Starbucks - Caramel Light Frappuccino

http://starbucks.co.uk/coffee

Heaven in a plastic glass!

So if you're a coffee lover you get the Starbucks thing. It has amazing coffee whatever your taste. Overpriced, well yeah, but its the bigger picture for me.

So... have you tried the Caramel light frappy? I know its a personal taste thing but for me this is a great drink to sup on. Its cold, blended with ice, coffee caramel tasting and get this light! Trust me you cant tell its a light flavoured option and I refuse to look at the calories of the hot chocolates and such like.

I do enjoy some of the flavoured coffee, at Christmas they had a hazelnut coffee that I literally could not get enough of. But as all good things do it came to an end, was just a seasonal thing. Fingers crossed its back this year.

So if you fancy a lighter option to the coffees, (no compromise on taste) try it.

Silkskin - Silk Pillowcase

I had a phase of reading loads of beauty best buy reviews, picking the recommendations and testing them out. I think I was trying to find those elusive products that work. One of the surprise discoveries for me was a silk pillowcase. The theory is that it will not drag your skin as you sleep and avoids those sleep wrinkles that take longer and longer to fade..!

This is the pillow I bought and I have literally used it so much I wore it out. I'm now in the process of buying another one and will definately go back to using this brand. When I first bought the pillow I was delighted how soft it was to sleep on, it is very gentle on the skin but a surprise side effect for me was that it made my hair incredibly soft. How amazing. I was so impressed I bought one for my sister. Victoria Health are currently selling for £36. Now I know this isn't that cheap but the product will last a considerable amount of time so worth the investment.  

Link to Victoria Health

Jo Malone - Now in Nottingham!

http://tinyurl.com/5rzhoxg

The amazing perfume and Beauty shop that is Jo Malone has now moved into Nottingham.!! Jo Malone previous post

In honour of this I got out my Jo Malone face starter kit and am using it. Will further blog if its worth a buy.

How to be a Woman

I have just finished reading this Caitlin Moran book and I feel the need to share. I am a book lover fact! I have not been able to pick up a book in the last year for numerous reasons. Mainly this sense of wanting to occupy my time in other ways, but boy have I missed reading!

After a little "come on" talk with myself I ordered some books that took my fancy off the fab Amazon. (Do my browsing in Waterstones shops then buy cheap off Internet :)). This was my first book I have finished in the past year or two and it has made me realise what I have been missing.

It isn't a novel, more a tale of Caitlin's life and views. She is a feminist, a mother and someone very similar to all of us. Love it. I especially enjoyed her frank views on motherhood and no having kids. I laughed out loud several times. How often does that happen reading nowadays! Very honest, humorous and quality writing. I'm hooked. Bring on the next book.

Caitlin is on twitter, recommend a follow. @caitlinmoran

Tiny Tower - I feel your pain!

Tiny Tower post

Found this and it made me chuckle, I empathise!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kezlewis/6089497846/

Borough Street Market - Food lovers delight

http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk/

On a trip to London, (I have a few). I had a lovely stroll along the Thames Southbank, passing all the sights, Shakespeare Globe, London Bridge and ended up stumbling across Borough Street Market. I'd definitely recommend this walk if you get a spare sunny afternoon. I even saw Gok Wan doing the walk!

For those of you that haven't visited its like a permanent farmers market with lots of fresh produce on sale and demonstrations. I bought fresh fruit from the UK, lovely olives by a local deli and some cheese made by an independent British supplier. It gives you the chance to interact with the producer of the food, try some, have a chat about the processes. Loved it.

The market is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I believe Saturday being the busiest. Check out the website for an idea of what to expect. It really is a hidden gem, if you like food would recommend you discover it.

Links of London - Gorgeousness in Silver

http://www.linksoflondon.com/

I recently had to visit Links to buy a present for a friends birthday and it reminded me how much I love this store. I am a silver jewellery fan I admit and this store has the right amount of classiness yet fashionableness I try to find in my jewellery. Price wise you are looking at the £100 mark to get a decent piece but from the box to the item you can see it is one of those pieces that last.

I currently wear a leather and pearl bracelet I bought from there along time ago and its something I never take off and yet has managed to last about 5 years so far.

Talking about the shop last night with a friend it has that Liberty feel to it but marginally cheaper. There is a store in most major cities but the website is a good place to start if you want to browse.

