The Christmas Jumper Wishlist

The festive season is almost upon us and I for one am very excited to have some time off work and to spend quality time with family and friends back in South Wales. I have even started playing Christmas songs - it's still bloody November I hear you say! The Christmas jumper craze has certainly taken off the past few years with an annual Christmas jumper day taking place on the 18th of December this year in aid of Text Santa too. I am also attending an exciting blogging event in Birmingham this weekend and the dress code is Christmas jumpers - yay! As a result of this, I thought it was best I gave you a heads up on the best choices on the high street this year!   

 

 Missguided - £18

Dorothy Perkins - £23.40 (Up to 30% off over Black Friday weekend)

 

Asos - £28

PrettyLittleThing - £12 (On sale!)

Dorothy Perkins - £20.80 (Up to 30% off over Black Friday weekend)

Dorothy Perkins - £13 (In the sale!)

  I can't wait till payday so that I can splurge on some Christmas knits!  Which one is your favourite? 

Restaurant Review: The Plough, Harborne

Last week we visited The Plough in Harborne for my 24th birthday. (I hate getting older!) I was really excited to try the main menu at The Plough after visiting there once before for a Sunday lunch. It did not disappoint. We did not book beforehand and arrived at around 7pm and despite it being a Thursday evening the place was pretty busy.  However, we were quickly shown to a table in a cosy corner in the pub part of the restaurant. We then ordered two 500ml carafes of The Plough red and white wine whilst we looked over the menu. It was my birthday after all. 

As The Plough are renowned for their homemade stone baked pizzas it was inevitable that we opted for one each. I went for the calzone which included mozzarella, tomato and two fillings of your choice from an extensive list including smoked salmon, pulled cajun chicken and many more. I was a bit cheeky and opted for three fillings for an extra cost, I chose caramelised red onion, prosciutto and goats cheese - a match made in pizza heaven! Sam went for the regular stone baked pizza which was topped with chorizo, roasted peppers, cajun chicken, caramelised red onion and black olives. He also asked for an additional topping of anchovies which I loathe! We also ordered a side order of fries. 

The food arrived quickly and was piping hot. I've never been so excited to tuck into a pizza since I last visited Rome! Mine was an insanely good combination - even if I do say so myself. Sam enjoyed his pizza thoroughly too but also agreed the taste of mine was better. I think it was the creamy goats cheese which made it a winner. The fries were also served crispy but with a fluffy and light centre.

The service was fantastic, the atmosphere was great and I had a really nice evening for my birthday - even if it was a school night! I will definitely be returning to The Plough for one of their Lickin Chicken events taking place on Sunday evenings which include a whopping 1 kilo of spicy buffalo wings with a celery and blue cheese dip! Find out more on their website here. Have you visited The Plough recently? What did you think?

Restaurant Review: The Pickled Piglet

I decided to book the Pickled Piglet for my dad's 50th birthday meal following some recommendations on twitter from some Brummie food bloggers. I can now fully understand the hype!
The bar and restaurant is located on Gas street, just off the infamous Broad Street and we arrived just before our 8pm booking last Friday. We were welcomed into the bar area and chose an aperitif each before being shown to our table. I went for the Lemon Sherbet cocktail which included limoncello, prosecco and sugar syrup. It was absolutely delicious and I wanted to try more of their amazing cocktails. 

We were then shown to our table upstairs where it was already very busy and it had a great atmosphere for a Friday evening. We began our meals with two sharing boards between four of us. We chose the British meat platter which included; peppered beef, air dried ham, seasonal salami, marinated vegetables and bread and we also opted for the baked camembert topped with toasted nuts and frosted cranberries, fresh bread, crackers and quince jelly. 

The star of the show was the baked camembert which was delicious and creamy however more bread was needed as we are a rather greedy bunch! The meat platter was also extremely tasty but I did feel it was a little expensive at £16 as there wasn't that much variety or meat included.

Despite that minor niggle, the mains were also thoroughly enjoyable. I went for the baked halibut and clams in a garlic & shallot cream sauce, butter beans & sea greens. It was a beautifully cooked piece of fish with a suitably brilliant sauce. Sam was also very pleased with his main of rump lamb, warm olive & samphire salad, braised potatoes & red wine sauce. I had one taste of his and I had to dive my fork back in for more - it had great flavour! 

