Candyfloss & Dreams

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What Should I Pack for My First Cruise?

As many of my regular readers will know for the last few months I’ve been talking about my upcoming holiday to Norway. We’re spending a week aboard P&O’s Azura and cruising along the stunning Norwegian Fjords. This is our second cruise, you can read all about our first one here. We have waited fourteen months for this holiday and I am so glad it’s finally just around the corner. One thing I have been thinking about is the type of clothing I need to pack.

Unlike most holidays, when cruising you need a lot of clothing options because there are usually dress codes on board the ship. You also need to think about where you’re going. Many cruises go to several different countries, some with different climates and so I would say that when it comes to selecting you cruise clothes, layers are your best friend. We are away, as a couple, for seven nights and during the cruise we’ll be visiting four ports, have two full days at sea and two black tie events. There are also facilities such as a sauna, steam room, pools and a gym onboard and if you plan to use these facilities, you’ll need appropriate clothing too.

As a rule of thumb and in line with P&O’s guidelines, a 7 night cruise will typically have two formal nights and a 14 night cruise will probably have around four. This is a really helpful tip when you’re considering what to pack. The rest of the evenings will most likely be smart casual and during the day, the rules around clothing are pretty relaxed. You should consider the types of ports and excursions you’re planning to do whilst you’re away. If you’re going to be hiking, you’ll need layers, comfortable clothing and a decent pair of shoes. You might be doing more daring activities such as riding in a RIB boat or even Kayaking. Do your research on the places you’re visiting before you go which will really help when planning to pack.

The great thing about cruising with P&O and departing from Southampton is that there’s no baggage restrictions. You can take as many bags as you like on board however they do have a standard weight restriction for health and safetly. I love this because it means I can pack as many dresses as I like and plan my outfits on the day rather than in advance however it’s good to have an idea of the types of outfits you’ll need.

We’re taking 2 suitcases, 2 backpacks and a suit bag for two people which (I hope!) will contain enough clothing for the duration of our cruise. I’ve packed two formal dresses and several casual dresses for our black tie evenings. When cruising, the dresscode is typically applied to all area’s of the ship so it’s really important to find out from your cruise operator how many formal nights you’ll need to dress for. Swimwear is only acceptable attire in the pool areas so it’s important to back cover ups to have by your sun bed if you fancy a bite to eat. For men, a good suit, a couple of casual shirts, dark denim jeans, trousers and shoes are pretty much the staples for any cruise. Shorts and sports clothing is usually not allowed in the evening but fine for casual day wear. I really recommend taking a suit in a separate carry on bag.

Even though we know that there will be two black tie nights on board, we have no idea which days these are. The last time we went the first evening was a black tie which surprised me a little however now I’m prepared for the fact that our first night on board may be an occasion to dress up! The important thing to remember when packing clothes for your cruise is to select clothing that you feel comfortable wearing. Be bold and daring if you wish, be as glamorous as you want but make sure you feel comfortable in what you take. Also, do not be afraid to bring more than you need if you’re not flying, make use of all that baggage space.

Do you have a top cruising tip you’d love to share?

***This is a collaborative post***

August 21, 2016
Jack The Ripper Walking Tour, London

I love a good day up in London and when we go we love to play tourist! I was lucky enough to be offered to places on a Jack the Ripper walking tour which I absolutely jumped at. We already had plans to head up to London on 6th August so we thought we could add it on to the end of the day and I am so pleased that we did.

London’s history has always fascinated me and when you start to delve into it the infamous killer of Whitechapel in 1888 is pretty easy to find. We met our tour guide, John, outside Aldgate East exit 4. It’s hard to describe where this exit is if you are heading there by foot but if you are standing outside the main exit it’s diagonal from you a few metres down. We didn’t have too much trouble finding where we needed to be but the exits aren’t clearly marked at street level. Our group was quite a large one but John was a great guide and kept us all in check as we explored Jack the Ripper’s old haunting ground.
Photo Credit
Throughout the tour you visit key places of interest including where some of the bodies were found, which are now a little less atmospheric but with the use of photographs and an excellent story teller you can really picture what it was like back in the East End in 1888. We found out on the day we visited it was a sort of anniversary of what is thought to be one of the Rippers victims early on in August 1888 before the killer really started to terrify London. It was really interesting to learn about these as a possibility but obviously, like many things about the Ripper, there isn’t a lot of certainty and it’s a hotly debated suggestion.

As you go around other key locations in the investigation you do see some quite graphic photographs. John was great at warning people about these and they were handed around discreetly so if you don’t want to see you don’t have to. There was two photographs that were quite horrific and I thought it was great of the guide to warn before peeking. It really made you feel the absolute horror the people living in these parts must have felt and why there was such widespread terror.

