Reading is something I enjoy a lot and have been trying to make as much time as possible for recently. I find it very relaxing and I much prefer a proper, physical book over audiobook or digital copy any day. I love to get cosy and light a candle and get stuck in to the pages. At the moment I'm burning the Shearer Candles Naturals cedarwood and log fire soy wax candle, its the perfect scent for getting in the mood for Autumn coming in. I've always got a pile at the side of my bed to work my way through and have recently finished a couple of great reads which I'm sharing with you today.&nb ..read more

In this year's gift guide I'm sharing some things that I've really been enjoying and think would make great gifts for other people. I'd love to wake up on Christmas morning to any of these in wrapped up under the tree and hope you would too.  Firstly, Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without my house smelling nice and cosy and Shearer Candles have released some absolutely gorgeous festive scents this year. Shearer is a Glasgow based, family owned, candle company where I've recently had the pleasure of visiting their new store in St.Enoch Centre. Some of my top picks this year are th ..read more

AD: This post is in conjunction with Boots UK but all thoughts are my own. I don't know about you but when it comes to make up, anything without false lashes just seems unfinished so finding yourself the perfect pair is a must! Thinking back to my Makeup Artist days I remember having a kit stocked full of Ardell lashes as they were always both affordable, and great quality lashes for clients. Over the years I've used so many different types of lashes equally for my own personal use as well as clients and for a whole range of situations such as daily wear, long-wear, bridal or glam events. F ..read more

Hands up who loves an Urban Decay Naked palette? I know I do and I've really loved the Urban Decay Naked Wild West palette recently. I've been using this a lot and really looking forward to getting my hands on the newest product the Urban Decay Naked Cyber and trying it out alongside this one. The Naked Wild West palette includes 12 desert inspired shades ranging from peach and brows to deep blue-green and turquoises. Its a mix of matte, shimmer and glitter formulas and is Urban Decay's first all-vegan formula eyeshadow (as well as including a vegan double-ended brush).  For me, Wil ..read more

A few weeks ago I started using some new products by the brand Florena.  Florena is a natural, fermented skincare brand who are cruelty free and have a big focus on sustainability. You may have heard about the benefits of fermented products in food, but did you know that the fermentation process is a natural way of breaking down a substance into a simpler form which in turn makes it more powerful? This is why fermentation works so well in skincare products as the most important ingredients become more concentrated.  This fermentation process is at the heart of Florena Fermented ..read more

I've spoken about my love for Blistex products a lot over the years. I rarely use other lip care brands as I'm yet to find another that is consistently as good.  My absolute favourite lip product was the Blistex Relief Cream and I must note that for now, it's sadly unavailable. Blistex have posted about this on their social channels to advise that due to manufacturing issues it us currently unavailable with no clear return date.  While that isn't the best news, this month, Blistex have brought out three fantastic new products. Blistex Lip Infusions provide outstanding moist ..read more

I think that if I had to only have one makeup product to use for the rest of my life I'd definitely choose mascara. I like to think I'm a bit of a mascara connoisseur and admittedly, at any given time I've got at least three or four different products open at the same time.  I remember when I was younger and swearing by using two, always Maybelline Great Lash first for volume and then L'Oreal Telescopic to separate my lashes with the spiky little brush. Now, I feel I can say, with confidence, that I have tried the majority of mascaras that have been on the market so I feel quite quali ..read more

One of the things I think I miss most about pre-pandemic life is the little trips away. Unfortunately at the moment in the UK we are still subject to travel restrictions. Travel outside of the local area isn't allowed yet, but with the recent changes to the roadmap out of lockdown hopefully over the coming months things will look a little different although holidays abroad still seem like a distant dream. With a toddler its a lot easier to plan a shorter stay-cation break in the UK. At the top of my list is revisiting London, Liverpool and Manchester as well as booking a lodge or two ..read more

Did you know that in Scotland, cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women under 35? Six women are diagnosed with the disease every week. I wrote about my experience with it a few years ago when I issued a plea to get yourself booked in for a smear and following Scotland's new 'Flower' campaign I'm urging you all to not to ignore your next invitation and help 'nip it in the bud'. The campaign video encourages women aged 25-34 living in Scotland not to ignore their next smear invite or to contact their GP to make an appointment if they've missed their last smear. In 2017/18, one in th ..read more

Last weekend we took Liam for his first trip away to explore Aberdeen and stay at the Citi Hotel Aberdeen. Affectionately known as the Granite City due to the vast amounts of locally quarried grey stone used in many of the cities buildings. It actually sparkles a little in the light which makes it very pretty in the sunshine.  I've visited Aberdeen twice before but never actually wandered around the city centre. Michelle and I stayed in the beautiful Ardoe House Hotel and Kevin and I went to Enjoy Music Festival in Hazelhead Park in August last year (we stayed in the nearby Village ..read more