The ELeaf Elven pod system from e-cigarette direct*

[post contains gifted item]

Well, I seem to have quite firmly found a niche as a vaping blogger, it might not seem very fitting, but over the last six months this journey in to ditching cigarettes has become a big part of my life and I’ve become very interested in the vaping world.
As regular readers will know, the team at e-cigarette direct have kept me well supplied since I started this adventure and one of my most recent packages from the contained a pod system to try out alongside my regular vape set up.

Eleaf Elven pod system c/o e-cigarette direct

Pod systems are a newer generation of vaping kit, they either come with pre-filled pods or with empty pods which the user can re-fill. These are disposable and designed to be replaced as the coil wears out.

At £16.99 the Elven pod system provides a middle ground between a budget vape pen and getting kitted out with a proper box mod. It’s much more discreet- not an awful lot bigger than a USB stick and much lighter to carry around.

This kit comes with re-fillable pods (you get two in the box) which are super simple to remove, fill and replace. I very much approve of the lightweight and sleek design, I certainly feel less conspicuous being out and about with this than I do my regular set up!

I don’t know if it’s a regular feature on pod systems but the Elven has an adjustable air flow so you still have some control over how you’re vaping which I like. I don’t get the same level of hit from this as I do my box mod but it’s perfectly acceptable as has become my go-to for out and about vaping as it’s much easier to carry.

It’s so easy to charge (usb) and operate too; you literally inhale and that’s it! The battery life is pretty impressive and the draw you get from it when on restricted air flow is comparable to that of a cigarette.

I’ve found this set up works best with nicotine salts rather than regular juice, but it works fine with regular as well. You get much less vape cloud using the pod system which makes it more acceptable in busier places and less obnoxious to others around.

I’m still getting used to this but so far I’m impressed. Replacement pods cost £2.49, I haven’t had to replace mine yet so I can’t say how long each one lasts for but I imagine a month or so.

My Mum has been persuaded to give one a go in a mission to reduce her smoking so it’ll be interesting to see how she fares.

If you’ve ever tried a pod system I’d love to know your thoughts.

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How to Choose the Best Hardwood Flooring for Your Beach House*

When it comes to your beach house, some would argue that hardwood flooring is the superior choice. When properly installed it looks good against all decor, it’s colour doesn’t fade and it is also long-lasting and cost-effective. This may be the reason why it is the most popular floor choice, however, many people have questions around how to choose and install it well.

Photo by Arno Smit on Unsplash

1. Consider installing engineered wood.

Whilst centuries old houses will have floors made of solid wood, engineered wood is composed of a centre of plywood topped with a layer of hardwood. This flooring is more immune to, and provides tighter protection against the ever-present moisture in the coastal areas and won’t suffer the contracting or warping that a solid wood floor will. In addition to this, the wood that is used will remain in excellent condition, whilst maintaining the overall appearance of solid wood flooring.

Photo by Bette Jane Camp on Unsplash

2. Choose a lighter colour.

Choosing a lighter colour will hide scratches and general wear and tear making it a better option for family beach houses. This should be a place to relax and create happy memories and a lighter floor will age better and provide less stress and maintenance than picking a darker tone.

3. Pick a textured finish.

A textured finish not only looks unique, but will hide dents and scuffs better than a smooth surface. It is much more forgiving and you can customise it yourself with a wire brushed, low gloss finish.

4. Get creative with colour.

You should not be scared to experiment with colour and texture. Try embracing the sea vibes with a faded blue textured surface, or even a bold aqua tone to really stand out. It will add to the seaside vibes and provide a focal point that lends itself to simple, casual decor.

Having solid wood flooring or engineered hardwood flooring can really add to your beach front retreat. It makes the house looks clean and fresh, and makes cleaning up sandy footprints much easier. Whether it be engineered or solid, do some research and get experimenting for a unique escape that is set to stand the test of time.

