Showing posts with label sponsored. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sponsored. Show all posts

AD | Feeding my Family for Under £5.50

Saturday, February 22, 2020

If you know me at all and you're reading that title and thinking something is very very wrong! I am self-admittedly NOT a cook. The kitchen is not my domain, unless we're talking about baking which is a horse of a different colour of course. I am the furthest thing from a foodie it is possible to be so I tend to just stay out of the kitchen altogether and leave it to Damian, who LOVES his food. So trust me I get it that you might be thinking "there is absolutely no way AJ is cooking actual food" and honestly you'd be right! I am categorically not being the chef in this scenario-I have however set Damian a challenge, which is to cook a healthy dinner for four (or a meal that he can cook and freeze to cover at least four meals) for less than £5.50-using Schwartz Recipe Mixes!


[AD] Happy Feeding with Hills Science Plan Dog Food

Thursday, December 05, 2019

*This post contains gifted content-I was also paid for my honest review* 

Meet Lando-the cutest, clingiest, fussiest Patterdoodle in the land.


Are You the Spice Girl's BEST FAN EVER? [Sponsored]

Monday, June 03, 2019

I'm seeing the Spice Girls this week! The actual bloody Spice Girls! Can you imagine how freaking excited I am? 


I was 9 years old when the Spice Girls burst on to the scene-all mouthy, and loud, and screaming about Girl Power. I was in awe of these amazing women-much like the rest of the world-and instantly knew that I wanted to be one of them. You could say I turned into a superfan overnight. 
Not content with just listening to their music, I had to have ALL the memorabilia, I even went as far as to subscribe to the Stage newspaper (real fans know why) to see if I could get the same opportunity they did. 
During the countdown to this Saturday's gig I have been feeling very nostalgic for those early years of Spice, and it got me thinking about all the things the ultimate Spice Girls fan owned during their heyday, so here is my list of the top 5 things every Spice Girls #BestFanEver absolutely had to have:


Old English Company | Review | Prints and Pins

Saturday, July 14, 2018






There are no two ways about it, I have to just come out and say it- I am obsessed with interior design and making the spaces I spend my time in feel like home. Unfortunately (or fortunately if you've looked at the housing market lately) I live in rented accommodation so there is only so much I can do to my current home without making my landlord really mad, so whilst I spend my days putting together interior inspo Pinterest boards, and poring over copies of Ideal Home, and House Beautiful, I can't really live out my Kate La Vie-esque dreams just yet.

One way I put my stamp on our home is with artwork and prints, which is why when Old English Company asked me to pick anything I wanted from their site (up to £50) I jumped at the chance to work with them. I'd never checked them out before so I wasn't sure how far that £50 was going to stretch but I was pleasantly surprised to find I could pretty much help myself to anything I liked and then some! After spending a good 30 minutes looking at all they had to offer I finally decided on two prints, and an enamel pin.

































My favourite thing about Old English Company is that their choice of prints and quotes is very different from any others I've seen from other print companies. My absolute favourite book of all time is Wuthering Heights so I actually made a little gleeful yelp when I saw the Emily Brontë quote.  Because I am a total cliche of a writer I also adore William Shakespeare, and having noticed they had that very famous "though she be but little...." quote I had a search for something I didn't already have on display, and found this brilliant print featuring a line from the play As You Like It.
































Both these prints cost £16 in A4 but are also available in 8x10 or A3 for £13.95 and £21.00 respectively. I think these prints are beautiful in their simplicity, and they are printed on very sturdy card so they maintain their shape whether you decide to frame them, hang them, or simply stand them against a wall.

It took me a while to decide where to place them but I settled on placing them above our bed with one on each side of our giant dream catcher. I have a new found love for these little picture shelves so I bought a couple for these prints, and I'm pretty pleased with how it looks so far. Now if only I could paint these horrible magnolia walls a nice bright white!!
































