101 Beautiful Things | A review of beautiful items, luxury and affordable to buy and appreciate

12th January 2020

Tutankhamun

There are some stories that you are told as a child which are so mysterious and fascinating that they remain with you throughout your life and occasionally pop into your consciousness and come flooding back. The story of Tutankhamen is one of those for me.

I remember as a young child being taken to the Tutankhamun exhibition at the British Museum in the early 1970s and being told this amazing story of how his burial chamber was found and how there was a curse put on the team who discovered it. At that point there had been some deaths among the team but I have since learned that the curse story was all a massive media stunt. A bit disappointing but a relief for the families of their descendants no doubt.

The 1972 exhibition was a huge event and the highlight was the gold death mask, inlaid with lapis lazuli, obsidian and quartz. Truly stunning. It spawned a lot of merchandise, everyone was cashing in on its popularity there were dresses, stamps, plates and even makeup depicting Tutankhamun.

The exhibition that is currently on at the Saatchi gallery in London Tutankhamun – Treasures of the Golden Pharoah, sadly doesn’t have the mask on display but it does have an amazing selection of artefacts gathered from the tomb. Even though they are over three thousand years old the preservation of these items means they are in immaculate condition and the craftsmanship is quite spectacular.

There is also a really interesting timeline showing pictures from the discovery of the tomb, the reveal and the whole process of sifting through so many items, preserving and cataloguing them. There is also some press around the 1972 exhibition showing what a massive event it was and how it really gripped the nation. Definitely worth a visit if you are around London.

This post is not sponsored and I purchased the tickets.

1st December 2019

Red lipstick

There is something about Autumn and Winter that says red lipstick and red wine to me. Put away the nudes and get out the red. I love red lipstick. To me there is nothing more stunning than seeing a woman come towards you wearing a red lip. It stands out, says power and makes the whole face light up.

Having said that, it does take some maintenance to keep it looking good. There is nothing worse than a dark red line around your lips when you have eaten and drunk something and the inner area has worn away which doesn’t appear so obvious with a nude lip. I know some people hate seeing women reapply their lipstick in public but I love the ‘don’t give a damn about what people think, I don’t need to hide away in the bathroom’ attitude.

I have several red lipsticks in varying shades of red, from orange reds to blue reds and a few pink reds in all finishes. The one shown is Ruby Woo by Mac. I know this is a real favourite among makeup junkies. It is a bluey red, which looks great on a paler skin and makes your teeth look white, but for me I like a warmer tone. My favourite is Liza Red by Mac, sadly no longer available. It is a true pillar box red and when I finish the current one, I will be scouring the reds to find a similar tone.

If you are thinking: ‘I can’t wear red’, just try it. It can be a bit intimidating when you first apply it and see yourself in the mirror, but dab a bit on from the bullet and build it up gradually. I guarantee people will pay more attention to what you are saying and will really watch your lips as you speak.

17th November 2019

Marvis toothpaste

If there was ever a toothpaste that had a cult following, it is surely this one by Marvis. Much loved by celebrities and beauty bloggers alike, it is seen in many a trendy bathroom and sold in high-end department stores such as Selfridges and Harvey Nichols. The Marvis website even has its own gallery of art showing the works of various artists inspired by their toothpaste.

It does looks very smart, with bright colours depicting the different flavours such as Jasmine Mint, Aquatic Mint, Ginger Mint, Liquorice Mint – there are seven in total. But it does not come cheap. It is about five times more expensive that your average high-street brand but makes a interesting gift.

This Italian on-trend brand plays on its apothecary image. Although it looks as if it has been around for hundreds of years, this toothpaste first went on sale 50 years ago. It became popular in the seventies as it was purported to remove tobacco stains and whiten teeth. Not sure if it can still boast that but it does have a slightly gritty texture.

I have only tried Ginger Mint and I have to say I couldn’t taste any ginger – if there was some it was completely overwhelmed by the taste of mint. Despite the hefty price tag, however, I am still intrigued to try some of the other flavours. Which got me thinking: Why is toothpaste generally always minty? Why not lemon or other fresh flavours?

I bought the travel gift pack shown for a friend and it comes in a really nice gift pack. Perfect for someone who travels a lot and enjoys having nice things.

Available HERE. (Non affiliate) All items purchased by me.

3rd November 2019

Nigella’s Lemon Polenta Cake

Here in the UK we have just seen the final of the current series of The Great British Bake-Off. If you are not familiar with this TV programme, it is a competition to find the best bakers in Britain and is a much loved TV show which probably inspires a lot of the population to get their mixing bowls out and start baking. So here is my tribute to what has become a bit of an institution.

I am not an enthusiastic baker by any stretch of the imagination and you are unlikely to ever be offered home baking at my house. But this cake is a firm favourite. It is my go to dessert when entertaining for dinner and never fails to impress, with guests regularly coming back for a second slice. It is also wheat-free which suits coeliacs and the wheat intolerant among my friends and family.

It is easy to make and turns into a lovely moist lemony cake which is really golden once you cut into it. I really like it served with creme fraiche, as the slight tanginess marries perfectly with the sweetness of the cake. The recipe features in one of Nigella Lawson’s many cookbooks and, for time poor cooks like myself, her recipes have never let me down.

Try it for yourself. I guarantee you will be love it. HERE

20th October 2019

Eileen Gray E1027 Occasional Table

This table exudes a certain elegance, with a femininity about it that suits bedrooms or areas of relaxation. The glass top depicts a fragile nature but is offset by the chrome structure which delivers strength and beauty. As with all great designs, it is simple but very clever. A timeless classic, as modern looking today as it was when it was designed in 1927 by Eileen Gray.

Gray was born in Ireland in 1878. She studied at the Slade School of Art and was a renowned architect and furniture designer. At the beginning of her career she was best known for her lacquer screens or room dividers which adorned wealthy Parisian homes. Around 1920 she met and became influenced by her Modernist friends and contemporaries, such as Le Corbusier. As a result her work became simpler and more functional, as exemplified by the E1027 table pictured and the Castellar Mirror (1927), which has a section that folds out to show the user other angles. Gray designed both of these for use in her own house.

It is not just her more modern looking pieces that are highly coveted. An earlier and more elaborate chair, the Fauteuil aux Dragons (Dragon Chair 1917) – designed by Gray and once owned by Yves Saint Laurent – went on sale at Christie’s auction house in 2009. It was expected to sell for $2million but was actually sold for $28 million.

The E1027 Adjustable Table is an iconic piece and although Aram are the only official worldwide licensed producers of the table there are many copies available for sale.