Nush Spreadable Vegan Cheese Review*

A major part of Christmas for me is the food. I absolutely love cooking anyway but there is something about this time of year that makes me want to get creating all sorts of yummy meals aswell as indulging in all the snacky food like crackers, pigs in blankets and festive flavoured crisps just to name a few things. A food I'm a huge fan of though, especially at Christmas time is cheese so I was thrilled to receive the new vegan spreadable cheese from Nush to try out a few weeks ago.

Nush are an award winning brand who are known for producing the UK's first dairy-free, soya-free, nut milk yoghurt and they've now expanded into the cheese market, releasing a line of vegan spreadable cheese. Now, I'm a huge cheese fan, I eat it most days but I'm not vegan. Because of this I had absolutely no idea what to expect but I knew they would be great to try as part of a little festive cheeseboard once Christmas was well and truly under way.

The cheese spread is available in two varieties: Natural and Chive so let me tell you what I thought of each!

Chive

The first thing I wanted to mention about both of these pots is how decent the size is. I'm a big fan cheese spread anyway from various different brands but I do find sometimes the pots aren't huge therefore they run out pretty quickly in our home whereas these are 150g and I personally feel they last a lot longer. The chive spread has been made by churning bespoke, creamy almond milk with live vegan cheese cultures, British sea salt and of course fragrant chives to create a one of a kind dairy alternative. As soon as I opened this I was impressed with the consistency, the spread is quite thick which I liked as a problem I've found with other spreads in the past is that they can sometimes be quite runny and that just doesn't make me want to eat it so it goes to waste. It didn't take long for me to get stuck in with some Peter's Yard crackers (I featured those in my food and drink Christmas gift guide which you can find here if you want to know more) and I was pleasantly surprised! I loved the tangy chive flavour and whilst it was stronger than other cheese spreads I tend to go for, it complemented the plain crackers really well. This is such a great choice for lunches as it goes with so many things - bagels, jacket potatoes, canapes etc.

Natural

After indulging a little in the chive flavour, I tried out the natural version of the cheese spread which I enjoyed just as much. Again the thick consistency was perfect, it was great to scoop up with the crackers and I actually found it really filling too so whilst it's a great choice for something like a cheeseboard for everyone to share, you could easily get several lunches out of one pot too. Something I wanted to mention about both pots of the Nush spreadable cheese is that they are actually free from dairy, soya and gluten so they are great if you are intolerant to any of those but still want to indulge like everybody else over the Christmas period. Luckily I've never had any issues but I know cheese would be a massive loss to me if I did but at least now I know that Nush provide a tasty alternative that really don't make you feel as if you're missing out on anything. The natural flavour in particular too can be used for so many things, sweet and savoury dishes! - sauces, dips, pancakes, soups, cheesecakes and cake frosting. So versatile.

I've loved trying out the new vegan spreadable cheese from Nush and they were fab for a festive cheeseboard recently. I really do think they're a brilliant choice for any get together's or Christmas parties that you might be planning over the next few weeks and as they're so versatile you could create a number of innovate dishes with them. I'm personally keen on trying the natural flavour for a vegan cheesecake so if I do, I'll let you know how I get on! If you do want to pick these up yourself, they are available in Selfridges, Whole Foods & Planet Organic but a full stockist list an be found on the Nush website.

Have you tried any food from Nush before?

*Products provided for the purpose of this post

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The Christmas Tag #2

I do love taking part in tag blog posts and Christmas ones are always my favourite! I did take part in one last year which you can find here if you want to read through that too, but I spotted a different version on Polly's blog recently and I loved the questions. If you want to have a go yourself, feel free to copy the questions, I'd love to know your answers too!

What is your favourite Christmas movie?

There are so many to choose from! Elf is always up there on the list but I don't think you can beat Love Actually. It's not Christmas without it.

Where do you usually spend your holiday?

At home! I absolutely love how George and I spend our Christmas each year and the little traditions we have now.

What would be your dream place to visit for Christmas?

It's got to be New York. I want nothing more than to visit one Winter when it's covered in snow.

Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

Christmas morning but we do open one each on Christmas Eve which is always exciting.

Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?

Something that stands out to me each year is the Christmas plays we used to do at School. I've no idea why as I never wanted a speaking role but I just loved the run up to it each year as it meant weeks of getting out of normal lessons and just singing!

Do you prefer receiving gifts or giving gifts?

Of course it's nice to receive gifts but I honestly love buying presents for other people more. I get so much joy out of it.

Favourite festive food?

Roast potatoes. I am obsessed with them. I could eat a plate of them alone. Though pigs in blankets are always a must too and you can't beat a really good Yorkshire pudding. I just love all Christmas food okay.

Favourite Christmas scent?

I love peppermint. I'm all about the fresh minty candles over the festive period.

Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?

For a few years now, George and I have been going to the cinema on Christmas Eve which is always so nice. I love going out to watch a good film then getting home to make a snacky tea (Camembert yes please), putting on a festive film and getting cosy. We also each open a present too.

What tops your tree?

We actually have a little pair of angel wings at the top of our tree. It's a bauble but it's too heavy to hang anywhere else so one year I just popped it near the top and it's been like that every year ever since. It's a special decoration and I think it makes a nice change.

Have you ever have had a White Christmas?

I can't remember the last time it snowed over Christmas but I'm pretty sure it has at some point. It tends to be after Christmas if we're going to get any snow.

What is your favourite Christmas song?

One I never tire of is Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by Michael Buble. His whole Christmas album gets played on repeat in December.

Is your Christmas tree real or fake?

Fake. I don't think I could deal with having to hoover up after a real one all the time.

