Category Archives: review

Boomf!

14th November 2014
Around a year ago now I introduced you lot to Boomf and their awesome idea of making personalised marshmallows. I’m delighted to see the brand go from strength to strength over the last twelve months whilst sticking to their unique selling point, and when they re-contacted me and asked if I’d like to feature another box I had no reservations about saying yes!
Last time I let the folk at Boomf pick the designs, this time I chose myself- and obviously went for a Mae theme.
The Marshmallows are expensive, I’m not gonna lie, at £15.50 for 9 (this includes speedy delivery) they are a luxury gift but in their defence they are something unique, pretty large and very, very tasty and I wouldn’t hesitate in purchasing these as a special gift for someone, nor be upset if someone purchased these as a gift for me! I’d rather get a box of Boomf than a block of posh but stinky cheese…
With Christmas not far away and the hunt for the perfect presents getting up to full speed I think you could do far worse than heading over to Boomf and getting creative…likewise, if you know someone with a special Birthday looming why not purchase a pack, pop some cocktail sticks in the bottom and turn them in to edible cake toppers?
This is one of those ideas that still gets my mind boggling- I want the kind of brain that comes up with such an invention. It’s also one of those ideas that I will forever love and be drawn to…now, who to put on a marshmallow next?

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P.S. The only downside to putting your pet on a sugary confection is it makes them almost too cute to eat…almost!

Posted in brands I love, christmas, food, gifts, review

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The October Degustabox

09th November 2014
Another month passing means it’s time for another Degustabox review! The October box actually arrived about ten days ago and most of the contents are now long devoured but I’m pretty behind on blogging (just for a change) so my review comes a little later than planned…
I swear these boxes keep getting better and better, each month there seems to be more and more products that really get me excited! It’s a brilliant way to try new foods and has gone a long way in breaking me out of my comfort zone and improving my relationship with food.
There were two products from Bear in the box which really excited me as they are one of my favourite brands when it comes to snack foods and have been for a long time! The Bear Alphabites were a sample present, there was a full sized box in a Degustabox some months ago and they have easily become my favourite cereal- I’m not a cereal for breakfast kind of girl but I usually keep a tub in my work bag for grazing on the go. The Bear Paws are pure fruit snacks with no nasty ingredients. Aimed at children- with five paw prints to find in the pack these are also perfect for grownups and super tasty. At 55p for a pack these are cheaper than a chocolate bar and perfect for on the go!

Also in among the snacking selection was a Get Buzzing bar which due to a nut allergy I couldn’t sample but Ben has eaten it and given his approval. I love to have a few bars stashed away and Get Buzzing do some nut-free options too so I’ll be making the most of the 10% off your first order code and treating myself to some.

The Ken’s Kitchen meal kits are super cute and a really clever idea. Each pack contains three steps to create a delicious meal in just 20 minutes with the addition of just a few fresh ingredients. At £2.50 each and several varieties to choose from these are a great store cupboard buy- I haven’t tried the Bengal kit yet but I know Dad has his eye on it. What I have tried is the Blue Dragon sweet chilli sauce- I never used to like foods with even the slightest hint of spice but I’ve recently become obsessed with sweet chilli so this is going on everything from noodles to chicken to salads.
I always love the sweet treat selection in the Degustabox as I have a raging sweet tooth 24/7. The Dr. Oetker premium 90% extra dark chocolate has been stashed away with my baking supplies ready for some festive creativity (assuming I get time) as has the cocoa powder- christmas cookies anyone?!

The Jelly Belly jelly beans have long since vanished as they are my favourite sweet ever! The sour ones were so super tasty I couldn’t bring myself to share! I’ve been taking the Enhance Drinks pod in to work with me so I actually drink something other than coffee all day. I have the orange and passion fruit flavour which is highly addictive- and with no added sugar it makes a great alternative to plain water.

