Latest posts My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite – Review27 October 2020BooksKey summary Welcome to my review of My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite. This is a best seller of 2019 and shortlisted on the 2019 Women’s Prize. An amazing achievement for a debut novel and one well worth the hype! Published by Atlantic Books it is available now in ebook, audiobook and paperback. This is a satirical thriller with elements of horror and real laugh-out-loud moments. The plot has a perfect pace with varying tension and the characters are brilliant. As far as best books of the year go, this one is very near the top for me. The film rights sold to Working Title, so see you back here for the book v movie critique! My Thoughts on My Sister, the Serial Killer Older sister Korede is practical, reliable and hardworking. Younger sister Ayoola is the opposite and uses her good looks to get what she wants. Korede has always taken care of her younger sibling and they’re inseparable. They live with their Mum in Lagos in Nigeria. Korede cleans up after Ayoola’s third victim (the boyfriends are always killed in “self-defence”) realising 3 makes a serial killer. Things take a complicated turn when Ayoola selects the next object for her affections: Korede’s boss. Korede has long loved her boss from afar. Can Korede find a way to save one without betraying the other? I loved the characters in this book, especially brilliant are the two sisters. The characters are well developed, and I enjoy the family dynamics and finding out the reasons for their closeness. The story has a great, dramatic opening so it draws you in straight away! The tension ramps up, eases slightly then ramps up again. The plot is brilliantly woven and has some amazingly funny parts. A very original and compelling read. I am a big fan of thrillers and also review other fiction and non-fiction books. You can view all my book reviews here. Cover Blurb When Korede’s dinner is interrupted one night by a distress call from her sister, Ayoola, she knows what’s expected of her: bleach, rubber gloves, nerves of steel and a strong stomach. This’ll be the third boyfriend Ayoola’s dispatched in, quote, self-defence and the third mess that her lethal little sibling has left Korede to clear away. She should probably go to the police for the good of the menfolk of Nigeria, but she loves her sister and, as they say, family always comes first. Until, that is, Ayoola starts dating the doctor where Korede works as a nurse. Korede’s long been in love with him, and isn’t prepared to see him wind up with a knife in his back: but to save one would mean sacrificing the other…... 3 reasons I take Bioglan Biotic Balance Ultimate Flora22 October 2020HealthKey Summary Bioglan Biotic Balance is a probiotic; probiotics are live friendly bacteria. I take Bioglan Biotic Balance for 3 reasons: it works, it contains four different strains, and it’s easy to take. I notice a positive impact from Bioglan Biotic Balance especially when my gut flora has been disturbed. Some brands contain only one strain, but Bioglan Biotic contains four, which increases the variety of good bacteria in my gut. They come in a one-a-day pill which doesn’t need to be refrigerated. Are probiotics good for you? Probiotic bacteria are often called friendly or good for you. Our gut bacteria can sometimes become unbalanced or damaged (e.g. after an upset tummy). Probiotics can be beneficial in restoring the natural balance of bacteria in your gut. Probiotics may also play a role in increasing immune cells in gut lining and reducing inflammation. Scientific research on this potential benefit is currently limited. There is, however, a growing body of research into the health benefits of probiotics due to their popularity. It’s important to note these studies use probiotics which are different to those in supermarket yogurt and not all studies are done on humans. Many people with conditions such as IBS find probiotics beneficial. For further information visit the NHS website. 