Adagio Teas Christmas gourmet tea collection giveaway

 This month I have a few giveaways for you all this week so keep your eyes peeled here and on my Twitter and Instagram. My first giveaway is the Adagio Teas Christmas gourmet tea collection. 

Inside you'll find 30 festive tea bags in candy cane, chestnut, gingerbread, pumpkin spice, cranberry and candy apple flavours.

Entering is easy, just click on the link below. Good luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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J2O Spritz making non alcoholic fizzy and fun

AD - GIFTED Over the last couple of years I've found myself drinking less and less. Let's be honest, going out with the sole aim of getting drunk is pretty same old at 37! Whilst I do sometimes have a glass of wine, G&T or cider with my friends it is rarely more than that now. More often than not I stick to non-alcoholic drinks and drive. Non-alcoholic drinks never feel very special or exciting though do they? Fortunately J2O have sent me the answer to this problem, the J2O spritz drinks.

I have two flavours of the J2O Spritz drinks, pear and raspberry and apple and watermelon. They are both in the original style J2O bottle.

My J2O Spritz review

You can tell the J2O Spritz is different from regular J2O as soon as you pop the cap. Bubbles! There is a perfect amount of fizz in the drink. Enough that you can see it in the glass and feel it in your mouth, but not too much that it bubbles out over the top of your glass or takes away from the taste.

I really like both flavours but the pear and raspberry is my favourite. They are both fruity and fresh and neither have an artificial taste.

J2O Spritz is the kind of soft drink I am more than happy to order in a bar and sit and drink. It's the kind of drink I will keep in stock at home for garden parties or nights in with my friends. I am more than happy to sit drinking it while my friends sip their prosecco as it's a great non-alcoholic replacement. Whilst it is just as fruity and refreshing as standard J2O the bubbles make it feel more grown up and special.

Have you tried the J2O Spritz? I'd love to know what you think of them if you have. If not, are you happy to switch the fizz for it?

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Helping my healthy kick with Health Lab wellness and beauty snacks

*AD - GIFTED* For the last few months I have been quietly trying to clean up my diet and add more fitness to my day. I walk so much more than before, aiming for at least 3 miles a day. Whilst I am not dieting I am trying to eat more healthier and looking at the nutrition of what I'm eating. My breakfast, lunch and dinner are all much healthier (with the occasional treats here and there of course!) one thing I am struggling with is snacks. Fruit just doesn't cut it sometimes does it? Luckily for me the Health Lab wellness and beauty snacks have me covered!

About Health Lab wellness and beauty snacks

Health Lab was born from a kitchen in Australia in 2015 when Jess, the founder, saw a gap for actually healthy snacks that satisfy the sugar craving.
There are vegan protein balls, hemp energy balls, collagen protein balls and probiotic gut health balls. They are all made from natural ingredients with no surprise nasties in there.

My Health Lab wellness and beauty snacks experience

I have been sent six different snacks to try.

• Mixed berry probiotic ball
• Choc brownie protein ball
• Espresso hemp energy ball
• Salted caramel protein ball
• Choc matcha probiotic ball
• Peanut butter choc hemp energy ball

Each 40g ball is individually wrapped and I really love the different colours. They are girly and if you have a few in the cupboard you can easily see which one you want. The labelling is great, you can easily see the ingredients (I can confirm there are no hidden or unusual things in there) as well as the nutritional information.
All of the Health Lab wellness and beauty snacks taste great. (Though I can't comment on the espresso energy ball as due to my caffeine intolerance I daren't try it). They have are firm and chewy with occasional crunchy bits. They are not gritty or powdery.  My favourites are the salted caramel and choc brownie protein balls. Which is great as protein is definitely something I need to up in my macros.

Each ball, although small, is full of flavour and really hits the snack craving spot.

There are some collagen protein balls on the Health Lab website that I am super interested in trying. Upping protein, healthy snacking AND boosting collagen definitely sounds good to me!

What are your go to healthy snacks? Are the Health Lab wellness and beauty snacks something you would eat?

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Wok to Walk Leeds

*AD - COMPLIMENTARY* It's no surprise by now that Asian food is one of my favourites, especially if it is street food style. A new branch of Wok to Walk has opened in Leeds In January this year and I was invited down to try it out a couple of weeks ago.

Wok to Walk takes its inspiration from all different Asian cuisines, blending them in to a delicious fusion of ingredients and flavours.
You are able to the food out or eat in. I love the choices of individual tables or the more communal long table.

The decor is bright and airy with plenty of colour. I really love the caption posters up on the walls. How appropriate is this one to sit near during Game of Thrones season?

