Yearly Archives: 2019

Building the perfect gift*

11th March 2019
With Mother’s Day creeping up on us (here in the UK at least), and the seemingly never-ending arrival of Birthdays and other gift-giving occasions there’s never a bad time to do a gift guide kind of post, especially not when it’s one where you can really give the personal touch. Nomination Bracelets are one such perfect gift, you can buy it for one celebration and then add to it for years to come; from Zodiac Charms to birthstones, quirky slogans and pretty prints, there is a something for everyone and every occasion- tell someone you love them, celebrate a special holiday or just let someone know you are thinking of them. I think these are perhaps more wearable than traditional charm bracelets as they sit flat on the wrist, some of my favourite picks for a Mother’s Day bracelet are below:
I’m really enjoying the Birthstone range as a starting point for any bracelet. Your birthstone is said to bring you luck, and each stone has a unique positive energy which is supposed to be transmitted to its wearer. I think it’s a lovely place to start. I’ve surrounded the Birthstone with other charms that represent my Mum and what she means to be; I’ve also included her zodiac sign, a cat (I inherited her crazy cat lady genes!), a couple of little reminders of what she means to be as well as some cute and quirky disc charms to give the bracelet some texture and provide random reminders of stupid conversations we’ve had and things we’ve experienced together.

I’m a firm believer in giving gifts with a personal touch and this is the perfect way in which to do. Every item is made in Italy, where the brand originates from and is made to the highest standards. Who would you build a bracelet for? Head over the website to discover more!

Posted in brands I love, gifts, inspiration, jewellery

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Degusta and Chill- the February Box

07th March 2019
It seems like Pablo gatecrashing the party is going to become a new theme as he just can’t keep away from the Degustabox* delivery when it arrives! Whilst it’s actually the cardboard that his little feline heart desires, I’m very much about the contents and the February box, with it’s “Degusta and Chill” theme was an interesting one.
Explore cuisine organic chickpea fusilli is a pasta made from plant-based protein and fibre. It’s organic, suitable for vegans and gluten free! I’ve seen these kind of pasta alternatives on the shelves and wondered how they’d be- I really like this as an change from the norm but at £3 it’s too expensive for me to consider regularly. It made a nice change though.
I’ve tried seaweed snacks in the past and I’m the kind of person who loves them. Whilst not much of a snack at 18 calories per bag (although great for anyone on a diet), these Clearspring Organic Seaveg Crispies with Tumeric are oddly tasty. They contain only four ingredients and are high in fibre, gluten free and vegan. Again pricey at £2.59 but worth a try and good as a salad booster.
These funky looking products from Choc Chick were the ones I was most excited to try from this month’s box. Here we have Quinoa Pops and Plantain Bites- both vegan, being coated in Ecuadorian single origin organic Cacao. They both contain 50% less sugar than your average chocolate snack, and whilst I wasn’t so keen on the plantain ones, the quinoa variety are completely addictive. I can’t describe either of the snacks adequately, I’ve never had anything like them to compare them to, all I can say is if you’re intrigued, treat yourself (RRP £1.85 a bag so definitely a treat!)
I’m on a bit of a sweets kick at the moment and these Watermelon jelly gums from Bebeto are delicious! At just 50p a bag there is a reason why these are the brand’s biggest UK seller. Fruity and delicious, there has been a gap in the market for a watermelon flavour sweet in my opinion, and these fill it nicely.
There were two packs of these Brioche Folded Flatbreads by Deli Kitchen in the box and I gave one to my Mum to try as she was as excited by them as I was. They make a lovely and slightly sweet change to my usual soup dipper of choice and also make an excellent lunch time sandwich alternative- especially packed full of chicken, salad and balsamic. Yum! These will be a regular purchase from now- £1.25 a pack (and they freeze wonderfully).
I have a friend who once worked in a pork scratching factory and her stories put me off for life. Bob however really enjoyed these bags from Snaffling Pig- and from what I gather this brand is THE brand to buy.
Can you go wrong with a jar of Pesto? I don’t think so! Especially not if you’re Sacla. Their new reduced fat pesto has 30% less fat than their regular jar. It cleverly replaces the cheese with tofu making it vegan friendly, and whilst I am yet to crack this jar open I have high hopes for it. It’s available now for £2.50 a jar.
I kind of felt like these cartons of milk were a bit of a random choice for the box, but whatever! I don’t like milk but Bob does, and he’s ploughed through this in the evenings with a thumbs up. Perfect for anyone who loves milk, or who has lunch boxes to pack for their kids- £1.00 per pack.
What can I say about Orangina that hasn’t been said before? It’s a classic for good reason, and I’m always delighted to get a bottle in Degustabox.
Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products and what you thought in the comments.
If you’re new to Degustabox, it’s 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.

