Hi everyone,

 Hi everyone!

Last bank holiday weekend we hopped on the high speed train and headed down to East Kent to visit my grandparents. If you've been a longtime reader of this blog you will have heard me wax lyrical about Kent many times before - although I live in Essex I just feel more at home in Kent and am at my happiest when visiting, especially when the weather is kind! My years at uni in Canterbury were the best ever and I just hope I end up settling down there at some point in my life; it just feels like home.

So a standard Kent weekend goes something like this...

There is usually afternoon tea involved - this is at the Bluebird tea rooms in St Margarets at Cliffe. Perched on top of, well, a cliff, you get there using all manner of twisty windy roads and as this is the closest point to France your phone will normally change networks to SFR or the like. On a clear day you can see right across the channel and the views of the surrounding countryside are just beautiful, there were plenty of walkers around and it would be a fabulous place to take your dog. But we did not have a dog and we were hungry, so we headed indoors for tea.

It is a delightfully quaint little cafe with knick knacks and vintage-style signs everywhere. The decor even matched my handbag so I was truly chuffed! Their afternoon teas come with enormous scones and huge sandwiches - Jon and I shared a plate, although I didn't get to share his hot chocolate with marshmallows! Their prices are very good too so if you are in the vicinity (and possibly have a car - those windy cliffside roads might be tricky for pedestrians).

After tea we usually go somewhere picturesque to take photographs - it isn't hard, I think South East Kent has so many gorgeous little villages and the countryside is just beautiful! If we can walk along the sea we usually do - my grandparents live in Ramsgate so beaches are plentiful. After all that fresh air we then head back for dinner, usually fish and chips from the local - nothing tastes as good as fish and chips by the sea, in my opinion (although Canterbury's City Fish Bar does the BEST chips, I promise you).

Nothing really beats a Sunday morning waking up to sunshine and the sound of seagulls and crashing waves. This Sunday we had lunch at Whitstable Castle tea rooms as we were scouting it out as a possible wedding venue, then had an ice cream on the beach - a must-do if you're in Whitstable! This was so reminiscent of my student days that I felt rather nostalgic and sad, I do miss being only 20 minutes away from the beach. I didn't take any photographs for some reason, probably because I was so busy stuffing my face with a 99 Flake!

Just blissful - hopefully we will be going back again soon! How did you spend your bank holiday?

Love Dani
xoxo

Hi my lovelies,

Over the Easter weekend I finally managed to schedule a visit to see my dad in his new Parisian digs. I know, I know - really I should be popping over every weekend to make the most of it! His flat is just a short train ride away from the city centre and has a fabulous chateau and park where he goes running every morning, just blissful! As Jon has never really done "touristy" Paris before we decided to brave the hideous weather and hopped on the RER to the most touristy icon of all, the Eiffel Tower.

Once we had battled our way through the keychain vendors (although quite why anyone needs an Eiffel Tower keyring I don't know!) and hordes of other tourists we managed to take some photos, with a brief interlude of rain where we had to duck under the tower itself to take shelter. I haven't been in about ten years and had almost forgotten how majestic the tower can be, even under grey skies. My sister and I definitely got a bit snap-happy, it's so easy to get carried away!

I was also quite amused at the number of newly married couples out and about, trying to get photos taken in their finery. I snapped a quick photo of this lovely bride in her attempt to pose for photos before the heavens opened once more. There was also this fabulous vintage car at the Trocadero - I think Jon wanted to take it home with us!

After a few snaps the rain returned once again so we dashed into a nearby cafe and spent a small fortune on coffees and hot chocolate, but I am told the hot chocolate was absolutely delicious and well, it was Paris... We then had a quick nosy down the Champs-Elysees (with a small deviation into Sephora...ahem) before exhaustion and hunger got the better of us and we headed back to Dad's neighbourhood for a mouthwateringly good meal of steak and dauphinoise potatoes - so good! Unfortunately as it was a teeny restaurant with about five other diners I felt a bit self-conscious taking photos of the food so you will just have to take my word for it.

