My Little Box December Products

To anyone who read my blog about December's My Little Box it will come as no surprise that I was a big fan. I have now tried and tested the products and I'm pleased to say that I am still just as happy.

I'll start with the Vice-Versa nail duo from the in house range 'My Little Beauty'. In this month's edition of the magazine they had a lovely little tutorial aimed at using the duo to make your lunula sparkle...yes I had no idea what it was either. Who knew beauty boxes could be so educational?! Essentially it's the white half moon bit on your nail bed.

I tend to use boxes of clear nails and then paint them. For New Year's Eve (known as Hogmanay here in Scotland) I did the opposite of the magazines suggestion, painting most of my nails in the midnight blue and leaving the tips of my nails in a golden shimmer. One of my closest friends at a NYE party commented on how much she loved my nails.

The next product I tested was the Kusmi tea. I am a huge tea fan so out came my latest infuser and on went the kettle. The black tea with gorgeously subtle fruity flavour. My boyfriend had a little sip too and said how much he enjoyed it. The size of the sample sent won't last too long at the rate I go through tea and this is definitely a product I would purchase again.

Next up was the Rituals 'Magic Touch' body cream. I have a habit of using body creams, falling in love immediately and after a couple of uses discover it's just not quite right for me (a bit like some of my past relationships). So this time before writing about how much I liked this product I asked my boyfriend to test it. His words of wisdom were: "it smells luscious, it leaves my hands feeling silky smooth, it's easily absorbed AND I can pick my beer bottle up without feeling like it's going to slip out my hands". So there you have it Rituals 'Magic Touch': approved by boyfriends!
UPDATE - 29/02
Having just used this product again, I have to say that really like it. The scent is lovely without being overpowering, it applies easily without taking a lifetime to dry and to top that off my skin feels amazing. Very happy with this product!

Last on my list to test was the NARS blush. However, as my blusher still has a bit of life left in it for just now. I've opted to wait to open it. As soon as it's opened I'll post a wee update.

Christmas nails

Every year I try to do something special with my nails for Christmas. This year through ASOS I found Elegant Touch's Limited Edition press on nails 'Snow Fake'. I use press nails quite a lot as work, social and singing schedule takes up quite a lot of my time so manicures are a luxury time can't allow. Generally I buy a huge box of clear ones and then paint them myself. But I was drawn to the festive cheer of these little beauties.

Retailing at only £3, I felt it wasn't too much to spend if  I ended up not being overly keen on them. Especially as I was already ordering stuff from the site in any case. When they arrived yesterday I put them on immediately. A word on warning though the glue that comes with the Elegant Touch nails isn't the greatest so either be prepared to carry the glue everywhere and constantly be reapplying them or do what I do and buy a better glue. Available at most drugstores and pretty inexpensive, I think it's worth it to save losing nails left, right and centre.

Once on I was fairly happy with the result. Suitably festive with lovely little designs on each nail. Yes the quality isn't the greatest and no one would see them and think they're my real nails but for £3 they do exactly what I had hoped for.

http://m.asos.com/mt/www.asos.com//Elegant-Touch/Elegant-Touch-Xmas-Nails---Snow-Fake/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=5775668

I would just like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very much Christmas! 

My Little Box December 2015

My Little Box has been a delight since I  signed up with a few little disappoints here and there. December's My Little Magic Box I'm pleased to say is nothing short of amazing. To start with the box is actually 'magical'. Using an app the Kanako figures that we're used to seeing on the boxes come to life and dance before you're very eyes. It's an extremely sweet touch (albeit a little gimmicky) and at this time of year I love a little bit of cheesy nonsense!

The little sticker that came with this month's edition was equally cute. Then once I opened the box words can't describe how happy I was to see the return of the glossy version of My Little World magazine. Every since I've subscribed it's been a folded up paper version that I haven't really bothered about so I am delighted they've gone back to their old format and I now will take the time to read it. I really hope they'll be sticking to this style of magazine in the future and it's not just a one off for the Christmas version.

Next came the sweet mittens you see above. Black with gold sparkles, beautifully presented (as always), with the adorable caption of 'Anti-brrr kit for frosty days'. Now they probably won't be getting pulled out much this year. Here in the UK we're having an unusually warm December but once the snow does hit (I have no doubt it will at some point) I'll be rocking these bad boys. These retail at £10 through My Little Corner so I was starting to have a sneaky suspicion that I'd be getting my money's worth this month.

