Escape to the Countryside

08th May 2015

To kick start my Birthday celebrations, which feels like a lifetime ago already Ben and I headed up to stay with his parents for the weekend. He’s recently passed his driving test and has a car so it was the first time we were able to suit ourselves around timing and not be reliant on public transport or needing other people to ferry us around.

On the Saturday he took me on a little tour of Melton Mowbray where he grew up. I was already somewhat familiar with the town centre from previous visits but had absolutely no idea that there was also a country park- how something so vast could have remained so hidden from me I don’t know! Over 100 acres of land with lakes, streams, grass, fields and playgrounds galore this really needed a whole day to explore. We dodged the rain showers and had a little walk through just part of the park…a return visit is needed very soon, complete with picnic and sensible shoes.

Dress c/o Quiz Clothing| Boots: New Look

I just love this dress from Quiz, I always feel good when I wear it. The structured shape and off the shoulder neckline add a touch of glamour and we all know I can’t resist a good floral print. These boots are ancient now and I wish I could find some similar to replace them with as they are long past their best- do let me know if you come across any!
Having felt like I’ve needed a break from routine for ages this weekend was the perfect escape. Long lie-ins and discovery new places, catching up with Ben’s family and being reunited by Tobias (who is in disgrace after killing two baby bunnies). I came back feeling relaxed and refreshed and ready to start again.

I wish we had a country park near to where I live with my parents, I find these kind of places are so serene, the perfect hideaway for when you need to unwind and escape from the pressures of every day life.

Where do you go to chill out?

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Degusta Box- the April Edition

06th May 2015
Here we are with the fourth Degustabox of 2015 and the April edition took on an international theme. As ever there was a great selection of products in the box, although this time not suited to my own tastes- no matter though, my Dad stepped in to test things out and still love the monthly excitement.

I’m sure that by now you’re all familiar with what the box is about, but just in case you’re not, it’s a monthly food subscription box that delivers a selection of new and surprise products to your door for the cost of £12.99 per one off box or £11.99 per month when you take out a bi-annual subscription. I’ve been reviewing the boxes over the last year and they never fail to impress me and get me eating outside of my comfort zone.

The first product out of the box was some crisps from the folks at Nandos. I only first visited a Nandos about 6 months ago (I know, I know) but I’m 100% a fan of their chicken-y goodness. I’m not the world’s biggest crisp eater but even I enjoyed the Peri-Salted variety and my Dad’s eyes lit up when he spied the spicier flavours in the range. Each pack has a RRP of 69p.

Chopped tomatoes are a store cupboard essential and I don’t care what anyone says, I do think branded ones often taste better than their value counterparts. Cirio have long been the tomato of choice for me so it was nice to see two new to me products in the box. The tomato fillets are perfect for using as a base for a chunky pasta sauce, or simply heated up and served on buttered toast. Yum!

The drinks section of the April box didn’t really appeal to me and I can’t claim to have tried the selection yet. The Idrinq can claims to make you think smarter, aiding creativity and idea generation. I think this is probably a placebo effect but if I try it out and discover a miracle I’ll be sure to let you know! (£1.49 per can). The Scheckters organic energy drink (£1.35) is something I will be trying in the near future, probably when I’m on a long day at work. It’s full of natural ingredients and delicate flavours which will probably benefit me far more than the additive loaded monster energy drinks I sometimes indulge in!

I’m not a beer fan so the Kingfisher Indian beer, which is India’s best selling brand has gone straight to Dad who is a fan. There’s a reason it’s so popular apparently, and I am sure that if I was a beer drinker I would find it excellent myself. (£2.00 a bottle).

Are you ever too old for Kinder chocolate? I think not! The April box included two bags of new bite sized treats. The chocolate with cereals is lovely, there’s a bit of an odd contrast in tastes and textures at first, but these are light and more-ish (and long gone!). Ben had the other bag, the original choco-bons and there barely lasted five minutes. I used to love these until I became allergic to the hazelnuts (which thankfully aren’t in the cereal variety) so I was really quite envious. (£1.55 a bag but I have seen them on offer at £1).

Barry’s Tea is an Irish favourite and I wish it was more widely available as this is just lovely. My love of coffee has switched to a love of tea over the last couple of years and this is the perfect everyday blend for enjoying with a biscuit on the side. The cookies in the box, by USA brand Debeukelaer Cookies Bakery looked like the perfect accompaniment, the pack I received had a soft and creamy nougat centre which was very much enjoyed by those who tried them. At £2.00 for a packet of four (rather large) cookies these are a luxury treat but I think well worth it, I’ll be seeking out some of the other varieties to try for myself.

Last but not least there were some microwave rice trays from Veetee. These are a staple in our house and the new flavours are really appealing. The peri-peri was excellent in a chicken stir-fry and I think the mexican rice has been earmarked for a fajitas night. These cost £1.49 each and I always stock up when I see them on offer!

If you had the April box too, what were your thoughts? As I said before, this wasn’t a box I could personally enjoy as much, but other people benefitted hugely and I still think the concept of Degustabox is a brilliant one and something I always look forward to arriving at my door.

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The Ups and the Downs

04th May 2015

One of the many reasons I love living in (well, near) Bristol is that one minute you’re in the hustle and bustle of a busy city centre and the next you can be somewhere so calm and quiet that it feels like another country.

