Kitten Kollege “A Guide to Neutering Kittens”*

10th August 2016

For someone who is utterly obsessed with cats there is surprisingly little content featuring them on this here blog. That’s going to change, starting from now there is going to be a lot more feline themed posts appearing on my site.

To kick things off we’re going back to school, or rather “Kitten Kollege” with Whiskas who have created a series of fun and informative videos offering advice to kitten owners on a whole range of topics. Today I am sharing “A guide to neutering kittens” which probably one of the lesser talked about aspects of owning a cat and probably a subject that causes the most anxiety to owners. It might sound cruel to remove a cat’s reproductive organs but really, unless you know you want to breed your cat in the future it’s in your best interest and in theirs. As cute as kittens are you really don’t want to find yourself suddenly the owner of a whole hoard of them who then need to be cared for and have homes found for them. Likewise you don’t want a cat that rules the roost by spraying urine to mark their territory, or finding yourself the owner of the neighbourhood bully. Neutering also has numerous health benefits and all round makes for a happier pet and human!

How cute is this video? It’s seriously giving me major yearnings for another ball of fluff in my life…which I don’t think Mae would take too kindly to right now.

And cuteness aside I think the video, and indeed the whole “Kitten Kollege” series is brilliant. Short and informative the videos deliver just the right amount of information without bombarding the viewer. A touch of humour goes a long way in learning and who can resist all of those furry faces?

Let me know what cat related content you’d love to see on the blog, and watch this space…

Permalink 1 Comment

The July (2016) Degustabox Review & epic discount code.

08th August 2016

Apologies for the unplanned hiatus. Life of late has been rather…challenging? I think that’s the most appropriate word and there have been some big changes which those who follow me on social media will probably be aware of. But I’m back now with my monthly review of Degustabox. Now this was a very drinks heavy box which meant I didn’t actually sample all of the products myself as I’m too much a creature of habit with the fluids I consume, but the goods were shared around family and colleagues so I have feedback on everything as usual.

Kicking off with some condiments the first products I pulled out of the box were a jar of Felix Gerkhins and some Balsamic Vinegar from Sarson’s. I think gherkins are one of those marmite foods that you either love or hate. I’m in the love camp and these ones are great! The perfect balance of sweet and spice with a good crunch. I’ve been chucking them in salads and sandwiches as well as sneaking the odd one straight from the jar. I’m not overly experienced in the world of Balsamic Vinegar but I’ve been enjoying Sarson’s version on summer salads.

Drinks wise I did try the Rejuvination Water in Spanish Orange and it was nice. I balk at paying £1.99 for a bottle of drink but with added amino acids to boost your immune system, stress reactions and protein digestion for some people it may be worth it. The pineapple, coconut and lime drink from Cracker Drinks was taken in to work for my colleagues to enjoy and enjoy they did. With no added sugar or artificial sweeteners and a unique flavour that’s perfect for Summer this was a hit. No one has actually been brave enough to try the ALO Drink yet but when someone takes the plunge I’ll report back.

Muesli is great and Jordans has long been one of my favourite brands. A handful of this reduced sugar variety in a bowl with some natural yoghurt and fruit compote makes a delicious, healthy treat at any time of day.

How cute are these little snack packs of Bahlsen Choco Leibniz? Now available in little packs of two biscuits these are perfect for on the go snacking, whether it’s at work when you don’t want to share or on a Summer picnic. Genius idea!

My Dad is the crisp connoisseur in this house so the food heros lattice crisps from Seabrooks were tested out by him. He really enjoyed the meaty chorizo flavour and the design of the sharing bag although we did spend some time pondering the “suitable for vegetarians” claim, wondering how many vegetarians would want chorizo flavoured crisps! The seaweed crispy thins from Itsu were left to me alone to sample. At only 13 calories per pack I failed to see them as a suitable snacking option but very much enjoyed sprinkling them over a chicken salad as some added texture and flavour.

Three more drinks were hidden away in the box this month too, the sparkling lemon and ginger & cranberry and guava from Berrywhite organic were passed in my Grandad’s direction and he gave a glowing feedback of the lemon and ginger especially. Much like the aloe drink I believe the cucumber one is yet to be sampled but I’d love to know thoughts from those who have tried it.