Wok to Walk Leeds, The food

One thing I really love about Wok to Walk is the ordering concept. You choose everything that goes in to your meal and it is cooked in the wok in front of you.
There are different bases of noodles, grains and vegetables, then ingredients such as meats, veggies and nuts, different sauces and different toppings.

This is wholewheat noodles with pulled beef, onions, peppers, Tokyo (teriyaki sauce) and sesame seeds. It is SO good! There is a generous amount of meat and veg in with the noodles and the sauce tastes amazing.

 This is egg noodles with chicken katsu, cashew nuts, onions, Koh Toh (green curry) sauce and coriander. This is a bit too spicy for my taste but my friend Linda loves it. The chicken katsu is gorgeous and definitely something I'll order next time.

And this is a side dish, chicken, peppers, onion, Saigon (garlic and black pepper) sauce with fried onions. I didn't get to taste this but can say it is the perfect size for a lunch dish or if you are carb free.

I can't fault any part of our meal at Wok to Walk. The staff are lovely and the food is delicious. I really recommend the homemade lemonade too, it is perfect!

If you want to try out the new Leeds branch you can use the discount code wtwleeds20 for 20% off your order.

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Eating at Trinity Kitchen

*AD - COMPLIMENTARY* The Trinity Centre in Leeds is somewhere I go a lot. With the restaurants, bars, shops and cinema there is everything I need there. One part I haven't been to though is Trinity Kitchen. Luckily for me we were invited down a couple of weeks ago to try out the food there.

About Trinity Kitchen

Trinity Kitchen is a really unique concept for street food dining. There are a few permanent eateries there as well as street food vans that change every eight weeks.

Our Trinity Kitchen meal

I have the beef brisket from Little Tractor. A huge beef brisket sandwich in a brioche bun with slaw, salad and a giant pickle and also comes with fries. I absolute love it! The beef brisket tastes divine and the chips are really tasty too. It is one of those super messy to eat meals so grab a couple of napkins if you try it.

Ellie wasn't very hungry on the night. (It was only a few days before she was admitted to hospital ... isn't hindsight a wonderful thing though!) So, she just has the Original Fry Up twice baked chips. Naturally I need to pinch a couple, purely for research purposes, and they taste great. I'm not sure what it is about twice baking that makes chips SO much better?

Although the beef brisket is super filling I was eyeing up the dessert vendor as soon as we got there. So, we have a brownie and ice-cream from Nans Kitchen to share. It is a large portion so great for sharing after a meal. The brownie is warm with a crisp outside and gooey centre, just how I love them! Vanilla ice-cream, chocolate sauce and sprinkles finish the brownies off.

Our Trinity Kitchen review

Both me and Ellie really enjoyed all our food from the different vendors in Trinity Kitchen. I love the concept behind it too. It's great to be able to pick something from different food stalls and be able to sit in the middle together and eat it.
From now on we will make a point of visiting every couple of months to try out the new vendors. I really want to try Pho, one of the permanent eateries, so that is next on my list.

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Yandra rose syrup

You all know by now I do love me a good gin and tonic, and that I'm also partial to a glass of fizz too. But, I am always up for trying new things to add to the classic drinks. I was recently sent a bottle of Yandra Rose syrup and I've been trying it in a few different drinks over the last few weeks.

About Yandra rose syrup 

Yandra rose syrup is made with Damask rose petals, sugar, water and a dash of lemon. There are no artificial colours. All natural and pure, handcrafted with love. It is suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

You can use it in cocktails, teas, sparking and still wines, milk, desserts and even as a salad drizzle. You can also dilute it in water and drink it alone.

My Yandra rose syrup review 

The Yandra rose syrup is in a 440ml glass bottle and it looks great standing in the drinks cabinet. (Or in my case the drinks corner of my worktop!).

It has a gorgeous, sweet rose aroma that you can smell as soon as you take the lid off. The syrup tastes sweet with a rose flavour and it is fairly thick and sticky. A little of the syrup is all you need, I am using just a teaspoon in my drinks.

On it's own with sparkling water or lemonade, it is a bit too sweet for me. But mixing it with gin and tonic or prosecco makes an amazing drink. The sweetness is offset by the dryness of the prosecco or the bitterness of the tonic.

The Yandra rose syrup is something that I will make sure I have in for our summer barbecues and house parties. I'm sure it is something my friends will love in their gin and prosecco too. It will be great in cocktail jugs full of gin and tonic or even vodka martinis.

You can get a bottle here and it is £6.99.

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I Love Gin February box

*AD - GIFTED* It's my favourite time of the month again, unboxing the I Love Gin box. Ok... so that's not entirely true. One thing I love more than unboxing the gins is drinking them! Keep reading and find out what's inside the I Love Gin February box.

