Bridal Indulgence Launch Party

Less than a week before Christmas Day, I had the pleasure of attending the launch party of Bridal Indulgence, a service that promises to 'indulge the bride-to-be from the comfort of her own home'.  If you've been following me for a while now, you'll have picked up on my affection for anything wedding related; from reading bridal magazines to having the National Wedding Show marked on my calendar (two months and counting), it's a topic that keeps rearing its tiara-adorned head.  Am I getting married?  Uh, no.  However speaking as someone who's drawn to all that is aesthetically pleasing, there was very little chance of that standing in the way of me and the beautiful elements of the bridal world!

Illuminated Trail at Kew Gardens

After my annual Fortnum & Mason visit to pick up some treats, I went on to visit the Christmas at Kew illuminated trail at the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.  There's really only one word for it, magical.  The trail is open during the hours of darkness from Wednesday 25th November to Saturday 2nd January - and although tickets are still available for purchase, I had the pleasure of wandering through the trail just as the excitement of Christmas' arrival was at its peak!

Fortnum & Mason in December

Of all the shops in London, Fortnum & Mason is undoubtedly one of my favourites to visit come Christmastime.  We've already established I'm quick to form traditions, so it probably won't come as much of a surprise when I say that each year I pop in to create 'treat boxes' of delicious sweets and fudge in the Food Hall for my direct family and a couple of my closest friends to enjoy.  I'm lucky most people I know have a sweet tooth, as I'm not convinced I'd be as good at selecting cubes of cheese as I am clotted cream fudge...

Cologne Christmas Markets: Part Two

Picking up where I left off in Part One of my latest travel diary, we left the beautiful Markt der Engel (Angel Market) during the early hours of the evening and made our way back to the Hilton Hotel Cologne to freshen up and drop off various shopping bags before heading out again!  On this final evening, we met up with some of our British relatives who were visiting the lively city at the same time.  We chose to meet outside the illuminated gates of Heimat der Heinzel, an extensive Christmas market located eight minutes away from Cologne Cathedral.  Why?  Because it's one of the most lively markets in Cologne and come night-time, it buzzes.

Cologne Christmas Markets: Part One

You may have noticed I dropped off the radar for a few days about a week ago, however it was for a very good reason - I was visiting the Christmas markets in Cologne!  It's yet another of my festive traditions and sure, I may well now have a list of traditions as long as my arm, however I'm not at all willing to loosen my grip on the beautiful German Christmas markets!  It's been a family tradition to visit them together for nearly a decade now and we usually plan the trip to coincide with when members from our extended family visit the 2,000-year-old city.  It's perfect; mugs of hot chocolate with rum enjoyed in impossibly festive settings, German Christmas music playing from wooden stalls, lights all around and a refreshing mix of nationalities heard at every turn...

On Time, On Trend...

About two years ago, I went through a phase of appreciating chunky, masculine watches - the type of watch that weighs down your arm and poses a potential threat to anyone coming even close to your swinging arms.  However, the pile of intimidating chronograph watches in one of my accessory drawers would suggest the appreciation was pretty short-lived! Somewhere along the line, I developed a much stronger love for elegant timepieces; I'm talking slim leather straps, clean faces and minimal designs.  So, speaking as someone with narrow wrists, my introduction to the highly-coveted brand Daniel Wellington earlier this year was a very welcome one!  I've shared the Women's Classy Sheffield on A Glass Of Ice, as well as the Men's Classic Sheffield... and now it's time for the spotlight to shine on the gorgeous Women's Classy Bristol!

Spoil Yourself: Acqua Di Parma

At the end of October, I found myself in the audience of a fascinating talk by Simon Reeve (with Kuoni) on his 'Caribbean Journey'.  The talk was held at a John Lewis store 'behind the scenes' one late evening and that alone created an unanimous sense of community for the night - it reminded me of how it feels to walk around a hospital at night time, or perhaps how I'd imagine attending a parents evening to be!  Anyway, besides the pleasure of hearing Simon Reeve's enthusiastic talk and besides the small thrill of 'trespassing', a third pleasure came in the form of Acqua Di Parma.  A goody bag was handed to each member of the audience and along with various items including a beautifully presented candle, were a handful of samples.  One of those samples was by Acqua Di Parma and ever since that chilly October night, you could say I've transformed into a superfan...

