Tuesday 30 April 2013

Flavrbox for April.

I'm not sure how it works out with Flavrbox months, is it like magazines? So they'd call the last box for March but I got it (and ate it) in April, so I'm going to say my most recent box was April, if anyone at Flavrbox HQ has any issues with this, just let me know...


Let's get down to it then, here I am, on the last day of the month (April's a sneaky one, isn't it), already anticipating next month's box. As usual, this month's Flavrbox was full of things I knew I would like as well as things I'd never even thought about trying before.

One of the most impressive things by far though was Flavrbox's cheeky little redesign, did any other subscribers notice this? As if the packaging wasn't a designgasm already, they just upped their game, good work .




[Aivar Meze, Pelagonia] RRP: £3.75
I don't mean to kick this off on a bad note but this was a little bit of a disappointment. Although I did really like it when I received it back in December, I would have preferred to try something new. None the less, now it's warming up, I think this will go really well with our upcoming barbecues.


[Vegetable Crisps, Scrubby's] RRP: £2.80
I love a packet of vegetable crisps, and I have to say these were much nicer than standard Tyrell's ones that I've bought in the past. They seemed to have a lot more flavour and were much less greasy as sometimes vegetable crisps tend to be. A major plus, although I know it's just luck, was the fact there were actual whole crisps in each packet, rather than smashed up bits that aren't even worth bothering with. They're a bit pricey for me in real life, but I'd definitely pick them up for a special occasion if I saw them.


[Clapton Grass-Fed Beef Jerky, Shoreditch Kitchen] RRP: £4.50
Oh my goodness! This was almost too good to share. I really wasn't expecting this to be as nice as it was, I don't think I've ever really eaten jerky before but if it's all flavoured as nicely as this one I'll definitely be keeping my eye out. It was one of those where it's a gentle heat that builds up, which is much nicer than things that are so hot they just taste like fire, you really got a depth of flavour with it, I'm just sorry there wasn't more.


[Black Bean Kit, Cool Chile Co.] RRP: £2.40
I was a little bit miffed when I saw it was a bit more effort than I wanted to put in to prepare these black beans, but it was so completely worth it! I was going to make re-fried beans as suggested with the kit but I found an awesome recipe for Black Bean Tortilla Soup that was just too good an opportunity to pass up. I accidentally misplaced most of the kit after soaking the beans in water overnight (really weird, the water goes purple), so I made up my own chilly mix and they absorbed the flavour really well. I've found the spices again though so I'm ready for round-two if we manage to pick up any more Mexican black beans. I was so proud of my culinary skillz, I even posted them on Instagram (what else is new, that's all I ever post on Instagram).


[Persian Nougat, The Exquisite Range] RRP: £7.50
I actually really wasn't looking forward to this at all, I hate rose-flavoured things and this just sounded vile to me. Moon hates nougat too so as an attempt to wash my hands of it, I brought the box into the office. Everyone gobbled them up and, actually I really liked it too! The rose flavour was so much more subtle than I was expecting and the texture was lovely - think gooey without being gooey. I was really impressed, particularly by how well the pistachios complimented the whole thing. Yet another item from this month's box that was almost too good to share, I can see how it won it's gold stars!

It really is impossible to fault Flavrbox's value and if you're into food then it's definitely worth it as a surprise gift to yourself each month. Even if you don't like what you got, share it out, I always love bringing the slightly more obscure products into work and letting everyone try them, I haven't been let down yet - except by the amount of calories in the Chai Latte when everyone was on their diet kick a couple of months ago.

Monday 29 April 2013

#MusicMonday

Currently trying to think about and work on things I blog about regularly to come up with a more consistent theme - which is why I've stripped a few things away in the meantime.

Music Monday is always something that I've wanted to be a part of but I'm a pretty inconsistent person when it comes to listening to music. Don't get me wrong, I love music but I'll go a week of nearly always being plugged in, and then not make the effort to select a song I like for another couple of weeks. Now I have a car, this has changed me a little as I usually listen to the radio on my way to or from work and if I don't like that, then I'll pop a CD on.

All that being said, my music tastes this week have surprised me quite a bit. I've been listening to what in my head I would refer to as 'boy music', because it's mostly consisted of bands I roll my eyes at when Moon tells me about them but then secretly listen to and really enjoy - and She & Him and The Lumineers because I've been feeling both macho as well as twee.

