Della Loves Nutella ♥

Review: Bella Pro contour brush set

25 February 2018

Well hello to you my reader chums! Ever since I started this blog, beauty reviews have always been one of my favourite topics to write about. For Christmas, I've received a few new makeup brushes and one of the sets were 'Bella Pro contour brush set'. I've never heard of this brand before and was intrigued in seeing what the brushes would be like.

Here are my thoughts on Bella Pro makeup brushes.

The brush selection

When it comes to a brush set, I always want a range that's able to make over an every day face, for instance one to blend in your base (foundation and concealer), contour, highlight and if they include eye brushes, a few to get that candid blended eye shadow look. This brush set is predominately designed for just base makeup and includes a buffer brush, blush/bronzer brush, fan brush, foundation brush and a thin one for the concealer; a wide range to suit each makeup stage. I've found each brush to have multiple uses, such as using the buffer brush for blending foundation and setting the base with powder or using the blush brush for both contour and blusher.

The buffer brush - What I love most about this brush is the size; it's large enough to buff a lot of product onto the skin and cover a wide area as you do so. With buffing brushes, you need the brush to be quite dense to avoid product waste and keep a firm grip to the face as you blend. This brush is exactly that; firm enough to hold the correct amount or product and blend it throughout the skin with minimal waste.

Fan brush - I've only recently fallen in love with fan style brushes thanks to this one and a Real Techniques brush I mentioned in my favourites post. The Bella Pro fan brush is one of the softest brushes I've ever owned and works like a dream. For everyday highlight use, it swipes on the perfect amount of highlight for that subtle glow. If you'd like a more intense highlight, simply apply more product to the brush and layer for your desired effect.

Blush brush - I'm not the biggest blush fan and have mainly been using this brush for contour purposes. The brush is at an angle which makes it the perfect shape to either get right in those cheekbones for contour of if you'd prefer to use for blush, to go up the apples of the cheeks towards the temples. As this isn't a very dense brush, it's not the best for a full on contour, however for an everyday subtle contour and all over bronze, it holds the right amount of product and applies easily on the skin.

Foundation brush - Out of all the brushes, this is the only one I haven't used and simply for the reason, I'm not the biggest fan of flat foundation brushes. However, what I can say the material is super soft and dense which will make application that bit easier as it'll grip to the skin instead of sliding around the place, avoiding streaky marks.

Concealer brush - This is my second favourite brush to the fan brush as it can be used for two of my favourite makeup steps. As it's a much smaller design than a typical concealer brush, you're able to blend under the eyes and onto blemishes easily - plus it also doubles up as an eye blending brush. The softness of the concealer brush means you're able to blend out those harsh crease colours into a beautiful blended look.

The brush's material

With makeup brushes, all every makeup user wants is soft brushes which do the job and that's exactly what the Bella Pro contour brush range is like. Every single brush is as soft as anything (I'd say on par with the Real Techniques collection) that feel super light on the skin.

The brushes washing ability

I always get worried testing out new makeup brushes in case when it comes to washing, they'll shed and you'll lose apart of the brushes. However, the Bella Pro collection wash easily with absolutely no shedding and once dry keep to their original softness.

The brush design

I love the brush set's design as I think it's simple yet still looks classy. I'm a big fan of grey/silver in general so pair that with white topped brushes (yes they need a bit of a clean at the minute) and you have the perfect mix. I think also, that putting their purposes on each brush is always a good feature as if you were a makeup newbie, it gives you that heads up on what the brush is meant for.

Overall, these brushes have truly impressed me. With completely softness, stylish design, a range fitting each purpose and the best washing ability, you can't go wrong. All you need is the perfect brush case to match and you're good to go off on your travels with these fab brushes.

I hope you enjoyed this brush review. Have you tried out Bella Pro brushes before?

Thank you for reading <3

5 days in Paris | what to see and do

21 February 2018

Well hello to you my reader chums! I've been wanting to see Paris for the longest time and I'm glad I've finally been able to experience the city in all its glory.

This post contains affiliate links.

I did a lot of research into Paris prior to visiting as it may sound crazy but I didn't realise quite how big the city was and the many different neighbourhoods there were. The hotel was 2 minutes from a tube station and located out of the city centre, around a 30-minute tube journey to commute in. This was super convenient as once we got the hang of the tubes, we learnt how to get to the main hot spots easily. If you'd like to stay a bit more central, there are lots of accommodation options ranging in price.

