Hanging out at Sarah's House

I don't often have a reason to go to Ventnor I must admit, based on the southern tip of the Isle of Wight, but recently stumbled across the delightful shop, At Sarah's House.
If you ever find yourself nearby, it's definitely worth dropping in to see what is offer. Most importantly, if you are a keen baker or a lover of beautiful homemade cakes and bread, then this is the place to get them!
I have come into the shop a couple of times and not only have been tempted by the wonderful baked goods, but also the cute popcorn holders, rustic seaside style decorations and beautifully designed cushions.
Today not only did I buy a couple of christmassy snowmen cupcakes, but also bought a string of red 'Chilli' lights for my kitchen, which I plan to adorn my blackboard with.

Further details can be found below:

http://en-gb.facebook.com/pages/atsarahshousecom/136002296410923

Why I Love L'Occitane Hand Cream

I can't recommend the hand creams by L'Occitane highly enough, they come in various sizes and I particularly like the small versions for my handbag or to keep in the car. They are non-greasy, easily absorbed but very moisturizing and are reasonably priced! 

http://uk.loccitane.com/l'occitane-uk-natural-beauty-products-from-provence,83,1,28669,323292.htm

L'Occitane Hand Creams for Dry Skin and Limited Edition Date Bouquet,
nail varnish in Mavala Rouge Rubis 385 from YOU Advent Calendar.

Frosty morning!

Festive boudoir, Yankee Candles & Clinique Chubby Stick Ton Tomato/Liz Earle Cream Blusher

Welcome to my festive boudoir! Well the fairy lights are about as crazy as I am going to get in here!
I have put a few pics below for you!:

Tailor's dummy with fairy lights, oversized teacup, buddha, patterned screen, Yankee Candle bird candle holder.

Beautiful rabbit snowglobe from www.iloveretro.com

You can also get them from Graham & Green

Self-portrait at my dressing table, the candle is Sugar Apple (I think!), a festive

sampler from Yankee Candle, I absolutely adore these candles and have them dotted all over the house! You can buy them at Garden Centres and online, for example, Busy Bee Garden Centre.

Also wearing my addictive Clinique Chubby Stick in a light red called 'Two Ton Tomato', if you haven't tried these out, you must! They are easy to glide on, sheer, and last! I have mentioned them in an earlier post. The cream blusher is from Liz Earle, not much on my eyes here! 

West Bay Spa (Yarmouth) & ESPA Beauty Goodies

ESPA
West Bay Spa had had an Open Evening earlier this month and I had dropped in, having (rather shamefully I may add) never been to a spa before! This was when I was first introduced to the ESPA beauty line, a UK based company. Pictured in the image above is the shower gel and facial beauty products that are currently on offer, if you buy a product you can choose from four samples from the ones available. Having rather sensitive, combination and problem skin, I find that their products are gentle enough for me to use, in particular I adore the Balancing Foam cleanser which I recently purchased (not pictured) which is fantastic to use in the morning! The products are softly scented with a smell rather addictive and are not tested on animals. Price range is roughly from about just over ten pounds upwards. The products seem to be aimed at an older market so perhaps in the future they may produce a slightly cheaper line aimed at younger skins. I loved the restorative oil set that I bought for £12.50, the body oil is non-greasy and easily absorbed with that fantastic smell!


West Bay Spa
Reflexology Treatment
This was the first time I have received a reflexology treatment and the second time I have visited the West Bay Spa located in Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight.
Staff were courteous, friendly and professional at all times. The reflexologist spent 55 minutes on my feet and picked up on various health aspects that I had not even disclosed, by pointing out the tender parts on the foot. I was quite surprised at this and very impressed. Unfortunately, through no fault of her own (bless!) I still found it very hard to relax, but don't for a minute regret the treatment. They also stock all the ESPA goodies if you don't fancy ordering online.
The price for the treatment is currently £38 for 55 minutes.



