Quick and Easy Low Calorie Lunches with Mr Lees Noodles

I have mentioned a few times on my blog I am trying to change my eating habits and lead a more healthy lifestyle. One thing I do find difficult is lunches. I find keeping lunches balanced and fairly healthy a real challenge without finding them boring - I have flat bread with salad or soup most days for lunch, and although I do enjoy these, they do become a little bit boring and repetitive for me. I want something with a lot of flavour that I can make quickly at dinner time and that will curb my hunger for a few hours.

I was recently contacted by the lovely people at Mr Lees Noodles; a brand I wasn't familiar with previously, to try out some of their pot noodles. I did a little research and found that Mr Lees Noodles make instant pot noodles soups which are low in salt, sugar, saturated fat and calories, and are also gluten free. Compared to the likes of Pot Noodle and Golden Wonder Noodles, there is quite a difference in the amount of calories and saturated fat that they contain when compared to Mr Lees Noodles. For example, Pot Noodles calories per pot are around 433 calories, whereas Mr Lee Noodles calories per pot are 215-237 calories. I thought that was quite an interesting difference and wanted to see if they were just as tasty as the bigger brands.

I was kindly sent one of every flavour to try. My favourites were the Penang Chicken Curry Laksa which is full of flavour, and I also really enjoyed the Tai Chi Chicken too; it was super tasty and actually quite filling. Chicken is probably my favourite when it comes to noodles so it was no surprise that these were my faves!
Mr Lees Noodles are available in a variety of flavours, which include:

• Dragon Fire Mushroom
• Hong Kong Street Beef
• Penang Chicken Curry Laksa
• Shaolin Monk Vegetables
• Tai Chi Chicken
• Warrior Fighting Shrimp

These are super quick to prepare as you just need to add boiling water and give it a stir. I think they are ideal for lunches at work or a quick lunch at home. I find these sorts of food items are great to keep in stock in your food cupboards as they usually have a really long use by date and are a great alternative if you have no fresh produce in at home. I really like the convenience of quick lunches like these and it is good to know that they are low in fats, sugar and salt.
Mr Lees Noodles are currently available to buy online here if you wanted to give them a try yourself.

*PR sample*

Wonderful Things: Afternoon Tea, Busted Concert and more!

I was treated to an afternoon tea for two gift experience for Christmas which was super lovely and as I am a big foodie and a big tea and coffee drinker I was super excited to get it booked up. I went with a friend and we had the most amazing afternoon tea; with soup, hot crumpets, finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam and of-course lots of teeny tiny delicious sweet treats and hot beverages. Anyone that knows me well knows that anything ditsy and floral print is right up my street and the decor inside was just beautiful. It was such a lovely day, I would definitely recommend Jelly Pickle Jam if you are local to Evesham or are visiting.

I really like Yankee as a brand, but I just buy their sampler votive candles these days as it gives you a chance to see if you like the scent for just £2, rather than investing in a jar costing around £18. If I'm honest I've found that some Yankee scents aren't very strong and have been a bit of a let down, but not this one! Macaron Treats smells gorgeous and brightens my mood when its burning; it reminds me of times from when I was young - its just a lovely, sweet scent.

I love having false nails on my nails, it is probably one of favourite 'pamper me' type things to do. I've never been very good at growing my own nails, and after using false nails so much in the past, my nails are really weak and tend to break. I have given false nails a rest for a while so I can look after my own nails a little bit better. I was challenged recently to try the Renunail 3 Step Kit* out to see if my nails would strengthen in four Weeks. Included is their original Nail Strengthener, Nourishing Oil and their Nail Strengthener in pink. I've been using this kit for probably over five Weeks now, and I've noticed such a difference. You simply apply the Nail Strengthener every day for one Week, remove on the seventh day and then continue this pattern for the next three Weeks. Alhough my nails haven't grown all that much, they haven't broke and they do feel stronger and look in much better condition than before. I will be purchasing these products once they've run out as they have worked really well for me, so these have definitely been wonderful products for me this Month.

I am big Busted fan (13 year old Zoe was completely obsessed with them back in the day) and having seen them for the first time in over ten years last year on their comeback tour, of-course I had to buy tickets to the latest tour too. They were brilliant as always; we were standing this time and I always think its a much better atmosphere compared to seating. I think Busted will always have a big piece of my heart, regardless of what anyone else thinks, their music really makes me happy and reminds me of being young. I didn't take any photos while I was there, I try to enjoy the moment when I go to concerts (plus being a tiny 5'1 I can't really take any decent photos as I cant see the stage too much!) so here's a selfie of me wearing last Years tour t-shirt.

