The Midweek Treat | "The worlds smallest disco ball" review

This weeks Midweek treat brings a funky black and multi-coloured bath bomb called The worlds smallest disco ball from Lush. 

Where to start.. This bath bomb has an unfortunate 2* rating on the Lush website - Which personally I find a little bit harsh. As you can see, this bomb turns your bath water a deep murky black, with the 'disco ball lights' dancing across the top in bright swirls of colour. When the disco lights have melted away, you are eventually left with a black glitter swirled water - Perfect for halloween. 

What Lush say;

"We all like a good party, whether it’s boogieing at a bar, shaking what your mama gave ya in a club or dad dancing at a wedding.For when you want to celebrate but don't fancy socialising, put on your favourite tunes, forget about throwing shapes and toss this bath bomb into a hot bath instead.

There’ll be no more crying at the discotheque, watch uplifting lime and grapefruit oils dance in the air as the colours swirl and strobe across your bath. Get your tipple on with cognac oil as you get down and hit your own private dance floor (but please don't actually dance in the bath)."

I loved the smell of lime and grapefruit. Fruity fragrances are my favourite in bath products and the scent did linger on my skin afterwards. But unfortunately so did the black suds!  The swirls of bright colours were very pretty and enough to make Van Gogh jealous. However the stains left behind on my skin and the bath tub (see below) were enough to make me say - never again. 

It's a real shame, because the smell and the way this formula made my skin feel afterwards were lovely like most Lush bath bombs. But the clean up afterwards was just too much work. I'm no stranger to having to swill a bath out due to glitter residue, however the black stains took a scrub with bleach to get off the bath. I was also shocked to find the black residue had stuck to my skin too in places, which required an additional shower after I'd finished. 

I do however disagree with the 2* rating given on the website. I think overall I would score this bomb a 3/5. With my only negative being that the staining was too much hassle, I think for wow factor from the initial colours it is worth a one time purchase to experience yourself. But if like me, you don't particularly want to be busting out the bleach after use, I would recommend something a little less colourful. 

This bath bomb is limited edition and won't be available for long. So if you would like to give it a go, you will have to be quick! You can purchase 'Worlds smallest disco' online here - or alternatively visit your local store. 

Have you tried this bath bomb? 

What are your thoughts on black bath bombs?

Denim Dilemmas & Ochre | Next haul

 It's officially my favourite time of year!

Baggy jumper season is upon us and I couldn't be more thrilled.

Lets talk denim. Like most ladies, I find shopping for the perfect pair of jeans a nightmare! Previously I have been a lover of New Look and Dorothy Perkins jeans because of their lower end price and decent fit. However I've recently gone off the fit of DPs and I'm finding New Looks to be hit and miss, especially with the lengths in their petite ranges for both brands. I have VERY short legs, and find that in most brands even petite isn't short enough. For instance in Newlook, I get petite ankle grazers - which still fit me past the ankle!

This time I have tried Nexts petite range of jeans - These were just £18 each making them cheaper on average than DPs and NL and they came in 6 different shades. I decided to order 3 pairs in a lighter washed blue, a mid-blue and a ripped style in black. As you can see from the photo above, they fit perfectly and are very comfortable! I'm so surprised that the length is actually perfect for me - No roll ups needed! I'm really pleased with my choice in colours too, I think they're all going to fit my autumn wardrobe perfectly, and I'll definitely be taking them away with me to Edinburgh later this month!

Big this season is the Ochre trend. You'll see lots of yellow toned products being pushed on most retailers websites and Next is no different. The colour itself sums up autumn, rich and suits almost everyone - Except me! I don't know if it's my hair colour, my skin tone or what, but yellow tones wash me out completely, so I have been at a loss as to how I can incorporate this gorgeous colour into my wardrobe. Until I saw these amazing patient loafers on the Next website - Footwear is a great way to add a pop of colour to your outfit and these look great with my new jeans & a chunky knit jumper. 

I actually own these shoes in patient black too, which I have had for a while, but I didn't know they came in other colours until I had a spot of online shopping last week. They also come in navy, berry and patterned dogtooth. 

I've been really impressed with Next recently. It is usually my go-to brand in the summer for cute cotton/linen basic dresses. However their autumn game has been strong this year and I'm looking forward to receiving another package soon featuring some teddy-borg cuteness and more chunky knits!