Brioche and Pain Au Lait (with choc chips) from Brioche Pasquier are both incredibly tasty products. I actually took these in to work to share with colleagues, alongside a jar of nutella and they didn’t last long at all- I’m not alone in being a sweet treat fiend. I love brioche at the best of times, but toasted with something warm and chocolately on it? Heaven!
As much as I have a sweet tooth I also like my savoury snacks and the Special K Cracker Crisps are a delicious alternative to “real” crisps which I’ve never really enjoyed. The BBQ flavour is strong without being over-whelming and they have a really satisfying crunch and 60% less fat than the average crisp on sale in the UK.
Possibly the most amusing product in the box was the Solo Marshmallow Creme– I haven’t dug in to this yet but there is a recipe for some fudge on the side of the tub which I plan to make ASAP so I’ll do a separate post on that.
Last but not least there was a coupon in the Degustabox Fridge section of the box for a four-pack of the New Greek-Style Yoghurts from Benecol which have a unique cholesterol lowering ingredient (plant stenols). These are thick, creamy and utterly delicious. At £2.39 a pack they are on the pricey side for yoghurts but as a treat, or for those who need to watch their cholesterol intake they are a really tasty dessert or snack.
So there concludes the round-up of the October Degustabox. Still haven’t tried the service out yet? For £12.99 per/month you can have your own box delivered to your door and get to try all these fab products (that would cost far more in total) for yourself! Sign up now to claim £3 off your first box when you use the code: L2K2O

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His ‘n Hers

17th October 2014
Well, here’s a first on the blog- a his and hers outfit post! I finally managed to persuade Ben that he should make an appearance, although I don’t hold out much hope that it’ll happen again any time soon as I think he much prefers staying behind the camera!
Ben: Shirt c/o Guide London | Shorts: New Look | Shoes: Sarenza
Laura: Dress: Joy | Boots: Jonak at Sarenza
Guide London got in touch a while ago and offered to send Ben a shirt to feature on the blog. He (eventually) settled on this one after much pondering if he could pull off the paisley detail (I think he can!). He owns quite a few shirts now thanks to starting a new job but none of them can quite match up to this one in terms of quality- it looks and feels amazing and it fits really nicely. On this occasion Ben and I were making our way in to Bristol to meet up with his Brother and grab some food and I think it smartened up these shorts perfectly; it also looks equally good with some smart trousers for a more formal occasion. I think if we were rich Ben would get all of his shirts from Guide London having been suitably impressed by this one, however we’re not rich (yet) so the odd one as a treat will have to do (best get dropping hints to Santa!)
I’m wearing a dress I picked up in Joy when I visited the Bristol store to try on some of the A/W collection in September. I’ve been impatiently waiting for the weather to get cool enough to wear it and made no hesitation in reaching for it the second there was a chill in the air. This, and another dress I picked up on a more recent visit will no doubt be the ones I live in this Winter as I just love the fit, length and overall style of their current stock from house brand Louche- I have my eye on quite a few others too, although I can’t buy any until I get around to listing some of my unworn and unloved clothes on ebay!
I hope you enjoyed this little taste of something different on the blog- should I do more posts like this? What does your partner think of blogging? Would they ever make a guest appearance?

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Posted in life, life stuff, outfits, review

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The September Degustabox

01st October 2014
I’m not too sure where the last month has gone to and it took me by surprise when the September Degustabox arrived on my doorstep late last week. For those who don’t yet know, Degustabox is a monthly subscription box which contains between 9 and 14 food products, often new to the market as far less than you would pay in the shops. I’ve had a box kindly sent to me pretty much every month this year and I’m yet to be disappointed, I find there is something in there for every member of the household and it’s a great way to try out new products. This month, like the box a couple of months ago there was an “alcohol” and “no alcohol” box available which I think is a great idea- for the purpose of review my box contained the options from both boxes combined.
I was delighted to see some Jordans Simply Granola in the box as I am a bit addicted to granola. I usually end up buying whatever cereal is on offer though as I’m trying to watch the pennies, this is divine though and it’ll be hard to resist making it my daily fuel- try it with some fresh fruit and greek yoghurt, yum!

