Haul!

Today and on Sunday I went into town and bought a few things which I will be reviewing in the coming week. I thought I would post a couple of pictures below to give you an idea of what I will be writing about. Apologies for the picture quality, as I was using my phone camera which currently has a cracked lens cover.

-Bomb Cosmetics chocolate ballotin collection**

-Calcot Manor salt scrub 

-The Pointless book 2 by Alfie Deyes

- F&F striped basic tee

-LUSH Wiccy Magic muscles massage bar (I have previously reviewed this when I bought it a few years ago,  but since the massage bar formulation changed, I bought another and have completely changed my opinion on this bar)

-LUSH Phoenix rising bath bomb

-Collection Eyes Uncovered palette in Nude

-Marks and Spencer Collection batwing striped scoop neck jumper

Sidenote: everything will be reviewed with the exception  of the nutella and the heartshaped notes, for stockists of these please refer to Google or send me a message.

**Gift or sponsored item

(Clockwise- Nutella (stockists nationwide), M&S Collection batwing striped scoop neck jumper, Collection Eyes Uncovered palette in Nude, LUSH Phoenix Rising bath bomb, and LUSH Wiccy Magic Muscles massage bar)

(L-R Heart shaped sticky notes, The pointless book 2 by Alfie Deyes, Calcot manor salt scrub and F&F Basic striped long sleeved tee)

(Above: Bomb Cosmetics chocolate ballotin collection**)

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Lush items for sale

Sample Lush kits

At the moment I have some brand new Lush products, that I am going to be splitting up and selling in 'starter sample packs' for those who want to try out a few different items at once without paying loads for the full product.

Each sample pack comes with 10-12 large samples and is £4 including postage.

I am aware that Lush shops also offer samples, however the ones I am selling are a substantial size and include products such as shampoo bars, dusting powders and others which Lush don't generally give out as samples.

I post to UK only and payment is through PayPal.  I aim to get your parcel to you within 7 working days.

If you are interested, tweet me, or facebook me.

Www.twitter.com/xocoughsyrupxo

Www.facebook.com/coughsyrupxo

Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Lip Care

Winter weather and wearing lipstick means I often get pretty dry lips, so when I went shopping recently, I wanted a lip balm that didn't have gimmicks such as a tint of colour or a fancy flavour. I just wanted something that would work and that wouldn't be too heavy to use.

So after having a look, I noted this Neutrogena balm. It caught my eye because I am a fan of their hand creams, and their Norwegian formula is pretty heavy-duty and designed for chapped skin on lips. Although it was one of the more expensive choices and didn't have particularly pretty, eyecatching packaging, But I thought I would try it out anyway and report back on the results after a couple of weeks.

It is designed pretty much like every other lip salve, in a wind up applicator which can easily be applied across the lips without mess. It goes on easily and smells quite nice. The scent is pretty fresh and clean, not a sweet scent or anything. I guess it is sort of medicinal, but not in a bad way. It's in no way unpleasant, and (along with the plain packaging) is very unisex, so guys would be comfortable using this too.

Right away, your lips feel moisturised and soothed. The lip balm feels immediately cooling, although it doesn't contain menthol, so it isn't too 'cold'. It doesn't add any sort of gloss or shine, and unless you over-do it, you can't tell you are wearing it.

However, unfortunately for me, the soothing effect was pretty short-term, and an hour later, I needed to apply it again as my lips felt dry. I was a little disappointed by this, as I thought it might give a few hours usage. It is something that is easily popped into a handbag, so it's not too much of an issue to reapply, but I've definately tried other lip balms that lasted longer than this.

I gave the balm a couple of weeks to see if it changed my mind, but it stayed pretty much the same. My lips are in slightly better condition, but I feel if I'd used another balm, they would be much more improved by now. 

I am not going to waste this balm and will keep it for a spare. I think it'll also come in handy when the weather is warmer and I don't need such a heavy duty lip salve. I would recommend it to people who don't have problem chapped lips, and maybe just need something a little moisturising. But for now, I am still on the hunt for another balm. If you have any suggestions, comment below!

6/10

Collins Chatsworth desk organiser

After writing some of my posts, I decided that I wanted somewhere to keep written reviews down, as well as somewhere to keep sheets of paper from companies who had sent samples to review. At first I thought about getting an a4 ringbinder, but after looking online, I decided a desk organiser may be a better way of having somewhere to put to-do's, as well as diary dates for bloggers events', and general notes really.

