How to Split a Vacation Rental with Your Friends without Ruining Your Trip

Read article : How to Split a Vacation Rental with Your Friends without Ruining Your Trip

Image from tommypayne .

Sharing a vacation rental with friends is a great way to cut down on accommodations costs and have a space to relax together after a long day sightseeing. But splitting a vacation rental doesn't always go smoothly - we've all had that one friend who hogs the bathroom getting ready, spews their stuff all over the couch, or tries to skirt paying their fair share.

We've got some ideas on how to share a vacation rental and keep your friendships intact, and while this kind of planning and high level of communication isn't for everyone, but it does tend to make vacations with other people go more smoothly. If this isn't your style, or your friends balk at the idea of talking about things in such detail, then you might have to go with a more "wing it" style approach. If you do, know that things may not go as you want them to or that not everyone will be happy with what ends up happening.

Coordinate Ahead of Time

As with any group trip, a solid planning session or two goes a long way to making sure everyone enjoys the trip. Your session should include discussing:

• Everyone's top two or three wants in a rental . You need to get a sense of what's important to each friend. Set the expectation that everyone won't get all of their top wants, but it gives the group an idea of what should be prioritized when picking a place. For example, if three out of five people list proximity to the beach as their top want, that's something that should be considered when booking. Make sure that everyone has at least one of their wants satisfied so they don't end up feeling like they're paying to stay in a place they don't even like.
  
• Expectations of the trip . This goes beyond sharing a vacation rental, but is something you should discuss ahead of time. Some people might want to go out clubbing and some might be expecting to get an early start on sightseeing each day. You don't want to walk out of your room after a night of partying to see your friend annoyed that you weren't up in time to be first in line at the museum.
• Splitting major expenses . Discuss how the costs of food, transportation, activities, and the rental itself will be split. Will things be split evenly? Or should people expect to pay based on how big their room is? Also, agree on how damage caused to the rental by one person will be paid for.
  
• Who owns organizing what parts of the trip . To avoid confusion, ask people to volunteer to organize different parts of the trip. Things like booking the rental and being the contact person with the host, planning any meals you cook, who actually cooks (this might rotate within the group), booking rental cars or train tickets, and buying other supplies you'll need.
  
• The guest policy . Decide from the start if other people will be allowed to join your trip once the planning is already in motion. You should also talk about whether last minute guests are allowed and if they are, what that means for the shared costs and how they're split.
  
• A schedule for limited spaces . Work out who likes to shower in the morning and at night so you can make a schedule for the bathroom. Talk about morning routines so you know if you need to find a rental with a mirror or other space that can be used for doing hair, makeup, and other prep so that the bathroom is free. You might also decide to go as far as putting together a schedule for cooking and cleaning if your group plans to have a lot of meals at the rental.
• What to do if someone drops out . It sucks, but sometimes people have to bow out of a trip. Talk ahead of time about what costs they're responsible for if they do (this may depend on when they cancel) and how plans might change if someone does drop out. You may need to switch rentals or cut back on other trip costs to make up for the increased expense.

Not everyone is going to be thrilled about diving into such details, so propose planning as a fun get together where you all can get even more excited for your trip. Sipping drinks or chowing down on tasty treats puts everyone in a mood to agree on details.

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If you're not able to meet in person, you can supplement with Facetime, a phone call, or shared Google Docs. Avoid long email chains or group texts. If others aren't willing to pitch in at the planning stage, consider if you're really up for going on a trip with them. Their lack of effort from the start could put a damper on the vacation.

Set Up "House" Rules

Once you arrive at your vacation rental, have a quick chat to go over house rules. Some of these will relate back to the schedule and other agreements you made in your planning session, but a refresher at the start of the trip helps people remember what they agreed to. Some other things you should go over:

• Quiet time : Is there a designated time (or times) during which people in the rental are expected to be quiet? For example, an hour in the afternoon when some people might nap or otherwise decompress, and then after a certain time at night.
• Keys : If you have a large group, it's likely that not everyone will have a key to the vacation rental (this may also be true if you have a rental car). Decide who will have keys and if there's a system for sharing keys (like leaving them in a bowl by the door or on the coffee table).
• Plan for the first day or two : Quickly discuss what everyone wants to do the day your arrive, and possible the next day. This gives you a chance to decide on things like, buying groceries or other supplies, unpacking, going out, or seeing high priority sights.

