Win Swarovski 100 Years of Disney Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck Pendant

This is the landing page for my Swarovski 100 Years of Disney Donald & Mickey competitions. You are welcome to enter both or just one competition. The competition is open worldwide. Good luck to you all. 

#win Swarovski 100 Years Disney Mickey Mouse Pendant, White, Rhodium Plated Necklace

Win Swarovski 100 Years of Disney Donald Duck Pendant (£119)

Swarovski 100 Years of Disney; Mickey and Donald Pendants

Who Is … Swarovski ?

 

This is the first foray in to my new series “who is …..” . Each post will look at a well known jewellery brand, where it came from, it’s history and is it still around etc. the next post will have a prize or two from that brand. My first post will look at Swarovski,  the largest jewellery brand in the world. .

Daniel Swarovski founded the Swarovski company in 1895. It is a family owned and run business, employing over  29,000 employees in over 170 countries with over 3,000 shops. Their products fall into 3 categories: Swarovski Crystal Business which covers jewellery, they are the biggest jewellery company worldwide, crystals, rhinestones, glass ornaments and accessories;Swarovski Optik which makes telescopes and telescopic sights for rifles and binoculars and Tyrolit which manufactures and sells grinding and drilling tools. 

Daniel Swarovski was born in 1862 in a small village in Northern Bohemia (now the Czech Republic). He trained as a glass cutter and in 1892 patented a cutting machine that creates crystal glass. 

In 1885 Swarovski, financier Armand Osmann and Franz Weis established Swarovski which was originally called A Osmann, D Swarovski and Co, shortened to to KS & Co,  they established a crystal cutting factory in Wattens, Austria. In 1919 Tyrolit was established bringing together all the grinding and cutting machinery from the crystal business into a wider market.  In 1935 Swarovski’s son, Wilhelm adapted a pair of binoculars and in 1949 Optik was born. 

Obviously it is not fair to look a the history and origins of Swarovski without considering where they were situated and the dates. Tyrol/ Wattens supported Nazism and Hitler, there was a march there in 1938 and at least 6 of the Swarovski family were ardent supporters of the then illegal party prior to the annexation of Austria in 1938. 

Swarovski benefitted from their support for Nazi Germany, the size of the company almost doubled during the war period and it expanded its product lines to include telescopes, binoculars and other optical devices for example. Swarovski has not granted historians access to their files so the true extent of their support for Hitler and the benefits gained from this is not known. 

So from this brief history, Swarovski’s history is rather murky. It is the largest jewellery brand in the world but although it is famous and well known for crystals it has success in other areas too. 

GemeShou Green Necklace Display Stand

 

I have been considering purchasing a necklace display for a while as I don’t always want to show myself wearing the item, especially if it’s a prize that I want to give unworn. I finally settled on a Gemeshou display (£15). I have purchased/reviewed several of their jewellery display items and have always found them good quality and reasonably priced. This piece was no exception.

The stand is gold metal, slightly curved to give the chain that will be displayed some dimension and show how it will look curved against the body. I chose the dark green stand. It is also available in cream, grey and black. The stand itself is gold metal and the green cover is velvet which adds to the lux effect. It measures 7x9.5x5cm. It is also has a pouch at the back of the stand to store the chain so it doesn’t get tangled just dangling over the back of the stand. The stand is quite compact but as I sometimes need to take it with me if I want to take shots for my blog outside I think that’s great as it fits nicely into my props bag. I like the stand for my blog photos as the velvet means there isn’t any reflected light from the material and the overall effect/ look is expensive and elegant, I will also purchase the matching earring stand so I can use the set in future blog posts.  Overall i would recommend this item. 

I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in this post are my own. 

Halloween Themed Classic Canes Bats At Night Derby Walking Stick

 Repost: I haven’t purchased and reviewed a walking stick for years but this walking stick is my most used stick during Autumn /Winter time. 

