CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE 2019

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With just a few days to go until Christmas, I have put together some last minute gift choices to help you when it comes to buying presents for your loved ones, (or yourself, after all, we all deserve a little treat right!?)

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SACHAJUAN - OCEAN MIST GIFT SET / £50.00

One of my favourite haircare brands; SACHAJUAN!

This Christmas, why not treat a loved one or yourself to their iconic ‘Ocean Mist’ trio gift set?

Available to purchase online here!

HOLLISTER - FESTIVAL NITE GIFT SET / £35.99

Having previously reviewed the Hollister Festival Nite - For Him fragrance here, this would make for the perfect gift for the man who enjoys a fresh, light Summer fragrance!

This gift set contains 100ml Eau De Toilette Spray, 100ml Bodywash and a card holder.

Available to purchase in stores such as Boots, Superdrug, John Lewis and online here!

ESCENTRIC MOLECULES - BODY WASH GIFT SET / £20.00 per bottle

‘01’ by Escentric Molecules for me is one of the most complimented fragrances - ever! The scent is based on the enigmatic woody molecule; ISO E Super with fresh lime peel, green jasmine bud, soft balsams and musk.

Within this gift set are 01, 02, 03 and 04. Available to purchase online here!

BE WATER - POWER LIBERTY: REUSABLE BOTTLE / £25.95

A gemstone water bottle which is believed to change the structure and taste of water!

The bottles are fully reusable and the Power Liberty bottle is thought to improve circulation and include relief from pain and anxiety.

Available to purchase online here!

LABORATORY PERFUMES - ATLAS CANDLE / 200g £45.00

One of my favourite scents from Laboratory Perfumes comes in the form of ‘Atlas’! A spicy scent containing notes such as cinnamon, ginger and black pepper with a hint of fine cognac.

Available to purchase in store such as Yorkshire Soap Co. and online here!

RALPH LAUREN - THE POLO BLACK BEAR EDITION FRAGRANCE / 125ml £60.00

A fragrance that is bold and sophisticated containing notes such as iced mango, silver armoise and patchouli noir, this would make the perfect gift for the man who likes to feel luxurious and expensive!

Available to purchase in stores such as Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, John Lewis and online here!

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Have you got all of your Christmas presents sorted, or are you a last minute person like myself? Are there any of your favourites mentioned within this Christmas Gift Guide? Let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!

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CREED CHRISTMAS 2019

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I have made no secret of my love for the iconic fragrance brand that is, Creed, and with Christmas just 12 days away (I know, how are we so close already!?) I wanted to put together 3 of my favourite Creed fragrances and divulge a little on why these would make for incredible Christmas Gifts!

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CREED - AVENTUS

• Top Notes: Blackcurrant, Betgamot, Apple, Pineapple

• Middle Notes: Rose, Dry Birch, Moroccan Jasmine, Patchouli

• Base Notes: Oak Moss, Musk, Ambergris, Vanilla

When it comes to fragrances, Creed - Aventus is possibly one of the most iconic scents out there. I first came across this masterpiece back in 2015 and wore it so much over the course of Summer that it now brings back all of those memories in abundance when I now smell the fragrance.

Arguably, Aventus is the fragrance that gets me the most compliments and for this Christmas, this will make for the most perfect gift for those who are strong, confident and sure of themselves without appearing too overbearing. To read my review in full, click here and to purchase and find out more, click here!

CREED - ORIGINAL SANTAL

• Top Notes: Coriander, Juniper Berries, Cinnamon, Sandalwood

• Middle Notes: Rosemary, Ginger, Lavender, Petitgrain

• Base Notes: Tonka Bean, Vanilla

Original Santal is a fragrance that has a warm, spicy yet crisp feeling to it and one that contradicts itself throughout its performance. Opening as a rather light scent that quickly takes a more woody turn, the fragrance that becomes richer with the Tonka Bean and Vanilla notes finishing this off with a creamy undertone.

The ideal gift for the man who likes to smell expensive… For my full review of Original Santal, click here and to purchase, click here!

CREED - AVENTUS COLOGNE

• Top Notes: Pineapple, Green Apple, Mint, Ginger, Mandarin Orange, Pink Pepper

• Middle Notes: Patchouli, Sandalwood, Vetiver

• Base Notes: Musk, Styrax, Birch, Tonka Bean

A woody and citrusy take on the original leather, spicy ‘Aventus’ in the sense that this Aventus Cologne feels lighter on the skin and unfortunately doesn’t last as long as ‘Aventus’ does. However, this is the perfect alternative for those who find the original ‘Aventus’ a little powerful at times and I would recommend wearing the Aventus Cologne during the daytime in Spring/Summer!

