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saharasplash22 December, 2015

Walking in a Blogger’s Wonderland

I want to tell you all about what a fantastic time I had on the 5^th December when I went to the Blogger’s Xmas event organised by Soeursdeluxe. The London air was very biting that day, so I layered up with a polo neck dress, faux fur cardigan and coat before heading to Moorgate station. I was early (for once) and found myself getting there well ahead of schedule to meet my friends, so I decided to go in alone and get started! The venue was so pretty! I was immediately greeted by Jasmine of Soeursdeluxe with a programme and my very own customised keyring from AlohaLolaCards. As I took the Finch’s pub in and all of the amazing stalls it really did feel as if I were walking in a blogger’s wonderland.

Selfie sticks and props adorned tables, goodies and sweets too, but I headed straight to the bar where I could see the most wonderful thing brewing- mulled cider! I was shocked as I got my wallet out to pay that the cider was in fact already paid for, I had only been in the door 5 minutes and I felt so relaxed and happy. I cannot thank Jasmine and Kirsty enough for organising such a great blogging event!

As I waited with my mulled cider in hand for my friends to arrive, I had a flick through the programme so I could see who was attending. I was shocked yet again to discover that I had a little shout out in the programme, as earlier on in the year I had put a favourite jewellery brand of mine in contact with Soeursdeluxe as they were looking to exhibit more in London. Miglio Jewellery were on the guestlist sure enough, and I am really glad I met them and have worked with them since. They are a fabulous company and their innovative styles had all the cameras snap snapping away at their stall.

Another stall I was happy to see there was the Blogosphere magazine. As I am in the publishing industry at work, I have a great respect for printed magazines and this one directed at bloggers specifically is just brilliant. We each went home with a copy of the latest edition of the quarterly mag, and it is so well presented I am itching to get some ideas over to them in the new year to be in with a shot of getting featured! Well worth following these guys on Twitter!

I think my favourite new brand would have to be Aroma Cake Boutique. Founded by Krupali Patel, the Aroma Cake Boutique is a lovely homemade cake company with an Indian twist. I found myself ogling at all the amazing bite size treats laid out for us to try, and all of them were gluten free!

Krupali explained how she and her mother use traditional Indian spices to infuse the cupcakes and the icing. Their masala chai and rose flavour cupcake was like nothing I’d ever tasted before, it was heavenly. Aroma Cake Boutique were kind enough to let me take home a box- they were all gone in less than a day and I didn’t share much either! You can find out more about Aroma Cake Boutique via their website here.

I must also mention another sweet treat which were exhibiting at the Bloggers Xmas event, this time we’re talking cheesecakes!

Sweet Cheesus (great name!) offer 6 different flavours of cheesecake, 2 of which happen to be gluten free! I tried both the white chocolate & summer fruits as well as the salted caramel- both were sublime! I hope to work with them in the new year, so send through your ideas of what you want to see to my Twitter page @saharasplash !

Enough about food, and over to fashion and beauty!

I met a wonderful designer of vintage boxer shorts- House of Dreadful.

These are traditionally men’s boxer shorts, but as I saw them I just knew I had to do a photoshoot with my girls at Petite Model Management. For those of you who don’t know, this year I started up a London-based agency for petite models, and House of Dreadful is definitely on the list of ones to work with for 2016! I’ve already started collecting inspiration over on my Pinterest so check it out- I would love any recommendations too so hit me up with your pins!

And last but certainly not least, my fav lash brand, Lash Perfect were there.

I met their marketing exec Aisha at the beauty blogger awards back in October, and it was great to catch up with her and the luscious lashes. We were spoilt for choice and could take our pick from the lash box- what more does a blogger want?!

I will let you in on a little secret though- this event was the first time I put lashes on myself. Usually I have makeup artists who put them on me, so I was shocked when I tried them out and they worked first time! I went over them with eye liner, here’s a close up of the result:

I will definitely be using my Lash Perfect lashes this season!

