This month's Degustabox was an eclectic mix of foodstuffs, with most being new to the market. At only £12.99 per box, it always guarantees value for money and some surprises every month. A subscription makes a great gift for those that love their food, or a little treat for yourself.

This is what I received this month. 




Barbecue Popchips £1.79

I have tried popchips before and was pleased to see these in the box. The barbecue flavour popchips packs a great flavour punch. The are very moorish and the best part is they are baked not fried. This makes them healthier than crisps. Each portion is under 100 calories too!

Pukka Green Tea £2.39

Whilst not a fan of herbal teas myself, I gave these to my Mother-in-Law to try. She enjoyed the lemon flavour and with dandelion roots as well this healthy tea can be used to help detox.

Bahlsen Biscuits £3.58

Bahlsen have been around for a while, and I am already a fan. So often the chocolate on chocolate biscuits doesn't taste nice and is of poor quality, well the chocolate on these biscuits are totally delicious. I would recommend these biscuits to everyone!

Eisburg Alcohol Free Wine £3.49

Personally I am not a fan of alcohol free wine I must admit as the flavour is not to my taste. I prefer a soft drink or water as a substitute to wine. However I can see the place for this in the drinks market, and I think it is an excellent idea to have some of this in the fridge if you are entertaining over the Christmas period. It takes the temptation away from drinking and driving and that can only be a good thing.

Gloworm Drinks £1.50 each

These cans can be drunk on their own or as used as a mixer with an alcoholic drink. Sugar free, my husband tried them before jogging and found them refreshing.

Kent's Kitchen Meal Kit £2.50

Each meal kit contains 3 pots which you simply add to ingredients to create an authentic and tasty quality meal. A great idea to have in the cupboard to add a boost to your normal ingredients.

Frylight Infuse Chilli £2.00

This chilli infused oil is in a dispenser so you can add a very light spray to your pan before cooking. Great to keep in your cupboard, and easy to use, you can impart a chilli heat without having to go through the messy business of preparing and cutting up chillies.

The Chia Co Oats and Seeds £1.70

These sachets are filled with chia seeds which give you omega 3, fibre, protein as well as being packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Add water to make a porridge which is smooth and creamy.

Bonne Maman Marmalade £2.30

Now I love the strawberry conserve Bonne Maman make so it was with interest that I tried the marmalade. Not too sharp but still with a piquant taste this marmalade goes well with toast. Or do a Paddington Bear and make a marmalade sandwich to keep under your hat for later :)




If you would like to subscribe a Degustabox subscription costs £12.99 per month, inclusive of delivery. The value of the items is usually a lot higher. If you would like a discount of £3 enter code MT2ID into checkout when registering.

You can find Degustabox here:-

http://bit.ly/DBhomepage - www

http://bit.ly/DBUKfacebook - Facebook

http://bit.ly/DBUKTwitter - Twitter 

Tell me what do you think of the food this month?

A guest post by Lucy from The Parent Game Blog. Lucy writes about all aspects of life affecting parents, particularly those with older children and teens and loves finding ways to make life easier and more fun! 


I had never owned an electric blanket before, so I was very keen to try this one out - the Slumberdown Winterwarm Electric Underblanket.



I live in an ‘eco-home’, which is made of about 80% insulation, so it doesn’t really get cold. However it is very airless, particularly in the winter, when the heating is on, so I like to have a window open at night, even when it’s really cold. Sadly, the ratio of fresh air versus cold feet eventually tips too far the wrong way and I have to choose between suffocating and freezing, so I really felt this could be the answer to my problems.

On inspection, the blanket looks very well made, with heavy stitching and quality material. It has ties to anchor it to the bed, with good instructions on how to fit them, although it's not especially difficult. I would suggest you have an extra pair of hands for this part though! I was surprised at how thin it is. I had imagined it would be something you would be very aware of when lying on it, but not at all. It is impossibly thin, considering the amount of heat it manages to pump out and it is virtually undetectable under a standard fitted sheet.

The heat is incredible and very simple to control, with a good-size, solid controller, that features three heat settings.

1, which is very gentle, and ideal if you want to leave it on overnight, 
2, which I would describe as ‘just right’, not hot, but warm enough that you are comfortably aware of it after a very short time, and 
3, which is REALLY warm.




Now, you wouldn’t necessarily think there was much call for an extra-warm setting on an electric under blanket. After all, you are under a duvet and probably have central heating as well. However, I quickly discovered an amazing advantage to this feature. I suffer from herniated discs in my lower spine, which causes me considerable pain and discomfort. I was pleasantly surprised to find that, on its highest, this product works like a gigantic heat pad, providing wonderfully relieving heat for more efficiently than a traditional heat pad could, because you can lie completely flat, and the heat isn’t concentrated anywhere, so you don’t have to decide where you most need it, you can just relax and enjoy the experience! So, for me, this product is an incredible value, because it provides lovely, relaxing, comfortable heat that I can control, with the added advantage of helping ease my back pain, with its extra-warm setting. Bonus!