Posted in food, review, Uncategorized

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UK Television: What are the most iconic fictional streets?*

04th March 2019
With work being very much the focal point for most people in the UK it’s no wonder that we use TV as an escape. From daily TV shows to action packed movies we use anything as an excuse to get away from the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives. Here we look at some of the most iconic streets in which characters we all know and love live on.

Photo by Pawel Kadysz on Unsplash

Privet Drive
We were first introduced to this fictional street in the book Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling which was first published in 1997 (how?!). Located in Surrey this street was home to the Dursley family, which included Vernon, Petunia, and their son Dudley, who all lived at number four.

In 1981 this perfectly normal street became slightly more interesting as Vernon and Petunia’s nephew, Harry James Potter, was left on their doorstep by one of the greatest wizards of all time, Albus Dumbledore after his parents were tragically murdered by the Dark Lord himself, Lord Voldemort.

The suburban street consists of ‘boxy’ houses with gardens at the front and back — each quite identical in design. The name of the street came from a privet bush, which is a hedge that isolates houses as Rowling herself thought this linked quite well as the Dursley’s had a desire to segregate themselves from the Wizarding World — despite having strong family ties.

Today, you can visit the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London to see the film set in real life. Sometimes the interior is open to the public so make sure you check ahead of visiting although we know you’ll be just as pleased posing next to the vintage street sign. The actual home that was used in the first film recently made headlines after being put on the market for almost £500,000!

Cherry Tree Lane
You’ll be more than familiar with Cherry Tree Lane especially if you recently visited the cinema to see Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns. We were first introduced to the fiction street in 1934 when author P.L. Travers released the first book of her Mary Poppins series. The street is most notably home to the Banks family, who lived at number 17 and has been passed down to each generation.

There has been a number of remarkable and magical events that have occurred on this street, and of course Mary Poppins initial landing is one of them. What else makes this location supercalifragilisticexpialidocious is that it’s also home to Admiral Boom and Mr. Binnacle, who were once members of England’s navy and keep their house in ‘shipshape’ — with an actual ship on the roof which fires a cannon twice a day! As well as this there are countless chimney sweepers and path illustrators!

Although there is no specific location for where Cherry Tree Lane could be, it is thought that Travers based her vision off townhouses in Kensington or her own home on Smith Street in Chelsea — which now has an English Heritage plaque outside.

Coronation Street
Based in the fictional town of Weatherfield in Salford, Coronation Street has definitely made its way into hearts of British viewers after gracing screens for the first time in 1960 on ITV. Created by Tony Warren, the street is thought to have been built in 1902 and compromised of a row of seven terraced houses with the iconic Rovers Return Inn and corner shop at each end.

The show itself has been home to many dramas and is the longest-running soap opera in the world. Because of its popularity, writers had to introduce new characters and locations over the years to create a more representative environment for viewers at home to relate with. Today you’ll still find the iconic Rovers Return Inn and D&S Alahan’s corner shop, but also be introduced to The Kabin newsagents, Roy’s Rolls café, and lingerie-making business Underworld as well as other communal areas.

There are quite a few storylines you’ll remember from this show, from the ‘Free the Weatherfield One’ campaign where Deirdre Rachid was given an 18-month sentence for a crimes she didn’t commit to Hayley Cropper née Harold Patterson becoming the first transgender character on the show. There’re a lot of storylines that made a significant impact on the British public that still live on almost 60 years later.

You can walk down the famous cobbles yourself with an outdoor street tour that take place on the weekends. Located at MediaCityUK in Manchester the 80-minute tour also includes the set of Rosamund Street and the never-before-seen Victoria Street.

