Baker Days cake review; a chocolate, Christmas themed treat!

Good evening all! 

I hope everyone has had a fantastic weekend!

Anyone looking forward to Christmas? I am really excited this year and now even more so as I was given the chance to write my very first Christmas review!

Some of you will know that recently a company called Baker Days contacted me. They are a personalised, cake specialists based in Ollerton, Nottinghamshire. I was asked to select a letterbox cake (a 5" inch cake so 3-4 slices) from their Christmas range, which I was more than happy to do! A brilliant idea! After all, more often than not we groan when seeing a pile of post by the door. 

I was thoroughly excited to find this arrived in good time! They advertise that cakes stay fresh for 14 days and they have 6 different delicious flavours to choose from: vanilla, chocolate, fruit, half-and-half, Gluten free, Dairy free.

So let's first see how my cake arrived...

 
Upon opening my parcel I found a cute cake tin, leaflet about Baker Days, a Christmas Card and a Christmas Cracker! I thought these lovely little additions really added something positive to the package; adding more sparkle to the Christmas theme!

When I opened the tin I was even happier. The cake was exactly as pictured on their website when I selected it. They had even kindly written my name and wished me a Merry Christmas (not something I had requested)! I was really quite touched by the whole package.

Anyway..... onwards to the tasting!

The cake had a paper tab over it with easy instructions on how to take it out of the tin in one piece. Another nice touch I thought. 

Baker Days have literally thought through every tiny detail and made sure that the transition from website to plate is quick, efficient and easy!

The cake was perfectly iced and cutting through it was easy! Not to mention it smelt so delicious!

Of course I had my lovely (but hungry for cake) boyfriend hovering over me so I had to let him try it too!

The cake was a deep, chocolate brown and tasted phenomenal. I can only describe it as eating a moist, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate fudge cake slice of heaven! My boyfriend enjoyed it very much an described it as rich in flavour. 

Baker Days have not skimped anywhere in the process. From selecting and speaking with them about which one I would like to review, it arriving in perfect condition by first class post to it then being sliced and sampled. 

I would honestly, thoroughly recommend this company if you are thinking of purchasing a personalised cake from someone who is an expert at baking and is honest and reliable. Of course, they do not do just Christmas Cakes and will practically do any theme for any occasion. The sizes, styles and flavours vary too.

Check them out on www.BakerDays.com and see what you think. They also have facebook, instagram, twitter, Google+ and Pinterest pages. Just search their name!

Thank you for reading..... I saved the best bit until last.... so I'm just going to.....erm.......make a cuppa tea....and

have another slice!

Sarah

xXx

Boots haul : because points mean prizes!

Good evening beauties! It has been a few days, I know. I started my new job last Friday so I am deep in the 'training abyss'. Seriously, any more information soaked up by my brain may cause my head to pop! 

Day two went fabulously and to celebrate my new found happiness I found myself wandering into Boots on the way home to check out their weekly promotions and bargains! You can see they are well on their way to preparing for Christmas; everything is sparkly!

It's almost pay day so to save some much needed pennies I decided to use my Advantage card; there are always points on there and I usually use it to treat myself and others!

So what did I buy.....?

Nail varnish by Miss Sporty! I have read a few posts about these bargain nail polishes and thought it was time to try some out myself! At £1.99 and at the moment on promotional offer of 3 for 2 how could I resist?!

I opted for 3 very different colours and may have done a cheeky little set of swatches for you...

From top to bottom we have : 

Miss Sporty Clubbing Colours in Ferris Wheel (463)

Miss Sporty Clubbing Colours in Tina Sparkle (113)
and finally...
Miss Sporty Lasting Colour (up to 10 days) in Promise the Moon (548)

All 3 colours are really lovely! The coverage is great; Ferris Wheel and Promise the Moon require two coats whilst Tina Sparkle only required the one! 

I also happen to be a sucker for the names brands give nail polish. I think my favourite out of this collection is Promise the Moon! 

I've chosen to wear Tina Sparkle as it is almost December and I really really really want a fantastic Christmas this year!

So.... what do you think?

The pink is really, really light so it lets the shimmer through perfectly. Turning your nails in the light brings out all the colours in the glitter; currently sat here a bit mesmorised...

Sorry! I'm back...

In conclusion beauties I really recommend getting some of these! They would make perfect stocking fillers for young ones practising with their nails or friends of yours that love colour and love sparkle!

Happy shopping and happy blogging girls!

Sarah

xXx

Body Butter : Battle of the skin!

