MENS ADVENT CALENDARS 2019

(AD/Gifted)

If perhaps like me you’re very last minute when it comes to Christmas shopping and you’ve forgotten about treating yourself to an Advent Calendar, then fear not! I have put together a ‘last minute’ Advent Calendar Gift Guide for you which range from skincare to body care, ‘a bit of everything’, to downright delicious chocolate.

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KIEHL’S - ONCE UPON A TIME IN NEW YORK / £82

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Personally, I find the Kiehl’s Advent Calendar the ‘Holy Grail’ out of them all. Jam packed with incredible minis of their staple products such as ‘Midnight Recovery Concentrate’, ‘Ultra Facial Cleanser’, ‘Creme De Corps’ and my favourite ‘Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado’!

This Advent Calendar has 24 doors taking you right through to Christmas Eve with a full sized product… I won’t ruin the surprise however! In terms of the box itself, it is incredibly bright, loud, colourful and fun! I love the little pop-up that appears when you open up the Advent Calendar too. Kiehl’s collaborated with Janine Rewell for this years Advent Calendar and you can find this at your local Kiehl’s Boutique Store. (Unfortunately it sold out almost instantly online!)

L’OCCITANE - IN THE LAND OF THE ALMOND TREES / £49

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Not only does this Advent Calendar by L’Occitane have many wonderful treats such as their ‘Aqua Reotier Ultra Thirst-Quenching Cream’, ‘Verbena Shower Gel’ and ‘Almond Milk Concentrate’, the illustrations featured across the Advent Calendar tell a story of how the brand have helped to replant 17,000 Almond Trees in Provence! In a world that is growing more conscious of Climate Change, I think L’OCCITANE have hit the nail on the head and presented an important message but in way that isn’t too pushy and overbearing.

This Advent Calendar will see you right through until 24th December and it smells… Divine! To find out more and to make a purchase, head to your local L’OCCITANE boutique or simply click here!

MANKIND - ADVENT CALENDAR 2019 / £150

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The absolute show-stopping Advent Calendar from Mankind has products ranging from brands such as Elemis, ARgENTUM, Dr Botanicals and much much more. The ideal gift for yourself as most of the products featured within this Advent Calendar are full-sized and the total contents are worth a whopping £640!

Mankind Advent Calendar for 2019 goes right through until Christmas Day and the packaging itself is slick and stylish! To find out more and purchase, click here.

HOTEL CHOCOLAT - DARK (VEGAN) / £12

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Now, it wouldn’t be Christmas without a bit of Chocolate to wake up to every morning right!? Without fail, every year I always treat myself to an Advent Calendar from Hotel Chocolat as I find that they do THE best chocolate!

24 Dark chocolates throughout December presented in a silver, sleek box, these Advent Calendars are also available in other flavours such as milk, white, caramel, free from milk, free from dark, ‘everything’ and ‘up to snow good (children’s)’! To purchase, click here or again, pop to your local Hotel Chocolat Boutique but be quick, they sell out rather quickly!

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I hope you have all enjoyed this Advent Calendar Gift Guide for 2019! I would love to hear from you and know which Advent Calendar you may have or may be looking to treat yourself to! I will also be unboxing each Advent Calendar over on my Instagram Stories so be sure to join in! Now, roll on December 1st…

MENS WINTER LOOKBOOK 2019

I wanted to create a mens winter lookbook for 2019 that best represented my style on an evening/nighttime throughout the Winter months. I’ve put together a few different looks of my favourite blazers, shirts and accessories! Now I will be honest and admit that I may be a bad blogger here as most of these items are what I’ve collected over the past 3-4 years so unfortunately they may not be linked however, I have found alternatives instead!

Myself and the amazingly talented Sophia Carey shot this at Studio Bee in Manchester and I couldn’t be happier with the results! I hope you all like them as much as I do too.

© Photography: Sophia Carey

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JIMMY CHOO - URBAN HERO

The latest launch from Jimmy Choo comes in the form of Urban Hero! A fragrance that is an ode to the mysterious and confident man with an underlying hint of mischief and cheekiness…

JIMMY CHOO - Urban Hero

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  • Top Notes: Lemon Caviar, Black Pepper

  • Middle Notes: Rosewood, Vetiver

  • Base Notes: Grey Amber, Leather Accord

Urban Hero begins with a clean, fresh opening that has a spicy kick to it from the Black Pepper note. The initial opening then stays pretty linear throughout the fragrances journey. In terms of its longevity, this lasted for up to 4-5 hours which was slightly disappointing for me as I do enjoy a fragrance that has strong lasting power and its silage was light to medium. Urban Hero as a whole felt slightly generic but I would suggest that if you are looking for a ‘safe’ fragrance for daywear then this would be a good fragrance to try out! I do however, like the bottles design and think that it looks slick, strong and stylish!

To find out more and to purchase, click here.

Have you smelt Jimmy Choo - Urban Hero before? If so, what do you think? Are you a fan of the fragrance? Let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!

