A Little Lush Haul

Hi, I ended up doing two small shops in Lush not far apart so I decided to share what I've been buying. I've got a total of four products which are all new to me. I orignally visited the Leeds Lush store to pick up one of the new jelly bombs but at the time they hadn't made it to that store. I couldn't not buy anthing so I picked up the first two items a Never Mind The Ballistics bath bomb and a Yellow Submarine bath bomb. On my second visit I was happy to see the store full of all the Halloween and Christmas stock but I restrained myself as I have way too many products I already needed to use. I finally picked up one of the jelly bombs Ectoplasm and a Rocket Science bath bomb because it was too fun not to buy.

Never Mind The Ballistics Bath Bomb
This bath bomb looks so sad in the photo because the cocoa butter coating on the top has dryed out so much the whole bomb is falling apart (I've had it about a month). This is without a doubt a bath bomb that doesn't last long in the open air, I forgot to pack it away. I love the cocoa butter bath bombs as they are so softening and it smells so good.

Lush description: These aren’t ingredients for anybody else except for yourself. Lime and sweet wild orange oils are fresh and peachy on the nose, exciting the senses and shaking up your mood. There’s no time for apathy in the bath, so this anarchic bath bomb fizzes and rolls and spews colour with no holds barred energy. Fair Trade cocoa butter melts alongside fresh bananas to soften both the water and your skin. God save the clean; this deserves a replay.

Yellow Submarine Bath Bomb
I got this one just because the design is fun and I wanted to see this little submarine tugging along around my bath. I think the colour mix with this one is going to be so nice in the tub and is a fun cheaper alternative to the classic bath bombs.

Lush description: Why take a plane when you can take a submarine? Start off in the hustle and bustle of the city, submerge and let the waves wash over you, waking up on a tropical island with coconut scent gently blowing through the trees. A cocktail of Brazilian orange, lemongrass and coriander seed oil will enliven the senses and transport you to sunny shores, until pink and yellow sunsets ground you in the most spectacular bath.

Rocket Science Bath Bomb
I think I saw this bomb on the Lush instagram and instantly wanted it. It's one of the cheapest bath bombs at only £2.95 so would make a lovely stocking filler. The blue and yellow looks like it's going to make the most awesome patterns in the bath. There's even tiny little stars in the rocket blast, can't wait to see what happens to them.

Lush description: Blast off to another world with this mix of uplifting bergamot and lemon. It’s smooth soaring to beautiful bath waters as mellow yellow fizzes with deep blue and pink. Lower onto the surface of the water, sit back, relax and enjoy the ride as it leisurely glides around the bath. You'll love this to the moon and back.

Ectoplasm Jelly Bomb
I finally got hold of a jelly bath bomb and I'm super excited to try this and review it. I'm not sure if this is a Halloween exclusive product and will disapear. I picked it as it was the most halloween themed of the bunch and there's a lot of jelly bomb variations. I was also swayed into picking this one because it's full of citrus oils and so has my favourite scent.

Lush description: For soaks from the other side, launch this slimer into the water and let the gooey jelly ooze across the surface. Made from brown seaweed, it softens your skin as it goes. If you're feeling ghoulish, the uplifting tangerine, grapefruit and restorative litsea cubeba oils will have you in high spirits in no time. Take the gunge.

What have you been buying from Lush?

Sam

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A Little Lush Haul

Hi, I popped to Lush recently and even though I have an insane stash of Lush products already I gave in and picked up a few bits. I think I did well only picking up three products as there was so many new things to try with the Mother's day and Easter collections to tempt me.

I can't help but pick out products that are somewhat colour coordinating. I'm yet to try any of the dipped bath bombs so I'm looking forward to trying Over and Over. I picked up big blue which is an all time favourite and one I don't think I've ever reviewed on the blog. Ups-A-Daisy was too pretty to not pick up.

Ups-A-Daisy Bath Bomb
Part of the mothers day collection with spring vibes is this pretty flower shaped bath bomb. It's a mixture of herbal and citrus scents, I can't wait to see how pretty this one is in the bath.

Big Blue Bath Bomb
This is one of the most softening bath bombs I've every used. It contains a mixture of sea salt and seaweed, it's not for everyone but I personally love it. 

