Lifestyle // Black Sheep Coffee Review*

There's nothing better than the smell of freshly brewed coffee in the morning,it really helps set me up for the day and I wouldn't be without my daily cup.If my finances could stretch I think I would visit Starbucks daily (so ready for gingerbread lattes!) ,but I'll settle for my favourite mug and a splash of milk and sugar.I live in an area that is really big on supporting indie brands,so I was really happy that the lovely people at Black Sheep Coffee sent me some ground coffee to sample.

I really enjoy using posh ground coffee in the cafetiere,it's all very fancy and novel to me as I've only recently discovered these! If only I had one of those milk frothers then I could have the full experience.Of course,no morning cup of coffee would be complete without a few biscuits for dunking.Anyway on to the main event,I thought I'd start writing reviews in a Q&A format so that they're easy to read and so that I don't forget the little details.

Who are Black Sheep Coffee?

Black Sheep Coffee are a London based company who pride themselves on offering high quality coffee at a reasonable price.They encourage people to "leave the heard behind" and enjoy a more flavourful and exciting coffee experience.

What products do they offer?

They sell ground and whole bean coffee priced at between £5.40-£6.40 per 227g.You can even buy 1kg of their coffee beans if you're serious about your caffeine habits.I think they're pretty good value as you could easily spend more than this on a couple of drinks at a coffee house. They even sell Black Sheep coffee t shirts so you can wear your love for all things java too!

What did you think of the coffee you tried?

I sampled the Robusta Revival ground beans (which you can buy here) and I was very impressed with how rich and deep the flavours were.I'm usually more of a instant coffee drinker, but I really enjoyed taking the time to make a more luxurious cup of coffee.It has a wonderfully smooth finish and it's very drinkable,I  love that the kitchen smells absolutely gorgeous now.These particular beans contain around twice as much caffeine as normal Arabica beans so if I wasn't awake earlier on,I am now! I'd say this would be the coffee to buy if you're a regular coffee drinker who is looking to get more out of their morning drink.

What else would you like to see from Black Sheep Coffee?

One thing I'm very impressed with is their social media interaction,sites like Twitter and Instagram are great ways to communicate with coffee lovers,and I think that will only stand them in good stead.I would love to see them release even more products,perhaps a caffiene free coffee for the evenings, or for those who aren't able to drink it.

I'm really glad I discovered this brand on Twitter.What's your go-to coffee order? I'm a latte girl myself.

Lifestyle // Tuesday Treasures #2

Here's the second edition in my Tuesday Treasures series and I'm sharing my latest Internet favorites with you all! I'm always super excited to make new discoveries,so here are the newest bits and bobs that I've been watching,reading,wanting and laughing at.

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After binge watching season 2 of Orange Is The New Black, I'd been looking for a gritty comedy-drama to watch to fill the Netflix void.Like most things I've enjoyed watching,I have heard so many great things about this show,and I haven't been dissapointed so far! It's really well written and the actors are so believable.Bryan Cranston plays a troubled middle aged man who gets into a bit of a pickle (I won't spoil it for you!) very well,I've only ever seen him in Malcolm in the Middle,but he is a very versatile actor.I'm a bit slow on the uptake as there are five seasons,but if you're into crime dramas full of suspense and dark comedy then I'd check it out!

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I've just discovered some beautiful illustrations by a Mexican artist called Ilse Valfre and I'm really glad I came across her work! I love quirky illustrations,and these adorable and wonderfully drawn characters are really striking.I'm looking to buy some art so it's great that she has an online store where you can buy clothes,accessories and prints all covered in her offbeat style.

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When I scroll through Instagram,I definitely notice a bit of a pattern going on! I've seen a Starbucks cup have tons of like before,throw in a cute cat and artsy food shots,and you're a fully fledged IG addict! Satiregram is an account full of witty sentences about our favourite and most cliched Instagram snaps.

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This beautiful bunting necklace is just too adorable for words! I love subtle jewellery that you can wear with everything,and this is a great budget piece at only £12.You can buy it from Ji Ji Kiki which is an awesome independent online store selling wonderful vintage bits and bobs.I had the pleasure of hearing Emma,the lovely owner of this shop give a talk at the South West Blog Social,she's so genuine and hard working!

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I don't really know how I'd describe my interior design style,but I love anything cute,vintage and completely unnecessary! I've seen little deer figurines all over the internet and on blogs recently,and I think they would add a lovely touch of kitsch to any home.I reckon I'd be able to find some in a charity shop,that's going to be my next mission.

There's more!

If you need any proof that elephants are awesome,here are 22 photos of them making the world a better place.

I keep wanting to play the indie horror game Slender, but I keep chickening out! Has anyone had a go? I'm a big fan of first person survival games.

This hilarious video by Brett Domino will show you how to make a pop hit song

SimplyNoise is a great site that plays white,pink or brown noise which is great to relax your mind or help you concentrate.

