Product Review: The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil

Like most girls I am lazy when it comes to taking of my makeup at the end of the day!

I used to use Johnson's makeup wipes which I still love and use when travelling. I have sensitive skin and feel they are the most moist and easiest wipes to remove all my makeup (including mascara) without irritating my skin.

I read a while ago that using wipes can sometimes pull skin, especially in sensitive areas like under-eyes and cause skin to sag so I decided to try a cleansing oil.

I read a lot of great reviews on The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil so I thought I would give this a try.

Honestly this stuff is amazing! I recently went to purchase my 3rd bottle as I am running out!

At the end of the day i just pump this oil onto dry hands and massage all over my face. The makeup just melts away, including mascara! You then wash your face with water and that is it! You can use a toner if any traces of makeup are left after this if you wish.

Like the name suggests, it feels soooo silky on the skin and has a lovely camomile scent, which is really relaxing!

Your skin is left feeling clean, fresh and doesn't feel dry.... Give it a try!

F & F

xx

The Marylebone Hotel - London

When you keep returning to the same hotel for the past 3/4 years it must be a good one!

Everytime I am back in London, I always end up staying at The Marylebone Hotel. 

There are many reasons why I keep going back to this Hotel.

Firstly the location, it is set in the charming area of Marylebone. The area is so quaint with it's own high street of great shops, restaurants and supermarkets.

Also the hotel is only a 5-10 minute walk from the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street & the famous department store Selfridges!

Marylebone has a Waitrose and Tesco if you want to stock up on essentials.  It has many coffee shops including the Japanese influenced Monocle Cafe, calories galore at Patisserie Valerie, the health conscious Roots & Bulbs & a taste of Scandanavia at Nordic Bakery (mmm I can just smell those fresh cinnamon rolls). There are also a good selection of restaurants within walking distance including Aubaine, Chiltern Firehouse and The Golden Hind - one of the best fish & chips shop located in the heart of Marylebone, which has been serving fish & chips since 1914! (well worth the visit just for this!)

If you fancy a shop, checkout Matches Fashion, The Kooples, Sandro, Whistles and many more.

The hotel itself is a great size, not too big and not too small therefore never really too busy, which is always nice.  As soon as you walk in, the hotel is warm and inviting, and service is outstanding.

The rooms are great sizes and very modern in decor but also cosy! One thing I do love are the Aromatherapy Associates products used.  After travelling to come to a hotel with great products is always comforting, and this brand has amazing spa like aromatherapy products, which smell so relaxing & therapeutic!

As well as the rooms, I do love the downstairs lobby sitting areas, which are split up into different sections with different decor. One even has a cosy fireplace and fire burning for those cold London nights.  The drawing room is also beautifully decorated; yet another lovely place to spend time.

If that isn't enough from a Hotel, they also have great restaurants including a brasserie and also serve afternoon tea! They have a gym which run a wide range of classes, including yoga, dance, pilates and spinning! Finally a pool and spa if you want to unwind.

Enjoy your stay & thank us later! :)

F & F

xx


Note : All hotel pictures have been taken from the hotel's official website - http://www.doylecollection.com/hotels/the-marylebone-hotel

My Workout Plan - Resistance Training

My current workout plan is built for a leaner and toned body but also slightly skewed towards fat loss.

Nutrition also plays a 70% part in getting lean; and I will be following up with a suggested food plan soon.

Due to a hectic work and social life I do not want to spend hours on end at the gym, however I try and aim to get the most out of it when I do go.

This post focuses on resistance training and weights in particular.

I do a mixture of cardio & weight/resistance training and below is a snapshot of my routine and some benefits.

BODY PUMP

I enjoy BodyPump classes and aim to go 1 -2 times a week.   Lifting weights and resistance training has bad publicity when it comes to females - it will NOT make you bulky as it would with males due to the difference in hormones.  In fact it will help build a leaner more defined body focusing on each part of the body.

Also you will burn more calories at rest as opposed to cardio exercise. So girls lift those weights and get lean!

The BodyPump moves can also be incorporated onto the gym floor - so don't be intimidated by the weights area on the gym floor which to me always appears to be a 'man zone!'.


GYM FLOOR RESISTANCE TRAINING

Here are a few suggested exercises which can be done on the gym floor for those out of class times!

These can be done using free weights or weighted machines.

• Barbell squats: 3 sets of 12
• Dead lift: 3 sets of 12
• Bench press: 2 sets of 12
• Shoulder press: 3 sets of 12
• Bench dips: 3 sets of 10
• Plank: 3 rounds for one minute

I hope this is not too daunting & the key to focus, is consistency and having an end goal!

Also I find having a great music list and good sportswear also makes exercise more fun!

Remember mind over matter...getting to the gym is half the effort, the rest will follow; so stay disciplined and consistent! You will reap the benefits of feeling fitter, more energised and you will have that healthy glow!

F & F

xx

Talise Ottoman Spa - Dubai

When my sister comes to visit me in Dubai, we love pampering ourselves! Who doesn't!

So this time was no exception and we headed to the Talise Ottoman Spa at the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Hotel to try out the Hammam.

A Turkish Hammam is a centuries old tradition to cleanse the entire body and relax the mind.

We both chose the Coffee Peeling Hammam, as it promised to refine and smooth the skin, leaving it more toned and firm.

From the moment you walk into the spa facilities (ladies and men are separate) you will feel like you have walked into a palace as the decor is incredibly opulent.