End on a High Note

At the end of a great trip, it can be tempting to let everyone drift off to their flights home. However, you want to make a little effort to end things on a good note so that there's no last minute wrinkles.

• Wrap up lingering IOUs . On the last day, set aside time to tally up the costs and make sure everyone who is owed money gets paid (and not in a "I'll Venmo you later..." kind of way).
• Organize a cleaning crew . Get everyone to pitch in to clean up your rental. You should know how much is expected from the host (maybe they don't want you to do anything). Split up tasks like taking out the trash, emptying the fridge, piling up dirty sheets and towels, washing dishes, and vacuuming or sweeping. If people are departing at different times, those who leave first should try to do one or two cleaning tasks with the expectation that the last person there will do a final sweep and spot clean anything that's left.
• Share a fun memory . After the trip is over, send a postcard that you picked up or print out a fun photo and mail it with a note to remind your friends what a great time you had. This is optional, of course, but a nice gesture that ends things on a high note.

How To Road-Trip Along The California Coast

Read article : How To Road-Trip Along The California Coast

Save for later:

Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Photo Credit: Hyatt Corporation

Leave the whirlwind of warm-weather parties, barbecues and family vacations behind with a little luxe “me time.” Savor the last of the summer rays with a solo road trip to some of our favorite coastal California hideaways. Let sumptuous spas, delicious fine dining and restful resorts guide your way on a high-end adventure guaranteed to leave you feeling refreshed.

DAY ONE: San Diego
No adventure through California is complete without a stop in San Diego. Instead of hitting the more frequented destinations such as downtown, Del Mar or La Jolla, head 40 minutes north of San Diego International Airport to Park Hyatt Aviara Resort in Carlsbad in the North County region. It is a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star resort with an Arnold Palmer-designed 18-hole golf course with clubhouse, a blissful spa and delicious food.

Morning  
Upon arrival, make your way to the spa to unwind from the drive in. Loosen your limbs with four-hands massage, during which two therapists synchronize to give you the ultimate stress-releaser.

Afterward, linger in the light-filled solarium. Perch yourself on a lounge chair near the inviting fireplace or the trickling fountain and curl up with a magazine.

Afternoon
After this relaxation ritual, have lunch and lounge in one of the well-appointed cabanas, which are outfitted with a daybed, two chaise lounges, a bowl of fresh fruit, a stocked mini-fridge of nonalcoholic drinks and more. When you need to cool off, take a dip in the Adult Pool, which overlooks the Batiquitos Lagoon and the Pacific.

Another form of relaxation can be found with a good drink. When in San Diego, don’t miss a beer tasting, as the area is known for its breweries. Pop into Mother Earth Brew Co., which sits 16 miles from the hotel and emulates the North County vibe that you’ll see throughout the area.

Evening
With your first spa day out of the way, head to Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Vivace, Park Hyatt Aviara’s fine-dining Italian restaurant. Indulge in rich comfort food made with fresh ingredients, including handcrafted burrata, housemade pastas and the braised short rib Bolognese with rigatoni and Parmesan. Be sure to get accompanying pours from the excellent wine list.

Retire for the evening to the property’s spacious, coastal-inspired accommodations and take in the sunset from your private balcony or terrace.

Terranea Resort, Photo Credit: Terranea Resort

DAY TWO:Los Angeles’ South Bay
After a refreshing night’s sleep, try breakfast at Park Hyatt Aviara’s California Bistro before heading north to Los Angeles.

A nice pit stop between San Diego and L.A. is the coastal enclave of the South Bay. It takes about two and a half hours to get there, but once you pull into Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, you should hand the keys over to the valet with no intention of moving for at least 24 hours. The focus here is on the natural seaside environment that is best enjoyed on your private balcony overlooking the gardens and the ocean.

Afternoon
Pass the day away by sampling a few of the eight restaurants on offer at the coastal California resort. For lunch, opt for fresh New American fare with a California flair at Catalina Kitchen. Accompany your meal with an exquisite glass of vino and ocean breezes.  

