Let's Start With This One...

Good Morning Lovelies, 

Looking outside the window, you may not be thinking about your swimming costume right now. Unless you have an indoor or outdoor pool of your own. Yet, for many of us, the idea of putting one on and going away sounds amazing. Delving right into a deep blue sea. Lounging in a bubbling hot tub. Oh, the joys we will have when we can do these exciting things. Especially with so many costumes, bikinis and beach outfits suddenly making an appearance. 

A few days ago, I was approached by the amazing La Peche, a luxury swimwear company, who specialise in making their customers feel amazing. With out there prints and designs, there is no holding back when it comes to achieving the ultimate beach time look. Luckily I was able to get my hands on a piece to see just what they do. 

Upon opening the package, I was greeted with a red box. Engraved with the brand's name, the beauty of the box amazed me. I hadn’t even seen the costume yet. Opening it revealed even more gorgeous packaging, including the company’s label stuck to the paper tissue encasing the costume and the letter placed heavenly on top of it. 

Unveiling the costume, I was faced with a red thong based piece, featuring beautiful hand-drawn fabric, created in Singapore and printed in the UK. Given the name Saint Lucia, it truly is fit for any beach royalty. And I am not just saying that. Super soft, fitted with pockets to allow for easy bra padding movability and made to fit the curves and silhouettes of all those that wear it, the costume has every design feature you can think of within it. Without losing any of its sparkle. 

Priced at £173.41,it is expensive. I won’t lie. Yet, from what I uncovered, it is truly a luxury, made to last, piece. Something that is worthy of being worn year after year. Whilst I wasn’t a huge fan of it being a thong feature, I did like how it felt and would happily give it a go on the beach. I think I would come out with a RuPaul sashay. 

Holding it in my hands made me miss the beach. It made me long for a trip to the sea. It made me want to dip my toes in the sand (I hate sand by the way, so that is a bold statement!) and delve into a marble sea. I know that for many of us that is all we want right now. But, if we are making sure to stay safe and stay at home, then we can save money to buy items like this to enjoy when we can. Sounds good right? I think so too! 

La Peche has a huge range to choose from and a number of different collections on hand. If I wasn’t in love with the costumes, then the resortwear would be my ultimate winner, as the kaftans are also gorgeous. To discover what I mean, head to their website lovelies. The lookbooks are lush and the costumes are amazing. Just keep being fabulous, stay in and safe and soon we will be able to wear them out on a hot beach somewhere amazing. I promise! 

Joey X

Good Morning Lovelies, 

Would you eat insects if you knew that they were good for you? I am not talking about a Bush Tucker Trial type situation! But for the benefit of your health? Well, in a new discovery, it seems that they may just be the things that we need to start adding to our diets. 

Believe me when I say that this was news to me too. Recently I was made aware of the news, by a company called Protein Rebel. With a manifesto stating, “Think about what you eat. Think about the world. Think about your health. Think about your wallet. Think quick, think easy, think natural. Think Protein Rebel. But above all, think for yourself,” the company are dedicated in creating nutritious recipes with their products. Two of which I was kindly sent to try.  

As someone who hasn’t ever had protein shakes, bars or even powder on top of things, the delivery presented a whole host of new possibilities. Yet, not for others in my family, who were also excited to try the banana and dark chocolate flavours I was given. Right now, Protein Rebel have three different kinds of products to try. 

One known as Reload, another called Replace and the final one called Recover. Each with a different function. Reload is filled with muscle repairing prebiotics, whilst Replace works to help tone up and Recover repairs muscle and boosts glycogen stores. I am not expert when it comes to knowing about these topics. Yet, discovering how the powder could help in all of these situations was interesting. Especially when you only need around 30g or so of each of them to enjoy. 

Working hard to make a product that is friendly to the environment, the shakes/powder came to my house in two huge tubs. The Reload, filled with sustainable plants and cricket protein, was the first one I pulled out. In the banana flavour, I knew that this was going to be the one I liked best. When I was little I used to adore banana milkshake and hope to do so again in the future. For now though, I was interested in finding out how the shakes worked. 

Marketed at being great for after a workout, the tub suggested adding 33g of powder to water before shaking it up. You could also add the powder as a topping or in a smoothie. The same as the Replace one, which I was gifted in the dark chocolate flavour. In fact, the only differences I found in the experience of having these was the ingredients.

