We seem to have escaped the dreaded rain (for now) so let’s enjoy all the summer we can, while we can…
First up on this week’s want list is this gorgeous ERES Les Essentiels Cachette halter neck swimsuit – I’m normally a blue tone red type of girl but the summer calls for orange reds and I love how a seemingly simple swimsuit can be such a statement piece. Who said choosing a one piece was boring.
My day to day jewellery is pretty low key, a silver B pendant, two pairs of studs, yet it’s been a long time since I wore a bracelet or bangle everyday – this Monica Vinader Linear Diamond Toggle Chain Bracelet is currently on sale and is a great mix of classic and contemporary with just enough understated bling for that polished look.
It’s been a while since I treated myself to a new handbag – a predicament I really must rectify! I stumbled across this Ballet Sommet Medium Carry All and it was a pink love at first sight, there’s something oh so Sketch about it – and yes it may be int he £1000+ bracket but it’s size makes it practical, well that’s my justification and I’m sticking to it.
It’s no secret that dresses are one of my favourite go to pieces, they instantly make an outfit and I’m even more of a fan of dresses like the River Island Light Blue Layer Cami Midi Dress as it can so easily be layered (kind of a must with the British summers!) and works well with both trainers or heels.
Talking of versatile, despite their outlandish clashing of leopard print and neon, the Hula Espadrilles by Air & Grace London are one of those shoes that will go with anything and can easily become this season’s stand out piece for off duty style – and with memory foam cushioning soles, they’ll see you through until the early hours!
I fear my addiction to Chanel may be soon back in full swing, when I was younger I wouldn’t think twice about spending a minimum of a £100 per month on Chanel beauty and skincare; fast forward to motherhood and household bills really should take priority, yet recently I’ve been discovering just how premium Chanel products really are – from effortless to Soleil De Tan Chanel to their limited edition make up ranges – The Rouge Coco Gloss in 714 Caresse and seeing as it’s a limited edition shade I can’t imagine it will be long until I add this to my Chanel collection.
Another premium beauty brand I struggle to resist is Bulgari, I think it has plenty to do with their timeless elegance with some of the simplest ingredients that create a beautiful and lingering scent, the Bulgari Rose Goldea perfume is no exception.
Keeping one eye firmly on the clouds I’m still on the hunt for a waterproof that’s good at keeping out the water while keeping me in with with the style crowd. New Look have some great rain jackets and I spotted this new colour way, yes it may not be a summery bright but it’s neutral tone means it goes with more, winner!
Happy Wanting!
Top Tips for Travelling During Ramadan with Kids
Travel is one of the greatest gifts you can give your children – I love watching Boo’s face as she discovers and explores new countries and cultures. Ramadan is the Islamic holy month and falls on the 9th month of the lunar year (so it’s different every year). Travelling to a Muslim-majority region during Ramadan offers a fascinating insight into a truly unique period within Islamic culture and you’ll find that as visitors as long as you’re aware and respectful your hosts will welcome you with open arms. Here’s my top tips for travelling during Ramadan with kids…
Plan Plan Plan
Like pretty much all family travel, preparation is key and this is even more important during the holy month of Ramadan. When arranging your travel itinerary be sure to check with individual hotels, resorts and tour operators if and how Ramadan will affect your stay. The majority of hotels and resorts will continue to serve food and drink throughout the day, although they may erect screens out of respect to those fasting. It’s also wise to plan ahead any excursions to make sure their opening times are the same. Hotels will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have – and remember no question is ever too silly!
It’s also worth spending time researching the local laws and customs, depending on whether the government is secular or religious will dictate if more conservative clothing is required – when it comes to being/dressing respectfully you can never be too over dressed.
King of the Snacks
Anyone who travels with children will know just how much little people can eat, barely twenty minutes goes by without a request for ice cream, treats, juice etc. When traveling during Ramadan food out and about will obviously be less readily available. This may sound obvious but making sure you head out with a supply of snacks will make it so much easier; however it’s vital to check your destination country as it is illegal in some countries to eat and drink in daylight during holy month. Whilst pregnant and breastfeeding women and children are exempt from fasting, awareness and sensitivity will go a long way and is greatly appreciated by locals.
