A Little Luxury For Me

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Making Kombucha With Freshly Fermented #Ad

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kombucha kit

My first experience of kombucha was at a vegan restaurant event for food bloggers in Birmingham.  I quite liked the taste, although my plus one on that occasion was less keen on it. I’d taken the odd glass since then, but I’ve never drunk kombucha on a regular basis until very recently.

Freshly Fermented got in touch and asked me to try out making my own kombucha with one of their kits.  Whilst I was waiting for my own to brew, I could drink some of their ready made kombucha.  Freshly Fermented offer the largest selection of organic & vegan fermented food cultures in the UK.  I was sent one of their organic kombucha starter kits to try.

The kit

In the organic kombucha starter kits there is  everything you need to start fermenting.  To be honest you don’t need anything else at all really: the ingredients are all there, as are all the utensils.  There’s no danger of you not having the right tools for the job. The kit comes with a high quality Kilner jar for fermenting in, plus some glass bottles for your produce.  The remainder of the utensils are plastic (a stirrer, funnel, measuring jug and strainer), but of good quality and they were the right size for the job too.  As well as your ‘hardware’ you’ll get sugar, tea and the magic ingredient: your scoby with starter tea.  The instructions are on the website and you can either read them online or print them off (they print off nicely: no odd words on a separate sheet or any margin problems).

kilner jar

Making kombucha

Getting your kombucha started takes a couple of hours in total.  Just to be clear this isn’t because there’s a lot of work, but you do have to wait for the mixture to cool down and I found that was the most time consuming part of it.  The actual work is only a few minutes in total.  First you heat up your sugar and water mixture – this only took a few minutes on the hob in a saucepan.  I did use a meat thermometer to check the temperatures, but it’s not essential.   Next you add tea leaves and let your tea brew.  I did this for 15 minutes, but you can go for a stronger brew if you prefer.  It’s a good idea to set a reminder on your phone or use a kitchen timer, so as not to overdo it.

Then strain off the tea leaves and allow the mixture to cool to room temperature – this is where the waiting comes in, but obviously there’s no need to sit there watching it, you can just get on with whatever you want. I was surprised how long it took to get the temperature back down. Then you transfer your mixture to the kilner jar and add the scoby with starter tea.  You close the lid and leave for five days (or a bit longer if you prefer).

fermenting kombuchaObviously, I knew I would have to wait to try my kombucha, but you can buy kombucha drinks to tide you over till your brew is ready.  Alternatively, some will prefer just to buy the drink and not bother with making their own.  I was sent some bottles of the Organic Black Orange Kombucha to try out whilst I was waiting.  As it’s a real, unpasteurised kombucha, it continues to ferment when bottled meaning it has a short shelf life and murky appearance (the stuff you can buy in the supermarket really isn’t the same thing at all).  You’ll also need to take some care when opening the bottles as the kombucha is quite fizzy.  Kombucha may also contain low levels of alcohol (less than 1%).

Drinking kombucha

So whilst my kombucha was brewing, I started drinking the organic black orange kombucha every day.  I liked the taste: quite sweet and fruity.  I liked the fizz.  Drinking it became part of my daily ritual.  The first two days I tried it, my stomach made some very loud gurgling noises (apparently this is quite common) for half an hour to an hour.  I have never heard my stomach make so much noise for that length of time before.  So probably best to start drinking when you are at home for a couple of days or drink it after work, just in case it happens to you.

After two days my system seemed to get used to it and my stomach was silent from then on.  I did notice a difference though.  It felt like my whole digestive tract had eased and I felt lighter.  I wasn’t suffering from any particular problems before started drinking kombucha, but there was a definite feeling of ease.  Everything seemed to slip along much more smoothly.  I was surprised at the difference it made.  It made me want to continue drinking kombucha.

Organic Black Orange Kombucha

The results

How was my kombucha getting on? It sat there for 5 days without much obvious difference occurring.  Maybe the scoby had grown a little and the mixture was slightly murkier.  After five days I took out the scoby and the top 10% of the mixture to use for setting up my next batch.  The remainder I transferred into my glass bottles ( I filled about one and a half bottles).  The mixture is ready to drink. I liked my home brewed kombucha.  If anything it was a little sweeter than the organic black orange kombucha and it was less fizzy, probably because it hadn’t been bottled for as long.  I’ve already set up my next batch to ferment and I think kombucha will be a regular habit for me.  I like the idea of experimenting with different types of tea and a variety of flavourings too.

