Degustabox- July 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.

Green Queen

It seems to really take something special to get me to do an outfit post these days, gone are the days where I felt comfortable posing in whatever I happen to have chucked on- as ever it’s body image crises and lack of free time that have led to this drought, but a recent shopping trip and arrival of something rather beautiful from Browns Family Jewllers ensured I cleared some time in my schedule, took a deep breath and asked Bob to grab the camera.

Dress: Monki | Shoes: Lotus | Bracelet c/o Browns Family Jewellers

At first, when I saw these photos all I could focus on was my perceived flaws and I came very close to not using them at all. Thankfully I got over myself, and whilst I can’t say I love them, I can appreciate how different I look from last year- in a positive and healthy way, how the colour of this dress suits me and how much happier I look these days.
I loved this dress the second I saw it in Monki, and at £25 it was an absolute steal. It’s not the most flattering of lengths, but the fit of the rest of it redeems it; I loved pairing it with these blue suede shoes but it also looks great for work with black tights and ankle boots, as well as with trainers and bare legs for a relaxed feel.

It also made the perfect backdrop for the main focus of this post- my new Daisy Jewellery Brow Chakra Bracelet*. Beautifully delicate, this rose gold chain hosts a beautiful little amethyst alongside it’s brow chakra main charm. The Brow Chakra is emotionally connected with insight, self-realization and releasing negative thoughts and strives towards self-reflection. It seemed the perfect piece to add to my jewellery collection, an every day reminder of what I need to focus on. I own several pieces of Daisy Jewellery, most of which I have purchased from Browns- they have great prices and fast, reliable delivery and their Chakra range is by far my favourite (aside, perhaps from the namesake Daisy collections). I’m not an especially spiritual person but I hope that by wearing this I can keep myself grounded and power on to the end of this recovery weight restoration journey where the real work, of learning self acceptance and perhaps even some self love can begin.

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Father’s Day Inspiration- Folio Society

There’s nothing I love more than settling down with a good book and that’s definitely a trait I picked up from my Dad (and Grandad) so I was instantly drawn to The Folio Society when it came to browsing for an inspired gift.

Even if your Dad has already read the title you choose you can guarantee it will still be a well received and much appreciated gift. The Folio Society, founded in 1947, specialises in exquisitely crafted editions of some of the world’s finest literature; from cult classics to gripping non-fiction.

There’s a whole section of their website dedicated to Father’s Day, although that really is only a drop in the ocean of the titles they have available.

Prices of the books vary greatly, but you can pick up a beautifully bound of “A Brief History of Time” by Stephen Hawking for under £30, or for the James Bond fan, “GoldFinger” by Ian Fleming for £34.95

As an example of what you can expect, I was very kindly sent a copy of “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury. It really is the most beautiful edition of the book with incredible illustrations and and wonderful lay-out. I’m in two minds over whether to share this with my Dad or keep it for myself, I haven’t yet read the book but it’s been on my list for some time.

I do wish I hadn’t sorted out my Dad’s gift prior to discovering The Folio Society as there are so many books I know he’d love on there…and as for me, well, I’m in literary heaven! I know exactly where I’m heading next time I need to buy a gift; not just for my father but for all of the other book lovers in my life, and my new personal ambition is a book shelf stacked full of books that are as compelling to the eye as they are to the imagination.

What’s your all time favourite book?

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Book sent to me for blog post consideration, all opinions on the brand are entirely my own.

