● Laura Thornberry ● Lifestyle Blogger ● London Based ●

Back in 2015, I blogged about The Body Shops festive range for that year, and I was blown away with the scents that they had produced for that season. Since then, I kind of forgotten about them, until recently an email popped up in my inbox with a discount code for the website that I needed to take advantage of. 40% off is crazy, but it definitely justifies a good haul!

Making an appearance for 2018 with...

Peppermint Candy Cane - Infused with the uplifting scent of peppermint candy canes. Strong and fresh minty aromas, with a hint of sweetness.

Vanilla Marshmallow - Enriched with vanilla extract from Madagascar, this sweet, warming and creamy range has the seasonal scent of sweet vanilla and marshmallows.

Berry Bon Bon - Enriched with cranberry seed oil from the floodplains of North America, this juicy and fruity seasonal scent that is packed full of delicious winter berries.

First up, festive bubble baths. Is there anything better than a hot bubble bath on a cold winter evening?! I don't think so. So I've picked up the Peppermint Candy Cane Bubbling Bath Foam & Vanilla Marshmallow Bubbling Bath Foam. These bubbling bath foams produce so many bubbles and fill the room with such strong, fresh aromas. You're bath will definitely be bubble heaven!

The Body Shop Christmas Berry Bon Bon Body Lotion

I've been completely obsessing with the Berry Bon Bon Body Lotion ever since my order arrived at my house. It's that good, I've already stocked up on 2 more bottles! The scent is just so fresh and fruity, it lingers on the skin for hours. The body lotion has such a rich, creamy formula, it feels so nourishing and moisturising on the skin. Enriched with Cranberry Seed Oil extract from North America, this keeps the skin feeling softer and smoother all day long.

The perfect handbag essential this season, and I've got both the Vanilla Marshmallow Hand Cream & Peppermint Candy Cane Hand Cream. With a light, non-greasy formula, these hand creams leaves your hands feeling softer and smoother. It works wonders for dry, winter skin! They are a great size for taking with you on-the-go or for travelling. They have become my new cold weather best friend.

I've used plenty of The Body Shops shower gels before and they are definitely one of the best that I've ever tried. One of my favourites is the Wild Argan Oil Shower Gel. That stuff is super moisturising on the skin and has such a unique, fresh scent. But for Christmas, I've picked up both the Berry Bon Bon Shower Gel & Peppermint Candy Cane Shower Gel. These shower gels lather up so well, you only need the smallest amount ever. The scents last on your skin for so long!

Overall, I'm super excited about the ranges that The Body Shop have brought out this year. I didn't think they could get any better, but this year they have definitely taken it to a whole new level! They've outdone themselves and literally combined all my favourite scents into their seasonal range for this year, it's just a shame they are always limited, as I would love these all year round. Especially the Berry Bon Bon Body Lotion and the Peppermint Candy Cane Bubbling Bath. If you're looking to try anything from the 2018 festive range, those are the 2 products I would highly recommend. They are INCREDIBLE!

What is your favourite festive scent from The Body Shop?

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With my previous blog post being my Stocking Fillers Gift Guide for Men, I thought today I would do something similar, but share my own Christmas Wishlist. This is the first Christmas Wishlist that I have put on my blog and this year I actually have some kind of idea of gifts that I would definitely love to find wrapped up on Christmas morning. My wishlist features such a variety of gifts from beauty to homeware and fashion, so if you're still on the lookout for gifts to add to your Christmas list, grab yourself a coffee and have a look at what is on my wishlist for 2018!

Way back in January, I shared with you one of my current favourite perfumes; YSL Black Opium, and I'm still loving it now! It's been my go-to perfume for the year and lately I've been using it sparingly as it's nearly empty and I don't want it to run out. Every single time I've worn it, I received handfuls of compliments and people asking what fragrance I'm wearing. It's such a gorgeous and luxurious scent, so deep, musky and sexy. Definitely one of the best perfumes I've ever tried!

If there is one thing that I love about Christmas, it's the strong smell of Christmas trees. I'm lucky in that every year we go and get a real Christmas tree from a local garden centre to put up in our living room. The fresh, pine scent fills the whole house and makes everything feel so much more festive! Whilst browsing The Body Shops website, I noticed they have a special Enchanted Forest Reed Diffuser and it just sounds incredible. It’s the perfect fresh, frosty pine scent to set the mood for the Christmas holiday season, and keep you in the Christmas spirit all year round.

