Brilliant Budapest

Just arrived home from a visit to Budapest, which was rather brilliant.  I had very little prior knowledge of the city, but went equipped with a top ten list, and the overwhelming desire to visit a restaurant called Cafe New York, proclaimed as 'the most beautiful cafe in the world'.

We stayed for four nights, at the Easy hotel centrally located in oktogon, this was perfectly basic, perfectly located, and perfectly priced at £87 for a double room, en suite, for the entire stay.

One of the best things about Budapest for me was how we stumbled across amazing buildings, cafes, bars and clubs, without any research and ended up in the prettiest and most unique places.

I just wanted to share a few of the places we visited.

There's undeniably a strong cafe culture, and beautiful cafes literally line the streets of Budapest. My favourites (in the style of Carrie, SATC, in Paris) were Művész Kávéház, est 1898, a really pretty, grand cafe, decked out with amazing chandeliers and perfectly formed cakes. 

One of the most memorable cafes, is at the top of a former Paris Department Store, currently a waterstones style bookstore, the sharp contrast between modern bookstore and beautiful neo-reneissance ball room is breathtaking. There was a pianist and a great dessert selection. 

Ruin pubs, are something new to me, they are old buildings that seem like former factories, that are deliberately left unfinished and decorated with art installations, unique art works and offer live music.  We visited several of these, everyone of these from the outside was a little spooky and odd, however once inside they feel artsy and have a great vibe.  They are known to close down and move locations over night, therefore they're exciting to discover.

Sufni G'art'n

Fogas Ház and szputnyik pop up shop....   This place has an amazing court yard, with an out door bar, bbq and lots of giant, vibrant 3D lips hang from the buildings. This is attached to a club and the vintage shop Szputnyik, loved the jewellery and accessories, which I visited for a late night cocktail induced spree.  

Instant... Instant was recommended to us and was easily my favourite ruinpub, there were so so so many rooms, all with the theme of an enchanted forest.  Rabbits running across the ceiling, a breasted owl, there was a display of family portraits with the odd persons head displayed as an animal.  Pleasantly strange, an adults drunken Disney.

 

And finally, Cafe New York, I absolutely loved this place, it was a real treat, there were so many thoughtful touches.  On arrival staff place handbag hooks on diner's tables, as a handbag lover I adored this, the staff were so sycronised each course laid out delicately and each persons plate placed on the table at exactly the same time, each course was described thoroughly once placed on the table.  I opted for a wine tasting menu, which literally changed my opinion on the purpose of wine, this wine really did complement each course.  The interior of the building was amazing, and there was a brilliant atmosphere created by a pianist who played classical versions of the Beatles, Disney and Abba, not what you'd expect, but I really enjoyed it.  This meal was the final thing we did in Budapest and has left me defiantly wanting to return.

 

 

 

Review of a Great Makeup Mirror: Tweezerman, 10x magnifying mirror

One of my lasting memories of childhood is seeing my Mother use a little handheld magnifying makeup mirror, which belonged to her Mother, to apply her makeup.  As a teenager I used to borrow this mirror to examine my face for all kinds of imperfections, that in all honesty didn’t really exist.  I can single handily blame this mirror for at least several eyebrow plucking disasters and obsessive tendencies at curing open pores on my face.  This mirror is so overly used and battered the glass has developed a marking resembling a smiley face, with a massive crack right down the center.  It now looks like a once precious relic that should belong in a museum.

The Old Relic, 3 Generations of vanity

 For a long time I was not put off one single bit and continued using the relic.  That was until I came across the Tweezermate, 10x magnifying mirror.  I still remember my initial thoughts were something along the lines of my eyebrows are messy and that blemish needs some attention.  I then proceeded to visit the mirror a few times, every time not quite believing how horrendous my eyebrows were.  I bought this during a shopping trip with a couple of friends, each of us purchasing our own and as soon as I got this home knew this would be my updated version of the relic, but only to assist, not takeover!

I have used the Tweezerman, Tweezermate, 10x magnifying mirror for about 3 years.  I use this for eyebrow plucking, applying eye makeup and the treatment of skin conditions.  I do believe this mirror makes shaping eyebrows far easier and aids plucking so ridiculously well it gives the impression of waxed brows. 