Spend the rest of your day lounging however you choose — play a round on the nine-hole golf course, check out the spa or take a dip in either of the four swimming pools. Time drips away, putting you in the right frame of mind to mentally check out for a few precious hours before getting back to the hustle and bustle of a road trip.

Evening
Though onsite dinner spots such as Nelson’s and Mar’sel are always good options, we wouldn’t judge you if you decided to make the call for in-room dining before enjoying a refreshing night’s sleep in your stylish Mediterranean-inspired room.

The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco, Photo Credit: The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company LLC

DAY THREE: L.A. andSan Francisco
Morning
Take a detour through always-happening West Hollywood for an indulgent brunch. If the call of the day is stargazing, go to Catch, one of the hottest tables in Los Angeles. The New York import is a favorite of the celebrity set, and the menu is packed with globally influenced seafood preparations that transport you around the world in one sitting.

If that isn’t quite your scene, head over to Norah for more decadent fare. The open, bright space bubbles like a freshly poured glass of champagne. Chef Mike Williams packs unforgettable flavors into brunch specialties such as buttermilk biscuits and a crispy fried chicken sandwich.

Afternoon
After feasting and some frolicking, get back on track and depart Los Angeles to make the five-hour drive — and longest leg of this this adventure up the coast — to San Francisco.

Evening
In the evening, check into a classic California beauty, lavish Four-Star The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco, perched high atop Nob Hill on Stockton Avenue. You’ll be immersed in the elegance of a bygone era almost immediately, as the opulent marble lobby dates back to 1909.

For a superb experience, book a deluxe king room on the Club Level and receive access to one of the Ritz-Carlton brand’s top perks — its exclusive lounge. Inside, a concierge is available for all booking needs and there is continuous food and beverage service for noshing when the mood strikes. Enjoy samples from cuisine of the neighborhoods — The Mission, Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown and North Beach — that have made San Francisco famous.

If you’re visiting on a weekend, be sure to take advantage of the hotel’s Vintner Wine Series, where you’ll sip pours of the best of Northern California vintages on Fridays and Saturdays in addition to a caviar presentation with all of the accoutrements.

Spa L’Occitane, Photo Credit: The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company LLC

DAY FOUR: San Francisco
Morning
The fourth and final day of this road trip is one dedicated to the good life. At The Ritz-Carlton, check out the Spa L’Occitane by the Bay for the hour-long Immortelle Secret of Youth facial that removes signs of aging and makes the skin more smooth and youthful. L’Occitane treatments blend Provencal-inspired rituals with its signature products enriched with ingredients from the South of France.

Afternoon
After some down time at the intimate spa, liven up your afternoon with a stop at the crown jewel of the San Francisco hotel’s social spaces: The JCB Tasting Lounge from winemaker Jean-Charles Boisset. A jewel box of a space nestled in the lobby, this is the spot to taste rare and exclusive wines from the Boisset collection.

After lunch, work off the calories with a three-block walk to Union Square, a retail mecca with more than 200 shops, departments stores, more restaurants and an event calendar stuffed with all sorts of fun (The Graduate screens at the park on September 9).

Evening
For those who like to plan ahead, aim for dinner at Mina Test Kitchen, one of the most coveted spots in town, to venture out from the confines of the incredibly comfortable hotel. A space for Michael Mina’s team to test new culinary concepts, the cuisines are revolving and currently feature the “Mi Almita” theme, which pays homage to the spirituality and tradition of Mexican cooking.

Expect ceviches, moles, tacos and empanadas featuring traditional, authentic ingredients. The menu is fixed but there are choices within the courses and two different levels of wine pairings.

At the end of the night, come back to a placid view of the city and relax under the rain shower in the full marble bath before climbing into a bed decked out in Frette linens and a 46-inch TV.

Parallel 37, Photo Credit: The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company LLC

DAY FIVE: San Francisco
Before returning to a non-vacation mindset, brunch at Four-Star Parallel 37, The Ritz Carlton’s signature restaurant, is unmissable. Specialties include an offering of Chinese dim sum, avocado toast with Easter egg radishes and sprouted quinoa and Dungeness crab eggs Benedict. Fill up before heading back home with a refreshed view of coastal California.

Bath and Body Works Sweet Magnolia and Clementine Shower Gel Review

Read article : Bath and Body Works Sweet Magnolia and Clementine Shower Gel Review

Hello everyone!