The Slumberdown website offers great advice on lots of aspects of sleep and also provides information about product stockists.

You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter where they provide news of exciting products, as well as information and competitions.

Pop over and give them a like or follow to ensure you don't miss anything!

When I owned my own jewellers we stocked a number of jewellery brands. One that always stood out for me was Hot Diamonds. Hot Diamonds is a jewellery company whose unique selling point is jewellery in sterling silver with diamond. What I particularly liked about Hot Diamonds were the designs, the affordability and the quality.





Designs

Hot Diamonds always keep up-to-date with the jewellery trends and designs. They were one of the first recognised brand names to produce charm bracelets and their charms are still going strong today. With classic charms such as the lucky 21 horseshoe, stars and snowflakes to modern designs like the LOL charm, flip flops, and cocktails you know they will have a charm for every girl, for every occasion and every experience. 

1. These gorgeous 18 carat yellow gold round brilliant cut diamond earrings are a classic example. They are 0.10ct diamond weight and mirror set for added beauty.

How often have you thought, I'm bored? Maybe you are sick of Eastenders being so depressing on TV, or you suddenly realise that the only reason you like The X Factor is because of the oddbods in the heats, and now it's the semi-finals and it's gone downhill fast.....

Or maybe you life revolves around taking the kids to school, cooking, cleaning, ferrying them to after school clubs, more cooking, washing and then more cleaning and you feel you have no time for yourself any more. 

Sometimes you just want to do something different.



Vera & John is a new entertainment brand whose ethos stands for fun and excitement. Huge in Sweden they have now come to the UK. Offering a gaming environment that will particularly appeal to women. It's bright, lively, and most importantly fun. You will never get bored here.



From table games like blackjack, roulette and poker, to jackpot games, slots, and instants, there is a large choice of skill based and random based games.  

When I was in Las Vegas I really enjoyed playing Blackjack. I won a couple of games, I lost a couple and in the end I was just about even. There seemed to be a real skill involved in knowing when to play, when to take a hit and when to stand. I also had a go at roulette. My husband seemed to enjoy this and got quite excited when he won a few games!

Of course it's always important to only spend what you can afford and be aware of responsible gaming. Vera and John seem to take this seriously too, you can only sign up if you are 18 plus and they can also help you set spending limits. 

Earlier this year the UK Government published new legislation giving all employees the right to request flexible working. Your employer is required to say yes or no to your request and if they cannot say yes, they have a legal obligation to provide you with a valid reason why.

I have a roof over my head, a family that love me and food in my cupboards. Some people don't.

Most of us moan about our lot - now and again anyway.  We want a better car, more holidays, bigger house, but when it comes down to the things that really matter, the majority of us are lucky.

Christmas is a time to count your blessings.




I'm not a religious person, but a few years ago, when I was going through hard times, I was overwhelmed by the caring nature of the Christian playgroup my son attended. I sent him there as it was a good playgroup and close to where I lived at the time. That Christmas an unexpected thing happened. I heard a knocking on my door and found a delivery, a lovely Christmas hamper.

You don't have to be religious to care for others, you just have to care. So when you are buying your Christmas shopping in your local supermarket, why don't you see if they have a basket for presents for disadvantaged children, and pop a present in. If you are in your local town, don't walk past the Big Issue seller as you mostly do, stop, have a chat and buy one. Or ask them if they would like a coffee from the local coffee shop and buy one for them. If you know a local elderly person who lives alone, stop in and ask if they need help with any shopping or just a bit of company. You could even club together with a couple of friends and make a small hamper for them.

Beaverbrooks, the family run jewellers has some sparkly, pretty and downright beautiful gifts for Christmas this year.

They have special limited edition gift boxes with some gorgeous jewellery on their site and at a bargain price too. The set I was offered to review below had a sparkly rose necklace, stretchy sliver bracelet and glamourous drop earrings.

I love the Art Deco period, the era of the Great Gatsby, Parisian style, ornate decorative motifs, symmetrical patterns and geometric detailing.

So when I find a jeweller that makes jewellery in this style, I just know their pieces will be unique and beautiful.



A feeling of beauty, femininity and a time gone by, is the essence of Ungar and Ungar jewellery. A husband and wife team design the stunning fine jewellery and a team of artisan jewellery makers hand craft each precious piece. Time, and effort go into each design, the choosing of each stone, picked for perfection and the making of each piece.

I think the jewellery here is the star so I will talk no more just show you my favourites from their recent collections.





This white gold and diamond necklace and earring set, in a leaf design are both incredibly pretty. The earrings move and sway as you walk, catching the light. To be worn with your best cocktail dress, the highest cute heels and the classiest bag, this jewellery ensures you will turn heads in the crowd.

If you want classic glamour and old world style combined with expert craftsmanship then look for Ungar and Ungar jewellery at your local independent jeweller.

Tell me, what item do you love the most? Do you love the Art Deco era as much as me?

* a sponsored post, all words and opinions are my own

Try liquid nitrogen Ice-cream