Yearly Archives: 2018

Degustabox- July 2018*

06th August 2018

Box c/o Degustabox

I can’t believe this is the seventh Degustabox post I am writing this year, it really is true what they say- the years go by quicker and quicker as you get older (not to mention, time flies when you’re having fun!). This month’s box turned up when I was on holiday and life has been a whirlwind of busy since I got back- this does mean it’s not the most comprehensive review post I’ve ever written, but hopefully I’ll be forgiven.
I’m not a big fan of crisps in their traditional format so I passed these on to my Mum, who is, to see what she thought. Neither of us had heard of London Flavours before but were very taken with their funky packaging. The Cheddar and Red Onion flavour went down especially well and would definitely be purchased again if we saw them.
If you’ve read previous posts you’ll know I was taken with the BBQ variety of the Peckish rice crackers, so was excited to see a multi-portion tray of another flavour in this month’s box. This wouldn’t have been my top choice of flavour if I was shopping for them myself, but in terms of packing a flavour punch and being super crispy and addictive savoury snack I’m a fan. Each portion has less than 100 calories and this tray makes them perfect for sharing at a summer get-together.
This salted caramel raw chocolate brownie from Pulsin went to my Dad who is always on the search for healthier lunch box snacks. He really enjoyed this, and I wish there was a way I could try one for myself, but the main ingredient is peanuts so it’s sadly a no go for me. I see so many people rave about Pulsin snacks, and the verdict in our household was that it’s impossible to imagine this actually being good for you (but it is!)
More Capsicana products in this month’s box, and I am sorry to say I am yet to try either of them. I’m excited to get cooking with the smoked paprika and spices seasoning mix as I love the taste of paprika- I’m thinking of some kind of smokey chicken salad using the guacamole mix to make some homemade guac to go on the side- I’m not a big avocado lover but I’ll take one for the team to try this out. Both products are due to launch in Sainsbury’s stores this month.
Miso is one of those foods I go through phases with, and currently I’m really enjoying it after a recent lunch at Itsu. This barley and miso soup is different to anything I’ve experienced before but is making a welcome addition to my work day lunches- I chuck in some chunks of tofu to bulk it up and whilst I haven’t quite perfected it yet I’m well on the way.
Who doesn’t know Heinz Salad Cream? A picnic staple of my youth, I’m not so much a fan of it these days but nevertheless this bottle is slowly but surely going down. I always preferred salad cream to mayo when paired with tuna or egg so I might make up a batch of one or the other for my lunches this week…I’m sure the people in my office will love me for that one. What are you favourite salad cream combinations?
I love fruit pastilles! In fact I love all sweets (I am the proverbial kid in a sweet shop when Wilko have half price pick ‘n mix) but I’m trying to cut down my refined sugar intake so knowing there are lower sugar (30% less) alternatives to some of my favourites on the market is reassuring. These don’t really taste any different to their full sugar counterparts thankfully, and I am sure the rate at which they were inhaled counteracts the reduction in sugar content, oops! Best straight from the fridge, am I right?
Rhubarb cider? Even I was tempted by this can from Rosie’s Pig flat tyre. I haven’t tried it yet but I have it chilling in the fridge and have quite high hopes despite not being a cider drinker. I’m a sucker for anything rhubarb flavoured and have high hopes for this!

The sparkling ribena on the other had has long since disappeared. Finally a low calorie soft drink served in pubs that isn’t diet coke/pepsi max! Both of these flavours were so good served icy cold, especially the blackcurrant. Ideal for sunny afternoons in the pub garden when you know you have to drive home. I hope these are sold in shops as well as pubs at some point as I want a bulk lot.

The inclusion of a hot chocolate in a summer box did baffle me slightly, especially mid heatwave! But still, I diligently made a few cups of this and it is good…low calorie hot chocolate is never going to be amazing and does have a tendency to go watery but this holds up pretty well. A splash of milk makes all of the difference though, trust me.

Last but not least we have an iced coffee from Percol coffee. Bob is the king of cold coffee it was only fair I passed this his way to test out- I’d never have been forgiven if I didn’t! He wouldn’t usually choose a flat white, he’s a latte kind of guy, but did enjoy this once we remembered to chill it, and at £1.50 they are pretty competitively priced and we’d stock our fridge up if we saw them on offer.

For those who don’t yet know, Degustabox* is a monthly food subscription box that gives you the chance to try new and exciting products on the market whilst providing amazing value for money.
On a month by month basis the box costs £12.99 (with a discount for longer subscriptions) but the contents are generally worth far more than this as you can see if you do the maths.
If you’re persuaded to give Degustabox a go (and really, you should) you can claim a brilliant £5.00 off of your first box (making it just £7.99!) by entering the code 6HZJ8 at the checkout. It’s been a pleasure to work with the brand regularly over the last couple of years and it’s without a doubt something that I will continue to purchase long after our partnership ends. I love the monthly surprise and excitement as well as the chance to discover products I’d otherwise pass up on the supermarket shelves.
Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products and what you thought of them.

