Last minute beauty stocking fillers

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Just a couple of weeks left till the big day and if, like me, you’ve already braved the highstreets you’ll be ready to finish your Christmas shopping online, curled up on the sofa with a cup of tea and no crowds to contend with! Here’s a few of my wintery beauty favourites to top up those festive stockings.

Beauty stocking fillers

Officine Universelle Buly Savon Superfin – The packaging alone of this historic brand is special, and inside the scented soaps are just as lovely, pick from a collection with includes ‘damask rose’ and ‘komi forest’.

Beauty stocking fillers

Diptyque Coton – Every year the candle kings at Diptyque bring out a limited edition range of candles. This year ‘Coton’ is part of the festive collection – a soft and smooth scent featuring tonka bean, musk and iris, encased in a beautiful glass adorned with blue and gold flames.

Beauty stocking fillers

Fresh – I love the Fresh products, fuss free and effective with lovely scents. The gift sets are perfect for Christmas, brilliant collections of their most loved products. The ‘Hydration Boost’ set is ideal for winter worn skin with the gentle Soy Face Wash, Tea Elixir Serum to remedy tired skin and Rose Face Cream to strengthen the skin’s barrier, delivering dewy skin that’s plumped with moisture.

Beauty stocking fillers

Jones Road – Simplified make-up for all skin types, wrapped up in perfect little pink boxes. For festive maekovers the ‘Miracle Balm’ is great for adding a dewy glow to your complexion, I pair it with ‘Sparkle Wash’ – a shimmery eyeshadow perfect for party season.

Beauty stocking fillers

Grown Alchemist Giving Face set – A Christmas set which includes the Grown Alchemist favourites to cleanse and moisterise your skin, all packaged up in sizes ideal for travelling.

Beauty stocking fillers

Thameen Discovery Set – I love this trio of perfumes from Thameen which has a scent for every Christmas occasion – Fanfare, Bohemian Infusion and Bravi. Each one pays tribute to one of the most iconic sights in London, Covent Garden. Fanfare, for example, delights with notes of lemon, flower market accord and patchouli to bottle the scent of the bustling Flower Market.

Beauty stocking fillers

Gisou – This award-winning honey-infused hair oil is the perfect antidote to cold weather. Use this finishing product as the last step in your hair routine – just rub a few drops in your hands and smooth over your hair to eliminate frizz and promote maximum shine. A great present for all.

Beauty stocking fillers

Victoria Beckham – I love the whole Victoria Beckham make-up range – and these little boxes of luxury are the perfect stocking filler. If you aren’t sure of someone’s skin type / shade I recommend a universal eye liner, these ones are long lasting and bold so make an effect on every eye.

Beauty stocking fillers

Vieve – The ultimate party shimmer from Vieve. A high-impact, liquid highlighter that gives the look of ethereal glass skin whilst delivering serious staying power. It comes in three shades and is a great mood-lifter year round, but particularly fitting for festive shindigs!

Beauty stocking fillers

Ultra Violette Vi’s Faves – A best-selling duo to protect and nourish both your face and body. Includes the Fave Fluid SPF 50+ and Extreme Screen SPF 50+. Because sun-protection isn’t just for summer.

Includes some gifted products.

The Ultimate Foodie Advent Calendars

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Christmas is coming and the December count-down is just round the corner. Kick off your festive season with one of this year’s ultimate foodie calendars. I’ve picked five of my favourites including pastries, coffee, chocolate, fizz and more… Treat yourself or buy one for your food loving friends and family.

Advent Calendars

Pophams – I can’t think of anything I’d like more than a month of pastries from one of London’s finest artisan bakeries. This year the Pophams calendar has been beautifully illustrated by Lottie Hampson, inspired by the different Pophams branches. You will also find gifts from Minor Figures and Bare Bones chocolate, along with a range of baked treat vouchers. The whole calendar is worth over £100 and as Christmas is about giving it includes 2 doors which reveal donations to Hackney Food Bank.