Out of the Ordinary Gift Ideas

I like to think outside the box when it comes to buying gifts for other people. Don't get me wrong, I love a good old gift set, but you know when you find a gift for someone that catches your eye and you think, 'wow, that would be perfect for her!' and beam with pride knowing how much they will enjoy it, I love that feeling! I have found a few really great gift ideas I wanted to share with you that I think are really interesting and a little bit out of the ordinary.

The Gourmet Chocolate Pizza Co. Chocolate Pizza

Chocolate...Pizza... a match made in heaven, right?! I think this is a great alternative to a selection box for that chocolate fiend in your life. I tried the flavour Crunchy Munchy*, which was full of biscuit, fudge and scrumptious chocolate swirls. It tasted absolutely delicious. The brand have a huge selection of different flavours, as well as an option to personalize your pizza too. The Gourmet Chocolate Pizza Co also sell chocolate pizza slices in a range of flavours at only £2.20 each, which I think would make great stocking fillers or little gifts for friends. I have already ordered a few of these to pop in to stockings.

Executive Pens Direct Engraved Pen
I don't know about you, but in our house we definitely have a pen fairy that steals all of the pens whenever we need them. I am a bit of a stationery nerd too so I love a nice pen, and I would absolutely love to receive a gift like this beautiful engraved pen . This particular design is called the Parker Urban Fashion Ballpoint Pen* which is pink with a chrome trim. It is such a beautiful item, and is very high quality, too. There are tonnes of other pens at Executive Pens Direct that you can personalise, as well as some useful and novelty gifts, which are all available on their website. I think this is a gift that anyone would appreciate, it looks super sophisticated and is a really special, yet practical and useful gift.

Ellie Bean Prints A4 Print
If you are a bit of a bookworm you may already recognize this quote. I am all about quotes to live by, they really do brighten my day and prints like this one can really personalise a room and make it your own. This print* is from Ellie Bean Prints in A4 size and is really good quality. I plan to fill one of the walls in my room with framed prints of inspirational images and quotes like this one. I think makes a beautiful gift. Ellie Bean Prints have a huge range of other prints and card that you can personalize too.

Friction Free Shaving Subscription Service

Now, you're probably thinking 'Hmm that is odd, why would you include a razor in a gift guide?!' I have a logical explanation. This handy subscription service sends you a high quality razor and razor heads from only £3 per Month. I think this is a brilliant gift idea for someone that maybe has everything, or maybe, if, like me, absolutely hates spending their money on razors 'cause they're so expensive, this would make a great gift. I can vouch too that the razors are really good quality and leave my skin feeling super soft with no irritation whatsoever.How ideal, too, knowing that you don't have to go out and buy a razor for a whole year!

Personalised Tree Decoration

Why not treat someone to a personalized tree decoration? These kind of gifts always go down well with family and friends. It is something they can use every Christmas. I particularly love this cute gingerbread family design. I bought this from a local shopping centre, but you can find similar here or even have a go at making your own.

House of Wonderland Jewellery Club Subscription
A lot of the ladies in my life are big fans of costume jewellery so I know this would make a great gift for them, in fact this is something I would love to receive myself. I love the surprise aspect of subscription boxes, not knowing what you are getting is all part of the fun, and treating someone to this kind of gift as they'll receive a lovely bundle of gifts once a Month. The HOW Jewellery Club Subscription* would make a perfect gift for someone that loves a bit of fun or loves to jazz an outfit up with cute jewellery. The best part about the subscription is that the jewellery you receive is unique and aren't part of the House of Wonderlands current ranges.You could either treat someone to a subscription, or order one yourself and split up the jewellery items and gift them to friends. I will be writing a full review of this Months jewellery in a separate blog post (which will include more images and info) very soon, which I will link here once the post is live.

Laptop Sleeve
Practical and pretty, those are two words I think sum up this next gift very well. This stylish laptop sleeve 'Grace'* from STM Bags is perfect for those on the go. This sleeve has a super soft lining to keep your laptop protected and safe.  It is like a safe fluffy jumper for your laptop! I love the sleek and stylish presentation, and how this can fit easily into a bag, and your laptop being super protected as you go about your day. You can even match your laptop sleeve to your clutch and your handbag as STM stock those in the same design too. This beauty is available from Amazon or Currys online here.

