Food and Other Loves

Thursday, 14 June 2018

GiftsOnline4U Mens Personalised Wrist Watch Review*

Since starting my blog I've been lucky enough to work with some amazing brands and whilst that's always a nice feeling and something I never take for granted, something that is even better is being able to treat loved ones because of it too. Whether that's personalised birthday cakes or a piece of jewellery, I always feel so happy when I get the chance to review something I can pass onto someone that I know they'll love. When GiftsOnline4U got in touch and asked if I'd like to review one of their personalised watches, I jumped at the chance as I knew it would be perfect for George.

If you've not heard of GiftsOnline4U before then let me tell you a little bit about them. As you can see on their website they stock a range of bespoke gifts for all sorts of special occasions. They specialise in personalised champagne and other alcohol based options but you can also find gifts such as engraved pocket watches, photo frames and so many other things. The product I was sent to review is their Personalised Inside Out Wrist Watch. This is an engraved watch with a stylish modern design in a black finish. What I loved about this was how unique it was and even though I've bought watches for George in the past, I was sure he'd never had one like this and it was a bit of a different one to add to the collection. It's really cleverly designed as the numbers are situated in the middle rather than the outside with the hands then pointing inwards. It's also brilliant quality which is so important when choosing a gift for someone. It has raised watch glass, a real leather strap and there is room on the back of the watch for you to add a personalised message.

The main thing that really attracted me to this was the ability to personalise it. When it comes to anniversaries I'm always looking for personalised gifts, I just think they show real thought and care has gone into it and it's something then that can be kept forever. As George and I have our 7 year anniversary coming up at the start of July (it has flown by!) I thought this would be a perfect gift for the occasion. When it comes to personalising the watch, it's a really simple process, you can have up to 68 characters over 4 lines, and you can choose your own font and that's all there is to it! You might not be able to see too clearly on the photo below but the message I wanted fitted perfectly and I absolutely love the end result. I'd never personalised a piece of jewellery before so I had no idea how good quality it would be but it only looks even better in real life. I think having the ability to personalise a piece of jewellery is such a lovely idea and just makes your gift extra special.

Aswell as looking and feeling extremely high quality, and the bonus of personalisation, I also love that it arrives in a stylish presentation box. Little things like that really make a gift for me and it just ensures the watch stays extra secure and safe which is always important. I just wanted to quickly mention that the first watch I was originally sent had an issue with the time stopping at certain points throughout the day but as soon as I mentioned this to GiftsOnline4U I was sent a replacement watch within a few days and the second watch has worked perfectly. The customer service is brilliant so if you do have any issues with anything, they are more than happy to help and rectify any issues quickly.

Overall George and I are both so impressed with this watch and think it has made a lovely anniversary present. It's sleek and modern, is perfect for work and goes with pretty much every outfit! This particular watch is priced at £44.99 which isn't the cheapest but for such great quality and the bonus of personalisation, I definitely think it's worth it. It's ideal for birthdays, anniversaries, christmas, fathers day and more but if you're still not sure, there are many more engraved gifts for him available on the website.

Have you ever tried any personalised gifts from GiftsOnline4U?

*Product sent for the purpose of this post

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Gone Girl By Gillian Flynn Book Review

Following on from last weeks book review of The Husbands Secret, todays post is a review of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. I'd had this book for absolutely ages but like so many others it was one that I put on the bookshelf and soon forgot about. As I've said in previous posts I need to be in the right frame of mind to get stuck into a book and it's not been until recently that I have been so many books have just been waiting to be read! I ended up taking this to Paris with me and then I finished it once we got home, and I honestly couldn't put it down.

'Alternating between the present-day narrative of husband Nick Dunne and the past diary entries of his wife Amy, we learn their previously perfect marriage has come undone following a move from New York to semi-rural Missouri. Amy inexplicably disappears without trace, apparently pregnant; Nick, whose emotions seem to betray little outward signs of grief or worry, is the prime suspect. However, is all that we read the truth? Is Amy genuinely missing, and, if not, what could be her possible motive?'

My Review

I'd seen the film of Gone Girl a few times before reading this and I'd always thoroughly enjoyed it. I think the film is just brilliant so I was really intrigued to see how the book would compare and whether I'd enjoy it as much. I know most of the time you read the book before the film but like I said until recently I've just not wanted to read so I did things the other way round. Throughout the whole book we flit from Nick Dunne's narrative, the husband currently a suspect in the case of his missing wife, and the missing wife herself Amy. Pretty much from the beginning you can work out that not all is as it seems with Amy's disappearance and as the story goes on it becomes more and more suspicious.