Wow this is exciting! This has to be my very first comparison post! The fight is on between two products I absolutely adore!

Contestant number one is Beautifully Scrumptious Body Butter in Vanilla. It comes in a pot, 220ml and is a whole one hundred pence. Yep, a quid. Ridiculous, I hear you say to your screen! Nope, I am no fibber. This can be purchased at present in Poundland. 

To begin with it is thick and creamy in consistency, sinking into the skin easily and leaving no greasy feeling behind. This is important to me in a body butter. I want to feel like I have just moisturised my skin with more intensity than a normal cream but I don't like feeling weighed down by product. However, playing devil's advocate, it also doesn't disappear so quickly I think "Oh. Did I just moisturise? Best use some more just in case!" 

It is well balanced.

Secondly, OMG. The scent is gorgeous. I'm always hesitant with the scent of a 'cheaper' product. Sometimes they just don't last. This does, the scent of vanilla is just....well....

It is divine! One other fantastic piece of news is that on the back of the packaging it clearly states THIS PRODUCT HAS NOT BEEN TESTED ON ANIMALS!

Happy days - not often you find such a golden nugget for a quid. 

Next contestant we have The Body Shop : Early Harvest Raspberry Body Butter. This 200ml pot that costs £13 has a special ingredient; cold-pressed raspberry seed oil. This is a less creamier consistency than the Poundland product; it is much thicker and takes a tiny bit longer to soak into the skin. I cannot complain though, the hydration and moisture it gives your skin (especially if you suffer from dry skin this winter) is perfect. It is also non-greasy when applied.

Now those that will know me or have read my recent Liebster Award post will know I am addicted to fruit in all its forms. This one is no exception; it smells that magnificent I literally want to grab a spoon and dig in...

NB : Scribbles has to tell herself repeatedly. This is NOT a food.

I was really tempted to face plant the tub in this picture ;)

Also a product that is against animal testing (as is all of Body Shop's merchandise) and offers Fair Trade to areas around the world where they obtain their ingredients.

SO WHO WINS?

I am, after all, all about a bargain so today I am going to say.....

Drum roll please...!!

Although, hand on heart, I will always be a Body Shop addict I have to give the winning title to the Beautifully Scrumptious Vanilla Body Butter. After all, my blog is about bargains and I am a sucker for a beauty product that only costs my purse a quid!

Poundland have sold me a fantastic product and I really recommend it to any of my readers who love vanilla too!

Thank you for reading beauties!!

Sarah 

xXx

About Me

Hi there! My name is Sarah and I am a passionate beauty and lifestyle blogger from Lincolnshire. I am also a business owner and own My Lash Confession on Facebook and www.mylashconfession.co.uk offering high quality cosmetics free from harmful chemicals and animal cruelty. I aim to spread a message of confidence and empowerment across women globally and have a team of 29 ladies who are doing the same! This team is growing rapidly and the more the merrier! If you love makeup and helping people feel great this could be the opportunity of a lifetime! Send me a message and I will happily provide you with all the facts you need to make an informed decision!

 Self worth and confidence is something I have struggled with for many years due to situations in my past and it is an absolute honour to be part of something so empowering and uplifting for women globally. If you want any further information on how I can make you feel/look even more beautiful than you are just visit www.facebook.com/mylashconfession or go straight to my webpage on www.mylashconfession.co.uk .... why are you waiting....?!

They say practice makes perfect?!

You will find my blog caters for EVERYONE! From the budget end of beauty, fashion and lifestyle to the TOP! Whilst there may be the occasional special post, I feel it is really important to inform my readers of BARGAINS! I love researching so that we can get more for our money and in the present economy I know that is what most of you want! 

I really hope you enjoy reading and will spread the knowledge to those you know.

Many thanks

and happy reading (or blogging if you write too!)

Lots of Love

Scribbles!

xXx

Taylors of Harrogate: A mug of pure, caffeinated heaven; guaranteed!

Good evening coffee lovers! As promised, I decided it was time to write a review for Taylors of Harrogate and their wide selection of ground coffees. They have not asked me to write about them, I just really want to share this with you! 

My boyfriend and I have been enjoying this coffee now for about 4 or 5 weeks after seeing that ASDA were selling them at 2 packs for £5! 