After getting changed we stepped into the steam room for 10 minutes after which we were offering a cold glass of water to remain hydrated, which was a nice and relaxing start.

We then headed through to the main relaxation area which is breathtaking! The pool sits in the middle of the room with a huge chandelier directly above, and high ceilings.  The pool is surrounded by individual relaxation areas with curtains (if you want more privacy).

When we walked into the treatment room for the Hammam, it truly was as amazing as the relaxation area, if not more! The marble... the mosaic tiles... the high ceilings, make this spa a perfect combination of old and new.

After lying down on the heated marble table in the middle of the room, firstly the whole body was exfoliated to get rid of dead skin all over (there is also the option to gently exfoliate your face if you wish).

The exfoliation was followed by the most amazing foam massage as the therapists somehow cover the whole body in soft soapy bubbles!

Thereafter, the coffee exfoliation scrub is used all over the body. If you love the smell of coffee, this is so relaxing! The whole body is then washed with water. Finally the hair is shampooed with rose scented shampoo... Pure Bliss!

Once the treatment was over we were given a chance to soak up the surroundings in the relaxation area booth where a cold glass of water, laban and dried fruits and nuts awaited, with the option of using the pool, the sauna and steam room!

We both left feeling rejuvenated, relaxed and our skin was as soft as a baby! We definitely recommend it & would visit again!

F & F

xx

Stevia Vs Sugar

When I first heard that sugar is bad for you, like any other person I took that vague answer and ignored it...  I love all my sweet treats!

I am not perfect in the healthy eating category (unlike my sister) but I try my best and I have started making those small changes.

Sugar is bad for you but why? Well there are many reasons but one in particular that my sister shared with me stuck!

To put it simply, sugar breaks down the collagen and elastin in your skin, making it dull, sag, and create those dreaded wrinkles! Also, once collagen has broken down it is very difficult to build back naturally.

Stevia is a natural sugar derived from plants which is a great alternative to sugar.  It is calorie-free and can taste up to 200 times more sweeter than sugar!  Stevia takes a little getting used to in taste but I honestly love it and I feel that you actually do use less than you would with sugar because it is much sweeter in taste.

Stevia can be found in powder or liquid form.

I use the powder form when making tea or coffee and I have not purchased sugar for nearly 6 months now!

Admittedly it's a small change in cutting sugar but one that I have adopted pretty quickly and I don't miss the sugar.

I still eat items with sugar in them (naughty me!), but if you make one change today then swap your sugar for Stevia in your tea/coffee or even baking!

Every little helps!

F & F

xx

Tuscany - Italy

Tuscany is one the most picturesque regions in Italy.

I visited Tuscany for a friend's wedding and wanted to share my experience.

I stayed at Villa Vignamaggio; a historical and charming Villa dating back to the 14th Century.

The Villa is surrounded by the green Tuscan hills, huge vineyards, olive groves and beautifully landscaped Italian gardens.

As well as the setting, the Villa is enriched in Italian history. Mona Lisa was born here in 1479! Leonardo Da Vinci, the infamous Italian painter, also grew up nearby.

It's no surprise then, that Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci! If you have a look at the background of the painting, it is said that it was inspired by the Tuscan landscape and you get those similar views all around the Villa.

The gardens and landscapes are very scenic with a peaceful and relaxing environment which makes it perfect to take walks.

As it is a historical Villa dating back centuries, the bedrooms and interior reflect that feel but are also very modern.

The Villa has a large outdoor pool (which wasn't used when I visited as it was the winter months) and also a small spa with limited treatments.

The in-house restaurant serves a seasonal menu using local fresh produce, including authentic pasta dishes - yummy!

Although the Villa is secluded within the Tuscan hills, if you have a car or bike you can easily explore the surrounding areas.

If you prefer to stay in tranquil Tuscany, Florence (the Capital) is only around a hour by car or taxi, so you can visit Florence as frequently as you wish.

I will be covering more of what to do in Florence very soon... stay tuned!

F & F

xx

Body Brushing

I have always body brushed on a daily basis and after seeing the results myself and reading about the benefits, I thought I would share the secrets to Body Brushing with you.

To start with, you will need a good quality Body Brush with natural bristles. Whether you have one with a long handle or not is personal preference and won't make a difference to the results.

It is best to Body Brush on dry skin, in the morning before jumping into the shower (any other time of the day is also fine).

Start from the feet upwards in long strokes towards the heart; taking the brush onto the legs (front & back), then arms, moving upwards and not forgetting the soles of your feet, stomach and sides (be gentle on the stomach area).

Here is why you should introduce Body Brushing;

Aids detoxification

When your lymphatic drainage system is not working properly it leaves a build up of toxins/dead skin cells. Body Brushing boosts this system which helps detox those bad toxins skin deep!


Boosts circulation

Body Brushing boosts blood circulation which encourages waste elimination.


Exfoliates the skin

Body Brushing opens up the pores, removes dead skin cells and works as an effective & economic exfoliator leading to smoother skin.


Improves digestion

Body Brushing helps eliminate excess water and toxins which also has a positive impact on the digestive system.


Reduces cellulite

Yes those stubborn fat deposits known as cellulite are reduced as the fat is broken down when Body Brushing.

Body Brushing is actually so invigorating that it leaves you feeling glowing and full of energy!  It can also relieve stress and reduce muscle tension!

Once Body Brushed, take a shower and use coconut oil or any good body moisturiser to seal in the moisture - Enjoy!

F & F

xx