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Dermoperfection and Metro Spa Reopen After Lockdown

September 4, 2020 by Erica Hughes Leave a Comment

metrospa edgbaston Just before lockdown I booked in to have my second ENVY facial at Metrospa in Edgbaston. For those not familiar with ENVY facials, it’s the only face and body skin resurfacing treatment to effectively exfoliate and extract damaged skin cells gently and deliver infusion into the skin at the same time. This is thanks to its patented breakthrough 3-in-1 technology. ENVY drives serums deeper into the skin at the same time as it is exfoliating and extracting. This means that maximum depth is reached with maximum absorption of the serums. The 3-in-1 technology removes dry and damaged skin cells, deep cleanses the skin surface and directly cleanses the pores.

envy facial dermoperfection Having the ENVY facial just at that point really set me and my skin up for lockdown. It gave me confidence in my skin and much of the time in lockdown I didn’t bother with makeup. So now lockdown is over, it seems like the perfect treatment for a little skin pick me up, as both a confidence boost and to help my skin cope with the ravages of everyday life. Of course, it’s only one of a range of treatments available at both Metrospa in Edgbaston and Dermoperfection in Birmingham city centre. Thankfully both Metrospa and Dermoperfection are now reopen after lockdown and are offering their usual range of treatments. Pop along to Dermoperfection for all your aesthetics needs or to Metrospa for aesthetics and spa treatments.

There’s always a friendly welcome to be had when you arrive for a treatment and Metrospa is comfortably and stylishly decorated, so it’s very much a pleasant place to spend time. New treatments are regularly being introduced so you can have access to the latest skin care innovations. Maybe you’d like a Profhilo® treatment to give your skin some TLC. Profhilo® is a revolutionary ‘beneath the skin’ hyaluronic acid moisturising treatment, made with the patented NAHYCO® technology. This results in a unique hyaluronic acid injectable gel, which has a prolonged stimulating activity on the dermal cells. When injected into skin, Profhilo stimulates the skin cell receptors to counteract skin laxity and improve and restore firmness of the skin.

metrospa edgbaston Or maybe you’d be tempted by ULTRAcel Q+ which is a new type of High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) that promotes the formation of new collagen, suppression of stubborn fat cells, and skin tightening in various parts of the body. It’s a great way to enhance the tone of your jawline, but you can have the treatment on a range of areas of your body and face.

It’s great to see a local business coming back strongly after lockdown and I think that the innovative approach will be a successful one.

Win A Hamper

August 24, 2020 by Erica Hughes 1 Comment

Photo by Dmitry Mashkin on Unsplash

I’m getting a bit bored now about the idea of staying in so much. I totally understand why we have to mix with other people less, but I’m starting to miss the social interaction despite the Zoom calls and Whatsapp messages. One way to cope with that is to have more fun at home and I do think having some treats makes this trying time so much easier. A takeaway once a week say, or some new toiletries. I think what would be a lovely thing to receive would be a lovely hamper packed full of goodies – something like that would really make my day. That’s why I’ve teamed up with some other bloggers to offer one as a prize to our readers.

The Bloggers

The following bloggers have all teamed together to contribute towards this competition, offering you a fantastic prize.

Please show your support by visiting some of the bloggers taking part just by clicking on the name of the blog below.

The prize

Up for giveaway is a £100 M&S hamper of your choice.

With plenty to choose from you can choose yourself a lovely treat!

Rules & Enter

1. There is one top prize of a £100 M&S hamper of the winner’s choosing.
2. There are no runner up prizes
3. Open to UK residents aged 18 and over, excluding all bloggers involved with running the giveaway
4. Closing date for entries is midnight on 31.08.20
5. The same Rafflecopter widget appears on all the blogs involved, but you only need to enter on one blog
6. Entrants must log in to the Rafflecopter widget, and complete one or more of the tasks – each completed task earns one entry in the prize draw
7. Tweeting about the giveaway via the Rafflecopter widget will earn five bonus entries into the prize draw.
8. 1 winner will be chosen at random.
9. The winner will be informed by email within 7 days of the closing date and will need to respond within 28 days with their delivery address, or a replacement winner will be chosen.
10. The winners’ names will be published in the Rafflecopter widget (unless the winner objects to this).
11. The prizes will be despatched within 14 days of the winner confirming their address.
12. The promoter is www.EmmaDrew.info
13. By participating in this prize draw, entrants confirm they have read, understood and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions

To enter simply complete any or all of the Rafflecopter entry widgets below

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Lola’s Coffee Bags From The Specialty Coffee Company Giveaway #Ad

August 7, 2020 by Erica Hughes 69 Comments

thespecialtycoffeecompany.com coffee bags

Coffee bags seem like such a simple idea, so it seems surprising that they haven’t been around for that long. One bag makes one cup of coffee: no mess, no faff. It’s a great idea for a coffee lover with limited time or even limited kitchen space – a coffee maker takes up quite a lot of work surface.

In terms of convenience coffee bags really deliver as they are as easy to use as tea bags with the delicious taste of fresh coffee. Simply add boiling water to your favourite coffee cup, add the coffee bag and wait a couple of minutes. Add sugar, milk or cream if you like and enjoy. Lola’s coffee bags are the perfect combination of coffee blends carefully combined to create a delicious cup of coffee. The rich dark blend in Lola’s coffee bags exhibit notes of smoke and black pepper and a high caffeine content to deliver that boost you need in the morning.Each coffee bag is individually wrapped to ensure freshness as well as convenience. Every single Lola’s coffee bag makes a great cup of coffee every time.

Lola’s coffee bags are made by The Specialty Coffee Company. Their coffee experts travel the world sourcing, tasting and grading to select only the finest speciality coffee directly from the grower. This way, they control all the variables every step of the way to make sure the coffee they deliver is perfect.

If you’d like to try some of this tasty coffee I have 5 packs with 10 coffee bags in each to give away to 5 lucky readers. Enter via the Gleam widget below.

Competition Terms and Conditions

1. No bulk, third-party or automated entries allowed.

2. Entrants must be aged 18 years or older and resident in the UK.

3. The winner or winners will be chosen by a random draw using the competition widget.

4. Promoter is responsible for fulfilling the prize and full contact details of the winner will be passed onto the promoter to enable prize fulfillment.

5. The winner’s name may be published on this site.

6. Competition closes at the end of Sunday 30th August 2020.

Lola’s Coffee Bags

Diary Diary and Cookbook Giveaway #Ad

July 28, 2020 by Erica Hughes 54 Comments

zest for life cookbook

I’ve certainly been cooking a lot more from scratch during lockdown. The extra time available to me has meant that I’ve had more time to experiment. I’ve tried some new things from existing recipe books and I’ve looked online for specific recipes, but I’m in need of some inspiration. A new cookbook is a great way to get that inspiration. I love reading cookbooks especially when they have lots of illustrations so I can more clearly imagine the dish and dream about what it will taste like.

A Zest For Life is the new cookbook from Dairy Diary. At a time when we are very conscious about our health, what we eat is very important. The fresh and tasty food in this brand-new cookbook will put a real spring in your step. It’s packed full of colourful, energising recipes, made with ingredients that taste great and also help you to feel great! More than just five-a-day; cooking from this book could give you at least seven of your daily veg and fruit, plus plenty of wholegrains and healthy protein. With superfoods galore and meals that keep you full for longer, this collection of delicious, nutritious recipes is one that you’ll turn to time and again.

zest for life page There is a plethora of useful tips, serving suggestions and nutritional information, as well as a glorious photograph for every recipe. There’s even space to add your own notes.
And this superb book is beautiful too, so it’ll take pride of place in your kitchen.

To add a little Zest to your life, get your copy of this fabulous cookbook at www.dairydiary.co.uk or, if you have a milkman, put a note out asking for it.

Many of you will be aware of the Dairy Diary. Culinary enthusiasts look forward to the new edition each year as it’s packed full of cooking ideas. You’ll love the recipes because they will be delicious, will always work (each one is triple-tested) and they use easily accessible ingredients, so there’s no need to visit countless shops for obscure foods. The 2021 edition is no exception, with the photography team raving about the recipes as ‘the best yet’!