We ordered the hand cut chips to accompany the main course and they really were out of this world and tasted properly homemade - insane crispiness and a fluffy centre! This was washed down with a lovely bottle of Prosecco - after all, it was a special occasion! My dad was also given a pint of one of their draught ales on the house by our lovely waiter John who knew it was his birthday.
Me and my mother opted out of desserts as we were in a major food coma. However, the boys decided to share one portion of British cheeses, fruit, nuts & wafer biscuits between them which was followed with a coffee each. 
The bill came to a total of £160 - you may think this is a little steep but, we had at least two courses each, two rounds of drinks and a bottle of prosecco! I thought it was well and truly worth the money, the quality of the food was fantastic and after all, you don't turn 50 very often so it was worth celebrating - even if my dad doesn't think so!
I will definitely be returning to the Pickled Piglet to try out their small plates/tapas style dishes in the near future!

UK Beauty Bloggers Haul!

I've been meaning to review these products for a while now since they arrived in the post last month following a cheeky splurge on Feel Unique.  

  The Hollywood Eye Palette is one of three eyeshadow palette's in Tanya Burr's latest range of cosmetics. It is definitely my favourite of the three available as I think it is the most wearable. Each palette contains four different shades and this one includes;  

    Nude delight - a natural, light shade which I think is an excellent base colour. Gold coin - a soft, gold shade which is paler than Half-Baked in the Naked palette. Enchantment - This was the shade that stood out the most to me in the palette (obviously because it was sparkly) however, I was disappointed with the pigmentation of the shadow and I personally feel it has let the palette down. Bookworm - a warm, wearable brown shade which is perfect in the crease with a copper or gold shimmery eye.   Overall, the palette is extremely good value for money at only £6! The general quality of the eyeshadows is very good and reminds me of some of the more higher end make up brands' palettes. (You know which one I'm talking about!) I think this would be a great palette if you're looking to begin a make up starter kit on a small budget! The Hollywood Eye Palette is available to buy at Superdrug.  

  Next up is the Fleur Loves 3/4 length lashes which is one of four designs from Fleur De Force's collaboration with my favourite lashes brand - Eylure. The lashes are really good quality and are made from tapered lash tips which makes them look more natural, which is definitely a plus for me! The appeal of these lashes over the others were that I would not have to trim these to fit my small eyes. They add a thicker and more dramatic look to the outer corners of your eyelashes which I also love. These have to be the most comfortable lashes I have worn and I cant even tell I have them on in comparison to the full length strip eyelashes which sometimes irritate the inner corners of my eyes. I seriously need to stock up on these lashes for the upcoming party season! The Fleur De Force lashes collection by Eylure is available to buy from selected Boots stores and from Feel Unique.    

The Melt Crowd: October edition

It's no big secret that I am a massive candle lover. I normally stick to the more widely known brands - Yankee, Woodwick etc. However, my heart skipped a beat when I was browsing through some blogs the other day and discovered The Melt Crowd subscription box.    I first discovered the brand Flamingo Candles at The Clothes Show Live last winter and was sucked in by their wide range of unusual yet delicious scents. I also love that they are an animal cruelty-free company and their candles are made from soy wax. Soya beans are a renewable source and the wax is naturally bio-degradable, so it is also an eco-friendly product.   When I realised that Flamingo Candles ran a monthly subscription box I joined immediately!  

The monthly subscription includes 8 scent melts and your first month includes a free wax burner. This was the only disappointing aspect for me as you were not given the option of choosing your wax burner and therefore I recieved a lime green one which doesn't match a single room in my home. I'm going to be giving it to my mother when I see her next. Luckily I already have a simple, plain white wax burner which I can use when burning the scent melts.    Despite this, the contents of the box made me extremely excited. The individually wrapped scent melts include some old favourites, current scents, yet to be launched scents and scents exclusive to The Melt Crowd subscribers.   

  What scents were included in the October box I hear you say? Unfortunately, another thing I did not receive in my The Melt Crowd box was the information card outlining what exactly was in the box. However, each scent melt is individually wrapped with the name labelled on top. Anyway,  I'll talk you through...  

 

Thunderstorm scent melt - I find this scent very hard to describe! It has quite a masculine smell to it and even my boyfriend loves it!

Bubblegum scent melt - As much as I love this scent and anything sweet I did feel as though this scent melt was the odd one out as the rest definitely had an autumnal vibe.

Nutmeg & ginger scent melt - Autumn in a scent melt! I love scents which have a spicy element to them and I find they are perfect to help me unwind after a long day at work. 

Pomegranate & white fig scent melt - I love the scent of this one. It's not as strong as some of the others in the box but has a mixture of exotic fruit and subtle spices to it.