Whilst Reload was full of cricket powder, which contains a natural prebiotic that the company works hard to ensure is gentle on your stomach, Replace is a vegan powder that is purely plant based, being full of pea protein. Both though working to hopefully give you all the protein you need in a day. 

Getting the help of my regular taste tester, my mum was placed as my unknowing source at giving me an honest opinion on the shakes. I didn’t tell her anything about what was in them, their flavours or how they were made. Simple passing each one to her. All before my brother took them. 

My mum isn’t the biggest fan of bananas I will admit. She still gave this a go though. Mixed up with the blender, she took a sip in the morning and found her energy levels improved and she felt better. Unable to notice the cricket powder, she enjoyed it’s consistency and the way it tasted a lot. However, she did admit that it wasn’t something that would change her opinion on banana anytime soon. Good job then that my brother than stole it. 

Next up was the dark chocolate one. I knew that if this was added to a porridge or something that required milk, then my mum would like it. It is the perfect replacement to chocolate milk if you are looking to bulk up but branch out. Full of flavour, this was the real winner in our house. We discussed the ways in which it could be used as a spread if made thick. In cooking. As a hot chocolate. There were many options we came up with on what we really could do with it. 

With three options to fill your day with, the powders are a new, innovative idea that adults can enjoy all over the country. High praise and feedback has comeback from many and I hope to add my own to it. It isn’t certain if they will remain in our house for years to come, especially with one tub already having been stolen, but the husband and wife team behind Protein Rebel should be proud of their work. These tubs are truly presenting the best out of a new world. Well, insect world. 

To find out more about the brand or to discover each flavour fully, head to the company website lovelies. Tons of advice, accessories and blog posts can be found there to help you discover the brands ideas and creations. If you do give them ago, don’t forget as well to let me know what you think of them. Will you be shaking it all about with Protein Rebel? 

Joey X

Hey Lovelies, 

Getting your ears pierced as an adult can be a bit of a hassle. Not the actual doing of the piercing, although that can be scary, but the actual working out of where to go to get it done. I was five when I got my first lobe piercing at Claire’s Accessories. Now 20 years on, I can safely say I have had no problems with them. Something which influenced my latest piercing choice. 

For a long time, I have wanted to get the top of my ear pierced. Yet, I was worried by the number of horror stories I had heard about letting someone use a gun to pierce the cartilage. Spending time researching local piercing parlours, I didn’t know who to trust to do it with a needle. All of which leading me back into the direction of the company that my mum took me to when I was little. 

Due to everything that is happening at the moment, an appointment was needed in store to be able to get it done. There so, both my mum and I booked in to have ours done on the 24th July at the Harlow store. Turning up with not much memory of the first time I went to Claire’s for a piercing, team leader Megan, helped to get us seated, before talking us through everything that was going to happen. 

The piercing was a free service, with the earring prices and cleaning solutions being the only costs. With no hoop option, I decided to go for the 3mm stainless steel silver ball pick at £15. Getting my choice all set up, Megan talked us through all of the care needed before and after the piercing. 

Many find cartilage piercings a lot more painful than lobe ones, with extra time needed for it to heal properly. This wasn’t going to stop me and my mum from having it done though. Together we sat for around 10 minutes each, whilst Megan showed us our chosen earrings, cleaned and marked the area, before using the gun to pierce the area. 

Noise is the big thing in all of this if you are worried. I don’t think the pain really hit me at all, more so the noise of the gun being used. Something that comes from it being so close to your ear. However, it is not too bad, with it being done so quickly. 

After we had both finished having our ears pierced, we were given the lotion, paid and directed on what to do next. Instructed to come back if anything happened or we had any questions, we felt safe, secure and happy with our new ear accessories. 

Having been to another jewellery shop for my second lobe piercing, an equally good experience, I have to say if I had to pick out of the two, I think I would go back to Claire’s. I haven’t had any problems so far. It looks like it is healing well. We have even spoken to the piercer since, who said that they looked good and instructed us what to do next with future piercings, including going elsewhere for safety for inner ear ones. 

Claire’s Accessories gets a lot of bad press for their ear-piercing services, but I couldn’t praise them more. I am so happy with how they both look and can’t wait to go back in the store to purchase earrings for when I can change the cartilage one, as they are affordable too. 

Getting your ears pierced can be a big and scary thing, but if you are in the Essex area, Harlow’s team will look after you. In fact, I am sure any Claire’s team will. I trust them a lot now, after years of worrying from horror stories. I will let you know if anything changes of course, but for now I would definitely suggest taking a look at their appointments, earrings and store details to find out more if you are looking to get yours pierced lovelies. My ears have never looked so pretty aha! 