3 reasons I take Bioglan Biotic Balance Ultimate Flora I once suffered food poisoning on Cape Verde and staggered into the chemist in search of Immodium. The pharmacist said they don’t have that kind of drug, instead they use high strength Saccharomyces boulardii. Saccharomyces boulardii is one species of good bacteria. I was surprised at how well it worked and was back out sightseeing less than 48 hours later. I’m a total convert! As someone who has chronic gut diseases, I find probiotics beneficial. They’re especially good after a colonoscopy because bowel prep kills gut flora. A Quality Supplement Bioglan is a brand I feel I can trust. As probiotics are considered ‘food’ the regulations are less stringent than for medicines. Not all supplements are of equal quality or efficacy. I can tell these probiotics work for me because if I run out and miss a few days, I notice a change in my bowel symptoms. Four Different Strains A lot of probiotics contain one or two strains of bacteria and it can be trial-and-error to see which one(s) work best for you. I like the Bioglan Biotic Balance because it contains four different strains: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus Rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium Longum and Saccharomyces boulardii. I find this combination more effective than taking a single strain. Easy and Convenient One of the biggest challenges of probiotic supplements is ensuring they don’t spoil. This can often happen if the temperature or humidity is too high. Some brands require refrigeration to prevent this, but Bioglan uses special technology which allows them to be kept at room temperature. Each capsule contains 20 Billion live cultures which is equivalent to 4 pots of yoghurt. One daily tablet which can be kept in a cupboard or my bag makes them easy and convenient to take. As with a lot of supplements, these should be taken with or after food. This prevents stomach acid affecting them and gives them a chance to colonize your gut. About Bioglan Originating in Australia over 25 years ago, Bioglan is a serious provider of quality Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements. Bioglan has a strong reputation for unique formulations and first to market innovations. They proudly partner with leading pharmacies and wellness providers to provide support and advice in achieving customers health goals. Bioglan’s range includes omega-3 supplements, arthritis remedies, Superfoods range, high-potency probiotic products, specialized vitamins and minerals, cold and flu relief, customised multivitamins, vitamins to support early learning & development, performance, eye health, heart health, healthy ageing & a healthy lifestyle. They also have a really cool podcast which you can access here.... The Little Book of Orchids Review19 October 2020Books / House & GardenKey summary Welcome to my The Little Book of Orchids review! The Little Book of Orchids by Mark Chase, Maarten Christenhusz and Tom Mirenda is out now. Thank you to NetGalley for a temporary ebook. Published by Ivy Press it’s available in hardback and ebook. This is a great little book about one of the largest plant families. There is an introduction but the main part of the book is 75 orchid profiles. There is a nice range of species, some which are beautiful or unusual, and others which provide food (e.g. vanilla). The writing style is easy to understand and engaging. This a lovely book for people with an interest in orchids especially or nature in general. My Little Book of Orchids Review The Little Book of Orchids a great book if you want to get to know some of the orchid family a bit better. The introduction gives a good overview and covers major topics about orchids. These include: what orchids are, classification, lifecycle, anatomy and evolution. The 75 individual orchid profiles all follow a standard format. There is a colour picture of the orchid and description of range, habitat, conservation status, type and flowering. This is followed by a page describing their appearance and other interesting facts about the species in question. The profile ends with a map showing their geographical distribution. The book also has a glossary and an index. I very much enjoy learning more about this fascinating plant family and then spotting which of the orchids I’d seen at botanic gardens. I like the wide variety of orchid types included and the range of environments where they are located. The writing is engaging and easy to understand. The glossary is particularly useful for some of the technical botanical terms. I find the facts about the individual orchids (such as mimicry ability) the most interesting part of the profiles. There are some countries I’d like to visit so I’m bookmarking a few orchids because it would be amazing to see them in the wild! A lovely little book which I can see myself dipping in and out of often. Little Book of Orchids Cover Blurb Orchids are elegant, exotic and mysterious. Discover 75 amazing examples in this beautiful little book. One in every seven flowering plants on earth is an orchid, and they have been