BRAND NEW - TGI Fridays Cocktails*

I absolutely love cocktails and as the festive season starts to near, I love the thought of going out on a cold crisp evening after work and having a cocktail or two in a warm bar or restaurant. After all, it’s all about having that Friday feeling. Now you can have that Friday feeling all day with the new range of TGI Fridays’ brand new bottled cocktails.

The bottles come in 500ml sizes and contain 10% alcohol content. 

I was lucky enough to receive all three and had great pleasure in testing them all out for you. First up was the Long Island Iced Tea, this was blended wit fruit alcohol and vodka and had a nice tangy lemon flavour to it, like most previous Iced teas I have had in the past. I am not usually a fan of iced tea but this cocktail was sweet and had a really nice flavour.

The next cocktail I received was probably my favourite, the Pink Punk Mojito. I loved the vibrant colour of the cocktail too, perfect for a girls night in. The cocktail contains pineapple juice, cranberry juice, lime juice blended with fruit alcohol and vodka.It has a slight minty flavour which makes this the perfect festive drink, you could even serve it with a candy cane.

Finally, I received the Passion Fruit Martini, which was also equally delicious. Serve with a side of prosecco for that extra special feel. Bring TGI's into your own home and feel like an amazing host this Christmas. Your guests will be spoiled for choice.

With these cocktails it always feels like Friday. Find TGIF Cocktails at the following social links: @TGIFCocktailsUK and @TGIF Cocktails UK

*I received these items free of charge in exchange for an honest review. 

We Are Tea - Review*

Anyone that knows me well or reads my blog knows that I am a lover of all different kinds of tea. Whether that be black tea, earl grey or green – I am happy to try any new flavours that I come across. I was recently contacted by a brand called We Are Tea, who asked me if I wanted to try out some of their teas, of course I was happy to oblige.

We Are Tea are an independent award winning tea company based in Ladbroke Grove. This ethical company was set up by a husband and wife team Spence and Suzy. Their philosophy is simple, to ethically source exceptional whole leaf teas and hand pack them here in the UK. They focus on design, innovation and collaborations to bring their tea to a new range of people. They even created a bespoke blend for their chari-tea partner, Contact the Elderly. 

I was lucky enough to receive some boxes of Sencha Green Tea and Earl Grey Supreme Black Tea. These boxes of 15 are a reasonable £2.99 each. I love green tea so I was keen to try this one out first. I was really impressed by the quality of the teabag for a start which is made from biodegradable corn starch, and this brewed up like a dream. You can also buy this in loose leaf if you prefer. The Green Tea is full of super antioxidants so you feel really good drinking this. It's smooth and has a delicious flavour to it. This green leaf from the Anhui Province of Eastern China is a store-cupboard essential in my opinion. 

I also received a few different samples so it would have been rude not to try them out. The Sleep Super Tea intrigued me the most and as I sometimes have trouble falling asleep I thought I would give this one a go. This ultimate night time blend contains chamomile, lavender, rose and holy basil. Combined, all of these ingredients are the perfect combination for a great nights sleep. I felt calm and relaxed after drinking this and it even helped to aid my digestion so I could sleep comfortably. I also found the chamomile and peppermint teas were great ones to have before bed as well as I felt relaxed and calm. There isn't anything a good brew can't fix.

Finally, I tried out the Earl Grey Supreme Black tea, which also comes in loose form if you prefer. The aroma is gorgeous, I love Earl Grey and this one from We are Tea did not disappoint. It has actually received 4 great taste awards so you know it's going to be tasty. Milk is optional but I prefer to take this tea black, and really appreciate all of the amazing flavours such as Keemun, Darjeeling, Ceylon & Assam.

If you’d like more information, or to try some of these teas for yourself then please head over to the We Are Tea website. They offer free UK delivery on orders over £20. In addition to independent retailers, find these teas in Morrison’s, Holland & Barret and Ocado.

If you're a tea lover, or know someone who is then I highly recommend this brand. The boxes would be ideal for hampers or stocking fillers this Christmas. I also enjoyed taking the Tea Consultation to see which tea would suit me best, so feel free to find out what your perfect tea would be!

*I received these items in exchange for review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

Summer Cocktails Feat. Fentimans HOB Syrups*

You may remember a little while ago I received some mixers from Fentimans where I created some delicious cocktails. Fentimans have now brought out an exciting range of syrups called House of Broughton, made to enhance various cocktails and drinks. These high strength syrups means bartenders can create the perfect balance between sweet and sour when it comes to creating delicious cocktails and mocktails!

I received a gorgeously presented box with everything I needed to create a couple of delicious cocktails which would be perfect for the summer (or all year around – who needs an excuse?!). There are six different flavours including Raspberry, Rose, Cucumber, Ginger, Elderflower and Simple. I received the Raspberry and Cucumber flavours so made a couple of different drinks with them. These recipes were kindly provided in the House Of Broughton Syrups Bartenders Guide! I hope you like them!

Razzmatazz

Ingredients:

30ml Gin

15ml Cream Sherry

20ml Raspberry Syrup

20ml Lemon Juice

15ml Simple Syrup

Method:

Add all ingredients into a Boston glass with ice and shake. Double strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with a spiral of lime zest.