Mickey Mouse Chalk Board
I think this would make a lovely gift for someone special, particularly if they're a big Disney fan! You could even add a sweet message to the board before wrapping it up. I like gifts that are really useful, and I think this would be one of those gifts that you probably wouldn't pick yourself, but actually find it really handy to add notes to, and it just looks adorable, doesn't it!? This costs only £2.50 at Primark.

*Post includes some PR samples*

As always, my post is 100% honest & my own opinion.

Time for a Tea Party

I love a good tea party. Ever since I was young, this was always what I wanted to do for my birthday. Rent a room out for a disco? No thanks. A cinema trip and a McDonalds? No again. I loved having people round for tea and cake, nothing has changed there. Any excuse for afternoon tea and I am all over it! I threw a little tea party recently; trying to make the most of the last of this weather, and had a lot of fun.

With GBBO hitting our TV screens recently, it inspired me to get a little gathering together and host a little tea party with a few sweet treats. I could have probably made some cakes myself but I was strapped for time. If I get some more free time next time I will definitely be getting my bake on and hoping my guests love whatever crazy concoction I make! (on second thoughts, maybe I should stick to buying them).

I absolutely love the beautiful party ware from Talking Tables. With a mix of products from two of their ranges; Truly Alice and Truly Scrumptious, they perfectly fit my tea party theme. Everything is such good quality and I'm so impressed with it all; in particular, the bunting and garland - so cute.

I can't decide which bunting is cuter - the lampshade garland or the floral fabric bunting?

How gorgeous are these paper cups and straws?! The pretty napkins are almost too cute to use, just look at the detail on them.

The BEST cake of them all. Coffee cake!

I love these cute Party Picks, they would be great for canapes.

These Cake domes make a perfect addition to any tea party, I just popped in some mini chocolate short bread bites in these but you could put pretty much anything little in these to make them look like a great showstopper at the table! They could even make great little gifts or favours.



Are you looking for cute partyware for a wedding, party or get together? I can't praise Talking Tables enough; they have a huge selection of products to choose from and something to suit pretty much any theme.

*includes PR samples*

August Degustabox

Fancy treating yourself or someone else to a Degustabox this Month? With my discount code BLDEG15 you will get £7 off your next order. Lets take a peak inside the August box shall we...

Treats
Treats in this Months box included something I have never seen before; Willy Chase's Fit Popcorn in Apple Cider Vinegar flavour. These taste really good - just like crisps, but popcorn! The Snackers Flame Baked Mini Crackers were another great savoury treat that are perfect for a mid-afternoon snack.

Useful Cupboard Items
I am a huge cereal fan (particulary like muesli and granola) so the Dorset Cereals Bircher Mix really didn't last long! I enjoyed this mix but haven't yet tracked it down in my local supermarket, but it is my new fave so I am sure I will find it somewhere. The Oloves were something I was not keen on in the box as I am not an olive fan, but I am sure someone else in the house will enjoy them. We received lots of treats from Geetas, including curry pastes and mango chutney. I only discovered Geetas through Degusta and its a brand we always buy now. Clippers Green Tea is an item we always have at home so it was a nice surprise to receive a different flavour in Lime and Ginger. The Nutripots are very satisfying and filling which I was surprised about, I will have to look into what other pots they sell. The Capsicana Mexican Cook Sauce is possibly my favourite item of all time that I have discovered from Degusta - I adore mexican food and this is an amazing item I will definitely be scouting out when I am in the supermarket. I also used the Tabasco Sweet and Sticky BBQ Marinade and Sauce in a chicken recipe recently as a marinade and it has a great flavour.

Drinks
In terms of drinks this Month, the alcohol option was the Mahou Beer which I am told went down well! I also received the Get More Multivitamins sparkling lemon and lime drink which was refreshing, and the Botanicals Sparkling Jasmine and Lime drink which I have yet to try.


Degustabox: Website 

*PR sample*

July Degustabox Review

Hey everyone! I am back today with another Monthly post on the contents of the July Degustabox. I have decided to do it a little different to usual; and have split the items up into categories so you can really get a feel for how much variety is in the box. As always, you can use my discount code BLDEG15 at the checkout to receive a generous £7 off your next order. Enjoy!

