Let’s do lifestyle with Essence of Arcadia

For me, a blog has to be whatever you want it to be. Some bloggers like to stick to one route such as travel or beauty. But I like to change it up depending on the companies that I reach out to, or who reach out to me. A few weeks ago I was contacted by a lovely company- Essence of Arcadia. They wanted me to try out one of their diffuser sets with essential oils. I have never done anything like this before, but after reading up on their website I found that I just had to review their products! So, let’s do lifestyle with Essence of Arcadia!

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I live with my partner Paul in an East London flat. It’s great for us with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, but the living room is always something which has been lacking in the space department. It is a joined kitchen and living room so we just have a dining room table, a sofa and the TV. About a year ago, we took a trip to Ikea and bought some fabulous shelves to go up on the TV wall with sleek glass doors, but due to life and other stuff we have only just got round to putting them up! Needless to say this was the perfect time to get a diffuser now we have a brand new feel to our living area.

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A bit about the Essence of Arcadia products. You have the option to buy 2 diffusers on their website- a lovely crystal effect diffuser which is golden and looks like this:

crystal image- essence of arcadia

Or a round flat pebble design which has a smooth wood effect, this is the one I went for and is pictured below:

pebble image essence of arcadia

 

The diffuser comes with a set of three different oils- I got eucalyptus, tea tree and lavender in my box, though if you want to go oil crazy you can also buy the oils separately from the site. These can be used not just with the diffuser, but you can add a few drops to your bath to create a similar environment.

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I put the diffuser on our newly-built shelves, and am so happy with how great it looks! I am now on the hunt for some more wooden features to put on the opposite side!

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The diffuser is super easy to use, all you need is water and your essential oil of choice and you’re set! I also love how the diffuser has a lighting option too so you can have a lovely scent and a warm glow to go with it.

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The mist slowly escapes from the top of the pebble, and we have tried out all 3 oils now. My favourite is the lavender with its relaxing properties; it’s just perfect after a hard day at work to put on and unwind.

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I’d really recommend getting the diffuser as well as a choice of your favourite oils- I’m quite keen to try out the Cinnamon flavour next

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If you’re looking for a beautiful feature for your home, Essence of Arcadia is definitely something to add to your shopping list!

Saharasplash X

If you like this lifestyle post, check out what happened at Niche gluten free restaurant this month!

 

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

You don’t know me | Jawbreaker Clothing

I have been meaning to do this post for a while now. I have had such an incredible start to the year and have worked with some fabulous brands from Colette Green to Kent and Fraser, but I want to show you that I have many more sides to me than what you’ve seen so far. I have shown you my love for brands like Karen Millen and Boohoo, but I have a darker side also for brands like Jawbreaker. Here is something a little different to show you that you don’t know me… just yet!
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Here are some facts which I haven’t mentioned on my blog to start things off:

 

1- I am a massive sci-fi fantasy fan. Everything from the latest Marvel movies to old school Star Trek.
2- I have an Astronomy GCSE. I love the stars and I also know why they twinkle… scintillation!
3- I have a darker side. This includes loving vampyric mythology and gothic trends, and so this is what inspired my brand new hairdo and wanting to work with Jawbreaker Clothing! 

 

Jawbreaker are an alternative clothing brand who I had the pleasure of meeting at this years London Edge show. I love how their clothes are aimed at all ages and they have a real variety which includes bright designs like this Mexican Skull bag or more traditional gothic styles like the Silencio Dress.
I really wanted to time this post right as I think it really ties in with my new hairstyle. Paul and I took a trip on a bloody cold Sunday afternoon to the rooftops of One New Change which gives you stunning views of the London City skyline and is pretty darn close to St Paul’s Cathedral too.
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Above I am wearing the Wild Idol Vest from Jawbreaker and have paired this gorgeous vest top with some wet look leggings from Black Milk Clothing and the best faux fur jacket from Forever 21.

Below I am wearing Spin Your Web Top which I wore out to London Edge and also before I had my hair done! The lace up detail at the back is just divine.

