Life's Loves: February Favourites

Yes, it's a little late, but it's time for another favourites post! I hope you're not bored of them by now. Another month sped by in a flash! February was full of running, train journeys and family. I had a lot of very busy weekends filled with my favourite people - and food, and I can barely collect my memories together for this post.

As usual, I like to share a few of my favourite things with you all in the hope to inspire you and even give a little advice. So, without further ado, here are a few of my favourite things from this month!

Beauty

Couvent des Minimes Hand Cream - Botanical Recipe of Love

Containing beeswax, shea butter and coconut oil, this hand cream is light and incredibly moisturising. Honestly, this came in a set of three and I've been using all of them every day - I love the fresh, natural scents and this has been perfect during the chilly few weeks before spring!

Soap & Glory Smoulder Kohl eyeliner

Eyeliner is a staple in my makeup bag - I honestly feel a little naked without it. I bought a set of four from Soap and Glory in the Boots January sales as it was such a bargain and have fallen in love with them! I've used the black kohl liner before so jumped at the chance to try a few different colours to mix things up a little. These stay on all day, which is perfect, and are so easy to use. I love the brown colour for a more subtle look and adore using the green for a pop of colour.

Jewellery

Aubergine Fox teardrop necklace

I love to try to support smaller businesses when I can, and I've been following Aubergine Fox on Instagram and Twitter for months. When I heard that they were selling some of their Etsy products in a local start-up store in Southampton I couldn't resist popping in, and bought this delicate teardrop necklace! I wear it all the time and have had many complements from friends and family. I can't resist simple gold jewellery to finish an outfit.

Books

All the Bright Things by Jennifer Niven

This book hasn't been out for long, and so I was excited to get stuck in! All the Bright Things is a Young Adult novel, but I don't think that should stop anyone reading it - after all, great books like The Fault in our Stars are also classed as YA! I loved this book and it certainly is an emotional read, so I hope to write a review of sorts very soon.

Top with Cinnamon by Izy Hossack

A recipe book written by a blogger with gorgeous photos and delicious recipes? Perfect! I was given this for my birthday in November and have been trying it out over the last month - so far, so good! Aside from a little mix-up with cayenne pepper and tbsp vs tsp (ooooops!) everything has been very tasty. If you're looking to expand your recipe book collection and want an attractive addition I cant recommend this enough.


Homeware

Pearl small clear bowl, The Hambledon

I purchased this cute glass bowl during one of my little jaunts to Winchester - and it's perfect for all of my little bits of jewellery! I love how simple it is and it's the perfect size. 

Music

Film scores

Throughout the month of February I was listening to film scores pretty much non-stop at work - I find they're perfect for motivation and relaxation! You read my recent post to find out about my favourites.

Food & Drink

64 degrees

At the very end of the month I indulged in an incredible evening at 64 Degrees in London. I will be reviewing it in the next few weeks but for now I will just say...WOW.  It's definitely a restaurant to choose for a very special treat.

Beetroot, Oxford

I stumbled across Beetroot when I was wandering down Cowley Road in Oxford one rainy Saturday. I can't resist a health food cafe and ended up diving straight in without hesitation and ordering a bowl of salad and a fresh apple and pear juice. Everything was so fresh and light and it was the perfect healthy treat! Sadly they don't have a website but if you're in the area I'd recommend checking it out.

Savoury pancakes

February of course involved pancake day! I'm normally a lemon and sugar kind of girl, but I fancied something a little different this year! I ended up enjoying pancakes for both a main meal and dessert, enjoying a vegetable and goats cheese pancake. It was delicious, and I'll definitely make them again for a light lunch!

What were you enjoying last month?

A night in The Loft at Artist Residence, London

A couple of months ago, I was fortunate enough to win a night in a beautiful hotel, Artist Residence, in the Pimlico area of London.

In truth, I had worked very hard that week entering the competition, which gave away a different room every day if you could tell them where they purchased a specific and obscure item from the chosen room’s interior.

