What Lyd Did

Well, it's fair to say this Christmas was cracking for me and my beauty drawers! Santa stocked me up with all kinds of glittery goodness and skincare treats to enjoy. I always love receiving makeup because I think of the person and occasion whenever I use it- just me?

Despite me firmly telling him not to, my lovely boyfriend splashed out on this gorgeous TooFaced gift set, comprising of an eyeshadow palette, pressed glitter palette, cheek trio, and miniature Shadow Insurance Primer, Better Than Sex Mascara, and Gingerbread Man liquid lipstick.

The details in this set just make it for me, with a sweet cookie scent filling the box, gingerbread men on the lipstick, cute characters on the packaging, and punny names like 'Hot & Coal' and 'I Love Yule'.

Colourpop is raved about on every beauty blog and channel going, so naturally, I've always wanted to try it, and my sister kindly gifted my first items!

I showed her the Disney Designers release months ago, and was absolutely thrilled to unwrap the lux liquid lip in 'Wonderboy'. Sassy Megara is probably my favourite Disney girl, and this rosy berry lipstick looks like it will be a favourite in my collection.

My sister didn't even know who Kathleen Lights was when she bought the Zodiac palette, but she soon found out when I opened it and shrieked "Kathleen Lights! I watch her videos all the time!".

The colour story of the palette is very unusual and not something I would usually go for, but the packaging is just gorgeous and I'm very excited to dive into that shimmery aqua Pisces shade.

My brother-in-common-law knows you can't go wrong with LUSH products, and gave me a citrussy Happy shower gel which is packed with seaweed shimmer, blue raspberry scented Galaxy lip scrub, and some Boom toothy tabs.

They taste like cola, which feels very strange to brush your teeth with, but they do work brilliantly. Toothy tabs are one of my favourite LUSH bits, and these are definitely the nicest flavour I've tried.

Continuing the LUSH love, my boyfriend's parents gave me a Relax gift set. As soon as they handed it to me the beautiful scent of real lavender hit me, and inside are four treats full of it: Dream Cream, Sleepy shower gel, Twilight bath bomb, and A French Kiss bubble bar.

You know how there's always something you won't use in a gift set? Not the Pink It Up set my cousin and her boyfriend bought me from The Body Shop! A strawberry shine lip oil, rose hydrating face mist, and pink grapefruit shower gel make up this trio and they're all things I'd choose myself.

They also gave me the Vitamin E hydrating toner which sounds dreamy for my desert-dry complexion.

Said lizard-like skin will also enjoy the Weleda Skin Food that my boyfriend gave me! I've sworn by the original for years but it is rather sticky, so I'm looking forward to trying the light version. It came with a free REN BB cream too.

When we saw the Cover FX custom cover drops for something like a third of the price in Beauty Outlet, my mum snapped them up for my stocking. The sales assistant gave me a great tip: buy a cheap foundation and boost the coverage with these.

Finally, it wouldn't be Christmas without sparkle, and my sister added to my Collection Glam Crystals with this grey version in 'Hustle'. It's full of holo glitters and super pretty.

Have you tried these products? What did you get for Christmas?

Ladies, gentlemen, and those of you who are yet to make up your minds... welcome to my review of Kinky Boots The Musical, a feel good, heartwarming show based on an incredible true story of self belief and acceptance. The show is currently playing at Winter Gardens Blackpool until 12 October 2019, tickets available here.

Tickets provided in exchange for honest review.
Photo credits: Helen Maybanks.

An actor of colour wears a sparkling red dress and heels, surrounded by drag queens in red and black skimpy costumes

The Story

When his father passes away, Charlie Price reluctantly returns home to Northampton to take on his failing factory. Orders are being cancelled, business is looking bleak, and jobs are on the line, until a chance encounter with glamorous drag queen Lola leads Charlie to make kinky boots to withhold the weight of her and her angels. With the Milan trade show his chance to prove himself, can Charlie come through for the factory and his friends?

The Soundtrack

Despite being written by 80s queen Cyndi Lauper, the majority of songs were no Defying Gravity, but then again, even Elphaba would have a hard time belting out lines about brogues.

