Melissa Eddolls

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The Slug and Lettuce Cocktail Masterclass

March 31, 2019 melissaeddollss

Recently I was lucky enough to be invited along to The Slug and Lettuce at the Harbourside in Bristol. The venue has recently been given a floral refurbishment and it looks absolutely incredible.

As soon as I walked through the door my eyes were drawn to the decor of this place. Being welcomed by a beautiful flower tree and the cutest gin bar was definitely what I needed after a hard days work.

I was greeted by the wonderful staff and an ice cold glass of bubbly. We were then shown to our table in order for us to get ready for our cocktail masterclass. As somebody who loves cocktails, I was really excited to see what the night would bring.

The mixologist in charge of the night was incredibly knowledgeable and very helpful. We started by making a classic Mojito. It was great to see what ingredients we needed and I am confident that after lots of practise, that I have now mastered the technique.

We then went on to make some fruity martinis which were my favourite. I really enjoyed learning how to get the perfect combination of flavours.

After learning how to create my favourite drink, I will definitely be getting the ingredients and making one at home.

After making and drinking several cocktails, it was great to be able to look around and explore the newly refurbished bar. I really loved the neon lighting and flower wall. This place is the perfect place for taking cute photos with your friends.

I couldn’t find a single inch of the venue that was not decorated beautifully. Even the toilets look incredibly detailed. I was really impressed with how different the venue looked. The theme fits perfectly with the upcoming seasons.

I had such a great evening at The Slug and Lettuce and the cocktails were absolutely incredible. If you’re looking for a place to go in Bristol, then I would definitely recommend this place. They also have 2 for 1 cocktails, so it would be rude not to!

This evening was gifted to me by The Slug and Lettuce, but all opinions and photographs are my own.

#bblogger, #bristol, Uncategorized

Kinky Boots at The Bristol Hippodrome

February 28, 2019February 28, 2019 melissaeddollss

Last night I was lucky enough to watch the incredible Kinky Boots at The Bristol Hippodrome. Kinky Boots is an award winning musical, inspired by a true story. The show follows the story of a simple gentlemen’s shoe factory in Northampton and how it is transformed into a fabulous factory, perfect for making the best boots a Drag Queen could ask for.

Before the show began, we were able to meet some of the cast members and enjoy a backstage tour. It was amazing to see all the costumes up close and personal. I was surprised at how high the heels really were, especially as the cast had to dance in them all night.

Being able to speak to the team behind the production was a great experience. It really helps you understand how hard they work to get everything perfect.

We were also able to find out some inside information about the costumes, including the fact that each cast member has their boots personally made to fit. Each pair of boots costs over £2,000.00, even with a price tag like that, I still want a pair!

The show itself was everything I had imagined and more. Not only is the story line brilliant, but the actors did such a great job and the whole performance was flawless.

The choreography and singing was one of the best I have seen yet. This show is definitely one that will get you moving as the entertainment and sass flows right through the audience.

Kayi Ushe plays the role of Lola, the fabulous drag queen who becomes the designer of the famous red boots. Kayi portrayed the character in such a great way, it would be hard not to love Lola.

The atmosphere in The Bristol Hippodrome was just what you want when you are watching a such a fabulous and funny show. I absolutely loved watching Kinky Boots last night, I wish I could go back and watch it all again.

The show is touring until November and they are in Bristol until Saturday 9th of March. With tickets still on sale, you still have a chance to see it. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

Tickets can be purchased on their website here or by visiting the Bristol Box Office.

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Jo Malone Hand and Arm Massage

January 28, 2019January 28, 2019 melissaeddollss

Doesn’t everybody need a pamper every once in a while?

Last week a friend and I headed down to our local Jo Malone in Harvey Nichols, to try out their complimentary Hand and Arm Massage.

After a long day at work, we were both ready for a good pamper.

I absolutely love Jo Malone. I don’t think that there is a scent of there’s that I do not like. With that in mind, I was excited to try out this service and see if there were any new scents that I could try.

On arrival we were greeted with some lovely chocolates and fresh lemon water. We then had the chance to go through some of the scents that they thought would best suit us.

My favourite Jo Malone scent is usually Pomegranate Noir, but this time I decided to go with something a little different. The scent I chose was Velvet Rose and Oud. This was a more musky scent than I would usually go for, but I absolutely loved it.

The massage started off with the Velvet Rose and Oud Shower Oil. This Shower Oil felt incredibly light and left my skin feeling silky smooth.

After my skin was all lathered up and clean, the Velvet Rose and Oud Body Creme was massaged into my skin.

I felt really relaxed after this, I nearly fell asleep! After using both of these products, my skin smelt delicious.

The treatment was then topped off with a spritz of the Velvet Rose and Oud Cologne Intense.

After our treatment was over, we were given some samples of the products that were used on this. This was great as we were able to repeat the routine at home.

