Shrove Tuesday - Giving Up Something For Lent

Today is Ash Wednesday - the beginning of Lent. Yesterday it was Shrove Tuesday which to lots of people means Pancake Day - traditionally it was the day that you would have a feast to use up products like sugar, fat and eggs, which were restricted during Lent.

We enjoyed pancakes of lemon and sugar (the low calorie version) and bananas, syrup and single cream. Absolutely delicious. My toddler enjoyed devouring them immensely!

Did you have pancakes? What mouthwatering fillings did you have in your pancakes ?

Will you be giving anything up for Lent and what will it be ?

Afternoon Tea at The Savoy - Review

Back in January Afternoon Tea at The Savoy was booked to celebrate my Sister's birthday. I was really looking forward to going as it had been about 6 months since I had last been to Afternoon Tea.

We had to change the number of people going a few times, and even the time of the booking and to The Savoy's credit they handled it well. My husband also called up a few days in advance to notify them of his request for dairy free, and was assured this wouldn't be a problem.

The Savoy has recently reopened having undergone a £100 million restoration so I was excited to be one of the (relatively) new visitors. The hotel is set back from the main road and looks stunning, Walking up to the entrance I felt a real sense of grandness as I approached this "Rolls Royce" of a building!

The reception area is huge and befitting this 'Grand' hotel.

We were taken through to the Thames Foyer where Afternoon Tea is served and shown to our seats. The Thames Foyer is the heart of the hotel. In the ceiling there is a glass cupola feature which allows natural daylight to flood in and the centrepiece of the room is a magnificent winter garden gazebo.

I was delighted to be seated opposite the new Beaufort Bar (actually at the time all we knew was that we were sat opposite some mirrored doors, which later opened up to reveal this gorgeous setting. I am looking forward to enjoying a drink there one day!) and behind us was the pianist in the gazebo which I loved.

The Beaufort Bar

We chose our teas and sat back to enjoy a relaxed Afternoon Tea in this truly sumptuous of surroundings.

There is a wide selection of teas to choose from - teas that are included in the price and some rarer ones that can cost up to £20.50 extra! I started with a Scented White Tea -  The White Peony and Rose Tea and later switched to an Oolong Tea - Oriental Beauty. This is famed to be one of the Queen's favourite teas so I simply had to try it... Both were delicious, delicate and highly recommended.

A close up of the Rose Tea in the teapot

The first hint of disappointment was when the sandwiches arrived and there was no mention of the dairy free items. My husband queried it and there was a look of surprise from our waiter. He disappeared and after quite a while had passed and the rest of the party had eaten a whole round of sandwiches, he returned with a separate platter for my husband. After this gesture dairy free was not mentioned again by the waiter.

Our sandwiches and scones (there were 2 of these on our table)

There was plenty of food on offer - The finger sandwiches included honey roasted ham with apple-cider mustard, egg and cress and smoked salmon with mild horseradish. A choice of two scones plain and raisin followed with a choice of strawberry preserve or lemon curd and of course the obligatory Devonshire clotted cream.

Beginning to feel full we were then brought my favourite, the selection of French pastries  - these were amazing and moreish so we had more brought to us!

On the plate are

Black Forest Swiss roll
Savoy chocolate and pistachio “Opera”
Valrhona chocolate éclair
Hazelnut financier with caramelia mousse
Blackberry and roasted white chocolate macaroon
Passion fruit tartlet with exotic fruits

Yum, yum and more yum.

As I mentioned it was my sister's birthday and once the pastries had been eaten, the pianist started to play 'Happy Birthday' some of the room sang along and this was brought to our table

By this time we were quite full and yet there was another final (phew!) course. The trolley was wheeled to our table and we had a choice of 3 Thames Foyer signature cakes. For my sins I chose chocolate as did some of the party, the others probably wisely, chose the carrot cake.

The Thames Foyer is a large room and a lot of the time we were waiting long periods for our waiter to return to top our teas up, refresh our teas which had gone cold or ask for more food. Most of the time we couldn't even see our waiter to catch his eye. My husband was disappointed that The Savoy was not better prepared to deal with dairy free requests, and when no alternative was offered/ forthcoming when we were enjoying our delicate desserts he requested some fruit, a tiny plate of fruit eventually appeared.

We spent 3 hours, chatting, eating and listening to the wonderful pianist. She happily accepted requests and was very appreciative if you clapped at the end of each of her pieces. I loved the surroundings, the chairs were comfortable, the gold decor magnificent and decadent, the ambiance of the room and the live music but sadly the day was hugely let down by the lack of 'service' - which you pay 12.5% extra for. I wasn't paying but the bill payer paid it not wishing to make a fuss, but I could see that they were left feeling hard done by.