Here's my take on a 5-day guide to Paris...

Day 1: Wednesday 14th February - Eiffel Tower and Louvre museum

I got the Eurostar from Ebbsfleet to Paris Nord at 8am and arrived around 11am in Paris. From there I checked into the hotel and went straight into exploring the main sights. My first step had to be the Eiffel Tower, Paris' most iconic landmark. When I arrived, I couldn't believe it at first and how big the tower really was (again sounds super silly). Unfortunately, construction work was going on around the tower during my visit, but that didn't stop us from marvelling at its beauty and getting candid Instagram shots. I walked around the Eiffel Tower area to soak up the main hub of the biggest tourist attraction and then got a bite to eat.

Around the Eiffel Tower, there's plenty of spots to get candid snaps of the landmark. There's the main terrace where you can strike a pose, the wall next to the terrace that overlooks the tower, or the grass area to the side for a different angle.

As the big tourist, I am, after a spot of lunch I got the tube over to the Louvre museum. I'm not the biggest art enthusiast, however, I find nothing more relaxing than strolling around art museums, admiring different pieces of work. The Louvre was absolutely massive with a range of astounding artwork including the famous Mona Lisa. It was pretty cool to finally see it in person and look at the pieces of worldwide art from across the centuries.

The Louvre backs onto an area that leads towards the Paris version of the London eye so I headed towards that way in a hunt to find a good restaurant and finally came across 'Le Café de la Regence'. I adored this place - the food was on point, cooked to perfection and they even laid our flower petals on the table for the occasion. I would highly recommend it if you're in the area.

Day 2: Thursday 15th February - Eiffel Tower meal and Notre Dame

On the second day, I had lunch up the Eiffel Tower booked. Even though I walked around the tower on the first day, there was no point going up it as I had the tickets to use on this day. The meal was booked for 12 so after a quick lift ride up there (super scary but ever so exciting), I was greeted at the restaurant doors and seated. The food was on a set menu and you got to pick 3 different courses with a complimentary glass of champagne, alcoholic beverage, and a hot drink. I can honestly say the food was delicious - and my highlight is the chocolate mousse for dessert (I wish I had 10 of them). There was a professional photographer that also came around to take a few snaps. I never thought I'd have a meal up the Eiffel Tower and it was one of those things I can now tick off the bucket list!

The next stop after the Eiffel Tower was Notre Dame. I'm a big lover of churches that I couldn't miss out on the Notre Dame when in Paris. I headed over there and fell in love with the area straight away. The Notre Dame has a river to its right and is surrounded by the most magnificent buildings, a park behind it, and many quaint streets. Inside Notre Dame, I was amazed by the design! I sat in there for a while to take it all in, walked around, and lit a candle. Churches will always be a place that I feel at ease so when I'm in a new country, I like to visit a church to experience a sense of calm.

Around the quieter streets in this area, there were vintage shops, boutiques, macaroon shops, and a wide range of different restaurants. I had dinner in one of the tucked-away restaurants and made my way back to the Eiffel Tower to see it glisten at night.

You can't really get much better than watching the Eiffel Tower lit up in the night sky! It's an image that will always stay in my mind.

Day 3: Friday 16th February - Disneyland Paris

I'm a huge Disney fan so a trip to Paris wouldn't be complete without a day at Disneyland itself. I bought the tickets in advance for the main park on Disney's website and they cost £43 to use between certain dates. As I walked through the gates, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the famous hotel and then again when Cinderella's castle came into view. It was a magical moment that my inner child came out in full force.

I was super lucky with the weather on Disney day as there were bright blue skies all around, compared to the first two drizzly days in Paris. The park wasn't as packed as expected given it was half term, however, some queues were much bigger than others. I managed to go on a few of the big rides including Indiana Jones, Space Mountain and Thunder Mountain as well as meeting Mickey Mouse.

Lining up to meet Mickey was the biggest queue out of them all but it was worth it for the snap and hug from one of the best Disney characters.