The Bats at Night walking Stick (£46) is adjustable, collapses into four pieces and comes in a protective pouch. My stick looks slightly strange in the photo as I had a piece removed (I am only 4ft 7”). There are black bats, tree silhouettes, orange and yellow stars on a greyish background. Depending on the lighting and background the grey takes on a lavender tint.  The stick comes with a black non slip ferrule and a chrome collar. The colours aren’t exactly the same between the handle of the cane and the shaft (not a design flaw but due to the different materials used to make the stick) and I think that adds to the spookiness of the design. The derby shaped handle is comfortable to hold and the height of the stick is easy to adjust, just press the silver buttons at the top of the shaft and slide to the height you want. Without having any adjustments made to the walking stick it is adjustable from 79cm to 89cm.

I enjoy using this stick. The theme and graphics are really cute and eye catching. I shall continue to use it when Halloween is over! 

His Christmas Princess by Scarlet Wilson

 His Christmas Princess by Scarlet Wilson is part of Mills & Boon Modern Christmas themed novels. 

Valmora has a huge problem- lack of an heir to replace the dying King. His son had died years ago without producing the obligatory heir. Raphael, Chief of Royal Staff had been tasked with trying to find one. He has resorted to using an Ancestory DNA type website. Charlotte Armstrong, cybersecurity consultant comes up as a match. Her royal lineage can be traced back to Mary Boleyn and more recent descendants such as King Charles. Raphael tracks Charlotte to a coffee shop and tells her that Valmora needs her to become Queen otherwise the country will revert back to France. She agrees to visit incognito to see if she is willing to give up her comfortable life for a life of public service.

There is an attraction between the pair throughout the novel and Raphael fights against it as he trains her to be Royal whilst sticking to the cardinal rule: don’t fall for the Princess. As Christmas approaches they become closer? but will they get the ultimate Christmas present? Their Happily Ever After!

This novel was very meh for me. I don’t particularly enjoy novels that merge fact and fiction, no matter how small the detail. Referencing DNA links to historical and recent royals spoilt the tone and premise of the book. The book was, however, well through out  and I enjoyed that Charlotte was confident,  had her own successful career and wasn’t a simpering heroine, grabbing a chance at a better life. 

I love Mills & Boon UK and I think you will too! Click my personal referral link to get a discount on your first purchase http://rwrd.io/f4yjeqp?c 

I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley #gifted

Win Vinted Finds: Chamilia Harry Potter Slytherin v Hufflepuff Bangles

I always thought Chamilia jewellery didn’t deserve to be discontinued. It had great collaborations with both Disney and Warner bros, the beads were nice and the silver didn’t tarnish on me (I have very acidic skin and silver now tarnishes after a few hours wear. I like to watch on Vinted for any special or different pieces that are being sold. My mum was a potter head and I she would gave loved the Hufflepuff bangle!

Hufflepuff :

Slytherin:

The bangles are Sterling silver and are engraved with either Hufflepuff or Slytherin and an enamel slice of colour. The back of the engraved piece has the Chamilia and Harry Potter logos. The engraved piece also acts as the fastener to the bangle. 

So which house do you support? You can enter one or both competitions. Good Luck!

#win Chamilia Harry Potter Hufflepuff Sterling Silver Bangle  

#win Chamilia Harry Potter Slytherin Sterling Silver Bangle

#win DisneyxBaublebar Mickey & Minnie Articulated Earrings

 

Last year I reviewed Mickey & Minnie articulated earrings for pierced earrings. They have been sat gathering dust in my prize box and would be a great stocking filler for anyone of any age!

Click below to enter: 

#win DisneyxBaublebar Mickey & Minnie Articulated Earrings

Rules:

Competition is open worldwide 

Closing date 30 sept 11.59pm gmt

Opens 6 September 

Good luck 

Dead Sea Salts v Epsom Salts: which one is for you?

Two of the most widely available and popular bath salts are Dead Sea Salts and Epsom Salts. Both have benefits for the user. They are both widely available and no matter what the brand they are priced reasonably considering they are the in cosmetic/ health sphere and have known restorative benefits. What is the  differences between Dead Sea Salts and Epsom Salts. Which one will work best for you? 

Dead Sea Salts:

DSS are a natural product which is mined from the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is a landlocked lake which is situated between Israel and Jordan. The salts are 10 times saltier than the average sea/ ocean salt water and no aquatic life can survive in it. The salt is made from 30% sodium chloride and the other 70% is made up of  magnesium (which helps smooth and heal the skin, potassium, balances skin moisture, calcium, promotes skin cell growth and bromide which relaxes muscles and releases tension. DSS can be used as intended in baths to help soothe psorasis, eczema etc,  in skin and scalp scrubs to buff away dead skin cells, cosmetic items such as mud masks, lotions and shampoos/ conditioners and soap to help with skin hydration. 

Obviously the DSS hype and the fact the salts do work has led to massive interest and the growth of companies mining the salts in the Dead Sea. This in turn has created massive ecological problems for the sea. Water is dropping 3-4 metres every year, it is now little more than a pond.  and there is estimated to be around 600 sink holes in the surrounding area destroying the sea’s unique environment. Over extraction of minerals has meant the closure of Mineral beach and Ein Gedi Spa beach which has affected tourism and meant more of a dependence on mining as a form of employment. 

Epsom Salts:

Epsom Salts can occur naturally or be man made. Both versions  are identical in their chemical composition:  magnesium sulphate heptahydrate. ES can be taken from natural occurring springs, by evaporating the water such as the Epsom spring in Surrey, UK or natural mineral deposits, but this is rare or made in factories. Most ES are made in factories and are thus chemically pure. The salts have a bitter saline taste and aren’t actually a salt, even though it resembles it, but a mineral compound consisting of magnesium, supports nerve function, muscle relaxation and enhances energy, sulfate (sulphur), helps create connective tissue and supports the metabolism, and oxygen. 

ES can be used as a foot and bath soak to relax muscles and help relieve muscular pain or soften hard skin on the foot. Added to olive oil it can be used as a scrub to exfoliate dead skin cells.  

ES can also be used for gardening and cleaning. It can be used an an eco friendly slug repellent, just sprinkle some round where you don’t want skids to go, I use it around my hedgehog feeders as it is safe for them and does seem to put them off, put in the soul or mix with water in a spray bottle, as per Royal horticultural society guidelines, to spray foliage with a magnesium deficiency or add to liquid dish and create an abrasive mixture to clean pots and pans etc. 

                     Dead Sea salts.      Epsom salts      

My experience:

I got diagnosed with scalp psoriasis, itchy scalp wnd acne prone stressed skin as a consequence of breaking my neck and having to have titanium implants placed in my neck to fuse it and keep everything in place. My body didn’t like this and it threw a tantrum, triggering all of the above ailments. I got a fungus toe nail infection. I also have developed neuropathic pain all over my body, so cannot stand to be touched, wear tight clothing etc. Whenever I asked for help I was just told to live with them because at least I had some mobility. I suffered and itched for a few years, editing the dandruff fall from my photos - it was bad. I then tried Dead Sea salts. I have reviewed several brands in previous blog posts but then I didn’t realise how life changing they would be for my skin and scalp. Unfortunately after my accident my mum had the bath removed and wet room put in to make it easier for me to access a bath I am now using up my Accor hotel points twice a month so the cost for the room is £5.10 per hotel stay. I can have as many baths as I want and I can soak my scalp, back and feet which I cannot do at home. I have help getting in and out of the bath but apart from that it’s the freest I have felt in years as because I am only small I can float in the bath if it’s filled to the brim. 

I don’t just use a scoop of the Dead Sea salts I dump a whole 1kg  bag in every time I refill the bath. Yes it’s expensive and salty but the results have been life changing for me. My scalp psoriasis has improved as has my itchy scalp which is great as I cannot lift my arms high enough to reach the top of my head and have a good old itch! My acne has gone and my skin is now clear. The fungal toe nail infection is also slowly being killed off.  My big toe nails are no longer yellow and crusty.  New growth is clear and healthy so I’m thrilled with that progress.  I am, however sad that the Dead Sea is dying and no one seems to be trying to find a solution to solve the problem or create a man made alternative to DSS. It’s a billion dollar industry that is creating an ecological nightmare that no one cares about. 

Epsom salts are more limited in their benefits, but more ecologically friendly as they are man made. As I want more than just to feel relaxed, I normally just use 1/2 a bag mixed in with the DSS in a bath soak to get benefits from feeling more relaxed and therefore not in as much pain and also soothe my psoriasis and acne. I also use ES to stop slugs eating my hedgehog food.