Why I love Autumn

Oooooo I love the Autumn season. Autumn is my probably my favourite time of year. The colours, the fashion, the weather. I love it all. Yes it's rainy, but hey, this is England, it's always rainy! Let's not blame Autumn for our country's own issues! Here are the top 10 reasons why I love Autumn.


1. Comfy knits
There is nothing better in my opinion, than waking up in the mooring, shivering your way to the shower, then climbing into a big, snug jumper. I have a wide selection of knits, from turtle necks, to sweaters, woollen dresses to chunky cardigans. Recent purchases include a gorgeous white chunky knit white cardigan with black pleather sleeves from Primark, and a white embellished sweater from New Look. I am looking forward to teaming them with a statement necklace (another obsession of mine), and some skinny jeans.

2. Berry colours
To me Autumn means ditching the fake tan (unless it's a special occasion) and going au naturel with my skin. I have quite a pale complexion and think there's nothing nicer than pairing a natural flush on the cheeks, natural eyes and strong eyebrows with a bold berry lip. This month I'm loving the Revlon Just Bitten crayons which come in the most beautiful berry colours. Rimmel also has some amazing berry lipsticks, in deep reds, rich pinks and burnt oranges. This has become a go-to look for me, and I love mixing it up.

I also rock a strong berry colour on my nails in Autumn. Dark reds and browns see me through the season before I move onto blacks and glitter for Christmas.

3. Leather
This is probably a weird one, but I always wear more leather in Autumn. Whether it's my leather biker jacket, leather boots, gloves or leather detailing on clothes, Autumn definitely brings out my inner rock-chick! There is something really classic about teaming a white t-shirt with some skinny jeans, converse, a leather jacket and a chunky knitted scarf, and this is a signature look for me every Autumn.

4. Rainy days
Many people will consider me strange for my next statement, but I love the rain! Sitting indoors with a cup of tea and a good book whilst it pours outside is pure bliss for me. The sound and smell of rain makes me quite reflective and humble. Don't get me wrong, if I'm caught outside in it I'll grump and moan like a trooper, but when I'm inside it makes me very nostalgic.
Thunder storms are the best. I grew up in East Sussex, 10 minutes from the coast, and when it would storm my parents would drive us down to the beach and we'd park up to watch the lightening hit the sea. It was stunning.
As I write this I'm sitting on my bed with the news playing and there is a big storm warning for tonight. St Jude is due to hit in the early hours of tomorrow morning...Maybe it will change my mind on the whole 'rainy days are great' theory!

5. Scarf sets
Is there anything cuter than a scarf set?!! I love buying matching scarves and gloves. It started when I was about 12 and I saw a lilac lambswool set in Debenhams. I HAD to have the long shimmery scarf, mittens and beanie, and convinced my mum that 'I would wear them every day, they will define me, I will be the girl in the lilac scarf set' (yes I am a real life Rebecca Bloomwood!!)
Nowadays I like to buy patterned sets. Last year I had a cream and pink fair isle set from H&M. This year I am on the hunt for a red tartan set. I have my eye on a scarf from Zara, but I'm not sure if it comes with gloves. If not I'll make do with some black leather ones... ;)

6. Falling leaves
When I was little I used to dance, and my dancing school was set in a beautiful green - field? woods? I don't know what I'd call it, but we had lots of land around us, with trees etc. In the Autumn we would play outside as the leaves fell, and it would be such a lovely site. Living in London I don't tend to see many trees, unless I go to a park, but outside my office we have a row of trees and I often find myself lost in thought staring at them. I love how the falling of the leaves transforms the street from a bright summer scene to a crisp winter landscape.

 7. Soup
I used to HATE soup. I never understood why drinking your lunch was an acceptable thing to do. But last year I had a revelation. Soup doesn't have to mean broth!! It revolutionised my meals and I started eating rich, heart soups every day.
Over the summer it felt wrong to eat anything other than salad, but now it's Autumn I'm excited about the return of my soup menu. I will be indulging in vats of leek and potato, tomato, goulash and chicken soup. Happy days!

8. DVD nights
Over the summer I always think it's a bit inappropriate to spend evenings indoors, when I could be sat in a beer garden with a glass of cider. That's not to say I don't spend evenings inside, I definitely do, but in Autumn I feel no guilt about it whatsoever.
When it's cold and wet I think it's such a treat to invite the girls round, get a few bottles of wine, cook nachos and watch a chick flick. My housemate and I did just that last Friday. We ordered pizza, had some rosé and watched How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Mrs Doubtfire...on VHS!! Retro, but totally fun!

