Tag: Christmas

4 Festive Boë Violet Gin Cocktail Recipes

This post is sponsored by Boë Gin

I love this time of year; The festivities, the food, the drink, THE COCKTAILS! I say it as though the festive period is the only time I get into cocktail making and drinking, it certainly is not, however it does make a great excuse to do more of it, and so I’m all for it.

As friends and family know all too well, Damien and I love playing host over the festive period. Why venture out in the cold when you can have friends over and stay in and get merry instead. With Christmas fast approaching, we’re already planning food and drink for some of our festive gatherings over the coming weeks, including my all time favourite, New Year’s Eve!

If there’s one thing I love around Christmas time, it’s bringing the party to our home. I love gin and I love cocktails, so I’m really excited to be working with Boë gin on this post, and when they got in touch I instantly knew that I wanted to get my gin loving creative head on and create some fun, festive cocktails to share here on my blog…I can’t take all the credit though, Damien and I both took the time planning (and drinking) these cocktails, so let’s just say that they have been tried and tested. In the process we’ve come up with something to suit each of our tastes and hopefully yours too!

Violet Martini

We thought we’d start with a twist on an old classic, the twist being fabulous flavour from the Boë violet gin of course. Damien likes the more bitter and stronger cocktails and so a martini is right up his street. Whilst the martini making method remains the same as the classic for this cocktail, the Boë violet gin makes for a fun and modern twist. As someone who tends to favour the much sweeter cocktails, even I found myself liking this one, as you can really taste the distinct violet gin coming through.

What you’ll need

• Boë Violet Gin – 50ml

• Vermouth – 15 ml

• Blueberries to garnish

The Method

1. pour the Boë violet gin and vermouth into a mixing glass with ice and stir until cold

2. Strain into a chilled martini glass

3. Garnish with blueberries and serve

Scottish 75

If there’s one drink I love nearly as much as gin, it’s prossecco, so I thought, why not combine the two. This cocktail is very much inspired by the classic, French 75. The original cocktail dates back to World War 1 and was first created in Paris (believe it or not), originally using champagne and gin. I thought a fun twist on this would be to use prosseco and Boë violet gin, bringing it right up to date with modern times. Any ‘why Scottish 75?’, I hear you say! Well, quite simply, Boë gin is made in Scotland and so I thought the name was rather fitting…and I have to say I think I’m on to a winner with this one because it is soooo good! Maybe I’m bias but just try it for yourself and see!

What you’ll need

• Boë violet Gin – 50ml

• Prosecco – 150ml

• Lemon Juice – 1 tsp

• Sugar Syrup – 1 tsp

• Lemon Peel and Morello Cherry to garnish

The Method

1. Pour the Boë violet gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup into a cocktail shaker with ice.

2. Shake well until shaker becomes frosty and then strain into a prosecco glass.

3. Top up with prosecco and then gently stir

4. Add lemon zest and morello cherry to garnish

Violet, Orange & Cinnamon Punch

I wanted to create a cocktail that for me really encapsulated the essence of Christmas, as cheesy as that may sound. I love the flavours in mulled drinks around this time of year but I actually tend to favour cold cocktails. I guess this makes this one more of a punch as it’s quite fruity but with a nice hint of cinnamon. Damien and I both really enjoyed this one and Damien in particular named this one as his favourite. I know we’ll be making these again in the very near future that’s for sure.

What you’ll need

• Boë Violet Gin – 50ml

• Tripple Sec – 50ml

• Cranberry Juice – 75ml

• Orange Juice – 75ml

• Cinnamon Stick

• Orange Peel and Cinnamon Powder to garnish

The Method

1. Pour the Boë Violet Gin, triple sec, cranberry juice and orange juice into a cocktail shaker

2. Shake well until shaker becomes frosty

3. Pour into a tumbler glass over ice

4 Add orange peel, a cinnamon stick and sprinkle with cinnamon to garnish

Candy Cane

I really had fun coming up with this one. I wanted to create something that was sweet, festive and fun. Whilst I like my good old classics, I can occasionally be a sucker for a novelty cocktail when I’m out. The best thing about making your own novelty cocktail at home is that you don’t have to pay the fancy cocktail price tag and you can have fun making them for all your friends too. This is the perfect, post Christmas dinner cocktail to impress your family with. I wanted this one to taste like sweets and so I’ve gone for a super sweet concoction and I think it turned out pretty well (if I do say so myself), it actually tastes like a delicious liquified sweety with novelty candy decor to boot.