Christmas at Bath: Part Two

Part One of my 'Christmas at Bath' travel diary ended with fudge and the theme continues here!  Though first, back to the early hours of the evening where my stay in Bath seemed to get better by the hour, with our departure from the magical Christmas markets leading on to a buzzing yet calm nightlife (the combination exists!) past Bath Abbey and towards the restaurants.  Quite strangely, I've always seen feelings about situations or even places in colours and although I'm finding it near impossible to explain the colours in which I saw the city that night, I can assure you they were beautiful.  Very, very beautiful.

Christmas at Bath: Part One

It feels as though it's been a while since I last wrote up a travel diary, though thankfully the streak has been joyfully ended now that the festive season is upon us!  To welcome in the new month, I spent a couple of days with my mother in the beautiful spa town of Bath as one of our annual traditions.  After a relaxed journey to the sound of an old instrumental Crabtree & Evelyn Christmas album, we arrived at the Abbey Hotel around the mid-afternoon to find the Apres Ski Bar in full swing outside and streams of people swarming through the entrance area in party hats to reach a Christmas meal/party.  I've always said Bath is a city you want to be in come December and this lively welcome very much reminded me why! 

Christmas Gift Guide For Men

As I mentioned in my Christmas Gift Guide for Women last week, I've been putting together a parallel gift guide for men in anticipation of this festive season!  I think we're all in agreement when I say that shopping for men isn't the easiest task in the world.  Really, I've lost count of the amount of times I've contemplated purchasing everyone socks and wiping my hands of the whole gift-hunting conundrum.  With that said, I hope this guide will be able to tick at least one or two gifts off your shopping list - leaving you with more time to wrap up in a fur throw and relax in front of a Christmas film!

House of Fraser | #MyStyleMyDress

If there's anything lacking in my wardrobe, it's basics.  That's not to say I don't have many, because I do - my wardrobe is packed full with groups of indistinguishably similar pairs of jeans, near-identical dark cardigans and I've been known to add four or more t-shirts in different colours to my online shopping basket in one transaction.  However, I've been in the dark when it comes to finding 'basic' dresses, ones you can layer up and accessorise to your heart's content - that is, until now!  The perfect opportunity to change my dress game presented itself by teaming up with House of Fraser.  As part of their #MyStyleMyDress challenge, I styled their Vero Moda 3/4 Sleeve dress...

Champneys: Winter Skincare

If you follow me on Instagram, you'll know I recently swung by a Champneys store and indulged in a few treats!  The thought crossed my mind to browse the pretty shelves of spa products after having had my hair done nearby; because you see, I like having my hair cut about as much as I like stubbing my toes.  So, after every Toni & Guy haircut (which I should point out never fails to put a smile on my face after the suspense of letting someone near my hair with scissors) I treat myself!  On this occasion, it was a boat-load of Jessica Nail Polishes sitting prettily in the Champneys store, a couple of foot treatments and these two beautifully packaged skin products - Cloud Nine Indulgent Body Butter and Summer Dream Rewarding Salt Scrub.

Passionata Double Play Range

Considering how I describe my blog as a space to 'celebrate all things bright and beautiful', it's no surprise really how I've fallen head over heels in love with the Double Play range by French lingerie brand Passionata.  Featuring lace and embroidered delicate pieces in a trio of colours, the range features various items that appeal to both the desire to feel attractive, as well as to feel comfortable.  However, something else the Double Play range appeals to when selected in the colour red... is Christmas!  Seriously, if I could float about for the entire festive season in these racy red pieces without dying from hypothermia, I'd do it.

Christmas Gift Guide For Women

With today marking exactly one calendar month until Christmas Eve, it seemed appropriate to share my Women's Christmas Gift Guide!  I've had a lot of fun putting together some selections that could work as stocking fillers, small gifts for friends/family, or equally personal pampering treats for when you're left exhausted by the endless stream of festive celebrations.  If you ask me, retail therapy is a proven way of pepping yourself up - and that applies to purchasing for other people as well!

