The Body Shop Christmas Collections 2019

It's officially socially acceptable to talk about Christmas, and what better way to start the festivities than with The Body Shop's Christmas releases and seasonal gifts?!

I was invited to visit The Body Shop's newly revamped store at The Plaza Shopping Complex in Sliema where I was given a thorough explanation of what to expect this year as well as experiencing some of the new releases.

This year's theme is 'To Dream Big' where the company has drawn inspiration from women from all around the world who have contributed to making the world a better place in different aspects.

I'm going to start with what you have all been waiting for, the advent calendars. They come in three sizes - small, medium and large and in fitting with the theme, each box in the calendar has an achievement by women printed on it.

Then there are the seasonal scents, and this year we have Juicy Pear, Rich Plum and Warm Vanilla. Vanilla always remains a favourite with me but if I had to pick another favourite, the accolade will go to the Juicy Pear range! I love how it smells fresh yet it has all the Christmas feels packed into it! Each scent has a range of products such as body mist, shower gel, bath bombs, etc and you can also find them in gift packs to suit any budget.

This year the packaging is very traditional looking yet it's still typical of The Body Shop with fun prints and colours all around. I think their seasonal offerings will make great gifts and stocking fillers anyone will be happy to find under their tree! As usual, all The Body Shop products are cruelty free and most of them are manufactured with FairTrade ingredients. There have also been some new makeup releases including a highlighter, red liquid lipstick and glow drops which you put under your foundation for a dewy finish.

Lastly, I wanted to talk to you about the Love Your Body Loyalty Program and it's benefits. 

♡ Basically, €10 are paid upon application and you get your loyalty card which entitles you to 10% off your purchases for a whole year. Each purchase of €20 of more, will also earn you a stamp (limited to 2 stamps per visit). 

♡ Upon collecting the 4th stamp, you are entitled to a gift worth €10 and upon collecting the 8th stamp, you will be entitled to a gift worth €13

♡ If you visit The Body Shop during your birthday month, you are also entitled to a gift worth €10.

Other perks of joining the Love Your Body Club include being the first to know about offers and new products from your favourite shop!

What are you most tempted to get this year?

What I got for Christmas & Munich Haul

I haven't done a haul post in a while but Christmas gifts and the things I bought in Munich provided the perfect excuse for me to finally sit down type such a post and of course take lots of pictures to show you the items in the best way I can :)

Starting with Christmas gifts, I got some of the best gifts this year, most of which had been on my wish-list for quite some time. Here I will be showing you the fashion and beauty related gifts as I don't think it's any use to show vouchers and such.

Going from left to right, first is the Tommy x Gigi small felt pouch in navy and white which my boyfriend got me :) This has been on my wish-list as soon as it was released and he had already bought it for me for Christmas. It also features a grey felt anchor and a navy pompom and of course the Tommy x Gigi logo in gold metal. The chain strap and hardware are also in gold. My brother also gifted me with a very chic clutch bag from Accessorize which features embellishments, embroidery and a satin lining on the inside. You will soon be seeing more pictures of these beauties in outfit posts I have planned.

My parents were kind enough to buy me a pair of new Dolce & Gabbana spectacles from Optika as I needed a new, stylish pair. You have already seen them multiple times of course. and I have gotten many compliments on them from friends, family and even people on the street.

Lastly, a pair of double stud of earrings from I AM thanks to my boyfriend who had to gift me a secret santa gift :P Here's the story behind all this...every Christmas, my boyfriend's family have this little secret santa 'do where each one of us gets the name of the relative they have to buy a gift to (the usual way this works). Anyhow, the names are drawn by an outsider (a colleague of his cousin) so they really don't know anything about relations or so and as luck would have it, my boyfriend had my name drawn :P Luckily for me, he remembered I had shown him these earrings and he got them for me like the fabulous boyfriend he is :)

Now, I shall move on to the things I got from Munich, starting with clothing. One of the first shops I look for when I am abroad is H&M just because we still don't have any of their stores open here in Malta. I was mostly interested in the beauty section (I shall show you what I got from there later) but of course, I did have a quick browse in the clothes' department. I bought mostly tops as it was too stressful to keep removing layers and layers of clothing just to try on the new stuff. Left to right, a basic green short sleeve top, black lace top (came with a black silk cami), grey merino wool mix sweater, ruffle printed blouse. I also got a pair of leggings to use during my pilates classes.