Since I began blogging, Soap & Glory have become one of my favourite beauty brands. They offer such a variety of products from makeup to skincare to bath and body care. There's always so much to choose from. Included in their beauty gift set selection this year is the The Mask Force Five Gift Set. From brightening masks to under eyes to pore refining to purifying and plumping, there's definitely something for everyone and every skin concern. It's every skincare lovers dream gift and a pamper night must have!

When it comes to footwear, I'm 100% a trainers girl. They are just so comfortable and practical for day to day wear. Nike have always been my choice of brand when it comes to picking new trainers. I find their shoes to be long lasting, well fitting and super comfortable. Recently, I've been eyeing up the Nike M2K Tekno Trainers, especially in the Rose and White colourways. I'm usually always wearing black so I want to inject some colour into my outfits, and new footwear is a great way to accessorise and style your outfit up.

In my Autumn beauty wishlist, I featured the new NARS Climax Mascara. It's been something I've wanted to try since I've seen so many great reviews. I've not really tried any high-end, more luxurious makeup brands before, as I'm always shopping in the drugstore. Retailing at £21, it's definitely has a much higher price point than my trusty Rimmel Lash Accelerator Mascara, which is a lot more affordable at just £7.99.

Would any Christmas wishlist be finished without some sort of bath and body set?! One of my favourites this year is definitely the Baylis & Harding Rose Prosecco Fizz Gift Set. I've used products from this collection before, and the scent is incredible! The fun and festive Christmas tree design set contains 100ml Bauble Shower Crème, 100ml Bauble Bath Crème, 100ml Bauble Bath Milk and 2 x gold foil wrapped Bath Fizzers. The gift set is fragranced with such a lovely sweet scent of Rose Prosecco Fizz, it's perfect for your next pamper night!

I've wanted a Faux Fur Throw Blanket for so long now, but I just can't seem to find one that I love. All I know it that I either want a nice dark brown or grey coloured throw, that will definitely make my room feel super warm and cosy.

Does it make me sound old if I've got an electric toothbrush on my Christmas wishlist? I'm getting really bored of using an old-fashioned manual toothbrush, and would love to ditch them for an electric version. I'm completely fascinated by the new Oral B Genius 9000 Rose Gold Electric Toothbrush. Featuring 6 built-in modes: Pro Clean, Daily Clean, Sensitive, Tongue Cleaning, Whitening, and Gum Care. This is just completely mind-blowing and amazing technology.

I've seen a lot of these Super Cosy Fleece Bedding Sets recently, and it's made me super jealous that I don't currently own one. I know that if I did have one, it would be so hard for me to get out of bed every morning. Super-soft and ultra-cosy, the fleece bedding set is perfect for the cold winter!

I absolutely love receiving new perfumes and fragrances as gifts. There are so many amazing scents out there, that there will always be something new to try. In terms of celebrity fragrances, I've previously tried out scents from both Rihanna and Nicki Minaj, and I've had my eyes set on something by Ariana Grande. A cracking gift for Christmas is the Ariana Grande Mini EDP Gift Trio. A collection of Ariana’s signature mini fragrances is the perfect gift as it would let you try out a few of the scents in mini, travel sized form, before buying a larger size perfume. Featuring 7.5ml bottles of her ARI, Moonlight and Sweet Like Candy scents, in a cute and playful cracker package. It's the perfect gift this Christmas.

What is on your Christmas Wishlist this year?

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AD - GIFTED | When it comes to buying Christmas gifts for male relatives and friends, it's a right struggle. I've got 3 brothers, so trying to find fun and cool presents year after year is something that I've tried to be good at. But this blog post is here to help you out with my ultimate stocking fillers gift guide. I've compiled together a few ideas that I think would be a great addition to any man's stocking, or just as a general gift to put under the tree this Christmas. Whether he's into sweet treats, drinking, clothing or quizzing, I've found some great gifts that I can't wait to share with you!

Perfect for the laziest boys in your life, the super cool Chilled Out Sloth Mug* will make their morning coffee or tea that little bit more fun! Featuring a cute little sleepy sloth and the "Eat, Sleep & Sloth" text, it's a cute little stocking filler that will be loved by all.

An oldie, but a goodie. Give the classic gift of a Lynx Duo Set. The perfect gift for any man in your life and is an ideal stocking filler. Containing a full size Body Spray 150ml & Body wash 250ml, it's a gift that will definitely come in handy, definitely get used and keep them smelling clean and fresh!

This is perfect for the man who loves all kinds of gadgets and gizmo's. The Retro Pocket Games with LCD Screen* comes with over 100 games to enjoy all day long. Conveniently pocket-sized and super addictive, you can play this whilst you're on-the-go and you'll never be bored again.

