeling of the heat hitting you as soon as you step off the plane?! I like shoes that are easy to take off because I like to air my feet while I'm flying. I've worn these sandals as we land in the morning, that way I don't have to root around in my luggage for things to wear when we get to our apartment. I can head out as soon as I've dumped my luggage.

Purple Parking have a cracking table on hand luggage requirements so you don’t have any nightmares at the airport. They’re so fussy now! I usually go make up free on flights because I’m always napping on and off and plus who can be bothered to do a full face of make up when you’re so excited?! In my hand luggage I always keep my favourite lip balm, some moisturiser and some hand cream as flying can take it’s toll on my skin. It gets so dry and needs a pick me up as soon as I land. I have my camera, iPad, phone, kindle, money, travel documents and passport all tucked away safely in a side pocket for easy access. Getting stuck at customs is never fun!

What do you take in your hand luggage when you travel?

This post was written in collaboration with Purple Parking. Thanks to Sarah for snapping these pics!

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Review: Bills Summer Menu

If you scroll through my Instagram, you'll see that I'm a massive fan of Bills. No matter which branch I visit, I've never had anything less than brilliant service. I couldn't say yes quick enough when an email landed in my inbox asking me if I wanted to sample their summer menu. Certainly didn't need to be asked twice!

When I arrived I took a seat at the end of a very long table and ended up being seated next to Sarah  - who I'd met at the Strada event, Che and Rosie. One of the things I love most about blogging events is having a giggle and a chat with like-minded people. Plus they don't mind you leaning over them scrambling to get that perfect shot of their dinner!

We nibbled on delicious flat bread, carrot batons, cucumber sticks, tasty hummus and yummy tzatziki as we eagerly looked over the menu to fill our tummies.

To start I went for the crispy lemon squid with a smoked chipotle mayonnaise. I was very impressed with the portion size and proudly scoffed every last one. I'd have liked the mayo to have a bit more of a kick but it went perfectly with the batter. It was a good choice!

For the main I opted for the creamy halloumi and hummus burger with moreish sweet potato fries. Served in a sesame seed bun, it comes smothered in a sweet chilli sauce and topped with gem lettuce and roasted peppers. It feels just as indulgent as a beef burger and is perfect of you want something substantial but still feels a little lighter. The generous helping of halloumi won me round - I hate it when you're served tiny silvers of cheese and can barely taste it in your dish.

I was full to the brim and sadly couldn't manage a dessert. I'll make sure I do better next time!

Have you tried the new Bills summer menu yet?

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Beauty: Men's Skincare

I like to think I know my skincare but I don't know men's skincare too well. So I'm handing the reins over to my dear dad to offer his pearls of wisdom. Welcome to the blog dad!

Hello!

Over the years I've seen Sophie reviewing some cracking things on the blog so when she mentioned she needed someone to offer their skincare routine, I elbowed her boyfriend out of the way and put myself forward! As I spent all of my time working outside through the wind, rain or shine, my skin takes a battering so I like to offer it some TLC. I like to think it helps me to keep looking young! 

This Clinque For Men Charcoal Face Wash* is a god send. I can really feel the charcoal drawing out the day's dirt. I work quite a messy job so it's well needed! My face feels so refreshed and smooth. I use it three times a week when I get home from work - it makes all the difference. It's fragrance free so it's great for sensitive skin. Keep in mind it does give your skin a tingling feeling but it's nothing to be alarmed about!

I sadly suffer with quite dry skin so am constantly on the look out to help keep it under control. This is where Kiehls Facial Fuel* comes in handy! Packed with SPF 15, it helps to protect my face while I'm trying to hide from the sun on the roof. It helps to lift my dull skin and makes me look so much more awake. I apply in the morning after I've given my face a quick wash with soap and water. - simply rub in with clean hands. Even my wife has noticed a different so it must be doing it's thing!

One of the main perils of having dry skin is that shaving can sometimes be painful. Ouch! But Clinque For Men Post-shave Soother* helps to soothe razor burn and stop the redness from appearing. The cool, aloe formula feels amazing on my face. I don't mind shaving so much now!

This post is written in collaboration with House of Fraser.

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A few favourites #4

It's that time again when I talk you through a few of my favourite things! It's been a while since my last set. A real mixture of clothing, beauty and food this time!

Ryan Gosling Mug*: What will cheer you up more than a mug with the handsome Ryan Gosling on it? Not much I don't think! For days where your brain doesn't function and all you can think about is being elsewhere, this mug sums everything up in one sentence. Sometimes the Goss and Chocolate can be the only way to tackle the day. Make sure you check out Tea Please for some more quirky mugs.

New Look Tropical print culottes: I am having a massive love affair with culottes at the moment - it's all I seem to be buying! These beauties were less than £18 and fit like a dream. They will be perfect for sight seeing while I'm in Barcelona and with just a pair of heels, they work for the evening too.

Rio Rio Topshop Lipstick: I'm always impressed by Toyshop's lipstick offering and this gorgeous red is no different. It's a fantastic orange toned red and I'd imagine it'd look brilliant with a tan. Definitely going in my Barcelona make up bag!  It tends to bleed so a lipliner is an essential.

Organic Gusto Cola*: At only 49 calories per can, this is the ideal low calorie treat. Anyone else feel slightly alarmed at the fact you can drink almost your whole daily calorie allowance thanks to some drinks?! Fairtrade and organic means it's practically guilt free. It's perfect in a glass with lots of ice and a slice of lemon.

Hubby for Dessert Essie Nail Polish: This is actually part of their bridal range but I thought it was perfect for the summer so snuck it into my suitcase when I went to Chicago earlier on in the year. It needs a good three coats to become opaque but it's well worth the hassle. It's such a gorgeous, subtle shade for the warmer months.

St Moriz Medium Fake Tan*: I used to be all about the fake tan but for the past few years I've kinda fallen out of love with it. But I had a Christening last weekend and my pasty pins were offending my eyes so I brought out the big guns. St Moriz. Now I know why I love it so much. The mousse is easy peasy to apply, dries almost instantly and gives a lovely golden colour without looking too orange. I think I'm going to be a slave to this fake tan until my holiday in August.

Bounce Energy Balls*: I'm the first to admit that I'm not a fitness addict - these wobbly thighs will agree with that. But I am trying to get into running. I completed a 5k back in May and have been keen to keep up the momentum. These tasty energy balls have been great to snack on after I get back home - I'm always so ravenous so they do the trick. My personal favourite is the Cacao Mint flavour.

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Things to do: Borough Market

Despite being a massive tourist trap and positively heaving at any time of day, Borough Market is a true delight. Based near the Shard, Southwark Cathedral and London Bridge, this food market is an attack on your senses. You'll find every type of food you could ever imagine. From delicious seafood to exotic meats. From juicy veg to creamy cheeses. You definitely won't go hungry!

It's the perfect place to stop for a bite to eat - keep an eye out for the incredible chorizo roll at Brindisa Spanish Food. It's to die for! If it's a lovely day, I love picking up a cheeky cookie or cake and some nibbles to set up camp and eat along the river. Even the fussiest of eaters will find something to tickle their tastebuds.

The retail market is open Wednesdays and Thursday 10-5pm, Fridays from 10am-6pm and on Saturdays 8-5pm. The wholesale market is open all weekday mornings from 2am-8am - if you can drag yourself out of bed!

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