around since the dinosaurs. These popular and fascinating plants have evolved to thrive in a wide variety of habitats, and come in a huge array of colours and designs – developed to ensure they are pollinated, and thus survive. Using beautifully coloured engravings, this book showcases a select few from this remarkable plant family. Featuring showy species, such as the Queen of Sheba and the spectacular big lip, as well as those with delicate petals, such as the royal butterfly and the felt orchid, this book illustrates the startling hues and striking forms that make orchids such popular plants. Ingenious flowers abound, with the vampire dragon, monkey-face and black fiddle orchids providing dramatic blooms, while several species, such as the bee orchid, are masters of mimicry, designed to fool insects into thinking they have found a mate. Get to know these fabulous flowers in this handy little book. To read my other book review click here.... 4 Reasons I Love nono Cocoa Chocolates16 October 2020Food & DrinkKey Summary I recently discovered nono cocoa chocolates and fell in love! There are 4 reasons I’m a huge fan: delicious taste, free from, healthy and ethical. These chocolates are seriously tasty and so pretty! Unlike many free from alternatives, they actually taste better than most supermarket chocolates. They come in a variety of inspired flavours and pretty designs. nono cocoa chocolate is made in a special facility, it’s vegan and free from the 14 most common allergens. They’re also healthy as they contain nutritious ingredients not usually found in chocolate. Finally, nono cocoa is an ethical cooperative business, providing employment to the most vulnerable in society. My Thoughts on nono Cocoa Chocolate Firstly, this is not a sponsored or advert post. I saw a tweet from nono cocoa asking for taste testers. I received 8 free chocolates in return for confidential, honest feedback sent directly to team nono. That’s it! I thought these chocolates were really special though, which is my motivation for this post. I’ve had coeliac and multiple allergies for ~20 years so I’ve been along for the whole free from ride. The early days of next to nothing and then unpalatable alternatives with horrendous price tags. Now, there are specialist mass manufacturers, supermarket-own ranges and artisans. nono cocoa are artisans and they don’t just make chocolates, there’s a whole range of goodies. Beautiful chocolates which taste delicious The first thing you notice about these chocolates is how pretty they are! They have delightful shapes e.g. flowers, tea cups, leaves, hearts and stars, with colourful decorations. Each one is a generous size and the boxes have a good range of flavours. Flavours include fruit, coffee, coconut, caramel, spice (e.g. ginger or apple cinnamon) and even a nut and alcohol free marzipan. I found the flavours a little unusual at first but very moreish. I don’t like overly sweet chocolate so these are perfect for me. Some of the flavours are instant favourites: rose truffle, the citrus fruit ones, ‘marzipan’ and fudge. There is also a good range of textures, from creams to crunches. It’s clear team nono have worked very hard to perfect their recipes and re-create many of the flavours of traditional chocolates. The chocolates are truly luxurious, on a par with luxe brands like Prestat. Vegan and Free From nono cocoa chocolates are naturally vegan and made in a specialist allergen-free facility. They are free from the 14 most common allergens: celery, gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, lupin, milk, molluscs, mustard, peanuts, sesame, soybeans, sulphur dioxide and sulphites. Additionally, they are also free from nuts, yeast, artificial colouring and preservatives. I am guilty on occasion of having a ‘may contain…’ chocolate and not fully enjoying it because at the back of my mind I know I’m taking a risk. The chocolates from nono cocoa are pure pleasure with no risk of cross-contamination. Healthy and Functional Can chocolate be good for you? Cocoa contains antioxidants, flavanols and polyphenols which have well established health benefits. nono cocoa goes one further, their chocolates are a functional food. Functional foods give additional or enhanced benefits beyond their basic nutritional value. In the case of nono cocoa these benefits include added antioxidants, calcium and probiotics. Check out nono cocoa’s best selling box with 16 different chocolates and their advent calendar which featured in the Independent. Ethical Cooperative Empowering the Disadvantaged rosegold reports works