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BMW i Electric Cars For Today

December 16, 2014 by Erica Hughes 1 Comment

Up until now I’ve always seen electric vehicles as worthy work horses, but not necessarily very practical and not very aspirational. I love the idea of electric vehicles, but I’ve not been convinced that an electric car would work for us on a practical, day to day level. Technology has been moving on apace though and the infrastructure to provide you with top ups on the move is really developing fast now.

Being a city dweller, my idea of a car is one that looks good, that’s responsive, easy to park, easy to drive and one that is comfortable even if I get stuck in heavy rush hour traffic. BMW have an enviable reputation and they can build a car that delivers that sort of performance and comfort, so the idea that there is now a BMW electric car is very appealing to me.

BMW i is BMW’s new concept focused on delivering sustainable mobility. Think of electric vehicles with inspirational design and vehicles that deliver premium comfort and performance with strong sustainability credentials. And it’s exciting too with innovative cars like the fully electric BMW i3, designed with urban motoring in mind, and the BMW i8 Concept, which represents the future of the sports car in a sustainable world.

As you’d expect from BMW they haven’t just considered how the car actually moves and is powered, but they have looked at the whole design to create cars that embrace premium sustainability. The passenger cell is made from carbon fibre, which is 50% lighter than steel and 30% lighter than aluminium, compensating for the extra weight of the battery in an electrically powered car. It’s good to know though that this change doesn’t impact on passenger safety, in fact it provides a higher standard of protection because of its resilience. In fact, the cars are made from two modules: the life module and the drive module. Keeping the two parts separate means more room for passengers because the transmission tunnel doesn’t run through the cabin space, plus it lowers the centre of gravity giving you the sort of driver experience that you expect from cars in this class.

That’s not the only design feature that is aimed at providing a great, sustainable driving experience. With electric motors you have all the torque available almost instantly from a standing start, then that uninterrupted acceleration is maintained right up to the maximum speed.

A lot of attention to detail has gone into developing an ultra-powerful high-voltage battery, alongside a cooling system that maintains the ideal operating temperature, so boosting battery life and performance so you get more miles every time you recharge. Recharging at home is really easy and I love the idea of not needing to go to the petrol station again. You can recharge at home whenever it suits you. Public recharging is on the up too and through the ChargeNow service you can get access to a pretty comprehensive network of recharging points. I did a quick check on my postcode and found 3 points with a 5-10 minute drive. It’s easy to know how much charge you have, you can even have an app on your phone which will tell you how far you can drive before next recharging.

I don’t go on many journeys that wouldn’t be easily covered by a BMW i car, but I love the fact that BMW Access can offer tailored solutions for extended journeys. BMW Access lets you choose from a selection of BMW Group vehicles if you need to make a journey beyond the range of your BMW i3, for example for special occasions or when you simply would like to drive another vehicle within the range. In fact, BMW I seem to have thought of just about everything.

Our Next Home Improvement Project

December 12, 2014 by Erica Hughes 3 Comments

Over the last few months you have shared the ups and downs of our last home improvement project: the kitchen. We knew we would need to do that one fairly soon from the day we first viewed the house: it wasn’t just that it wasn’t to our taste, but it also was starting to fall to pieces. So after three years of saving and planning, we finally did it and now that the dust is starting to settle, thoughts are turning to the next project to tackle.

We could make an argument for doing pretty much any room in the house next (excluding the ones we have already refurbed). One room that we have had to tinker with a few times already though is our bathroom. Frankly it’s seen better days: we have a bit of a problem with mould that we are fighting a constant battle with. It’s made worse by the fact that someone has previously lowered the height of the ceiling for some unknown reason. Trying to get rid of the mould when you have limited space is a nightmare, and to be honest we would probably benefit from using something like an oscillating tool, as we’d be able to get into the hard to reach places and sand it! We also had a problem with the toilet when we moved in and the plumber had to damage the tiling to get the problem fixed. Add to that the fact that we don’t really like the choice of fittings or the tiles or just about anything else about it and you’ll see why it’s high on our list of potential home improvement projects.

The trouble is that bathrooms can be expensive to fit and it’s often one of the most costly rooms to renovate. If you need a bit of financial help to raise your home improvement budget, click over here. There are also many websites that offer coupons or discount codes for home improvement stores, where you can buy your products from. One way of making the most of your cash is to sell or buy gift cards on https://www.raise.com/coupons/lowes. It’s a great way of making your budget stretch a little further.