Unboxing the I Love Gin February box

The I Love Gin February box theme is The Sweet Ginger Box and, after a slight change in January, the contents have gone back to the previous months. Inside the box there are two different gins and two tonics.

• A 50ml bottle of Jawbox Classic Dry Gin
• A 50ml bottle of Brecon Jawbox pineapple & ginger gin
• A 250ml bottle of Merchant's Heart pink pepper tonic
• A 250ml bottle of Merchant's Heart ginger ale

My review of the I Love Gin February box

You couldn't pick a more perfect theme for me than ginger so as soon as I saw the card I knew I would love this months box. I always have a bottle of ginger ale in for my gins and regularly choose ginger flavour gins when I am out.
Jawbox gin is a brand that is new to me so I'm really happy about that. After all trying new gin brands and flavours is my main appeal to I Love Gin. The Jawbox Classic dry gin is a perfect dry gin, juniper and citrus are the main flavours with hints of other botanicals in there. The Jawbox pineapple and ginger gin liqueur is heavenly! A delicious combination of botanical gin, sweet pineapple and ginger heat. Definitely a very moreish gin, so not one for a week night.
I have had Merchant's Heart tonic before but never the flavours in this months box. Pink pepper tonic is unusual and a surprisingly good tonic for classic gins. The ginger ale is a spicy ginger that is great with the pineapple and ginger gin. It also adds a great boost of flavour to a dry gin too.
My star picks from this months I Love Gin box are the Jawbox pineapple and ginger gin liqueur and the Merchant's Heart pink peppercorn tonic. Both are bottles I will be buying again and keeping in my (ever growing) gin corner.

Get your own I Love Gin box

You can sign up to an I Love Gin subscription here. It is £14 a months and you will get two gins and two tonics every month. You can also pause or cancel your subscription at any time. I Love Gin will soon be releasing a subscription box with three gins and no tonics, perfect if you always have plenty of tonic in or if you are just all about the gin life.

Which would be your favourite gin and tonic combination?

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Celebrating National Pie Week with Pieminister

*AD - COMPLIMENTARY* Did you know this week is National Pie Week? I don't think a week could be more me to be honest! Whether it's savoury or sweet I can never resit a pie. Pieminister recently got in touch to ask me if I wanted to celebrate with them so, on Monday night me and my friend were there to try the pies.

About National Pie Week

National Pie Week runs from the 4th - 10th March. Pieminister have different things on each night to celebrate. Here is the itinerary for the week.

Our Pieminister meal

I have the Lady Baa Baa pie with mash and garden peas. Lady Baa Baa is the Pieminister March special. It is a lamb, red wine, root vegetables and rosemary pie. And yes, the hilarious pun name did sway my decision to order it!

It is a really deep fill pie with huge chunks of tender lamb and veggies. The gravy inside the pie is amazing, a perfect combination of red wine and rosemary that doesn't over power the lamb. The pastry is crisp and tastes delicious. I really like the gravy too, thick and meaty and enough of it for my meal.

Linda has the Moo pie with mash and mushy peas. Moo is a beef steak and ale pie.

This is another deep fill pie full of chunks of beef and carrots. The gravy inside is thick and you can really taste the ale, without it being too much. It comes with a large helping of minty mushy peas that Linda thinks goes perfectly with her pie.

Pieminister Leeds review

Pieminister Leeds is a great venue. It has a mixture of open tables and chairs and intimate booths. I really love the rustic feel to the booths and the restaurant in general.

The staff are friendly and attentive without being overbearing and they are happy to explain the menu and give you time to decide what you want.

I think the menu is a perfect size. There is just the right amount of choices of pies and sides without having too many choices that you can't decide. It has a great range for vegan and vegetarians too.

Both me and Linda loved our meal at Pieminister. The pies are delicious and the sides all go with them perfectly. Whilst the servings don't look huge they are incredibly filling. There was no room left to try any of the desserts!

I do have my eye on the Sunday Best which comes with a yorkshire pudding, roasties, pigs in blankets and crackling. If that doesn't sound like the most amazing Sunday dinner I don't know what does!

How are you celebrating National Pie Week? Have you eaten at Pieminister before? If not find your nearest branch and get yourself down there.

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I Love Gin January box

*AD - GIFTED* My favourite time of the month is quickly becoming my I Love Gin delivery day. Opening up the box to see what surprise gin goodness is inside is such a treat.  My I Love Gin January box arrived last week and, like with previous months, I've loved trying everything inside.

