Barbados UPDATED!

After countless Instagram and Twitter uploads, I think everyone has been fully aware that the London Mice have been on holiday! We apologise for all the smoasting, but it was just too good not to share with you all...every step of the way!

We're back...and consumed with holiday blues, but ready to share our 3BM finds...if a little begrudgingly!

Having been to Barbados four times before our obsession is pretty apparent, but we felt a fifth visit was in order just to make sure it's still as good as we remember and to check out any new additions! I can assure you it's still beautiful, crammed full of the most delectable food and officially still my happy place! How can you not love an island with a permanent back drop of this...

Sniff sniff...I miss it SO much!

So anyway...we've already parted with a whole heap of Barbados knowledge in our 2012 post, all still relevant but we of course have a few updates to jazz up your agenda!

Port St Charles Yacht Club is a new man made island jutting out into the azure ocean with stunning views of the west coast and naturally a glimpse into the life we all strive for...one filled with super yachts, handsome sailors and champagne served on silver trays!

We were recommended to check this place out by good friends, and I'm so happy we did. We ended up spending three of our precious days lounging all day long at this amazingly relaxing sanctuary! There are some days when even silky soft Barbados sands can drive you a little metal! (Although I would gladly roll around in it covered in honey right now if offered the chance!)

As long as you have lunch you are welcome to use the loungers and pool all day free of charge, however I say skip the pool and take a running jump off the decking into the crystal water...that's what I did...Katie not so much!

If you're after a break from the beach, reasonably priced super tasty cocktails, chilled Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and a finger licking good lunch, then I'm pretty confident I've found your true love...

You can't beat a good happy hour, but it's even better when it's at a super chic restaurant/bar (which is actually under the same group as The Ivy and Scott's) and set on a picture perfect beach! This beauty goes by the name of Daphne's.

We're yet to sample the dinner at Daphne's, however when we heard they do a happy hour every day from 5pm to 7pm, we were down there like a shot! They have the perfect setting on a cute, quiet beach perfect for a quick dip whilst you wait for your cocktails to arrive...which is exactly what we did!

I sampled a delicious Watermelon Martini and if the Zucchini Fritti are anything to go by, I'd say you're in for a treat for dinner as well!!

A huge pull to Barbados is not only the jaw dropping views surrounding you, but the unbelievable restaurants and food the island has to offer. To go all inclusive is a BIG shame, the food scene really is as good as it gets!

Now I have covered off all our favourites in my previous post...Tides, The Cliff, The Mews, Cariba...the list goes on BUT this year we thought we would check out Cin Cin By The Sea. It opened in 2011 but was a newbie to us (we haven't been back since then) and has been mentioned a fair few times to us so we thought why not check it out!

As the name the suggests it is set with views across the ocean, I definitely think it would more spectacular as a lunch spot, when it's dark it's mainly the sound of lulling water that gives it's location away rather than a view itself. However the website gallery shows what you miss with a dinner reservation...

The decor is very white and sleek - I can imagine Coleen Rooney pays a few visits on her holidays, and the food was delicious. I had the oxtail, mushroom and white truffle risotto to start, followed by seared salmon in banana butter with roasted garlic mash. I love the unusual flavour combinations that the menu encompasses, really offering something different to other restaurants on the island. The only disappointment was the lack of atmosphere, we were there mid week with a 9:30pm reservation and it already appeared that service was wrapping up.

Not quite up there with our originals, but definitely one I would go back to for lunch to really soak up that view and sample a few more of their delectable creations!

So that's our Mice updates for another year...we're all so sad it's over but boy did we have another fun Bajan adventure! Keep your eyes peeled for one last Barbados post later this week, full of all our holiday snaps to say one final farewell!!!

This Week The Mice Have Mostly Been...

Yes, yes it is!!! Friday my dear dear friend - I can say hand on heart that I have never been so glad to greet you! For Mini Mouse and I this week has been somewhat painful AKA f**king diabolical - our first week back to work after a blissful holiday in Barbados. Other than moaning and groaning every waking hour as reality sets in hard and fast, This Week The Mice Have Mostly Been...

Reminiscing about our perfect paradise getaway with two gorgeous friends of ours, V and Kitty...

We literally spent everyday worshipping the sun, relying on Pimms, gin and champagne to keep us suitably hydrated and eating as much delicious food as humanly possible! It really was a rip-roarer of a holiday with ALL of the trimmings...

Views sent from heaven...

Champagne at sunset...

Cricket - we didn't like it, we loved it...

Pimms O'clock for two weeks solid...

Coconuts galore...

