Jo Malone: Sugar and Spice Launch

On Friday I was kindly invited to the Jo Malone Sugar and Spice Launch. An afternoon of sampling the new limited edition fragrance collection, papering at the tasting bar, sipping Champagne and indulging in Macaroons how was I to resist? Accompanying me was one of my closest friends Polly, who had no idea about attending until I told her over lunch before the launch. 

On arriving at the Brighton boutique we were greeted with glasses of bubbles and plates of Macaroons, created by Julien Plumart to accompany the scents of the Sugar and Spice collection. You can imagine the excitement of two girls at two thirty in the afternoon. 

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We were left to admire our surroundings of the candy colored afternoon tea inspired merchandising of the collection, before being whisked of to the tasting bar. 

Taking up our stools for more bubbles and Macaroons before being enlighten into the creation and inspiration behind the colognes. A French Master in Perfumery Christine Nagel, who spent years sampling the finest of deserts to select just five to transform into a cologne, bringing taste and texture through smell. 

We were introduced to each cologne in a very particular and strategic order which allowed us to savor the depths and fullness of each cologne. 

Firstly we were introduced to Lemon Tart, a tang of sparkling citrus fruits and verbena, contrasted with swirls of meringue and lemon thyme. This initially blew us away, you could almost taste the smell of that zesty tang you get when tucking into a fresh lemon tart. However this was nothing compared to what we were about to discover. 

Next we were to sample Redcurrant and Cream. This was heavenly, The sharp juices of blackcurrants  strawberries and raspberry's rippling through a creamy musk. For a second I forgot it was dull, grey and cold outside and instead was lost on a summers evening tucking into a summer fruits pudding. I now favored this over the Lemon Tart, it was more wearable and i'm such a summer girl.

This was quickly replaced by Elderflower and Gooseberry the most earthly and fresh out of the collection. Oozing with summer green juices from the gooseberries and lychees. So tender and feminine. This was nothing compared to what was to come with the final two colognes. However this was my favorite from the collection as I was unable to taste the smell as for me I couldn't wear something I could taste. 

I love Ginger and though ally enjoy baking a good ginger bread man and ginger biscuit. This presented something that I have never experienced before through the sense of smell alone. It smelt like my kitchen after opening the oven doors to a tray of freshly cooked biscuits as the smell of the melting caramel wafted through the ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon you could taste the buttery, crumbly texture with roasted hazelnuts, warmed by tonka beans and vanilla. 

It was hard to believe that I wasn't stood in my kitchen at home baking and that actually I was sniffing a small piece of card. The way this plays with your senses in incredible and finding something that does the same is going to be hard if not impossible. 

Finally we were presented with Bitter Orange and Chocolate, the strongest sent of them all which smelt the most edible out of them all. This was like having a Terry's Chocolate orange put under your nose dusted in dark chocolate coco power. The scent was incredible however for me to edible and not something I would wear. 

With our senses going crazy we slipped off our jewelry, rolled up our sleeves and indulged our hands and arms in the new colognes. 

Our hands and arms were massaged with our everyday moisturiser, Polly's being English Pear and Freesia and myself Blackberry and Bay. Our massages were finished off with a combination of Elderflower and Gooseberry and Ginger Biscuit. 

After our glasses had been topped up and every flavor of Macaroon sampled we left the boutique feeling truly pampered and relaxed, smelling divine and clutching our purchases ready for summer to finally surface.

Thank you to the Brighton Boutique for such a lovely event. 

The Sugar and Spice collection is available now in the boutiques or online at Jo Malone. But remember its limited edition and some have sold out online already. 

Julien Plumart is a French tea lounge serving traditional French cakes, pastries and Macaroon’s tucked in the Dukes Lanes in Brighton. Having opened just several weeks ago they have already well established them selves and serve some of the most amazing pastries and sandwiches I have ever tasted. Not to mention the most amazing and varied flavored Macaroons. I am a huge fan already and have made myself a regular. 

Language Of Flowers Love

A couple of weeks ago after a lazy morning in bed with Tatler. Having read every article not once but twice I hopped online to Tatler to see more recent happenings (magazines and especially monthly glossy magazines aren't up to time with current events because of publishing deadlines ect).

This is when I stumbled across Language Of Flowers.