9. New TV shows
Ah Autumn, the season for new seasons! You cannot beat TV at this time of year. TV stations give their schedules an overhaul and start showing cracking programmes in the run-up to Christmas. New seasons of existing shows are also launched. My favourites include Downton Abbey, Homeland, Made in Chelsea and X Factor!

10. Christmas countdown
I actually think I enjoy the countdown to Christmas more than the event itself! In the last couple of years I've started my shopping in October so that I've got time to get everything delivered, and I just love the warm feeling I get from looking for gifts and stacking them all together in a corner of my room. That, coupled with the lights on Oxford Street that will go up in a couple of weeks and the adverts and Christmas displays that will come out soon really gets me in the mood for the festive season.
Working in media also means that Autumn is a great season in my social calendar, as lots of magazines throw parties in the run up to the Christmas holidays. Perfect!


Do you love Autumn as much as me? What's your favourite season? Let me know in the comments.

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My skincare routine

I am an absolute sucker for skincare. I've been a religious user since I was about 16. I'm now 28 so that's a pretty long time!

I don't know how it started. I think I read about the importance of good skincare in a magazine so decided I'd start making an effort. I started wearing daily make-up at the age of 13, and would take it off with a face wipe, but one Christmas I decided to take it up a notch. My first foray into the skincare world was to use the Boots Cucumber range. I used the face wipes, cleanser, toner and moisturiser. I actually really liked it - hydrating, nice smelling and fairly cheap. This range was my staple for a few years until I discovered Clinique and then lots of other brands.

Over the years I've chopped and changed my products, and for the first time in a while I'm happy with the majority of my routine, so thought I'd share it.

I should probably start by explaining about my skin. I have fair, pink under-toned skin that is extremely prone to breakouts. It used to be incredibly oily, although it's starting to dry out a little now I'm a bit older. I still struggle with my t-zone though. Often when my skin is having a 'good day', it's just pretending - lulling me into a false sense of security before my chin erupts again...delightful! For years I thought the answer was to use harsh cleansers and tonics. I would use TCP in liberal amounts all over my face - neat! I remember once, when I was about 22 and had a particularly bad breakout, I was in a job interview and the interviewer actually commented on how she could smell TCP - awkward!!

Now, I steer clear of these types of products and try to use gentler formulas, which surprisingly have cleared my skin up quite a lot.

So let's being...

Morning

1. Cleanser
I like to start the morning by cleansing my face with Cetaphil. It's a really gentle, pH balanced cleaner and I have a massive tub of it, which I keep in the shower. If you've read my September Top 10 post, you will know that Cetaphil is a recent discovery, recommended by a friend.

So I shampoo my hair and then massage Cetaphil all over my face and neck, washing off with my hands, or a flannel if I feel in need of a light exfoliation. I then pat my face dry once I'm out of the shower.

2. Toner
Some people don't feel the need to use toner, but I personally love the feeling of it on my skin as I think it just removes that last little bit of grime, and tightens everything up.

My toner of choice at the moment is the Lancôme Tonique Confort. It's a beautiful pink toner that is super hydrating. It's designed for dry skin so I only use a pea sized amount, but it feels very cooling, and I can still feel it firming up my skin. I like to apply this with a regular sized cotton pad, concentrating on my t-zone first, and then taking the product over my eyes, cheeks and finally my neck and chest.

Once I've applied my toner, I'm done in the bathroom, so head back to my bedroom, where I grab my skincare and beauty box, my 'make-up blanket' (a blanket I put on my lap so I don't get anything on my white bed sheets) and hop back under the covers to work on the rest of my face.

3. Serum
I love, love, love serums. They are SO silky and easy to apply. It's probably my favourite part of my skincare routine! I like to use Vichy Idealia Life Serum, which claims to stop the effects of your lifestyle from showing on your skin. It's a very light, pearlescent pink and smells like peach melba. I use one pump, and pat it all over my face, eyes, neck and chest. I wait a couple of minutes, and then move onto my eyes.

