● Laura Thornberry ● Lifestyle Blogger ● London Based ●

In all honestly, I am the biggest perfume lover ever! I just can't get enough! I adore all kinds of scents, I like quite sweet, musky and deep fragrances and find it really hard to choose new ones, which is a pain when I have so many on my current wishlist! But one fragrance that I have been lusting over for a number of months is the YSL Black Opium. Previously, I had never smelt Black Opium, but with so much praise and hype from bloggers and after reading great reviews, it was something that I had been wanting to try for a while. I mean, the scent combinations just sound perfect for my fragrance tastes.

"Discover Black Opium, the feminine fragrance by Yves Saint Laurent – new glam rock fragrance full of mystery and energy. An addictive gourmand floral with notes of: Black Coffee – for a shot of adrenaline; White Florals – to instantly seduce; and Vanilla – for sweetness and sensuality. WHAT’S STOPPING YOU?"

Top notes: Pink pepper, Orange blossom

Heart notes: Jasmine, Coffee

Base notes: Vanilla, Patchouli, Cedarwood

Since ordering this perfume, I have just fallen in love with it every single time I wear it. It's become my go-to fragrance in day to day life. The bottle alone is just gorgeous. Black and sparkly, what more could you want? The scent is gorgeous. I mean what's not to love? I think it's the perfect perfume for special occasions and nights out as it holds such a deep, musky, sexy scent that I really love at this time of year. I've found that this perfume is long-wearing and lingers on the skin all day, which is brilliant as I hate having to carry the perfume around with me for top ups.

Every single time I've worn it, I received handfuls of compliments and people asking what I have on. It may be a more expensive perfume than I am used to getting but to me it is well worth every penny and most definitely a luxury treat, something I know I would definitely repurchase! I'm just upset I only purchased a 30ml bottle because it's something I could wear everyday, but it would be a great travel size perfume!

Have you tried Black Opium before? What are your winter fragrance favourites?
Leave me your recommendations!

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Every time I wander into Boots to pick up a replacement shampoo or hair mask, I always see the bright blue packaging of Maui Haircare sat on the shelf, calling my name. But at £8.99 a product, I do find that to be a little expensive when I can purchase my regular shampoos, conditioners and treatments for around the same price combined. However, I would one day love to give them a try, I've heard so much good things about them, over countless reviews. If i was to pick them up, I would definitely be drawn towards the range specific to dry hair, Shampoo, Conditioner and Oil Mist all infused with Coconut Milk, encouraging nourishment and providing moisture to hair, which is exactly what I look for in haircare products, as cold weather and using heat on hair is a nightmare whilst trying to keep healthy, strong hair.

The Ordinary took over the skincare game in 2017, and I am yet to try anything of theirs as of yet. I've seen many a review and nearly every single product hyped over, so this prompted me to add something from their range to my wishlist. Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 is the product at the top of my shopping list from The Ordinary. Hyaluronic Acid can attract up to 1,000 times its weight in water, and after these harsh, cold winter months, my skin will definitely need some moisture and hydration. With a price tag of just £5.99, this is something I am 100% going to be trying out, and if it makes a difference in my skincare routine, it would be something I would repurchase as it is so affordable!

Something on the more higher end of skincare is the much loved Kiehls Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado. I've heard so many good things about this product that it is something I would love to try for myself. If I'm being honest, I always forget about using eye creams and serums, but I do know that the eye area is one of the first places prone to ageing and changes in the skin. gently moisturise the delicate eye area. This does sound like a great skincare essential that would gently moisturise the delicate eye area, but at £22.50 for 14ml a pot, is it worth the hype?

Another skincare product to add to my online basket, the Soap & Glory Speed Plump Miracle Moisture Mask. I love face masks, they are the perfect pamper session essential, and the best way to relax and unwind after a long, tiring day. I really like some of the Soap and Glory skincare, especially the Speed Plump Overnight Miracle Moisture Mousse, so I am hoping the Moisture Mask could be another favourite added to my collection.

