Let's Start With This One...

Hey Lovelies, 

After a very birthday filled month, August came along with another birthday. One in the form of my nephew, who turned 4 and is off to big school next week. I can’t believe how quick time has gone and how quick this month has gone. It seems like 2019 is flying by.

This month I spent some time looking after myself, catching up with friends and bargain hunting. There wasn’t much that happened, but I did find several things that I fell in love with. Below is just a few of my blogger favourites this month…

Peaky Blinders: My favourite TV show ever is back! Thomas Shelby has returned to my screen! I am no longer left waiting for the family I would like to join to come back and save me! Bringing August to an end in epic fashion, the show came back with the first two episodes and it is everything I could have wanted and more. Polly in a suit I could only dream of is a reason to watch on its own. That and Cillian Murphy’s cheekbones and blue eyes.


Chrisley Confessions: I am obsessed with Chrisley Knows Best. I have watched them all and love the family dynamic. Whilst, I know that they are going through something now, I have been listening to their podcast a lot and it is so great. I pop it on when cooking or doing stuff in the kitchen and find that I forget about everything during it. Give it a listen if you are looking for a new Podcast.


Mulan Pillow from Primark: With my parents going away, my mum was an absolute babe and brought me back a few presents. The first one I want to mention is the amazing new pillow that is part of the Mulan range at Primark. It is so soft, cosy and makes any bedding pop. I love it!


Jersey Shore: Family Vacation: If you have been reading the blog for a while, then you will know that I adore Jersey Shore. The series is back with even more reality goodness and I am all over it. Having binged all the series earlier this year, I can’t wait to see what unfolds in the new episodes.


Disney Bottle from Primark: Another present from my mum was an amazing bottle from Primark, which says, “drink, sleep, Disney, repeat.” If there was ever an item that represented me more it would be this one. It reminds me a lot of the Love Island one, but this is just a little bit dreamier, as it has Mickey Mouse shaped confetti.


Bee Chat: At the start of the month, I hosted my first ever Twitter chat over at @Cbeechat and it was a brilliant experience. Just before the end of August, I was asked to host another and again I adored every minute of it. I love speaking to different people and being asked to do another chat was great! I hope to be able to do more in the future that you can all come and join in with.


The Great British Bake Off: Finally, after months of waiting for it, GBBO is back and I already love Michelle and Jamie. I am not sure who is going to win it this year, as the competition is already so high. Yet, I love the fact that so many bakers are young this year. It is going to inspire a whole new generation to cook. Baking for me is like a science. I love popping everything in a bowl and seeing something come to life a few hours later. Who else is with me?


Alone Time: I know lots of people struggle with being alone, but sometimes I really enjoy it. At the start of the month, my parents went to my brothers and so I was left home alone. It was the first time in a while and I really needed it. I looked after myself and made sure to not overdo it, whilst also exploring my local area. Your wellbeing is so important and sometimes being on your own is just what you need.

Image via Lovesub.co.uk

With a new season ahead, you may be thinking about some fun ways to transform your looks for the season ahead. Whether you find that perfect white T-shirt, that go-to sharp blazer that you can wear for any occasion or that scarf that has become a wardrobe staple, here are some styles that you could invest in to really transform your look for the season ahead.

If you have a wardrobe filled with staple pieces, you will never have to worry about ‘not having anything to wear’ and having those key pieces will definitely make day-to-day dressing infinitely easier.

1. Black Trousers: A good pair of tailored black trousers have been a style staple for many years and whether you wear them to work or to brunch, a great pair of trousers can really make your look elegant and effortless.

2. A Plain White Tee: Is there anything more versatile to transform your look than a plain white tee? We think not! Pair it with denim, a fancy skirt or a slip dress, no wardrobe is complete without one!

3. An Elegant Blazer: A great blazer is the perfect way to transform any look for the new season. Not only will it pull together an office look, it will also work over a cocktail dress too so the options really are endless!

4. A Sleek Pair of Heels: A classic pair of sleek pointed heels are a timeless way to update your look for the season. Look into the most on-trend colour and plan the rest of your wardrobe around that colour scheme.

5. Invest in new accessories: New accessories are a great way to update your look so why not try a new bag, jewellery or even go for some unique tights! A tights subscription box like this Gambettes Box is the perfect way to add a special touch to your outfit. There are many clothing subscription boxes or beauty subscription boxes that you could invest in so you could get something new sent to your door every month.

Hey Lovelies, 

Today marked the exciting release of the BFI London Film Festival catalogue! Have you seen it? What did you think? What films are you excited to see? One of the features I am most looking forward to is The Aeronauts.

Announced today as the Mayor of London’s Gala screening, the film features Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne reuniting in Tom Harper’s true story piece about the young widow Amelia Wren and scientist James Glaisher. Together, the pair decide to head off on a balloon expedition, which will take them higher than anyone else in history.

