Loves and Loathes - December

 

Before we knew it the month of Christmas madness rolled around, but now that it's over and we're into a bright new year, here are the ones which made it onto my list for December - both the naughty and the nice.

Starting with the loves list, is the gorgeous Christmas Eve candle by Yankee.  Yep I know they are expensive but the large jars last for 110-150 hours and I burned this one through the whole of December.  So I think it was well worth it in my book.  That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!

To me this really smells like Christmas.  That probably sounds a bit nuts, but there's something about the month of December which takes on a scent of it's own.  Almost like you can taste the anticipation in the air.  It's something which you can't quite describe but it's all around you.  Loved this candle and it just looked so pretty burning on my mantlepiece.

Next up is Rituals Magic Touch ultra rich whipped body cream.  This came in my December Glossybox and it is amazing.  The cream really feels whipped, it is thick and luxurious without being heavy.  It sank quickly into my skin without leaving any stickiness and my skin felt hydrated for a good 12 hours.  The scent I received was Cherry Blossom and Rice Milk, which is nicely scented but not overpowering.  I will definitely be purchasing a full sized one of these.  Have you tried any Rituals products and if so what do you think?

The read I've been loving this month is Room by Emma Donoghue.  I had seen this tome in the bestsellers charts for a number of weeks but had never got around to buying it, so when I saw it for 50p in a local charity shop I snapped it up.

"It's Jack's birthday and he's excited about turning five.  He lives with his Ma in Room, which has a locked door and a skylight, and measures 11 feet by 11 feet.  He loves watching TV, and the cartoon characters he calls friends, but he knows that nothing he sees on screen is truly real - only him, Ma and the things in Room.  Until the day Ma admits that there's a world outside..."

I thought of two reasons why Jack could be locked in a room, and I have to say I was wrong on both counts.  I won't say anymore as I'd hate to spoil it if you want to read this novel.  I enjoyed it but it is written from a five year old's perspective so there is a degree of 'baby talk' and if you aren't comfortable with the narrator being a child then you may want to give this a miss.

The lip product I have been so in love with this month is Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector, I have written a separate post on it which you can read here.  So I won't rave on about it anymore.

Last up on my loves list are these baby's, my wellie boots from Aigle.

I've actually had these wellies for 2 years.  I remember when I showed them to Mr B.P. in the shop and I thought he was going to pass out when he saw they cost £115.  £115 for a pair of wellie boots...... for walking the dog...... are you mad women?! I can hear him say even now, but he is eating his words as he now wants a pair for himself! Yes they were expensive but if you spend 10 months of the year in wellies, walking a dog twice a day they soooooon pay for themselves I can assure you.  Aigle are a french brand and my particular boots are lined with neoprene, the same stuff they use to insulate wetsuits, so wearing these boots is a little like a cross between wellies and walking boots - they keep your feet dry and warm, toasty warm in fact and the other thing I love about them is there is no 'welly wobble' you know that awful slopping against your calves business, as these are a snug (but not tight) fit.

Neoprene lining in red

I don't think Aigle carry this particular model anymore, but there is plenty to choose from on their website Aigle

So onto my loath of December.  I feel so mean writing about this product in this way, as I am usually a great fan of the Dermalogica products but their daily microfoliant made me just go urgh.  It came in a Glossybox and I love the principle of it, a powder formula which when mixed with water (you mix it in your hands) turns in to an exfoliating creamy paste.  This product for gentle daily exfoliating is great and for traveling, the powder idea is super but because this is a rice based product the smell just makes me want to gag.  It reminds me of a product I used to take as a kid for I.B.S. - enough said.  And that is why it has made its way onto my loathes list.

Have you tried this product? What do you think?