Even though I adored the rides and walking around the different park areas, my highlights had to be the shows. The 5pm parade was such a feel-good showcase with all the Disney characters dancing and singing on the colourful floats, whilst the firework display pulled on every single heartstring. As the animation played, fireworks went off and classic Disney tunes boomed out, I felt every emotion. The display was as magical as each Disney guest says it is. On your next visit, make sure you wait and watch the fireworks at the very end!

Day 4: Saturday 17th February - Champs-Elysees, Montemarte and Sacre Coeur Basilica

When it comes to shopping, it's safe to say I'm a bit of an addict. Which means, of course, I had to see what the Champs-Elysees aka Paris' best shopping street was all about and I absolutely loved it. From top designer stores, car shops, high-street clothing to the beloved Sephora, there's something for everyone and if you're in need of a big shop, this is the place to go. As I walked all the way up, I finally arrived at the Arc de Triomphe. Like all Paris' architecture, it was astonishing to see in person. I didn't go up it, however, there is that option if you'd like to - I bet you'd get a fantastic view of the shopping street!

The surrounding area is certainly something to explore - there's two art galleries, the grand palace, and the petit palace. I walked around the smaller one which featured the finest collection of different artwork. Also next to the galleries, there's a long bridge that overlooks the Eiffel Tower - another spot to get that perfect photo.

After exploring around there, I headed to Montemarte and visited the Sacre Coeur, a Catholic Chuch. This stood right at the top of the hill and took a bit of walking up high to reach, however, it was completely worth it. For a fee of 6 euros, you're able to walk up the 300 steps inside the church and experience what is the best view of Paris. I was lucky, on the day of our visit blue skies were all around that we got to see the view of Paris in all its glory, glistening in the sunshine.

Even though heights most certainly aren't my thing, there was something so mesmerising seeing Paris from above, with the thousands of buildings and Eiffel Tower that stood in the distance.

Montemarte had to be one of my favourite areas I saw. The most popular street was surrounded by quirky cafés and filled with art stalls of locals selling their paintings. There was a charismatic atmosphere like something else and I'd love to return here one day! I ate the most delicious waffles at lunch and found a super cute, diner-esque style pub which did the most delicious burgers and cocktails, for our evening meal. Montemarte is a complete hidden gem that every Paris newbie should see.

Day 5: Sunday 18th February - Retuning to our favourite sights and park strolls

The last day was all about revisiting my favourite spots and exploring the last few new neighbourhoods. We returned to the Eiffel Tower and luckily it was blue skies this time instead of the cloudy weather we had on our first visit here. After a mooch around, I headed to the German quarter for a little explore. Here it was super quaint with market stalls along the river and little coffee shops. This area actually had a bridge that led on to the back of the Louvre and we decided to browse around that area again as we loved it.

After a hot chocolate break and a lot of walking, I hopped on the tube to Monteparnasse and walked around that area. I saw on the map that there was a massive park nearby and headed over there. It's called 'Jardin du Luxembourg', a gorgeous open-space area with pristine gardens, a massive pond, and a striking building that stood at the end. As the day was super sunny, I sat down for a bit and soaked up the last bit of Paris, reminiscing over our past few days in the city of love.

To finish our special trip, we found a restaurant that served the best hot chocolate and banana spilt for dessert, then hopped on the tube back to our hotel and returned home via the Eurostar.

Tips and tricks

If you're staying out of the main city centre, investing in a tube pass is worthwhile. I believe there's a 1 day, 3 day, 5 day and 7 day pass option - we went for the 5 day.
Disneyland's train station is in zone 5 so if you'd like to include that in your tube day pass, make sure you buy zone 1-5 instead of zone 1-3. We made this mistake as we didn't realise our ticket wouldn't work when we got to Disney!
Buy your tickets in advance for Disneyland, otherwise, they'll be more expensive at the gates.
If you're under 26 and an EU citizen, visiting the Louvre museum is completely free.
Food can be super-pricey in Paris - search for restaurants away from the main attractions to save on money.
Walk around - there are so many hidden gems in Paris that you'll find if you simply take a stroll round various neighbourhoods and away from top attractions.
Churches, Notre Dame and the Sacre Coeur are free to enter.
Parisians eat dinner later than us in the UK so if you're planning to go to dinner at 5pm, you'll probably be the only person eating in the restaurant.

Experiencing 5 days in Paris was everything I ever dreamt of. The tucked-away streets, beautiful architecture, delicious foods and magic of Disneyland will always hold a place in my heart. Au revoir Paris!