Sweet Treats
For tasty treats this Month we were spoiled for choice! The Rowntrees Fruit Pastilles Infusions were so tasty and are actually one of my favourite sweets of all time. Something new to try were the Itsu Crispy Seaweed Thins, now I have to be honest I wasn't too keen on these but I can see why some people would love this sort of snack.The Bahlsen Choco Leibniz are, in my opinion, one of the best chocolate biscuits out there, and I love that they now come in handy portion packs. The last sweet treats are the Brookside Chocolates, which are fruit and berry flavours blended with dark chocolate; I know these were consumed very quickly and I was told they are delicious.

Useful Cupboard Items
The Sarson's Balsamic Vinegar is always a useful item to have in the home, and is perfect for salads. The
Jordans Swiss Style Muesli is delicious, and as a very fussy muesli eater I must say I definitely approve of this one! The Felix Gerkhins will come in handy in the Summer I am sure for a good old BBQ, and the
Seabrooks Crisps stole the show with my family, as they all seemed to absolutely love these (I didn't manage to try them as they had all long gone...).

Drinks
A few drinks were included in the box this Month, which were the ALO Drink; made with Aloe Vera, the Rejuvenation Water which was my favourite of the four as it was very fruity and I am really interested in the claims the brand make (fuel the immune system and builds a resilience to stress), the Berry White Drinks were really sweet and refreshing, and finally the Cracker Drinks Fruit Drink which we haven't yet tried, so I can't tell you much about that one.

Degustabox: Website | Facebook | Twitter

*PR sample*

June Degustabox Review: BBQ Box

Every Month a delivery is sent to me by the lovely folk at Degustabox to feature on my blog. I always look forward to this subscription box the most as it includes one of my favourite things - food! You can use my discount code BLDEG15 to receive an incredible £7 off your next order with Degustabox.
This Months box has been such a great theme too, as we recently purchased a new barbeque so lots of these foodie items have really come in handy.

The Zeo Cloudy Lemon drink is something I have tried before and loved, so I was super pleased to see it again as it is very refreshing and perfect to sip when you are chilling out in the garden. The Branston Spicy Tomato Relish tastes AMAZING on a burger and is something I am definitely adding to the shopping list. Other fab items include the Haywards Silverskins which have been fab added to salads, the Schwartz Handmade Burger Mix which is so easy to make and really flavour-some too. Probably my favourte item of the box is the Bakedin miracle mug brownie which is absolutely delicious. Other tasty treats in this Months box included Heinz Amoy Coconut Milk, Sacla Pesto Pots (these are super handy!), Miracle Noodles, Smooze Fruit Ices, Destrooper-Oliver Belgian Butters (they are delicious with a cuppa!) and Butterkist Yoghurt Coated Popcorn; which I have to say, is probably the nicest popcorn I have ever tried! The alcoholic option of this Months box was a can of Marstons lager - I haven't tried this but I am sure the man of the house will soon. I am super impressed with this box. What do you think?

Degustabox Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter

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Wonderful Things #3

Hi everyone, I am back today with another Wonderful Things post; my little series where I share with you all of my current favourite moments and items. 

Indulging in amazing chocolate

Anyone that knows me well would tell you I am a chocoholic - I have such a sweet tooth and chocolate will please me instantly. I am on a little bit of a health - kick at the moment but still do indulge very occasionally on a sweet treat. I was sent a variety of flavours of Belgian chocolate to try from the brand Coeur de Xocolat*. The chocolate is handmade and delicious, so sweet and creamy - a definite luxury chocolate brand! My favourite is the white chocolate. You can check out their amazing treats on their Etsy website here.

Braving deep & dark lipsticks

Nude lipsticks have been my go-to  for the past few Months, but recently I have been a little more brave and daring and trying some darker and deeper shades of red, including my new favourite - Living Nature's new lipstick in Pure Passion*. I love this shade in particular as it is so dark but actually very wearable. The colour lasts really well on the lips too, I am quite a fan of Living Natures lipsticks as they are made from only natural ingredients.

Birthday treats

I don't usually celebrate my Birthday all that much - but I had such a fantastic Birthday this Year. I went to see Busted in Concert with one of my oldest friends, it was brilliant and brought back such good memories. I spent my annual leave doing lots of relaxing and seeing my favourite people. 