Throughout the tour John welcomed questions and he answered everything really honestly. There were a lot of ‘I don’t knows’ and that’s because there really aren’t that many clear facts. I think that’s what makes the whole tour so scary, in a way. Is that this man or woman or monster, whatever you want to call them, did awful things to these women and was never found out. That is what will keep these amazing tours of our history alive really, isn’t it. The fact that we will never know who did it, why or why they stopped because it’s key to note they stopped quite suddenly.

I have to give lots of credit to John who was an excellent tour guide throughout the two hour walk. He kept everyone’s interest and really did get into telling a great story of the investigation that had everyone stumped 128 years ago. John has been working as a Ripper walking tour guide for around 8 years now and is clearly very educated in the subject – he really does know his stuff and if you’re planning on booking a tour, I really recommend him as a guide. If you’re interested in booking you can do so here. It is £10 per person. Some younger people do go on these tours but I personally wouldn’t recommend them for anyone under the age of sixteen, however the tour does allow those of the age of fourteen and leaves it to the parents discretion. When booking these tours as a family, you know your children best and what they will be able to handle. They also don’t have to see the photographs if you decide they’re not appropriate for them. The tour itself is a pretty easy walk and is on flat ground. There are a few cobbles and uneven sections to be aware of and a few crossings too but the guide explains everything before you set off. Just stick together and if you get caught in the traffic lights, the guide will wait for you.

We really enjoyed our walking tour and learning more about Jack the Ripper. I would recommend this tour to anyone that wants to learn all the facts about the case and really learn what it was like to live in London in those times.

Thank you to John, our tour guide, for a fantastic evening around the darker side of London’s east end!

Disclaimer: I received two tickets in exchange for this feature. All opinions remain my own.

August 10, 2016
Eden’s Semilla Jojoba Oil & It’s Many Uses

Eden’s Semilla started in the US in August 2015 and has been increasing the amount of natural oils they sell over the last year. I recently received 60ml bottle of Jojoba Oil to review and introduce you to some of the new essential oils which have recently launched.

The package contains a glass dropper along with the bottle of oil so that you can apply it easily to the hair, skin or nails. I found the dropper really useful and I’m glad it came with the package as it just made things easier so I could get the right amount of oil for use. It smells absolutely lovely too!

I have been using the Jojoba oil for a few weeks now and I’ve really enjoyed finding new uses for the oil. I have been using a few drops of the oil with warm water and using it as a face cleanser. I love how it makes my skin feel soft and is gentle on my face. It’s also got a lovely smell and removes the days makeup and impurities really well. I know Jojoba oil is also great for the hair and can help maintain a healthy scalp.

Another great use for Jojoba oil is to help reduce the appearance of stretchmarks and scars. I’ve found the Eden’s Semilla oil to be great for this personally and has made my skin feel lovely whilst slowly reducing the bumpy texture that scars and stretchmarks leave us with. The oil is quite thin in consistency which makes it spread really well over the skin. This particular one is unrefined and cold pressed too which means it’s the oil in it’s most natural form. I feel much better using a natural substance on my skin. I’ve mostly used the Jojoba oil on my hands, nails and cuticles as it makes then feel lovely and smooth and seems to have strengthened them over time too which is great.

There are so many other uses for Jojoba oil that I want to try this as an after sun lotion. I’ve read that it can help heal the skin after being out in the sun and reduce peeling and flaking. I’ve really enjoyed using the Eden’s Semilla Jojoba oil. It smells lovely and I’ve even been adding a few drops to my baths for a bit more luxury. When used directly on the skin I’ve found it absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave my hands feeling greasy. I think 60ml is an ideal size for this oil and can really help you to find more ways to use natural oils in your every day life.

After using this oil for the last few weeks I really want to try the next set of essential oils as I’m really loving finding new uses for natural oils in my day-to-day life. Eden’s Semilla have also happily provided me with some discount codes so that my readers can take advantage of using their products especially if you are a fan of essential oils. This allows 1 per customer a 50% discount on Amazon and the discount code should be applied at checkout. You can find the storefront here.

ROSEUK50 – Rosehip Oil

HASEUK50 – HA Serum

VITCUK50 – Vitamin C Serum

JOJOUK50 – Jojoba Oil

Disclaimer: I received a bottle of Jojoba oil in exchange for this review. All opinions remain my own.

August 7, 2016
Using Social Media To Grow Your Online Business

Growing a business online and creating a strong social media presence is so vital in this day and age. A huge amount of business is now conducted online only through e-commerce shops, sites, social media selling groups and network marketing professionals. It’s really key that, as a business owner that is looking to grow their network and customer base that you find the right way to do this online.

Produce Unique Content

I can not stress this enough. Copy paste adverts only do so much and they absolutely do not work for every person that is trying to sell online. If you want more customers then you need to find a way to connect with them. I always recommend that you create your own advert, especially if you’re selling online through social media selling pages. Buyers want to see unique, interesting, punchy and informative content that is going to show your product in the absolute best light. As a business owner you should be looking for ways to stand out from your competitors and show that you have something worth showcasing. As an individual selling online, people buy from people so it is important to be as authentic as you possibly can.