Unboxing the I Love Gin January box

The theme for the I Love Gin January box is a dry GINuary and the contents are slightly different to previous months. Inside this months box, instead of the usual two different gins and two tonics there is

• A 50ml bottle of strawberry Pin Gin
• A 50ml bottle of Brecon Special Reserve Gin
• A 250ml bottle of Gordon's ultra low alcohol gin and tonic with a hint of lime
• A 250ml bottle of Gordon's ultra low alcohol gin and tonic with a hint of grapefruit

My I Love Gin January box review

I am really impressed with the I Love Gin January box. Both the December and December boxes had two gins and two tonics, which is great. But, having something different in the pre-mixed Gordons gin and tonics is a lovely change. I always have tonic at home (the gin always seems to run out much quicker!) so it's not something I miss in this months box. Having some ready to go drinks are handy for a quick lazy drink at home or for grabbing on the way to a party.

The Gordons gin and tonic with hints of fruit taste delicious. I prefer the lime flavour as the fruity taste is a little stronger than the grapefruit. Being ultra low alcohol (0.5%) is a good change for the box too. Perfect for anyone continuing dry January. Or, like me, perfect for drinking with Sunday dinner. No Monday hangover here.

Pin Gin is a gin brand I already know and love. However I have only tried the original one so I am really happy to have the strawberry flavour. The strawberry is nice and strong without tasting artificial and the original peppery taste of Pin Gin still comes through. This is definitely something I will be getting a full size bottle of.

Brecon Gin is a new to me brand, from the first gin distillery in Wales and uses water from the Brecon Beacons. It is a traditional gin but the botanicals added; citrus, liquorice, cinnamon, nutmeg, coriander, angelica, cassia and orris root; make it a perfect drink for this time of year. A spicy and warming gin just right for the cold dark evenings.

An I Love Gin subscription is a perfect treat for yourself and makes a great gift too. For just £15 a month you can get the gins, tonics and a £5 voucher to spend in the online store.

Which would be your favourite drink from the I Love Gin January box?

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Dunsley Hall country hotel restaurant

Fine dining isn't something you see much of on my blog. It's not that I don't like it, I mean who wouldn't? It's just something I don't often get the chance to do. During our recent stay in Mariner's Cottage I got the chance to eat at Dunsley Hall country hotel restaurant in Whitby.

About Dunsley Hall country hotel

Dunsley Hall country hotel is in Whitby, North Yorkshire and is about a 10 minute drive from the town centre. It is a former shipbuilders retreat set away from the centre, where the coastline meets the countryside. The four acres of land in the hotels grounds are beautifully kept, perfect for a walk before a meal or a morning stroll if you are staying the night.
The restaurant freshly prepares and cooks all of the food and serves it simply. They plan their recipes around local produce and they even have their own kitchen garden.

Our meal at Dursley Hall country hotel restaurant

A large group of us visited Dursley Hall country hotel restaurant so a private dining room was booked for us all. The menu is a three course set menu which also comes with a glass of prosecco for £19.95.

The choice of starters includes soup, tempura prawns, cold meats and wood pigeon. I have the East Coast fishcake with tartar sauce and lemon. The fish cake is a mix of local fish and tastes super fresh. I really love the homemade and chunky tartar sauce.

For mains there is a choice of chicken, fish, pasta and red meats. I have the lamb chops with roast baby turnips, celeriac mash and mint and lemon butter. It is hands down the nicest main I've ever eaten. The lamb is melt in the mouth tender and celeriac mash is new to me and I love it.

It is tough picking a dessert when both lemon posset and a salted caramel chocolate pot are on the menu. I have the salted caramel pot which is as divine as it looks and sounds. It is thick and sticky and finishes off the meal perfectly.

Finally, you just can't beat a good cheese board to share can you? I love both the presentation and assortment of cheeses, crackers and accompaniments.

Dunsley Hall country hotel restaurant final thoughts

Our meal at Dunsley Hall country hotel is amazing. From taste to presentation each dish is just perfect and I can't fault anything. The quality of the food and service, especially for the price, is brilliant. For me the main and desserts are the star of the show and I would love to go back again for more.

You can book a meal or a room at Dunsley Hall country hotel here.

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Adagio Teas Holiday Cheer tea bag box

*AD - GIFTED* A few weeks in to January and Christmas seems like months ago doesn't it? As much as I love the festive season I do like getting back to normal. Being in our little routine. Having a living room not full of Christmas tree and glitter. The thing I miss the most when it is all over though is the Christmas aromas. I got a surprise gift through the post on Christmas Eve that is keeping the smells of the festive season going for me. The Adagio Teas Holiday Cheer tea bag box.