Get Ready for Iftar
Iftar translated from Arabic means the meal eaten by Muslims after sunset during Ramadan – yet it means so much more than that, the breaking of fast is an assault on the senses – in the most amazing of ways! The streets and restaurants come alive as people come together with friends, families and strangers (don’t be surprised if you’re invited to break bread with a local family) the buzz that comes with Iftar has to be experienced to be believed and is a great family friendly environment.
Embrace Late Nights
It goes without saying that the month of Ramadan creates a sizeable shift in the day to day schedule of muslim-majority regions as all things eating and drinking are concentrated to the hours of darkness. Ramadan is a great time to resurrect the afternoon nap for both you and the children – it’s the perfect rest-bite from the relentless dessert heat and also allows a recharge of the batteries ready for the night time festivities that can be found in the Ramadan tents which tourists are nearly always welcome to join.
Ramadan shouldn’t deter you from exploring the Middle East or any muslim destination – it’s part of it’s vibrant personality and goes a long way to make it as special as it is. Bursting with culture and hospitality makes the Middle Eastern region the perfect family destination.
Drugstore Beauty: Battle of the Hydra Skincare
Beauty trends come in all shapes and sizes, with the theme of the moment being water (or hydra if you’re in charge or naming beauty products!) – I recently tried the Chanel Hydra Beauty Crème and instantly loved the light feeling of hydration sans stickiness, at £50 for a pot I decided to see what drugstore beauty had to offer and whether they could hold their own in the hydration stakes.
There were two prominent hydra beauty products when I popped into Boots; the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel and the L’ORÉAL Hydra Genius Aloe Water Liquid Care. Both come in at less than £15 each, so a great way to try the skincare trend of 2017.
The concept of hydra beauty is only one of the trends that shows how far east beauty is emerging as the beauty directionals of contemporary beauty. Premium beauty brands have for a while now recognised the prominent rise of the market in China, South Korea and Japan and have been targeting and launching product ranges in that region first before introducing them to the western market.
I decided to trial both the Neutrogena and L’ORÉAL products for a week each using them morning and night. First up was the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel. Neutrogena is one of the pillars of affordable skincare so I was keen to see how they had translated the hydra trend. The water gel is the more traditional of the two, it’s consistency is light and cooling, yet substantial enough to feel nourishing for your skin at night. After 7 days my skin felt hydrated, plumped and not greasy at all, which helped me to ditch the foundation for a couple of days as my skin looked healthy adn glowing.
Next up was the L’ORÉAL Hydra Genius Aloe Water Liquid Care, of the two products this is the most ‘innovative’ offering to the beauty market – it takes lightness to a whole new level and really lives up to the packaging claim of a unique water-like texture. It has a premium feel with it’s glass pump bottle goes on really easily, it says to apply one pump, however I’ve been using two to cover my face and neck. In comparison to the Neutrogena, it’s much lighter and you can feel the presence of aloe water – it has a somewhat sticky consistency at first which massages away to leave your skin light and cushioned, with only the gentle fragrance of aloe lingering. After 7 days, mu skin was visibly hydrated although it’s ultra lightness meant I still needed a bb cream.
Going forward I’ll be keeping these two additions to my daily summer skincare routine. The L’ORÉAL is a great light skin base for the mornings and it’s fast absorbing making it perfect for those busy days when I don’t have time to wait ages for my moisturiser to be absorbed. The Neutrogena whilst still super light is the that bit heavier than the L’ORÉAL so is great for a summer night cream as it stops my skin being over oiled while I sleep yet helps to to recover and rehydrate.
It’s no surprise that hydration is top of the agenda for skincare, after all our skin is a living breathing organ and it not only needs to be kept hydrated for healthy function but will repay you ten fold in the beauty stakes. Drugstore beauty brands are keeping up with skincare innovation giving us lots of affordable hydra beauty options.
Want It Wednesday | 7th June
And just like that our summer seems to be blown out of town by the ridiculous gales and downpours of a British weather system. Trying my hardest not to feel to glum about the turn of weather I’ve decided to be a proactive mama and seek out the best bits to brighten my week.
I’ll admit that I’ve never really invested in umbrellas (who can resist the £2 bargains as you walk into Primark) but I think it’s time to be a true grown up an invest in one that costs more than £10. I’ve searched out the totes XTRA STRONG Auto Open/Close Thin in black and it seems the prefect introduction to adulting -fingers crossed this banishes the drowned rat look!