Katch Me

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katch me

At this time of year as it gets colder and especially now we are in part way through a lockdown, it’s all about warmth and comfort.  Feeling warm and comfortable is great, but I do like to be able to have all that with a bit of style too.  It might seem like having your cake and eating it, but I really think that’s it’s very possible to have good quality, warm, comfortable clothes that look great on too. Luckily Katch Me are here to provide just the sort of clothing that I’m looking for this year.

I’ve really been very impressed with Katch Me’s collection of coats and jackets.  I’ve picked out the most gorgeous black denim jacket with a glorious fake fur collar and cuffs.  Inside it’s fleecey lined, so this is just the thing to keep you warm when you are out and about.  For the ultimate cosy look team up with a big jumper, black denim jeans and black boots. Keep the warmth in with a zip fastening and because it’s oversized, you can fit in lots of layers or a jumper.  It’s got front pockets too to store your things or just shove your hands in to keep them out of the cold.

Loungewear has really become my thing this year and I’ve invested in a lot more pieces, so I can be comfortable when I’m working from home.  For me comfort has really become the driving force behind what I choose to wear at home.  Loungewear can mean a lot of different things to different people.  If you have the heating turned up high, or don’t feel the cold, you might prefer to hang out in shorts and little crop tops.  If you feel the cold though, you’re probably heading for thicker fabrics, covering up and soft, warm cuddly clothes.  Whatever you are after Katch Me have just the thing.

I choose some black joggers with white piping to wear this autumn. These black joggers have a classic straight leg with a comfortable drawstring waist.  Down the side of each leg there’s some white piping.  Team up with a tee and chunky trainers for a comfy and cute vibe. The great thing about black joggers is that they look just as good with a splash of colour or you can go for a more monochrome look if you prefer – either looks great.

Knitwear and cosy fleeces have been another type of clothing that I’ve invested in this season. I’ve picked out this white leopard print teddy hoodie with cuffed sleeves. This gorgeous white jumper comes in an all-over super soft teddy material. This oversized style helps to keep you looking cute but feeling super cosy. Rock this everyday by teaming it with your fave high waist jeans and knee length boots.  It’s so soft, fluffy and cosy, it will make you feel better on the coldest, greyest of days. I’m loving how if feels and looks, plus I’ve had quite a few compliments about it when I’ve been wearing it.

Allergies And How To Overcome Them #Ad

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Some allergies are simple and obvious to identify.  An immediate reaction after coming into contact with something say makes it all pretty clear.  Sometimes though it’s more subtle, not as immediate, but still painful, uncomfortable or worrying.  An allergy occurs when the immune system reacts to something in the environment that is usually harmless. In the case of food allergies, the immune system sees certain chemicals found in foods as ‘enemies’ and launches an immune response.  It’s that immune response that means we experience the symptoms usually associated with allergies, like sneezing, rashes, watering eyes, runny nose etc.

Allergies can have such a negative impact on your life.  If the allergy is severe or life threatening, it will overshadow a lot of everyday life.  If it’s milder it’s less frightening, but if can still have a major impact on your life and how you live it. Some allergens are easier to avoid than others e.g. I have a friend who is allergic to strawberries and she finds them fairly easy to avoid, as they are usually in sweets and desserts. If she does make a mistake it isn’t the end of the world, as it’s a fairly mild reaction in the grand scheme of things, but still uncomfortable enough to avoid if she can.

Before you can tackle the allergy and the symptoms it causes, you need to identify it.  There are two main ways to find out which foods are causing allergy symptoms: an elimination diet or allergy testing .  The elimination diet works by fasting, or consuming foods which have a low allergic rate such as rice, lamb, cabbage for 4-7 days until symptoms clear, then reintroducing foods one at a time may point to the culprit.  It obviously only works for food allergies and not other allergies.  It’s not a quick process either. Allergy testing can be a skin test, a patch test or a blood test.

An allergy blood test is one of the most comprehensive ways to test for a wide range of allergens.  The NHS offers a limited number of allergy tests as part of its service. So it’s no wonder that so many sufferers choose to try a private test.  Many really like the idea of being able to carry out a test in the comfort of their own home, so home allergy tests are very popular. Test kits usually contain everything you need to take a test and then the sample is sent away to a lab to be processed.

Once you have the results of your home allergy test, you can take the next step to overcome your allergies. The results of any allergy test need to be interpreted by a doctor alongside your symptoms and your medical history. Your doctor will be able to advise you on any necessary follow-up action to fully diagnose you and come up with a treatment plan. But, the knowledge that that home allergy test brings gives you the power to do something about your allergy and eliminate the symptoms that come with it from your life.

