Festive Long Weekend In Edinburgh🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Last weekend my mother and I ventured to Edinburgh for a long weekend away. We headed up on the train from Peterborough all the way up the coast to Scotland, which was a long trip but worth it for the views. I wanted to explore the city and get in the spirit for Christmas by exploring the markets and attractions that are on during the winter in Edinburgh.

We stayed at Haymarket Apartments* located in the West-End area of the city it was walking distance to most of the city, though it was a little way out of the city taking us about 10 minutes to get to the centre. `We were in room 1 which was  a quaint lovely space with two single beds, a beautiful modern bathroom and kitchenette located on the lower ground floor. With its fresh floral linens and white furnishings this is a comfortable and cosy apartment. Each door had been suitably adorned for Christmas and a beautiful tree in the hallway.   

After dropping our stuff off at our apartment we decided to head into the centre, and explore the East Princes Street Christmas market and plan what we wanted to see over the weekend. There were so many cute market stalls selling a variety of different things from festive ornaments, cheese, fudge, knitwear and children's toys. There was also so many different foods and drinks to indulge in and of course lots of rides and games. 

After walking around the markets we then explored the other streets and came across the silent disco called Silent Light where they give you have silent disco headphones to give you the ultimate street party: singing and dancing under a spectacular array of 60,000 lights synchronised to music heard only through the headphones. I did not partake but it did look like a lot of fun! We also went and saw the ice rink which you could get your skates on and glide all the way round the Rekorderlig Cider Lodge in St Andrew Square on the beautiful elliptical ice rink.

I may have accidentally popped into Anthropologie and picked up a few bits because they had 20% off when I was there. There was so much Christmas inspo I spent my time lusting over table setting ideas, crockery and furniture. 

On our second day we started by heading back to the Christmas market after breakfast and went on the Forth 1 Big Wheel where you get amazing views across the city and across the market. 

We then decided to explore the other side of the city crossing over the North Bridge and headed for the Royal Mile. This area had a variety of different shops, cafes and restaurant, you could easily spend hours exploring this area. There was a really nice art shop called the red door gallery on Victoria Street, selling prints, pin badges and jewellery which was very my style and you can shop it online so check them out!   

Walking around we stumbled across the Camera Obscura and World of Illusions Edinburgh, I had been recommended this by a couple of people so definitely wanted to check it out. It was certainly filled with many mind bending illusions including a mirror maze, giant kaleidoscope and Ames room.  Of course the camera obscura show was the main attraction being able to see across the city just with some mirrors reflecting onto a wooden board was very impressive. Definitely worth a visit!

We didn't have time to go into Edinburgh castle but we explored the Esplanade in front of the castle as it was a few steps from the camera obscura. Its certainly an impressive sight and would love to come back to see the Royal Military Tattoo. 



We then explored the Grassmarket area and walked round the Saturday market that they have. Accidentally bought some delicious macaroons from one of the stands, which made a good pre-dinner snack. 


Before dinner we headed for The Dome which is the most instagramable bar/restaurant I’ve ever been  in, both inside and out. In the dome was the biggest most magnificent looking heist as tree towering above the bar. The way the décor looked I felt like I was in Great Gatsby. I went for a Snowflake Martini which tastes like Christmas! I would definitely recommended a visit here (even though they suggested booking 18 months in advance for afternoon tea?!). 

After the incredible atmosphere of the Dome we had dinner at Gusto, but I was still rather hungry so decided to head back to the Christmas market for a chimney cake and a baileys hot chocolate.

Unfortunately the next day was time to head home back down the coastline, so we didn't do much on the Sunday! Have you been Edinburgh? I definitely want to go back and see more of this curious city!

*Affiliate link

My Christmas Gift Guide 2018🎅🏻

Its coming to the time of year where its time to hit the shops in aim to get the perfect Christmas presents. I've put together a collection of gifts that I think are suitable for a whole range of different people in your life, from your bff to your uncle.

For the foodie I found a few perfect gifts for those who love a tipple or a nibble at Christmas time.



