Monthly Archives: February 2020

Gone but Never Forgotten

26th February 2020
Dress: The WhitePepper | Boots: ASOS (a couple of years ago)

There are some pieces in my wardrobe that 100% don’t get enough love; this outfit represents that. I was actually looking for something else entirely when I re-found these boots and remembered how little I wear them, and this dress is one of my favourite ever purchases from one of my favourite ever brands. I’m still not over the loss of The WhitePepper from the virtual high-street, never have I coveted so many pieces from one shop, and it’s loss has scarred me to the same level as the loss of Tammy Girl from my adolescent life.

This outfit, and the rediscovery of these boots also made me realise how much I neglect my clothing choices a lot of the time these days, and how I especially neglect my footwear choices.
I used to have a vast (under-statement) collection of shoes and I wore and loved them all. Then I broke my foot and injured my back, and whilst I can now stand in heels (walking in them is another matter) without causing extreme discomfort I have fallen in to the habit of flat ankle boots for work, and the same boots or trainers out of work.

Clothing choice wise I used to not be afraid to stand out. My work wear and out of work wear represented my personality far more than my current rotation of outfits does. I put a lot of this down to being older now, now I’m in to my thirties I have an idea that perhaps I should blend in a bit more, dress less like I’m in my early twenties. That an a chronic loss of confidence mean my work wardrobe revolves around five key pieces, and despite owning many outfits for all manner of occasions, out of work I mostly end up in the same baggy dresses or, when feeling especially brave, a pair of jeans.

Am I too old to dress as I used to? I probably am for some of the crazy shit I used to put together, but I would like to get back to not caring so much, for allowing myself to stand out a little more and to actually feel confident in what I’m wearing, rather than drab and like I’ve given in.

Which high-street brands do you miss the most?

Posted in brands I love, fashion, outfits, personal style, shoes

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De-stressing with Scentered*

18th February 2020
Aromatherapy Balm c/o Scentered

Ask anyone who knows me and they’ll tell you that I’m prone to getting a little bit stressed out and worked up. Despite years of therapy I’m still not amazing at calming myself back down under pressure, so the offer of this de-stress aromatherapy balm from Scentered turned out to be a bit of a god-send.

Scentered is a new brand on my radar and one I wish I had discovered sooner. Based on using scent as a mental trigger to get to your desired mindset, using three basic principles:

Stop – Apply a balm directly to your wrist, neck and temples or light a Scentered candle to purposefully fill the room with mindful meaning.

Inhale – Raise your wrists or candle to your nose and deeply inhale, visualising the mind state you wish to achieve in this moment.

Reset – Exhale deeply as you step into the next moment of your daily journey

There are a range of fragrances available to help you with many aspects of life (there’s one for love, one to focus, one for sleep and so many more).
The de-stress balm is definitely the most appropriate for me right now- although sleep wouldn’t go amiss either!

The main question here is did it help? At first I wasn’t sure, but the more I used it the more I realised that the simple act of breathing in and out was making me relax, and as soon as I applied the balm to my wrist I could feel my stress start to dissolve.

I did worry the fragrance might be over-powering, but I needn’t have worried. This particular balm contains camomile, neroli and mandarin and I’ve come to crave it’s calming aroma.

These balms are ideal to keep in your handbag for when stressful situations strike. Scentered also offer candles, gift sets and bundles (get ahead for mother’s day and give the gift of calm!) making it super easy to create your own little ritual and inject a bit of self care and mindfulness in to your day.

The balm sticks cost £14.50 each (far cheaper than stress led impulse purchasing) and last for ages. This balm was gifted to me by the brand but all thoughts are my own.

Posted in lifestyle

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What’s on my wish list? #3

16th February 2020

And here we are again, my plans for a return to regular blogging scuppered by de-motivation. The motivation to blog is there, but the motivation involved in sitting down and putting fingers to keyboard is kind of lacking. Still. I hope that with longer days and brighter weather my slump lifts, it can’t continue, it’s a mystery to me why it even started in the first place to be honest…but anyway, enough of that and on to the latest wish list post (which contains some affiliate links FYI).

