So you left it till last minute? | Panasonic iShaper

The big day is less than a week away...How on earth has that happened? I seem to say this every year, but this year has gone faster than I can say 2017.

I am about half way through my Christmas shopping, I always seem to leave the final few gifts till last minute. I am not entirely sure why, however it is a tactic I seem to have adopted and it works for me. Just incase any last minute inspiration comes flooding in, or a retailer seems to do a flash sale before the big day.

One product that I can highly recommend for the ideal gift to yourself or for someone you have in mind is the Panasonic ER GD60 iShaper. I know there are hundreds of electronic shavers on the market, all claiming to be the best. However, for me Panasonic lead the market when it comes to shavers and mens grooming. The whole idea behind the Panasonic iShaper is that it shapes, sculpts and defines the stubble we are all clinging onto in the winter months. You can watch here to see the iShaper in action.

For me, grooming is all about taking the time to invest in yourself. The Panasonic iShaper allows you to add detail and definition to your stubble or beard stress free. It offers 20 different cutting lengths from 0.5mm to 10mm for optimum cutting control. It also can be fully charged in one hour, and has a three year blade lifetime guarantee so you don't have to worry about it catching on your stubble. It says a lot when it picked up the Pure Beauty Award 2017 for the best new 'Mens Shaving and Beard Product'.

It is a 3-in-1 product, meaning you can Style, Trim and Shave all with one product. I for one have always carried a razor and a beard trimmer, which proves difficult when you are traveling or on the go a lot. The Panasonic iShaper offers the perfect resolution, allowing you to tame your beard, define it and refine those difficult hairs for that groomed, slick look. The Panasonic iShaper ideally allows you to achieve barber shop results from the comfort of your own bathroom. The ergonomic design of the iShaper offers easy grip, allowing you to manipulate the shaver to reach under under your chin and define the neck.

If you are in the market for the ideal mens gift then I can solidly recommend this product, it is available at all major retailers, including Amazon, Argos and Boots.

I wish you all the best of luck with your last few Christmas purchases.

Thank you so much for reading, 

Murdock London | Festive Survival Guide

With the festive period being well and truly in full swing, it can sometimes become all too much and I am not just talking about trying to wrap that mountain of presents. That's why I am so excited to be sharing with you a collaboration with arguably London's best Barbers, Murdock London.

They are renowned in London for delivering a service like no-other, catering each cut and service to every individual. They are fully aware that the festive period, all be it exciting, can be a bit of a strain. That is why they have put together a service where you can unwind, relax and fully recover from those mid week Christmas parties and late night panic present buying.

Here are my four steps in collaboration with Murdock to get yourself back on point this festive season.

STEP ONE: BEAUTY SLEEP REALLY IS A THING...
Barbers really can work magic, however sometimes you just need a good old fashioned solid eight hours to let you recover. If this is unachievable, and lets face it, the festive period can mean back to back celebrations and parties then try a couple of re-hydration tablets when you wake up. Part and parcel of a hangover is that you are hugely dehydrated, so drink plenty water before and after you go to sleep and you should be well on your way to recovery.

STEP 2: HAIR OF THE DOG?

If you are a believer in this one (I certainly am) then sometimes what makes you bad, makes you better. Bloody Mary's are one of life's little pick me up's that pack a punch, pull you round and put you in a better place than you were a couple of hours ago. If you visit Murdock this December, you can enjoy a Silent Pool Bloody Mary, an express Murdock facial treatment as well as a wash, blow-dry and style to get you ready for the night ahead in just half an hour. Ideal for those who really are short for time. Here is how to make the perfect Bloody Mary:


INGREDIENTS: 
30ml Silent Pool Gin
120ml Turner & Hardy
15ml lemon juice
7 drops Tabasco hot sauce
4 dashes Worcestershire sauce
2 pinches celery salt
2 grinds black pepper

METHOD: 
Use the salt and pepper to rim your glass (preferably a Collins glass). Add the rest of the ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake. Strain into your glass. Add half a celery stick to garnish.

STEP 3: GET THE RIGHT TREATMENT FOR YOU. 
When you take your seat in the barbers chair, take a deep breath and let go of the outside shopping madness. Each barber at Murdock is fully equipped with the skills to transform you from "I've had three hours sleep" to "I am ready to face the day". Get your fade tapered, your wet shave as close as you would like and a spray of cologne to finish. It truly is an experience like no other for the busy gent on the go. Whiskey of course is optional but recommended.