The new infusions fruit pastilles from Rowntree’s were the stand out product for me this month. They come in three flavours- orange & grapefruit, raspberry & pomegranate and apple & elderflower and they are all delicious. I love the combination of apple and & elderflower and think it’s not used enough so I was especially delighted with these! And finally comes the acai and blueberry flavoured dark chocolates from Brookside Chocolates which I didn’t expect to love much. It’s hard to describe these accurately as they are truly unique but they are a super tasty and satisfying treat that doesn’t feel too naughty either!

If you’re persuaded to give Degustabox a go (and really, you should) you can claim a brilliant £7.00 off of your first box by entering the code BLDEG15 at the checkout. It’s been a pleasure to work with the brand one and off 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.

Permalink 3 Comments

2016’s interior trends and how to make them work for you*

31st July 2016

I’ve always had a passing interest in interior design and would quite happily flick through Mum’s pile of home decor type magazines to while away some time. Since moving in to the flat I’ve taken an even keener interest, especially in how to incorporate some of the latest trends in a budget friendly and suitable for rental way. Baytree Interiors have been looking in to some of 2016’s biggest hits for the home and there’s a great feature on the Real Homes Magazine website too. With this as my inspiration I’ve popped together my thoughts on those trends and how they could work for me and my home.

The first thing to mention is colour. Ben and I are far from colour shy which is just as well as it’s set to continue being big news when it comes to the home. From Pantone’s colour of the year through to Dulux’s colour forecast for the year it’s clear to see that white and magnolia has been banished for the time being. Rich colours paired with metallic golds and coppers are the top picks and un-wittingly we already have a lot of this in our living room (nicknamed “the amazing technicolour living room”) with our mis-matched furniture, most of which we bought second hand for a very low price then painted up with a coat or two of Annie Sloan’s infamous chalk paint. I think a bright home using rich and warm colours makes for a cosy home and our living room is my favourite place to relax.

Patterns are also still going strong with world travel being the main influence. It doesn’t have to be limited to the walls either- a colourful rug on the floor, reupholstering a dining room chair or adding a Moroccan inspired runner to a table are great ways to embrace the trend with minimal commitment and without breaking the bank.

Metallics are having a moment with everybody and their dog going crazy for copper. I’m no exception and around the flat you’ll find lots of metallic elements dotted around- from silver herb planters hosting bright and bold flowers to the copper pan taking pride of place in my kitchen. From my experience places like Home Bargains and The Range are good places to pick up inexpensive decorative bits that will certainly last the duration of the trend if you’re likely to change your mind. Slightly more pricey are H&M, Urban Outfitters and Oliver Bonas- I have a massive wish list for all three of these stores and keep a close eye out for sales or discounts! For bigger pieces of furniture and decor you can strike gold on sites like gumtree and ebay or by scouring charity shops and car boot sales. We picked up a massive filigree mirror for about £20 via gumtree when we’d previously seen them in a reclamation yard for over £200!

Have you embraced any of these trends around your home? What have been some of your homeware best buys?

Permalink 2 Comments

Getting Festival Ready with Essence

30th July 2016

I might not be heading off to any festivals this year, but having been to a few in the past alongside several camping trips I felt quite equipped to take on the challenge of creating a long lasting festival makeup look with the help of Essence. The folks at Essence kindly sent over a bundle of their products, asking bloggers to use them to create a water and smudge proof look to take you from dawn to dusk…

I personally don’t like to wear heavy makeup at a festival- I’m not one for glitter and face paint because after a long day I can never be bothered to remove it and my tent ends up looking like a fairy exploded the next morning. With this in mind I opted for a fairly low maintenance, speedy look which still had some bright and fun elements to it.