Stay tuned!

The Midweek Treat | "Shoot for the stars" review

Welcome back!

The Midweek Treat is back again with another little Lush treat from last weeks haul.

What lush say:"No need to wish on a star, fizzes of honey-scented stardust grant all your heart's desires. Fair Trade organic cocoa butter stars melt in the water, moisturising skin while uplifting bergamot oil sends your mood soaring above the clouds. Fizz this cobalt bath bomb in a hot bath and bathe amongst the galaxy, brightening moods and pampering skin in a cosmos of your own making. The stars are aligning with almond oil and creamed coconut to soothe and hydrate. A journey to the centre of the universe, is one intergalactic bath away."

Although I can't stand the taste of coconut, I absolutely love the smell. It reminds me of holidays and sunshine - 100% the scent I take away with me whenever we travel abroad. This gorgeously bright bomb is blended with coconut cream, orange oil and cocoa butter making this in particular product brilliant for someone wanting super smooth skin. 

As I've mentioned in previous Lush reviews. If I'm going to purchase a bath bomb, I want strong smells and strong colours. There is nothing worse than a beautifully smelling bomb that makes your bath water look like witch piss! (I'm looking at you Dragon's egg!)
I've always wanted to get on board with the classic Big Blue bombs too mainly due to the colour, however I can't have any products containing Lavender due to allergies. So I was pleased to find 'Shoot for the stars' was a vivid blue with no Lavender in sight!

Shoot for the stars provided a very satisfying instant burst of blue when it made contact with the water and as it fizzed across the surface streaks of gold were left in its wake. As you can see from the photos, this cobalt blue bomb is decorated with big golden stars, these eventually pull away from the bomb itself and float in the water whilst they slowly melt. After all the stars have melted, the water is left a deep blue swirled with gold and glitter. 

Overall this bomb for me was perfect. I rarely have a bad thing to say about a Lush bath bomb because the quality is always excellent and on this occasion I was not disappointed. For me, anything coconut scented and deeply moisturizing will always be a thumbs up, so Shoot for the stars gets a 5/5 from me! 

Shoot for the stars is a limited edition bath bomb and will only be available over the Christmas period. To avoid disappointment order yours online here or alternatively visit your nearest branch! 

Have you got a favourite Lush bath bomb? 

The Midweek Treat | Haul & Monsters Ball review

Anybody who has followed my blog since the old Bo Blab days will know I absolutely love a good Lush bath bomb. And if I'm going to take any leafs from that book, it'll be a regular midweek treat. This week I picked up a couple of  Halloween and Christmas goodies from the Lush Liveprool branch and I can't wait to share my thoughts on some of the products i chose.

Monsters Ball | Snow Fairy | Worlds smallest disco | Sugar plum fairy scrub | Shoot for the stars

To start things off I decided to try the Halloween limited edition Monsters Ball. A Bright pink and blue Monsters Inc looking bath bomb which smells zesty and sweet with a slight woody aroma. 

What Lush say;

"You are invited to a specdracula event; get set to put a spell on all things that go bump in the night and boogie on down to your bathroom for a monster mash of uplifting oils. Run your bath and thriller up, then revel in the frightful fizzes of mood beasting neroli. Bathe in gory, with skin softening Himalayan salt and olibanum oil but don't forget to keep your ghoul with zesty, energising lime oil. You'll be dancing 'til dawn and the ghast one standing."

I love any bath bomb that shoots brighter colours across the water, and this one didn't disappoint. Not only was the smell delicious, but it was also a treat for the eyes. Spiked with glitter, the pinks and blue eventually merged together to leave me with a deep purple water that glistened silvery every time I moved. My skin felt super soft afterwards too, another reason why I love Lush bath bombs, they never fail to leave me smelling great and feeling silky smooth. 

I also picked up a few other treats for this month, including a couple more bath bombs which I will review later this month. But I also took advantage of the early release of the Snow Fairy shower gel - because lets face it, this is hands down one of the most iconic and best products Lush sell! If you've not yet tried this amazing product, you absolutely should. The scent is like sweets and candyfloss and sticks to your skin for hours after use.
Also from my Christmas themed mini haul I picked up some sugar plum fairy lip scrub, which is absolutely delicious and almost has a parma violet taste despite being predominately made with orange oil - I love the Lush lip scrubs, they're particularly good for using before you apply lipstick for a more even application and I think this one has taken top spot for my favourite flavour.