As you can probably predict Nick becomes the main focus of the investigation but with the help of his sister and a top lawyer, he wants to try and prove that Amy has set this all up herself to frame him and he's completely innocent. This makes for such a tense story and whilst even though I knew because of the film how it was going to end, if I'd not seen it I wouldn't have been able to work out at all. It's one of those stories that genuinely leaves you on the edge of your seat and you just can't predict anything. It's so cleverly written and it goes into so much detail, so much that isn't part of the film so if like me you had only seen the film, I think it's well worth giving the book a go too. Whilst both of the characters aren't that likeable, I thought it was really easy to get into both of their heads and also the way it's written means that you can never really trust either character. Whilst Amy's certainly no angel, I didn't feel a massive amount of sympathy for Nick either, they both had their issues and it's easy to see how both can't be trusted. It's actually quite a disturbing story and some parts are so shocking to read, and to see on the film too but I also think it's brilliant. I think Gillian Flynn has created something amazing with this book, and now I really want to read more from her in future. I was hooked all the way through and genuinely couldn't put it down, so really I couldn't recommend it enough if you're looking for a good thriller.

Have you ever read Gone Girl? or seen the film?

Similar Post - Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine By Gail Honeyman Book Review

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Get Summer Ready With CND Vinylux Nail Polish*

I am an absolute nail polish addict. I don't think I ever really go more than a week without changing the colour on my nails and the amount of bottles I have from different brands is verging on ridiculous. I'm always looking for more though so when a surprise package from the lovely people at FreedomPR arrived I was so excited. I'd seen CND polishes on Instagram in the past and always liked the look of them and the range of colours so I put these to the test pretty much straight away!

If you've not heard of CND (Creative Nail Design) before, well they are the global leader in professional hand, nail and foot beauty. You'll mostly find CND products in salons but as they're now available online at places like Cult Beauty, Nail Polish Direct and more, people are starting to try them out and discover why they are so popular amongst professionals. I was sent a few different bottles try out from the Vinylux collection, all of which are the first ever, long-wear polishes infused with Vitamin E, Keratin and Jojoba Oil

Unearthed and Unlocked

I was really excited to see a few bottles of nude nail polish as it's a go to colour of mine. I think no matter what the season a nude polish always looks classy and chic and goes with every outfit. The two shades I was sent are Unearthed which is a warm toned taupe colour and Unlocked which is light creamy nude colour. I absolutely adore both of these! I like that whilst they're both nude shades, they're really different to one another when actually on your nails. Unlocked was more of a lighter colour than I was expecting, more of a stone colour with a hint of dusty pink but it looks so pretty on. What I like about both of these aswell was how easy they applied. The brush fits the nail really well and just glides really smoothly meaning you're not left with streaky nail polish which has definitely happened to me in the past with other brands. With the top coat I found they last for well over a week with minimal chipping and when it came to removing them, it came off within seconds.

Jellied

Aswell as the nude polishes I was also sent the shade Jellied which is a beautiful pastel yellow colour. Yellow is one of my favourite colours but a lot of the time nail polish that shade is quite bold unlike me so pastel shades like this are perfect. This really impressed me and it's been a go to of mine over the last few weeks whilst we've had some warm weather. I found it applied really well like the nude polishes above and had great durability meaning it lasted far longer than most other polishes I have. I imagine it's one I'll be getting a lot of wear of over the next few months.

Long Wear Top Coat

Aswell as the stunning colours I've already mentioned, there was also a top coat which I'm always happy to try out. This one has been absolutely brilliant and far better than any others I've used. I was a really big fan of the Seche Vite top coat but for some reason over the last few months it's not worked at all, my nails have been chipping so much, so I was really keen to see if this would be a good replacement for that, and it has been. It totally protects your nails and I've found I've had minimal chipping whilst using this. It also dries quickly and the colour each time has lasted so much longer than usual.

I've absolutely loved trying out all of these nail polishes from CND and I think they're all going to become firm favourites of mine. The nude polishes are just great for all year round and the pastel yellow is just beautiful and a must for Summer! If you're in the market for a new nail brand then I definitely recommend CND. They have a huge range available, these in particular are priced at around £6.95 at the moment and you can see more on their website.

Have you ever tried any CND nail polishes?

