Winter is here and with it comes dark nights, cold temperatures and dull weather (that is pretty much the norm in Manchester all year round) but it also means that we have the excuse to for many cosy nights in (with your household or bubble). It is admittedly my least favourite time of the year, however there are many ways in which to make it more bearable such as cosy nights in, comfort food, movie days and a valid reason to buy all of the hygge inspired homeware your want including candles, sweet treats, throws and bedding.
Today's post is all about my tips and personal recommendations to create the perfect cosy night in and the ingredients you will need are as follows: snacks (lots of them!), warm beverages of your choice, movies or TV and cosy bedding or throws. I think that the perfect cosy night in requires all of those elements but you can pick and choose or add in items you love as well - cuddly pets would be ideal.
The lovely people at Dusk created a little experiment to see which foods and beverages create the most mess and spills on bedding - a highly scientific and useful experiment, I think we will all agree. They found that nachos were the messiest snack and difficult to clean too and tea/biscuits came in at second place. Chocolate bars and crisps were the least messy and easier to clean so choose your snacks wisely!
TV and movies are also essential, I've been watching good old favourites on Netflix; the TV recently has been awful so I've almost exclusively been watching movies and TV shows on streaming services. In addition to TV and movies, you could also add boardgames and pampering products or even a FaceTime quiz to your cosy night in.
*Dusk Chelsea Duvet Cover - White (from £31.80)
My final cosy night in essential has to be cosy and warm bedding as well as a knitted throw! Dusk have a wide range of gorgeous bedding in a range of styles, colours and sizes, so you are bound to find something cosy to suit your home. I was kindly gifted their Chelsea duvet cover, pillow cases and a gorgeous throw - they are all currently on sale so go, go, go.
The Chelsea duvet is 200 thread count cotton (which is breathable and very soft) and it is a classic style with delicate stitched detailing which makes it look quite luxe and expensive! The duvet is so incredibly soft and cosy, it is so much better in terms of quality than all of my others so I now know where to purchase my bedding from in the future.
*Dusk Chelsea Oxford Pillow Cases - White (from £16.20)
The pillow cases are equally as amazing in terms of design and quality as well as how super soft they are! I also love the extra hem (I'm not sure if that is the correct term) and stitching around the edges of the duvet and the pillow cases - they look extra fancy with just that little touch. The cosiest bedding is the ideal accompaniment to a cosy night in, as is a knitted throw.
*Dusk St Ives Throw - Light Grey (£73.80)
A few years ago I arm knitted my own throw and the process wasn't very difficult, however the quality wasn't amazing and it began to fall apart very quickly - although I'm still fairly proud of my first complete knitted item. A pre-made knitted throw is definitely the easier and quick option; it will also last much longer! I have the light grey colour but there are others available, all of which look very cosy and unique. I think a soft, oversized knitted throw is a fantastic addition to any home (or cosy night in) during the colder months as it makes any room look instantly more inviting.
You can find out more information about Dusk bedding on their website and don't forget to check out their blog for more information on their 'Netflix and spill' food experiment!
Autumn is my favourite season as it is filled with cosiness, candles, comfort food and of course, halloween! However, I also love autumn for the richer skincare I reach for, the makeup trends and the pre-christmas beauty sets. I've already switched up my skincare and makeup for the new season (which is something I do for each season) and I've rediscovered a few fantastic favourites. I've also found so many amazing new products that I've been very kindly sent over the past month or so that I wanted to review and recommend.
The first product I'm loving and cannot recommend enough is my new makeup mirror and desk addition. I was very kindly sent the Malibu mirror from HD Mirrors which is a light-up, lightweight and easily portable makeup mirror that is not only ideal for keeping in a drawer at your desk but also for travelling so you don't have to rely on awkwardly placed mirrors and horrendous lighting!
The mirror is very lightweight, thin and easily stored so it would be fantastic for a number of uses; however I use mine mainly in my home office to apply my makeup each morning. The light in my office is great overall but with darker mornings and grey weather, it isn't the best for makeup application so the mirror comes in very handy!