Will you be getting a new piercing when lockdown has lifted lovelies?

Joey X

Good Morning Lovelies,

As many of you know, my mum is my hero. I love her to the ends of the earth and will always be thankful that she is mine. Together, we have had a hard few months, due to the death of my dad and the battles I have faced with my illness. Yet, she has always been on hand to help me and make me stronger.

She is the reason I get up every morning and fight. She is a superhero without the need for a cape. Although, if she wanted to wear one I wouldn’t stop her. Edna Mode might but not me! There so, when the lovely team at Katie Loxton messaged and offered to help me make her day extra special, I couldn’t wait to work with them.

With so many amazing gifts on offer throughout the year, the team and me worked on making her something special for Mother’s Day this year. At an incredible price, they came up with a gorgeous bracelet that featured personalised wording, poems and charms I could select to be featured on it. Every element is made with care and thoughtfulness.

Adding to the gift a Mother’s Day pouch and a trio of delightfully smelly candles, I knew that this selection was going to go down well. Especially the bracelet, which is a piece that I knew would mean a lot to her.

Having planned a special at home event for her too, these added treats meant that she was going to get the ultimate day. Something I am so thankful to the brand and team in helping me to create! Katie Loxton is a brand that I have loved and admired for a long time. Having seen it before in John Lewis.

Sadly, I hadn’t ever brought anything from them before. A big element I now regret, because upon the gifts arriving, I could see that the quality, look and personalisation was all done with the customers wants and needs in mind. Every part of them is perfectly made. Every cherished need as a customer thought of.

Because of this, I decided to give the items to my mum early. Sometimes you just have to. Getting very emotional over them, like I thought she might, the Perfect Mum collection, helped to make her feel brighter on a cosy Sunday morning.

She hadn’t heard of the brand before, but since that day, I have seen her on the website a lot. I have witnessed her make loads of pieces in fact. Something that has made me super excited for our family birthdays and Christmas now. Is it too early to even be saying that? I don’t think so in this case aha!

Seeing her wearing the bracelet makes me happy. I know that she wears it with pride and has been showing it off to friends. She even waves with that hand now.

With her birthday coming up soon and even Easter, the company has lots of pieces that I can purchase to go along with the ones that were made for Mother’s Day. There are mirrors, stationary and more that I know will not only be perfect for her, but other members of my family, when it comes to looking for a gift. All at fabulous prices too.

If like me you want to find something extra special to give to your mum, head to the Katie Loxton website. There are loads on offer and I know for a fact you won’t be disappointed. Her collection is one of pure beauty and joy! I honestly couldn’t suggest it enough!

What pieces from Katie Loxton have you discovered and fallen for lovelies? Let me know if you have been on the website and loved! I would love to hear all about your finds to add to my own collection lovelies!

Joey X

Good Morning Lovelies, 

Seeing Sian Clifford and Maisie Williams in different shows to what we know them for is always a little strange. However, in Sky One’s series, Two Weeks To Live, they showcase a range of talents that make them the perfect pairing. Out now on DVD and digitally, the series will keep you laughing and gripped throughout, as they play a mother and daughter team, who end up living a very strange life. 

Clifford takes on the parental role here to Williams, as a mother, whose husband’s death leads her to taking her child away from the world. Deciding to embark on a rural way of life in seclusion, Williams’ Kim is unsure about a lot of things that she witnesses when she enters the real world. Including how not to let her survival skills take over. 

The show is continuously dark, but it is refreshing and funny too. It is an odd piece of TV that is much needed in the times in which we are facing. Both characters are fun. Each actress a joy to see. Those that join them along the way also excel at comedy. Even if the moments are sometimes a bit gory. It is a fab feature that will spark a sense of rightful viewing in a mad world. 

4 Stars

Joey X

Good Morning Lovelies,

Do you ever get the need to decorate your house? To just change everything in sight? For me, I find myself wanting to highlight bits and pieces in my room all the time. Including the prints and designs within it.

I have quotes, photos and more that simply just take over. Yet, recently I have been feeling uninspired by them. Until my mum got me a new one from Typo for Christmas. The need to find more than just hit me.

However, looking everywhere online I struggled to see something new that I would want. Before the GoradesignCo got in touch with me. Kindly offering me the chance to pick a selection of designs that I could place in my home.

Roaming around on their Instagram and website, I picked four pieces. Three to brighten my room and one for our newly decorated bathroom. Since the loss of my dad, our home has now been named the girls home. So you can only imagine our choices.