I also decided to treat myself to a coffee machine over my Birthday Weekend. I had been uhm-ing and ah-ing over buying one for a while, and picked the Nescafe Dolce Gusto Machine. I have been loving trying all the different flavours, my current obsession is the Chai Tea Latte.

Canvas prints

As well as it being my Birthday recently, it was another family members Birthday which I usually find so difficult to shop for. I was kindly gifted a photo canvas* from Jessops; who recently opened a new store in the Birmingham/West Midlands area. The canvas looks so well - made and made the perfect gift for my family member. I think canvases like this one would be ideal for wedding gifts, or even a new home warming gift and Fathers Day which is just around the corner. 

What wonderful things have you been getting up to recently? 

*Post includes PR samples*

Degustabox May 2016

One of my favourite things I discovered when I started blogging is subscription box services. A box arriving at your door once a Month with mystery contents? I am in! Especially if it involves food - my true love in life.

Degustabox is my favourite subscription box - you receive 9-14 surprise food and drink items once a Month for a very reasonable £12.99 per Month - you can receive £6 off your next order with the code - just simply enter this code at the checkout. 

The first item I noticed in the May box was the Jack Daniels Honey BBQ Glaze - we love this at home as it gives a great taste to chicken dishes. We eat pasta a lot so the Garofalo Fusilli will definitely come in handy! The Cranes Cider went down a treat - I love fruity ciders and have now found some new favourites! The Kallo  Milk Chocolate & Yoghurt and Kallo Milk Choco Corn cakes are delicous, guilt free treats which I have been taking in my packed lunch to work, particularly love the milk chocolate rice cakes. I have also been taking the Brioche Pasquier Croissants as a mid morning snack, I love brioche and particularly love to pop them in the oven for a few minutes as they are so tasty warm. The Beloved Dates Date Nectar is perfect to add to pancakes and cereal, and knowing it is made only from Date Nectar makes it a slightly healthier alternative to honey. The Pechkeks Misfortune Cookies were a fun addition to this Months box - the messages are very funny! Very different to any fortune cookies I have had before! The Get Fruity fruity bar was another healthy yet tasty treat. I have never seen these before so will be checking these out the next time I do a food shop. The last two items in the box were the Pomegreat Pomegranate Juice and The Wonderful Co Pistachios and Almonds. I haven't tried these yet but I'm told the juice is refreshing and the pistachios and almonds are almost gone so I assume they were tasty too!

This has been another brilliant box this Month, probably the best in a while! Have you tried Degustabox yet?

Degustabox: Website | Twitter | Facebook

*PR sample*

April Degustabox

Another Month has flown by once again, where is time going?!
It is that time of the Month I share my thoughts towards this Months Degustabox contents.

If you are new to Degustabox; they are a monthly subscription service where you receive a box of 9-14 surprise food and drink items. If you are a complete foodie like me, this box will bowl you over! I love looking into the box when it arrives and planning meals and thinking of new recipes to include them in.
I have a generous £6 off discount code for you - just enter BLDEG15 at the checkout.

Included in the box was Canderel Sugarly - I actually use this as analternative to sugar all the time so it was great to see this! The Thor Dry Apple Spritz, Rejuvenation Water and Green Lady were the drinks included in this Months box - all were very refreshing and I love to try new drinks. Sweet treats from April's box were two very delicious bars of chocolate: Milykbar and Smarties, which definitely didn't last long.
I love marinading chicken when cooking, so the Levi Roots Coat 'n Cook Sauce tasted delicious. Other delicious items which were in the box included Bebeto Fruit Strings and Parle G Rusk.
My favourite items in this months box were the limited edition Popchips, loved the rosemary flavour, and the Veetee Rice, which is something I buy all of the time.

Degustabox: Website | Twitter | Facebook

*PR sample*

March Degustabox 2016

Another Month has whizzed past again. It really is true what they say, after 21 time just flies by!
I have another brilliant Degustabox review today. I loved the Easter, breakfast and treat theme to this box, pretty much everything has been consumed now - they didn't last long! So I feel I can give good feedback of my thoughts of the products included in the box. You can use my discount code BLDEG15 to receive a rather generous £6 off your next order - you're welcome! All links are listed below.