With the chances of survival slim, the pair take to the air and learn about not only the elements they face but themselves and each other. Helping to leave their troubles behind in the process.
The feature will be at the festival on the 7th October and in cinemas from the 6th November, but you can catch the first trailer for it now below:

Hey Lovelies, 

After an amazing first time a few weeks, I have been asked back by the amazing Bee Chat team to host a discussion this Thursday (29th Aug) at 9pm on Twitter. With this week being all about The Great British Bake Off, I will be celebrating all things baking via @Cbeechat using the #BeeChat hashtag.

From cakes to donuts, even your favourite bakers, I will be discussing everything GBBO themed, so please do come and join me along with the other lovely bloggers/vloggers who also take part each week for some fun. It is a lovely way to meet new people and bloggers online and everyone is so friendly.

Hey Lovelies, 

The Great British Bake Off is one of my favourite shows. At the start of the year, I spent months binging on all the series on Netflix. I don’t allow people to talk to me when it is on. I even watch the accompanying show to make sure I know all the details. It is summer and autumn all rolled into one.

Sitting down with a nice cup of tea and old friends Prue, Paul, Sandi and the beautiful Noel Fielding every Tuesday evening for around 12 weeks is what makes me happy. That and Thomas Shelby, but we will discuss that later.

However, it does also bring out some of the strangest of things in us. Especially if you are a first-time viewer, which inspired me to share and warn you of some of the things that may happen when you start watching…

You Will Want to Know Everything About Everyone: Before the show starts, you will read every article, go on a deep search via social media of their accounts and want to know everything about them. By the end of it, you will know more about them than your family.

The Theme Tune Will Become Your Life: When you hear the start of the theme tune and the first sighting of the tent, you will do a little dance around the room. With a slice of Victoria Sponge and a cup of tea in hand.

You’ll Find A Favourite Straightaway: Even though you have researched them all when you see them on TV for the first time, you will discover a favourite. This will change weekly. Until you reach the final and want them all to win.

Sandi and Noel Will Bring You So Much Joy: Each week, Noel will sport a fancy outfit and Sandi will make a joke about her height. You will love both no matter what and go online to find out where you can get Noel’s wardrobe from.

You Become A Star Baker (Not Really!): When it comes to judging each round, you will turn into a star baker and have the ultimate vote. Along with the rest of the nation. Yet, when you do try and bake one of the challenges, you refuse to speak of it ever again and eat it before anyone else can see it.


A Weekly Box of Tissues is Needed: As the bakers start to leave, you will be investing in a weekly box of tissues due to their departing speeches. Don’t worry, the people on the checkout will be understanding.

The Nation Will Unite: If anything, bad happens, watch out! The nation will join and campaign hard to make sure justice is had. Twitter, newspapers, strangers on the street, everywhere you turn people will be talking about it. You will love every minute of it and forget all about Brexit.

You Won’t Be Prepared When It Ends: No matter what, you won’t know what to do on your Tuesday evenings when the show ends. You will follow everyone. Buy every cookbook that follows. You will even consider applying for the show. You will apply for the show. You will then worry about being accepted. You will. You will then begin baking like your life depends on it until you pull out and simply enjoy the show from your sofa.

The Great British Bake Off is back on Channel 4 at 8pm tonight lovelies and I will be over on Twitter discussing it. But before that, I would love to know what you love most about the show? Leave a comment below or on social telling me and let the baking begin!

Hey Lovelies, 

Hey Lovelies, 

Get ready for the ultimate girl power film lovelies, as Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie lead the way in Bombshell. A film that is going to shock the world and make a real stand!

Working alongside John Lithgow, the feature looks at the most powerful and controversial media empire of all time and the women who brought down the man who made it. Also starring, Kate McKinnon, Connie Britton, Mark Duplass, Rob Delaney, Malcolm McDowell and Alison Janney and directed by Jay Roach, the film will be out soon.

Yet, you can watch the first teaser for it now below:

Hey Lovelies,

When you think of British features, there are many genres we can place them in. Especially as the times change. However, one that we have become renowned and well-known for is our gritty heart. We take the worst of times and make them into the best. We turn hopes and dreams into realities. We bring our sarcasm and wit, churning it into charming affairs. All of which feature in Jesse Buckley’s new film, Wild Rose, out today on DVD and digitally.

With Julie Walters portraying her mother, Buckley stars as Rose-Lynn Harlan. A single mother fresh out of prison, who longs to leave her home in Glasgow to become a country singer in Nashville. Unable to get her dream through to her mother, Rose-Lynn starts to give up on her hopes, becoming a cleaner. Until the woman, she works for encourages her to go for her dreams upon hearing her sing.

Much like the films, This Is England and Fish Tank, Wild Rose presents a true mixture of the kitchen sink dramas Britain has become known for and the hopes and dreams of Hollywood. It is a delight to watch and the blend shows the never-ending talents of the cast, as they bring the strong script and story to life.

