tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54854918628140989742024-03-18T02:51:42.420-07:00UK Lifestyle and Beauty BlogI post product reviews, beauty, lifestyle, food and anything that inspires me to write unique content posted 1-2 times per week. Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673393085096110871noreply@blogger.comBlogger441125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485491862814098974.post-21542344729683592552022-08-25T23:49:00.000-07:002022-08-25T23:49:43.567-07:00Freestate Instant Energy Gummies - Review*<div style="text-align: center;">I recently received some Instant Energy Gummies from the brand <a href="https://freestategummies.com/" target="_blank">Freestate</a> and thought I would try them out. I have previously used dissolvable tablets when working out but didn't like the taste and the fact you have to drink quite a volume of fluid so these sounded like the ideal alternative.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I received the classic box which contained 20 <a href="https://freestategummies.com/products/freestate-jars" target="_blank">energy gummies.</a> This retails on their website at £15 plus P&P (which is free with £20 of orders in the UK). Put it this way, that's cheaper than a coffee! Each little packet contains 2 gummies. Each gummy contains a unique formulation of caffeine, vitamins, sugars and flavourings to create an easy, pleasant stimulant for brain and body.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUqaLI0lc_V6E8viMFT_pouU-TfS4jCmse8z63NtzrHiAEsiuQQeuFuOJk2VKVor1gR6CdMpvan_sdKSA1WnARgkLSnk_8ka7iV4oxkdAeNIQLQC6l2Gamiy_aVaJ3hYyMdbbbHI09t7eoS8dlmrZi8G-3rYHni8fsC3b4CZVoU8U3NvoMc36zl1Mkw/s2048/fs1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUqaLI0lc_V6E8viMFT_pouU-TfS4jCmse8z63NtzrHiAEsiuQQeuFuOJk2VKVor1gR6CdMpvan_sdKSA1WnARgkLSnk_8ka7iV4oxkdAeNIQLQC6l2Gamiy_aVaJ3hYyMdbbbHI09t7eoS8dlmrZi8G-3rYHni8fsC3b4CZVoU8U3NvoMc36zl1Mkw/s16000/fs1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Freestate is energy enhancing experience; providing an instant dose of caffeine (30mg per gummy) and a range of Vitamin Bs. I have seen people use these for cycling and the like. My choice of exercise is running so I decided to take one before and one during a run. The taste can be likened to blue raspberry and was much easier on the palette than a dissolvable tablet. Freestate contains a range of Vitamin Bs: Vitamins B3, B5, B6 and B12. These are all intended to support the energy functions of the brain and body.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_cnMcdgBpysIfNBGovp8jURSsJwzasDIxSeN9rSoouj8nkV0DOKAPe-yTvfVMb8nhcXGBKML_hGPhVbwxR0ZVhhpRPNcfjLlFfqylqgT7oMyd9ULu35_Y23hYm7Jbv9dTmBYqZyozbhutL6EV4UYcLbMGWuXSVNArG9DW3hU7BY-UHA5Aba8F32CApg/s2048/fs3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_cnMcdgBpysIfNBGovp8jURSsJwzasDIxSeN9rSoouj8nkV0DOKAPe-yTvfVMb8nhcXGBKML_hGPhVbwxR0ZVhhpRPNcfjLlFfqylqgT7oMyd9ULu35_Y23hYm7Jbv9dTmBYqZyozbhutL6EV4UYcLbMGWuXSVNArG9DW3hU7BY-UHA5Aba8F32CApg/s16000/fs3.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">They are really convenient if you want an energy boost and another benefit is that they are easy to carry. I simply popped the sachet in my waste belt when I was running. They really did give me a kick of energy. I've used energy gels during races in the past that have left me with an upset stomach and these didn't give me any adverse side effects. I think they are also a great, healthier alternative to energy drinks.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmWX5xjZQ9iaxRZ57HxuUquDR7J6U9lpxMmDkQki24HUaD-VUUpF89Sf5Bm70lzwU-zU9odGuBZPC8OuvdmkgspARRkmQ4yaczQVCFEbw2dK9bU2fqpxe1xgE13Prrih3knNvypDusLm06IaAivXqZIfT-nq7CL1YqgYLhw4qEV83BnEEAfeKImfcsg/s2048/fs2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmWX5xjZQ9iaxRZ57HxuUquDR7J6U9lpxMmDkQki24HUaD-VUUpF89Sf5Bm70lzwU-zU9odGuBZPC8OuvdmkgspARRkmQ4yaczQVCFEbw2dK9bU2fqpxe1xgE13Prrih3knNvypDusLm06IaAivXqZIfT-nq7CL1YqgYLhw4qEV83BnEEAfeKImfcsg/s16000/fs2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you'd like to try these for yourself, head over to the <a href="https://freestategummies.com/products/freestate-jars">Freestate Gummies </a>website and see what they have to offer. It isn't just exercise, you could use them at work, travel and everything in-between.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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*I received this item free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way. Please see my disclaimer for more details.</div>
Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673393085096110871noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485491862814098974.post-59020731834608117632022-07-11T11:01:00.000-07:002022-07-11T11:01:14.574-07:00Chummys Bakery Brownies Review*<div style="text-align: center;">
<div>Anyone that knows me will know that I have a huge sweet tooth so when I was contacted by <a href="https://chummysbakery.co.uk">Chummys Bakery</a> to review some of their brownies, I absolutely jumped at the chance. Chummys are one of the UK market leaders in baked gifts, sending delicious treats throughout the UK. Their range includes cupcakes, cookies, brownies and more.</div><div> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPjYj25w_NDlzKxZ11DU4Y1E9mEpmSCd22ZM1YykZs5SsWiK4JNN1mb8mgI-ikAPvLZbpHfB4TxwX-jE-C4QVCCI_o78eGULX1w6frFlP_vB92XCroTtyQ4fucy8z_f0i5-7YOaDAp98Okv3jOq_wWDpf9stEWacwmhW5ovLTCNCwR-pq8E2kNc6GFg/s2048/IMG_5697.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPjYj25w_NDlzKxZ11DU4Y1E9mEpmSCd22ZM1YykZs5SsWiK4JNN1mb8mgI-ikAPvLZbpHfB4TxwX-jE-C4QVCCI_o78eGULX1w6frFlP_vB92XCroTtyQ4fucy8z_f0i5-7YOaDAp98Okv3jOq_wWDpf9stEWacwmhW5ovLTCNCwR-pq8E2kNc6GFg/s16000/IMG_5697.JPEG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>My <a href="https://chummysbakery.co.uk/pages/brownie-delivery">brownie delivery</a> arrived beautifully packaged in an eco-friendly box wrapped in greaseproof paper and tied up with string. I could smell that amazing baked goods scent as I opened the box. I received a box of six different brownies to try. I always think it's a bonus when you can order from the comfort of your own home and receive the delivery through the door. It's a great gift idea for a loved one or family member too.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgNoNKTzW4k93G_KG0rvFfZ03yJPDl4InWuhF1ejJO_V_VVp6iipje5s3Stlasz45TSpE-QaGztX-U1O6mXBe6Ii2DOPoqW6lgB_QyPeKFgqLFg6hHHLbRexM8XaD-WTsWmOuVGGaivTgjgpXmhe3a3VjwkWo6geM27xSifjOBiExnd4w6mWGRlZICw/s3061/brownies.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="3061" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgNoNKTzW4k93G_KG0rvFfZ03yJPDl4InWuhF1ejJO_V_VVp6iipje5s3Stlasz45TSpE-QaGztX-U1O6mXBe6Ii2DOPoqW6lgB_QyPeKFgqLFg6hHHLbRexM8XaD-WTsWmOuVGGaivTgjgpXmhe3a3VjwkWo6geM27xSifjOBiExnd4w6mWGRlZICw/s16000/brownies.png" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I received a box of six <a href="https://chummysbakery.co.uk/pages/brownie-delivery">brownies</a> including Salted Caramel, Lotus Biscuit, Ferrero Rocher, Triple Chocolate, Nutella and Kinder Bueno. The box came with instructions on how to best store the brownies including information on freezing them if you can't eat them all at once (not a problem in my household!) Chummys also recommend warming the brownies up for 10-20 seconds and I can confirm this is the BEST way to eat them. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5v_CLZuelNyDxs8k9RZdmewPBg470cL9Q85fRPjNOnbm8jSzFhYYhST93YTRUeN9iEZwZFbpnn9qxI3LGYpz0BY9TpzvjNoiLGZRdUyBDMbNJqrD0fhJl1veryI_PoWwnycIf9IRHcbxcLwfy80tiwONX9Z8wWfkzNXxyU12FMtr2s6vJSIdJnnMwtQ/s2048/IMG_5728.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5v_CLZuelNyDxs8k9RZdmewPBg470cL9Q85fRPjNOnbm8jSzFhYYhST93YTRUeN9iEZwZFbpnn9qxI3LGYpz0BY9TpzvjNoiLGZRdUyBDMbNJqrD0fhJl1veryI_PoWwnycIf9IRHcbxcLwfy80tiwONX9Z8wWfkzNXxyU12FMtr2s6vJSIdJnnMwtQ/s16000/IMG_5728.JPEG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I would go as far as saying these are some of the best brownies I have ever eaten. The perfect consistency with a slight crunch to the outside but warm gooey middle is the absolute dream pairing. The flavours were incredible and I am intrigued to try out some of their other flavours and their cookie selection too. A box of 6 retails at around £15.50 but you can save money by subscribing.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDVeSsvfZjx-WNg3-PwI3Kb5YsMjRGgHpkSLSNdzdXA7V5uVpfxXNaJ6rvF3cRXqR5-q5MDV7Xmz8A0GjdDkfAvz4GQnuyxPNIaftXIjudwlHW7iH6Qz9Q8czqpNk6YrBxTbxTPcqPFuOU26DgGnRg4l_0O3zZ8XsMoR8L1iI_-N-G6me_yaReiengA/s2048/IMG_5736.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDVeSsvfZjx-WNg3-PwI3Kb5YsMjRGgHpkSLSNdzdXA7V5uVpfxXNaJ6rvF3cRXqR5-q5MDV7Xmz8A0GjdDkfAvz4GQnuyxPNIaftXIjudwlHW7iH6Qz9Q8czqpNk6YrBxTbxTPcqPFuOU26DgGnRg4l_0O3zZ8XsMoR8L1iI_-N-G6me_yaReiengA/s16000/IMG_5736.JPEG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>To see the range of other treats available, head over to the <a href="https://chummysbakery.co.uk">Chummys Bakery</a> website, or check them out on Instagram @chummysbakery.</div><div><br /></div></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">*I received this item free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way. Please see my disclaimer for more information.</div>
Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673393085096110871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485491862814098974.post-29801504289874104712022-06-30T02:45:00.003-07:002022-06-30T02:45:18.840-07:00Kitchen Transformation with Desenio*<div style="text-align: center;">
