FRIDAY FEEDBACK

I must apologise for having neglected to share with you some of my feedback on products or services in my "Friday Feedback" post. Unfortunately this post comprises of a couple of "foodie" disappointments that I have previously recommended on my blog.

Vovo telo is a national chain of bakeries/coffee shops and the Umhlanga branch opened last year in August. Having visited several times, I always seemed to miss out on trying
 one of their Strawberry Tarts.
Eventually...success!
I enjoyed the tart with my only complaint being the lack of strawberries!

I enjoy the food at Vovotelo and frequent the Umhlanga branch often and just recently I ordered, you've guessed it, a "Strawberry Tart"!
I couldn't believe my eyes, as they are now using even less strawberries than they were last year......I did air my dissapointment only to be told "that's the way we do it now".

You decide for yourself by looking at the pictures below....

Vovo Telo Strawberry Tart last year

Vovotelo Strawberry Tart recently

A standard Strawberry Tart in France

To read my previous posts on Vovo Telo

Vovo Telo Has Arrived

Strawberry Tart Finally

My next "foodie" moan is about La Maison coffee shop in Durban North. 

I have been a couple of times with my BFF and we both really enjoyed their 

toasted sandwiches especially the chicken mayo and they also make the most divine 

Yoghurt and Lemon drizzle cake ( the cakes on offer change daily). 

On our weekly catch up last week we were both so dissapointed with the "Sarmie" the filling and their bread were different and to be honest it wasn't nice. 

The owner wasn't around for us to query with her, but we did find out that their had been a complete change of staff recently, so there lies the problem...

hopefully this little Durban North gem will be back on track soon.

La Maison Durban North

FRIDAY FEEDBACK

I haven't done a Friday Feedback post for a while, so here are some updates on products that I have tried and been using for several months now.

I know that I have given feedback on this several times before,but it really is the longest lasting fragrance diffuser that I have ever tried and months later it is still diffusing its wonderful fragrance into the air.

A big thumbs up to Clarins...

To read my original review

A few weeks ago I wrote about Vovo Telo in Umhlanga and I have been back on several occassions and taken friends and it hasn't disappointed yet!

Strawberry tart review

Vovo Telo review

Recently Lindt added to their Creation range of chocolate and I tried the Divine Hazelnut. I was really expecting great things from this chocolate slab and as you know Lindt is my chocolate of choice and I am a nut lover. Well! I hate to say this, but I didn't enjoy this Divine Hazelnut....I know....I am a Chocoholic and I should enjoy all things chocolate, but alas this didn't float my "chocolate boat". I found the tiny chips of Hazelnut quite irritating in my mouth and would much rather prefer chunks of nut,but that's my opinion.

To read my original post

FOLLOW UP FRIDAY

It has been a few weeks since I gave feedback about some of the products that I have
 continued to use post their review.

1.

This isn't a product, but I cannot stress to you how wonderful the Clarins Reed Diffuser has been. It is still going strong and diffusing its fragrance into the air. It has about a tenth of the sap left and this will be its 23rd week. That equates to great value in my opinion and has to be the "best" diffuser  on the market!

To read my review click on the pink link below.

To read my review

2.

If you read my review on the L'Occitane Sublime BB Cream you may remember that I made the comment that I may "ditch" my foundation and my SPF cream, well that's exactly what I did. Being a daily foundation wearer for as long as I can remember, this wonderful BB cream now has pride of place on my face everyday. Combined with an SPF 30 this product has worked perfectly on my skin during the winter months. To read my review click on the pink link below.

To read my review

3.

After many weeks of lying around in the bathroom ( I had intentions of taking them back to Pick n Pay for a refund ) I finally tossed the Colgate toothpaste and mouthwash into the rubbish bin! If you didn't read my slating review then click on the pink link below.

To read my review

FRIDAY FEEDBACK {JUNE 2013}

Friday Feedback is a new post that I will be doing occasionally, to give you some feedback following some of my earlier reviews.

Back in May I wrote about a new South African fragrance with a cause, called Grace,
 well I am still wearing it daily and loving it!

To read my review

You may remember my review that I did some weeks ago on three home fragrance products that were sent from Clarins for me to review, I am excited to tell you that the diffuser sap is still smelling strong after all these weeks.

It has to be the longest lasting sap that I have ever used, normally 6/8 weeks is the longest that any last,whereas the Clarins is now entering its 13th week!

I'm even more impressed.

To read my review

I wrote a post regarding my Mothers Day wish list and then followed up with piece of what I actually received from my "Kiddiewinks".

I wasn't impressed with my Prevoir Bath fizzers and my opinion hasn't changed, as I have slowly and reluctantly used them!

The bracelet didn't fare much better either, as the stones fell out, so that was back to Woolworths for a credit. 

How does the saying go? "You get what you pay for"

To read my review (wishlist)

To read my review (my haul)

To read my review (bath fizzers)

REVIEW FOLLOW UPS

Recently I have written a couple of reviews, where I said I would give you some feedback as to how and if the products were continuing to perform and here are my follow up comments on three products.

Clarins BB Skin Perfecting Cream

I am still loving this product and this past weekend I put this BB cream through its paces, as I went to a game farm in Zululand and it was extremely hot and dusty! Not only did I travel light with regard to my make up items, but also with my treatments. This multi tasking cream was a "god send" and the SPF 25 worked perfectly, so this product makes it onto my "must have" list.

To read review

L'Oreal Proffessional & Rowenta Salon Steam Pod Hair Straightener 

The manufacturers say that the straightening effect will last longer due to the steam and seal action,so where better to put this to the test, yes....at a hot, dusty Zululand game farm....again I am thrilled with the results.Normally with my straightener, after a couple of days in the Durban humidity, some frizz will start to appear, but with this new steam straightener there was no waves or frizz and my hair stayed smooth and straight!