I had such a lovely time visiting the Jo Malone counter. If you haven’t tried out their complimentary services before, it is something I would definitely recommend.

#bristol, #food, #lifestyle, #review

Quay Street Diner Roast Dinner

January 27, 2019January 27, 2019 melissaeddollss

Last week I was lucky enough to try out the new Roast Dinners at Quay Street Diner in Bristol.

Quay Street Diner is a Californian Diner, offering brunch, lunch, dinner and cocktails. Their unique selling point is the fact that they are all about live fire cooking. Their diverse menu uses local ingredients to create delicious dishes inspired by tastes from across the world.

My boyfriend and I were really excited to try out their menu, especially as we both love to spend our Sundays stuffing our faces with a good Roast Dinner.

Whilst we waiting for our food to arrive, we decided to taste one of their Bellinis. I absolutely loved them. It really is just what you need on a Sunday afternoon.

For our food, I chose the Lenti, Butternut, Cashew and Chestnut Roast. This option was Vegan and was served with some delicious vegetables and gravy.

It’s fair to say that I really enjoyed my dish. The Nut Roast was incredibly tasty and most importantly it didn’t feel too dry.

After enjoying our mains we decided to take a look at the dessert menu. I decided to chose the Chocolate and Coconut Tart, which again was a Vegan option.

Not only did this dish look amazing, but it was really yummy. The Strawberry Coulis worked perfectly with the chocolate and I was really surprised that this dish was actually Vegan.

We really enjoyed our time at Quay Street Diner. Not only was the food spot on, but the atmosphere was also great. We will definitely be returning soon!

This meal was gifted to me in collaboration with Socialight. All opinions and photographs are my own.

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All That Glitters – December Glossybox Review

December 14, 2018December 14, 2018 melissaeddollss

After being pleasantly surprised with last months Glossybox, I decided to try out the Christmas Edition. This months box contains five full size products, along with an extra treat. The products in this box are designed to make you feel prepped and fabulous for the magical Christmas season.

The first thing I love about this edition is how festive the box looks. The red and gold design is everything I love about Christmas.

The first product in the box is a Fantasy Icons Cosmic Unicorn Shower Gel from Imperial Leather RRP £1.99. The shower gel doesn’t have a very strong scent, but it does leave your skin feeling soft and sparkly.

The Cosmic Pink Ruby Glitter Peel Off Mask by Vitamasques RRP £4.99 was the next product to catch my eye. The mask states that it is designed to revitalise and firm the skin. I cannot wait to try this mask out. With it being pink and glittery, I couldn’t think of anything better!

This edition contains three makeup products. One of these being the Doucce Relentless Matte Lip Crayon in Winterberry RRP £16.95. I absolutely love the colour and texture of this crayon. The shade is perfect for the party season and it is really long lasting. This is one of my favourite products by far.

The second makeup product in the box is a Shimmer Roll from Bellapierre Cosmetics RRP £19.99. This product is so pigmented. It is in a Champagne colour and I can’t wait to cover my face in it.

The last makeup product in the box is a Liquid Jelly Blush in the shade Bali by Niko Pro RRP £12.00. I’m not a big fan of using a blush in my usual makeup routine so this isn’t really a product that I will be using.

The extra treat inside this months box is The Incredible Pore Strip by Maybeauty RRP £3.50. I absolutely love pore strips and I cannot wait to get this one on my face. I regularly use pore strips on both my nose and chin as they are the perfect way to get rid of blackheads.

I have really enjoyed opening this months Glossybox. I think that the products inside are definitely worth the price of the subscription box and I cannot wait to try them all out.

#bblogger, #bristol, #food, #lifestyle, #review, #vegetarian

An evening at Revolucion De Cuba

December 4, 2018December 3, 2018 melissaeddollss

Last week I was invited along to try out the menu at Revolución de Cuba. Situated on the Harbourside in Bristol, Revolución de Cuba has recently opened it’s door to showcase Latin inspired food, tasty cocktails and sensational carnival entertainment.

On arrival we were greeted with some funky Cuban props, which really started off the evening well. The staff at this restaurant are all very attentive and friendly, something which is always important to me when visiting a new restaurant.

After browsing through the cocktail menu, we decided to pick our drinks. As a gin lover, it was only right for me to pick the Supersonic Gin and Tonic. This cocktail contains Bombay Sapphire Gin, with a Fever-Tree Refresinghly Light Tonic, topped with a Boozy Strawberry Lemonade Sorbet, which is loaded with even more Bombay Sapphire. I don’t think I could have thought of a better combination myself.

The menu features a mixture of tapas dishes and main plates. For a starter it is recommend that you share three plates between two people. We decided to pick two vegetarian options and then a meaty option for my boyfriend to try. The two dishes I tried were the Halloumi Tacos and the Patatas Bravas.