A new luxury t-shirt brand started by two friends Stephanie and Alexandra. A concept inspired from Great Britain in the Victorian era where flowers were given to express feelings as communications out loud were frowned upon.
With every flower having a meaning, the beautifully illustrated designs combine these with a playful, unique, sexy, rock and roll touch.

For the day I resisted my temptations of snapping one up straight away after falling in love with the creative designs and the concept behind the brand.

However this soon changed after receiving an invitation (of which I can't state till tomorrow as I'm taking one of my close girlies with me as a surprise along with lunch as a treat and cheer me up).

All I'll say is, the concept is perfect for where were off too.

A few clicks and sleeps later, one was mine.

Arriving beautifully wrapped in pink tissue sealed with a flower along with a hand written note from the girls.

I chose top Lily meaning death, which isn't really the best meaning to chose and too wear but I loved the femininity that the lily flowers brought to the connotations of skulls. I like skulls but I always feel too girlie and not me in something with a skull on but this had the femininity I have been longing after. My sister is also named Lily so seemed like the perfect choice.

A small packet of seeds hangs along side a tag explaining the meaning behind the flower.

The brand is currently only available at Wolf and Badger on Westbourne Grove or you can simply shop online here at ilovelof as I did.

I wish the girls every success with the brand and look forward to seeing it grow and develop. But for now I can't wait for tomorrow where my location and where about's can be reviled and my new top can have its first of many outings. (Blog post will of course follow)

A Gingery Friend For Those Cold Spring Nights.

I've been stuck in work trekking up the country for work over the weekend luckily spring seems to be on its way finally. Waking to crystal blue skies and mist across the city has made the early morning starts and travel just bearable. 
However snuggling up with a hot water bottle in bed with a good book or in front of a roaring fire on getting home in the evenings is still very much needed but can be very lonely. 

But wait I have found the perfect friend to keep me company on these cold spring nights.
They give you so much pleasure.......
Always smile.....
Are pretty.....
Don't answer back....
Smell amazing...
And taste even better..

Meet my EDIBLE GINGERY FRIEND

You can be the best of friends in under an hour. 

For 5 friends you'll need: 
85g Plain Flour
65g Margarine
25g Sugar
1tbsp Ginger
1 tbsp cold water

To decorate:
Coloured writing icing.
Smarties (or what ever you want to decorate with, love hearts, chocolate buttons, M&M's)
Glitter sugar
Icing sugar

Pop the oven onto 180 degrees, fan oven 160 or gas mark 4.

Step one:
Mix the flour, margarine, sugar and ginger together, until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. 

Step two:
Add 1tbsp of cold water and using your hands knead the mixture together into a ball. 

Step three: 
Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of approx 0.5cm.

Step Four:
Cut out 3 ginger men shapes, re-roll the remaining dough and cut out a further 2. 

Step Five: 
Place your ginger bread men on a baking tray and put in the oven for approx 10 mins until lightly golden brown. 

Step Six:
Remove from tray and leave to cool for 15 minutes other wist the decoration will melt straight off.  

(while they are cooking and cooling, you can get the dishes washed up and the decoration ready. For the icing mix 3 tbsp icing sugar with a drop of cold water and mix)

Once cooled bring your gingery friends to life.

Then pop the kettle on and head into the warm depths of your bed with your new best friend for the shortest friendship you will ever have, but also the best. 

I told you it would be best but quickest friendship you'll ever have. 

I personalised one for each of my housemates and left them on the side for when they got in from work so they also had a friend each to take to bed too. 

Yummy Jammy Hearts

So its officially the most depressing day of the year for all us singletons however a quick 30 minuets in the kitchen and the blues of being single will soon be lost. 

There is no reason not to treat those close to us. So whip up a batch for the girls for that girlie night in, house mates, children or parents just to say I LOVE YOU. 
or 
for those of you that are loved up for your other half, perfect if you have forgot that its valentines day and need to do something quick and romantic without showing any sign that initially the day was over looked. 
Plus all of the ingredients should easily be found in your kitchen cupboards so you wont even have to hit the supermarket.

Makes about 15 depending on heart size.

For the biscuit base you'll need: 
175g Plain flour
125g Butter/ Margarine (I use margarine as its a lot lighter than butter)
50g sugar 

For the filling:
125g Icing sugar
100g Butter
3 tbsp strawberry jam (you can use any flavour jam, but strawberry is the traditional heart colour) 

2 different size heart shape cutters. Mine I picked up from paper chase but you can pick them up in cook shops, good supermarkets especially at this time of year I've seen them every where. 

