Yorkshire Blow Dry Review


Yorkshire Blow Dry is the a newly opened blow dry salon in Leeds city centre and last week I was invited around to check out the services. The company is the brain child of Nargas Harrison, who saw a gap in the Leeds market for an express blow dry service. As a busy mum and business woman, she recognised that not everyone has the luxury of time to a book blow dry well in advance - especially those working in the city centre and she believes that ' everyone woman deserves amazing hair'. Yorkshire Blow Dry* is a place where you can relax and have experts transform your hair for quicker and cheaper than your regular hairdresser, while still maintaining the high standard of quality. Whether you prefer your hair bouncy, straight or wavy, the stylists know what they are doing and are eager to help.


Yorkshire Blow Dry is situated in the Central Arcade between Bella Italia and House of Fraser on the main high street. It is accessible for busy career women in the city as well as leisurely shoppers and those in need of a quick fix. The salon has a modern, stylish interior featuring faux fur rugs, paper lanterns and even a branded wall where you can have your pictures taken like a superstar - the salon oozes luxury.


I opted for a natural curly blow dry and I was really impressed with the results. Not only was the service speedy (she managed to pincurl my hair curly in less than 40 minutes), but it was also really friendly and welcoming. The girls who work there are really down to earth and can hold a good conversation, without being too in your face like some hairdressers can be. 

A blow dry at Yorkshire Blow Dry is £45 - which is fantastic for city centre and I think it's definitely worth the price. I'm already looking into booking future treatments in with the team and if you're planning a night out or desperately need a hair fix, I would definitely recommend them.

What style blow dry do you usually go for?
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My First Tattoo



For as long as I can remember, I've always wanted a tattoo and this week I finally plucked up the courage to get one. When I was younger I spent hours every week watching the likes of Miami Ink and I would often doodle designs on notebooks during in high school. I've always known I've wanted a tattoo, but never really known what design I wanted. In the past I've gone through dozens of tattoo design phases from one time wanting doves flying up my back to almost booking in to get a band tattoo on chest, which thankfully I chickened out of because I no longer like the band. I've always read stories about how people have chosen a tattoo that really meant something to them, but until recently, there was nothing that stood out to me that much that I wanted it inked on me for life.

The Design

The last two years of my life have been really life changing both for the better and for worse.I married the love of my life and got a really good job - both of which make me really happy, but on the downside my health has taken a tremendous beating and during the last two years I have been diagnosed with two incurable conditions that affect my life daily. When I was reading tattoo designs and their meanings, one really stood out to me and that was an elephant tattoo. Elephant tattoos represent strength, family and  peace and also luck and success - all of which are elements of my life. The strength symbolises my constant battle with my health and the ability to stay strong when everything gets tough and the family aspect represents my love for my family who have been by my side. Despite not having the best health, I do consider myself quite lucky and I am successful in some of the things I do and that's where the luck and success come into play. Elephants also happen to be my favourite animal and they are highly regarded in Buddhist culture - something I learnt a lot about and admired during my trip to Thailand last year.



On Wednesday morning when I woke up and was doing my usual social media check, I noticed that the tattoo parlour I have been researching for months had some walk in space. After putting my tattoo off for almost a year and a half due to nerves, I decided that Wednesday was going to be the day that I got my tattoo and without telling my husband or my friends, I walked into the studio and booked myself in. I remember sitting in the waiting room with my heart feeling like it was going to rip out of my chest - I had read so many horror stories online about heel and foot tattoos being the most painful, but I reassured myself that I could handle it. 

Did it hurt?

After a couple of minutes wait, I was called into the back room of the studio and asked to take off my shoes. Harry, the tattoo artist then drew a stencil on my foot and asked me to check the design in the mirror to make sure I was happy with the placement. It was funny seeing the design I had dreamt about outlined on my foot and strangely, it looked better than I thought it would. I returned to the chair, acknowledged that I was happy and the tattooing begun. To begin with, Harry told me he would draw a small line so I could get used to the pressure and tell him how I felt. I took a deep breathe and he began. At first it was a bit of a shock to the system - it was painful, but not too bad and if anything, the noise of the machine made it more frightening than it actually was. Once he began properly tattooing my foot it began to hurt a bit more, but nothing like I expected. I read so many forums online saying that 'grown men cry when they get their foot tattooed' and that I would be 'screaming in agony.' It was more uncomfortable than really painful and after the first 10 minutes I became numb to the pain as I finally got used to the needle. My little -heel tattoo took 20 minutes to do and when I looked in the mirror at my finished design, I actually cried. A) I was happy with myself that I had the guts to walk into a tattoo studio solo and get it done and B) the tattoo meant so much to me that it brought so many thoughts into my mind after first looking at it. Since getting it done four days ago, I haven't stopped looking at my ankle and grinning.  With the rest of my body not cooperating with my life, it's nice to look at my body and feel happy with something and have a little design that makes me smile when I wake up in the morning.