When we moved into our home one of the first things I wanted to do was change the kitchen, but soon realised this would be quite a big expense. The kitchen was very dated with brown wooden cabinets and lino flooring. When we had saved up enough money, I had Norfolk Custom Kitchens provide us with a quote and we booked him in for the following month.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKvJ2SyaQTk5lFycmP7AornOK1YT5IDdf48yVIhRkPx9t5MtwVRrsl_W1Uaj5jyZxhGq6K_QaBw7T5uys_jZQ2MxcUwYJSKjx3FuEXrq9IpstmH_MVTmrN726Eo-JiHm4rJOffJj3MJEU2zwgVjdyK9aP3Xs30GcXVMIkdlaiI3ulrkVcVZzjLtm9Qnw/s2182/kitchen.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="2182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKvJ2SyaQTk5lFycmP7AornOK1YT5IDdf48yVIhRkPx9t5MtwVRrsl_W1Uaj5jyZxhGq6K_QaBw7T5uys_jZQ2MxcUwYJSKjx3FuEXrq9IpstmH_MVTmrN726Eo-JiHm4rJOffJj3MJEU2zwgVjdyK9aP3Xs30GcXVMIkdlaiI3ulrkVcVZzjLtm9Qnw/s16000/kitchen.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We started off by ripping out the old kitchen, very satisfying. This left us with even more mess and with a toddler around we were keen to get it finished as soon as we could. Luckily the workmen were fast and before we knew it the electrician had rewired the room ready for our new appliances.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6MjnIjDn69gXXuAvzCVYe4Ktg5v4OF3X_1PiNvOaIkxnIuDzE1TOPXofIiLlYrNuZGgc97sASVw4hCHxRJdYEpmb14rDkgSoV835_9R8WewTby9I73GHxAblqmLCxWPrc7k8axNGa0tehgkkwyTACyRwxVC17XaucsWxqK4gNQlnQuAmpdvONL_uPg/s2048/IMG_8739.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6MjnIjDn69gXXuAvzCVYe4Ktg5v4OF3X_1PiNvOaIkxnIuDzE1TOPXofIiLlYrNuZGgc97sASVw4hCHxRJdYEpmb14rDkgSoV835_9R8WewTby9I73GHxAblqmLCxWPrc7k8axNGa0tehgkkwyTACyRwxVC17XaucsWxqK4gNQlnQuAmpdvONL_uPg/s16000/IMG_8739.JPEG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzv42DI32JlvMLH7eVXrWlmKh1lLU2i8NvGViyD-6TD54tfWscFZElDig8SuFDlkllLECCUAYLSoKYJNFAHKSgz_xc4lzftRfeV0YVyDol0igyjfunuSeUjY5bIp-os4BmZMwKJyLOldlA1hqO8_mQMuO9d_29TUk6Atss9BkXo-y67Q56cGUf80ZGjw/s2048/IMG_9200.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzv42DI32JlvMLH7eVXrWlmKh1lLU2i8NvGViyD-6TD54tfWscFZElDig8SuFDlkllLECCUAYLSoKYJNFAHKSgz_xc4lzftRfeV0YVyDol0igyjfunuSeUjY5bIp-os4BmZMwKJyLOldlA1hqO8_mQMuO9d_29TUk6Atss9BkXo-y67Q56cGUf80ZGjw/s16000/IMG_9200.JPEG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When the kitchen was finished I really liked it but felt as though it wasn't complete and it just needed something else. <a href="https://desenio.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">Wall art</a> can really go a long way to complete a room and the blank space on the wall above the boiler was a canvas just waiting to be filled. I've known of Desenio for a number of years and when looking for art they are my go to. The brand is considered one of the best in the industry and they have thousands of different designs to choose from.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigxDZuEH864ZWcsb3XlUcFSwtq5z5jIX-nChHGIxrpU44tEEA4Lp6HT4aY-bFYJAMuOiDZhW0TeFSFdiJJyG83VMtv8NR4wv1kEjNi8QxLQYCl1hP6es6IdKAaZL4GJvJz4VmmfeYYJom2c0xzhbOLIAO_H8uRhWqVTntuW4xLr0ontitoefU7T-kfkg/s2689/Deseniowall.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2046" data-original-width="2689" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigxDZuEH864ZWcsb3XlUcFSwtq5z5jIX-nChHGIxrpU44tEEA4Lp6HT4aY-bFYJAMuOiDZhW0TeFSFdiJJyG83VMtv8NR4wv1kEjNi8QxLQYCl1hP6es6IdKAaZL4GJvJz4VmmfeYYJom2c0xzhbOLIAO_H8uRhWqVTntuW4xLr0ontitoefU7T-kfkg/s16000/Deseniowall.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Desenio website was so easy to use, I ended up just typing in 'kitchen' in the search and looking through all of the ones that came up to find the ones perfect for this space. The results ranged from scenery to photography to word art and illustrations. When I had chosen the three prints I liked the look of, I was then presented with different measurements to choose from. I chose the sizes I wanted and liked the fact that the correct size frame was also recommended to me so I added those to the basket too. I found the <a href="https://desenio.co.uk/en/ak/inspiration/create-your-gallery-wall#/" rel="nofollow">Gallery Wall Tool</a> really helpful too because I could see which sizes looked great alongside each other.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My parcel arrived in just a few days and was packaged well. I opted for black frames for each print to go with the kitchen decor and these were in the main box, with the actual art in a separate cardboard envelope to keep it flat. I took off the protective film, placed my prints in the frames and they were good to go. We put them on the wall, stood back and admired the finished look. I am very impressed with the prints I chose and really do think they finish off the kitchen.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmukdMVvrXLzzo-J7uagK7HUuyQYwhBMkpdCaygjZazktnHaw5_ADSRrcrKRix5pvt0prKQAyaP67Gw0sc9TLZMihj8ANqb2WWZvzN36h7QK0uA_svd3XRT1lp04U6J12mccuG7DhjR-cKHxp5sMqWdkat0N8ji6lMwn6C7IJZLSYeeg2yA8voSFNm1Q/s2048/IMG_4863.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmukdMVvrXLzzo-J7uagK7HUuyQYwhBMkpdCaygjZazktnHaw5_ADSRrcrKRix5pvt0prKQAyaP67Gw0sc9TLZMihj8ANqb2WWZvzN36h7QK0uA_svd3XRT1lp04U6J12mccuG7DhjR-cKHxp5sMqWdkat0N8ji6lMwn6C7IJZLSYeeg2yA8voSFNm1Q/s16000/IMG_4863.JPEG" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I went for the following prints:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://desenio.co.uk/p/posters-prints/text-posters/life-happens-coffee-helps-poster/">LIFE HAPPENS COFFEE HELPS </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://desenio.co.uk/p/posters-prints/text-posters/coffee-poster/">COFFEE</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://desenio.co.uk/p/posters-prints/kitchen/elisabeth-fredriksson-graphic-design-with-coffee-cups/">COFFEE CUPS</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://desenio.co.uk/p/posters-prints/kitchen/coffee-pot-poster/">COFFEE POT</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkqsbIxfqxEVSjY-U3k4JbLa7EQ681X_NdaqnkHTSGgOVGiSJ9jfRfacpp3jAVoizOaEuIiQnkNdM8COoQDBjq3PE_8WnhNkqpQ7EVYYXif_-ymaMVcTVfgGTAe-CNLajfAC6cUBdmyw2nG-ZSxhkAbcmZfu-e1wVfxz_azwhLrA3xURqkDugOk0Rzg/s2392/prints.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="2392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkqsbIxfqxEVSjY-U3k4JbLa7EQ681X_NdaqnkHTSGgOVGiSJ9jfRfacpp3jAVoizOaEuIiQnkNdM8COoQDBjq3PE_8WnhNkqpQ7EVYYXif_-ymaMVcTVfgGTAe-CNLajfAC6cUBdmyw2nG-ZSxhkAbcmZfu-e1wVfxz_azwhLrA3xURqkDugOk0Rzg/s16000/prints.jpg" title="Photos obtained from Desenio website" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I put the three larger prints on the empty space above the boiler which filled the space perfectly. I then put the smaller coffee print above the kettle. The colours were so complimentary to the colours of my kitchen and even matched the kettle. I have since received multiple compliments on the art since having them up.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tmnlgPJUK538hawkoH1GhtrGzqI7pdcHRaCJQVcf5owrypANPqUG0bKIcD-WSgmpTpYuMvCT_lh5rEU83ZuPluZYL2fcpbPRzwVMHt4UeUBnQzt-_7WSxny1vj_Xp9NIQP_mU5Qn_6PjOOECseGWsaajTJX79GSGlzUoZPvNm1m8LTqvs05wzBz5QQ/s2048/IMG_4873.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tmnlgPJUK538hawkoH1GhtrGzqI7pdcHRaCJQVcf5owrypANPqUG0bKIcD-WSgmpTpYuMvCT_lh5rEU83ZuPluZYL2fcpbPRzwVMHt4UeUBnQzt-_7WSxny1vj_Xp9NIQP_mU5Qn_6PjOOECseGWsaajTJX79GSGlzUoZPvNm1m8LTqvs05wzBz5QQ/s16000/IMG_4873.JPEG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXSnormSmqBUO4mn5FPCHvR8dVfSXVGGmHboA2EbJPCxOaoSujHO9Xf66dqWSLkE9_GDWIdfrWo5pW7_tcHVgZ64vzeloT1GsUng2Q-_dnftTbMX2c-ycn47WppEhVwfjOINgVR0sQsn6mMnEGfevMWxgPrmOp8stahePbuOSivKl0aXL73_DnOi15w/s3061/print.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="3061" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXSnormSmqBUO4mn5FPCHvR8dVfSXVGGmHboA2EbJPCxOaoSujHO9Xf66dqWSLkE9_GDWIdfrWo5pW7_tcHVgZ64vzeloT1GsUng2Q-_dnftTbMX2c-ycn47WppEhVwfjOINgVR0sQsn6mMnEGfevMWxgPrmOp8stahePbuOSivKl0aXL73_DnOi15w/s16000/print.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">My overall experience with Desenio from start to finish has been exceptional and I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking to buy affordable good quality <a href="https://desenio.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">wall art</a>. There really is something for everyone with the wide range of categories available online. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmdid_d1mc_WB-v7fI7imrr3shb7dh7JYXsgaozfgpNCbRk1cUi7ERQ397o-U24uechqS2C88oD6f_xNhNlIixd62fRgZdHQ_sbj70DlusNMEh20JPtB8bClqzf1XYKd43butROgR7boG-wggdleRzZ8G5EI6Wq6yPr_FDSw8WmAs8qg9zISS-EpCaw/s840/657A5380-807E-473F-AA35-5A788CCD7795.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="840" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmdid_d1mc_WB-v7fI7imrr3shb7dh7JYXsgaozfgpNCbRk1cUi7ERQ397o-U24uechqS2C88oD6f_xNhNlIixd62fRgZdHQ_sbj70DlusNMEh20JPtB8bClqzf1XYKd43butROgR7boG-wggdleRzZ8G5EI6Wq6yPr_FDSw8WmAs8qg9zISS-EpCaw/s320/657A5380-807E-473F-AA35-5A788CCD7795.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 8.5pt;"> </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">*<em style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Vesper Libre"; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Ad- This blog post is sponsored by Desenio.</em></div>
Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673393085096110871noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485491862814098974.post-85462907982516734962022-06-08T13:56:00.003-07:002022-06-08T13:56:42.977-07:00Rome Honeymoon - Days 7 & 8<div style="text-align: center;">
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After a crazy jam packed few days I decided to plan this day as a bit of a rest day. I didn’t want to put too much pressure on having something to do every day and thought some down time would do us some good.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Today was a special day for us as it was James’ birthday! I
managed to keep all of the plans for the day a secret so I couldn’t wait to
share with him what we were doing and hope he has the best day he can despite
not being at home. It wasn’t easy to bring any actual presents with me so I presented
him with a card and we started the day off nice and early for breakfast.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTd7s7KLH9AkQZXK-L_Q1cKH_ztda99uqtYV5lW3VwkElI1BlKC_Hpqs-8v6S-DRjOGNF7aJTXTEExOUe-lOb6GxWcVv1-Rf1FwKfySFwCiIYD0FcvxiABBPFO6JdA_LFdWr5oEUWaNzzb4GbbN3ME78rKfOvZjsZPyEc6Rl6J2uaZrL3yOGf4HOfGNA/s4608/P3180388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTd7s7KLH9AkQZXK-L_Q1cKH_ztda99uqtYV5lW3VwkElI1BlKC_Hpqs-8v6S-DRjOGNF7aJTXTEExOUe-lOb6GxWcVv1-Rf1FwKfySFwCiIYD0FcvxiABBPFO6JdA_LFdWr5oEUWaNzzb4GbbN3ME78rKfOvZjsZPyEc6Rl6J2uaZrL3yOGf4HOfGNA/s16000/P3180388.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Our apartment was right near to a Mcdonalds so we decided to get some breakfast and take the day nice and slow. I really wanted to do a bit of shopping at our own leisure.</div>
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After breakfast we took public transport to Bioparco Zoo
which took nearly an hour. James and I had our first date at a zoo and have
been to a different one nearly every year since we met so I thought it was
quite fitting that we had a look around one. It was very quiet here but it was nice to look around and the animals seemed to be fairly happy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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which is right nearby. I had also seen there was a nice lookout point here too
where you could get a lovely view of the city. We hired a little 4 wheeled electric bike for an hour which was fun but scary! Everyone was on them. It was easier to get about this way.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wa3E1HM9iwlROp2oL6D1OZC0984vceBXOjoVVr_r6D4GMzKIrWl1i_JPzuMyP8B_rBm9M6Tw_pAp4BPt-boKfPy9YhKjxEHObiKoSg1KMR1vGkB16ca3fRyDlMvoFpmaK0O7OxstgqyOnku9CYe_PMaZok6Bsre6zM66FEGF3jmFz6uMOZ7W6yL2HA/s4608/P3180410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wa3E1HM9iwlROp2oL6D1OZC0984vceBXOjoVVr_r6D4GMzKIrWl1i_JPzuMyP8B_rBm9M6Tw_pAp4BPt-boKfPy9YhKjxEHObiKoSg1KMR1vGkB16ca3fRyDlMvoFpmaK0O7OxstgqyOnku9CYe_PMaZok6Bsre6zM66FEGF3jmFz6uMOZ7W6yL2HA/s16000/P3180410.JPG" /></a></div>
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We then headed back to the apartment, got freshened up and
ready to head out again for dinner. I decided to take James to Hard Rock Café.