Baker Street
Home to everyone’s favourite detective, 221b Baker Street is where Sherlock Holmes lived and worked. Although you may need to wear your deerstalker cap to find it, as the building is strangely located between 237 and 241. Penned by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock has become one of the most influential literary characters associated with British culture.

Today the address functions as a museum which is open every day from 9:30am to 18:00pm and costs adults £15 and children under 16 £10. You’ll be able to explore the home Sherlock shared with his main companion, Dr Watson — including the sitting room, the laboratory, the iconic study and more.

You may be surprised to read that when the stories were first published, though the street itself wasn’t fictional, the address ‘221b Baker Street’ certainly was as the addresses in Baker Street did not go as high as 221 — but this was soon extended. The Abbey National Building Society occupied the addresses 219-229 from 1931 and had to employ a full-time secretary to answer mail addressed to Sherlock Holmes! There was a 15-year dispute on who should receive the letters though, the building society or the museum.

There’s a lot of fictional streets here in the UK. Which ones are your favourite?

Posted in information alert

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Does the Scandinavian style have a place in the garden?*

04th March 2019

The Scandinavian style takes a minimalist approach and blends calm colours such as pale blue, cool grey, white and cream with simple but effective designs. The Scandinavian or ‘Hygge’ way of life is to create a mood of cosiness throughout your home and to have a feeling of wellness and content.

If you’re a social media user or a Netflix subscriber then the chances are you’ve at least heard of Marie Kondo and her now-famous KonMari method. KonMari is the latest trend buzzing around the internet, and it’s a delightful one.
By the end of a long session of KonMari-ing, you will have no doubt picked up items you haven’t seen in years, eBayed a huge portion of clutter, and discovered a suddenly much more minimalist look to the home. Which, in turn, makes it a lot less daunting to tidy up in the future.

So, once our homes are suitably minimalist, clean, tranquil, tidy, hygge’d and KonMari’d, what’s left for these de-cluttering trends? Well, we reckon these useful concepts certainly have a place in the gardens of 2019, and now is the perfect time to get planning!

Photo by Jason Abdilla on Unsplash

Top 2019 garden trends
The low-maintenance, calm culture of hygge is still appealing to people in 2019. In fact, Garden Design is touting low-maintenance gardens with cosy retreat-spots nestled within as the top trend for 2019 — it has Scandinavian style written all over it!

But before you create your own little cosy garden space you’re going to need a clean canvas. It’s time to embrace the internet-and-Netflix sensation and KonMari your garden.

How can you adopt KonMari in your garden

Firstly, for those who haven’t heard of it, KonMari is essentially tidying by category rather than by room. The aim is to look through all your things and consider if it ‘sparks joy’, and if it doesn’t, discard it. Whatever is left is truly needed and you can tidy it away. The method runs through five categories: clothing, books, papers, komono, and sentimental items.

As we are heading out into the garden, we’re sitting in the komono category really- and that’s described as miscellaneous items. So, gather up all your garden items from the shed, around the lawn/wherever your store it, pile it up and give it all a good tidy! Keep what sparks joy and discard what doesn’t…simple! You’ll be left with the minimum you need and your garden with be thoroughly decluttered. Take this opportunity to tidy up the lawn itself and any pathways too.

With this canvas to work on, let’s set about planning out a Scandinavian, hygge-worthy garden for 2019!

Giving your garden a little Scandinavian twist

One of the main trends for gardens in 2019 is low-maintenance; everlasting plants that don’t take a lot of looking after but still bloom and keep your garden looking colourful. If your garden has large pathways then stones that don’t need repairing constantly could be a great asset to your Scandinavian style as the neutral tone of stone is heavily used.

Patio fruits have also became another trend for 2019; with the idea of growing your own fruit and veg really taking off last year, this trend is set to carry on into 2019 with more focus on fruits. Patio fruits like strawberries, goji berries and raspberries take up hardly any space and are very easy to care for so don’t shy away from trying to grow your own, even if your track record isn’t great!