The Aftermath

My tattoo is only four days old and hasn't yet heeled, but so far, so good. It doesn't hurt to walk on, there's no swelling and it looks fantastic. I've had so many compliments and a waitress even stopped me in a restaurant to look at it. The downside about getting a foot tattoo is only being able to wear ballet flats for several weeks until it has fully recovered and with the unexpected snow, it has been far from ideal. However, it is a small price to pay for something that will hopefully bring me a lifetime of happiness and I cannot wait to see what journeys 'Nellie' and I will be embarking on in the future.

Do you have any tattoos?







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A Year Since My Trip to Thailand


A year ago last week I was on a plane to Thailand, embarking on my first ever press trip and my first long haul flight. I was lucky enough to be invited by the Tourism Authority of Thailand to spend a week in some of the more remote areas of Thailand learning about the countries culture first hand by visiting small weaving villages and speaking to the locals. It was an amazing experience - one which I will never forget and I really think that particular trip helped shape me into the person I am today. From flying internationally with a group of people I met only hours before to visiting Buddha temples and finding my own inner peace, Thailand showed me what I was doing wrong in my life at that time, what I should be proud of myself for and where I want to be in 10 years time.

Travel is rewarding

Before I went on my trip to my Thailand, all I cared about was the next shoes I was going to buy or the next handbag I wanted to invest in -travelling wasn't on my agenda. However when I got back to the UK, I realised how much I learnt on my trip and my thoughts turned to how I can save up to visit another faraway destination. These days I would much rather put money away for a trip aboard or a staycation in the UK where I can learn about history than something that would bore me after five minutes. Memories are priceless.

I learnt that I can be independent

Thailand was not only my first international flight, it was the first time I had flown alone as an adult without my close friends or family. I was terrified at the thought of meeting strangers at the airport and flying across the world without anyone I knew, but by the end of the trip I had made so many friends from all over the world and I finally realised how independent I could be.  I was thrown out of my comfort zone and I survived and had fun. In fact, I would happily travel on my own again.

I discovered myself as a writer

When I studied journalism at University, I was taught to write about so many different topics and none of them really stood out to me. I have always loved writing, but I could never find my niche. Fashion interested me for awhile, but there was only so much I could write about dresses and after running a beauty blog for almost a year, I realised I knew little about beauty for it to be a viable career. I was invited to Thailand because of my fashion blogging and to write about the fashion industry out there, but when I returned, I returned as an enlightened travel blogger. I realised after doing my write ups of Thailand that I was very passionate about travel writing and I noticed that my travel blog posts were so much better quality than everything else I had written. A few months later, I rebranded my blog as a travel and lifestyle blog and focus on quality rather than the quantity of posts and for the first time in years, I'm finally happy with my blogs direction.


What has travelling taught you?

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How to Find a Hotel To Suit You


Planning a trip when there's hundreds of different websites available these days can be difficult and booking the hotel can be one of the most challenging hurdles. Firstly you have to think about the budget you have available, secondly the location and then you have to think about what amenities they have to offer. There are so many questions that can go through your mind before you finally take the plunge and book. I have stayed in many hotels over the past few years - many of which have been above 4* and I haven't had to pay full price. I pride myself in finding a bargain and I'm meticulous when it comes to finding the right location. 

Have a budget in mind

When booking a hotel always have a budget in mind. Think of the ideal amount you would be willing/ can afford to spend a hotel and make it a challenge to find cheaper. The more savings you can make on your hotel room, the more money you will have to enjoy your holiday.

Ask yourself what you want from your holiday

Finalise your rough budget and secondly ask yourself what you want from your holiday. Is there a specific place you would like to visit or something you would really like to do? Are you mad about history or do you prefer to absorb some culture? Do you prefer hiking or do you prefer to spend time on the beach? Once you have an idea of what you want from your holiday, you can then look for a hotel in an area that offers the type of things that you enjoy doing.