Today’s product to review is, again, from a well known brand in fragrances and bath and body stuff. I have chosen Bath & Body Works Sweet Magnolia and Clementine Shower Gel for review today. My love for shower gels never comes to an end and might never will; let’s see how this fares for me.

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Product Description:
Wash your way to softer, cleaner skin with a rich, bubbly lather bursting with fragrance. Moisturizing Aloe and Vitamin E combine with skin-loving Shea Butter in our most irresistible, beautifully fragranced formula!

Top Notes: Pear Blossom, Clementine, Sparkling Black Currant, Lush Greens
Mid Notes: Violet Leaves, Magnolia Blossom, Jasmine Petals, Lily of the Valley
Dry Notes: Vanilla, Driftwood, Heliotrope, Apricot Nectar, Skin Musk.

Price:
$5 for 88 ml. It cost me $11 with shipping & taxes. Also available in $12.5- 236 ml

Ingredients:

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Key Fragrance Notes:
A charming blend of sweet magnolia, fresh clementine and spring sandalwood.

Usage:
Add a drop to wet sponge or cloth & wash with rich creamy lather.

My Experience with Bath & Body Works Sweet Magnolia and Clementine Shower Gel:

Actually I have picked up both – fine fragrance mist and shower, from the signature collection of Bath & Body Works Sweet Magnolia and Clementine range. By the time shipment reached me, the fragrance mist had already been reviewed. So, I will review the shower gel only.

Packaging: The packaging is heart stealer with fresh green colored bottle and floral imprints. This is a travel size and compact bottle, compatible in your got-to-go bag. It is sturdy and travel friendly.

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Notes:
Bath & Body Works Sweet Magnolia and Clementine Shower Gel is a signature collection shower gel, but impressed me to a medium extent. The top notes are compiled with fruity fragrances of Pear Blossom, Clementine, Sparkling Black Currant, Lush Greens. The heart notes are described by the brand as Pear Blossom, Clementine, Sparkling Black Currant, and Lush Greens; in which you can dominantly sniff the jasmine and I simply love it. The dry notes are formulated with Vanilla, Driftwood, Heliotrope, Apricot Nectar, and Skin Musk. The lasting notes are a complete mix and you can’t say which one leads – vanilla or musk.

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Performance:
It is a light green colored shower gel with medium consistency. Yet, it is viscous and watery to some extent. The notes get an average ranking from me, but performance is thoroughly satisfying. Dime sized amount lathers rich in a loofah and cleanses the skin well. The lather formed gets rinsed without leaving any residual. The end results are soft and smooth skin, fragranced with a mixture of floral and vanilla-musk fragrance. But, the fragrance vanishes soon as you step out.

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Pros of Bath & Body Works Sweet Magnolia and Clementine Shower Gel:

• Fresh, green, lovely, sturdy and travel friendly bottle
• A perfect blend of fruity, floral and vanilla-musk notes
• A decent treat for sharp noses
• Leaves skin clean, soft and supple
• Lathers rich with a dime sized amount
• No excessive drying of skin
• No residual feeling after rinsed off
• Often available on sale for the USA residents

Cons of Bath & Body Works Sweet Magnolia and Clementine Shower Gel:

• Costly when imported
• The fragrance is really short lived

IMBB Rating:
4/5

Would I Repurchase/Recommend Bath & Body Works Sweet Magnolia and Clementine Shower Gel?
I really like the shower gel and it is worth a try. Yet, with so many other options available, it’s not on my repurchase list; nor is Bath & Body Works Sweet Magnolia and Clementine Fine Fragrance Mist. Because when a fragrance is short lived, it is not useful in my opinion.

Have a nice day ahead.

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University Dorms - Cheap, Cheerful Rooms For Travelers

Read article : University Dorms - Cheap, Cheerful Rooms For Travelers

Dorm rooms at universities around the UK are great alternative choices for cheap accommodations in pleasant, historic and often exciting surroundings.

During vacation periods - which include Easter and Christmas breaks as well as summer vacations (mid June to September)- you might choose to stay in a medieval residence hall, a 12th century castle or an architecturally stunning building on a brand new campus.

