Christmas Degustabox

Getting a box filled with food through the post every month really is quite exciting! I used to be a bit of a scaredy cat when it came to trying out new foods, but getting older I seemed to have 'matured' my food tastes & will be brave sometimes! Degustabox is a monthly subscription box containing 9-14 items, most of which are new to the market. The November box is probably my favourite one yet, I love so many of the products included & the miniature Baileys reminded me of the Baileys hot chocolate I had last year at Christmas so I'll be whipping up one of those on Christmas Eve!
Butterkist are the best brand of popcorn in my opinion, the toffee one is heavenly! Dom is a huge fan of salted popcorn & we both love to mix sweet & salted together when we go to the cinema so the Sweet & Salted one will go down a treat on movie night. Our latest obsession is Salted Caramel though, I've been non-stop buying anything salted caramel flavoured so you can imagine I was really happy to see popcorn in that flavour too!
Ryvita are well known for their crackerbreads, they're handy as a quick snack & are healthier than your average sandwich. I'll be giving the crackerbreads I received in my box to my family as I'm not keen on Olives but I absolutely love the Mature Cheddar & Black Pepper thins. They're tasty on their own & also really yummy to have with dips like salsa & houmous. 
I often buy the Belvita breakfast biscuits as they're really good to pop in your handbag & have on the way to work if you didn't have time to grab breakfast. The soft bakes are a similar concept, tasty & keep you full until lunch.
If you want to try your very own Degustabox then you can subscribe here & be sure to use the discount code 'BLDEG15' to get £6.00 off, making your box just £6.99!
Let me know what you think of Degustabox in the comments (:
L x

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Pug Christmas Card Photoshoot

 

Tilly & Lulu are two popular little Pugs who have in fact received more Christmas cards than us this year! All their Puggy friends from around the World have been posting them festive cards with the most adorable photos on! It's been really exciting opening each card to reveal the cards the girls have been sent, it's just even more proof that all these squishy puggies really do love a photoshoot haha. We decided to get involved with the homemade Christmas card idea & did our own photoshoot on Sunday with the girls. Surprisingly they both behaved & posed patiently whilst I snapped away with my camera. I'm literally in love with how the photos turned out, I think I've managed to capture the perfect Christmas card shot with the Christmas tree in the background & the girls in their festive outfits. This is definitely the start of a yearly tradition now, it's so fun to do & now I've got loads of amazing photos of our lil pug babies! Have you ever had a photoshoot with your pet? Let me know, I'd love to see photos!
L x

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Christmas Gift Guide: Over £30

Here is my third & final instalment of my little gift guide series, with the last one focusing on more pricey items that make perfect main pressies! 
When we moved into our new house I knew I wanted to have some quirky bits & pieces, which is why I chose the Wild & Wolf Retro Telephone. Whenever someone visits us they always comment on our 'old fashioned' phone, I like having homeware items that get people talking! It's pretty much a statement piece as it adds a pop of colour to our mostly monochrome lounge. 
Perfume is a lovely gift to give, there are always pretty gift sets available at Christmas too. I know I always appreciate a new bottle of perfume, the Marc Jacob ones are my favourite but I've also got my eye on a Jo Malone fragrance this year!
Jewellery is another good gift & something that can be kept forever. The Pandora Birthstone Ring I have is the March birthstone, which represents Tilly Pugs birthday. I preferred her birthstone over mine & thought it was more meaningful, giving it sentimental value. If you're after something a bit special for someone why not have a look at the Pandora birthstone collection & get their beloved pets/child/partners? 
Makeup & beauty gifts are up there as one of the top gifts to give us girls. I hardly ever buy myself 'high end' makeup as my money usually goes on bills, the pugs & house things, which is why I absolutely love it when I receive makeup products I've been lusting over! Last year I was desperate to get my hands on the Zoeva Rose Gold Brush Set, they are an absolute dream & a real pleasure to use. I also got the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette last year, neutral eyeshadow palettes are a good choice as they suit everybody. The UD palettes are beautiful, the shadows are so pigmented & apply really well, they're great for beginners too if you know someone who is just started to take an interest in makeup! L x

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Christmas Gift Guide: Under £30

I tend to spend around £20-30 on presents for family members, having quite a few people to buy for (big family problems!) I have to stick to a budget otherwise my bank balance would go into meltdown! 
I had a bit of a brainwave when planning this post & suddenly thought what a good idea it would be to get someone their favourite magazine subscription. I usually to buy home & interior related magazines the most these days, but there are so many magazines out there to cater to everyones interests & hobbies & they end up being much cheaper than if you were to buy each magazine individiually throughout the year. I'd personally opt for an Ideal Home one, a few years ago I was subbed to Vogue when I was set on being a fashion designer, a girl can dream hey... It's also worth checking to see if there are any incentives when you join a subscription, they usually throw in a free gift too which would be a bonus!
Buying somebody a skincare product can be a bit of a risk, as we all have different skin types meaning we all like to use different things. However Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish is a good all round cleanser which is suitable for pretty much everyone. They usually do gift sets too so if you did know your friend/family members skin type you could always pick one of those up for a bit extra. 
A beauty product I'd recommend for makeup lovers is the Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade, it's been a makeup staple for most beauty bloggers/lovers this past year. With so many shades to choose from you might be thinking but won't that be difficult to select one for somebody else? There are hundreds of swatches & reviews online, making it quite easy to figure out which one would be most suitable. 
Cookbooks always make great gifts, I mean everybody has to cook so why not give someone a book filled with inspiration that they can use for their next meal? I love the Deliciously Ella one & whilst I'm not Vegan I really like using her recipes when I feel like eating healthily. The Leon cookbooks are really good too, super easy to follow & filled with loads of tasty meals! 
Bath products are a total winner with me & as you know I'm a big lushie but ever since discovering these The Body Shop Fuji Green Tea Bath Tea I've been obsessed. Anyone that gets quite stressed needs these in their life, the refreshing scent of Green Tea helps you to unwind & relax. Along with the Bath Infuser it makes a unique but lovely gift as it's a bit different from your usual bath product gift set. 
A gift that is perfect for the party season is the Oliver Bonas Darya Clutch Bag*, a tiny bit over my 'Under £30' budget but who cares when it's so beautiful! Combining the golden metallic & slate suede textures together makes it a versatile accessory to complete any party outfit. 
L x

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