Degustabox- July 2021*

03rd August 2021

Box gifted by Degustabox
This is a PR box, this means there will sometimes be additional flavours or products than you’d get as a subscriber, I will highlight this within my post.

After the June Degustabox not being so great for me, I was a little nervous about how I would get on with July’s. Luckily this box suited my tastes a LOT better and I had a great time testing as much out as possible.

I loved the packaging of this Firefly drink, it’s so pretty! Peach & Green tea is a combination I’ve long loved so this was a winner- especially during the recent heatwave! £1.55 from www.fireflydrinks.com, Ocado and Waitrose.

I’ve not had a chance to try out these brioche hot dog rolls from St Pierre but previous experience with the brand tells me they will be good. These currently reside in my freezer ready to take on this weekend’s camping trip! Available at selected Tesco and Morrison’s stores for £1.40.

Another product that I haven’t had a chance to try yet is the Bull’s Eye Original BBQ sauce, but I have tried this in the past with chicken and it’s good stuff! I’m desperate for some good weather and a free weekend to repeat the experience. Available at all major supermarkets for £2.50.

Fox’s Glacier mints and fruits were staples of long car journeys when I was growing up. I haven’t had them for years so I was pretty excited to be reminded of their existence with the arrival of three new varieties- all very much for grownups! Summer Punch was a clear winner, these are limited edition and cocktail inspired so grab them whilst you can. £1 per bag- Little Lifts & After Darks available at Sainbury’s. Summer Punch available at Home Bargains.
I’m on the hunt for some original glacier fruits now!

I’m really limiting my caffeine at the moment so we’re saving these for a special treat, but I have tried the Taylors of Harrogate coffee bags before and they are so good! Freshly brewed coffee in tea bag form! A perfect cup in just two minutes with no mess or fuss! £1.50 from major supermarket chains.

These Blackcurrant Jaffa Cakes were this month’s product of the month…and I wanted to like them, really I did! I just can’t get behind blackcurrant and chocolate personally! Worth a try if you are a fan of fruit and chocolate though, I’ll be sticking to the original. £1.20 from Tesco.

I did however very much enjoy the new dark chocolate Noccionoir Hazelnut bar from Lindt. Dark chocolate is one thing I can stomach (still no milk chocolate, boo) and this was such a luxury treat! This will be available from Tesco from July and rolling out in other retailers later this year with an RRP of 85p.

My savoury snack obsession rages on and Love Corn cheese and onion corn snack is fuelling it! These are such an addictive little snack, and healthier than my other current love of frazzles! 70p for a single pack or £16 for 24 in major supermarket chains and online.

Two classic products here and there isn’t much I can say that hasn’t been said before (that and I can’t stomach them yet!). Smarties will never not be a favourite though, outside of pregnancy and I love the new recyclable bag!
Lindt Nocciolatte milk 85p from all major supermarkets, Smarties £1 from all major supermarkets.

I don’t really enjoy “normal” crisps that much, but every so often I just need a bag of salt and vinegar McCoy’s. These new flavours had me intrigued- they are rustic and smoky, inspired by the flavour of cooking meat over an open fire. The Peri Peri have a decent tang to them, whilst the Chorizo is delightfully smoky. Both a super satisfying snack and one every McCoy’s lover needs to try. There is also a BBQ rib flavour in the range. 90p a bag from convenience stores. Multipacks available from Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Sainsburys.

I’ve not tried this three fold Hard Seltzer because pregnant, but I am excited to when I can! I love Hard Seltzer drinks and this tropical flavour sounds so good! It also comes in red berries and citrus for £2 a tin from Morrisons, Bargain Booze and on Ocado, Amazon and Revl.

This is the kind of food I’m craving at the moment! I loved these pot pastas (from the folks behind Pot Noodle). Probably not at all good for me, but both the carbonara and tomatoey mozzarella really hit the spot and now I need to track down the bolognese flavour for research purposes! £1.19 from all major supermarket chains. I’m a little bit obsessed!

If you’re persuaded to give Degustabox a go (and really, you should) you can claim £3.00 off of your first box (making it just £9.99!) 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.

Posted in food, review

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Shop Small: Novis Pynn*

01st August 2021

Throughout my years of blogging (and by now there have been many) I have always tried to give as much attention to small businesses that I love as much as I have any other brand or company.
The most recent independent on my radar is Novis Pynn, an jewellery shop based in Brighton that has been up and running since November 2020. They sell fashionable jewellery at affordable prices and I am all for it!