 

Inside the Adagio Teas Holiday Cheer box

There are six different flavour teas in the Adagio Teas Holiday Cheer box and five sachets of each flavour. Each sachet contains a pyramid tea bag with full leaf tea inside.

The tea flavours cover all of the Autumn and Winter holidays with

• Candy cane tea
• Chestnut tea
• Gingerbread tea
• Pumpkin spice tea
• Cranberry tea
• Candy apple tea

 

 

Now all of the teas in the Adagio Teas Holiday Cheer box have a high caffeine content. Sadly for me, it means I can't drink them. But, I can make them for Ellie and visitors and have a good smell and small sip. Our favourites are the Chestnut tea, Gingerbread tea and Pumpkin Spice tea.

You can get the Adagio Teas Holiday Cheer box Adagio Teas and it is £14.

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*AD - GIFTED* Last month I shared with you my first I Love Gin box that I really loved. In case you missed it, I Love Gin is a gin and tonic club. Each month members receive a box with two different gins and two tonics as well as a £5 voucher to spend in their online store. Membership is £14 per month and you can cancel it at any time. I have been sent the December I Love Gin box and I'm unboxing it today with you.

Unboxing the December I Love Gin box

 

The theme of the December I Love Gin box is Winter Wonderland and it contains

• A 50ml bottle of Sadler's Peaky Blinder spiced dry gin
• A 50ml bottle of Aber Falls orange marmalade welsh gin
• Two 200ml bottle of Regency Tonic tonic water
• A Whitworths Shots berry and white chocolate
• A booklet describing the contents and serving suggestions
• A £5 voucher to spend in the store

Like last month I’m really happy that all of the bottles are glass and there is no plastic waste here.

 

My review of the December I Love Gin box

I couldn't be happier with the December I Love Gin box. Both gins and the tonic are new to me. I really love trying different brands and flavours and the smaller bottles are a great way to do that.

Sadler's Peaky Blinder spiced dry gin has orange, cassia, ginger, black pepper, citrus, juniper and eucalyptus. Neat it isn't for me but, with the tonic water tastes amazing. It's a perfect drink for the cold, wintery months and I will definitely be treating myself to a bottle.

Aber Falls orange marmalade Welsh gin is a small batch gin using local botanicals and water from the mountains around Aber Falls. It tastes just like fresh orange juice and is lovely with the tonic. I also tried it with some leftover ginger tonic which is really good.

The Regency Tonic tonic water is a low sugar tonic, tastes the same as regular tonic water but perfect for this time of year when you need to cut back the calories after the festive season.

I really love the addition of a Whitworths Shots pack in this months box. It is nice to have something sweet to nibble whilst having and gin and tonic.

 

 

Just like last month I definitely recommend trying out an I Love Gin membership. It's a great way to try out new gins and tonics and is a lovely treat to sit with the weekend it comes.

Are you a gin lover? Is the I Love Gin box something you would like?

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I Love Gin November box

*AD - GIFTED* I am a big fan of subscription boxes and nowadays there is a subscription box for everything. No matter what your passions or hobbies there is a subscription box for you. Today I am unboxing the I Love Gin November box, a new to me subscription I have been gifted.

About I Love Gin

I Love Gin is a gin and tonic club. Each month members receive a box with 2 different gins and 2 different tonics or mixers. The sizes are big enough to make four gin and tonics; Great if you want to share .. or if you want to drink them all for yourself! Members also get a voucher each month and discount on the online store to buy full size bottles of gins. The membership is flexible and you can cancel at any time.

 

 

Unboxing the November I Love Gin box

 

The theme of the November I Love Gin box is Winter Elixir and it contains

• A 50ml bottle of Pin Gin
• A 50ml bottle of JJ Whitley violet gin
• A 200ml bottle of Lixir classic Indian tonic water
• A 200ml bottle of Lixir blood orange and cinnamon tonic water
• A booklet describing the contents and serving suggestions
• A £5 voucher to spend in the store

I'm really happy that all of the bottles are glass and there is no plastic in the boxes.

 

My I Love Gin November box review

 

I am so happy with the November I Love Gin box. I love trying new gins and all three products in the box are new to me. Pin Gin is a Lincolnshire dry gin with black pepper, almond, citrus, rose, cinnamon, lavender and liquorice. It tastes great on its own but even better with the blood orange and cinnamon Lixir tonic. J.J. Whitley violet gin has violet, juniper, angelica root, coriander and liquorice and tastes and smells exactly like palma violets. The Lixir classic Indian tonic is the perfect accompaniment.

Violet gin is already my favourite flavour gin, with rhubarb a close runner up (in case you're looking to buy me a bottle) so I have to say the JJ Whitely gin is my favourite in this months box.

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