with products and services which offer high quality, value for money and who operate ethically and sustainably. nono cocoa is a perfect example of these qualities. nono is an ethical cooperative focusing on empowering the most disadvantaged in our society. Team nono offers employment to people with disabilities including autism, epilepsy and mental health disorders. Many people disadvantaged in this way, have difficulty accessing employment. They do not want to depend on benefits or charity. By offering employment opportunities, nono cocoa empowers these people in their journey to becoming financially independent. About nono Cocoa chocolate nono cocoa was founded in 2018 as is part of the functional foods company. The company was started by Aless as a way to help her son Ethan who has autism, coeliac, allergies and epilepsy to get necessary nutrition. The name nono comes from Ethan’s response to conventional foods which made him sick: “no, no”. Ethan is now know as nono boy and inspires both the chocolates flavours and their sensory presentation. Their story is truly inspiring and shows how a person can overcome challenging circumstances to help themselves and others. You can read more about their journey here. #teamnono have won a variety of prestigious awards including recognition at: National Business Women’s Awards, National Diversity Awards and Acquisition International Business Excellence Awards and Free From Food Awards.... Why I think Hayman’s London Dry Gin is a classic14 October 2020Food & DrinkKey Summary Hayman’s has everything a true classic gin needs: heritage, process and flavour. You might think flavour is the most important aspect, but you can’t get it right without the other components. Hayman’s was established in London in 1863 and remains a family business 5 generations later. The gin making follows the same two-day process it did 150 years ago. Whilst gin did not originate in the UK (it’s actually the original ‘Dutch courage’), London has 500 year gin distilling history. Hayman’s London Dry is characterised by bold juniper, fresh citrus and subtle spice. It is a dry, elegant and versatile gin which works well in a whole host of cocktails as well as the classic G&T. Hayman’s London Dry price point is a very reasonable £26 for 70cl. Read on for my Hayman’s London Dry Gin review. My Thoughts on Hayman’s London Dry Gin I am a long time gin lover and several years ago attended a guided gin tasting at Fortnum and Mason. It was a fun evening and very informative. I learned that to really taste a gin, you must first try it neat, only then do you try with ice, mixers etc. Nowadays there seems to be a fancy new gin flavour every week, from yuzu to parma violet, seaweed to nettles, lemon drizzle to unicorn tears. (Think I made that last one up? I didn’t). And whilst flavoured gins are fun to try, I always come back to the classic London dry. Nose and Neat Flavour The scent of Hayman’s London dry is fresh, crisp and slightly astringent. I could smell both juniper and citrus. Tasting the gin, the first flavour was a bold juniper, then the fresh citrus. Slowly this gave way to a gently warming spice and finally the earthy dryness. There is a lightly oily, rich mouthfeel when I tried it on it’s own, which is down to the quality of the ingredients and the 2-day artisan distillation process. Hayman’s London dry is based upon a wheat spirit and just 10 botanicals. They are juniper, coriander, lemon peel, orange peel, angelica root, cinnamon, cassia bark, liquorice, nutmeg and orris root. Hayman’s London Dry in Cocktails I tried Hayman’s London Dry as the classic G&T with one third gin and two thirds tonic. Then several different cocktails and it worked very well. This is a great classic to have at home due to it’s dry, elegant and versatile characteristics. The bottle is the standard Hayman’s shape of a rectangular cuboid with a long neck and elegant cork stopper. I serve my G&T’s in Hayman’s 1863 highball glasses, a very pretty style which draws inspiration from a late 19th Century design found in the family archives. They’re not just pretty though, they’re also technically designed for the perfect G&T. They hold 300ml which is ideal for 50ml of gin (1/3), 100ml of tonic (2/3) and ice. They are available along with other branded accessories from the Hayman’s distillery shop. About Hayman’s of London The Hayman gin distilling story starts in 1863 when pharmacist James Burrough, opened a small distillery in Cale Street, Chelsea. He experimented with a number of gin recipes and pioneered a drier style now known as London