Moisturising like a mad woman to keep our tans alive and kicking! Before heading off on holiday I stocked up on L'Occitane's lavish and ultra think body cream and treated myself to Clinique's moisture surge face cream in duty free. In the words on Pretty Woman - Big Mistake, Huge! I'm now in a spot of bother as on the one hand I proudly seem to be retaining a healthy peel-free tan whilst feeling as soft as a newly born pup BUT on the other hand i'm destined to turn into a poor piper trying to fund my newly found expensive moisturiser habits - #thirdworldproblems! 

Rubbing further salt in the post-holiday blues wound by attending an Hawaiian Tropic media event! But what better way to get over an ex holiday than dreaming of the next one waiting to sweep you off your feet! Sold and off we trotted to Shoreditch House on Wednesday for a night of secret garden summer themed fabulousness! We were greeted with scrummy cocktails...

Delectable mini burgers that Mini Mouse saw off in one...

Followed by a twirl in the summer centric photo booth, packed to the rafters with the best props money could buy... beach balls, sunnies, buckets and spades - you name it, they had it...

After we'd whipped around the garden having more than enough fun for a school night it was time to check out the Hawaiian Tropic goods which is why we were invited afterall! In all honestly I didn't expect to be as impressed as I was when I was taken through the new launches. My favourite has to be the Hawaiian Tropic Shimmer Effect sun lotion (RRP £13.99) - it does pretty much what it suggests... suntan lotion with a gorgeous golden shimmer effect. The only thing I could possibly moan about when it comes to a beach holiday is the first few days when you set foot on the beach with your pasty hasn't-seen-sunshine-for-yonks skin! Once the painful whiter than white Vampire-esque stage is over, you're left with the embarrassment of sunburnt patches in the most awkward and prominent of places - for me it's always my nose, upper lip, around my bikini edges and my feet... ouch and not in the least bit attractive! Anyway back to the point I was making, I reckon this is the secret weapon i've been waiting for - i'll be the envy of the whole beach! 

The new Silk Hydration Face SPF (RRP £11.99) was also pretty special. I hate wearing thick, heavy cream on my face in 30 degree heat - it clogs up your pores making you hotter and leaves you looking like a sweaty not-so-hot mess! This product promises to be lightweight, non-greasy and boasts nifty hydrating ribbons to keep your skin fully moisturised and the best part is, it smells of coconut! 

After a view more cocktails, we decided to hang up our buckets and spades and head home but not before being handed a goody bag close to bursting! That's me sorted for my next June holiday to Portugal! I can hardly wait already...

Which neatly brings me onto my parting words... over and out brown trout! Have a super weekend of R&R and see you back here refreshed and raring to go on Monday.

All our love,

The Mice xxx

This Week The Mice Have Mostly Been...

Oh there you are Friday!

I guess it's time for another round-up of all the goings on in Miceland...

Well, we come bearing good news! If over the last couple of weeks, you've been getting a bit bored of the blog being a bit like this...

You'll be delighted to hear...

Which is obviously all very sad for poor post-holiday Mini & Middle, but we're all deliriously happy aren't we? If only because it means an end to the constant stream of this sort of thing...

Not so smoasty now are you Middle and Mini?! Mwah ha ha ha! (I'm sorry girlies, that was REALLY mean!)

And when we haven't been posting incessant turquoise sea, white sand updates or churlishly pointing out that it's probably time to start unpacking, this week the Mice have mostly been...

Eyeing up the new season Oroton bag collection and getting seriously squealy on discovering that the clutch we've been lusting over since the Oscars is just a swipe of our credit cards away...

Remember how we swooned over Bond babe, Olga Kurylenko's Oscars look a couple of weeks ago? Well it turns out that her delicious gold mesh clutch is the Oroton Freize Clutch and is an altogether not too eye-poppingly-expensive US$185. We love!

So we thought we'd go and check it out in the flesh at the Hong Kong Ororton store in Causeway Bay...

And we're pleased to confirm it's just as blingtastic in real life - right at the top of our new season lust-haves! If you haven't heard of Oroton before, you're seriously missing out. Think Australian Michael Korrs meets Witchery - classic affordable accessories with a modern edge. 

The Hong Kong store carries a capsule collection of clothing, jewellery and sunglasses and a huge range of handbags of all shapes, sizes and hues. While we were there, it would have been rude not to have had a little browse around and check out all the other lovely bag candy in store.

Our toes were also thrilled to discover that Oroton has a line of very lovely shoes to have us hopping into spring with an almighty leap in our step. Our top picks are these bow-tastic courts for work...

