DegustaBox - November 2019

Today's post is a little late as I've been very busy with christmas preparations and my christmas gift guides - if you are looking for a last minute gift then check out my gift guide posts for ideas! Speaking of gifts, a subscription to the DegustaBox service would make a fantastic and practical gift that keeps on giving. I think it would be great for students, families, foodies and anyone who loves snacking! Use the code: DTPL4 to get £5 off your first box!

*DegustaBox - November 2019

The theme for the November box was 'winter warmers and festive' which is perfect for this time of the year and there were so many fantastic products in the box that are ideal to share. The items range from alcohol, snacks and drinks to vegan options and items to share. The number of vegan items included within the DegustaBox selections each month has been great on the whole this year but the first few boxes of the year and the December box (review coming soon) were amazing.

Woodstar (250ml, £4)

Let's start with the drinks and one of the more expensive items within the box. If you subscribe to the box which includes alcohol then you'll receive this item. This item will be available to purchase from Fortnum and Mason and Sainsburys from January. It's a blend of berries, botanicals and cocoa to create a mild alcoholic drink with a surprising depth of flavour and richness.

Rebel Kitchen Dairy Free Organic Chocolate and Hazelnut Mylk (£1.60)

Next up is an item I knew I probably wouldn't like and sadly I was correct. I've never liked milkshakes or chocolate milk, if it was dairy free or not and unfortunately this is an item I won't be buying. I love both chocolate and hazelnut but within this drink, it just wasn't for me.

Double Dutch Cucumber and Watermelon and Cranberry and Ginger (75p per can)

With this item, you'll receive both the cucumber and watermelon and cranberry and ginger flavours. They are tonics and mixers that can be added to cocktails or mocktails over the festive period; alternatively you could just drink them on their own.

Pure Leaf Matcha (£8.99 each)

Last but not least for the drinks within the November box and it's the most expensive item too. You will receive one of three available flavours which include mint, ginger and pure. I have tried matcha drinks before, such as the amazing Teapigs elderflower matcha drink but I haven't tried to make my own. I'm not sure that I'll like the ginger flavour but I do want to try both the pure and the mint flavours. I now need to buy a matcha whisk so I can try them properly!

Duerr's Half Sugar Seville Orange Marmalade (£1.39)

Next up are a few breakfast and lunch items including the Manchester made marmalade by Duerr's. You'll received either the half sugar version or the fine cut option within your box. I received the half sugar version and while I like all varieties of jam, I'm not too keen on marmalade. However, I love the packaging and my mum loves this marmalade on toast!

Real Handful Trail Mix (£2)

I personally love granola for breakfast, when I'm craving typical breakfast items but I want to start making my own and I think these trail mix packs would be great as either an on-the-go snack, it can be added to yoghurt or mixed with other ingredients to make granola. You'll receive either the strawberry or blackcurrant varieties. I personally love the strawberry version the most.

Pop Snack Bars (£1.49)

I also like to eat snack bars as either an on-the-go lunch or for breakfast with my coffee. You'll receive one of two flavours within the box - I received the peanut butter and dark chocolate option which was so delicious.

Cheeky Monkey Peanut Butter Puffs (£2.29)

My favourite item from the box is a tie between this snack and the final item, reviewed below. I really didn't think I'd like this snack as is doesn't sound too appealing if I'm honest but they were so delicious and moreish - I almost couldn't stop eating them! I will definitely be looking out for these in the future.

Mr Lee's Noodles (£2.50)

Last but definitely not least is a noodle pot from Mr Lees - you'll receive one of two flavours in the box. I received both, as I'm lucky enough to be a DegustaBox ambassador. The Zen Garden Vegetable pot was vegan and I'm glad it was because it was so delicious. It is a very mild snack but I loved the flavour and I will definitely be looking out for this option in the future.

The November box contained a very wide range of items from vegan 'milk' drinks and snack bars to unusual snacks, breakfast items and lunch options. Don't forget that you can use the code: DTPL4 to get £5 off your first box. My review of the December box will be live soon - it's one of the best boxes of the year!

Have you tried any of these items? What do you think of the November DegustaBox?

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*What Are the Pros & Cons of Laser Hair Removal?

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If you’re removing body hair, there certainly is no shortage of options available - and you’ll probably want to consider all of them before you come to a decision. Shaving - is a quick, easy and painless way to get rid of body hair, but the hair can quickly grow back within a matter of days. Hair removal creams - can dissolve hair to give you smooth, silky skin in minutes, but they tend to have an unpleasant smell. Waxing - a bit more painful and usually more expensive than the two options above, but with longer-lasting results. Electrolysis - inserting a super-fine needle into each hair follicle, sending an electric current that kills it. It’s painful and time consuming, so if you want to stay as far away as possible, that’s understandable.