*Products sent for the purpose of this post

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York Travel Guide - Where To Stay, What To See, What To Eat & More

I posted quite a lot about our trip to York a few months ago but I'm going back to it today as I've finally got round to writing up a proper travel guide. Pretty much as soon as we got back from York in April I've wanted to get this post written and published but I just had too many others to get up first so this had to wait. We had such a brilliant time and in a few days we managed to see so much so I really wanted to put together a little travel guide and I hope if you're planning on going any time in the future that this helps you. I've included hotels in the area, attractions I think are a must, places to eat and I've also covered travel and getting around.

Where To Stay

When it came to choosing a place to stay for our little break in York, we ended up going with The Grand Hotel and Spa. This is Yorks only 5* star hotel and as it was our 'minimoon' we thought we would treat ourselves. It's also just around the corner from the train station too which is so helpful. It was totally worth the money and ended up exceeding any expectations we had. I couldn't recommend this hotel enough if you're visiting York for a special occassion or just want to splash out a little. We stayed in a classic room which is the cheapest they do but it was in no means budget at all, the bed was huge and comfy, the bathroom was extremely luxurious and the staff make it. On the door you'll be greeted and have your bags taken up to your room and from then on in, the staff can't do enough for you. Doors are opened for you, they bring shortbread round at night, just so many little extras which make it so worth the money. If you don't want to spend too much on a hotel, you have many other choices from Premier Inns, Holiday Inns and lots more, all for a really reasonable price and within walking distance of the centre.

What To See

York is an all round beautiful city and there are countless things to see and do there.

York Minster - The most famous attraction in York. This is even more stunning in real life! I was totally in awe of it and it's just by the main shopping streets so not far out at all.

Cliffords Tower - This was brilliant to see up close, and with stunning views from the top, it's well worth going to see. There is also a museum too which you can visit.

The Shambles - One of the things York is famous for. Cobbled streets, wonky houses, cosy tea rooms, it has everything and you could spend hours walking around the whole area. Here you'll also find many Harry Potter shops including the famous Shop That Must Not Be Named.

Merchant Adventurers Hall - This is one of the prettiest buildings and one I really wanted to visit. You can get some beautiful photos here and the gardens around it I imagine would be lovely in Summer.

National Railway Museum - This isn't in the centre but only 10 minutes away from the train station so a good one to visit if you just want a day out. It's full of a variety of trains ranging from classic older ones to more modern ones like the Eurostar. You can sit aboard some of them and it's definitely somewhere to spend a good few hours.

Jorvik Centre - This is a great one if you have kids or just want to learn a bit more about Yorks history. I highly recommend booking online beforehand though as it gets extremely busy.
York Designer Outlet - If you're in the mood for some shopping, the Designer Outlet isn't too far out and has a whole range of shops including Cadbury, Joules, Kipling, Mulberry and so many more.

What To Eat

In York you'll never be stuck for a place to stop for a cup of tea and a little break. York is full of beautiful tea rooms and incredible restaurants.

Bettys Tea Room - A must in York. Two tea rooms to choose from but beware both get very busy and be prepared to queue. From afternoon tea to a spot of lunch, there are a range of delicious meals and treats available. You can also pop in to pick up cakes which is what we did.

Stonegate Teddy Bear Tea Rooms - If you're after a cosy little tea room, this is the one for you. Downstairs is a teddy bear shop and upstairs you'll find a tea room where an array of cakes, milkshakes, hot chocolates, sandwiches and more are on offer.

Cosy Club - If you couldn't tell by the name, this restuarant is super cosy and welcoming, and I highly recommend it. Plenty of deals on throughout the week too.

The York Roast Company - Perfect for a quick pit stop. The yorkshire pudding wraps and pork sandwiches are heaven.

Drakes Fish and Chips - If you love fish and chips like me, Drakes is one to try. The best chips covered in salt and vinegar, YUM. You also have a choice of whether to eat in the restaurant or take away.

Bills - On my list for our next visit. You can find all sorts here from pancakes at breakfast to mezze sharing plates and steak in the evening aswell as a range of amazing desserts.

The Ivy - If you're want a bit more of a fancy meal while you're visiting, you can find The Ivy next to Bettys Tea Rooms!

Travel & Getting Around

One thing I loved about York was how easy it was to get around. As I mentioned at the start of this post, our hotel was literally around the corner from the train station, and from there on in you're basically never far from anything. I mean it when I say everything is minutes away from one another so walking around from attraction to attraction really isn't an issue. That being said we saw buses constantly so if you want to get public transport to places a bit further out, you'll have no issues with that.

So I think that's just about everything. I've tried to cover as much as possible but let me know if you have any other recommendations of things to do in York or places to eat etc. York really is such an incredible city so I hope if you go, you love it as much as I did!