Autumn indulgence...

Hi everyone, I hope that you are all well and that you have had a good weekend. It is that time of the year when the nights draw in, it gets a little colder and the leaves turn that wonderful spectrum of russet and gold indicating that autumn has arrived. I think of autumn as the twilight of the year, just before the night of winter falls and the year draws to a close. This time of the year holds a lot of special memories for me and I always love to wake up on those crisp autumn days when the sun is shining, the mellow light filters through the trees and the whole world looks almost too beautiful to be real. Before I get too carried away with narrative descriptions of autumn, I want to tell you a little more what this post is about! I think that this is the perfect time of the year to indulge yourself and to make a little more time to unwind, and I wanted to share with you a few of the products I have been loving lately as well as talking to you a little about what I like to do to relax when I go home to see my family for the weekend. I love going home to Derbyshire, seeing the hills and the rolling fields fills my heart with happiness because I know that I am home. I grew up living in a farmhouse in the shadow of Kinder Scout, and going home is still my sanctuary even though I moved out many years ago.

So, when I am home for the weekend, the last thing I feel like doing is spending ages on a complex skincare routine. During the week I follow a more thorough routine, but at the weekend I love Nivea face wipes for removing my make-up quickly. These 3 in 1 refreshing Facial Cleansing Wipes are quick and convenient, plus they leave my skin glowing. I would not use them everyday but as a quick solution they are great.
At the moment I love Olay Complete Care Day UV Fluid, which is a softening and light moisturiser. It has SPF 15, which is essential to protect your skin from the sun. 
Speaking of the sunshine, I love Garnier Summer Body which is a great way of faking a healthy summer glow when I cannot face the effort of using a more intense fake tan. This product is easy and efficient, plus it gives you that post-holiday slightly tanned look.

I have got a few new make-up goodies and cosmetics lately, as well as buying some old favourites.
Boots Vitamin E gentle eye cream is a new favourite of mine, it is very softening and it has SPF 15, it seems to work wonders on my under-eye shadows! I love this Nails Inc nail polish in Victoria and Albert, it is a classic red which looks just beautiful at this time of year.
Maybelline the Eraser eye, is an amazing concealer with extract of Goji Berry. I use it all over my face, not just on the eye area because the sponge applicator is so convenient. I find that it is exceptionally good at covering dark under-eye shadows when you have had a lot less than eight hours sleep. 
Rimmel Wake Me Up anti-fatigue foundation in ‘true ivory’ is an all-time favourite foundation of mine. It has SPF 15 and Vitamin C, it gives great coverage and it makes me look more awake which is a definite bonus! I love Collection lipstick in Cupcake Pink, which always makes me feel ready to face the world, I am slightly obsessed with pink lipstick and I just love how it perks up my face if I am looking pale. 

 I really like Dove Beauty Finish compressed deodorant, which smells so good. This is a handy product because it is small enough to keep in my bag, so I always have it with me during a busy day of meetings.
Herbal Essences Bee Strong Strengthening Shampoo and Intensive Mask are great for my dry hair and they give it a lovely honey scent, which is gorgeous. I like to leave the Intensive Mask on my hair for a while whilst I sit and read a magazine, because it is so good at repairing my dry hair.
Palmolive Mediterranean Moments shower gel smells amazing as it contains Argan oil and almond and it leaves my skin so silky too. I am a shower gel addict and I always seem to buy more when I go to the supermarket! 

 It is getting too cold to have breakfast outside, but this weekend it was mild enough so I threw a jacket on and sat outside on the lawn to enjoy a lazy breakfast of croissants and coffee whilst reading the latest issue of Vogue. The croissants were Tesco Finest, the coffee was Taylor’s of Harrogate Lazy Sunday and the butter was Président, I just loved having this time to myself whilst the rest of the family were still sleeping. I treasure time alone because I feel that we live in such a busy world these days, it is important to allow yourself time to just enjoy solitude occasionally.
I feel that if you are being extra decadent, adding a touch of Baileys to your coffee is a real treat too, though perhaps not first thing in the morning! 
This was a simple yet indulgent breakfast, and I firmly believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I cannot function without it! I usually have granola or oats during the week, so there is nothing nicer at the weekend than to sit down and have the time for a cooked breakfast, some pastries or even just some toast. 

There is nothing better  than a little chocolate every now and again to lift your spirits and I love a whole array of chocolates! I popped in to Hotel Chocolat in Liverpool recently and I purchased a few bars for  gifts. I saved the Milk and Cookies bar for the weekend and it was amazing. I love Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Bites and also Galaxy Salted Caramel at the moment too, but really I struggle to think of a variety of chocolate I do not like!. A little chocolate every now and again is such an indulgent treat and it never fails to cheer me up. 

I don’t get the time to read as much as I would like at the moment, but I love reading so much. Some of my favourite books are classics such as Wuthering Heights and The Count of Monte Cristo. In terms of contemporary authors, I recently loved The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins, I like Phil Rickman’s Merrily Watkins novels, I adore Alexander McCall Smith and I love the Victor Legris series by Claude Izner (who are actually two sisters writing under the pen name Claude Izner), which are amazingly evocative mysteries set in Paris. Also I love Vogue of course. 

So that is a little autumn indulgence for you all, when the going gets tough I just reach for the chocolate! I also love to write lists, take a long bubble bath, light scented candles and go for long walks as additional ways to relax when I am under stress. Having a glass or two of good wine and of course going out for a meal are also some of my favourite ways to switch off from life, food for me is always linked to happiness which is why I am so lucky to write about food.

That is all from me for now, I would love to hear what you like to do to relax and what products you have been loving lately. Also, feel free to recommend some good books to me,  as I am trying to read more often again! I cannot wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post!

Until next time,

Camille 

xo