There are two features of the mirror that I particularly love: the rechargeable battery so there aren't any wires or a plug needed while using the mirror and the full surround lighting which allows me to apply my makeup easily and quickly even during a rainy autumn morning in Manchester. The mirror saves space on my desk too as it can be easily stored away in a drawer which is something my previously bulky makeup mirror couldn't do. I couldn't be happier with my Malibu mirror from HD Mirrors and while I love it as a makeup and desk mirror, I think it would be absolutely perfect for travelling, whether you are travelling abroad (safely!) or going on a UK staycation.
*Green People Nordic Roots Hyaluronic Acid Serum (£27)
I typically apply the final steps on my skincare at my desk and just before I start applying my makeup so the Malibu mirror from HD Mirrors is a staple on my desk each morning! One of my favourite brands has released a new skincare range focused on the scandi staples of simplicity, functionality and clean ingredients.
Hyaluronic acid as well as squalane are both fantastic ingredients for deeply hydrating the skin and they are included in this fantastic serum (they are derived from plant based sources). If you suffer with dry, tight or uncomfortable skin then you cannot go wrong with this wonder serum! It leaves my skin deeply hydrated, soft and smoothe which is everything I want from a serum and it works perfectly with the apple complex moisturiser.
The new moisturiser from the Nordic Roots collection has been my go-to daily moisturiser for the past three or so weeks. It is packed with eco-friendly, cruelty free and vegan ingredients to hydrate and protect the skin which I think is especially important during the colder months when the temperature and weather can negatively affect the skin making it dry, tight and uncomfortable. The moisturiser is fast absorbing, gentle but effective and it leaves my skin feeling nourished, moisturised and ready for makeup.
Lastly I wanted to highlight a few other skincare products I have been loving recently and that I think would be perfect for autumn! My go-to cleanser for the past few weeks has been the amazing *Temple Spa Be Gone Kind-Hearted Cleansing Creme which is the best cleanser I can recommend for those with dry and sensitive skin as it is very gentle, silky smooth and leaves my skin feeling cleansed but moisturised and smoothe.
I've also been loving the *L'aves Skin Riches Extreme Performance Toner which is a category of skincare I didn't use previously very often but I like the step of using a toner especially one that is so lovely to use and has some of the nicest skincare packaging I've ever seen! As well as the toner, I've been using the *L'aves Skin Riches Facial Elixir as part of my evening skincare routine when my skin is particularly dry which seems to be constantly since the start of autumn. It leaves my skin feeling comfortable and very nourished and as part of my evening skincare routine, it has quickly become a staple product.
It's almost the end of July (where has July gone!) so that means it is time for my review of the July DegustaBox. I am lucky enough to be a DegustaBox ambassador so I receive their boxes to review on my blog, although all opinions are my own. Also, as an ambassador, I may receive extra items or more flavours (so I can try more than one of the opinions available) than you will receive if you subscribe.
Each box contains a wide range of snacks, drinks and cooking ingredients for a variety of tastes and diets. Additionally, each box has a theme and the theme for July was 'summer'. The items in the July box are mostly sweet items, rather than the usual mix but they're all great opinions to share as part of a socially distanced summer picnic or snacks for a summer staycation. While this box isn't my favourite of 2020 so far, there are a few items that I loved!
*Bebeto Part Mix Tub (£2)
There are so many sweet treats within this box so if you have a sweet tooth then you'll have loved this months box. I don't typically have a sweet tooth as I prefer savoury food but I do have one weakness...gummy sweets! I have been ordering from Vegummies during lockdown which has been fulfilling my vegan sweet craving. Sadly the huge tub of sweets within the July box aren't vegetarian or vegan so I passed them onto my mum as she shared them with all of the children in her class as a leaving treat and they loved them.
