New Home Additions

Clear outs and re-arranging have been in full force this lockdown. With tidying and clearing out, comes room for new things. I wanted to add some new touches to certain corners and I found some lovely pieces that I cannot wait to make the most out of. 

Starting with these gorgeous tea light holders. I can remember having seen some floating around on Instagram before Christmas and not thinking too much about them. We visited a garden centre in the run up to Christmas and I saw some there and have never regretted not picking them up so much. Since then, I have searched high and low on the internet to try and track some down. When I finally found some that I liked, they were sold out. A couple of months on, and I have finally got some. The >small< houses were £2.50!!! What a bargain. The >larger< being only £4, I just couldn't say no. Thank you Wilko for fulfilling my need for ceramic house tea light holders. 

Another addition have been these cute little bunny tails. I seem to have a love for dried flowers and pampas grass after having seen pretty vases filled with the most beautiful arrangements. But until I have my own house and space for such vases, I opted for something slightly smaller. The wine bottle vase is only temporary, until I find a vase that I like, or, I was thinking of potentially purchasing some spray paint that has a pebble or stone effect and covering the bottle. I am yet to decide. Don't you worry - the glue on the bottle annoys me as much as it does you. I found >these< beauties on Etsy. They came super quickly and were packaged beautifully. I was a little worried that they may have turned up bent or broken, but I was very happy that they arrived just as I had imagined. 

The frame with the dried flowers in, I created myself last year. I thought it made a lovely addition next to the two new pieces. I'm sure I'll forever be switching up how this looks, but I am happy with it for now.

Have you brought any new decorative pieces for your home? Are you a pampas grass lover too?

Amber X

Scents I am Currently Burning

You know me, I love a candle. Maybe a bit too much. With the change in the season, you guessed it, a change in the scents that are to be burnt in my bedroom. I love to switch up the smells that are in my room as the seasons change, definitely makes me excited for the change in the weather, surroundings, plants and wildlife.

Firstly, the Bath and Body Works Winter candle. We have been graced with the most gorgeous frosty, and cold mornings recently. Winter is well and truly in full swing. This one seemed really apt to burn on a frosty morning whilst getting ready for the day, or whilst winding down at the very end of the day, whilst choosing what to watch on Netflix. Can we please talk about both The Witcher and You season 2??!!!? This candle smells divine - it contains white woods, pine needles, sparkling clementine, spiced clove and with some essential oils too. Anything with pine, clove, bergamot and orange is the cosiest Christmassy scent. It's incredible.

Next is this Tesco Wild Jasmine candle. Firstly, I love the little glass jar that it has been made in. So much so that once it has completely burnt out, I am 1000% recycling it into something else. It's so cute. It has such a fresh smelling scent, that fills the room, even when it hasn't been burnt. It's 1000% a spring scent, and I can't wait to burn this when the season changes again in March.

Lastly, is this Sand and Fog Lavender Vanilla candle. Another bargain TKMaxx find. They have so many of this brands candles, floating around on their shelves. They also have the cutest lids! I love the designs. You must go and smell as many as you possibly can because, they are just delicious. I have been burning this one as of late, and it fills the room up so quickly with it's scent. Anything with vanilla in, I am drawn too because it has such a cosy feel to it. I love burning this one before bed, it's the perfect smell to pair with fluffy socks and blankets.

What scents are you burning at the moment?

Amber X

Candle Making with ByLauraLondon

I love candles as much as the next person. I'm forever wondering into TKMaxx or The White Company, running over to the candle section, frantically grabbing the first one I see, taking off the lid to inhale the scent to decide whether it would be one for me or not. It's in that instant where you can make the judgement as to whether the scent is one you love or one you hate. I love a cosy scent, lots of vanilla, or something fresh. The really sickly sweet scents are a no no. As are the scents that hit the back of your throat in a really not nice kind of way. I'm sure you know what I mean. So when Sam ever so kindly treated me to a candle making workshop for Christmas, I was so excited. The candle workshop was hosted and planned ByLauraLondon, based in her home in Surrey, where all her candles are home made and hand made.

