*Birthday Wish List ft. ONecklace

I'm definitely a little early with this considering that my birthday is 19 days away but I always love writing wish list posts...they're much cheaper than actually buying everything I want! Today's post is my birthday wish list which naturally contains SO many books, Lush products and stripes, among others. I'm at that age when I'm dreading my birthday and becoming a year older but I do love presents!

Sudio Headphones  -  Lush Foundation  -  ONecklace Pink Ribbon Bracelet  -  Marc Jacobs  -  Joanie Clothing Top  -  Accessorize Bag

Lush recently came out with a new foundation and while it looks fairly impractical (How do you store that? How do you clean it?), it looks interesting! I definitely want to give the foundation a go, if I can ever match my skin tone as there are so many to choose from which is great, unless you are ghostly pale and have no idea which one to choose. Also one of my favourite bath bombs from Lush, Twilight, has been made into a body spray which I'd love.

Marc Jacobs fragrances (especially the heavenly daisy fragrances) and striped tops are two of my favourite things money can buy so they're naturally on my wish list along with yet another bag and a pair of Sudio Sweden headphones. We all know how much I adore the Sudio Sweden wireless earphones and I cannot recommend them enough but I'd love their white Regent headphones.

The rose gold bracelet from ONecklace looks so pretty, I love the simple Pink Ribbon design and rose gold jewellery is just gorgeous. It's rose gold plated and it is available in a range of size options to choose from. Additionally, with any purchase from their pink ribbon breast cancer awareness range, including this cute bracelet, they donate 15% of the profits to breastcancer.org which is fantastic! ONecklace has been featured in British Vogue as well as TV shows including Pretty Little Liars.

Now onto the books and this collage looks like quite a lot of books but it's only part of my current book wish list and saved items list on Amazon...there are so many amazing books currently out and an even longer list of books that I'm so excited for which are being released over the next few months!

All of these books are on my wish list but Medieval Bodies, Melmoth, Vicious, Circe and Smoke In The Sun are are the very top of my list along with a few that aren't in this post such as: A Gathering Of Ghosts by Karen Maitland, The Tower Of Living And Dying by Anna Smith Spark, The Priory Of The Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon and The Binding by Bridget Collins.

Do you have any of the items on my wish list? What items or books are on your wish list? Are we friends on GoodReads?

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*Dream Wish List

Image from Pinterest

We all wonder at some point what we would do with a large amount of money, whether it's a lottery win, inheritance or your retirement/pension, for more information and ideas on the latter click here for Sunlife dream shopping basket tool. There are so many things I'd do with large sum of money, depending on the amount, here are just a few:

Visit Japan

One of the first things I'd do is book a range of holidays or cruises as memories are so much more important than physical items! I have a ridiculously long list of places I'd love to visit including Iceland, Greenland, America (New York, California, Alaska), Canada, Germany (I'm visiting Hamburg next month, so exciting) and Japan. Japan is such an incredibly beautiful country but even more so during the cherry blossom season!

Pay Off Student Loan 

A boring option is to pay off my rather large student loan from my time at university which is something I'm always worried about so it would be such a relief to have it fully paid off! While I absolutely loved my time at university (apart from the dreaded group presentations), it's such a huge investment.

Puppies!

I have wanted a puppy for as long as I can remember and while they aren't very expensive themselves, the other things that go into looking after a puppy can be such as insurance, changing the house alarm to be suitable for a puppy, food and vet bills. I would be so incredibly happy with a golden retriever, chow chow or samoyed puppy...puppies!

Move Out

Last but not least would be first on my list, if I did actually obtain or win a large sum of money. I still live with my parents which is something that I constantly feel awful about but it isn't something I can change yet. I'd love to move out, particularly to an area which is close to a national park or nature reserve.

If you obtained or won a large amount of money what would you spend it on? 

*Image from Pinterest
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Summer Tea ft. Whittard Of Chelsea

July has been a very busy month in terms of events, being a bridesmaid, birthdays and holiday planning as well as the busiest blogging month ever so I'm a little behind with reviews, sorry! Today's post is all about three wonderfully refreshing summer teas from the very lovely people over at Whittard of Chelsea who I'm lucky enough to be working with on this post. If you follow me on Instagram (@ofbeautyand), then you'll have seen my unboxing of these pretty summer teas already.