The first thing for foodies I found is possibly the most exciting present I saw and perfect for all the family (or yourself I'm not judging😉) Personalised Quality Street tins. Pick three or more of your favourite flavours to fill your tin, in selected John Lewis & Partners (Oxford Street, Glasgow and Trafford) you can even have the tin personalised and keep to refill year after year. Available at John Lewis & Partners Bluewater, Cambridge, Cheadle, Cribbs Causeway, High Wycombe, Kingston, Liverpool and Westfield White City.



The second gift I saw was the John Lewis & Partners Red Wine and Nibbles Christmas Hamper. This eclectic mix of of nibbles is the perfect all-rounder present and at £40 its not going to break the bank. Coming in a black and white hamper its a ready-to-go gift with minimal effort but still thoughtful for anyone busy in the run up to the festive season. There are so many other hampers by John Lewis I just picked this one out as I thought the price point was good.



For the baker in your family I saw this little Penguin Cookie Baking Mix, complete with a penguin cutter. Perfect as a secret Santa gift or as a stocking filler. Also a good thing to keep kids busy this Christmas when the toys loose interest. They also do a unicorn version should that be more appropriate for your recipient!



The last thing I thought of for those who like a tipple, the people at Edinburgh Gin have brought out so many good sets this year. The one that I thought was so pretty and instagrammable was the Rhubarb and Ginger Liqueur and Glasses set.  The two branded cocktail glasses that come with the set are perfect for that evening tipple and the reverse of the box has a cocktail serving suggestion for the set. Its one of their bestselling flavours and good opportunity for any gin lovers to show them another distillery for them to try out.


The next two gifts I picked out seemed to be some good presents for the men in your life. First off you can't seem to go wrong with good old fashioned socks, though Happy Socks take these to a new level with their outrageous colours and design. They have a selection of different designs contained in a cracker for the ultimate Christmas socks.  I also thought this Barbour Land Rover Defender Belt and Card Holder gift set, exclusive to John Lewis. This little luxury set is a thoughtful but handy gift for any man in your life whether its your other half or family member.



This year a lot of us were obsessed with blue Planet this year and our environmental impact so something I thought that was a good gift for those who like their morning coffee on the go or to carry cold water re-usable bottles have been on the rise. S'well drinking bottles are the perfect gift for those caffeine addicts or people up on their hydration. They come in so many different designs as well as either 260ml or 500ml sizes so there is one for everyone.



On the subject of hot drinks what else is the perfect way to have a cosy evening than to have some festive pjs and a toasty hot water bottle. These could either be Christmas gifts or part of a Christmas Eve box. There are so many good PJ sets at John Lewis but I went for the Mon Etoile Cotton Pyjama Set with Eye Mask and the cosiest looking Rose Quartz hot water bottle. I can just imagine sitting by a fire with a hot chocolate cosied up, the perfect way to spend cold winter nights.



On the theme of cosy there are some really nice hats and gloves around to keep you warm. My favourite set is the Chunky Lovely Colour Block Beanie Hat and Chunky Lovely Colour Block Snood in Navy Mix. There is also a matching jumper to the hat and scarf which would also be a nice addition. It comes in three different colour block combos but the navy is my favourite.

And now for the beauty gift selection. This was the hardest to narrow down because frankly I want all the beauty gift sets.



My skincare gift set I chose was the ESPA Nourish Treats Skincare Gift Set. This little set includes their Overnight Hydration Therapy, Pink Hair and Scalp Mud and Nourishing Lip Treatment. This is the perfect introduction to ESPA skincare. Definitely one for those who love a spa day, the products smell amazing and work wonders for your skin.




The second set I saw was the Molton Brown Seductive Rituals Gift Set which looked like the perfect pamper evening. The set includes Jasmine & Sun Rose Bath & Shower Gel, Delicious Rhubarb & Rose Mini Scented Candle and Fiery Pink Pepper Fine Liquid Hand Wash. This set it the perfect way to test out the brand and at a good price of £30 for 2x100ml and a 30g candle. Rhubarb and Rose is my favourite Molton Brown fragrance, but this set is perfect for anyone wanting to try out three different scents in one set!