For a few days I spent a little time each morning trawling through the internet to find the object for that particular day, and every day I was too late and unsuccessful. Until, somehow, I spotted Thursday’s item - a quirky bed frame - on the Anthropologie Europe website (with a little help from Pinterest…), commented on the Facebook page…and was contacted that evening with the good news that I had won a night in the hotel’s Loft room.

I cannot tell you how ecstatic and over the moon I was!

You see, at the end of last year I was dreaming about going to the same company's Brighton hotel upon recommendation from a friend for my birthday in November...but sadly, it didn’t work out. So you can imagine how delighted I was to finally have a chance to enjoy this gorgeous hotel for one night!

I contacted the team, who booked my room without a fuss, and two weeks ago I set off for London to enjoy my prize.

Artist Residence is a boutique hotel chain which can be found in Brighton, London and Cornwall. They specialise in quirky, comfortable and homely rooms, of all different sizes and designs. The London hotel is, as I mentioned, situated in Pimlico, meaning it’s an easy distance from Victoria, Chelsea and is also a walkable distance from Central London. You can read more about Artist Residence London on their About Us page - its worth a look if you’re intrigued! I think the main thing I should highlight, however, is how beautiful their interiors are...as you'll see.

I arrived at the hotel at about 5pm on my chosen Saturday afternoon, following a delicious family celebratory brunch at Source in Battersea (watch out for a review of that!). It was a fairly grey day, and after a quick walk from Sloane Square station in Chelsea and a little help from Google maps, I was welcomed into the hotel by a lovely lady at reception.

Inside, the hotel was intimate and cosy and it felt very much like we had walked into someone’s home! It was quiet and warm with lovely decor. Upon arrival I was recognised as the competition winner and was quickly escorted up to the room - at the very top of the hotel! It was a bit of a climb (there was no lift - so those with limited access or lots of luggage may have struggled) but it was worth it.

As soon as I stepped into the Loft room, I fell in love. It was exactly as the photos had suggested. I’ve always adored attic rooms and wanted one for years as a teen - and this was an absolute dream come true.

Prepare yourself for plenty of photographs - I just couldn't help myself!

The Loft had an incredibly rustic, homey feel, with exposed brick, wooden and white painted walls. The furniture had all been carefully picked, and fresh flowers were perched on the table by the window. I was delighted to find a luxurious bathroom with a french tub, indulgent toiletries, fluffy towels and heavy, high quality bath robes provided (the shower was equally as gorgeous and spacious!). It did occur to me that this would only be an appropriate room for the very intimate or unabashed, however, as there was no hiding from view when taking a soak!

You can see from the photos how gorgeous the room was - so I won’t go on - but it was a real treat and I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to be spending a night in such a wonderful place. It was quiet, comfortable and very, very special. I found that it was the perfect size, and had everything you'd need for a comfortable weekend away, with armchairs, a desk and the usual mini-fridge (with some delicious treats inside! The king size bed was an absolute dream too.

I can personally vouch that the bath was perfect for an early evening soak before dinner! The ideal antidote to lots of train journeys and a busy day rushing around England’s capital city. The Loft was tranquil and stylish little hideaway, perfect for a romantic weekend for two. I could have spent all day reading in one of the armchairs with a cup of tea. This is what I can only dream that my future home would look like!

After an incredible meal later that evening at the hotel’s restaurant, 64 Degrees (another upcoming review, I promise!) I settled into the bed for a very well-earned sleep. The sheets felt amazing and I was warm and snug and perfectly relaxed. I can't express how comfortable the bed was.

I woke up on Sunday morning feeling utterly refreshed, revitalised and ready for another busy day! The weather was beautiful and everything was so quiet and peaceful, considering I was in London.

Sadly I wasn’t able to sample the breakfast - I already had plans for the morning -  but the menu looked divine and I would love to return to try some of the dishes one morning. However, I instead enjoyed a very welcome cup of tea before checking out at a very generous 11am - there was no rush to leave!