Having never been to one myself, I thought it would be a nice reliable option
as I know we both like that sort of food. We also indulged in a few cocktails (or mocktails for me!). It was a really lovely chilled day.<br />
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Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673393085096110871noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485491862814098974.post-48895777211970788592020-06-08T02:16:00.004-07:002020-06-08T02:16:54.089-07:0030 before 30 .. Update!<div style="text-align: center;">
A couple of years ago now I wrote a post called "<a href="http://www.christieslifestyle.co.uk/2018/06/30-before-30.html" target="_blank">30 before 30</a>" which was basically a list of all the things I wanted to do before I was 30. Now I am 30 I thought I could re-visit the post and see how many of them I achieved. It's amazing looking at the list and seeing what I wanted to do. There is so much more I have achieved that I didn't write down, for example having a baby!</div>
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<b>1. Get married – should be pretty easy this one!</b><br />
Done!<br />
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<b>2. Go abroad with James, we have never had a holiday abroad with just the 2 of us.</b><br />
Done – We headed to Rome in 2019 for our <a href="http://www.christieslifestyle.co.uk/2019/03/rome-honeymoon-days-1-2.html" target="_blank">Honeymoon</a>!<br />
<br />
<b>3. Finish decorating the house – Only the bathroom, kitchen, porch, hallway and spare rooms to go!</b><br />
Wow - this didn't happen hah! We did get the spare room done for our baby however. Our Kitchen was supposed to be in process pre- Covid!<br />
<br />
<b>4. Sort the garden out to a reasonable state.</b><br />
Jamed has done a good job of sorting one area of our garden out and it looks nice and tidy now complete with a new gate but there is still the larger section to go - but it's costly!<br />
<br />
<b>5. Host a garden party/BBQ – Could even be an idea for my 30th!</b><br />
We had my Baby Shower at home in the summer of 2019 and it was actually lovely weather and a lot of people spilled into the garden which was nice. Obviously due to Covid this halted any 30th birthday plans for large groups!<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>6. Try a food challenge - you know like the giant burgers or eat 1200 chicken nuggets? Yeah I wanna attempt one of those.</b><br />
Oh man I have not done this but I have eaten a lot of food in the last 2 years!<br />
<br />
<b>7. Run 100 parkruns. I have currently done 27 so only 73 to go in 100 weeks!</b><br />
I only got up to 56 but I did have a baby so had a lot of weeks off running, and then Parkrun shut for a while. I hope to go back once it re-opens of course!<br />
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<b>8. Run a marathon. At the start of the year I set myself the challenge of running a whole 5km without stopping and have already smashed that and ran 10km! So I would love to take part in a marathon before I am 30. I am doing a walking Marathon in a couple of months so to complete that will be fantastic.</b><br />
I walked a marathon! Does that count? There is no way I would want to run a marathon, the more I think about it the more impossible it seems. I don't like running for that long! If I was faster maybe I would consider haha.<br />
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<b>9. Run a half marathon – one step at a time hey!</b><br />
Done – Run Windsor 2018, 4 weeks pregnant! Then I did the Norfolk Ringland Half Marathon in March this year, and have since ran another on my own.<br />
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<b>10. Get a tattoo. I have no idea what, it’s just been so long I feel I need another.</b><br />
Nope .. Fail!<br />
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<b>11. See more of the UK. We have some amazing places right on our doorstep, I would love to travel more locally.</b><br />
We became National Trust members so we have gone on a few trips locally which has been nice. If I had the money I would do more!<br />
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<b>12. Read 30 books. I really got into reading last year but have completely slacked off after being put off by an awful book. I want to pick this up again.</b><br />
I totally failed at this one too. I have joined a book club however and hope that this year I will be able to smash this target!<br />
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<b>13. Host a dinner party.</b><br />
We hosted Christmas - does that count?<br />
<br />
<b>14. Have Christmas at home.</b><br />
See above - hah!<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>15. Try something different from my local Chinese. (you know instead of chicken balls, chow mein, chips and sweet and sour sauce)</b><br />
I have branched out and tried Sczesan chicken, Cantonese style chicken, Crispy chilli Chicken.. Cripsy Chilli Beef, and a different curry! Wow I am adventurous.<br />
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<b>16. Learn to Salsa. I have been attending Salsa classes recently but have no rhythm and would love to one day find that natural flow.</b><br />
At the start of 2019 it just clicked for me and Sophie, my salsa partner. It may have had something to do with me becoming a ‘man’ and taking the lead role but we just knew what we were doing. Then I went on Maternity leave and all was forgotten.<br />
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<b>17. Go glamping.</b><br />
No :(<br />
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<b>18. Finally get to my ideal target weight.</b><br />
No :(.. but I had a baby!<br />
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<b>19. Win at Bingo (I’ll even take £5, I just want to win!)</b><br />
Still No!!!<br />
<br />
<b>20. Treat myself to one really expensive item of clothing or accessory.</b><br />
Hmm.. no?!<br />
<br />
<b>21. Visit a cat café.</b><br />
No!<br />
<br />
<b>22. Get a new front door.</b><br />
No!!!<br />
<br />
<b>23. Own a houseplant that I don’t end up killing after a few months.</b><br />
Yes!! I got an Orchid for my baby shower over a year ago and it's flowered again and still going strong. Proud plant mama.<br />
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<b>24. Get a new pet. Ideally I would like another cat, but will settle for a goldfish if needed to complete the goal.</b><br />
I got a baby does that count?<br />
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<b>25. Continue blogging and get back into a consistent schedule.</b><br />
No. Total fail.<br />
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<b>26. Have an actual skincare routine – any tips?</b><br />
Again .. no. I am lucky if my make-up gets taken off at all.<br />
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<b>27. Cut my hair short again – currently I am growing it for the wedding but I want a really good chop after.</b><br />
Literally as soon as Salons re-open I am chopping at least half of my hair off. It needs it so bad!<br />
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<b>28. Learn to make pastry from scratch.</b><br />
No.. why was this a goal??<br />
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<b>29. Have the living room feel more homely.</b><br />
It's full of baby toys and I never knew that was what was missing to make it feel more like a home.<br />
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<b>30. Write a list of 40 things to do before I am 40!</b><br />
So I don't have 40 things for my list but here are some off the top of my head. Let me know if you have anything on your bucket list?<br />
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Complete our family<br />Finish the house<br />Go on a family trip<br />Go to Disney World<br />Do Run Disney<br />Get a Half Marathon PB<br />
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Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673393085096110871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485491862814098974.post-33075991924006119222020-05-12T23:50:00.000-07:002020-05-12T23:50:06.112-07:00NCT Antenatal Course Review - 2019*<div style="text-align: center;">
I thought I would share my experience of the NCT antenatal classes that we took in case anyone was considering them. We had the option to attend free classes run by the NHS but we found the times and locations weren’t suitable for us and it would mean taking time off work which neither of us wanted to do. We were recommended NCT classes by a couple of people and although expensive, I think they are worth going to if you’re new to parenting.<br />
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The first class was more of an icebreaker than anything and we were joined by 7 other couples. We introduced ourselves and shared our due dates. It was nice to have a small class as it felt like you could really spend the time getting to know people and having plenty of time to ask questions. The due dates ranged from Mid-May to the end of June with me being pretty much in the middle, so it was great that everyone was at a similar stage to each other and everyone was first time parents too. In the first class, we split into 2 groups, mums and dads and had to write down some of our queries and concerns so that future lessons could be planned around this. It was quite funny seeing the difference in responses, then men came back with questions such as “When can we wet the baby’s head?” whereas the women came back with more sensible questions! We then looked at photos of different babies and had to categorize them into sections on if they were in deep sleep, light sleep, hungry, angry or playful. There were no right or wrong answers but we got some great tips on how to tell if a baby is hungry and how to try and settle them by recreating a similar atmosphere that they experienced in the womb. Finally our last task was to categorize photos of items into three piles for newborns, essentials, nice but not needed and not needed. It was interesting to see what other people thought of as an essential item. We also learned about the stages of labour, and how the baby’s head fits through the pelvis.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Bizzy Lizzy Photography</td></tr>
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The second class felt more relaxed as we knew what to expect. We also knew where the kitchen was to help ourselves to tea/coffee and biscuits! We started off by splitting into groups and discussing what we could do in slow labour. Things like eat, sleep, relax, listen to music etc. Then we talked about what to do if still at home and labour progressing to needing to push! We were taught how you can tell if labour is progressing too and signs that your partner can look out for. We then tried out different labour positions including sitting on a bucket much to my amusement. I even joked that we have to go past B&Q on the way to the hospital so I could pick one up on route! My favourite task of the night was creating a 24 hour timeline of our current routine. We were then given some cards with babies on them and nappies and had to try and fit them into the routine somehow. It was an eye opener as to how much time babies really need. In a 24 hour time period we learned they can feed between 8-20 times. It didn’t seem like there was time for much else after nappy changes! Babies don’t appear to have a routine and we were told the best thing you can do in the first 2 weeks is to try and survive. I can understand why people don’t like to have visitors during this time because it seems absolutely sporadic. Finally we discussed reasons that babies cry and things we can do to soothe them.<br />
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The third week we learned a few different things, starting with how to swaddle a baby. It was useful to know how to do this as some babies like to feel wrapped up so it’s something we will definitely try when she is here. We also had some practical stations on nappy changing, putting baby to bed and using slings. We really liked the slings but I am not sure how it would work in the summer as I can imagine the baby would get rather warm stuck to me all day! We also each had a task to research different types of pain relief so we brought all of those together. These included, a TENS machine, Gas and Air, Water Birth, Epidural, Pethidine and a few others I can’t quite recall. We even got to try a TENS machine out which was a strange experience! It was interesting hearing about how each method works. It also gave me some ideas of what to put in my birthing plan and which types of drugs I would be open to receiving. Although of course, who knows what will happen on the day.<br />
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I couldn’t believe how quickly week 4 came around, and by this point I had started to remember peoples names. We firstly talked about hospital bag essentials and things we would be packing. I had already started my bag at this point and felt as though I had everything I needed but got some handy tips, especially about bendy straws as they are easier to drink from when in labour or lying down/in a pool. We also learned a bit about Inductions, and other self help methods you can try to bring on labour (curries, long walks etc!). By the end of the session we created a whatsapp group so we will be able to keep in touch and I thought it would be great to see when the other ladies have their babies!<br />
