Category Archives: review

The October Degustabox*

08th November 2019
Item gifted by Degustabox

I think that the October 2019 Degustabox might be one of my favourite boxes to date, there wasn’t one product included that I didn’t like- and some have become instant favourites in this house.

I’ve long been a fan of Amy’s Kitchen soups and the organic rustic Italian vegetable is delicious. It’s gluten free and organic, and whilst on the pricey side (£2) for a tinned soup it’s something I always stock up on when I see them on offer- especially now it’s officially soup weather.
As ever I’m always on a mission to cut down my fizzy drink intake, and much more open to trying soft drinks than I once was. Whilst I would’t go out of my way to purchase Upbeat Drinks juicy protein water, if I saw it on my regular lunch shopping trip I’d definitely pick it up for an afternoon hydration boos with the added bonus of the protein if you’re the type who likes to work out.
Again on the cutting down fizzy drinks misson, I’ve really enjoyed these three blends from Tick Tock Tea, especially the bounce variety. Also, how awesome is this packaging?
I almost feel like this broccoli crisps are worth their own post. This was my first introduction to the Grower’s Garden brand and I’m hooked- even Bob, who was very sceptical about Broccoli in savoury snack form has become obsessed- it’s just a shame they aren’t yet more widely available. Who knew the taste of Broccoli could become so addictive?

Pip’s real hot chocolate is another great brand discovery- I favour the classic whereas Bob was about the praline. These are perfect stocking fillers for any chocolate lover, and a luxurious treat after a long hectic day (also vegan friendly and gluten/nut free).
There’s not much one can say about Maple Syrup that hasn’t been said before, we’ve been loving this on porridge- and I think Bob is angling for a pancake breakfast very soon!

If you love garlic then these Garlic and Parsley snacks are for you. Incredibly pungent, super light and airy and totally addictive. Not one for your packed lunch.
I really like chocolate bars disguised as something healthier such as this Boost + Protein bar. Not that you need an excuse for chocolate but this has 12g protein in each bar making it even more justifiable – and who really needs to justify chocolate?

Next we have these chocolate and hazelnut shots from Whitworths. I’ve been buying these snacks for a couple of years now, they are perfect for handbags and have a good balance as a sweet treat with a healthier boost.
Finally we have Gourmet Drops in chocolate and vanilla- these are designed for coffee but I’ve been using them in porridge too. The vanilla is by far my favourite but the chocolate is pretty decent too.

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 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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The September Degustabox*

07th October 2019
September’s Degustabox (gifted) bought it a selection of products with a family sharing & home cooking theme. My photos have once again fallen foul of poor lighting; all suggestions welcome, but the contents of this box combined makes it one of my favourite boxes I’ve ever received and I was eager to get stuck in.

Bob and I cook with garlic ALL of the time and rely on products like this to make the process easier. We love the very lazy range of products and this garlic paste is fantastic for adding big burst of flavour to our favourite dishes without any faff.

We haven’t tried this Zhoug Pesto from Epicure yet, but it sounds super interesting. I think we’ll try it as a marinade for some chicken rather than as a pasta sauce as the spicy flavours make me think this will work quite well- I’ll report back on the result!

It’s years since I last made a risotto and Bob isn’t a big fan so I’m still working on convincing him to let me make one. In the past I’ve made mostly vegetarian risottos so if anyone has any good recipes for meat based ones I would love to see them.

I was very happy to see these CHUM fruit bites appear in a box again as I loved these last time but I’m yet to see them in any shops local to me. These are vegan friendly and full of all natural ingredients with a delicious flavour and great texture. 15% of profits are also donated to wildaid.org to help save some of our chums in the wild.

I’ve always loved Milkybar Buttons, right from when I was a small child. I often pick up a pack of these when I’m feeling nostalgic and it’s good to see them still going strong. What was your favourite childhood treat?

I love me some snack bars! Boka bars have become a snack staple in this house after I first discovered them through Degusta box. The Chocomallow are especially delicious and all of the flavours in the range score green on the traffic light ratings.
I hadn’t tried the Alpen protein bars before, I’ve always liked the Alpen range but found they weren’t especially filling. These new protein packed bars negate that problem and these have become a work day staple.

Bob was very excited to see thee Hartley’s jelly pots in this month’s box. These were his favourite childhood treat and the three pack didn’t last long, and has now become a much requested addition to our weekly shop (along with some ice cream and sprinkles for a truly nostalgic pudding!)