Aventus Cologne would make the perfect present for the man who likes scents that feel lighter on the skin and to read my review in full, click here and to purchase, click here.

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I hope you have enjoyed this mini Creed Gift Guide and I would love to know your thoughts! Do you have any favourites that should be mentioned here? Any you think I should try? Let me know your thoughts below and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!

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DIPTYQUE CHRISTMAS COLLECTION 2019

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For this Festive season, the inspiration behind each of the Limited Edition Christmas Collection scents was that they all represent a ‘Lucky Charm’. Each carrying a special wish for the New Year;

• Protection

• Luck

• Harmony

The trio consists of:

1. Protective Pine - The guardian of the home.

   I love how earthy and woody this is yet still has a slight creaminess to it and although being a mini, this certainly packs a punch when lit in any area!

2. Lucky Flowers - Brings good luck.

   Perhaps a little too floral and bold for me, but that’s down to personal taste!

3. Blissful Amber - Restores harmony.

   A rich, gorgeous scent that feels cosy and subtle yet when I leave the area, it is only when I return that I notice its projection. Blissful Amber is also my favourite out of the trio!

Overall, yet another stunning Christmas Collection from Diptyque this year and I particularly love the design of the packaging and artwork by artist: Olaf Hajek. Colourful, fun and festive!

To find out more from Diptyque this Christmas, click here and to purchase this three candles coffret, click here.

Have you smelt any of these Christmas scents this year? If so, do you have any favourites? Have you smelt any Diptyque candles before? If so, which ones? I would love to hear from you down below and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!

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MENS ADVENT CALENDARS 2019

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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

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

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

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

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…

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MENS WINTER LOOKBOOK 2019

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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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• SHEER SHIRT // ASOS -SIMILAR-

• SKINNY JEANS IN BLACK // ASOS

• BOOTS // JEFFERY WEST -SIMILAR-

• SNAKE RING // YSL -SOLD OUT & NO ALTERNATIVE FOUND FROM YSL, SORRY!-

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• EMBROIDERED BLAZER // ASOS

• ROLL NECK JUMPER // ASOS

• SKINNY JEANS IN BLACK // ASOS

• BOOTS // JEFFERY WEST -SIMILAR-

• SNAKE RING // YSL -SOLD OUT & NO ALTERNATIVE FOUND FROM YSL, SORRY!-

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• HEARING AIDS // PHONAK

• STAR DROP EARRING // ASOS

• BARBED WIRE EAR-CUFF // ASOS

• SATIN SHIRT WITH SHEER CUT PANEL // ASOS

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• LEOPARD PRINT BLAZER // ASOS -SIMILAR-

• GRANDAD COLLARLESS SHIRT // ASOS -SIMILAR-

• SKINNY JEANS IN BLACK // ASOS

• BOOTS // JEFFERY WEST -SIMILAR-

• SNAKE RING // YSL -SOLD OUT & NO ALTERNATIVE FOUND FROM YSL, SORRY!-

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• WINE VELVET BLAZER // ASOS -SIMILAR-

• GRANDAD COLLARLESS SHIRT // ASOS -SIMILAR-

• SKINNY JEANS IN BLACK // ASOS

• BOOTS // JEFFERY WEST -SIMILAR-

• SNAKE RING // YSL -SOLD OUT & NO ALTERNATIVE FOUND FROM YSL, SORRY!-

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• SKINNY FRINGED BLAZER // ASOS - OUT OF STOCK & NO ALTERNATIVE FOUND, SORRY!-

• SATIN COLLARLESS SHIRT // ASOS

• SKINNY JEANS IN BLACK // ASOS

• BOOTS // JEFFERY WEST -SIMILAR-

• SNAKE RING // YSL -SOLD OUT & NO ALTERNATIVE FOUND FROM YSL, SORRY!-

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• PERSONALISED LOGO T-SHIRT // DEAF IDENTITY

• FLARED JEANS IN BLACK // ASOS

• BOOTS // JEFFERY WEST -SIMILAR-

• SNAKE RING // YSL -SOLD OUT & NO ALTERNATIVE FOUND FROM YSL, SORRY!-

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• OVERSIZED FUNNEL NECK JUMPER // ASOS

• FLARED JEANS IN BLACK // ASOS

• BOOTS // JEFFERY WEST -SIMILAR-

• SNAKE RING // YSL -SOLD OUT & NO ALTERNATIVE FOUND FROM YSL, SORRY!-

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JIMMY CHOO - URBAN HERO

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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

• 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.

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eSHORES TRAVEL EVENT

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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!

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.

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:

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

• 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

Photography by https://www.elouisageorgiou.co.uk/

Photography by https://www.elouisageorgiou.co.uk/

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!

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