The next item was something I was equally as excited about. I'm a massive tea drinker of all kinds. Loose black tea is my preferred option so I was over the moon to see a tin of Kumi Tea. I receive the Anastasia blend which they describe as a Russian blend of China and Ceylon teas with scents of bergamot, lemon, lime and orange blossom. Now if this tastes anywhere near as good as it smells I'm in for a treat. This is one product I can't wait to try out! For 125g they charge £13.10, but it's a wee 25g tester size I've received.

I can now forgive My Little Box for not including a make up bag last month as this month they've gone all out with a bigger sized zippy make bag up. I am so happy with this addition to the box, which they normally sell for £6. Now I knew that regardless of the bag's contents we were onto a winner.

First out the bag was a body cream from Rituals called Magic Touch. It's Cherry blossom and rice milk scent is lovely. However as I received a body cream from Baïja in October's box, I have the feeling I'll be passing this one onto someone else to test for me. For a full sized one it would set you back £17 for 200ml. However, this is a tester size of 70mls. If I do try it out, I will let you know in my review of the products.

The next product I was delighted with: NARS blusher in 'Orgasm'. Normally priced at £23. My blusher is very nearly done as well so this couldn't have came at a better time. It's a best seller for NARS so I'd say this is a great addition to this month's box. The final product is....more nail polish. I've said it in a previous review and I will say it again. I do not need more nail varnish in my life! I literally have boxes of the stuff. However, that said the Vice-Versa duo from My Little Beauty is lovely. A gold sparkly number with a perfectly matched midnight blue I will definitely be trying out this product for you. Normally they would charge £7 for this duet of nail bling.

All in all this box has been a triumph for me. The thing I love most about My Little Box is that it's more than just a beauty box. The inclusion of items like the mittens and tea is what really makes it for me. That and the monthly theme. Granted there's some month's I haven't really got the theme but it's still a great concept. Well done to all in the My Little Box organisation and I can't wait for my first box of 2016!

My Little Box November Products

If you read my post about November's My Little Box you'll know that I was a very big fan of everything I received.

I've been putting the products to good use and can say that most pieces have lived up to my expectations. Firstly I donned my apron on Thursday to help my sister prepare for Thanksgiving. Her sister in law is American and had no one to spend it with this year so we opted to put on a spread for her. My sister was very complimentary of the design on the apron which I agree looks very cute. Especially when you have a beer in hand ;) 

The beauty products this month were equally a big hit with me. I normally have pretty good skin. But over the winter month's my skin takes a bit of a bashing. My hands probably suffer the most. No doubt from their exposure to the harsh Scottish cold. Not this year. The Sweet Hand Cream has kept my hands in really good condition and the marshmallow scent isn't too overpoweringly sweet. Available to purchase on mylittlecorner.fr for €9, which I really feel is excellent value for money! It's a great size for your handbag or to keep in a drawer at work (which is where mine is currently living). It really has made a difference to my hands this year. 

Part of my routine to get my skin back on track over the winter months was making sure I've been taking my make off properly and treating it to a bit of TLC. I've been using La Rouche-Posay 'Effaclar' Purifying Foaming Gel for Sensitive Skin for the task of removing my makeup. It's really great and makes it easy to get every bit of make up off including waterproof mascara. It's a product I definitely would recommend and I'm a big fan of the La Rouche-Posay brand.

 Once I'm 100% make up free I've been making use of My Little Beauty's Night Cream that I received in October's box. I'm a big fan of night creams and use them every night. This one does the job as good as any other one. Available on the same website and coming in at €16 it's much a muchness to other night creams on the market. But as I do receive them so frequently it was a very welcome addition to this month's box. I have been using Dr Pierre Ricaud's Neck & Décolletage Lifting Cream that I also received in the box. Now I'm not sure if I haven't been using it long enough or if it just doesn't make any real difference. Of course I know the anti-aging benefits of moisturising your neck, however, I personally don't feel the need to use a specialised cream for this area. At £18 a pop I just don't see myself ever actually purchasing this product I'm afraid to say.

The final product I've tested this month is the 'So Elixir' perfume by Yves Rocher. I wore this out last night actually as the small size is ideal as it won't take up much room in a clutch bag. A lovely mixture of Iris, Vanilla and Patchouli.  It actually really grew on me as a night went on. So much so I've decided to buy a bottle as a Christmas present for someone. The bonus is that currently they have a big discount on their website and thanks to a surprise code in this month's box I'll also get a full size bottle for free for myself! Excellent news for me!

