The Latest in Beauty X Fabulous Best of 2021 Edit

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Could this be the last Latest in Beauty Collection of 2021? If so then it's a blinder and completely CHOCKER full of beauty treats to have your skin, hair and face looking oh so fabulous as you enter the new year. 

It's their first-ever Fabulous Best of 2021 Edit with the entire collection being Latest in Beauty and Fabulous team approved. It is packed with some of the biggest launches, top performers and highest rated products from each of the brands from 2021. Expect to find fourteen tried and tested formulas that are not only great for skin but deliver exactly what they promise too. 

Worth over £123 and boasting ten full-size products, this box will help you master your skincare routine and up your makeup game!

You'll find stand out brands such as Lumene, Lanolips, and Q+A to name just a few so shall we take a look inside...

Christmas Bucket List 2021

With COVID still taking centre stage this year although not quite on the scale of 2020, my bucket list posts have been put on the back burner - I didn't even share an Autumn one. With Christmas being the most wonderful time of year I've managed to whip one up if not just for me but for you too in case you need some festive ideas.

I like to keep my bucket lists filled with things that are easily accomplished be it big or small. They also give me the push to do a little more when all I want to do is hide from the cold with a blanket.

So here are a list of things I'm hoping to do with family this Christmas, I'd love to know what you have planned too.

Christmas 2021 at The Body Shop

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Falalalalalalala... It is the time of year for beauty Christmas launches and The Body Shop has certainly caught my eye this year. A little while ago, I headed into my local store in West Quay for a morning of breakfast nibbles and Christmas fun while we were guided through the new fragrances for this Christmas, what gifts will be available and of course the beauty advent calendars. 

This year's theme is Share the Love which is highly appropriate after the last few years and I can't wait to show you more...

Bedtime Routines & New Mattresses, Introducing Naturalmat

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If there's one topic I've spent a lot of time discussing since becoming a parent it's sleep - it dominates the conversation from that first 'sleep while you can comment' during your pregnancy to those first newborn days when you're practically delirious and surviving on hope and coffee. While sleep can be hard to come by, there are ways you can support your child and in turn, give yourself a welcome break in those early days. 

Where your children sleep is the best place to start and what better way than with their mattress! For our four year old we turned to Naturalmat who handcraft organic mattresses and beds in their factory on the banks of the River Exe, in Devon with 100% natural and organic fibre. With over twenty years of experience, Naturalmat combines carefully selected natural materials for supreme comfort and breathability and are treated with an all-natural anti-bed bug and dust mite formula making them perfect for children with allergies or sensitive skin.

The Latest in Beauty Haul of Fame The Heroes

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Latest in Beauty have released some amazing collections this year and to top it off, the Haul of Fame The Heroes '21 is back for another year and it has even more incredible products for you to get your hands on.

Celebrating some of the top brands that entered the LiB Box Haul of Fame in 2021, inside you can expect ten of the best brands that embody all the things the LiB experts look for in a good brand. Not just any box, this round-up showcases products from bona fide cult and global best selling brands with a one of a kind lineup of science-led formulas, clinically proven ingredients and high-performance products that have a serious payoff and deliver true results.

Available to buy now, the collection includes the most sought after products including four full-size products worth a whopping £192 for just £38.00.

From global bestsellers and cult classics, this is a collection you won't want to miss.

Shopping Black Friday with eBay & a look at my Wishlist

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We're just days away from one of the busiest shopping days of the year, so with Black Friday right around the corner it seemed like as good a time as any to show you what I'll be shopping for this year and how I'll be using eBay to make sure I get the best deals possible. 

If you're unfamiliar with eBay (where have you been?!) then it is the place to buy and sell new and pre-loved items - from electronics, children's toys and appliances to clothing, Christmas jumpers and more. I've been using eBay to sell for quite a number of years now and it's always where I head to first when I need to clear out some clothes and in recent months, where I've been shopping for our children's next clothing size too. 

It's such a great way to make sure nothing goes to waste and that you can give something a new home, especially with Christmas fast approaching. 

3 Foodie Advent Calendars to make you go ooh

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While beauty advent calendars have been my focus for the last few weeks, I couldn't let this time pass by without sharing some foodie calendars too. I'm a big foodie at heart so there's always a chocolate calendar for each of us and a Moo Free Dairy Free special for the four-year-old, little E may get her first one next year, we shall see!

