Forevermissvanity - A UK Lifestyle Blogger : July 2015

July Payday Wishlist

Another month is almost over and yet again it's time to do my monthly payday wishlist. For those who get paid monthly, this month has been a killer. Five full weeks and it's the middle of summer, we've be celebrating hard and paying the consequences in the last week before payday. My cupboards are bare both in the wardrobe and food departments, it's time for an overhaul. Good news it that tomorrow it's my payday. Bad news, it's my husbands birthday and I've got a wedding at the beginning of next month so money is a little bit tighter than usual. However, as we're verging towards the end of summer I do plan on buying a few key transitional wardrobe pieces this month.

Firstly on my list is this beautiful Beige Crepe Block swing dress from River Island. This blog seems endorsed by River Island these days with the amount I mention them, but I swear it's not. River Island just usually ticks all the boxes for me - great fit,value for money and usually quite classic designs. This dress looks quite sophisticated and can be dressed up or down during any season due to the soft, natural colours used in the pattern.

Next on my list are these Hamilton Michael Kors shoes from Kurt Geiger. The simple, yet elegant colour of these shoes gives them the versatility to go with almost any outfit and the gold Michael Kors logo embellishment at the back of the heel makes them that little bit more glamourous. These shoes would look great at any time of day and can be used for almost any occasion, they are a great investment piece. If you need persuading any further, there's a free delivery code on Fashionbeans for Kurt Geiger.

My blog has seen many round up fashion posts featuring Michael Kors handbags and the reason is because I love them so much. My trusted Michael Kors Selma bag is always by my side and as much as I do love it, I think it's time to switch things up a bit and purchase a new one. I've been searching for the Michael Kors bag that I should buy next time and I think it's most likely going to be the Jet Set Tote. The bag is spacious, good quality and perfect for all those day trips where I need to carry around a lot of blogging essentials like my camera.

Last but definitely not least on my payday wishlist is the new NARS 'Blame it on the cheek' palette. I'm going through a phase where I'm loving blusher and NARS do great blusher and highlighting palettes. I've already read lots of great reviews about this product and I'd love to pick one of these up when I'm in duty free at the end of the month.

What's on your payday wishlist?

Recently I wrote a post about my day visit to the beautiful historic town of York. As mentioned previously we did so much in one day that it was almost impossible to slim it down to one blog post, so here's the second out of the three posts I have planned highlighting the things I got up to during the day.

After a little bit of window shopping and a short pit stop at Betty's Tea Rooms my husband and I decided to take a trip along the river Ouse on the York Boat. The York Boats are a must see attraction for anyone wanting to learn more about the history of York and its river. On a nice day you can see the beautiful York scenery in all of it's glory and even witness the large number of York Kayaking and Canoe clubs doing their daily training.

These boats cruise between King's Staith and Lendal Bridge and there are many different types of cruises to choose from. We opted for the entertaining and highly informative river city cruise. The cruise took 60 minutes and told us everything we needed to know about York in many bite sized snippets whilst admiring the scenery from an open top deck.

During our little trip the tour guide pointed out the many attractions along the water edge such as the National Parks and Museums and also spoke vastly about York's Viking and Saxon history. We also learnt about Guy Fawkes association with York, the history of York's many bridges and many humorous medieval facts about York. The trip was both visually pleasurable and intellectually stimulating and the tour guide knew everything you needed to know about the city.

We were lucky that weather held out for us and that we were able to cruise along the river with sunshine on our faces and very little wind in our hair. If you're a history buff with a thirst for knowledge like myself or just fancy a summer cruise along York's beautiful river, this trip is definitely worth the £9 admittance fee. If you plan on visiting the York tourist sites, make sure to check out the York Pass. The York Pass gives you discounted entry to many of York's top attractions. The pass is £36 a day but you could save around that price if you plan on doing a lot of sightseeing.

Have you been to York before?

Summer time makeup has always been my favourite style. Soft blushes, natural lipsticks and lashings of bronzer that makes everyone looking healthy and glowing, what’s not to love? I've teamed up with the Metquarter in Liverpool to bring you my ultimate summer makeup essentials and to show you how to get my summer time beach look.

When the weather is warm and humid, there’s nothing worse than the feeling of makeup sliding down your face and feeling the need to top up every five minutes. That’s why less is more when it comes to summer. Forget heavy coverage, opt for lighter colours that you are less likely to see if they do fade and make sure to wear to waterproof mascara just incase there’s a beach nearby.