Most guys are quite fussy when it comes to clothing, but these H&M Basic Relaxed Fit Sweatshirts are a perfect addition to the wardrobe. Coming in a variety of colours from black to khaki to grey and much more, they are perfect for everyday wear and super comfortable as they feature a soft brushed inside. Priced at £8.99, they are a super affordable gift and will keep the men in your life super warm, all winter long!

For any guy that likes a drink now and again, small alcohol gifts make a great stocking filler and a nice little surprise for Christmas day. I've picked up some Jack Daniels flavoured drinks, as I know these are my younger brothers favourites, but most alcohol brands offer gift sets at this time of year, from beer and cider gifts, to liqueurs and spirits, as well as cocktails. There will be something for everyones personal tastes!

It wouldn't be Christmas without receiving some chocolate, and this whopping 850g Cadbury's Dairy Milk Chocolate Bar is definitely something to talk about. Whether it's just for one person, or a gift to share, it'll be sure to keep them occupied for a while. Perfect for those with a super sweet tooth!

If you're looking for something cool and quirky for a foodie lover, Joe & Sephs Sweet and Spicy Popcorn* is a great stocking filler treat. With a smooth toffee, caramel flavour, followed by a hint warming hot pepper, before finishing with a spicy chilli kick, it's bound to get their taste buds tingling.

I'm sure there is one male friend or relative in your life that thinks he knows absolutely everything. So why not challenge them to this tricky and trivial Big Fat Pub Quiz Game. This pub quiz style game has 6 themed rounds including General Knowledge, Science & Nature, Music, Sport, Geography & History, Film & TV! With over 360 different questions, it's the perfect way to test their knowledge and see how smart they really are!

What gifts will you be getting for the men in your life this Christmas?

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AD - GIFTED | During the colder months of the year, my skincare routine definitely changes, and I am finding myself adding many more products into my daily routine that fit my current skins needs. The colder, winter months really have a drastic impact on my skin, as I tend to have much dryer and dull-looking skin. My last skincare post featured some of my favourite drugstore serums that I use on a day-to-day basis. I find serums an essential use for the colder months as I find my skin tends to get much drier in places due to the change in weather. Serums are great as they absorb deeper into the skin, and allow the skin to retain a higher level of moisture. I also have a selection of other skincare products that are my winter essentials, and they are as follows...

First up is the REN Glow Daily Vitamin C Gel Cream*. A new addition into my skincare routine, and a definite game changing product for those with dull and tired looking skin. It's packed full of essential vitamins minerals that help boost a radiant and glowy complexion. Full of Tara Pod Extract, Vitamin C and Magnesium, helping to even out skin tone, illuminate the complexion and nourish the skin. The REN Glow Daily Vitamin C Gel Cream has a light and natural fresh scent with a hint of zesty and juicy oranges. Sounds delicious right?! When applying to the skin, a little goes a long way, so you only need the smallest amount for a full face. A perfect lightweight and fast absorbing cream, anything with the words 'radiance' and 'glow' are a perfect winter treat that helps you get that summer glow all year round!

Next, I've been using the Superdrug Vitamin E Gentle Oatmeal Exfoliator. At a bargain price of £2.99, this has been one of my best drugstore finds in terms of skincare. Vitamin E Exfoliating Facial Scrub uses oatmeal to provide gentle but effective exfoliation, revealing deeply cleansed, soft and radiant skin. I use this twice a week after I've cleansed my skin, and it leaves me feeling super plump and smooth, that my moisturiser or serum glides effortlessly across my cleansed skin.

My third winter skincare essential is a nourishing hand cream. I always carry one with me in my bag for when I'm out and about, as they're perfect for when you're travelling or on the go. Recently I've picked up the Cuticura Intensive Hand & Nail Cream which I found when browsing my local Poundland store. Packed with Vitamin E and Glycerin; a perfect combination to keep your hands moisturised and nourished all day long.

Grüum Coffee & Coconut Body Polish Scrub

Another essential for me is a body scrub. I go through so many of these as I love the feeling of silky, soft and smooth skin. Currently I'm using the Grüum Coffee & Coconut Body Polish Scrub. Packed with Robusta Coffee, Cane Sugar, Dead Sea Salt, Argan oil, Macadamia oil and Cocoa Butter, it's the perfect way to exfoliate and nourish your skin.

My final skincare essential is the Vaseline Intensive Care Aloe Spray Moisturiser. I opt for a spray moisturiser in the winter months as it's far too cold to spend ages applying body moisturiser and letting it absorb. I'm currently using the Aloe Soothe moisturiser which has a super fresh and clean fragrance to it. I also really like the Cocoa scent! The product really helps to keep my skin moisturised and instantly leaves it feeling soft and refreshed. The best thing about this spray moisturiser is that it has non-greasy formula and absorbs into the skin in seconds, so there's no need to wait around before you put on your fresh clothes or pyjamas!