STEP 4: PRODUCTS, PRODUCTS, PRODUCTS.
Even after your shave and tidy up, sometimes, you just need that extra little bit of extra help. Those dreaded under eye bags can be a reoccurring nightmare around this time of year. Like many of us, sometimes it really is hard to say no to that last whiskey. Before you know it, you are in a taxi home having to be up for work in 4 hours (yes I have been there). This Eye Serum from Murdock will help you say goodbye to those dark circles and puffy eyes. If you keep it in the fridge it'll be the next best thing to a double espresso and a cold shower!

So, there you have it. Four simple tips to get you well on your way to recovery this festive period. Murdock really do cater their service to every individual, if you are in need of a quick tidy up or the full works, they have you covered! 

Click here to see a full list of their services, as well as their site locations to see which one is closest to you: https://www.murdocklondon.com

Thank you so much for reading, and MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

Luke. 

ZAAP Thai Streetfood | A taste of Asia in Newcastle

For those of you who don't know, I had the opportunity to travel around Thailand for two weeks when I was 18. It was probably one of the best experiences of my life. Getting the exposure to seasoned street food, vibrant streets and plenty of rum was nothing short of eye opening.

Being a foodie, the most important part of any trip will always be the food. I love a good museum trip like the next tourist, but give me a dish of food and a good glass of wine and I am content.

As I now spend the majority of my time based in London, I am never a stones throw away from a new restaurant, cafe or bar that I am yet to try. However, when returning home to the north, I always find myself going back to the same places. Tried and tested my Mam would say. There is nothing wrong about going back to that same pub for that special piece of pie, but nothing beats the excitement of trying somewhere new.

With Newcastle being a short car journey away for me, I was more than keen to try out 'ZAAP' Thai street food kitchen. Their concept is simple. An immersive Thai dining experience, serving nothing but authentic Thai food. I wouldn't consider myself a 'connoisseur' of Thai food as such, however I can distinguish a average pad-thai from an excellent one.

We arrived on a busy Saturday lunch time and were seated promptly. They do not take reservations, so you just arrive and wait. The menu's were already on the table, so it was clear what they were going for; authenticity through and through. There are tuc-tuc's on offer for the full dining experience, vibrant LED signage adorns the ceilings and the smell of soy and sesame fills the air. It sounds cliche but it's about as close to Bangkok as you're going to get in the North.

Opting to choose drinks first, we chose two mocktails. They were beautifully presented and has asian tastes of lemongrass, coconut and cucumber.

The food proved a more difficult choice. The menu could be seen as overwhelming, but I see it as a challenge. Double sided, it offered multiple dishes to choose from.  A selection of your classic starters, gyoza, curries and noodle based dishes. Each offering a choice of chicken, pork, prawn and of course vegetable. You would struggle not to find something you like the sound of.

Choosing four starters and two mains to share, we opted for crispy squid tempura, pork and sesame skewers, chicken satay and vegetable gyoza. For main, a classic Thai green curry and prawn Pad-thai.

The starters arrived in no time. All tasting fresh and flavourful. The stand out dish were the gyoza, which were fried opposed to the traditional steaming.

The mains were equally as tasty, with a warming green curry accompanying perfectly steamed fragrant rice. The prawn pad thai had hinds of soy and tamarind paste, the classic for a pad thai. The vegetables were cooked to perfection, as were the noodles.

I usually struggle to rave about a restaurant without offering some improvement however, ZAAP may have to be an exception. Do not mistake this restaurant for a high class dining experience. Their identity is authentic, as is their service and food.

I highly recommend this restaurant if you are ever in the Newcastle area. Here is a link to their site, if you intent on paying them a visit.

https://zaapthai.co.uk/locations/newcastle/

Thank you for reading, 

Luke. 

*DISCLAIMER: this meal was fortunately a complimentary experience in return for honest social media coverage. All opinions are true and 100% reflective of my personal experience* 

Easy like Sunday morning | The Locals Cafe

Sunday's are a thing of beauty. Whether you spend them in your pyjamas or heading out for a spot of weekend brunch I am such a fan. For me, nothing beats a bit of a lay in then heading out with friends to grab some fantastic brunch. There is nothing better than having your breakfast made for you, well in my opinion there isn't anyway.

I always aim to try a different place when I eat out. Living in central London means you are never short of choices. I recently found 'The Locals Cafe' on Instagram and I was so eager to give it a try. Everything from your classic avocado toast with pomegranate seeds to buckwheat pancakes and everything in-between. They also have a rather appealing lunch menu.

