Beauty. Fashion. Lifestyle.
Archive for May, 2014
Picnic at the Park with Belo & Me
0There’s nothing I love more on a sunny, summery day than to grab some indulgent snacks and head to the park for a relaxing little picnic. What I don’t love, however, is having to lug around a bulky hamper or cool box.
I prefer to use a more compact lunch bag, like this one from Belo & Me. It may look small, but it can actually hold an impressive amount of food. Last week I managed to fit in a packet of cheese straws, a pot of pasta salad, a tub of olives and feta cheese, two small bags of pretzels, two cartons of orange juice and two cinnamon swirls. Oh, and not forgetting the forks and napkins!
As well as being spacious, Belo & Me lunch bags are sturdy and strong. They are all made from 100% biodegradable jute so are kind on the environment, hard-wearing, and long-lasting. They also come in a huge variety of colours and designs, and are just so much more interesting than your average, plain lunch bag! I chose this one as I love the intricacy of the heart print, and the simple yet striking look of white on black. The owls on purple were a close second though.
At £3.90 each for most designs, Belo & Me’s bags are incredibly affordable, and not just for lunches! They’d make great storage bags, gift bags, party bags, shopping bags for small shopping trips, and are the ideal size for children too.
Check out Belo & Me’s full range here.
Naomi x
*This lunch bag was sent to me by Belo & Me for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
ASOS Wayfarer Sunglasses Giveaway WINNER
1
4 years
After two weeks of excitement, my giveaway to win a pair of ASOS Tortoiseshell Wayfarer Sunglasses closed last night, and the time has come for me to announce the lucky winner! The winning entry was chosen at random via Rafflecopter, and the winner is entry number 645, which belongs to…
Jane of Is That You Darling!
Congratulations Jane! This gorgeous pair of sunglasses is all yours. Please email your postal address to and I will post your prize out as soon as possible.
The response to the giveaway was amazing, so I’d like to thank all of you for getting involved! And of course, thank you to Red Hot Sunglasses for providing the prize.
Please check back soon for another giveaway (or two!)
Naomi x
Vegetarian Nottingham
1As promised in my National Vegetarian Week post, here is the latest addition to my series of Vegetarian Eateries posts, this time focusing on Nottingham. Though I don’t live in Nottingham, I do visit regularly for gigs and shopping trips, and I have two favourite places to eat when I’m there. I’m sure there are other places in Nottingham to get great veggie food, but I’m yet to discover them, however when I do they’ll be added to this post.
Alley Café
1a Cannon Court, Long Row W, Nottingham, NG1 6JE
Good for: Creative, tasty dishes and vegan options
Alley Café is slightly hard to find (down an alley, as the name suggests, and easy to miss), but once you’re there it’s a real veggie haven. The atmosphere is very relaxed – chilled music and friendly staff, and the menu is even better.
Their main menu features a range of light bites/sides, sandwiches (with quirky names and a choice of breads), burgers, and various creative mains. They also boast different specials every day, and an array of delicious desserts and homemade juices and smoothies.
A lot of the menu is vegan, and everything I’ve ever had there has been so flavoursome and filling. I can highly recommend the Alfie (halloumi, houmous and mint yoghurt in your choice of bread – I usually go for a wrap), the falafel burger (above) and the pizzas (try it with smoked tofu, baconesque and olives as seen above, perfect). The vegan chocolate torte is also AMAZING. Meals average at about £7, most desserts are between £3 and £4, the portions are generous, and the quality of food is very high. Definitely worth a visit if you appreciate an inclusive, non-judgemental veggie vibe!
Spanky Van Dyke’s
17 Goldsmith Street, Nottingham, NG1 5JT
Good for: Delicious handmade burgers and double cooked chips
Spanky Van Dykes is located right next to my favourite small gig venues, so I usually fill up here before a gig. The bar has an alternative, music themed vibe which really gets you in the mood for a live band, and they even host gigs themselves (although I’m yet to go to one there). What most people come for though is the handmade burgers.