Taking myself back to my tween and teen years with 31 things that always got '00s girls in trouble.I think I was surgically attached to my GHD's.

What are you loving this week? I'd love some more things to check out!

Poundland bargains // Chit Chat lash building mascara review

Please say that I'm not the only one that's sucked in by products and all of their fancy words? Anything that promises to perfect and polish my face I'm drawn to like a moth to a flame! I'd just finished my old mascara and I was looking for something more budget friendly that offered a little something extra,and that's when I saw this Chit Chat lash building mascara in Poundland.It was a sign that I had to pick it up,and for only a pound you can't really go wrong!

I like the packaging,it's eye catching and simple which is nice as some budget make up can look a bit flimsy and cheap. The only gripe I have is that the writing rubs off almost instantly,but I'm not applying that to my lashes so I'm not too concerned.I really like the wand, it's easy to use and really gets into the hard to reach areas to give a bit of extra volume. I've found that it can take a couple of dips to ensure that you've got enough mascara on the wand,but that could just be me,I'm a bit cack handed you see.Is it just me or does this remind you of Maybelline's The Falsies mascara?

Before

After

The wand really separates and coats my lashes leaving them looking boosted yet still comfortable,it doesn't feel clumpy or irritating on my lashes,which was a concern for me being a cheaper product.It really works well at defining my eyelashes and making them pop.As for it's claims of lash building,my lashes do seem plumper and more fluttery (scientific word) so I'm sold. I've tried quite a few mascaras both budget and high end and I'd say this was as good as any.I think this would be a great buy to throw into your suitcase if you were going on holiday because it's cheaply replaced! I finished off my eye look with a quick swipe of MUA liquid eye liner (10/10 would recommend) in the morning and there was no flaking to be seen all day.I don't know how they make this product for only £1,  it seems to stay on all day but it's very easy to remove in the evening.If you're after a new mascara on a budget I'd definitely go and grab one of these and see how you get on!

What mascara are you loving at the moment?

Fashion // Budget Jewellery picks*

Lately I've been trying to get rid of all of the clothes I've acquired over the years that I don't wear anymore (I'm looking at you circle belt from 2005!), in the hopes of trying to create a more classic neutral wardrobe that's easy to style.I'm not the sort of person that has the patience to faff around with a complicated look,but I enjoy adding extra touches to make my outfit feel a bit special.I'm always looking for new accessories to add my collection because they're a cheap way of updating my outfit,and there's something about a beautiful piece of jewellery that brings a smile to my face! I was lucky enough to receive these items from Black & White boutique to review and I'm really excited to share them with you.

I always struggle with bracelets and watches because of my child sized hands (I lose out when sharing popcorn!) but this beautiful watch is so comfortable and can be adjusted to fit perfectly.There are so many designs to choose,from anchors to aztec prints and they're all under £20,which considering the price of some watches is very reasonable.This one caught my eye because it reminds me of candy canes,I love the subtle pastel design, and I think it will become a much loved piece! It's from their elegance range and it's currently on sale for £14.99.

These stackable bracelets have a really lovely boho feel to them,they'd be a perfect accessory for a flowing summer skirt and beachy hair.They're really easy to wear, and I love that you can layer them up and restyle them depending on your outfit.I've bought similar bracelets like this off Ebay,and although they were cheap,they felt very flimsy and like they could break in any second! These are really sturdy with easy to use clasps,and they feel really well made.I love the vivid purple colour and the little charms are so cute.We've got an anchor,an owl and and an infinity symbol,all of which seem like very popular prints this Summer (especially infinity symbols, which seemed to come out of nowhere!) This one is part of their Integrity range and is £12.99

I'm always looking for companies that sell affordable products,but with that it does make me think about their morals and ethics.Luckily,Black and White Boutique are making every effort to ensure that their products are ethical and support the Fair Trade industry.I love the names of their pieces too,"equality","elegance" and "integrity" to name but a few,I feel like every aspect of their creations was given a lot of thought.I was blown away by the shipping prices, delivery to the UK is only £1.50 and outside of Europe it's £3.65,so if you're like me and are always adding things to the basket only to delete when you realise shipping is £5+ then I'd head over to their site and see if there's anything that takes your fancy!


What jewellery are you loving right now?

Lifestyle // Friday Food Favourites

J.R.R Tolkien once said "If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold,it would be a merrier world",and I couldn't agree more! Food is one of life's pleasures that I'm rediscovering during my recovery,so I thought I'd share with you what I'm enjoying at the moment.I couldn't get through the day without a couple of snacks to keep me going,and these are all from budget stores, making them great choices if you're trying to save money.

 Although I really enjoy cooking,I love things that I can just throw in my bag in case I want a quick snack. "BiscoCereali Croccanti Classici" and "con cereali integrali" roughly translates as "crunchy classic" and "with whole grains".Thanks Google Translate! I was expecting something similar to a granola but but they're much more filling and don't crumble to pieces like Nature Valley bars.They're quite hard,so if you have weak teeth I wouldn't recommend them,but I love the texture and light honey taste.You get 6 bars in a pack and I picked these up from the 99p store.