It is a stones throw away from Victoria station, which is a stunning part of London near Sloane Square.

I am a massive advocate for nice interiors. For me, where you eat your food is just as important as what you are actually consuming. The Locals Cafe have this down to a T! You are welcomed with a huge open space, with tonnes of natural light flooding in from the floor to ceiling windows. There are plants adorning the centre shelving unit offering free magazines and newspapers to read while you enjoy your breakfast.

The team there are so friendly and couldn't have been more attentive. I opted to go for a classic. Eggs Benedict only with a twist of Parma ham. Truly a match made in heaven, glossy hollandaise, rich soft brioche, golden poached eggs and salted parma ham. I was drooling. The locals cafe also places a huge importance on presentation, allowing for a killer Instagram.

Freya chose the truffled scrambled eggs with mushrooms and sourdough. It was rich, creamy and just the right amount of seasoning. We both love a good portion of beans, and when they arrived we were most intrigued. They were spicy, yet had a smokiness to them, a fantastic side dish.

We ALSO chose some pancakes to share in the middle. There were two options, however we are both big fans of coconut so we opted for the buckwheat pancakes with a blueberry compote and caramelised bananas. 

The coffee was sublime. Offering diary alternative milks along with your classic choices of cakes and treats to go.

I couldn't recommend 'The Locals Cafe' enough. Cleverly named as it sits well in a residential part of Victoria/Chelsea, I can see this being a HUGE hit! Even if you aren't in the area, it is worth the travel.

Click the link HERE to be taken to their Facebook page. They also have a drool worthy Instagram that I would recommend you follow HERE. 

Thank you so much for reading. 

Luke. 

Lets break the ICE

Hey guys...Okay that feels strange to type.

I have been rather absent from the blogging world, I always seem to start posts this way. Apologies aside I have a reasonable explanation. I created a YouTube channel and well there are only 24 hours in a day. I got a new job, dedicated my days off to create YouTube videos and well I guess I got distracted.

I would love to sit here and stay that blog posts are going to be a more regular thing however I don't want to make promises I can't keep.

However, what better way to come back with a bang than an outfit post. Recently I paired up with Ice Watch, to create an outfit incorporating their new range. Ever the watch lover I saw this as a perfect opportunity.

The weather has been CRAZY in London recently. Completely unpredictable to say the least, one minute it's thirty degrees, the next it's raining. Go figure.

I decided to opt for the 'Ice Dune' watch which is one of their newer watches. The watch itself is of fantastic quality with a silicone band and mineral glass face. Ice watches are instantly recognisable from their faces and this is no different. I absolutely love the watch, it matches perfectly with a monochrome outfit or as a solid piece of wrist wear with a bit of colour. Fashionable yet masculine with a sporty start edge.

I decided to keep it simple with my outfit, opting for an oversized blue BoohooMAN shirt and some skinny fit shorts from Topman. For footwear I decided to go for some classic Vans to finish off the casual outfit.

Here is a link for you guys to check out the Ice Watch Dune Collection: https://www.ice-watch.com/uk-en/collection-ice-watch/watch-ice-dune-black-big-014216.htm

March Favourites

It's nearly April and that scares me. I know everyone says it but seriously, where is this year going? I feel like you blink and skip a month. Madness. Anyway, aside from my anxiety over time I am back again for another monthly favourites. I really love these posts as it's a little insight into what people have been loving recently. So lets get straight into it.

Starting off with some cosmetic favourites. Recently I was sent some products by Charlotte Kidd to try out and share my thoughts on them. I received a full size tube of  'AP24 Whitening Fluoride Toothpaste' and a tester pot of a clay face mask. I have never been a believer in whitening toothpastes as I have never really seen results. However, trust me when I say this after two days I immediately saw a difference. My not only looked whiter but felt so much cleaner. I took a photo from the first time I used this and it is crazy to see the results.

The mask is also fantastic. As you have probably seen all over the internet there is this new craze with peel off blackhead masks. Now they may be effective but I wouldn't like to think what damage they do to your skin. This mask is a mud mask, so it dries really quick and completely pulls out all the dirt in your pores. I got about two uses out of the pot and it worked miracles! You need very little product and just focus on your oily areas. I couldn't get over how clean my skin felt after. Thank you to Charlotte for sending me these products to try out! 