Pink ribbon scent melt - The Pink Ribbon fragrance is described as rich, cranberry accord dominated by top notes of sweet cranberry blended with prune juice, complimented by a fruity floral heart of summer strawberry, sun ripened raspberry and citrus orange with sweet honey and rose notes. I think its a great idea that Flamingo Candles are donating £2 from every The Melt Crowd subscription box they sell during October to the Pink Ribbon Foundation as it is breast cancer awareness month.

Applecurrant crumble scent melt - Ask anyone who knows me really well and you will discover that I absolutely hate the look, taste and even smell of cooked fruit! It even gives me a gag reflex. However, this had quite a deep, sweet scent to it and I'm looking forward to burning it.

Golden woodlands scent melt - Again, this is a very hard scent to describe. It is a musky smell which reminds me of aftershave.

Cranberry, orange & cinnamon scent melt - This was my personal favourite from the box. The scent is really Christmassy and I'm not going to lie, it has made me really excited for the festivities ahead! 

 

    So, is it worth £10 a month? I definetly think so! If you were to buy 8 scent melts and pay for delivery online you can expect to spend a total of roughly £19 - so you are definetly saving money. I also love the melt crowd subscribers also receive exclusive candles and I adore the element of surprise when you open your box each month.    If you want to subscribe make sure you do it before the end of October as each box gets sent out on the 1st of each month. If you're a candle obsessive like me then this is one subscription box you can't afford to miss!    Overall, this month's box has made me feel extremely autumnal and I cant wait to cwtch up on the sofa in my onesie with a hot chocolate whilst burning my favourite scents. I am also extremely excited to see what Flamingo Candles have to offer in the run up to Christmas too!  

    Visit the Flamingo Candles website here to sign up!   Have you ever tried any scents from Flamingo Candles? Let me know!  

 

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Summer Beauty Round Up

  

Summer is well and truly over and I have nearly been back in work 2 whole weeks! Therefore, I thought I would do a  round up of all the products I have been loving over the past few summer months before I have to get the dark lippy's out again!

Maestro Brushes – I was kindly sent these brushes by the team at Maestro recently. I first heard about these make up brushes when I watched one of Zoella’s recent monthly favourites videos and was eager to try them out myself! They are extremely soft and feel good quality. The handle of the brushes is longer than most but I find this helps with the application of the make-up. My favourite brushes from the range is number 480 for applying and blending darker colours in the crease of my eyes, number 320 for applying highlighter below the brow bone and number 155 for applying bronzer lightly and contouring. The brushes are extremely affordable and you should all check them out!

MAC Soft and Gentle – I have used several different highlighters over the years. Benefit’s Watt's Up is another fantastic highlighting product. However, I am completely hooked on my trusty MAC soft and gentle at the moment. It creates the perfect dewy look that we all long for and I loved the way it looked when I wore it in the evenings on my recent holiday to Croatia.

Clearasil 5 in 1 Wash – Despite the fact that I am nearly 24 years old I still suffer from breakouts, blackheads and small bumps on my skin. I have tried so many products, none of which seem to have long lasting effects. Recently I was recommended the Clearasil 5 in 1 face wash and when I was in Tesco’s recently I decided to pick it up as it was also on offer! This wash has made my face feel so much softer since I have started using it. It is not too harsh or drying on the skin and seems to have cleared up a lot of small pimples. I will keep using this and hopefully I will see some great improvements in my skin but so far I am enjoying using it!

Foreo Luna mini – I have owned my Luna mini for over a year now after I decided to splash out on the product which was way out of my student budget price range at the time. Being a sucker for advertisements I didn’t really have to think twice about it. However, I have never really used the product religiously until more recently. The gentle silicon device works wonderfully for facial cleansing and the battery life is seriously amazing, I’ve charged it twice since I bought it! I normally use this after I’ve applied my daily cleanser to a wet face. I run the Luna mini under hot water for a few seconds, turn it on and massage the cleanser into the skin for around one minute before washing everything off with a muslin cloth. It leaves my skin clean, refreshed, bright and glowy.

Pamper routine with my FOREO Luna mini

MAC Velvet Teddy and Soar lip liner combo – You are all probably fed up of hearing about how good this lip combination is now but it really does deserve the hype! I find the nude tones really suit my complexion and when I use the Soar lip liner beforehand it gives my lips a fuller shape. I highly recommend this to anyone who is considering purchasing these products! It is worth the indulgence!