This gift is a bit of an extravagant one but could change your hair styling forever. The new Dyson Airwrap Volume + Shape Styler is the newest way to style and shape your hair on the market. I've seen this in action on other influencers channels and seen it in action on Dyson counters at John Lewis stores and I'm super impressed. Its certainly not a small price-tag but as something that could be pivotal in your hair regime.



The fourth beauty pic I went for was the BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter Macaron Kit. These adorable little macarons come in 4 different shades; Opal, Vanilla Quartz, Rose Quartz and Prismatic Amethyst. These are the ideal travel size for the glow on the go.



Onto the last gift idea, and still on the theme of sparkle the perfect edition to you highlighters is this beautiful Kate Spade New York Burgess Court Briley Small Makeup Bag in Soft Gold.  As you can tell from my blog I'm pretty Kate Spade obsessed so of course I had to include this little makeup bag. You could even just use it as a handbag tidy, I just think its so pretty and sparkly perfect for Christmas.

I've now come to the end of my top picks of what to gift this Christmas. How prepared are you this year at buying your presents?

Christmas at Lush 2018 🎅🏻

Deck the halls with glitter and bubbles, its time for new Lush Cosmetic goodies! This year they have gone all out and brought out a whole hoard of new treats which I can't wait to use. Here is my run down of what I picked up.

The Worlds Smallest Disco is a sparkly multi-coloured citrus dance floor in your bathroom (but please don't actually dance in the bath). Uplifting lime and grapefruit oil lift your spirits as well as the cognac oil bringing a festive note. I feel like this is a more awakening scent so maybe not one to use before bed. I also like the touch of popping candy giving you a school disco with flashing lights and popping candy to make you feel nostalgic.

Holey Night Bath Bomb has a strong but refreshing scent and appearance. Fizzing into a blue bath with balancing rose absolute and relaxing sandalwood oil for a bit of downtime. Softening soya milk powder lands on the skin with a brightening burst of Sicilian lemon oil to lift your spirits. This is more of a all year bath bomb rather than overly festive. 

Perle De Sel is a simple but elegant design, pretty pearlescent blue water is perfect for winding down after a day of Christmas shopping. Hand pressed and draped in golden salt, Perle de Sel isn't just any Christmas bath bomb, it is the epitome of decadence and class; a wave of elegance. Delicate rose absolute balances and calms, while floral cassie absolute adds a , relaxing, soothing, and pampering element. This is one I think would make a good gift to marzipan lovers as it has a slight spicy marzipan scent. 

Cheery Christmas Bath Bomb certainly looks festive with its white and red snowflake appearance that transforms into a purple winter night in your warm bath water. Sicilian lemon oil refreshes and rejuvenates while you relax in blackcurrant-scented buchu oil. Really loving the berry smell, this could be a nice option for a Secret Santa gift! 

Santa Bath Bomb is one of the more different scents I think I have ever smelt from Lush,  strawberries and cream fragrance. With soothing vanilla and cocoa absolutes warms and comforts as uplifting bergamot oil puts a smile on your face. This would certainly make an impressive stocking filler. There is also a Snowman and a Princess but this Santa was my favourite scent.

Candy Cane Bubble Bar could be a decoration for the tree, to bath in or a stocking filler, the possibilities are endless. This double stripe of bergamot and Sicilian lemon oils to lift your mood and create a fruity fresh fragrance that will have you bathing time and time again. Hold under the running water to froth up mounds of fluffy bubbles before placing on the side to dry. I have seen a lot of people disappointed that it wasn't peppermint scented, but personally I prefer a citrus smell so I really like this candy cane!

Naughty Elf Bubble Bar reminds me of walking round garden centres at Christmas with all the cute decorations. With a fresh, fruity scent with the mango leaf absolute, violet leaf absolute and petit grain oil. Petitgrain oil has a fresh, green and woody aroma that is thought to reduce anxiety and help to alleviate mental fatigue. As such, it is beneficial for skin that suffers from acne and excess oil so this little bubble bar could do a lot of good for your skin as well as leaving you smelling fresh. The fresh verdant smell is balanced by fragrant jasmine absolute and lemon myrtle oil. Again you can get quite a few baths out of this little mischievous elf. 