To start your summertime makeup look I would recommend the MAC Pro Longwear Foundation. The MAC Pro Longwear foundation promises up to 15 hours of coverage even in hot and humid weather conditions and provides you with an SPF protection meaning that you don't have to worry about spending time in the sun. This foundation is a lightweight and creamy consistency and applies really easily to give sheer buildable coverage. Although many makeup artists would argue it’s better to use a foundation brush, I actually prefer to use my hands as I feel it helps me get more even coverage and blends easier on my face.

Once your base is applied it is time to start using one of my favourite contouring palettes, the Illamasqua Sculpting Powder Duo in Heliopolis & Lumous - a light champagne gold and a soft brown. Apply the darker colour to parameters of your face and the cheekbones and use the lighter colour to highlight the nose, eye sockets and chin area.

When you are finished add a nice soft blush to your cheeks using MAC Casual Colour in 'Keep it Loose'. Casual colour cream pigment is a versatile product that can be used for the cheeks and lips. The product contains vitamin e to keep the skin and lips nourishment and comes in a blendable, lightweight formula. Yet again I’ve used my fingertips to gently blend the cream into the cheekbone area.

Once you are finished with the base, you can then start with the eyes. When it’s summery many of us like to head to the beach or hang out by a pool. For this reason, stick to using waterproof mascara during the summer. It will help you avoid any mishaps and you will always be prepared for a spontaneous day out. Firstly apply the MAC False Lashes Mascara in black then cover with the MAC False lashes waterproof mascara. Finally, keep it natural and add a small bit of colour to your eyes using the MAC cream colour base in nude brown.

Finally to finish your summer, beach ready look opt for a nude lipstick like this Illamasqua Glamore lipstick in starkers.Firstly line the lip with the Illamasqua colouring pencil - I went for a slightly brighter lip pencil so that it gives a slight pink tone when blended but you can use one more suited to the colour and finish by applying the lipstick. I love the Glamore lipsticks as they are highly pigmented, nourishing and last quite awhile.

If you would like to watch a visual tutorial of this makeup look, the video can be found here.

What do you think of this look?

*This post is in collaboration with The Metquarter Liverpool

Whilst in York yesterday, my husband and I decided to pop to the Bill's Restaurant for food. I've heard so much about Bill's Restaurants before but never had chance to dine there as there isn't one in any of my neighbouring cities. The Bill's Restaurant in York is right in the heart of the centre, narby all the main shopping and tourist areas and is a great and affordable place to shop off for breakfast, lunch or dinner. James and I went to Bills for dinner after spending a very long day shopping and visiting the sites. The staff were more than accommodating on our visit and despite being 6pm on a Saturday evening we managed to get a seat straight away.

We both started with a bowl of olives to share and a glass of wine between two. The prices were decent for a large city and the menu wasn't lying when they said the olives were huge. One thing that struck me about Bill's and was the main reason I wanted to visit was their delicious sounding vegetarian options. As a vegetarian I'm used to visiting bars and restaurants and being stuck with very little choice. Usually I'm stuck with two options - veggie bean burger or vegetable lasagna, but Bills has several options, none of were a veggie bean burger or lasagna.

I opted for the Halloumi and Hummus veggie burger that came with skin on fries, a large sesame bun and plenty of salad dressing, with the most succulent roasted red pepper. The halloumi was cooked to perfection - soft and chewy without being too rubbery and the hummus was a really nice extra. The fries were nicely seasoned without needing to add any salt and the presentation of the meal was simple yet effective. I ate the whole lot and felt incredibly full and satisfied after the meal. I honestly couldn't fault it and the staff were really nice throughout the whole meal. As we left we got talking to one of the waiters about our visit to York and as we're not local, he told us where to visit for drinks after our meal and gave us directions. It was such great hospitality and we really felt we got our moneys worth from visiting the restaurant. Would I go back? Definitely.

Have you been to a Bill's Restaurant before?

Yesterday I spent the most wonderful day visiting the City of York in North Yorkshire. Although York is just over an hour away from where I live, it is somewhere that I haven't really had a chance to explore as an adult and my last visit was when I was around 15 years old. If you haven't heard of York before, York is a historic walled city in North Yorkshire with lots of history, culture and perfect for a day of shopping. York is famous for its Viking history, association with Guy Fawkes and being the birthplace of Rowntree and Terry's Chocolate, pretty much making York the birthplace of most of the chocolate we know today.

