December Degustabox

Since Christmas has been and gone now Degustabox subscription boxes are starting to get a lot healthier, filled with some delicious snacks to take on the go. This month's box is called 'Healthy New Year' which is ideal for those of us who are left feeling guilty after eating a lot of chocolate over Christmas.

They have kindly sent me a £6 off discount for you all, using the code: BLDEG15

Koko Dairy Free Milk £1.79 - Koko milk is freshly made using coconut milk and contains fewer calories than skinned milk, but tastes just as remarkable as cows milk on breakfast cereals. I love the sound of this milk and I am pretty convinced my mam will too as she doesn't drink dairy milk. I can't wait to have this in a cup of tea or on my cereal and not feel guilty.

Hip Pops 2x £1.00 - Hip Pops are a healthier snack when compared to similar fried or baked snack products, typically 50% less fat than your standard crisps. They come in 6 different flavours and are gluten-free too! I really enjoyed eating these as a light snack for dinner, they taste very flavoursome but good at the same time. You aren't left feeling starchy or unsatisfied like some crisps can do.

Nothing But 2x £1.69 - Healthy freeze-dried fruit and vegetable snacks, under 80 calories and no added...anything! I already eat these as part of my workout routine as a little pre-workout snack if I am on the go. They are very satisfying, full of delicious flavours and quite filling too. Perfect to chuck in your bag as an on-the-go healthy snack.

Betavivo 2x £1.00 - A crispy oat heart shaped cereal which is proven to lower your cholesterol and blood glucose. I just love how adorably shaped these are it just makes them look more appealing compared to your standard oats. They are very dry to eat even with milk I still found them too dry so I don't think I would purchase these from a supermarket.

Nuva Water 2x £1.49 - In the flavours Ginger and Lemon and Cucumber and mint, these spring water bottles provide no sugar, sweeteners or preservatives. Encouraging people to hydrate in a healthier way. As much as I love cucumber and ginger I don't like the idea of them in a bottle of water. I have tried a cucumber smoothie before and really did not like it, so I think these may be given to someone else. But they are definitely a way to encourage people to drink more water!

Fabulous Bakers £1.80 - These mango and pineapple baker bars are made purely out of natural, honest ingredients that contain no nasties! They are made with real fruit, slow release energy oats and they're high in fibre too. I love things like this so I can pop into my bag as an on-the-go snack!

Complete Energy Bites £1.99 - Energy bites are delicious, low-calorie chocolate infused with caffeine. Energy bites provide an instant boost to help improve your alertness, endurance and physical energy. Recommended to take 5 minutes before physical exercise, driving, partying or studying. I have tried the mocha flavour of these bites before and ended up having to brush my teeth twice straight after, as they tasted too strong. Perhaps a lemon flavour might taste nicer.

Drink Me Chai - Spiced with a hint of clove for that everyday guilt-free fix! Only 42 calories per cup. Chai latte is one of my favourite hot drinks ever, it is always the drink I go for in Costa or Starbucks. Very festive. I cannot wait to drink this!

Barilla Vegetable Sauce £2.00 and Fusilli £1.50 - I always have things like this stocked in my cupboard for one of those I can't be bothered to cook evenings. These are great as they are nutritious and a lot healthier for you than some brands. Perfect for a quick whip up a meal.

Crabbies Light Ginger Beer £1.49 - I think these drinks are perfect to give as gifts to someone you know who enjoys alcohol. I don't like ginger beer so this will be given away to someone who will enjoy it much more.

Red Square Toffee Mini £1.99 - I have tried vanilla vodka before but never a toffee flavour and I am not sure how I feel about that. These little miniature sized bottles come in great use to mix together with other drinks.

Overall I think this months Degustabox is another good one and perfect as the last box of the year. Filled with healthy treats which is perfect for us who have indulged in a lot of food over the festive period. 

I would really recommend people who enjoy food and are wanting to try new brands out to give this box a try. Who doesn't love the element of surprise especially with food?! It is like Christmas every month. You always come across some amazing brands and try some yummy recipes too!

If you want to find out what other yummy treats Degustabox send out their website link is here, or you can find them on Twitter or Facebook for more information. 

*PR Sample/gift.

Have you tried Degustabox out yet??