Now don't worry, I'm not forgetting my other choice which was this cute little enamel pin (£7) which says "Stay Weird". There were a few pins that I really liked but I honestly think that "stay weird" is an important message to wear everyday. It took me a long time to stop describing the things I love as "weird" or "unconventional" when the truth is, the things I love are the things that make me who I am and if I want to stay me, I have to stay weird!
































As you can see I gave the little dude pride and place on my work lanyard (right under the amazing Dorkface rainbow pin) so every single customer I come in contact with can get a little reminder to be themselves.

Overall I am so happy with my choices from Old English Company, and I already have more prints, and pieces of stationery and homeware, added to my wishlist. If you are in the market for some simple, beautiful, well made products I wouldn't hesitate to point you in their direction.

Happy Shopping. And don't forget to Stay Weird!



Disclaimer: The items in this post were gifted to me by the company mentioned throughout, in return for an honest review. I picked each item personally, and all opinions herein are my own. I will never promote or recommend any product or company I do not believe in, and would not willingly spend my own money on.

Summer Makeup Trends 2017

Friday, June 23, 2017

It's been a while since I've done a beauty post but I have a couple planned for the next month or two so thought I'd get the beauty ball rolling with a look to the coming season.
Whilst Summer in Britain might actually only last a few days (and may actually already be over-down south anyway, it's not been nearly as hot in Scotland *sob*) it is one of the most inspirational times. Trends are everywhere, and with so many opportunities to show off a look it's a great time to try something new. 

I grew up watching my mum paint her face on every morning, same face every day, and it was classic, and it worked for her. But I think sometimes it's nice to mix it up a bit, so this summer instead of my usual beauty regime I'm going to try out every one of these trends...who's with me?

Nails
It's summer so of course we're leaning towards brights. This year we seem to have come over all 80s, and I love it! Nail technicians are seeing a rise in requests for neons which we all know go great with a summer tan (be it real or fake). What is new for Summer 2017 is the styles though- at lot of designers sent their models down the runway with negative space, or marble being the focal point of their nails. I'm one of those bloggers who loves a bit of marble as I'm sure most of us are, so why not ask your professional nail artist to create some marble magic using Mambo Beat and Banana Clips from the CND Shellac Collection from https://www.ellisons.co.uk/nails.html.
Top Tip: HAVE FUN. Nails are such a great canvas to experiment on so grab the brightest brights and just play about with whatever takes your fancy this summer!

Marble nails, summer nails, nails, neon nails, summer trends 2017, trends
Neon Marble Nails. Photo Credit: Jenny Nagorski 
Skin
This summer it's all about the glow. Highlighter has been big news for a while now but this summer it's set to take centre stage. It's time to relax your contour, put down the bronzer and make your highlighting palette the star of the show. This look is all about being hydrated so try using things like coconut oil, face mists, and even lip balms to add some shine to your skin. 
Top Tip: add some liquid highlighter to your foundation and dab on with a damp beauty blender! 

dewy skin, dewy, summer trends 2017, summer, trends
Dewy Skin. Photo Credit: Clarins
Lips
Your face isn't the only thing calling out for some shine this summer. Lip gloss is set to make a comeback. After a few seasons of Matte Lipstick running the show (thanks in part to lipkits from a certain Jenner, and amazing drugstore products from Sleek) it's time to pick up the gloss again, and add a little moisture to your pout. I know what you're thinking though "ugh but lipgloss is so sticky!" well Bare Minerals have come to the rescue with their new Buttercream Glosses, all of the shine-none of the stickiness. 
Top Tip: feeling a bit more daring this summer? Try colour blocking your lips. A red on top and an orange on your bottom lip with a touch of gloss in the middle, will really make any look pop. 

lip gloss, lipgloss, street style, summer 2017, summer trends summer makeup
photo credit: Getty
Eyes
Hands up if you just can't when it comes to lining your eyes? I am genuinely in awe of everybody with these perfect lines, and flicks, and cats eyes! When I try I always have to have micellar water, and 100 cotton buds on hand to fix my mistakes-and I almost never get both eyes looking anywhere near the same. Which is why I am so excited eye makeup is going a bit grungy this summer. It's all about the kohl and the smudge folks. All you need is a pencil and a finger and you too can nail this summer's biggest eye trend. 
Top Tip: draw a hashtag on the outer corner of your eye, then dab on some vaseline and smudge inwards-perfect addition to any smokey eye, or as a standalone look a la Balmain.

smudged liner, eyeliner, balmain, summer trends 2017


What are some makeup and beauty trends you predict will be big this summer? Are you like me and a bit reluctant to step away from the contour stick? Let me know in the comments OR on Twitter.