Finally, laser hair removal - an increasingly popular, semi-permanent hair removal option that causes damage to the hair follicle to reduce hair growth. After a few sessions, most clients can cancel their waxing appointments and throw away those razors. And, it’s not that painful either. But before you sign up for your first session with the laser, read on to learn more about the pros and cons of laser hair removal.

What are the pros? 

Less or no need to shave 

Laser hair removal might not get rid of all your body hair forever, but it can certainly do a good job of making sure that hair growth in any problem areas is drastically reduced. So, if you’re shaving your legs every other day, with laser hair removal you might find that you only need to shave every few months, for example, if at all.

It’s available for all your problem areas 

And, you can get laser hair removal done anywhere on your body. Whether you’re tired of removing hair from your legs, arms, stomach, bikini line, underarms, or even on your face, laser hair removal can zap hair anywhere. There’s no limit - just maybe keep it away from your head!

It’s not painful 

Most people who have laser hair removal treatment done say that it’s not very painful. Typically, it’s more painful than shaving but less painful than waxing, so if you’re used to having regular waxing appointments, you’ll be fine. The best laser hair removal practitioners will always use ice or another numbing agent to help make you more comfortable before the procedure is started - plus, you’ll begin to feel less and less pain the more sessions that you have.

What are the cons? 

It can take a while 

First disadvantage - successfully completing laser hair removal treatment can take a while. Most people need to have anywhere between three and eight sessions depending on the size of the area to be treated, and you generally have to wait around six weeks in between treatments to promote healthy healing and avoid causing any damage to your skin. However, unless you’re in a massive rush to be hair-free, then it’s certainly worth the wait.

It Gives You More Time To Spend On Yourself 

Beauty techniques take time and effort, so if you spend a lot of time shaving your legs then you won’t have the time to enjoy other, more relaxing treatments such as a massage, cupping or even something truly indulgent like a Turkish bath. By using a time saving technique like laser hair removal you’ll have more time to enjoy luxury treatments like these and really pamper yourself.

It’s not as effective on darker skin tones 

If you are dark-skinned then bear in mind that laser hair removal might not work as effectively on you. This is because the laser picks up on the contrast between the colour of the skin and the pigment in the hair follicle. Similarly, if you have a light skin tone but very fair hair, this could also be cause for trouble. Typically, the treatment works best on those with light skin and dark hair. But even if you don’t fit into that category, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t try - book a consultation with a laser hair removal specialist to discuss your options. As you can see, most of the ‘cons’ are more likely to be mild inconveniences when it comes to getting laser hair removal - the cost and the time taken are both definitely worth the end result.

As with all procedures, it’s important to make sure that your laser hair removal is carried out by a trained professional. An untrained technician could lead to burns or even permanent scars on the skin - so always do your research, read those past reviews, and check qualifications and licenses before you book. If you’ve found a price for laser hair removal that seems too good to be true, then bear in mind, it probably is!

Have you tried laser hair removal? If not, would you look into it?

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*6 ways to decorate your porch for Christmas

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year and if you’ve not yet got your decorations up, then what are you waiting for? Perhaps you have, but you seriously lack some festive lighting and decor on the outside of your home? If you’re looking to provide an outdoor display that will have all your neighbours green with envy, here are six ways to decorate the porch of your Manchester home for Christmas.

Use fake snow 

A lot of us will often hope for a white Christmas, and on occasion, this has happened in December. However, it’s not always guaranteed and to have to navigate snow when travelling over the festive period, is a little frustrating. So how about some fake snow that’s fuss-free and you can simply hoover it up once you’re done. Sprinkle fake snow over any of your outdoor plants that are sheltered so that it doesn’t get wet and make a mess. Lay it around your Christmas decorations, whether that’s a light-up reindeer or Santa himself. It helps to add to that festive feel and is a great thing to use for the children, who’ll love decorating the porch with fake snow.

Fairy lights give instant festive vibes 

Fairy lights are a win-win, no matter where you put them around your home. Use your home’s roofline to hang fairy lights and ensure you’ve got plenty of meters to play with. Most of these can be plugged into the mains, but you might want to see if any solar panel options are available to save on the electric. Make sure that they’re plugged in and secure if they’re coming in through a window or door. Choose whether you want warm or cool lighting and if going for coloured, make sure it matches the rest of the porch decor.