*Whittard Cherry Blossom Mini Caddy (£7, 30g)

The new summer tea range is all about ditching plastic teabags and using a more environmentally friendly loose leaf tea which comes in these utterly gorgeous and very summery caddy containers. There are three to choose from or if you can't decide then you should purchase all three as they are currently on offer (3 for 2) in the Whittards summer sale so go, go, go.

My favourite caddy design of the three has to be the pretty in pink cherry blossom option which features some of my favourite flowers, cherry blossoms. I think the illustrations on the caddy packaging are so pretty, they look very vibrant in the kitchen and they'd make a lovely gift. One thing I love about the packaging is the cute second lid, which to me, it makes it look more expensive than it is. The cherry blossom flavour is a green tea with flavourings, peony flowers and rose petals so it looks very pretty when it brewing. I adore the scent of this tea, it's very cherry, floral and sweet smelling and when brewed it remains floral and summery.

*Whittard Passionfruit and Mango Tea (£7, 30g)

The cherry blossom tea reminds me of spring because the huge cherry tree in our garden is always in full bloom during the spring but this next tea definitely reminds me of summer, sunshine and holidays. The packaging design again is so pretty, jungle inspired and looks great with the other designs. It is a green tea with flavourings as well as mango pieces, pineapple pieces, orange petals and rose petals so naturally it smells like summer in loose leaf tea form!

I love that you can see the little mango and pineapple pieces and the petals within the tea - it just smells so delicious, refreshing and Whittards describes it perfectly as "exotic confetti". Unlike some loose leaf tea I've tried which are very subtly flavoured and fairly weak, these loose leaf teas are very flavourful so a little goes a long way! I like all three favour options but I think that this one is my favourite!

*Whittard English Fruits Mini Caddy (£7, 30g)

Last but not least is the tea with the most vibrant, colourful caddy and it's the English fruits option. I love the design for this caddy, it's so colourful and abstract. It's a black tea with flavourings and raspberries, apple and cranberry. As with the other two summer tea options, it's fresh and it is also fruity and berry flavoured without being overly sweet. Sadly out of the three options, it's my least favourite but I did still like it; however I think the passionfruit and mango tea is the overall winner for me!

*Pao Mug (£18, clear)

I have definitely been put off from buying loose leaf tea because I think it's going to be messy, inconvenient and to be honest, with some infusers in the past it has been! However, Whittards have the answer to clear, fuss free loose leaf tea brewing with their Pao mug which comes in a variety of colours but I had to choose the more unusual clear glass option.

The Pao mug isn't just a mug, it comes with an infuser! The glass mug is the perfect size, it looks so unique (I also love the glass tea cup I have) and it is ideal for iced tea. The stainless steel infuser is so easy to use, very quick to clean and the mug comes with a little tray to place the used infuser on when it has done it's job - the tray can also be used as a lid for your Pao mug. Don't worry about the glass mug as it's composed of borosilicate glass which is heat resistant and very durable.

I'm loving the summer teas from Whittards especially the passionfruit and mango tea and the Pao mug is a must too, it makes brewing loose leaf tea so quick, easy and mess free - it's also plastic free which is definitely a plus. Check out their current summer sale which features all three of the teas I've reviewed in today's post!

Will you be checking out the Whittards summer tea range or their summer sale? Do you like loose leaf tea?

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*How To Choose The Right Wedding Ring

Image from Whimsical Wonderland Weddings via Pinterest

A wedding ring is one of the most symbolic and sentimental pieces of jewellery you are likely to ever own. This is a piece of jewellery you are going to potentially wear every day, so it needs to be something that you won’t get tired of looking at and suits your style.

Visiting a jeweller, such as Peter Jackson can help to steer you in the right direction, but with so many options and combinations available how do you start narrowing down your choice?

Material

You can start refining your search for the perfect ring in a number of ways. One way to really focus your search is to decide on a material. Traditionally this can be a gold, white gold or silver band. However, in recent years other metals such as platinum, cobalt and tungsten have become more popular.

Each material has its own quirks and requirements for keeping the ring looking its best, however your initial choice is going to probably come down more to colour. For example, do you want something bright like a gold or silver ring? Or would you rather have something more understated like a brushed metal or darker tungsten band? Keep in mind that both rings don’t need to match, this means there’s a lot more opportunity to have something that is still symbolic of you being part of a union but still fits with your personality and style.

Shape

Wedding rings are often viewed as a straightforward piece of jewellery, and most wedding rings are intentionally simple looking. However, there’s a lot of variance in the shape a wedding ring can take. From the width and thickness of the band to whether or not there are raised elements and engravings which can change how a ring feels when you wear it.