Happy Summer 😘



Disclaimer: This post contains collaborative content or PR samples. All thoughts and opinions are true and personal. 
                                                    

My Perfect Glasses Experience

Friday, June 16, 2017

I have such a weird relationship with glasses. On the one hand I need them for reading and looking at computer screens, but on the other I see adequately well without them. Granted wearing them does reduce my book/screen related headaches BUT every pair I've ever had has given me headaches by pinching the side of my head (it's a fibro thing, I'm extra sensitive)- so you can see why I'd begrudge wearing them full time. And if I'm not going to wear them full time why on earth would I want to spend a small fortune on a pair? So, because I am my own worst enemy I didn't wear them, the headaches came and I persevered...in my defence painkillers are a lot cheaper than glasses!
However I must now admit that I am a changed woman, and it's all thanks to the folks at Perfect Glasses.

At first I will admit I was pretty sceptical about buying glasses online, and with the prices being so low I was convinced I was going to receive a pair of shoddily put together glasses that looked nothing like the picture.


Walden Electra from Perfect Glasses

































Well colour me pleasantly surprised because not only are the glasses sturdy, they are also comfortable, I can see perfectly through them (I ordered standard reading glasses but prescription sunglasses and sunglasses are readily available) and they look almost exactly like the image on the website! Because I am a terrible cliche I ordered a white marble pair, with a gold nose bar and when they arrived they were slightly on the grey marble side but honestly they are so pretty and I can read Harry Potter for the 9000th time, so I don't really care haha. 



The best thing about shopping with Perfect Glasses has to be the prices. With some pairs starting at just £9, and designer glasses like these Fendi bad boys going for just £173 (including prescriptions and coatings), even the cheapest shopper can find something to suit. My beautiful pair are called Walden Electra and came to a grand total of £29 and that's not too bloody shabby. They came in a protective case too so there's no penny pinching going on as far as I can see.

Fendi fabulousness



All in all I could not be happier with my first foray into online glasses shopping and have been telling everyone who asks just how great my experience has been. So if you're looking for new glasses, that don't cost the earth, from a company that could not be easier to work with, head over to Perfect Glasses. I'll be heading back as soon as I've recovered from the post Florida money chasm lol.

Disclaimer: This post contains sponsored content or PR samples. All thoughts and opinions are true and personal. 

The Super Last Minute Gift Guide

Monday, December 19, 2016

This is not your usual gift guide guys! This is a gift guide that is going live 6 days before Christmas! This is a gift guide for people who work in retail/care/emergency services and haven't had a day off since payday. A gift guide for people who work unsociable hours. A gift guide for people who planned on shopping online and then discovered there was a Royal Mail strike planned for the week of Christmas! This is a gift guide for all the Last Minute Lucie's, and Larry's, and whoever else's out there, so let's not waste anymore time and dive right in.

For Anyone who wants great skin:

L'Occitane- Nothing says "I care about you" more than a Christmas Gift Box full of lovely smelling, natural, organic skincare products. You could buy one of L'Occitane's pre-made collections or try putting a gift box together yourself! My dream box would contain the Shea Butter Hand Cream, Verbena Body Care Set, and the Neroli Scent. With all this in one place you could easily nail Christmas shopping in one go. Don't have a L'Occitane Boutique near you? Never fear, despite the Royal Mail strike L'Occitane have told me that orders made up to December 21st will arrive on time for Christmas!

