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Weekend wishlist: how to wear this season’s chunky boot

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And so it seems that no longer had I fully embraced my love of the chunky sandal (omg the H&M ones - quilted chunky gorgeousness now sadly out of stock but I nabbed some on Ebay), than summer feels like it’s ready to give up its crown. No matter, you know I love a crisp morning and a soft, oversized jumper, plus I’ve discovered a new love - the chunky boot. Luckily, they seem to be very much in fashion this season. In fact, the rule seems to be the chunkier the better. Seeing as I’m a bit out of my comfort level here, I drafted in some expert help with some top tips on how to wear this season’s chunky boot, then had a look around for some different options. Read more

New hush autumn collection

Weekend wishlist: the new hush autumn collection

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Ooh I get so excited about autumn clothes - I’m all about the jumpers and boots and snuggly stuff. hush is always my go to for autumn loveliness so I get an extra little fizz of pleasure when the email announcing the new season drops into my inbox. This new hush autumn collection has got my name all over it: muted colours, a bit of leopard, a bit of leather, some chunky boots… And yes, I know I said that I’ve decided not to buy anything new in September, but that doesn’t mean I can’t create a little wishlist, right?

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A simple skincare routine with Ren Skincare 1

A simple skincare routine with Ren Skincare

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After a stressful start to the year, I’ve found such comfort in simplicity – whether it’s an hour spent away from my phone with a book and a cup of tea, or the joy of slipping into freshly laundered sheets. Stress has taken a toll on my skin, too, and I do wonder whether we just do too much to our skin with all the layers of mists, serums, acids and masques. So this month, I made a move back to an easy, comforting skincare routine with products that nourish both my skin and my sense of wellbeing (I love a gorgeous scent and beautiful packaging – I want simplicity, but I still need it all to look and feel lovely). I decided to stick to one brand, as I feel like all the products will all work really well with each other, and as I’m already a fan (and I love their sustainable stance and recyclable packaging) I decided to create my simple skincare routine with Ren Skincare.

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The skinSense retinol face & body collection

The skinSense retinol face & body collection

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I’m getting a bit obsessed with these Today’s Special Value things on QVC at the moment. They’re just such amazing value, and really the only way that I would buy luxury skincare and beauty. The current one features skinSense, which I’ve talked about loads before. I love the products, LOVE the beautiful packaging, and I don’t know about you, but the scent of the products I use is so important to me, and they always smell divine. This set is the skinSense retinol face & body collection, which is a really lovely luxury 5 piece skincare kit which would be a great introduction to the skinSense range. Also, individually, the products would set you back £159, so to get them at just £41.92 is pretty amazing.

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The perfect sun protection kit

The perfect sun protection kit for your first post-lockdown holiday!

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I don’t know about you, but I’m already looking at where I can travel and when. Eurotunnel Le Shuttle has seen huge demand (bookings are currently up 49%, with travellers taking advantage of refundable ticket options), and I know that a couple of friends have already got their flights booked for a late summer holiday. Just in time, then, comes an amazing offer from my favourite suncare brand, Ultrasun, who have brought out the perfect sun protection kit for your first post-lockdown holiday in the shape of a lovely six piece essentials collection with some handy sized versions of some of my favourite Ultrasun products. The kit is incredible value at just under £30 for £90 worth of products too. But hurry, it’s only going to be available for 24 hours at this price, from 9pm tonight - so get ready!

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What will it be like visiting the hairdressers after lockdown?

What will it be like visiting the hairdressers after lockdown?

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It’s the thing on everyone’s mind, isn’t it? Every time I’ve seen anyone ask what we miss the most about lockdown, one answer is always the same: my hairdresser! We’re all battling four inch roots and missing a trim, a pamper and a chat, and although the fellas might get away with a dodgy home buzz cut with the clippers, there’s no way we’re letting the family near our hair (well, I’m not anyway). So what will it be like visiting the hairdressers after lockdown? I thought it would be really interesting to catch up with lovely Nat Lupton, owner of the gorgeous independent organic salon The Hair Secret in Berkhamsted, to have a chat about her own experience. I asked Nat a few questions about the changes she’s having to make, and found out more about what the salon experience will be like in the future.

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Black summer dress edit

Weekend wishlist: the black summer dress edit

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You know me by now, I’m uneasy with colour. I like chic. I like black. I like a bit of denim and maybe a splash of leopard (it’s a neutral) but that’s it. As the weather warms up, it can sometimes be difficult to find nice black dresses that aren’t of the going out/LBD variety, so I thought I’d do a little black summer dress edit of some of the ones I’ve liked (and a couple I’ve bought) recently.

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The Skinsense Hydranet range

Weekend wishlist: the Skinsense Hydranet range

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Hola! I’m being a rebel and doing my weekend wishlist a day early today (let’s face it, every day is like a weekend at the moment isn’t it?), but there’s a method in my madness as the Skinsense Hydranet range is Today’s Special Value at QVC, meaning that you’re going to get all these products for just £32 so obviously I had to give you the heads up. Read on to find out all about my favourite Skinsense bits, and about the Skinsense Hydranet TSV in particular.

