Sol de Janerio Brazilian Bum Bum Cream

I mentioned in a previous post that  I use Caudile Divine Oil to combat dry skin.  I have since started using Sol de Janerio Bum Bum (pronounced "boom boom") Cream as well and have seen a further improvement in skin elasticity around my elbows (I had lost quite a lot of weight and the skin was crepey around his area) and ankles. The skin feels bouncier, tighter, smoother and looks brighter.  This cream is meant for your bum but as it is a thick moisturising cream I use it all over my body.  It is a very thick cream but when it is rubbed in the skin does not feel sticky and it does not leave a film on the skin. It is infused the guarana, a potent source of caffeine which stimulates circulation. The cream contains silver mica, so the skin is discretely sparkly once the cream is rubbed in. I noticed a difference in the texture of my skin after the first use.

The cream has a very light sparkle and smells of mangoes.   The scent lingers hours after applying the cream and does not smell artificial or overpowering.  The mini size 75 ml is £18 from Cult Beauty and I find this size is great as it fits in my hand so I am less likely to drop it. Once I have used it up I intend to use the container for travel.  The 240 ml is £44.

  

I purchased this item myself and it is available from:
Sephora

Cult Beauty

Kneipp 100 ml Stress Free Herbal Bath Oil

I have a fused neck, degenerative spinal condition, neuropathic pain, pins in my shoulder, damaged rotary cuff and ripped muscles in my shoulder so I am ball of permenant pain. I am always on the look out for anything that can relax the muscles in my shoulder and give me any relief - I already take morphine patches. I find hot baths relaxing but I am always searching for that little bit extra to help me sleep and take the edge off my pain. I was looking through Amazon and saw Kneipp bath products.  They have great reviews so I thought I would buy the stress free bath oil.



Kneipp was founded in 1891 by Priest Sebastian Kneipp.  Kneipp stress free herbal bath oil  (100ml), mandarin and orange essential oils Combines colour and aromatherapy to create the ultimate relaxing, de-stressing bathing experience aimed at reducing anxiety,  vtibrant colour therapy - the bath is filled with a vibrant range colour and bubbles designed to combat tension and stress. does help de-stress, with aromatherapy.   Mandarin and orange essential oils are known for their relaxing qualities and also harmonise the body and mind. The oil smells divine. You only need a tiny amount of the oil (one cap full) and then soak in the bath for 15 -20 minutes to get the full relaxing, de stressing  experience.  The oil leaves skin soft, supple and smelling gently of oranges.  100ml will do approximately 10 baths.  The oil does not contain parafin, silicones or mineral oil.

I really enjoyed using this oil. The bath wasn't slippy when I got in/out. I had a good nights sleep after using it and my shoulder did feel more relaxed. I would certainly recommend it if you have muscular pain or problems or trouble sleeping.

If you wanted to try their bath products they also sell a mini set which looks great for travelling, I will be trying these over the summer.

I purchased this item myself and love it. The views expressed in my blog are my own.

Available from: Amazon UK (rrp £9.95 including delivery with Prime).

Mills & Boon: The Modern Girl's Guide To Growing Old Disgracefully by Ada Adverse

                       


The Modern Girl's Guide To Growing Old Disgracefully is the 6th book in the Mills and Boon A-Z series.  This Guide is all about growing old (dis) gracefully, throwing out the rule book and enjoying life!  One sage piece of advice is "if in doubt, ask yourself the question, what would Oliver Reed do?" How can you go wrong if you follow this train of thought?  Filled with amusing photos and feminist/advice humour this would make a great little gift for anyone with a wry/feminist/dry sense of humour. 

I am a #MillsandBoonInsider and this book was free. This does not affect my opinion. 

Available from: 

Mills & Boon

Amazon UK

Alpha H Liquid Gold v Alpha H Liquid Rose Gold (Limited Edition)

This blog post is going to compare the classic staple Alpha H Liquid Gold with the new, limited edition Liquid Rose Gold.  

Enriched with silk proteins, licorice extract and Glycolic Acid, Liquid Gold (LG) is the "ultimate overnight facial" designed to be used alternate nights without serums or moisturisers.  It gently exfoliates and plumps tired skin, helping to refine the appearance of pores and skin texture.  Liquid Gold aims to revitalise dull, tired skin and is a resurfacing treatment designed to diminish wrinkles, pigmentation and sun damage. 

The Rose Gold version combines all the resurfacing and smoothing benefits of LG combined with gorgeous smelling botanical oils and weightless moisture.  As soon as i flipped open the bottle I could smell roses and once I had applied it with a cotton pad I felt more relaxed. As this is a night time treatment I could smell a faint aroma of roses as I drifted off to sleep.

I used the original LG on one side of my face, neck, decollete and hand and the Rose Gold on the other.
The original side did feel and look plumped and revitalised, The Rose Gold side also felt softer and silkier.  I preferred the Rose Gold side.

 

I purchased both items myself and the views expressed in this blog post are my own.

Available from:

the original LG is available from Cult Beauty, Beauty Bay,  QVC etc.

the Rose Gold edition is available from QVC UK

Caudalie Divine Oil

 

Divine Oil  (£28) is a multi use dry oil that can be used on the hair, face and body to nourish and moisturise dry skin.  As I use Duralgesic Morphine patches my skin is extremely dry and scaly and the psoriasis has gotten worse do to this and stress relating to ling term illness.  

The oil contains  contains a blend of grape seed, hibiscus, sesame, and argan oils combined with patented grape seed antioxidant polyphenols to leave skin soft, visibly firm, and radiant.  I use on my hair as a night mask and spray on my body after a shower.  It is easy to apply as I can just spray it on and wait for it to dry.  

It smells very fresh and woodsy and the aroma lasts for quite a while. It goes on as a clear oil and when rubbed into the skin leaves it looking moisturised and supple.  I also spray into the length of the length of my hair, using it in the same way as a leave in conditioner.

I purchased this item myself and views expressed in this blog are my own.  Divine Oil is available at Selfrediges, Look Fantastic etc,

The Beak Knows: Givenchy Tartine Chocolat Azul Eau de Toilette 50 ml

Givenchy Tartine Chocolat Azul Eau de Toilette is around £23-31 for 50 ml and is available from several perfume and french pharmacy online stores.  This perfume is designed for babies/children so it is alcohol free. It is a gourmand scent.  The top notes are orange, galbanum and lemon. The middle notes are honeysuckle, jasmine and lily-of-the-valley. The base notes are amber, musk, oakmoss and brazilian rosewood. This is a gentle lemony, summery scent. It needs to be reapplied every few hours as the scent does not last long. The bottle is pretty but basic, a no frills but elegant design. I have noticed that when I have been in France a lot of French Pharmacies sell this in a gift set with a coordinating teddy, cloth or baby suit. 

I normally wear this in the summer as due to lack of  alcohol it will not react with the sun and cause irritation on my skin. I always get people asking what I am wearing when I wear this as it is so light, summery,  refreshing, smells edible and is an unusual scent! 

Chamilia: Alice in Wonderland Charm Beads

The Chamilia Alice in Wonderland charm beads are part of the Disney range and are made of enamel, swarovski elements and enamel.  Prices range from £35-65 per bead.  The cheshire cat is £35 and made out of sterling silver and enamel.  The Drink Me and watch charms are sterling silver and are £45.  The royal flush charm is £35 and is made from sterling silver, enamel and swarovski elements.  The teapot charm (£45) is stering silver and enamel. The mad hatter charm is £40 and is sterling silver and enamel.  The looking glass charm is £45, sterling silver and swarovski elements and the heart is the most expensive at £65 and is made from sterling silver and swarovski elements.  

They are available from Chamilia online store, and instore and online at Earnest Jones and H Samuel.

These are stock photos from the Chamilia Website and I have permission to use them.

Daisy London Alpha Stacking Rings

Daisy London was established in 2009, is a British jewellery brand and now has over 500  stockists worldwide.  Daisy introduced the chakra bracelet to the world and has since expanded its chakra range to include necklaces, earrings and rings.  The company have also collaborated with several celebrities and charitable organisations.

   

The alphabet stacking ring is £37 and is part of the Alpha range which includes sterling silver and 18 gold plate alphabet stud earrings, which measure 3 MM, initial mixed metal rings and mixed metal heart and star rings. The initial ring has a slim sterling silver band and  the initial itself is 18 carat gold plate and measures 3mm. The ring sizes are S, M and L which equates to a UK ring size L, N and P. They are small, light, delicate rings which are well made. As I have mentioned in previous ring posts I have severe neuropathic pain in my hands and this is one of the few rings I can bear to wear for more than a few hours due to the pain in my hands. Although the other 2 Daisy stacking rings are no longer available on their website I have included them in this post to show how my Alpha ring can be stacked and to point out that although I love my rat and frog prince rings I can't wear them for long periods of time it stacked together for more than a few minutes.

Customer service was great. My Alpha ring arrived within 4 days of ordering it. I was notified that it had been dispatched by email. It came in a Jiffy bag, little box and velveteen bag, both of which are embossed with the Daisy London logo. 

I purchased these items myself and the views expressed in this blog are my own. 

Availlable from:Daisy London

Accessorize Kyoto Printed Cross Body Bag

This cross body bag is £29 and is sold by Accessorize. It has a blush pink floral/ bird print, the positioning of which differs on each bag, so I think some look nicer than others! It has a satchel style, adjustable cross the body strap, a turn lock fastening, an inside zipped pocket and several compartments.  It has Valentino style gold  studs across the flap.  It can be wiped clean with a soft dry cloth as it is made from polyurethane, the bag measures 5x15x22cm and the strap up to 60cm.    It is compact, but can fit my itouch, makeup bag and a bottle of water in it.  

  

The matching Kyoto print card holder is £7 and measures 7 x 12cm.  There are several compartments on the outside for cards and a zipped compartment in the middle for coins.  It is made out of the same material as the bag and can wiped clean.

 

The bag is sold out on the Accessorize website but is still available on the House of Fraser
The card holder is available at House of Fraser

#Debenhams Butterfly Home by Matthew Williamson Large glass Eden print keepsake box

The Butterfly Home by Matthew Williamson large glass Eden print keepsake box (£24 down to £19.90 with the 20% off at the moment) is part of the tropical Eden range which consists of 3 different sized keepsake boxes, cushion, dressing table mirror and trinket tray.

      

It is made from glass so can be wiped clean. It has 3 beautifully intricate birds and foliage embossed on the lid of the box, which makes the box look like a little bit of paradise. The inside is covered in a dark velvety material.  There is a silver chain to stop the lid falling too far back.  The large box measures 13.5x17.5x13.5cm.

 

I took the above 2 photos in Debenhams to show that the motif is not just on the top of the box but the foliage/greenery pattern is all over it, it isn't just plain glass. I also took a picture of  the small Eden keepsake box, so you can see the difference in size.

I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in my blog are my own.
Available from Debenhams in store and online

RubyRobinBoutique Red Fox Bell Jar Pendant

This pendant is a red fox, an madre rua, in a bell jar minature terranium from RubyRobinBoutique via Etsy.  It is £96.07 and is hand carved and placed on a miniature bell jar filled with dried flowers, feathers and anything else the creator  Kay Bells has collected when foraging around. My pendant came within a week of ordering and was safety wrapped in a gift box which when opened had dried flowers  and matching tissue paper protecting it. I, and my cat who adores the smell, got a waft of lavender as I opened the box! The lavender is now in the satchet kept in his bed to help calm him down.
                                                    

The belljar pendant and handcrafted fox are very detailed and the photos do not do it justice. Everytime I turn it I can see something magical and new. The fox has a gleam in her eye and the detail is incredible. There isn't a crack in the bell jar - it is a feather that will not photograph very well.  The bell jar measures 40mm by 25 mm and the necklace made from nickel free bronze is 28 inches. The fox is carved from fimo and sits on moss and dried flowers.

                                                   

Everything in Ruby Robin's boutique is magical, well put together and otherworldly. No two pieces will be exactly the same as they are all hand made and from what is found in Irish woodland.   Following her on social media allows you to see what she has collected, new items, restocks and regular competitions.


I purchased this item myself and the thoughts expressed in this blog post are my own.
The red fox pendant is available here
Ruby Robin Boutique
Ruby Robin's Instagram Account
Facebook

Miffy / Nijnte Bath Foam & Eau de Toilette

This adorable duo is just £5 including postage from the Tesco online/ ebay outlet.  They are both hypoallergenic.  The eau de toilette has a surprisingly grown up vanilla/ fruity fragrance that is gentle, not over powering and lasts a surprisingly long time.   The bottle is Miffy shaped and is 50ml.  

The bath foam is 250 ml and the bottle is Miffyish in style. I cant vouch for how good it is as I have a walk in shower so will only be trying it out later this month when I can have a long hot bath.

     

I purchased this item myself and it is available here

Sticks & Stones: Peacocks, Strutting Through Spring

The peacock motif be it the bird of just the feather and its vibrant colours have always been a spring/ summer favourite. The mermaidy, unicorn bluish/ purple/ greenish vibe that can be seen in makeup etc provides a great palette for walking sticks and jewellery and they would look great with block colour summer dresses or tunics and Capri pants. The sticks I found are all available on Amazon and most are reasonably priced.   The jewelled stick is meant more as fashion accessory more than an actual aid, but it is so pretty that I included it anyway. Jewellery wise the brooches vary from the very expensive but beautiful Butler and Wilson peacock brooches down to the one I found on eBay for £1.99 (the one on the bottom row). The scarves are from Not on the High Street and the White Stuff one from House of Fraser. These are great as they can be used a wraps, scarfs, sarongs and head scarfs and be used in Autumn/Winter to brighten up your outfit. I hope you enjoy these sticks and stones posts. I enjoy making them! Have a great month. 

 

Available From:

Handbag Sized Walking Stick - Peacock (£34.50)

Aidadapt Peacock Design Walking Stick (£25.89)

Walking Stick, Derby, Peacock (£50)

Toscano the Imperial Peacock's Tail (£74.62)

Alex Offset Adjustable Aluminum Cane Foam Grip Handle Blue Peacock (£70)

Design Toscano Animal Menagerie Chrome-Plated Walking Stick Collection - Peacock (£12.07)

Butler and Wilson Peacock Brooch (£78)

Butler and Wilson Peacock and Flowers brooch (£48)

White Stuff Artist Peacock Scarf (£25)

Peacock cotton scarf (£12) 

Gold and Black Peacock Print Scarf (£13.75)

The Beak Knows: Britney Spears, Fantasy

 Launched in 2005, Fantasy is the second of Britney Spears' fragrances and is housed in a bright pink bottle studded with swarovski crystals. I love this scent as it belongs in the gourmand family.  The top notes are mix of litchi, golden quince and kiwi. The provocative heart is composed of jasmine and white chocolate. The base note combines orris root, musk and woods.  

The bottle is pretty (I have lost the top off mine) and it is easy to hold and get the top on and off. It can be found in Boots, Superdrug etc and is reasonably priced. 100ml of Britney Spears Fantasy eau de parfum is £20.

Annoying Things People Say If You Have A Long Term Illness

In a recent post I addressed my experience of disability as the ultimate invisability cloak.  This post is going to look at what people have said to me which I have thought thoughtless, pointless or just plain rude!

"But x has that just like you and they still manage to drive/ have a job etc".  Really? when I am in constant chronic pain I don't care about x and illness/life is not a competition. Everyone is different and reactions to illness/medication are not the same.  Also x may not have the same illness/disability so your statement is mute and unwanted.

"Have you though about having acupuncture?" x is so much better since she had it done.  I am under 4 different consultants, 3 different clinics and my GP.  If they though acupuncture would "cure" me  and save the NHS thousands in the morphine patches they prescribe I would have had it by now and be skipping through life.  Go through 7+ years of medical school and then you can give me your (unwanted, pointless) advice.

"But you don't look disabled".  Should I have a D tattooed across my forehead.  When I am sat down on a good day I may look "normal". On a bad day I will be in bed, throwing up with pain, not a pretty sight and you wont see me.

"But you get disability benefits, you are well off" really? try the stress of worrying about if the eligibility rules are going to change at the whim of a Conservative, disability hating, government.  Try filling in the humiliating PIP/ ESA forms and attending their medicals, then worrying that they are going to lie in their report as they get bonuses for getting people off disability benefits. Ps I used to earn more before I broke my neck. 

"you are so lucky to stay at home all day and not have to work".  Yes I am so lucky, I don't get to interact with anyone but my cat and mum.  Slowly my friends vanished, I am in pain constantly but at least I get to watch daytime tv on a regular basis.

These are the more recent annoying statements that people have said to me.