*Golden Creek Maple Syrup (£2.49)
I'm reviewing the super sugary options first and my favourite of the sugary treats has to be the Canadian maple syrup blended with sugar syrup. I absolutely love the adorable packaging and I love maple syrup so this item was always going to be one of my favourites from this months selection!
*Natvia Natural Sweetener (£5)
The most expensive item in the July box is a tub of natural sweetener from Natvia which is a brand I haven't tried before. It is composed of naturally sourced GMO free ingredients and can be used not only within hot drinks but also cooking and baking. I have only tried one sweetener before and it wasn't too pleasant but thankfully this one is much better. It isn't sugar but it is sweet enough within hot drinks (I haven't tried it in baking yet) and it doesn't have much of an aftertaste, thankfully.
*Nesquik All Natural Milkshake Powder (£1.89)
Sticking with more 'natural and healthier' sweet treats is a milkshake powder which contains five natural ingredients including raw sugar cane. It doesn't contain artificial sweeteners or flavourings and the paper packaging is fully recyclable - that is something I hope more manufacturers opt for. I personally don't like milkshakes but I know that so many people love Nesquik!
*Manilife Peanut Butter (60p each)
Two of my favourite items from the box are the two mini tubs of peanut butter. They've been including in a previous DegustaBox and I loved them so I was very happy to receive more! I love peanut butter on toast, within baking and most of all, in thai peanut noodle dishes! I love the original but my favourite of the two is the deep roast crunchy peanut butter.
*Premier Protein Chocolate Brownie Protein Bar (£1.49)
Usually there are a few snack bars within each box but this month there's only one and it sounds delicious; sadly it isn't vegan though. The bar contains a whopping 20g of protein and only 1.3g of sugar so it is a healthier snack for work, school or on the go.
*Skinny Food Co Samples
Moving onto the more savoury options and the first is a mix between savoury and sweet. They are listed as a 'gift' on the leaflet which is something DegustaBox include every so often. You will find a surprise bag of four samples from The Skinny Food Co in your box. Within mine I received the mayo, garlic mayo (obviously the one I was most excited about), ketchup and white chocolate syrup. They contain zero calories which definitely intrigued me and I had high hopes but sadly they were not for me. I didn't read the packaging before trying them after seeing the vegan label and they all (even the mayo and garlic mayo) contain added sweeteners which makes them far, far too sweet for me - not impressed.
Let's get the other disappointing product out of the way and sadly it's the popped lotus seeds snack. I haven't tried lotus seeds before so I was interested to give them a go, especially as they are peanut butter flavoured and we all know how much I love peanut butter. Sadly, they had quite an unusual flavour that we didn't enjoy unfortunately.
*Pravha Lighter Tasting Pilsner (£2)
The last category and the final three products are all drinks, including the alcoholic item in the box. I personally don't love beer or lager but my dad does so I'm going to pass on this pilsner (a type of lager from the Czech Republic) to him to see if he likes it.
*Wunda Milk Alternative (£1.99)
The penultimate item is a dairy free milk alternative which is high in protein, low in sugar, low in fat and it is fortified with vitamins including A, D, B2 and B12. I have personally never really consumed cows milk even as a child and over the past five or so years I've only been using oat and almond milk, both of which I love, so I'm interested to try a new alternative.
Minor Figures Nitro Cold Brew (£1.95)
Last but not least is a cold brew coffee that comes in the most instagram-worthy packaging! I've seen this brand online but haven't tried any of their products. I have the mocha flavour but there are two others you could have received instead. It is a light, dairy free drink that has no added sugar. I really liked this drink and I definitely want to try the other flavours.
Have you tried any of these products? Don't forget to use the code: DTPL4 to get your box for only £9.99!
If you've been following my blog or my reviews on www.allsubscriptionboxes.co.uk for a while then you'll know just how much I love subscription boxes. I've bought many over the years, from the first Glossybox and Birchbox to My Little Box (which was one of my all time favourites) and My Geek Box as well as many others, all of which I am lucky enough to be sent for review.