What are your Winter skincare essentials?

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AD| In collaboration with ALDI*, I'm sharing with you the final recipe in my Winter Warmers series. For today's recipe, I'm sharing with you my quick and easy Fiery Prawn and Coconut Curry. This is completely homemade, full of authentic spices and beautiful flavours, you'll never want to use a ready made jar of curry sauce again! So let's get started!

For this fiery curry, you will need the following ingredients;

Frozen Prawns, defrosted

1 can of Coconut Milk
1 tin of Chopped Tomatoes
2 small Potatoes

2 Garlic Cloves, chopped

1 White Onion, sliced

2 Chillies, red and green, sliced and deseeded
1 Green Pepper, sliced

Fresh Ginger, chopped

1 tsp Turmeric

1 tsp Cumin

1 Lemon

1 packet of Basmati Rice

Coriander (fresh or dried)
Butter

Salt
Curry Powder

Olive Oil

Naan Breads

Step 1 - Marinate the Prawns with the Turmeric, Cumin, Garlic, Chillies and Salt in a bowl, mix well and set aside for 30 minutes.

Step 2 - Chop your Onions, Peppers, Ginger and Garlic. Peel and diced your potatoes and rinse.

Step 3 - Heat a splash of Olive Oil and knob of butter in a pan and add the sliced Onions. Fry gently for 5 minutes on medium heat. Then add the fresh Ginger and Garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes stirring regularly.

Step 4 - Add a splash of cold water to your pan, and the chopped Green Pepper. Cook this for 5 minutes until soft. Meanwhile, place your diced Potatoes in a saucepan and boil until tender.

Step 5 - Followed by the Chopped Tomatoes and Coconut Milk and stir and simmer for 2-3 minutes. Once mixed, add your Curry Powder and cooked Potatoes.

Step 6 - In a separate pan, heat the remaining Olive Oil in a non-stick frying pan and fry the spiced Prawns briefly for a minute or two.

Step 7 - Once the Prawns are cooked through, add them to your curry sauce and simmer for 10 minutes.

Step 8 - Whilst your delicious curry is simmering, I like to prepare my Basmati Rice and warm Naan Breads. I love Garlic and Coriander Naan, but you can also use plain or Peshwari.

Step 9 - Plate up and ENJOY!

If you missed the previous recipes in my Winter Warmers series, I've made a gorgeous Spiced Butternut Squash Soup and some Super Sizzling Chicken Fajitas!

What are your favourite curries to make?

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When I've shared blog posts about skincare in the past, I've pretty much always mentioned products I've picked up from the drugstore. I've definitely found some amazing products which I've continued to repurchase time and time again, that come with a super affordable price tag. This allows me to chop and change the products I use depending on my current skin needs.

Now that I've developed a skincare routine that works for my skin, I've realised how important it is to include serums and the benefit they have to my skin. If you didn't know, facial serums have a really lightweight consistency that can penetrate deeper than moisturisers into your skin, allowing skin to retain a higher level of moisture. They also contain a high concentration of performance ingredients that really give your skin a boost, both day and night.

The Superdrug Vitamin E Moisture Boost Facial Serum has probably been my most repurchased skincare item this year, alongside the Superdrug Hot Cloth Cleanser from the same range. This serum is enriched with Vitamin E; a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect skin from ageing and environmental damage. For me, this serum has the perfect consistency, it absorbs very quickly into the skin and has a lightweight texture, leaving the skin feeling plumped and hydrated. Infused with natural fruit acids, this allows the product to help boost the moisture levels in the skin, and makes the serum suitable to be used both day and night. As well as containing Betaine; which is a great skincare ingredient that helps to smooth and soften the appearance and texture of the skin.

Next up, new for 2018 is a skincare range from beauty brand Revolution. I've been using the Revolution Skincare Plumping and Hydrating Serum for just over two months now since the weather has been much colder and my skin has got much drier in areas, and it's definitely been a product my skin has loved. This serum is packed with Hyaluronic Acid, a skincare ingredient that attracts moisture to the skins surface and is the ultimate ingredient for dry and dehydrated skin. This lightweight, oil-free serum sinks in quickly and has a cooling effect on the skin. You can really feel it working! This product has been my winter weather skin saviour, adding much needed hydration into my skin, that leaves it looking plump and feeling silky soft.