The Patatas Bravas was served with a Spicy Tomato sauce and Garlic Aioli. This dish is a classic, and we definitely enjoyed tucking into it.

I have to say that the Halloumi Tacos were one of the tastiest dishes I had ever tried. The Tacos were filled with Halloumi, Courgette, Butternut Squash and lightly coated in Chilli Jam. If you are thinking of trying out Revolución de Cuba, then this dish is a must.

For my main, I decided to go for the Mushroom, Bean and Spinach Burrito. I absolutely love Burritos and it was great to have a great variety of fillings inside. The homemade guacamole was the perfect addition to this dish.

Even though we were feeling pretty full after this dish, we decided to order another cocktail and look through the dessert menu.

As it’s now December, it was only right that we tried the new Christmas special cocktail, Jamaican Me Festive. This cocktail features Appleton Estate, Koko Kanu, Cranberry, Lime, Cinnamon, Apple and then topped with a Chocolate Coin! We were really impressed with this cocktail and it definitely got us into the festive spirit.

After sipping on our cocktails, we decided to order our dessert. After one look at the menu I had already known what to pick. Of course I decided to go for the Pornstar Pavlova. The dish consisted of a meringe, covered in mango and strawberry salsa, blackberries and saucy passion fruit. This was then topped with prosecco-whipped cream and then served with a small glass of prosecco on the side. Sound perfect doesn’t it?

I was so impressed with every course of my meal. The food was absolutely delicious and the cocktails were fantastic. I will definitely be returning to try out some more of the tapas dishes they have to offer.

Thank you to the team at Revolución de Cuba in Bristol for having us, we cannot wait to return!

The food and drink provided on the evening was gifted to me by Revolución de Cuba, but all opinions are my own.

#bblogger, #fashion, #lifestyle, #review

The Perfect Hunkemöller Present

December 2, 2018December 2, 2018 melissaeddollss

During winter there is nothing I love more than snuggling up on the sofa and watching Christmas films. Every year I am on the look out for a new fluffy dressing gown to accompany me in this ritual.

I personally don’t think I can think of a better Christmas present to receive than a fresh set of soft pyjamas or a cosy dressing gown that you can live in this season.

This year I have found the perfect place to purchase my cosy lounge wear. Hunkemöller is a clothing company based in the Netherlands and they stock the cutest lingerie and nightwear. Not only is their nightwear fashionable, but their products are extremely well made and the quality is amazing.

Since receiving this Fleece Robe from Hunkemöller, I haven’t been able to take it off. The fleece material so soft and cosy, it is perfect to keep you warm at home this Christmas.

If you are looking for a Christmas gift idea, then this should definite be on your list. It is also great if you are just wanting to treat yourself, I mean isn’t that what Christmas is really about?

If you want to try out the amazing products they have to have to offer, head over to their website and have a look for yourself. They stock a range of sizes and styles to suit everybody.

This product was gifted to me by Hunkemöller, but all opinions are my own.

#bblogger, #beauty, #bristol, #lifestyle, #makeup, #review, #skincare

Glossybox November Edition

November 15, 2018 melissaeddollss

A few years ago I was obsessed with beauty subscription boxes, but after a while I always ended up disappointed in the products I received.

After seeing some recent reviews on Glossybox, I decided to sign up again and see what they had to offer. The subscription starts at £10.00 a month, with options to pay for one, three, six or twelve months. With some subscription boxes charging a lot more than this, I was interested to see what kind of products would be inside.

As always the box looked beautiful and sleek, the soft pink colour theme is still my absolute favourite. I was so excited to unbox this Glossybox after hearing a rumour of what I would find inside.

It is safe to say I was pleasantly surprised. Here is a sneak peak of what you will find inside this month’s Glossybox.

Huda Beauty Liquid Matte Lipstick – Venus

I had previously seen that they were featuring Huda Beauty products in the months edition and I was so happy with the Liquid Lipstick I received. The colour is absolutely perfect for an everyday wear and it is very long lasting. I think it is worth buying the box for this product alone as the RRP is usually £18.00.

Stylondon Eyeshadow Palette – Eaton Square

This brand is one that I have never personally tried, but I am in love with the colours of this palette. They are also really pigmented which I love. These tones are perfect for the winter months and Christmas period. I can’t wait to test this product out and see how long the colours last.

Palmers Coconut Butter Formula Mini 24 Hour Formula

I have always loved Palmers products so I was really happy to receive this inside the box. It is only a 30g tub which is the perfect size for popping in your handbag. I could smell this product all day as it is absolutely gorgeous!

Context Micro-Derm Regenerator

As you may know I absolutely love anything to do with skincare, so I was so excited to try out this product. I love how light this product feels on your skin. It definitely removes all the dirt and nastiest from your skin. This product is also cruelty and perfume free. I can’t wait to try this product out for the rest of the month.