I was very sad to bid farewell to Artist Residence so soon, but I had the perfect night away in the lap of luxury, and was beaming for many hours afterwards. It was such a treat!

I’m not sure I’ll be able to enjoy The Loft  room again in the future (it’s a little out of my budget!) but I fell in love with the hotel and would be delighted to return in the future for another weekend away - or, more temptingly, I would love to head to their Brighton hotel for a quirky seaside break!

If you’re looking for a luxurious hotel which has gorgeous interiors, friendly staff and is every bloggers dream (are 'Pinterest-able' and 'Instagrammable' real words?!) then I would highly recommend Artist Residence. It's a slice of modern luxury without any pretentiousness - a little pocket of quirky calm and perfection in busy ol’ London town. 

Thank you for having me, Artist Residence - I hope to be back someday!

I was not given this stay in return for a blog post - this was written without prompting purely because I loved my experience so much!

 
All images in this post are my own - please do not use without permission.

Movie Music: My top six cinematic composers

Nothing makes me feel more emotional than beautiful music, and I often find that the best can always be found in film scores.

For me, one of the best thing about watching a film is the soundtrack, especially if it can tug at the heartstrings, envelop me in calm or fill me with the sense of the greatness of the world.

I particularly love to listen to film scores while I work (I can't write with lyrics blasting into my ears), or as I travel. They're not only the perfect soundtrack to a big screen masterpiece, but the perfect soundtrack to life too. They can make me feel so much, and I really think they can be overlooked in the world of music.

Let's face it, who doesn't love to imagine that they're starring in their very own big-screen hit!

More often than not I find that my emotions are affected mostly by the music rather than the action in the film - if the music was turned off, for example, I bet that I wouldn't cry nearly as much! I can be happily watching a scene, and then they amp up the strings. BAM - I'm in bits.

So, for something slightly different thought I'd bring together the work of seven of my favourite cinematic composers and their work to share with you!

Of course, I can't include every single track - I may even write another little list in the future - but here are the first that came to me when I was drafting this blog post.

Each name is linked to YouTube videos of their work, so you can hear them for yourselves.

I hope you find a few new favourites and maybe something to listen to while you relax / commute / study!

John Williams

John Williams is possibly the most obvious first choice - his music is incredibly famous, used in cult films such as ET, Indiana Jones, Star Wars and Jurassic Park. I would be incredibly surprised if you didn't know who he was! I love the grandeur of his work - everything is performed with gusto and energy. Besides, who doesn't love a classic soundtrack?  My favourite scores have to be from the Harry Potter films.

Thomas Newman

Thomas Newman's scores are beautiful. Newman had worked with Williams, and is also another classic film composer - Shawshank Redemption and American Beauty are amongst his work. I love his more recent pieces, however - Finding Nemo and meet Joe Black, for example. My ultimate favourite has to be his work for A Series of Unfortunate Events - quirky, haunting and beautiful. If you want a piece that will break your heart and fill it with beauty at the same time, I recommend The Letter that Never Came. I also utterly adore his score for Road to Perdition which is another wonderful film, and can't recommend that enough too. The title theme is just stunning.

Alan Silvestri

Alan Silvestri is not a name you'd recognise as easily as the previous two, but his music is wonderful. I love his scores for Forrest Gump, The Polar Express and Castaway. Notably, also films starring the brilliant Tom Hanks!

Hans Zimmer

Hans Zimmer's music is instantly recognisable and incredibly dark and powerful - he's the one that came up with the iconic theme tune for the Pirates of the Caribbean films. I also love his work for The Dark Knight and Inception, as well as Sherlock Holmes and Gladiator. Did you know he composed the score for The Lion King too? I often turn to Zimmer's work when I'm feeling a bit angry, stressed or in need of some pure motivation.