Of course, Dairy Diary is not just a recipe book; it’s a super-practical diary that’s ideal for planning your busy life. It has a week-to-view layout, clever spiral binding so that it lies flat and has lots of useful features, such as a notes pocket, planners and memorable dates stickers. Diaries preserve special memories forever and, in our technology-dominated world, writing with a real pen on real paper is a pure pleasure.

Begin documenting your memories now with Dairy Diary. Buy online at www.dairydiary.co.uk or, if you have a milkman, put a note out asking for it.

I have a copy of each to give away to one lucky reader. Enter via the Gleam widget below.

Competition Terms and Conditions

1. No bulk, third-party or automated entries allowed.

2. Entrants must be aged 18 years or older and resident in the UK.

3. The winner or winners will be chosen by a random draw using the competition widget.

4. Promoter is responsible for fulfilling the prize and full contact details of the winner will be passed onto the promoter to enable prize fulfillment.

5. The winner’s name may be published on this site.

6. Competition closes at the end of Sunday 23rd August 2020.

Diary Diary and Cookbook

Charlie Bigham’s Meals Review #Ad

July 22, 2020 by Erica Hughes 6 Comments

fish pie Recently Charlie Bigham’s got in touch and asked if I’d like to try out some of their meals. I popped along to our local Waitrose where they have a good selection, but you can get them at a range of different supermarkets. You’ll find them in the chilled aisle and as soon as you see them on the shelf you realise they are a cut above the average ready meal. Another thing I liked about them is that you buy a meal for two rather than having to buy separate meals for each person (although they do also make meals for one).

Charlie Bigham’s meals are created for foodies by foodies and are made with the same level of attention to detail that you’d expect in a lovingly prepared home cooked meal created from scratch at home. The idea is that you can have the quality without all the work. The Fish Pie we tried was very similar to the ones I make myself with a fraction of the work for me: I just needed to prepare some vegetables to go with it. There’s a wide range of dishes available from some classic British favourites like Shepherd’s Pie, and a range of dishes from round the world. You can eat Italian with Lasagne; or Spanish with a Paella with Chicken, King Prawn and Chorizo; or Chinese with Sweet & Sour Chicken with Egg Fried Rice. You can even pick out a pudding from the range to finish your meal off in style. How about Chocolate Fondant, Cherry Bakewell or Sticky Toffee Pudding?

We tried out a couple of dishes: the Fish Pie I mentioned earlier and one of their new range of curries Thai Green Curry. The advantage of the curry one is that it came with rice, although it was less rice than I normally serve for two people (this is something I always find with ready meals including rice, so if you like less carbs, you’ll probably find it right for you). The fish pie obviously needs to be served with vegetables. There is a reasonable helping of mashed potato on top of the pie, but I did some extra potatoes too.

how it works charlie bigham

Inside the Thai Green Curry pack there are two wooden trays containing the food and you can cook the dishes in them. There was some foil provided to go over the rice to stop it drying out. You can’t microwave the food as some of the recipe is made with raw ingredients. The trays stand the cooking remarkably well. Although one did show some minor scorch marks after use. I’ve reused mine as containers for harvesting veg in the garden, but I think seed trays would work well too. Once they are past their useful life, you can pop them in the garden waste or on the compost heap.

thai green curry

The Thai Green Curry certainly had a bit of kick and was spicy, yet fragrant too. You could tell that it was made with good quality, fresh ingredients and it was of comparable quality to a good home cooked meal. Obviously the cooking time means that the food isn’t ready instantly, but the dishes taste significantly better than that sort of ready meal. It’s not so long to wait anyway, if you pop the oven on as you soon as you come in the door, it should be up to temperature within a few minutes. Pop your dinner in and sit back with a cuppa or a glass of wine.

I loved the Fish Pie. It was very moreish and I’d be very much tempted to buy one again rather than get all the ingredients separately and spend a long time in the kitchen. I suspect I’d save money as well as time. I liked that it had a mix of fish including haddock and salmon which are amongst my favourites.