Thirdly, the B.Confident Phase 1 Night Serum has become a staple skincare item for my evening routine. Advertised as the 'ultimate beauty sleep', this Night Serum has really helped to keep my skin nourished and hydrated, especially in the recent cold weather. With 12 hour moisturisation, this lightweight serum helps to leave you with a softer, plumper and more replenished complexion, in the morning you wake up with the most glowy and radiant skin. Products in the Phase 1 range are suitable to use in your late 20s to help protect against the first signs of ageing and help to keep/enhance the skins youthful appearance.

I've previously featured the Superdrug Vitamin C range on my blog before, but the Superdrug Vitamin C Detox Invigorating Skin Booster Serum is something new that I've tried out, and I am completely obsessed! A serum packed with Vitamin C; a powerful antioxidant and the perfect ingredient to help protect the skin and boost radiance. Enriched with Kakadu Plum; the highest known ‭concentration of Vitamin C of any food on the planet, and Goji Berry; a superfruit known to induce calm, ‭wellbeing and energy. The orangey scent of this skin booster is incredible. Super fresh, fruity and zesty! This serum has really boosted my skins appearance, helping to seriously brighten and revitalise my skin, giving me that healthy, radiant glow!

These drugstore serums have really affordable prices, and they all RRP for under £10!

What are your current favourite drugstore serums? Have you tried any of the products featured in today's post?

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AD - GIFTED | With Christmas only a few weeks away, I wanted to share some festive treats that I think would make great Christmas presents or stocking fillers for all the family. Especially those with a super sweet tooth who love the combination of chocolate and marzipan, then Niederegger is the perfect gift. It's unusual, it's delicious and it's super festive!

Niederegger; the worlds finest marzipan from Lubeck in Germany, founded in 1806 by the master confectioner, Johann Georg Niederegger. Their flavours include the bittersweet classic, milk, Marc de Champagne, orange, apple strudel, caramel brownie, espresso and many many more!

"The secret of Niederegger Marzipan lies in a closely guarded secret recipe, handed down over the generations, for the exact mixture of almonds, sugar and a top secret ingredients similar to rose water. Only the highest quality, natural raw ingredients are used in the manufacture of our marzipan. Niederegger is the only premium manufacturer of marzipan still producing its own almond and sugar paste."

I was kindly sent the Niederegger Marzipan Christmas Hamper* which was filled with a huge selection of the most popular products, accompanied by seasonal Christmas items, perfect for the festive season ahead.

Included in the hamper are the following products;

1 x 110g Classic Dark Chocolate covered Marzipan Bar
1 x 100g Assorted Mini Marzipan Loaves
2 x 40g Chocolate covered marzipan sticks (Amarena Cherry, Walnut)
1 x 125g Flavour of the Year Apple Strudel
1 x 100g Dark chocolate covered Santa

The Dark Chocolate covered marzipan Santa is the cutest, most festive treat in the Niederegger Christmas Hamper, and for me, the perfect stocking filler for the whole family.

Stick'n Go are Chocolate covered Marzipan Sticks that come in a variety of flavours including Amarena Cherry, Walnut, Dark Chocolate and Milk Chocolate. You receive two random flavours that are included in the hamper. In the hamper I received, I was given the Amarena Cherry and Walnut; pure marzipan with a cherry filling / walnut pieces and rum, covered with a generous coating of milk chocolate.

The new style Classic Dark Chocolate covered Marzipan Bar, made with pure Niederegger marzipan in the centre, generously enrobed in rich dark chocolate. If the combination of Dark Chocolate and Marzipan is something you love, you'll definitely end up eating the entire 100g bar of this. It's totally addictive!

Also included in the hamper is the 2018 Limited Edition Flavour of the Year; Apple Strudel. A delicious Milk Chocolate coated, filled juicy marzipan and fruity apples, refined by a slight hint of cake. This would definitely be one of the tastiest treats in the gift.

Finally, the Assorted Mini Marzipan Loaves. A beautiful eight piece assorted box featuring mini marzipan loaves covered in rich Dark Chocolate. Pure Niederegger Marzipan flavoured with Pistachio, Orange, Pineapple and Espresso Coffee. This offers such a variety, that those who love to experiment with flavours would definitely enjoy this. Especially the Chocolate and Orange loaves, a brilliant festive combination.

Overall this gorgeous Christmas Hamper from Niederegger is a perfect treat this festive season. It offers such a variety of flavours and types of chocolates, my favourites definitely being the Amarena Cherry and the Pineapple Mini Loaves, something a little bit fruity and exotic, combined with chocolate is a winner with me!

Have you tried Niederegger Marzipan before? What item from the Christmas hamper would be your favourite?

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