With the current lockdown across the UK, it has been difficult for everyone to obtain groceries and other essentials so subscription boxes might be a great way to either treat yourself (I've wanted to comfort shop a lot recently) or to buy basics such as toiletries, hygiene items, food, snacks, books or treats. If you're looking for a subscription box to treat yourself (or someone else) to or if you want to purchase a subscription box filled with basics or essentials then hopefully you'll find some inspiration in today's post.
I have mentioned Bubble T on my blog previously within my gift guides and I cannot recommend their products enough as they look so cute and the bath bombs I've tried have been fantastic. As well as their individual products and gifts, they also have a shower gel subscription box in which you'll receive two shower gels each month which come in a cardboard box that can fit through a letterbox so you don't need to be home or answer to door for it to be delivered.
I think the price is great and you can get your first box for free! You can choose when you want your box delivered as well as the two shower gel fragrances included. I've tried so many of their scents and they are genuinely heavenly and quite unusual, compared to generic shower gels. I also adore the packaging and I think it would make a lovely little practical treat for a loved one during this rather difficult time.
Another subscription containing items that may be considered basics or essentials is the Friction Free Shaving box which depending on the items you want to add to your box, contains at least a sturdy metal razor handle and a set of four blades for your new razor. The razor blade head contains a vitamin infused strip and the razor features six diamond-coated steel blades each: this basic package is £9 but you can add the shave cream, wax strips, deodorant or lip balm to your box as well if you want to pay for extras.
In addition, to the extras you can add to your box, you can also have the metal handle engraved with a name or word of your choice. I've been using it on and off for the past couple of weeks and I love it as it's easy to use, I love the rose gold handle (although the new spring collection is very pretty too) and I like using the extras, especially the natural deodorant in the rosemary and bergamot scent. The deodorant smells heavenly, it is 100% natural and it is very effective.
I've been looking for a more sustainable hair removal option and this one is ideal as the metal handle can be re-used, they have a blade recycling scheme (although I believe that it is currently on hold), the packaging is recyclable and their products are cruelty free, what more could you ask for! I cannot recommend it enough especially if you are looking to make a few sustainable and more eco-friendly choices.
Beauty Treats: *LookFantastic Box (£15 per month)
Moving onto a few beauty treat boxes, the first is one of my favourite subscription boxes, LookFantastic. I think LookFantastic is one of the best beauty boxes out there, alongside the Latest In Beauty boxes, as they always have a great range of items and brands within their monthly selections. I have discovered so many fantastic products from their boxes over the years including my most recent favourite, the StarSkin 100% Camellia Sheet Mask which was part of the April box and I utterly adored it. It is the first sheet mask I've actually noticed results from and I will be purchasing it in the future!
If you are looking for a beauty treat but you want to have flexibility in not only the price and number of items you'll receive but also the individual items themselves then look no further than the amazing boxes from Latest In Beauty. I am lucky enough to receive them each month to review on my blog as well as their unbelievably good value limited edition boxes. The monthly selection is always fantastic and contains a great mix of luxury items, makeup, skincare, body care and more including toiletries, hygiene items, tea and beauty tools so I'm sure you'll find a few treats as well as a few 'essential' items too.
Last but not least, the only food subscription box on today's list and with the code DTPL4 you can get your first box for only £7.99 which is great value! I'm a DegustaBox ambassador so I'm lucky enough to receive their boxes to review but I genuinely cannot recommend them enough as they contain such a wide range products each month, from cooking ingredients, drinks and snacks to vegan options, sweet treats and more. I think it's a great box for everyone but especially families or house mates to share.
More subscription services & boxes recommendations:
I have reviewed so many subscription boxes on my blog so if you are still looking for more recommendations or reviews check them out! I think for our current situation and shortages, subscription boxes for essentials and basics are a great alternative. Do make sure to recycle the packaging, wash packaging if needed and wash your hands after opening any parcels!