Wearing my current favourite lip combo - MAC Velvet Teddy & Soar Lipliner

What are your current beauty and skincare favourites?

     

August Love List

I was inspired to write this post after watching one of Inthefrow's latest youtube videos - see here. I suppose it's a new take on a monthly favourites post but with less of a focus on beauty products! I really liked the idea of this tag and thought I'd give it a go too.  Make sure you tag me if you have decided to post one too - I'd love to know what your favorites were this month!
1. What I watched: Favourite film/ Programme
Ok, so this may sound a bit nerdy but the best thing I watched this month was a documentary called Blackfish. You can find this on Netflix and it was recommended to me by one of my best friends. She summed it up as 'it shows you how messed up SeaWorld really is!' Having visited SeaWorld many moons ago when I was a young child I was really intrigued to discover the secrets behind the way that they treat the killer whales in its care with a specific focus on the role of the trainers there too. I'm not going to give too much away but its a must see! I'm still shocked by what was documented and it's safe to say its changed my perception of animal parks/zoo's entirely! 

Also, I have been watching PLL - I was seriously miffed with the mid season finale. Actually, disappointed may be a better word. I'm pretty sure everyone else who is a fan will agree too.  Let me know what you thought in the comments below. 
2. What I snapped: Favourite photo
My favourite photo from this month is this one from when me and Sam were invited to one of his good friends from work's wedding near the beginning of the month and we had a lovely day - from what I can remember! We rarely have any nice, non-silly photo's together so I loved this one. 

3. Who I loved: Favourite person
My favourite person this month is a food blogger from Birmingham. Her blog is called; Full to the Brum (very clever I thought!) and ever since I have discovered it I now know all the best places to eat in the city! I have now lived in Brum for just over a year and admittedly it was hard to settle in at first, after moving from the rural Welsh valleys which I have called home the past 23 years. However, this blog has opened my eyes to the excitement of living in a city and you need to check it out if you are looking for somewhere to eat whilst visiting Birmingham!
4. What I wore: Favourite piece of clothing 
My favourite piece of clothing that I have worn this month is the dress I wore to the wedding mentioned above. I bought it from River Island a few months ago and I felt super classy in it on the day and it was comfortable to wear! Including throughout the wedding breakfast, buffet and dancing!

  5. What I did: How I spent my free time
As it is summer holidays and I have so far enjoyed almost 5 glorious weeks off work (you chose your career and I chose mine!) I have enjoyed nothing more than just relaxing with friends and family over a few glasses of wine and just catching up this month. I rarely get a chance to do this when I am back in teacher mode come September!
6. What I ate: Favourite food
The best thing I have eaten this month is a burger from a small 'burger shop' based in Hereford called A rule of tum! It was mind blowingly - good! I have reviewed the restaurant and you can find the post here. 

7. What I drank: Favourite drink
Last Friday night I headed out to Gas Street Social in the Mailbox in town for some cocktails and nibbles with the ladies in Sam's family whilst the men went to the football. The first cocktail I drank was a standout for me. It was one of their craft cocktails and was called The Gas St Cobbler  and included Sauvignon Blanc wine, passion fruit - vanilla - cardamom syrup,  Finlandia Vodka, dry sherry, lemon & apple. It was amazing! I need to go back and sample more of their cocktails!

8. Where I went: Favourite event or occassion
My favourite occassion this month has been my Mam and Dad's 25th wedding anniversary party. It was so nice to see them surrounded my friend's and family for this special anniversary and it was really nice to be back home and enjoy some 'family time' too. Here's a cute photo of them 25 years ago on their wedding day!

9. What I heard: Favourite song This is always a tough question to answer but the most played song on my Spotify playlist at the moment is Waiting for Love - Avicii. It's a really catchy song - most songs by Avicii normally are, I have loved listening to it on repeat throughout my long car journeys recently!
10. What I used: Favourite thing that I have used
Ok, so this is a beauty product, but its too good to not mention it! I purchased the MAC strobe cream in the duty free on my way out to Croatia near the end of July and it has been an absolute staple in my make up bag ever since. I love putting this onto my face before foundation and concealer as it gives a lovely dewy glow to my skin. This has also looked great with my post holiday tan which is now sadly fading despite the 3 tubs of moisturiser I have gone through! I would really recommend this product if you are loving the strobing make up trend at the moment. 
Hope you enjoyed this post!