Accommodations usually include big English breakfasts - plus cereals, breads, fruits and juices - taken in magnificent 17th, 18th and 19th century dining halls (the Great Hall at Hogwarts comes to mind). Inexpensive lunches and dinners may also be available.

Here and there you may also find suites with multiple bedrooms and shared kitchen facilities - suitable for traveling with a family, perhaps.

And, most are available for about the same price as reasonable quality hostel rooms.

Dorms Ain't What They Used to Be

Expect daily cleaning services, private shower rooms or bathrooms in many dorms, internet broadband, linens and towels and, sometimes, coffee and tea making facilities. At one time, dorm rooms also offered telephones activated by phone cards that could be purchased, but in this era of smart phones, very few do that anymore.

Of course there's an up and downside to everything. So here's what you can expect:

Pros of Staying in Uni Digs

• Access to hallowed precincts At the UK's most historic and prestigious universities there are fascinating areas - private quads and courtyards, chapels, ancient dining halls - not open to the public. When you book a room, you get a brief insider's look at places like Oxford and Cambridge.
• Lie down where the great and good as well as the rich and famous have been before you. In their day, these rooms were occupied by presidents, princes and prime ministers; scientists and philosophers; artists, musicians, writers and actors. And, if you're lucky enough to find a chatty hall porter, he'll probably tell you all about who lived in your room before you.

Cons of Staying in Dorm Rooms

• Seasonal limits to availability Rooms are only available outside of term time, when students are away. The exact dates vary from one university to another.
• Rooms can't be booked too far in advance. Available rooms are usually listed two to three months ahead of time. If you are a nervous type who likes to have all the details pinned down a year ahead of time, these may not be for you.
• Most rooms are singles obviously awkward for couples traveling together. But there are some twin rooms and (for a price) Durham Castle, part of Durham University, has some spectacular state rooms - furnished with four-posters and the trappings of elegance - which can be had for some special celebration or event.

• Simple furnishings These are student rooms, so with the exception of a handful of special accommodations, like the state rooms at Durham Castle, don't expect boutique hotel surroundings. Furniture tends to be good, institutional quality basics with generous storage space.
• You could find yourself in the middle of a conference crowd Booking college dorm rooms for individual travelers is relatively new at UK universities but they've been hiring out their dorm rooms to conferences and seminars for years. Don't be surprised if you find yourself in the middle of one.
• Occasional shared bathrooms While the movement in newer college accommodations is for private or semi-private bathrooms, some of the more historic buildings cannot accommodate that. And the cheapest rooms may have shared bathroom facilities. If you like to finish a day of sightseeing with a long soak in your own bathtub, you may be out of luck.

How to Book a University Dorm Room in the UK

There are several ways to find and book college dorm rooms at UK universities:

• University Rooms.com can help you locate and book rooms at about 50 UK universities as well as college accommodations all over the USA, Europe and Asia. In the UK, Oxford, Cambridge, Canterbury, Bristol, Nottingham and Newcastle universities are all in the list along with several London academic locations. The website has pictures of the campuses, the rooms and the hall facilities as well as up to date availability information and prices. Before you opt for historic Oxbridge, check out 170 Queen's Gate in South Kensington, with access to Imperial College's sports center and 25meter pool, or Nottingham's knockout Jubilee campus.
• Search the University websites. Durham, for example offers 1,500 en suite and 3,000 standard rooms but you have to hunt around a bit to find them. For some reason, the University's Individual Traveler website occasionally delivers you to a Google page. But persist. The rooms are very nice and very good value at about £44 per night in 2016. Find information about The Castle, part of University College at Durham, on its own dedicated Durham Castle accommodation website. The Castle rooms are available year round and, because of their special character, are quite a bit more expensive than normal dorm rooms. 

Soap & Glory's Radiance Cocktail

Read article : Soap & Glory's Radiance Cocktail

Lareese - Editor

I know the pain of waking up with a face that looks like the Mother Nature tree from Pocahontas all too well, so the thought of a radiance-boosting cocktail was music to my ears - colours of the wind, to be more specific.

My first thoughts when using Soap & Glory's Radiance Boosting Cocktail were, 'wow, a pump formula that doesn't take 187381871 hours to actually come out of its vessel' because we all know how much clicking and shaking we normally have to do with these products.