My husband and I managed to get through quite a lot of activities in York yesterday from shopping and exploring the streets to visiting the York Minster, The Castle Museum, Jorvik, The Dungeons, the Chocolate Experience and a riverboat cruise. As you can imagine that is a whole lot of things to cram into one tiny post, so today I've decided to write about shopping in York, with the history of York and the Riverboat cruise posts to follow during the week.

York is a shopaholics dream and houses an array of designer department stores, high street favourites, quirky independent stores and beautiful historic alleyways full of hidden gems. The Shambles is one of the best-preserved medieval shopping streets in Europe and although none of them have the original shop fronts, many of them still exhibit some of the original medieval features such as exterior wooden shelves where cuts of meat were served from open windows. Although the streets are small and narrow, The Shambles is a popular place for people to do their shopping and also acts as popular tourist destination for those interested in the history of York.

If you have a love for vintage clothing and antiques, York also offers an extensive range of vintage and antique stores for you to visit. Some of which are the Dog & Bone vintage, a brand new vintage store on Gillygate established from a market stall in Brighton and The York Antique Centre. York's largest antique centre with five showrooms over three floors and products stocked by one hundred dealers from all the country. With everything from jewellery to clothes, homeware to ancient coins and artefacts there's something for everyone in the vintage stores in York.

Another place to really grab my attention in York yesterday was the beautiful Stonegate York's Original Teddybears store. The store has a gigantic teddybear outside and inside stocks lots of traditional teddy bears such as the Steiff range and the popular Charlie Bear collection. This store definitely brought out the child in me.

Whilst shopping in York you are more than likely to bump into many of York's street performers. From Morris Dancers to buskers and even magicians, there's something on almost every corner keeping you entertained through the day. My husband and I really enjoyed taking mini intervals during our shopping to watch all the performers and it really makes York a cultural, diverse and fun place to be.

If you haven't found what you're looking for in the centre of York or have a penchant for grabbing a designer bargain, one of the most popular places to head for a spot of shopping in York is York Designer Outlet. The designer outlet has over 120 premium, designer and luxury brands, including Calvin Klein, The Kooples and Michael Kors all alongside high street favourites like French Connection and Ted Baker, all that offer up to 60% off all year round. There's also many beauty stores, homeware stores and places to eat if you feel peckish after all that shopping. Unfortunately my husband and I didn't get the chance to visit there yesterday but I have heard so many great things about it and will be back there in the future.

Have you been shopping in York before?

Like most girls, I'm a big fan of jewellery and love collecting everything from cutesy animal rings to large costume gemstones. The only thing I find about jewellery is that much like clothing, jewellery is very subjective and different types of jewellery and different colours suit different people. I often find that yellow gold jewellery doesn't bode well my complexion, but white or rose gold looks really good on me. Red, purple and pinky gemstone colours also flatter my skintone much more than yellows, greens or oranges. Getting the shade of your jewellery right as well as the cut and style can make a big difference.

Because we all have different style and varying jewellery needs, Nude jewellery have recently launched their new gemstone proposal rings. The proposal ring collection has been designed for men or women that would like to propose to their partner, but worry about getting their style all wrong. Those looking to propose can simply use this ring as a gesture of romance and commitment then worry about buying the real ring together, ensuring that both parties are happy with the final ring. The Nude Jewellery proposal collection are all handmade and set with semi precious and precious gemstones for less than £150, they are the perfect gift for those looking for a unique engagement ring or looking for something a little bit more quirky and personality suited than your typical diamond cluster.

Shown above is the Iris Proposal ring sent to me to review by Nude Jewellery. The Iris proposal ring is a triangular shape which features a deep purple amethyst gemstone in a geometric design. This ring can be used as a proposal ring or used as an everyday fashion piece and looks good with almost any outfit. Since receiving this ring I have barely stopped wearing it. The fit is perfect, the style is versatile and goes with everything I own and I love the quirky shape. I personally love the idea of proposal rings and think they are a great way to uniquely propose. I was lucky my husband bought me the perfect engagement ring when he proposed but I do know other friends of mine that have had to go back and select another more suited to their style. By proposing this way you get a great fashion ring that you wear every single day with no problems and you get the fun of going to buy your real engagement ring together.

What are your thoughts on Proposal Rings?