Restaurant Review: A rule of tum - burger shop

Me and Sam found ourselves In Hereford today. We met a friend during his dinner break (and enjoyed rubbing it in to him that we have a further 4 weeks of summer holiday left) before heading off to a small burger shop, named 'a rule of tum' which was recommended by said friend to see what they had to offer. 

 

The 'burger shop' is easily missed as it is located down a quiet side street away from the main part of town.  The outside decor was simplistic, yet appealing. When you initially walk in, it seems very small and it's filled with long wooden benches and my old science class stools (literally) but it had some quirky vibes and cool artwork. We decided to sit outside in the decking area to soak up the sun, whilst it decided to make an appearance.  The menu was also simplistic and there was a specials board too. They claim to use only local produce and also have some quirky craft beers on offer too - much to Sam's delight!  I opted for the Hereford Hop burger from the main menu and Sam went for the Farmer Tom's beef burger with a side of Rosemary salted chips. The staff were very friendly and I was impressed that they asked how we would like our meat cooked.  We didn't have to wait long for our food which was served on plastic trays with the burgers wrapped in paper - think five guys! The burger was cooked to perfection and included Hereford beef patty, pulled neck of beef, Hereford hop cheese (hence the name), pickled onion rings, mustard Mayo, ketchup, baby gem lettuce and was served in a brioche bun. It is definetly one of the tastiest burgers I've had, but I think my favourite burger of all time still goes to the Bean Bean KING by the Original Patty Men. 

The chips were out of this world, who would've thought potatoes and a handful of salt could taste so delightful? There was more than enough food and Sam had to finish my burger off as I was having a major food coma! 

The bill came to a total of  £26.20 which is pretty standard for a bottled beer, glass of wine, 2 x burgers and a side of chips. Would I revisit? Definitely! After browsing their instagram and discovering that they do obscure burgers such as pheasant, confit duck and mackerel on their specials board I would not hesitate to return!  Check out their social media pages;  Instagram - @aruleoftum Twitter - @aruleoftum

New cobblers...

Sorry for my recent break from blogging, life seems to be getting a bit overwhelming so I am just trying to organise myself to stay on top of things. With the summer holidays lurking around the corner I am hoping to publish more posts in the next few months!  

  I recently spent a Saturday having a drive through Birmingham - visiting Sam's family in King's Heath and having a wander around Harborne. I love these easy, lazy days and I don't often get a chance to spend my weekends like this.

  I didn't dress up too much for the occasion and went pretty casual. However, recently Shoe Zone got in touch with me and very kindly sent me these wonderful patent oxblood chunky loafers which look perfect with some skinny jeans and casual tops on a typical British summer day (which isn't normally that warm despite the recent heatwave we have had)! I also think they will look fab for a smart work look for the Autumn/Winter '15 season. I have had lots of compliments when I have worn these and people are shocked when I tell them where they are from! I cant wait to style these with more outfits and accessories!  

 

  What's your current wardrobe staple?  

Restaurant Review - En Place Pop Up

On Thursday night we spent the evening at 6/8 Kafe at Millennium Point. It is becoming a very popular spot for pop up restaurants and there are several more lined up within the next few months.

On this night, we were there for En Place. It's a new business consisting of two chefs from Worcester who have over 30 years experience between them. We attended their last pop up event at 6/8 Kafe and were so impressed we thought we would try this menu too!

 

The menu on the night consisted of;

Snacks –  Crispy pigs ear and fresh raw asparagus with olive oil powder

Beetroot and Goats Cheese

Octopus, Watermelon, Black olive, Bloody Mary Sorbet

Sticky Toffee Pigs Cheek, Apple, Fennell, Asparagus, Vinegar

Dark Chocolate Tart, Burnt Orange, Cinnamon

Retro Petit Fours – Peach Melba, Black Forest Gateaux and Walnut Whip

 

 

 

 

We both really enjoyed our meals. I have to take my hat off to the boys who have evidently worked very hard on the menu and were excellent hosts on the evening yet again.

 

 

The stand out dishes for me personally were the sticky toffee pigs cheek which was absolutely delicious and made me crave for more and the dark chocolate tart on the dessert course.

   

 

 

I thought the menu was well planned and all courses complimented each other and I thoroughly enjoyed the quirkier elements to the dishes too. 

     

The menu cost was £35 per head for the 5 courses and as 6/8 Kafe don’t have an alcohol licence, bring your own bottle is in operation! Give the boys a follow over on twitter so you can keep updated with all future pop up news - @_enplace

 

  Have you tried any exciting new restaurants around the West Midlands lately? Let me know!