I hope you enjoyed this post! Have you visited Paris?

Thank you for reading <3

Blogging Q&A

12 February 2018

Well hello to you my reader chums! I've been writing on this blog for nearly 5 years now that I thought it was about time to prepare a Q&A-style post. I asked on Twitter for a few questions to include in today's post and have a couple of fab ones I'd like to share. Whether you're one of my original readers or are only reading for the first time today, I'd like to thank you for your continued support of my blog.

Here's my blogging Q&A...

When and why did you start your blog? @callikitson

I love this question as it's a great way to share my blog journey with my audience, whether you're a new or original reader. I began my blog way back in early 2013 at the age of 16. At this time, I knew nothing about the blogging industry and it wasn't as big as it is today. I started my blog as I've always loved to write ever since I remember which sprung from my obsession with books and words. I wanted to grow my writing and have a place to document it that when I came across a few blogs, I instantly thought 'let's start a blog'. I brainstormed a name (this took a while) then finally took the plunge and began writing: Della Loves Nutella was born.

What is your favourite and least favourite thing about blogging? @coleoftheball

Blogging comes with varied pros and cons but every day, I still love it that little bit more. My favourite thing is the purely creative aspect behind it, I can write any blog post idea I have, document my holiday snaps, take quirky pictures of the latest products I've been loving and share my voice with the world. There's so much you can do with blogging and as it's the opportunity to own my little space on the internet, I'm able to share my different passions with those of similar interests. I also love the community; it's super friendly and whether you're a new or old blogger, everyone is supportive of your work.

The downside of blogging is a tricky one, there are a few things that come to mind. I think numbers are a big weight on every blogger's shoulders. I personally do it as a hobby and love it when brands get in contact to work as it's always an exciting project. However, if you try and contact brands where your numbers don't match their criteria, it can feel a bit disheartening. Also, if you've worked hard on a post and it doesn't get the recognition you'd like it to, that never feels good. The pros do outweigh the cons completely though. I've nearly been writing my blog for 5 years now and every time I have a post idea, I can't wait to get typing!

What have you improved most through blogging? @thefrugalfrenchie

Since beginning my blog all those years ago, I've improved in all areas of blogging. My writing quality had grown a lot, I've learnt to perfect the art of flat lays (still experimenting), I've got a bit better with web design and how I want my blog to look. Through my job, I've learnt about digital marketing which has helped with improving the way I promote my blog. When you look at it, there isn't really one thing that I've improved the most on, together every aspect has improved the complete appearance of my blog today.

@naomirowan_blog - Did any other blogs inspire you to start a blog?

I'm trying to think back to all those years ago if there were any low-key blogs that inspired me, however, the one that really made me think 'I can do it' was Zoella's. A very cliché answer but it's true. I love how she wrote and the different topics she talked about that it gave me the push I needed. Once I began blogging, there were a few bloggers that I really loved like Parie from Class & Glitter - go check her out.

Which blogs inspire you/ do you like to read the most?

There are so many blogs that inspire me which can range from beauty, travel to even family blogs. I love learning about people's stories, whether that's travelling the world, talking about their everyday makeup routine, or pregnancy announcement. I also really like to read personal growth style posts, mental health stories, and Q&As (I guess you can call me a bit nosy). Living in a world that we do, fixated on screen time, it's refreshing to hear people's voices through their blogs.

Here are a few of my favourites:

https://www.bethlouise.com/

http://www.charlottespicks.com/

https://sairasays.co.uk/

Do you ever wish you could write about a certain niche that you don't have knowledge of?

This question is very interesting as I like to think I cover all the topics that I love. However, I think a niche I'd love to write about more would be mental health, to spread awareness even further, and possibly recipes. I really want to get back into cooking from scratch and trying out different foods. If I began doing so, it's a writing area I'd love to explore.

Have you ever thought about using YouTube alongside your blog?

Yes, I have, a while back around 2014/2015 time when vlogging was on the rise but it certainly wasn't at the level it is today. I really got into watching vlogs in 2013 that I thought why not give it a go? As you can tell I never actually made the plunge but at the time I was interested in exploring making videos.