In this post I'll be showing you a chocolate one with a heart from my favourite chocolate brand, another you'll enjoy if you love an 11am snack and a deliciously sweet biscuit calendar that will go straight into the hands of my grandmother who is very excited.

Azamara® Announces New Five-Month World Voyage

Azamara® Announces New Five-Month World Voyage, Visiting More Than Seven Wonders of the World Aboard the Cruise Line’s Newest Ship, Azamara Onward.

The once-in-a-lifetime sailing will bring guests to over 40 countries on six continents

The cruise line dedicated to Destination Immersion® experiences is excited to announce the launch of its new World Voyage aboard the company's newest ship, Azamara Onward. Starting on January 5, 2024, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the comprehensive sailing offers immersive and intimate experiences to the World’s Wonders. The 155-night journey will reach over 40 countries in six continents with 22 overnight stays and 27 late nights in port, giving travelers ample time to fully explore the rich culture and history of each destination.

“We are thrilled to finally unveil our World Voyage. With opportunities to visit the Seven Wonders of the World and other iconic sites such as the Great Barrier Reef, the Galapagos, and the Black Sea, we are allowing our guests to check off all their bucket list destinations in one sailing and to connect with more countries and cultures than ever before,” says Carol Cabezas, President of Azamara. “Not only are we taking our guests further, but we are also encouraging them to travel deeper with our unique overnight land experiences, designed to bring travelers to the heart of the destination and giving them enough time to appreciate its culture.”

Highlights of immersive experiences of the World’s Wonders:

• Great Wall of China (three-night land excursion): Travelers will become fully immersed in Beijing with a visit to the Great Wall of China, a guided tour through the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, and a rickshaw ride through the hutongs, or narrow alleys dating back to the 16th century.
• Great Pyramids of Giza (shore excursion): Guests are driven to Egypt’s largest city, Cairo. It’s here at the Giza Plateau where the Great Pyramids are found, the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still in existence. An Egyptologist will guide guests through this mortuary complex to the mysterious Sphinx. In addition, travelers will explore other sites such as the Museum of Antiquities and cruise down the Nile river.
• Chichén Itzá (shore excursion): Guests will fly over Caribbean waters and the Mayan Riviera’s tropical jungle to Chichén Itzá, where a tour guide will lead guests through the ruins and immerse travelers in the ancient Mayan way of life.
• Petra (shore excursion): Guests will walk through the Siq, the narrow, winding gorge that leads to the mysterious desert city of Petra, Jordan. Known as the “Rose Red City” for the color of stone from which it was carved, Petra is home to ancient royal tombs, Colonnaded Street, and the Temple of Qasr al-Bint.
• Taj Mahal (three-night land excursion): Travelers will fly to New Delhi for sunrise and sunset visits to the Taj Mahal. Guests will also explore Agra Fort, the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty until 1638, and I'timād-ud-Daulah tomb, the Taj Mahal’s precursor.
• Christ the Redeemer (six-night land excursion): Travelers will enjoy a full exploration of Rio de Janeiro, including a visit to Corcovado to view the towering Christ the Redeemer statue, a cable car ride to the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain, and a trip to Iguazú Falls to see both the Brazilian and Argentinian sides of the one of the world’s largest waterfalls.
• Colosseum (shore excursion): Guests will travel back in time to the world of gladiatorial glory inside the Colosseum. A local guide will lead the small group through the 2000-year-old amphitheater that once seated up to 55,000 spectators.

Other immersive overnight experiences available on the World Voyage include a stay on a Great Barrier Reef island, complete with glass bottom boat excursions and snorkeling to see the unique wildlife up close; a journey through the cobblestoned streets of Transylvania, Romania to learn about the life of Vlad the Impaler, who inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula; and an exploration of the centuries-old rock-cut churches and whimsical “fairy chimneys” of Cappadocia, Turkey with accommodation in a cave hotel.

Azamara’s World Voyage comes with over $22,000 in exclusive amenities, including the company’s signature AzAmazing Evenings – designed to connect guests to the local culture of the destination – $7,000 in onboard credit, business class air travel, a pre-voyage hotel stay and gala, access to exclusive World Voyage events, a premium beverage package for two, and more. Shore excursions and overnight land excursions will be available at an additional price.