I love summer milkshakes, but being slightly lactose intolerant can often pose a few issues. The other day I decided to try make my first soya milkshake and it tasted so that good I wanted to share the recipe with you. The milkshake consists of very little ingredients and is great for a summer BBQ, summer parties or even just as a refreshing drink throughout the day.

2 cups of Almond Milk

1/4 cup of fresh strawberries

1/2 teaspoon of Vanilla Extract

1 teaspoon of Honey

Ice to blend

Combine all ingredients in a blender

Blend until smooth and creamy

Serve immediately and enjoy

This recipe has been taken from the newly released Healthy Chef cookbook by Teresa Cutter. I made this smoothie because I wanted to make one and this recipe sounded great. This is not sponsored content.

What's your favourite milkshake flavour?

The Botanist has always been one of my favourite bars and restaurants in Leeds. Amazing cocktails, fabulous, quirky food - what's not to love? Throw in quiz nights, sometimes live music and great decor and you will clearly see why the Botanist would be your winning choice for a night out. I've been to the Botanist several times before but it has been awhile since I did a review. I thought I would do another little writeup to say a year on I still bloody love this bar and the food and cocktails only seem to get better.

My friend Lizi and I visited the Botanist last week after the Jo Malone event. It was a late summer evening and we had cravings for cocktails and good food. The bar was really packed due to graduation but we managed to get a seat in the beer garden which overlooks the chefs doing their stuff and has really nice comfy seating. When it comes to cocktails, I'm definitely a Mojito girl. Wherever there is a Mojito on the menu, I will probably order it. I went for the strawberry Mojito and Lizi chose the Botanist. Both drinks arrived beautifully presented and tasted exceptional - full of flavour and full of alcohol.

Since the weather was really warm we didn't really want a heavy meal and instead both of us opted for one of the Deli boards. The Deli boards consist of four different tapas style options which you select from the menu. There's a meat option, cheese option and different salads and vegetables. This Deli board consisted of greek salad, roasted peppers, camembert cheese, pearled couscous and soft, beautifully chewy bread. I loved everyone of my dishes and left the Botanist feeling very satisfied that night, as always. The Botanist is a bar that I could visit every night and not get bored. If you're looking for somewhere with character, friendly staff and tremendous food, you need to give this place a chance.

Have you been to the Botanist before?

It has been over two months since I went to Thailand and I have still so much to talk about. Everyday I experienced in Thailand could easily have 10 posts dedicated to it. Today I thought i'd write a little post about my visit to the Nan Noble House during my Thailand Academy 3 trip. The Nan Noble House is a well-preserved example of a century old Thai house. Each room is like walking back through history with immaculate detailing and original furnishings.

When we arrived we were greeted by the Tourist minister in her authentic thai style clothing and young girls each handing out lucky jasmine garlands. We were then taken on a tour of the Nan Noble House by the owner and some of the local tour guides. This house belongs to the daughter of Chao Fong Came, the Nan princess and is made out of old traditional teak wood. The house is situated on the outskirts of the town and has the most beautiful architecture and land. This type of traditional house is quite rare in larger cities like Nan but if you visit more rural areas, some people still live in these type of houses. Most of the houses are basic, yet fulfill all the living needs of those who reside there. As a visitor from the Western world it was lovely to see such a minimalist, beautiful house that is unspoilt by technology and crammed with luxuries like our houses. It makes you value what you have and see the true beauty of a more natural environment.

After our house tour, we sat down to listen to a speech by the Mayor of Nan. The Mayor told us that he really wanted to see an increase in tourism to Nan and that the city has so much more to offer than people realise. He also spoke about the Thailand Academy 3 trip and saw this as a chance to spread the word about his city and the traditional style weaving that still takes place all around northern Thailand.

After our sit down with the Mayor we were lead downstairs to watch a traditional Thai dance. The women wore the most beautiful clothing and we dined on sticky rice and mango. It was great to see the girls in traditional attire and looking so immaculate. The music made us feel good and really helped capture the essence of Thailand. Watching this dance was probably one of my most memorable experiences during the visit.

After our sticky rice and mango pit stop, we were then lead to the ground floor where traditional weaving still takes place. The girls that work there come voluntarily to be trained and the tradition of weaving often goes back generations in their families. The lady that owns the house showed us around and demonstrated the cotton fabric process. After a few demonstrations, there's also a chance to have a go for yourself. I didn't dare try it as I'm useless when it comes to any type of sewing or weaving but it was great to see all the girls having a go.