Create a rough itinerary

Before I book any hotel, I write up a little itinerary of museums, beaches, restaurants or any places I would like to visit. Once I have an itinerary planned, I can then look for a hotel that is central to those places or isn't too far to travel. One of the worst things you can do is book a hotel room on the outskirts of the city because it 'seems cheap' then spend a lot of money on transport because it takes so long to get to the places that you would like to visit.

Be realistic about how much time you will actually spend at the hotel

When booking an hotel room, be realistic about how much time you will actually spend at the hotel. It's nice to have a hotel with a lot of amenities, but if you're going to be spending all your the time exploring and just nipping back to the hotel in the evening, those perks that you paid extra for can become obsolete.

Check reviews, but don't get too hung up by them

Always check reviews when you go on holiday, but don't let them influence your booking too much. There have been many times that I've gone to book a hotel and was almost put off by a few bad reviews, but when I arrived at the hotel I've had a really pleasant experience. Some of the best hotels I've stayed in have not that the best Trip Advisor reviews. Always remember that every stay is subjective and sometimes people can just be really picky. If all the reviews are bad, maybe it is best to avoid, but if it's just one or two don't let them ruin your choice if you think it is the perfect hotel choice for you.

Always look around for deals and pay close attention to cancellation policies/payment methods

When booking your hotel, make sure you shop around for deals as the first price you find may not be the lowest and always take the time to read up on cancellation policies. Booking.com is one of many great websites that allows you to cancel your hotel up to a few weeks before your holiday and not lose any money and most of the hotels on the website don't ask for payment until your departure of the hotel - great for those who are looking to save up rather than pay in advance.


What are your tips when it comes to booking hotels?


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Dining Out on a Budget


Dining out is something the millennial generation have got highly accustomed to over the last few years, often opting for convenience and fun rather than leaning over a hot stove after a 9-5 work shift. Eating out now is considered a more social experience than it was thirty years ago, where back then people would eat out only on a special occasion, people now visit restaurants regularly, sometimes even once or twice a week. I'm one of these 'foodie' people that loves eating out at restaurants - I'm always looking for my latest 'Instagram food pic' and I really enjoy trying new food that I often don't have time to cook at home. I love being able to share my knowledge of places to eat with my friends, my blog audience and my family and I feel like I get 'FOMO' (fear of missing out) if I venture too far out of the foodie scene. The only problem with regularly eating out rather than cooking a meal at home is the fact that it can be rather costly. For example, if you eat out once a week, for a year with the average meal and a few drinks coming to around £25 for the night, that is £1,500 a year alone on food and in a world where house prices are rocketing and taxes are constantly on the rise, every penny helps.

I wouldn't say I'm the best at money saving, but over the last few years I have picked up a few little tricks that have helped me save money and today, I thought I would share a few of them with you. Going out for food is often an impulsive decision - after all we've all been in the situation where you work colleague/best friend/partner (insert appropriate) pulls you over and says 'I fancy going out tonight' with no warning, but a little forward planning doesn't harm anyone. 

Plan your meals for a Monday or Tuesday

The beginning of the week is usually the quietest for bars and restaurants as everyone is too busy recovering from the weekend and getting back into work mode. A lot of companies use this quiet period to unleash their promotional deals to lure in customers, sometimes offering as much as 50% off food. If it's getting near to payday and your purse strings are getting a little bit too tight, yet you feel like you want to treat yourself, these deals can really make a difference. 

Subscribe to your favourite restaurants mailing lists

If you have restaurants that you and your friends always seem to visit or there's a new restaurant opening that has caught your attention, consider subscribing to their mailing lists online. Every now and then companies like to send promotional offers to those on their mailing lists as a thank you for being a subscriber or a loyal customer and they often reward you when it's your birthday, such as the Pizza Express deal where you can get a free bottle of prosecco when dining on your special day. If you plan on subscribing to quite a few restaurants and bars, it may be worth setting up a different email address to your professional one as they can flood your inbox.

Make the most of voucher codes

It is always worth checking with your best friend Google before you go out to see if there's any online voucher codes for the restaurant you are visiting, especially if it's a big restaurant chain. There's lots of different voucher sites to check out such as Voucher Cloud and Voucher Codes  with many offering mobile friendly vouchers as well as the traditional print vouchers.

