Monday 30 September 2013

Spalding Bulb - Red Apple Tree Performance

When we first got our allotment I applied to join the Spalding Bulb bloggers club.  They sent me a pack of spring bulbs and a red apple tree. 

We planted the tree during the dormant winter months and waited for mother nature to do her stuff.

February
 

May

June

and yesterday (29th September)
 
 
I'm very pleased with the growth in this first year and can't wait to see what happens next year.  I'm very tempted to try training it while it is still young.
 
Spalding Bulb have a lovely selection of fruit trees and I'm definitely to try something different once they turn dormant again.

Monday 23 September 2013

Birchbox UK v Glossybox UK September 2013

Both boxes turned up on the same day this month


First up Birchbox:


This month it contained:

Reverence de Bastien nail polish shade no 13 which is a nice deep red with a touch of shimmer.  The RRP for this is £16 and it definitely feels like an expensive product.  Not a colour I would usually choose for myself but I'm pleased they sent it as it is great to try for the autumn.

Bioderma Sebium H20 make up remover 20ml.  Not much to say about it other than it is a make up remover and it removes make up effectively.  I don't think I would buy it again but it was nice to try.

Eva Cosmetics Mystic Diamond 60ml.  Hair oil with diamond powder for incomparable shine.  I love hair products that add shine and this one didn't disappoint.

Model Co Party Proof Lipstick £15.50 for a set of 3 so around £5.18ish for this one.  The shade is called Kitty and I absolutely love it. It is a nude pink in a shade I've been looking for in Boots for ages so I'm chuffed to bits with this.

Molton Brown Ylang Ylang Nourishing Body Lotion 30ml.  This is the same fragrance as the body wash in the last box.  Love it.  It holds the fragrance for quite some time.

Green & Black's White Chocolate mini.  Love love love white chocolate. Shame it was a small sample but that is a good thing for the waistline.

Fabulous box this month from Birchbox. I couldn't be happier with it.


 
and here's what Glossybox had to offer this month:


The box this month was a fun union jack design and the tissue paper was printed with iconic british things like telephone boxes and black cabs.

The contents were:

Toni & Guy Classic Shine Gloss Serum. Full size 30ml.  Another shine product.  I feel spoilt.  Love it.

Be A Bombshell Cosmetics Onyx Eye Liner.  A black eyeliner like a felt tip.  I must admit to not having tried this as I don't really use eye liner but it is good to have in my kit.

HD Brows Bronzer Full size £19.95.  I'll be honest and say that despite the description being that it suits all complexions I found that it is a case of using a very small amount as a blusher or you end up looking like a tango oompa loompa.  Probably would be better to describe it as suitable for medium to dark complexions.

Eylure Pre-glued lashes.  Hmmm I hate it when they put these things in the boxes.  I hope it is a one off and we aren't getting them regularly as happened with She Said Beauty last year.  I just don't wear them so these will be a gift I guess.

Elizabeth Arden Untold 5ml sample.  Unlike a lot of other people I actually really like perfume samples in beauty boxes.  This one is like a miniature bottle which makes a nice change.  This particular one is absolutely gorgeous.  I always associated Elizabeth Arden as being highly floral scents which I'm not too fond of but this is one I could see myself buying.

I should just add that I was sent an additional product by Glossybox because I complained about receiving Olay again.  The additional product was a Philosophy cleanser which I have enjoyed using.

So a direct comparison this month and I think Birchbox has the edge because I will use every single product whereas the Glossybox (whilst still good this month) has those flipping lashes.

Thursday 5 September 2013

Skywatch

It's been a while since I joined in over at Skywatch.  Tonight's sunset was shouting to be photographed even if it was only with my phone