Are you a professional present wrapper or do you fail miserably?

Well I love wrapping presents SO much but I don't necessarily think I'm good at it. It all depends what the gift is!

What makes the holidays special for you?

I think just spending time with people. It's a time where George and I can really just relax and spend time together without work or anything else getting in the way. Our wedding anniversary is just a few days before Christmas too so that just makes this time of year even more important now.

I can't believe Christmas is so close now! I don't want it to be over already. Have you got much planned for the next few weeks?

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7 Tips For A Great Night Out With Friends*

Everyone loves a good night out but more often than not, they never go as planned. Whether you end up having too much to drink, you struggle to get a taxi or people don't show up - nights out are sometimes more trouble than they're worth. If like me, you love to get together with your friends but don't want all the hassle, then you'll need these top tips for a great night out with friends or family.

Photo by Kelsey Chance on Unsplash

1. Get Together A Good Group Of Friends

When planning a night out inviting the right people is key. It may seem obvious, but the company you keep reflects on how much of a good time you have. Whether you prefer smaller groups or want to get the whole gang together - figuring out what kind of get together it's going to be is the first step to an incredible night. Don't forget to invite everyone well in advance, as chances are you'll all have incredibly busy schedules.

2. Go To Places You Love

Again, this may seem obvious but if you have a couple of favourite bars that you know you love, heading their first is always a good idea. You know you won't be disappointed by drink prices or a terrible DJ, so already you'll be ready for a good time. If towards the end of the night you fancy trying something new then there will be absolutely nothing lost.

3. Don't Do Rounds

Although it seems like an easier way to get the drinks in, getting rounds often puts pressure on people who may not be able to afford the same as everyone else. Having everyone else get their own drinks is a great way to ensure people don't end up spending too much and nobody misses their round or goes over their limit. If you want to know even more benefits of not doing rounds, you can visit this blog post here.

4. Know Your Limits

If there is one way to ruin a good night out with friends it's to have more than you can handle. Knowing your limits and sticking well within them means you can still have a good night without drinking more than you can handle. If you're lucky it may even prevent your hangover in the morning!

5. Ride In Style

Whilst getting a taxi is usually more affordable, riding in style is a great way to celebrate a special occasion for you and your friends. Whether you hire a seamless chauffeur or book yourselves a limo - it will certainly start your night off with a bang.

6. Have Fun

The most important thing to remember for a great night is to have fun! It's not often you get to go out with everyone, make the most out of it and make it a night you'll all remember.

Do you love a night out? What are your top tips for having a great time? Let me know in the comment section below!

*This is a collaborative post

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Then She Was Gone By Lisa Jewell Book Review

I've posted quite a few book reviews recently, the latest being The Wife Between Us and One Day In December, but it's time for another already! I just can't stop reading at the moment! I'm getting through so many books, it's actually becoming problem as I think we're going to run out of space soon 🙊

She was fifteen, her mother's golden girl. She had her whole life ahead of her. And then, in the blink of an eye, Ellie was gone. Ten years on, Laurel has never given up hope of finding Ellie. And then she meets a charming and charismatic stranger who sweeps her off her feet. But what really takes her breath away is when she meets his nine-year old daughter. Because his daughter is the image of Ellie. Now all of those unanswered questions that have haunted Laurel come flooding back. What really happened to Ellie? And who still has secrets to hide?

My review

This had been on my list for a while so I was thrilled to find it when we were in Manchester recently. It was a book I'd heard great things about so once we were back, I ran myself a hot bubble bath and got stuck in. The first thing I really liked about this book is how we were thrown straight in and within a few chapters Ellie goes missing. Because of that it might seem like we don't get much backstory but as the story unfolds, we do actually start to find out more and more about Ellie and what might have happened and this happens by Lisa taking us back in time. There are flashbacks to when Ellie was at school, planning for her GCSE's, taking on a tutor, living her normal life and that's when we get little drips here and there that really start to grow and plant this story in your mind of what might have happened. It's a really good mix of past and present throughout.

Whilst we do get flashbacks throughout the whole book, at no point did I find it confusing. Lisa has written it so well that it all just flows, and each chapter goes seamlessly into the next one regardless of if we're now being thrown back to the present day or switching to a different character, which did happen more towards the end of the book. A lot of the story is from Laurel's perspective (Ellie's mum) and we find her while she's trying to rebuild her life after Ellie's disappearance. She meets a new man Floyd and she tries to repair her relationship with her other children but as her new life begins, a few strange things happen that make her re-think Ellie's disappearance and how the person responsible might have been closer to home than anyone originally realised. 

Whilst this wasn't a book that makes it obvious who the culprit is going to be, I did have my suspicions once I got a couple of chapters in. That being said, I still had no idea where it was going to go and I ended up being seriously surprised at the end when we get the big reveal. It's such an intricate story and each character has so many different sides to them so each time you think you have something figured out, it soon changes again. From the very start I was hooked and whilst there's been a lot of books like that for me recently, there was something different about this. I just felt compelled to keep reading every time I opened it up and I was willing for Laurel to finally figure everything out and get justice for her daughter. The ending I actually found really emotional and it was hard not to be affected by the story and the characters because sadly things like this do happen and people do just go missing so it felt very real.

This is the first book I've read from Lisa Jewell but it definitely won't be the last. I can totally see why people love her books so much as this one had me right from the start and continued to impress right to the very end.

Have you read any books from Lisa Jewell?

Other book reviews - The Other Woman by Sandie Jones // Pictures Of Lily by Paige Toon // The Husbands Secret by Liane Moriarty

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