What you’ll need

• Boë Violet Gin – 50ml

• Raspberry Liquor – 15 ml

• Lemon Juice – 1 tsp

• Suger Syrup – 1 tsp

• Lemonade – 150ml

• Candy Floss and Candy Canes to garnish

The Method

1. Pour the Boë Violet Gin, raspberry liquor, lemon juice and sugar syrup into a cocktail shaker with ice

2. Shake well until shaker becomes frosty

3. Once cold, strain into a large gin glass over ice

4. Top up with lemonade

5. Add candy floss and candy canes to garnish

So there we have it, four festive and fun cocktail recipes, brought to you by yours truly, using the deliciously wonderful Boë Violet Gin, with help from my wonderful assistant and hand model, Damien. Right, after all this talk of cocktails I’m off to make myself a Scottish 75, what will you be having?

Samio x

December 14, 2018
Personal Shopping & A Festive Party Outfit

On Tuesday I was invited into Manchester Arndale’s TopShop store for my first ever Personal Shopping Experience and my quest was to find a festive party wear outfit. As part of the personal shopping experience I had the luxury of my own private changing room and my personal shopper, Hannah, was on hand to show me all the jazziest and new in party wear pieces, which definitely took the hassle out of the shopping experience.

Topshop really do have a party wear look for every occasion and so I was spoilt for choice. You know I like my understated outfits but this time, rather than play it safe, I really wanted to jazz things up a little for the festive season. So whilst sticking to a quite simple base outfit, I decided to go for something a bit different by glamming up the look with a very bold (yet might I add fabulous), emerald green leopard print faux fur coat. I don’t think you can get much jazzier than that!

The coat was a piece that Hannah had actually picked out and it had been hung on my rail when I arrived at my appointment. Had I of seen the coat whilst browsing around in store, I admit I probably would have walked straight past it with my bikers on in search for something simpler, but as Hannah presented it to me styled with a selection of outfits, I instantly took a shine to it. I began to see a number of styling opportunities with the coat piece, both dressy and casual, and so before I knew it I was swanning around my changing room in it, quickly deciding that I had to have it!

Another piece in my outfit that I absolutely feel for were these fabulous boots. Ahhh, look at them. I’d actually spotted them earlier whilst browsing around in store and after I mentioned them to Hannah, she kindly went and grabbed them for me in my size and brought them to my changing room. Not only did they fit perfectly (and look amazing) but they actually felt really comfortable too, which I think is quite important when heading out to party!

No party wear look of mine could be complete without a bit of lipstick and yes I was enticed by Topshop’s amazing beauty selection. I had to stop myself from going for five different lipstick shades and managed to narrow it down to just one. I went for a beautiful brown shade called Muse and then I spotted their beautiful Chameleon Glow eye shadows. Just when I thought I didn’t need another eyeshadow in my life, one jumped out at me that was like nothing else I owned. It was the shade called Shuffle The Cards and it has a beautiful rose gold two tone effect that I instantly fell in love with.

I left my personal shopping appointment feeling my shopping trip had been a success. It’s not often I go into a store and am able to find a full outfit I love all in one place. The best part about the Topshop Personal Shopping is that it’s completely complimentary! So if you’re in need of a wardrobe revamp or just a quick fashion fix, it’s the perfect place to go to get style advice and help you shop with ease. I’d definitely recommend it and it’s available in selected flagship stores, you can book an appointment here and if you’re planning to book in Manchester I definitely recommend Hannah Twist who was my personal shopper on the day.