One thing that is on my husband’s bathroom wish list is having a separate shower enclosure in the bathroom. He spends a lot of time in the shower. Having a shower helps wake him up and get him going in the morning (he’s no early bird). The joy of having a separate shower is that you can just walk in (no hauling yourself over the side of the bath). It doesn’t just have to be a practical way of keep the water out of the rest of the bathroom though, they can be a stunning design feature in their own right. They come in so many different styles that we should easily be able to find something that would suit our room. I think we might need to site our shower enclosure in a corner to make the best use of the space available, so maybe a quadrant enclosure or a shower cubicle would be best.

I’m thinking that we will go for some classic white lines and a fairly masculine look. We can make this seem less harsh by using warmer colours for tiles, flooring and wall colour. Some well-chosen accessories and a picture or two will soften things a little further. I’m liking the idea of a vertical radiator or heated towel rail to add some extra design interest and make the most of our high ceilings (we are planning to remove the false ceiling). For me a bathroom is a place where I like to relax so it’s important to me that it’s a pleasant place to spend time.

Smiggle Giveaway

December 10, 2014 by Erica Hughes 35 Comments

Smiggle is a wonderful place for stationery addicts to hang out. It’s full of bright colours, fun things and the stock changes regularly so there is always something new to ooh and aah over.

Recently, I went to the opening of the new Smiggle store in the Bullring, Birmingham. It was a wonderful place to browse and I ended up buying lots of lovely things. The good news is that readers of A Little Luxury For Me have the chance to try out a little Smiggle magic. I have 4 of these optical lights up for grabs (in blue or pink). Enter via the Gleam widget below.

Competition Terms and Conditions
1. No bulk, third party or automated entries.

2. Entrants must be UK residents aged 18 years or older.

3. The winners will be chosen by a random draw.

4. The winner will be notified by email and will have a week to claim their prize. Should they fail to respond within this time, an alternative winner will be selected.

5. Promoter is responsible for fulfilling the prize and full contact details of the winner will be passed onto the promoter.

6. Competition closes on 14 December 2014.
Smiggle Light Giveaway

Can living by the sea be good for your health?

November 20, 2014 by Erica Hughes 3 Comments

For the Georgians and Victorians there was nothing better for physical, here mental and even moral well-being than a dose of bracing sea air and salt water bathing.

Jane Austen wrote: “The sea air and sea bathing together were nearly infallible, one or the other of them being a match for every disorder of the stomach, the lungs or the blood. They were anti-spasmodic, anti-pulmonary, anti-septic, anti-bilious and anti-rheumatic.”

In modern times we might not see the sea as quite such a perfect cure-all but various studies have confirmed that living in a seaside location can bring overall health benefits. If you want to take advantage, take a look at the new homes in Cornwall for an idea of the sort of properties that might be available today.

Using data from Natural England with an anonymous self-reported health information by postcode – a team from the European Centre for Environment and Human Health (ECEHH) found that living by the coast really could have a positive bearing on your health.

They commented on the report, saying: “Self-reported health correlates very well with real health. For the first time, we have had this information according to postcode, and we found that the closer you live to the English coast the healthier you are. There was some evidence that other aquatic environments helped too.”

Another study looked at stress levels when test subjects were presented with a number of different landscapes. It found that stress tended to decrease the more water was present in the scenery.

The very sound of the sea can be relaxing as it can change wave patterns in the brain, allowing and encouraging a more relaxed state.

Bracing British sea air is also thought to help us achieve a good night’s sleep. There is also the fact that by simply living by the sea could promote a more active lifestyle – a walk along the beach is usually more pleasant than a stroll through an urban environment. Scientists are still puzzling over exactly why the seaside is good for us but there’s plenty of evidence to suggest it is.

Flowers in food: The latest fashion craze?

November 19, 2014 by Erica Hughes 2 Comments

Flowers are all around us, about it and not just in our gardens! They play a part in our day-to-day lives and wellbeing and are at the heart of many long-standing traditions; from the vase on our dining room table and the bouquet we send our loved one on Valentine’s Day to the herbal tea we drink before bed.
A bunch of flowers has the power to make someone’s day, to send a message we can’t put into words, remedy or simply make us feel happy. But it doesn’t stop there…

Edible flowers

We’ve all seen it on TV – a sprinkling of violas atop an elegant desert, the once-discarded courgette flower now stuffed and the centre piece of a summer salad. It’s safe to say flowers in food have become something of a craze.