4. Eye Cream
I am obsessed with eye creams, but don't feel like I've found the one for me yet. I've tried all of the usual suspects, but am still waiting to find 'the one'. I've been told finding an eye cream is like finding a wedding dress; once you know, you know!

At the moment I'm using Simple's Regeneration Eye Zone cream every morning. It comes in a small tube with a very fine applicator funnel, which is great as it doesn't distribute too much product. On the whole this eye cream is fine, but I'm not blown away by it. It's cooling but other than that I don't feel it is doing much for me. When I apply it to my finger it kind of slides down towards my palm; it's very strange! The slippery consistency makes it easy to apply but it goes on extremely wet, so I have to sit for a couple more minutes waiting for it to be absorbed. I'm using the tube up, because one of my new year's resolutions was to stop wasting products, but I don't think I'll re-purchase.

5. Moisturiser
The final step in my morning routine is moisturiser. I am currently using the Vichy Idealia moisturiser and I LOVE IT. Vichy's products all contain water from the Vichy Spa in France, and with this product you can really feel it in the formula. It glides on like water and my skin instantly feels refreshed and nourished. The only product that has given me this feeling in the past has been Clinique Moisture Surge, so if you are a fan of that I recommend trying Idealia as an alternative. As with the serum, this product also smells like peach melba, which is beautiful!

And that's it for the morning. Once I've applied my moisturiser I move onto make-up and then hair and an outfit. My morning skincare routine takes around 10 minutes if you add it all together.

Now for the evening...

Evening

1. Make-up remover
The first thing I do when I walk in the door is remove my make-up, because I hate sitting around in it. I like to give my skin time to breathe. To do this I alternate between a micellar water and a face oil, depending on how I'm feeling.

The majority of the time I'll use L'Oreal Paris Micellar Water and a giant cotton pad. It's very inexpensive (I picked one up in Morrison's yesterday for about £2.50 on promotion), and extremely effective. I swipe the cotton pad all over my face and neck first, then concentrate on my eyes and lips. I normally use 2-3 cotton pads depending on how much make-up I've got on.

Sometimes, I just can't be bothered to use a cotton pad. Do you ever have that? Days where skincare is just too much effort and you would sleep in your make-up if you didn't have epic-wrinkle fear?! It happens to me about once a week, but because I am unreasonably paranoid about the repercussions of sleeping with make-up on I have a back-up removal system which is even quicker and easier than using micellar water. On days like this I reach for my L'Oreal Paris Skin Perfection Cleansing Oil. This stuff is amazing. Again, it's inexpensive (about £5 I think) and very easy to work with. I had heard face oils were the new buzz product so really wanted to try one, and the most popular seemed to be the Shu Uemura. But a friend of mine told me that she found the L'Oreal Paris version to be better, so I thought I'd give it a go. And I can't fault it. I just wipe it all over my dry skin, paying particular attention to my eyes, follow with a quick rub of warm water to turn the product milky, and then wash off. I have a tendency to get it in my eyes, which really stings, but other than that, I find the oil really simple and quick.

2. Cleanser
I'm not going to lie, sometimes I skip cleanser and just use a flannel and water. It's terrible, but true!

When I am using cleanser, I'll either use my Cetaphil again, or I'll reach for my Trilogy Cream Cleanser if I want something a bit more luxe. It has a medicated smell and is really gentle. I got it from a Heat Magazine event ages ago and it's still going strong, so is definitely worth the investment, as it's a bit pricey (£22.50 for 200ml on the Trilogy website). My skin feels incredibly soft after using it so I'd definitely re-purchase this.

3. Toner
I use the same toner in the evening as in the morning so once again reach for my Lancôme Tonique Confort and apply in the same way with a small cotton pad. I have a 400ml bottle and it has lasted MONTHS! Seriously! I got it at the end of December 2012 and there's still an inch of product left!

I'm done in the bathroom now, so run up to my bedroom to finish off.

4. Intensive Face Cream
I've been using La Roche Posay Redermic R for about 2 weeks and am in love with it! It contains retinol, which is a really strong anti-ageing ingredient, so I was a bit worried that it would cause a negative reaction, but it hasn't at all. I don't really have wrinkles yet, so maybe using this is a bit premature, but it has really brightened my complexion. I've received comments on how good my skin looks recently and that's the only real change I've made, so I'm crediting Redermic R!