Howard Shore

I listen to Howard Shore's work for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit - each piece is so powerful and dramatic. The music is instantly recognisable but always makes me feel emotional - I can't help but imagine the rolling hills of Middle Earth and the close bonds between the characters in the film adaptation. It's a bit of a guilty pleasure.

Ludovico Einaudi

Ludovico Eunaudi isn't very well known for  his movie scores - Doctor Zhivago and Black Swan are the main ones I recognise. However, I still had to include him in my list. I adore his classical music and cannot recommend it enough. It is utterly beautiful - if I could have a soundtrack to my life, I'd chose his scores. Each note is stunning - and perfect to relax to (or even for a romantic dinner!). Two of my favourites are 'Una Mattina' and 'Nuvole Bianche'. I dare your heart not to break.


Do you have any favourite scores, or films which you think have great music? I'm always looking for new soundtracks to work to, so recommend them in the comments below!

RECIPE: Simple Sweet Potato Falafel and Roasted Vegetable Wrap

Sometimes you come across a recipe online that you know you just have to share. This is one of them.

I've recently been trying to cook more from scratch using fresh ingredients, herbs and spices and experimenting a little more in the kitchen. This has been spurred on by my 10km training, and with my run fast approaching I've been trying to fuel myself with better food.

I've taken to pinning recipes and finding them on Pinterest (I'm somewhat addicted!) and I stumbled across this recipe during one of my daily browsing sessions.

The falafels are a BBC Good Food recipe - so a trusted source which means you can't go wrong! I love falafels, but find them so expensive and wanted to find a homemade alternative which involves baking, not frying - thus making them healthier! I also wanted to make a batch to freeze, giving me falafels on demand!

I whipped these up one night after a run and although they took a little extra time, I found the cooking process calming. This recipe involves coleslaw too, but I wanted it solely for the falafels, so I ignored that part.

They were easy to make (peeling soft sweet potatoes is strangely satisfying!) and I was very impressed with the results!

I enjoyed three falafels hot from the oven in a wholemeal wrap with houmous, salad leaves and roasted vegetables and it made the perfect light meal. I froze the rest, so that I have some ready for lunch over the next week - office lunches can get dull! So far, I like to eat them in a salad with leaves, tomatoes, cucumber, tuna and balsamic vinegar.

Here's the BBC Good Food Sweet Potato Falafel recipe.

I used 1cal olive oil spray to oil the baking sheet and it worked like a guilt-free dream. I may use a little more in the future to ensure a crispier falafel, but otherwise they're perfect.

Follow the recipe and prep some roasted vegetables of your choice; I used mushrooms, peppers and courgette, but you could roast some tomatoes, leeks and red onions too. Once you've turned the falafels halfway through cooking, pop your vegetables into the oven.

In the meantime, grab a wholemeal tortilla, smooth on some houmous and add some salad leaves. Place your warm falafels and roasted vegetables into the tortilla once ready, and enjoy!

If you try these out, let me know what you think - or, if you have another falafel recipe, I'd love to know!

Sweets for your sweet: Valentine's Day 2015

I truly believe that you should never just confine love to just one day - or, in other words, your loved ones should know how you feel about them 24/7, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Valentine's day isn't about over the top, romantic gestures for me - rather, my heart can be won by little tokens of meaningful affection - a small card with a heartfelt note, a cute cupcake, or homecooked food. Words and gestures should say it all - no need for extravagant floral arrangements, decadent diamonds or - as I've seen before on social media - ipads and holidays - though each to their own! Meaningful romantic gestures can take on a variety of forms dependent on the couple, of course!

Yes, more often than not, words and small tokens are the best ways to show love in my opinion. For me, Valentine's Day is often marked simply by adding a hint of pink or red to the day's outfit, and enjoying some quality time with someone special.

Valentine's Day shouldn't be confined to loved-up couples either - love is felt for friends and family and even for yourself, so it's the perfect opportunity to spoil someone special in your life, be they your other half, friend, housemate or relative...don't confine it to romantic relationships.