If I were to pick a desert island product, it would have to be an illuminating moisturiser or radiant serum, so already this cocktail of pearly bright, vitamin-C infused goodness was well in my good books. I don't have overly dry skin but I really enjoy my skincare ritual and slapping something cool and revitalising on my boat race first thing in the morning is basically my cardio.

The texture is light, silky and cooling on the skin - the perfect combination for those early-morning starts when I don't have time to sit there with a soothing teaspoon on my puffy peepers. Ain't nobody got time for that.

As far as the pearlescent particles go, it's not going to rival your favourite highlighter anytime soon, but it's definitely a contender for hydrating and boosting your skin with goodness. Now all I need is a Pimms-shaped pitcher of the stuff.

Victoria - Community & Product Reviews Manager

Being exposed to London pollution 7 days a week, it's easy for my skin to start looking dull and and stressed out when I take my finger off the skincare radar for too long. A few too many late nights and it shows. When I'm tired, my face says it all.
​
Soap & Glory's new Bright & Pearly Radiance Boosting Cocktail has not only a tongue-twister of a name but an ingredients list set to give dull skin the ultimate glow. It contains Vitamin ACE, (or vitamins A, C and E to you and I), botanical extracts, pomegranate and 'bursting luminospheres' which all promise to contribute to instantly revitalised skin.
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My first thoughts when I used this were something along the lines of 'OMG THIS SMELLS SO GOOD!'. That'll be the pink grapefruit and mint oils apparently. Though if you're more on my wavelength you'll just be thinking it smells like a really good fancy cocktail. The 'luminospheres' (I'm guessing 'little pearly balls' didn't get given the go ahead) in the clear serum disperse creating an illuminous glow when applied to your face. I used it before my makeup but it can be mixed with moisturiser or with your makeup if you prefer. This is perfect for days when I'm wearing minimal makeup and just need to give my skin a bit of a boost but if you're in to a heavy foundation base then you might like an additional highlighter on top.

Pascale Day - Staff Writer

Gurl, just mention the word cocktail and I am instantly on board. Whisper it and I'll still hear you. Shout it from 40 miles away and I will still. Hear you. That's how in love and committed I am to espresso martinis and the like.

Unfortunately, we're not talking about alcoholic cocktails right now, my one true passion. But fortunately, we are talking about a skin radiance concoction that's going to make you look halfway normal after you have drunk all the cocktails in the world.

This serum contains grapefruit and mint which are perfect for waking you up and probably the best smells for your nostrils when you feel like throwing up. It also contains "Luminospheres" which are trademarked with a ™ so must be fairly important and integral to the brightening process. We don't know what they do, but we trust them to do their job and do it well.

Now, I'm not saying you have to use this when you're hungover, I'm just saying it helps. It's great on a normal day, but excellent the morning after a few too many. Just slap it on - literally slap it, it'll keep you awake - and your face will instantly feel and look better. Trust me. If you're not hungover just apply it the normal way, and thank your lucky stars that you have the sense to go home after a sensible amount of drinks.

Helen Turnbull - Social Media Editor

Soap & Glory is a firm favourite of mine, having rescued me (and my parents) from many a teenage tantrum at Christmas time when they thought it was totally acceptable to shower my younger siblings with gifts and hand me an envelope of cash i.e. the first realisation I was 'growing up'. While I've used their pretty packaged shower and body products (Clean On Me and Flake Away are go-tos), I've never ventured into the realm of their skincare range.

There is no right or wrong (aside from the obvious) when it comes to skincare routines - everyone's different so this aspect of our lives should be, too. I'm a girl who prides herself on efficiency (read: I'm lazy af) so I'm reluctant to stretch my twice-daily skincare rituals to beyond three steps but when a cocktail promising the opposite of a hangover was handed to me, I was willing to try. Soap & Glory's Bright & Pearly Radiance Boosting Cocktail looks as pretty as it sounds - the clear bottle is filled with a clear liquid and what look like highlighter pearls. The product is designed to be used under you moisturiser, as a 'pick me up' or mixed with makeup for a glowy look.