Sepia Suede Bow Pumps
US$325

...and these Celine-esque animals for play.

Aboard Sneaker

US$185

If you aren't Hong Kong or Australia based fear not, you can shop the e-store and get your Oroton goodies shipped worldwide. What are you waiting for?! 

Oroton

Shop 9, G/F Empire Court,

2-4 Hysan Avenue,

Causeway Bay,

Hong Kong

+852 2866 6580

Paying a long overdue visit to beauty Mecca, the Skin Gym's brand new home for a little TLC. The Skin Gym has been a permanent feature in my Little Black Beauty Book for a while now, and Justine Grier (AKA the Skin Whisperer), the lady at the helm of this luxe beauty boutique has helped me out of many a beauty crisis...

In great news, the Skin Gym has now moved to a bigger, brighter more central location which means a whole host of awesome new therapists have come on board and they've even managed to fit in a snazzy infrared sauna to use pre-treatment or for a general detoxifying, destressing session.

Work stress and the bipolar weather we've been having in HK recently has been playing havoc with my skin, so I've been popping to the Skin Gym for regular facials. This week I kicked off my treatment with twenty minutes in the sauna which I loved and had the added bonus of twenty work-stress free minutes (Blackberries and saunas do not mix) and only a stack of gossip magazines for company - bliss! My facial was so relaxing I woke myself up forty minutes in with a giant piglet snore and my skin is already noticeably fresher and clearer. Skin Gym to the rescue yet again!

If you haven't popped by yet, I can't think of a nicer way to while away a couple of hours this weekend...

The Skin Gym 

The Centrium,
21st Floor, Room 6,
60 Wyndham Street,
Hong Kong.

+852 2810 8088

And that wraps up another week blog buds. I'm off to "workout"...

x

The Mice

This Week the Mice have Mostly Been

Another week bites the dust, and now it's time for the weekend! Woo hoo!

This week one Mouse has been up to her eyeballs in work, while the other two have been lazing on various white beaches in Barbados... 

Sometimes life just isn't fair! And when we haven't been smugly sipping cocktails at sunset or forlornly lamenting our lot, this week the Mice have mostly been...

Nailing it at the brand new luxe mani spot in town, the Loft. If you can't have your toes buried in Caribbean white sands, they should at least be perfectly pedicured and painted a bright holiday coral. So HK Mouse thought it was basically essential to spend a whole morning getting seriously spoilt at the Loft, little sister of Sheung Wan's beauty hotspot, the Nail Library. Perched on the escalators just above Iyara, the Loft is without a doubt our new favourite place to get pampered in Central.

The Loft offers flawless manis, pedis and nail art as well as a variety of decadant treatments. Owner, Ping Lam, ensures that from the moment you arrive you're relaxed, happy and super indulged. The Loft's library of nail polishes is the best we've ever come across anywhere in the world, a rainbow of colours await you far beyond the usual nail bar offering of Essie and Opi. Choose from high fashion options like YSL, Tom Ford or Marc Jacobs or detox and go for one of the 5-free brands that the Loft carries, think - ncLA and Kure Bazaar.

The decor at the loft is urban-chic with vintage touches throughout. Settle your weary Hong Konged-out self into one of the leather armchairs, grab a stack of mags (handily stored in a dresser and sorted into separate drawers for fashion, gossip and Lifestyle), and prepare to be beautified. 

We were treated to a Panpuri Path Less Ordinary foot ritual  - a blissful 45 minutes of toe-curlingly amazing foot scrub, massage and mask - topped off with a pedicure and an ncLA coral paint job. Next up, a spin in the vintage barber's chair (the comfiest perch in Hong Kong by a long shot) where we tried out the men's wet shave, energising massage and facial treatment (excluding the wet shave part, obviously...).  

We can confidently confirm that whether you're a girl, a boy or an alien, if you're feeling even vaguely stressed or in need of a little love this weekend, a time out at the Loft will leave you feeling like a whole new person with very pretty nails! HK Mouse even forgot her Barbados Blues for a couple of blessed out hours... 

Getting Oscars Fever and poring over the Vanity Fair Party photos from Hollywood's night of nights. 

Monday morning saw us up as the sun rose to pore over every sequin and stiletto that strolled down the red carpet at the 86th Academy Awards. We brought you our round-up of what we loved and what we loathed earlier this week, but we're still swooning over all the post-ceremony party pics. If you haven't caught up yet, here're our favs...

 

And on that note, it's probably time to wish you all a VERY...

Have a wonderful weekend!

x

The Mice