Lush Valentines Collection! Neon Love Soap and Prince Charming Shower Gel!

Last week I showed you a first glance at the Lush Valentines Day collection and there was a lot of excitement from you guys (and me!) about trying the products out. So on my last trip into Bath I popped into Lush and picked up the bits I was most looking forward to enjoying; the Prince Charming shower gel and a slice of Neon Love soap and both really are gorgeous!

First up we have the intensely fruity Prince Charming. This bright pink bottle of goodness is packed full of fresh pomegranate juice, almond oil, grapefruit oil as well as sweeter vanilla and marshmallow root, geranium and sandalwood. I'm not sure what I was expecting scent wise from this, maybe something similar to Snow Fairy, but I wasn't prepared for the beautifully intense fruity punch that this shower gel gives off. It reminds me a lot actually of the fruity bit inside jaffa cakes and I think if you are a fan of Happy Hippy then you will be a fan of this one.

Now onto Neon Love, a soap that looks amazing when whole of in large chunks and also smells incredibly fruity! My piece doesn't show it off but the white inside the soap is actually large soap hearts full of soya yoghurt and coconut oil to leave your skin feeling silky smooth as well as being deeply nourished. Now, I'll be honest, when I smell this soap all I can think of is the ultra zesty scent of a Pisco Sour cocktail (seriously, you need to try one, they are amazing) and I just can't get enough of it. It's a real uplifting scent that reminds me of summer, sunshine, and-of course- cocktails.

When I was in the shop I also took a little look at the Valentines gift boxes and the packaging team have really done well this time. I already know that I love the products but the boxes themselves really made me want to add them to my collection. There is high gloss paper, bright colours and one gift is covered in toucans!

Have you tried any of the range yet? How are you finding the products? Do you like the sound of cocktail scented soap?

Annie xx

Lush Valentines Collection First look

Now that Christmas is done and dusted, the retail world has moved on to the next "big day", valentines day!
Being a hardcore Lushie I was very excited when an email pinged into my inbox telling me about the super bright valentines collection.
This year the collection takes a nod towards the beautifully bold! Think neon wrapping, confetti, glitter and punchy fruit scents.

The range takes a rather artsy theme with products inspired by musicians, novelists, artists and actors and I have to say that I really love how everything looks. I've never been one for laid back, subtlety and the stand out style really appeals. I think that the collection shows Lush as people want to see the company; as the crazy soap shop that we all love.

I'm meant to be on a spending ban at the moment since my beauty stash is getting quite astonishing, however I'm going to get my hands on a few bits from the collection to show you in closer detail...and also because I want some of these gorgeous bright goodies in my life so any excuse! ;)

Prince Charming is definitely the product that I'm most keen to have a good sniff of. The sweet yet refreshing ingredients all point towards it being a product that I'll end up falling in love with then pining for when it's discontinued.
The only thing that I'm a little disappointed by is that there are several products in the collection, like "The Kiss" lip gloss that have been returned from last year that, to be honest, I thought were pretty rubbish that time round and could have maybe been replaced with something more interesting however that's just my personal opinion.
You can find the range *here*. What are you most looking forward to trying?
Annie xx

Roses Are Red Etc Etc

Feliz Dia de Saint Valentin Three Little Buhos lovers!

You probably know if you've been reading my blog for a while that I'm a member, and actually, recently was lucky enough to be added to the admin team, of Beauty Box Swaps, a facebook community for beauty addicts to trade and sell their unloved beauty items.

For Valentines day I took part in a box swap with a lovely lady from the group. We set a £10 budget and also added items that we already had and put together a nice box of valentines treats for one another. Because I'm not actually in the UK this valentines day Jemma was very nice and sent my box a little earlier so I could open and enjoy before going away, hence I am able to show you my valentines pressies today :)

Jemma totally spoiled me, as well as all the goodies above she also sent me a some bits and pieces that went straight in to my suitcase before I took these photos including a gorgeous scarf and another pack of Cath Kidston tissues :)

The combination of fluffy socks, Soap and Glory and shiny things is so me, and its clear that she really thought about what I've said I like :)

How pretty are all of my lovely treats? I loved everything that Jemma was kind enough to send me from the floating candles, to the Cath Kidston brooches, from the Benefit minis to the hair pins. There isn't anything that won't be used and loved. So thank you hugely :)

What are you up to this Valentines day? Dan and I are both in Tenerife with my family to celebrate a birthday so we don't have any special plans but are going to find a nice restaurant to have dinner in. Whatever your plans, I hope you're enjoying you day :)

Annie xx

*ps, I'm away until 17th and this post is scheduled so if you comment and don't get a reply, I promise it's not that I'm ignoring you! <3*

Large Quantities of Lovely

Hello,
Today has been great. Proper girly shopping trip with my mum where we both bought so lovely bits and pieces (maybe I'll post a photo of my goodies tomorrow)
I was incredibly lucky this valentines day, and my wonderful fiance bought me some cute little presents, and I love them all and just had to show you their fabbiness.

How cute is this flamingo cookie cutter? I can't wait to try this out and then cover the resulting cookies in BRIGHT pink icing. I hope the leggies and neck don't burn :S

I was lucky enough to be given a bunch of beautiful light pink roses. We couldn't find a vase and so had to display them in a cocktail shaker, but in a way I think that made them look all the more cute. I love roses, they look so pretty as they start to open like this one.

I was oh so excited to receive this ring. Its a beautiful handmade silver toe ring from Little Red Robin that I fell in love with last month. Daniel got it personalised to say "mugwai" which is his pet name for me (for those who don't know, here a photo of a mugwai, they're the cute little creatures that turn into Gremlins. Dan calls me mugwai because apparently I'm "cute and cuddly and make little noises") My photo doesn't really do the ring justice, it's gorgeous, made of silver and shines beautifully. I'm wearing it on my little finger while the weather is cold. Check out the Little Red Robin website for other beautiful jewellery.

To go with my my lovely new ring, Daniel tracked down this adorable bunny ring bunny that I pinned on pinterest a while back. I love him, he sits by my bed holding my new mugwai ring, my engagement ring and a couple of vintage finds. I thought it was so sweet of Daniel to go to so much effort to find me a present that he knew I would love.





I love all of these gifts and I am so thankful to Dan for being so generous and treating me so brilliantly. That man is my world :)

Have you been given any lovely, thoughtful gifts recently? What did you get for valentines day?
I hope you're having a great weekend :)
Annie x

Photo a Week Challenge- Week Five

Hello,
How is everyone today?
My great grandmother's funeral was today so for me it has been a day of remembrance. She was a wonderful woman and I hope that wherever she lives on, she will be happy.

This week's photo challenge topic is Romance which, being the uber observant person I am, believe may be because tuesday was of course Valentine's day!
I've taken a lot of photos this week of the beautiful presents that Daniel gave me for valentines day and couldn't quite narrow it down to one photo, so here are my two favourites :)
Annie x

This is a close up of my ultra cute card

And this is a macro shot of my dainty little pink roses

The Day of Love

Hello,
Happy Vday everyone! I hope you're all enjoying it.
I spent most of my day travelling across from Bath to Canterbury which was quite the ordeal, I tell you! Especially since the last leg of my journey had to be by coach because the trains weren't running between Ashford and Canterbury.
Oh well, I'm here now and Daniel and I are settling down to a nice cozy evening with good food and a chick flick :)
He bought me some lovely presents (which I'll show you tomorrow) and was uber happy with his too so so far so good :)

What are your plans for this evening? Did you recieve anything lovely that you're a little smug about?
Or are you just going to have a night in in front of the telly with a box of chocolates?
Annie x