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Lockdown lingerie

Weekend wishlist: lockdown lingerie

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Hey! I hope you’re all surviving - what is this - lockdown week four, or maybe five (just googled, it’s day 33 today). I got all ready for a meeting on Thursday and sat puzzled when nobody logged in because I thought it was Friday. Duh. Last time I was talking about lockdown leisurewear so this time I thought I’d address the issue of what’s underneath. I’m assuming that - like me - you’ve mostly abandoned the push me up, suck me in kind of underwear that matters when you actually care what it looks like underneath proper clothes? So what should we wear instead? I’ve been looking at some gorgeous lockdown lingerie that I thought I’d share that will still make you feel lovely, whilst being super comfy as well. Read more

Lockdown leisurewear

Weekend wishlist: lockdown leisurewear

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How are we all doing? I hope you’re surviving the lockdown. It’s such a weird time isn’t it? Being locked down in the same house as your soon to be ex-husband has not been easy - thank goodness for Charlie coming home from uni and making me cry with laughter on a regular basis. If you’re suffering in a similar way, or just worried and anxious, like so many of us are, I’m sending positive vibes and big virtual hugs. I seem to have been checking out the online shops (the ones that are still open) for more lockdown leisurewear (I can’t help but say ‘leeeeshurewear’ when I read this word) to expand my limited jogging bottom/leggings working from home options, so I thought I’d bring you a bit of lockdown loveliness in the form of a few nice bits I’ve seen, and some special offers and discounts too.

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Weekend wishlist: savvy sales shopping rules

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If you’re anything like me, your inbox right now is probably full of sales offers and new year bargains (and I thought I’d unsubscribed from most of them!). We all know this is the way that the brands move their old stock and clear out room for new season pieces, but is it worth taking the time to hunt through, or are all the sales just best avoided? I have a few rules that I keep in the notes on my phone (I keep everything: motivational quotes, lovely sentences I’ve read, nice messages people have sent me…) and it really does help keep me on track. I thought it might help to share my savvy sales shopping rules with you - you never now, the perfect item might be out there just waiting to be discovered!

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The big Christmas beauty gift guide

The great big Christmas beauty gift guide

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Following on from my great big Christmas gift guide, I just had to make a separate gift guide for all the gorgeous beauty stuff I’ve loved this year (and longer). I think beauty just makes the best present, whether you’re buying for teenagers, friends, Mums (or husbands - Mr E loves a bit of skincare), or even for a bit of self gifting (we’re worth it too). You can give eco/sustainable, practical, or luxe that people wouldn’t necessarily buy themselves, and, as I said in my last gift guide, it doesn’t get better than giving someone a gift that is both beautiful and useful (paraphrasing Mr Morris there). So here’s my great big Christmas beauty gift guide/great big roundup of all the beauty bits I’ve adored this year.

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The big Christmas gift guide

The great big Christmas gift guide

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It’s that time again! I absolutely love creating this gift guide (this is my tenth year!) and every year I try and find something for everyone, although as my own kids get older, I naturally seem to do less kid stuff, sorry about that. I’ve tried hard to find gifts for every type of person that you might possibly have to buy for, or, y’know, to add to your own Christmas wishlist. You’ll notice from that I’ve applied my usual philosophy, which is that useful presents that can be used/eaten/drunk are so much better than ornaments or things that might not be to the recipient’s taste. I’ve also tried to include lots of sustainable pressies. So here <insert fanfare> is the great big Christmas gift guide. Enjoy!

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Weekend wishlist hygge for the home

Weekend wishlist: hygge for the home

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Yay! It’s the weekend! It might be an unpopular opinion but I love chilly weather, dark evenings and swirling leaves, because it means snuggling in with a sleepy whippet, piles of soft blankets, scented candles, and maybe even a glass of something lovely. For this weekend’s wishlist, I thought I’d do a little roundup of all things hygge for your home, because let’s face it, who needs an excuse to snuggle?!

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The new Wallis winter collection

Stars and sparkles: the new Wallis winter collection

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This week, I was lucky enough to be invited to my fave shopping centre, intu Milton Keynes, to visit the Wallis concession in the fabulous Debenhams store there. The fab event was to celebrate the brand new Wallis winter collection, which is a stunning range with plenty of snuggly faux fur, soft knitwear, and of course some stars and sparkles especially for the party season! For this weekend’s wishlist, I thought I’d take you through some of my favourite pieces, and give you a heads up that there’s up to 30% off the entire range this weekend.

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Weekend wishlist gorgeous everyday jewellery

Weekend wishlist: gorgeous everyday jewellery

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I’m not a huge fan of expensive jewellery. I don’t wear a wedding ring, just a few stacking rings, mostly bought from Etsy, and I don’t own any diamonds (apart from my engagement ring, which now looks so dated). I think that the modern approach to jewellery is that is doesn’t really matter if you mix costume jewellery with real, or gold with silver, and I love this. I’m all for originality and using your jewellery to show your personality. My current obsession is delicate layering: ears glittering with multiple fine hoop piercings and layers of necklaces all at slightly different lengths. I thought for this weekend’s wishlist, I’d have a look at some of the gorgeous everyday jewellery that’s about, and show you the latest addition to my collection too!

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