Have you ever been in a bloggers rut? If you have, how did you get out of it? @whitneylorenxo

As I've mentioned, I've been writing my blog for nearly 5 years now and it hasn't always been a fresh wave of ideas. There have been blips where I couldn't think of any new ideas or what I'd like to talk about next on my blog and at those times, it got me feeling very stressed. This however isn't the greatest approach to getting out of a blogger's rut. Usually, when this happens, I take a few days away, read some of my favourite blogs, take inspiration from them and what's around me. Things like conversions I've had, makeup I've worn, or how I've been feeling can strike up a blog idea. It's never forced, but when one does come, I write it in my notebook and plan from there. If you're in a bloggers rut, I'd suggest having a few days away from your blog as you'll come back with a fresh look and that'll hopefully bring on new ideas.

What is the most important thing to you in your life? @itismeelizabeth

This question made me have a good old thing. I'm completely blessed with the life I lead, with a supporting family, loving boyfriend, and best friends as well as the holidays and experiences I've had. But, I think ultimately the most important thing is mine and the happiness of my loved ones. Life can be hard at times for those around me and myself, that making the situation a little bit better is what matters most. Possessions are a great asset in life, however, in the end, you won't have those anymore, just what you had from the beginning, your loved ones and memories. This means, my loved ones and memories have to be the most important thing in life to me.

I hope you enjoyed this blogging Q&A What's your favourite thing about blogging?

Thank you for reading <3

January favourites

3 February 2018

Well hello to you my reader chums! With the past few weeks of attempting new years resolutions, enjoying wintry nights in and celebrating birthdays, January has finally come to a close. I've tried a lot of new products this month and many of which have become an everyday staple.

Here is a look at my January favourites...

BarryM 'matte me up' lip kit in 'Go to'

Matte lipsticks are my favourite lip product as they last that little bit longer and I prefer the formulation to a gloss. Liquid lipsticks have become a big trend where every brand have made their stamp on it recently and as one of the little gifts for Christmas, I received a BarryM lip kit. I couldn't wait to give this a go, as it meant having the matching lip liner to a lipstick and rocking them both. 'Go to' is a pink/brown slightly dark nude shade which you can either work for everyday use or to pair with a smoky eye on a night out. The lip liner is very creamy upon application, doesn't tug and lasts a very long time. It's a super light product, that once applied, feels like nothing is on the lips which I like as a heavy lip product never sits as well. The liquid lipstick has a really creamy consistency and feels very wet when you apply it on the lips. However, even though it's very liquid-like, it sets completely matte, quite quickly on the lips and paired with the lip liner, can last a long time.

Real Techniques miracle sculpture sponge

I'm a big fan of the Real Technique sponges and love to use them for base makeup because I find they give a more natural look. For Christmas, I got a new Real Techniques brush set with a few brushes and the miracle sculpture sponge. It's meant to be quite a versatile sponge and I've been loving it most to blend in my concealer. As it has quite a small top, I found it was the right shape to get under the eyes and onto blemishes easier.

Body Shop strawberry shower gel

I think the Body Shop is completely underrated, they offer natural, amazing quality products for reasonable prices. One of their products I love are their shower gels. They're all nicely scented and feel that extra bit luxurious than your standard shower gel. The one I've been loving these past few months is the 'Strawberry' scent. It reminds me of Calpol weirdly enough which I know doesn't sound that appealing but it's the sweetness of the scent that I've been obsessing over lately.

Real Techniques fan brush

In the brush set where I received the miracle sculpting sponge, I also got a fan style brush. I've never been one to use fan brushes, however I was excited to give it a go for my highlighting. Real Techniques brushes are always of a high standard and this was no different. The fan brush was incredibly soft and applied highlighter like a dream. As it's thin, you're able to get the right amount of highlight in the correct areas of the face without glowing all over - I don't know why it's taken me this long to use a fan brush!

Zoella 'Snowella' mini fragrance

I've always been a big fan of the Zoella beauty range. Each product I've tried has been of high standard and with the most loveliest scents. When I received the mini perfume set for Christmas which contained a 15ml bottle of each scent, I was super excited to have the 'Snowella' one. It's one of those scents that I fell in love with straight away. I'd describe it as quite sweet, however not fruity at all and with an underlying muskiness to it. I also love since I travel a lot, the size of the bottle because I can bring it wherever I go without worrying about liquid cabin restrictions and carrying heavy fragrance bottles with me.