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We then had a Saturday afternoon session which was all about feeding. James couldn’t come along to this which is a bit of a shame as I was the only one alone and we had a lunch meet-up as well but it was fine once I got chatting. The session was mainly focussed on breastfeeding and was run by a breastfeeding specialist. We learned a lot about the technique, how to encourage baby to latch on and also how to tell if they have had enough milk if you aren’t measuring it in a bottle. I found the most interesting and memorable fact is that you can indeed have an alcoholic drink when breastfeeding, as I thought you couldn’t. They just don’t encourage you to go and get drunk because you then might not be in a fit state to feed or hold your baby anyway, but it was good to know my milk wouldn’t be affected.<br />
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I couldn’t believe how quickly the final class came around. It was almost a shame to stop them as I felt like I was really getting into them. This class taught us about caesareans, recovery, second stage of labour and breathing techniques. We also had the chance to ask any questions about anything we wanted to know. When we finished, we said goodbye to everyone and it was strange to think that the first lady was due in just 2 weeks. The babies would start to arrive any time now and all of our lives will change as we know it!<br />
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We also booked in a reunion for all of us and our babies for the end of July, roughly a month after the last baby was due.<br />
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*Disclaimer - This blog post was written over a year ago now before any of the Covid-19 and Social Distancing Measures were in place. I highly recommend NCT however I am not sure what the classes look like now or if they are currently going down the virtual route. It was great to come away with a support system and as a group we still talk now. the second I had my baby I forgot 90% of what I learned, standard! This post is not sponsored in any way.</div>
Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673393085096110871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485491862814098974.post-56419664478316101252019-10-06T15:42:00.000-07:002019-10-06T15:42:45.254-07:00Rome Honeymoon - Day 6<div style="text-align: center;">
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Another place I have always wanted to visit to say that I
have been there is Venice. Venice is quite far away from Rome so I felt a
little ambitious attempting to plan a day there but decided it would be a nice
thing to do. I booked this as a little wedding gift for James as I knew he
would also love to go. I had managed to convince him it was too far to travel,
around a 6 hour drive so hopefully it was a nice surprise for him.<o:p></o:p><br />
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I looked on various travel websites for day trips to Venice
and they all came out at around £180 per person. When I really looked into it,
essentially this price covered the cost of the high speed train ticket and then
when you get to the other end, a guide gives you a map and a skip the line
ticket and sends you on your way. Venice isn’t a huge place and I thought the
price was a little expensive so I looked into getting the train tickets
separately.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I went onto Trainline, a reputable company and looked up
train tickets. I managed to get us 2 return tickets, first class for only £140
for both of us. A massive saving and worth shopping around for. In this day and
age, google maps is just as good as receiving a paper one in my opinion.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The train was comfortable and we were provided with a newspaper, drink and some snacks both ways. The journey took just over 3 hours. When we arrived at Venice we just decided to walk w wherever our feet took us. We headed over the bridge and found this area to be quieter than the other side which seemed more touristy. We enjoyed wandering little alleyways and streets and finding our way through not really looking at anything in particular.<br />
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Everyone said "you have to go on a gondola ride!" but in all honesty, I don't actually know where we would have got one from. Maybe being off season it wasn't as obvious but there weren't many about at all. It also costs €80, which I would have paid but we just didn't get the chance.<br />
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I had pizza for lunch, and James had a steak salad and chips. It was hard to find somewhere to eat, but we got there in the end after looking at Tripadvisor. Everyone was drinking Aperol Spritz which looked absolutely delicious and refreshing. I was jealous, I totally need to make some when the baby is here. Instead I had a fanta and pretended I was drinking the delicious prosecco cocktail (which was only like €3 as well - gutted!)<br />
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After lunch we continued to walk around and buy a few magnets/memorabilia as you do. We then found the more touristy side which was jam packed! We got some snacks for the way home as well and carried on walking. I think we walked nearly 9 miles on this day and wow did my feet feel it by the end.<br />
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We finished with a gelato and made our way back to the train station where we then went back again. </div>
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Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673393085096110871noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485491862814098974.post-75889615218942102942019-06-04T05:00:00.002-07:002020-01-29T07:37:18.553-08:00Health Lab Plant-Based Beauty & Wellness Balls Review*<div style="text-align: center;">
Summer is on its way and it won’t be long now until we have a new arrival in the house when our baby decides to make an appearance. I don’t know about you, but I always feel like I want to get out of the house more and make the most of the days when the summer is here, but it can be hard to muster up the energy for such activities! And I have no idea how I will feel with a newborn thrown into the mix.<br />
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I was recently sent some <a href="https://healthlab.com.au/" target="_blank">Health Lab</a> Plant-Based Protein Balls which I thought would be perfect for me. As well as offering a much needed energy boost, these balls are also made to promote happy skin and positive gut health made from the finest plant based ingredients across the globe.<br />
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Some of the flavours include chocolate, salted caramel, peanut butter and berry. The protein, probiotics, and hemp balls are all vegan friendly and the entire range is also gluten free. There really is something for everyone. The 8 flavours and their unique health benefits include:<br />
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Thrive: Choc Brownie Protein Balls<br />
Game Changer: Salted Caramel Protein Balls<br />
Power: Peanut Butter Choc Hemp Energy Balls<br />
Pick-me-up: Espresso Hemp Energy Balls<br />
Happy Skin: Choc Sea Salt Collagen Balls<br />
Skin Hero: Choc Cherry Collagen Balls<br />
Gutsy: Mixed Berry Gut Health Balls<br />
Glow: Choc Matcha Gut Health Balls<br />
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I have found that the balls have been great to take the edge off my hunger or between meals, during pregnancy I often need a bit of a boost and want to choose a healthy snack and these energy balls have been the perfect addition to my diet. I think they would also be great if you were breast-feeding and needed a healthy way to get in those extra calories. These would also be ideal for people with busy lifestyles or as a pre/post gym snack.<br />
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I have tried many varieties of ‘energy ball’ and these have to be the nicest ones I have had, often the flavours can be bland and boring but these felt like a real treat and kept me away from eating an alternative unhealthy sugary snack.<br />
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Available now in Wholefoods and in Waitrose and Holland and Barrett, RRP from £2 for a 40g ball.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0WkSYOpuE-L1_ldiH7fcFQ2MxaxNmE_HILPgaW_D4gQm-Tx4n7AqvPVzE-bMTxx34KTJXWiLOl4t1CJA0gN-K4PxHz9RqpT7B_Sj8YSujW8VR2djNaZzmNBQMHNzh-h14RR0jjAaeqs/s1600/Footer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0WkSYOpuE-L1_ldiH7fcFQ2MxaxNmE_HILPgaW_D4gQm-Tx4n7AqvPVzE-bMTxx34KTJXWiLOl4t1CJA0gN-K4PxHz9RqpT7B_Sj8YSujW8VR2djNaZzmNBQMHNzh-h14RR0jjAaeqs/s1600/Footer.png" /></a></div>
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*I received these items free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.</div>
Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673393085096110871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485491862814098974.post-73260540321597933132019-05-16T03:35:00.000-07:002019-05-16T03:35:10.321-07:00Rome Honeymoon – Day 5<div style="text-align: center;">
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Today was another early start and jam packed day of
sightseeing with a 45 minute journey to today’s first activity. I had booked us
tickets for the Colosseum for 10:30, again somewhere I was recommended to book
skip the line tickets for. Rome really wasn't as busy this time of year as some of the photos I have seen so it wasn't really necessary as there was barely a queue anyway.<o:p></o:p><br />
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We got in and had a look around and walked around the whole Colosseum. In hindsight, I wish I had paid for a tour here as it gives you access to extra areas and we would have had a better idea of what we were looking at but it was still great to see all the same. I remember when I went to see the Statue of Liberty and was very underwhelmed, it looked tiny compared to what I expected. The Colosseum was not like that, it was huge and was exactly what I had hoped it would be.<br />
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Our ticket also included access to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill so afterwards we headed across the road here. There was quite a big queue for this and it was really warm and there wasn't any shade. An attendant came up to us and said we could skip the queue as I was pregnant, so she let me in a side gate and then James got to go to a shorter queue. It was a bit pointless really as I still had to then wait about 15 minutes in the blazing sun for James to get through. It would have been better if we had gone in together but it saved us a bit of time anyway. In here, it was really nice looking around at various ruins and climbing up high to get a great view over the city. By this point through we hadn't eaten or had anything to drink for hours so we were getting a bit tired.<br />
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We left the area and went to find food and found a place called Pizza Forum. I had risotto and James tried Gnocci for the first time. I think this place was a chain restaurant but it did the trick and we could finally have a drink and a sit down. </div>
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I really wanted to visit the ‘mouth of truth’ or Bocca della
Veritá so looking on the map this wasn’t too far from where we were. We hopped on a bus and found the church. There was a queue for a photo but we must have only waited about 15 minutes in total and it was shaded. You could pop a donation in the pot if you wanted, but essentially this attraction was free and it was fun to get a photo.<br />
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We still had some time to kill in the afternoon so we headed to the Baths of Caracalla. We only had about an hour here as they closed but it was quite cheap to get in and was good to see a proper Roman Bath set up.<br />
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This put us at about an hour from our apartment, so we made
the journey back and got freshened up for dinner. James found a place on Tripadvisor called Tommi's Burger Joint so we thought we would give it a try. It was really good. Similar to Five Guys I would say. Service was fast and there was loads of different sauces and toppings you could add to your burger free of charge, Probably one of the best burgers I have had in a while and a great atmosphere too.</div>
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Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673393085096110871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485491862814098974.post-55283970006640376282019-05-07T08:34:00.000-07:002019-05-07T08:34:03.448-07:00Rome Honeymoon – Day 4<div style="text-align: center;">
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We woke up early again today to head to Vatican City.