With an American diner style menu, Spanky’s sell burgers galore, with three veggie options. My particular favourite is the Shroomaloomi, which is stacked high with halloumi cheese and flat mushrooms, served with the best double cooked chips I’ve ever tried. A bit more interesting than the usual veggie offering of a dry bean burger I must say. Their tempura vegetables are also worth a mention, as are their desserts. Cookie ice cream sandwich anyone? Yes please! A burger and chips comes in at just over £7, and desserts are around £3, so you can get a full meal for around a tenner. Although they do two for one on all burgers on a Tuesday, which is definitely the best time to go!
Do you know anywhere else in Nottingham that sells amazing veggie food? If so, leave a comment below and let me know!
Don’t forget to check out my first Vegetarian Leicester post too!
Naomi x
Throwback Dress
1
4 years
by Naomi in Fashion
Not so long ago I was sorting through my wardrobe, working out what to keep, what to sell, and what to get rid of, and I realised I have one dress in particular that survives all of my wardrobe clear outs. I’ve had this black and white star print skater dress for almost half a decade, and since buying it from Matalan I’ve actually dropped two dress sizes, but I just can’t bear to part with it. It’s even been taken in at the back so I can still wear it!
This dress has become affectionately known as my throwback dress, as it’s seen me through many seasons, layered up or down accordingly, and many events, including christmas day 2011 and my 22nd birthday. It always reminds me of when I first met my fiancé too. It may not be the most breathtaking item of clothing that I own, but I treasure it and will probably always keep it.
My little sentimental encounter with my throwback dress got me thinking… what will be my throwback dress of the future? A dress that I currently love and will keep for years to come. There are a few candidates, but I think this Dolly & Delicious skater dress from New Look will be it.
I call this one my goth fairy dress, and I absolutely love the layered net skirt and cut out sides. I get the feeling it will become a staple wardrobe item this summer. I plan on wearing it to several gigs and events in the coming months, so it will undoubtedly become associated with fantastic memories that I just won’t want to get rid of.
Do you have a throwback dress? If so, why do you keep it?
Naomi x
National Vegetarian Week
2This week, Monday 19th May until Sunday 25th May, is National Vegetarian Week. All around the country individuals, companies, educational establishments, and communities are taking the challenge to go vegetarian, and in the process are having fun discovering new foods, and learning how to adapt their everyday favourites into easy vegetarian alternatives. As a vegetarian myself, National Vegetarian Week is something that I completely advocate, and I hope some of you will be taking the challenge too!
I stopped eating meat, poultry, and food containing gelatine thirteen years ago when I was eleven years old, and a year later, aged twelve, I stopped eating fish. The thought of mass animal slaughter sickened me, and I just couldn’t bring myself to support it anymore, so I made the decision to go veggie. Luckily I didn’t find the transition too difficult, as my mum was very supportive, and to be honest I’d never liked meat anyway, so I didn’t (and still don’t) miss it at all. In fact, I disliked meat so much that I was a fairly fussy eater as a child, and becoming vegetarian actually broadened my horizons and encouraged me to try new foods, and ultimately improved my health.
Since then I haven’t looked back, and I now spend my days experimenting with new foods and recipe ideas. I use a lot of Quorn products in my cooking, and will often make traditional meat dishes with Quorn instead of meat, so I never feel like my options are limited. Halloumi cheese is also an excellent ingredient to use if you want a meaty texture, and is especially great in the summer when grilled or barbecued. Being vegetarian helps me save money too, as meat alternatives and soya products tend to be cheaper than meat, and you can get quite a few meals out of one packet/bag. A definite positive when you’re on a tight budget!
As those who follow me on Instagram will know, I post a lot of images of my vegetarian creations, so I thought I’d share a few with you, just in case you’re taking the veggie challenge and want a bit of inspiration.