In light of my thoughts, here are a selection of bits and pieces which I will be making use of this Valentines. I was lucky enough to be gifted a little box of edible Valentine's Day treats from Marks and Spencer* - so I've decided to pair them up with a few of my personal love-themed favourites which I will wear and use on Saturday. No trips to see Fifty Shades of Grey for me!

As usual, I only blog about things I really like - and believe me, these edible gifts are pure heaven.

Guys and gals, if you're trying to woo your beloved and you're stuck for ideas, head over to M&S - they have the perfect little treats to spoil your lad or lass without going over the top.

Firstly there are their 'Love Bugs' - delicious little chocolate domes filled with oozing caramel. Then they've created 'Nuts About You'...'caramelised peanuts smothered in milk chocolate with crispy butterscotch pieces'. Wow...these are some very naughty little bites of heaven! 

'Lovers Heart' is an adorable pack of two chocolate biscuits coated in vanilla fondant and raspberry pieces - and really is made to be shared over a cup of tea - my idea of bliss. However, if you or your sweetheart are not fans of chocolate, then 'Hook Line and Sinker' is for you - an assortment of jelly sweets to tickle the taste buds. A lovely idea from M&S to cater for those who can't (or won't!) be indulging in chocolate.

These M&S treats are perfect to be shared, or indulged in alone! You'll be tempted to keep it all for yourself, just as I am... I'm very much an advocate for self-love, so why not treat yourself to a packet or two?

This Valentine's Day I'll be enjoying my M&S goodies with a few other love themed delights:

I'll be painting my nails in Rimmel London's 60 Seconds Nail Polish in Rose Libertine.

My lips will be painted in Revlon's Colourburst Matte Balm in Elusive.

I'll be smelling divinely of Nina by Nina Ricci.

My lashes will be coated with my current favourite, Maybelline's Lash Sensational Mascara.

I'll be reading Love Letters of the Great War by Mandy Kirkby and Helen Dunmore,

and burning Bayliss & Harding's Jojoba Silk and Almond Oil candle.

Last year I also wrote a little advice about falling in love with yourself. It is so important to make sure that you put yourself first often and satisfy your own needs, showing the same affection to your own soul as you do for others. This is another important thing to remember this Valentine's Day, and another excuse to treat yourself!

Happy Valentine's Day one and all - and remember, everyone has a valentine - just be sure to love yourself first.

*As usual, these treats were provided for me by Marks & Spencer, but all views are my own. The other products mentioned are all my own, and were purchased myself.

Life's Loves: January Favourites

Last year I documented my favourite items every month in my creatively named 'Monthly Favourites' series - a concept which is seen on hundreds of blogs and YouTube channels.

I loved the idea of keeping track of my favourite products - I'm not much of a beauty blogger, but I love to shout about the things I do find that are great quality - be they cosmetics, food or books!

I want to continue doing this but, for 2015, I fancied a bit of a face lift. I'd like to broaden my views each month and take a look at everything that has captured my heart for the previous thirty days; products, yes, but also music, films, other people's blog posts and ideas which have made me think a little harder.

So without further ado, here's everything that has captured my heart during the first month of 2015.

Beauty

Le Couvent des Minimes - Cologne of the Morning

Just before Christmas I was lucky enough to win a selection of beauty products from Le Couvent des Minimes on the lovely Zoe Newlove's blog. My prize arrived mere days before Christmas with a gorgeous stocking and, my, the contents were superb. I'm hoping to do another post detailing the products in more detail, but I have fallen in love with this natural company. My favourite for the last month has to be the Cologne of the Morning, which is gorgeously fresh and the perfect spring-time scent. Keep your eyes out for another post on this brand soon.

Rimmel London - Kate Matte Lipstick 107

Ah, a cult blogger beauty classic. This little beauty is literally on everyone's lips. I've been wearing this lipstick a lot this winter - the perfect deep wine shade, flattering and very long lasting. I'll probably still be wearing it throughout spring when lighter shades should be adopted.

