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Conversations through the middle

Life from a (slightly) more mature perspective

Life’s a peach – The Body Shop peach body butter

October 16, 2013

Well this is a blast from the past. I think the fragrance of peaches is the first I associate with the Body Shop from a long time ago and I’m really happy to see it (or should that be smell it) again. 


In those heady, long ago days we were not used to creams, lotions or bubble baths that smelled like food – they smelled like Matey, or Fairy Liquid, or if you were posh, Badedas. This was something new, something you almost believed you could eat (and I bet you I’m not the only person who put that to the test at the time; as we all now know, the taste is nothing like the scent!)

Time has marched on, fruity, foody, gourmand, fragrances are everywhere and in everything, even perfume and makeup. No longer does the Body Shop make fruity bubble bath – it’s all shower gel now, reflecting how bathroom habits have changed also since the late 70s/ early 80s. And there’s also masses of ‘me toos’ out there – I’m not saying they are any less beneficial for softening skin or cleaning away dirt, just that where the Body Shop ploughed the furrow, the others have followed.
So I will be guarding my peach body butter from my daughter, using it when she’s not there and hiding it in between times (she has already had her fingers in the pot, as you can see). Dot has lots of scented, fruity smelling products by lots of different brands, but this one, this is mine; this is a link to my youth and the importance of that will be lost on her (or rather, she will just think I’m old and sad). Which of course, I’m not… 

Filed in: Uncategorised • by Lisa •

Joy to the nose

April 29, 2013

When you’re feeling down there’s nothing like a fragrant pick-me-up to, well, pick you up. So when I received this fruity number from The Body Shop the other day I sniffed away my blues.

I know a squirt of perfume doesn’t make everything right with the world, but when it’s a fragrance that whisks you back to a happy place it’s a damn near perfect temporary lift – a sticking plaster for the senses if you like.

Pink grapefruit also reminds me of my daughter – which is appropriate really as she has snaffled it for herself!

Also available in strawberry, Satsuma, shea, vanilla, coconut, moringa and mango, the 30ml spray is made with Community Fair Trade organic alcohol from sugar cane, which supports the livelihoods of farmers in Ecuador.

Filed in: Uncategorised • by Lisa •

Gorgeous Christmas gifts

December 4, 2012

I have been holding my hands behind my back, twiddling my fingers and sitting on my hands since July to stop myself talking about Christmas too early, but hey, it’s now December and it’s definitely time to jingle those bells and get festive. I thought I would bring you a few of my favourite Christmas gifts, discovered during my travels in the lat few months. I could go on for pages, but I wouldn’t want to tire you out before the big day itself, so I’m limiting myself to just a few, with more photos than words for a seasonal change…

I love this gift set from The Body Shop. I first saw it at a blogging event I attended and posted about it here. The ginger fragrance if very fresh and Christmassy. I almost bought it for a friend but instead opted for a hand cream and hand wash set in a pretty metal holder that will look great in her bathroom. Another lovely idea from The Body Shop this year is this lip balm lollipop – I know somebody who is going to love finding this in her stocking on Christmas morning…

Elemis is one of my favourite brands and this gift set is my idea of heaven. It’s not cheap, but it’s certainly one for the wishlist. Find it at Time To Spa The great thing about this gift set is that all the products are full size – and I can vouch for the eye treatment, which I’ve been using for several months.

Green People always come up with gift packaging that is just that little bit different every year, and of course the products inside are high quality, vegetarian or vegan, often organic and suitable for even sensitive skin. This is another brand I use regularly and I really admire their philosophy and approach to skincare.

I think the idea of advent calendars for grown ups is so good – skincare products instead of chocolates, what’s not to like? I know there are a few versions around at the moment, some more expensive than others, but this is one of the nicest I’ve seen. Liz Earle also do crackers, which are great for a party though the thought of people pulling apart something that costs so much is a bit hard for me to get my head around. Candles, well I’m now officially a candle convert and I’m also a fan of the latest Liz Earle fragrance, so this definitely gets the thumbs up.

I discovered Melvita just a couple of years ago, but since then I’ve become a big fan, especially of their eye treatments and moisturisers. Full of natural ingredients and subtly fragranced, Melvita was founded in France, but luckily for us has made inroads into the UK and has a flagship store in Covent Garden. I was invited there for a Christmas tipple and to see their Christmas gifts, including the rose nectar gift sets, which are beautifully boxed and contain some of the brand’s best-selling items. I was surprised to see how many products Melvita has – and delighted as it means I have so many more to discover!

This beautifully presented gift bag (a little creased by the train journey home) contained a rose nectar gift set, which smells sublime, and a bottle of Melvita’s new Huile Extraordinaire, which I will blog about soon. The candy cane disappeared as soon as Dot saw it funnily enough.

Finally, I wanted to include these shoes because they are just so pretty. I could never walk in them and they are totally impractical, but for Christmas they say to me parties, fun, fairytale princess, dressing up. They’re from Matalan and I took this photo at Christmas in July. Every girl needs a pair of sparkly shoes at Christmas don’t you think?

What would you most like to see in your stocking this year?

Filed in: Uncategorised • by Lisa •

Beauty – How to create a smoky eye

November 7, 2012

This past week has been a bit hectic, what with subbing shifts in London, a cold that’s been threatening to overcome me and now a sick child – the usual lurgy kids pick up at school I think, but she feels pretty rotten poor thing. 

So this is going to be a quickie. It’s a make up application video from The Body Shop and features their gorgeous Moonstone Smoky Eye Palette. I love the fact there are instructions on the back of the product, but this gives you a brief overview of how to create the look in the flesh, so to speak. Enjoy.

Filed in: Uncategorised • by Lisa •

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I live in the countryside with my dogs and cat, and I love horses, yoga and running (sometimes). Writing is what I do - I've tried other things, but keep coming back to it. And I'm learning to meditate.
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