Newly released are the L'Oréal Paris Smooth Sugar Face and Lip Scrubs, coming in 3 different variations; Kiwi - to clear, Grapeseed to glow, and Cocoa - to nourish. I've used a variety of L'Oréal Paris skincare before, my favourites being the Pure Clay masks and washes, to which have become staples in my skincare routine. The scrubs look like a great addition to my collection, in order to reduce texture and create softer, smoother skin, as well as to hydrate and brighten, which is definitely what my skins need after the winter months. RRP £9.99

What products are on your wishlist? Have you reviewed any I have mentioned above?

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Beauty and Lifestyle February Favourites

Rogue by Rihanna has quickly become one of my go-to perfumes.

"Capturing the mischievous nature that lies within every modern woman, ROGUE by Rihanna has a bold yet flirty composition. Top notes of flirty Lemon Blossom and Cyclamen are mixed with Bergamot and spiced with Pink Peppercorn. The aroma evolves with Jasmine, Rose and Muguet fused together with Juicy Plum and seductive Suede. Warm notes of Sandalwood, Patchouli and Golden Amber accompanied by decadent Vanilla and sensual Musk create a bold ending." Whenever I wear it, I always get compliments and people asking me what scent I am wearing. 9 times out of 10 they cant believe it when I say its by Rihanna. I would definitely recommend you giving this one a sniff, its so fresh and dark, somewhat sexy. A must have day to night fragrance!

This month I've been addicted to Prison Break, an American serial drama television series. "The series revolves around two brothers. One brother has been sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit, and the other devises an elaborate plan to help his brother escape prison and clear his name." I remember a long time ago watching the first season and not continuing! So February saw me basically binge watching this show. Episode after episode, I just cant keep away! If its nothing something you've seen, I'd definitely recommend. It's so captivating, interesting and easy to watch, you'll definitely be hooked on this show!

In terms of make up, there have been a couple of products that I have been reaching for more often this month and have been really enjoying using. First up is Maybelline's Brow Satin in Dark Blonde. A duo brow product featuring a waxy pencil and a powdered sponge, application is super easy and I feel that the colour is a really good match to my natural brow colour. It adds a good amount of colour, nothing too OTT, giving a very subtle, natural brow which I think is perfect for everyday. Secondly, I've been loving using the Maxfactor 2000 Calorie Mascara, especially as a bottom lash mascara. It adds length, volume and definition to the lashes, making them look very sleek and defined without the clumps, which is something I look for in a mascara. I HATE CLUMPS!

A haircare favourite this month has been the Aussie Winter Miracle Shampoo and Conditioner. As a huge Aussie lover, when I saw this range in Superdrug, I knew I had to snap it up and give it a go. The harsh cold weather we have been having hasn't done my hair the best of favours, but this haircare duo has helped banish dry ends and frizz, helping me to achieve healthier, nourished looking hair. If you're looking for some new haircare, I would suggest Aussie 100%. They have a range for all hair types, are super affordable and smell absolutely gorgeous!

After receiving my February Degustabox this month, I received a bottle of the VITHIT Apple and Elderflower Drink, and it was absolutely delicious! "Vit Hit - The Juice based soft drink with 100% Recommended Daily Allowance of 8 different vitamins, no added sugar and with fewer than 35 calories per bottle. With health giving teas and minerals for overall well being Vit Hit contains real juice and no preservatives, artificial colourings or flavourings." It was so refreshing and was something I would never usually pick up in a supermarket, so I was pleasantly surprised!

Lastly, a lip care product. I seem to always lose my lip balms and when I really need them, they just disappear and I cannot find them anywhere. Anyone else find this happens to them? Saying that, the cold weather has been really drying out my lips so I needed something to moisturise them ASAP, which is where I popped into Superdrug and picked up the Cocoa Butter Vaseline. It was super cheap and I know it will do the job, unless I lose it again!

What have been your favourites?

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AD| If you're a lover of pasta, you'll definitely want to make this recipe tonight! Something that is ready in no time, super quick and easy to make, and definitely delicious! As you may have seen on my blog, there have been a number of recipe ideas previously as I love to experiment with new ingredients, and I love cooking. For today's post, I was challenged by Batchelors to take part in the campaign is called #ThePowerOfThePea, to share the super-food values of the humble pea with the following recipe for a simple Macaroni Cheese.