Maybelline Lash Sensational Lash Multiplying Mascara

I choose my mascara very wisely, and when I saw this recommended by many bloggers and friends on Instagram and Twitter I knew I had to try it out - especially since it was on offer when I hunted it down! It works like a dream, makes my lashes look longer and separates them wonderfully. I also love the packaging - one of the main turn-offs for me is garish, bright or tacky packaging.

Weleda - Skin Food & Almond Soothing Facial Oil

These two have been saving my skin throughout the winter and really are utterly fantastic - and completely natural! I plan to write a full post on these gems later this month but for now I'll just say that my skin has never felt so good - Weleda are well and truly on the radar for me now.

Jewellery:

Beadin' Nora Rose Gold Necklace - Notonthehighstreet.com

This gorgeous necklace was a present from my parents at Christmas - it's so delicate and understated and I get so many compliments when I wear it. I do really think I need to check out Notonthehighstreet.com more! Rose gold is just beautiful too.

Books:

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

After receiving this book from my (not-so) Secret Santa at work, I was excited to finally see what all the fuss was about! It took me a few weeks to finish, but this book made me want to go to bed early just so that I could read some more. Watch out for a spoiler-free book review coming soon!

TV:

Hannibal

Ok, this is a bit cheeky - this is my housemate's new DVD set, and I've only been watching them with her - but it's an absolutely brilliant TV show. It's the perfect combination of crime, mild horror and  thriller, with an excellent cast. It's gory at times, but this is made bearable through the pure imagination and intricacy of the stories - I find it fascinating that people come up with ideas like these! I'm looking forward to finishing the first series and recommend it to any box-set junkies out there.

Food & Drink:

Ebb & Flow, Southampton

I loved my lunch date at Ebb & Flow, a new restaurant / bar in Southampton's city centre a few weeks ago. I am already planning my next visit to test their cocktails.

The Corner House, Winchester

The Corner House cafe in Winchester is a little gem tucked away from the main high street, and was recommended to me by a close friend. I went last week and it's already one of my favourite eateries in the city. It's cosy, with delicious food, an impressive cake selection and a lovely atmosphere. I can't wait to go back - and as usual, you can read my review!

Chococo Cherry and Amaretti Clusters

Chococo is a local chocolate company - which makes this even better as I love finding smaller, local and fresh companies to support! I always try and pick up a couple of gifts for others when I visit their Winchester store, but this time I bought a little something for myself. These are little bites of heaven -  the flavours combine perfectly. Because they use 67% dark chocolate, they relieve my chocolate craving but mean I don't need to eat the whole packet to feel satisfied! A true treat - I can't wait to try more of their products.

Recipes:

Spanish Scrambled Eggs

You may have already seen my recipe post this month inspired by the Happy Egg Co.'s January Tastemaker's challenge. I can't wait to whip up this tasty breakfast treat again!

LOVE Life chickpea and butternut squash curry, by Waitrose

 I recently made this recipe from the Waitrose website and couldn't believe how easy, simple and tasty it was! It's very healthy too. I can't recommend it enough! Fortunately I made enough for my freezer, but I shall definitely be making this again.

Online:

Little Miss Katy: Happy Monday

One of my favourite bloggers, Katy's weekly posts are a true pick-me-up on the most hated day of the week. I love catching up on what she's been up to, but also getting inspired - it's important to stay positive and focus on the good things life throws at you, regardless how day your bad is.

Being Erica: It's all about the #newyearnewme nonsense

In the month where our news feeds and offices are full of talk of resolutions, I loved Erica's honest, refreshing and thoughtful post. When so many of us pledge to be healthy (guilty as charged!) it's important to set more realistic - and often, more valuable - goals. The resolutions she's made mean much more than stopping at one glass of white on a Friday because 'myfitnesspal will go nuts'. There's more to life than calorie counting and smoothie-making.

What have you loved this month? Share your thoughts in the comments - or leave links to new things I might enjoy!