Building the perfect gift*

With Mother’s Day creeping up on us (here in the UK at least), and the seemingly never-ending arrival of Birthdays and other gift-giving occasions there’s never a bad time to do a gift guide kind of post, especially not when it’s one where you can really give the personal touch. Nomination Bracelets are one such perfect gift, you can buy it for one celebration and then add to it for years to come; from Zodiac Charms to birthstones, quirky slogans and pretty prints, there is a something for everyone and every occasion- tell someone you love them, celebrate a special holiday or just let someone know you are thinking of them. I think these are perhaps more wearable than traditional charm bracelets as they sit flat on the wrist, some of my favourite picks for a Mother’s Day bracelet are below:
I’m really enjoying the Birthstone range as a starting point for any bracelet. Your birthstone is said to bring you luck, and each stone has a unique positive energy which is supposed to be transmitted to its wearer. I think it’s a lovely place to start. I’ve surrounded the Birthstone with other charms that represent my Mum and what she means to be; I’ve also included her zodiac sign, a cat (I inherited her crazy cat lady genes!), a couple of little reminders of what she means to be as well as some cute and quirky disc charms to give the bracelet some texture and provide random reminders of stupid conversations we’ve had and things we’ve experienced together.

I’m a firm believer in giving gifts with a personal touch and this is the perfect way in which to do. Every item is made in Italy, where the brand originates from and is made to the highest standards. Who would you build a bracelet for? Head over the website to discover more!

Degusta and Chill- the February Box

It seems like Pablo gatecrashing the party is going to become a new theme as he just can’t keep away from the Degustabox* delivery when it arrives! Whilst it’s actually the cardboard that his little feline heart desires, I’m very much about the contents and the February box, with it’s “Degusta and Chill” theme was an interesting one.
Explore cuisine organic chickpea fusilli is a pasta made from plant-based protein and fibre. It’s organic, suitable for vegans and gluten free! I’ve seen these kind of pasta alternatives on the shelves and wondered how they’d be- I really like this as an change from the norm but at £3 it’s too expensive for me to consider regularly. It made a nice change though.
I’ve tried seaweed snacks in the past and I’m the kind of person who loves them. Whilst not much of a snack at 18 calories per bag (although great for anyone on a diet), these Clearspring Organic Seaveg Crispies with Tumeric are oddly tasty. They contain only four ingredients and are high in fibre, gluten free and vegan. Again pricey at £2.59 but worth a try and good as a salad booster.
These funky looking products from Choc Chick were the ones I was most excited to try from this month’s box. Here we have Quinoa Pops and Plantain Bites- both vegan, being coated in Ecuadorian single origin organic Cacao. They both contain 50% less sugar than your average chocolate snack, and whilst I wasn’t so keen on the plantain ones, the quinoa variety are completely addictive. I can’t describe either of the snacks adequately, I’ve never had anything like them to compare them to, all I can say is if you’re intrigued, treat yourself (RRP £1.85 a bag so definitely a treat!)
I’m on a bit of a sweets kick at the moment and these Watermelon jelly gums from Bebeto are delicious! At just 50p a bag there is a reason why these are the brand’s biggest UK seller. Fruity and delicious, there has been a gap in the market for a watermelon flavour sweet in my opinion, and these fill it nicely.
There were two packs of these Brioche Folded Flatbreads by Deli Kitchen in the box and I gave one to my Mum to try as she was as excited by them as I was. They make a lovely and slightly sweet change to my usual soup dipper of choice and also make an excellent lunch time sandwich alternative- especially packed full of chicken, salad and balsamic. Yum! These will be a regular purchase from now- £1.25 a pack (and they freeze wonderfully).
I have a friend who once worked in a pork scratching factory and her stories put me off for life. Bob however really enjoyed these bags from Snaffling Pig- and from what I gather this brand is THE brand to buy.
Can you go wrong with a jar of Pesto? I don’t think so! Especially not if you’re Sacla. Their new reduced fat pesto has 30% less fat than their regular jar. It cleverly replaces the cheese with tofu making it vegan friendly, and whilst I am yet to crack this jar open I have high hopes for it. It’s available now for £2.50 a jar.
I kind of felt like these cartons of milk were a bit of a random choice for the box, but whatever! I don’t like milk but Bob does, and he’s ploughed through this in the evenings with a thumbs up. Perfect for anyone who loves milk, or who has lunch boxes to pack for their kids- £1.00 per pack.
What can I say about Orangina that hasn’t been said before? It’s a classic for good reason, and I’m always delighted to get a bottle in Degustabox.
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.

UK Television: What are the most iconic fictional streets?*

With work being very much the focal point for most people in the UK it’s no wonder that we use TV as an escape. From daily TV shows to action packed movies we use anything as an excuse to get away from the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives. Here we look at some of the most iconic streets in which characters we all know and love live on.