Over and Over Bath Bomb 
What makes this bath bomb so different is the dipped coating of Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter on top. This bath bomb smells amazing with a very strong sweet citrus scent which is a favourite of mine. I can't wait to see what's hiding inside.

What have you been trying from Lush's recent collections?

Sam

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Lush Haul

Hi, Last Sunday I took a little trip into Leeds with my family to go for some food and a few drinks in the city center to celebrate Father’s day. I’m really lucky that it’s only a 20 minuet train ride away so I get to hang out in this amazing city quite often. One thing my home town is missing is a Lush store so whenever I get the chance I have a little stock up on bath time goodies (I need to branch out and try some of the skincare range but I fear for my bank balance).

I bought four bath bombs and almost popped a Brightside bubble bar in my basket but I still have some bubble bar left so resisted. I’d been roughly counting up the price and expected £12 only it was more like £15 and I'm not going to lie I felt a little ill at how much I’d just spent on bath bombs (totally worth it but ouch). I’ll stop rambling and share what I bought with you, expect reviews of the following at some point in the near future.

Sakura - Blooming lovely

This bomb is named after the Japanese cherry blossom tree which it was inspired by. It's a subtle pink bath bomb with these interesting looking green crystals on top. I'm really into anything Japanese inspired so this bomb was high on my list of ones to try. I've heard mixed reviews about the overall aesthetic of this bomb so I can't wait to review it. Containing a mixture of calming Mimosa and Jasmine oils which are complimented by the mixture of Lemon and Orange flower oil to evoke the feeling of the start of spring.

Twilight – Let the sun set on worries

Another bomb I was drawn to because of it's point of inspiration. Lush bath bombs that are inspired by the nights sky and the universe are some of the pretties once in the tube so I had to pick up a Twilight bomb to give ago. This bomb is designed to help you sleep with a mixture of calming and relaxing ingredients including Lavender oil and Ylang Ylang oil.

Lava Lamp – Groovy Baby

I was really excited to the see that lava lamp had been released nationwide for Fathers day as I believe it was an Oxford exclusive until then. I think this is a really interesting looking bomb and something male Lush fans would probably opt for. The name perfectly explains this bath bomb as once it's in the water the purple discs of essential oils melt and create a lava lamp effect on the water. It smells amazingly fresh and very much of citrus because of the Tangerine and Orange flower Oil.

Big Blue – Float Your Cares Away

Amongst all the new bath bombs I wanted to pick up an old favourite so I chose a Big Blue. This is one of the best bombs I've used for actually making my skin feel amazing afterwards. Inspired by the sea this bomb contains kelp (which might sounds a bit gross) and fine sea salt but this bomb really works. It's not just pretty it also has health benefits from all the lovely minerals within the kelp.

Have you tried any of these bath bombs? Which is your favourite?

Sam

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Book Haul

Hi, I've been feeling the urge to buy some new books for a little while now, I've been reading more and more recently and decided I need some new titles to add to my TBR shelf. I wanted to get as many books for as little as possible so was quite happy to pick some unknown titles which sounded interesting.

I bought my selection of books online from the Works on a 6 for £10 offer, they only retail at £2 each anyway. Honestly the selection is a little rubbish but they do have a few gems and just in the time I was thinking over placing an order a lot of books sold out and where replaced by new titles, so it's worth giving the range a look over once in a while. These are all books I know very little about and haven't researched, below is an idea of the plot.

 

That Night - Chevy Stevens

Toni and her boyfriend Ryan are charged with the murder of her younger sister. Eighteen years later Toni is released and struggling to adjust, Ryan is sure he can prove the truth that they are indeed innocent. I think this is going to be a massive who done it story which is going to have dark twists and turns. Psychological thrillers are definitely a genre I need to read more of.

 

Burnt Paper Sky - Gilly Macmillan

A tale of a missing child and suspicion of the public against his mother. That's all the blurb gives away, another physiological thriller and one which I'm sure has you choosing sides.

 

The Crooked House - Christobel Kent

Alison has a dark past that she has been running from since she was teenager, she is the sole survivor of a violent attack on her family. Now years later with a new name and a back office job she meets Paul and realizes in order to find happiness she must resolve her past. This book sounds harrowing with the subject matter but then I'm questioning if it's going to be a bit chic-lit.