Having stormed onto the scene in Beast, Buckley continues to pave the way as a rising star. Her portrayal of Rose is gritty, authentic and a show of real talent throughout the feature. When up against British powerhouse, Walters, she presents a similar rawness that Walters has shown throughout her career. It is something that promotes the promising rise that her career is sure to go on if she keeps picking features like Wild Rose and her back catalogue.

With a small scope of marketing and cinematic time, Wild Rose was not given the power it deserved when being shared with UK audiences. Now out on home entertainment, it is a feature that will not only show a true star being born in the likes of Buckley but the power of the film as a whole. A feature that audiences will come away from uplifted by.

Hey Lovelies, 

It isn’t every day that your postman brings you a bottle of gin, but yesterday mine did just that. Fresh off the shelves, a lush pink treat arrived in a white box, taking on the form of Salcombe Gin’s new Rosé Sainte Marie.

Inspired by the Mediterranean, the Rosé Sainte Marie, which has been out since early July, is a dry rosé gin, created to work alongside the company’s multi-award-winning London dry gin, Start Point. Having been named after the iconic ‘Sainte Marie’ lighthouse marking the Southern entrance to the Old Port of Marseille, the place where 19th century Salcombe Fruit Schooners would load citrus fruits and herbs bound for England’s ports, the gin is a summer smash.


Full of fresh lemon peel, Provence herbs, red fruits, white flowers, orange blossom, lavender and lemon verbena, with a hint of white pepper and traditional juniper, it captures everything that you associate with summer in a bottle. In fact, it even looks like summer in a bottom due to the pink peppercorn additions that make the colour of it.

Said to be perfect to have at the beginning or end of a meal or as an aperitif or a digestif, at the beach, pool or even in your garden whilst enjoying the sunshine (please come back!), this no added sugar gin, was exactly what my family needed after a bit of an odd August day. With the bank holiday insight as well, it only felt right.


After unwrapping the white and pink box, I was delighted to find the little bottle inside. Upon opening it, there was a sweet smell, which I know may sound odd, but reminded me of a perfume. I probably would wear it as one to be honest, if I knew I wouldn’t get any funny looks for it.

Pouring in a small amount with classic tonic water, I handed the glass to my mum, who is my regular guest tester. As someone who isn’t the biggest gin fan, she enjoyed the glass much to her surprise. Reminding her of a chilled glass of wine, which she would pop open when enjoying a salad in the garden on a special occasion, she was hit with the idea of it being the ideal bottle to have at a BBQ or summer event.


With the pink tint in the glass, the gin mixture also reminds you of a glass of wine. But this is a whole load better than the average tipple lovelies. Rosé Sainte Marie has a 41.4% ABV and for a 70cl bottle, it is a little bit more costly than the average gin at £40 per 70cl bottle, but it is worth it if it can turn even the gin hater into a fan. 

Plus, the team who make the gin are so caring when it comes to helping their customers and that is another reason to value them as a brand. Having not only produced the gin to suit the history that their drinkers know, but they also come up with recipes. Again, inspired by the summer breeze and sultry seas, they made a gin spritzer that I am sure will pop for all:

Salcombe Spritz
Ingredients

• 25ml Salcombe Gin Rosé Sainte Marie
• Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic Water
• 15ml Aperol
• Twist of Orange Peel 

Method
Simply fill a large wine glass with ice, add the Salcombe Gin Rosé Sainte Marie and Aperol. Top up with Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic Water, stir gently and garnish with a twist of orange peel on the side of the glass.

Being a family that doesn’t normally buy gin, my mum and dad, were happily surprised by the taste and outcome of the glass they enjoyed. I don’t know if they would drink regular gin now, but they have both said that the idea of the spritzer is one that they would definitely like to give a go.

If you want to find out more or to purchase a bottle lovelies, head to the Salcombe Gin website or look out for it in selected independent retailers nationwide. That cute pink bottle will be super sweet in any home!

Hey Lovelies,

Right now, I am stood by my oven in my kitchen hoping to get the heat from it to warm me up. I do this regularly now and so the idea of going swimming in the cold sea is not even an option. If you live in the UK, you will understand what I mean, as the weather is sunny one minute, stormy the next. If you don’t live here, it is normal for our weather obsessed country aha!


I am going diving though in another way, with this brand-new trailer for Underwater. A new feature from 20th Century Fox, directed by William Eubank and starring Kristen Stewart, T.J. Miller, Vincent Cassel, John Gallagher Jr., Jessica Henwick, Mamoudou Athie and Gunner Wright.

When a crew of underwater researchers finds themselves desperately searching to reach safety, after an earthquake strikes and destroys their subterranean laboratory, they find themselves racing against the clock to survive.

Due out on the 10th January 2020, just in time for award season, Underwater looks very intense from the looks of the new trailer. Watch it below: