I did a fair bit of work with a CBD website earlier this year - compiling information on clothing, homeware, beauty and nutrition products which utilise this 'so-hot-right-now' [bonus points to you if you read that in the Mugatu / Zoolander way] ingredient in their composition. As well as learning a lot during this time, I became mad keen on trying CBD infused stuff out for myself; after spending so many hours writing about its benefits. 

The first thing I tried following this learning curve / massive case of self-influencing was a CBD infused Cleansing Milk [which I featured here] - and I've tried other bits since then too. But never the drops I'd heard so much about. Until now.

Mistatera very kindly sent me a bottle of their 5% CBD Drops* to try out - something I'd never tried before, but an experience I've been really impressed by. From my very first impressions of opening the box up to reveal such stylish, classy packaging [no tacky ganja signs here huns, just sophisticated branding with gold embossing] to reading more about it / having my first drops, I've been dead impressed. Let's have some real-talk on CBD Drops, anxiety and what it's like to try them. Coming straight from the horses mouth. IT'S ME, I'M THE HORSE.

DO YOU LIKE MY PUN? I'm not running off much caffeine at all right now, so the fact I've thought of that whilst I'm in this sluggish-arse state has made me right proud. But yeah - as it says on the tin. This is probs the best advent calendar out there tbh, one of the best alternative options going; especially around the Christmas Party Season. This is the gorgeous unisex Vodka Explorers Advent Calendar from Drinks by the Dram* [stocked at Masters of Malt, RRP £100] - and it's one of the best gift ideas for a vodka lover I could possibly think of.

Behind each door lies a mini dram of vodka - flavoured vodkas, some proper exciting brands of vodkas, limited edition vodkas... basically a try-before-you-buy opportunity of DREAMS introducing you to a whole host of wonderful brands & taste sensations all the way up to Christmas. They're perfect for creating cocktails with - or mixing with ya coke for a lil vodka coke during pre-drinks.

Wondering what Santa’s going to leave under the Christmas tree this year? Well wonder no longer, it’s time to start dropping some serious hints... and by hints, we actually mean an extensive Christmas cosmetics list; complete with prices and store. 

Make Christmas 2019 one to remember, with a gift list that ticks all the right boxes. In this blog post we take a look at five top make-up gifts everyone’s looking for this festive season.

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I was very kindly sent this amazing Skinny Tan Moisture Magic Self Tanning Kit* [which is exclusive to Superdrug and mega limited edition] which ticks like every box in what I look for in something to gift someone, or to receive as a gift myself. If you've never tried this brand's products before, it's a one-stop-shop of everything you'll need to fake that perfect glow - and if you're familiar with Skinny Tan / love them; you'll recognise the products included as some of their heroes from the range. The kit comes beautifully presented in an incredibly useful beauty bag [it's the best size for toiletries and stylish AF with a rose gold zip too] with FOUR FULL SIZE PRODUCTS inside. Can't cope.

JUST THE MOISTURE MOUSSE TAN IN THIS KIT ALONE RETAILS FOR £27.99. But for a limited time only, you can get the WHOLE KIT - FOUR FULL SIZE PRODUCTS - FOR JUST £27.49 AT SUPERDRUG [NORMALLY THE KIT IS £54.99]

The Christmas period is, in fact, one of the most popular times for people to move home; with many buyers rushing to exchange and complete so that they can be moved into their new place for the big day. Moving house can be stressful at the best of times and is well known for being one of the most draining events that can occur in a person life... so couple this with the usual stresses and strains of the festive period and it may seem like a recipe for disaster. But moving house at Christmas needn’t be as bad as everyone makes it out to be - here's 5 top tips for an easy house move this festive period. 

Image Credit: Pexels, Free to Use Licence

Pexels CC0 License

Now. If you follow me on any form of socials [especially Twitter, where I complain about my pet peeves on the reg] you'll know I am not a fan of this time of year [and that's putting it extremely politely, I'm usually a lot more blunt when I express my opinions on Autumn / Winter 😂😂.] I can't cope with being cold, I can't cope with the leccy bill being about a grand, I can't cope with constant rain / never-ending threats of snow and I despair of the fact it's dark 97% of the time.

BUT [finding a lil silver lining to my least fave few months of the year] I do massively enjoy shopping & updating my wardrobe with stylish new pieces that make me feel cute [or at least slightly less of a giant meff.] And this year, I'm feeling particularly spendy. 

One trend that especially has my heart in 2019 is the teddy bear jacket - I love how effortlessly glam & stylish these pieces of outerwear look, and how you can dress them up or down... and Cari's Closet are delivering the goods on this front. Just look at those jackets. Those colours. That optimum not-too-short-but-not-too-long length. Huns, my credit cards are trembling in anticipation of the battering they're about to get as I write up this post.

It's always been a bit of a dream of mine to have my own online store. Or even real-life store. A proper, bricks 'n' mortar type affair; with flower walls & rose gold interiors galore. Probably some kind of a fashion store, but I'm also massively intrigued by those cool home interior kinda places - and of course; anything beauty related. Maybe even a bar, but I'd totes drink away the profits wouldn't I. A cat café? But again same kinda issue... I'd be that busy weeping over all the kitties I'd make no money.

Anyway.

Let's take it back to pretty accessories & fashion; things I have years of experience working with / selling [I used to work in retail management before this lil stint of all things digital occurred.] Something I've researched & put on hold countless times - and something I ventured into a little when I was selling pens, jade rollers and agate coasters online that time.

And let's also reign these dreams back to online selling; as having a business premises and pure overheads to cover sounds scary AF, especially given how many stores seem to be closing all over the high street.

I've wanted to sell lashes, I've wanted to order in fashion / home interiors stock from overseas & sell with a mark-up and hell, I've ordered so many odd samples of stock [and made packaging enquiries too] over the past 12 months... but there's been the same sorta pitfalls knocking me back time & time again. Number one being how bloody poor I am and not having the capital to invest in this stuff properly, the second being how time consuming it is and thirdly; the logistics when it comes to storing & dispatching this stuff. My spare room became like a warehouse for a time - and I defo don't have enough space, time or bubblewrap for this.

If you're looking for a luxurious beauty advent calendar experience this Christmas, you're very much in the right place. Sara Miller London [a luxurious brand I was unfamiliar with prior to this post but who now have my heart] have released some of the most beautifully designed, lux advent calendars I've ever clapped eyes on... for the most magical unboxing / countdown to Chrimbo experience.

And this is coming from me - the real life equivalent to the Grinch, so that's saying something indeed. This post is a little later than intended, as I've been taken down by flu, a chest infection and something going on with my ears [can't cope - I've definitely been looking into ear wax removal in London to see if this helps with the eczema situation I seem to have going on down my ear canals!!] - but it's totes worth the wait.