Dating For The Over Fifties

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I think when I was growing up, I thought that dating was something only teenagers and young adults did.  I never really thought about love and relationships later in life. Divorce was a rarity in my 1970’s childhood and I only had a few friends with separated parents as I grew older.  Now that I’ve made it to my fifties though, the world of love and relationships seems like a different place.  Many people need to start on a new relationship later in life and it’s so much more common to be looking around for a new companion later in life.  It’s never too late to find your soul mate.

Back in my teens and twenties, I found new boyfriends by meeting people in the pub or through friends.  It was usually much easier to tell if someone was already taken: there was usually someone around who knew.  Then as I got older the workplace was another potential source of relationships and again it was easy enough to know who was available.  It’s very difficult though now, I find.  If I meet someone through work, or at a pub, it’s difficult to know if they are married or not.  Not all married men wear a ring and those in long term, unmarried relationships won’t wear one anyway.  It’s tricky.  That’s where a good dating site comes into its own – be sure to pick out some good photos for your profile.

There is a need for a little wariness as there are people around who want to cheat on their other halves by using dating apps and pretending they are single.  There are others who won’t want a longer term relationship and will want to play the field.  It’s easier than ever to check up on someone online these days though. It’s amazing the information you can glean on social media.  If they aren’t into that, you can fall back on old fashioned techniques like seeing if they want to introduce you to friends or family or whether they are reluctant to do so.  Online dating doesn’t have to be difficult and it’s best to approach it with an open mind.

There’s much to celebrate too as there are plenty of things that are easier than dating when you are younger.  If you are dating later in life, having children is less likely to be an issue.  Most will have been there and done that, or will have decided or accepted that it’s not something that’s going to happen to them.  You both will very likely have some baggage, but anyone realistic will expect someone their age to have some baggage, so it’s unlikely to be a problem unless it’s something you haven’t come to terms with.

Hopefully everyone is past the game playing stage, if they ever did that.  If they aren’t, life has taught the rest of us to recognise that quickly and you can cut out some of that nonsense early on.  I find it easier to realise when someone is on the same wave length as me now I’m older.  I do find it easier to know if a relationship is going to develop at a much earlier stage.  I draw on my previous experience of relationships; my knowledge of people; and my self awareness.

Gin Tasting Kit From The Little Gin Company Giveaway #Ad

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home gin tasting kit
gin loving was launched at the start of 2015 by old school friends, Emma and Nicola…
They’re gin loving ladies who have spent many a time sampling the gin delights on offer in their local town of Stratford-upon-Avon. Now a little older (and wiser?), in 2015 they decided to turn their love of gin into an exciting business venture, to share the passion for gin with others through The Little Gin Company.

Building on our unique and creative style they lovingly converted a retro-style horse trailer into their mobile gin bar, to serve the gin-loving community with a selection of locally distilled and speciality gins. Launching their own range of gin in 2017 with the Trailer Made Gin Range now including a classic London Dry Gin, a fresh Elderflower Gin, a warming Old Tom Gin and a Rhubarb Gin with a Twist of Lime.
Their gin experience now extends beyond the horsebox bar as there’s also have a pop up gin bar and gin tasting experiences suitable for any occasion; be that a corporate function, hen do or just an excuse to get together and drink gin. Since March 2020 they have also been offering virtual gin tasting experiences, taking the popular face to face tasting experience and tailoring it to a virtual setting when it isn’t possible to get together in person.

The Trailer Made Gin Tasting Kit lets you host your own gin tasting experience from the comfort of your own home. Perfect to enjoy solo or with a partner of choice!

Your gin loving includes the following:

5cl bottle (double measure) of our London Dry Gin, Old Tom Gin, Elderflower Gin and Rhubarb with a Twist of Lime Gin.

A selection of complementary mixers to enjoy with the gins.

I’ve been enjoying gin at home during lockdown and more recent partial lockdowns.  I love the idea of gin tasting at home, so I’m pleased to team up with The Little Gin Company to offer one of their Trailer Made home tasting kit 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 15th November 2020.

Trailer Made Gin Tasting Kit

Ink & Drop £30 Voucher Giveaway #Ad

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ink & drop prints Prints make such a difference to a room, especially if you have opted for a plain wall covering like a one colour painted wall or simply have a large expanse that looks a bit bare without some visual interest. I love that prints are a way of reflecting your personality into a room, as the choice of images is very individual.  Not only that, they are a great way of bringing a new look to a room to suit the seasons, or simply ringing the changes a little when you get bored of an old look.  Styling your home with art prints allows you to express your creativity and create a beautiful and compelling narrative in your living space.