Simple Ways To Be Active This New Year

So you've stuffed your face with all the sweet mince pies, Quality Streets and mulled wine over the Christmas and now you are left with the guilt. New Year tends to be the time people make resolutions to get fit, eat healthier and join the gym. I always find it a real struggle getting back into a routine after having so much time off to eat and chill. But for today's post, I wanted to share with you all some simple ways to motivate yourself to keep fit and healthy.

1. New Year, New Gear - What better excuse is there to shop than to tell yourself you need to buy some new gear in order to gain the motivation to workout. With the January sales on now is the perfect time to pick up some bargains. Missguided have lots of sales on including their fitness range. I think having a new outfit can really motivate you to go to the gym and show it off!

2. Create A Playlist - Did you receive a lot of new albums on Christmas Day? Well, that's the perfect excuse to get them on your iTunes and create a workout playlist. Listening to music is a great way of keeping active in the New Year. It is also a good way to just zone out and focus purely on the workout.

3. Be Realistic - Some people stress and worry so much about getting fit they don't know where to begin or how many days to go. It is always handy to write down a simple routine and it could be as simple as Monday - 10 minute on the treadmill, 3 sets on the leg press, 30 squats etc. Maybe even Youtube some at home or gym workouts for beginners, just give yourself a bit of a day-to-day structure.

4. Find A Buddy - I do think having a workout buddy helps keep you motivated and are great to have for spotting if you go to the gym. If you are joining the gym or wanting to attend some classes, having a partner with you could make the whole experience a lot more entertaining. I go with my boyfriend to the gym and it tends to fly over a lot faster and he helps motivate me when I'm not feeling up to it.

5. Have An Aim - Don't just get active because it's New Year and everybody else has, do it because you want to and give yourself a reason why. Everybody has different reasons mine is to tone up and just feel healthier about myself. If you are wanting to keep active write a post it note on your wardrobe and remind yourself why you are keeping fit, it may just be that little light switch in your brain to get you motivated. 

6.) Think of the outcomes - Some people have images on their phones or walls on what they want to look like, some have that dress they love in a smaller size their aim to fit into it and others write or even think about what their reasons are for to get active. When you are lost and feeling unmotivated take a step back and think about why you joined the gym or are wanting to keep fit in the first place and what you want to look like. 

What are your tips on staying active this New Year??

How To Stay Positive In January

Ugh. It's January. Which means it's a New Year, which means Christmas is another 11/12 months away. A New Year can seem quite dreary and gloomy which can often make the month drag. We are starting to feel the guilt after eating all those sweet mince pies, our bank accounts are running short and going back to reality is happening dreadfully fast.

The only good news about it being January is the amazing sales and the leftover chocolate from Christmas to keep us going. Today I decided to write a post on simple ways to stay positive during January.

1. Spring Clean - When you pull down those Christmas decorations the rooms start to look bare and dismal. Take this opportunity to give your house a spring clean, buy some fresh flowers, clear out all your old clothes and open a Depop page to sell some unwanted bits. A tidy space means a tidy mind!

2. Be Productive - New Year is the perfect excuse to buy a new diary, notebooks and a calendar. Make January your motivational month for organizing upcoming events, blog posts etc. I've been jotting down a lot of blog post ideas for the next couple of weeks just to get me started and feeling motivated.

3. Take Some Me Time - One of my goals was to spend less time on my laptop in the evenings and more time doing other hobbies. I do think it is important to take some 'me time' every evening. Whether it's having a hot chocolate whilst reading a chapter of a new book, a little pampering bath or watch a film with some chocolate. Having some time to yourself and doing things you enjoy can give you a positive attitude.

4. Keeping Healthy - For a lot of people, January is seen as getting back into fitness month. We are all full with guilt off eating all the Quality Streets over Christmas, therefore the thought of exercising or eating healthier makes January feel awful. Take small steps, don't feel as though just because it is a New Year that you have to workout 24/7 and eat only fruit and veg. You are still allowed treats and cheat days - don't punish your body, it's all about balance. Also, keep it fun and exciting as exercise and eating isn't supposed to be a punishment.

5. Money Problems - I think 99% of us cannot wait until payday because Christmas and New Year have left us well and truly skint. With the shops covered in bargains, it can be hard to not spend money. A good way to make sure you aren't overspending this month is to keep a note on everything you buy and even stop taking your bank card out with you if necessary. I always carry a bit of cash on me instead and that stops me spending things I don't need.