Olivia Burton watch

I have been obsessed and wanting an Olivia Burton watch for absolutely ages and at Christmas, my boyfriend kindly gifted one to me. He picked the watch that had a lilac strap paired with a gold rim and even got my name engraved on it. I fell in love with it straight away and couldn't not mention it in this month's favourites. It goes with all my outfits and I feel that extra bit special rocking my new favourite accessory everyday.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Which products have you been loving this past month?

Thank you for reading <3

Marc Jacobs highliner matte gel eye crayon review

29 January 2018

Well hello to you my reader chums! A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to be sent a VoxBox as a complimentary gift by Influenster UK and it contained 2 Marc Jacobs highliner matte gel crayons in the brown (earthquake) and light blue (deja blue) shades.

Here's my review of Marc Jacobs highliner matte gel crayons...

Marc Jacobs are my favourite all time perfumes that I own quite a few of the collection. When I got sent these eye liners, I couldn't wait to see how their makeup compared. The eye liners are a versatile product in all the ways you can use them. I decided to use the brown liner as a replacement for my liquid liner above the lashes and to fill in the tight line. This made a nice natural change and didn't look as harsh on the eyes that a liquid liner would. I think it's the perfect look to rock on an everyday basis. As the blue liner was super light, it was almost like a white and I decided to give it a go along the water line to brighten my eyes.

Forumlation

The best thing about these crayons is their creamy formulation. As you apply it on they eyes, whether its the lid or water line, the eye liner is ever so smooth, it doesn't tug at all. It has the same formulation as an eye shadow stick, making application easy. Also, since they're a creamy consistency, you're able to apply and then blend them out to rock a fabulous smoky look.

Pigmentation

These liners have intense pigmentation and really show the colour on the pencil. With one swipe, you're able to get the full colour pay off that you don't need to draw the line over again and again. The brown shade is a very natural brown colour but as the pigmentation is so strong, in some lights it can look slightly black.

Pencil design

The Vox Box came with a booklet full of images that show you different ways to use the eye crayons but I felt some of them are hard to achieve given the pencil design. As it is slightly thicker, if you wanted to create a line above the lashes or create a wing, it can be quite tricky. However for lining the water line, tight line and under the eye, they're the perfect shape/size. I think it all depends which sort of reason you'd use the eye liners for and how much you practise you have.

Colour range

Something Marc Jacobs have excelled in is their colour range. These highliner crayons come in a variety of colours from your standard blacks and browns to vibrant turquoises, pinks and blues. I love this range, as it lets us makeup lovers go wild and be a bit more daring with our eye looks.

Lasting power

As the eye liners were rather creamy, I was a bit concerned how well they would last on my eyes. After a little testing, I found the brown to hold quite well when I've used it on the upper lash line and tight line, however with the lighter blue shade along the water line, it didn't last long at all. I'm not too sure if that's down to the lightness of the colour or how much my eyes watered which took away the colour. I'll need to test out the darker shade on the water line to fully clarify that point. Yet, for super pigmented and creamy gel liners they give off the perfect natural look.

Overall, I'm very impressed with Marc Jacobs highliner matte gel crayons. The pigmentation is insane, they have the most creamy formulation and their colour range suits everyone. Their lasting power can be improved a bit, however other than that, I'm excited to keep trying them out for different looks. If you'd like to treat yourself to a new eye liner, I'd highly recommend giving these a go. Thank you again to Marc Jacobs Beauty!

I hope you enjoyed this review! Have you tried these highliners?

Thank you for reading <3

Book review: 'After Anna'

21 January 2018

Well hello to you my reader chums! I'm an avid book reader and even though I read a lot of stories, there are only a few novels that I think 'wow, this book was intense' and 'After Anna' fits that description. I finished this a few weeks back and couldn't wait to sit down and type away my thoughts.

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Here's my review on 'After Anna'...

Plotline

The blurb goes as follows - Five-year-old Anna vanishes from school without any trace of where she could be. A week later she's found by the authorities without a smidge of evidence to what could have happened and Anna herself having no memory of the ordeal. The nightmare begins here for Anna and her family. It's one of those plots that have surprises and unexpected moments at every turn of the page, that you keep on wondering what will happen next.