Aubgergine, Potato and Chickpea Curry (Vegan) / Sunday Roast / Quorn Moussaka / Grilled Halloumi with Mint and Coriander Cous Cous, and Tomato and Chickpea Salad / Courgette, Sundried Tomato and Mozzarella Creamy Pasta Bake / Jerk Quorn Chicken with Rice and Peas / Homemade Tomato, Basil and Olive Pizza with Salad / Christmas Dinner / Tempura Vegetables with Noodles and Sweet Chilli Dip
If you’re interested in getting involved with National Vegetarian Week, you can visit the official website here, where you can find out more, and download useful literature to help with your quest. You can also check out what local vegetarian events there are in your area. I’ll personally be visiting one of my favourite vegetarian cafés, who are offering a free dessert with every main course!
Also, keep an eye out later this week for another installment of my Vegetarian Eateries posts! In the mean time, you can check out Vegetarian Leicester: Lunch, for ideas of where to get a yummy vegetarian lunch in Leicester.
Will you be taking part in National Vegetarian Week? How are you doing so far? I’d love to hear your stories!
Naomi x
ASOS Wayfarer Sunglasses GIVEAWAY
45
4 years
Summer is almost upon us, and what better way to celebrate the sunny weather than with a giveaway?! I have one pair of brand new ASOS Tortoiseshell Wayfarer Sunglasses to gift to one lucky winner, courtesy of Red Hot Sunglasses, and it’s really easy to enter. All you have to do is become an email subscriber and leave a comment on this post, and then you have the option to earn extra entries, via Twitter, Facebook, Bloglovin’, and Instagram. To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below.
I have a pair of these sunglasses myself, and they’re the perfect combination of functional and fashionable. They add a touch of retro glamour to any outfit! The pair pictured above are mine, but you will receive an unused, sealed pair, complete with protective pouch.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The giveaway will be open for two weeks, and will close at midnight GMT on Friday 30th May. The giveaway is open internationally to those aged 18 or over, and all entries will be verified. A winner will be chosen at random via Rafflecopter on Saturday 31st May and will be contacted via email the same day, so please use a valid email address when subscribing. The winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize, and if the prize isn’t claimed another winner will be chosen.
Good luck and thanks for entering!
Naomi x
*These ASOS Tortoiseshell Wayfarer Sunglasses were sent to me by Red Hot Sunglasses for use at bewitcheryblog.co.uk. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
Four Beautiful Keys Moon Necklace
8
4 years
Four Beautiful Keys is a Suffolk-based online jewellery boutique, specialising in unique and handcrafted pieces, created using traditional silver smithing techniques. I have always been a fan of silver, rather than gold, jewellery, and it was the company’s creative use of silver that first drew me to them when I spotted them on Twitter. So, when Four Beautiful Keys offered to send me an item to review I was thrilled, and happily accepted.
I didn’t get to choose my piece, but after browsing the website I was secretly hoping for one in particular, and to my surprise it was the one I received – how lucky am I?! Ever since childhood I have been fascinated by the moon, and this dainty moon necklace is just so perfect for me. The pendant itself is made from hammered 925 silver, and is just under 2cm high.
I’m a very tactile person, and I find the shape and texture of the pendant really pleasing, and I often find myself absent-mindedly fiddling with it. That may sound odd, but to me it’s a good thing as it makes it feel that little bit more special.
The moon came on an 18 inch chain, which is the ideal length for me and sits right above the neckline of most of my clothing, but Four Beautiful Keys give you the option of a variety of chain lengths, from 16 inches to 20 inches, at no extra cost.
At £24.00 for a bespoke piece of jewellery, this necklace is incredibly affordable, and it even comes packaged in a cute little gift box, so would make a gorgeous gift for someone special. It’s such a versatile piece too, and I’ve worn it with pretty dresses, but also baggy jumpers and jeans, and it always looks great.
Four Beautiful Keys also sell a wide variety of other items, including personalised disc necklaces, jewellery gifts for mum and bridesmaids, bracelets, earrings, rings, silver charms, and an array of other silver necklaces. To browse the full range, you can visit the Four Beautiful Keys website here, and you can also find them on Twitter and Facebook.