Next up is Zara, from where I picked up this super comfy pair of flat Chelsea boots, this green roll-neck knit and this printed pair of trousers. Lastly, for clothing, I have this Tommy Hilfiger blouse which my boyfriend bought me as a vacation gift. I just can't wait till summer to wear it!

Of course, I couldn't resist getting a few accessories seeing that most of the shops were already at 50% sale. I got the biggest scarf of all from H&M and the best thing is it was only €3! I love the colours and prints on this one - of course expect to see it soon in an outfit post ;) I also got some hair ties. From Mango I got this set of silver and marble bangles and from Accessorize, I got this gold clutch bag which will definitely come in handy when wedding season hits. Another one of my favourite stores abroad is & Other Stories. While I love their style, most of their designs fit me too big but their accessories section is to die for. I picked up this little pochette which I can see myself wearing with so many different things!

Finally, the makeup and beauty items! As I told you before, I really wanted to go to H&M for their beauty section. I had first tried their products earlier last year when I visited Barcelona and I found them to be of very good quality so I quickly compiled a list of the things I wanted to get. H&M nail polishes are some of my favourites around. This time I picked up Olive Grove, Rock Oyster, Tender Greige and Prismatic. Next I got two blushes - Cameo Brown (cream) and Cameo Pink (powder). I also got an Overnight Lip Rescue and a Clean Canvas Lip Scrub which smells absolutely delicious! I was really curious to try the Glitter Glue and the Do-It-All BB Cream Leave-In Hair Perfector so I got those too as well as this travel sized brush and some makeup sponges.

Lastly, I have two products which I picked up from KIKO - Glossy Dream Sheer Lipstick 206 and the Unlimited Double Touch Lipstick in the shade 119. I'm really curious to give these a go and see how well they last of course.

I really enjoyed shopping in Munich especially with the really good sales they have going on at the moment but I am really looking forward to visiting Milan in two weeks from where I hope to bring my first pair of designer shoes home :)

Which were your favourite items?

Non-Conventional Christmas Gift Ideas

Christmas is officially less than a month away and even though, year after year we keep saying that we will start Christmas shopping early, the same thing always happens time and time again – we leave it till the last minute in the hope that the perfect gift for each person on our list materialises in front of us in a festively decorated shop window.

Also, we try to wreck our brains to make sure we don’t gift the same things as last year or the years before. Fret not, for here I have some unconventional Christmas gifts that will surely impress your nearest and dearest ;)

For starters, one for the men in your life - KIR ROYAL is a little gem in Valletta that you should definitely check out. From the little details that complete an outfit such as pocket squares, ties and related accessories, to that perfect shirt, for the style-conscious male, you’re bound to find something to tick some gifts off your list. Best of all, everything is available in very limited quantities to maintain exclusivity. Oh and for the ones who have everything? KIR ROYAL also offers image consultation services!

Images courtesy of KIR ROYAL Facebook page

We all know that women love shoes right? And what’s better than a personalised pair of shoes by Desirée that will have in your lady’s good books for many Christmases to come? Desirée will even hand paint designs on bags and even cushions to beautify your home if you so desire ;)

Images courtesy of DESIREE Facebook page

Another one for the ladies. Silk creations are always appreciated, especially when they are one-off pieces hand-painted by Rosita Silk Sense. In short, a silk scarf will definitely earn you tonnes of brownie points.

Images courtesy of Rosita Silk Sense Facebook page

A new gift concept comes in the form of artisanal tea thanks to Tettiera which is the brain child of cousins Joanna Micallef Farrugia and Diana Mifsud. This is definitely the gift for any tea lover and with the Maltese tiles packaging designed by Stephanie Borg, it can definitely be re-purposed and loved for years to come.

Images courtesy of Tettiera Facebook page

Stephen Cordina Aroma & Therapy is now an established name in the industry and his many perfumes and scents are a great gift idea for home lovers or people who are moving houses. They even have a bath & body range to complement the home range. I especially love the linen sprays, candles and diffusers.

Images courtesy of Stephen Cordina Facebook page

A gift from Charles & Ron can never be a wrong choice. If clothes shopping is not your thing, the formidable duo have come up with a comprehensive range of small leather goods to suit all budgets. Whether it's their iconic handbags or coasters or belts, you are bound to make a very good impression.

Images courtesy of Charles & Ron Facebook page

Lastly, we know that Christmas time is all about spending time with our nearest and dearest and it probably all happens over an elaborate dinner which would have taken the better part of the day to prepare. Why not gift a voucher from Chef Matt Vella instead? Chef Vella will come over and prepare a delectable meal to your tastes as well as set up the table for you!