 

  Take Back the Skies - Lucy Saxon

Catherine is one of the privileged, the daughter of a senior government official. She doesn't have to fear the same things as others but she still craves freedom and stows away on the skyship Stormdancer. This is the first book in the 'Take Back The Skies' series, after a tiny bit of research I found out that the author was only 16 when she wrote this.

 What Milo Saw - Virginia Macgregor

This is the book I'm most excited to read. Milo is a boy with Retinitis pigmentosa and he is slowly going blind. For the time being he sees through what appears like a small whole, this makes him see the world in a totally different way. One day his gran is taken into a home and that's when Milo realises not all as it seems. With the help of his trusty pet pig Hamlet, Milo sets out to expose the nursing home.

Summer Nights at the Moonlight Hotel - Jane Costello

Set in Windermere, this book seems like the perfect summer read. Friends Lauren, Cate and Emily join the dance class at the Moonlight Hotel, a chain of events puts the girls friendship to the test. I think this will be a great story of unraveled truths and secrets.

Which book would you pick to read first?

Sam

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A Little Lush Haul | #BLOGMAS Day 7

Hi, I wanted to share the few pieces I picked up from Lush York on my resent visit. I really wanted to try somethings from the Christmas range but I didn't want to go too crazy as I know I've got a few Christmas gifts i'm really looking forward to. I picked up two items from the Christmas range and the Sky Dancer Bath Bomb because it was the first time I'd seen it in a store to buy.

Dashing Santa - £2.95

So I went in to buy from the Christmas range so I had to pick up a Dashing Santa. I've had this bath bomb in previous years so not very adventurous but I know it's a goodie and what says Christmas more than a Santa? His feet fizz away first giving him the motion to dash around in the bath water.

Shoot For The Star - £3.65

I originally didn't realise this was a Christmas themed bomb and as I'm a sucker for space themed products it seemed only right to pop it in my basket. It's a really pretty bomb with a shooting star motif and a mixture of yellow and blue which are suppose to recreate the nights sky in the water.

Sky Dancer - £3.95

So even though I went into store with the full intention of indulging in the Christmas range this bomb is the one I'm most excited about. I've seen reviews and it looks so good like the bird is flying around the bath as the bottom of the bomb dissolves first. I love this bomb even more because it's for a fund raising campainge and profits from everyone goes towards equipment to help keep the Hen Harriers from extinction. I'm really looking forward to reviewing this one, it's limited edition so one to try if you get the chance.

Will you be trying to bag a bargain in the Boxing Day sales?

Sam

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7 Ways To Save Money When Buying Books

Hi, I recently bought quite a few books and I don't feel too guilty about the money I've spent as they really didn't end up costing that much. This got me thinking about how I manage to do a ton of reading without spending a crazy amount of money. I think I'd have a shock if I wrote down what I have spent this year on books but I know it would be a whole lot more if I wasn't following these points. So here are my money saving tips, I hope they are helpful.

Ways To Save Money When Buying Books

Ebooks

I'm yet to get an e-reader as I prefer the feel of a book in my hands but I think they are a great idea. One of the main reasons I wish I had one is for the savings on buying books. EBooks are normally a bit cheaper and are often on really great deals. Obviously you've got the price of the e-reader to offset but I'm sure it'll work out cheaper in the long run.

Charity Shops

I recently found a charity shop selling really good books at only 50p each, what a bargain. The key to charity shops is to have an open mind and not judge the books on their cover too much. You can find some new releases as well if you're lucky. You might have to go in a few shops but I kind of like the element of mystery about what I'll find.

Buy Discounted

I never pay full price for books if I can help it, one of the first places I look if I'm wanting to buy a book is on Amazon. They are currently running a 3 for £10 on paperbacks promotion, depending on what you pick you can make huge savings. Supermarkets are also a great place to find discounts and promotions.

Buy the Bookset

If it's a trilogy/series your looking to buy, see if there is a complete collection you can purchase. I got the Game of Thrones books for £30 which equals about £4.30 for each of the seven books, a lot cheaper than buying them all separately.