Building ‘hygge’ into your garden

This year’s main trend for outdoor spaces is secluded retreats within the garden. These can be anything from ‘she-sheds’, a small fire pit and seating area in the corner of the garden or a mini staycation inspired hideaway.

With low-maintenance still being the main focus of your garden, you might want to take a look at quality-timber Log Cabins when investing in a retreat spot for your garden. To keep your cabin looking pristine you should only need to apply treatment every now and again, the higher quality it is then the less you need to treat it.

Try to refrain from using the Cabin as storage! Remember all your hard work tidying up the garden? Don’t waste all of your hard work by putting your gardening equipment in your cabin. On the other hand, you could invest in a small shed to store these items, but for your main structure you’ll want to embrace the sense of hygge with some minimalist furniture and some cosy throws and rugs. The Cabin should be used as a getaway for all the family to use, whether it is used as a chic she-shed, or just a snug little reading nook at the bottom of the garden. Keep digital items for in the house and reserve your garden retreat as a digital-detox zone.

Furnishings
As mentioned, we don’t want or need to fill our gardens with furnishings. Be selective and make sure it has a purpose. If you have furniture in the house that you’re thinking of getting rid of, why not repurpose it for the garden? It’s amazing what a spot of wax or a lick of paint can do to create rustic chairs for your retreat-spot; or get creative and turn an old wooden ladder into a wall-leaning shelf by the shed or a stand for a scattering of potted plants or a climbing plant.

With your garden de-cluttered and an enviable, minimalist retreat created, your outdoor space should be a beautifully low-maintenance, Scandinavian-inspired dream! Perfect for matching your hygge-life in the home…

Posted in inspiration

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Review: Vampire Vapes at E-Cigarette Direct

03rd March 2019
When I began my journey in to quitting smoking by way of vaping one of the brands that I heard recommended over and over was Vampire Vapes, most specifically their seemingly infamous “Heisenberg” e-liquid. I dutifully tried it and became hooked, it’s one of my favourites and despite meaning to try out other flavours from the range I had never got round to it until now, when my friends at e-cigarette direct sent over a selection of flavours from the brand…I went in to this review with high expectations, but were they met?
Raspberry Sorbet is a fresh and fun flavour that has that tart taste of fresh raspberries followed by a fizzy sorbet coolness. I really like this flavour, it reminds me of one of my favourite frozen treats.

Blood Sukka may had pipped Heisenberg to the post and taken the top spot to become my all time favourite juice (to date). It’s aniseed-y, which I love, mixed with cherries, berries, red fruits, menthol and sweet eucalyptus. It sounds complex, and it tastes it too – the flavours mix together wonderfully to create something truly special.

Funky Monkey was the flavour I was convinced I would hate. Banana, chocolate and aniseed sounded quite grim if I’m honest and my past experience of any chocolate flavours hasn’t been good. Somehow though Vampire Vapes have pulled this off. It’s not my favourite flavour, but far exceeds expectations- I think the aniseed tips the balance and stops it being too sickly.

Heisenberg is the flavour that everyone knows and seems to love. It’s hyped for good reason, the flavour combination is a closely guarded secret but it definitely includes some kind of fruit and menthol. It’s every bit as addictive as it’s namesake and I’ve purchased so many bottles of this over the last six months!

Pinkman is a complete mystery to Bob and I. It reminds us both of something from our childhood but we can’t quite put our finger on it. It’s fruity, a bit cough-mixture like in it’s flavour and utterly addictive. This, as well as Blood Sukka are top of the re-purchase list.

Dawn and Dusk were my least favourites of the selection I was sent. The flavours both sounded great but didn’t quite stand out as much as the rest I tried. Dawn is a darker fruity flavour with a menthol finish which was nice, but didn’t especially stand out. I found Dusk a bit perfume like for my tastes, but it is still good, just not out-standing.

Overall the range lived up to and exceeded my expectations. Vampire Vapes are a brand that know their stuff and whilst on the pricier end of the spectrum at £3.99 per 10ml bottle, well worth it. There are still many flavours I haven’t tried of theirs which will be going in to my next order. If you have any recommendations then feel free to leave them in the comments.

The juices in the post were provided for review purposes, opinions expressed are honest and my own.

Posted in brands I love, review, Uncategorized, vaping

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