There was also a jar of La Vieja Fabrica marmalade in the box. I personally can’t stand marmalade but my dad loves it and is delighted with this inclusion. It’s made in Seville, Spain with only the best Seville Oranges and looks like it should cost a lot more than it’s £1.59 price tag. This was part of the alcohol option box.

I had already discovered the Burts Lentil Waves prior to the arrival of this box and really loved them. I like savoury snacks but I’m not keen on normal crisps. These are super crunchy and full of flavour without being greasy…they are insanely moreish too so I’m glad single serving bags are available (I bought a multipack once and it lasted all of a day).

The Carnation Cook with it! was an intriguing addition to the box. This is an ambient and lower fat alternative to fresh cream and it looks super versatile. I’m not the greatest cook in the world (well, I’m lazy) but even I’m inclined to whip up a homemade quiche or some kind of pasta dish with this- watch this space!

Drinks wise, the no alcohol box contained a bottle of Crabbie’s lemonade with a hint of ginger which was a real treat. Lemon and ginger are such a winning combination and this was really unique and refreshing. The alcohol option box also contained a Crabbie’s treat in the form of an alcoholic lemon drink which at the moment is stashed in the fridge for an evening treat. Anything lemony and alcoholic is going to be a winner though!

There were also a couple of bottles of drink from Little Miracles which I am just loving. I’m not normally one for soft drinks unless it’s diet coke but these are too nice to resist. These are a blend of organic tea and fruit juice, ginseng and acai and are so good for you! At under 90 calories per bottle and sweetened with agave rather than sugar they are the perfect pick me up for a busy day out and about.

The no alcohol box also contained three salad dressings from Righteous which I am yet to try, they look super good though and the flavours are really tempting. I have my eye on the blue cheese one first off, yummy! All of these dressings are free from nasty ingredients such as thickeners and additives and I can’t wait to try them.

Last but by no means least were the sweet options. Elizabeth ShawPick Up! biscuits…these are sandwich biscuits with a nice thick layer or chocolate in middle and they pair perfectly with an afternoon cup of tea.

As you can tell, I was really impressed with the September Degustabox. You can find out more about the company and their boxes via their website, facebook or twitter. Let me know if you sign up, and what you think!

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La Roche-Posay Effaclar 3 step anti-blemish system

19th September 2014
La Roche-Posay is a brand I have heard an awful lot about thanks to the number of blogs I read on a daily basis, but I’d never (up until now) used anything from them despite the glowing reviews. I was recently sent the Effaclar 3 step anti-blemish system to try out though and coudn’t wait to share my thoughts.
Now, I’ve always been very lucky with my skin and have never suffered with acne or anything really close. I am prone to breakouts on my chin and cheeks though especially when I am run down and stressed so I was keen to see if this could help. It’s a new and exclusive to the UK set consisting of three products; a face wash, a toner and a cream- hence the three steps. Targeting a whole range of skin problems from blemishes and blocked pores through to un-even skin texture and colour this makes the mighty claim of a visible difference in just 24 hours! You simply use all three products twice a day and wait for the miracle.
I wasn’t brave enough to put up before photos of my skin as I started using this at a time when I wasn’t feeling so fabulous about anything, but here is what my skin looked like, makeup free after four days of use. I know it’s hard to tell without anything to compare it to but this is the best my skin has looked and felt in months. I’d had several blemishes come up around my chin that just weren’t shifting and yet within a day of using the three products they had visibly reduced and within the four days they had pretty much gone.

I had been a bit concerned that the products would leave my skin feeling dry and tight, a problem I have had previously when using anti-blemish products but actually this wasn’t an issue at all and it didn’t irritate my super sensitive skin either. The set has an RRP of £32.95 which is excellent value I think as the products are fantastic quality with a dermatologist’s approach and you get around a 6-week supply in the set. I especially liked the face wash as it left my skin feeling super clean and fresh- perfect for first thing in the morning!

La Roche-Posay Effaclar 3 step anti-blemish system is available now in larger Boots stores and online. Let me know if you try this and what you think…also let me know what other products I need to try from the brand, I’m never going to be a stranger to it again!

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Posted in beauty, review

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