I didn't mind too much about the design of the desk organiser, as it is something I will generally be keeping at home, due to it being a bit heavy to bring everywhere with me, and too big to fit in my handbag (I use my personal organiser for on-the-go writing). However, I didn't want to be paying a crazy amount, so I avoided Filofax and started looking at some cheaper alternatives.

I came across the Collins chatsworth design- a plain black, non-leather organiser which had many different sections for dividing my written information into categories.

The collins chatsworth desk organiser comes with-

-Week on two page diary
-Notepaper
-Meetings paper
-To-do paper
-Finance paper
-Address/telephone numbers paper with a-z dividers.
- Plastic Credit/store card pocket
-A5 notepad in the back pocket

All the separate sections also come with their own dividers. I was pretty impressed with the amount of contents provided, as they also seemed to be better quality.

It has four credit card slots and one large full length pocket in the front cover, and a large full length pocket in the back which is specifically for a notebook (included with this organiser) The collins logo is imprinted onto the spine of the binder.


The design itself is a little plain, but it is functional, with tons of space.  It is made out of PU and is leather-look. It looks pretty tough and I doubt it would get dirty easily, so I wouldn't be too bothered throwing this in a oversized bag and taking it out with me if I needed to. There is also space for a ballpoint pen in the organiser.

I noticed that the binder rings on this organiser were slightly different to other a5/desk organisers I have tried. They were thicker, and seemed to be sturdier, with no gapping at all. There was also seven, which unfortuately makes it a little awkward to get inserts which will fit. The Collins' personal organiser inserts are interchangable with Filofax ones, but unfortunately the Collins desk organiser does not match up with Filofax's a5 inserts. Therefore, if you wanted to order more, you would have to seek out a stockist in a shop or online, which I have heard isn't that easy. I am also unsure if collins sell holepunches, so it may be a little difficult if you are interested in making your own page inserts.

Overall, I am pleased for what I got for the price I paid, and I know it looks professional and will come in handy for writing longer lists. I would recommend this to people who want somewhere to write information down, that looks a little better than a regular notepad or diary.

7/10

Collins Paris personal organiser

This will be the first of 2 reviews of Collins organisers. Stay tuned for my next review!

I got to a point in writing my blog where I wanted somewhere to keep a written copy of the important things for my blog, such as lists of products I needed to try, a checklist of reviews I had done and still needed to do, and space to write mini reviews and bullet points that I could use later.

I also wanted it to have plenty of pockets, and it to be of good quality while still being an affordable price.

I saw this organiser on Amazon UK, and after reading about what it included, decided to order it.

The collins paris organiser comes with
-Week on two page diary
-Notepaper
-Meetings paper
-To-do paper
-Finance paper
-Address/telephone numbers paper with a-z dividers.
- Plastic Credit/store card pocket

All the separate sections also come with their own dividers. I was pretty impressed with the amount of contents provided, as they also seemed to be better quality.

The binder has six credit card slots and 2 large pockets in the front cover, and a large notepad slot in the back cover (although the notepad is sold separately). There is also a pen loop, which fits a regular ballpoint pen.

The binder itself, which isn't leather, is a padded, fairly rigid PU material, and is in a cute, girly shade of blush pink. It's a little different from what I would normally go for, although I wanted something a bit different from the regular black colour. Due to the pale colour, I'm not sure if this would stain easily, so I would recommend you take care to ensure it doesn't get dirty.

The wide strap closure fastens with a magnetic popper, which seems of high quality too, and has the collins logo imprinted on the spine. The design very much reminds me of Filofax non-leather organisers, but seems sturdier somehow, and better quality.

The ring closure seems to be fine too, with no gapping. I have been put off buying personal organisers recently, due to nearly every one I buy having gaps in the rings. I know this isn't terrible, but if I am paying out £20-50 on a Filofax, I expect it to reach me in good condition. Fortunately, the Collins organiser was fine on arrival with no marks or ring damage.

Unfortunately this organiser doesn't come in any kind of packaging, apart from a paper label round the front cover, detailing the organiser and what is included inside. I much prefer when these kind of organisers come in cardboard boxes, especially the lighter-coloured ones, which really need storing properly rather than being left out on a dusty shelf or desk.