Advent Calendars

Artisan Coffee – This culinary coffee brand has been developed by Michelin starred chefs and the flavour profile of the beans showcases the thought that has gone into the bean selection. The pod and bag advent calendars offer a selection of their bestselling coffees so you can pick your favourite to order in the new year when the calendar has sadly finished.

Advent Calendars

Divine and Freixenet – The best of both worlds… 24 drawers of treats from the fizz and chocolate brands. A selection of different flavours and wines are contained in this extra luxurious calendar. The bottles and bars are perfectly sized for one, so I suggest not sharing!

Advent Calendars

Lakrids by Bülow – Whether you are a liquorice lover or hater you can’t deny that this is a special selection to make your way through this December. The Danish confectionary brand has developed a super chic calendar filled with every flavour of the chocolate chocolate liquorice balls.

Advent Calendars

Lindt – It is iconic for a reason… you can’t go wrong with the Lindt Lindor calendar, packed full of the indulgent chocolate truffles – from the classic milk chocolate to salted caramel and white chocolate.

Six restaurants you need to know about in Edinburgh

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Edinburgh’s food scene has never been better than it is right now. The Scottish capital is brimming with delicious foodie options, whether you fancy a deluxe sandwich or an elegant Michelin starred date night dinner. Inventive chefs are opening up exciting eateries in every corner of the historic destination – here are a few of the spots I’ve tried, tested and encourage you to taste for yourself.

Tipo

Tipo – A beautiful minimalist dining room in the centre of town, Tipo serves relaxed Italian cuisine. The small plates and homemade pastas deliver on flavour and aesthetics. Don’t miss the irresistable snacks – lamb fritte with white anchovy and zeppole with pecorino cheese, and the seasonal soft serve for dessert.

Spry –  This neighbourhood wine bar and bottle shop specialises in naturally made wines. ‍ The accompanying food menu is an ever-changing selection of dishes made with local, seasonal produce. I particularly loved the fresh cheese with olive oil and the leek dumplings (perfect for a chilly winter’s evening). The group also has a great bakery and coffee shop downstairs called Ante.

The Little Chartroom

The Little Chartroom – Roberta Hall’s bijou bistro serves modern European dishes in a charming little dining room. The menu showcases bold Scottish ingredients, presented confidently and creatively. The menu changes frequently but the Spenwood cheese & caramelised onion tart, pickled onion, beer vinegar was very memorable. Book a table at the chef’s counter to watch the kitchen at work.

Eleanore – Located on Albert Place, Leith, Eleanore is the second restaurant from the Little Chartroom team serving a fine dining, seasonal menu. The eatery and wine bar has high stool seating and bright monochrome décor and the service is wonderfully welcoming. Every plate was tastier than the last, with the Pork ‘Bo Ssam’, cashew, sesame and Cheese course particularly standing out.

Noto – Noto is an independent restaurant focused on food for sharing, small domaine wine producers & bespoke cocktails. Inspired by chef-owner Stuart’s time working in NYC, the restaurant is named after his eclectic room-mate there, Bob Noto. I loved the fusion style dishes, unexpected and full of flavour – ox cheek bao buns, onion, star anise and purple sprouting broccoli tempura, togarashi were a couple of my stand-out plates.

The Palmeston

The Palmerston – This much loved restaurant and bakery is always full of hungry locals and visitors. Housed in an impressive 19th-century building – a former Royal Bank of Scotland, it feels a bit like a classic Parisian bistro. The menu is full of tempting options, with comforting recipes like rich, slow-roast Tamworth pork loin with borlotti beans and black cabbage. It is a friendly, warm place to meet with friends or family and feast together.

Other restaurants I’ve loved on previous trips or have been highly recommended recently – Timberyard, Lyla, Heron, Pomelo, Mirin, Alby’s, The Gardener’s Cottage, Fhior, Kitchen Table at Twelve Triangles.