Include a wreath on the door 

Most porches will look pretty sparse when it comes to the door and so the perfect Christmas accompaniment for your door is a wreath. There are a few ways that you can hang a wreath to your door. Ribbon is a great way to secure one when your door is to thick to use any else to hold the wreath in place. When using ribbon, measure the ribbon to the point where you want the wreath to hang and attach stick-on hooks to the back of your door for the ribbon to be tied around. This helps support and keep the wreath in place. Look out for wreath-making opportunities in your local area too!

Use removable white spray for a frost effect 

To provide that festive feel without the mess, you can get sprays for your windows that can produce a winter frost. Most are easily removable so have fun by spray painting the corners of your windows, both in your porch and around the rest of your home. It also gives that extra feeling of comfort that you’re inside a warm home while it’s cold outside. This artificial snow spray usually comes in a can and not harmful to the household environment, so feel free to let your children have a go at applying it to the windows. Make sure you’re watching over them to ensure they’re not getting it anywhere else other than on the windows!

Hang garlands around pillars 

Garlands are a great touch to any outdoor decorations, and although they usually hang around stair bannisters or the fireplace, they do well outside too. If you have any pillars or outside fencing, then wrap the garland around or along them to create a more decadent look. Weave some fairy lights into it too, and this helps to light up your display when it gets dark. Artificial garlands are easier to manage, but you might want to create your own garlands, especially for the holidays. After you’re done with them, you can take them down and utilise them for other parts of your outdoor space. When removing artificial garlands, make sure you give them a good shakedown and let them dry before you pack them away. You don’t want to find anything living there that ends up making its way into your home. With fairy lights on too, it can make for a warm nesting place for various wildlife. 

Giving your porch a Christmas makeover is something that should be included when decorating your home for the festive month. Use these tips to help transform your outdoor space and to create a winter wonderland that can be enjoyed by all that drive or walk by your home over the holidays.

How do you decorate your home for Christmas? 

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*Improve your home with a retractable roof

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I wish I was more of a winter person, but I’m just not a big fan of rain, wind and grey skies. Why am I living in England? Good question. To be fair, I don’t mind rainy days if I’m spending them inside my house, snuggling up on the sofa with a cup of hot chocolate and watching Mean Girls or anything alike. I just wish I could be enjoying the outdoors whilst being inside in the warmth – I know, it seems impossible, right?

Actually, it might be possible! Scratch that, it is possible. I found the perfect way to live my Hannah Montana fantasy and have the best of both worlds with a retractable roof in my garden. “What even is that?” another good question, but this one I’ll answer. A retractable roof is usually a retractable awning that can be installed in your garden, alongside with other outdoor structures, if that’s what you are going for, to create a perfect outdoor space which you can use all-year-round.

I must say that I’m a big fan of pergolas with retractable roofs. Don’t get me wrong, traditional pergolas are gorgeous and add so much style to any garden, it comes as no surprise that they were listed as a top landscape trend in 2019 by the National Association of Landscape Professionals. However, pergolas with retractable roofs are the next level of traditional pergolas, and when equipped with side glass screens, these modern pergolas are the holy grail of outdoor structures.

This article on Better Homes deep dives into what a pergola is and highlights the pros and cons of traditional pergolas. The main downside of traditional pergolas is the fact that they only offer shade protection and can’t really be used when it’s raining or are not comfortable solutions when there are strong winds. This is where pergolas with retractable roofs, which are also known as louvred pergolas, come in handy.

You might have seen louvred pergolas in commercial spaces, such as restaurants or cafes, but there is no rule that says you can’t have one in your own garden. These innovative pergolas are, as Designer Shade Solutions puts it, “designed to protect outdoor areas in changing weather conditions.” If it’s warm and sunny outside, louvred pergolas offer you protection against UV rays but still allow you to enjoy the sunshine to its fullest and, if it starts to rain, their roof will close to offer you protection against the rain. Designer Shade Solutions create bespoke louvred pergolas for homes and commercial outdoor areas all around the globe, so if you are looking to improve your home with an outdoor structure with a retractable roof, visit their website at https://designershadesolutions.co.uk/.

What are your thoughts on traditional and modern pergolas? 

This article was written by Carolina Neves, lead copywriter at Ad Lab, a marketing-agency based in Bishop’s Stortford. She loves to write about anything lifestyle and travel related whilst daydreaming about all the things she could do to give her home an uplift.