“The Downs” is a huge open space made up of Clifton Down and Durdham down and in the Summer it’s awash with people- from the dog walkers to the runners, from young families having a picnic to the sweet elderly couples walking hand in hand. It’s a brilliant place to people watch and there are some pretty spectacular views on offer too, the most impressive of which has to be Avon Gorge which features the famous Clifton Suspension bridge- an iconic part of Bristol City.

The other weekend Ben and I ventured up there to chill out for a while- despite being busy there is always a quiet spot somewhere. We also took the opportunity to branch out with outfit photo locations…I’m getting quite used to prancing around in public now.

Top: New Look (similar) | Dress: River Island at ASOS | Boots: Missguided

The downs could also kind of describe how I’ve been feeling lately, as life hasn’t been the easiest. For as long as I can remember I’ve struggled with my mental health and the last few months have been testing to say the least.
I know a few people have commented and expressed concern over my weight and all I can say on that is I’m working on it- working on getting it back to where it was a year ago. Mood wise things are finally picking up, thanks to a tweak in medication and the unwavering support of my friends, boyfriend, family, colleagues and awesome GP I feel in a happier place right now and I’m starting to enjoy life a bit more again. Next on the agenda is to break out of my self imposed social isolation- any volunteers for dragging me out of the house?
Do you have any places near where you live that you like to escape to?

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Posted in bristol, life, life stuff, outfits

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My Ultimate Bathroom

02nd May 2015
You know you’re growing up when you stop planning what colour nail polish you’re going to buy next and instead start dreaming of all things interiors. I may still live with my parents, and when I do move out it will be in to a rental property for a while it hasn’t stopped me taking inspiration from a survey that your show home did about people’s dream spa bathrooms (in conjunction with ukBathrooms) and I’ve started to plan my own- one day!

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I love the idea of a bathroom with a view. A huge, floor to ceiling window (because of course I’ll be living in the middle of nowhere with no risk of peeping Toms) to let natural light flood in. A freestanding jumbo sized bath-tub would be ideal, something I can stretch out in and read a book…hours would happily pass by without me realising.

Candles are the perfect way to add atmosphere to a bathroom- be it in a luxurious spa setting or in your own small but perfectly formed one at home. A glass of wine and a few flickering candles does wonders for one’s mental health especially if you can watch the sun setting at the same time.

For the ultimate spa at home experience I would love a vast, walk in shower cubicle that doubles up as a steam room/sauna. I can’t think of anything more indulgent and steam is great for the skin. Of course to get all this I’m going to have to do a heck of a lot of hard work and money saving ahead of me, and that’s just to get myself on to the property ladder. By my calculations I should be able to get my dream bathroom by the time I’m about, oh…80?

What would your dream spa-style bathroom contain?

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Posted in interiors, life, wish list

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Mae Reviews- Cat Hampurr

01st May 2015
I’m not sure Mae always deserves the treats she gets sent thanks to my blog. Between beheading every flower in sight, leaving dead mice for me to find first thing in the morning and destroying all of the carpet in the house (so thankful we don’t rent!) she is quite a challenge. Regardless, I wouldn’t be without her as she keeps me sane and entertained and is generally just lovely and that’s why I gratefully accepted an offer from Cat Hampurr who offered to send us their 1st anniversary box which included some of their most popular products over the last twelve months.
Cat Hampurr is a monthly subscription box that offers a whole host of options. From the £6 per box bi-monthly delivery to the £21.90 double trouble box for the multi-cat household there is something to cater for all feline fiends. We were sent the £11.95 monthly hampurr option which boasted a great selection of hand (paw?) selected treats and toys, all of which were a hit. What I really love about Cat Hampurr is that the toys are often hand made by small businesses and unlike anything you’ll find in your typical pet shop. This means Mae gets to try something totally new AND we’re supporting the little people in the pet industry.

As you can see from the photos Mae was loving the toys in this box. The flying frenzy has been a great source of entertainment to my little bundle of energy, she is most bemused by the feathers and dives headfirst in to her toy basket to pull this out.
The EcoKitty catnip pillow has become a comfort item to Mae and she sleeps with her head on it the majority of the time. The one in this box was a limited edition but you can pick one up for £3.99 from the website and I know we’ll be re-stocking the second this one loses it’s scent.

On the food front the treats in this box were major winners. The two tuna loins from Applaws looked good enough for human consumption and once open keep for a week in the fridge- although there was no chance they were going to last that long! Equally as well received were the freeze dried treats from Natures Menu. It doesn’t sound appealing to me but Mae loved the chicken and liver flavour snacks she was sent and I liked the fact they were 95% real meat, and free from gluten, artificial colours/flavours/preservatives.

Every bit as popular was the Fish4Cats complete cat food made up of 65% fish with added cranberry, amino acids and minerals to aid with urinary tract health. We give dry food as an day available supplement to wet food pouches, but these barely lasted five minutes. Strict rations have been applied!

Overall both Mae and myself thought this box was brilliant and we’ll certainly be signing up for the odd monthly box when behaviour dictates one is deserved! £11.95 gets you a high quality box crammed full of “not on the high street” products that I feel is worth every penny. The little fiend curled up next to me, gently snoring and leaving a puddle of drool on her cat nip pillow agrees.
Have you ever tried pet subscription boxes? What was your experience if so? We are yet to be let down by one!

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