Chatsworth Farm Shop - Don't miss

http://www.chatsworth.org/shop-eat/the-farm-shop

Alot of people will have heard of Chatsworth, that glorious stately home set in the rolling Derbyshire Hills, stunning grounds, beautiful house and always some lovely event going on. Alot of you may have even visited. However have you heard of the Chatsworth Farm Shop? The estate owns some of the surrounding farms and the produce is sold in the farm shop.

I love fresh produce and shopping in places like this make me buy so many more fresh vegetables than I would normally. It is quite a large shop with a large selection of locally sourced products. There is also a bolt on restaurant in the back.

I think Chatsworth has such an appeal in itself, but if you are visiting please pop in here, I'm sure you will buy something.

Mellor Ware - Table ware thats reminds me of Beatrix Potter

http://www.mellorware.co.uk/

Tableware

I tell myself constantly that I am a grown adult that should like the lovely sensible bone china plates that "grown up" use. I however completely rebel against this and have cups with stars on them, plates with animals and writing. The type a girl of 8-12 might pick up and go oooh.

So when I saw that Mellor Ware was now available in Liberty my eyes lit up. Don't you love the lovely little images of animals that adorn these plates and teapots. No? Well you are obviously alot more grown up than me. Just had another look at their website. It is very English tea party a la Alice in Wonderland.

Little things! 

Cotswolds - Quaint little part of the country

http://www.the-cotswolds.org/

I understand that the Cotswolds is an obvious choice for a fabulous destination but if writing a blog on "beautiful things" it needs to be included.

I have family that lives near here so every few months I am lucky enough to get the opportunity to go through this lovely part of the country. From Moreton in the Marsh to Bourton on the Water (my personal favourite). It adds a real smile on my face as I drive through these villages, its the old cliche of being like something from an Agatha Christie novel. Because of this experience I decide to explore the area further and have had trips to Broadway, a Christmas stop over in Burford and the Slaughters. Not sure I class Stratford upon Avon and Oxford as the Cotswolds....? But they are worth a visit too. For me my favourite time of the year is autumn when you can wrap up warm in the late sunshine and take in the individual little gift shops, coffee shops, old book shops. Or I always try to have a Christmas stop over. Who wouldn't like a warm toddy in an intimate pub with a roaring fire. I suppose look at the cluster of celebrities living in the area, it has real appeal.

Dior Airflash Foundation - Easy makeup

Make up

Now I'm not instinctively a girly girl. I struggle with make-up, wearing heels and blow drying my hair. I think I'm just too impatient. I do however try to look nice where I can, with minimal effort. This said when I go out I am now using foundation, I've hit THAT age. I have tried a variety of different high street brands and found I just couldn't get the right look. Probably more my application than the product.

Then! I found Dior Airflash foundation, this foundation is basically a spray foundation, very light and easy to apply. For me I found a quick spray over my face and a little rub in and I had natural and even coverage. I now always use this foundation when I go out (not as often as I used to).

It is available in a variety of colours and is a very easy to use foundation. However those women who have that magic ability to apply make up may find it a little light and not as easy to apply to the specific areas they want but I love this product.

Wholefoods Market - Store with a heart

www.wholefoodsmarket.com

@wholefoods - twitter

I was introduced to the delights of Whole Foods Market whilst I was in New York a few years ago. The principal is a supermarket where all foods are in the whole natural, organic and great quality. For me this was kid in a candy shop time. I love fresh healthy food and to have a whole store dedicated to it was amazing. It doesn't have the feel of a normal health shop, you know tiny, everything in packets, odd foreign labels. This store has mass abundance of fresh bread, gorgeous coloured vegetables, fresh deli, local produce, etc, etc.

I loved the store so much I made a special visit to London to go to the Kensington store there. I realise not everyone may have the fresh food obsession I do but I think the store is a great quality supermarket and although obviously this means not as cheap as the generic Tesco but pop in if you are in the areas. Unfortunately the UK stores are all southern at the moment boo! But I hope they bring some stores up North. Ok I said something similar about Krispy Kreme but that food is medicine for the soul!.

The website is great to vew too, healthy recipes and general good food information. I firmly beleive that your body deserves to be nourished with the best ingredients you can afford. Rant over :)