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*How to prepare your home for Christmas

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So, you’ve decided to host this year’s Christmas dinner – good on you! After years of having Christmas at your parents’ place, you’ve decided that you can give back a bit and let them enjoy a Christmas dinner where they are not the ones cooking and hosting. Plus, how difficult can it actually be? They make it look so easy…

You’ve been researching about how to host the perfect Christmas dinner party and this is when it hits you – all the little things you need to think about to make it close to perfect, how to get the house ready, the decorations, how many people are coming around and their different dietary requirements, the budget… “What did I sign up for?” you ask yourself. Now, it’s almost mid-December and there is no going back. Let’s just dial it back a bit, there is no need to panic – I’ve put together a list of things to do to prepare your home for Christmas to guarantee you’ll sleigh Christmas dinner (without having a meltdown).

Declutter your home, thank me later

Having a big clear-out is highly important to reduce your stress levels, even more during the festive season when you’ll have lots of people around and lots of things anywhere and everywhere. If you already have little space, imagine what it will look like during Christmas dinner with your guests and all their gifts… and then imagine it again if everything was decluttered and organised – how beautiful! An article on Psychology Today highlights all the benefits of clearing out unwanted/unneeded stuff in your house and besides reducing stress, decluttering is also great for feeling confident about your decision-making skills and is energising. So, go around your home and sell, throw away or give to charity anything you don’t need or want.

Deep clean like there is no tomorrow

Who said that deep cleaning should only be done in Springtime? Now, it’s the time to do one last deep clean of the year and, since you’ve got guests coming around, that should give you more motivation to make your home sparkly clean. This article on Momtastic emphasises the need to at least give your bathroom a good clean and advises to schedule any large cleaning jobs, such as having your carpets cleaned, for now “before the craziness begins.”

Make your home nice and toasty

The last thing you want to do is running around trying to figure out why your radiators have let you down and aren’t working properly when you have guests around and during Christmas… this just sounds like a nightmare and one that could happen if you don’t prepare your home for the cold months. The Handy Squad, a London handyman service, has written a blog post all about winter-proofing your home during these chilly times and they advise to draughtproof your windows and doors and to service your radiators. These are two easy tasks that you can effortlessly do at home!

Get into the Christmas spirit

If you haven’t put up your Christmas decorations, this is the right time to do it! I’d recommend going for a colour theme and planning it around your room’s current colour palettes. Put on some Christmas songs whilst you are decorating to feel even more excited about this festive season! Once you’ve organised your home and prepared it for the merry times ahead, there will be less things to worry about and everything else will fall into place. Now, it’s just time to think about what desserts to make for the night and how much mulled wine is too much (answer: there is never too much mulled wine!).

Do you have any tips to prepare your home for christmas? 

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Women's Christmas Gift Guide: Part Three 2019

We're quickly approaching Christmas but I still have a few christmas gift guides to help those of you who need to buy gifts for friends and family this year. For more gift ideas, check out my previous womens gift guides, mens gift guide and stocking filler gift ideas posts. Today's post is my third, but not my final, women's gift guide of the year featuring a range of gift ideas from heavenly scented haircare, natural skincare and a unique subscription service to a beautiful 2020 diary.

*Lee Stafford Ultimate Hair Mask Set (£10)

Let's start with the cute haircare gift sets on offer from Lee Stafford this year, both of which would be great gifts for friends, younger cousins and as secret Santa gifts! The first gift idea is a set of hair masks from Lee Stafford that include the coconut, cactus crush, hair growth, choco locks and argan oil hair masks so there's something for everyone. If you want to gift a beauty set this year but want to choose some thing a little more unique, check out this wonderful and inexpensive gift set.

*Lee Stafford Coco Loco Set (£14)

The second and equally as cute gift set from Lee Stafford is the Coco Loco set which includes the full sized Coco Loco shampoo and conditioner, along with a handy travel wash bag. Lee Stafford is such a nostalgic brand for me and I have loved their products for years, especially their shampoo and conditioners. I cannot recommend the 'poker straight' and 'here come the curls' ranges as well as their 'keep it clean' dry shampoo, the latter I've already reviewed on my blog. If you like to gift beautifully presented but practical beauty gifts then look no further than the gift sets from Lee Stafford which are available online and in Boots.

*Bubble T Shower Gel Subscription (£5 per month) 

Another beautifully designed gift is the new Bubble T shower gel subscription service which, for £5 per month, delivers to your gift recipient two shower gels per month straight to their door. The fragrances are exclusive each month and my personal favourites so far have to include the vanilla chai tea and the pink lemonade scents. I love the packaging of the products as well as the subscription box idea and the heavenly scents. You can enjoy a free starter pack (while only paying the £1 postage charge) so you can try two of their shower gels for yourself!