The first piece I was certain on was a moon design. I loved the quote at the bottom of the print. It made me think about my dad, who adored space. It made me think about how the moon holds so much wonder for us all. It was simply lovely. The quote was the perfect fit to fill a space in my room. To help capture sweet moonlight filled dreamy bliss.

For my second choice, I chose a Dance Floor design. Super simple but full of promises of dancing the night away, I loved it. However, the reason I really wanted this print was to give as a gift. My friend Tessa is the ultimate party person and I just knew that it would fit her home well. As a festival goer and music lover, I know that any home she owns will have a dance floor in it. Making this print perfect for any setting or space she lives in.

By now I was actually finding it hard to pick pieces. Not because I couldn’t find something I liked but because I was finding too many I liked. If you know me though, you will know that I adore the 90s. It was the decade I was born. The best years if I do say so. All of which leading my heart and my head to fall for this 90s roller skate print. The multi colours, disco balls, cassette tape piece. It just reminds me so much of the greatest decade of all.

Finally, we come to the bathroom piece. This was one that I just couldn’t stop thinking and adoring after. I simply love it. A shower or bath for me is a place to think, look after myself and to feel refreshed. So, this print says it all. I want more bathrooms in fact to be able to put the print up more!

Having never heard of GoradesignCo before, I simply love them now. Since receiving the prints, they have added more and I have already started picturing where I want them. To see what they have on offer, head to their Etsy page lovelies. I am sure there will be something for each and every one of you!

Have you been redesigning during lockdown? Don’t forget to share your new home looks with me, as I would love some inspiration!

Joey X

Good Morning Lovelies, 

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, there are many of us who are wondering if we will receive a special gift this year. Normally I get the chance to witness my parents share cheesy gifts, yet this year it will be very different, due to my dad’s death. However, that hasn’t stopped us from wanting to mark the day some way. 

There is always a little magic in our house when it comes to a celebration and so, we have decided to mark the occasion with a little Galentine’s Day event instead. With special decorations and food, we are also making sure to give each other some fancy items too. 

Turning to Amazon, we have both found some epic treats to gift, thankfully through the Amazon Handmade page. Knowing that they have been made by someone makes these presents feel super special. Something we both appreciate. Leading me to do this blog post lovelies, featuring my top five items from the new collections, which I think will go down a storm with anyone you give them too:

Amazon Handmade Just for You I Love You Milk Chocolate Bar, 100g, £3.75: Chocolate is always a winner and this personalised bar will go well with a good old glass of wine or whiskey. 

Amazon Handmade “I Love You” - Visible Voice Soundwave Print, £12.99: This is a really original idea to me and I love how the gold looks. I think it will stand out in any room of the house. 

Amazon Handmade Hygge Candle, £30: Who doesn’t love a candle? This one smells of winter or autumn and will have you feeling super cosy on these cold winter days. 

Amazon Handmade Personalised Name And Date Framed Print, £7.99: Much like the previous print mentioned, this one will have you remembering that all important moment that you fell in love. I may have to get me and my mum one of these to remember our most special days. 

Amazon Handmade Personalised Love Ceramic Ring Dish with Heart, £18: Whether it is a wedding ring or that special piece of jewellery, this little dish will keep all your most treasured pieces safe. 

Amazon Handmade has lots of amazing gifts for Valentine’s Day on their page at the moment. There were so many I could have picked but these just held a special place in my heart. From the plate to the prints each one is perfect for the big day and I hope that they have helped you find a gift to purchase.

Will you be using Amazon Handmade to find a present lovelies? Let me know what catches your eye and if you get anything special lovelies! 

Joey X

Good Morning Lovelies,

How do you start the day? Is it important that you have a lie in? Is breakfast your first port of call? Or do you like to begin it with a bit of a pamper? For me, I like to spend the first part of my day making myself feel super luxurious as much as I can.

Waking up at around 6am, I have a super warm shower, before getting dressed, doing my hair and layering on my beauty products. Items that give my face that little bit of a glow.

Over the past few months, I have been trying to discover new brands and items to add to my beauty bag. Something that Jolie Beauty have helped me with. For a long time, I have always loved my eyes and lashes. I am very lucky to have inherited my dad’s Italian brown eyes and long lashes. Yet, I do sometimes like to make them even bigger. Especially on social occasions or special events.

