Category Archives: review

The August Degustabox

05th September 2014
Another month and another Degustabox delivered to my door. I’m seriously never going to tire of having a box of food handed over to me every month, I’m a grazer by nature and a box of new things to try is the perfect excuse to nibble on a little bit of everything (to save me having to pick one thing then wait a few hours for another!). The August box was jam-packed full of goodness and it may be one of my favourite boxes to date…
This month saw the inclusion of Degustabox Fridge, a little blue envelope containing a coupon for a chilled product as part of the box. This month it was for a multipack of Moma! Bircher Muesli pots (RRP £2.99) and I haven’t yet been to Waitrose to see if they stock them here, but they sound divine. I’m a big fan of yoghurt and breakfast-y type foods.

I love the packaging of Mexican Dave’s tortilla chips (RRP £1), it’s just so bright and fun and eye catching. We haven’t broken in to the bag yet as we’re saving it to make nachos or something with- it’s entirely likely they will just be used as a vessel to scoop up dips though!

Schwartz flavour shots are always a welcome addition to our store cupboard as they make creating a delicious dinner so quick and easy. I’m especially looking forward to trying the Spanish smoked paprika chicken…yummy! Spanish food is my favourite.

The drinks selection this month was brilliant, I was super impressed! There was a lovely peach and goji berry fruit drink that even the soft drinks loathing me enjoyed. For every bottle sold 10% goes to charity too which makes Berry White drinks even better in my eyes (RRP £1.59). There was also some ginger beer and tonic water from Fever Tree who make really good drinks and an apple and pear kids blend from Cawston Press which are lighter on sugar than the “adult” version and would be a great addition to a child’s lunchbox for a treat (and they’d have to be a treat as they cost £1.89 for three!). I’m not usually one for alcho-pop type drinks but Caribbean Twist have won me over with their strawberry daiquiri. It only costs £2.50 for a big bottle and would be perfect served with nibbles for a girls night in…mine won’t be lasting that long, nope.

Lindt made an appearance in the box this month with this adorable little tin of chocolate hearts (RRP £3.49). I’m keeping these all to myself but they would also make a lovely gift to show someone you care.

I’ve already tried these Dr. Oetker edible baking cases and can confirm they are genius. At £2.50 for six they aren’t for every day baking but make a novel touch for a special occasion…they also make a generous sized cupcake, perfect!

Last but not least we come to my favourite products from the box, Brioche Pasquier has been a snack staple for a while and both their traditional little brioches and the pain au chocolat are really, really good! Mum and I are going to whip up a brioche and butter pudding, as was suggested on the Degustabox leaflet so I’ll be sure to share how that goes…the pain au chocolat though are mine. All mine!

So there we have my thoughts on the August box, what do you think? Degustabox are offering you £3 off of your first box with the code QHZG2 and you can find out more by checking out the facebook, twitter and website.

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Introducing the Purrfect Box

02nd September 2014
Subscription boxes have become big business over the last couple of years- we’ve got the beauty boxes, the food boxes and now pet boxes! Mae and I were sent a sneak preview of the  Purrfect Box to see what it’s all about.
It was exciting times for us both when the courier delivered a bright pink box to the door, Mae was straight at it sniffing and pawing at it and once it was open she decided it made a pretty comfortable bed even with the contents still in there! The Purrfect Box is a monthly subscription which costs £19.90 a month, or £15.90 per month if you take out a years subscription. The contents of the box are guaranteed to be worth at least £30 with 4-6 premium products inside so it’s a pretty sweet deal, especially as each box is catered to your feline’s needs and preferences. The boxes will have a different theme each month too, so kitty won’t get bored ever again! The first box was Summer themed and went down pretty well!
The first item we tested was a laser pen which provides a little red dot for cats to chase. Mae loved this and goes utterly mad trying to catch that little spot of light. I do want to note these must be used with caution and need to be kept far away from eyes, but it’s good fun and I will continue to taunt Mae with this!
Next we picked out a valerian filled heart toy by 4cats. This has been such a huge hit with Mae as we found out recently that she responds really well to Valerian. It’s meant to be a snuggle pillow type of thing but Mae doesn’t realise this and I’m constantly dodging this as she throws it at my feet. For any one with a manic cat, valerian has really helped calm Mae down (most of the time!)
The bag of treats got a firm paws up from my little fiend. She is a bit of a food snob (the look of disgust she gives when you put down certain brands of food for her is classic) and once she’s found something she likes she doesn’t stray. We’re currently trying to wean her off of a dreamies addiction and these filled the gap nicely. She wolfed down a little pile and keeps eyeing the bag wanting more.
The Wasabycat scratching post was presented to Mae and she promptly turned her back on it. She isn’t a scratching post kind of cat though, unfortunately and anyone who visits the house will see the destruction she’s caused to our carpets. I’m hoping that with time, the catnip provided with this will win her over and it’s a great little box and a really good idea, especially for those who don’t have much space in their home. I’m not giving up on this!
We haven’t yet got around to trying the Trixie multivitamin paste as like I mentioned before, Mae is a bit funny about foods. I’m going to put a blob down in her food bowl soon though to see how she responds…I think it’s a really good idea for getting some goodness in to your cat and I hope that she will realise I’m not trying to poison her.
Overall we were really impressed with the box and I will be treating Mae to one from time to time. I was really surprised by how much she loved the contents as she isn’t known for her love of toys, and being able to customise a box in the future we could leave out any scratching related things. I really would recommend this to anyone wanting to treat their feline friend. It might seem a little pricey but for what you get it’s well worth it. There is also a Pawsome Box for those with dogs.
Order your Purrfect Box here…be sure to let me know if you do sign up as I’d love to know what your kitties think as well- why should us humans get all the fun, eh? I’m not sure why Mae refused to leave my converse alone for the photos, but she is a stubborn little thing!