Skirt | AllSaints: I very rarely browse the AllSaints website, it is so firmly out of my budget and yet so full of things I want to own it’s ridiculous. Occasionally though I slip up and allow myself a peek, inevitably I then fall in love with twenty thousand things I can only ever dream of owning, this skirt being one of them.
Coat | AllSaints: This coat is another from my AllSaints indulgence and I just love that big over-sized collar and graphic pattern. There are many reasons why I will never own this coat, the price being the main one, the second highest reason on the list is the colour. I am one of life’s mucky people and I will never in a billion years be able to keep this clean.
Dress | Joanie: My obsession with anything space themed is second only to my obsession with cat themed items of clothing or accessories. I zoned in on this Joanie dress the second I popped on to their website. It is quite frankly out of this world (sorry).
Dress | New Look: New Look are consistently nailing it with their new arrivals at the moment. First there wast that polka dot dress from a few weeks ago (which I eventually managed to get my hands on) and now there is this daisy printed dream. Hurry up payday, my wardrobe needs this dress, perfect for the trans-seasonal transition that is ahead of us.
Skirt | Nobody’s Child: I’m not usually big on red but there is just something about this skirt. Again it’s great for that awkward time between seasons- ideal with a chunky knit now, and a ribbed tee when the warmer days finally arrive. I love the ethos of Nobody’s Child as a brand and I want to make this year the year that I introduce them to my wardrobe.
Dress | Thunder Egg: There will always be a special place in my heart for skater dresses and this lightning bolt beauty from Thunder Egg perfectly represents why. Flattering, versatile and the right side of quirky, it’s love at first sight. I’m going to have to do some saving to afford the £60 price tag but this dress is the dream.

Posted in brands I love, fashion, personal style, wish list

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Degustabox January 2020*

07th February 2020
Box gifted by Degustabox
This is a PR box, this means there will sometimes be additional flavours or products than you’d get as a subscriber, I will highlight this within my post.

The first Degustabox of 2020 had a theme of “breakfast and on the go”. I love breakfast (best meal of the day!) and I am always looking for new foods to take in to work with me so this box sounded ideal for me and I wasted no time in getting stuck in.

These Almond Lattes were the product of the month. At £2.98 for six they are a much cheaper alternative to a takeaway coffee for the commute in to work, and pretty delicious. I only really like milky coffee when made with almond or soya milk so I loved these. Currently available at Tesco and Ocado- soon to be available at other leading supermarkets as well.
I’ve bought this Whitworths shots in various flavours before and really rate them as a healthy snack to chuck in your handbag. The berry and white chocolate is definitely a new favourite, I love the contrast of flavours. Available in major supermarket chains (and I’ve spotted them in poundland as well).
The KitKat Chunky More and Yorkie More are touted as a healthier alternative to a standard chocolate bar, with 30% less sugar and boasting protein and fibre. I don’t usually like fruit and chocolate combined but it does work for these bars. If I had to pick, personally I’d say the Yorkie had the edge, but I would eat both again. £1.29 per bar.
*Subscribers will get 1 of 2 products in their box*
Sun-Pat is my go to peanut butter brand. It’s reliable, delicious and affordable. It also happens to make the best peanut butter cookies (I use this recipe). Available in all major supermarkets.
I’m not a big fan of honey but I loved this Kallo honey, rice and corn cakes. A great snack (try with some peanut butter on!) and a good alternative to biscuits if you’re looking for a healthy sweet treat. I demolished this pack so fast, I’m hoping my local Waitrose start stocking them soon- also available in Sainsburys and health food shops.
I didn’t actually try this Wholesums fresh veg popped chips as Bob took them to work with him and he’s currently in Budapest so I can’t grab his thoughts. They look so good though, I generally love this kind of snack. Subscribers will get 1 of 4 flavours- I’d love to know your thoughts if you’ve tried any of them, I’ll be seeking this out in Sainsbury’s ASAP.
These PrepCo pots are great for work. Subscribers will receive 1 of 4 flavours in their box- I was sent 2 but only actually got to try the couscous as the thai green curry rice and quinoa was damaged in transit. I really liked the couscous though and would pick up the other varieties to try if I found them as they are a perfect desk lunch. They also count as one of your five a day. £2 each from Sainsbury’s and Ocado.
More snacks! Both of these are great for on the go. The Bounce peanut ball is a delicious little powerhouse of a snack, packed with flavour and 13g of protein, it really does put a spring in your step- a little pricey at £1.79 but a good healthy option.
Eat Natural is a long time favourite brand of mine and this new vegan bar is a great addition to the range. These cost £1 and the combination of peanuts, coconut and chocolate is a winning one.

Porridge pots are my emergency breakfast of choice. The SuperGut pots from Chescots contain half of your daily fibre (over 3 x the content of other porridge pots). The Blackcurrant one wasn’t to my taste but the raspberry and chia was a great start to a dreary day. Subscribers will receive one flavour and you can find this in Ocado and on Amazon for £1.99 each.
I’m not a fruit juice drinker but Bob always rates products from Crafted. These are all natural drinks with no added sugar or sweeteners. They count as one of your five a day and are certified vegan. Available in all major supermarket chains with an RRP of £1.50
Finally we have vegan basil pesto from Zest. I’m not sure how this fits with breakfast, or on the go (makes a mean packed lunch pasta I guess) but it tastes good! £2.20 per jar from Ocado, Amazon, Morrisons and independent health food retailers across the country.

Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products and what you thought in the comments.

If you’re new to Degustabox, it’s a monthly food subscription box that gives you the chance to try new and exciting products on the market whilst providing amazing value for money.
On a month by month basis the box costs £12.99 (with a discount for longer subscriptions) but the contents are generally worth far more than this as you can see if you do the maths.

If you’re persuaded to give Degustabox a go (and really, you should) you can claim a brilliant £5.00 off of your first box (making it just £7.99!) by entering the code XOQGC at the checkout. It’s been a pleasure to work with the brand regularly over the last couple of years and it’s without a doubt something that I will continue to purchase long after our partnership ends. I love the monthly surprise and excitement as well as the chance to discover products I’d otherwise pass up on the supermarket shelves.


Posted in food, review

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Identifying Future Tech Job Opportunities to Stay Ahead of the Curve*

05th February 2020

If there’s one golden rule you need to learn about the tech industry it’s that early adopters who take the initiative will always be ahead of the curve.

Technologies are constantly evolving, changing to fit different needs and finding their way into virtually every industry. By becoming an early adopter you can stay ahead of the curve to secure endless job offers, advancement opportunities, and financial security. But how do you identify future tech job opportunities? And what can you do to stay ahead of the competition?

Never stop learning

Thanks to online learning, it’s possible to continuously study and learn more about different technical disciplines. With this extra knowledge you can stay ahead of the curve by offering more value to employers.

Immerse yourself in the community

One of the best ways to always stay up-to-date on job opportunities is to integrate yourself into the community. This could mean networking with big-name brands, entrepreneurs and mingling at tech-related trade shows and events. Once you get your foot in the door and start making friends, you’ll find it much easier to stay ahead of the curve.

Always stay informed

Surround yourself with helpful resources. Below, we’ve added an infographic from the University of Alabama Birmingham regarding the globalization and future for accounting. Infographics like these are full of useful data and stats that can help you plan your next move. Whether you want to become an accountant in the future or want to learn about trends in globalization, it’s the perfect example of an information-packed resource to help you stay informed.


Infographic: UniverSity of Alabama Birmingham

Posted in tech

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