Hotel Wishlist: Castlemartyr Resort, Ireland

NOTE: All photos have been taken from the Castlemartyr Resort website

Pack your suitcase, we're off to Ireland for the Twelfth addition to my Hotel Wishlist series!   That's right, Ireland, the beautiful island in the North Atlantic separated from Great Britain.  The island sitting at about the same distance from me as Belgium... and yet I've found myself exploring the latter twice in the past year and have never once stepped foot in Ireland. It's a bit embarrassing really considering how much the country has to offer - though consider this the beginning of my making amends to the 'Emerald Isle'!

Claremont Landscape Garden

Do you ever find yourself craving a bit of breathing space to help revitalise your outlook?  Personally, when I catch myself dreaming of open spaces, an abundance of lush greenery and no chance of bumping shoulders with anyone, I either bat the thoughts away and continue plodding on, or leaf through piles of leaflets/brochures and pinpoint where to drive to! On this occasion, I selected the eighteenth-century Claremont Landscape Garden...

International Giveaway: Mii Cosmetics Gift Set

Now that we're halfway through the month of November, it feels about the right time to spread some holiday cheer in the form of a giveaway!  To celebrate both this wonderful time of year, as well as passing the 'one year anniversary' of blogging as A Glass Of Ice, I've teamed up with Mii Cosmetics to offer one lucky winner a Mii Cosmetics Christmas Gift Set in Collection no.6.  The timing couldn't be better with Christmas fast approaching; this could help you tick someone off your present list - though I wouldn't blame you if you fancied keeping it yourself as a festive treat!

Christmas with Valley Mill

It's here!  My first Christmas-themed post of the year!  Each and every year I become overwhelmingly excited about Christmas and I really wish I could better convey that message besides increasing the number of exclamation marks per post.  Seriously though, everything about the next two months is both calming and exciting - a combination that is rarely experienced outside of the festive season.  Most will see an increase in festive experiences that usually require travelling, as well as an increase in evenings spent curled up in front of the fire with a Christmas film from the 1990s.  Bliss! Personally, when I'm not thinking through outfits for my upcoming trips next month, lately I've been burning Valley Mill Spiced Apple Soy Melts c/o and using Valley Mill Natural Orange & Cinnamon Soap c/o - both of which hail from Wales and are more than a little 'Christmassy'!

A Windy Day

Hot chocolate, cosy jumpers and the increasing excitement of approaching the festive season.  Oh yeah, it's all fun and games until you remember that along with those frosty mornings and crisp evenings.. comes the biting winds.  Here in the UK, they sort of go hand in hand.  I've been so wrapped up in thoughts of berry lipsticks and cinnamon-scented candles, that I entirely forgot about the inevitable change in the weather!  Of course I realised the temperature was dropping, though somehow I failed to remember how it feels to have your hair blown all over the place until you're left clawing at your face in a bid to recover your vision.  Mm.  The wind caught me off guard today as I was out enjoying an Autumnal stroll, though next time I'll come prepared with a hair tie - or two!

Nailed It!

The last time my nails saw the light of day without a colourful coating was about six years ago, so it's safe to say my appreciation for nail polish has levelled up and fallen into a routine of total loyalty over time.  Just as some don't feel complete without a watch on their wrist or colour on their lips (guilty), nail polish for me has become an essential part of my image - and I know I'm not alone.  There's something comforting about writing a note down and noticing perfectly manicured nails wrapped around the pen, or reaching for something and spotting 'that beautiful shade' you recently started using.  I'll admit it - I'm a nail addict!  So, it goes without saying that when NailPolish.co.uk got in touch to try a few products from their extensive website, I felt well and truly in my element.

Hotel Wishlist: No. 131 Cheltenham

NOTE: All photos have been taken from the No 131 Cheltenham website

It's that time again!  Say hello to number eleven in my Hotel Wishlist series; a list comprising some of the world's most beautiful and/or unique hotels that happen to have caught my eye.  This time around, the focus is on the luxurious No. 131, a restaurant and bar with eleven bedrooms set in the heart of Cheltenham.  The interior design of the restaurant/hotel is as beautiful as its casing; the classic Grade II Georgian villa was restored by the owners with the intention of preserving the Georgian heritage throughout with regard to both décor and menu.  As far as appearances go, it looks like a job very, very well done...