*Ark Skincare Hero Collection (£38)

I've already raved about Ark Skincare products on my blog for months so I can't think of a better brand for the perfect festive vegan and cruelty free skincare sets than Ark Skincare. Some of my favourite products of theirs includes the gorgeous Age Defend Replenishing Moisturiser, Triple Action Exfoliator and the Skin Protector SPF 30 Primer. They offer a wide range of skincare gifts for all ages and all budgets this christmas so you're bound to find a stocking filler or gift for yourself or someone special.

The Hero Collection contains three of their best selling products including the pre-cleanse and makeup remover, hydrating beauty mist and the primer I mentioned previously. I think this gift set is ideal as either an introduction to the brand, a great travel sized skincare gift set or as a beginners skincare set for those who aren't sure which skincare products or brands to try. They have a great selection of other gift sets too such as the more luxe Age Defend Sleep Collection and the Luxury Skin Perfectors Collection to their inexpensive mini skincare products and mini duos which would make ideal stocking fillers for beauty and skincare lovers.

*Boxclever Press 2020 Perfect Year A5 Diary 

I think beauty, skincare and pampering gifts are perfect, practical and safe gifts to give to friends and family but another great gift for this time of the year is a cute diary, calendar or stationery essentials and the gorgeous pieces on Boxclever Press are to die for! If you didn't already know, I'm a stationery lover and hoarder so I want pretty much everything on their website! I'm one of those people who has to have a diary, notebooks and to do lists to stay organised and productive so if you also know a fellow stationery lover, definitely check out the gorgeously designed products from Boxclever Press.

I love the design, from the pen holder, tabs, the layout of the diary to the shades throughout, to do list pages and the size, which is great as both a desk diary and for a handbag, if it's as large as mine! Keeping a dairy and notes is one of the easiest ways to stay organised and having a cute diary is even better.

The 'Perfect Year' diary for 2020 I was very kindly sent can be purchased as an A5 size as well as the A6 size and part of a couple of cute stationery gift sets. The 'Perfect Year' range also includes a family calendar and the diary is available in a divine blush pink shade (that looks like my perfect diary, if I'm honest). You can currently purchase the A5 diary at a reduced price and you'll also receive a set of free sticky notes but hurry as the offer ends soon!

*Gaia Sleep Set (£40)

Last but not least for today's gift guide (my next one will be a luxury gift guide so stay tuned) includes a selection of incredibly beautiful gifts from the brand, Gaia. I've only recently discovered this brand but I've not only instantly fallen in love with their divine packaging but also their products, particularly the sleep spray, body butter and moisturiser, all of which I have been using non-stop since I received them! I don't think I've instantly fallen in love with a brand this quickly for a long time and I cannot recommend their beautiful products and gorgeous gift sets enough.

The first gift set I wanted to recommend and review is the Sleep Collection which not only comes beautifully packaged but it contains three lovely products, including the very effective sleep mist, body butter and the sleep balm, along with a wash bag. I utterly adore the packaging for all of their products but I think that my favourite has to be a three way tie between the cute cracker, the skincare trio tray and this cute wash bag! I think this set would be a thoughtful gift for new mums, those with stressful jobs or people like me who struggle to fall asleep - the sleep mist has definitely been helping!

*Gaia Lip Balm Christmas Cracker (£10)

Next up is the most adorable Christmas cracker I've ever seen! I love the idea of beauty christmas crackers as traditional crackers are always disappointing and include items no-one wants. This little crackers comes with a cute lip balm inside but there's also an option that includes what I'm sure is a heavenly scented bath oil. I think this cracker, or the bath oil version, will make ideal beauty stocking fillers or as luxe christmas crackers for friends and family on Christmas Day.

*Gaia Facial Range Trio (£83)

Last but definitely not least is probably my favourite set of the three, although it is a very close call as all of them are utterly beautiful and smell heavenly. This skincare trio not only comes with three lovely skincare essentials including a cleansing balm, exfoliator and moisturiser (the latter is definitely my favourite so far) but it also comes with a wooden stand for the products which is something I haven't seen before. I adore skincare, especially when you add in a heavenly scent, natural ingredients and beautiful packaging but also include a wooden stand to keep them looking pretty and organised and I'm in love!

As I've mentioned twice already, the moisturiser is my favourite product of the three so far and the one I've used the most as not only does it smell lovely and look cute on the little tray but it leaves my skin feeling soft, smooth and comfortable which is all I want during the colder winter months for my skin. This set is on the pricey side but christmas is a time for giving and being generous! This gift set, and any of the others mentioned in today's gift guide, would make lovely gifts for all friends and family this year! There will be a short video to accompany today's gift guide coming very soon so stay tuned.

What do you think of my gift ideas? 

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