Luckily we were only 5 minutes from here so we didn’t have to get up quite as
early as the day before. It was recommended to me that we get skip the line
tickets as queues can be as long as 4 hours! So I pre-booked these online
before we went for 9:30am, just after opening time. Turns out being pregnant means you can pretty much skip any line anyway - but it was good to have a backup plan. <o:p></o:p><br />
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The Vatican museum was vast and had different areas. I think we managed to explore it all. It was great to end up at the Sistene Chapel to see the famous Michaelangelo ceiling. You weren't allowed to take photos in there however. We ended up walking absolutely miles this day, mainly around the museum.<o:p></o:p><br />
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After our morning of exploring, we decided to grab some
lunch. I once had a friend tell me he bought 2 gelatos and 2 drinks in Vatican
City and it was something ridiculous like €60, so we left the area and went and
found somewhere local to our apartment in Borgo. We found a place that had been recommended by many other bloggers and vloggers called Pizzeria Bonci. When we got there we could see it was very popular as the queue was huge. We took a ticket and awaited our turn in line. The counter was stacked with many different types of pizza with all different toppings including broccoli, potato and then your standard pizzas too. You choose what pizzas you want, and how big and then you pay for them according to weight. It's a great idea. We had 3 fairly large pieces each and it was just over €20. They box it up for you and you can then take it away and eat it as there isn't much seating outside.<o:p></o:p><br />
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We then went and got our first Gelato of the trip from Old Bridge Geletaria, which was absolutely delicious and a huge 3 scoop cone was only €4!</div>
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For the afternoon, I had plans for us to head back to the
area of Piazza del Popolo, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and Piazza
Navona so we could wander in our own time but I think the previous day had caught up with us so instead we just chilled out at the apartment for a few hours before dinner.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We both had a bit of an upset stomach (we think it was the pizza, as it is sat out and then re-heated when you order) so we stayed in for dinner and cooked bolognaise jacket potatoes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673393085096110871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485491862814098974.post-17327890010266514052019-04-08T03:31:00.000-07:002019-04-08T03:31:59.352-07:00Rome Honeymoon – Day 3<div style="text-align: center;">
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After a busy first full day in Rome, today was about to get
busier! I have always wanted to go to Pompeii but thought it was miles from
Rome. When I found out you can do a day trip there, I had to get us some
tickets. I am very thankful to everyone that donated to our honeymoon fund at
the wedding, the generosity of our friends and family meant that we had a bit
of extra money to book excursions and things that we could only dream of doing.
Due to the time of year, this actually included a visit to Naples instead of
Mt. Vesuvius, which suited me just fine as I don’t think I fancied a long
climb/walk up a volcano!<o:p></o:p><br />
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A 7:30am start meant getting up early for us as the meeting
point was about half an hour from our apartment on public transport. Luckily
the buses and metro start really early so we didn’t have any problems planning
out routes and I wrote down the names of all the stops we needed to take before
we went. We left in plenty of time just in case there was cancellations or no
bus came and we had to walk but we still managed to be late as the metro station was closed. We couldn't actually find the meeting point. We literally ran from the metro and still didn't know where we were going. Google maps was rubbish. James called the tour operator and the lady on the phone directed us to the office. We got in and showed our ticket. At this point we were 20 minutes late. They spoke in Italian to each other and looked at their watches concerned. Thankfully the bus was still waiting as another family was running late. We got dropped off at the coach and got on (it was packed as everyone was waiting for us) but I am so thankful we got on or I would have been devastated!<br />
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The tour began with a coach journey to Naples. We got to stop off at Naples Bay and it was beautiful. I would love to come back to Italy and stay this side one day. We then made our way to Pompeii, it took just over 3 hours. When we arrived in Pompeii we were treated to a pizza lunch before starting our tour. We then made our way to the ruins and another tour guide took over from there.<br />
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Pompeii was absolutely massive, you would need a whole day to properly look around the ruins here and I'd love to come back. It's very eerie seeing the ruins and then seeing Mt. Vesuvius leering over you in the background thinking it could technically erupt at any given moment. We had around 2 hours in Pompeii to explore with our guide. He really brought Pompeii to life, if we were here alone we wouldn't have really known what we were looking at but it was great to see what used to be shops, homes and even a brothel.<br />
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I found it fascinating that you could even see marks in the road where the chariots used to drive, over many years they have left lines in the road. It was great to see all this preserved history.<br />
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After a long day we headed back to our apartment, we grabbed a takeaway from a local place called Mama Eats and took it back to the apartment to eat. We then went to bed ready for another day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673393085096110871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485491862814098974.post-48685164049454717132019-03-29T03:36:00.001-07:002019-03-29T03:36:39.261-07:00Rome Honeymoon – Days 1 & 2<div style="text-align: center;">
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It’s been a while since I’ve done any form of travel post
(or post at all for that matter -oops!) so I thought I would share some of the
highlights from our recent Honeymoon to Rome. Neither of us had been to Italy
before and we were both excited to explore. We got married in December and
originally I wanted our honeymoon to be a ‘lay on a beach and do nothing’ kind
of holiday, however my husband is better suited to having things to do. Looking
at anywhere warm in December was proving difficult, most places across the
equator were lovely and hot but either cost an absolute fortune or there was a
risk of the Zika virus, no good for travelling when pregnant.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Dan Sunderland</td></tr>
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Eventually we decided to go a few months later, to give
ourselves something to look forward to. We chose Rome as we knew there would be
plenty to do, on what is probably our last ever child free holiday together for
a long time! I anticipated it would be cold, but it’s not the type of
sunbathing holiday anyway so none of that mattered. As it happens, the weather
was pretty good most days, lovely and sunny in the afternoons.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our flight was on a Monday, so to save us time and stress I
booked us in to a hotel at Gatwick for the Sunday night where we had a picnic
in the room and got a nice early night. Breakfast was included the next day and
after that we headed to our Purple Parking carpark and got a shuttle bus to the
airport.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our flight was lunch time, so we got some snacks/drinks for
the flight and off we went! We arrived in Rome around 4pm. I hadn’t booked any
transport to the hotel so hoped we would find a reputable taxi rank but being flustered when we got there with no clue where to go, we got in a taxi with a company that ended up costing nearly 3x the price it should have done. Lesson learned, we arrived safely at the apartment and to be fair to the taxi driver he did give us a tour and explain what we were seeing for the 45 minute journey.</div>
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Our apartment was one that I found on <a href="https://www.airbnb.co.uk/c/cogorman18?currency=GBP" target="_blank">Airbnb</a> and very
reasonably priced. The location was near to Vatican City and also close to
Metro and bus routes. When we arrived we got settled in before deciding to head
to a nearby supermarket to get a few bits for the room. The good thing about
having an <a href="https://www.airbnb.co.uk/c/cogorman18?currency=GBP" target="_blank">Airbnb </a>was that we had a kitchen area so we knew we could prepare
some food at home which was a bonus, and a money saver. We stocked up on snacks
and breakfast foods and then came back to the apartment to rest ahead of our
first full day.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Day 2 we woke up early and got ourselves ready. I booked us
in for a <a href="http://www.newromefreetour.com/" target="_blank">free tour</a> at 9:20am and it was about a half an hour journey to the start point. I am pleased
I booked this as it gave us a chance to familiarise ourselves with the location
and we also got to learn a bit about the history of Rome. The tour was really good and lasted a good 2-3 hours. There was no obligation to tip at the end however we did because we thought it was fantastic and really well organised. We
visited Spanish Square and Spanish Steps, Immaculate Conception Column, The
house of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Saint Andrew Church, Bernini’s Angels, The famous
“Galleria”, Column of Marcus Aurelius, Prime Ministers House, Temple of Hadrian,
Pantheon, The Tomb of the Kings, Tomb of Raphael, Saint Ignatius Church, Andrea
Pozzo’s Tromp l’oeil and finally the Trevi Fountain.<o:p></o:p><br />
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After the tour we decided to find somewhere for lunch. We ended up at McDonalds as the area we finished the tour in was a little bit busy and it was harder than we thought just to find somewhere for lunch. It's all very well finding a nice place for a slice of pizza but these places don't have any seating so it was sometimes easier to pop into a McDonalds just for a sit down.<o:p></o:p></div>
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After lunch we headed towards Castel Sant'Angelo. I had
planned both bus routes and walking routes so we could play it by ear and see
how I felt. Castel Sant'Angelo was right near to our
apartment, so luckily for us afterwards it was easy to stagger back home and
freshen up.<o:p></o:p><br />
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For dinner, we tried to find somewhere nearby on Tripadvisor. The 3 places we picked out we couldn't actually find - we found this a lot, the names had changed on some of them. We walked around and finally found a little pizza restaurant and sat outside under giant patio heaters. I really felt like I was on holiday and the pizza was great - first full day was a success.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0WkSYOpuE-L1_ldiH7fcFQ2MxaxNmE_HILPgaW_D4gQm-Tx4n7AqvPVzE-bMTxx34KTJXWiLOl4t1CJA0gN-K4PxHz9RqpT7B_Sj8YSujW8VR2djNaZzmNBQMHNzh-h14RR0jjAaeqs/s1600/Footer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0WkSYOpuE-L1_ldiH7fcFQ2MxaxNmE_HILPgaW_D4gQm-Tx4n7AqvPVzE-bMTxx34KTJXWiLOl4t1CJA0gN-K4PxHz9RqpT7B_Sj8YSujW8VR2djNaZzmNBQMHNzh-h14RR0jjAaeqs/s1600/Footer.png" /></a></div>
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Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673393085096110871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485491862814098974.post-70347659574007946372019-01-14T06:31:00.000-08:002019-01-14T06:31:10.986-08:00Living DNA Test and Results - Review*<div style="text-align: center;">
Have you ever wondered about what your past was like? Where you've come from, or where your ancestors originated from? I have always been curious, however never acted upon wanting to find out. Late last year I was contacted by a company called <a href="https://livingdna.com/" target="_blank">Living DNA</a> who can provide a home DNA test which gives you an accurate view of your ancestry.<br />
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I couldn't wait to try this out and eagerly awaited my test kit to arrive in the post. I received my DNA testing kit and it came with everything I needed including clear and simple instructions. I made an account and linked my test to it so that I could be updated when it was received.<br />
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I had to take a swab of my DNA from the inside of my cheek, all instructions and kit was provided so it was really quick and simple to do. I sealed my sample and popped it in the pre-addressed envelope. Results can take up to 8 weeks to arrive so I posted this as soon as I could.<br />
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Christmas came and went and I finally got an email saying my results were in, and I logged onto the website straight away to see what they said. The results were well worth waiting for.<br />
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This kit costs £99 and can be purchased over on the <a href="https://livingdna.com/" target="_blank">Living DNA</a> website. Are you curious to find out where you came from? <a href="https://livingdna.com/" target="_blank">Living DNA</a> give detail on your family ancestry stretching back 10 generations with a breakdown of countries and regions. As a female, I could only see my maternal ancestry (the motherline) and the migration paths going right back to when the first humans migrated from Africa.</div>
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As expected, my results showed that I am 100% from Great Britain and Ireland, which confirmed what I knew about my family history already. The exciting part is, the Living DNA test breaks this down into regions, which again, matched up to what I know about some of my direct relatives, including where I come from too, as you can see on the below map. The sub-regions included East Anglia, where I am from, Ireland, Yorkshire and Cumbria!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="776" data-original-width="1298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTTaRAethVDo7LBHkZq1m7OGBZ6_iIq7Vr8WI57Y_9LYpFXAF9-gBBR542zW9fPJJ7BFoLjTq_cCTHZZuoY6y-aygU2WgTBx5sMEdIkIAeRoQNpe8QwznG26I4M3ad_ewwcIudZRQJwYc/s1600/an1.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Screenshot obtained from Living DNA </td></tr>
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I then had a look at the Motherline ancestry map, which proved very interesting indeed. I don't know a lot about my ancestry, or how far back it goes and where people originate from so I cannot confirm if these results are exact but I still thought it was fascinating.</div>
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My motherline haplogroup is a collection of related family lines that I am connected to through my MtDNA. I share a common ancient ancestor with all of the people who also share this haplogroup. These can be associated with geographic regions and the map below shows where this group is most commonly found today.</div>
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You can also check out your migration map, which shows the journey your ancient ancestors could have taken as they moved across the globe. </div>