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An old wives tail

23rd August 2014
I was blessed/cursed with super thick and naturally frizzy hair- thanks Mum! Over the years I have spent a fortune on products and tools to try and tame it to no avail. On a standard day I’ll just wash it and scrunch some mousse through it, give it a blast with the hair dryer then spritz with a sea-salt spray and call it styled. Embracing my natural waves, and having the bulk cut out of it every time I book in for a trim (rarely, oops!) means I now have some element of control over how my hair looks but the one thing I’ve never managed to achieve without the help of my smooth hair obsessive mother is silky and frizz free straightened hair.
I was recently contacted by Old Wives Tail who sell a selection of hair oils and treatments to cure all hair nightmares. They offered to send me one of their oil treatments to review which was kind of perfect timing, as having recently had my hair stripped and recoloured on top of my usual frizz battles I was in need of a helping hand!
I chose the Organic Clove & Jojoba Oil treatment (£13.99 for 100ml) which promises to provide hydration for dull, thinning, brittle or broken hair. Having very dry hair plays a massive role in my taming troubles so this sounded perfect, and despite having only used it once I am suitably impressed.
This was sat around for a while in my room before I got a chance to use it (hence why it’s a little split in photos) as it requires at least an hour on your head to really work, before washing as normal. Having an entire hour to do nothing much is a rare luxury these days but in the name of blogging I set some time aside and got testing.

First up this treatment smells amazing! I love the spicy scent of clove and enjoyed the somewhat calming smell of this the whole time it was sat on my head- and for a day or more after too. I had reservations about using something that is literally oil on my hair, especially as it sits around for so long, but by the time you come to shampooing this out it slips away easily leaving no greasy residue behind.

I can’t remember the last time my hair felt so silky soft and I’m determined to set aside more time to use this on a regular basis as the whole experience was lovely. The 100ml pot is going to last quite some time too as I found I didn’t need to use much, so it’s a bit of a bargain for such a luxurious feeling treat. With no animal testing, and being suitable for vegetarians and vegans this is a product that everyone can enjoy and I highly recommend checking out the entire range on the website. The next time I have some spare cash for treats I’m going to be picking up the Coco Loco organic Coconut Oil Hair Mask (£14.99 for 150ml) and I’ll be sure to report back

Have you tried any products from Old Wives Tail yet? I’d love to know what you’re loving.

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south beach style

20th August 2014
So, my holiday plans have once again gone out of the window this year (a mutual decision between Mum and I) but I’m not letting that stop me build up a collection of awesome swim-wear. This year I’ve added a Ted Baker swimsuit to my collection, a cat printed bikini and now a gorgeous blue number from South Beach. Between the break in the weather and my own chaotic schedule I’ve opted not to subject you to me wearing said swimsuit, instead I’ve popped it together with some of my personal beach essentials and added in some other products I’m seriously craving from the South Beach website.

Swimsuit c/o South Beach | Shorts: H&M | Flip-flops: Ipanema | Book: Amazon

I’ve also featured this stunning Maxi Kaftan (26.00) as I can just imagine popping this on over the outfit I’ve pictured and floating down the beach. I’d probably also wear it as a maxi kimono on a daily basis too!

I loved the retro feel and aztec print of the Nina Aztec Mesh Bikini (£25). I bought a high waisted bikini when I went away last year and I felt so much more confident with the extra coverage whilst still showing a little bit of skin. I have a bit of a thing for aztec prints at the moment it would seem as I’m also coveting these cute little embroidered shorts (£28) even though they would be shorter than hot pants on me I reckon!

As for the swimsuit I was set- I just love it. From the beautiful cornflower blue colour to the little details like the star shaped beads and gorgeous frills. It has a super low back but still feels supportive thanks to the halter neck- ok so it’s not going to be great for those with bigger boobies, but that’s not a problem I suffer with! I’m torn between taking this for a trip to the local pool to show it off or saving it for when I do get away next…which could easily be anything up to a year away!
What’s your favourite swim suit style? Anyone want to send me on holiday soon?!

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a mememe cosmetics review and discount

19th August 2014
I first discovered Me Me Me Cosmetics several years ago when it was readily available in Superdrug stores. It fell off my radar somewhat when I could no longer easily get hold of it (this was before I started online shopping!) but came back in to my life when I reviewed a naturally nude collection back in 2012. Fast forward a little and the brand recently got in touch again asking if I’d like to review some new releases- of course, as I was so impressed last time I said yes and here are my thoughts.
I was sent the brand new Coral Blossom lip and cheek tint, a gorgeous peachy liquid that blends perfectly on to the skin. I often find this type of products is hard to blend, or not a nice consistency to work with but this was a dream and I’ve been wearing it non-stop. It has a really nice, buildable colour (I’ve applied it with a very light touch in these photos) that is just perfect for a healthy glow during the summer, along with a bit of tinted moisturiser. I haven’t tried it on the lips yet but I imagine a few layers will look rather nice. At £5.50 this is excellent value for money and is already on my repurchase list.
The second product I was sent is the Flawless Loose Face Powder, £6.50 which has actually replaced my MUA one as a new favourite as it has a longer lasting effect on my skin and is a better colour on my pale complexion. This comes with a cute little powder puff, although I tend to use a brush to buff it on to the skin and is a lovely and welcome addition to my makeup collection.
There are so many products I want right now, especially the new Ultimate Eye Palette (coming soon) as it looks perfect for an every day natural look. It won’t be long before I’m placing an order, and if you’re also thinking of treating yourself then there is no better time as MEMEME are giving 15% off their entire range from Aug 1st through to Sept 30th, just enter the code mememe15 when you shop online.
What will you be getting?

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