Photo by Pawel Kadysz on Unsplash

Privet Drive
We were first introduced to this fictional street in the book Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling which was first published in 1997 (how?!). Located in Surrey this street was home to the Dursley family, which included Vernon, Petunia, and their son Dudley, who all lived at number four.

In 1981 this perfectly normal street became slightly more interesting as Vernon and Petunia’s nephew, Harry James Potter, was left on their doorstep by one of the greatest wizards of all time, Albus Dumbledore after his parents were tragically murdered by the Dark Lord himself, Lord Voldemort.

The suburban street consists of ‘boxy’ houses with gardens at the front and back — each quite identical in design. The name of the street came from a privet bush, which is a hedge that isolates houses as Rowling herself thought this linked quite well as the Dursley’s had a desire to segregate themselves from the Wizarding World — despite having strong family ties.

Today, you can visit the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London to see the film set in real life. Sometimes the interior is open to the public so make sure you check ahead of visiting although we know you’ll be just as pleased posing next to the vintage street sign. The actual home that was used in the first film recently made headlines after being put on the market for almost £500,000!

Cherry Tree Lane
You’ll be more than familiar with Cherry Tree Lane especially if you recently visited the cinema to see Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns. We were first introduced to the fiction street in 1934 when author P.L. Travers released the first book of her Mary Poppins series. The street is most notably home to the Banks family, who lived at number 17 and has been passed down to each generation.

There has been a number of remarkable and magical events that have occurred on this street, and of course Mary Poppins initial landing is one of them. What else makes this location supercalifragilisticexpialidocious is that it’s also home to Admiral Boom and Mr. Binnacle, who were once members of England’s navy and keep their house in ‘shipshape’ — with an actual ship on the roof which fires a cannon twice a day! As well as this there are countless chimney sweepers and path illustrators!

Although there is no specific location for where Cherry Tree Lane could be, it is thought that Travers based her vision off townhouses in Kensington or her own home on Smith Street in Chelsea — which now has an English Heritage plaque outside.

Coronation Street
Based in the fictional town of Weatherfield in Salford, Coronation Street has definitely made its way into hearts of British viewers after gracing screens for the first time in 1960 on ITV. Created by Tony Warren, the street is thought to have been built in 1902 and compromised of a row of seven terraced houses with the iconic Rovers Return Inn and corner shop at each end.

The show itself has been home to many dramas and is the longest-running soap opera in the world. Because of its popularity, writers had to introduce new characters and locations over the years to create a more representative environment for viewers at home to relate with. Today you’ll still find the iconic Rovers Return Inn and D&S Alahan’s corner shop, but also be introduced to The Kabin newsagents, Roy’s Rolls café, and lingerie-making business Underworld as well as other communal areas.

There are quite a few storylines you’ll remember from this show, from the ‘Free the Weatherfield One’ campaign where Deirdre Rachid was given an 18-month sentence for a crimes she didn’t commit to Hayley Cropper née Harold Patterson becoming the first transgender character on the show. There’re a lot of storylines that made a significant impact on the British public that still live on almost 60 years later.

You can walk down the famous cobbles yourself with an outdoor street tour that take place on the weekends. Located at MediaCityUK in Manchester the 80-minute tour also includes the set of Rosamund Street and the never-before-seen Victoria Street.

Baker Street
Home to everyone’s favourite detective, 221b Baker Street is where Sherlock Holmes lived and worked. Although you may need to wear your deerstalker cap to find it, as the building is strangely located between 237 and 241. Penned by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock has become one of the most influential literary characters associated with British culture.

Today the address functions as a museum which is open every day from 9:30am to 18:00pm and costs adults £15 and children under 16 £10. You’ll be able to explore the home Sherlock shared with his main companion, Dr Watson — including the sitting room, the laboratory, the iconic study and more.

You may be surprised to read that when the stories were first published, though the street itself wasn’t fictional, the address ‘221b Baker Street’ certainly was as the addresses in Baker Street did not go as high as 221 — but this was soon extended. The Abbey National Building Society occupied the addresses 219-229 from 1931 and had to employ a full-time secretary to answer mail addressed to Sherlock Holmes! There was a 15-year dispute on who should receive the letters though, the building society or the museum.

There’s a lot of fictional streets here in the UK. Which ones are your favourite?