A quick note on my outfit - it was absolutely freezing so I had to layer up a lot with one of my sister's cardigans and a pleather jacket! I wore a pale blue crepe dress from Dorothy Perkins, with my Fiorelli flower necklace and painted my nails with Tanya Burr's polish in Little Duck, a present from my lovely friend Geo.

Next time I hope to spend a lot more time there and hopefully in better weather too!

Love Dani
xoxo

Okay. I'm ready to admit I have a problem. I am incurably addicted to foundations.

These images don't even show my BB creams (I pass those off as skincare). This is just a small selection of the products I cover my face in every day. I didn't even realise I had such a big problem until I was searching for one a shade too dark in order to mix it with the YSL Youth Liberator (too light). A quick search unearthed three foundations I haven't actually touched in quite some time...longer than I am happy to admit to.

You see, the problem I have is that I cannot tolerate my skin in its untouched natural state. There are eye bags. Scars. Freckles. Uneven patches. Spots. I could not feasibly contemplate unleashing it upon the general public, so like most people I seek to cover it up. I remember simpler times when I was happy to settle for whatever was on offer at Boots, use a bottle until it ran dry, then buy another. My first high end purchase was the now discontinued Chanel Mat Lumiere. I dreamt of this foundation for so long but in the end it was a disappointment, oxidising and not delivering the flawless finish I so wished for. So ... I began my quest to find the perfect base.

And here you see the outcome! I don't actually want to contemplate how much must have been spent on my collection so far, although I do use vouchers and birthday money where possible. I even have a sneaking suspicion that there are other foundations lurking in my collection that I have forgotten about and am yet to unearth - one day they will roll out from my make-up box, another reminder of money I spent in vain. The problem is, I think, that I am seeking a product that doesn't exist. A base that will hide my imperfections, even my skintone, add a little radiance and last all day, without feeling like I'm wearing a mud mask.

In all fairness I think some of the above have come close, so I’ve compiled some speed reviews for those of you reading this and nodding in shared frustration. The one I enjoy wearing most is without a doubt the YSL Touche Eclat (£29) foundation; I love how it makes my skin look and it doesn't feel like I'm wearing make-up; unfortunately the coverage is a little too sheer for my spotty days (ie every day) and so it falls just short of the elusive perfection I seek.

The YSL Youth Liberator (£36) comes close - this is my most recent purchase and if it weren't for the fact it is oh so-slightly light for me (they don't do my Touche Eclat shade, much to my chagrin) it would probably be perfect. However, I have been mixing it with the Bourjois Happy Light (£11.99) recently and I’m really enjoying the results. The latter is really dark, even in the lightest shade, so the YSL just helps to make it a bit more wearable for me.

Estee Lauder Double Wear (£28.50) is an old favourite that I have been wearing on and off for around three years now (don't fret, it's not the same bottle) and is the only high-end base I've ever repurchased. It really delivers the longevity and coverage I adore but leaves my skin looking a bit flat, even with highlighter, so I use this quite sparingly these days. It also seems to accentuate my light wrinkles so I have begun to mix this with dewier formulas to help out. Lancome's Teint Idol Ultra 24H (£28.50) offering leaves me with a similar finish so again it isn't one I wear every day.

MAC Studio Fix Fluid (£21.50) is another old favourite, good for high coverage but it does oxidise, despite me using one of the lightest shades in NW15. I think this was my second ever high-end purchase – good times! Bourjois Healthy Mix Radiance Reveal (£9.99) is an updated version of another base I used to wear religiously – the wear time on this isn’t fantastic but I do think it is a good budget option and I really like Bourjois foundations as you can probably tell. MAC’s Studio Sculpt (£25) is a nice fall-back foundation but better for winter due to the gel-like texture; this time of year it just slides off my face unfortunately. Finally, the Laura Mercier Silk Crème (£34) foundation is one that shows up time and time again on all the top beauty blogs. I purchased this after reading one too many reviews and… I don’t love it, I’m afraid. It’s nice enough but after all the rave reviews I was expecting miracles! This accentuates dry patches and doesn’t look great under my eyes, but the coverage is reasonably good and I have been mixing with other formulas to try and get my money’s worth out of this. It’s a shame because I really wanted to love this foundation!