To book, please visit azamara.com/worldvoyage or call 888-858-5388. Bookings are currently open to Azamara Circle Loyalty members only and will be open to all on December 7, 2021

Celebrity chef Shivi Ramoutar joins P&O Cruises to create authentic Caribbean dining

Chef and author Shivi Ramoutar is joining P&O Cruises culinary line up as a Local Food Hero as part of the launch of the new ship Arvia which joins the fleet in December 2022. Shivi, who is renowned for her contemporary Caribbean cooking, will bring her vibrant dishes to Arvia for its maiden season from homeport Barbados. 

She will celebrate her passion for the region's cuisine with an exclusive collection of dishes at Taste 360 and The Beach House. As a Local Food Hero Shivi will join José Pizarro and Kjartan Skelde in bringing destinations to life through authentic recipes in restaurants on Arvia.

The Times Ultimate Men's Grooming Edit with Latest in Beauty

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Get excited because The Times X Latest in Beauty Ultimate Men's Grooming Edit is here and it is their first EVER - much to my husband's delight! Available to buy now, the exclusive edit brought to you by Latest in Beauty experts and approved by The Times is worth a whopping £195 and is absolutely packed full of the best grooming products in the business. 

Discover pro-styling products, high-performance grooming and essential skincare all wrapped up within this edit. 

I am dying to show you inside...

Five New In Pieces on My Beauty Shelves

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With a new month comes another new in beauty edition and boy do I have some fabulous products for you! As winter approaches, the products I reach for change and they become so much more intensive and hydrating for the skin so with that in mind I've whipped up this post to give you a closer look into what I'm using right now. 

There seems to be a soothing and hydration theme this month which is perfect as we approach the colder weather, don't you think?

Let's have a look...

The Latest in Beauty Sunday Times Style India Knight Edit

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Hands up who wants to try the best of the best when it comes to beauty? Well, now you can do exactly that because Latest in Beauty has teamed up with The Sunday Times Style to release two special edition boxes! The two boxes, the Sarah Jossel Edit and the India Knight Edit are available to purchase now and come absolutely chocker full of the best in beauty making it the perfect way to access tried and tested beauty for less.

Columnist India Knight is an authority on all things beauty and is known for testing and uncovering some of the very best products in the industry and it'll be her edit that I show you within this post. 

Available to purchase for £45.00 and worth a huge £231, the limited edition edit curates some of the top products from her 2021 Sunday Times Style column and showcases a unique and exceptional lineup of makeup, body care, skincare and haircare. 

Let's look inside...

The Filorga Skincare Advent Calendar

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If there's one thing I love, it's skincare and the Filorga Advent Calendar (£99.00) is the thing of dreams! Available from Look Fantastic, Feel Unique, Flannels and Next, it houses over £200 worth of skin and is jam-packed with beauty favourites. It's the perfect way to countdown to a magical Christmas and the coveted calendar is sure to excite any skincare buff.

The slim built calendar comes in black and is adorned with silver confetti - it opens at the front housing twenty-four boxes filled with all of your skincare treats for the month of December! You'll notice each box contains the products ingredient lists too which is great if you need to check what each product contains.

Be warned, there are spoilers ahead...

Experience the NEW Autumn Menu at HarBar on 6th

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If specially crafted cocktails and delicious food is your thing then you need to get yourself to Southampton Harbour Hotel's HarBar on 6th as they've just introduced a tantalising Autumn menu. Throughout the season you'll be able to enjoy a selection of autumnal dishes, and sip on delicious cocktails from The Isle of Wight Distillery including Mermaid Gin beneath a beautiful canopy of autumnal leaves in fiery red, orange and amber colours.

The beautiful rooftop destination bar, kitchen and club features floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Solent complete with a terrace with outdoor fire pits making it the perfect location for drinks with friends or lunch with family which is exactly how we found ourselves there one Friday afternoon. 

Five Happy Things // October

Did anyone see October? It feels like the month absolutely flew by in a blink of an eye. Our month has felt exceptionally busy and it has been the first month in a long time that we've had something on the calendar most days. It has been full of finally seeing friends again, lots of good food and plenty of Autumn walks through the city parks. 

We're still making the most of our smalls wins. little memories and happy moments where we can - they don't have to be a huge, momentous thing, they can be just about anything - be it a chocolate bar you treated yourself to or a long walk listening to an audiobook or in my case right now, a really good coffee!

So here are five handpicked happy things from our October...