Well all I can say, whilst hugging a warm cup of Cafe Imperial, is to start with what an absolute bargain! I would quite happily spend the £3 or £4 each without the promotional offer. Each one boasts flavours from all over the globe and I think a different experience each time! The one I am sipping now whilst writing this is quite delicate and only strength 3 (can't be on strength 5 or 6 this late; I would never sleep!). The pack describes how it is their most 'treasured coffee, first served in the tea rooms of their sister company Bettys more than 40 years ago.' 

I interrupt this blog post by mentioning that Bettys Tea Rooms is a must go! GO.....NOW! 

The beans they use originate from Latin America and East Africa. The combination is a refreshing cup of zesty goodness! I love it and Taylors are correct; it does go well with cake..... and mince pies.....

and bourbon biscuits?! Absolutely gorgeous.

I only think it is fair to mention the other coffee in the picture; After Dark. A stronger (strength 5) coffee. The Indonesian, Latin American and African beans are roasted until they caramelise. It is a much darker roast with more depth and before reading the back of the packaging I took a big sniff and could capture the nutty, cocoa like aroma. This cup is more something that my partner would drink as he prefers his much stronger but I have to say it captivated me also. 

We have also tried the Brasilian coffee (my personal favourite) and Hot Lava Java (one of Sean's favourites)!

I really, really recommend these coffees. If you don't have a cafetiere they are well worth the investment! You can purchase a mini one cup one from some places as cheaply as £5! Our Pedrini is so much fun; we wanted one that would warm up slowly on the hob. This for me makes the lasting aroma of coffee in the kitchen stay that little bit longer!

So invest and enjoy the full range of Taylors' coffee; I know I will be!

Thank you for reading <3

My Liebster Award...! How Exciting!!

Good evening ladies! I thought I would kick start my return to this blog by catching up on something quite exciting! It seems that over the last 6 weeks I have been nominated for the Liebster Award 4 TIMES! How cool is that?! How could I keep away after that piece of news?! 

The most recent nomination came from the lovely Caiti! Please visit her blog if you have not already; her blogsite is http://caitlintries.blogspot.co.uk/. Please check it out, it's fabulous!

In essence, this award is a way of introducing and celebrating new bloggers with less than 200 followers so I am really pleased that a few of you included me!

#Feeling Loved

The one thing I have always wanted from my blog is for readers to enjoy it and use the advice/information/tips I provide from my own experiences! Sharing IS caring! <3

So here are the rules of a Liebster Award:

So here it is, I hope you enjoy reading!

11 Random Facts

1. I am never afraid to test budget priced items on myself for my readers. Everything from Poundland upwards!  In this economy it is important to have people like myself testing cheaper products to help take the pressure off our bank balance! I like to constantly prove that the more expensive the item is, does NOT necessarily mean it is the best!

2. My favourite TV Show at the moment is Walking Dead and is causing some seriously weird dreams....!

3. I love the smell of fruit, whether it be fresh fruit, smoothies, candles, face masks, lip balms, perfumes, body spritzers, hair sprays, body butters or in a cheesecake (mmmm cheesecake!!). I just love fruit!!

4. I love photography so much and really miss my old camera! One day, I will replace it and get back into it! I wish that was sooner rather than later!!

5. I use Johnson's Baby oil. A lot! I don't even have any kids, lol. More recently, I have started purchasing the spray bottle version too and I apply this to my skin after I shower. I'm naughty and love hot showers but this can often be unkind to my skin and dry it out. Putting a small cup of baby oil in with my bath really helps too. Say NO to dry skin this Winter and join the Baby Oil team (you know you want to)!!

6. I'm completely addicted to the flavours and aromas of coffee although I am not meant to have much because of a condition I have (shh, don't tell anyone please). I currently have a selection of Taylor's of Harrogate's ground coffees and will hopefully be writing about them soon!

7. I will listen to practically any music you put on. Anything from rap, RnB, classical, dance, House music, Dubstep (I love Dubstep!) my Itunes is a messy combination of music and it all depends on how I am feeling that day. Spotify is also a fabulous app that helps me choose random music day to day!

8. My favourite foods are Indian and Japanese! I adore Curry and Sushi (I know - very different foods!) and would love one day to be able to visit both India and Japan.

9. I am a bit of an Anime lover, especially the films made by Studio Ghibli. My favourites are Ponyo, Grave of the Fireflies, Spirited Away and Kiki's Delivery Service!

10. I have four tattoos and have every desire to get more!

11. Sean and I want a dog next year; I cannot decide between a French Bulldog or a Pug!

I have been asked a set of questions, which of course I will happily answer!

