Beautiful Christmas Jewelry for Her by Dower & Hall

My absolute favourite British jewelry brand, Dower & Hall have some absolute stunning pieces which would make for perfect extra special Christmas presents for Her.  When it comes to jewelry, I really do believe it is better to have a few important pieces made from precious metals and stones rather than lots of cheaper plastic and tin jewelry.  What I call 'real' jewelry makes you glow when you wear and feel super special and for me really is worth investing in, and makes for a wonderful gift at Christmas time.

If you're struggling to find a special gift for an important girl in your life, then i would recommend this beautiful NOMAD 18 carat gold ring that retails at £495.  I think this is a beautiful statement piece of jewelry which is perfect for any age.  I love the detailing of the hammered gold which clearly marks this ring out as part of Dower & Hall's Nomad collection.  I have a similar bracelet in silver and it's always on my wrist.

Or, if you are looking more for statement earrings, I think these white pearl dew drop earrings are gorgeous.  They retail at £130 so are very affordable and yet still will create that wow factor when opening the box.

The delicate pearl 'dew drops' are so sophisticated and offset the gold beautifully. I really do think the Nomad ring and these stunning earrings would light any girls face up this Christmas.

You can purchase these products online from www.dowerandhall.com or from their boutique in Spittalfields London.  They are also stocked in John Lewis and Fenwicks so there's absolutely no excuse to not find these in time for Christmas.

Christmas Stocking Fillers for Her

It's not too long until Christmas and so I thought I would create a post on the perfect Christmas stocking fillers for Her to give you a little helping hand if you're struggling to get something for the ladies in your life

These beautiful little luxuries will make any girl happy on Christmas day, and the best part is, none of them break the bank so you can treat a few people to these little luxuries.

So - here's a quick snapshot of what I recommend to fill those stockings with:

First up is the Beauty Blender.

You may be wondering what exactly this pink egg is so I guess I should divulge a little more.  This is the makeup sponge of makeup artists.  By dabbing in water it expands to double the size.  Then, by placing a small amount of of your usual foundation on it, dab it onto the skin for a perfectly even coverage.  I know you guys must be baffled by this, but trust me, girls who wear foundation will LOVE it.

This one was purchased from Selfridges on Oxford Street for £15.00 but it is available from a large list of stockists. 
 Next up is Nair Argan Oil Shower Power Cream

This little beauty is available from Boots for just £6.69 and is currently in their 241 range.  This is a lovely stocking filler as it is super useful and a bit of a treat too.

 It is Nair's shower power cream which removes hair in just over 5 minutes and has added Argan Oil and Cocoa butter to make legs extra smooth.  This is a great little extra to add to the Christmas Stocking.

Next up is for Tea Lovers everywhere - Bloom's Supercharge Matcha.

This tea powder helps stop that 'under the weather feeling'.  It contains Matcha, one of the post potent super foods available that keeps your immune system as strong as it can be and helps to relieve fatigue.  Matcha also helps to boost your metabolic rate, relieve stress, cleanse your body and lastly gives your skin a great glow.

By adding half a teaspoon to your morning fruit juice makes it the perfect coffee replacement.

It has an RRP of £19.80 and is available from Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Planet Organic and Whole Foods Market

Next up is a great Christmas Stocking filler as it is exactly what every girl needs in December / January - a brilliant fake tan by Leighton Denny Sun Believable.

This duo is Bronze Me and Tan Accelerator.  Bronze Me is perfect for right now as it is an instant self tanner, whereas Tan Accelerator is perfect for use before a holiday so you tan even better than usual.

They are available from www.lookfantastic.com from £9.00

Another perfect goody for Her this Christmas is Benefit's Hoola Bronzer.

This is a matt bronzer which suits almost all skin tones.  It comes with a little angular cheek brush which makes it super easy to contour as well.

It costs £23.50 and includes stockists such as large Boots, Debenhams and House of Fraser.

You can't go wrong with a perfume and this is a beautiful fruity number which has been an absolute favourite for mine for years: Cacharel's Amor Amor.

I think this suits most girls as it is so light and delicate  - have a smell of a tester before you buy just in case, though I think you'll be onto a winner.

It retails at Boots and other perfume shops all over from £14.99 which means buying a nice perfume doesn't break the bank.  As I said, this is my absolute favourite, and I buy it because I love the perfume not because it is so cheap!

And there you have it, my Christmas favorites for Her! I think they are perfect as they are all mini and under £30.00 which means you can make a lot of ladies very happy this Christmas without spending too much money!"

Let me know if you're persuaded by any of my choices!