I used the eye crayon as an eye makeup base negating a need for primer too- it’s such a pretty peachy/gold colour and unlike some crayons I’ve used in the past doesn’t crease or wear off over the course of the day. I added some silver eyeshadow on top of this for a subtle bit of sparkle and used the dark brown eyeshadow to fill in my brows before adding in turquoise liner to my top eyelids and silver in the corner of my eyes to brighten them up. All of these lasted the duration of the day without any smudges or streaks! The eyeshadows are £1, the crayon £2.80 and the eyeliners are £1.50 so not going to break the bank if you want to experiment with bright and bold colours.I was actually really impressed with the mascara. I’m not a fan of waterproof mascaras in general as I find they can be drying on my lashes. This one by essence isn’t like that at all and I loved it’s petite size and the effect it had on my mink lashes after just two coats. A complete bargain at only £2!

Skin wise I didn’t actually test the foundation as the shade was far too dark for me (being the English Rose that I am) but if it’s anything like previous essence foundations I’ve tried then it will live up to it’s long lasting hype. The lipliner and lipstick lasted a full six hours on me which is pretty good given that I’m constantly drinking a cup of something and had lunch and snacks in that time as well. The lipsticks are very reasonable at £2.30 each…I have several from essence and they’ve all impressed me.

Whilst I’m here I thought I’d throw in a bonus couple of tips if you are heading to a festival for the first time this year…

1. Don’t forget a mirror! I did this the first time I ever went and ended up begging a compact off of a friend which was interesting to do a full face in! Even if there are mirrors in the toilets you really don’t want to be hanging round in those longer than necessary!

2. Face wipes are you friend. A quick and easy way to freshen up during the day and to take makeup off a night. Not ideal as a long term solution but perfect for a weekend in a field!

3. Pack hard workers. Unless you’re taking a gazebo to sleep in space will be limited. 2 in 1 products and travel sizes are your best friends, as are products that don’t require an army of brushes to apply.

4. Relax. Festivals are all about having fun, you really don’t need to pack your full contour kit and high end foundation…no one will be looking at your face and by the time it’s rained for six hours straight and you’re covered in mud no one will see your makeup anyway!

Products in this post gifted to me by essence.

Permalink 4 Comments

Throwing The Perfect Baby Shower*

29th July 2016

I’ll preface things by saying this post isn’t some sideways means of announcing that I’m expecting, but I am at that age (29, eek) where a lot of my friends are doing awfully grown up things like getting married, buying houses and having babies! Although it’s hard to imagine any of these things happening for me in my immediate future it is an exciting time and gets my brain whirring at times.

Baby showers are a fairly new “thing” in the UK and for a long time I wasn’t really sure on what I made of them. On one hand they can seem grabby or an extravagance but on the other hand I think it’s really nice way to get together with the expectant mum and share a bit of social time before the little one arrives. It also doesn’t have to cost the earth, and on that train of thought I’ve popped together this post with my ideas on how a low-key but lovely baby shower could be done.

(image)

1. Planning: Getting everyone together can be tricky, I see less of my friends now than ever before due to the demands of every day life so start by throwing a few dates around to see when most people will be able to attend. A group e-mail should do the job. When it comes to the invites make sure you include key details like if there will be a theme or if you’d like guests to contribute food or drinks (a great way to take pressure off the planner!).

2. It doesn’t need to be expensive: Decorations can be fun and easy to make and cost next to nothing. Seek out inspiration from sites like Pinterest or from the plethora of blogs out there and raid your local discount shop for supplies! Food doesn’t have to be anything fancy, I highly doubt anyone will be expecting a sit down meal. A little buffet of party food and snacks, perhaps some home made cake for dessert should be sufficient and guests could all bring a little something, or a selection of soft drinks with them as a contribution. If you’re feeling adventurous a “mock-tail” bar could be fun!

3. Gift Wisely: As tempting as it is to go out and buy ALL the cute baby clothes ever when you find out a friend is expecting try to reign it in! The new mums I know have been inundated with things that baby will soon grow out of or end up with tonnes of bibs and socks (although I also know that you probably can’t ever have too many of those!). Consider a group gift, something practical like a footmuff for the buggy or speak to the mum to be and see if there is anything she really needs, or really wants but isn’t essential like a really pretty changing bag.

And that’s about as far as my current inspiration runs. I think I shall be referring back to this post in the months and years to come so if you have any tips and advice, or have had a baby shower I’d love to know what you’ve found worked best for you.