ESPA products shown in the picture above:
Samples
Super ActiveTM Lift & Firm Eye Serum
Cleanse & Exfoliate Refining Skin Polish
Super ActiveTM Lift & Firm Moisturiser
Super ActiveTM Lift & Firm Intensive Serum
SpaFresh Balancing Herbal Spafresh Toner
Energising Shower Gel
Restorative Bath & Body Oil

http://www.westbayclub.co.uk/isle-of-wight-spa/isle-of-wight-spa.asp
http://www.espaonline.com/

Please note: I am not sponsored or paid to give the above reviews by ESPA or West Bay Club, opinions expressed are entirely my own and I always try to be constructive and fair in my reviews.

New Beauty Site, Labyrinth/Topshop Sleep Set and Pearl Lowe

Just stumbled across this lovely beauty site: http://www.baobella.com/ it hasn't launched yet but is due to be next month. Can't wait to see it!

On another note, couldn't resist this cheeky Labyrinth Top and Shorts PJ set, check it out at:
http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&productId=7974081&langId=-1&categoryId=&parent_category_rn=&searchTerm=labyrinth&resultCount=1&geoip=home

Another very stylish lady that I have always admired is Pearl Lowe, I particularly love her Vintage Home site: http://www.pearllowesvintagehome.com/ and can't wait to view her book which is published next year.

Garlic & Pumpkin Soup

With a dash of creme fraiche on top and elephant garlic courtesy of Garlic Farm, http://www.thegarlicfarm.co.uk/
Yum!

Halloween Pics

The lipstick I am wearing here is Clinique's Chubby Stick Limited Edition as mentioned in my earlier post.

Very classy pumpkin designs...

http://jennylynnlovesyou-nocarvepumpkinideas.buzznet.com/user/photos/

Gisela Graham Scaredy Cat!

Very cute, perfect for Halloween, love Gisela Graham's products. You can buy him (or her!) from Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Brush-Witches-Cat-Halloween/dp/B0094BPPNI/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350576352&sr=8-1-fkmr0

Glow-in-the-dark Accessorize Boots

Just a quick post today, saw these cute wellies that glow-in-the-dark from Accessorize today, ideal for trick or treating or spooky walks in the dark! You can get them in pink, orange (pictured) or blue, not that you will be able to see the colour in the dark!?!

http://uk.accessorize.com/view/product/uk_catalog/acc_3,acc_3.6/2950287137

Ha-Ha-Halloween Treats

I love Halloween, it's one of my favourite times of the year! This is my pick (so far!) of Halloween products, three namely by Lush (the Ghost shower gel smells of lilies and is gorgeous and gentle on my skin) an Emma Bridgewater mug and also a Yankee Candle Witches Brew (the glass is actually black!).

Lush Bath Bomb www.lush.co.uk

Lush Bath Melt

Lush Retro Ghost Shower Jelly

Emma Bridgewater Mug www.emmabridgewater.com

Yankee Candle Witches Brew www.yankeecandle.co.uk

Pink October - Breast Cancer Awareness Month

There's some lovely products out at the moment in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Having had relatives and friends suffer with cancer, I am always keen to donate to Cancer Research and have completed the Race for Life in the past.

Nails inc. are also doing a 'Paint Your Pinkie Pink' campaign including a new 'Pinkie Pink" nail varnish which retails at £11: http://www.nailsinc.com/paintyourpinkiepink

http://www.pinkribbonfoundation.org.uk/supporters-2012/ Has various supporters such as Paul Mitchell, who have also brought out a special pink hair product set and Breast Baubles in a fun package.

These products are going fast, when I visited the Clinique counter for the Chubby Stick there were quite a few stocked and I was told that they had not been selling but am sure that will change! For the record, the stick is amazing, great texture and moisturizing with a light, sheer long lasting colour, this is the first time I have tried one of these and am quite impressed! There are products here to treat every budget, so treat yourself and support a charity at the same time...