Today's post is my first Mother's Day gift guide of 2020 and it contains a mix of products that I hope will give you gift ideas for your mum, grandma or mother figure. I have a few Mother's Day gift ideas posts lined up so stay tuned for more gift recommendations. Thanks to the lovely brands that are featured in today's post including Bomb Cosmetics, Furi, Baileys Chocolates and Bubble T as well as Feather and Down, Boxclever Press, Cover Up and many more.
I love creating gift guides and I personally love reading them too but my favourite has to be guides that include a wide variety of product suggestions so that's what I've created today. My gift guide includes sweet treats, pampering products, stationery, wax melts, homeware and more, including a couple of very luxe personalised gifts too. Check out my previous personalised gift posts for more ideas!
*Baileys Strawberries & Cream Chocolates (£4)
First up, it isn't Mother's Day, or any celebration, without sweet treats! Baileys liquor is a favourite for so many, especially during the festive season but now they have a perfect spring offering that would be ideal as a Mother's Day or Easter gift. The chocolates are composed of a milk chocolate shell filled with a strawberry and cream centre so not only do they look the part but they sound delicious too. My mum loves Baileys so I know that she will love to open this box of adorable chocolates on Mother's Day. They can be purchased online and from ASDA.
I love to give practical gifts to friends and family, especially if they also look cute and smell heavenly, so the Bubble T Soapscription box fits the bill perfectly. You can get a free trial box in which you'll receive two shower gels from the always heavenly scented Bubble T range. It is a monthly subscription box so your gift recipient will never run out of shower gel! You can choose the fragrances as well as when and where the boxes are delivered. I've been lucky enough to try quite a few of their scents over the past few months and I love all of them but the pink lemonade and strawberry macaron scents is my favourites...so far!
*Payot Baume De Douche Reconfortant
Sticking with the theme of beautifully scented shower products is a new product from a French brand I haven't tried before, Payot. The baume is a 2 in 1 product that cleanses and nourishes the skin with a luxe foaming cream texture. It has the most nostalgic and feminine scent to it which is very powdery and sweet which I think will appeal to so many - I know that my mum would love this scent. The product itself feels very nourishing on the skin and relaxing to use so it would be the perfect addition to a Mother's Day pamper hamper!
Let's move onto some of the most beautiful items within today's gift guide (although they are all amazing), the gorgeous pampering products from the lovely people at Bomb Cosmetics. If you didn't know, I'm a Bomb Cosmetics ambassador so I'm lucky enough to receive their products to review and I opted for a few items that I thought would make lovely pampering Mother's Day gifts.
The first item I chose was this lovely candle which contains rose and geranium essential oils. This candle is cruelty free, vegan friendly and their products are all handmade which I think makes them extra special. The candle not only looks amazing but it smells it too as it is so fresh and floral - it's the ideal candle for spring!
The second product from Bomb Cosmetics that I'd love to recommend as a gift are their 'bath blasters' which are very reasonably priced bath bombs that look adorable and smell great too! As with the candle, it contains rose and geranium essential oils and it is cruelty free. All of the bath blasters from Bomb Cosmetics look amazing, the designs are so unique and there's something for everyone. I've tried quite a few bath blasters and bath mallows from Bomb Cosmetics and they all smell so lovely and they last for a while in the water too. I think an individual Bomb Cosmetics product would make a great Mother's Day gift but one of their beautifully designed gift sets would as well such as the floral fantasy, ice cream and time for tea gift sets.
If you've been following any of my skincare posts for the past few years then you might know how much I love serums, I've tried so many and I definitely have a preference for my normal to dry skin and those are products which contain hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a fantastic skincare ingredient for those who have dry skin as it helps to lock in moisture and I think that is something most of us could use during the cold winter months.
I personally love to gift skincare, if I know the gift recipient well, and I think that a hydrating serum is something you can't go wrong with. The Dermaworks serum contains hyaluronic acid, vitamins and aloe vera to hydrate, plump and protect the skin - head over to the DermaWorks website for a much more detailed explanation of the ingredients. I've only been using it for a few days but so far I love and I'm sure it will feature in an upcoming beauty favourites post. Use the code Mothersday20 to get 20% off your order - ends on Mother's Day.