Lola's songs, on the other hand, were brilliant, with a sexy dance feel to most of them, and a real Whitney-style diva vibe to Hold Me In Your Heart. Kayi Ushe blew me away with Lola's powerful numbers and softer songs alike. Joel Harper-Jackson also hit the higher notes and key changes beautifully, and their harmony together was a highlight of the performance for me.

the factory worker cast of Kinky Boots stand on a conveyor belt, while the drag queen Angels sit on the floor downstage. Everybody is smiling and has their arms raised, they are celebrating.

The Set

The set design for Kinky Boots really caught my attention, with simple industrial pieces switching to suit every scene. I particularly loved that the factory's conveyor belt split into pieces and became a central prop for the dance routine in Everybody Say Yeah, reflecting the change and fast pace the factory was undertaking as it prepared for their new line of boots and the Milan show.

In the film factory lout Don challenges Lola to an arm wrestle but Playful Productions wisely changed this to a boxing match for the musical, which is much easier for the whole audience to see and appreciate.

The set became a boxing ring with just two pieces of rope across the central unit, and the lighting quickly flashed to imitate photography while the actors performed the show in slow motion. It was a clever, engaging way to illustrate the scene, and both the set and lighting design coloured me impressed.

a male actor of colour stands centre stage in a blue dress, hat, and heels, with drag queens either side wearing beige trench coats and heels

an actor of colour in a brown suit and tan shirt shakes hands with a white actor wearing a dark blue shirt and grey suit trousers

The Cast

Speaking of fast pace, the angels' dance routines were certainly that. Half incredible choreography, half acrobatic display, they brought so much fun and sparkle to Kinky Boots The Musical. I can honestly say this is the first show I've seen where my jaw has literally dropped, when one angel leapt high and landed in a perfect box split!

I was astounded to learn after the show that the actors playing the Angels are not full time drag performers, because they pulled it off perfectly, with help from their amazing makeup and costumes. The budget for sequins and gems in this production must have run into the thousands!

Whether in sequins as Lola or suited as Simon, Kayi Ushe was a stand out for me. The script was very similar to the film, in which Chiwetel Ejiofor portrays Lola, so it would be easy to compare the two, but Ushe developed the character for the stage beautifully, exaggerating her words and actions so she really was a larger than life queen strutting before our eyes.

Every character had an element of comedy, which is partly what made the musical so fun to watch, it felt like the audience were invited into the factory banter. The only performance that jarred for me was factory worker/Charlie's love interest, Lauren, portrayed by Paula Lane.

Having seen Lane in Coronation Street I don't doubt her talent, but the character and her songs just seemed very awkward and pantomime-esque. Maybe it was the direction, or perhaps the fact I've never been to Northampton, where the musical is set, but I struggled to understand why her accent was different to the rest of the cast, too.

the cast of kinky boots assemble in a set designed to look like a factory, raising glasses of champagne

The Summary

Kinky Boots is one of my favourite films, and I really hoped that seeing it sexed up on stage with tonnes of songs and sequins would live up to it. I'm happy to report that it did, and every piece of the performance tied together to create the perfect feel good show about acceptance and courage.

I had my own lesson in acceptance too, when I looked around and saw all kinds of people in the audience. I had wrongly assumed that middle aged men wouldn't be the target audience, but my dad came along and loved every minute just like the rest of the crowd, who packed out the seats and filled the room with roaring applause.

Have you seen Kinky Boots The Musical?

Call me a basic b, but Autumn is undoubtedly my favourite season. I love pumpkins, hot chocolates, conkers, pumpkins, the whole shebang just brings joy to my cold little heart, and luckily, there are loads of beautiful Autumn accessories on Etsy to indulge me.

All photos are the property of the respective sellers. Prices correct at time of writing. All links are affiliated with Etsy, using them will not cost you more but I will receive a very small percentage.

Candles and melts

As the evenings get dark and chilly, it's the perfect time to crack out the cosiest candles and melts and scent your home from the season. Whether you love spicy, sweet, or smoky, there are talented crafters cooking up something perfect for every room.