I chose to use it under my moisturiser - adding a whole 30 seconds to my skincare routine - and while it soothed the skin, making it as baby soft as my 27 years will allow, I struggled to see the difference between this and my go-to moisturiser. I have been convinced to mix it with my matte AF foundation to see if it makes a visible difference to my complexion but until I can be bothered, it will sit pretty on my bathroom shelf.

Rose Adams - Social Media Assistant

Forget ‘nice outfit’ or ‘your hair looks voluminous’ because the only compliment we ever really want to hear is 'your highlighter looks popping', am I right? Especially as it traditionally takes time, effort and a host of different products just to perfect that 'natural' just been kissed-by-the-sun glow. Well it used to, before I discovered Soap & Glory's Radiance Boosting Radiance Cocktail.

Yep, bright, glowing skin, free of any signs of dullness or fatigue is still the beauty look of the moment - and this product helped me achieve exactly that. I will admit that it takes a couple of tries to get the amount just right as at first I used too much, then I used too little and there was no sign of any difference.
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After all my attempts, the best application technique I found was to rub a bit on the back of my hand, mix it with foundation and build it up that way. It can be used alone, under your moisturiser or mixed with make-up and for the purpose of this review I tried all three and definitely found the third option worked best for me for a glowing, dewy effect.

Normally cocktails conjure up memories of summer and hangovers with a splash of regret, but Soap & Glory's is completely beer-fear free, promise.

We will be giving away 50 Bright & Pearly Radiance Boosting Cocktails to be tested this week on Experts Club!

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Planning a New Orleans Bachelorette? Let This Girls Trip Be Your Guide

Read article : Planning a New Orleans Bachelorette? Let This Girls Trip Be Your Guide

Each summer, I try my hardest to squeeze in a girls getaway with my gal pals Angie and Alex, which can be challenging as we’re often spread out across the globe. Two years ago, it was Bonaire. Last summer, we convened in Boston and Martha’s Vineyard. This year, we had a brief reunion in Orlando then upped the fun factor and headed straight for four days in New Orleans thanks to a content project with the CVB.

Crazy as it may sound, it had been seven-and-a-half years since my own bachelorette when I was last in the Big Easy. So what perfect timing to recreate an adult bachelorette in New Orleans via a weekend with two of my best girls who weren’t there the first time around, right?

First things first: You need the perfect place to stay. On my last two visits, I booked big chains; this time, we opted for a boutique hotel instead, which is always my preference if given the choice.

One of the city’s newest luxury properties, the Catahoula Hotel opened in 2016, and with its 35 rooms and suite of services, like a full bar and Peruvian restaurant, it’s the perfect base in the Central Business District (CBD) from which to explore. As its name might suggest—the Catahoula is the state dog of Louisiana—it’s pet-friendly, too, so you can bring your pup along with you (Ella would be so jealous if she knew I’d traveled here without her!).

Each of our individual rooms was dramatically different, which makes sense given that the hotel was adapted to fit an 1840s townhouse. But given the cozy nature of most city hotels, I was shocked with how open and airy my room was, thanks in part to the soaring ceilings. I know each of the Catahoula accommodations are different, but the second I stepped into my quarter for the week, I was immediately impressed with how they laid out each room to maximize space.

I also loved the common areas, particularly the courtyard—which boasts one of the most Instagrammed pieces of art, a mural of a burlesque dancer, in town—and the inside Piscobar.

To be perfectly honest, New Orleans is one of those cities I like to hit the pavement and explore every inch of with my own two feet, which we did—from the CBD to Magazine Street to the French Quarter and everywhere in between.

We lucked out in that August is actually one of the best times to go to New Orleans and avoid crowds, so we were able to move freely around Bourbon Street and Jackson Square without bumping into fellow tourists.

But if you’re outdoorsy or a fan of active pursuits, you’ll want to head up to Bayou St. John and take a trip through nature and NOLA history with the fine folks behind Kayak-iti-Yat. After you’re through, stroll through City Park and visit the New Orleans Museum of Art’s sculpture garden. The free Bounce Ya Brass dance classes are also an excellent way to break a sweat.

Want to learn how to make cocktails just like they do in the Big Easy? Book a class with New Orleans Drink Lab. An experienced mixologist will give each attendee her own drink station and the tools with which to whip up a true Hurricane (and another cocktail or two, depending on the length of your class). Drinking while learning? Sounds like my kind of activity!