The Nan Noble House is a wonderful place and definitely worth a visit if you're in Nan. The house is free entry but it advised that you give a donation on the door. There's also a lovely little gift shop where you can purchase some of the traditionally woven fabric and beautiful gardens for you to explore.

Have you been to a Thai Noble House before?

If you're a regular reader of my blog, you may know that just over one year ago I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, a chronic long term illness that causes swelling to the joints, fatigue and so many other problems. I try not to let my arthritis get the better of me and I try to live a relatively normal life, but there are some days where the pain can really affect my plans. Recently I was asked by the team at Lightstim if I wanted to give their new gadget a go and straight away I said yes. Although the Lightstim for Pain does not promise to take away your arthritis (if there was a gadget out that could do that, I'd be buying it straight away), it can help reduce the pain and inflammation and for me, it was definitely worth giving the Lightstim for Pain a try.

The Lightstim for Pain* is an innovative device that uses healing light technology - developed by NASA to relieve aches, joint and muscle pain, reduce inflammation and arthritic pain. This device is useful for anyone that suffers from any joint or muscle related illnesses as well as those who regularly go to the gym and need something to relieve their pain post work out. The Lightstim for Pain uses LED light therapy to deliver light energy, in a similar way plants absorb light from the sun. According to the website: "LightStim emits UV-Free, beneficial light rays that energize cells and stimulate the body's natural process to build new proteins and regenerate cells." When the light is applied to the skin it helps increase collagen and elastin production which helps reduce inflammation and speed up the healing process.

Since receiving the LightStim for Pain I have been using it quite a lot and I have found it to be really soothing on my joints. I love the fold up carry case it comes with, making it easy to take on trips and how small the gadget is, which makes it easy to store around the home. The LightStim for Pain does take awhile to heat up, but once it does, you can really feel it working on your joints and muscles. After a few uses of the LightStim my joints felt less achy and my pain levels became tolerable, even non-existent at times. I really do like the LightStim for Pain and have found it really useful for when I have a flare up, but the price is something that if I had paid for it myself, would have potentially put me off. The LightStim for Pain is available in the UK for approximately £220 which is quite a lot of money for some people. But then again, can you really put a price on your health? This gadget has really helped me and that reduction of day to day pain for me is invaluable. Would I recommend the LightStim for Pain? If you have a long term chronic illness or suffer from joint or muscle pain on a regular basis, definitely, it is worth saving up for. If you suffer from the odd little pain that doesn't affect you on a regular basis, you're probably better sticking with an ice pack.

Last Thursday I had the pleasure of attending a Jo Malone in-store event at the Victoria Quarter, Leeds. The event was to demonstrate the new bath and body collection and to show how some of the best Jo Malone products had been given a new leash of life, with bold yet pretty new packaging. I'm a big fan of Jo Malone and have been for years. I remember receiving my first ever Jo Malone candle and from that moment I fell in love. Everything from the pretty French style designs to the sweet scents are captivating and can make anyone fall in love with the brand. When you wear Jo Malone, you can be instantly recognised in the crowd. The scents are different to the mainstream fragrances out there. They are subtle, aromatic and sweet and feminine. They ooze sophistication and class and for me, make me feel sexier as a woman.

The name of the event was called 'A Moment for You' and the focus was to convince women that they all deserve at least 10 minutes of indulgence and relaxation each day and that the newly re energised Jo Malone products can help. The first product in the new collection is the Jo Malone Shower Oil. The shower oil is nourishing and restoring and is made from sunflower seed, jojoba and coconut oil. The oil helps cleanse the body and leaves your skin feeling silky soft. Jo Malone's new shower oil can be used in or out of the shower and is applied by starting at the feet and working all the way up body. To cleanse the system the oil is removed with a hot towel infused with lime, basil and mandarin and then the body moisturiser can be applied. Choosing the zesty Lime, Basil and Mandarin cream will help energise the body, choosing the juicy Blackberry and Bay will help refresh and if you want to feel relaxed, we were advised that you should opt for the opulent Peony & Blush suede.

During the event we were also given the chance to sample an array of healthy food from Fillmore and Union, a Yorkshire based health food cafe chain. We were given delicious vegan kale brownies to try, juicy fresh fruit and we also watched a live demonstration of one of their juices being made. The juice had apples, blackberries, cucumber and many more ingredients and although it didn't look too appetising, it tasted really nice and gave us all the health kick we needed.