Afternoon Tea costs £36 per person and is served from 2.30pm to 6.30pm.
Dress code - Smart Casual, No Sportswear.

For more details click here.

My Lovely New Compact Mirror!

I have been looking for the perfect compact mirror for some time and now I have found it ..

I am in love dear readers .

It may not be the tiniest of items but it is surprisingly light and slim. It is small enough to fit in the palm of my hand but big enough to be of real use as a mirror. For so long I have used my phone as a mirror but now I  am proud to bring this out.

The make is Model Mirror. This design is available exclusively to House of Fraser stores in their wonderful Apothecary Section. It features 8 battery powered LED's and resembles a dressing room mirror  - so cute.

I think the black with gold lips design (called Good as Gold) is really sleek although it comes in 3 other exclusive designs. The lights come on with a push of a button on the side, but you can use it without the lights if you prefer. The best way to use it is to shine the lights on your face while looking into the bottom mirror. The top mirror has a 2x magnification, scary stuff haha.

It comes in a beautifully soft Chamois Leather pouch that protects it from being scratched in your handbag and also cleans it!

My 'Model Mirror' costs £22, the other designs cost £19.

Battery included.

What do you think? Great gift idea?

New Product From Laura Mercier

Laura Mercier Fresh Fig Hand Crème - £13

Inspired by the sweet, fresh, intoxicating scent of Fig, Laura Mercier introduces a new scent to her delicious Gourmand Body & Bath Collection, launching just in time for Mother’s Day, or for any day that needs a touch of luxury. The indulgent essence of fresh Celeste Figs mingle with a dewy fruit bouquet of Apricot Nectar and sensuous Ylang Ylang to create a rich, luxurious scent, unlike any other. The smooth, creamy notes have a soft sweetness, while the subtle green, earthy elements add an unexpected twist.

This is a deep penetrating crème that leaves the skin velvety soft. Richer in texture and emollients than her other crèmes, HAND CRÈME works over time to ensure the healthiest, smoothest hands. This amazing crème contains rich plant oils and essential vitamins to make the driest skin like new.

I think this sounds amazing, I hope it smells as wonderful as it sounds! I cannot wait to smell it. I am already a huge fan of Laura Mercier Creams and use the Crème Brulee Body Soufflé for some after bath indulgence.

Launches April 2011

Stockists Nationwide and London: Selfridges, Space NK, Harrods, Liberty, House of Fraser, Bentalls

If You Are Wondering What A Fish Pedicure Is Like...

You must read this!

Now the thought of a fish pedicure personally doesn't really interest me in any way, shape or form. I have a real phobia about animals, fish etc so I would definitely not be relaxed. However, I am sure a lot of people would be curious and interested to know what it is like as the amount of establishments offering this treatment have grown.

I have asked 2 of my friends (one keen to try it, the other who was initially reluctant to try) who have been to share their experiences...

Joy R shares her experience - 

I’m sure the thought of dipping your feet into a tank full of small fish would turn the stomachs of many people, but where feet are concerned I’ll give anything a go.  After working in jobs where I was on my feet for long periods they are more like hooves than anything else, and over the years I’ve tried different pedicures, foot files, chiropodists you name it, so when I read about fish pedicures I was intrigued

At the end of last year I had the opportunity to try this treatment out and visited the Aqua Preena Spa in Leeds.  After filling in a quick health check form it was on with the treatment.  It started with a quick footbath to remove any product that might be on my skin and then it was straight into the fish.  The initial sensation is a bit ticklish, but that soon subsides and it is pleasant to sit with your feet in warm water while the fish get on with their job.  The salon has a pleasant ambience and a variety of complimentary drinks are available during the treatment.  After 15 minutes I felt so relaxed I opted to stay for another 15.  At the end of the session peppermint foot cream was available to use, to finish off the treatment.

I have to say that this is probably the best foot treatment I have ever experienced, I really did feel like I was walking on air afterwards.   The effects lasted for a few days as well, but like everything it is probably best if you can have regular treatments.  

Lisa Taylor shares her experience

Garra Rufa Fish Pedicure

The last time my feet got anywhere near any fish I was about 16 and in the Mediterranean Sea in Greece and one of the blighters took a chunk out of my ankle drawing blood, so you can see why I wasn’t rushing to voluntarily dip my toes into a tank full of fish – teeth or no teeth. But then the too good to refuse offer popped into my inbox and an appointment for a date with a tank full of fish was made.

I was a little apprehensive on arriving at the salon but sat and watched the fish whilst the previous clients finished off and to be honest my first concern was whether they’d be hungry! They didn’t seem overly active and as it was mid afternoon I was a little worried they’d already stuffed their little faces.

