The July Degustabox- it’s Summer time!*

31st July 2020

Box gifted by Degustabox
This is a PR box, this means there will sometimes be additional flavours or products than you’d get as a subscriber, I will highlight this within my post.

It’s Summer! As I write this, it’s the most glorious July day and I’m enjoying a relaxing day (yay week off!) before going camping in Dorset for the weekend. It’s the perfect day to be writing my review of the July Degustabox as this month it had a Summer theme to it. There were some awesome products inside so let’s crack on.

Inside this month’s box was a surprise bag containing these sachets of sauces from The Skinny Food Co. I’ve seen this brand all over social media so I was curious to try their products. I don’t think I want to know how they make these zero calorie products but I admit they are pretty good- the white chocolate was a fab addition to breakfast and the others were all good too, oddly sweet, but fine. Perfect for anyone watching their weight but missing condiments- personally I’ll stick to the real deal but they were fun to try. Available from SkinnyFoodCo.com, Morrisons, Spar and COOP.

I’ve reviewed these ManiLife peanut butters before and my opinion still stands- these are great and I urge any peanut butter fan to give these a go. My favourite is the deep roast crunchy peanut butter for it’s awesome flavour. These retail at 60p and you’ll find the brand stocked in Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Ocado and ManiLife.com.

I love protein bars for on the go snacks and I’m always looking for new brands to try. Premier Protein packed their Chocolate Brownie Bar with 20g protein and only 1.3g of sugar. It tastes great and I’m excited to try their other flavours; White Chocolate Vanilla and Chocolate Peanut Butter. £1.49 each from Ocado and WHSmith Travel.

This Golden Creek Maple Syrup Blended with Sugar Syrup was the perfect excuse for a fluffy American Pancake breakfast. Whilst our preference is for pure Maple Syrup, it’s expensive and at £2.49 this is the best tasting and most reasonably priced alternative we’ve tried. Nice one Golden Creek! Available from Ocado and Home Bargains.

These Plant Pops popped lotus seeds were my product of the month. I had no idea what to expect from these and they are impossible to describe, but so delicious and addictive. The peanut butter flavour was subtle but there and worked perfectly. I think there are other flavours available too which I am desperate to try- my only grumble is that they are £1.50 per bag which means I can’t afford to make them a regular snack. They are also not yet widely available but you can find them on Amazon, plantpopsnacks.com, TheVeganKind Supermarket, Harvey Nichols, Londis and Budgens.

I’m not a big fan of Stevia so I haven’t yet used the Natvia Natural Sweetener from this month’s box, however I have used the brand before in baking with great results so it’s definitely a winner if you’re a Stevia fan or trying to cut down on your sugar. £5 a tub from Tesco, Ocado, Tree of Life and Health Food Stores.
Nesquik is much more up my alley. Bob pounced on this all natural milkshake powder immediately. Made from just 5 natural ingredients this has the taste of Nesquik that we know and love with nothing nasty added. Bonus points for the fully recyclable packaging! £1.89 from Tesco and Sainsbury’s.

I didn’t get a look in with the Bebeto party mix! Bob took these on a car journey with him and came back full of praise for the fizzy gummies. I’ve started to see this brand more and more in the UK lately and I’m excited to try them for myself. At £2 for the tub this is great for summer picnics and parties. Available at Morrisons, selected Spar stores and Bestways- I’ve also spied the brand in some of the discount stores near me so keep your eyes peeled!

The Minor Figures Nitro Cold Brew coffee scared the life out of me when I opened it! When you open it the nitrogen is released to create a silky microfoam- quite the shock if you don’t know what to expect. This is a light, dairy free drink with no added sugar. It wasn’t something I’d buy again personally but I know people love this brand so it’s down to me having a quite basic palette when it comes to drinks I think! £1.95 each from Wholefoods, Planet Organic, Sourced Markets, As Nature Intended, Ocado, WHSmiths Travel, Holland & Barrett and nationwide independents.
Next up on the drinks front we have Pravha lighter tasting pilsner. I’m not a lager fan but this went down well served chilled- more so with Bob than myself but I would drink again. £2 from major supermarket chains.
Finally we have the curiously named Wunda milk alternative. I regularly use non-dairy milk in porridge as I prefer the taste so I was quite excited, if a little apprehensive about trying this after reading it’s made from peas. This doesn’t launch until 2021 but I am very much going to be buying this when it does. It tastes great and is fabulous in porridge, on cereal and in hot drinks. It’s high protein, low sugar, low fat and fortified with vitamins A, D, B2 and B12. A real superhero product, worth it’s £1.99 RRP.

Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products and what you thought in the comments, it’s always great to get other people’s thoughts.

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 £3.00 off of your first box (making it just £9.99!) by entering the code XOQGC 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.

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Let’s talk about dental health*

28th July 2020

This product was gifted by Colgate, but all views are my own

Guys, let’s talk teeth; not the most thrilling subject I admit, but after yet another toothache saga and an ongoing war with my teeth I figure it’s an important issue and one that is often skipped over.
I totally took my teeth and dental health for granted, up until my late twenties, despite years of abuse and general self-neglect I had no trouble with my teeth at all and just assumed things would carry on that way.
I was wrong, so very wrong!
Turns out that over a decade of eating disordered behaviours had stripped my teeth of enamel leaving them super sensitive and prone to breaking and getting infected. I’m now a frequent flyer at the dentist (outside of my 6 monthly check-ups) and if I had my way I’d have the whole lot taken out and dentures fitted just to get rid of the problem.
It’s not hard to take care of your teeth, and here are some simple steps you can take to maintain good dental health.

Brush at LEAST twice a day; yeah it’s a ball-ache, but you’ll regret it in years to come.
Pick your products; I always use this Colgate sensitive pro-relief as it works wonders for me. Long before this blog post this was my go-to toothpaste and I won’t stray. I also use an anti-septic mouthwash as I have a long-term infection in my front teeth and this combination means I can eat and drink without fear of major pain or yet more antibiotics.
Floss; I hate flossing, I really do, but short term pain for long term gain, trust me.
Limit acidic foods and drinks; acid is what destroyed my teeth so now I am really careful to limit how much I consume to protect any enamel I have left.
Befriend your dentist; my six monthly check-ups often reveal problems before they’ve become a problem meaning less invasive treatments and good advice for keep things stable.

What are your top dental health tips and go-to products?

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Life Lately- a new kind of normal?

19th July 2020

I’m giving up on making promises of regular blog posts, whilst I still enjoy having and updating this space on the internet I have come to realise I don’t need it as much as I used to. Back when I started it, when I was in the deepest, darkest days of my life, through the rollercoaster few years right up until I met Bob this place was my link to the world, my place where I could be heard and connect with people. It got me through some really tough times and presented me with some amazing opportunities. I’m sad in some ways that I no longer have the time and headspace to keep up with daily, or even weekly posts, yet happy to be letting go, to finally be in that place where “real life” is enough. I’m not giving up completely, there is always going to be the regular features as well as hopefully some wedding related posts, and looking forward, hopefully some family ones too. Even if that wasn’t the case I think I’d be stepping back now anyway, the blogging world has changed beyond recognition and I no longer feel I have a place in the centre of it (and I’m 100% ok with that).

Life lately has been chaotic and confusing for everyone and I’m definitely feeling it more now than ever. During the peak of Covid-19 I was so frantically busy and exhausted from work that I didn’t really register how much life had changed for me- and actually, it didn’t really change that much. I worked 9-5, shopped for essentials when I had to, so whilst I did have lockdown to contend with and the isolation from friends and loved ones I did at least have routine.

As restrictions ease I find it’s hitting me more now. Work has slowed right down. We can go about our daily business with a little more freedom. I’ve been on a socially distanced picnic with friends, I can see my family, I’ve had my nails done with hair to follow and Bob and I are planning a camping trip in a couple of weeks. With all of this has come a greater feeling of unease. Is this the right thing? Should I be going out/away. Do I really need to leave the house? I’m making the most of the freedom but it isn’t half causing some conflict!

Conflict aside, I’m happy. Ridiculously happy in a way I thought I never could be. I’m the healthiest mentally and physically that I have been in my entire adult life. I’m planning my wedding to my absolute soul mate (432 days to go!) and I have a job I enjoy, a roof over my head and an all round happy and contended and comfortable life- for which I am eternally grateful.

I’m not sure what the point of this post is other than to share some photos of a pretty dress, our somewhat more up together garden (like many, lockdown has given us a drive to take pride in our garden!) and explain, largely to myself why I find myself blogging less and less. I still want to do it, but on my terms with no pressure. I already feel more at ease with it all having written this post, so despite being a disjointed tangle of words it has served some kind of purpose.