Just before we left my bestie Lizi and I were given the chance to sample one of the Jo Malone hand and arm massages using the new products. I went for the relaxing massage and Lizi opted for the energising massage. The products felt amazing against my skin and the beautiful scents lingered on my arms for days.The staff were more than accommodating and really made our evening and helped convince me to pop by the Jo Malone store in the near future. Thank you to Jo Malone, Filmore and Union and the Victoria Quarter for such a fabulous event. I would urge anyone that has not tried the new collection to pop in your local store and give it a go.

Have you tried the new Jo Malone Bath and Body Collection?

Yesterday I logged into my Timehop and was reminded that two years ago I was sat on a beach drinking Strawberries Daiquiris on the beautiful island of Ibiza with my husband to be at the time. It was my first trip abroad in over 10 years and my first proper holiday with my husband. Ibiza often gets a bad reputation for being a party island full of sex, drugs and copious amounts of alcohol - part of that is true and can be said for many islands and even the UK but if you stay in the right place, it's easy to discover the true beauty of Ibiza and see why this little Balearic island is rated so highly amongst holidaymakers and many celebrities.

Love Holidays recently challenged a number of bloggers to share their favourite holiday memories and I thought this would be the perfect excuse to look back on some of my favourite holidays and write about the island that over the years has brought me so much happiness and many amazing, fun holidays. I have so many fond memories of Ibiza and each time I have visited, I have fallen more in love with the island. The first time I visited was when I was 10 years old with my parents. It was the last holiday with my grandma as she passed away a month later but we had the most amazing time snorkeling and taking boat trips - it was the first holiday where I felt confident enough to tread water in the sea. My second time in Ibiza was in 2013, my first proper adult holiday with my partner and we ended up loving that holiday so much that last year we had our honeymoon on the island.

When I visited Ibiza in 2013 we stayed on the outskirts of San Antonio. Close enough to all the major party areas but far away enough to enjoy some quiet time and indulge in the romantic side of Ibiza. I remember being so excited about going away for the first time with my partner and as an adult. When I arrived in Ibiza, it was better than I remembered it from the first time. The views were breathtaking, the temperature was just right and the water looked pristine and blue, I couldn't wait to pop on my bikini and go scuba diving.

The holiday was rather simple, we did all the usual tourist things like boat parties, eating at all the restaurants, going on day trips and sightseeing but it was special in its own way to me. My trip to Ibiza in 2013 made me fall in love with the island so much that a year later I spent my honeymoon there and it also inspired me to travel. I realised that by not renewing my passport earlier, I had missed out on so many potential years of travelling and it also made me question how many other beautiful places there are in the world. Ibiza is just one tiny island and there's so much more in the world to explore.

Have you been to Ibiza before?

Bubble tea is something I have heard so much about over the last few months, but never really had the chance to try until last night. Bloggers have been raving about it, bubble tea shops have been sprouting up all over the UK quicker than you can actually say Bubble tea and snapshots of bubble tea lovers have been recently appearing on Instagram. There is clearly a major craze for this Taiwanese tea that has recently hit the UK shores and it was about time I tried it.

According to Bubbleology:"Bubble Tea is the name given to the wide variety of refreshing flavoured fruit teas and milks served ice cold or piping hot with chewy natural tapioca balls that you can suck up through a big fat straw." Sound intriguing? These tapioca balls are known commonly as 'Boba' which is rumoured to have evolved into the word 'Bubble - hence the name Bubble Name. The bubble tea has Taiwanese origins and was invented in the 1980s. The tea became incredibly popular and was adapted by other Asian countries before eventually hitting North America, Australia and now the UK.

The newest store to be added to the Bubbleology collection is in Leeds Trinity shopping centre and the team hosted a lovely event so that local bloggers could sample the tea and have a much needed catch up. The event was held at Cafe 164 on Duke Street Leeds, somewhere I hadn't previously been but I can't wait to go back. There's a beautiful art gallery in the cafe and the most delicious sweet and savoury treats available. I fell head over heels for the Toffee Apple Loaf and if I hadn't had a gigantic meal before I went, given the chance I would have devoured the whole loaf.

During the event we were all given the chance to blend our own types of tea and choose our flavoured fruit balls. I opted for a Mango and Passionfruit bubble tea with extra passionfruit balls. Bubble tea is a really strange experience if you haven't tried it before and had no previous warning. As soon as you suck through your straw, the balls come and pop in your mouth leaving a burst of fruit and a kinda gooey but sweet texture to chew on. It takes some getting used to at first and if you try a bubble tea without reading about them first, it can come as quite a surprise.