To all my readers in America I hope you all had a very happy Thanksgiving! :)

Las Iguanas, Glasgow

Me and my friends went out yesterday to see the last instalment of The Hunger Games. After we left we were in search of food and cocktails. One of our usual haunts, The Raven, was full so whilst we enjoyed a bottle of prosecco we debated over where to go. In the end we settle on Las Iguanas situated close to Glasgow Central Station (on West Nile Street). 

Upon arrival we were warned there would be a long wait for food as the kitchen was "struggling". To be honest we were amazed given how quiet the place was that the kitchen staff were struggling so much to keep up with orders. We were also told that a number of the dishes were sold out as the waitress promptly scored out large sections of the menu. By this point it was getting on and we just wanted food and drink so agreed to stay.

Cocktails were decent and standard city centre prices. A few of the girls wanted cocktails not on the menu and the bar staff were accommodating enough to make them for us. Jug of water supplied as standard which I always like when eating out. 

As we knew there was going to be a long wait we ordered some bread & olives and tortilla chips to see us through till our mains came. However, our chips were brought at the same time as one of our mains. The tortilla chips were standard shop bought and incredibly disappointing. You want good tortilla chips: try Hyde in the West End. They do delicious ones. Anyway, by this point I'm wondering how long it takes to put some bread together and mix balsamic vinegar with oil!

Eventually it did come and I can safely say the bread was probably the best part of the whole meal. I think that probably speaks volumes about how good the restaurant actually is. The food was alright. Nothing to write home about. The gambas and chicken wings (yes we did order them hot) were so spicy though that I ended up losing about a million taste buds and found myself rubbing ice cubes over my tongue for a slight bit of relief.

To top it all off, the fire alarm went off and so we were booted out into the street. Can't be helped. But between that, the lack of things available to order and the slow service I would have expected an amount to be taken off the bill or at least some complimentary drinks. But sadly not. The bill came to £106 which for 5 tapas dishes, a taco sharing plate, 2 sides, 4 cocktails and a bottle of Cave was really quite reasonable. However I really would have preferred to pay more for a better quality of food and service.

Sorry there's no photos to include but my phone had died!

My Little Box November 2015

So this one was a goodie. I already knew the theme because they'd given it away on social media. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I preferred when it was a surprise. At work we've been doing a whole 'No fat November' thing and attempting to be healthy. So to receive 'My Little Sweet Box' was like a sign from above that dieting is not my strong point.

Displayed in a beautifully decorated tin, that will from now on house a collection of sweet treats in my kitchen, I was excited to see what would be inside. The tin itself is valued at £7.50 so I was fairly confident I would get my money's worth this month.

First thing inside was a lovely little apron with the same pattern as on the box. I do enjoy cooking and baking so this was a most welcome treat. And at a retailing price of £11 I now knew for certain that I was happy with this month's box regardless of what else I was to receive. 

Next up was the above envelope with adorable jar decals. I love keeping my pasta, flour, rice, etc in jars so these were another really cute addition to this month's box. For people interested in purchasing them, they come in at £3 a pop. My favourite one was the Coffee, stating: May your coffee be strong and your Monday be short. Here here! 

Now onto the beauty selection in my box. My only negative is that the treats didn't come in a little bag as usual. These bags are one of my favourite part of the boxes so I was a little disappointed at it's exclusion this month.

First product was My Little Beauty's own Sweet Hand Cream. With a subtle marshmallow scent and a thick texture that doesn't leave my hands feeling greasy, this was a welcome addition. My hands tend to suffer over the winter month's so this handbag sized cream is really great. Plus it's the only thing in the box that I feel truly fits the 'sweet' theme. 

Next up was this adorable little bottle of perfume from Yves Rocher. A woody scent that I wouldn't normally go for but it will do for when I'm on the go due to it's cute and dinky size. 

The last piece from this month's box was a neck and décolletage lifting cream from Dr Pierre Ricaud. Not something I can say is in my daily routine but I will certainly try it out. If for no other reason than it normally would cost £18 and is a lovely pinky colour that almost looks good enough to eat!