Red Berry Cooler (Mocktail)

Ingredients:
25ml Raspberry Syrup
Fresh Mint Leaves
12.5ml Lime Juice
125ml Fentimans Soda Water

Method:
Add the raspberry syrup, lime juice and mint leaves into a highball glass filled with ice. Top up with the soda water and stir. Garnish with fresh mint and raspberries.

Cucumber Mule

Ingredients:
50ml Vodka
15ml Cucumber Syrup
20ml Lime Juice
125ml Fentimans Ginger Beer

Method:
Add the vodka, syrup and lime juice into your cup filled with ice and give it a stir. Top up with the ginger beer. Garnish with sliced cucumber and candied ginger.

What do you think of these cocktail recipes? Will you be trying some out yourself? For more recipes and inspiration, please head over to the Fentimans website. 

*I received these items free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

Fresh Ground Coffee feat. The Coffee Mate*

There is no better feeling than settling down with a hot cup of coffee (and possibly a slice of cake too) on a Sunday morning. What makes the experience even better is when the coffee is fresh so when I was approached by The Coffee Mate to try some of their coffee beans and manual grinder I jumped at the chance to improve my coffee experience. 

At The Coffee Mate, they select only high-quality coffee for their clients. They then started to roast some of their own beans in order to create an impeccable cup. I was very kindly sent Coffee Mate's Beans Kivu and a Hand Coffee Grinder. 

The Kivu Beans retail at £26.00 for a 1kg bag. When I opened these I was greeted by that familiar coffee house scent, it was delicious. This coffee is grown in the valley of Virunga towards the north of the Lake Kivu, hence the name. When roasted and prepared these coffee beans reveal a taste of sweet driued fruits and marzipan with a black chocolate aftertaste. I think this coffee would be perfect for an expresso but equally as tasty with milk as well. The flavours are rich but not too strong and it was an absolute pleasure drinking this coffee. There are no added flavours and you can rest assured that these coffee beans are 100% original and natural.

I would not have been able to prepare my coffee beans without the Hand Coffee Grinder, which costs £42 on The Coffee Mate website. This little gadget was a life saver when it came to preparing my beans. It is so simple to use, I simply popped my beans into the grinder, chose which level I wanted them to be ground to and then I wound the handle until the beans were down to granules. The design is modern and the grinder fits in perfectly with my kitchen and would suit all decors. 

Being able to enjoy fresh coffee from fresh ground beans from the comfort of my own home was somewhat of a luxury experience for me. Guests complimented the delicious flavours of the coffee stating it was like something they've only ever experienced in specialist coffee shops. 

If you’re a coffee lover and would like to try some fresh high-quality coffee then I can really recommend The Coffee Mate, there are so many different brands and flavours to choose from.

*I received these items free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way. 

The Perfect Present for Beer Lovers - Feat. Beer52*

I always get stuck on what to buy the men in the family when it comes to Christmas gifts. When you’re bored of giving people socks and aftershave every year, there aren’t too many options left. When I heard about the Beer52, I thought it would be a fantastic gift idea and something unique. 

Beer52 are the UK’s largest craft beer discovery club and their boxes are designed to fuel your passion for flavour and help you to learn about what you’re drinking. Each month you can receive a box with a tasty selection of craft  beers, a copy of Ferment magazine and some snacks. I was really impressed by the Ferment magazine, it was packed full of fun facts, beer cocktail recipes, stories, gift guides and adventures in the global craft alcohol movement. It’s definitely an interesting read and packed full of photos too! Beer52 work really closely with the breweries they feature so you can be sure the facts are correct.

The box I received contained 7 bottles and one can of various beers. First up was the Littlebro Session IPA in a can. This apparently works well with grilled foods and spicy dishes and has an upfront hop aroma and flavours of tropical fruits and citrus completed by a refreshing dry finish. The perfect size when you fancy a small one with your meal. Next up was the Flower Power hippy Dippy all Things American amber from the Flying Dutchman. This has been brewed with Centennial, Galaxy, Mosaic & tettnag hops. Matured on a bed of hibiscus flowers this is a very unique flavour and interesting bottle design which I really like. When the founders of Mikkeller and Beer52 brewed a beer together, the Beer52 Mikkeller Session IPA Mosaic was born! I love that Beer52 include their own bottles because I wouldn’t have been able try them otherwise.

There really is such a variety in this box. My favourite bottle is the Rogue Ales Santa’s Private Reserve Ale. Perfect for the festive season. If you’re wondering how much this service costs, it’s £24 for 8 beers or £29 for 10 beers on a monthly plan billed every 28 days. You can also save money by paying for 3, 6 or 12 month memberships and get it from as little as £21 per month. I’ve got a discount code for £10 off, just use code CHRISTIES10 on the Beer52 website, that’s a fantastic saving on such a fun and unique gift.

Next up we have the Brewdog Santa Paws Christmas Scotch Ale. We have a Brewdog in Norwich so it was nice to see a familiar brand included in the box. We then have the Wiper and True Mimosa brewed with beer52 Berliner Weisse and a twist of orange peel.