*Please note, this fragrance has been gifted to me for the purpose of this review.

eSHORES TRAVEL EVENT

I recently went along to eShores travel event at Lambert’s Yard in Leeds and despite not having heard or known much about eShores before, I knew I was in for a treat when the e-vite stated that the evening would be filled with ‘glamour, flair and magic’, and they certainly lived up to it!

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eShores are a team of travel consultants based in Manchester and are an online travel agent/tour operator who can offer anything and everything that is currently available both online and on the high street. Specialising in Multi Centre Holidays where these type of holidays allow you to tailor make your own holiday so that you can get the very best out of it by combining the beach with the city, culture with landscapes, the list goes on! The eShores website has a list of recommended itineraries ranging from their most popular destinations and holidays, to their more bespoke, unique packages.

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The evening at Lambert’s Yard began by enjoying a cocktail (or three…) from a menu which had all been inspired by their most popular American destinations:

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SAN FRANCISCO COCKTAILS

  • Wall Banger – Vodka, Mango & Pineapple Juice, Mint & Galliano

  • San Francisco – Vodka, Cherry Brandy, Lime & Sugar

  • Pornstar Martini – Vanilla Vodka, Lemon, Pineapple Juice & Passionfruit syrup

  • Californian Ginjito – Gin, Mint, Apple Juice, Lime, Sugar & Soda

After mingling and hearing from the founder of eShores, we then headed upstairs where we enjoyed a 3 course meal!

LOS ANGELES INSPIRED FOOD

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  • Starter: Out of the vegan or meat option, I opted for the ‘Hawaiian’ tuna poke which was tuna fillet, macadamia, sushi Rice.

  • Main: Easily the most tastiest dish on the menu, the abigaile fried chicken sandwich, it was so tasty! Chicken, maple syrup sage biscuits, julienne potatoes and no bread.

  • Dessert: Served in a glass, I had the ‘Vegas’ Greek Yoghurt Martini, raspberry and pomegranate.

VEGAS ENTERTAINMENT

As we were tucking into our food, a magician; Sebastian Walton was on hand to provide us with some entertainment and tricks and I must admit, I usually don’t think too much of magicians or illusions but he was incredible. Completely stole the show and left us all wondering ‘Eh, how on earth did he do that!?’ (Fun fact, he was also on Britain’s Got Talent a few years back!)

The evening was great fun and a great insight into finding out more about eShores and the services that they provide. As a little gift to you, my readers, I have been provided with a whopping £100 discount when you book a holiday with them! All you have to do to get this discount is to quote ‘USA/Leeds Event.’ Who knows where you could be flying to?

Have you used eShores services before? If so, which holiday did you go on? Have you ever flown to America? Where would you recommend flying to? Let me know in the comments below as I would love to hear from you and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!

AUTUMN/WINTER CANDLES 2019

There’s nothing more I love in the Autumn/Winter seasons than to light up a gorgeous scented candle to make me feel all cosy! I have put together a Gift Guide featuring 6 candles which range from spicy to creamy and mellow to smokey - something for every mood.

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A/W CANDLES 2019

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Matthew Williamson - Midnight Jungle 200g

  • Candle Notes: Blackcurrant Leaves, Red Fruits, Fig Leaves, Jasmine, Gardenia, Undergrowth, Cypriol, Patchouli, Cedarwood, Chocolate, Vanilla, Honey

Typically known for his bold, colourful designs, Matthew Williamson has a wide range of candles and I was lucky enough to have received one; Midnight Jungle. A soft, creamy scent that lightly fills up an area and is better suited for those who prefer an understated candle.

Inspired by the exotic and dense jungle terrain, this Midnight Jungle is decorated in a glass vessel with an ‘Ikat’ pattern, an elegant design that not only looks elegant, but smells elegant too! To purchase, click here.

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Diptyque - Narguile

  • Candle Notes: Honey, Tobacco Leaves, Spices

Diptyque are one of my go-to brands when it comes to home scents. I am a huge fan of their candles, preferably their rich, creamy scents such as Vanille and Benjoin. I could smell the Narguile scent pouring out of its box prior to opening it up and instantly knew this was going to be a favourite of mine…

A spicy candle that has the creaminess of the honey to add a layer of warmth to the scent, I love how this candle can be smelt instantly, and long after being burnt out! Narguile by Diptyque is best for those who enjoy a spicy scent and to purchase, click here.

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Bellerose - Ambre Gris

  • Candle Notes: Cardamom Essence, Sandalwood, Cloves, Leather

This Ambre Gris scent has a woody, outdoorsy feel to it yet has that spicy kick which adds another dimension to the candle.

I like that this scent doesn’t feel too overbearing yet doesn’t fade away into the background. Perfect for those lazy, Sunday afternoons! To purchase, click here.

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Maison Margiela Replica - By The Fireplace

  • Candle Notes: Bergamot, Lemon, Pink pepper, Ylang-Ylang, Coconut Milk, Musk, Heliotrope

If you have smelt the fragrance of By The Fireplace, then I have to say, that the candle version of this scent is much stronger than the fragrance! Bold, heavy and powerful, By The Fireplace completely envelops any space within your home and certainly packs a punch.