Posted in brands I love, food, review

Permalink 2 Comments

Reasons to Start a Technical Career*

04th August 2018

Photo by Marvin Meyer on Unsplash

Since we are now in a world which revolves around technology, a career in a technical area is a wise choice for all sorts of people. This is a broad category, and there are plenty of areas of specialism which may prove to be perfect for you. A lot of people who get into technical careers find themselves working in a very flexible manner – either working remotely as freelancers, or even starting companies of their own. So, let’s run through just some of the top reasons why you would want to start a technical career yourself.

Variety of Different Career Paths

As we have just mentioned, getting involved in a technical career is not limiting and there are all sorts of different paths which could prove to be right for you. Some of the top choices out there include technical writer, web developer, computer engineer (take a look at a master computer engineering course if you think that this is right path for you), SEO consultant and many more. Of course these jobs are competitive and require you to keep ahead of the competition if you want to achieve great levels of success.

You Can See What You Study

Unlike some jobs which may leave you wondering if what you are doing is making a real difference, there is a very practical element to working in a technical job. You are the one building the website, fixing the issue, writing the code etc. You have something to show from your work, and there is certainly a level of satisfaction to be gained from this.

Flexible Working Style

Many jobs allow for a greater degree of flexibility these days, and this is certainly the case with ones in the technical field. Since many of these jobs only need a laptop or computer you can set up from wherever you would like once you have established a business, a group of clients or an arrangement with your current company. And as your skills start to develop you can advance up the career ladder, which is likely to lead to bigger pay-checks as well.

You Will be in Demand

As the world is coming to rely more and more on technology for all sorts of different areas of life you are likely to find yourself readily in demand – especially as your skills start to advance. Essentially you will want to establish a particular niche for yourself as soon as possible, and work hard to develop your skills in that particular area. But since you have chosen such a fast-moving industry to work in you also need to make sure that you keep your skills fresh and up to date. Otherwise, you could find yourself falling behind the times and at risk of your skills becoming obsolete.

Now is as good a time as any to start off your career journey in a technical field, and these are just some of the top reasons why this is the case.

Posted in life stuff, tech, work

Permalink

The Animal Print Shirt Dress

30th July 2018
I absolutely love the dress in this post, although the circumstances under which I purchased it perhaps not so much. In what was perhaps my biggest sartorial fail ever, I found myself in the middle of my local shopping centre when the strap of my camisole dress just gave up on me. I didn’t even notice until a very kind lady pointed out I was flashing (my hugely unattractive nude t-shirt bra) at all and sundry and I dashed red-faced to the only clothes store in town, New Look, to make an emergency purchase.

Animal Print Dress: New Look | Black Sandals: Topshop (similar here)

I’m loving shirt dresses at the moment, they are perfect for feeling more put together on a bad body image day, not to mention versatile; for work, for play, for smart and for casual. The midi length of this dress added to it’s appeal and I just adore the khaki and animal print combination. I predict much wear from this little beauty, making it an absolute bargain at £24.99

As much as I’m not ready to give up on Summer, I am ready to embrace Autumn/Winter fashion after seeing promising new arrivals on the high street. Some serious discipline needs to be exercised not to go mad, I really need to make considered purchases only- and hopefully no more wardrobe malfunction driven ones, even if it is a gem!

It was back to work for me today after two weeks out of the office. The first week was, as mentioned in previous posts, spent in The Algarve with Bob, whilst the second was spent cramming in a solid chunk of driving lessons in the hope that maybe one day in the not too distant future (well, by the end of 2018) I might pass a test after a 14 year journey.

Already time spent on the beach feels like a very distant memory. It’s always good to get back to routine though and I’m ready and raring to go on my journey to health (despite current body image woes, and reluctance once again to accept there’s still some weight to gain) and tackle the next few months of adventures and exciting things, like setting up home with Bob.

What have you been up to lately?

Posted in dresses, fashion, lifestyle, outfits, personal style, shopping

Permalink 2 Comments

Hidden Costs That Are Draining Your Finances*

25th July 2018

If I asked you whether you are on top of your finances you would probably say yes, right? However, you may not be aware of the hidden costs as discussed below that are draining your financial resources without you being aware of it. Luckily, you can re-educate yourself and put a stop to this; read on to find out how.