I apply a blob slightly larger than a pea all over my face, concentrating on my eyes, forehead and around the mouth. Once I've distributed the product all over, I'll pat it in so that I'm not dragging my skin.

5. Eye Cream
I was using the Simple Regeneration Eye Zone in the evening, but it really didn't feel strong enough, so I went hunting around in my skincare drawer and came across a sample that I got at the Inside Soap Awards last year. It's a Murad Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture for Eyes tester pot and I LOVE it.

The formula is thick and creamy which is perfect for an eye cream. I like to pat it into my eyes, which doesn't take that long considering the consistency. I'd never heard of Murad so was looking on their website and it turns out that this is a daytime eye cream! Oh well! It's so moisturising that I'm happy to use it in the evening, and even though it's £57 I think I'll buy a full-sized version once my tester has run out.

6. Night Cream
I am currently using the Nivea Daily Essentials Regenerating Night Cream, and I have to say I'm not really a fan. I think it's designed for people with dry skin as I find it quite oily. I like the clean, Nivea smell, but on the whole don't think this is the night cream for me at this stage in my life. However, if you have dry skin check it out because it is very nourishing. I pat a very small amount into my face, neck and chest, avoiding my nose.

7. Blemish Control
I have a couple of things that I do to control my blemish-prone skin. If I have a couple of spots I'll use my Witch Naturally Clear Blemish Stick. It's a gel formula and just helps to dry out the spot overnight. If I'm suffering from a particularly bad breakout however, I like to do an Aspirin mask. Basically I dissolve 5-6 aspirin in a little warm water to make a paste. I then smear this over the affected areas (or my whole face if I feel in need of a bit of skin TLC), and wait for 15-20 mins. I then wash it off with water and pat my face dry with a towel. The aspirin mask really works for me - it takes down spots, and reduces redness as it's an anti-inflammatory. I would recommend that anyone wanting to try an aspirin mask reads up on it first, as I don't know if there are any side effects etc, but it definitely works for me.

Weekly

I like to exfoliate my face once a week as part of my wider pampering session, which I normally do on a Sunday. To do this I'll use one of two products depending on how clear my skin is.

If I'm having a good skin week I'll use my Soap and Glory Scrub Your Nose In It. This little beauty is amazing at clearing my pores and making my skin feel fresh and clean. It can be used in 2 ways, as a normal scrub, or as a 2-minute mask. I like using it as a mask so apply it in the shower, leave it on whilst I wash my hair and exfoliate my body etc, then scrub my face and wash it off. My skin is bright and plump after using this so it's my ultimate go-to!

Sometimes, when my skin is particularly bad I'll use something a bit gentler in the form of Normaderm Exfoliating Gel Scrub. This Vichy product contains 0.5% salicylic acid so still removes impurities, but is not overly abrasive on my skin. Again, I'll use this in the shower, rubbing it all over my face and neck before washing off and patting my skin dry.

So that's it for my skincare routine. As I said I'm pretty happy with most of my products, but am always open to trying new things. Let me know what your skincare routine is, and what products you recommend I try.

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Much love

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Top 10: September

I can't believe it's 9th October already! This year has absolutely flown by for me. I've had quite a bit going on so I guess it's not surprising, but it honestly felt so wrong to turn my Take That calendar over last week. Although I have to say, Gary Barlow's is a great face to wake up to every morning ;)

So now that September is done and dusted, I thought I'd note down my top 10 things from the month. There was quite a lot to choose from in September so the following items should feel privileged that they're in my top 10!!


1. Baby Lips

Oh, Baby Lips how do I love thee, let me count the ways. This cult lip balm from Maybelline has FINALLY made it to the UK and it absolutely lives up to the hype. They come in beautiful flavours and the packaging is really cute. I have the pink one which is called Pink Punch. It's a very light, blue toned pink and smells delicious. They are super-nourishing and go really well under lipstick. I suffer from terribly chapped lips, to the point where I sometimes can't wear bright lipstick because it highlights the dryness, but since wearing Baby Lips I've found that my lips are in better condition and are instantly smoothed enough to wear lipstick on top. A MUST if you want an every day lip care product. I can't see me ever going back to Blistex. 