So my quest continues, but for now I am quite happy mixing and matching the bases in my stash until the perfect foundation comes along. I’m still harbouring secret desires for Nars Sheer Glow and I know there are a host of brands out there I haven’t ever tried, so I don’t expect my obsession to abate any time soon!
What are your favourite foundations? Please indulge my addiction and let me know if you’ve tried any bases that have absolutely blown you away recently!

Love Dani
xoxo


*For those interested my shades are:
YSL Touche Eclat BD40
YSL Youth Liberator BR20
Bourjois Happy Light 51
Estee Lauder Double Wear 1N1 Ecru
Lancome's Teint Idol Ultra 24H 01
MAC Studio Fix Fluid NW15
Bourjois Healthy Mix Radiance Reveal 53
MAC’s Studio Sculpt NW15
Laura Mercier Silk Crème Medium Ivory
 

Hi everyone,

Yes, I'm another year older but not necessarily any wiser - I still forget to blog, think instant noodles are an acceptable lunch option and spend too much on anything brightly coloured in Superdrug. I balance this out by paying a mortgage and, you know, working and other grown-up stuff, so I think it's okay! My first birthday gift arrived a few days before my actual birthday in the form of a new job, so that was a wonderful way to start!

This year's big day passed like the last few; after demolishing a breakfast of avocado on toast we headed to East Kent to meet up with my grandad (and a surprise addition in the form of my mum!) for festivities, food, and frappuccinos. I wore my trusty River Island shift dress, with a pleather jacket against the wind and a pink statement Fiorelli necklace to break up some of the black!

First up was the traditional birthday Starbucks in Canterbury - this actually passed for my lunch that day but only because I was saving myself for dinner, a rather highly anticipated affair... although we did make a quick stop at Ramsgate harbour for Kinder Bueno ice cream! I promise I only had one despite holding two in the photo...promise. We then headed back to my grandparents' place for some photos - they live in the grounds of a fabulous old house and it's ever so pretty, I'm so glad Jon and I had a nice coupley photo for once, thanks to Mum!

Finally we reached suppertime and as it was my turn to choose venues I selected my all-time favourite restaurant, Posillippo's. I first dined here seven years ago and just keep coming back as they serve my most-loved meal - Gnocchi Zucca which is butternut squash and king prawns with gnocchi and a brandy sauce. Heaven! I always have to resist licking the plate when eating this!

 I'm told their other meals are brilliant too but I'm yet to be tempted away from my beloved gnocchi. My dad always chooses the Polpetto al Suge meatballs and spaghetti because they remind him of Lady and The Tramp, while Jon chose the calzone this time which did look pretty good! They also do a fabulous calamari starter if you are that way inclined. If you can have enough room after the mains they also do a selection of delicious desserts and it's always worth checking out the specials board.

We visited the Broadstairs restaurant as it is adorably teeny and opens out onto the beach if you dine on their terrace (it was too cold for us!) but they also have locations in Canterbury and Faversham - I chose the Canterbury one for my graduation dinner as it's just behind the cathedral! If you are in East Kent and fancy some authentic Neapolitan Italian food I can assure you cannot go wrong at Posillippo's.

This has turned into a bit of a foodie rave but it is honestly so good, I always find my way back there! I am putting together more posts on some of my gifts as they have all found a way into my daily beauty routine, so keep an eye out for those soon. Among others I finally accumulated some lovely Nars goodies thanks to my sister which I adore... stay tuned!

Love Dani
xoxo

If you're a big BBQ fan and appreciate huge portions I would definitely recommend the Big Easy; however do bear in mind it is rather pricy, ours set us back around £70 per couple overall which we didn't really feel was reflective of the food. Saying that though, the service was good, we had a very knowledgable waiter who even offered to take our group photos for us! I would probably go back for the £10 lunch menus next time rather than the blowout meal, I just don't think I can afford that twice in one year but if you can't celebrate when it is your birthday then when can you!