Images courtesy of Matt Vella Private Chef Facebook page

Which gift will you choose? Happy Holidays!

What I got for Christmas & London Haul

I feel so bad at the moment cos I really don't have a lot of time on my hands to sit down and blog as much as I'd like to with all that is happening in my life right now. Thus here is my late 'What I got for Christmas & London Haul'.

I will start with the Christmas gifts I received first. So our consultant doctor at work gave each of the girls at work a Marks & Spencer body lotion and chocolate (which I ate already of course!). Next we had our own version of Secret Santa between my shift colleagues and I was gifted with this pretty set of dainty stud earrings in rose gold and a card wallet which I absolutely love!

We also had a Secret Santa with Mario's family and this silver bag is right up my alley when it comes to special occasion accessories as I don't really fancy flashy sequins and stones so thank you to my father in law :) Mario's family gave us some vouchers for home ware seeing we are moving in together in a few weeks and we also got a set of bath towels.

My Mum & Dad really spoiled me with a pair of Charles & Ron Marilyn jeans which fit like a glove and I can't wait to wear them! Lastly, my amazing boyfriend bought me this Carvela Kurt Geiger bag while we were in London as we had agreed that we shall be buying our Christmas gifts for each other while on holiday. I love how I can pair this bag with loads of outfits and it fits so many things! 

The last Christmas gift I have to show you is this River Island eyelet midi dress from my brother. I love how this looks on me and it is a very versatile number as well.

Christmas Gifts

London Haul

Luxury Beauty Buys

Onto what I bought from London, which actually isn't as much as I thought I would buy (yes I am looking at you in the eye stupid exchange rate), starting with the luxury beauty buys.

I bought this Scandalous perfume miniature (£8.50) from Victoria's Secret as part of a larger underwear haul but of course I will not be sharing any pictures of that here. I also decided to try this Facial Peeling from Onsen (RRP £99.99, £59.99 with offer) which I shall be reviewing very soon here and the lady also gave me a body lotion sample.

I walked into MAC in the hope of finding the Ellie Goulding collection but it wasn't out yet; however, I did not leave the store empty handed as Odyssey lipstick (£15.50) caught my eye. It is a satin finish and is a sort of magenta-plum shade. Also from MAC, I purchased the Dita von Teese lipstick (€24 including shipping) online and I found it waiting for me when I got back from my holiday.

Drugstore Beauty Buys

Next I have some drugstore beauty buys from Superdrug and random stuff I got from Primark. I got some hair ties in black and brown, a brow and lash comb and a travel container set which were £1 each. I also got other random bits and bobs such as hand sanitiser gel, a lint roller, mini jar candles and scented tea lights, cotton discs and socks. Also from Primark, I got some exclusive Montagne Jeunesse masks and Hask Keratin hair masks for £0.90 and £2 each respectively.

Superdug had some really cool offers going on and I got myself some nail polishes from Bourjois (£5.99), Revlon (£6.99 each), Essie (£7.99) and Models Own (£4.99). I also got a travel sized version of the Tokyo dry shampoo from Colab (£1.99) and I got a free compact mirror and HD lipstick with my Revlon purchase apart from the fact that the Matte Colour Balm was free on a 3 for 2 offer.

Lastly are the fashion items! So I finally found not one but two hats that actually fit my tiny head! The cloche hat is from H&M and I bought it for £14.99 while the floppy one is from Primark and I bought it for £8. Also from Primark is the blush laser cut floral motif belt which was only £2 and the bag behind it was actually another gift from my parents but somehow I ended up photographing it with the belt.

Next are these two joggers from Gap which were on sale for £7.99 each and I bought them to wear for my night shifts were tend to go for something more comfortable. The silver based earrings are from H&M and I love the enamel colours on them. They were £3.99.

As for clothes, I was really happy to see a lot of small sizes available but it was disappointing to see that some of them still were too big for my petite frame. Nonetheless, I still managed to buy some exciting pieces.

Zara is the only store where everything I purchased was on sale and they are probably my favourite pieces. I got this flower print crop top which was only £17.99, the anchor print shirt was £12.99 and the trousers were £19.99.