I didn't really have any knowledge going into the workshop about how candles are made, what gives them their scent, how to mix scents together to create something amazing, what the expression "throw" means, what ratio of scent is to be added to the amount of wax that you're using, what is the best wax to use, or how to even care for a candle properly before and after you burn them. Laura's workshop was filled with all of the answers to these questions and really let all 7 of us into what it's all about to make a lovely smelling candle.

After a little introduction and a 'how to make a candle' chat, we were able to smell some of the essential oils that were on selection, and to think about which ones we would like to combine, or simply use by themselves to create one of two of our own little candles. Upon following the steps and demonstrations by Laura, I chose vanilla, bergamot and cinnamon in my first candle. As I said, I'm a fan of a cosy smell - something you could burn of the coffee table by the sofa, or one that could be burnt in the corner of the room before bed. This one is perfect for that. The second candle scent I chose to make was a bit of an experimentation really. I went for pine, a smell that I love and makes me think instantly of Christmas, added a little pink peppercorn, and finally a drop of lemongrass. This candle smells very fresh and I have been burning it this past week in the kitchen. It's filled up the kitchen with a lovely welcoming fresh smell, which you can notice as soon as you walk through the kitchen door.

I would 100% recommend Laura's candle making workshop and her candle creations. If you love candles for their scents, then you must definitely try her collection out.

Have you ever done a workshop like this before?

Amber X

October Favs

It's that time of the month again! I know that favourites posts aren't a frequent feature on my blog, but I felt that there was a fair few new things that I have been into this month, and thought that would be worthy of a ramble. I have been LOVING October - this half of the year is by far the most enjoyable in my eyes. The cosy nights in are made 1000x more cosy when it's cold, dark and foggy outside - basically my favourite thing to do 24/7. So here are the things I have been enjoying in the month of October.

Burning candles
Obviously, the dark cosy nights are complimented with burning a candle in the corner of any room. I have been burning two this month. One is a Sanctuary candle that I got last Christmas, but wanted to save it for the colder months of the year, as it's called the cosy candle. That's exactly what it is. It smells super warming, and cosy. Nothing else to be said really about a cosy candle. The second candle I have been loving is 'Christmas Eve' by Yankee Candle. Yes I know it is only October, but I can't help but be excited for Christmas! It smells like everything Christmassy, and I love it. Go and have a sniff of the Yankee Candle Christmas range, I'm SO tempted to buy some more of them.

Huda Beauty Desert Dusk Palette 
There is a post dedicated to >this< beauty on my blog, but I have found myself reaching for this palette most, if not every morning, this month. It's just so versatile. As you can see, it is well loved, but specifically, I have been loving the shade 'Retrograde' the most. It's a gorgeous brown based shimmer shade, with a slight blue reflect. Paired with browns and oranges in the crease, it looks beautiful.

Music
The most played this month has to be Kings of Leon and Jungle. Jungle released their second album in September and I am obsessed. If I fancy putting some music on to have on in the background whilst I am trying to concentrate, Jungle have been the ones that I have chosen to play. 'House in LA' and 'Mama Oh No' are the ones I like the most from that album. As for Kings of Leon, they have been played on repeat in the car, and I am just loving them.

Watching 
The Gino, Gordon and Fred: Roadtrip showing on ITV has been brilliant. The 3 chefs are going on a roadtrip around their home towns, France, Scotland and Italy, collecting ingredients for cooking. They are such a good trio, and whatever they end up doing is made funny by their loud personalities. If you want something to sit down and watch, whilst fancying a giggle, stick this one on. As well as this one, I have been religiously watching the Great British Bake Off. Who doesn't love this programme?! It's so cosy, and I just love it.

What have you been loving this month?

Amber X