Paris | Angelina

What best known for their mont-blanc and chocolat chaud, Angelina's is a must when in Paris. Their hot chocolate is to die for and they have a huge range of pastries and sweet treats too. Try their ice cream in summer or get a hot chocolate to take away from their Rue de Rivoli tea room and head to the Jardin des Tuileries for some prime people watching. It is pricey so prepare to spend quite a bit, more so if you go for brunch. The mont-blanc is a bit much for me, and I have a serious sweet tooth so for something different, I wholeheartedly recommend their white hot chocolate and their Saint Honoré.

Getting There There are several Angelina tea rooms in Paris, the Rue de Rivoli location is usually very busy tourist-wise but the tea room is stunning so if the queue isn't long it's worth waiting a while. If it's just the hot chocolate and pâtisserie you are after head to the Jardin d'Acclimatation on the outskirts of the city , it costs a couple of euros to get in but they have a farm and loads of (big) kid activities. Plus, it's next to the new Fondation Louis Vuitton so you should head in that direction anyway. You will miss out on the tea room experience but the cheaper prices reflect that. For that branch the nearest station is Les Sablons at the end of Metro line 1.  For the Rue de Rivoli Angelina's head to Tuileries or Concorde, both on line 1. More info about their different locations can be found here.

Cost The hot chocolate is c. €10.00 but you get a decent amount and some rich whipped cream to stir through. Pastries vary but expect to spend at least €6 for one. I'm not a huge fan of their Macarons so  I would try something a little more exciting here. 

Tip Don't forget to buy a bottle of their delicious pre made (or powdered) hot chocolate to recreate the Angelina's experience at home. 

xo

Dr. Organic Aloe Vera Gel | Soothing Skin after Laser Hair Removal*

Last month I had my first session of Laser Hair Removal at Pulse Light Clinic to permanently remove my underarm hair (so far, all is going well, still very little regrowth!). Immediately after my session, the technician handed me this tube of Aloe Vera, saying it would help soothe the skin and help the follicles heal. The machines used did have an air cooling fan to reduce the discomfort as the laser can reach very high temperatures, therefore the skin may get irritated and feel hot after a session of laser treatment. She advised repeated use would help prevent blistering or crusting that sometimes occurs, and cool down any swelling or redness, so you can continue with your treatments without any soreness.

I often find that pure aloe vera has a very strong odour, which is quite unpleasant, however, the Organic Aloe Vera Gel from Dr. Organic isn't odorous at all! It's Hypoallergenic and double strength, which helps to cool and soothe skin instantly and can be used on all skin types, including dry, irritated or sun exposed skin.

It also brings much needed moisture to the applied area, which in this case would allow the skin to regenerate and help restore it to its pre-laser state.

I literally swear by this gel at the moment. I also suffer from quite dry skin, and with the heat of my flat (the heating's not even on!), it can get quite irritated and can develop heat rash (in October!!). Using Aloe Vera before I go to bed prevents the unnecessary itching when my legs get too hot. I also use it on my face to keep it hydrated and cool my skin if I've had a big break out! Another use would be on my feet. Yes, I know, feet are gross. But to keep them supple and smooth, not dry and neglected, I like to apply a thick layer of Aloe Vera, but not rubbing it in, before I go to sleep and put on a pair of cotton socks and allow the Aloe to be soaked up while I sleep. You can then wake up in the morning with amazingly soft feet! Top Tip: This also helps cracked and/or dry heels!

With my underarms, pre and post treatment, it soothes and cools the skin, meaning I can come out of Pulse Light Clinic in my vest top and not be paranoid that my underarms are glowing red!

If you're interested in having laser hair removal, check out my review of my first treatment at Pulse Light Clinic, Fenchurch Street, London here.

Also make sure you check out Dr. Organic's range of Aloe Vera products, which includes haircare, skincare, balms, butters and pastes! You can find their range in Holland and Barrett stores and can buy this Aloe Vera Gel for £5.49!

Have you tried laser hair removal? What's your favourite soothing product? Let me know in the comments below :)

Yoogaia* | Yoga at Home and Abroad!