So if you are still with me on this 11^th paragraph, I want to thank you, the brands above and the fabulous duo that is soeursdeluxe for making this blog post so amazing. I will continue to support my local blogger events and meet new brands as this is what my blog is all about. It is events like this that give me great content so I can keep on blogging and keep on growing- so thank you.

Saharasplash x

If you haven’t had enough, head to my festive post on an evening with LaRoche-Posay, it’s a good one!

saharasplash11 December, 2015

Hooray for LaRoche-Posay

I couldn’t wait to hear the news that LaRoche-Posay was to hold an end of year Christmas party for us beauty bloggers. I missed out on their event earlier on in the year so when I received my invite I knew that an exciting evening was ahead of me after seeing the snaps from their previous event. I am thrilled to report all about my evening which really was an exquisite affair, so hooray for LaRoche-Posay!

My friend Lissa (Girl at the Rock Show) and Luisa (Eat Sleep Luisa Repeat) were also on the guest list, so we teamed up and met after work at the Carousel near Baker Street for the event. I had been following LaRoche’s successes ever since the launch of the serozinc range for acne and oil prone skin. The LaRoche team had some amazing new products on display for us to try, exciting times!

The venue itself was stunning. Snow-topped forest pines surrounded the room and a festive feel was in the air. The products were displayed on crystal shelves and a dj supplied even more atmosphere. It was a small event but it felt really exclusive, something which I think is really important when planning events for bloggers.

Top marks for effort, presentation and food/drinks too! I enjoyed a non alcoholic mojito made with blueberries and elderflower and I had a glass of prosecco to wash down some gluten free tortilla!

Sarah and the team gave a great welcome speech, and introduced us to Dr Tabi Leslie, an expert dermatologist who was on hand all night to answer any questions we had about our skin.

The product of the night was the brand new Effaclar BB blur primer. The primer is different from others with its mousse-like texture and its ability to absorb sweat and oil/sebum. This translates to no more shiny face at 2pm in the afternoon! I have to say I’ve been using the primer every day now since the event and I’ve noticed a big difference. Before I used to have to dab my face with a tissue around lunchtime in the bathroom to get rid of my shine, but with the BB Blur on there is no need. Hooray!

Back to the event now, I was really impressed with how things ran. I got to mingle with several other bloggers including Lily and also got to talk to the LaRoche-Posay team as they came round to us all. I loved this cute little post box too for an added festive feel. We wrote to Santa asking for something special, so crossing fingers he gets our letters!

Featured image, hooray for laroche-posay post box

We each got to take home a bag with the new BB Blur primer, the serozine spray and their new Hydraphase intense serum which was also showcased on the night.

I want to thank the Dowal Walker team and LaRoche-Posay for hosting such a wonderful Christmas party, and I cannot wait to see what’s in store for us next year!

If you’d like to try the BB Blur primer it is on preorder now so get it here and save 1/3 off!

I thought I would also add a little video when I got home of me opening up my gift bag too!

Saharasplash X

If you liked this post, take a read of my review of Instanatural’s Dead Sea mud mask right here before you go

saharasplash9 December, 2015

Why I love being gluten free | Featuring Snackly

I’m really excited about this post, as this is my first ever post about being a coeliac! For those of you who don’t know, Coeliac’s Disease is an auto-immune disease, much like diabetes. It isn’t an intolerance or an allergy where I can pick and choose what days I’m going to be good and what days I’m going to be naughty, it is for life. As soon as I tell someone that I’m a coeliac, their natural reaction is to say ‘oh, I’m sorry’. I really want to nip this in the bud and say to you all don’t apologise, I’m really happy with my coeliacs, I wouldn’t have it any other way, and this is why I love being gluten free, featuring Snackly!

I’m excited to send my message out into the world and have teamed up with snackly to do so. I hope that this helps not only those who know about their conditions and intolerances, but those who are having issues with food who may be putting off doing something about it because they are scared of what the doctor might say. Cutting out gluten isn’t nearly as tough as people think these days, though there is definitely a stigma labelled to those of us who can’t eat gluten/wheat/dairy. I remember a time, a dark time where there were hardly any products on the supermarket shelves, and if you did want anything decent you had to order it on prescription (this was back in 2008). I am glad to say that those days do not exist anymore, the world has realised the extent of the gluten free community and they wish to help us to feel like we can fit in again. This is exactly what snackly is all about, they aim to bring the gluten free a diverse range of carefully selected products so that we can always try something new, something good.

Even though it seems that people are being more picky nowadays because of the phenomenal amount of options around, I believe that it is the increased awareness that is causing so many of us to get diagnosed or cut out certain foods from our diet because of issues which is a great thing. I am constantly being sought out by friends and even strangers for advice on their diets, and I hold my hands up and say I am no dietician, but I like to think that I have a good knowledge of how my coeliacs affects me so I can share what I have learnt with others along the way to help guide them to feeling better. I embrace food, I love it, and I want to share with you my positive message of why I love being gluten free by telling you all about what snackly sent me in the post last week.

Snackly are a concept similar to the ever so popular graze boxes, but they are 100% gluten free. You can order an individual box each month or sign up for a monthly subscription too and they will send you lots of fabulous goodies to try. I’m so happy that the gluten free lifestyle is working its way into the industry more and more and Snackly are a great company to explore new products which you may not see in regular supermarkets. Here’s what happened when I opened my box:

The packaging was so cute, I felt like I was opening an early Christmas present! The items were carefully wrapped in tissue paper and it came with a sweet thank you card- no, thank you snackly! I opened it up and found 6 gorgeous gluten free goodies inside:

Multiseed gourmet cracker from The Foods of Athenry, Ireland

These crunchy crackers were made from a toasted seedy sourdough and very tasty! They would go perfectly with pate or crumbled up in a hot soup.

Snact apple and mango jerky, London

I really liked the tasty strips of apple and mango puree. They only used fruit to make the jerky, nothing else at all so really clean and healthy. I would have liked to have had a few more strips in the bag- there were 8 strips but bite size.

Honeyrose Triple Chocolate cookie, London

This cookie was really intense, a little bit too sugary for my liking but tasted great! Who doesn’t like chocolate cookies?!

Melting Pot salted caramel fudge, Blackthorn Foods

I adored the salted caramel fudge. It melted in my mouth and I could eat this every day. It was the perfect size for an afternoon pick me up at work.

Teapigs Peppermint

I’m a big advocate of tea, and teapigs are one of my favourites after trying them at hummingbirds cafe (where you must try the gluten free red velvet cupcakes). The peppermint tea went so well with my fudge!

Peanut Butter Protein balls, The Protein Ball co.

These are a great item to have handy in your bag if you find yourself caught short in a cafe that only sells sarnies and cakes! I loved the little bite size balls and you have 6 of them in a pack!

I would like to add that having an intolerance or auto-immune disease can really open a lot of doors. It is like being a part of a community, and through this community I have met many people that I wouldn’t have met otherwise. I am also grateful to companies like snackly who want to work with gluten free bloggers like myself so that we can promote the amazing brands and help other gluten free foodies discover new and exciting things to eat.

So my parting message to the world is, don’t be sorry for us, be interested. Your interest will make us happy that we can talk openly about our diets without feeling like we are different just because of our DNA. And that is simply why I love being gluten free featuring snackly. Hands up and virtual high fives to all my gluten free readers and to the awesome snackly!

Saharasplash x

I received this product for free for my honest opinion and review

If you liked this post, check out what I got up to on Brick Lane recently!

saharasplash1 December, 2015

Dead Sea Mud Mask Review- Instanatural

I really was excited to review the Dead Sea Mud Mask from Instanatural as I had read reviews about how it can dramatically reduce your pores. As a blogger I love trying out beauty products that I haven’t tried before to test and review, so last weekend I gave it a go. I followed the instructions and applied a thin layer to my face, avoiding my eye and mouth areas.

It was cool on my skin and was a smooth application. It says to leave on for 10-15 mins, and as the minutes go by the soft mud turns to a hard texture as it dries.

I really liked the process but before the mask could dry 100% it started to tingle and get a bit uncomfortable, 15 minutes in. I took it off using warm water and cotton pads, and unfortunately my skin had a minor reaction to the mask, leaving my skin quite red where I had applied it, especially on my forehead. (see video below for more pics!)

The Dead Sea Mud Mask from Instanatural definitely did leave my skin feeling tighter and very smooth, but I think that people with sensitive skin should be wary and maybe get a sample sent so you can do a patch test before using. Watch the video of the whole process from start to finish and also find out what I rate it out of 5 stars. I would recommend it to other people who have used dead sea products before who know that they are ok with the minerals the mud contains.

I received this product for free for my honest and unbiased feedback.

I’d love to know if any of you had tried similar mud masks or products from Instanatural. I might try and review some of their other products which don’t contain Dead Sea mud, and I hope you found this review helpful my lovely readers.

If you liked this, please check out my latest jewellery review on snows curiositites bracelets!

Saharasplash X

saharasplash23 November, 2015

Golden gift guide for xmas 2015

We all want to give the best gifts to our loved ones and somehow still outdo those gifts we bought from last year. I’ve chosen a super easy theme to help you guys out when buying for your group of girls, and that theme is gold! My golden gift guide for xmas 2015 is here to help you nice and early so you’re not stuck for any last minute gifts this year.

Gold is a colour that is always around for the Christmas season so you can’t go wrong with it. Every girl wants to unwrap a present with a bit of sparkle and I’ve chosen 3 clutch bags and 3 necklaces to get those eyes glimmering with joy! My choices range from £10-£80 so whatever your budget, I’ve got you covered with some of my favourite golden gems you can find online right now. Whether you need help buying for a female friend, girlfriend, family member or treating yourself, look no further than my golden guide featured below!

Boohoo- Katie Glitter Pom Clutch – £14

So I picked this cute little clutch up at the Boohoo xmas party this month. This bag caught my eye as I was browsing through their seasonal collection and I didn’t want to put it down. Fortunately Boohoo were kind enough to let me take it home, and I just love it so much. The pom on the front is faux fur and for £14 it’s such a steal.

Together from Kaleidoscope- Golden Snake Clutch – £29

Another amazing bag which I happen to also have in my possession is this wonderful snake print clutch from Kaleidoscope. I met with Kaleidoscope’s team this month at Flemings Mayfair for a little get together with the brand and bloggers. I fell in love with this bag as well as a blue faux fur coat at the event, and was so thrilled to receive the bag from them in the post last week. This retails at the great price of £29 and would go perfectly with a slip dress from my last post on Motel Rocks!

See the complete partywear range here for even more inspiration!

Love Moschino from House of Fraser- Gold Embossed Clutch – £60

For someone really special, I’ve chosen this Moschino embossed clutch bag. This is a great statement bag and would be perfect for gifting a fashionista this Christmas. The bag is on sale right now with £15 off, so I’d really recommend getting this one quick before it sells out.

Boohoo- Natasha Statement Gem chain Choker – £10

This choker is perfect for an unusual gift as there aren’t many like these in the high st stores. The choker sits gracefully around the neck and would be ready to wear day or night to spice up your ootd. Its detailing is simple yet effective and will bring some Christmas cheer no doubt. I’d recommend getting this for a best friend.

Tatty Devine- Shooting Star Necklace – £25

Tatty are a favourite of mine, simply because the materials they use never wear down like you get on other gold and silver accessories. This shooting star necklace is an acrylic hand cut piece that screams Christmas from starpoint to starpoint, and guaranteed you won’t find something like this in stores either this year!

Swarovski Stardust Necklace – £79

Lastly we come to the devine jewellers that are Swarovski. I think that they are a timeless company you can buy for little angels or your dearest nan and it just works. The Stardust necklace is brought on by the success of the multicoloured wrap bracelet campaign this year featuring Miranda Kerr, and what a way to end the year with this golden gem. I would buy this for my mother without a doubt, but obviously now cannot as she’s probably read this post! But what’s to stop you from getting this for your mum this Christmas???