I didn't know what to expect from my Bubbletea and I have been left feeling a little bit confused whether I enjoyed it or not. As mentioned previously it is a strange sensation and this drink was possibly too much on the sweet side for me. I'm looking forward to going back and trying a different flavour like their chocolate bubble tea which has more of a milkshake consistency.

Have you tried Bubble tea before?

I love days out and often spend my weeks living for the weekend and making plans. My favourite days out range from spending a day sailing on the coast to a luxurious spa day with my husband. There's nothing I love more than the feeling of travelling and adventure, even if the journey consists of a 10 minute drive to somewhere I have never been before. Into the Blue is website that sells gift vouchers for days out all across the UK and Europe. There's something for everyone: the thrillseekers, the romantics, city breakers, those with a passion for history, food and adventure. If you prefer your weekend to be a few days of relaxation, there's also an ample supply of spa day vouchers too.

Into the Blue recently contacted me to see if I would like to take part in their 'blogger scavenger hunt' on the travel bloggers team. The team consisted of Mandy from One Slice of Lemon, Amy from Cocktails in Teacups, Katie from Mum Taught Me Fashion and myself. Each blogger was given a clue to an experience day on site and once the clues had been answered, we each had to take the first letter of answer to reveal the final result. The prize was a £400 experience day and runners up each received a £20 voucher or a goodie bag. It's very rare that I enter competitions like this, but I thought it would be a great way to get to know some fabulous travel bloggers and also the prize was far too good to miss out on.

We all worked really hard to try figure out our questions but unfortunately lost out to the worthy winners who were the parenting blogger team. The answer to my question was the Ultimate Choice Pamper Day and it was the most difficult one we had to answer. Maybe next there's a blogger comp, I should brush up on my quiz skills.

Have you heard of Into the Blue?

Going out for lunch or dinner has to be one of my favourite past times. My husband and I are always on the hunt for new restaurants and I love to experiment with food and drink. Each month we must spend almost a quarter of our wages dining out and we have no regrets. I love everything from the social aspect to that feeling of discovering a new favourite cocktail. If I could dine out everyday, I would. I was recently asked by Think Money if I would like to take part in their blogger challenge and write about a hidden gem in my local town that doesn't cost a fortune and after reading the brief, I knew exactly the place I had in mind.

Bar Maroc is a small Moroccan style bar situated in the centre of Huddersfield town. Not many people know about this place as it is not overly advertised and is quite hard to find unless you have been before, making this the perfect hidden gem and one of the places my husband and I love to visit. The decor is more like something you would find abroad than in the centre of Huddersfield. There are lots of cosy bean bags, incense and candles burning, soft leather sofas and pillows to ensure that you're comfy. If you plan on heading out to the beer garden on a cold night, there's also a large supply of blankets so that you can enjoy the views and stay warm. If you find yourself waiting for a meal guest, Bar Maroc has a wealthy supply of books that can you read and if you and your friends feel like some entertainment, you're able to grab a board game from the corner of the room. Bar Maroc is the perfect place for anything from a casual after work drink and meal to a starter bar on a wild night out. I've spent hours in this little bar and still cannot get enough of its friendly atmosphere, its quirky decor and the food and drink.

If you plan on heading to Bar Maroc you should try their cocktails. Above is Strawberry Fields on the left and Sex on the Beach on the right. They have all the classics and a few wildcards thrown on their menu. Even better, the cocktails are only £5- £6 making them some of the most affordable cocktails in Huddersfield and they even throw in a free bowl of olives whilst you drink and dine.

If you're feeling peckish the Bar Maroc pizzas are scrumptious and cost little over a fiver for two toppings. If you're a big fan of meat pizzas then the Bar Maroc pizzas may not be to your taste as they only do vegetarian pizzas, but don't let this put you off. This is perfect for me as I've been vegetarian over 10 years. My favourite topping has to be spinach, mushrooms and peppers but there are so many to choose from. There's also a few unique pizza toppings such as hummus. You might not think it would go well on a pizza, but it tastes rather good.

My husband and I went to Bar Maroc on Friday night and the two pizzas, two cocktails and a bowl of olives cost us approximately £22 - just over a tenner each and we left feeling full, content and highly satisfied. Would I recommend Bar Maroc to others? Definitely.

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Huddersfield Hidden Gem: Bar Maroc