Dry Gin. James was the great grandfather of Christopher Hayman and the Hayman family have been distilling gin ever since. Today Hayman’s is based in Balham, South West London, only a few miles from the original family distillery in Chelsea. The distillery (repeatedly voted ‘London’s Favourite Gin Distillery’ on Trip Advisor) is open to the public for tours, experiences and events. ... The Puppet Show Book Review10 October 2020BooksKey Summary The Puppet Show book is the 1st in the Washington Poe crime series from novelist MW Craven. Published by Constable it’s out now in paperback, ebook (currently just 99p!) and audiobook. I chose this because it featured on lots of best books of 2019 lists on social media. Waterstones called it the thriller of the year. So, is it really the best crime thriller of 2019 or just sales hype? It’s certainly special: dark and twisty, stellar characters and a fantastic setting, this police procedural has it all! Winner of the CWA Gold Dagger Award 2019, the TV rights were snapped up well before publication. Undoubtedly many book v TV discussions will follow! My Thoughts on The Puppet Show A serial killer is setting fire to victims and leaving them in Cumbria’s stone circles. Civilian analyst Tilly Bradshaw of the National Crime Agency notices the 3rd victim has a name carved into his chest. That name is Washington Poe: an inspector on suspension, living a simple life in rural Cumbria. Bradshaw’s DI, Stephanie Flynn, wants Poe off suspension and on the case. Poe agrees to return and teams up with brilliant but socially awkward and naïve Bradshaw. Together they try to work out who is behind the killings and why they’re pulling Poe’s strings. There are a lot of revelations with some truly spectacular twists and a breath-taking final showdown. I absolute love the characters of Poe and Bradshaw! They are both original, interesting and well developed. Poe is a man of principle, doggedly determined to pursue the evidence regardless of political fallout. Bradshaw is super smart but leads a very sheltered life, this leaves her out of her comfort-zone when she’s sent into the field. Both outsiders in different ways but with complementary skills, they are a perfect investigative pairing. Author Mike Craven is a Cumbria native and this makes his scene setting phenomenal. This novel has a fantastic sense of place and its rural isolation is perfect for the plot. The storyline is dark with a visceral horror to the details of the killings which adds to the reader’s thrill. The Puppet Show book has brilliant writing with original and highly likeable lead characters. There is also a dark, gripping and twisty plot. I couldn’t put it down and it’s one of my favourite thrillers of the year. If you’re a crime fan then you’ll not want to miss this fiction 2019 best seller. Cover Blurb for The Puppet Show A serial killer is burning people alive in the Lake District’s prehistoric stone circles. He leaves no clues and the police are helpless. When his name is found carved into the charred remains of the third victim, disgraced detective Washington Poe is brought back from suspension and into an investigation he wants no part of… Reluctantly partnered with the brilliant, but socially awkward, civilian analyst, Tilly Bradshaw, the mismatched pair uncover a trail that only he is meant to see. The elusive killer has a plan and for some reason Poe is part of it. As the body count rises, Poe discovers he has far more invested in the case than he could have possibly imagined. And in a shocking finale that will shatter everything he’s ever believed about himself, Poe will learn that there are things far worse than being burned alive…... 3 reasons the Prestat Chocolate Jewel Box makes the ideal gift5 October 2020Food & DrinkKey Summary The luxurious Prestat Jewel Box Chocolate Selection is an ideal gift for chocolate fans. My three reasons for this are: wide variety, good quality, and robust packaging. There’s something for everyone in the wide selection of chocolate varieties. The chocolate and the flavours are both great quality and imaginative. The chocolate is thick and the packaging robust so they fare well on journeys or in the post. The Jewel Box comes in 3 sizes: 120g (9 chocolates), 210g (16 chocolates) and 640g (49 chocolates). All are available at Prestat’s shop in Piccadilly, their website or from department stores such as Liberty or Selfridges. In this review I’m focusing on the 120g box with 16 different chocolates as it’s the most widely available, sold in department stores and Waitrose for £16.99. Prestat