Modern Day Relic, Tweezerman 10x magnified Mirror, £14.99, Boots

 The back of the mirror contains suction cups to allow it to be attached to other surfaces.  However, I use this as a handheld mirror and using the still attached original packaging as a handle.  Keeping on the packaging also makes it easy to prop against surfaces, like windows and illuminated backgrounds.

I really like this mirror and struggled greatly the one time I forgot to take this on holiday with me.  A sure sign of inherited vanity is when I look forward to being reunited with the Tweezermate as much as my own real mates, who I do really like a lot!

Fancy Nail Polish on a Budget: Deborah Lipmann, Happy Birthday vs Model’s Own Ibiza Mix

Model's Own, Ibiza Mix

This post is a wish list.  In House of Fraser last weekend I went a little crazy with the Deborah Lipmann testers, literally a different colour on every finger.  This is a brand that I’m not too familiar with, I’ve heard some chat and spied on one quiet afternoon a demonstration on QVC of Lipmann, but that's it!  I've never met the range in person.  I know the demonstrators job is to entice and say whatever it takes to reel in buyers, but this polish looked nothing short of amazing, so glossy and perfect on the TV.  Something I didn’t quite catch, or chose to ignore was the high price tag of between £14.00 - £16.00 per bottle.

One thing I really like about Deborah Lippman's polishes are their fun names, such as; Waking up in Vegas, Good Girl Gone Bad and I Know What Boys Like.

Deborah Lipmann, Candy Shop £16.00

My favourite is the one called Candy Shop.  It contains a pale pink base with multicoloured glitter strands, in the shapes of hexagons and dots of various sizes.  This is basically Happy Birthday, with a pink base.  I like this as it reminds me of the Model’s Own polish called Ibiza Mix, without a base colour.  I just can’t seem to buy Ibiza Mix, as it’s sold out every time I try to buy it.

It’s ironic to want an expensive polish, as it reminds me of a cheaper polish.  

Deborah Lipmann, Happy Birthday £16.00

 However, Lipmann has now given me inspiration for when I finally track down Ibiza Mix.

Morning Saviour: A review of Lee Stafford, Poker Straight, Night Patrol

This product has helped me realise a major down fall in my hair routine.  I have long hair and not enough time to follow much of a hair care routine on a morning; therefore, I have to sort my hair out each night before sleeping.  Something I hadn’t noticed until recently, although it sounds pretty obvious, is how much better my hair looks straight after blow drying and how rubbish and lifeless my hair feels/looks on a morning.  So, in effect I make my hair look nice every night, go to sleep and the hair demons appear each night to mess up all of my hard work.

Night Patrol, £2.00 (200ml), Boots.

In light of my dilemma, I have happened to come across from Lee Stafford’s Poker Straight range, Night Patrol.  I need to admit the only reason I bought this product was due to an offer in Boots, it was a totally impulsive buy and I’m ashamed to say I only bought this product due to having liked other products within this range.  So, when I did read the bottle, initially I put this somewhere out of sight and thought what a pointless product with a mental note to stop buying pointless rubbish.

One evening I decided to give this spray a whirl, or a spritz, and believe my initial thoughts were a little on the harsh side.  The front of the bottle states:
‘Helps keep your hair straight as you sleep.  So you’re up up and away swifter than a super hero’.

The crunch of this spray is that it contains style memory, a long-lasting control polymer that smooths the hair and helps it stay in place overnight and directions are literally to spray onto dry hair, as you would a perfume.
The smell of this product is nice and like a mild perfume, it smells like a product I want to use on my hair.  I spray this on my hair and leave to settle before going to bed.  I belive my hair feels softer, ends look and feel less dry, after using this spray.  It isn’t something I use every night, but do find myself wishing I had done.  I feel like this is a very unique product and I don’t have any similar products to compare with Night Patrol.  For me this does go some way to offering a solution to the lack of time on a morning and stopping my very naturally straight hair changing its mind and turning into a curly mane.

This works for me personally, but I do already have very straight hair naturally.  Boots are selling this in miniature, take-away, bottles at the moment for the summer, suggesting there is a market of loyal users needing to take this on holiday in a convenient size.  So, the moral I have learnt from buying pointless ‘rubbish’ is …  why-the hair demons- not?