2. Filofax

I have a black personal Filofax Finsbury. I bought it last year in an attempt to revolutionise my life, after forgetting a very good friend's birthday due to my ridiculously unreliable organisation system (also known as my memory!). I made pretty little pink dividers for it. I organised all of the sections to cover everything from tracking my workouts to listing the books I wanted to read. I added pictures to make it a bit more interesting to look at. ...And then I used it for about 3 weeks!! If you've read my post on why I'm writing a blog, this will sound very familiar to you!!

It has sat in a drawer ever since, but I've decided to give it another go because I really needed something to keep me organised. I cannot tell you how hopeless I am at remembering things, and work has been so busy lately that there's really not been room in my head for any other information. So far so good! I've decided to keep it simple this time. I still have pretty dividers, and pictures (there's NO incentive to read it if the inside is boring), but the contents just covers what I really need - a diary to record key dates, post-its for reminders, a section for notes and a section for lists (to do, shopping etc). 

I have a bit of an obsession with Vloggers so have watched quite a few diary organisational videos on YouTube (sounds boring but check them out - if you like stationary, you'll be hooked). They've really inspired me to make this work in the way I need it to. That's what I've done this time around, and I'm LOVING it! I check it every night before I go to sleep, and then put anything important into my phone so I don't forget.

3. L'Oreal Paris Collection Privée Nudes

Another lip range I've been obsessed with in September is Collection Privée from L'Oreal Paris. This range of creamy lipsticks has been designed around their spokespeople and each one suits a different skin tone. The thing that drew me to these lipsticks initially was the advert. It's so glam! It features Frieda Pinto, Eva Longoria, Julianne Moore and Doutzen Kroes all in one ad - amazing! 

I was really sold however, when I wore one on a photo shoot at work. As part of my 'natural' look, the make-up artist applied the Doutzen and I fell in love with it. The colour is really pale, so probably wouldn't work on extremely pigmented lips, but it's sheer and long lasting for those of us with a paler complexion. The colour is actually similar to MAC Creme Cup, although the formula isn't as bold or glossy. 

The packaging is very slick - matte black with gold writing and a gold metal band around the centre. It reminds me a little of Tom Ford in its design. 

I was so obsessed with this range that my friend decided to give me her lipstick - the Julianne. Now if I thought the Doutzen was nice, it's nothing on the Julianne. This slightly more coral nude is the perfect colour for me. It's bold enough to stand out, but still looks really natural. It complements my skin tone perfectly and smells pretty good too! 

Enough with the gushing, because I'm getting carried away! But if you're looking for a reasonably priced nude, this collection is definitely worth a look.

4. Smash

Something you need to know about me is that I love musicals. I used to dance as a child and have been in countless shows. Nowadays my musical theatre activity is reserved for the occasional shower session (I do love a good sing-along in the shower), but I still love to watch musicals, either in the theatre or on TV. 

When a friend of mine, who lives in America, told me about Smash I knew I'd adore it. The cast is fantastic - Deborah Messing, Angelica Houston and Jack Davenport (yum!). 

The premise is that a famous writing duo stumble onto the idea of creating a musical about Marilyn Monroe, and as the series unfolds you learn how the musical comes into fruition by following the writers, cast, Producer and Director. 

Jack Davenport is fab as the hot, cocky Director, and Deborah Messing's character has the nicest life! However, the star of the show for me is the guy that plays Tom (one of the co-writers). He's brilliant in it, and he sings one of my favourite songs of the first series - 'Don't Say Yes Until I've Finished Talking'. 

Season 2 isn't out on DVD until November, but until then I've got S1 and the Bombshell soundtrack to keep me going!!

5. Harry Potter

Oh my, how I LOVE Harry Potter. I was always so adamant as a teenager that I would never read it. My Harry-loving friends and I would have lengthy debates on the way to school about it, and I maintained that I would never read "a kids book!!!" 

Then I won a book voucher at school when I was 15 and my friend Kelly dragged me into W.H. Smith and forced me to buy books one and two. I remember calling her after reading the first chapter and ranting about how reading it had taken up 10 minutes of my life that I would never get back. But she assured me it got better, so I carried on, and by George I'm glad I did! 

A few years on and I cannot get enough of it. I've read the first 4 about 25 times. No joke! The fifth one is my favourite (which is probably controversial as not many people I know like it). The sixth is my least favourite; I just can't stand the Ron-Lavender love scenes and when Malfoy breaks Harry's nose it literally makes me feel sick. Every. Single. Time!