Caiti's questions were :

1. What is your favourite perfume and why?

At the minute my favourite perfume is by Hollister and is called 'Seacliff Beach'. I currently have the Body Spray as well, which costs approximately £11 in their store. This unique floral, fresh and exotic scent makes me think instantly of a peaceful, sandy beach!I find it quite therapeutic.

2. Scented candles or wax/oil burners?

I prefer scented candles but love wax and oil burners too! Both me and my partner both love candles and have quite a few different scents. I prefer fruit scented ones although I am partial to the occasional coconut, vanilla or even floral ones!

3. Favourite flower?

My favourite one at the moment is the Moringa flower. It's beautiful and the Body Shop have utilised this flower to make a beautiful range of products. Their body butter especially smells and feels divine!

4. If you could have permanently great hair or great skin, what would you choose?

GREAT SKIN. I say this without hesitation because I struggle with my skin every single day! My hair has never been perfect but in my opinion I find it easier to manage.

5. Describe your ideal day.

An ideal day for me would be a long lie in with the boyfriend, a fresh coffee from my Pedrini coffee maker and a slow getting ready! Followed by a yummy, filling breakfast at Patisserie Valerie with him and a day out to a Zoo or a park. A bit of cheeky shopping, a nice lunch and then the long drive home with car tunes!!

6. What is your dream car?

I find this difficult to answer as I do not drive but Lamborghinis do look fabulous!! Every girl can dream!

7. Current favourite skin care treatment?

I have fallen very quickly in love with Boots Traditional Skin Care range, especially their Rosewater Toner which I will be reviewing shortly!

8. Who is your celebrity male and female crush?

I can't say that I normally crush over celebrities, however, I do appreciate their talents. I love Cheryl Fernandez-Versini's glamour and she often has a lot of helpful advice when it comes to finding the right fashion for your body shape and the right products for your skin. I am also completely addicted to Walking Dead at the minute. All the actors are hugely talented; my favourite being Daryl or Norman Reedus in real life!

9. What one piece of advice would you give your younger self?

I would tell my younger self to take a step back and not worry so much! I would also give her a long list of names of people to avoid!

10. If you could have magical powers, which one would you choose?

I would have the power to heal others, not just myself. Health is a very important factor in my life and there are also family members and friends I would love to be able to help.

11. Why and when did you start blogging? 

I only started blogging this year. I haven't written much creatively since I finished University and thought by meshing my love for beauty products, fashion, exploring new places and writing together I would achieve this in a blog. I'm also keen to help others by providing a budget blog that doesn't exploit the bank too much!

Thank you for those questions Caiti; I really enjoyed answering them all!

Okay, so here are my nominations! Remember, these are all new bloggers with 200 followers or less! Each of them should link back to their blogs so that you can have a read and possibly follow :

http://www.littlemeeke.blogspot.co.uk. Megan

http://missfixedbeauty.blogspot.co.uk Sophie-Louise

http://jacklynv.blogspot.com Jacklyn

http://www.thatsfetch.com Sam

http://www.cescasretailretreat.com Cesca

http://laydeykatabella.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/the-liebster-award-2014.html
http://www.fromlucywithlove.co.uk/ Lucy 

https://plus.google.com/+NicoleJane#+NicoleJane/videos Nicole

http://www.bloglovin.com/user/9442329 Taylor

http://www.katmaystinydiary.blogspot.com Kat

http://scofieldsdreamyplace.wordpress.com Gabriela

My questions for those I have nominated :

1. Do you have a favourite face mask? If so describe it and let us know where you purchased it?

2. If all the make up brands were to suddenly close down, except for ONE brand, which would you keep open and why?

3. Describe a perfect evening in!

4. Coffee or Tea?

5. What is the most exciting part of Christmas for you?

6. Do you have a favourite scent?

7. Ice cream or Sorbet?

8. Sunshine or Snow?

9. If you could make one wish what would it be?

10. If you could be World Leader for a weekend, what would you do?

11. Rich and Unhappy OR Poor and Happy?

I really hope you enjoyed reading this and if you receive one of these awards please, please post!

Thank you beauties! xXx

You can never break up with your blog!

Apologies ladies, it has been a month or so since I last posted on here and used Twitter to share some much needed budget beauty secrets! Having just started to use some beauty products that are new to me and new to my skin regime, I'm keen to start sharing my thoughts! So keep posted as this week I'll be sharing with you my progress so far.

Coming soon : Boots' Traditional Skincare Glycerin and Rosewater Toner, Superdrug's Essence make up and a gorgeous smelling range of body butters from.... POUNDLAND?!