Exploring the use of edible flowers can open up a whole new world of flavours, textures and aromas, and offer an exotic alternative to the classic garnish of fresh herbs.
Although a seemingly recent or perhaps rather extravagant trend limited to the experts, blooms in food is not a radical idea. It dates as far back as the Romans and has long been found in the traditional cuisines of India, China and the Middle East!

Why cook with flowers?

It’s a great way to expand your culinary horizons and, with a little research on the do’s and don’ts, you could be well on your way to impressing your guests at your next dinner party. When it comes to using flowers within a dish, it’s best to keep it simple and avoid overpowering your star ingredient.
You can even use flowers as a garnish and get creative. A few suggestions to get you inspired include:
• For an easy yet sophisticated finish, try decorating a cake with delicate crystallised rose petals

• Bring a plain potato salad bang up-to-date with the addition of spicy-sweet nasturtiums or use this versatile flower to scatter some pockets of colour into a sweet green salad

• Feeling particularly adventurous? Fresh homemade sushi can be made even more striking with some bright yellow chrysanthemums – a delicacy in Japan

We’re yet to see where this latest foodie fad may go, but one thing’s for sure: flowers will always be a popular inclusion in many areas of our life.

Kitchen In Progress

November 11, 2014 by Erica Hughes 4 Comments

At the end of September we embarked on the building work needed to knock our old kitchen and utility room into one room. In between the two was a large chimney breast which was a unit’s width in depth and took up quite a lot of space. Having work done on this sort of scale and to such an important room is never going to be stress free, but I felt that I coped quite well with the building work. The lowest point for me came the day that the building work was finished and the kitchen units had been delivered. Our kitchen floor had to be resurfaced so nothing could go into the kitchen while that was done. Our conservatory was piled high with units and work tops, but that was ok as we didn’t need to use that room. The problem came when there wasn’t enough room for all the units and some needed to go into another room. It had to be either our dining room or our living room. Our dining room was set up as a temporary kitchen, but that’s where the units ended up. It was hard trying to cook around all these units, but by the next evening they had gone.

After that it all got easier. Units started to go in; the kitchen took shape; we had a kitchen sink again. Just need to think about whether to purchase a splashback now. It was still disruptive, but we could see progress: the end was in sight. Now our kitchen is fully fitted and we have the floor tiles down too. Most of the cupboards have been filled with our things and there are just a few things left to finish off. Decorating is going on this week, so hopefully I’ll have some finished kitchen pictures to share with you soon.

The Saucy Fish Co.

November 4, 2014 by Erica Hughes 4 Comments

This year The Saucy Fish Co. has officially been named a CoolBrand again for the second year running. The CoolBrands list, now in its thirteenth year, follows a vote by a combination of 2000 consumers and a panel of 37 designers, style experts, media personalities and prominent figures from the worlds of TV, fashion and music. Last year The Saucy Fish Co. became the first ever fish brand to make it on to the prestigious CoolBrands list. This year it remains the only fish brand in a list dominated by premium fashion and technology brands which really is quite something. It’s no surprise to me though as it’s thoroughly deserved.

The Saucy Fish Co. sent us some of their products to try out and we have been having a wonderful time trying out the recipes. Their salmon with chilli, lime & ginger dressing was a bit hit and we served it up with stir fry vegetables and noodles. Yum!

Dinner tonight was courtesy of the @SaucyFishCo : salmon with chilli, lime & ginger dressing. Yum!

A photo posted by Erica Price (@ericaprice6) on Oct 10, 2014 at 9:53am PDT

The next evening we treated ourselves to some of their moreish salmon fishcakes served up with a fresh, colourful salad and herby new potatoes. It was a great flavour combination.

Another lovely dinner tonight courtesy of @SaucyFishCo #salmonfishcakes #saucyfishco

A photo posted by Erica Price (@ericaprice6) on Oct 10, 2014 at 11:46am PDT

You can find The Saucy Fish Co. in a supermarket chiller near you but to browse the complete range or for more recipe ideas, do pop along to The Saucy Fish Co.

George at Asda Super Boost Foundation and Concealer

October 17, 2014 by Erica Hughes 5 Comments

Over the last few weeks I’ve been using George at Asda Super Boost Foundation and Concealer as part of my makeup regime. Enriched with skin conditioning properties, antioxidants and vitamin E, these products are formulated to be radiance boosting and to leave your skin glowing.