You can't have a pampering evening without candles, diffusers or wax melts - I think they are the perfect pairing! I was very kindly sent a few of the soy wax melts from GlamWax in Pink Peony, Lavender and Vanilla and Daisy Chain. All of the wax melts are made of soy wax which is biodegradable and environmentally friendly which is fantastic and to make it even better...the glitter is biodegradable too so the melts are vegan and cruelty free. I didn't think the perfect wax melt existed but I was wrong!
Not only are the bars environmentally friendly and vegan but they look gorgeous as well. I love the pastel shades, glitter and simple but beautiful packaging - it's always nice to receive an aesthetically pleasing gift! I've only tried two of the melts I received so far, including Pink Peony and Daisy Chain and I love both of them. Pink Peony is my favourite of the three so far, although that might change as lavender is my all time favourite scent.
The melts smell so fresh and floral, they are ideal for the upcoming spring months and Mother's Day although they do have many other scents to choose from including: cherry and almond liquor, blood orange, lemon sherbet, caramel vanilla latte and many more so you're bound to find scents that you'll love. As well as their individual wax melts, you can also purchase their subscription box (£15, free postage) which contains five of their heavenly wax melts each month.
There are two special personalised gifts within todays post, the first of which is from PrezzyBox which is a fantastic gift website (they've also just opened their first store!) that has an amazing range of personalised and unique gifts for all occasions and celebrations. I've been lucky enough to work with the lovely people at PrezzyBox a few times as part of gift guides (but I've purchased from them too) and I cannot recommend their gifts enough! I was kindly scent a unique personalised scented diffuser which is the perfect gift for my mum as she doesn't like candles so diffusers are a great alternative.
The diffuser is made in England using locally sourced ingredients and has a gorgeous pomegranate and fig scent which is divine (it has made me add a few fig scented products to various online baskets as I forgot how much of a relaxing scent it is for me). All of the aspects of the diffuser, including the oil, bottle and sticks, come separately which is more convenient; it was also beautifully packaged.
There are a couple of aspects of the product that you can personalise, the first being the image on the label (I chose the 'botanical' image) and the second is the message on the label. As the images are quite generic and varied, you could buy this gift for so many occasions, from Mother's Day, Valentine's Day or birthdays. I'm so happy with the diffuser, from the gorgeous appearance and how it was packaged to the spring-like scent and the special personalised message. I cannot recommend PrezzyBox gifts enough!
The second luxe personalised gift is one that is sure to turn heads as it is a personalised bottle of champagne! Mother's Day is all about treating you mum, grandma or mother figure and I think there are certain gifts that typify celebrations and thoughtfulness and personalised gifts are at the top of the list. I personally love to receive and give personalised gifts and I know that gift recipients love to open them as well. Say It With Champers have a range of personalised champagne options to choose from for a wide selection of celebrations including Easter and Mother's Day.
There are three Mother's Day designs to choose from and I was able to choose the beautiful '02' options which features a spring-like colour palette and cute floral illustrations. There are various sections of the label to personalise and thankfully you can view the full label online before you order so you know exactly what you are buying and how it will appear on the label.
The champagne is "full of character, combining light, fresh, citrus fruit flavours; lively bubbles with a well balanced tangy finish thanks to extended ageing before release." As well as the champagne you can opt for a bottle bag or box to pair with your gift. I can't recommend this luxe gift enough! If you sign up to the Say It With Champers newsletter, you can receive a discount code for 20% off your order.
*Furi Pro East/West Santoku Knife Set (£47.99)
Moving onto a few lifestyle gifts that I think would be great as Mother's Day gifts this year and the first is a knife set...a little unorthodox perhaps but my mum loves to bake and cook (as I do) so it would be a fantastic practical gift for her. I've been lucky enough to try Furi knives in 2018 and I have been using the two I was sent every time I cook since then! I cannot recommend these knives enough as they're so effective, easy to use, quick to sharpen and I love the design.