Cheerz Big Fat Box

When I first learnt about photo-printing services that were able to print photos directly from your social media, including Instagram, I felt no great desperation to get involved.  Speaking as a scrapbooker, I've documented most photos/events from a very young age; along with various other bits and pieces, photos from everywhere congregate in between those generous black pages.  Photos from everywhere... except Instagram.  It dawned on me when Cheerz got in contact that not one of my quick snaps of new shoes or beautiful views had made it into my albums!  A brief frenzied-panic followed that saw me frantically flipping through the pages of my scrapbooks searching for Instagram shots (just imagine that scene for a moment, it wasn't pretty), before I selected the Cheerz Big Fat Box c/o from their website and swiftly moved from panic-stricken to smug.

Seasons & Celebrations

So, we're approaching the end of October!  It may sound like a cliché, but time really does fly by.  It's because of this I've grown to appreciate the 'special' days of the year and what they stand for.  Easter, Halloween, Christmas - the list goes on and on.  When everything else in your life is changing on a daily, weekly and monthly basis, these days of celebration are waiting patiently in the same place on the calendar as they were the previous year and every year before that.  They each change the pattern of whatever routine is in place at any given time and offer a reason to celebrate - sounds good to me!

Triangl Farrah Sunset Dreams Bikini

Everything was fine.  I was happily loosening my grip on the summer season and accepting the likelihood of not being able to move my toes due to the inevitable low temperatures for the next half year... and then Triangl got in contact to send one of their dreamy bikinis my way!  I opted for the gorgeous Triangl Farrah Sunset Dreams c/o set and I've never felt so confident in my decision.  Seriously, this is a far cry from the time I spent years studying WW2, only to accidentally enrol on a History Tudor class (and stubbornly continue to remain there for two months).  Cringe. Anyway, we can kiss goodbye to awkward memories and thoughts of cold seasons, because for the next few minutes it's all about the enticing summer vibes that Triangl stand for!

Mii Cosmetics Eloquence Collection: Eyes

Well, I was planning on putting some space between the Mii Cosmetics Eloquence collection c/o reviews on A Glass Of Ice, however since trying the eye products for myself (and furiously photographing the perfect packaging from every imaginable angle), I couldn't help but share the second and final part of my review as soon as possible!  The new collection's eye products consist of three 'signature gel eyeliners', an 'eye brush' and the 'couture eye colour compact'. So, what do I make of these glossy cosmetics?

Mii Cosmetics Eloquence Collection: Lips

I've spent the past three weeks gleefully wrapping myself up in cosy knit jumpers, sipping hot chocolate (always with more cocoa than recommended) and admiring the latest berry shades trickling through my social media feeds.  So, when Mii Cosmetics got in touch to try their new Eloquence collection bursting with Autumnal glamour and hints of berry, it seemed very much like a case of perfect timing!  I've been a fan of Mii Cosmetics ever since reviewing their Ethereal collection earlier this year, with a particular fondness for their lipsticks, and so as soon as I laid eyes upon the 'passionate lip lover' shades, Vamp and Majestic, I knew instantly what I'd be trying first...

Interview With Alykat Creative

Do you ever look at something you truly appreciate or even love and wonder what the inspiration could possibly have been behind it?  The first time I experienced this was at the age of eight when I slid on a pair of heeled jelly shoes at the seaside and wondered who on Earth had the bright idea to stick heels on what were already arguably the 'coolest' shoes around back then.  I was mesmerised - my tiny mind was blown!  Well, the whimsical and playful work of Alykat Creative has induced this feeling in me once more and can well and truly be considered my adult version of wearing those bright pink, sparkly shoes.  The creative mind behind Alykat Creative, Alyson Pearson, kindly sent some of her dreamy prints my way and so to provide a background story when 'oohs' and 'aahs' are inevitably expressed over these designs, I asked her a few questions...

Warwick Castle: Part Two

Picking up from where we left off in Part One of my Warwick Castle experience, Part Two sees the virtual tour become even more extravagant!  The interior design of the medieval castle seemed to become increasingly flamboyant with each room introduced; golden ceilings rubbed shoulders with large plants, grand four poster beds were surrounded by silk wallpaper and lifelike waxwork figures appeared more frequently dressed head-to-toe in heavily embellished costumes...