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As you can see, there's quite the variety of regions in my map! Some very surprising results and really makes me want to delve further into my family history as I could uncover some amazing information. Overall, I am really pleased I took this opportunity on as I have uncovered some amazing things and feel like I have only scratched the surface of what I could find if I put some time into doing some proper research. </div>
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If you'd like to embark on this journey yourself, head over to <a href="https://livingdna.com/" target="_blank">Living DNA</a> and order your kit today. The sooner you get started, the sooner your results will be back.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0WkSYOpuE-L1_ldiH7fcFQ2MxaxNmE_HILPgaW_D4gQm-Tx4n7AqvPVzE-bMTxx34KTJXWiLOl4t1CJA0gN-K4PxHz9RqpT7B_Sj8YSujW8VR2djNaZzmNBQMHNzh-h14RR0jjAaeqs/s1600/Footer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0WkSYOpuE-L1_ldiH7fcFQ2MxaxNmE_HILPgaW_D4gQm-Tx4n7AqvPVzE-bMTxx34KTJXWiLOl4t1CJA0gN-K4PxHz9RqpT7B_Sj8YSujW8VR2djNaZzmNBQMHNzh-h14RR0jjAaeqs/s1600/Footer.png" /></a></div>
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*I received this DNA Kit free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.</div>
Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673393085096110871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485491862814098974.post-34933712133685303892018-11-30T08:24:00.000-08:002018-12-04T08:38:53.773-08:00BRAND NEW - TGI Fridays Cocktails*<div style="text-align: center;">
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I absolutely love cocktails and as the festive season starts to near, I love the thought of going out on a cold crisp evening after work and having a cocktail or two in a warm bar or restaurant. After all, it’s all about having that Friday feeling. Now you can have that Friday feeling all day with the new range of TGI Fridays’ brand new bottled cocktails.</div>
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The bottles come in 500ml sizes and contain 10% alcohol content. </div>
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I was lucky enough to receive all three and had great pleasure in testing them all out for you. First up was the Long Island Iced Tea, this was blended wit fruit alcohol and vodka and had a nice tangy lemon flavour to it, like most previous Iced teas I have had in the past. I am not usually a fan of iced tea but this cocktail was sweet and had a really nice flavour.</div>
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The next cocktail I received was probably my favourite, the Pink Punk Mojito. I loved the vibrant colour of the cocktail too, perfect for a girls night in. The cocktail contains pineapple juice, cranberry juice, lime juice blended with fruit alcohol and vodka.It has a slight minty flavour which makes this the perfect festive drink, you could even serve it with a candy cane.<br />
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Finally, I received the Passion Fruit Martini, which was also equally delicious. Serve with a side of prosecco for that extra special feel. Bring TGI's into your own home and feel like an amazing host this Christmas. Your guests will be spoiled for choice.<br />
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With these cocktails it always feels like Friday. Find TGIF Cocktails at the following social links: <a href="https://twitter.com/TGIFCocktailsUK">@TGIFCocktailsUK</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TGIFcocktailsUK/">@TGIF Cocktails UK</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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*I received these items free of charge in exchange for an honest review. </div>
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Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673393085096110871noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485491862814098974.post-33810493826065587262018-11-18T02:34:00.002-08:002018-11-18T02:34:49.514-08:00Myprotein - New PhaseTech Range Review*<div style="text-align: center;">
I am one for trying to keep active but sometimes my energy resources run low and I just need something to give me a little bit of a boost. Since training for a half marathon, my runs have been more frequent and longer meaning I struggle to recover between them. I didn’t want to injure myself but I was at a bit of a loss for what to do. I was then contacted by <a href="https://www.myprotein.com/">Myprotein</a> to try out their new PhaseTech Range, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Head over to the myprotein website to discover more about <a href="https://www.myprotein.com/phasetech.list">PhaseTech</a>. <br />
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Myprotein is one of Europe’s biggest online sports nutrition companies, and one that I was familiar with even before this collaboration. The new PhaseTech products include phased-release breakthrough technology created to enhance performance. They have been incorporated into three enhanced exclusive blends, THE Whey+, THE Pre-Workout+ and THE Amino+. I was lucky enough to receive two of these brand new products and have been trying them out for the past few weeks now in order to bring you a proper review.<br />
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The first product I received was <a href="https://www.myprotein.com/sports-nutrition/the-whey/11353515.html">THE Whey+</a> in Vanilla Ice Cream flavour, which costs £26.99 for a 900g 30 serving tub. I think that is excellent value at less than £1 a serving. This product has a unique protein formula designed to provide your body with the right building blocks it needs to help your muscles grow and recover, perfect for me after a long 10 mile run. It contains BCAA, leucine and glutamine which help to build and repair muscles after exercising and less than 2g carbs and 1g fat. It is best consumed in the form of a protein shake, however I have seen people use this in pancake recipes if you prefer your protein in a food form! To me, it tasted great just mixed with water and in a protein shaker it mixed well. I often added extra things into my shake with the powder and stuck it all in my blender and it was smooth and delicious. The aim of this was to help me repair my muscles and I definitely found that my recovery time between training sessions was reduced. Usually after an efforts training session my legs would ache for 3-4 days, but after incorporating THE Whey+ into my life I’d only ache for one day and be ready to go again.<br />
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The second product I received was <a href="https://www.myprotein.com/sports-nutrition/the-amino/11770658.html">THE Amino+</a>, a powerful amino acid drink designed to give you energy as well as vitamins and minerals to help aid in muscle recovery. It contains 14g of amino acids, BCAAs, L-leucine, and L-glutamine which all help tone muscles. This product can be added to water or juice before a workout or to give you energy throughout the day. I usually run on a Thursday lunch time with work, and I found that drinking one of these in the morning gave me a good boost before my afternoon run. It comes in three flavours, Berry, Tropical and Blue Raspberry Lime. I received Berry and thought it tasted pretty good so I would imagine the other fruity flavours are equally as nice. The texture was strange at first, a bit like having sprinkles in your drink but I got used to it pretty quickly.<br />
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Overall, I am pleased I introduced these products into my workout routine and recovery process. They have really enabled me to up my training plan and would be great for anyone who is into their exercise whether that be running like me or lifting.<br />
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If you are interested in trying these products, <a href="https://www.myprotein.com/">Myprotein </a>also sell sample packs before committing to a large tub. Are you into your fitness? Would you be willing to give these products a go?<br />
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*I received these items free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.</div>
Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673393085096110871noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485491862814098974.post-7538522162690990692018-10-09T04:09:00.000-07:002018-10-09T04:09:29.113-07:00My Surprise Hen Party<div style="text-align: center;">
Well where do I start with this post – I am still in shock! So a couple of weeks ago was my surprise Hen Party. Remember in my <a href="http://www.christieslifestyle.co.uk/2018/06/the-christie-loves-box-2.html">Christies Love’s Box review</a> I mentioned that <a href="http://www.romanovsviews.com/">Kim</a> had given me a Save The Date for a blog event in September? Turns out this wasn’t a blog event after all and in fact she had been plotting a hen party for me with some of my friends and family.<br />
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The day of the ‘blog event’ arrived and I had packed my camera, purse, phone and all the essentials. I was told the event was overnight so I had an overnight bag and I was also told to bring my passport too but turns out this was all to throw me off! I spent ages picking what to wear in the morning and waited for Kim to pick me up. Usually I wait for Kim in my garden and lock the back door, but this time Kim called ahead and said she needed the loo and to fill up my water bottle so I waited indoors – again, all part of her plan!<br />
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When Kim arrived, she told me to come outside. In my mind I was thinking oh god, has she crashed into my car/fence? Ran Biscuit over? Why does she need me to come outside so soon! I’ve barely had time to get my bags! And as I walked out, on my driveway were lots of my friends and family, all wearing matching Bride Tribe Tshirts. They looked fantastic! I was then given my own Tshirt to wear, a veil and a garter. In the front seat of the car was a blow up man too, which I was rather amused by.<br />
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We got into 3 cars and drove to a secret location. On the way there Kim mentioned we were running late and my nanny mentioned we had chartered the boat for the day so I then knew we were going on a boat. I assumed it would be one of those little ones you get on the broads, but I was very wrong. As we drove to the location I had to ask who was actually here, because I hadn’t even taken in the faces I had seen and having not given any guestless to Kim I had no idea who had come to celebrate. We got to the location and we were greeted by one of the boat crew. He said to me “ so you’ve never tried water skiing before?” and I started to panic. I thought oh god, I’ve done all my hair and makeup and it will be ruined! Luckily he was joking! We got to the boat and it was massive, not like I expected at all. We all sort of looked at each other and thought where on earth do we sit?! But once we got our lifejackets on and got moving it was really fun and we had great weather.<br />
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We played a couple of games on the boat, James my fiancé had answered some questions about me and I had to guess what he had said. We also played a game with underwear in which my guests had drawn a picture on them and I had to describe a funny story that related to it. At around 1pm, we moored up for lunch at The Maltsters at Ranworth and had a meal and some much needed prosecco and shots! After lunch we got back on the boat and headed back again. Chloe even had a go at driving the boat which was funny, then Kim and Daisy helped with getting it back in again.<br />
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We then got back into the cars and headed for the final location. A few people went home at this point and the remainder then went back to Kims where she had set out her living room and kitchen with lots of Hen Party décor. There was even a large banner hanging from the house! The kitchen was decorated with balloons, bunting and food. <a href="http://costesseycakes.co.uk/">Costessey Cakes</a> had provided a wedding dress made of cupcakes and also some amazing biscuits – including flip flops (an inside joke for me and Kim!). she had even gone to the effort of making sure that all of the food was suitable for coeliacs and was also egg free to cater for everyone who had came back. We had some nibbles and Kim also cooked some pizzas.<br />
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I was also presented with a Christie Loves Box – The wedding edition in collaborating with my mum who helped buy some of the items inside.<br />
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Back at Kim’s we played some more games, one was called “junk in the trunk” which I was really bad at, and we also played pass the parcel where there was funny forfeits/truths inside. I really enjoyed it. Afterwards, the rest of my guests headed home it was just me and Kim left. We watched a funny film “The First Wives Club” and went to sleep. It had been a really long day, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was so nice to see lots of my friends I hadn’t seen for a while and who made the effort to come out despite having children and busy lives. Thank you to Kim for helping to organise and host such a great event, and for all of the other ladies who came along and some of which contributed but didn’t get a chance to come. It was really nice of them!<br />
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The countdown to the wedding is officially on!<br />
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Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673393085096110871noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485491862814098974.post-28106799767653785892018-09-25T12:01:00.000-07:002018-09-25T12:01:09.897-07:00The Perfect Breakfast - Feat. Clonakilty*<div style="text-align: center;">
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and one of my favourites. I am never 100% sure on what to have, but I like to start the day with a decent sized breakfast. I was recently contacted and introduced to a brand called <a href="https://www.clonakiltyblackpudding.ie/">Clonakilty</a> who specialise in Ireland's favourite black pudding.<br />
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Clonakilty are traditionally known for their black pudding however have recently launched their new Ispini sausages in the UK, perfect for breakfast, dinners and in the warmer months, BBQs. Made using 100% Irish pork, I imagined these would have the same flavours that you get from the butchers and I couldn’t wait to try them.<br />
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I rustled up an Irish feast with some of the products I was kindly sent including Irish eggs and bread. I couldn’t miss the chance to have some potatoes on my plate too!<br />
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The <a href="https://www.clonakiltyblackpudding.ie/">Clonakilty</a> black pudding is made using a recipe that originated in the town of Clonakilty in the 1880’s. The popularity of the black pudding has spread around the world. With such a great reputation, I couldn’t wait to try the sausages. The brand also have white pudding in their collection of fine foods.<br />
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The sausages can be grilled or fried in a shallow pan, I find it easier to fry them as I can constantly move them around. They browned off really well and served with the rest of the breakfast they were an absolute treat. Having never heard about this brand before, I am definitely converted.<br />