I've actually taken it upon myself to listen to real albums more than once from start to finish this week too, something I never do, I'm a shuffler - it's definitely something that can get annoying when it's tracks that flow into each other but I just don't care.
1. It's Blitz - Yeah Yeah Yeahs


We listened to this all the way 'home home' a couple of weekends ago and I almost haven't stopped playing it since. I pretend not to like them but after having this on constantly, I think Yeah Yeah Yeahs might have moved up my list slightly. The album is great for driving generally, but I've also found it goes really well with the sunny weather we've been having and is really motivating me to get through my work. My favourite songs are probably 'Zero', 'Dull Life' and 'Little Shadow'.


2. Discovery - Daft Punk


So, a lot of people have been raving about 'Get Lucky', Daft Punk's track with Pharrell Williams. I'm definitely holding their new song responsible for rediscovering them, there are so many songs of theirs that I love. They do have a tendency to get on my nerves if I'm not in the right frame of mind, but this is another album that's great for motivation and I'm as hooked on 'Get Lucky' as so many others are too, they're definitely in my good books at the moment.


3. Contra - Vampire Weekend


Few bands get me in the mood for warmer weather like Vampire Weekend. They're one of those bands that just remind me of summer, and are another band that owe a new single to a rediscovery. I find it so weird that they have such a tiny back catalogue because I like pretty much all their songs. If 'Diane Young' is anything to go by then there's nothing but more good things coming from them, and I can't wait. Although 'Cousins' is one of my favourite music videos of all time, I thought I'd share my favourite song from Contra with you, 'Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa', such summery vibes.


4. In Love - Peace


I'm not sure if I have anything in particular to say about this album, but they were another band 'recommended' to me by Mr Moon who I initially ignored but after listening to their album without encouragement really enjoyed. It's just something I've been putting on and found myself enjoying from start to finish, which I guess means it has a pretty nice flow, so just give it a listen, yeah?


5. Bankrupt! - Phoenix


Shamelessly listening to an album because one song is everywhere but actually discovering the album is pretty enjoyable. I just wish that the 'video version' of 'Entertainment' was the same as the album version, it's way cooler.


Anyway, those were my albums of the week, I guess. I don't know if I'll make this a feature, or ever do it again, but I've been feeling pretty musical for the last week or so and getting over my shuffling, even if only temporarily, is a minor accomplishment (the most minute of minor accomplishments, ever).

It was nice to listen to some different music this week as opposed to the same playlist over and over, I could use some friendly recommendations. Maybe we could be friends of Last.fm, that would be fun, huh?

Sunday 28 April 2013

Caturday Smiles.

Currently in between making plans and not being able to tear myself away from the sofa - it's been a super busy, and lovely weekend. Here are some photos I took of Doll last night, she is a big fan of a paper bag, after I took these she even took a little nap.


What's this?





Bags are Doll's best thing.

It's moments like these that make me proud to be a cat mother to a little cat who makes me laugh.

Thursday 25 April 2013

Shiny Spring: A Mini Etsy Wishlist

My recent spring cleaning kick (read: never not mopping the kitchen floor and generally running up and down the flat like a mad woman) has had me really in the mood for a declutter, which in my mind kind of means a bit of a reclutter once it's all done - which means I've spent a lot of time looking around for lovely home things - I'm super into storage right now, so I can hide the stuff I wasn't feeling mean enough to get rid of.

Etsy was a pretty good place to start - and Pinterest, I've been 'pinning' a lot more than usual - and it's spring, and it's been winter forever so I figured I'd share some of my favourite Etsy spring finds with you - I realise they're not necessarily 'springy' but I love the bright pastel colourways that finally become acceptable once this lovely season arrives. I'm so looking forward to getting rid of the stuff that I never even used before I moved let alone since.


[Boy-Girl Tees]
Apart from the occassional bunch of flowers to brighten up the place, the only plant I have inside my home is one very sad looking spider plant, my mum did help me bring it back to life a bit and I'm hoping with time it will grow and now I'm hoping for more. I noticed how many lovely plants my Gran has, and I know it's my Gran and that's what old ladies do but it really lifts my mood to see greenery and I think I've learnt from my mistake.


[Handcraft Nepal]
The last piece of 'furniture' that I really want is a rug, and a nice one. This Etsy shop makes these felt ball rugs to order and I think they're so nice. I've seen a few huge ones in John Lewis but I like the idea of measuring and picking colours to match my space.


[Bluebird Lab]
I love the spring colours of this necklace, apart from my sweet Designosaur necklace I haven't really had any new jewellery for a little while and a big clear out is in order/in progress.


[Cabin + Cub Design]
Now I've gotten use to opening my sunroof, I really don't want to see the sun go again (see: this weekend's weather report), I think it's safe to say that this is a must-have mantra for anyone living in the UK - a perfect springtime piece though and great for April showers. Definitely big into wooden things at the moment, I think it's the traditional mixed with the contemporary that gets me.