Quick and Easy Teatime Mac n Cheese Recipe

Ingredients

6 Rashers Streaky Bacon, chopped*

1 tbsp Oil

250g Batchelors Marrowfat Peas*

4 Spring Onions, finely sliced into rings, including the green*

350g Macaroni*

50g Mature Cheddar Cheese, grated*

Cheese Sauce:

50g Butter

50g Plain Flour

500ml Milk

120g Mature Cheddar Cheese*

200g Cream Cheese*

Sea Salt and Black Pepper

Method

1. Preheat a grill on the highest setting.

2. To make the Cheese Sauce, heat the Butter until melted and add the Flour. Mix together in a saucepan and cook on a low heat for 2 - 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and slowly whisk in the milk. Place back on the heat, whisking continuously until the sauce has thickened, is smooth and is just coming to the boil. Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the Cheese, Cream Cheese and Nutmeg (if using) and season with Sea Salt and Black Pepper.

3. Fry the Bacon in the oil for 5 - 7 minutes until the Bacon is golden brown add the Peas and Spring Onion and cook for a further minute. Remove from the heat.

4. Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil and cook the Macaroni according to the instructions on the packet and drain.

5. Mix the Macaroni into the sauce, along with the Bacon and Pea mixture, check the seasoning and alter according to taste. Place in an ovenproof dish, top with Cheese and grill until golden brown and bubbling.

6. Serve with a mixed salad and enjoy!

Will you try this recipe out at home?

Check out some of my other pasta recipes including my Super Smoky Bacon & Spicy Tomato Pesto Penne Pasta Recipe and my Super Speedy Vegetarian Tagliatelle Recipe

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AD - GIFTED | Now that the weather is warming up a little bit here in the UK, it's making me excited for Summer and the holidays I have planned in the next few upcoming months. Relaxing by the pool, soaking up the sun, adventuring your surroundings and having a few cheeky cocktails is the perfect way to spend your days on a beach holiday. What perfect way to get in the mood for the sunshine than with a tasty, fruity cocktail, and these ones from Flare Cocktails are a great starting point! I was kindly sent three Flare Cocktails* to try, Cosmo, Mojito and On The Beach, a lovely selection of drinks that all have distinct different flavours.

A range of 4% abv blended cocktails exclusively created for Independent Retailers priced at £1 flavours include: Mojito, On the Beach and Cosmopolitan.

MOJITO - OUR MOJITO HAS BEEN DEVELOPED BY EXPERT MIXOLOGISTS TO CAPTURE THE TASTE OF A TIMELESS CLASSIC: AN ALCOHOLIC MIX OF WHITE RUM, LIME JUICE AND GARDEN MINT EXTRACT.

COSMO - CITY LIFE IN A COCKTAIL; OUR COSMOPOLITAN HAS BEEN DEVELOPED BY EXPERT MIXOLOGISTS TO RECREATE THE TASTE OF THE FAMOUS LIGHT AND FRUITY MARTINI: AN ALCOHOLIC MIX OF VODKA, CRANBERRY, LIME JUICE WITH ORANGE FLAVOURS.

ON THE BEACH - THIS FRUIT-FILLED REFRESHING ON THE BEACH MIX HAS BEEN DEVELOPED BY EXPERT MIXOLOGISTS, TO CONJURE UP MEMORIES OF DISTANT SHORES: AN ALCOHOLIC MIX OF PEACH SCHNAPPS, ORANGE AND CRANBERRY FLAVOURS.

When it comes to cocktails, I am definitely a Mojito kind of girl. They are my absolute favourite, and this Flare Cocktails Mojito drink didn't disappoint. It was lovely! I love the sharpness of the lime and the mint, that makes this cocktail really refreshing and something that you can enjoy all day long without it being too strong.

The Cosmo Cocktail was also really fruity and fresh, something that would be perfect to sip on whilst lounging by the pool. Lastly not that I didn't enjoy it, but the On The Beach Cocktail was my least favourite. I'm not a huge fan of Peach Schnapps, but nonetheless this drink was still enjoyable. The fruitiness of the orange and cranberry really helped to add a great depth of flavour to the drink and made it enjoyable for me.

What are your favourite cocktails?