The set comes with two knives, the East/West Santoku in the 13cm size and the same in the 17cm size. The knives come in a gorgeous presentation, or potentially storage, box which is made of acacia wood and makes the gift look a little more substantial and luxe. I already had the 17cm knife which is perfect for larger veggies that are a bit of a pain to cut and the smaller knife is great for everyday cooking.
Furi knives are a favourite of Nigella and other professional chefs and they are made of high quality Japanese stainless steel shaped to provide ease of use and precision. There are various sets to choose from as well as individual knives which can all be purchased from Amazon. I have been using mine for a couple of years now and I can't recommend them enough.
Last Christmas I received a gorgeous diary from Boxclever Press as part of one of my womens gift guides and I'm lucky enough to share another fantastic stationery gift from Boxclever Press within today's Mother's Day gift guide. As well as calendars and diaries, they offer a great range of stationery accessories, wall planners and organisers. Within their selection of organisers they have a food diaries, meal planners, budget books and an internet password journal.
I love all of the product designs from Boxclever Press as they are beautifully coordinated and simple but they are still colourful and eye catching. The internet password journal is no exception as it's beautifully designed and laid out, especially with its gold foiling details. The journal has plenty of space for you to jot down your internet usernames and passwords as well as hints so you'll never forget another password again! Thankfully the cover is quite discreet so without opening the journal, it just looks like a cute and colourful notebook. If your mum, grandma or mother figure is a stationery lover and likes to stay organised then check out Boxclever Press for more gift ideas.
I think we all know by now how much I love pampering, personalised and practical gifts and my next gift idea fits into the category of practical gifts but it is much more than that. The lovely people at Cover Up have a range of stunningly beautiful phone cases for a variety of brands and models, including the iPhone 7 which is my current phone (rose gold, naturally) as well as a selection of iPad and iMac skins. Phone, tablet and laptop skins or cases aren't anything special or unique usually but Cover Up offers cases made of real wood, stone, felt and seashells!
I was lucky enough to be sent the iPhone 7 phone case in gold mother of pearl! I never knew that cases could incorporate seashells and I'm loving it as it gives the most beautiful, unique shine and shimmer. It was very difficult to choose the case as they are all so gorgeous but I'm very happy with my gold mother of pearl case.
My previous phone case was very cute but it was made of plastic and it had a few cracks in it, especially around the corners but thankfully this gorgeous case already feels much more durable and I think it will protect my phone more than a thin plastic case. It is a simple snap case which is easy to fit, it is fairly slim line so it doesn't feel very bulky and the rubber edge makes it easier to hold and less likely to be dropped. One of the aspects that surprised me about this case is the lack of any exterior branding on the case which is something I didn't like about my previous phone cases. I cannot recommend it enough! Use the code INSTA10 to get 10% off your order.
Last but not least, Mother's Day isn't complete without a cute and thoughtful card but frustratingly most Mother's Day cards are very generic or boring; thankfully Cardology has the most beautiful alternative. Cardology specialities in 3D pop-up cards for all occasions including Mother's Day and Easter. I was very kindly sent a couple of their Mother's Day cards for today's gift guide although it was very difficult to choose as they are all so unique and beautiful.
I opted for the bouquet of roses and the lavender pop-up cards and they are even more gorgeous than I thought they'd be! I haven't received a pop-up or unique card since I was a child or for special birthdays but why do we have to wait for an extra special occasion to give an extra special card! I love both the roses and lavender options but I think my favourite has to be the lavender card as it's my favourite scent; although they are so visually beautiful and would make for an added treat this Mother's Day. There are so many unusual and gorgeous cards to choose from, check out Cardology for more of their stunning designs!
Make sure you watch the video in HD!
Have you tried any of these products? What do you think of these gift ideas?
I'm a university graduate, coffee drinker and beauty, book, lifestyle and fashion blogger from little old England - posts marked with an (*) contain products sent for review or sponsored posts Read More >>
