Essential Haircare: Shampoo

I've tried many many shampoos in my quest to reverse the effects of years of swimming and ballet buns. So many leave residue or fail to adequately nourish the hair. Whilst I don't think you need to fork out a fortune, I do think it's worth spending pennies on natural, organic ingredients and avoiding parabens and SLS.

Fifteen years (yes fifteen!!) in the making Liz Earle's Botanical Shine Shampoo boasts shea butter, vitamin E and apple and orange blossom extracts. It has a lovely milky consistency, smells divine (like organic baby shampoo!!) and a little goes a long way. My hair smells lovely (in a natural way, that makes people think you just ooze floral loveliness from your pores), is soft and gorgeously shiny. I've already popped into the Duke of York Square store in London to pick up a second bottle well before the first will run out! At a mere £7.65 for 200ml and the option to save on bulk buying or combos (as with all Liz Earle products) and the Liz Earle freebie with every purchase, it's definitely a good buy!! 

As a rule of thumb, use about a blob about the size of a 10p coin for shampoo and a 20p for conditioner. 

Love, 

AB x

Chanel Cruise 2011/12

I am LOVING Chanel's Cruise 2011/12 collection. So wearable, so fresh, SO Chanel...

The Latest "It" Nail Colour: Mimosa by Chanel

Cupcakes

I am a BIG fan of cupcakes and think they're a great idea for small girly gatherings as they avoid the issue of cake cutting (a faff for off numbers and people will always say they want less than they actually do!). They're also fantastic for kids parties and the Hummingbird Bakery's book is great if you want a fun afternoon of baking with the kids!

However, if like me, you love baking (and eating sugary goodies!) but really don't have the time, here are some of my favourite bakeries in London. Click the title to be directed to their website...

Taking Tea

As a true Brit, I love a cup of tea. There's just something about nursing a warm mug of tea that makes everything all right. 

I recently discovered Damman's Rose Pompon tea and am slightly obsessed with it's gorgeous fruity-floral aroma. I purchased it from the pantry at in the Harrods Food Hall (the small section that looks like a supermarket, in the room after the sushi bar and before the room with the pizzeria, ice-cream counter and all the amazing, colourful sweets). The container is a bit of a puzzler at first (I eventually discovered that one must open it from the small circular lid that the tassle is attached to - you may want to use one of those rubber bottle-opener handy devices for this, it's very tight on the first go!). 

Charlotte Olympia

sooooooo pretty!!!
*sigh*

My mother probably started calling me the Shoe Queen when I was about four...I can remember my collection of princess heels, which each had a selection of clip-on accessories to decorate the toe-strap (think Suri Cruise and you're probably not far off). 

Since then, I've moved on to Gina, Brian Attwood, Jimmy Choo, Isabel Marant, Rupert Sanderson, Miu Miu and, of course, Christian Louboutin. Those are my favourites for heels but I also have a sprinkling of Marc J, Chloe, Vivienne Westwood, Marni.....ok I should stop now! BUT my thirst for shoe candy is ever more demanding and I am saaaariously lusting after a pair of Charlotte Olympia heels!!! I want the Rose Dolly heels SO DAMN BADDDD!!! 

Richard Ward

I had been planning on writing about my hair salon of choice for a few months now and had not managed to get round to it. Given all the hype over last week's Royal Wedding and Kate's hair, though, I thought now might be a good time to share it with you! I am, of course, talking about Richard Ward....