Finally the last two beers in the box were the Fu*k Art - The Heathens are coming - ØL Beer. I love the name of this one! Last but not least was the Mordue Brewery Krampus - a traditional germane amber ale. Such a wide selection.

If you’d like to sign up for yourself or get a subscription for someone else, don’t forget to treat yourself to £10 off by using the code CHRISTIES10 on the Beer52 website, just click on 'Have a special code? Click Here!' (Underneath the Get Started button) on the home page. You can also check them out on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

*I received these beers free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

Bootea Teatox* - Review and Results

When I was offered the chance to be a Holland and Barrett Good Life Insider I couldn't wait to trial some of the products I was kindly sent. One of the items I was most excited about was the Bootea 14 day Teatox, available for £19.99.

I've heard so many good things about this and seen so many celebrities promoting it and I really wanted to try it for myself. I was a bit worried as I heard if you are on the contraceptive pill you need to be careful when you take it as the 'flushing effects' can make your pill less effective. It is best to take your pill in the evening to give it a good 8 hours to sink in. This was probably the only thing that scared me about doing this teatox - oh any maybe the laxative effects!

Anyway, the concept of this 2 week detox is you have one morning cleanse tea bag every day, then every other evening you take one of the bedtime cleanse tea bags. The morning tea bags weren't too bad and tasted a bit like a lemon green tea. As a lover of green tea, I found it easy to incorporate these into my morning routine as they taste quite similar and were a good substitute.

My cat also loved these. He kept trying to get the teabags, so something in them must be attracting him to them, I didn't see catnip on the ingredients list though!

The evening tea bags weren't as nice, they were minty but also tasted a bit like grass but after a couple of days I got used to them and could drink them easier.

After day 1, I took my evening tea and waited for the laxative effects to kick in the next day, but nothing happened. Later on in the day my stomach really swelled, I wonder if this was part of the flushing effects but nothing came out.

So did they work? By the end of week 1 I still had experienced no laxative effects and actually gained 1.5lbs despite still keeping up a healthy diet and drinking lots of water.

After the whole 2 weeks was up I had actually gained 3lbs! Although I gained weight, I must admit that I did feel a lot less bloated, and even after a big meal my stomach remained flatter than usual. I took the Teatox during that "time of the month" and I did notice a difference in the fact I was a lot less bloated than usual. This could also be why I gained weight due to extra water weight.

It is recommended you eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of water alongside this teatox and as I eat fairly healthily anyway I continued as normal, maybe that's why it didn't really work for me.

If you want to lose weight the best way is to eat healthy and exercise. There is no tea that can substitute that for you. I will also be trialing the Slendertox Tea to see if this has any effects on me so keep an eye out for that in the next couple of months.

*I was sent this product free of charge. I was not asked to review it and this is not a paid post. All opinions are my own. Please see my disclaimer for more information.

Ideal "on the go" snack - Upbeat Protein Drinks*

I was recently offered the chance to try out Upbeat Protein Drinks and thought they looked really good. I'd seen them around as I noticed the vibrant packaging but never thought to pick one up.

With 20g of protein packed into each drink there is certainly enough to give you an energy boost or bring you up from a 3pm slump at work. Each drink is less than 150 calories and made fresh from British Milk. It's a healthy way to get you through the day and keep you feeling 'Upbeat'!

Upbeat Protein drinks come in four different flavours. Mango and passion fruit, Chocolate Orange, Strawberry and Blueberry and Raspberry. The drinks are made with real fruit and have no more than 150 calories, which is brilliant I think for a protein drink. I managed to get hold of the Chocolate Orange and Strawberry flavours in my local Tesco, the others were sold out (probably because they're so good!). To find out where your nearest stockist is, you can check the Upbeat website.

I really love the packaging - It's simple, but fun. Everything you need to know is on the front, and it is clear to understand. The chocolate orange flavour was heavenly. I couldn't believe how nice it tasted for a protein drink. You can tell that this is made with real chocolate as it was so creamy and rich with a lovely tangy orange aftertaste. I will definitely be going to the gym more often if it means earning one of these afterwards!

The strawberry flavour was equally as nice, and I honestly felt energised after drinking it. These are IDEAL if you're in a rush and haven't had time for breakfast, or don't get a chance to eat a full lunch. Upbeat drinks really close that gap giving you that extra willpower you need to continue your day.

The consistency of these drinks is in-between regular milk and a yoghurt. The Upbeat drinks are smooth and easy to drink. 

The best part is you don't even need to be an avid gym go-er to justify drinking one of these. They're the perfect addition to your lunchbox and great when you need that little boost. Upbeat drinks are a great source of calcium and suitable for vegetarians. I am happy to replace my afternoon chocolate and biscuits for one of these drinks and will be even happier knowing it will be guilt free!

Which flavour would you most like to try?

To find out more information, please visit Upbeat's website.

*The Upbeat Protein Drinks were provided free of charge for the purposes of review. All opinions are my own. For more information, please see my disclaimer.