Book Giveaway #Ad

July 15, 2020 by Erica Hughes 55 Comments

Reading has been a real lifeline for me during lockdown. I love it anyway, but it’s been the perfect entertainment, especially when the better weather has meant that sitting out in the garden is an option. New books arriving in the house have always been a source of excitement and never more so when we are going out and about into the world a bit less. For me books are a form of escapism, so I’m less likely to miss that foreign holiday when I have a fantasy world to escape into.

If you have been feeling the same about reading and books as I have, you’ll be pleased to hear that I have a bundle of books to give away to one lucky reader. Read the descriptions below to find out all about the books I have to give away and see if you’d like the chance to win them.
Call Me Joe

Call Me Joe

The environment, society and mankind itself are facing extreme challenges in a world that is both more connected, and yet more divided than ever before. Fear and confusion seep into all parts of everyday life… now, more than ever, the world needs one voice, one guide…One day the Earth is plunged into darkness and when light appears again so does a man –call him Joe –claiming to be the son of God. Can Joe bring the world’s most creative thinkers and leaders together to tackle the ills of mankind? Can he convince us all to follow him before it’s too late? In Call Me Joe, Martin van Es and Andrew Crofts highlight the key concerns of our time and imagine a future where we, at last, all work together to ensure the future of our world and all the life that calls it home.

Awakening of Spies

Awakening of Spies

Thomas Dylan is an unlikely spy. Rejected by MI6he joins the Ministry of Defence where his first mission is a total failure. Unexpectedly he is sent to Rio de Janeiro to recover a submarine interrogator stolen from the US Navy. In Brazil he discovers that those supposedly on his side, MI6 and the CIA, have their own priorities and that his life is definitely not one of them.A murderous game which began with the death of a British spy in Argentina is being played out in a city of sun, sea and secret police. When Dylan comes face-to-face with the brutal realities of Brazil’s military dictatorship he knows he has to trust somebody. But who? The only thing he knows for sure that the woman he wants to trust has been lying to him from the very beginning -should he take the risk? Awakening of Spies is a fast-paced thriller in the vein of John le Carré and Agatha Christe.

No Precedent

No Precedent

No Precedent is the “poignant, funny, thoughtful and raw” sequel to Where’s Sailor Jack?, due for release in July 2020 by novelist John Uttley. The northern grammar school pals Bob Swarbrick and Richard Shackleton are back, now facing the era of Brexit, Momentum and Donald Trump. For the first time in their lives, Bob and Richard struggle to see the meaning of it all. The trials and renewals of Where’s Sailor Jack? (John Uttley’s debut novel released in 2015) behind them, they find themselves in a world whose faith and politics have moved beyond their sphere of influence and feel increasingly cut off from their roots. Bob, now settled with Wendy, must reconcile old memories and new children while Richard must save his family from themselves. Along the way, they are adopted by the lascivious Lucy Fishwick and her predatory daughter Maddie, whose lives are as mad and chaotic as the radio play Lucy is trying to write and, indeed, the world itself. But despite the coming plague, it doesn’t look like Armageddon. There is to be an apocalypse, but one of personal dimensions. We don’t all go together when we go!

A Wash Of Black

A Wash of Black

IT’S NOT LIFE THAT IMITATES ART. IT’S DEATH.
Anna Symons. Famous. Talented. Dead. The body of a famous actress is found mutilated on an ice rink in Manchester, recreating a scene from a blockbuster film she starred in years ago. DI Erika Piper, having only recently returned to work after suffering a near-fatal attack herself, finds she must once again prove her worth as the hunt for the media-dubbed ‘Blood Ice Killer’ intensifies. But when another body is found and, this time, the killer issues a personal threat, Erika must put aside her demons to crack the case, or suffer the deadly consequences. A Wash of BlackA Wash of Black will keep you on the edge of your seat.

If you’d like to win this bundle of fab books, enter via the Gleam widget below.

Competition Terms and Conditions

1. No bulk, third-party or automated entries allowed.

2. Entrants must be aged 18 years or older and resident in the UK.

3. The winner or winners will be chosen by a random draw using the competition widget.

4. Promoter is responsible for fulfilling the prize and full contact details of the winner will be passed onto the promoter to enable prize fulfillment.