[2nd Shot]
I've felt super-cool driving to work in my sunglasses all week, I love my sunglasses, but how neat are these ones? They're made from recycled skateboards and you'd never know, but now you do, I think that makes them even better!


[Julie Nolan]
I love this Leo constellation necklace, might have to put in on my birthday wishlist, such a cute idea.


[ARMINHO]
Just before Christmas I picked up similar educational fish poster, it now hangs majestically in our bathroom and I just love the style. This one would look great in our front room and I really like the original-looking holders.


[Nash Pop]
Eep! How sweet are this kitties? If it's not plants and flowers, it's nick nacks. I would really love the patience to start a collection, and the space.

Have you been decluttering your life or at least your living space? Is getting rid of things to make room for new things something you do too? (I'm trying to get Moon to see my logic and justification, really I just think he hates me always tidying)

Tuesday 23 April 2013

Not Tuesday.

Here are a couple of photos from the weekend, I tend to feel a little guilty when I post about the weekend at this time of the week, I mean it's Wednesday tomorrow, I need to get it together.

This last weekend was lovely and spent back in Surrey with family. I went to Crawley with Moon and his Mum like pre-flat-teenage times and had long 'look at the time' chats with my Gran. I watched a terrible film called 'Butterfly on a Wheel', which was just Gerard Butler asking Pierce Brosnan the same question over and over up until the last 15 minutes and I popped over to Pease Pottage Car Boot on Sunday - sadly the Rusper one wasn't on even though I hoped in my heart of hearts that it was.

We also did something new; Moon's mum came to my Gran's for Sunday lunch and we had a lovely meal my Gran, my Mum, Moon, his Mum and me - my Gran really does know how to cook even if she thinks she doesn't really. I drove the whole weekend so was nearly all driven out by the time we got home, especially as the way home involves some of my regular day-to-day commute but I had a swell time and I think I did a pretty good job handling the bumpy, windy country roads of Mole Valley.

My first breakfast of the weekend was Baked Cinnamon French Toast from a recipe I read on A Beautiful Mess - I'm far too into 'pinning' recipes at the moment, so many tasty things to eat. This wasn't so bad but sadly not nearly as nice as it sounded. Moon also made me a raspberry & banana smoothie but there was kiwi in it too and it tasted weird. #breakfastfail


Moon was loving my car's sunroof (see above left), and we blared Yeah Yeah Yeahs all the way 'home home' - definitely blaming him for this week's current obsession with them (mainly Karen O).

Few things better on a sunny Sunday morning than eating my Gran's marmalade on toast and wearing a dress covered in lemons


Spending time with my best girl, she was all about cuddles and getting all up on my face - best!


Lovely buds.

Anywhere I can go where I can just creep on dogs is the best in my books. I love car boot sales!




Even though we weren't at Pease Pottage Car Boot late a lot of the places were closing up, even the fruit and veg stall. I'd promised my Gran I would pick her up some carrots so we stopped at the loveliest farm shop on the way back and I made a couple of friends



It was really reasonably priced, and looked like a great place for afternoon tea. A little more upmarket than Sheeplands but definitely somewhere I hope to pop back to when we're next in the area.




Sunday starter.

Two useful things the fruit and veg man did have left was oranges and chillis, we now have more chillis than we know what to do with.

Getting home meant making the most of the weekend's last few hours of daylight by tidying up the garden, we now have enough (clean) chairs for all our friends when they come over - fingers crossed for BBQ weather - and a more respectable flowerbed.

Little Doll and Roof Cat appear to have made friends, at least Doll really wanted to play with her but she was having none of it (definitely time to get her a friend, Mr Moon!)

The beginnings of my decluttering and my babe's forever confused little face - she's back to being the sweetest again.

I'm on a major spring cleaning kick at the moment, even just doing a couple of things in the garden have made everything feel like it has a bit more order. There are going to be lots of things off to charity shops and popping on eBay in the next couple of weeks I think. I think it's down to living here for a whole year (our anniversary was on Sunday) and having a few things that were just plonked in places rather than given a real home. I really do love our little flat, I just think there's still a bit to do, especially if we're staying here a litte while longer than we initially planned.

Being in the spring cleaning mood has got me thinking about my little blog too, I'm really not happy with its look and I know it's about finding the time but I'm going to make time for it, so expect to see a little jiggle around coming up to. Spring is definitely in the air - but thank goodness Little Doll is over her spring fever!

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