Regardless of the weather bright nails are such a classic summer look and instantly lift your outfit (and your mood!) I’ve been doing my own gel nails at home for months now but I keep hearing great things about the CIATÉ London Mani Marker Nail Polish Pen – super simple and results that wow and last, the shade beauty queen is the perfect summer bright and will stylishly clash with almost outfit.
I would be a poor blogger if I didn’t at some point in 2017 mention the phenomenally successful launch of The Ordinary. Coverage Foundation – yes it sold over a quarter of a million units in its first week and will probably be forever out of stock but the reviews are so good that for a now I just have to have faith in the ‘e-mail me when back in stock’ button.
If you’ve been following my Instagram Stories you will have seen that I bought one of my wants from last week – the Adidas slides, and as predicted they are super comfy and I’m finding excuses to wear them with everything – being in the Adidas store on Oxford Street reminded me of two things: 1. I really am a mum, I described the guy who served me as young man! 2. I actually really like the clean lines and simplicity of the classic Adidas pieces so next stop on the return love in with Adidas is an Adidas Originals Boyfriend Trefoil print tee.
Leaving my urban style vibes behind, I’m giving all my love to this Selina Embroidered Dress from Whistles; it ticks all the boxes of effortless on trend style, and as silly as it sounds, it even looks super comfy!
I tried the Dune Abbigail in rose gold on a few weeks back and was amazed that me, Rosie the eternal trainer lover could actually walk in them! It takes a special heel to capture my heart (and walking ability) and the outlandish finish isn’t a hinderance to me – instead I like to think of them as a unique style investment 😉
I’m keeping with the metallic theme and finishing on a high the beauty that is the Mango Flowy Pleated Dress – available in black also, the metallic silver is calling me to pair it with white trainers and a denim jacket for the ultimate in off duty style when travelling and it would be perfect for showing ff a tan, it hasn’t taken much to convince me this is a need not a want…
Happy Wanting!
The Lip Balm Weakness | My Current Faves
Lip balms are like hair bands: they enter your life in an osmosis like way and even though they’re such a small thing not having your favourite to hand can ruin your day – ok so maybe slight exaggeration but at least ten minutes.
I often get asked what my favourite lip balms are and the honest answer is I never have one solid choice, it all depends on the time of year, the condition of my lips and whereabouts I am in the world. Here’s whats in my lip balm jar in my bedroom:
Carmex
This is one of those that is in my core collection, I’ve been using Carmex for fifteen years and it does the trick of providing serious moisture to your lips really quickly and the slight medical smell is one of those scents that is strangely comforting. At less than £3 for a pot of this lip magic it’s a great purse friendly lip care staple.
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Tin
The first of the Elizabeth Arden to feature in my current faves, is this lesser known tin of lip love, it has a seemingly thicker consistency than it’s lip stick style cousin. Plus the tin means you can really slather it on and is the perfect base to ensure a fully make lipstick look stays.
Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1
I first tried the iconic Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1 when I discovered the shopping heaven that is Bloomingdales on my first visit to New York back when I was a teenager. It really is as good as the hype, it’s my go to for wintery days or windy school runs and is scent free meaning it’s great for slathering on Boo’s lips without her wanting to nibble it off!
Burt’s Bees Mango Lip Balm
This all natural lip balm from Burt’s Bees with mango butter was part of my maid of honour care kit from my friend, Ruth and if I’m honest it wouldn’t have been a product I would have bought but it’s quickly become a firm favourite of mine, it’s sheer texture makes it easy to apply and surprisingly long lasting with a fruity scent.
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Lipcare Stick
This is the bread and butter of premium lip care, I’ve always got one of these lurking at the bottom of my bag – especially when I’m on holiday, it’s one of the first things I stock up on at duty free as it’s great for keeping my lips hydrated while enjoying the heat, pool water and hot wind.
Royal Apothic Tinties
A brand I hadn’t heard of until brought back from the US as a present this quirky Los Angeles brand have been rumoured to be loved by Victoria Beckham, it’s shea butter base with three oils give it a luxurious feel and its tint means it’s often all I need for my day to day lip look – plus whenever I’m wearing it I receive plenty of compliments, winner!
This is by no means all of my lip balm collection and what I’m loving changes as much as the seasons and how my skin is behaving. Are any of your favourites included above? Let me know which lip care products I should be trying next…