The George at Asda Super Boost Foundation is a hydrating, mineral enriched super fruit gel foundation which helps to wake your skin up in the morning. I did feel that my skin was more luminous when I used it and I was very pleased with the results. The radiant effect is achieved using extracts of apple, pomegranate and papaya. Meanwhile the George at Asda Super Boost Concealer contains extracts of apple and papaya to keep your skin looking healthy and banish imperfections. I found it provided good coverage and blended very well, so I felt happy using it for delicate areas like under the eyes.

Both products have a light, fluid texture, which I like as it makes them easy to blend and you don’t tend to find you have marks or lines where the product ends. The only downside with that fluidity is that you have to be careful when using the foundation that it doesn’t squirt out where you don’t want it to.

After Dinner Mint Creams and Crisps Review and Giveaway

October 9, 2014 by Erica Hughes Leave a Comment

This month Beech’s Fine Chocolates send me their After Dinner mint range to try out. We tried the mint creams and the mint crisps this month and put them to the test after dinner on Sunday evening when we all eat together as a family.

The mint creams give you a very generous amount of mint cream, inside a quality dark chocolate shell. For my taste, I prefer a higher chocolate to cream ratio, so I preferred the mint crisps. These have a strong minty taste (just what you need after a big meal). Again there’s the high quality dark chocolate and a definite crispy crunch.

Readers of A Little Luxury For Me can get ahead with some pre-Christmas ordering whether it’s for presents or simply to serve after Christmas lunch. We have a special Beech’s Fine Chocolates discount code of BFC04061410 which will give you a valuable 10% off online purchases.

You can also win 1 of 2 sets with a pack of mint creams and one of mint crisps for both the lucky winners. Entry is via the rafflecopter below and entrants must sign up to Beech’s Fine Chocolates newsletter.

Competition Terms and Conditions
1. No bulk, third party or automated entries.

2. Entrants must be UK residents aged 18 years or older.

3. The winners will be chosen by a random draw.

4. The winner will be notified by email and will have a week to claim their prize. Should they fail to respond within this time, an alternative winner will be selected.

5. Promoter is responsible for fulfilling the prize and full contact details of the winner will be passed onto the promoter.

6. Competition closes on 23rd October 2014.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hotter Shoes Autumn Collection

October 8, 2014 by Erica Hughes 5 Comments

Hotter Shoes recently invited me to a blogger event at their Solihull store. I was interested to learn more about Hotter as they are a British success story, which is always nice to hear about. Hotter are based in Lancashire, who have been making footwear for over half a century. Hotter started off making slippers, but before too long they had moved onto shoes designed to feel as comfortable as slippers. Doesn’t that sound amazing? To do this they use something known as the Comfort Concept. The comfort concept is hidden away within the shoe itself and includes features like wiggle room, soft cushioning and flexible soles. This means that your shoe or boot can look fashionable and stylish, but it doesn’t need to take that out on your feet.

Alex Longmore, who works with celebrities such as Jerry Hall and Jodie Kidd, has been taking a look at the Hotter range and she thinks that they have really hit the nail on the head with their combination of style and comfort. The new autumn collection from Hotter features fashion trends like the 1960s, it takes its inspiration from the catwalk. I’m loving some of the fur designs with their folky twist to bring them right up to date. Wedges are back and they are so much more comfortable than normal heels. I’m loving some of the colours too with purples, teals and burgundys all competing for my attention.

Wandering around the shop I felt really spoilt for choice. There were some gorgeous designs and I really liked the colours. I decided that I should go for something that wasn’t too safe. As a busy mum, I often go for classic choices when it comes to shoes or boots. Black or brown shoes or boots go with pretty much everything and are real wardrobe staples for me. That said I do tend to find that a bit dull and I like to add a bit of colour to my life. So I started looking at shades of leather or suede that I haven’t worn for a while.

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Shall I go for these? #shoesietuesday #comfortconcept #shoesie @hottershoes

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I initially picked these lovely knee-length boots out. They are the Hampshire style and these are the taupe ones. I thought they looked amazing and I could imagine getting some envious looks in the school playground when I wore them on the school run. However, having discussed various styles with the knowledgable and helpful Hotter staff, I settled on these gorgeous teal Seville boots. I’ve been wearing them on the school run for the last couple of weeks and have had some nice comments made about them. The key thing for me though is that they look great and they feel great too as you walk along.