As it's a personal size ,  this organiser is a little too small for writing long reviews. but I know it will come in handy in writing short notes and lists and keeping important information to hand. Keeping the basics in something like this ensures that you have all your spare notes and bits of paper in one place so you don't lose any. It is ideal to keep in a handbag along with your smartphone, and is in ideal piece of kit, whether you are a college student, self employed, or need something to keep your social dates in.

This organiser is also available in pocket size (a great option for a wallet). It is also available in several different colours.


7.5/10

Treacle Moon- Warm Apple Pie Hugs bath and shower gel

Sometimes products I haven't heard much about before can really surprise me, and when I saw Treacle moon bath and shower gels in one of my local supermarkets, I decided to pick up a bottle, as a lot of the scents looked really appealing. I eventually decided to go for Apple pie hugs- as I am a fan of gourmand scents and I've begun to enjoy a lot of apple-scented cosmetics, ever since I tried Lush's So White shower gel.

I have noticed Treacle Moon bath and shower gels before, and I have always wondered if their packaging was a dupe of high-end brand Philosophy's shower gels. However, I am not really bothered about whether something is a dupe or not- if a product is good quality, a good price and works well for me, I will buy it, regardless of whether it was inspired by a higher end, more expensive product. This has been proven in reviews on products such as the Revolution redemption eye palette, which is a dupe of Urban Decay's Naked1 palette.

Anyhow, this bath and shower gel comes in a top flip-cap bottle, something I am not exceptionally keen on for products as it makes it near-impossible to get every last bit out, The cap also tends to snap and break when I open it, and unfortunately, this happened this time. I may have been too heavy-handed with it, so I'm not going to hold it against the overall product.

The shower gel itself is pale green in colour and smells amazing. Literally, this is one of the best scented shower gels I have tried. To be honest, for the price I expected a sweet, and slightly one dimensional apple aroma, but this shower gel really surprised me and has now become one of my favourite scented shower gels.

There is apple, sure, but it smells slightly tart and jammy- exactly like the apple pie filling, or the apple in a freshly baked crumble. There is also a great underlying note of buttery, rich sweetness, that is just like the pastry on a fresh apple pie. It's this note of the scent which makes it so unique for me.

Using it in the shower, it is medium-thickness in texture, which means you won't drop any. It lathers up extremely well, even without a shower puff or sponge, and creates a fluffy layer of bubbles that rinse off to make you feel very cleansed without your skin feeling taut, or dry. The scent elevates in the shower, without becoming too rich or cloying, and smells comforting and delicious.

The scent didn't linger on my skin, but I am not too bothered about this, as I feel that if it did stay on your skin for a long time, it would probably be the type of scent that would clash with body lotions or perfumes you may decide to use afterwards.

As you are probably aware by the name of the product, it is also recommended for use in the bath, however I haven't yet tried it as I don't tend to use bubble bath. I will definitely give it a go though and report back on the results.

According to the Treacle moon company, Warm apple pie hugs is unfortunately a limited edition product, however when I picked this up, there were tons of bottles of it left, and there was no information saying it was limited edition. I am hoping that the company have changed their minds, as this is going to be one of my regular purchases, and I recommend that anyone who enjoys sweet, and foodie scents gives this a go- you won't be disappointed.

I look forward to trying other scents in the range, and hope they work as well as this one did.

9.5/10

Jason and the Argan Oil solid shampoo bar

As I have previously mentioned in blog posts, I am in the process of trying to convert all my cosmetic products I use besides makeup to Lush ones. So far, the converting has been pretty easy, apart from a few certain products, Shampoo being one of them.

Lush invented solid shampoo bars as an ideal alternative to liquid shampoos for people who travel, as they weigh less, and provide up to 80 washes in a single bar. This also makes them great value for money, as a shampoo bar only costs £5.75.

There are many shampoo bars available in lush, ranging from ones which are designed specifically for dandruff and problem scalps, to those which claim to boost volume and soften hair. There is all sorts available for different hair types, so if you want to try one, I would recommend visiting a Lush store and having a look.