Mastering the Magic of Christmas

Monday, December 12, 2016

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas (yeah I know, I need to stop slipping lyrics into my posts, whatever!) and that can only mean one thing- IT'S CHRISTMAS MOVIE TIME!!

When the folks at Panasonic prompted me to start thinking about what my favourite festive films were I decided to use their new campaign as inspiration- the new Ultra HD 4K TV Panasonic is said to master the magic of light, almost like looking through a window instead of at a screen- so I set to thinking about which Christmas movies really master the magic of Christmas for me. The ones that I'm going to curl up in front of this December, with the husband, a hundred blankets, and one eye on the window praying for snow.

So in no particular order, because honestly I change my mind about favourites every year, I give you...


elf- has anybody ever written a post about Christmas movies and NOT mentioned Will Ferrel's best ever character? I think I like ELF because it's Christmassy without being schmaltzy. It's clever, funny, good for kids as well as adults, and it gave us the term Cotton Headed Ninny Muggins which has to be my favourite way of telling Damian he's being annoying ever!! 4/5 Christmas Baubles
p.s. I'm pretty sure Elf made it onto the BBC Radio 1 Top 10 Christmas Movies ;-).

Home Alone 1 & 2- We'll gloss over the "neglectful parents" angle and just talk about how these movies epitomise Christmas! Family drama-check. Snow-check. Great soundtrack-check. The Rockafeller Centre Tree-check! Throw in a bucketload of slapstick comedy, and a scary but not actually "Guardian Angel" and you've got the stuff of dreams...oh John Hughes how the movie world misses you! 4/5 Christmas Baubles

Die Hard- There's a pretty accurate meme going around and it goes like this, "There are two types of people in this world. Those who think Die Hard is a Christmas Movie, and those who are wrong". And I think that says it all really. I got into a debate last year because someone listed Frozen as a Christmas movie but not Die Hard. I mean WTF?? Ugh. Anyway Die Hard is fantastic, I love it, we watch it every December without fail. Plus it was the movie that brought us Alan Rickman so it should appear on every good list about any type of movie for ever and ever. 5/5 Christmas Baubles
Fun Fact: in January 2017 BBC 2 Will be airing a Talking Pictures episode dedicated the late great Alan Rickman...don't miss it!

The Santa Clause- Excuse me while I geek out for a second but this movie's title tickles me so much! It's The Santa CLAUSE- like clause means contractual obligation or whatever! It's a double meaning and it just makes me so happy! Oh My God I'm such a Ravenclaw!! Anyhow The Santa Clause is great, and Christmas wouldn't be the same without it :-) 4.5/5 Christmas Baubles



Now because Christmas is all about family I asked my husband, and best friend for their favourite Christmas Movies so here are a couple of bonus movies to check out in 4k ;-)

Damian:

  • Jingle All The Way- An Arnold Schwarzenegger movie about the struggle to get that "must have gift of the year"- I believe this year it's the Hatchimal-good luck parents. 
  • Bad Santa- Hands up, I have never seen this movie *eek*! However I intend to rectify when it airs on Sky Cinema Comedy on the 14th! Did you Know: Bill Murray was supposed to play Bad Santa but dropped out to do Lost in Translation!
Fiona: 
  • Father Christmas- Now i'll admit I had no idea what she was talking about when she sent me this as an answer but then it came flooding back to me! It's Raymond Briggs, Santa goes on holiday, it's wonderful <3
  • The Snowman- Right, I'm not sure but I THINK Fiona might like Raymond Briggs *haha*. Who doesn't love The Snowman, it's such a lovely innocent story. I am reliably informed that both of these are airing on channel 4 on Christmas Eve. 
What are your favourite festive films? Did your favourite make my list? Am I missing some great Christmas movie that you just have to tell me about? You know the drill catch me on Twitter, Instagram or in the comments. 

Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, and Hope you have a Wonderful Christmas Time (here I go again with those damn lyrics ;-p) x

 photo post signature may 2016_zpsz67i4dbe.png

Disclaimer: this post contains sponsored content but as always all views, choices, and words are my own.