Okay so, winding up this review, I think Monsters Ball was a definite thumbs up from me. The colours were exciting and vibrant, the smell was delicious and it left me feeling super clean and soft skinned. So I have no choice but to give this bomb a fat 5/5! - Excellent

Monsters Ball is a limited edition bath bomb only available for Halloween, so if you would like to give this cute lil' monster a go, get online or to your local branch before they sell out!
& also stay tuned for more Midweek Treats coming up later this month where I'll be reviewing "The Worlds Smallest Disco" & "Shoot For The Stars"

What are your favourite Lush products?

Nuremberg | Travelers guide | Part 2

Welcome back to the second part of my Nuremberg travelers guide. Firstly if you're planning a trip to Nuremberg you will most likely be interested in learning some of the history surrounding the city. 

A great tip for you culture seekers is to take advantage of the 'NÜRNBERG CARD'. which also covers the near by town of Furth too. For 28 euros this card will grant you admission into over 40 of the biggest museums/attractions in the city, including the Trials, Nazi rally grounds, old town brewery/hidden cellars and the zoo. The card also gives you free public transport on trams, buses and trains around the city for 2 days!

 If you're interested you can purchase this card from most hotel receptions or at the tourist information center in the main market square. I would highly recommend this card to those of you wishing to visit the rally grounds, zoo and Nazi trail courts as they are all a distance away outside the city walls and travel is included with the card.

The Nuremberg Trials 

First stop on our culture tour was to learn more about the trials held in the courtroom of the Nuremberg Palace of Justice. This is where leaders of the Nazi regime had to answer for their crimes before an International Military Tribunal between 1945 and 1946. The trials had an enormous influence on the development of international criminal law and courtroom 600 remains a working courtroom to this day. Please bare in mind that because of this, occasionally the courtroom is unavailable to view.

Admission into the museum cost 6 euros each and this includes a free audio guide. Personally I loved the audio guide, it was super simple to use and definitely needed .. Unless you can read fluent German that is. The amount of information packed into the exhibition was mind boggling taking us roughly around 2 hours to listen and take in all the information so plan your time accordingly.

The exhibition is mainly made up of written displays complimented by photographs. Each display is numbered so you can follow the exhibition like a story board/timeline and there are a few short films included, but for the most part you will be listening to the audio device. 

The Trials are located around a 40 minutes walk from the walls of Nuremberg. A taxi will cost you around 15-18 euros depending on your start location. However remember, if you have the Nuremberg Card you can use the trams or trains for free & won't pay for admission. 

Documentation Center Nazi Party rally grounds

Today the unfinished Congress Hall, designed to hold 50,000 people, houses the Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds. The permanent exhibition "Fascination and Terror" looks at the causes, the context and the consequences of the National Socialist regime of terror. This exhibition will cost you 6 euros per person, but is absolutely worth paying for. Again you are provided with a complimentary audio guide and the tour is easy to navigate. I would recommend giving yourself at least 2 hours to complete the exhibition, and some additional time if you also wish to explore the rally grounds and lakes surrounding the area. Make sure you have some comfortable shoes though, as the area is very large and widely spread out.

It is absolutely free to walk around the zeppelin fields and the rally grounds, there are plenty of information stands with English translation along the way. 
Still today, the gigantic remains of buildings are a reminder of the megalomania of the National Socialist regime. The Large white plinth and steps looking out to the grounds are unkempt and derelict, a stark contrast to the modern museum. 

Interestingly the Zeppelin fields are now largely used for recreational use, sporting events are often held here and the nearby lake, and whilst we were visiting a German Sheppard dog show was being held on the grounds. 

The Rally grounds are around a 40 minute walk from Nuremberg's walls. If you were to get a taxi you would be looking to pay around £18 euros - However as above, if you were to purchase the Nuremberg Card, all public transport and exhibition admission is free. 

We were lucky enough to catch Volksfest Whilst we were in Nuremberg too. This large festival was taking place alongside the grounds of the documentation center offering great pop up beer kellers, fantastic food stalls and hundreds of fair rides including an impressive log flume! It was like a miniature Blackpool pleasure beach but with steins of great German beer and half meter bratwursts! 