5. The winner’s name may be published on this site.

6. Competition closes at the end of Sunday 9th August 2020.

Win A Books Bundle

Rainbow Bracelet from Nothing New by Ruthie Ru Giveaway #Ad

July 7, 2020 by Erica Hughes 32 Comments

Rainbow bracelet

We all need a little colour in our lives and one of the things that has been livening up lockdown is all the rainbows displayed in local windows. Rainbows are one of those things that make everyone smile: I don’t know whether it’s the sun coming after rain or just the sheer joy of the colours. Some place a meaning of rainbows and use them to represent a cause, others just enjoy them. Whatever your thoughts on the matter, a bracelet like this one would lend a pop of colour to any outfit.

The eco-conscious jewellery and vinyl decor brand, Nothing New by Ruthie Ru, has just launched two new ranges perfect for those who are cause conscious or colour loving. Ruthie Ru is a relative newcomer to the UK jewellery and home decor scene, having originally trained and worked as a Stage Manager in London’s West End. Being well versed in creating and building everything from scenery to props for award winning shows, Ruthie’s hand turned naturally to making jewellery for friends and family before launching her own business three years ago.Ruthie says, “I’ve always had a passion for recycling and upcycling. Each year millions of tonnes of ‘fast fashion’ including items of jewellery, are sent to landfill as they’re broken, parts are lost or people’s tastes change. With the current trend for plastic and resin pieces we urge consumers to think twice about where they’re buying from and what processes have been employed to make that item. Instead, look for a small, artisan makers. Choose recycled or upcycled pieces and ask questions where possible.”

For further details on Nothing New by Ruthie Ru including her new collections visit https://www.nothingnewbyruthieru.co.uk/ or https://www.etsy.com/shop/NothingNewByRuthieRu

I’ve teamed up with Nothing New by Ruthie Ru to offer readers the chance to win one of these wonderfully colourful rainbow bracelets. Enter via the Gleam widget below.

Competition Terms and Conditions

1. No bulk, third-party or automated entries allowed.

2. Entrants must be aged 18 years or older and resident in the UK.

3. The winner or winners will be chosen by a random draw using the competition widget.

4. Promoter is responsible for fulfilling the prize and full contact details of the winner will be passed onto the promoter to enable prize fulfillment.

5. The winner’s name may be published on this site.

6. Competition closes at the end of Sunday 2nd August 2020.

Win A Rainbow Bracelet

CAFEPOD Giveaway #Ad

June 29, 2020 by Erica Hughes 57 Comments

cafepod

One of the hardest things about lockdown for many has been missing out on their regular cup of coffee. Most of the cafes and outlets that usually serve premium products have been closed. To get around this many of us have been turning to our home coffee machines to produce our daily treat and keep us going during this difficult time. By doing that you can still get your daily coffee and probably save quite a bit of money in the process. Plus, it gives you the chance to try something new as there are some exciting coffee producers out there.

It’s worth checking out CAFEPOD, as they craft strong and exciting coffee for adventurous coffee drinkers to enjoy at home. Their products are available in roast & ground, Nespresso compatible and whole bean at major supermarkets and cafepod.com

The CAFEPOD Nespresso® blends include Supercharger Espresso (Strength 12 Espresso), powered with a full roast and dense Robusta beans, Ristretto, which is refined and powerful, full of bold, Italian character (Strength 10 Ristretto), Intense Roast, a full and intense blend that is roasted a little longer for a deeper flavour (Strength 9 Lungo), Brunch, a smooth and balanced new blend created to perfectly match brunch style foods (Strength 9 Lungo) and Decaf Espresso, with a bold flavour, gently decaffeinated to create a smooth and guilt free blend (Strength 8 Espresso). All coffee is sourced from around the world and is UTZ Certified.

cafepod nespresso packs I have a variety pack of Nespresso compatible pods, roast and ground coffee or a variety pack of whole bean to give away to one lucky readers – make sure you let me know which one you. Enter via the Gleam widget below.