First up, the Brioche Pasquier Pains au Chocolat were delicious, we are big fans of the Brioche Pasquier brand in our house so they didn't last too long. The Weetabix on the Go Breakfast Drinks are great for a quick breakfast and contains the fibre and energy that the Weetabix cereal contains, so it is perfect if you are in a rush like I usually am on a Morning! The Good Hemp Coconut Alternative Milk is another good addition to the box, admittedly this one hasn't been used just yet, but will be good to try an alternative to milk. The Kent's Kitchen Stuffing just looks like a great idea - so convenient, easy and quick to make!

Metcalfes Cinema Sweet Popcorn was absolutely delcious and even better knowing that it contains 67% less sugar than other sweet popcorn! I would definitely recommend this popcorn if you are looking for a sweet treat without the guilt! Chewits Chewy Sweets are a retro throwback for us all - they have been around for 50 years and they still are our favourite chewy sweet! I was really intrigued to see the Parle Hide & Seek Biscuits and Monaco Biscuits in the box this Month - the Hide & Seek biscuits are amazing.

Pipers Crisps in Cheddar and Onion are super tasty and great for a snack while watching a film, we loved the flavour. My Sister very quickly chomped up the Lindt White Chocolate Gold Bunny - Lindt chocolate is super sweet and it was lovely to see the little bunny included in the box. Kallo Rice Cakes in Milk Chocolate and Quinoa and Seeds were something I was excited about. I am trying to eat more healthily and these are brilliant to include in my packed lunches, and are full of flavour. Lastly, the Karyatis Meze To Go is a pepper and feta dip, great for parties or snacking - we actually tried these with the Pipers Crisps, very delicious.

Degustabox Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook

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February Degustabox Review 2016

This Months Degustabox has been really impressive. It is definitely one of my favourite boxes in a while!
If you are unfamilar with Degustabox; in a nutshell, it is a Monthly Subscription Service where you receive 9-14 surprise food and drink items, most of which are new to the market or products you might not normally pick up at the supermarket. I have a discount code giving you a generous £6 off your next order. To use, simply enter the code BLDEG15 at the checkout.
Included in the box was a selection of Hartley's Jelly Pots - a firm favourite in most homes, and best of all, they are low in calories. Another staple in our home is Sarsons Malt Vinegar, so it was great to see it included in the box. This is the best vinegar for fish and chips! I was really pleased to see some Mr Kipling Exceedingly Good Slice Cakes - something we buy regularly and love - it was nice to try out a new flavour of cranberry. Me and my Sister are big fans of the juice drink j20, so to see included the new j20 Spritz drinks was great. We haven't tried these yet but the flavours sound delicious. VitHit Juice Drink was an item my Sister tried and enjoyed, and we all munched on the delicious Divine Chocolate Bars - these are delicious and are Fairtrade and natural. We tried the Nutribix Wholegrain Cereal with Gold and Grains for breakfast and they taste great and really do give you a good energy boost for the Day. I'd definitely recommend. The Ritz Crisps & Thin and The London Crisp Company crisps were enjoyed on a movie night - both were very tasty! The last two items include the Beloved Dates Bars and the James White Carrot Juice Drink; both which we haven't tried yet but it will be a nice change to try something different that we wouldn't normally buy.
What a great selection of products! Have you tried a subscription service like Degustabox before?



Degustabox: Website | Facebook | Twitter

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January 2016 Degustabox

Its time for another Degustabox review guys, and today's post will be featuring the January Box. If you are new to Degustabox; in a nutshell is a surprise food and drink subscription box which lands on your doorstep once a Month with a variety of 9-14 random items. I have a discount for you to take off a generous £6 off of your order, which is BLDEG15 simply enter this code at the checkout to redeem the discount. I have included all of their links down below if you want to check them out.

This Months box included a ariety of products. First up; Finn Crisp crispbreads which I have tried before and are great with soups! Coldpress Golden Delicious apple juice drink was really tasty and was extremely fresh, will have to look out for this in the future. The Conscious Chocolate was delcious and as it is raw and hand-made, was a guilt free treat. Jordans Country Crisp fruit and nut is something I have overlooked in the supermarket, but so glad it was included in this box as it tasted great and loved having it for breakfast this Week. Next up, the Amoy New Taste of Asia cooking sauces are something I haven't tried yet but looking forward to including in some home-made curry dishes. My Dad tried the Tsingtao Chinese Beer and said he really enjoyed it and that it was very refreshing, so theres that! The Yushoi Snapea Rice Sticks are a great addition to to box as they are healthier than potato crisps. The Clarks Carob Fruit Syrup is a great item that can be used by adding to drinks or in baking. I have tried the Slim Noodles before and actually really enjoyed them. I am not a big noodles fan but these are pretty good and are low in calories which is great if you are trying to eat a little healthier like me. Latly, the Gathr Crobar in Peanut Crunch is a natural energy bar which I am yet to try, but as it is the DB Discovery of the box this Month, I'm sure it will be great.
Have you tried Degustabox before?