Loyalty cards
If you end up buying a lot of books try to buy them from the same retailer with a loyalty rewards scheme to build up points/stamps to qualify for free books. Being on a mailing list also means you'll get sent discounts and promotions.

Join the Library

Most of the books I read come from the library, you'll be surprised by just how good they can be with having recent releases. If they don't have what you're looking for there is the option to get a copy sent to your local library for a small fee. Most library also offer the option of eBooks. I find looking online at the availability and selection of books is really helpful before I make a visit.

Have a Book Swap

Me and my friends have swapped books for years and it's one of the best ways to read more books without paying for them. I think it also makes you read books you might not have picked. There are often places you can swap books, there's a book swap area in my local bus station and a pub crammed with books where they're happy for you to do a swap. Have a look around I'm sure they'll be something similar in your area.

Do you have any tips for saving money on books?

Sam

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A Little Lush Haul

Hi, Last Sunday I went shopping with my sister in Leeds. We had a lovely time and the sun stayed out so I got to wear my denim jacket for probably the last time this year. One of the places I wanted to visit the most was the Lush store. Last year Lush Leeds relocated into a bigger retail space, with this selling an even bigger range of products. I was shocked by just how busy the store was, with that in mind, it was quite difficult to see everything. I picked up some really nice things, so here's a little haul as I wanted to share what I picked up with you.

I avoided the themed ranges as the store was just too busy and I didn't want to go crazy and spend too much if I could help it. In total I picked up three bath bombs (two of which are new releases) and my all time favourite Lush product the Brightside bubble bar. The bath bombs I choose where Big Blue, Frozen and Intergalactic making my purchase quite a blue themed one. I will be doing full reviews on these products once I've used them.

Brightside - £4.95
I haven't tried that many Lush products, I'm a creature of habit and like what I like. This product has never disappointed me and this must be the 5th bar I've bought. It smells of citrus and creates so many bubbles (the advantage of this product over a bath bomb). I did a full review of this product here. 

Big Blue - £3.50
This product makes me feel like a mermaid. An old favourite which is inspired by the sea. The product contains Arame Seaweed, which softens in the water. I know the idea of seaweed isn't to every ones taste but everyone should try this bath bomb at least once. The seaweed works to help regulate the metabolism and there is sea salt to soften the skin.

Frozen - £3.95
The lovely sales assistant showed us this bath bomb in action. If I wasn't already planing on picking this one up I'd have been sold as soon as the silver luster erupted. It made the water such a lovely shade of blue and there was so much glitter. When you read the description of this bomb on the website it sounds absolutely magical, it's a blatant rip off of Disney's 'Frozen' which is an even bigger reason to love it.

Intergalactic - £3.95
I'm hoping this bomb will make a decent replacement for the Space Girl bath bomb which is now discontinued. Intergalactic from what I can tell is all about the show of colour as it releases different colours into the water. I need to remember to have my camera ready for this one. This one contains gold luster, so yet more glitter.

Have you been to Lush lately?
Sam

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Fashion | H&M Sale Haul

Hi, Today I finally got around to photographing the bits I picked out from the H&M sale. I was really impressed with the pieces that I picked up and only sent two things back. I think most of these items are out of season for the hotter weather that has finally arrived, but the dress is a floaty dream.

 High Waist Jeans £10 | Pink Jumper £7 | Dress £12 | Ripped Jeans £12 | Loafers £6 | Bedding Set £10

Dress - I love it! the highlight of my picks and I'm so glad I dared to try it. It is a really light floaty material, but not see through because it's double lined with black fabric. It is a really flattering fit even on my small torso, it sits in all the right places giving curves where needed and the pattern is really slimming. The only thing that I'm not so keen on is the body length exposed zip down the back but I think I can forgive the dress that one fault. It's not horrid after all it could have been gold.

Ripped Jeans -  I've wanted a pair of ripped jeans but I always have the issue that the knee rips never fall in the right place as my legs are a little short. These fit and look really nice because of the random placement of the rips which means that I can get away with wearing them and can finally take part in the ripped jeans trend. I really like how light the blue wash on these jeans is, very summery.