You might have an idea of the sort of style you want but until you go and try rings on you might not realise that it doesn’t necessarily look or feel right and that you might be better suited to something else. This can help you to refine your options even further, or help introduce you to a potential style of ring you’d never thought of.

The Fit

You need to make sure a ring is comfortable as well as looking good. You should make sure your rings fit properly, and that the shape and style you think you’d like are comfortable to wear. Some metals, such as cobalt or tungsten can’t be resized, meaning if you can’t get one in your size and it has to be custom made it could put that ring out of your budget. This might unfortunately cut off some options, however many jewellers will be able to suggest alternatives which you might have overlooked.

A ring shouldn’t be overly tight and should sit comfortably on your finger. When you’re going to start shopping for wedding rings you need to go and get measured. This way you know whether your size is readily carried in store or needs to be ordered in. This should also give you an indication of how long it will take for your ring to be ready so it’s worth not leaving the ring shopping to the last minute.

Budget 

The final way to narrow your choice of ring down is cost. Weddings can be incredibly expensive, with many couples creating detailed budgets to help curb their spending. Deciding on a budget for your wedding rings can help you narrow your search down. However, keep your overall budget in mind.

Perhaps you saved more on a photographer or venue than you expected, giving you some extra cash within your budget, this could give you some wiggle room within your budget to accommodate a ring slightly out of your initial price range.

Finding your perfect wedding rings can be a lot of fun, and is one of the more enjoyable parts of wedding planning. Thinking about what you want, and finding a ring that marries up to your personal style, can help make an already special piece of jewellery feel even more important and special.

How did you choose your wedding ring? What would your dream ring look like? 

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*Image from Pinterest

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Summer Beauty Favourites 2018

Today's post is long over due! I have so many products that I've been loving recently but I haven't had the time to rave about them until now. All of these wonderful beauty, skincare and pampering products have been favourites for up to the past couple of months and I cannot recommend them enough!

July has been a pretty busy month with my friends wedding, bridesmaid duties, birthdays, holiday planning and more. July wasn't a great reading month or a good skincare month but on a positive note, July was my highest paid blogging month in my five years of blogging which I'm so happy with.

The brands in todays post are as follows: Absolute Aromas, Rio Rosa Mosqueta, Vitage Skincare, PMD Skincare, Kathleen UK and Lee Stafford. I cannot recommend these products enough especially for the summer season and the heatwave we've been having for what seems like years at this point in the UK.

*Vitage Skincare Age Defence Firming Eye Serum (£36, 15ml) 

When it comes to unnecessary skincare I used to think that eye creams belonged in that category, until I tried this eye serum! I was very lucky to receive an amazing surprise blogger mail package of festival beauty goodies from the lovely people over the Vitage Skincare and I'm so grateful as I genuinely love every single product. The firming eye serum peptides, botanicals and antioxidants to moisturise, smooth and firm the under eye area.

I love the packaging for all of the Vitage Skincare products and this one is no different. The eye serum has a slight cooling effect, it absorbs fairly quickly and it immediately smoothes and hydrates the skin so that my concealer and foundation look amazing - which is impressive considering how very dry my skin is. I cannot recommend this eye serum enough!

*Vitage Skin Defence SPF 30 (£26, 100ml)

There are three particular Vitage products I've been using constantly including the eye serum, skin calming aloe gel and this SPF cream. As I've mentioned, we have been having a rather ridiculous heatwave in the UK recently so SPF has been very necessary and this one is great; the cream absorbs quickly, it doesn't irritate my skin or leave a greasy feeling on the skin.

*Vitage Skincare Skin Calming Aloe Gel (£14, 100ml)

Before I received the surprise parcel from Vitage Skincare, I went to Heaton Park for a few hours and I managed to burn my arms and neck awfully! I haven't had any sun burn for years and I didn't really have any products to help my skin heal so the parcel arrived very timely so thankfully I could use the aloe gel to calm my painful sun burn. Aloe gel is a natural anti-inflamatory so it's perfect for sun burn!

*Vitage Skincare Advanced Moisture Boost (£39, 50ml)

Last but not least is a fantastic, effective and fuss free moisturiser which has been perfect for my sensitive and dry skin. The moisturiser contains nourishing oils, green tea extract, calendula oil and more so it is deeply hydrating and smoothing. I know the price is a little steep but I can't recommend Vitage Skincare products enough because they've worked so well for my temperamental skin.