Degustabox Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter

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December Degustabox

Degustabox are a Monthly subscription service where you receive a box full of 9-14 food and drink items for a fraction of the price if they were purchased seperately. I have been receiving Degustabox for a while now and I love hearing your feedback, I always feel impressed with the contents. I have a brilliant discount code for you to receive £6 off your next order, simply enter BLDEG15 at the checkout.

Included in this Months box was the DDC Foods Hip Pops Crisps, Betavivo Oats, Nothing But Fruit Snacks, Barilla Whole Wheat Fusilli and Barilla Vegetable Sauce, Eisberg  Non Alcohol Wine, Fabulous Bakers Mango & Pineapple Bars, Drink Me Snikky Chai Latte, KoKo Milk Alternative, Halewood International Crabbies Light, Halewood International Red Square Toffee, and Compete Lemon Bites.

I love the brand Barilla so was pleased to see two items I know I really like and have enjoyed before. The Hip Hop crisps were very tasty, and it is great to know they are gluten free and low in calories. I have tried a variety of Nothing But fruit snacks in the past as they have been included in Degustabox before, and The Mango and Pineapple bars were other nice and healthy snacks to try. I have tried the Compete Energy Bites in the past and I can see where the box is going with its theme - a Healthy New Year! The Crabbies Light Ginger Beer and the Red Square Toffee Vodka were a welcomed favourite by the man of the house, I'm sure they will be consumed on a Weekend very soon. Coconut milk is something we don't use that much, so we will have to have a good look at some recipes to incorporate it into our food and drinks. Lastly, the Betavivo cereal is the one item I haven't tried yet but will be doing so soon. The water and chai latte are some great extras included in this Months box too!

Degustabox Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Have you tried Degustabox?

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Five Uses For Coconut Oil

I am a big fan of coconut oil - it is one of those items that is kept in our house and is a real multi-purpose item. There are probably tonnes more, but I have included just five ways I use coconut oil.
The coconut oil I have been using recently is by brand Virdian; it is their 100% organic raw coconut oil*.

Lip care
Coconut oil makes a brilliant alternative to a lip balm, keeping chapped lips away.
Food and Cooking
I love to use coconut oil as a replacement for dairy!
Body and Skin Care
Coconut Oil can be used in so many ways for the skin, my favourite is to use it as a hand lotion, shaving lotion or general body lotion, it leaves the skin feeling lovely.
Hair Care
I use coconut oil to tame my hair, and I have heard it works well as an overnight conditioner, I must try this soon.
Around the House
Coconut oil also backs up as a handy product to use for household jobs too - I have used it to fix stuck zips and to shine my shoes.


How do you use coconut oil?

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November Degustabox 2015

This Months Degustabox is brilliant! It is full of treats and really useful products for the festive season.  Degustabox have a fantastic discount code for you - BLDEG15 - which takes £6 off your order.

Degustabox Discoveries 

This Month, there was a selection of Degustabox Discoveries. I received three of the DB Discoveries. The products I received were the Jim Jams - Choc Spread, the Tuckey's - Digestives, and the Rekorderlig - Cider. Now, I have only recently started eating chocolate spread, and this is a really tasty one! The Tuckey's biscuits are sweet and perfect for tea dunking, and the Rekorderlig cider was tasty and refreshing.