High Waist Jeans - I bought these in dark blue and loved the look and feel of them, so when I saw this grey pair in the sale I couldn't help but buy them too. They are quite a light grey wash in comparison to all my other grey jeans which makes a nice change.

Black Loafers - These are different from any other pair of flats I own (and I own a few). I decided they are a classic piece that would last me a good while. They are suede and have loads of inbuilt foot support which is a nice added bonus. I think this style of shoe works best worn with trousers, so they are a more summery option to my Dr Martens.

Pink Jumper - I know it's the height of summer and I bought a jumper. It is Britain after all so jumpers are never redundant for very long. This is a really pretty weave of different textured wool, this to me means it will last longer as this texture hides any bobbles. It has cropped sleeves which makes it a little more spring friendly. It has detailing of a gold zip on the back of the neck.

Bedding Set - How pretty is that pattern. I'm a little bit addicted to the whole chevron trend and I hope it sticks around long enough that when I have my own place I can go mad with is. I love the pop of yellow against the pastel pink and grey hues, it such a refreshing piece for my room during the summer months, and it looks great as a blog photo backdrop.

What do you think to my picks? did you get anything nice in the sales?

Sam

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Primark Mini Haul | Summer Basics

Hi, I've got a selection of a few things I recently picked up from Primark to share with you. When in store I tried to pick up a range of items that worked together, I think I did quite well as all of the items featured would make a nice summer outfit.

Snake Effect Flats - £5 | Striped T-shirt - £4.00 | Shorts - £3.90 | 90's Choker - £1.50 | Sun Glasses - £2

I spotted the shoes, the shape was what caught my eye, I had to stop myself getting too excited as I never find a size 3 in Primark, but this time I was lucky and managed to grab the last pair. They are made of a matte leather effect snakeskin pattern, which looks way more expensive than they cost. They have an element of cushioning inside and look to have a reasonable amount of grip, I look forward to getting a lot of wear out of these.

The shorts where on offer from £5 to £3.90, I figured they would be good for sunning in the garden if nothing else. They are a khaki green, a colour I do not own in shorts. They are quite a short cut but I very rarely don't wear tights even during the summer.

The T-shirt is one of those ribbed tees which everyone seems to have. They are very small fitting and quite sheer so I sized up, it looks really nice and loose and just the right length to wear with high wasted jeans without been too cropped.

I always get my sunglasses from Primark as they have some pretty nice designs and I'm super clumsy. If I spent a lot of money on a pair I can bet they would be scratched, broken or lost before the summer was over. These are a great alternative and great to take to festivals.

I've wanted a 90's choker for a while but I didn't want to spend the prices Topshop is asking. Primark finally had a restock of these in the Leeds store so I finally picked one up.

 What has Primark had you spending your money on?

Sam

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Highstreet Haul | Toiletries and Other Bits

Hi, today it's over cast with the sun trying to show it's face but failing. Last weekend I headed into my local town to pick up a few bits which I've been needing to get for a while and decided to share my little beauty haul with you. Nothing exciting really but some really nice and super affordable products.

Nivea Hydro Care
I've been using the classic Nivea lip balm for ages and love how hydrating it is. I found this in Bodycare for the grand total of 69p so had to try it out. The reason I want to try this one over the classic is this one has SPF 15 so perfect for the summer months.

Wilkinson Hair Rollers
I was going to pick these up in Primark as I didn't know that anywhere else did them. I this pack in Wilkinsons which contain 12 rollers for £1, you only get 8 in the Primark sets so I saved a £1 as I didn't have to buy the third pack I thought I'd need.

Olay Day Fluid
I've been using this product for years so it's become a staple in my daily routine. It's a super light weight moisturiser which sinks into the skin really quickly, it also contains SPF 15.

Sure Invisible Deodorant
Another product that I have been using for years. When the whole anti white marks technology came out I couldn't have been happier, as I typically wear all black, bye bye white marks.

Garnier Summer Body
I'm of the English rose skin type, so I decided to try some gradual tan. I've seen this on a lot of blog posts recently and I couldn't be bothered to research any alternatives, so hopefully it works for me. I got this in light so I'll keep you posted on the results. I got this 400ml bottle for £3.50 from Morrison.