Also, if you are Manchester based, then you should check out the Get Party Ready weekend, which is taking place on the 17th and 18th December in Manchester Arndale’s Topshop store. Customers who spend £40 in store that weekend will be eligible to receive a complimentary express gel manicure, mini party makeover! Th

Samio x

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This post was sponsored by Topshop, however this does not affect my opinions – check out my disclaimer for further information.

December 15, 2016
My Look Fantastic Black Friday Must Haves & Gift Guide

You’re probably sick of hearing about Black Friday already and if I’m honest, I couldn’t think of anything worse than heading to the high street and getting caught up in the manic bustle that is Black Friday…However I have come to realise that this can actually be the perfect time to pick up a few of those Christmas gifts that you may be after and on the beauty side of things, there are lots of great offers to be had. That being said, regardless of the occasion, you know I like any shopping I do to be well thought out and so I have put together a little bit of Christmas gift guide, featuring a round up of 5 Lookfantastic Black Friday offers, that could make great gifts for some of the special ladies in your life this Christmas…

For Mum

Eve Lom has got to be one of my top luxury skincare brands. I’ve already gushed over their cleanser here on my blog in the past and now I’m excited to introduce these new masks into my routine. I say ‘into my routine’, more like ‘into my special occasion skincare routine’, because I must admit these are on the higher end of the price spectrum. However, if you’re someone/or know someone who loves to indulge in luxury skincare, then this could be just the perfect time to nab the Eve Lom White Brightening Mask on a Black Friday offer. I used my first one in preparation for a shoot the night before, and aide from finding the look of the sheet mask hilarious on first application (just google it if you don’t know what I mean), I actually loved how soft, supple and fresh it left my skin. I see this one being a great gift for the Mother or any special lady in your life who deserves an extra special pamper.

For Sis

You should already know/have guessed by now that I love skincare products and anything that can aid with helping/maintaining good skin, I’m all for. So it’s no surprise that I’m super excited about this little gadget, the Foreo Luna Mini. It works as a great bacteria free way to cleanse the skin, whilst the tiny pulsating rubber touch points help to remove dirt and oil and keep pores clean. There are no batteries required as it comes with a wire to charge it up and it has a long life span due to the fact that it’s all rubber and it requires no replacements bristles or anything like that. If you have a sister who is into her skincare, or maybe just needs a convenient way to simplify her routine, then this could be a great one for her!

For the Bestie

Two brands that I love for makeup brushes and tools are Real Techniques and Look Good Feel Better. I think two of my most used makeup tools are probably a beauty sponge and a contour brush. I’ve used a LGFB Sculpting Sponge for quite some time and it’s so convenient because not only does the sponge itself help effortlessly blend foundation onto the skin, leaving it looking even and natural, but the shape is also great for using on different parts of the face. And this sponge isn’t a one trick pony because once my foundation is applied, I like to use the curved tip for applying concealer under my eyes and then the pointed end for applying liquid highlighter. It’s also super easy to clean and once it’s dry it simply bounces back to it’s usual shape…And then there’s the contour brush and this isn’t just any contour brush, because just look how beautiful it is! Not only the perfect gift because Real Techniques are actually renowned for their great quality brushes (I’ve owned several) but also because this may be the prettiest brush I’ve seen…and who doesn’t like practical and pretty!

For You

Let’s face it, after shopping for all the main ladies in your life, it would be rude to not treat yourself to a little something too!…Illamasqua has long been one of my favourite makeup brands. There’s not a single night out when at least one Illamasqua product doesn’t make it onto my face. They know how to do strong pigments and fierce colours…speaking of fierce colours, can we please take a moment of appreciation for the gorgeous red shade in this eyeshadow palette! I’ve actually been on the look out for a shade like this for some time and I should have known that Illamasqua would be the brand to do it. These eyeshadows are perfect for creating smokey eye looks and whether it’s for a friend, or just for yourself, it’s certainly a perfect party palette.