I would recommend that this candle is for those who like to make a statement and to feel a sense of warmth in the room! To purchase, click here.

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Jonathan Ward - Afreet

  • Candle Notes: Blackberry Leaf, Neroli, Black Pepper, Licorice Root, Black Amber, Jasmine, Guaiac Wood

Using a certified organic wax, this Afreet candle is the only one within this Gift Guide that has two wicks! A sweet and sensual scent, I would recommend that this candle is better suited for those who enjoy a scent that is strong enough to stand out, yet not too strong that it becomes overpowering.

I also love the design of the glass itself, doubling up as the perfect interiors gift! To purchase, click here.

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Acqua Di Parma - Buongiorno

  • Candle Notes: Italian Lemon, Mint Leaves, Rosemary, Lavandin, Jasmin, Cedarwood, Musk

Although you could say that this Buongiorno candle is geared a little more towards the Summer season, I wanted to feature this in this particular Gift Guide because it is rather powerful and has a heavy throw!

I enjoy lighting this up to reminisce about being somewhere hot despite the fact it is rather chilly outside… This candle is better suited for those who enjoy a fresh yet bold scent and can be purchased here.

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I hope you have enjoyed my Autumn/Winter Candles Gift Guide for this year and I hope that I have inspired you to try some of these out!

Have you smelt any of these before? If so, which ones? Do you have any candles you’re currently burning that you think I should try? I would love to know! Leave me a comment below and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button.

*Please note these candles apart from Bellerose had all been gifted to me for the purpose of this review.

DEAF IDENTITY

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For the past 5 months I have been working silently on creating a new brand/business; DEAF IDENTITY.

Growing up as a deaf person, I was always told how to be, how to behave, how deaf I actually am, I never knew where I belonged or how to fit in, and I always felt that my deafness was up for debate.

/ ‘Well you wear hearing aids so you’re deaf’. / ‘Well you don’t look deaf’. / ‘If you can’t sign then you’re not really deaf’. / ‘Turn your hearing aids up, I’m not repeating myself again’. / ‘You’re not that deaf because you can speak to me and have good speech’. / ‘Ugh, never mind it doesn’t matter’. ///

Since becoming more secure of my #DEAFIDENTITY and how strongly I feel in terms of identifying as a deaf person, I feel incredibly passionate about showing to the world that actually, there is no right or wrong way to be deaf, and that no matter how people might judge or speak to you, they can never take away how you identify as a deaf person.

Growing up, I never had a deaf role model, or a deaf group to identify with, and in today’s society and media where diversity is being spoken about strongly, I’m still yet to see any diversity when it comes to deaf issues and deaf awareness? I love fashion and mixing it whilst raising deaf awareness, is something I feel incredibly strong and passionate about! 

Over the next week I will be releasing content over on @deafidentity ahead of its official release this upcoming Friday 27th September at 6pm, and I do hope that you will join me on my new journey, and to realise that it’s time that deafness got recognised, spoken about and more importantly - heard.

MAISON MARGIELA - WHISPERS IN THE LIBRARY

Maison Margiela have recently released two new fragrances; Under The Lemon Trees and Whispers In The Library. Both of these fragrances are part of the ‘Replica’ line which aim to evoke memories of places, times and people, and as we begin to move into the Autumn season here in the United Kingdom, Whispers In The Library is an ideal transitional fragrance!

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WHISPERS IN THE LIBRARY

  • Top Notes: Orange Blossom, Pepper

  • Middle Notes: Cypriol, Patchouli

  • Base Notes: Cedar, Vetiver, Vanilla Absolute, Tonka Bean

Whispers In The Library begins with a spicy kick that initially feels creamy and sharp, but then quickly softens into a warm, woody accord. Once the dry-down begins, the fragrance stays pretty linear and ultimately has an overall woody feel to it.

If you have ever smelt ‘By The Fireplace’ I would describe this as a ‘younger, softer’ version of that fragrance. They both equally have this warmth, enveloping feel to them which packs a punch for the colder, Autumn weather!

The overall longevity of Whispers In The Library stayed upon my skin for an impressive 7 hours given that this is classed as an Eau De Toilette, and its sillage is medium to heavy.

A little side note and I don’t particularly know why, but when I initially wore this for the very first time, it immediately took me back to my time in Paris 2 years ago… There’s something about the notes and the fragrance that highlights my time spent there, and that’s exactly what I love about the Maison Margiela ‘Replica’ fragrances! They always transport you to a different place or bring back forgotten memories.

Available in 100ml, and 10ml as a Travel Spray you can purchase and find out more details here.

Be sure to read my other reviews on Maison Margiela: Replica fragrances below -

Under The Lemon Trees | By The Fireplace | Filters | Gender Anonymous | Jazz Club Candle

Have you smelt Whispers In The Library before? If so, what are your thoughts? Have you smelt any Maison Margiela fragrances? Which ones? I would love to hear from you, so don’t forget to leave me a comment below and click the ‘like’ button!