All in all I was delighted by this month's box! Had it included the little postcard and make up bag that is usually in the box it would have been absolutely perfect. For those who wonder whether or not it's worth it, I would definitely say give it a try. Even with last month's box when I was a little disappointed, it was still worth the price. The sticker included this month sums up my feelings perfectly:

Winter Krakow Trip (Day Three)

For our third and final day we wanted to spend some time in Kazimierz, the Jewish Quarter. It was only a short walk from the Aparthotel to the main square. The main square is spacious with many restaurants down one side. We decided to stop for breakfast and a warn drink to heat us up in the wintery weather. Seated opposite the Remuh Synagogue (known best for it's wailing wall made up of Jewish tombstones destroyed by the Nazis) and next to a memorial for those who lost their lives during the second World War, it was nice to just sit and read my guide book soaking up a bit of history about the area.

At the end of the square is the Old Synagogue, that now houses a museum on Jewish holidays and traditions. If you already have a knowledge of Judaism you may not find that you learn too much but for a small price it is worth having a peek inside.

After we finished our time in the museum we spent a lot of time wandering and exploring the many Synagogues and Churches in the area. If you ever visit you will see loads of electrics cars that do tours of the area. For me I can't think of anything worse than whizzing round such a nice area with little to no time to look into the gorgeous buildings.

Unfortunately due to the sheer size of some of the Churches it was difficult to actually photograph them as I just couldn't fit them into the frame. Truly these things need to be seen in real life to be appreciated.

And that was it, we were out of time. I really feel like we could have done with at least another day. There was so much we still really wanted to see. For sure we will definitely be going back at some point.

If there's any questions anyone has about Kraków just ask in the comments.

Winter Krakow Trip (Day Two)

On the Monday we set off early for Auschwitz. An experience that I knew would be incredibly upsetting but I felt it was important to go and see first hand the sort of conditions the victims of the Nazi state were subjected to. Out of respect for those who lost their lives there I opted not to take any pictures. A decision that I hope my readers will understand and respect.

We decided that we would prefer to go early without a guide. I had heard how busy it could get with groups and I didn't want to feel like I couldn't spend the time I wanted to take it all in and absorb what I was seeing. If you do want to go round without a guide then you do need to go before a certain time. I can't quite remember. Check out the website for precise details but I think it's before 10.

We went for half 8. Do remember that if you are going by public transport it does take around an hour and a half on the bus. It's easy enough to do it yourself. The bus was cheap and took you straight from the bus station to Auschwitz. They are also fairly regular. We visited a Tourist Office the day before to make sure we had up to date information and didn't miss our reserved time. On that note, you MUST book your tickets ahead of time.

The whole experience of both Auschwitz I and II was enlightening, disturbing and extremely emotional. The exhibition of the possessions stolen from their victims was almost too much for me and I wasn't the only one walking round with tears streaming down my face.

At Auschwitz II (a short free bus journey) I was taken aback by the sheer size of the camp. It was massive and I found that I just couldn't comprehend how any human being could condone such actrosities on such a huge scale.

It is an experience I will never want to experience again with the exception of taking my kids in the future to ensure it is never forgotten. I hated every moment and felt physically sick, but it is something I am so grateful I got the chance to go and see first hand. It does take up the majority of your day so do make sure you put the proper amount of time away to visit.

On our return to Krakow we went for a wander by The Barbican. It's an incredible piece of military architecture situated next to St Florian's Gate.

We then headed back down for a few beers at Rynek Główny, soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying people watching. As I said in my last post the square really is a stunning spot that any tourist will be sure to love, especially at night.

Afterwards we had a short walk to dinner. I'd seen another place recommended on TripAdvisor and was looking forward to trying it out: Pod Wawelem Restaurancja. Famed for its huge portions we were looking forward to a tasty meal. Beer aplenty: good. Breaded camembert with cranberry sauce: good again but definitely a case of quantity over quality. So far so good though.

That final picture is when it all started going wrong. We had pretty much only just started our starters when the waitress came over with our mains. Mine being the above pictured 'Officer's platter': a gigantic portion of all the meats with potatoes and rice. We told the waitress we weren't ready who just shrugged and rearranged the table to squeeze the plates on. Again it was definitely quantity over quality. None of mine tasted good. Needless to save I didn't finish it, went back to the hotel and fell into what can only be described as a 'Meat Coma'.

Read about our final day in Kraków in my next blog!