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What are your breakfast essentials?<br />
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*I received these items free of charge. I was not asked to write a review as such, but I genuinely enjoyed the product and wanted to share them. Please see my disclaimer for more information</div>
Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673393085096110871noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485491862814098974.post-53247047390771519812018-09-11T05:39:00.001-07:002018-09-11T05:40:53.761-07:00Alphabet Dating - B<div style="text-align: center;">
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This month’s date was down to James to organise and although admittedly we did them in a strange order, I looked forward to seeing what the day would bring. We started off by going to a Birthday BBQ, completely unplanned but it did fit in well with the ‘B’ theme. It was a lovely day and we ended up leaving after 5pm in the end so I did wonder where James was planning to take me.</div>
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We got in the car and away we went. James then told me we were going to Cromer Beach for a walk. We parked up and the sun was low in the sky. It was still a lovely warm summer evening and we walked along the seafront. We hadn’t had any tea so James treated me to some chips (and mushy peas of course!) and we sat and ate them.<br />
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We then had a slow wander back to the car whilst the sun set around us and the air started to cool.<br />
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I had a really lovely evening and thought it was such a nice idea to head to the Beach after the mad rush and just relax and take in the sea air. I slept a treat that night.<br />
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There isn't much more I can really say about this, I think you had to be there to appreciate it. Stay tuned to see what I had in store for date C.<br />
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Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673393085096110871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485491862814098974.post-58069040213233963782018-08-16T02:42:00.000-07:002018-08-16T02:42:48.587-07:00Alphabet Dating - A<div style="text-align: center;">
Alphabet dating is something I came across on Instagram recently (I wish I knew who to credit!) and decided to do a bit of research into it. When looking for answers on google, I discovered that is was quite a common thing and something that I thought was a fantastic idea. I broached the idea to James and he was also up for it and thought it sounded like a great thing to do once a month.<br />
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Alphabet dating is where as a couple or even a new person you are just starting to date, you choose a ‘date’ beginning with a particular letter. We decided that one month I would choose and arrange a surprise date and then the month after James would choose one. When March began, we decided to start with A and as it was my idea I offered to go first. You could of course do this every other week, bi-monthly or whatever suits your dating pattern.<br />
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‘A’ was a really convenient letter for me as I had already pre-planned an <b>Alton Towers</b> trip for James’ birthday. After recently attending Scarefest with Kim and telling James about it, he mentioned he had never been and would love to go. I really wanted to take him for his birthday weekend but found out that it only opened a few days before and I didn’t want it to be insanely busy. I forgot about the whole idea when an email landed in my inbox telling me about the service day, 2 weeks before the official opening. The service day is open to all emergency services and armed forces at a heavily discounted rate and with free parking. Perfect! I booked the tickets there and then. Unfortunately this then got cancelled due to the weather we had so I had to come up with another idea!<br />
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I decided to plan something for a couple of weeks later. We couldn’t make it to <b>Alton Towers</b> the replacement weekend as James had work so I thought I would plan our date more locally. The first thing that came to mind was <b>Afternoon Tea</b>, and to stick with the ‘A’ theme I thought we could have it in <b>Aylsham</b>. It was between here and The Assembly House but due to having been to The Assembly House before, I went for <b>Aylsham</b> and booked us into Biddies.<br />
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We both had <b>Afternoon Tea</b> and were stuffed by the end of it. I had to take my brownie home with me as the sandwiches and scone had filled me up. It was really nice just to get away and chill out and enjoy our meals.<br />
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We did also attend <b>Alton Towers</b> at a rearranged date and had a really nice time so I am incorporating that into the A date too.<br />
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The idea of alphabet dating is to encourage you to think outside the box and have fun and try new things with your partner. There are so many options that could suit so many budgets and I am already plotting things for date ‘C’, it could be anything to a coffee and cake to a curry or even a cinema trip! In the meantime I will await next months ‘B’ date which James will be planning. Let me know if you want me to continue sharing these! Do you have any ideas for ‘C’?<br />
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Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673393085096110871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485491862814098974.post-66348109577817349542018-08-13T01:59:00.000-07:002018-08-13T01:59:50.267-07:00Nordgreen Designer Watches*<div style="text-align: center;">
When it comes to wearing a watch, I usually have my smart watch on but sometimes it is nice to change things up and wear something different. Smart watches all look very similar and I had been on the lookout for a nice watch that stands out from the crowd.<br />
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When I was contacted by <a href="http://www.nordgreen.co.uk/">Nordgreen Watches</a>, I couldn’t wait to see what sort of watches they had available and I was spoiled for choice. They were the exact thing I had been after, something stylish yet affordable.<br />
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Nordgreen are a new Scandinavian watch brand born out of Copenhagen, They have partnered with the renowned Jakob Wagner, designer of Bang & Olufsen headsets. They aim to to deliver a minimalistic approach of the city, combined with its ethical values to create beautiful timepieces. This is affirmed by a recent Kickstarter campaign where they raised $250k.<br />
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I chose the Philosopher <a href="https://nordgreen.co.uk/collections/womens-watches/products/philosopher-rose-gold-mesh">Rose Gold Mesh Watch</a>. It arrived in a beautiful sleek box. It’s always nice to see good quality packaging and I really felt like I was receiving something really special.<br />
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One of the things I found interesting about this watch is how to adjust the strap. Having a mesh strap, you can’t just take a few links out to shorten it and I wondered how I would get it to fit. The fantastic thing about the brand Norgreen is they have created <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9WzLfU1-hg">YouTube tutorials</a> on how to adjust their watches and once I had watched this it was so simple to do. It also means that it is a watch that you can keep forever as it can be adjusted to you if you change size or shape throughout the years. The straps also have a quick release function so you can interchange different styles and colours with ease meaning this can go with every outfit. It feels really comfortable to wear as well.<br />
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Although the watches are not waterproof, they are splash proof and can be worn in the rain. This is always a benefit as you don’t want to have to worry about getting it a bit wet when washing your hands or doing day to day tasks involving water and its reassuring to know you can do this with ease.<br />
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For every watch sold, as a customer you will get the chance to give to one of three charitable causes, through their Giving Back Program. I think this is fantastic and so unique. When purchasing your Nordgreen watch you will receive a unique code which you can then register your watch with and choose from 3 causes to donate to which are as follows:<br />
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2 months of education to a child in India<br />
2 months of clean watch to a person in central Africa<br />
200sqm of rainforest in Latin America<br />
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If you like what you see, head over to Norgreen and check out the beautiful range of watches available. For 10% off your order, use code <a href="https://nordgreen.co.uk/discount/CHRISTIESLIFESTYLE">CHRISTIESLIFESTYLE</a>.</div>
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*I received this item free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.</div>
Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673393085096110871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485491862814098974.post-85920706589910681412018-07-13T01:00:00.000-07:002018-07-13T01:00:40.570-07:00Weekly Spending Diary<div style="text-align: center;">
I saw this idea over on <a href="http://hannahgale.co.uk/">Hannah Gale’s</a> blog and thought it would be a fun one to do, see where I seem to spend most of my money!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo taken by Kim @ www.romanovsviews.com</td></tr>
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<u>Day One</u><br />
Today started off fairly normal, I went to work so didn’t spend any money in the morning. On my lunch break I was on the lookout for a new outfit but man did I struggle. I went to so many high street shops and I couldn’t find anything. It’s typical really as soon as you have the money and want to buy an outfit, there isn’t anything! In the end I went to Primark and I got a white top and a pair of heels. I spent £22. In the evening I met my friend Kelly for food/drinks and we went to Copper Beech. I had Cod & Chips and a Pepsi Max, it came to £14.95.<br />
<b>Total = £36.95</b><br />
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<u>Day Two</u><br />
Work again today and I don’t tend to spend any money whilst I am here as I do bring my own lunch. It all depends if I go wandering at lunch times! Well today I decided to nip out and I realised how bright it was outside so nipped to primark for a pair of £2 sunnies. I then had a BBQ this evening which work contributed towards so my first 3 drinks and food were all free. I bought a colleague a soda and lime for £1.60 and that was all I managed to spend for the night!<br />
<b>Total = £3.60</b><br />
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<u>Day Three</u><br />
Last day at work for the week and we were all feeling a bit tender today so a couple of us decided to head to Grosvenor Fish Bar www.fshshop.com/ for lunch. I had eaten a million chips last night so decided I needed to avoid those and instead went for cod and mushy peas which cost £4.50. I also needed petrol so I filled the car up and spent £32. We ended up popping into Morrisons to get a few bits as I was meeting my friend for a picnic I thought I’d grab some nibbles and drinks for us, I spent £7.23.<br />
<b>Total = £43.73</b><br />
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<u>Day Four</u><br />
My day started with Parkrun which is a free weekly timed event and a great way to exercise. I then got home and got ready to meet my friend for our picnic. We met in Wroxham and had a delicious lunch by the river. We then went for a walk around and I ended up popping to Roys and purchasing 2 ceramic cactus vases (that I didn’t really need but were cute) and a cactus coffee cup. I spent £12.02. We then had an ice-cream, I think it was £2.20 off the top of my head. I also then went to the food section of Roys and got some smarties and some skittles for James which totalled £1.60.<br />
<b>Total = £15.82</b><br />
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<u>Day Five</u><br />
Total = Today I was working so managed to have a spend-free day. It wasn’t until I got home that I spent some money. Knowing that James and I were going to Alton Towers, I purchased a photo digi-pass for us both which cost £30. Other than that I didn’t need to buy anything which was handy.<br />
<b>Total = £30</b><br />
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<u>Day Six</u><br />
As I said a moment ago today was a trip to Alton Towers. I had already bought the tickets a few months ago and my parking was free so I didn’t need to spend any money there. We had a great time walking around the park and getting on rides. Our photos were paid for so it was nice to collect these after getting off each ride. We decided to stop for lunch and the closest place was a pizza/pasta buffet. It was £13.50 each for all you can eat and drink, I feel like we definitely didn’t get our money’s worth though as we didn’t want to overeat and feel rough on the rides. I paid for both of us so it was £27.00. On the way home I needed to stop for petrol, so we filled up when we saw the nearest petrol station and I spent £28.97. We also decided to have a Mcdonalds on route home which came to £9.16. We got home quite late and the final thing I bought was my entrance fee for Tour De Broads for £18 which a few of us are doing as a team for charity.<br />
<b>Total = £83.13</b><br />
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<u>Day Seven</u><br />
The final day of recording my spending and I needed to pop out at lunch and get something for our World Cup Themed Buffet. My team at work have Belgium so I picked up some Belgian Chocolate Cookies for my contribution, they came to £1.58. The only other thing I bought was my weekly Tesco shop, which was £50.10, pretty average for me really.<br />
<b>Total = £51.68</b><br />
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<b>Total spend for the week = £264.91.</b><br />
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It was really fun and interesting doing this post but it did really make me think about where I spend money and I think the majority of it has been on food! Maybe I need to put more effort into using my money towards making memories. It’s no wonder I always claim to have none. Not every week is like this, some are quieter than others and I haven’t included any of my standard direct debit payments that have happened to come out this week either as it was payday not long before this week. I might do this challenge again and try to have a cheaper week. Have you ever totalled up your weekly spend?<br />
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Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673393085096110871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485491862814098974.post-31840418565895757802018-06-28T02:32:00.000-07:002018-06-28T02:32:06.826-07:0030 Before 30<div style="text-align: center;">
Following on from my post a few weeks ago about turning 28, it got me thinking about things that I want to achieve by the time I am 30. I wanted to think of some attainable goals that are realistic for me and that can be done in the next 2 years, not things like “travel the world” as I need a lot more time and money to add that to the list! Let me know what you think of these goals. Hopefully I will still be blogging in 2020 and can update you with how many of these I actually got ticked off!<br />