Puddy Holly Bubbleroon has to be the most sparkly of my haul. I really enjoyed the mothers day bubbleroons so of course I had to try the Christmas one. Almond oil sweetens the bath with soothing shea and soft cocoa butter to keep your skin soft this winter. Festive green water with shimmer gets you in the mood for Santa coming to town!

Rudolph Jelly Face Mask is the first skincare product I've ever picked up from Lush and I'm so excited to use it. Excess oils are going to be absorbed by Fuller's earth and rhassoul mud giving a gentle but effective cleanse. Meadowsweet and orange peel infusion tones whilst carrageenan extract softens skin. Brightening tangerine and Brazilian orange oils give you a glow bright enough to light up the north pole. I think it'll be hard to not eat it because it smells soooo good like a chocolate orange!

Sugar Plum Fairy Body Scrub has such nice fruity sweet smell. I wish this scent came in a body wash. This little scrub works hard to leave your skin silky smooth with the caster sugar and fine sea salt that scrubs away your winter blues. It also is one of Lush's naked products so cuts down your packaging which also frees up space in my shower. If your after sweet scented skin that is also as smooth as a babies bottom this is the one for you!

Snowflake Bubble Spinner will bring you all of the soft white bubbles in a most satisfying spinning motion. I'm really obsessed with Lush bubble spinners because of how many bubbles and the longevity of the product. Patchouli oil and uplifting orange flower absolute bring calming fragrances to your bath as well as Sicilian lemon oil helps cleans and brightens your skin. 

Candy Mountain Yule Log Bubble Bar is definitely another one for sweet scent lovers. All you have to do to release the vanilla, cocoa butter and Fair Trade shea butter into your bath is to crumble it under running water to create a pink bubbly haven. You can get quite a few baths out of these if you break off parts each time extending your luscious bubble bar.  

John Lewis & Parters Fashion and Beauty Bloggers Evening

A few weeks ago at John Lewis & Partners Cambridge I was invited to an exclusive fashion and beauty  event for bloggers. It was so nice to see all my blogging friends all in one room and even meet some new ones. It was also a good opportunity to  explore more brands and services available in store.



There was a showcase of the new key pieces from a couple of the exclusive brands to John Lewis, which certainly gave me some new outfit inspiration. I’ve fallen in love with the Modern Rarity burgundy boots and the hush bag embellished with little gold stars. The personal stylists were also on hand to discuss their free service and all the options from occasion wear to finding the perfect pair of jeans.



BECCA Cosmetics was also at the event helping you find the best highlighter shade for your skin-tone. I also picked up a foundation sample to try BECCA Skin Love Weightless Blur Foundation. They showed us the new BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter Macaron Kit which  is an exclusive to John Lewis & Partners as part of their Christmas gifting! They were the perfect size for gifting, or for keeping to yourself😉.



Coach were also showing off some of their exclusives to the partnership like this Edie 28 Shoulder Bag. They also highlighted some of the purses and card holders which make perfect stocking fillers of Christmas present.



The lovely girls from the Charlotte Tilbury counter were showing off the gorgeous new Christmas collection hot off the press.  They have an advent calendar of rose gold dreams. They also did my eye-makeup with the new Stars In Your Eyes Palette, which I'm super impressed by the beautiful colours in this palette. They also gave me a tip for using the Hollywood Flawless Filter under your eyes to really brighten the area, I've used this trick since and it works!



Elemis were demonstrating their new BIOTEC machine and the various facial results that you can get from different treatments with them. I was super impressed with the ultrasonic peel, it made my skin so soft I just have to book in and try one of their facials out!

It was such a nice evening catching up with all my blogging friends and checking out new products and services available at my local John Lewis & Partners! Don't forget to swing by and check out the new beauty studio as well!