H&M is probably one of the first stores that I look for when I am abroad because I really like the quality and style of their clothes. I was sad that I didn't find the new makeup line though but I am determined to find it the next time I am abroad ;) So I got a few tops from there and the prices were as follows (left to right): £14.99, £19.99, £29.99 and £10.00 for the shirt which was on sale. Shift dresses are staples in my wardrobe so I got this grey one for £24.99 and I also got this super cute skirt for £24.99 as well.

Primark is always full of people who seem to go bonkers with all the cheap priced items the store has to offer so the first time we went there was a little too chaotic for my tastes and I only ended up buying the random stuff above and the navy and cream shirt (£10) which caught my eye while we were in line to pay. We did visit again on Sunday to buy luggage and socks which I remembered I had to stock up on and since the atmosphere was much calmer, I had all the time in the world to browse the store for some basic pieces. I got myself two more blouses, two knits and a faux suede skirt. The monochrome blouse and the knitwear were only £6 each, the burgundy blouse was £10 and the skirt was £8.

Lastly, I have my River Island online order which came home while I was abroad as well. I bought the black embellished collar shirt in a separate order but I liked it so much I decided to buy the cream one too. I also bought this black Victoriana blouse because it is something different. All three shirts were on sale for €25 each.

That was one long post! Hope you enjoyed it guys and I hope I get more time to blog again normally soon!

'Ganutell' Scarf

Merry Christmas everyone! This week was very busy for me, hence the lack of posts so while we're waiting for guests to come over for lunch, I figured I should schedule some posts for when I am in London next week. First, I wanted to share with you what I wore to my work place's Christmas staff party. When I was planning my outfit for the night, I immediately thought it would be the perfect opportunity to wear my new Charles & Ron scarf from their current collection Ganutell.

Charles & Ron are a well established local designer duo which have just opened their flagship store in the heart of our capital city, Valletta and the inspiration behind each of their collections always has to do with some aspect or other of Maltese culture. Not to boast, but even though we are a small nation, we really do have a rich cultural and historical heritage so the designers are never short of ideas. Their Ganutell collection is inspired by the art of silver filigree flower making, a craft which can also give life to various other designs but flowers are generally the most popular of them all.

Coat, Gagliardi | Dress, Mango | Scarf, Charles&Ron 

Shoes and Clutch, Marks & Spencer 

Earrings, Sif Jakobs at 202 Jewellery | Ring, Viventy at 202 Jewellery

The scarf I bought features a print of said flowers in emerald and purple hues on a black background which really makes them stand out more. I really wanted the scarf to be the statement piece out of the whole look so I paired it with a grey A-line dress and a black coat and simple, silver accessories.

The pictures were taken in a hurry just before dinner so please do excuse the quality but I hope you can still appreciate the outfit.

December Collective Haul & Christmas Gifts

I have reserved the monthly collective haul and Christmas gifts as the first post of 2015, which I have to admit it is a bit late, but life just happened :) So, first of all, Happy New Year to all of you my loyal readers and I hope you enjoyed holiday season :) Last year has been very good to me and I hope 2015 will be as eventful (in a good way) as this past year has been. In the meantime, let's start the year with some pretty things :)

First up - shoes! These two Red Herring ballerina pumps were on sale for €9.31 each from €31 at Debenhams. I've already worn both of them especially the snake skin one which goes with so many outfits! The other pair is from Nine West and I bought it at full price for €99. I needed a pair of brown heels anyway so I got them before they were gone.

Moving on to clothes, I only bought this floral top from the Dorothy Perkins sale for €21 and this parka from F&F which I got for €48 instead of €60 during their official opening event. I've been living in it practically everyday especially these days when temperatures have dropped considerably compared to what we are used to!

December was definitely the month of cosmetics and beauty products as I got stuff from Inglot, The Body Shop and Yves Rocher to keep me smelling and good :)

Lastly, here's what I got for Christmas:

Starting from my family, I got some cash from my parents and my brother as well as a hair straightener as I needed to change my current one. My boyfriend bought me this beautiful Viventy ring which also serves as an anniversary gift and he surprised me with a Minion soft-toy when we opened our gifts at his parents' place :) My in-laws gifted me with vouchers that I already know where I will be spending as well as a jewelry organizer and my sister-in-law gave me this super cosy floral scarf. Our consultant at work gave us this cute Christmas tree shaped candle which complements my room decor nicely. Lastly, we had a secret Santa thing at work and I got this beautiful gold leaves bracelet and adorned travel mirror from Accessorize :)

What did you get for Christmas? Cheers to a Happy New Year to all!