The other products in this Months box were Britvic - Gourmet Drops, Ryvita - Crispbread, Branstons - Chutney, Butterkist - Popcorn, Bourne & Wallis - Pickles, Nim's Fruit Crisps - Mango & Pineapple Fruit Crisps, Ryvita - Crackers, Hartley's - Jelly, Belvita - Soft Baked, Divine - Chocolate, and the final product which was included in the box was Diageo - Bailey's, there was an email from Degustabox stating there would be an added extra and this was it, what a treat! Thanks Degustabox.
The Britvic Gourmet Drops are the perfect addition to a hot chocolate, they are my new favourite thing. I am a big fan of Ryvita so these crackers and thins went down a treat and also make great party food. Butterkist popcorn is my favourite, we loved trying out the salted caramel flavour! Me and my Sister have been buying the Belvita biscuits for a while now, so it was nice to try something new from them - we will definitely be purchasing these in the future. We shared the block of Divine chocolate betweeen us, which was super delicious. I am a big fan of fruit snacks, so the Nim's Fruit Crisps didn't last long! The Branston Chutney and Bourne & Wallis Pickled Onions are being put away and saved for Christmas, can't wait for all the party food! The Hartley's jellys will also come in handy as I have plans to make some trifle - even better that it will be glittery! 

Don't forget to check out the Degustabox website and keep up to date with them on their social media platforms, all of which are linked below.

Degustabox: Website | Facebook | Twitter 

*PR sample*

Nothing But... Healthy Snacks

I am a big fan of snacks - I am quite a picky eater so I find it handy to have snacks with me for on the go. I find it difficult to pick more healthier options other than fruit, so when Nothing But got in touch asking if I would like to try out some of their fruit snacks, I was really looking forward to trying them out.

Nothing But are the UK’s first freeze dried fruit and vegetable snacks brand, which are gluten free with no added anything. Nothing But is a healthy range of freeze-dried fruit and vegetable snacks with just the water taken away. Each bag provides one of your five a day which makes them the perfect alternative to chocolate, crisps or other high sugar treats. 

I was really impressed with the snacks, they taste good and it is great to know I am snacking on something which doesn't contain any added sugars or preservatives. I especially enjoyed the sweet fruit flavours, I would recommend them to anyone looking for a healthy snack. The vegetable snacks were enjoyable too, and it was good to try something a little bit different.

My favourite flavours were strawberry and banana flavour, and sliced beetroot and parsnip flavour. I absolutely love vegetable crisps so these were perfect for me. The strawberry and banana flavour snack did give me that guilt - free sweet treat too.

Have you heard of Nothing But?

Nothing But are available to buy online at Holland and Barrett for £1.25 per packet.

*PR sample*

Win a Jurrasic World Dinosaur with Chicago Town Pizza

Just a quick post today as I wanted to share an awesome competition with you. You all know I love a good competition! With the release of Jurassic World on DVD recently, Chicago Town have teamed up with them to bring you the chance to win a prize! By purchasing a Chicago Town product with promotional packaging, you have the chance to win a Jurassic World Dinosaur Toy.
Instructions on how to enter, as well as terms and conditions of the competition can all be found on their website here.

Being a huge fan of pizza I would totally recommend trying Chicago Town, so, so tasty!

Pizzasaurus anyone?!

*Collaborative post*

Recipe: Nanna's Homemade Apple Crumble

When it comes to baking, my first memory was making home made apple crumble at my Nan's house. The recipe is so easy and no matter how many times I make it, it always brings back such lovely memories for me. My Nan often gives us all of the crumble ingredients ready to go in a resealable bag so all we have to do is add the water when we get home (and the apples too of-course!).

This is a definite family favourite of ours - there is nothing quite like an apple crumble after a Sunday Roast!
The recipe is so easy - the weight of the ingredients can vary depending on the size of the crumble, this recipe is just a rough guide.

Ingredients:
240g plain flour
five tablespoons of sugar
pinch of cinnamon
85g butter
four tablespoons of water
5 bramley apples (cored, peeled and cut into chunks)

You will need:
Mixing bowl, baking dish, tablespoon, knife and peeler to cut apples

Recipe:
Preheat the Oven to 200 degrees
Evenly distribute the apples to the bottom of the dish
Mix the flour and the butter together in a bowl with your fingers until it feels like crumbs, then add two tablespoons of sugar and stir together.
Add the water, cinnamon and two tablespoons of sugar on top of the apples
Add the crumble to the top of the apples, ensuring it is all covered
Put the dish into the oven, allowing to bake for around 45-50 minutes or until golden brown
Sprinkle one tablespoon of sugar on top of the crumble.
Serve with custard, ice cream or alone!

Have you got any favourite family recipes? If you do, Wren Kitchens have an Instagram competition to win a AEG food mixer. You can enter by simply sharing your recipe on Instagram using the hashtag #WrenFamilyFavourites
You can check out more from Wrens Family Favourites on their website here.