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How To Revamp Your Wardrobe To Achieve Chic & Sophisticated Style*

10th July 2020

With such a large percentage of people staying at home in the most comfortable of all outfits, dressing up and looking glam seem to be a thing of the past. Chic and sophisticated fashion has gone out of the window, to be replaced with pyjamas and sweatpants! However, with the end of lockdown looming now is the time to address your wardrobe and identify any positive changes that can be made to ensure you can feel smart and stylish for your next endeavour! So, if you’re looking for the perfect classy office look or simply want to dress with a little more commitment to sophistication, then read on to uncover some of the best top tips and tricks that you can make the most of today!

Say No To Patterns

One of the worst things that you can do when trying to achieve a chic aesthetic is to layer lots of different patterns and colours together, this is far too eye catching and jumbled to even hint at sophistication. Avoid prints altogether where possible, experimenting only with simple stripes or a basic animal print on one small section of your outfit (such as your top) to identify whether these patterns can match with the block colour items in the rest of your wardrobe.

Accessories Add Value

The accessories that you wear can transform your outfit completely as soft and delicate clothing is taken to a whole new level with the accompaniment of a gold or silver jewellery set. Earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings are all great extras to add to your chic style as there are so many statement pieces embellished with glistening diamonds or even more kitsch floral shaped sets too. Even a good pair of designer cat eye glasses can take your outfit to a whole new level, so it’s a good idea to explore a relevant website or two in order to identify what’s truly on the market right now.

Find The Balance

Though you may wish to dress the part every single day, sometimes it just isn’t possible. Finding the balance between über sophistication and complete casual may seem impossible, but even if this means substituting one item then this can really be of benefit. For example, wearing a sleek women’s suit dress with a statement necklace falling over the collar of your shirt would fit perfectly with a new pair of cute tennis shoes or other similar trainers. This can help you to avoid being overdressed, as well as help to keep control of your budget too!

Revamping your wardrobe to achieve a chic and sophisticated style has never been so simple when you are able to make the most of the top tips and tricks detailed above! Start off by getting rid of any garish patterned clothing, as this can be too eye catching and make for a jumbled and confusing outfit. Stick with basic block colours, and add extra features by experimenting with accessories such as glasses and jewellery. Make sure that you find the right balance!

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New Treats from Niederegger*

06th July 2020

Long time no post right? I’ve got no idea where the last goodness knows how long has gone, but I’m back to share some tasty new treats from German brand Niederegger.

Niederegger treats c/o Chocolates Direct

I know Marzipan isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I love it so long as it’s coated in chocolate. I first discovered this delight on a camping trip to Austria where I all but lived on those Mozart chocolate rounds and since then I’ve been obsessed.
By far my favourite brand for marzipan is Niederegger, described as the world’s finest marzipan made in Lubeck in Germany.
I’ve worked with chocolates direct in the past so when they offered me some new products from the brand, well, I don’t think I’ve ever replied to an email so quickly.

Marzipan loaves are one of the most iconic products that Niederegger make and I was excited to try this year’s flavour of the year- Hazelnut and Toffee. This is such a class combination, paired with another classic combination- marzipan and dark chocolate. I don’t usually like pieces of nut in my chocolate but the range of textures here works really well. A little bit of this goes a long way as it’s very rich, but totally delicious.
I took a pass on the rum variety is I do dislike alcohol in chocolate so I can’t comment on this (but I’m pretty sure it’s delicious if you like that kind of thing) but I am a VERY big fan of the black and white loaf; chocolate marzipan coated in semi-sweet chocolate and studded with chunks of dark and white chocolate. If you’re a fan of chocolate then you’re going to love this!

This is one of the prettiest packaged boxes of chocolate I have seen. The mini bakery desserts praline range is designed to replicate a trip to a New York coffee shop. The flavours here work really well, I’d say my favourite was toffee but I’d happily eat any of them again. Small but perfectly formed, this would make a lovely gift, or indulgent treat.

These banana and chocolate mini loaves were the product I was most excited for- this is the mini loaves flavour of the year and I hope it is made a permanent fixture. I strongly believe there aren’t enough banana flavoured products in the world, it’s one of my favourites. These loaves lived up to all of my expectations and more- the balance of bitter chocolate and sweet banana is spot on, the texture is amazing and well, I just can’t say enough good things about these.

I’m really excited to see what else Niederegger bring out, their flavours are intriguing and delicious. I’d love to see a giant banana loaf in the near future!
What are some of your favourite flavour combinations? And are you a marzipan lover or a hater?

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A Daisy Chain Dream

Monthly Archives: July 2020

The July Degustabox- it’s Summer time!*

Let’s talk about dental health*

Life Lately- a new kind of normal?

How To Revamp Your Wardrobe To Achieve Chic & Sophisticated Style*

New Treats from Niederegger*