Anyway, I digress! The reason Harry Potter is in my top 10 for September is because I'm re-reading them, and thoroughly enjoying the experience. Every so often, when life is a bit chaotic, I find myself drawn back into Harry's world. It's like a literary security blanket. No matter what's going on in my life I can lose myself in these fantastic pages for an hour or so a day, which is really comforting. I also find that I discover something new in the stories every time I read them.

I started book 5 this morning. Exciting!!

6. Statement necklaces

I never thought I was a statement necklace kind of girl. I was always a big earrings or long chain lover. But I have to say that I am a little bit addicted to statement necklaces at the moment. Zara, Dorothy Perkins and Primark all have amazing pieces, and my collection is now thriving. 

My favourites include a tarnished silver gladiator style, slim gold bar style, African style and orange spiked style. I've been pairing mine with jeggings, a simple t-shirt, converse, natural make-up and a super high ponytail.

7. Butterfingers

Oh. My. God. My friend Esen has absolutely changed my life with this product. If you've not heard of it, Butterfinger is a US confectionary from Nestle. It has a peanut brittle style centre, and is covered in thick chocolate.

I don't like peanut butter. I actually don't like nuts at all (very weird texture!!), but recently I've been enjoying peanut butter flavoured things - Reese's Pieces, KitKat Peanut Butter, peanut butter M&Ms...

This all started with Butterfinger. Let me explain...

Esen had her hen party in August. We had a BBQ in the day and then went out that evening. At the end of the BBQ Esen gave everyone party bags, grown-up styli! They contained a 'grow your own boyfriend' toy, and a Butterfinger. As the hen party was in Bournemouth and we got the coach back to London (never again), I decided to eat mine on the way home as I was peckish. I wasn't convinced I'd like it but it was all I had. 

Well, it changed my life! Literally! The only way I can describe the flavour is to say salted caramel peanuts. They are really crumbly and sweet, but also salty and smooth. I'm kind of drooling thinking about them!

I thought the only place I'd be able to get them is a US sweet shop or online, but I went into the corner shop near my office a couple of weeks ago, and they were just sat there. I couldn't believe it! So now I have a regular fix as and when I need it. Joy!

8. Peppermint Tea

I've always loved mint, and peppermint tea has been a regular staple in my diet, but recently I've been ending the day with one. Every night I get into my PJs, take off my make-up, go through the cleanse-tone-moisturise routine and then make a steaming hot peppermint tea, light a candle and read my book. It's such a nice way to de-stress after a long day, and it's making me sleep much better. Maybe that's just wishful thinking, but I really feel that it's helping me. 

Who'd have thought something so simple could make you feel so relaxed!

  

9. Etsy

Etsy is the CUTEST shopping site. I am addicted to it. I stumbled across it in the summer when I was looking for gifts for my friends' weddings, and now I visit at least 4 times a week. They have the most unusual and pretty little things. 

Current favourites include stacking bracelets from dAnnon, like the one below. They are extremely intricate and I'm completely in love. 

http://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/159868556/minty-matters-bow-bracelet-stack?ref=shop_home_active

10. Cetaphil

I have pretty bad skin and often break out. I'm at that depressing stage in my life where I'm starting to see fine lines crop up, but am still suffering from spots. Ideal! 

I'm a real beauty junkie so have lots of products in my bathroom cabinet, but sometimes I feel like I need to take my skincare routine back to basics. 

Over the past few weeks my skin has felt tight, and in need of some TLC. I've struggled to eat a balanced diet because I've been working a lot, and I've not been drinking enough water. It's really taken a toll on my face! 

My housemate had a friend from Australia staying and I discussed my skin concerns with her one night. She suggested that I try her cleanser, so the next day I reached for the giant white tub in my shower, rather than my normal Trilogy. I am an absolute convert, and don't think I'll ever use anything else again! 

Cetaphil is recommended by dermatologists because it is pH balanced so it's really gentle. It doesn't sting my eyes which is great and means I don't have to worry about applying it carefully. I can just slap it on in the morning and evening, and then wash it off.

Since using Cetaphil I've noticed a real improvement in the state of my skin. I'm really impressed! 

So there you have my September top 10. What did you love last month?

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Dinner at Heston Blumenthal's :)

Tonight I went to Heston Blumenthal's Dinner, in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Hyde Park. It was actually a work treat from over a year ago, but what with one thing and another we haven't been able to book until now.