Jason and The Argan oil, is named after a movie titled Jason and the Argonaughts. Unfortunately, I have never watched this movie, however, I do think the name is certainly a good play on words and a creative idea from LUSH. This shampoo bar is laced with lots of argan oil and nourishing ingredients to cleanse drier hair, and is also recommended for those who have coloured their hair too.

My hair is on the dry-very dry spectrum, and is heavily dyed with semi-permanant blue hair dye. After using a couple of Lush's other shampoos, and being disappointed, I was hoping this one would live up to my expectations. 

Jason and the Argan oil is a beautiful design, sporting a bright-pink colour that definately screams LOOK AT ME! The design also somewhat reminds me of a macaron. The texture of this particular shampoo bar is a little crumbly, and this kind of makes me think it might not last as long as other bars in the range that seem more solid to touch.


This shampoo bar has a beautiful scent, sharing it's aroma with the Rose Jam family- of which there is a limited edition shower gel, as well as year-round favourites Rose jam bubbleroon and  Ro's argan body conditioner. The scent is floral, and whilst I don't normally pick up a floral scented product- as I favour the more candy-type scents -  I have to admit, the rose jam scent is the perfect aroma that crosses between floral and gourmand. The rose scent is prominent, but is dampened by an underlying lemon aroma, that makes the overall scent smell like popular candy, turkish delight. 

Unfortunately, the scent is not as strong and rich in the shampoo as it is in the bubble bar, and the smell doesn't really elevate in the shower at all, however you could smell it slightly, and I feel a really strongly-scented shampoo bar may induce headaches.

Using JATAO in my hair was very easy. You can either rub it in your hands to create a lather, or rub the bar straight on your head. The latter is what I decided to do, and it foamed up instantly, creating a medium-thickness lather that could be massaged into my roots and lengths.

As the lather didn't seem to be huge, I was a little concerned that my hair wouldn't seem clean, but I needn't have worried- it felt cleansed right after rinsing. Although my hair wasn't as tangly as when I used another Lush shampoo bar, it still felt dry and I needed my usual abundance of argan-oil conditioner to smooth through it afterwards. Unfortunately, this got rid of the slight rose-jam scent in my hair so I couldn't smell it afterwards.

The one disappointment to this shampoo is the claim of being good for coloured hair. When I used JATAO, unfortunately a little bit of my hair dye did come out. Unfortunately, I find this to be a constant issue with LUSH shampoos, even Lush's Blousey shampoo, which is specially marketed for coloured hair.  I tend to use cheaper drugstore shampoos, which don't let my colour leak, so I find it strange that higher-end products from Lush seem to strip my hair colour quicker.  

After I combed out and dried my hair, it did feel surprisingly soft, however I am unsure if this is due to the fact I topped up with conditioner  and hair oil as well. I am definately more fond of this shampoo bar than I am of the Honey, I washed my hair shampoo bar from Lush, but I feel it is more suited towards normal-slightly dry hair, rather than my dry-very dry hair.

I will keep this shampoo bar and continue using it sometimes, as I feel it will come in handy for travel usage and using now and again when my hair is not so dry. It also smells beautiful and, surprisingly, is nice to keep in my room as an air-freshener. However, it will not be one I will use every day as I do have my regular drugstore favourites that I feel work with my hair a lot better.

Have you tried a solid shampoo bar from Lush? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

7/10

Review: Glee, the Finale

Sidenote: Some of this review is taken from one written about Glee on dooyoo.co.uk, under the username Blueyjools. I have tried not to give too much away, however, this review may contain spoilers some viewers may wish to avoid.

Those who know me, know I am a fan of Glee, which is a show that has been successful in it's 6-year run among teenagers and adults alike. Yesterday, fans said goodbye to Glee in a double finale episode that marks the ending of 6 series', over 700 songs and many different storylines, ranging from the funny to the more controversial.


Glee is about a group of talented, but unfocused performers in a high school Glee club, who's main aim throughout seasons 1-6, is to win the biggest Glee club competition of all, the national championship. The members of this Glee club are involved in a whole lot of sub-plots, including bullying, sex for the first time, moving out, teenage pregnancy and death.

Throughout the seasons, competitions are won and lost, characters get engaged and split up, some characters have arguments, but in the end, they realise that they are glad the Glee club brought them together, as they can be there for each other during the good times, and the bad.