Soy Wax Bonfire Bar £2 MagnoliaBlossomUK
Roasted Chestnut Soy Wax Melts £2 ManchesterCandles
This seller also has pumpkin pecan waffles, pumpkin spiced latte, and toasted marshmallow melts, which made my mouth water just looking at them

Toffee Apple Soy Wax Bar £2.25 CalmingScentsUK
Gran's Pumpkin Pie Candle Jar £6.90 Sarah's Little Attic

Gingerbread Soy Wax Melts £3 CraftyLittleHive

Blackberry Jam Wax Melts £1.50 EmilysWaxHouse

Home Accessories

A wreath on the front door, pumpkins on the dining table, and orange and mustard cushions for your bed are easy ways to turn your home into a cosy retreat.

Autumn Food Felt Ornaments from £6.82 ReadySteadyFelt
These would be a sweet, unusual addition to a seasonal centrepiece or hot chocolate station.

Fox and Owl Cushion Cover £6.95 SimplyDivineThings

Set of 2 Navy Tweed Pumpkins £12 ShopWillyNilly
The tweed adds a rustic texture to these sweet ornaments. Add a drop of essential oil to the bottom of them to make them smell as good as they look.

Pumpkin Wreath £21 CraftyLilyMay

Bathing and Pampering

If it's not enough just to drink hot cocoa and spiced lattes, Etsy will let you bathe in them, too.

Autumn Fire Perfume Oil £10 ScreamingMandrakePf
6 Pumpkin and Rhubarb Bath Melts £9.50 BahariBlossom

Vegan Pumpkin Spice Bath Set £8.95 NaturesGenie

Autumn Fashion
Dressing for Autumn is my favourite. Bring on the burgundy, the mustard, the corduroy, and the cosy knits!

5 Autumn Scrunchies £12 ukpigtailsandpompoms

Pumpkins. Candles. Hot Chocolate. Embroidered Sweatshirt £30 NoodleAndStitch

Knitted Earwarmer, Cowl, and Coffee Cosy £35 TheCraftyElfStore

The colours in this warm woollen set are a great way to cheer up a grey, rainy day.

What's your favourite thing about Autumn?

A selection of bath salts, moisturisers, and shower gels arranged in a gold wire basket

Since I work on a very warm ward, I tend to come home sticky, sweaty, and ready for a cool shower with fruity products to freshen me up, and I Love Cosmetics fit the bill perfectly with their affordable range of cruelty free shower gels and scrubs, and bath salts and cremes.

Products were gifted in exchange for honest review.

I always opt for fruit scents to awaken my skin and senses, and the I Love Elderflower Fizz Body Wash (£6.50) does not disappoint. I was worried it would be a sickly floral, but the elderflower has cleverly been combined with apple for a crisp and refreshing scent.

If I'm feeling especially gross, I reach for the I Love... Raspberry and Blackberry Shower Smoothie (£3.99), which smells absolutely mouthwatering. For a full, fake tan routine scrub I still prefer my good old exfoliating gloves, but if you have sensitive skin or just like a gentle polish the tiny particles of walnut shell should float your boat.

an orange tube of I Love Mango and Papaya hand cream wrapped in a yellow ribbon

After my shower I like to take a minute to moisturise my body with the I Love English Rose Body Butter (£12), as I feel that little bit more body confident when my skin is smooth and radiant, and it has been keeping my eczema at bay nicely.

If you think you don't like rose scents, this rich butter will prove you wrong. Instead of a heavy, powdered rose, this is a fresh floral blended with pear, red berries, jasmine, and amber to produce a beautiful fragrance that lingers lightly on the skin while the shea butter base sinks in quickly and leaves skin feeling nourished.

I Love Cosmetics have blended shea butter with coconut oil in their exotic I Love Mango and Papaya hand lotion (£2.99), too, making it a deeply nourishing formula. It does take a while to sink in, so it's ideal for massaging into hands or feet before bed to wake up to silky smooth skin.

To further treat your feet this Summer, dissolve bath salts in hot water then letting it cool for a soothing soak. I have been trialling the Violet Dreams variety and found them perfect for pampering my poor feet after a day in sandals.