After a wander around the festival, we decided to take advantage of the great food and drink and had lunch here. The sausages were excellent, and like Cafe wanderer (mentioned in part 1) the Kellers here will charge a deposit on glasses to prevent theft and breakage. 
If you're lucky enough to be in Nuremberg whilst Volksfest is on, I'd highly recommend visiting, there are some brilliant stalls offering handmade treats and souvenirs. Not to mention lots of fun from the rides and games. 

Nuremberg Zoo (Tiergarten Nuernberg)

This Zoo is by far one of the best I have ever visited (and I live near Chester Zoo, arguable one of the best in the world!) Firstly the grounds are absolutely stunning,  located in the Nuremberg Reichswald (imperial forest) it houses over 300 species including dolphins and polar bears and is one of the largest Zoos in Europe. 

The Tiergarten is built within the forest meaning the grounds are not entirely flat, I highly recommend wearing comfortable shoes as there are some steep hills to climb as you explore. There are lots of great picturesque picnic spots around for lunch too, however there is a great restaurant located at the highest point of the Zoo which serves traditional German dishes as well as a range of burgers, chips & snacks. 
- I would recommend the currywurst! A large grilled Bratwurst in a delicious sweet curry sauce laced with onions and a generous pile of thin cut fries. - YUM!

Adults will pay 16 euros each for admission into 'Tiergarten Nuernberg'  and for those of you planning to travel by Taxi, this will cost you a further 15-18 euros. However, you can hop on the line.45 bus which will be much less expensive. Or remember, public transport is free with the Nuremberg Card, including your admission fee - Bonus!

Handwerkerhof Nürnberg

This charming little town is absolutely free to explore and can be found south of the city just a short walk away from the National Museum - Easy to find if you follow the walls. Comprised of a tiny village of traditional glasscutters, doll makers, leatherworkers and silversmiths, the Handwerkerhof  (Craftsman's courtyard) is a great place for a quiet lunch at one of the Taverns or to buy unusual handmade souvenirs made according to Franconian traditions. 

The Handwerkerhof is located at Königstor, opposite Nuremberg’s main railway station. Whilst entrance to the medieval village is free, it is also closed on Sundays and public holidays, as well as the winter period between December 30 and early March.
The Craftsmen’s Courtyard restaurants and taverns are generally open until late evening, and serve food until around 10pm which gives you plenty of time to sit back with a stein of beer and people watch. 

So, lets break it down - These prices are based on 2 travelers departing from Manchester in September 2018 for 6 nights (Monday - Sunday) and are a rough guide.
Flights were booked via Sky Scanner and hotel booked via Expedia.. Transfers were not pre-booked and cost roughly 18 euros each way from the airport to the Old Town. 

Flights - £78 return

Apartment - £394

Transfers - £38 return

Insurance - £32

Total = £542

You should know that prices of food and drink really do depend on where you are in Nuremberg. We found many of the more upmarket bars in the new town were on average a little more expensive than the Old Town. So because of this we tended to visit the more traditional kellers. I would say that on average you would be looking to pay between €3 - €4 for a stein of beer and wine again around the €4 mark. If you like wine spritzers I would recommend trying a HUGO, this cocktails consists of prosecco, mixed with elder-flower liqueur and fresh mint - A delicious and refreshing drink, great for after a meal. 

Food wise, again it depends on your tastes and were you choose to dine. However myself and my other half never paid more than €50 for a two course meal and drinks. 

In the old town you would be hard pressed to find anywhere charging you more than €12 for a large portion of sausages, sauerkraut and bread. So overall I would say Nurembergs food and drink prices are on average reasonable and in some cases fairly cheap. 

We also made the most of the local super markets, and good old Aldi was a god send. We were picking up bottles of prosecco for €2.69! - Bargain! Not to mention the selection of meats and cheeses were great, cheap and perfect for snacks whilst we got ready to explore in the evening. 

That's it for my guide to Nuremberg. A city steeped in history and full to the brim with medieval charm - And quite simply one of the best holidays we've had so far! 
If you're a lover of city breaks and enjoy getting lost in new places, Nuremberg is the perfect little getaway. Prices to Germany do fluctuate around the year, Christmas being a particularly expensive time to travel due to the stunning Christmas markets.  However if like us, you manage to find flights for less than £50 per person - Don't hesitate & just get on that plane!

Have you ever been to Nuremberg?