Here are Charlottes links if you want to know more about the products:

Instagram: @charlotterebeccakidd

Email: nuskinck@hotmail.com

Now onto food or rather drink. Admittedly this category was tough as I have been eating out a lot recently with going home for the easter break. However, I recently bought this pot of hot chocolate by Green & Black's and honestly it is amazing. With most hot chocolate powders you are left with a artificial taste but this one is pure, rich chocolate. I absolutely love it!

 

For literature, I unintentionally chose something food related. I got this cookbook given to my for Christmas and have never really gotten round to using it. However, I took it back home with me to try and get some use out of it. It is essentially all classic, authentic, New York recipes. The photography is absolutely amazing too. I made the 'Eggs Benedict' and the classic 'NYC burger' which both were amazing! 

For footwear I have chosen to go for a pair of trainers that I have gotten so much wear out of recently. These are the Adidas Superstars and nearly every person owns a pair but they are just so easy to pull off. You can pair them with jeans for a casual vibe or smart trousers to add a little relaxed vibe to a smart outfit. I wore them religiously throughout March and probably will for the coming months.

Click here to shop.

Now, this candle had to be featured in my favourites. It is by a brand called 'Earl of East' and they are a London based candle company that produce the highest quality natural candles. I got the chance to make my own candle at an event I attended at the start of the month with Arcadia. I named mine 'Oxford Fresh' (terrible name I know) but we made it just off Oxford Street and it smells really fresh to me. I probably wont get a job in candle names however it smells amazing nonetheless.

Click here to be taken to their page.

And finally, a TV favourite. 'Toast' was aired on the BBC about seven ago. I remember when I first watched it, I was amazed from start to finish. Netflix have recently added it and I am very pleased to say the least. It is all about a young Nigel Slater, who now is a TV cook and author and his battle with his love of food and parents who are stuck in their ways. It has some fantastic actors in it too. You will laugh, cry and have serious food cravings after watching it. I can't recommend it enough.

So there we have it, a round up of everything I have been loving throughout the month of March. I hope you have enjoyed reading my favourites and getting to see everything I have been loving throughout March.

Thank you so much for reading,

Luke. 

Spring smart!

It came as quite a surprise when I was looking through my wardrobe, that I didn't own one pair of trousers. I have always been a jeans type of guy. I mean, I haven't really had any need to own any trousers. However, recently I have found myself branching into smarter clothing choices.

Spring trends are showing pairing a tucked in t-shirt/shirt with some fitted trousers to be super popular. I have been loving this look, it is something completely different for me. I chose to keep this outfit fairly neutral, opting for whites, blacks and greys. Not the most adventurous but it works.

The full outfit again is by boohooMAN, apart from the shoes. If you read my post about boohooMAN's new spring collection then you'll know all about this jacket. It's amazing. Super lightweight, amazing colour and it practically goes with every outfit. I paired it with a tucked in white t-shirt and some fitted black trousers that taper to your ankle.

For shoes I opted for some loafers. These are by Aldo and I absolutely love them. Really comfy and perfect for a warm day.

Again for accessories I kept it super simple with my Redherring watch from Debenhams, and some Topman wayfara sunglasses.

You can copy the codes into boohooMAN and shop the look here
Longline cap sleeve t-shirt: MZZ73493
Button through suedette trucker jacket: MZZ74513
Skinny stretch chino trouser: MZZ73989

boohooMAN | #NOVACANCY

Spring. It's officially here...well sort of give or take the odd rainy day. This is the UK after all. Aside from the warmer weather, I absolutely love this time of year. No longer do you need to have a hundred layers on to actually brave outside. It also means you can inject a bit more colour into your outfits.

We were super lucky when shooting this outfit as the weather was definitely on our side. Knightsbride is such a nice location to grab some outfit photos and you can even see some blossom starting to show on the trees. All very promising for a good few months ahead (hopefully).

Now, to the outfit. BoohooMAN have just dropped their #NOVACANCY Spring 2017 collection online and it is safe to say it is a winner. I opted to go fairly neutral with the colours of this outfit. I worked around the main piece of the outfit being the suedette grey jacket. It is really lightweight and can be paired with most items in my wardrobe. I wore it with some raw edge denim ripped jeans, a longline curved hem white t-shirt and some white Adidas superstars.

In terms of accessories I wore my black Red Herring watch and some aviator style sun glasses from Topman.

Shop my look by clicking the links below:

BUTTON THROUGH SUEDETTE TRUCKER JACKET 

LONGLINE LOOSE FIT CAP SLEEVE T SHIRT

SUPER SKINNY RAW EDGE DISTRESSED JEANS