Although some people tend to assume Glee is a lighthearted show due to the musical aspect of it, I would definately disagree and say it deals with some darker issues in teenagers years and life, especially with bullying, attempted suicide and, most recently, death of one of the main characters.

The first episode in the Finale, 2009, is about when Glee club started, and is pretty good.

It takes you all the way back to the first pilot, and shows you things that weren't included in it, such as the secondary characters' auditions, which I thought was pretty cool and something new. It also gave us a bit of a backstory about why each character decided to join and what their reasons were. 2009 also had a couple of clips of late lead character, Finn Hudson, which they had cleverly slotted into the episode.


This episode really does take you back to the start, and makes you want to dig out your Glee dvd set and start watching it from the beginning again.

The second episode, Dreams Come True, was a Present/flash-forward episode, showing you elements of what the characters would be doing in five years time, as well as showing you the present day. This was my favourite episode out of the two.

 In the present, Newly-married Kurt and Blaine's plans of returning to new york are about to happen, and Blaine urges Sam to come with him to try and get a job out there. But Sam has other plans- he wants to stay and run the Glee club in high school- which has now been promoted to a performing-arts school, after the New directions win nationals again. Rachel is also returning to new york, and leaving the Glee club which she rescued from being closed. Mercedes is about to go on tour with her idol, while many of the old characters return back for one last song together.

When the episode flashes forward to 2020, it shows you what has happened to the characters. Has Will got the job he dreamed of? Is the Glee club still doing well? Has Rachel got her happily-ever after, and are Kurt and Blaine still in married bliss in New York?


This episode also features Sue, who makes a touching gesture by dedicating the Auditorium to Finn Hudson with a plaque, who passed away during season 5.

The music in both these episodes is mixed and will provide something for everyone, from upbeat group numbers, to the inevitable more emotional solo.


The one- ONE- criticism I have, is where was Brittany and Santana? Quinn and Puck not having a storyline was sad, but I half expected it, as Dianna Agron has been busy filming elsewhere. But Brittany and Santana have played a large part of season 6, and I wanted a fitting ending to their story.

However, I like how the creators of Glee have ended it nicely, leaving it open to people who may want to continue the characters stories with fan fiction. I also appreciate how so many of the characters from past series' came back to film this episode.

I was expecting a good Finale episode from Glee, and, while bittersweet, the ending of this TV series has exceeded my expections and I am left feeling impressed.

'By it's very definition, Glee is about opening yourself up to joy'

Rating 10/10

Book Reviews: Love Lessons

In my spare time, I do read quite a lot, ranging from teenage fiction to more adult titles, so I thought it might be a good idea to write reviews on some of my favourite, and least favourite titles. If you have any book suggestions to read, comment either below the post or in the guestbook, and I will do my best to write about them.

Note: This review may contain spoilers
Prue and Grace are sisters who are educated at home by their exceptionally strict father. They live with him and their mother, and have no freedom to do anything they want. They are stuck at home with no money, and they're not allowed to go out, to watch tv, to listen to pop music or to even wear the clothes they like. Their dad owns a bookshop, and he believes in the girls learning everything from books. The family have little money, as the mum in the book does not go out to work and the bookshop is hardly selling anything. They can't and don't pay their bills so have letters coming through the door with threats of their house being repossessed.

Prue, the older daughter and the person telling the story, is given precious money by her mum and dad to go to tutoring when a school governor informs her dad he could be prosecuted for taking his daughters out of school (they used to go when they were much younger).

Prue goes to tutoring once but hates it, so goes round town and spends the money, funding her art passion by buying paints and some underwear because it makes her feel good. 

When her dad finds out, he has a violent rage and ends up passing out due to a stroke. He is rushed to hospital and when Prue, Grace and their mother find out he may not recover for a long time, they end up having to go to the local school which is very rough. They are wary of attending but they have no other choice.


Whilst Grace seems to fit in well and meets two new friends, Prue finds it a terrible struggle and is subject to a lot of teasing and bullying. She attempts to ignore it but it does grate on her and she despises the school. When the most popular girl, Rita's, boyfriend, Toby, develops a crush on Prue, it makes her dislike Prue even more and hell bent on making her have a terrible time at school.

Prue finds the teachers get frustrated with either her ignorance or her intelligence (she is a novice in computing and maths, but shines in English, however her teacher is unappreciative), apart from her art teacher, Mr Raxberry, known as Rax by all the students. 