*Absolute Aromas Relaxation Epsom Salts (£4.50, 300g)

Baths aren't usually something I love during the summer months but cooler baths with muscle relaxing and unwinding epsom salts are amazing especially on pamper days. Absolute Aromas epsom salts are composed of magnesium sulphate which is well known for their abilities to relax and restore muscles, soothe the skin and ease back pain and aches. The relaxation salts contain lavender oil, clove bud oil, chamomile flower oil and more lovely natural ingredients. The bath salts smell incredible, it's such a relaxing and calming scent that I've been loving. If you are in need of a solution to aching muscles then check out these surprisingly effective bath salts.

*Kathleen UK Tranquil Fields Body and Massage Oil (£34, 100ml)

If you've been following my blog for a while then you'll know how much I adore anything that is lavender scented so this product is perfect! I also love pampering evenings so it's a double win with this heavenly scented body and massage oil. The oil has such a gorgeous, relaxing and calming scent that instantly makes me feel much more relaxed. I've been using a very small amount as a body oil on the drier areas of the skin and it leaves my skin so smooth, moisturised and nourished.

*Kathleen Tranquil Fields Bubble Bath and Shower Gel (£18, 150ml)

The second and final product from the lovely UK based brand, Kathleen, is their bubble bath and shower gel in the matching Tranquil Fields scent. The shower gel smells just as lovely and relaxing as the body and massage oil; it isn't a basic lavender scent as it's creamy which makes it much more unique. The shower gel lathers so well, a little goes a long way and it doesn't irritate my skin at all! This is my first experience using Kathleen products and I can't recommend them enough as lovely pampering products.

*PMD Clean Smart Facial Cleansing Device (£89)

In the early days of blogging, the thing to have was the much coveted and expensive Clarisonic (I did buy one in the end, bloggers are such enablers). I sadly haven't used mine for a while but I've found something missing from my skincare routine recently, thankfully the PMD Clean has fit the bill wonderfully.

PMD is a brand I've been lucky enough to work with previously and I find their products to be very effective and this cleansing device is no different. The device vibrates over 7,000 per minute to deeply cleanse the skin as well as firming, lifting and toning the skin as well. Unlike the Clarisonic it is composed of ultra-hygienic silicone which is waterproof and hypoallergenic.

I've been using the device for around two weeks so far which isn't very long but my initial impressions are very good and so far I'm loving it. My skin has been looking very dull and quite congested over the spring and summer months and this deeply cleansing device has definitely been making a massive difference to the clarity and smoothness of my skin since using it with my range of cleansers.

It works well with so many creamy, gel or foam cleansers cleansers as it helps the cleanser lather and deeply massage the skin to cleanse well. It gently massages the skin but it doesn't irritate my skin which is something I have to consider as my skin is annoyingly dry and eczema prone. It's wireless, easy to use and very quick to throughly cleanse my skin so for me, it's an essential skincare product for summer.

*Lee Stafford Cactus Crush Shampoo (£7.99, 250ml)

Now onto my favourite haircare products for quite a while, the new 'cactus crush' range from Lee Stafford. Lee Stafford is such a nostalgic brand to me as I used it almost constantly for years as a teenager, especially their poker straight range! I'm so happy to try their new products because they not only look so cute and summery but they smell nice and they're wonderful for my very dry and super long hair. It lathers really well, it's very mosiurisng and smoothing so I cannot recommend it enough as even during the summer months my hair is very dry and slightly...wild.

*Lee Stafford Cactus Crush Conditioner (£7.99, 250ml)

As with the shampoo, I'm loving the conditioner from the range as it's so moisturising and detangling - my hair is hip length now and it can resemble a birds nest most of the time (I cannot wait to get it cut next month, 10 inches off!) so it needs all of the help it can get. The conditioner massively helps to detangle and tame my hair which is so impressive; if your hair is similar to mine then you'll adore this range.

*Lee Stafford Cactus Crush Mucho Moisture Mask (£8.99, 200ml)

Another lovely product from their new range is the hair mask which I've used a couple of times and I'm loving it. I rarely use hair masks on wet hair, I find that it doesn't really work well for my hair, so I apply a hair mask all over my scalp and hair while it's dry the I'll wash it out after an hour or so. The mask leaves my hair so smooth, moisturised and silky!