Naomi x
*This Moon Necklace was sent to me by Four Beautiful Keys for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
Thrifty Finds No.5: Car Boot
2
4 years
Last Sunday I visited my favourite car boot sale once again, and came away with yet another decent fashion haul. I managed to find a few things that I’ve actually been looking for for a while, which I was very pleased about, as well as a few other unexpected items. Here’s what I bought…
Topshop Studded Lace Bralet £5
This cost a bit more than I usually like to spend on items at a car boot sale, but I just couldn’t resist the studs and lace! Topshop bralets seem to be really popular at the moment, and this one has an RRP of £38, so I’m pleased to have found one in my size at a fraction of the price. According to the lady I bought it from it is unworn too, other than being tried on.
New Look Cutout Heart Dress £2
I’ve been wanting a cut out heart dress for ages, so when I spotted this under a huge pile of clothes on one stall, I snapped it up. It’s exactly my size too! I love it, and it looks like it’s never been worn which is a bonus.
Sans Souci Polka Dot Dip Hem Blouse £2
This is one of my favourite finds of the day. I’m currently on the look out for more summer tops, and this will be perfect for warm, sunny days. The dip hem and button back detail are really lovely, and are what caught my eye when I saw it on the rail. Sans Souci isn’t a brand I’m familiar with, but the blouse still had a TK Maxx tag attached, and it cost £9.99 new.
Oasis Leather Studded Waist Belt £1.50
Again, I’ve been trying to source a decent waist belt for a while, so this was another bargain I couldn’t pass up. The belt is made from real leather, and still had its Oasis tags attached so is brand new.
H&M Silver and Grey Jumper £1
It’s not like I need another jumper, but I actually saw a similar jumper to this in H&M last season and wanted one, so I bought it anyway. I thought it’d be itchy, but it’s actually nice and soft, and I know I’ll get plenty of wear out of it.
Next Oversized Polka Dot Shirt 25p
This shirt is three sizes too big for me, but I bought it to wear it as an oversized cardigan during cool summer evenings. And anyway, at 25p I couldn’t say no.
Stuart Little Soft Toy 50p
And just because I have a soft spot for cuddly toys and rodents, I brought Stuart Little home for 50p. He has slightly tatty whiskers and was a little grubby, but after a quick bath he’s now squeaky clean (excuse the pun!)
Total: £12.25
What do you think of my latest thrifty finds? Which piece stands out for you?
Naomi x
Degustabox April 2014
3
4 years
Late last month I took delivery of the April edition of my monthly surprise food box, Degustabox, and boy is it a good one! In my review of the March Degustabox I mentioned that, though I enjoyed the contents of the box, the distinct lack of sweet treats was slightly disappointing, but April’s offerings sincerely make up for that. In fact, this latest box is crammed full of so many of my favourite things, it’s as if it was put together specifically with me in mind!
The April Degustabox contains nine different brands, and fifteen individual items, which for £12.99 is a lot better value than most food subscription boxes I’ve seen. So without further ado, here are my thoughts on each item…
Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer with Raspberry (RRP £2.19)
Crabbie’s alcoholic ginger beer is one of my favourite alcoholic drinks, and is so refreshing when it’s been chilled. This particular bottle has a raspberry flavour, which I admit isn’t my first choice of flavours, but with the ginger it is really quite nice. The beer is a lovely pink shade and the raspberry flavour shines through, before the warm, comforting burn of ginger kicks in. I think I prefer the original version, but as a cool drink every now and then during the summer, this would be ideal. I also want to try the strawberry and lime flavour that I know other people received in their Degustabox.
Lindt Lindor Milk Chocolate Bar (RRP £0.80 each)
I’ve always been a fan of Lindt’s Lindor truffles, so when I saw that they’d been transformed into bars, I was curious to see whether they were as nice, and as it happens, they are! These bars have the same cool, creamy taste and texture as their spherical counterparts – the chocolate itself is sweet, but not sickly, and the truffle it encases is luxuriously smooth and delicious. These bars may be thin, but they feel like a proper treat, and I’ll definitely be buying more.