Many of us have full time jobs and come home and spend all evening cooking, cleaning, and preparing for the next day (or blogging!) so we rarely get any 'me' time. Having gone to only one Yoga class at my gym (they were at an awkward time), I know how relaxing (and also fun) yoga can be!
 Making time to control your breathing, your posture and your mood, yoga not only helps you get more limber, but it has many other benefits too, with the most important in helping you relax. Now, for me, work isn't all that stressful, but I've noticed in the past few months that I go home with a stiff neck, my eye twitches and have recently suffered from a stomach infection, which the doctor attributed to either eating something it didn't agree with, or that it was brought on by stress. I was a little surprised at this, as I hadn't noticed I was stressed at all. I also suffer from a really bad posture, and have done since puberty. I constantly sit hunched over and have constant back ache which radiates to my neck, shoulders and pelvis. I went to the Osteopath for it a few times, which helped, but I soon went back to my bad, hunched-over ways. 
I've wanted to start up yoga again for ages, but never had the time. That's where Yoogaia come in! After meeting the lovely people at Yoogaia at the #BloggersFestival, and learning how you are able to have a yoga class from the comfort of your own home, at a time that suits you sounded ideal! So I thought I'd give it a try. Being at home makes you slightly more at ease and cuts down on travelling time if you run a tight schedule. 
So there I was, on my living room floor after moving furniture out the way, in gym leggings, a baggy top and socks sitting in front of my laptop waiting for the session to begin. You have the choice of whether to go on webcam or not, but I chose to, as then the instructor, who's on webcam on their end, can help you correct your pose if you're struggling. Having an instructor LIVE at the other end is really helpful, as they can guide you through each pose, help with your breathing and let you know if you're doing something wrong or over-stretching yourself. They can assess your ability and help alter moves to suit you. With Yoogaia, you are also able to watch pre-recorded sessions if you missed them earlier in the day/week - you really CAN do it at a time to suit you.
The recorded sessions aren't too dissimilar, as they are recordings of the live sessions. The instructor offers alternative poses for those who may not be able to do bend/stretch into the proper position and caters for all abilities. I've watched a pre-recorded session of Curvy Girl Yoga. This essentially is yoga suited to the curvier, more voluptuous yogi. It was good, because she made you feel able and comfortable in yourself, even if your boobs were getting in your way or suffocating you as you did a shoulder stand!
Yoogaia don't just do standard yoga classes either, as there's relaxation classes, energise and sweat classes and premium workshops which include total body cleanses. There's loads of variety! So do you even really need a gym membership?!
I still spend around £54 a month on the gym, and recently I haven't really been going that often. But as I'm still on a student rate from when I joined, I really don't want to cancel my membership and have to pay more for the standard rate if I join up again! (cheeky I know! shhh) I love my gym, it's got everything you could want, the personal trainers are really helpful, and there's a wide variety of classes every day. I used to live a 5 minute walk away, now I live about a 3 minute drive away, and for some reason I'm going less than I did before when I basically lived across the road! I'm not really sure why that is, as walking was definitely more effort than driving! I also used to go with my friends as they were working similar hours to me, but since they've got new jobs, which are local, they can go to the gym at half 5, when I'm still at work in London and don't get back until 7 pm. Basically, I have a million excuses for why I don't go, but in reality its because I'm lazy, which is why I needed a personal trainer. I've had to stop that for a while as we were never able to find a time that suited both of us, so I've put that on hold for a bit until I can fully commit to a 12 week programme, maybe nearer the wedding! With Yoogaia, I don't need to leave the house, I can do it late at night when my food's finally gone down and I can even do it while I'm on holiday! Yoogaia is flexible and convenient and depending on what type of exercise/class you went for, you'll finish either feeling relaxed and rejuvenated, or suitably exhausted from the heavy active session. Either way, you feel accomplished. A feeling which would not have occurred if you just sat on the sofa watching TV all night. Now I'm engaged I actually have something to work towards. I must look good on my wedding day, but with zero motivation (not even the wedding is motivation enough!) and a strong obsession with chocolate, I feel introducing my self slowly to the gym again is the answer. So Yoogaia sessions will keep me active, even if it is a relaxation session, and my visits to the gym can increase with my energy levels. But above all, its my eating habits that need to change.  I recently lost 1 stone through exercise and eating less, but as soon as I hit a milestone, I slipped straight back into my piggish ways and had a week off. Of course, I then gained about 4lbs, which means another 2 weeks of eating 'boring' food (aka. not cake or Galaxy chocolate..) so lose that again before I can concentrate on the next milestone! It's all about continuous motivation and reassurance that I will get there in the end. Once I've put my mind to it, I know I can do it! I just need to start with baby steps! If you want to give Yoogaia a go, use code SOEURSDELUXE for a free 14 day trail ! It's definitely worth it! Do you use Yoogaia? Are you a Yogi or want to try yoga for the first time? Let me know in the comments below!  

Turkey | Butterfly Valley | Kelebekler Vadisi

What Butterfly Valley is absolutely stunning. Actual paradise. There is a campsite and a hippy commune and the whole atmosphere is so so chill. There are locals with a traditional tea house with hens running loose and butterflies lazily fluttering everywhere. It is only accessible by boat (unless you hike down a cliff from a remote village) and is the perfect day or overnight trip if you are holidaying in nearby Olu Deniz or Fethiye. We went as early as we could in the morning and immediately went for a hike up the valley to see the waterfall. The long afternoon was spent lounging by the sea with the scent of grilling chicken and fish wafting over from the restaurant built up onto the cliff. The water is very clear and the beach is largely unspoilt by loud, brash tourists. It's the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of Turkish tourist resorts. Definite The Beach vibes, sans Leo. 
Getting There There is a taxi boat that goes from Olu Deniz beach several times a day, the last boat back is at about 5:30pm so it might be worth staying overnight in Butterfly Valley if you want to hike, snorkel and relax too. There is stiff competition for the boats, but there is only one real taxi boat. officially the tickets are sold a the hut/stand closest to it on the beach that also sells other trips and tours. Honestly, it's easiest to buy it from them because although you can do it through other tour operators it's a hassle and you might end up with the captain telling you your ticket isn't real. The taxi boat ticket covers entry to the valley path too but if you've taken another boat you will have to pay £2 to enter to a little old man who sits guarding the entrance. 
Cost The boat from Olu Deniz is about £3 each for a return, there's a little bar on the beach and a restaurant with fresh fish so allow about £10 pp for a veritable feast. There are sun loungers for hire but the beach is perfectly good too- although if you're not a fan of gritty pebbles you should wear something sturdier than sandals. 
Tip Take a lot of water with you and some waterproof shoes. The hike involves a bit of wading at points and the waterfall area can be really slippery. Don't forget your camera, the valley is highly instagrammable. 
xo