 I love Cinnamon on everything.It instantly takes food and drinks to the next level,and I always associate it with staying indoors wrapped up in warm blankets.These crispy Cinnamon sugar cookies from Gullon (which is a Spanish company apparently) are perfectly light and crisp,and you can even dunk them in your tea! Again,I got these from the 99p store,I'd really recommend them if you're after some international food.

 I'm a sucker for American food,but I'm also on a budget,so I'm not willing to spend £7 on a box of Lucky Charms! Luckily,I spotted these at Poundland and quickly stashed them in my shopping basket as they were being snapped up pretty quickly.I wasn't really sure what to expect,but I would describe them as Peanut Butter Maltesers.I've tried Reese's Peanut Butter Cups before,but I'd say these are even nicer! They melt in your mouth leaving behind a subtle creamy peanut flavour and a crispy malted ball. I've passed these around the family and even the ones who don't really like Peanut Butter are a fan!

 I could easily buy a Starbucks or Costa coffee everyday,but the price can really add up so I've been trying to find a cheaper alternative.These Latte Macchiato sachets from Mokate are really quick to make and even give you the frothy milk top you get in coffee shops.I would definitely use a tall mug because when you're stirring the milk,it almost doubles in size (learn from my mistake!) They have a nice subtle coffee flavour,it' s definitely not gourmet coffee,but they are really easy to drink and taste really velvety and smooth. You can pick these up from the 99p store and they had various other flavours too,so there's something for everyone.

I really enjoy reading posts that people create on certain days,so I think that every Friday I'll be sharing my "Food Favourites" with you.I hope that you've found something that interests you,as you can see,I think I should have shares in budget stores!

What snacks are you enjoying at the moment?

Perfume // Next Just Pink EDT review

You know when you walk past someone who's perfume smell gorgeous and you've just got to ask them where they got it from? Well that happened with my Auntie a little while back and she said "Next Just Pink".
I've never really thought of heading to Next for perfumes,but they've got a great range of fragrances all under £20.This beautifully packaged perfume was only £12, but the adorable glass heart bottle and long lasting scent really makes it seem higher end.Apparently,this is a great dupe for "Ralph Lauren's Romance".

This is a very feminine and floral fragrance but it isn't cloyingly sweet or over the top,it fills the air with the light scents of flowers and it smells very clean .It's the perfect perfume for day or night because it mellows out to a more muskier scent after a few hours.

I love the glass bottle,it's the perfect size to put in my handbag and I think it's really pretty.It also looks equally as good being displayed on my cabinet! I love the simple design and 30ml is a good amount of perfume for £12.

Next Just Pink describe it's fragrance as "a fresh green floral fragrance with soft fruits and pink blooms" and I think it would be perfect for a woman of any age,it's very unobtrusive and would be great to wear at work or at home.It definitely adds that extra something to any outfit and now I know how good Next's perfumes are,I'm going to try the other fragrances they have on offer!

What perfumes are you enjoying right now? Have you tried Next perfumes before?

*If you enjoy connecting with me and reading my posts,I would really appreciate any nominations for "Best Newcomer" in the Cosmo Blog Awards with Next *

Lifestyle // Mr Nutcase phone review *

Twitter is an excellent way to communicate with different businesses who might offer products that you've never heard of before! That's why I was very happy to get the opportunity to review a phone case for the lovely people at Mr Nutcase.

I found their website very easy to use and I was really impressed by the worldwide shipping and fast delivery,nothing is worse than paying money and then waiting forever it to arrive! You have the option to upload your own photos and create a personalised case,or you can choose from different designs that have been created by various artists.My phone is an Xperia Miro which they don't do cases for at the moment,but I'd love to see them expand their range.If you're looking to buy a phone case,you can see what phones styles they cover on the Mr Nutcase brands page.

I chose the Girl on Girl Bike in London case which I think will make a really lovely present for someone. Having a phone case that stands out is also a good way to prevent family phone mix ups! There are so many beautiful designs to choose from like polka dots through to inspiration quotes and abstract art.I spoke to them on Wednesday the 30th and it arrived yesterday,I don't know how they do it but that's incredibly fast delivery.Not only that but every time I spoke with them,they responded within the day and nothing was ever too much trouble ,what more could you want from a company? 

They've just recently created a live chat feature on their site so that they can respond to customer queries and offer a more efficient customer service,I think that's a great idea as more people are buying online now.Also,I'm always after new budget products (as you well know) and all of the phone cases are under £20,so if you're looking for a practical gift for the technology lover in your family (or you!) then I'd really recommend them.

If you want to know more about Mr Nutcase,then you can tweet them @MrNutCase or email them at info@mrnutcase.com 

Is your phone wearing anything at the moment?