So there you have it, a round up of some of my favourite Black Friday Lookfantastic Christmas Gift ideas! And one last thing, you can get a huge 20% off some of the Black Friday promotions over on Lookfantastic, using the code: LFBLACK.

Samio x

Some of the items may have been sent to me for review purposes, however this does not affect my opinions – check out my disclaimer for further information.

November 25, 2016
Lookfantastic Beauty Box – Christmas Edition

Christmas time is here and so is the Lookfantastic Christmas Edition Beauty Box…

Eylure Lashes

Fist up in this month’s Beauty Box are these super glam Dramatic Eylure false eyelashes. I have really started to love using this brand recently. Although I don’t wear false eyelashes often, if I’ve got a special occasion or big night out planned, I do like to feel extra fabulous by putting on a pair of Eylure lashes to complete my look. These are probably the most dramatic style I am yet to own but as it is the festive season and all, it could be the perfect time to rock them.

Eve Lom Morning Time Cleanser

I mentioned this product in my Black Friday blog post and I am actually so happy that I now have a second one because I have been loving this stuff! I never thought I’d be so impressed by a morning time cleanser (to be honest I originally thought – what even is that!?) but I have to say this stuff feels amazing on my skin. I apply it when I first wake up and leave it on whilst I brush my teeth, then when I get in the shower I rinse it off and it instantly helps to wake up my skin and leaves it feeling smooth, soft and refreshed.

CODAGE Serum N.03 Radiance and Energy

I recently discovered this brand earlier this year, after trying out one of their face scrubs, which I have been loving. I’m still quite new to this serum but after having used it a few times I can say that it feels really nice on my skin and leaves it feeling really smooth and moisturised.

Wet Brush Squirts

I probably wont attempt to use this brush as I’ve tried something similar before and I doubt this will be appropriate for my hair. However if you have looser curls or wavy to straight hair, then this brush would probably be more suited to you. It has super flexible soft tips which claim to detangle hair with ease and can be used on wet or dry hair.

Molton Brown Japanese Orange Body Wash

I love Molton Brown bath products, they always remind me of fancy hotels and their scents are always delicious. This one is no exception and I absolutely love the Japanese Orange body wash scent.

Lord & Berry Pailettes Eye Pencil Sparkle Black

I have wanted to try this makeup brand for so long but I often find it hard to take the plunge and buy makeup products I’m not familiar with, especially when I already have so many favourites. I do really like this eye pencil though; It glides on with ease and comes out bold. It’s a black liner but this one is ‘sparkle black’ and so it has sparkles in it! It’s certainly ideal for the party season and I can’t wait to create a smoky eye look with this liner.

This month’s Lookfantastic Beauty Box has been a good one and it’s certainly got me in the mood for the festive season. In fact I’ve been really impressed with all of the Beauty Boxes which I’ve received so far, as I’ve discoed so many different beauty brands which I now love. I’d definitely recommend the Lookfantastic Beauty Box. It’s an affordable way to try out a great selection of high end products each month and it could even make an excellent Christmas gift for someone who likes this sort of thing too!

You can subscribe to the Lookfantastic Beauty Box here.

Samio x

Some of the items may have been sent to me for review purposes, however this does not affect my opinions – check out my disclaimer for further information.

December 9, 2015
Festive Christmas Day Makeup Tutorial

I’ve said it about ten times already but I’m feeling super festive! I always love getting into the Christmas spirit but this year I feel even more Christmassy than ever.

The run up to Christmas Day seems to have gone so fast that I’ve barely had time to do any proper planning. Luckily though, all my presents are purchased, the fridge is full and now I just have two more restless sleeps until I can have my much anticipated Gothic Christmas! Yes that’s right, our family is doing a themed Christmas this year and I can’t wait.