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AD - GIFTED | This year, I have wanted to improve my health and fitness, more drastically than last year, and I thought the first thing I really needed to change was my eating and drinking habits, not that I was doing either badly, I wanted to find healthier, more beneficial snacks that I could use as replacements for some snacks that weren't so good for me.

This year, I have wanted to improve my health and fitness, more drastically than last year, and I thought the first thing I really needed to change was my eating and drinking habits, not that I was doing either badly, I wanted to find healthier, more beneficial snacks that I could use as replacements for some snacks that weren't so good for me.

I was recently browsing in my local Sainsbury's after work one day, looking for some new, healthier snacks to try when I came across the Kallo Dark Chocolate Rice Cakes. I'd never tried rice cakes before, but I was really impressed with these. Such a tasty, high fibre snack, I would definitely recommend these to any chocolate lovers out there, still a great chocolate taste, with much more added health benefits, without the added calories.

Another snack that I picked up recently from Amazon were the Nakd Cashew Cookie Bars and the Nakd Ginger Bread Bars. I had tried the Cocoa Delight raw bars previously and enjoyed those, so I was hoping I'd be happy with some of the newer flavours, and I am in love, especially with the Ginger Bread Bar. It had such a sweet and spicy taste, just like Christmas! It just tastes so heavenly and I can't believe there is so little ingredients but such a great, authentic taste. These bars are a perfect on the go snack, whether you have them whilst travelling to work for breakfast, or as a simple in-between meal snack. They are super tasty and only made with very few ingredients, so there is nothing nasty or processed in these.

Since I bought my Breville Blend Active about a year ago, I've definitely upped my game when it comes to making smoothies, especially for breakfast if I'm in a rush. Smoothies are so quick and easy to make, it's a great alternative for a simple, nutritious breakfast. Recently I was kindly send a few health powders and tablets, that you can combine into your smoothies, that add great health benefits without spoiling the taste. I've been using a mixture of the Indigo Nutrition Organic Supergreens Powder* / Indigo Nutrition Organic Spirulina Tablets* / Indigo Nutrition Organic Wheatgrass Powder* and simply adding a small amount to my breakfast smoothies in the morning and I have really been liking using them. Even though you can't physically see any health benefits, you know that they are all packed with great nutrients and vitamins, it's something so easy you can incorporate into your lifestyle to lead a healthier day to day life.

Something new I'm trying this month are the Proper Pops Lime, Lemongrass and Garlic Chips*. "We pop our nutrient rich chips under pressure. They don't go near a fryer, so they're 100% FULL OF TASTE with almost 90% less fat than your average crisp." The pop chips are basically a healthy alternative to crisps, and these ones I received definitely packed a punch with the flavours used. With a slight Asian influence, the Lime, Lemongrass and Garlic flavours were something I really enjoyed and I would really like to try some other flavours from the range as these really impressed me.

Next up, water. As you may have seen in my 16 Things for 2016 post, I wanted to increase my water intake as I felt that I really wasn't drinking enough. Water is super important when leading a much healthier lifestyle, so I was super happy to receive a bottle of the Nuva Ginger and Lemon Spring Water*. I love flavoured waters, my favourite being the Volvic Lemon and Lime water. But when I tried this one from Nuva, I was really impressed. It was such a lovely, not too overpowering ginger and lemon flavour, that I drank this first thing in the morning before breakfast, just to make my body feel refreshed and get it started for the day.

Finally, another water related product here. I was kindly gifted a variety of Stur Water Enhancers* to try and test, and they have definitely helped me in my aim to drink more water and increase my daily intake. I was sent 2 Real Brewed Tea with Lemon, 1 Real Brewed tea with Peach and the Boldly Blackcurrant and Apple Flavour, all of which are super tasty, but my favourite has got to be the Real Brewed Tea with Lemon, it's such a refreshing drink for the early mornings and I've been having a pint of water each day before breakfast, with a little squeeze of it, just to add some flavour.

My first impressions of Stur, I would highly recommend them to anyone who finds plain water boring to drink, as these are a great little additive that can help add some fruit flavour and help you to increase your water intake. They also come in such handy travel sized containers that they are easy to take on the go an add to some water wherever you go!

What new foods and drinks have you been trying this month? Would you consider purchasing any that I have included in today's post?

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