Mr Raxberry's classes are enjoyed thoroughly by Prue and she makes extra effort in her work. He realises her potential and tells her that she is the student that is making his teaching worthwhile. She feels that school is only worth attending so that she can attend his art classes. Prue quickly develops a crush on Rax, and she stays behind classes and talks to him. Rax tells prue about his family, and she is a bit put out when she realises he has a wife and children, however she perks up when he asks her to babysit for him.

Prue is used to visiting her dad in hospital on weekday nights, however she persuades her mum to let her babysit for one night a week. Grace realises that Prue likes Rax, and she teases her a bit, annoying Prue. 

When it is time to babysit, prue dresses up and looks after Rax's children whilst him and his wife are out. She gets on with Rax's wife, Marianne, however Prue longs for the 20 minutes they get together alone, when he drives her home. .

Prue gets upset at one point, when she tells Rax about how she feels and he informs her that they are pupil and teacher. She storms out the car but then she sees Rax whispering silently to himself about how he loves her. 

On the next car journey they are together, after a brief argument about their feelings, Prue ends up kissing rax, and he kisses her back, and they drive off together where they end up kissing and telling each other of their love for one another. 

Will Prue and rax be found out? Will they live together happily ever after, or will the headteacher or Rax's wife find out? Does Prue and Grace's dad make a full recovery? Will their debts be paid off?





Overall this is a very well-written book, in my opinion, I wish Jacqueline Wilson would write a sequel. It is more suited to older teenagers and has a strong plot line. Although I liked the storyline, I found Prue a little irritating and she seemed a bit false and arrogant, as well as very naive. I'd like to see a sequel written from perhaps Grace's point of view, I think that would be interesting.

I am aware this book has been pretty controversial, especially with parents who think it could influence teens who develop feelings for teachers who may think they can act on them without any consequences after reading this book. However, I do think that if you stick to giving this book to the specified age group (14+) , then this really shouldn't be a problem.


This book is available for 5.99 from bookshops, or you can order it on Amazon.


Rating- 9/10


A review I wrote with slightly more spoilers and a full plot summery is available at dooyoo.co.uk under the username Blueyjools

Rose Jam shower gel

There are always some products that you think you aren't going to like, and then when you try them out, you realise that they are one of your favourites, and regret not trying them sooner. Rose Jam shower gel is definitely one of those products. I picked up a small bottle in the Lush sale, knowing that if I didn't like it, it wouldn't be too much money wasted and I could pass it onto someone else.

Rose Jam is a limited edition shower gel only released around the Christmas period, much like Snow fairy- which tends to over-shadow it a little.

The packaging is Lush's regular design, a clear bottle with a black-and-white label, although it reads 'limited edition!' in a small corner of the label. I quite like the classic labelling, although I feel that maybe Rose Jam would pick up more attention if it was sold with a different label, like Snow Fairy.

It is a dark pink in colour, and smells like roses, but it is quite different to your regular rose-scented cosmetics you may pick up in shops. This is because it has a lemon undertone to it, which I feel gives it a sharp edge without making the overall scent seem sour. The scent reminds me a little of turkish delight- it is sweet without being cloying and overbearing.

I am not normally a fan of floral scents, and usually prefer gourmand ones that smell of sweets and vanilla. However, rose jam is an exception to that. The minute I got this home and used it, I regretted not investing in one of the large 500ml bottles that were in the boxing day sale.

The shower gel is dark pink in colour, medium-thick in texture, and lathers up well, especially with a shower puff. It leaves your skin feeling cleansed and fresh, without being dry. I would still recommend you use a mosituriser over this if you have very dry skin, or perhaps follow up your shower gel with Ro's argan body conditioner, which carries the same scent.


The only criticism I can make is that the scent doesn't really linger very long on your skin, which is a pity. If you can manage to pick up the limited-edition Rose Jam perfume on ebay, that would be an ideal follow-up to keep the beautiful scent on your skin throughout the day.


If you enjoy the shower gel, I would also recommend trying out year-round bath product Rose Jam bubbleroon, which also carries the same scent and is incredibly moisturising.

Overall, this is one of my unexpected favourites from Lush, and I will be picking up lots more of it at Christmas this year, if they decide to bring it back again...fingers crossed!

8.5/10