Step one: 
Pop the oven on to 180 degrees, 160 for a fan oven or mark 4 for a gas oven. 

Step two: 
Mix the flour, sugar and butter into a bowl and blend together until it resembles bread crumbs. 

Step three: 
Add a tbsp of cold water so the mixture goes sticky and lightly knead so it forms a dough. 

Step four: 
Roll the dough out on to a lightly floured surface to a thickness of about 3-5 mm (if you don't have a rolling pin and bottle works just as well) 

Step five: 
Using the larger heart cutter cut out as many as you can. Place these on a lightly greased baking tray or baking paper. 

Step six: 
Repeat step four and five and before placing the hearts on the baking tray, use the smaller heart shape to cut out the center. 

Step seven: 
Pop in the oven for 10-12 minuets until they slightly turn golden brown.

While these are in the oven mix the icing and butter together to make the filling and spoon your jam into a small dish and give it a little stir (this makes the consistency a little less jam like and is easier to spread onto the biscuits)

Pop them on to a dry surface/cooling rack and leave to cool for 5 minuets or so other wise the icing middle will not set when you put it on. 

Once cooled using a knife spread a layer of the butter and icing mixture on to all of the full heart biscuits followed by spreading a layer of jam over the top. 

Finally place the hearts with the cut out over the top and leave to set for 15 minutes. 

Plate them up and put the kettle on ready for those loved ones to arrive home from school or in from work. They will love the surprise but even more the thought. 

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

X

Julien Plumart Boutique Salon du The

After 7 days at work with a few late evenings and several days working through my lunch break I was shattered but now had 6 days off to recuperate and catch up with friends that had been neglected over the previous week. 

Wednesday disappeared to house work, food shopping, laundry… you get the idea. So on waking Thursday morning to find my housemate had the day off as well we had a leisurely breakfast and wandered into town, as neither of us can stand staying indoors all day. 
On catching up with work, family and life over breakfast he dropped into conversation that there was a new Cafe on Dukes Street in the lanes that apparently looked ‘amazing’ and was full of ‘pretty cake things’ that I would apparently love. My housemate Ryan enjoys his tea and cakes just as much as me, so what was worth losing by checking his place out. 

Its amazing…. Julien Plumart Boutique Salon du The 

A French tea lounge serving traditional French cakes and pastries as well Macaroon’s (the pretty little cake things as Ryan describes them) and 24 different flavors from the traditional Pistachio and Rose to Mojito and Mulled Wine. 

For a second I thought I had died and fallen into heaven… but was shortly brought back to earth and reality on hearing that my house mate didn't know what they were and had never tried one, can you believe it. 

With it only opening on the previous Friday things are still coming together and the tea rooms upstairs weren't quite ready so we did as the French do and settled ourselves down out front on the street and watched the world go by. Luckily it was dry and the winters sun was trying to peep through the towering chimney tops and down the side streets. 

Wrapped in fur with the sunglasses on and the wind rustling up my hair, Ryan ordered a latte and a selection of Macaroons and  I a peppermint tea (as I was still on January detox) and a Rose and Pistachio Macaroon (I have found every way around having no tea, coffee and chocolate).

Tea was served in individual glass tea pots and cups along with a flask of boiling water to top it up with. You cant eat macaroons with a fork or spoon so its fingers only and then to lick each one of the clean savoring every last bit possible. Along with crystal cut effect cups of water, pink for the lady's and green for the gents… of course. 

I've already fallen in love with this place, the elegant décor, outstanding service, friendly staff and the most mouth watering cakes and macaroons. I will be visiting regularly whether it’s a catch up with the girls or to take away a box to devour in front of a good film after a long day at work. 

I've already slipped back once at the weekend taking my beautiful friend Amanda to show her the beauty of this café and to check out the lounge upstairs which open to the pubic on Friday. She also has fallen in love and went just as snap happy as I did with full of giggling excitement.

I am now just waiting for the savory menu to be served (which looks amazing, you wont believe that your still sat in Brighton on seeing it) however I’m returning to work to work tomorrow so this visit is going to have a wait a few weeks till I have a free space in the diary. 

Julian Plumart Boutique Salon du The

27 Duke Street 

Brighton 

07881207006

www.julienplumart.com

or follow them on twitter:

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