The tanks are really clear boxes at the foot of a couple of stools, nothing fancy and obviously constantly filtered (there is no water change between clients though). When it came to my turn I was asked to pick which tank I’d like (there were two) or pop a foot in each as there was no-one else at the same time as me. Naturally I did the latter being so focussed on their appetite.

My feet were quickly rubbed with a towel and I gently placed my feet in the water. I can’t even remember how warm it was, it definitely wasn’t cold. There were approximately forty to fifty little fishes in each tank and gently they started exploring my feet. It was a weird sensation, especially for someone with rather ticklish feet, although it was more like pins and needles than tickles. I needn’t have worried about their eating; they’re greedy little things that need feeding every day too! I probably had about a dozen fish on my feet at any one time. I was quite surprised at how many liked the top of my feet, as I had been told they eat the dead skin and there’s definitely more on the underside.

It was nice to sit for half an hour and read a magazine and drink a coffee, but I must admit I was rather uncomfortable. The tanks are at the base of stools which meant there was no kicking back and relaxing. The fish were fascinating and mesmerising to watch, so tiny and constantly on the go.

When the time was up, the receptionist (yes that’s right – you don’t need a qualified beautician for this) dried my feet and put some cream all over them and it was done.

My feet do feel smooth, but you can’t ask fish to concentrate on one area and surprisingly they didn’t really go for my heels or the base of my big toes where I develop hard skin. I’m not sure they feel a lot smoother than if I’d put my feet in a bowl of water for half an hour. The one thing I did find was that it took about two hours for my feet to warm up afterwards, but that could just be me.

Would I go again? Probably not – there is no substitute for someone really massaging your feet and getting the blood flowing whilst you sit back and relax. So I think that a traditional pedicure would win every time.

If another too good to refuse offer popped into my inbox? Maybe :-)

Many thanks ladies for sharing your experience of the fish pedicure, I am still not convinced though!

Have you been, would you go? 

La Roche-Posay - Effaclar M Moisturiser

This is a sebo regulating mattifying moisturiser for oily, shine prone skin.

Whilst I do not have oily skin,  I am prone to shine down my T-Zone so I was curious to try it and see if it could reduce the shine.

I have been using it for a couple of weeks now and have definitely noticed a difference. Whereas before I could have a tendency to develop a shiny nose through the day,  using Effaclar M has kept it at bay.

I like the consistency of the moisturiser - light, creamy gel-like. When it is applied it leaves the skin satin smooth. The only thing that I find off putting is the scent, and readers of BeautySwot will know that that is important to me. Effaclar M smells (to me) like a citrus cleaning product.

Personally this is not quite the moisturiser for me as I don't have oily skin,  I didn't feel it was moisturising enough. However, if you are looking for a mattifying moisturiser I think that La Roche-Posay Effaclar M is well worth considering.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar M 40ml costs £13.50 and is available to buy from www.escentual.com

Lush Rehab Shampoo and Retread Conditioner

Lush Rehab Shampoo - £9.45 for 250g 


This Shampoo is for dry/damaged hair so my hair fits the bill perfectly.. It is runny, green - in fact it resembles murky dirty pond water which if I am honest puts me off a little. The scent is quite minty and pleasant.

Claims - Oils for extra strength, enzymes for cleansing, seaweed for softness, essential oils for detoxing and toning your scalp. Suitable for daily use and won't strip the hair of colour.

I have relatively mild scalp psoriasis which flares up with stress and my head has felt quite itchy, stressed and uncomfortable lately. I have been using this shampoo and I have found it to be quite calming on my scalp. It lathers well (in my hard water area) and leaves my hair feeling clean and fresh. I

Ingredients include fruit juices, jojoba oil, extra virgin olive oil, almond oil, lavender oil and peppermint oil.

Directions for use - Shake the bottle , wet hair and shampoo once, rinse thoroughly. Use in conjunction with...


Lush Retread Conditioner - £8.99 for 245g


This comes in a yoghurt pot style container which I think is quite quirky. It looks just like set yoghurt which is novel for me,  I like it and find it appealing. It smells absolutely amazing and fresh, good enough to eat.

Claims - Deluxe, specially enhanced, triple strength conditioner.

It is so tempting to use lots of this and I must admit I put a nice handful of it on my hair. This conditioner contains soya milk, yoghurt and fresh melon! Like Rehab it contains jojoba oil, extra virgin olive oil and also contains avocado oil. The scent comes from neroli oil and violet absolute.

Directions for use - Shampoo as normal, apply to damp hair then rinse out thoroughly.


Result - Using both these products leaves my hair smelling wonderful,  feeling soft, manageable, shiny and sleek when styled and less frizzy than normal if I leave it to dry naturally.  

Available to purchase from Lush stores and their website.