ensures a fair price for Ghanaian farmers who supply the cocoa used in these chocolates. My Thoughts I like to support brands who are sustainable and ethical. Prestat wants to do better that Fair Trade certification and has their own partnership programme. Details are in the About Prestat section below. Wide Variety of Chocolates This selection has something for everyone with 16 different chocolates. There are 8 dark chocolates, 6 milk chocolates and 2 white chocolates. There is a good variety of fillings including fruit and floral creams, nuts, fudge, flavoured truffles and more. The full list and individual details are given below. Dark Brazil Nut (a Brazil nut covered in thick dark chocolate) Dark Raspberry Fondant (soft raspberry fondant dipped in dark chocolate) Dark Rose Creme (rose cream coated in dark chocolate) Dark Ginger Hunk (a chunk of spicy candied ginger covered in dark chocolate) Dark Violet Creme (a violet cream coated in dark chocolate) Dark Cassis Babe (blackcurrant jelly dipped in dark chocolate) Dark Chocolate Truffle (a dark chocolate truffle covered with dark chocolate) Dark Passion Fruit (soft raspberry fondant dipped in dark chocolate) Milk Walnut Marzipan (an almond and walnut marzipan, covered in milk chocolate and topped with a walnut half). Milk Honey Nougat (honey nougat coated in milk chocolate) Milk Saffron and Ginger Fudge (creamy fudge with notes of saffron and ginger, covered in milk chocolate) Milk Sea Salt Caramel Cup (liquid caramel with a hint of sea salt coated in milk chocolate) Milk Hazelnut Cluster (praline croquant base topped with caramelized hazelnuts, covered in milk chocolate) Milk Rice Crispy Nougat (rice crispies in a praline matrix encased in milk chocolate) White Banoffee Truffle (liquid banoffee in a white truffle shell) White Coffee Fudge (coffee fudge dipped in white chocolate) Great Quality Chocolates These luxury chocolates are a great quality. The chocolate itself is not too sweet, not even the white chocolate. The chocolate is very good, not religious experience good, but certainly one of the best you can buy on the High Street. I suspect this is down to the trade off with ingredients which give it a longer shelf life. I’ve purchased these a few times and found the expiry date to be a few months. The good quality chocolate houses a range of top ingredients. A lot of effort has clearly gone into balancing flavours and perfecting recipes. The fruit creams are well balanced between sweet and tangy. The fudges are very fine, creamy and nicely flavoured. The truffles are know to be a favourite of Roald Dahl and Prestat inspired Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Stand-out chocolates for me are the milk saffron and ginger fudge, dark cassis babe and white banoffee truffle. Well Packaged These chocolates are very well packaged and are likely to arrive in pristine condition after travelling on a journey or by post. Each chocolate has its own purple paper holder and is nestled in a compartment of the plastic tray. There are two corrugated paper inserts on top, this is wrapped in two sheets of tissue paper. All of this is encased in a tough re-useable cardboard box. The boxes will also easily fit through letterboxes if the recipient is out. About Prestat Prestat was founded in 1902 in London by Chocolatier Antoine Dufour. Today it is owned by half brothers Bill Keeling and Nick Crean; the chocolates remain handcrafted. Prestat partners with Esoko (Ghanaian IT entrepreneurs) to make the cocoa market more efficient and transparent thereby empowering farmers. This is achieved through a text message alert service which informs farmers when cocoa is trading at better prices. This information empowers the farmers’ negotiating position for sales. Prestat is sponsoring 1,000 farmers in Ghana to cover the cost of receiving these alerts from Esoko.... Hallotober Tag: Celebrating the best of Halloween and October!30 September 2020UncategorisedHello and welcome to the Hallotober Tag! This is a new tag covering the amazingness that is Halloween and October. It’s the brainchild of the lovely Jordanne, who is a mother, film-maker and amazing blogger. She blogs at The Life of a Glasgow Girl and has a great range of posts, also check her out on twitter and insta. I’m so grateful to Jordanne for nominating me and the support she’s shown (especially given how very new I am!). The arrival of autumn is a fantastic time of year and the questions are geared around Halloween. First I’ll explain the rules, then present the questions and my answers, finally I’ll nominate other bloggers