Poor credit score

Now, you may not realise that if your three-digit credit score is low, it could be costing you extra money! In fact, the smaller it is, the harder it can be to get credit and lenders will charge you higher interest rates. This basically means that those with a lower credit score will be charged more for the same things than those with higher ones.

Luckily there is a way to rectify this, by repairing your credit report. This is something you can do by learning how to remove negative items from credit report yourself, or by going to a professional repair company that can perform this service for you. Then, as long as you keep up with your payments and ensure they are on time your credit score should rise to a much healthier figure, in turn preventing any unnecessary drain on your finances – just remember not to go wild with your new found financial freedom and rack up more debt!

Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

Bank Charges

It has always struck me as weird that banks charge people for going into their overdrafts because, it means that those with the least end up being punished for it and sometimes it’s just unavoidable! Of course, these aren’t only banking fees that you may be paying either as you may have to paid up for a premium account that you don’t really need, or had a returned cheque or direct debit.

The thing to do here to avoid these is to keep a better eye on your spending which can stop you incurring such charges. Also, take a good long look at the advantages of your premium account and review whether they are worth the monthly cost? If not, swap back down to normal one and save yourself some money!

Catalogue shopping

Now, I know that shopping via a catalogue can be very convenient, after all you don’t have to drag yourself to a store and try things on in that awful white fluorescent light in the changes rooms. In fact, you can do everything from the comfort of your own home and even pair new items with older pieces to see if they work well in your wardrobe.

However, if you are going to shop in this way then make sure that you buy the items outright instead of putting them on your account. Why? Well, catalogue credit accounts often have an insanely high-interest rate of 30% or over. This means that even if you only buy a few items you can pretty much never pay them off as long as you are just fulfilling the minimum payment each month. Of course you are then charged more interest on what you owe and the whole cycle begins again and becomes an ever-present drain on your finances. Not to mention you’re paying way over the odds for each item you buy.

Photo by William Iven on Unsplash

To that end, refrain from adding items to your catalogue credit account and shop in normal stores instead. Even if you think you are just buying items from the catalogue to try them on the temptation will be strong to keep them and pay for them later! Buy now pay later deals lure us in, but who actually pays them before the interest free period runs out?

Have you ever experienced hidden charges for your every day finances? How do you keep on top of them?

end

Posted in finance, lifestyle

Permalink

Exploring The Algarve & my new favourite Bikini

25th July 2018
I’m currently on week two of a much needed break from work, and whilst this week is filled with more practical things (like attempting to conjure up blog content and doing a block booking of driving lessons), last week Bob and I spent five glorious days exploring the Algarve.

Neither of us had been to Portugal before and weren’t entirely sure what to expect. It’s certainly a beautiful part of the world, and everyone we met was so friendly and welcoming.
We hired a car for the duration of our trip, which was essential as the villa we were staying it was in quite a remote location, but it gave us the freedom to explore many of the towns and cities along the coast and we certainly packed a lot in to our short trip. The Algarve Shopping centre was a great stop when seeking respite from the sun, and evening beach strolls might just be our new favourite activity.

We didn’t spend an awful lot of time on the beach, we were more keen to explore the area- and I managed to get epic sunburn on the first day which meant keeping covered was key (and yes, I was slathered in sun cream, but foolishly thought factor 30 would be ok on my english rose skin!). What time we did spend on the beach was mostly based at Praia dos Salgados, by far our favourite stretch of sand as it was somehow less crowded than the other beaches we tried and had a gorgeous nature reserve behind it were we wandered happily spotting turtles in the water.

It was here we photographed my new favourite bikini c/o UK Swimwear. Braving a bikini was a huge deal for me as this was the first time I’ve ever been abroad at anything even remotely resembling a healthy weight. Thankfully this beautifully detailed bikini by Piha helped persuade me. I love the unique back strap detail and the flattering crop top style. I wasn’t brave enough to go full bikini on the blog so slung on some ASOS jersey shorts at the last minute, but you get the idea.
This was my most worn bikini of the holiday, and whilst I might have once balked at nearly £60 for a set, this has convinced me it’s worth investing.

We’d definitely go back to The Algarve. There is so much more we want to see and do – and eat! We had some absolutely amazing food out there, and if anyone is planning on heading near Albufeira this year then both Bob and I 100% recommend taking a trip to Galé and having dinner at Massa Fina– it might not be traditional Portugese food, but this was hands down the best pasta (me) and Calzone (Bob) that we’ve ever had. You will need to book a table, but it’s 100% worth it.

Where have you been holidaying this year? I had intended to make more of this post by sharing a lot more photos, but it turns out we were so busy having fun and taking in our surroundings that we barely took any- what kind of blogger am I?

end

Posted in fashion, food, holiday, lifestyle

Permalink 3 Comments