Ink & Drop is a small family business, born from a passion for all things interior, and in particular, unique cool art prints with a belief that every home should have great artwork, regardless of budget, style or theme. A collection of artwork unlike anything else on the internet, Ink & Drop prints can transform your room and freshen up your walls regardless of interior style and for a very small budget.

ink & drop printsSo whether your style is minimal Scandinavian or maximalist dark decor, Ink & Drop have artwork that is sure to draw attention in your home.

If you’d like to win a £30 voucher to spend at Ink & Drop, 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 8th November 2020.

Ink & Drop £30 Voucher

How to Plan a Luxury Staycation at Home

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Did you go on a vacation in 2020? You probably avoided travel due to COVID-19 like countless others. That’s only one reason as to why Americans don’t spend money on trips anymore. The average vacation costs up to $2,300 when you combine gas, food, hotels and more. For some, it’s better to stay at home and have a staycation.

Take a look at how to plan a memorable luxury staycation for you and your family.

1. Create an Adequate Budget

The term “luxury” has a different definition for everyone. For some, it’s Michelin star dinners and fancy spa treatments. But you prefer to light an expensive candle and take a bubble bath. In any case, you need to set aside money for your staycation. This experience won’t cost as much as last year’s trip to Disney World. That said, it’s supposed to be a vacation — and you should have a little cash on hand.

It’s a smart idea to determine your standard trip expenses. How much would you normally set aside for a trip to the beach? Then, you can decide what budget sounds suitable for your staycation.

2. Schedule a Few Experiences

A vacation usually includes various experiences. You might explore local shops, museums and other sights. Try to replicate that for your staycation. You can eat at a new restaurant that you haven’t had time to visit. A trip to a local boutique could be fun, too. Additionally, it’s possible to schedule activities to come to your house. An expert masseuse or top-rated chef would be worth your money.

You should think about different ways to spend your staycation. These unique ideas will make your time at home more like a vacation.

3. Decorate for a Resort-Like Atmosphere

Your house probably doesn’t feel like a hotel on a normal day. But you can make adjustments to your space to create a resort-like atmosphere. This way, you’ll be able to feel like you’re actually somewhere else. Here’s how to turn your home into a retreat:

  • Outfit your bed with silk sheets and pillowcases.
  • Buy a pair of expensive pajamas and slippers.
  • Place candles and flowers throughout your house.
  • Add luxury skin care and toiletry products to your bathroom.
  • Stock your fridge with yummy breakfast items.
  • Hire a housekeeper to clean your home.

These small additions make a difference, as you’ll wake up in a soothing, relaxing environment. As a result, you should feel rejuvenated when your staycation ends.

4. Try to Channel “Vacation Mode”

This tip means that you should forget your regular responsibilities. You don’t do housework when you’re on vacation, right? The same idea applies to work obligations and other tasks that take up your time. You’re on vacation to rest. Therefore, you should try to set those specific duties aside until you return to normal. You may even want to forgo social media so that you can be more present.

Use These Ideas to Plan a Relaxing Staycation

A luxury staycation may be exactly what you need. Luckily, they’re easy to plan with a few tricks. Use these suggestions to make your time at home fun and restful.

Buzzy Blends Giveaway #Ad

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honey buzzy blendsBuzzy Blends is an independent, family-owned business based here in the UK.  It was created to bring honey to the table with a tasty twist.  Buzzy Blends’ unique range of handmade honey is seriously big on flavour without compromising on quality. With their bees at the heart of everything they do, their honey is collected by ethical beekeepers who care for and protect the bees, and the blends are made with absolutely no additives or preservatives, just 100% natural ingredients that deliver all the nutritious goodness. There’s a great mix of flavours such as peppermint, chocolate, right through to lemon and ginger and cranberries. Buzzy Blends use nature’s best ingredients, such as berries, alongside their incredible, natural, raw, spring honey. They lyophilize (a freeze-drying process) their ingredients to keep as much of the goodness in, so that they boost the health benefits.

You can eat Buzzy Blends’ honey just by the spoonful, on toast, or to mix into hot water and create a warming drink, plus you can use it in a wide range of recipes. If you need some culinary inspiration, check out their blog.

I’ve pleased to say that I’ve teamed up with Buzzy Blends to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a fabulous Flavoured Raw Honey Gift Set worth £24.50. Enter via the Gleam widget below if you’d like to win.

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 25th October 2020.