Breast Baubles £15 for two

Limited Edition 'Pink Blush' Yankee Candle £19.99

Bobby Brown Pink Peony Collection £35

Origins Make A Difference skin treatment £21

Nails inc. 'Pinkie Pink' £11

Clinique Chubby Stick in Plumped Up Pink with Carry Case £16

Apple Cake - Applelicious

So we are dealing with quite a few apples from our garden now, so many we don't know what to do with them, but now we have a long waiting list from friends and colleagues so they should all be gone shortly.
Thought I would make the most of it and make a lovely Apple Cake, I have loved this very much, especially topped with cinnamon, that I have made it twice, and it has always been quick to vanish from the plate.
You can find the recipe here:
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/home/you/article-2206189/Recipe-Dutch-apple-cake.html
courtesy of Annie Bell, YOU magazine. Enjoy!

The butter thief strikes again!

Bath & Body Works Haul

My auntie bought this back especially for me, exciting products, fantastic smell, very reasonable price and only a little goes a long way! Sadly only available in the USA (although I do remember going into the Nottingham branch when I was a student) as they seem to have pulled all of the UK shops. Although I have heard a rumour there is still a branch in London (if so please let me know!). You can buy some products on ebay but sometimes pricey, not very new and a limited selection. Such a shame!
From left to right: Vampire Blood Plum handsoap (not real!!), Paris in Bloom shimmer mist (lovely smell and very pretty) and Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin shower gel. I like that the products are not tested on animals either:
http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/home/index.jsp

Other USA products that I constantly hanker after (it's not faiiirrr!) are:

Yankee Candles (you can get quite a few products here) Top shop I recommend (and recently got a limited supply of "Witches Brew" and some gorgeous new christmas samplers) http://www.yankeedoodle.co.uk/

The other one is: http://www.yankeecandle.co.uk/ but they seem to not get updated that quickly

Sephora (including the Kat Von D line) Again, don't ship here (grrr) but some stuff on ebay (limited and pricey). Again there was a shop in Southampton but this has also vanished (Sob!). Lots of brands but some tested on animals :(, not all though.
http://www.sephora.com/

Chilled to the bone!

Couldn't resist a cheeky snap of my socks today, they make me smile!

September Shop Picks on a Budget!!

A lot of the blogs I look at have beautiful products and clothes at not such pretty prices!
Anyway, I found two lovely products at good prices and available online, even better, one is reduced!
Continuing the squirrel theme (yes I know!), I have had my eye on this jumper for a while:

Dotty P's Squirrel Jumper (now reduced! Was £32 now £20)

http://www.dorothyperkins.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33053&storeId=12552&productId=6412206&langId=-1&categoryId=&searchTerm=squirrel&pageSize=20

Cute Owl Bag £25

http://uk.accessorize.com/view/product/uk_catalog/acc_1,acc_1.1/2892190300

New Liz Earle with Rose & Lavender Cleanse & Polish

Just released by Liz Earle - a limited edition version of the popular Cleanse & Polish with a donation going to the Prince's Trust for every one sold. I put some of the  Liz Earle products with my cleansing cloths in a pretty china bowl to stop me from losing them. The new scent is still reminiscent of the original LE fragrance, but there is a hint of lavender and rose and it's good for using at night to help calm you. I understand that they are limited so if you do want one don't wait too long before you buy!

http://uk.lizearle.com/special-edition-cleanse-and-polish?homepage-text2-candp-se

New Table Lamp - am I Nuts?

Just got this today to brighten up my desk, I love the Squirrel design!

Bestival

More pics!

Not so poison, Ivy? Florence & The Machine at the Bestival

Went out to the Bestival last night and it was absolutely heaving! The last time I went to the Bestival was way back in 2005 when it was still relatively small, it has grown a lot since then for sure. Lots of interesting and quirky displays such as the Insect Museum and various eateries. Florence & The Machine were the headline act and she was amazing, her voice and stage presence are spectacular. I particularly liked her outfit consisting of a green flowing dress and her Ivy headdress. If you get a chance to see this band live, definitely go! Me personally outfit-wise, well, I know it's Wild Animals this year but I will be rocking my floral headband and cut-off shorts with lashings of make-up

Local produce

Some lovely flowers I picked up from a local lady between Chale and Chale Green for a £1