Competition Terms and Conditions

1. No bulk, third-party or automated entries allowed.

2. Entrants must be aged 18 years or older and resident in the UK.

3. The winner or winners will be chosen by a random draw using the competition widget.

4. Promoter is responsible for fulfilling the prize and full contact details of the winner will be passed onto the promoter to enable prize fulfillment.

5. The winner’s name may be published on this site.

6. Competition closes at the end of Sunday 19th July 2020.

CAFEPOD

Around Britain Cookbook Giveaway #Ad

June 19, 2020 by Erica Hughes 40 Comments

Around Britain Cookbook

I don’t know about you, but during lockdown I’ve been doing a lot more cooking (and a lot more reading). I’ve been trying out quite a few new recipes too while I’ve had the chance. It’s great to have a bit more time to do that and I’m hoping I’ll have some new favourites to add to my regular repertoire of meals. To find inspiration I’ve been looking through my cookbooks and I’ve been tempted by a few new cookbook titles to add to my fairly extensive culinary library. The Around Britain Dairy Cookbook caught my eye as a potential one to join my trusty cookbooks. I love the fact that it focuses on areas of Britain and their local dishes often using local ingredients.

From the orchards of the South East to the lochs of Scotland, each region harvests its own food and creates its own dishes. In the Around Britain Dairy Cookbook you’ll find:

130 mouth-watering recipes
Clear and easy to follow methods
Triple tested recipes for success
Eight regional guides
A colour image for each recipe
Cook’s information

around britain cookbook scotland It’s published by the Dairy Diary, the first edition of which was produced in 1982 and since then more than 30 million copies have been sold, making it Britain’s best-selling home diary.

I’ve a copy to give away to readers. Enter via the Gleam widget below.

Competition Terms and Conditions

1. No bulk, third-party or automated entries allowed.

2. Entrants must be aged 18 years or older and resident in the UK.

3. The winner or winners will be chosen by a random draw using the competition widget.

4. Promoter is responsible for fulfilling the prize and full contact details of the winner will be passed onto the promoter to enable prize fulfillment.

5. The winner’s name may be published on this site.

6. Competition closes at the end of Sunday 12th July 2020.

Win A Around Britain Cookbook

Win A Set Of Byre Body Washes #Ad

May 1, 2020 by Erica Hughes 68 Comments

Byre body washes and calf I’ve teamed up with Byre Bodycare who have introduced their new range of luxury body washes, containing 96% naturally derived ingredients including sweet whey powder, sourced from British
cows, a highly efficacious and nutritious ingredient. Enriched with aloe vera, sustainable poppy seed oil, vitamins and natural extracts, the creamy formulations cleanse the skin leaving it feeling soft and silky smooth. They are free from parabens, silicones, synthetic colours and mineral oils.

The dairy industry annually wastes 870,000 tonnes of whey, which is a by-product of both milk and cheese production. Byre Bodycare is delighted to make use of this unwanted whey as a key ingredient in their new range. As a community minded company, Byre Bodycare are pleased to commit a percentage of annual net sales to the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, www.rabi.org.uk, to help support farming people facing adversity.

They are available exclusively from Sainsbury’s and www.byre.co.uk.

Win A Set Of Byre Body Washes In a take on traditional milk varieties, Byre Bodycare Body Washes are available in three different options so catering for individual skin type and needs. As you’d expect full cream offers lots of softness and would be great for those with dry skin. Semi-skimmed has a fresh floral fragrance. Whilst Skimmed is light and airy with a green fragrance.

If you’d like to win a set of three body washes, enter via the Gleam widget below.

Competition Terms and Conditions

1. No bulk, third-party or automated entries allowed.

2. Entrants must be aged 18 years or older and resident in the UK.

3. The winner or winners will be chosen by a random draw using the competition widget.

4. Promoter is responsible for fulfilling the prize and full contact details of the winner will be passed onto the promoter to enable prize fulfillment.

5. The winner’s name may be published on this site.

6. Competition closes at the end of Sunday 24th May 2020.

Win A Set Of Byre Body Washes