Warwick Castle: Part One

One of the most wonderful things about the UK is undoubtedly the amount of history waiting to be discovered and explored.  Speaking of which, I realised it had been quite a few years since I last visited Warwick Castle and figured it was high time I explored the place once more!  To my delight (and also a little worryingly), I barely remembered anything about the medieval castle and so it felt as though I was stepping foot in the landmark's grounds for the first time...

Hotel Wishlist: Le Mas De La Rose Hotel, Provence

Note: ALL of these photos have been taken from the Le Mas de la Rose Hotel Website

I was going to wait a little longer before introducing the tenth addition to my Hotel Wishlist series, however I could barely contain my excitement when I stumbled across the beautiful Le Mas de la Rose Hotel!  Ever since laying eyes upon images of the classic 17th-century cluster of former farm buildings, I've been keen to share the dreamy hotel on A Glass Of Ice.  With light and airy rooms, a colour scheme that leaves guests with no choice but to relax and a swimming pool accessible for each of the ten rooms (including three suites), it's pretty much the perfect Provençal escape.  Considering each Hotel Wishlist addition considers aesthetics alone, this is certainly the hotel to bring the series into double-digits - say hello to number ten!

Dressed by Angels Exhibition: 175 Years of Costumes

You may already recognise the name 'Dressed by Angels' as the world's largest costume house, however something you may not know is that they are celebrating 175 years of costumes (in film, TV and theatre) with an exhibition of over 100 beautiful, famous designs!  The extensive collection of costumes is on display at The Old Truman Brewery in London's Spitalfields area and will remain there to be viewed until 3rd January 2016.  To my delight, I was kindly invited over to admire the intricate embellishments of the famous faces' outfits at the Dressed by Angels: 175 Years of Costume* exhibition.  I visited the exhibition today (before wandering through Spitalfields Market and devouring the largest slab of cake known to mankind) and found myself falling in love with more than one costume.  Do you think it's feasible to dress up as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang's Wind-up Doll for Halloween?!

Luckies of London: Just Your Type

So, I scrapbook.  Admittedly, I'm about ten months behind which I have a feeling makes me the worst scrapbooker in the world, though nonetheless I've been keeping track of life's important moments/occasions for the best part of a decade now.  Out of any possible 'extras' to include in the albums, my embellishment of choice has always been stickers.  Foam stickers, glitter stickers, metallic stickers.. and so the list goes on!  However, my love of stickers extends far beyond scrapbooks alone and as a result has seen me forage in the kids' department of Accessorize and quirky craft stores over the years to find more to add to my collection.  Why?  Because I like stickers!  It's an odd thing to collect - true - though it doesn't feel as odd nowadays when such stylish and modern options exist, like Luckies of London Just Your Type*, a folder comprising 16 sheets of gold foil stickers.

Z for Accessorize

You can tell the temperature has dropped when you have to keep rubbing your hands together every ten seconds to prevent blotches appearing all over them!  Though if you ask me, watching your fingers horrifically drop off one by one is entirely worth it for the sake of capturing these beautiful pieces by Z for Accessorize...

Luckies of London: Adventure Journal

With regard to travel, I've recently noticed how I have a tendency to revisit destinations.  It's not the worst thing in the world as it means I've delved into places across Europe that are clearly worth experiencing more than once, though it does of course mean I'm missing out on the chance of being wowed by some brilliant trips further afield.  Thankfully, I've got my whole life ahead of me to explore more exotic locations and it just so happens there's a new incentive for me to do so - a Luckies of London Adventure Journal c/o!

Hotel Wishlist: Le Grand Bellevue Gstaad, Switzerland

Note: ALL of these photos have been taken from the Le Grand Bellevue Website

Ta-dah!  We're at the ninth instalment now of my Hotel Wishlist series; a compilation of various luxurious hotels around the world that have caught my eye and have consequently made it onto my 'visit' list!  The latest addition is the incredibly beautiful Le Grand Bellevue, a hotel located in Gstaad, an upscale resort town in the Swiss Alps.  With colder weather on the way and talk of Christmas creeping into the shops and onto the radio, it seemed appropriate to introduce somewhere a little chillier (and more adapted to the winter scene) to my Hotel Wishlist series!