as the next victims mwah ha ha ha ha…! ☠️ Rules ☠️ 🎃 Thank the person who tagged you and link to their post 💀 Put the rules at the beginning or after introduction 🦇 Answer the 13 questions 🧛 Tag 13 people to do the tag 👻 Delete Question 13, replace with a new one of your own ☠️ Q & A ☠️ What’s your favourite thing about October? The colours! Love those crisp and sunny autumn days with walks in woodland when the leaves are changing colour and there are pumpkins and gourds everywhere. I’m a sucker for finding acorns, sycamore helicopters and conkers. Are you a big celebrator of Halloween? I like Halloween a lot, even though it’s really commercialised I like fancy dress parties with my friends, watching scary films and enjoying silly Halloween-themed food and drinks. What’s your favourite horror movie? The Omen. I love psychologically scary films, I’m not into slashers as gore tends to bore me, probably why I like Get Out too. Would you rather a cosy night in watching horrors or a big night out in a costume? I love a costume party! Which has been your most favourite costume to date? I’ve had a few but the most recent would’ve been ‘Pride, Prejudice and Zombies’ Bobbing for apples or pin the hat on the witch? Normally apple bobbing but given the covid situation it’ll be pin the hat on the witch this year. How do you celebrate Halloween? Either a halloween movie night with Halloween decorations and themed cocktails, or a fancy-dress house party. What’s your least favourite horror? Cabin in the Woods. I found some of it funny but because I’m not into slasher films most of the references were lost on me. Do you have a favourite trick or treating memory? I was one of three pairs of siblings in my street who would trick or treat at each other’s homes. My favourite memory was getting ready into our costumes and later my friend’s Mum not recognising her own child, we laughed about for weeks afterwards. What’s your favourite thing about Halloween? The decorations! Love seeing pumpkins in people’s windows and gardens, and the decorations in shops. Scary costume or Silly costume? I prefer scary, but that’s probably because I manage a silly outfit by accident (attempts at being trendy!) at least twice a year. What’s your favourite Halloween candy? Tangfastics. Ghost decorations or skeleton decorations? Both! But if I must pick then skeletons because I love anatomy. ❔ The Questions ❔ What’s your favourite thing about October? Are you a big celebrator of Halloween? What’s your favourite horror movie? Would you rather a cosy night in watching horrors or a big night out in a costume? Which has been your most favourite costume to date? Bobbing for apples or pin the hat on the witch? How do you celebrate Halloween? What’s your least favourite horror? Do you have a favourite trick or treating memory? What’s your favourite thing about Halloween? Scary costume or Silly costume? What’s your favourite Halloween candy? What is your favourite scary/Halloween book? ⚰️ The Victims / Nominees ⚰️ I’m tagging: 🎃 Karalee who writes about beauty and books on her blog, you can also find her on twitter. 💀 Natalie who blogs about living a happy and meaningful life with chronic illness, also on twitter. 🦇 Katie who writes about her life on her blog and she’s on twitter too. 👻 Reema a stationery blogger who is ausome, she’s also on twitter. There are supposed to be 13 nominees tagged but I’m a bit of a billy-no-mates, so only have 4. If you’d like to be included in this post, send me your blog link and email address via the contact page. I’m accepting nominee requests up until the spooky night itself!... Why I love the Logo Design Idea Book by Steven Heller and Gail Anderson27 September 2020BooksKey Summary Why I love The Logo Design Idea Book? It’s a great book if you want to know what makes a successful logo and how to design one! The book opens with an introduction about how a logo is made up of an idea and an identity. Then 50 case studies of international logos feature in themed groups. There are creative exercises for the reader to complete if they want to do free logo design. This shortish book (128 pages) is a useful introduction to logo design for business or non-profits. The Logo Design Idea Book by Steven Heller and Gail Anderson from Laurence King is out now in paperback format. My Thoughts on The Logo Design Idea Book My motivation for reading this book is wanting to know more about logo design. I also want to know how to design my own logo for free. It’s the first book I’ve read about this subject and I really enjoyed it. I have not thought