Buzzy Blends

Katch Me

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Katch Me

After this year’s gorgeous spring and summer, moving into the autumn season has proved to be a bit of a shock to the system for all of us I think.  Now that the initial shock of the colder temperatures is out of the way, I’ve been looking closely at my wardrobe to see what’s needed.  I’ve been enjoying picking out some transition pieces to take me into autumn and the winter beyond.

A shopping haul is just the way to treat myself and take away all that end of summer gloom: retail therapy wins for me every time. Today my haul is from Katch Me. This is my first time browsing and shopping with Katch me. I’m really impressed that they stock so many amazing items and styles. They really are a head of the curve fashion wise.

Keeping warm at this time of year is key for me and I loved the selection of coats and jackets at Katch Me.  I picked out a supersoft, super warm, teddy bear jacket in a very festive looking dark red. This teddy style jacket is casual and comfortable to wear. I love the easy zip front and generous front pockets which are perfect for keeping hands warm. The oversized fit of this jacket helps to keep you cosy. I think I’ll be teaming this up with either a pair of jeans or maybe a pair of leggings and some boots.

I’m really loving the oversized look this year, so I was after some lounge wear to fit the bill and match this look.  I picked out this fab white oversized ‘Fear’ print hoodie as one of my favourites.  This dazzlingly white hoodie comes in an oversized fit and features a black printed ‘fear’ slogan on the front.  I especially love the idea of teaming the hoodie up with some black vinyl patent leggings and some killer heels.

Next up I picked out a comfy lounge wear set to manage the transition of the seasons to autumn.  It really is a must have for your wardrobe. Super comfy to wear and really versatile I’m loving this super cute grey boxy T-Shirt and joggers lounge set. This grey co-ord features a boxy fit t-shirt and super soft, elasticated joggers. It’s perfect for chilling out at home or out and about, or popping to the shops. The light grey goes with almost any thing, but would look great teamed with black and white accessories.  You can either pick out some white or black trainers for a sporty look or maybe opt for black heels to dress it up a bit.  They are nicely cut and very flattering to wear.

I found all the items were true to size and was very happy with the fit. You really can’t lose with Katch Me prices and quality so why not check them out and let me know what you order.

I hope you have enjoyed this little haul. Check back in soon for more great fashion hauls.

Best Photos For Your Online Dating Profile

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dating couple

Photo by lucas Favre on Unsplash

When you are climbing back onto the dating ladder after a relationship breakdown, these days you are probably considering online dating.  Of course, it’s still possible to meet someone through friends, or a hobby, etc., but it’s often tricky to know who is single or open to the idea of a new romantic relationship.  Online dating means that at least the other people are interested in meeting someone new, although there are a number of other hurdles to navigate your way around.

There are plenty of free dating sites uk out there, but they will all want you to provide a picture as part of your online dating profile.   So what are the most important things to do when picking out a suitable photo to use? You don’t just want a picture that makes you look like a model, it’s more important to have one that gets across your personality and your true self.

Make sure your picture looks like you

You don’t want to start a date badly by having a picture that doesn’t look like you.  It’s best to avoid older photos, maybe make five years old your cut off point, or if you have dramatically changed your look more recently than that, exclude photos of the old you (unless you are the kind of person who changes their look very regularly). An image that reflects how you really look and captures something of your personality is more likely to result in you achieving your Match Me Happy goals. Maybe pick one of you wearing a favourite dress.

Make sure your picture is a good quality one

Don’t put up a picture that is blurry or badly cropped.  If you can’t get the photo to look how you want by careful, tasteful cropping, it’s probably not the one for you.  Photos where you are too far away aren’t good.  It’s not a good idea to go photoshop crazy as that will just look false and if you do use a professional photographer, be sure to look at examples of previous work so you can get a feel for how their portrait shots tend to look.

Use more than one picture

It is a good idea to have a few pictures in your profile.  By including more images, it will be easier to get across your personality and your interests. More than one picture shows you have put some effort into your online dating profile and that you are serious about finding a new relationship.  Make sure as a minimum that you include one headshot looking at the camera and one full body picture.  Once you have these in your porfolio, you can branch out a little.  Maybe consider having a combination of face, full-body, action, dressed up, dressed down, serious, and fun shots. The point is to give potential matches a peek into your personality, background, and interests.  Generally it’s better to avoid a group shot: you don’t want a potential date to be keen on you because they want to meet one of your friends.  Also, it can be difficult to pick out a person in a group shot and it could cause confusion.

It’s worth investing a little time and thought in the selection of your profile pictures, to help you find a good match for you.  Good luck with your dating.