I came up with the idea of a themed Christmas last month when I was in a period of loving black. I just loved the idea of having an Adams Family/The Munsters style family Christmas Dinner. I was surprised to hear my family were well up for the idea and even ended up planned and purchasing outfits before I did! I even spent a large chunk of last night making a luxurious Vampire cape for my boyfriend, which turned out quite fabulous I must say.

With everyone else sorted I’d almost forgot to pick out an outfit for myself. Luckily, with me owning an array of ‘Gothic attire’, I was able to pull something out of my wardrobe last minute. Strangely enough the planning of a Gothic Christmas has made me feel more festive than ever and I am more than giddy for Christmas Day.

Anyway, despite the fact that I’m getting ready to release my inner Goth, as it’s Christmas Eve, Eve, I thought I’d do a Christmas Day makeup blog post. So for those of you who are looking for some festive makeup inspiration and won’t be going for smokey eyes and dark lips like me, then maybe this step by step tutorial can come in handy for you.

The Eyes

Step 1:
Prep the eyelids with your regular foundation and fill in your eyebrows as usual.
With a light shimmer, go over the lid of your eye. Here I’ve used Front Cover’s eye shadow shade, Biscuit.

Step 2:
Using a light shimmery brown eye shadow, shadow in just above the eyelid crease and then blend. I used shade Hazel from Front Cover’s Rainbow Eyes Pallet.

Step 3:
Draw on some winged liner using a black eyeliner pencil.

Step 4:
Using a glitter gel liner, draw a winged line above the black pencil line.
For this I used Collection’s Glam Crystal Dazzling Gel Liner in Funk, which is a gold shade.

Step 5:
Once the gold glitter liner has dried, go over the black pencil eyeliner with a black liquid eyeliner in order to create a more solid line. (Go over the glitter eyeliner again afterwards if needed)
Apply black mascara to the top lashes only.

Step 6:
Using a gold eyeliner pencil, liner the bottom of your eye. I used Model’s Own Golden Girl Glitter Eye Pencil.

Step 7:
Add black mascara to your bottom lashes for the end result.

The Lips

Step 1:
Lightly liner the lips using a brown to light brown to nude lip liner pencil, depending on your skin tone. For this I used a pencil in shade Cinnamon from Boots Natural Collection.

Step 2:
Again, finding a shade to suit your skin tone, fill the lips in with a nude to brown shade of lipstick. I used NYC’s Expert Lip Last in shade, Creamy Caramel 440.

Step 3:
Appling to the centre of the lips, add some gold shimmery lip gloss and carefully pat outwards with your finger to blend. The perfect gloss to use for this effect is Illamasqua’s Intense Lipgloss in shade, Stranger, as used here.

The Finished Look

A great variation to this look is to use a different colour glitter eyeliner. Here I’ve used Collection’s Glam Crystals Dazzling Gel Eyeliner in Pizzazz, which is a super festive green shade.

Samio x

December 23, 2013
Jazzing Up The LBD

It seems that the festive season is upon us and so queue the Christmas dos and holiday gatherings. With so many outings to attend and so little time for planning and outfit shopping, I think this month accessories will become my new best friend!

On Tuesday evening I went out for a festive meal and drinks with LBD. I opted for a little black dress (which has been my go to piece as of late). I didn’t have much time to plan an outfit, so it was the easy ‘it will do’ option.

As I feel I have been living in black lately, I decided to dress my outfit up with a bright turquoise necklace. I feel it made all the difference by adding a pop of colour to the look. I finished off my outfit with a pair of 80’s looking sheer black tights and a pair of black Jeffrey Campbell wedges. Not forgetting my Pearls & Lipstick clutch bag, a quirky eye ring and super cute star friendship bracelet off LBD.

What I wore:
Dress – Asos
Tights – Primark
Heels – Jeffrey Campbell
Clutch Bag – Pearls & Lipstick
Ring – eBay
Friendship bracelet – H&M
Necklace – H&M

Samio x

December 12, 2013