previously about what a logo is supposed to do, so this is a real eye-opener. The introduction is great at explaining the purpose of a logo and how it combines an idea and an identity. I enjoyed the case studies, there is a wide range of logos from different times and different countries. Many are international brands, some very modern and some older. Some logos I recognise and some are new to me. The logos are mainly for businesses but there are also logos for events (Mexico City Olympics) and a trade union turned socio-political movement (Solidarity/Solidarność). The case studies are grouped by logo type e.g. letters with personality, memorable monograms, symbols, illustration with humour etc. The best bit of the book for me is the double page after each themed section which encourages the reader to have a go themselves at designing logos based on the different themes. This is a great creative addition which is both fun and really useful for those who seek to design their own logo. The book also has a glossary and further reading if you want to deepen your understanding. In reading this book I am developing a new appreciation for this design and branding aspect! Cover Blurb for The Logo Design Ideas Book Arrows, swashes, swooshes, globes, sunbursts and parallel, vertical and horizontal lines, words, letters, shapes and pictures. Logos are the most ubiquitous and essential of all graphic design devices, representing ideas, beliefs and, of course, things. They primarily identify products, businesses and institutions, but they are also associated, hopefully in a positive way, with the ethos or philosophy of those entities. Written by Steven Heller and Gail Anderson, world’s leading authorities on design, The Logo Design Idea Book includes examples of good ideas in the service of representation, reputation and identification. This accessible guide introduces the key elements of good logo design and is the perfect book for graphic design and branding inspiration.... Sanitizer dryness saviour: review of SVR Topialyse mains1 September 2020Beauty / SkincareKey Summary Welcome to my first post on the beauty blog of rosegold! I love trying new products when I’m doing a beauty shop and am so excited to share my finds with you. I’m a huge fan of look fantastic and during the pandemic have been getting most of my skin care products there. Moisturising my hands has always been part of my skincare routine but all the handwashing and gel sanitising during covid19 has left my hands feeling dry, papery and itchy. So, today I’m reviewing an amazing hand cream from SVR called Topialyse Mains which is a moisturiser for dry skin. It’s formulated with Shea Butter and Omegas 3, 6 and 9 to deliver instant hydration and comfort to dry skin, soothing redness or itching whilst replenishing vital moisture. This cream is so luxurious and nourishing, it left my hands super soft and is excellent value for money. My Thoughts This cream has a nice level of richness, the consistency is not too thick but definitely moisturising. It absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave any greasy residue. It has a natural delicate scent and the moisturising effect lasts for most of the day. I have it by my bedside and use it first and last thing; with regular use the skin on my hands is no longer dry and feels comfortable and more flexible and supple. Hand sanitiser left my hands so tight and feeling like my skin was dry and stretched. The 50ml tube is a good size for handbags and has lasted me about 8 weeks so far and there’s still a bit left. I am very impressed with the value for the quality. It has great active ingredients including shea butter and omegas 3, 6 and 9 and is a great daily hand moisturiser. I will be repurchasing and getting some extras for gifts. I highly recommend it and at this price point (£5) think it’s definitely worth giving a try! About the Brand SVR is a new brand to me and I chose it mainly because it’s a French Pharmacy skincare brand (founded in 1962) which means laboratory formulated products with active ingredients and innovative formulas. French skincare is world renowned and they have so many cult products! I chose SVR topylaise mains because the Topialyse range offers high-performance emollient and cleansing skincare for itchy and eczema-prone skin. ‘Mains’ is French for hands btw! What do you think of my first beauty blog, does it cover what you’d like to know? Would you like to try this skincare hand moisturiser? Please let me know in the comments below.... Categories Books Beauty Food & Drink Health House & Garden