Eyeko London Fat Liquid Eyeliner in Black

This product couldn’t have come at a better time as I am in need of a new eyeliner. I love this brand and I was pleased to try out this product. The felt tip applicator makes the product really easy to use. This eyeliner didn’t smudge either which is always a bonus!

Chloe Eau De Parfum Sample

This was such a lovely addition to the box. I had never tried this perfume before and I was definitely missing out. The perfume gives off a soft powdery and fresh scent to it, which works wonders. I will definitely be taking this sample along with me in my handbag.

It’s safe to say that I really enjoyed receiving and opening this month’s Glossybox and I look forward to seeing what next months edition brings.

#bristol, #food, #lifestyle, #review, #vegetarian

The Hole In The Wall – Bristol Review

October 24, 2018October 24, 2018 melissaeddollss

Last week I was lucky enough to attend the launch of one of my favourite pubs. The Hole In The Wall is a premium pub, bar and restaurant, situated in the City Centre of Bristol.

The Hole In The Wall is very local to me and a venue that I have visited many times before the refurbishment had taken place. I was so surprised when walking into the pub as the transformation was incredible. The decor and atmosphere represents a really classy and chic bar.

On arrival we were able to visit the Gin Bar and garnish our own Gin and Tonics. Being a Gin Lover, I jumped at the chance. I made the perfect Tanqueray Gin and Tonic, filled with rose petals and glazed cherries.

After treating ourselves to a tasty G&T, it was only right we sampled some of the new cocktails added to the menu. My favourite being the Clover Club, a Gin and Martini cocktail, decorated with the most prettiest edible flowers.

Not only did this cocktail look great, but it tasted amazing. If you’re obsessed with gin like me, then I would definitely recommend you give this cocktail a try.

After tasting the fabulous drinks on offer, it was time for us to sit down to dinner. The dining area of the pub is absolutely gorgeous. There is plenty of room for groups of all sizes, along with a meeting room available for bookings.

The tables were dressed beautifully and I could not wait to see what the new menu had to offer.

To start I decided to try the Thyme-Roasted Portobello Mushrooms, served in Cropwell Bishop Sauce, with a side of Rustic Toast. I absolutely love mushrooms and this dish did not disappoint. There were so many flavours to this dish, I instantly fell in love.

For my main, I chose the Roasted Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Tart. This dish was stuffed with vegetables and full of flavour. This would be great for a lunch time, or a warm dinner dish.

I was so full after eating these two courses, but as always I made sure that I had enough room for one of their fancy new desserts.

For my dessert, I picked the Melting Chocolate and Peanut Bomb, filled with sticky toffee pudding and peanut butter cream. The bomb is served with bourbon vanilla ice cream and hot salted caramel sauce.

The presentation of this dessert was absolutely incredible. Once the sauce is poured onto the top of the dessert, the melting feature is magical.

Along with the dessert looking the part, it tasted amazing. If you a chocolate fan, then you will not be disappointed.

The service I received was outstanding and I had such a great evening. I could not believe the transformation of both the decor and menu.

I can’t wait to return to The Hole In The Wall and get my hands on those fancy cocktails again.

The food and drink reviewed on the launch night was gifted to me by The Hole In The Wall. All of the opinions posted on my blog are my own.

#bblogger, #bristol, #lifestyle, #review, #skincare

Amphora Aromatics Must Have Miracle Oil

October 7, 2018October 7, 2018 melissaeddollss

Over the past few weeks I have feel as though I have been super busy and I haven’t really had the chance to pamper myself as much as I would have liked.

After spending a week in Marbella, my hair and skin had become extremely withdrawn from the sunshine and moisture it was receiving whilst I was away. After returning to temperatures below 10 degrees, I was desperately looking for a product to help me out.

Luckily, before my holiday I had been offered the chance to try out a new product from Amphora Aromatics. Amphora Aromatics is an organic and local based brand which stocks high quality products and extremely reasonable prices. You may have read my previous post on the brand, which I am still obsessing over.

They currently have a range for oils out especially focused on hair and skincare. I decided to try out their Argan Oil. This oil can be used on the skin, hair and also nails.

The applicator for this product is really helpful. It means that you won’t be wasting a lot of the product as you can carefully measure how much you wish to use.

Unlike many other Argan Oil products I have tried, this product did not seem greasy at all. I have been using the Argan Oil on both my skin and hair for over a week now and I have already seen great results.

My skin has a lot more moisture to it and feels a lot softer than it did before using the product. After using the oil on my hair, it has helped reduce frizz, along with leaving me with silky smooth hair.

It’s amazing how one product can work wonders in so many areas. The fact that this is a natural product is also a bonus.

If you’re looking for a product that can help you feeling moisturised in these cold months, then I would definitely recommend you try out this one out.