I was very kindly sent a few items from their online shop, which naturally I had to share, as well as a discount code for my readers.

The first item I picked was these sterling silver star and moon stud earrings. I love a mis-matched stud set so these instantly grabbed my attention. I’ve been so bad at remembering to change my earrings, but I loved these so much I popped them in the day they arrived (and they’ll probably be there now for the foreseeable!)

Next up we have this delicate little geometric honeycomb bracelet in silver (it also comes in gold) which was just too dainty to resist. It’s the perfect piece to wear on it’s own or to layer with other bracelets and bangles.

My final pick was this gold hummingbird pendant. Now I can’t link to this as it is currently out of stock but they are hoping to get some more in within the next month so keep your eyes on the website if you love it like I do! Most of my necklaces are silver so I had been looking for a dainty gold piece for ages just to change things up a bit. This fits the bill perfectly!

Everything came so neatly packaged and really quickly too. There is free standard delivery on UK orders which is an absolute winner and at the moment you can get a very generous 25% off your order when you use the code DAISY25 – make sure you let me know what you get in the comments, and what your favourite pieces are in general.

Posted in brands I love, jewellery

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Does your cat need to lose weight?*

28th July 2021

As with all of us during lockdown, it has become harder to maintain a healthy weight. With limits on physical movement through the lockdowns, social distancing, closed gyms and more it’s no surprise that some of us have put on the pounds. 

Unfortunately, the same goes for our pets and furry friends. With most of us self-isolating at least once during the pandemic, this has caused some of our pets to become less active, more accustomed to laziness and as a result, a little on the tubby side!

There are a few telltale signs that your cat needs to lose weight and if you feel like this is something they might be struggling with at the moment then the following advice is for you. 

As always, do remember to seek medical advice from your veterinarian before proceeding with any dietary changes, as they will always know what is best for your pet.

How do you know if your cat needs to lose weight?

If you’re concerned about your cat’s weight, chances are that you’ve noticed something a little out of the ordinary. If your cat has a bed, you may notice that they’re fitting into it a little differently now. 

Alternatively, you may be noticing changing patterns in their eating habits as well. This may include, but is not limited to: eating more often or very rarely, consuming larger or smaller quantities, throwing up or excessive toilet trips. 

Whichever issue your cat is struggling with, addressing these symptoms the moment you spot them by taking them to the vet is essential for maintaining your cat’s health.

What can you do to help your cat lose weight?

If after addressing any relevant symptoms, a medical professional has indeed advised you that your cat needs to lose weight then don’t worry; there are a whole host of steps you can take to ensure you provide for your cat’s needs, whilst ensuring their health through a weight loss process.

Supporting a cat through weight loss is quite similar to supporting a human through it actually! The main things to focus on are diet, exercise and nutrition.

Exercise

First off you’ll need to ensure that your cat is getting enough exercise. As much as cats aren’t like dogs and can’t really be taken for walks you can still encourage your cat to go outside and stretch their legs. 

If they are very resistant to going outside you can always invest in some cat toys to try and encourage them to play with you inside. Exercise in small bursts throughout the day can be beneficial for cats to use up a healthy amount of energy.

Diet and nutrition

Of course, there’s diet and nutrition to consider as well. With most supermarket versions of cat food containing hidden sweeteners and additives that your cat definitely doesn’t need, it’s products like these that could well be facilitating your cat’s unhealthy weight gain. 

Experts and vets alike have suggested that a switch to healthier, more nutritious cat food can be a great starting point and usually the most efficient solution to feline weight loss. A popular alternative to the most common cat food brands is raw cat food, a phenomenon that has only recently come on the market and has revolutionised healthier eating for pets.

Where can I buy healthier food for my cat?

If raw cat food sounds like a good alternative for your cat, then one of the best brands for pet owners to look into is Bella and Duke. A brand that has been slowly and carefully cultivating the best recipes for cats, Bella and Duke have taken the raw cat food market by storm with plenty of happy customers. 

You can browse through their website here, where you can find more information about the content of their meals, their delivery and shipping information, as well as how to set up a subscription with them so you’re never caught short; always having got some cat food ready for your cat to eat.

Posted in cats

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My New Favourite way to Layer Up*

25th July 2021

Everyone knows by now that I’m like a magpie when it comes to jewellery. My collection is a lot more curated than it used to be, made up of more grown-up classic pieces that will never date which means I have far less of it. That doesn’t make it boring though, just an excuse to experiment and wear things in a different way. My current favourite thing to do is layer up delicate necklaces to create and entirely new look.

