Introducing; Wolf and Moon

I have completely lost my mind over British designer Hannah Davis' handmade jewelry at Wolf and Moon.  So much so it took me 4 days to actually pull an order together for my recent birthday as there was just too many spectacular pieces to choose from. Graduating from the prestigious Goldsmith college with a degree in fine art, Hannah started selling her pieces on a market stall and since then has expanded to stock her online shop and provide pieces to boutiques in the UK and Europe. Taking inspiration from a variety of places, Hannah utilises absolutely stunning shapes and colour combinations in a variety of materials which she then gives you the ability to customise by offering most pieces in a variety of combinations. This option to tailor your choices is what really stood out for me when shopping on the Wolf and Moon site as it gave me the ability to pick my favorite items in a combination that then works with  particular outfits or works in tandem with jewelry I already own.

Her latest collection, Fjordland, just launched online and it inspired by a journey through the impressive fjords of Norway and includes some phenomenal shapes. A stunning look book has been put together to showcase the collection and I absolutely adore what they have done with it. Pops of colour and simple, clean but still sharp lines really let the products speak for themselves. They all have such a lux, high end look considering the fantastic prices. I love that in this collection the team have added in the option for a sterling silver base for many things and it certainly made my deciding even harder.

For my birthday I ended up splurging hard. It started off innocent enough- a little harmless ring in the sale stole my heart... and from there all hell broke loose and I decided to get a few of my most favourite pieces they had on offer. I was delighted with the fast delivery service and the way the whole lot was packaged up was gorgeous, you know when even the bubble envelope is pretty that you are on to a winner. The expensive feel carries right through into their branding, the little boxes and bags are really pretty and just make the purchase feel really special.

But of course I still have a ridiculous wish list that I just had to share with you guys as I think there are some incredible bits on here that are perfect for summer.

L-R Double Triangle Earrings; D Studs; Ripple Ring; Egyptian Necklace; Crystal headpiece;
Sash Ring; Ripple Bracelet; Little Sun necklace

Aren't they all just stunning? I don't think I could ever tire of glitter and perspex! I am already plotting purchase number 2... what would you go for?

Edinburgh Reviewed; Guinot Age Summum treatment at Chamomile Sanctuary Spa

So I turned 29 at the weekend, and man am I starting to see those little signs in my skin that is telling me I am 29! Lucky for me though Chamomile Sanctuary Spa in Edinburgh had just the treatment for me to help work on those little tell tale signs of ageing. The Age Summum facial by Guinot  incorporates pure vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and pro-collagen, which are all anti ageing ingredients that are music to my ears.This hands on treatment aims to tackle lack of radiance, loss of firmness as well as fine lines and wrinkles and is without a doubt the best Guinot treatment I have ever tried.

In the run up to giving this new facial a go my skin had suffered terribly thanks to an infection and it left me with seriously dry skin and scarring. The lasting effect this had had on my skin was unreal, I was feeling totally unconfident and just generally flat about my appearance, so I had high hopes that this facial could turn things around and get me back on track.

I settled in to the ever stunning treatment rooms at the spa and my therapist Rhona, got me started with a superb in depth skin consultation. I love how they take their time here to really go through where you skin is at and what kind of things you are looking to treat, you get the real benefit of their level of knowledge about skincare generally and the products they are going to be using which just elevates the whole experience. 

The treatment begins with a dermabrasion exfoliating cream, which does not feel at all rough or over zealous when applied with skill and helps remove dead skin cells and stimulate new cells. This is then followed up with a regenerating anti-aging serum which contains a whopping 56 active ingredients and an active pro collagen mask. While the mask takes effect you are given a beautifully relaxing massage of the arms, hands and shoulders which leads really nicely into the facial massage that is then used to work those vital ingredients into the skin. This helps work on the all over tone, firmness and brightness of the skin and feels absolutely fantastic too. 

The difference in my skin after just the one treatment was absolutely fantastic, I might not have deep set wrinkles or massive sagging issues but considering how dull and congested my skin was looking when I went it in, afterwards it was SO much brighter, clearer and youthful looking. It completely transformed my mood and gave me so much more confidence. it didn't bother me for a second that i was wandering around all day make up free- and I genuinely could not stop glancing in shop windows at how much better my skin looked. The treatment costs £70 for the hour and without a doubt I would be happy to pay that again for these kinds of results, it is crazy just how much your skin can change in an hour with the right type of ingredients applied in the right way by a skilled therapist. I was absolutely over the moon!

I highly recommend checking the Age Summom treatment at Chamomile Sanctuary spa out. A top notch treatment in one of the best spas, I was commenting on this visit that the team here just never disapoint and neither does the spa itself. Often over time I see standards slipping at venues, a lick of paint needed here or there, but at Chamomile the attention to detail is always utterly flawless and that always makes me relax and enjoy the experience that little bit more. A really impressive visit once again, I might just move into that relaxation room yet....