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, and I was all kinds of jazzed about eating at Willa Jean after so many of you recommended it via Instagram. We each ordered off the menu—I was feeling gluten hungover, so I opted for the quinoa bowl with poached eggs—but man, I want to come back here on a weekend for the Nutella muffins and eat my way through the rest of the baked goods section.

Another morning, we had the iconic New Orleans experience and dined at Brennan’s, something I did my very first time in the city with my parents when I was just a teen (it’s been around since 1946!). The only thing that’s really changed is I’m of age now, so I was able to take advantage of the brunch cocktails!

Don’t go to Brennan’s without peeking upstairs in the bathroom and the various rooms. They’re each decorated differently and are quite elaborate.

As full as we’d get on breakfast, it was hard to fathom needing lunches and yet we persevered. Even though we have a Cochon Butcher in Nashville, we ate at Cochon in New Orleans anyway, and it was a far different experience with its Cajun focus and, dare I say, even better (if that’s possible) than the food I’m used to in Music City.

Also on the lunch front, there’s no way you’re coming all the way to New Orleans and not having a meal at Commander’s Palace; it’s simply a rite of passage. And you need to order a little bit of everything to get a taste of iconic NOLA (that means you have free rein to full-on indulge).

But particularly when accompanied by gal pals and on a weekday—because who can pass up 25-cent martinis? (You read that right: For a quarter, or the price of a gumball, you get an entire cocktail! Apparently, the three-martini lunch is back in NOLA.)

Pro tip: Go ahead and schedule time for a nap afterward!

St. Roch Market is perfect for finicky groups who can’t decide on where to eat—it’s got a little bit of everything all rolled into one, served in a food hall type of atmosphere. I had Creole while Angie had mango wings and Alex got her chicken bowl. We all won! This would be the place I’d eat at weekly if I were a NOLA local, and lucky for me, they’re opening a Nashville location very soon!

Of course, no bachelorette weekend is complete without a fancy dinner out; for us, that meant we hopped the St. Charles cable car and made our way out to DTB, a new restaurant on Oak Street that stands for Down the Bayou.

DTB wasn’t just perfect because of its casual-chic atmosphere, but most of the plates were sharable. As the name suggests, it’s all about Coastal cuisine, and everything we had was delicious. We tasted our way through the menu from Brussels sprouts to mushroom boudin balls, cornmeal gnocchi to short rib. DTB also doubles as an excellent place to have a drink, so arrive early for cocktails and stay for the food.

New Orleans is all about that cocktail culture, so obviously we had to indulge, even if some of us (ahem, me) are bigger drinkers than the rest.

Our first night started at the most convenient place we knew: Piscobar in the lobby of the Catahoula Hotel. Because you can’t stay at the Catahoula and not try a Pisco Sour; pisco is the core of the bar’s sophisticated Peruvian-inspired cocktail program.

On night one, we didn’t want to wander far so the rooftop bar of the brand new Ace Hotel, Alto, seemed a good fit. The weather was nice, the hotel is walking distance from where we were staying, and they serve drinks out of pineapples. For another type of pool bar scene over in the Bywater district, the house in which the Country Club conceals a bohemian-style pool retreat out back where you can pay an entrance fee and nab a lounge chair for the afternoon as you sip the day away; admission is $15, and there’s a full locker room, showers and changing facilities on site.

Over in the French Quarter, rum-soaked, Cuba-inspired Cane & Table is one of the new “it” spots, while the revolving Carousel Bar & Lounge at Hotel Monteleone is always a fun place to grab a cocktail.

I also really wanted to try the Confederacy of Cruisers biking bar tour, but alas, the timing didn’t work out. Next girls trip!

Late night, Frenchman Street is where the party is really at; this three-block stretch of Marigny houses some of the best live music—not to mention, rowdiest bars—in New Orleans.

I know we just scratched the surface of New Orlean’s multi-faceted offerings—there are so many things we didn’t make it to on my to-eat and to-drink lists—but it still was a most excellent week of gluttony, copious amounts of walking and togetherness.

What’s on your must-do list for a bachelorette party in New Orleans?

This post was sponsored by the New Orleans CVB. All opinions and cocktails consumed are explicitly my own.