Characters

One of my favourite things about novels is getting to know the characters and what happens to them in the storyline. Julia is a strong, caring mother figure and shows every difficult task that motherhood entails throughout the book. She's a determined character, who's in an unhappy marriage and goes to every strength (literally) to get what she sets out for. Brian (Julia's husband) is a weaker character I found. Under the thumb and control of his mother, he always done everything in her favour and still tries to make her happy instead of his wife. Brian is conveyed as a man who is content with his career and his home, that he doesn't seek anything more than that. Then we have Anna who is a curious and clever little 5 years old. Brian's mum, Edna is odd and you discover that from the beginning. She is very snobby, likes the finer things in life, and turns her nose down at those who don't. As Anna is her main grandchild she is still in contact with, she wants the very best for her including private education. As the novel goes on, you see how all these characters' relationships grow and clash with many other low-key characters coming in between. It unfolds in such a way, I couldn't believe it.

Structure

The structure of this book is very interesting and gripping. It switches between the narrator's voice of what's going on with the family unit of Julia, Brian, and Anna to the kidnapper's thoughts. That switch is super intense, however, it puts you in the mind of the kidnapper and helps you unfold what actually happens to Anna. I love the way this book is put together and how the chapters reveal different information.

Ending

I won't give away the ending, however halfway through the book, I began to have my suspicions of what happens and I was correct. The last couple of chapters are even more intense than the rest of them and you discover exactly what happens to Anna. What I can say is the book does end with a happy, content finish.

Overall, I'd highly recommend this book to any enthusiastic reader. It leaves you in suspense, wanting more after every page, and has too many unexpected moments to count. The author is a truly clever and creative writer. It's a 10/10 from me.

I hope you enjoyed this book review! Do you have any book recommendations?

Thank you for reading <3

Aladdin themed afternoon tea and west end show!

18 January 2018

Well hello to you my reader chums! I'm a huge west end fan and when I booked to go see Aladdin, I couldn't wait to see what it was all about - and I booked a matching afternoon tea too, to get me in the Disney spirit.

Cutter and Squidge Aladdin afternoon themed tea

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I saw on Facebook an Aladdin themed afternoon tea at Cutter & Squidge (a bakery) in Soho. As I was going to see Aladdin in the evening, I decided to book it. When you walk into the bakery, the staff take you downstairs to this room that is designed to look like the 'Genie's cave'. The dimmed purple lighting, glittery decorations and gold lamps everywhere screamed Aladdin to me and we couldn't wait to see what was in store with the tea. Disney music also rang through my ears from film to film so I couldn't help but sing along.

Before the main afternoon tea came out, I got a little starter, a glass of prosecco and this pot filled with candy floss, a yummy yogurt concoction and meringue on the top. I then was able to choose our tea, I went for the 'very berry'. My tea was brought out in the quirkiest jugs that looked just like the genie's lamp (I wanted to bring them home)! The food consisted of an assortment of different sandwiches, savoury pastries, macaroons, 'flying carpet' shortbread, cakes and even more macaroons to finish! Every single nibble was bursting with different flavours from coronation chicken sandwiches, feta pastries, chocolate macaroons to strawberry cake and raspberry tarts. There were so many delicious treats to try!

This was the walkway that led to the 'Genie's cave'. Every single decoration has so much detail and a lot of thought put into it - you felt a part of the Disney magic.

I had the most incredible time at the afternoon tea! If you're a massive Disney fan (especially Aladdin), book yourself a table at Cutter & Squidge as I promise you, it'll be a magical experience.

After lunch, I had a mooch around Covent Garden, stopped off for dinner at Pizza Express, and then it was showtime. I'd been listening to the soundtrack prior to the show so couldn't wait to see it brought to life.

Aladdin exceeded all my expectations! With the catchy songs, bright costumes, dancing, magical staging and electrical atmosphere, there was so much to take in. It's one of those musicals that make you smile the entire way through! I also love how much humour was thrown into the show and made you literally laugh out loud. The Genie had to be my favourite every character because he had it all - the singing voice, dancing ability and greatest humour which had the audience in tears. The show was phenomenal and seeing the magic carpet fly into the sky to a 'whole new world' topped it all off.

If you haven't seen it already, I'd 100% recommend getting yourself a ticket! It's such a feel-good show for all ages.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Have you seen Aladdin in London?

Thank you for reading <3

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