You can contact the reception on 0131 220 1000 or visit the website here.

Glasgow Reviewed; AG Fitness Training

This is one of the hardest posts I have ever tried to write, not because it is about to be a terrible review but the total opposite in fact, I just have SO many good things to say that I don't even know where to start! If you missed my intro post about Andy from AG Fitness training you can catch up here, this post is the promised full review of his 6 week personal training package that I have just finished up and I have been so excited to sing his praises. To refresh, I have wanted to get into weight and strength training for ages as cardio bored me to tears and I walk 7 miles a day Mon-Fri so I feel that is more than enough.  My problem with weights in the past was that I had no set structure and absolutely no correct form what so ever so I was keen to try out a package like this to make sure I was starting off with someone in the know leading the way.

From the outset I knew Andy just 'got' it. He understood where I was now, why I was at this point and where I wanted to get to- which made setting out on this journey together so much easier. He was quick to gain my trust which I think is so important when taking on a new approach to fitness, I felt completely at ease with him and with his plan for getting me to where I want to be. As I mentioned in my intro post it is his approach to nutrition that just blew me away and throughout the 6 weeks this has continued to be an outstanding commitment on his part. Having his clients track their eating on my fitness pal- he monitors and advises you as you go to ensure your diet is in the right place for achieving your goals. He is in regular contact with you to either make suggestions or tweaks or just offer a big well done for keeping on track which is fantastic motivation and helps really build a good relationship. He is always on hand to answer questions which in my case has been millions, he takes time to provide you with any answers you need to keep you on track and strengthen your understanding of how nutrition and fitness work hand in hand and how they affect one another which is something I don't think you can get from a lot of PTs. On top of him monitoring your diet and being on hand to answer questions, he posts handy links and info on his facebook and twitter and also helpfully posts really useful pieces on his blog which are fab for expanding your knowledge.

Nutrition aside, his knowledge and passion for weight training is incredible. Having a solid education in what he is teaching is so important as it again solidifies the trust that I think you need when placing your fitness in someone elses hand. He knows the science behind why things work the way they work and how to then improve on them which is a huge help for me- I love to understand why I should be doing something in order for me to want to continue doing it. Andy is incredibly patient in teaching you good basic form for exercises to ensure you are not going to give yourself any injuries, and so that you are getting the most from every move. He sets you up with a plan so that you can train out side of your sessions and it was no problem at all when I asked him to  make me an additional one to get some exercise at home when I don't have time to get to the gym. As the weeks have progressed we have worked on a variety of important compound moves using different equipment and learning about them has been genuinely good fun. It doesn't matter what you are capable of when you start out Andy makes sure you get going without any embarrassment or intimidation, he is a total joy to train with and manages the perfect mix of patience and encouragement. It has given me the motivation and confidence to then hit the gym on my own to work on what I have been learning and it is amazing just how much I have loved it. I was so over and done with cardio that having a good set routine for the gym that I then building on is actually exciting and  it is incredible just how much more confident it actually makes you feel. Weight loss is not the number one goal here ( although it can be for some) in my 6 weeks I have started to see little muscles grow which were never there before, my clothes fit so much better while my weight has gone down a little but that actually hasn't mattered to me at all as I am finding the fit of my jeans far more motivating. Without a doubt my stomach is the flattest I have seen it, and no jokes- there is a wee proper bum starting to form- the excitement!! I have even been getting up earlier some mornings to fit a quick trip to the gym in before work which is a HUGE change for a sleep lover like me, but I have enjoyed my little sessions so much I have actually been excited to get in- what a turn around!

Andy has been cheering me on every step of the way and I really look forward to our sessions to see what else I can learn and improve on with him leading the way. I haven't hesitated in booking myself in for another course of sessions and neither has Ally who has been just as delighted with the service with AG Fitness as I have been. He is a total gym-phobe normally, before Andy it was a proper battle to get him to come and spend any time in one but now he is gutted when his work shifts means he can't get along to work on his lifting- he will be a beefcake in no time!

If you have been looking to get your fitness and nutrition in line this year I cannot recommend getting in touch with Andy enough, I am gutted I didn't sort out something sooner as I could have saved myself lots of horrible forced cardio! His prices are just fantastic for the level of service you can expect and he is really flexible in working out the best package to suit you. Even if you just want to know more about how a PT session can benefit you just send him a tweet or email- I guarantee you wont be disappointed. I am so excited to see where all Andy takes his business in the coming months, he has some really fantastic ideas for videos and online content alongside ways to expand his training so if I was you I would get in there now and book some space before it is all gone!

You can contact Andy on 07961 085921 or email him at andy@agfitnesstraining.co.uk