Superdrug Restoring Skin Oil
I have some stretch marks on my hips from teenage growth and have always been self conscious about it. Products like Bio Oil have been on my radar to try to see if it makes any difference even as a placebo. In Superdrug I found their own brand version of the product with a 1/3 off.

Superdrug Superberry Mud Mask
Yet another Superdrug home brand product but you really can't go wrong. I picked this clay face mask up as I wanted something different to products I already own. This product is interesting as it contains raspberry seeds which act as a natural exfoliating ingredient.

Vaseline Rosy Lips
I got one of these for Christmas and really enjoyed it for a light tint of colour on the lips. As always with Vaseline it's a super moisturising product with a slightly fragrant scent from the use of Rose and Almond Oil as ingredients.

Have you bought any summer essentials?

Sam

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Book Haul | Amazon 3 for £10 Offer

Hi, where do you shop for your books? the first place I check when I want a book is Amazon. It has to be the best place for checking current prices. While searching for some titles for a previous post about my summer reading list (read it here) I found that Amazon have a three paper backs for £10 offer which I couldn't resist, as a result I now have plenty of reading material for the summer months. These are the books that I bough.

Ways to Live Forever - Sally Nicholls

Amazon - £6.29

Page Count: 224
This is quite a thin book and I'm pretty sure it's a children's book, it was the winner of the Waterstones children's book price. The book is made up of a selection of lists and diary entries. The story is about a boy with leukemia trying to make scene of everything, I image even though this is a kids book it's going to have some really sad parts.

A Flash of Blue - Maria Farrer

Amazon - £7.99
Page Count: 352

This is the book I'm most looking forward to reading and the one I will probably start with. The cover is really striking (the lines are shiny) and fits with the title perfectly. This book is about a girl who's brother dies in a car crash and she blames herself for his death, the story then leads into how she copes with his passing and her guilt.

The Broken - Tamar Cohen

Amazon - £5.24
Page Count: 400
The biggest of the books I purchased and the only one which featured on my summer reading list. This will be a good book for me to try out a new genre of story telling. This is a story about relationships, particularly those of married couples that are friends, and what happens when the truth comes out.

Because there was the three for £10 offer on I picked the most expensive books that I wanted to read to get the best saving. Now I can't wait for my little camping trip to York to get stuck into these. Once I've read them I will do a book review and let you know my thoughts.

Have you bought any books recently that you would recommend?

Sam

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Mini Clothing Haul | H&M

Hi, today I've got a small collection of items from H&M to share with you. I love discount codes and had been waiting for one to be added to the H&M website for a while, I save items in my basket and wait for a good discount deal to come along before placing my order. This time they offered a 20% discount if you spend over £80 with free delivery. This offer has ended but they do similar offers all the time. I saw this as my opportunity to pick up a few staple pieces I had saved to my basket. I sent quite a lot of my order back, but I kept some really nice pieces.

High Waist Jeans - £14.99  | Grey High Waist Shorts - £12.99
Blue High Waist Shorts - £12.99 | Cream Knitted Cropped Jumper £7.99
White Laser Cut Pumps - £9.99

High Waist Jeans: I decided to try something new with these high waist jeans, I'm not sure I suite them because I'm so short (all legs no body) but they looked really nice on. They are a really dark denim with a slight acid wash finish, skinny fit and a really soft material.

High Waist Shorts: Both pairs are almost the same cut but the blue ones have pockets at the front. Again trying something out of my comfort zone, but I love both of them, I think I suite these better than the jeans and they make my legs seem really long. It seems I just can't resist denim in an acid wash, no matter what colour.

Pumps: These are going to be my go too summer flats. White, laser cut and super cute. They are really comfortable and fit really snug on my feet which for a 3.5 is a surprise. They have a tan coloured sole and the holes in the shoes should keep my feet nice and cool in the warmer months.

Cropped Jumper: I bought this jumper in Karki a while ago and just love how the cropped length looks on me. I decided to opt for another one in more of a summer shade, so I bought this really nice cream one. It looks a totally different colour online, I only bought it because I'd seen the true colour in store before ordering. Hopefully this will look nice with the high waist jeans and will take me right through to the winter months.

Have you got any summer clothing from H&M?

Sam

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