Whilst there hasn’t been many of them recently, lockdown has allowed me to get practicing. Excitingly with some new products from the brand, who are about to transform all of our eyes.

Starting with the introduction of a bunch of gorgeous false lashes, the company kindly sent me four different types to select from. Perfectly formed and easy to apply, I used the Jolie Lashlock Eyelash Glue along the edge to pop them onto my eye. I then held them for a few seconds, to allow it to dry, before walking away from my mirror with fluttering beauties. If I do say so.

As someone who doesn’t often wear false lashes, these were comfortable and super at putting me at ease doing so in the future. I normally use a eyelash curler, but with a strong glue and realistic falsies on hand, I am definitely a convert. Especially with how much these made my eyes pop out even more.

However, I wouldn’t use them all the time, as I also wouldn’t want to damage my real ones. Although, thinking of this as well, Jolie Beauty have come up with a new eyelash serum, called Ridiculash, to help make our real lashes shine.

Made to condition and help the growth of natural lashes, the brand has the potential to save brittle lashes from breaking. Advised to apply it morning and night, for the best results, the serum is light and comforting. Something that many eye products actually lack. When I first opened the product I was worried it would be heavy and uncomfortable in fact, but that was never the problem with this.

Overall, I have found a bunch of Jolie Beauty eye products that I will be adding to my beauty bag. Perfect for those future nights out, Zoom parties or just a little pamper a few nights a week, the falsies, easy to apply glue and incredible serum are definitely a trio that packs a punch. When lockdown lifts, I am going to be wearing them everywhere. I promise you.

To find out more about the brand and the new releases lovelies, head to the Jolie Beauty website. You will find loads more on there, but if you are just looking for the basics for now, these super shiners will go down a storm!

Joey X

When you have a film night in, what do you normally grab to snack on? Chocolate? Sweets? Cakes? A three-course meal? In our house, anything goes! Normally on a Saturday, we will grab our dinners and a dessert for afters and sit back on the sofa with one of the newest home releases or a classic. This does change however when I am having a film night in with friends though. Then all cards are off the table!

Planning takes place early and I often head off to our local supermarket to pick up some snacky bits we can enjoy throughout the night. Crisps, sweets, chocolate, biscuits and most importantly popcorn are all on the list. I mean you can’t have a film night in without popcorn, am I right?

With so many options now, I am always trying to keep an eye out for what is the latest popcorn treat I can provide for them when they pop over. There so, when I was emailed about the opportunity to find out more about the Popcorn Shed brand, I was very excited. Having never heard of them before, the company was completely new to me and so I was eager to discover what they do to make their popcorn so special.

Created by cousins Sam and Laura, Popcorn Shed has been running from their garden shed since 2016 and the family-owned business has since gone on to win several awards for the gourmet flavours and branding. When my parcel arrived, I wasn’t sure what I would be opening, keeping the whole thing a surprise.

Inside the box was a lot more popcorn than I was expecting. From tiny snack packs to a giant box shaped like their shed (LOVED THIS!), I automatically loved the brand. The handy snack packs meant that in the future, I could imagine myself grabbing the ones my friends liked and specialising their tastes. Whereas with the bigger box, I could dish these out to the family when we have a party or are gathering in the living room after a busy day.

With many flavours to choose from, I was lucky to receive the following:

• Gourmet Salted Butterscotch Popcorn Shed
• Mini Pop Toffee Popcorn
• Mini Pop Sea Salt Popcorn
• Mini Pop Sweet & Salty Popcorn
• Mini Pop White Truffle Popcorn
• Mini Pop Salt & Vinegar Popcorn

With a mum who adores popcorn, she soon tucked in on Saturday night whilst watching TV. To be honest, we were unsure of how they were going to taste, yet she was pleasantly surprised by the flavours and the unique size of the snack pack, as she enjoyed the toffee variety. 

What I really like about these are the way in which they are packaged. I adore the small packs that mean you can put them in lunch boxes, carry them in your bag or if you just simply fancy a small popcorn snack you can enjoy them. And with each one ranging between less than 140 calories, they are not so bad either. Although, it doesn’t really matter aha!

Popcorn Shed is gourmet and with affordable prices for each size, they deliver on their promise. I am going to be ordering some more or looking out for them in shops for my next film night to help cater for everyone's different tastes. They are properly popped pieces of snacking joy.

To find out more about Popcorn Shed or to see the full range, head to their website lovelies. Let me know in the comments below what you like to snack on when watching TV or a film lovelies and I will be sure to get back to you!

Joey X