Daniel Footwear Dauda Ankle Boots

Autumn is here!  Yesterday was the first official day of the new season and along with enabling me to wear my new Dauda Ankle Boots by Daniel Footwear, it also brought with it a clean slate, a fresh start!  It's true that nothing stands between us and change, though there's something indescribably refreshing about the start of a new season - there's no denying its ability to motivate.  You may have noticed from my blog that I'm more than a little keen to observe nature (cue laughter), well as I'm looking around now and seeing the colours of nature change, it encourages me to do the same.  Does it have the same effect on you?    

Autumnal Arm Candy

It's getting darker earlier in the day, Halloween-themed emails are landing in inboxes and fluffy socks have gone from being optional to essential - Autumn is most definitely on our doorstep!  I've spent the best part of today intermittently changing over my wardrobe for the new season.  I'm not at all ruthless enough to create a capsule wardrobe, however all the same I've noticed some gaps that are in need of filling by versatile essentials.  One of these gaps is accessories but more specifically, handbags!  

Passionata Lingerie: Adorable Bandeau Set

I have three weaknesses: lingerie, shoes and chocolate.  Though truthfully, I'm not convinced they can be considered weaknesses when they're each so wonderful.  I'll admit the latter probably isn't the best for me, but I refuse to believe there's anything at all wrong with indulging in pretty lingerie and skyscraper heels!  Over the years, I've rewarded myself with any of the three.  A good test score would result in a pile of Green and Black's chocolate, a refreshed workout regime would see a new pair of black stilettos added to my wardrobe and the ability to remain polite to someone who was anything but would see me shopping for laced triangle bras.  On this occasion, however, there's no reason and it's instead a case of admiring something pretty.. for pretty's sake!  Say hello to the Passionata 'Adorable' Bandeau Bra c/o and Passionata 'Adorable' Sexy Shorty c/o...

Why Brits Go Abroad

With September now well and truly underway, all thoughts of sun drenched balconies and calzone al fresco are a thing of the past.  My mind is now firmly set on the upcoming colder months and all that comes with them.  At the very top of my list is Christmas.  Why?  Because I'm a festive fanatic who gets excited about the season three months in advance, that's why.  With that out of the way, I can guiltlessly confess to having already begun planning for my annual visit to Germany's Cologne in December!  Depending on how long you've been reading my blog, you may or may not remember my travel diaries from last year's visit.  Well, I found myself reading through them late last night after receiving this Scratch-off Travel Map c/o and having a solo conversation on why I enjoy travelling so much, as well as my general travel behaviour...

Greys Court: Tearoom and Gardens

So, it was gone four on a sunny afternoon and I was heading home after enjoying quite possibly the best quiche lorraine of my life in Henley-on-Thames, when it occurred to me that Greys Court was fairly nearby.  Although the house remained open until five, I figured that would be best left for another day when I could take the time to enjoy it. Instead, after learning both the tearooms and gardens also remained open until 5pm, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to see through the day's final hour of sunshine accompanied by flowers and cake! 

Joya: Composition No.1 Soap

I used to dislike surprises with a burning passion.  I distinctly remember at the age of fourteen being spontaneously forced to stand on my chair at the Hard Rock Cafe in London so that the entire room could sing Happy Birthday to me. How did I react?  Tears.  Tears, tears and more tears.  It's one of those memories that prompts a wave of shivers to coarse through my body, ugh.  However, my opinion of surprises has drastically changed since then (I've come a long way since soggy, tear-stained cheeseburgers) and now I thrive on not knowing what's coming next.  I love surprises, both big and small!  With this in mind, a close friend of mine absolutely made my day at the weekend by surprising me with a belated birthday gift - and no,  I didn't cry.

Unwinding at Uppark

There's no denying I'm a huge fan of National Trust places.  I grew up visiting some of the magnificent houses and gardens on weekends with my family; I have such lovely memories of us all spread out across tartan picnic blankets eating scotch eggs and drinking from Ribena cartons!  I'd imagine those days have a lot to do with my fondness for National Trust places now as an adult, although I find it hard to believe anyone would struggle to see the beauty in their various immaculately-kept destinations across the UK...

iPhone 6 | Mia Felce

Over the past month or so, I've been trying to decide which phone to upgrade to - and being sent a Nokia Lumia 830 to review in August only made matters more difficult!  Thankfully, the decision was taken out of my hands when my parents very kindly gave me an iPhone 6 as a birthday gift.  I now well and truly appreciate why people love smartphones so much.. which makes my years of protesting against them a little more than embarrassing.  God knows why when the rest of my tech collection has enough Apples to fill a fruit basket.  It's sad, but true.  But hey, at least now when I lose my way whilst out on my own, I don't have to rely on passing strangers for directions - three cheers for safety!