Cawston Press Rhubarb and Apple Sparkling Drink (RRP £1.00)
Cawston Press’ Rhubarb and Apple drink was an unexpected highlight for me. I don’t often drink fruity fizzy drinks, but this one tastes a little bit more sophisticated than the usual. It’s free of any preservatives, additives and artificial sweeteners, and is made from concentrated fruit juice combined with sparkling water, so is light and refreshing. The rhubarb flavour dominates, and is reminiscent of the rhubarb and custard sweets I used to eat as a child, without the overpowering sweetness. I’ll be keeping an eye out for more from Cawston Press, as this tasted lovely and I’d like to try some of their juices.
Clearspring Miso on the Go Soup (RRP £1.29 each)
Soup isn’t my thing, especially ‘cup of soup’ type things, so I wasn’t incredibly enthusiastic about these Clearspring Miso on the Go sachets when I first saw them. I received two flavours of soup – White Miso with Tofu (pictured above), and Red Miso with Sea Veg, which I’m yet to try. One thing that did stand out with these is that they’re vegan, and only contain 29 calories, so they’re healthy at least.
The soup is easy to make, and involves mixing 160ml of hot water in a mug with the freeze-dried block that the sachet contains. I was surprised to see such chunky ingredients floating around in the soup, namely cubes of tofu and pieces of spring onion, and though it doesn’t look the best, the White Miso actually tastes rather nice! At £1.29 each I probably won’t be buying these again, but I’m glad I tried them.
Go Splash Blackcurrant Water Flavouring (RRP £2.45)
After seeing the Robinsons equivalent of Go Splash in supermarkets recently, I’d been keen to try something like this, but unfortunately I was slightly disappointed with Go Splash. In theory, it’s a great idea – a little container of sugar-free, low-calorie fruit flavoured concentrate to add to water to make it that little bit more exciting, but I’m not sure the brand quite pull it off. The packaging says to add one squirt to 200ml of water, which I did, but it made no difference, so I added another and still wasn’t happy. The water still tasted like water, but I was left with an artificial, saccharine taste in my mouth after swallowing, with just a hint of blackcurrant. Not the best, and I haven’t used it since. I was looking forward to carrying this with me so I could enjoy it on the go, but I think I’ll pass.
Keogh’s Atlantic Salt & Irish Cider Vinegar Crisps (RRP £1.00)
Salt and Vinegar is my crisp flavour of choice, so I was always going to love these, but they even managed to exceed my high expectations. When I visited Dublin last year I was really taken by just how well Ireland do crisps, and these are close to perfect. Keogh’s Farm is a family run potato growing and crisping business based in North County Dublin, and the family’s 200 years of potato expertise really shows. The packet even features a ‘Spud Nav’, which tells you exactly which field the potatoes were grown in, the variety of potato used, and who cooked the crisps. Brilliant!
The crisps are thick and crispy, not at all greasy, and incredibly well-flavoured, as the Irish cider vinegar gives them a pleasantly sweet tang, rather than a sour one. They’re also gluten-free, made from all natural ingredients, and come in a generous 50g bag. Walkers crisps don’t even come close to these!
McVitie’s Jaffa Cake Mini Rolls (RRP £1.30 per pack)
I like cake, I like chocolate, I like Jaffa Cakes, so finding these in my Degustabox was another pleasant surprise. The Mini Rolls come in two flavours – Tropicool, a mix of tropical fruits, and Berry Burst, and each tastes like what it says on the packet, although not intensely so. The packaging states that these can be frozen, so I decided to give the freezing a go to see if it made much of a difference, which it did. They were firmer and chewier, and obviously colder, which suited them well. I think these would make a nice light treat in Summer when you’re getting tired of eating ice cream.
Mornflake Superfast Pots (RRP £1.20 each)
My Degustabox also featured two Superfast pots by Mornflake – a Fruit & Nut Muesli, and a Raisin, Honey & Almond Granola – both of which are right up my street. Each pot has a handy little spoon in the lid, and contains powdered milk so you can just add cold water to the mix and stir, which is really handy when you’re on the go. Both of these tasted delicious, especially the granola, and the portions are generously sized. I’d definitely pick one of these up if I was in a rush on my way to work.