Simply the Best Face Mask: Milk of Magnesia

I have used Milk of Magnesia (MOM), as in the stuff used for indigestion, as a face mask for over a year, after seeing a recommendation online as a solution for oily skin.  I have a vague recollection of the YouTube clip recommending the unflavoured kind and seeing a demonstration of MOM used as a primer, underneath makeup, and the way I use this as a face mask.

When I bought this I could only find the traditional mint flavour, fortunately the minty smell of MOM only lasts for as long as I have this on my face as a mask.  To apply I either pour a small amount in a cupped hand, or on to cotton wool and apply to my face.  It is a liquid, but sets on the face in a thin layer in a chalky white colour.  It instantly tightens the skin, lasting temporarily.

I apply this for about 10 minutes, usually whilst I’m using a deep conditioning hair treatment and then use a strong cleanser to remove. I find this is an instant pick me up treatment for my skin.  It shrinks enlarged pores, blemishes seem to skip a few days worth of healing time and my skin just feels generally smoother.
As with all face masks, it’s probably not a wise idea to use this every day, this seems to work better once to twice per week.  I have tried using this on two consecutive evening and it felt too harsh.  Also,I have never used this as a primer, mainly due to the minty flavour and lack of motivation to track down the unflavoured kind.

This is something I rave to all my friends about and I am always wanting them to try, as it works so well on my skin.  It’s also not that crazy an idea, Epsom salts containing magnesium sulphate are accepted as having a positive impact on the skin.  Also, incase your still doubtful magnesium can travel through to the lower layers of the skin and heal damaged skin cells and protect the skin from rashes caused by allergies. 

The only down side is the ahem potential stigma of using this as a beauty product and it’s not the kind of thing to display on a dressing table!



Feet in Need of Summer Shoes: A Look at what's on Offer!

Since the "heat wave" began, 2 days ago, I have allowed myself an extra 10 min of snooze time each morning, as a direct result of the ease of summer clothing.  My summer wardrobe consists of mainly dresses, I have an abundance of them,  I love them because; my brain only has to consider one item, there aren’t multiple items of clothing/tights for my morning brain to process and you can literally throw them on.

This morning, however, I quite simply nearly missed my train due to lack of shoe choice, what did I wear on my feet last summer?  Did I wear shoes?  Did I wander the streets barefoot, like a Diana Vickers wannabe?


That was a complicated way of letting you know about, and to justify spending some £$£, the gap in the summer footwear section of my wardrobe.  This has lead to a little bit of research of day worthy, walk-in-the-park, lolly eating kinda shoes.  Any of these would brighten up my day!

Top, L/R:

beige multi coloured stud sandals £35.00, River Island, pink print knot front strappy sandals, £25.00, River Island, Safari sandal Off white/zebra, £50.00, Office. 

Middle, L/R:
Cyclone sandal Bright multi pu, £28.00, Office, Culture vulture Blk/wht/grey lt, £40.00, Office,ASOSFlatforms, £65.00.

Bottom, L/R:
River Island Diamante Espadrille Sandals, £45.00, ASOS FLIX Leather Flat Sandals with Deco Stones, £35.00, Office Cape town Black pu/studs, £58.00.

The Easy Way to Remove Glitter Nail Polish

Something has happened to me, I have developed a glitter nail polish obsession!  Glitter, like wearing white during summer, has a limited window of opportunity.  It can only be worn over the festive period, in my mind, without looking a bit misplaced.  However, nails are different. 

Before! Nails George 3D Glitters, No 1 Ice Queen

On the last eve of my recent holiday, I decided to spend a significant amount of time pampering myself, to make the transition between play and work less painful, this resulted in testing my new and current favourite nail polish, I’m afraid it’s another of the Asda 3D Glitter Nails, no 3 Starfish.  I have a confession, I went back to Asda, following this post, to purchase the rest of this glitter range.  I am currently rocking the blue polish.  It’s just so pretty! And coverage is great! 

During! Quality Street fingers

With this new obsession has come the problem of removal!  Glitter nail polish is just so awful to remove, until I came across this post.  To summarise: Cut 5 cotton wool pieces in half, soak them in remover, secure to nails with foil, leave for five minutes and wingle free resulting in the way nature intended nails.  My initial thoughts were, oh gees, what a lot of messing!  But as it works so well, my nails have never looked cleaner, it is totally worth the faffing about!

A sly morning commute train pic, I rename this polish Monday blues! Asda 3D Glitter, no 3 Starfish.