Degustabox- May 2018*

Yep, it’s already that time of the month! It’s time to get yourself comfortable and get ready for some serious stomach rumbling as you make your way through my latest Degustabox* review. The May 2018 box was world cup themed- now I’m not a football fan, in fact I was only vaguely aware that it was world cup year! However, I can see how a lot of the products in this month’s box would appeal to those gathering round to support their favourite team…let’s dive in!
There was a kitten sized mishap with the May product of the month, hence the mug shot of Pablo, the destroyer of anything. He managed to break in to the packet of mini coconut and black pepper soft tortillas- we left them un-attended for all of five minutes and came back to find them ripped open and mostly devoured. Given the speed in which he munched them I’d say they were a hit, but it did mean my plans of making some wraps using the Caribbean creamy chicken curry mix (both from Santa Maria Latin American Kitchen) had to be put on a back burner until I can find these wraps in the shops. Cheers Pablo! The sauce mix costs £1.00 and the tortillas £1.50
Long term readers will know by now that I won’t have tried the reduced sugar drink from Say Aloe- I’m sure it’s very nice if you like that kind of thing, but I can’t bring myself to try it and will pass this on to someone braver than I. The lemonade from We Made was delicious though, really delicious. It’s rare I enjoy a soft drink that isn’t diet coke or pepsi max but if I saw this in the shops on a hot day I’d 100% grab it.
Lucozade was a fitting addition to a sport themed box, and I am sure most people are familiar with this old school classic- my old faithful hangover cure in my drinking days! Aloe drink £1.49, Lemonade £1.50, Lucozade £1.10.
These Ciders from The Good Cider would be perfect for post match celebration, or commiseration. Despite my west-country origins I am not a cider drinker but these went down exceptionally well with my father.
KitKats are my all time favourite chocolate bar, you can’t beat the original but these white chocolate bites come close! These are the ideal size for sharing, although they taste so good I can’t help but feel they won’t last long enough to be shared around. RRP is £1.59 but you’ll often find them on offer for £1.
(On an aside to this, who has tried the Ruby KitKat yet? So fragrant but pretty tasty!)
Another product from KitKat and another one I really, really don’t want to share! The return of KitKat senses was good news to many, and I’ve been looking for these locally with no success. Individually wrapped and in three flavours- double chocolate, hazelnut and salted caramel these are really very good- although I’d like to see a more imaginative flavour selection from nestle in the future, there’s so much potential! £3.99 per sharing box.
Brioche Pasquier products remind me of my school days, I often had one of their filled brioche rolls in my lunch box and the taste, unchanged for years, transports me right back. These are brilliant little snacks for picnics, car journeys, day trips, breakfast on the go…individually wrapped and small enough to not be too naughty I’m steadily working my way through both varieties right now. At £1.39 for a pack of 4 they are a pretty good value snack as well.
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.

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Father’s Day Inspiration from Patria

With less than two weeks to go until Father’s Day I thought it was about time I shared some inspiration and ideas to help you find the perfect, unique gift. Every year I seem to put all my focus on the Mother’s Day whilst dear old Dad gets overlooked…this year I managed to completely bypass a gift guide for Mum, but I have managed to find some gems for the Dad’s out there which I’ll be sharing on the blog this week.

First up on the gift guide front we have some luxury menswear from luxury British brand Patria.

“Patria was founded to support the British armed forces community. It gives 10% of its profits to the three leading single charities benefitting veterans: ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, The Royal Marines Royal Navy Charity and the RAF Benevolent Fund.

Richard Thackray, founder of Patria, said: “We and our customers think we’ve built the UK’s most durable sweatshirt and t-shirt. A hundred per cent British made, Patria uses the best materials and best construction.
“The result for both our sweatshirt and t-shirt is the softest, most luxurious and best made product available anywhere today. It’s fitting we’ve launched a new range of heirloom pieces for Father’s Day, celebrating the dedication and commitment of dads’ everywhere.” “

The t-shirt costs £40 and the sweatshirt costs £99- a little on the pricey side for some but 10% of profits go to the three leading charities benefitting veterans: ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, The Royal Marines Royal Navy Charity and the RAF Benevolent Fund.
Both pieces feature Patria’s logo Jack- an Airedale Terrier famed for crawling two miles through no-man’s land to deliver a message that rescued a battalion during World War One, and his pup, the sweatshirt and t-shirt are designed and manufactured in the UK using only the best fabrics.

Available now from the Patria website.

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