Similar posts:
My Goals For 2016
Things I've Learnt in 2015

How are you staying positive this January??

My Goals For 2016

I am a bit of a scrooge when it comes to a New Year, mostly because it is the end of Christmas for another year. I never really believed in setting New Year resolutions, I have always been someone who if I want to do something I do it when I want and not wait until New Year to put pressure on myself. I do however set myself goals on what I'd like to achieve so I decided to share them with you! 

2016 Goals...

Less Screen Time | For the past month or so I haven't been on my desktop for any longer than 2/3 hours (if blogging). I used to spend a lot of evenings sat at a screen working on uni projects, catching up on social media or blogging, but now I use that time to watch a film or read a book. I've found this quite therapeutic too as I am now rediscovering old hobbies I forgot about. It is nice to unwind in the evenings away from work or a computer screen.

Keep Up To Date | I have decided to try and keep up to date with going to the gym 3 days a week, get my driving lessons started again and keep up to date with any other life bits and bobs. Since having a job I haven't had the time to do any so, this year I plan to get more organised and make time for them!

Use More, Buy Less | I have decided to put myself on a spending ban, no more buying makeup that I don't need and to start using the products I do have, otherwise, my makeup drawer may collapse. I have been wearing more of my expensive makeup recently to get some use out of them and I will continue to do so to save some money!

Blog More Me | I've felt as though for the past few months my blog has been a lot of reviews, tips etc and a lot less about me. I've decided to either start writing monthly catch up posts or incorporate more about me in blog posts.

Talk Fitness & Healthy | When I first started blogging I was strictly wanting to write reviews and share my love for beauty. 2 years later I am talking about lifestyle, home and I want to write more about health and fitness, as it is something I starting to really find enjoyable. 

What are your 2016 goals??

Things I've Learnt In 2015

First off Happy New Year lovelies! 2015 in a nutshell has been a roller coaster of emotions and a start to a new chapter: I graduated from university, hit 3000 followers on BL and still have no sign of grey hairs due to stress! 2016 has just happened and this is essentially the year I start exploring new things and try not to stress out as much as last year. I decided to create a post on everything I have learnt in 2015 that I thought was worth sharing and worth looking back on when necessary!

I've learnt...

Life Is Just Too Short | Bit of a cliché saying but last year I was at my peak for stressing, I am seriously wondering when the grey hairs will come through. I stressed pretty much the whole way through my final year at university, finding a job, having a job I didn't like and just general little day-to-day problems. I have took all that anxiety and stress as a positive and decided to try and keep as calm and stress-free as possible. I am still in the festive spirit and doing things that make me happy and stress-free, such as colouring in (love the Harry Potter book!), watching films and spending more time with family and less on my laptop. 

Just Have a Little Patience | When I graduated I underestimated how difficult it would be to find a job. I had the CV updated, experience and an online page, but it was no luck. I would spend hours a day filling out application forms and applying online for a job. Eventually, I got one but within a month I hated it and decided to quit, leaving me back to square one. I quickly started to realize that finding a job itself is an actual job that would take a while to complete. I am now in a job and have been for a few months now but, being out of a job for 2-3 months or so has taught me that things take time and to not panic or put or blame yourself.

To Live In The Moment | I feel like these lessons are getting cringe-ier by the minute but, another lesson I have learnt in 2015 is to live in the moment and not to worry about the past (as that has already happened) or the future. When I was at university all I could think about is where will I be afterwards and what job would I have, it made me so stressed. I have learnt since then to just be happy and live now rather than worry. 

Netflix Really Is A Best Friend | Ohh where would I be without my Netflix subscription. This little beauty has been there for me throughout 2015, I have managed to start and finish Pretty Little Liars and Once Upon a Time. I used to always have something on Netflix when I was doing my final project at university and once I graduated I got through quite a lot of TV box sets. Netflix is always there no matter what the situation is! Can always rely on it for anything.

Money Isn't Everything | Since I was out of a job I had to keep back a lot of my student loan and start chipping into my savings until I found one. I spent most of my summer going on walks, to markets and to the beach - basically anything that wouldn't cost me money. I managed to budget my money really well and quickly realized you don't always need to go places or buy things that cost money. But of course a new piece of clothing or a takeaway is always a good idea...right?

What have you learnt in 2015??