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We know we all have a wild side to us, and I hope that this post and the Jawbreaker brand has shown you that it’s ok to go with different styles. Be a chameleon with a hundred different looks and passions.
That is why you don’t know me and why you should stick around to see what I do next!

 

Saharasplash x
I received this product for free for my honest opinion and review
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Why choose L’Occitane for that perfect gift?

So we are all feeling that post-Christmas lull and are back to reality. We’ve got that January paycheck and we are already allocating budgets for those friends with February birthdays, Valentine’s Day and if you’re as forward thinking as I am, you’ve probably given a few thoughts to Mother’s Day in March too! I want to give you a little helping hand and answer the question-

why choose L’Occitane for that perfect gift?

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L’Occitane has a very rich history; I’m talking heart and perseverance rather than papers. Celebrating their 40th birthday this year, they started out with one location in Provence (south of France) making traditional soaps in 1976 and within 2 decades had branched out to the Americas and to China. After this L’Occitane reached out to Europe and the brand now has an incredible 2700+ stores all over the world. Hard to think they just started from an old soap factory 40 years ago- I love it!

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So for Christmas just gone I received a shea ultra rich lip balm from L’Occitane pictured above and cannot sing its praises enough. The quality of the product as well as its delicate design definitely earns it a top spot in my everyday essentials. It is this dedication to its products which is why I have a penchant for L’Occitane, and I know that the perfect gift can be found if you are looking to get something meaningful for someone special to you. I’ve carefully researched L’Occitane’s gift section on their website and I have hand-picked a few of my favourites below –

 

Limited Edition Shea Butter Tin

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http://uk.loccitane.com/limited-edition-shea-butter-tin,83,1,29776,865519.htm

This shea butter collection has your hands and lips covered during the cold and dry season. The nourishing power of shea butter is no secret, so why not gift a friend or loved one with this beautiful set for just £25

 

The Voyage Set for him

Voyage set l'occitane

http://uk.loccitane.com/l’occitan-voyage-set,83,1,39632,856157.htm

For the gentlemen, we have the Voyage Set. It comes with the classic soap/shave/shower products that all men need to have them scrub up and smelling fantastic before a romantic Valentine’s date or night out. At the affordable price of just £22

 

Hugs and Kisses Set

hugs and kisses l'occitane

http://uk.loccitane.com/shea-butter-hugs-kisses,83,1,29776,865428.htm

I had to have my favourite lip balm in here- seriously you need to get this as a gift and one for yourself too! This little set is perfect for Mother’s Day and the packaging is just lovely. For the smaller budget at just £16

 

The Cade Classic Collection for him

Cade Collection l'occitane

http://uk.loccitane.com/cade-classic-collection,83,1,29810,856243.htm

The Cade Classic Collection is the gift you want to give to indulge that special man in your life. Be it father, boyfriend or husband, this wood- scented gift set infused with juniper will definitely impress whatever the occasion. Priced at £48 but worth £65!

 

The Delightful Collection for her

Delightful Collection l'occitane

http://uk.loccitane.com/delightful-collection,83,1,29819,825291.htm

Last but by no means least is a best seller- the Delightful Collection. This set includes some L’Occitane favourites like the roses and reines shower gel and the ever popular shea vanilla hand cream. This gift is a star buy at £35 and contains 6 amazing products and comes with a cosmetic bag too

I hope that these little L’Occitane luxuries will help inspire you when finding that perfect gift for whoever you are buying for. Don’t forget to check out the L’Occitane website for even more gift ideas too!

heart

Saharasplash x

 

If you liked this, you are sure to love my post featuring Colette Green!

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Bold, Bright and Beautiful with Colette Green

I really couldn’t wait any longer to show you all this post. I’ve collaborated with the fabulous online store Colette Green who sells handbags, shoes, accessories and more for men and women. While browsing through their lovely collection, I saw a multitude of things I wanted in my wardrobe straight away, but this one backpack I absolutely needed. It is like nothing I’ve ever seen before, and I’m sure you will all agree it is absolute perfection. It is bold, bright and beautiful which is everything I want for my style and for my blog. So thank you Colette Green, I hope you and my readers love how I styled this amazing backpack up in 2 different ways!

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The bag I chose to blog about was the Tricolour backback with bamboo handle in red, though the colour is really an exquisite dark salmon as you can see-

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I adore its different colours and the sophisticated front pockets and tassles. I’ve had so many compliments on it while shooting on location in Westfield and around Canary Wharf. I decided to wear nude wide leg trousers and a brown poloneck which really makes the backpack the star of the show for look number one-

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My sister jumped in on this one before we took the bag to Westfield:

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A few days later I spent the afternoon with a new blogger friend Michelle and despite the cold weather, the images turned out so vibrant and lovely in the mid afternoon sun. These shots were taken in Canary Wharf, one of my favourite spots for some great shots! The Tricolour backpack also works with look numer two- my simple black dress. I can’t tell you how many Karen Millen dresses I own like this, they just work so well for work and for evenings out and so I’m thrilled I can wear my new tricolour backpack along with them!

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I want to thank Colette Green for working with me to create this bold, bright and beautiful blog post; I hope you all go and check out their site now to find your own unique designer accessory for SS16!

Saharasplash x

If you liked this post, go check out my latest scarf collaboration with Lylia Rose right here!

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

What’s inside Brick Lane’s Jewellery Box this season

I always love following bloggers on Twitter. In my opinion Facebook is becoming more obsolete, and even though Instagram seems to be king this year for sheer number of users, Twitter remains to be my strongest social media site above all others. I am always searching through hashtags on Twitter such as #blogger #event #london, and this is how I found out about the Jewellery Box blogger event organised by Scarlett London. I’ve written this post with all you jewellery addicts in mind, so read on to find out what’s inside Brick Lane’s Jewellery Box this season!

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Scarlet London never fails to put on a great event, and always thinks of every last detail to make it special for the brands involved and the bloggers. I usually go to events with other London bloggers, but due to unavailibilities I decided to take my partner Paul along. Just what every man wants, to be taken to a jewellery shop!

We actually had a really good time, he likes taking photos and so with my new camera in hand he was away! And the results aren’t bad :p

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So the store is located on the trendy side of London in Brick Lane. We headed over there after work and almost missed it going past on the other side of the street. It’s just on a corner on the right hand side, and the place looks just as inviting from the outside as it does on the inside.

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The store has a lovely glow to it, and even though it’s a quaint little place, it is full of plenty of finds which will have you browsing for hours for yourself as well as looking at gifts for others! I got talking to a lot of other bloggers there, including Maryam and Steph who are just lovely. We will be working on some projects together in the new year so very excited about that!

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We were greeted by the wonderful staff of Jewellery Box on the night and given goody bags to take home. Each bag had a lovely charm inside and we got to hand stamp our initials onto the charm using a presser, such a sweet gift idea!

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I picked up several rings which you can see below, one rose gold, the other a twisty silver and then a snake ring, plus I had to get some of the gorgeous rose gold snowflake earrings too. These were such a bargain at £3.60! The prices at Jewellery Box are really good, yet the quality of the products does not reflect the price at all. Each of the items I’ve bought are super fine and look like they will last a lot longer than Primark!

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The Christmas music was playing, the drinks were flowing, and so we ended up taking around 300 photos! It was so hard narrowing down to just a few for the blog, so I hope you take a trip down there yourself to see many more things other than the photos you see on here.

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Maryam and I were featured on Jewellery Box’s Instagram page this week, how exciting! Check the snap out here.

If you liked this, you are sure to love my post on Snows Curiosities personalised bracelet, take some time to check this post out too for some great shots and to find out how to order your own!

Saharasplash x

 

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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.

goldmember 1Gold 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

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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

Together Kaleidoscope gold snake clutch bagAnother 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

Moschino golden clutch bagFor 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

Boohoo Natasha statement gem chain choker

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 Devine shooting star necklaceTatty 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

Swarovski stardust necklaceLastly 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

x

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!