Birthday Dress

You may remember an outfit post from a couple of months ago on A Glass Of Ice featuring the striking cobalt blue Renee Dress by Bae Boutique.  I fell in love with every aspect of the dress, most significantly the mesh panels and flared skirt. Well, it's all eyes on Bae Boutique once more as they've very kindly sent another piece my way and on this occasion, it's the beautiful hand-beaded Sasha Bandage Dress.  As soon as I laid eyes on it, I knew it had to be this year's birthday dress - the attention to detail is incredible!

Mercure Queens Hotel, Cheltenham

As some of you may know, I celebrated my birthday a week ago today.  For the occasion, I unplugged and was kindly whisked away to Cheltenham by a family member.  Although ordinarily I favour big celebrations, on this occasion I much preferred the idea of a slow-paced, quiet and indulgent break where absolutely nothing was required of me.  Keeping in mind these preferences, the Mercure Cheltenham Queens Hotel was an absolute treat.  I spent my entire birthday kicking back, eating a horrendous amount and doing, well.. nothing!

English National Opera: La Bohème

Note: All photos have been taken from the ENO website

Although I can't remember ever directly addressing it on A Glass Of Ice, I'm a huge fan of theatrical productions, ballets and operas.  I reviewed Beyond Bollywood at The London Palladium a couple of months back and shared a few too many photos of a pre-theatre meal at Côte Brasserie just a fortnight ago, however those occasions aside, I've been uncharacteristically quiet on the topic.  So, now would seem like the perfect time to break my silence by sharing news of La Boheme at ENO (English National Opera)!

Daydreams and Magazines

As I mentioned on my Instagram, yesterday I got caught in torrential rain that saw me right in the middle of a frenzied thunder-and-lightning combo.  It's safe to say any effort that went into my appearance that day was obliterated in the space of a few minutes.  Did I mind?  Not one bit!  Drizzled rain is frustrating, but there's something refreshing about looking as though you've been dunked in a bath tub.  There's nothing you can do about it so you may as well embrace it!  The photos shown in this post, however, were not taken on that day (clearly) and were instead taken at the weekend - before England well and truly waved goodbye to summer.  They were taken on a day when the weather permitted me to sit at the end of my garden and work my way through the first issue of the Elle Magazine subscription c/o kindly arranged for me by Magazine.co.uk.

Clarins Instant Concealer (01)

First of all, a huge thank you to all those who have wished me a Happy Birthday - I really appreciate it!  Secondly, whoa.  I had only just wrapped my head around the idea of being twenty-one.. and now I'm twenty-two!  Anyway moving on, right now I'm totally obsessed with Clarins Instant Concealer.  I've been using the concealer for over three months, after finally receiving an email from a nearby store letting me know they had it in stock (the hunt was real).  I was tempted to review it within a week of using it, but thought better of that, realising it'd be a far better test to see how the concealer fared with the varying quality of my skin over a three month period.

Hotel Wishlist: Four Seasons Hampshire

Note: All photos have been taken from the Four Seasons website

Welcome to the eighth instalment of my Hotel Wishlist series - the never-ending list of swoon-worthy hotels dotted around the globe!  On this occasion, I'm sharing somewhere a little closer to home, the luxurious Four Seaons Hotel Hampshire, a restored historic Georgian manor house boasting beautiful views, spacious rooms and glowing online reviews.

Leather Weather

Ah, August, the month of sunshine, warmth and.. clouds.  You have no idea how long I stood around twiddling my thumbs waiting for the intermittent bursts of sunshine required for these photos.  It's safe to say my patience was tested.. but hey it showed its face eventually and so I can't complain!  The truth is, I have a horrible feeling the British summer has come to an end.  I saw three people in fleeces today and one pair of fair isle mittens.  Mittens!  I'm not one to dwell on the negatives though and so instead of cloud-bathing, I intend to start the process of changing over my wardrobe ready for Autumn... and at the very top of my 'favourites' list right now is this super flattering black leather Tottie Skirt c/o by Durango Leather Company!