Do Not Spam

This is absolutely key. No one likes, or wants, spam and follows on nicely from the above and copy paste content. Copy paste content is constantly being flagged across social media as people that get frustrated with seeing the same thing all the time do report it. If you come across as a spammy business profile then you are likely to be unfollowed, muted, deleted or blocked. No business wants a red flag against their name online and saying the same thing repeatedly, copy pasting messages or just not being professional can really damage your reputation online. People do talk, and they are quicker to spread bad news than good.

Maintain a Positive Social Media Presence

People love a colourful, bright, supportive and positive feed. It brings people in. I can’t lie, if I see an attractive stand, cute pictures, creative images then I am instantly drawn in regardless of the product that’s on show. I want to see bright, vibrant, unique images that really showcase what’s available. Social media is a fantastic way to reach new people and should be used often. Maintaining a positive social media presence is key and should be a strong part of the day. This, again, doesn’t mean spamming your feeds with your product but instead creating unique and shareable content that draws people in and, more importantly, gets people to engage with your pages. The only way you will reach new people is if you maintain a positive feed with strong engagement. Today, big followers mean nothing if you don’t engage with your audience and they need to respond. Once you’ve started building a name for yourself, especially as a networking professional, keep the negativity, pessimism and drama away from the online world – unless of course, you’re a blogger and you are known to have a good rant! But that is beside the point. When it comes to your business you need to be alert, excited and positive at all times.

Make Use of Photo and Video

Showcasing photos of you with your products helps to increase confidence. If you’re working with customers always be happy to share their photographs – with their permission of course and full credit to them – with a personal testimonial or review. Video is also becoming a really popular way to connect with your audience. Showing tutorials using the products, a live Q & A with product experts or even getting on the live applications yourself and demonstrating products has really opened the door to doing business through social media. It’s a great way to sell yourself and allow your audience to really get to know the face behind the brand or product.

Build Relationships With Your Followers

As a blogger there is nothing I love more than finding a brand I love and engaging with them. I love building up that working relationship with a new brand and getting to know the company. If your followers are liking your pictures, give them a follow and like their pictures too, don’t be afraid to send a message asking what they like about your brand, you’ll get some good, old fashioned honest feedback, for free, and potentially a new buyer who will be flattered you took the time out to think of them. It’s so important to value your followers voice, opinions and feedback so always be prepared for some criticism and take it on the chin with a smile. As a sole business owner, especially one that works from home or online exclusivily, building relationships is the social part of your day and should be done in a professional manner. You need to genuinely love the demographic you’re looking to sell to, or they just won’t pay any attention.

Do you work online? How do you market your business?

August 5, 2016
Brunch at Urban Meadow Cafe & Bar, London

Urban Meadow Cafe is a gorgeous cafe attached to a hotel on Bayswater Road, London. It was around a five minute walk from Notting Hill Gate tube station and very easy to find on the corner. We were lucky enough to find a Wowcher offering a two course brunch and a bottle of Prosecco for £25 which was an absolute steal and we were so happy to find such an amazing deal. I was in London for the Big Blogger Expo and knew we would need somewhere that was affordable and provided something filling, the bottle of Prosecco was a real bonus and made me feel really pampered.

We booked a table for 12noon and arrived a little early. The staff were more than happy to seat us though which was nice. There was plenty of seating outside which looked beautiful however we decided to stop inside where it was nice and cool. We headed towards the back which had plenty of lovely comfy bench seating, clean tables and lovely table decoration.

Urban Meadow Cafe is absolutely gorgeous. It was lovely to sit in a light and airy space whilst enjoying our food. The seating was comfortable, it was clean and the staff were really friendly. We did visit the ladies on our trip to brunch which is situated in the hotel reception and is open to guests of Urban Meadow. They were clean and had some lovely soap and hand lotion!

We had already paid for our brunch so we could literally just sit down and order. The croissant came first and it was huge! I was really impressed with the portion size for such an excellent value brunch. We were offered butter and jam which came in individual pots and was absolutely delicious. The only problem with croissants is they can be a little messy, especially when they’re so huge! The Processco came chilled and with champagne glasses topped with a strawberry which was a really nice touch.

We then had our second course which was really filling and again a great portion size for the price paid. I went with the Eggs Benedict which was delicious, the eggs poached to perfection and a delicious hollandaise sauce.

I was really impressed with Urban Meadow Cafe and I would recommend it to anyone in the area as they seem to have a great amount of deals on including a burger and a pint for just under £10! That is a pretty perfect lunch time deal if you ask me! It’s a lovely setting, easy to find and offers really great food. It was the perfect start to our day in London and I would love to return with my family.

July 26, 2016