So a few weeks ago I turned 27 and not only was I stressing about getting old but also that I didn’t have any plans. I had booked some time off, but as it was a Tuesday I was pretty sure everyone else would be at work. So it was the luckiest coincidence that St. David’s Hotel reached out about reviewing their Marine Spa and totally saved me from a boring birthday.
The spa has been ranked one of the top 5 in the UK by Condé Nast Traveller, so I knew it was going to be amazing. I was also excited because I really love the hotel, the decor is beautiful and it has some of the best views over Cardiff Bay. I highly recommend grabbing a drink at the bar and sitting on the balcony if you don’t believe me!
As part of my day the team booked me in for a facial at 2pm so I decided to head to the pool for a few hours before, to make the most of my day pass. When I got to the front desk the girls gave me a key for my locker which was stocked up with my robe, towels, flip flops and some skincare goodies from the spa. How amazing is that? It was such a nice touch and it made me feel really welcome right from the get-go. It’s that insane attention to detail, from the moment you get there that makes the whole experience really special.
You need to try the hydrotherapy pools…
Once I was ready and feeling super glam in my spa dressing gown, I hit the pool. It’s in the most gorgeous location, right on the top of the hotel and overlooking the bay. There are two hydrotherapy pools, as well as an exercise pool and a sauna, alongside loads of lounge chairs for ultimate relaxation. I decided to head to the hydrotherapy pool with the fountains first as it had the best views. The water in these pools has been treated to replicate seawater so it’s rich in minerals and sea salts. These are really beneficial to your skin and help to plump, hydrate and detoxify while you relax. So not only do you feel better when you get out but you look amazing too.
You can literally lay in the hydrotherapy pool and watch the boats sail by, it’s like a movie and so relaxing. The way the two pools are laid out there’s loads of room too and plenty of privacy, so you don’t feel like you have to wait for a space. My favourite spot was in the main pool at the end as the seats are way bigger, you can lay down and totally relax. It was so peaceful and it was lovely to have a swim or just sit in the bubbles for a few hours and think about nothing.
After I was feeling totally zen, I decided to hit the sauna to give my skin a boost. There was loads of room which is perfect as I love laying down and letting the dry heat work its magic. It’s great for rejuvenating your skin and perfect if you’ve been to the gym as it’ll relax your muscles, ease joint pain and improve blood flow.
What treatment did you go for?
They have 10 treatment rooms upstairs, a relaxation room and spots to get your nails done for a total body pamper. I was booked in for the Ishga facial with a super relaxing neck and shoulder massage followed by a facial using their organic seaweed based products. The Ishga brand was actually founded in Scotland by a husband and wife team. They use organic seaweed to make skincare products which harness the anti-oxidant and healing powers of the seaweed. I was so excited to try this as I love discovering new brands and it was a great introduction.
My facial was amazing, the products were really gentle on my skin and it even included the mask where they pour the product onto your face. The products were mainly oil based and as my skin was quite dry it was a total godsend. My favourites in particular were the Regenerating Organic Face Serum and the Nourishing Facial Oil which you could easily work into your skincare routine.
I need to go back…
This day was such a nice treat and it made me realise how important it is to take a break from reality. I’m actually thinking of becoming a member, as it’s really close to the office and would be a great way to unwind after a long day. If you’re feeling the same and would love a pamper then you can check out their spa menu here for a full list of treatments. It was a great experience and I’m so grateful, what a birthday to remember!
If you’ve been following my blog for a while then you’ll know that I’m pretty obsessed with vintage clothes. It all started when my nan handed me a patent leather, Louis Feraud belt when I was 12 and I haven’t really looked back since. In fact I would say a good 50% of my wardrobe is vintage and it’s way better quality than anything I’ve picked up on the high street. This is why scrolling through eBay has become such a habit for me, because I can get a Hardy Aimes blazer cheaper than a tee at H&M.
Shop By Size
Last weekend I went to London for my mum’s photography exhibition and it was right around the corner from this shop called YMC. The whole way there my mum was questioning my rust coloured, corduroy jacket so you can imagine how smug I was that the whole shop window was rust corduroy. There were coats, trousers, dungarees and even a matching cap for total cord overkill.
If I’ve convinced you to add some cord pieces to your wardrobe then I’ve got a few tips to share to make the fabric look as flattering as possible. The biggest issue is that it’s really thick and wearing the wrong shape can make you look a bit frumpy. It’s important to find a silhouette that suits you but I’d suggest going for something that either draws in your waist or elongates your frame.
So watches, for me, are a very new obsession but something that I’ve started getting more and more into since meeting my boyfriend. Before I met him I only had one watch in my collection but it’s grown to be a lot bigger and the most recent piece is really special. 
In the time it’s taken me to get this blog post up Kylie Jenner has dissolved her lip filler and killed a big trend faster than she started it. You would think that writing a post about making your lips look bigger with makeup would be kind of pointless now but I follow these tips everyday so I thought it would still be useful. This post isn’t so much about creating that insanely full Instagram lip anyway but more about enhancing what you have to balance out your features. Here are the four easy steps…
Step 1: Exfoliate
Step 1 : If you don’t have a lip scrub
Step 2: Overline
Step 3: Apply a plumping gloss
I finally made it outside today! I literally can’t tell you how bloody happy I was to get out of my house. This storm is driving me a little bit crazy and I’ve realised that snow days as an adult definitely aren’t as fun as snow days when you’re a kid. Mainly because I had to work from home and couldn’t spend all day in the park throwing snowballs at my friends…
Mother’s Day is on the 11th of March this year and is fast approaching, so it’s definitely time to get thinking about the perfect gift! My Mum’s favourite flowers are white roses but I’ve bought them for her so many times it just doesn’t feel as special anymore. I think as you get older, presents are a good way to spoil people with the luxuries they probably wouldn’t buy for themselves, and I feel like perfume is one of those.
My Mum’s favourite perfume is 
City breaks are my absolute fave and it feels so good to get away and explore somewhere new. I always feel more inspired coming back and seem to have way more ideas too, which is the best excuse for a holiday!
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