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Thank you to <a href="http://www.romanovsviews.com/">Kim</a> for taking these photos.<br />
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1.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Get married – should be pretty easy this one!<br />
2.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Go abroad with James, we have never had a holiday abroad with just the 2 of us.<br />
3.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Finish decorating the house – Only the bathroom, kitchen, porch, hallway and spare rooms to go!<br />
4.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sort the garden out to a reasonable state.<br />
5.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Host a garden party/BBQ – Could even be an idea for my 30th!<br />
6.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Try a food challenge - you know like the giant burgers or eat 1200 chicken nuggets? Yeah I wanna attempt one of those.<br />
7.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Run 100 parkruns. I have currently done 27 so only 73 to go in 100 weeks!<br />
8.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Run a marathon. At the start of the year I set myself the challenge of running a whole 5km without stopping and have already smashed that and ran 10km! So I would love to take part in a marathon before I am 30. I am doing a walking Marathon in a couple of months so to complete that will be fantastic.<br />
9.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Run a half marathon – one step at a time hey!<br />
10.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Get a tattoo. I have no idea what, it’s just been so long I feel I need another.<br />
11.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>See more of the UK. We have some amazing places right on our doorstep, I would love to travel more locally.<br />
12.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Read 30 books. I really got into reading last year but have completely slacked off after being put off by an awful book. I want to pick this up again.<br />
13.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Host a dinner party.<br />
14.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Have Christmas at home.<br />
15.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Try something different from my local Chinese. (you know instead of chicken balls, chow mein, chips and sweet and sour sauce)<br />
16.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Learn to Salsa. I have been attending Salsa classes recently but have no rhythm and would love to one day find that natural flow.<br />
17.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Go glamping.<br />
18.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Finally get to my ideal target weight.<br />
19.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Win at Bingo (I’ll even take £5, I just want to win!)<br />
20.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Treat myself to one really expensive item of clothing or accessory.<br />
21.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Visit a cat café.<br />
22.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Get a new front door.<br />
23.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Own a houseplant that I don’t end up killing after a few months.<br />
24.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Get a new pet. Ideally I would like another cat, but will settle for a goldfish if needed to complete the goal.<br />
25.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Continue blogging and get back into a consistent schedule.<br />
26.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Have an actual skincare routine – any tips?<br />
27.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Cut my hair short again – currently I am growing it for the wedding but I want a really good chop after.<br />
28.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Learn to make pastry from scratch.<br />
29.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Have the living room feel more homely.<br />
30.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Write a list of 40 things to do before I am 40!<br />
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What's on your bucket list?<br />
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Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673393085096110871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485491862814098974.post-24855806311512236372018-06-13T00:39:00.000-07:002018-06-13T00:39:54.249-07:00Father's Day Gift Guide*<div style="text-align: center;">
Father’s Day is fast approaching and I don’t know about you but I always struggle with ideas on what to get my dad. Luckily his birthday was about 6 months ago so I know he will be running out of some essentials so I can get an easy win with those, but what about that main gift? What sort of things do you usually get your dad to show your appreciation?<br />
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Give your father the gift of time with the gorgeous range of Daniel Wellington watches from <a href="https://www.brownsfamilyjewellers.co.uk/">Browns Family Jewellers</a>. Browns Family Jewellers specialise in new and vintage jewellery.<br />
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I was very kindly sent the Daniel Wellington Classic Durham watch which retails on their website at just £99.99 at the moment. The dial is a lovely eggshell white which compliments the genuine American leather strap. It’s a watch that can be dressed up or down and a great timepiece that holds your own personal story. My dad will know that the watch came from me and it will hold a nice memory.<br />
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Spoil your dad this Father’s Day with a whisky to suit his personality. The premium William Grant & Sons UK portfolio has a unique whisky for every dad. William Grant & Sons Ltd. is an independent family-owned distiller headquartered in the United Kingdom and founded by William Grant in 1887. The company distils some of the world’s leading brands of Scotch Whisky.<br />
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My dad is generally a beer lover so I would probably choose the Glenfiddich IPA Experiment Whisky. This is the world’s first single malt Scotch whisky finished in bold and zesty IPA craft beer casks. Presented in a unique box, this would be the perfect treat for your dad. RRP from £44.93 at any major retailer, including <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Glenfiddich-Experiment-Single-Scotch-Whisky/dp/B01N2GRZLQ/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1525423809&sr=8-1&keywords=glenfiddich%2Bipa&dpID=41R6-wex9-L&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch">Amazon</a>.<br />
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What will you be buying your father?<br />
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*I received some items in this blog post free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.</div>
Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673393085096110871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485491862814098974.post-69863899417383019722018-06-11T06:15:00.000-07:002018-06-11T06:15:26.285-07:00The Christie Loves Box #2<div style="text-align: center;">
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Well when it comes to Birthday gifts, <a href="http://www.romanovsviews.com/">Kim </a>always goes all out and this year was no exception. If you saw my previous <a href="http://www.christieslifestyle.co.uk/2018/01/the-christie-loves-box.html">Christie Loves Box </a>post then you will know that the box consisted of a magazine, created by <a href="http://www.romanovsviews.com/">Kim</a> and lots of corresponding goodies.</div>
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I can tell a lot of time and effort has gone into creating this gift for me and it was filled with everything I love. Even the magazine was put together so carefully with flatlays and photos of some of the products and how best to use them. I am very thankful for what Kim has made for me so keep reading if you want to find out what was inside.</div>
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Firstly I opened the book and flicked through the pages to see what goodies were inside. I immediately spotted this T-shirt and recognised it to be similar to one I had shot Kim in on one of our days out from Tricky Ink. I absolutely love the cactus emblem, it is very me. I am hoping that when me and Kim next meet up I can get her to take some photos of me in it. In the meantime, check out Kim's post on <a href="http://www.romanovsviews.com/2018/05/how-to-style-simple-tee.html">how to style</a> simple tees. Following on from the cactus theme I also received this tea-light holder but Kim's top tip was to use this to store a beauty blender. What an amazing idea I thought! Beauty blenders can get mouldy if they aren't stored properly so this is such a genius way to do it!</div>
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This next gift has such a personal touch to it and I really like it and the meaning behind it. The words say "nothing shines brighter than the heart of a good friend". What i love about this is the stone in the middle with a heart. The colours match my living room decor too so I can have this on display and it will remind me of our friendship.<br />
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This trinket dish has multiple uses and the magazine suggested it to be a great way to apply foundation, by popping it on the dish instead of on your hand. I never thought to do this before and sometimes I mix lighter and darker shades depending on the time of year and this will save me making a mess. It can easily be cleaned. In the meantime I have been using it to store my engagement ring on the rare occasions I take it off.</div>
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This has to be one of favourite gifts, the Dusty Rose Melted Clover by Too Faced. I mean, look at that packaging! It's gorgeous. I also got a couple of other Too Faced goodies to try out. I love the consistency and lasting power of the Too Faced melted matte collection and although I only have 2, I know I will have to purchase more colours! I am loving the colour and it looks great for an every day look. </div>
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As a crazy cat lady, I was pleased to see some cat themed coasters in my box. I love the simplicity of these and being black and white they go perfectly with any decor. I have been dying to use them but needed to take this photo first - blogger problems! </div>
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Now this was a great little extra to find at the bottom of my box. My favourite fudge! Now I bought some of this fudge when I was with Kim but it must have been a good few years ago now, and then Kim bought me some more. I can;t believe she remembered that it was my favourite and as soon as I took this photo I ate the lot! Oops!</div>
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The last little surprise in my box inside the magazine was a save the date for September. I am not yet sure what I will be doing but I have marked it on my calendar and look forward to whatever Kim has in store!</div>
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Overall this was a really lovely gift box filled with goodies and the magazine that went with it was fantastic. I do wish I had thought of such an idea myself! Thanks again <a href="http://www.romanovsviews.com/">Kim</a> for being such a fab friend and putting all this together for me!</div>
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Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673393085096110871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485491862814098974.post-44218534899173276652018-06-08T03:30:00.000-07:002018-06-08T03:30:01.560-07:00Birthday Haul 2018<div style="text-align: center;">
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Another year has passed and I am another year older. I had an amazing <a href="http://www.christieslifestyle.co.uk/2018/06/twenty-eight.html">birthday</a> and cannot believe it's all over and I am another year close to the big 3-0! I received some lovely presents and cards and thank everyone who bought me something or wished me a Happy Birthday. These posts shouldn't need a disclaimer but you know the drill. I am not bragging, I have not named who has got me each thing and I have not featured every item. I hope this post gives you some good ideas for gifts for your friends and family. Lets get to it!</div>
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First I thought I would share some of the running gifts I received. I have started getting into running this year and it is starting to become a hobby that I enjoy and I never thought I would enjoy exercise! I received so many handy presents such as running socks, a towel, belt, magnets to hold race numbers and lots more goodies. I also received a 6 month subscription to a running magazine which I have really been enjoying and getting lots of tips from. I also got a couple of pairs of trainers which aren't for running but fit well in this photo. Using my birthday money I treated myself to some proper running shoes and got my gait analysed so I can't wait to break them in.</div>
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I got quite a few bits for the house including a new clock for the living room which I had been eyeing up. I just need to get James to hang it on the wall! I also received some mixing bowls which I was so pleased with as I had been making cakes in a heart shaped bowl which was just impossible to stir, so these round ones are going to change my life. I also received some candles, my fave! I also love the drinking glasses I got and cat themed mug!<br />
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Clearly my friends and family know me well as they got me some edible goodies and prossecco. I am yet to try the salted caramel kettles although I am very intrigued! I also got some of my favourite sweets, fudge and truffles. I feel spoilt for choice. Sorry Slimming World! One of my friends also knows I love food and got me a restaurant choice voucher so I cannot wait to spend it on a nice meal.<br />
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Some other gifts I received include socks, dvds, a camera bag and strap and some smellies. All of which I am really chuffed with. The DVD came from my cat, he thought I might like to watch it. I also got a chair for the garden so I can sit outside in the sunshine! I look forward to attempting the DIY cactus too!</div>
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I was lucky enough to receive some books too including a few recipe books. I can't wait to try some of the salted caramel recipes, using my new bowls of course! </div>
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Last but not least, I received the second edition of the <a href="http://www.christieslifestyle.co.uk/2018/01/the-christie-loves-box.html">Christie Love's Box</a>, cleverly put together by <a href="http://www.romanovsviews.com/">Kim</a>. If you've seen my Christmas Gift Haul you will know I received Box 1 last year and it was filled with goodies. This year was no different and I was really impressed with the contents. You will have to wait until my next post to see what is inside though, as I think it deserves its own post! </div>
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Let me know if you've had a birthday recently, and what goodies you received?<br />
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Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673393085096110871noreply@blogger.com0