The waiting list for this restaurant is crazy - it took us over a month to get a table, just for 3 people. My two friend's and I have been looking forward to it for so long and the day finally arrived. Aaaargh!! As you can imagine we've been a little over-excited today, anticipating the amazingness that is Heston's menu!

Dinner is famous for it's historic dishes. The menu includes influences from as far back as the 1300s and the food is unlike anything I've seen on a menu before. For example, one of the starters, called Frumenty, dates back to c1390 and consists of grilled octopus, smoked sea broth and pickled dulse & lovage. Please don't ask me what that means, as I haven't got a clue - squid in sauce is my guess! We didn't have that one!

Now, working in media comes with certain perks. One being that we get taken out for nice lunches occasionally. I'm no food expert but I love a good meal, and have been to some stunning restaurants (by my standards anyway). But Dinner was on another level! It wasn't outrageously decorated, and the food wasn't pompously served, but let me tell you, it was probably the most amazing restaurant I've ever been to.

We walked in at 6.30 and were met by someone who took our coats and showed us to our seats (what are they called? Coat Masters? Let's go with that...!) We were given a tag with our coat number on, housed in the cutest little envelope, inscribed with a little message that said something like 'it's a pleasure to take your coat'. Well, it's a pleasure to give it to you, Mr Coat Master!!

The dining room itself wasn't spectacular, but it was totally elegant. We were seated at a dark wooden table, with really comfy chairs, and handed beautiful menus that were folded and bound with a 'Heston Blumenthal's Dinner' inscription. Oh, and a leather bound wine list...yes please!!

We started by ordering cocktails. I had something called a Bao Bao. I can't remember exactly what was in it, but it was coconut, lychee and lime flavoured. It might have been a rum cocktail? Anyway, regardless of the spirit, it was absolutely divine! One of my friend's had a pomegranate cocktail, and the other had a rose cocktail, which was decorated with a beautiful pink rose petal. So pretty.

As we had a set budget from work we decided to splurge, and had four starters between us! The first was nettle porridge with frogs legs. This was my absolute favourite dish of the entire meal. It sounds bizarre and a little disgusting, but it was honestly divine. The porridge was more like a risotto, and the frogs legs tasted like chicken nuggets - Michelin styli!

We also had salmon in earl grey tea, chicken oysters and the signature dish which is called Meat Fruit. It's a pate, arranged to look like an orange. Absolutely delicious!

For our mains my friend and I shared two dishes. The first was Dusted Duck (which apparently is an old fashioned term for salted), and the second was a pork chop. But not just any pork chop, this one came with the most amazing trimmings. I can't remember exactly what they were, but they were yummy!

By this point we were all pretty full. Foolishly, we thought we'd leave hungry because fancy restaurants normally serve small portions. We were SO wrong! The portions were enormous. I mean, not falling over the edge of the plate enormous, but definitely big enough to fill you up. Which coupled with the fact that we shared four starters between three of us, and had practically a whole loaf of sour dough bread before hand, meant that we were starting to feel the waistband pinch by the time we got to dessert.

But, being the troopers that we are, we ploughed on through and ordered three desserts to share!

The first was brown bread ice cream, with a delicious caramel sauce. The second was a chocolate tart thing. I wasn't so keen on that, as it was a bit rich. The third was their signature dessert, Tipsy Cake. It's brioche soaked in something yummy and served with a caramelised pineapple slice.

I have to say that the desserts didn't live up to the starters or mains for me. They were beautiful, but just not as special as the other food that we ordered. My friend's thought I was crazy for saying that, and I probably am! But whilst they were a thousand times nicer than my feeble attempts at dessert (apple pie and cream from Tesco), they didn't blow me away.

After nearly 3 hours, and a lot of money later we staggered out of the restaurant, with massive food babies and big yawns plastered on our faces. I've recovered a little now I'm home, but I was practically dozing on a random man's shoulder on the tube, and am definitely going to need a peppermint tea tonight!

I've thoroughly enjoyed the evening. We were so lucky to be able to experience Dinner, and it's probably not somewhere I'll get to go again, so I'm really grateful we had the opportunity.

If you're looking for a special place in London to eat, then Dinner is the perfect option. Just make sure you have the nettle porridge!!

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