I have found out that L'Oreal have launched a very good home version and its available for sale in the UK and retails for approx £150, so I cannot wait for it to be launched here in SA or if they decide not to....I will just need to make a plan to get one from overseas, as it really gave a wonderful shine,softness and feel to my hair that no other straightener has ever given me.

To read review

Lush Grease Lightening Spot Treatment

Success again, as my teenage sons are continuing to use this product and I cannot tell you how much better their skins are looking! Their troublesome spots are looking calmed and have subsided. I would recommend Lush to tackle any of those hormonal, teenage, acne problems, as its worked wonders for my 14 and 19 year old skins.

To read review

"MY" MANIFESTO BY YVES SAINT LAURENT

Why? you may ask, have I named this post "MY" MANIFESTO? 

Well it's simply because....it's my "kinda" fragrance.

I recently wrote about its upcoming launch and on paper it sounded, as though this could be a fragrance for me! I know from past experience, that I often enjoy a slightly fruity, floral, feminine type of fragrance, however after saying this, all too often the fragrances sometimes do not live up to my expectations,

 but "Hey Festo" this one did!
However I fail to see, why, YSL should proclaim that MANIFESTO has attitude, audacity and is daring! 

Yves Saint Laurent also describe this fragrance as being:

"A bouquet of Jasmine punctuated by green notes and a bold trail combining wood,vanilla and tonka beans are the signature of this declaration of femininity".

The distinct top notes of Bergamot and Black Current initially give the fragrance a fruity, sweet aroma,which I quite enjoyed.

The middle notes of Jasmine and Lily of the Valley gave the fragrance its floral femininity,giving way to the lingering base notes of my favourite 

Vanilla and Tonka Bean combination. 

Being an Eau de Parfum, it had the staying power, 
which so many fragrances lack today.

My only complaint would be, the bottle, which is very reminiscent of Estee Lauders Youth Dew,that has been around since the 1950's! I feel they could have created a more modern form, but Hey! that's just my opinion....

So all things taken into account, I really enjoyed wearing "MY" MANIFESTO....but remember fragrance is very personal, so occasionally ignore some of the descriptive marketing words and just try the fragrance....."sans les mots"( without the words) and form your own opinions...and please share with me some of your own comments.

MANIFESTO is available exclusively at Edgars and Red Squares from the 4th February and from the 4th  of March, it will be available from other Yves Saint Laurent stockists.

Prices:

30ml Edp R675

50ml Edp R995

 75ml Edp R1150

CALL IT SPRING FOLLOW UP

Have just opened its 5th store in SA and its in Gateway and as they promised it is                                                      home to the latest footwear and accessories.

Call It Spring reflects up to the minute trends that are easy on the purse, 

so check it out on the 

1st Floor Entrance 7, 

Gateway Theatre Of Shopping.

Read original post 

Click Here

GUERLAIN FOLLOW UP

Just to follow up on a previous post:

La Petite Robe Noire by Guerlain was launched recently in South Africa,

 but unfortunately it wasn't my "cup of fragrance" I'm afraid. 

I was so intrigued by the name,the bottle and the ad and the fact that it had only previously been available in their Paris boutique, I was really expecting to fall in love with their latest creation.

 

In fairness Guerlain is a true fragrance house and has created over 300 fragrances in their long history, so they are really not appealing to the masses with any of their fragrances.

La Petite Robe Noire has olfactory notes of Black Cherry, Almond, Rose, Liquorice and Black Tea and is very unusual..to me that is, but I can imagine that if this is your type of fragrance, then you will absolutely fall head over heels "in love" with the "Little Black Dress"

It is available in Eau de Parfum sprays 30ml R640 to R1330 for the 100ml sizes

from selected Stuttafords and Woolworths country wide.

BARKING MAD CONTINUED

As reported a few weeks ago I was given some "New" to be launched dog grooming products to try on my little "pooch" Abby.

Hyper Hounds
Natural Calming Shampoo
Hyper Hounds is a naturally formulated therapeutic shampoo and conditioner
containing Essential oils of Bergamot and Palma Rosa, good for focus and attention and also treating irritated skin.

I tried the Hyper Hounds Natural & Calming Shampoo which foamed much better than I expected it to, as the product contains only a natural foaming agent.It was also very easy to rinse, but then Daschunds have very short hair. The most obvious difference is the aroma, so much better than the usual pungent smelling doggy products that are available on the market. For this reason alone you definitely feel that the products are more gentle and less irritating on the dogs skin which they are!
The overall natural bath time experience left my "Pooch's" coat soft, shiny and smelling of Bergamot & Palma Rosa......

Would I buy the product? Yes.... and if your hound has any skin complaints, then it's a must have!

The other ranges are the.. Doggy Divine range and the Intrepid Explorer, which I am sure would be of particular interest to many in South Africa, as we do have problems with both ticks and flees...

Doggy Divine
Natural Relaxing Shampoo
Doggy Divine is a naturally formulated therapeutic calming and relaxing
shampoo and conditioner, with Essential oils of Lavender and Neroli.

Intrepid Explorer
Natural Tick and Flea Shampoo
Intrepid Explorer is a naturally formulated tick and flea shampoo
andconditioner, non-toxic and effective, with Essential oils of Cedarwood and Citronella.

Barbara is also developing similar ranges for cats and horses which should be interesting!

For further more detailed info regarding all the products in the range visit her website

www.animalnature.co.za

The only problem you will encounter with the website is that they do not list the stockist but you can order online or e-mail her to find out more regarding her distribution throughout SA.