Lots of Love
Fiocco xx

label. M Luxury Therapy Set - the Ultimate gift this Christmas

If you're looking for a really special gift this Christmas for a special girl in your life, whether it's your mum, sister or girlfriend, then label M. has Christmas all wrapped up with it's stunning range of Christmas hair gifts.

Label. M Therapy Gift Set

My favorite product that they're offering this Christmas is the label. M Luxury Therapy Set.  I love how this stunning set is presented in a beautiful specially designed Christmas box which matches the colour of the products inside.  It makes it so much more appealing when you open up your present to find a well designed packaged box with the products you've been waiting for!  This beautiful packaging comes from their collaboration with  the London based fashion designer Jean-Pierre Braganza who impresses with his bold prints!

This set is a complete luxury therapy set designed to take care of and restore hair.  It contains Therapy age-defying shampoo, Therapy age-defying conditioner and last but not least, label M.'s signature product - their age-defying radiance oil.  Honestly, just looking at the pictures is getting me excited and it's not even Christmas yet!  The Therapy Age-Defense Radiance Oil has an absolutely beautiful perfume which is sweet an appetizing and after being run through blow-dryed hair makes it smooth and sumptuous....it gives hair that 'hairdressers' feel.

This gift is perfect for a girl who likes to take care of her hair and to use something extra special which will restore hair back to health.  This Therapy gift set is designed to make your hair healthy and beautiful again, so will be sure to impress that special someone this Christmas!.

Best of all, when buying the label M luxury therapy set this Christmas gift this year you'll also receive a brand new gift with purchase – a stunning luxury, designer scarf onto which Jean-Pierre Braganza applied his dramatic print.

I really think this is a beautiful product to treat someone special to who cares about their hair.  It retails at £39.95 reduced from £57.75.  Take a look at the rest of their Christmas Gift range here.

Available exclusively at specially appointed label.m concept salons and TONI&GUY and essensuals worldwide, and online at www.labelm.com

Birchbox December 2014 CHRISTMAS

My December Birchbox just came through the door, and as always, I was so so so excited to open it up.  The suspense they create is incredible, as you never know what will be in your box!

So have a peek below at the goodies you can get in the December Birchbox:

December 2014 Birchbox

The goodies you get are so festive that I couldn't resist adding a few extra pieces of decoration!

 So.... in no particular order there is the following:

Eslor Firming Collagen Day cream (£50).

One of the best things about Birchbox is when you get a full sized whammy of a product like this and worth so much.  When you pay £10 for a Birchbox and get a product worth five times that, it is immediately clear how much it is worth getting one delivered.  I'm definitely excited to try out this cream

Next up, a full sized Models Own nail polish in sparkling purple (RRP £5).

Oh dear, I've had a bad run of getting unusable shades of nail polish.....I don't think there will ever be an outfit to compliment this.....but it was still nice to receive a full sized polish.

Electric Hair Hydrate Shampoo (RRP £17.500

OOOH...now this is a product I'm looking forward to using.  I've seen the brand before but not yet tried it.  I'm going away for a mini break to Glasgow this weekend...it will be the perfect chance to try it out....I will let you know!

 Eyeko fat eye stick (£8 RRP)

I'm not usually one to use chunky eyeliners, but I will definitely give it a shot.  I've seen this brand in SpaceNK and have been curious about it, so thanks to Birchbox I now have the chance to try it out.  I'm so relieved it's in a lovely useable charcoal shade!

Benefit High Beam

Wahoo! Finally, a Benefit product in Birchbox! I'm so happy as I have been waiting for a Benefit product and I know already I am in love with this one.  It is sample size but perfect for the on the go makeup bag!  So so happy with this one!!

English Laundry Perfume 

I saw this advertised in the last Birchbox and was thinking how nice it would have been to have received it....and here you are! It popped up in this months Birchbox!

It has a gorgeous floral scent that I will definitely wear!  Very nice addition to the box!

 Finally a Sophia Webster purse (£25.00) it feels a little flimsy to be worth so much.  But the design is cute and perfect for smaller handbags wear big wallets are cumbersome.  The pastel green and black and white leopard print are a fun design and a nice addition to the box.

On the whole, there are quite a few goodies to look forward to in this months December Birchbox! Lots of makeup pieces which I'm really happy about and 2 full sized products.

I am looking forward to receiving my next one already!

Fiocco xxx

Christmas present for him and her - Herschel Supply Co. Backpack - Petrol

I know Christmas is the time for giving, but sometimes looking round the shops so much you see something for yourself too!

And that's just what happened, and I finished Christmas shopping with a stunning Herschel Supply co. backpack for myself in Petrol blue!  It's available from a number of stores, but this particular model and shade is available from Route One.

I absolutely love the red and white pinstripes which Herschel line their bags with.  It creates identity and really adds character to their bags.  The striped interior lining compliments the petrol blue perfectly and I was bowled over by this backpack as it looks just as it did online.

It fits beautifully and is the perfect casual bag for use everyday.  I'm already thinking of getting another one in a different shade for summer for taking down to the beach.

I think these backpacks make for fab Christmas gifts for him or for her.  I went for a slightly girly blue, but they are perfect for men too, especially if you get a dark shade, for example in grey or green.

They're not only practical but bang on trend, which was the main reason why I indulged myself.  This particular model costs £44.99 and is available from Route One. 

They've got tonnes of colour combinations available as well as lovely leather bottomed bags.

What do you think of it as a Christmas gift??

Fiocco xxx

Monochrome furniture and accent lights

As a person, I'm fairly minimalist and I really don't like clutter.  I love smooth clean lines and gorgeous featuring accessories which bring out the character of the room.

I recently stayed in a stunning luxury penthouse which was designed in the most beautiful, modern minimalistic Scandinavian style.

I wanted to share with you some of my favourite pieces, as the look is really easy to recreate if you have a simple white room. 

The accessories were mostly black, for example this stunning geometric black light which let the rays through it's gaps.  The black accessories work well in a white room as they create contrast and add character to the otherwise plain space.

The wool low sofas with a low coffee table was a simple but effective way to create a stylish relaxing sitting area if you don't have a designated living room but are working with an open space.

 This is a lamp I have in real life.  It's called a cosy lamp and is absolutely perfect as a bedside table as you can turn the dimmer from really low to really high.  You can create the perfect ambience in you room with this light.

It also fits any style as it is a simple white design which turns golden with the light.  I think it makes for a great Christmas present, as it is genuinely useful and completely inoffensive..

 As you can see, the results of these simple accessories all together is incredible.  The simple monochrome colour scheme keeps everything clean and modern.  However, you you are someone with lots of bits and pieces that you like on show....this probably isn't the best design to follow as the beauty lies in the simplicity of two colours.

Even the flowers matched the colour scheme with this beautiful orchids simple white petals and clean lines.

This chair is super comfy and I want to try and find one for myself.  If anyone knows what it's called let me know!

Lots of love

Fiocco Bianco

Wakeup Copenhagen at Christmas Review

Hello Sweeties, 

As you probably know I had the pleasure to stay in Denmark recently, and I had the pleasure of staying in the Wakeup Carsten hotel in Copenhagen.

The hotel is centrally located and you can walk to the city centre in about 10 minutes.  I love not having to rely on public transport abroad - especially when I can't speak Danish....and secondly because you get to explore so much of the city.

Here is the exact room I stayed in, though this photo is taken from their stock pictures.  They have neat, compact rooms with a self contained bathroom.  Although they are not the largest of rooms, they are comfortable, warm and extremely tidy.

If you're not looking to break the bank when in Copenhagen, then this is a great hotel as it is so close to the centre and yet clean, tidy and great to relax in.

My view didn't seem exactly like the one in the photo above, it was the one below.... but still beautiful as I could admire the whole city from the 5th floor and at night it was lit up beautifully.  The hotel is just down the road from Tivoli so you can watch the lit up rides at night and makes the view really special.

Just a 10-15 minute walk from the hotel is the central square with the amazing Scandinavian shops and large Christmas tree.  During my stay at Hotel Wakeup I was lucky enough to time it perfectly with the turning on of the Christmas tree lights.  It is such a magical city and aboslute wonderful to get you in the spirit of Christmas.

Do remember to wrap up warm though if you go - as you can see in the picture below I took it a bit to the extreme with fur coat and scarf but in December, it can reach zero!

I hope I've inspired you do take a little jaunt to Copenhagen, if you stay in a hotel like the Wakeup, you can have a lovely enjoyable trip without it costing the earth.

Lots of love
Fiocco Bianco

A super late review of the November Birchbox

Hey my lovely ladies, 

So here's my first ever Birchbox and it's from November.... it's been super busy as I was in Denmark for a lot of November, but I've had a whole month to enjoy these delicious products!

I'm going to go through them one by one by order of preference.  The lifestyle chocolate bar that came with it was lifted out of the box by my sister as soon as I opened it so I would love to tell you how it was or what it was but I didn't get to try it!

The theme of the box was 'cosy at home' so they were a nice selection for pampering yourself and for relaxing at home.  On first impressions I was glad that there two full sized products - the OPI and the DR Jart so I feel I definitely received value for money! 

Ok - so here's my absolute favourite from the box - it's Dr. Jart+ 's V7 Cleansing Foam.  It was full sized and dream to use.

I have fairly delicate oily skin and it suits me perfectly.  A little goes a long way and lathers so much that you don't need much at all.

The smell is delicious, fruity and delicate and really does have a high-end skin care feel to it.  I think it retails at £15.00 and Boots used to stock it, but if you would like to try you can buy it from the Birchbox online store.

Next up are these two min tubs of Beauty protector.  It's a hair mask and at first I thought that there would not be enough for my extra long dry hair.  I was pleasantly suprised and only needed half a tub on each application.  

After washing my hair I ran this product through the ends and left it to dry naturally.  My hair felt much more nourished and genuinely much less dry.  I would give it 9/10 as it did wonders on my hair and smelt great.  It was one point of 10/10 because if you used too much it could feel greasy - especially on more healthy hair!  It has Argan oil and honey in it so these beautiful duo make it into a fabulous mask and one worth buying.

It is available from the Birchbox website here  and I would love to try out some more from their range.

 Next comes the mini Jane Iredale Just Kissed lip plumper in Rio.  This has a tingling sensation which could be quite strange if you weren't used to lip plumpers and a mint and ginger scent to it.

The colour is matt berry - I really quite look it when rocking the Winter Chic look.  If this was full sized I would have enjoyed it more but it is so small I keep loosing it.

It is available from Birchbox or from the Jane Iredale website.

 Oh OPI - how you disappointed me.  I was so looking forward to receiving the Coca Cola red which was available in the November Birchbox and I got the tacky Turn on the Haute Light silver.  I can see where they were going with this with the whole Christmas razzle dazzle, but I tried it on and looked like a 12 year old.

Yes the coverage was good and the consistency up to the OPI standard, but come on, this is a ridiculous colour that maybe, just maybe you can get away with only at a Christmas 'do'.....and even then not be taken seriously.  I will probably end up giving this to one of my young teenage cousins.

Lastly is the Weleda Sea Buckthorn Body oil.  I feel nothing against this product but something has got to come last, and despite the terrible silver tone of the OPI nail varnish....I feel it is a bit against the beauty gospel to put OPI last.

This body oil has a nice scent and moisturises nicely.  However, I don't really use body moisturisers so this wouldn't play an essential part in my skin care routine.

And so that's it.  I was very happy with my first ever Birchbox - I am loving the Dr. Jart and although I finished the Beauty Protector hair mask it was very enjoyable while it lasted.

I am looking forward to my next box and I'm hoping for a few more makeup treats in it next time!

Lots of love

Fiocco

xxxxxx

STAY Copenhagen - luxury appartments

Hello!

I have just spent an amazing long weekend in Denmark.  A beautiful weekend away where I got to enjoy the sites of Copenhagen.

As gorgeous as Copenhagen is - I had to tear myself away from the luxury apartment we were staying in.  Honestly, walking into the room itself, was just breath taking.  I think I'll let the photos speak for themselves for most of this post, as I don't think I can do the STAY apartments justice!

As you can see they provide gorgeous open plan rooms - ours was a whopping 135m squared of open space.  It's designed in modern Scandinavian style - minimalist, fashionable and monochrome. Every detail of the STAY apartment had been thought out and carefully designed - filled with the most beautiful of details.

Here's me chilling on one of the two wool sofas.  I was too excited about the mini tealights they provided - it's such a small touch in the grand scale of things but made the apartment homely.

We had one of the corner apartments with the view on two sides of the apartment making it feel even larger than it already was.  The windows were floor length and overlooking the canal and the twinkling buildings over the road.  The effect was just magical and made the whole stay so beautiful.  This is absolutely no ordinary hotel - being on the fifth floor and the size and scale of the room meant it was more like a penthouse apartment.

The view of the sunset was incredible, as the purple and blue tones of the sky filled the room.  Together with the soft accent lighting in the room meant it was the perfect place to relax at the end of the day after a busy day of shopping.

 The kitchen was filled with pots and pans and everything you need to make a delicious dinner.  It made such a nice change to be in a new exciting country but have all the commodities of home and to enjoy eating your dinner at your own dining room.

I would definitely recommend the STAY apartments to anybody - from a couple who want a luxury modern apartment with an incredible view, or even to a family as you have all the comforts of your own home.  The Organic breakfast was also delicious, with local smoked salmon and a selection of cheeses, meats and fresh fruit.

Overall, out visit to the STAY apartments was probably one of the best of my life.  We were honestly left open mouthed when walking into the apartment and seeing the incredible space and of course the view.  The reception staff were so friendly and helpful too - they also offered us a glass of wine to enjoy at the bar on the ground floor.  If you have the chance to go to Copenhagen, then it is definitely worth staying here in order to make your visit absolutely fabulous.

You can find the link to their hotel here  http://staycopenhagen.dk/

*Subsidised visit to STAY Copenhagen