A hot pink bottle of I Love Raspberry and Blackberry body spray sat in a gold wire basket

A white elderflower candle, purple bag of violet bath salts, and white bottle of coconut bath creme in a gold basket

I Love Cosmetics are rightfully so proud of their scents, they've made it easy to layer them on to ensure the fragrance lasts on your skin by offering full product ranges of every scent. Start with a soak in the scented bath salts or bath creme, apply the Body Wash or Shower Smoothie, then finish with a spritz of body spray.

Even your home can smell sweetly, with I Love Cosmetics candles and reed diffusers delivering a burst of your favourite fragrance for up to 40 hours. Alternatively you can pop some of the bath salts into small bags and hang them in your wardrobe or sock draw to waft the scent over your clothes.

From the fresh and floral to the gourmand Mango Cheesecake and Minty Choc Chip, it's hard to choose which fragrance to try! Luckily, I Love Cosmetics have a handy Find My Fragrance Tool, and plenty of offers on their site to help you stock up.

What are your favourite Summer body products?

The Dungeons are a group of educational, interactive shows set in well, you guessed it, dungeons around the world, bringing the darkest stories from history to life. Most of them are in big cities like London, Berlin, and Shanghai, but I'm very proud to say that here in Lancashire we have our very own Blackpool Tower Dungeon.

My tickets to The Dungeons were compensated in exchange for honest review.

Please be aware that there may be some spoilers in this post, so if you're brave enough to dive in to The Dungeons blind feel free to hop over to my other Blackpool recommendations, but if you'd like a heads up before you head in, carry on reading.

Property of The Blackpool Dungeons

The Dungeons

Immersed in dimly lit tunnels where strange sights and sounds wait around every corner, you can easily forget you're just minutes away from a massive Primark, and a few floors from The Blackpool Tower Ballroom!

Every room sets the scene perfectly, from the doctor's office where you'll feel your skin crawl with leeches, to the Captain's secret cove. Your adrenaline will surge as the lights go out and you wait in suspense to see if you'll make it into his smuggling crew.

While nothing actually touches you or puts you in danger, The Dungeons are full of clever tricks to keep you on your toes and ramp up your heart rate. Lights will drop, creatures will jump, and somewhere through the tour you'll lose yourself in a smoky mirror maze.

The 'Creatures'

The creatures, as they are called by the tour guide, are the leaders who will show and tell their part of history. Meet the doctor, his assistant, and their leeches as they attempt to cure the plague, Judge Blackheart who will decide if you hang, and the torturer of Lancaster Castle who really does not like Yorkshire folk.

Despite repeating their lines multiple times a day, the actors don't hold back on making their creature characters as horrible and intimidating as possible. Think awkward eye contact, sudden movements, and the creepiest of smiles to really put you on the edge.

At The Dungeons, you are part of the experience, so be prepared to answer their questions and do as they say- or else. This is what makes it so much fun, especially for your friends and family as they watch you squirm.

an actress dressed as a pirate pointing at a guest in The Dungeons

Property of The Blackpool Dungeons

The Ride

Congratulations, you've survived the tour! Commiserations, you've been found guilty of being part of the infamous Pendle witches, and must hang for your crimes. If you pass the safety checks you'll be ushered to your death by an executioner and strapped firmly into a row of seats.

Your heart rate will rise with the seats as they're cranked higher and higher in a dark room, until a fiery Viking face speaks the last words you will hear, and your body suddenly drops back down to the floor with a rush of cold air.

It's exhilarating, it's frightening, and it's absolutely hilarious- though perhaps not as much as the souvenir photos that are snapped halfway through your fall.

The Red Lion

You might need a stiff drink after that shock, and luckily there is a licensed pub on site where the staff stay in character and can tell you the latest scandals and gossip of 1896. Stop by the souvenir gift shop, then raise a glass to making it out of The Dungeons alive.

I'd recommend a trip to The Blackpool Tower Dungeons to anyone, even big scaredy cats like me! The idea is that the fear adds to the fun, so you'll jump, shriek, and scream, but laugh a lot, too. There are one or two slightly cheeky jokes, but aside from that it's great for couples, friend, and even families, with a recommended age of 8 for younger visits.

Do you dare to enter The Dungeons?

ABOUT LYD

FIND LYD

POPULAR POSTS

Categories