So there you have it, my golden gift guide whatever your budget. If you’re anything like me then you’ve probably already got a spreadsheet and colour coded it! Relax, we’re officially at the last week of November this week so break out the mince pies and mulled wine already!

Stay warm and think golden thoughts,

Saharasplash

PS- Now is a really good time to subscribe to my blog, as the next few weeks I have some amazing posts lined up for you…

If you liked this, head on over to my blog post all about sexy sparkly slip dresses right now!

saharasplash9 November, 2015

The Motel Edit- 5 reasons to shop the slip this season

I have been really bad at sharing the Motel love since I started blogging- I think that this is down to their sample sales being just at the end of each season. I’m not blaming them one bit for bad timing, I understand that they do the sample sales when they need to, but I always come away with so much stuff and can never post about it because the season changes so fast!

So I thought I would decide to write about my fav picks from the site and write all about the slip dress instead! My Motel summer goodies are now packed away for next year, but that doesn’t mean I can’t share my love for Motel right now…

I have been browsing their site this weekend as usual, and I am really inspired by their unique sense of style and fabulous prints. I do think that they set themselves apart from other popular online stores with their items, and one cut in particular caught my eye…the slip.

If you know me and my wardrobe, you will know that I don’t like to wear the same thing twice- and so this is why I love Motel so much. I know that if I like a certain shape dress, I can go to Motel and they will hook me up in ten ways I had never thought of contemplating. You know that you won’t be caught out wearing the same outfit that the girl on the tube is wearing too (cough H&M) which is really important.

So why the slip? The slip is something that I’ve not been seeing round lately. Its understated elegance is just what your wardrobe needs and paired with Motel’s excellent patterns and colours, the slip dress will have heads turning in your direction at any party. I’ve decided to pick 4 slip dresses which are absolute killers and also a faux fur crop jacket which you can wear with all 4 of them.

1- The Flash Cecile slip

This slip immediately caught my eye with its sexy pattern in warm metallic tones. I can imagine wearing this to a few events I have lined up this season and certainly has the wow factor I want when on the hunt for something glitzy and glamorous.

2- The Gaia slip

The Gaia dress has a more urban feel to it, less showy but still amazing with its warm colours. I think it doesn’t matter if it’s cold outside, you can still wear a floral slip and be cool for the winter. I’d imagine wearing this to a nice meal out with friends and family, but still keeping my fashion blogger vibes in tact 🙂

3- The Meadow slip

Now this is a real showstopper for all you mermaid fans out there. It is an amazing green/blue which I’m guessing would look fab on a dance floor! Get your heels out for this one, and if you don’t have any nights out planned then buy this dress and make some! I would match my eyes to this dress colour for sure.

4- The Vince slip by Grace Neutral

I had the pleasure of attending the Grace Neutral collection launch party with the Motel Family group, and I absolutely loved her designs. The material is flowy and light- I tried the Kato Kimono on and didn’t want to take it off! Using the same Mandala print, Grace has designed this slip to suit her style and the Motel audience are eating it up. Just last week I saw a blogger at the Boohoo Xmas party wearing this so the pieces are selling well. I would wear this to any blogger event to get the conversation started with other bloggers about Grace Neutral- you know other bloggers will be asking about it!

5- The Freya fur jacket

I wanted to tie all 4 of my choices together with a jacket that you could purchase for any of the slips. This charcoal Freya cropped jacket will look amazing on top of any of the slips, it’s short enough to show off your dress at the bottom if you’re too cold to take it off, and I think this jacket is a real solid winter jacket that would go just as well with jeans and a tee for more causal days.

Ps- right now this jacket is on sale right now better than 50% off! It’s reduced from £55 to £25 so what are you waiting for?!

Pps- enter the code 10OFFTODAY for an additional 10% off! you’re welcome

If you liked this post you will love my Lindex Lookbook so check it out and don’t forget to subscribe via email too here

Peace and love, saharasplash x

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