*Lee Stafford Cactus Crush Dazzle Drop (£8.49, 50ml)

Usually I'm never really interested in any kind of shine spray or shine drops as I always think that they'll leave my hair greasy or oily but as with the Vitage Eye Serum, I've been proven wrong! The dazzle drops are ideal for me to smooth any the plethora of frizz and flyways while adding a little healthy shine to my hair. Boots currently have a 3 for £15 offer on this new range so I'd recommend you take advantage of the offer as I'm so happy with this new range from Lee Stafford.

*Rio Rosa Mosqueta Rosehip Discovery (£12.95)

Next month I'm lucky enough to go on a weekend away in the Lake District with friends and I'm going on a European cruise at the end of August; I'm so excited for both and I need all of the travel minis! In comes Rio Rosa to the rescue with their new discovery set which is perfect for trailing their products for the first time or for taking with you on holiday or a weekend away.

The kit contains the cream cleanser (20ml), anti-ageing day and night cream (20ml) and the pure chilean rosehip seed oil (5ml), the latter comes with a pipette which is so handy. I love the packaging, all of the products are vegan and they are very gentle but effective so they tick all of the boxes! Some of the lovely natural ingredients included are as follows: macadamia seed oil, avocado oil, aloe vera leaf juice, shea butter and rosa mosqueta oil among others.

I've been using the products recently and I'm loving them! I've worked with Rio Rosa previously and I loved their body butter but this is my first time using their skincare and I'm impressed. I have dry, eczema prone and temperamental skin which can transform from normal skin to sensitive, flaky and very comfortable skin within a day so I need to use nourishing, gentle and natural products that are effective and these are all amazing for my skin.

So far the lovely anti-ageing day and night cream is my favourite product of the three as it's very soothing, moisturising and nourishing! I think the facial oil will be perfect when the autumnal months come around which if I'm honest, I cannot wait for as it's the best season (don't argue with me on this). If you're looking for a lovely natural skincare brand then look no further than Rio Rosa Mosqueta.

Have you tried any of these products or brands? Which products would you recommend for the summer months? 

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*4 DIY Recipes Using Essential Oils

Image from A Pair and A Spare via Pinterest

Essential Oils are all around us; in the lotions we use, in perfumes, in bath bombs, etc. But do you know what else is in those items? A long list of ingredients many cannot even pronounce. By using essential oil for yourself, you can add a sense of relaxation and nature to your life.

Increase Energy

If you're struggling against the afternoon slump like many of us, you could use different oils to help increase productivity and energy. Citrus and Herbal Oils can help perk you up and give you the boost you need to get through the day! Many turn to strong scents such as orange essential oil for energy but earthy scents such as rosemary and cinnamon are proven to increase alertness. And of course, adding lavender to your pillow will drift you off to a good night's rest. By being well rested, you can kick that slump goodbye!

Fix Common Skin Problems

Tea Tree Oil is known for its antibacterial properties but did you know that it can cure acne, cold sores, and even your dry scalp? By adding it to a carrier oil such as coconut oil, you can treat problem areas efficiently. Just remember that tea tree oil cannot be ingested. Since too much tea tree oil can actually dry your skin, you will want to start with a small amount and listen to your body.

Stomach Pain and Nausea

Everyone suffers from nausea and stomach cramps from time to time. Instead of reaching for a bottle of medicine, try reaching for some peppermint oil! By applying a few drops to your stomach - potentially mixed with coconut oil or water if your skin is sensitive - you can help alleviate symptoms. Peppermint Tea is a know digestion and nausea aid, but many don't drink tea or could grow impatient waiting for tea to brew. By adding a couple of drops of peppermint oil to a glass of water, you can quickly treat nausea in a natural way. For some, nausea and headaches team up to try to ruin your day, but by putting peppermint oil on your temples, you can wish this pain away.

Clean and Refresh

Your Home You can easily create an all-purpose cleaner by adding lemon essential oil to a mix of water, vinegar, and soap. This will not only efficiently clean your home but will also add a nice scent. By adding black pepper essential oil, you can even fight against bacteria like salmonella and e. coli. If you'd like to add a sense of relaxation to your home, you can add lavender and chamomile essential oil to water to create an easy room freshening spray.

Though you could simply buy an oil diffuser and breathe in scents of your choice, essential oil can do so much more than that. Why not harness the full capability of essential oils by creating your own health and beauty DIYs with them?

About The Author: Trysh Sutton is a wife, mother, attorney, interior decorator, strategic leader and owner of Pure Path Essential Oils. She has an eye for business, innovation and perfection - and a desire to help her family, her friends and herself live a healthy and happy life.

Do you use essential oils? If you do, what do you use them for? 

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*Image from Pinterest

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