I love Lucozade Zero, especially the pink lemonade flavour served icy cold. These have got me through the last two weeks of having a chest infection, when nothing else has quite appealed…talk about well timed!

Finally we have a terrible photo of a totally not terrible product! Eisberg alcohol free sparkling rosé is a fruity and refreshing treat for non-drinkers/designated drivers and boasts just 33 calories per serving. I’ll be stocking up on this for the festive season as we plan to host plenty.

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 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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The August Degustabox*

14th September 2019

I feel like I am SO late with my post this month- August already feels like a lifetime ago. Last month’s Degustbox (gifted) had a back to school/on the go themed and was packed full of portable snacks and treats. As ever, some brief thoughts on each product below, if you want more detailed reviews of any of them just let me know.

My cousin’s little girl absolutely loves these jelly pouches from jelly-squeeze. They have no added sugar or sweeteners and are mess free making them perfect for lunch boxes. They are even suitable for vegans!
KitKats are so under-rated in my book. They are one of my favourite chocolate treats, it was always such a great day at school when you found one minus any wafer! These KitKat senses bring a grown up twist to the classic. Neither of these were flavours I’d choose in a shop as a rule, but both were really yummy and the perfect size for little indulge with a cup of tea.

The child in me loved these snacks from Fruit Bowl. Yoghurt coated fruit is one of my favourite treats (yeah, I’m a bit odd) and both the raisins and the strawberries were swiftly inhaled. The Unicorn fruit flakes have jumped on to a trend bandwagon here, but are a tasty little snack nevertheless and all of these are ideal for chucking in a school bag, or handbag for snacking on the go.
I’ve never really been able to stomach protein mikshake type drinks (too many memories of nutritional supplement drinks in my past) so I passed on this, but for those who are in to that kind of thing this one packs some serious health credentials. 22g of protein, no added sugar and low in fat…I’d be interested to hear other people’s thoughts.
I loved these teas from Pure Leaf, especially the green tea with jasmine which has long been a favourite of mine. I passed the Gunpowder Green tea on to my grandad as he’s a big fan and it got a thumbs up from him (both thumbs, actually). Made with all natural ingredients, these look lovely sat in the kitchen too.

How cute are these little pots of peanut butter from Manilife? Pre-portion and roasted to perfection, I love these! The crunchy one is amazing in crumpets FYI…and the smooth is amazing on, well, everything!
Nutella fans may also enjoy the Nuttvia Hazelnut spread- it’s pretty delicious for something that has 97% less sugar than other leading brands, and it also boasts being palm oil free so you can eat it with a clear conscience both health wise and planet wise!
I don’t really like fruit flavoured chocolate so the dark chocolate raspberry almond dips from Mighty Fine weren’t quite my cup of tea. They also come in a plain dark chocolate variety which I’d be eager to try, and I love the concept of a healthy but indulgent snack that’s perfect for busy lifestyles.

Attack a Snak Nachos looked to be a bit of a gimmick on first inspection, but on delving deeper they are a pretty good idea. Perfect for post-school munchies, or a pre-dinner snack for grown ups, these might be a novelty but I’m all for it.

A childhood staple; Heinz Beef Ravioli (which sadly arrived dented). I’ve loved this since I was a kid and it’s still one of my comfort foods now, for a quick and easy lunch you can’t go wrong.

Since we got engaged I’ve gone from being pretty much tee-total to enjoying a drink on a fairly regular basis. Wine isn’t really my thing, but this pale rosé from Blossom Hill is light enough for my palate to handle, and it’s lovely with some diet lemonade, ice and strawberries.

In this month’s box there was also a voucher to pick up some Strings and Things Cheeseshapes from the folks that bought you Cheesestrings. Unfortunately Pablo shredded the voucher (along with several other letters and pieces of paper) so I didn’t get to try this…I also haven’t seen them in local shops yet, but I’m all for a novelty so watch this space!

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.

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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Degustabox- the July Picnic Edition

31st July 2019

Welcome to the July 2019 round-up of Degustabox* (gifted). I’m slightly lacking inspiration for blog content lately, but one thing always guaranteed to get me posting is the monthly arrival of this food subscription box. This month there was a picnic theme to the products, and I was excited to get stuck in.