Dr. Oetker Fine Cooks’ Chocolate (RRP £1.69 each)
There were also two bars of this Dr. Oetker Fine Cook’s Chocolate in April’s Degustabox – an Extra Dark one with an intense 72% cocoa solids, and a creamier Milk chocolate, coming in at 35%. As an avid baker, these were a nice little addition to the box and I couldn’t wait to try them out, so I whipped up a batch of tiffin as soon as possible. Tiffin is a fantastic no-bake, easy to make treat, so I thought I’d share my recipe for…
Chocolate Ginger Tiffin
Ingredients:
115g Dr. Oetker Fine Cooks’ Chocolate Extra Dark 72%
115g Dr. Oetker Fine Cooks’ Chocolate Milk 35%
150g Ginger Nut Biscuits
75g Rich Tea Biscuits
100g Dried Mixed Fruit
110g Butter or Stork Margarine
2 tbsp Sugar
2 tbsp Golden Syrup
4 tsp Cocoa Powder
Method:
1. Line a large, square baking tin with greaseproof paper.
2. Crush the ginger nut biscuits and rich tea biscuits until they are broken into small pieces.
3. In a pan, mix together the butter, golden syrup, sugar and cocoa powder over a low heat, until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved.
4. Add the crushed biscuits and dried fruit to the pan and stir until everything is coated.
5. Tip the biscuit mixture into the baking tin, spread out evenly and press down.
6. Melt the chocolate in the microwave in 30 second bursts until fully melted. Pour over the biscuit mix and spread out evenly.
7. Leave the tiffin to set in the fridge for about an hour, before cutting into pieces. This recipe makes about 18 decently sized pieces.
8. Serve and enjoy!
Of course, I gave the chocolate a little nibble whilst I was cooking (and I got to lick the bowl – cook’s perks!), and it’s delicious even as an eating chocolate. I may even finish the bars myself…
The overall RRP of April’s Degustabox is £20, so for £12.99 you’re definitely getting a good deal. Once again, everything in the box is vegetarian, and the abundance of sweet goodies is a winner with me. I’d even go as far to say this is the best subscription box I’ve ever received from any company!
If you want to know more about Degustabox and this month’s products, you can visit their website here. You can also find them on Twitter and Facebook.
Will you be subscribing to Degustabox? If so, if you use the exclusive code ‘4K0P6‘ when registering, you can get a £3 discount!
Naomi x
PS. You can check out the rest of my Degustabox reviews here.
*This Degustabox was sent to me by Degustabox for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
Primark PS Love Lip Gloss
1
4 years
by Naomi in Lips
Last weekend I bought this PS Love lip gloss from Primark, to replace the day-to-day gloss that I was using previously. At £1.50 I wasn’t expecting much, and was even slightly dubious about buying it as I thought it would be sticky like a lot of cheap glosses tend to be, but it’s actually a really lovely gloss.
The gloss comes in a squeezy tube, with a square applicator brush attached. To apply, you just squeeze the tube gently and a small amount of gloss oozes into the brush, which can then be applied to the lips. I actually prefer this method of application to the typical sponge wand, as the gloss seems to go on more evenly in a thinner layer.
The consistency of the gloss is also really nice. Rather than being sticky it’s light and moisturising, so doesn’t feel uncomfortable and drying on the lips. I’d even go as far to say I like it more than Illamasqua’s lip glosses in terms of consistency, as theirs tend to be quite gloopy! It also lasts a fair while compared to a lot of glosses I own, and stays put without fading for a good few hours before reapplication is needed.
There are a few different shades of this gloss available, including a red and a pale pink, but I settled for this purple toned fuchsia pink as I think it best suits my skin tone. I wasn’t expecting amazing pigmentation considering the price, but I was proven wrong. The colour is really pretty and perfect for spring, and it’s actually quite highly pigmented, so gives fairly bold coverage rather than sheer. It also tints the lips slightly, so even when it wears off, there is still a subtle hint of colour left behind.
Overall, the quality of this Primark lip gloss is impressively high, and at £1.50 it’s worth stocking up on.
Have you ever tried any Primark make up? What did you think of it?
Naomi x
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