Snapea Snacking

18th July 2015
I’m a sucker for a new snack, especially of the savoury variety so when I was offered the chance to try out Snapea Rice Sticks by Yushoi I was game on, and more than a little bit excited.
I love that these are a quirky alternative to the traditional crisp, and much better for you too. According to the website description:

“Yushoi Snapea Rice Sticks are baked, free from nuts and dairy, suitable for vegetarians and vegans, high in protein and fibre and have no artificial colours, flavourings or MSG….And there are less than 99 calories per bag or per serving!”

and with an interesting array of flavours I couldn’t wait to tuck in!

Inside the attractive packaging lies little snack sticks that reminded me of peas in a pod, apt given that they are made of green peas and rice. The flavours are unique, standing out from the standard selection on the shelves and I loved each of them in their own way.

The one flavour I was hesitant to try was the sweet chilli and lemon as I really, really do not like lemon flavoured things. I tucked in to this pack first to get it out of the way, but actually the combination really works and I enjoyed every crumb of these. Somehow the lemon and sweet chilli flavours work in perfect harmony to create something special, and not the least bit offensive to my palate.

My favourite flavour was the smoked salt and szechuan pepper. You could really taste the smokiness in the salt and the pepper gave just the right kick. Both the lightly salted and the soy and balsamic vinegar also exceeded expectations in the flavour stakes, and despite the small pack size and low calorie status of these snacks they don’t leave you feeling like you’ve eaten a puff of air, or craving something else to fill a hole.

I can’t wait to see these launch in shops as they are something I’ll be seeking out on a regular basis. I’m looking forward to seeing what else Calbee snacks (the manufacturer) comes up with as they are on to a winner here. For now, if you want to give these a try- and I strongly suggest you should then you can stock up on the online shop, if I haven’t bought the lot first!

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Posted in brands I love, food, snacking

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Yet another nautical inspired outfit

17th July 2015
I found this set of photos lurking on my laptop, forgotten amongst the chaos of my desktop (organising it has been on my to-do list since forever). It’s a bit of a matchy-matchy outfit by my standards, but I liked it- and still do like it as once again it has more than a touch of nautical style about it.

Top: Primark | Skirt: New Look (here) | Sunglasses: Ray-Ban | Shoes c/o Babycham

I’m fairly hopeless when it comes to remembering to photographer the finer details of outfits, accessories in particular although in Summer I’m rarely without a pair of sunglasses on my face. My current favourites are my Ray-Ban Erika pair which just seem to go with everything and clearly turn me in to a bit of a poser.

I couldn’t resist pairing my Babycham sailor shoes with this bargain vest top from Primark (£3 in a fairly recent sale), teamed of course with one of the two denim skirts I’ve been living in this Summer, my replacement for jeans it would seem as I end up wearing one most days, once outfit photos have been taken or work has been done.

What are you living in this Summer?

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Posted in life, life stuff, outfits, shoes

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Summer Sandals at Shoetique*

16th July 2015
I’ve developed a bit of an obsession with flat sandals this summer, in fact I went a bit crazy and sold (nearly) all of my heels to clear some space after realising that I can no longer spend an entire day in them without serious discomfort. I had intended just to clear some space and save some money but what actually happened is that I went on a bit of a sandal spree, and after a quick browse on shoe super-store Shoetique I fear another might be about to happen. As I’ve got older I’ve come to realise that flat shoes don’t have to be boring, and to prove my point I’ve popped together a little wish list of some seriously stylish shoes.
I had no idea that Barbour had branched out in to sandals so it was a potentially dangerous discovery when I stumbled across this pair whilst browsing as at £70 they are way above any budget I might have. They aren’t my usual style either, and I have no idea how I’d go about wearing them but there is something quite endearing about the navy blue suede.
Another pair that I un-expectedly fell in love with are these baby blues from Adesso although I instantly know these would be worn to death with jeans and denim mini skirts, they just look so comfortable and enchantingly retro.
More in keeping with my style are the neon pink flip-flop style shoes from Joules, or the remaining two pairs which are by Clarks. As someone who avoided Clarks for years, associating them with scarring school shoe shopping trips it’s always a joy to shop there these days as they have so many on trend styles that carry you from season to season.
So there we go, that’s my next pay-day spent before it arrives! Have you seen any shoes that have caught your eye lately?

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Posted in shoes, shopping

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#ITBS Scavenger Hunt

15th July 2015
I do like a good challenge, so when Into The Blue got in touch about a blogger scavenger hunt it was game on! Just now I received a clue via e-mail, along with the rest of my team (char, kel and Amie)…I thought I was good at this kind of thing but deciphering my clue proved tricky…
The aim is to be the first team to work out a word from our four clues and tweet Into the Blue with the answer…fingers crossed I don’t let the side down!
Which I translate to be this experience!

Posted in blogging

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Sampling Dermalogica

15th July 2015
As a relative novice to the world of skincare I’m still a bit hesitant in splashing my cash on full size products even if the reviews are brilliant. I have pretty sensitive skin and the last thing I want is to drop £20+ on a fancy new face cream only to find it brings me out in a dodgy looking rash.
I recently received a few Dermalogica samples in the post and thought I’d share my thoughts on them and whether I’ll be investing in the full size products.
Pure Bright Serum:50ml of this product will cost you £72.50 so a sample or two before you try is really quite essential. I got on ok with this, it promises to brighten skin and balance out pigmentation and un-even skin tone. I certainly noticed my skin being brighter with this, as I suffer quite a dull looking face most of the time. It’s not a product I could afford to buy unless I was feeling really indulgent but it was lovely to have a few sachets of this to perk me up when I needed it most.
Skin Perfect Primer: I really, really like this and almost wish I didn’t as again at £34.85 for a 22ml tube it’s on the pricey side. This is a product I’ll be saving up for though as a little goes a very long way- each sample sachet did three full face applications! The primer provided a perfectly smooth base for my foundation without drying my skin out which is often the case with primers. One for the “I would purchase” list.
Daily Defence SPF15:Sadly for my bank account this is another product for my “I would purchase list”. A lovely light-weight daytime lotion that helps combat skin ageing and provides vital protection from the sun. At the grand old age of 28 skin ageing is something I’ve started to panic about so this multi-tasker would be a welcome addition to my skin care collection. A 100ml pot of this will set you back £33.70 which actually seems quite reasonable to me!
Body Hydrating Cream: I’m really, really fussy when it comes to moisturisers for my body. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve bought one, declared it perfect then ended up abandoning it after a couple of uses. I hate anything that’s slow to sink in or leaves my skin feeling greasy, which this one didn’t at all. It made light work of my dry elbows and shins and also fixed up my sore, cracked hands. Prices for this range from £10.95 for a 75ml tube up to £34.95 for a 473ml bottle. I’m thinking of treating myself to the smaller size to keep in my work bag, I’m yet to find a hand cream that I really love, but this has made the world of difference especially after a morning of scrubbing my hands and wearing endless pairs of clinical gloves.
Are there any Dermalogica products you’d recommend I’d try? How do you feel about samples? I’ve seriously under-estimated them in the past, but now I’m taking a quality over quantity approach to skin care they really are the best way to make sure you’re getting value for your hard earned cash by not buying something that everyone has raved about but that you personally hate!

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Posted in beauty, review

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