As you can see, there was a bit of a transit mishap with the Piri Piri Chicken 3 step cooking kit from Simply Cook, which is a shame as Bob and I would have loved to try this as it looks right up our street! These are available at Sainsburys and Waitrose stores so we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled and will pick one up to try in the near future.

Personally I’m not a big fan of flavoured coffee, but Bob is so he was eager to try the limited edition Butterscotch Coffee Syrup from Monin. You can use this in both hot, or iced coffee and we agreed is best in a milky coffee drink like a latte rather than in a straight up black coffee. It got Bob’s approval though and is way cheaper than buying a fancy latte at a coffee shop.
I REALLY enjoyed this Pineapple and Yuzu salsa from Ravish. It’s perfect for adding a splash of summer flavour to sandwiches, salads and burgers. It’s not to sweet, or too tangy- really it’s a dose of sunshine for your mouth.

Hot Sauce, yay! We love hot sauce in this house, especially Frank’s so this product was greeted with much enthusiasm. It’s hard to review just how hot, or not, that it is due to people’s tolerance being so varied but we found it spicy and flavourful without causing any pain.
These Greek Style Flatbreads from Deli Kitchen are a great idea for a BBQ or Picnic. With a bit more weight behind them than a tortilla they make the perfect host for kebabs, falafel wraps or whatever you fancy really. They freeze perfectly making them ideal for keeping on hand for an impromptu gathering.

I always love the snacky bits in Degustabox and this month was no exception. I’ve been a long time devotee of the Kallo brand for rice cakes and these mini bags are perfect for a picnic, or for slinging in your bag for a portable snack on a day out. There’s something about a chocolate covered rice-cake that I can’t resist!
I was a little more hesitant to try the Ape Snacks coconut bites with sesame seeds although I’m not sure why. They are quite moorish and the flavours work well together, another ideal snack for on the go.

I’m not the biggest lover of tortilla chips- I’ll eat them if they are there but there are other savoury snacks I much prefer. That being said, I loved these Beetroot and Onion tortillas from Mister Free’d. They have a wonderfully strong and unique flavour and are suitable for those on a gluten free diet, or who are vegan. Paired with hummus these are bang on.

Bob swooped in on these Randoms as soon as he saw them, he loves his sweets! Both were met with rave reviews- I personally didn’t like the texture of the squish’ems, but he did. We both agreed the sour ones are fantastic!

Last but not least we have New Ribena Frusion- a blackcurrant flavoured water with the flavour of kiwi alongside. I found this an odd combination, I never considered kiwi as a flavour for a soft drink- but it’s nice, refreshing and great served chilled on a hot day.

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

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My Three App Experience*

21st July 2019
Photo by Sebastiano Giuseppe Garilli on Unsplash

I’ve had Three as my mobile phone network provider for over five years now. I made the switch from my previous provider after getting frustrated with the lack of coverage in my area, lack of plans that suited me and the absence of an easy to use way to track my usage and access support.

Three ticked all of these boxes, and have continued to do so in the years that have followed.

I’ve always been impressed with the three app, it’s always been user friendly and readily accessible meaning I can check my usage on the go, and access help and support regarding my phone and my contract whenever I need to.

This proved especially useful recently when we were on holiday. I had already gathered from using the app that our destination was covered by the Go Roam service (another major selling point of the network for me), and it was super easy to access the relevant information explaining what my limits were.

Thanks to being able to access and check in on my usage whenever I needed to I was able to see exactly where I was in terms of these limits; with the cost of overseas phone usage being rather high this was invaluable when it came to making sure I wouldn’t be hit with a hefty bill when I got home.
It didn’t entirely go to plan as coming home we had a layover in Canada- a destination not covered in Go Roam. My mobile phone data kicked in at the airport in Calgary, and despite my switching it off within 30 seconds, the background apps that run amassed a huge bill entirely disproportionate to what I’d done (i.e. nothing but quickly turn my data off!)
I’m not complaining though, I was able to use the app once back in England to see exactly how much it had cost me, and was then able to get in touch with customer services to rectify the situation- which they did, immediately with a very gracious and satisfactory outcome.

There are other winning features to the app too- you can view and amend your plan, buy add-ons, sort out your next upgrade and utilise the live chat feature too.

Overall I’ve been decently impressed with the App, and with the network as a whole, there will always be people who disagree but right now I can’t think of a bad word to say about the service they provide.

Posted in brands I love, gadgets, review, tech

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