Necklace c/o Daisy Jewellery

At the moment my absolute favourite necklace to layer with is this beautiful chain necklace from Daisy Jewellery. It’s such a versatile piece as it can be worn alone as well as being the perfect length for layering. You can also wear it with the interlocking clasp at the front or the back depending on how simplistic you want to be on any given day.

Mostly I’ve been pairing the chain with my ruby pendant which was a gift from Bob back when we were brand new. It’s another one of my favourites for so many reasons and I wear it all the time, it can get a little bit lost at times with it being so delicate but it contrasts perfectly with the stronger chain of the Daisy Jewellery piece.

I’m thinking that my next purchase needs to be a choker style silver chain so that I can triple layer this look…I need to make the most of it whilst I can- I think that once the baby is here necklace wearing will be a temporary thing of the past until little grabby hands can be trusted!

Anyone else a layering fan? Where are some of your favourite places to shop for classic pieces?

Posted in brands I love, jewellery, personal style

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Cleaning up with Beauty Hygiene Plus!

22nd July 2021
Products gifted for blog consideration

Hands up who else is guilty of neglecting their makeup brushes despite being meticulous about keeping everything else in their life super clean and disinfected….I’m pretty sure it can’t just be me!
I’ve always found cleaning my makeup brushes and tools to be a chore, and one that always seems to fall to the bottom of my list. However, I’m trying to get more organised with my life and this is one place that is finally getting priority thanks to these new wonder products from Beauty Hygiene Plus.

“The new beauty hygiene range from Beauty Hygiene Plus is set to be a ‘game-changer’ as it includes everything you need to keep your makeup products and beauty tools as safe and germ and virus free as possible. The products are quick and easy to use with no fuss and eliminate 99.9% of bacteria and viruses* within two minutes of application. Makeup and makeup tools are a breeding ground for bacteria and fungus that could be harbouring ‘nasties’ from E-coli to ringworm along with viruses such as herpes and conjunctivitis caused from cross-contamination and unhygienic use and storage.

The range consists of four antibacterial and antiviral products, Quick Dry Brush Cleaning Spray, Quick Dry Makeup Sanitising Mist, Quick Dry Beauty Tools Sanitising Spray and Deep Cleanse Sponge & Brush Wash.
Each product has its own unique individual formulation, for specific use on makeup, makeup brushes, beauty tools such as tweezers and eyelash curlers and makeup sponges and powder puffs. Together, the
distinctly different products, create a simple and effective user-friendly system for taking care of daily makeup and beauty hygiene. Beauty Hygiene Plus is on a mission to drive awareness as to why makeup hygiene is so important, and wants to help beauty consumers to create new, more healthy daily beauty hygiene habits.”

I was sent the Beauty Hygiene Essentials Kit + which contains 50ml of each product in the range, plus four travel sized makeup brushes all contained in a handy clear pouch. This makes the set perfect for travel and a great way to try out the entire range to see which products best suit your needs. The RRP for this set is £20 although it is currently on sale for £15.
I’ve popped a quick run-down of my thoughts on each product for you below…

Quick Dry Brush Cleaning Spray (100ml, £12.00): this was my favourite product from the range. It’s so useful for cleaning brushes during makeup application, say if you want to switch eyeshadow colours but only have one brush to hand. It really is quick drying and I will definitely be purchasing the full size version of this soon.

Quick Dry Makeup Sanitising Mist (100ml, £12.00): This is the product I have the least use for, although it’s handy to have around and I’m definitely glad of it. I can see how valuable this would be for anyone who works with makeup, or who tends to share their lipstick around!

Quick Dry Beauty Tools Sanitising Spray (100ml, £12.00): I’ve taken to giving my tweezers a spritz with this after using them (who even am I?) as well as the surfaces I use for makeup application. It’s the product I never knew I needed and probably a new travel essential for me, especially as we’re going camping soon and things tend to fall out of my bag and on to the ground!

Deep Cleanse Sponge & Brush Wash (100ml, £12.00): I desperately needed a new brush shampoo so this was a well timed arrival (I mean, I ran out like six months ago but ssh!)
This not only cleans but also disinfects, making it one up on what I had been using. Another full sized purchase pending!

The range is also now live on Feel Unique where it is also on offer.

What are you current hygiene essentials?

Posted in beauty, brands I love, review, Uncategorized

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