Download discount apps

If you're always on the go and don't have time to trawl through the internet to find money saving offers,  you can always download the app versions of the two aforementioned websites and if you're on O2 you can download O2 priority moments. I love O2 priority moments as the deals are instant and easy to use and these range from money off lunches to meals out in the evening.

Treat yourself to a Tastecard

For those who dine out regularly, it is worth investing in a Tastecard. Tastecards cost £80 per year (or free with a Natwest Platinum account) and you can get 2-4-1 or 50% off a lot of UK restaurants all year round. 

Stay active on social media

My final piece of advice is to stay active on social media and follow all your favourite restaurants. By following all your favourite restaurants you'll be able to see if they have any promotional offers or competitions running and you can keep an eye out for any new menu launch events where you may be able to bag yourself a few free drinks or dishes. It is always worth searching menu launch events on Twitter in your area because bars often look for a big turnout to these events so they can get as much feedback as possible on their new food.

How often do you dine out?





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Giraffe Animal Encounter, Knowsley Safari Park


When I was younger I went through a long phase of wanting to be a zoo keeper. I loved spending time with animals when I was little and I used to spend hours at the zoo being fascinated by them. As I grew older I realised my love of writing and my zoo keeper dream took a back seat, but it has always been something I have wanted to try. Yesterday, thanks to Red Letter Days* I finally got my chance to play Zoo keeper at Knowsley Safari Park as I was offered the chance to review their Giraffe Animal Encounters experience.


Knowsley Safari Park, which was opened in 1971 is a zoological park and tourist attraction in the Knowsley area of Merseyside. It is a short drive from Liverpool, Manchester or Chester and is a fantastic day out for any animal lover, old or young. The park features an array of wild animals in enclosures and also an abundance of animals on it's safari park drive, where you can drive through the park at your own leisure, in your own car and see the wild animals roaming free in the park grounds. 


As well as the safari drive and animal enclosures, there are daily shows and educational talks on many of the animals and each weekend, there's a few reserved spots for 1-1 animal encounters like my giraffe experience, priced at £69pp. To ensure the animals wellbeing is looked after, they only have one experience per day for two people and I was lucky enough to take yesterday's slot. At 11am yesterday I met the Zookeeper who took me up to the Giraffe feeding area and handed me some branches. I spent thirty minutes feeding the two giraffes and was able to ask as many questions as I wanted about the animals and Knowsley Safari park. The Giraffes were such lovely animals and it was great to get up close to them and have a go at feeding them. I also learnt quite a lot about Giraffes from their dietary needs to why they have such long eyelashes (apparently it's to keep the sun out in the African Savanna). You could tell the animals were really looked after and they responded so well to the zookeeper. It was a lovely, relaxing experience and something I will remember for a long time. I have a newfound love for Giraffes.

Have you been to Knowsley Safari park before?
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How to beat driving anxiety


Passing my driving test was one of the happiest days and scariest days of my life. After three failed tests, over 120 driving lessons and several panic attacks, I was finally handed my test certificate to say I could drive and I was elated, but when I left the building I was hit with the sudden fear that I now didn't have an instructor by my side and I would have to learn to drive on my own. Driving and I have always had a love-hate relationship. I love driving because it gets me from a-to-b without the need of public transport, but I've always been a nervous driver and as soon as I got behind the wheel my leg would hover over my clutch and begin to shake uncontrollably and I'd stall within seconds. I've lost count of the amount of times I've cried hysterically behind the wheel and had a full blown tantrum in front of my instructor, so when I left my test and knew I had to finally fend for myself, it was a bit of a reality shock.

My first car was and still is a white Fiat 500. I remember going to pick my car up with my dad and thinking 'how could anyone trust me on the road'. We took the long way back to my house so I could have a practice with someone in the car and then parked in my driveway.  That car remained parked in my driveway for several weeks, until my husband convinced me I needed to get back behind the wheel.

At first I was apprehensive about driving on my own and I made a lot of mistakes - failing to indicate - check, getting too close on a roundabout - check, reversing into a wall - unfortunately check. I made every mistake someone who has never driven before could make, but apart from a dent in my car that got fixed, I was fine and in fact, crashing my car within the first few weeks made me a safer, more cautious driver.  Fast forward a year later and I can happily say I've found my driving confidence. It took some building up and wasn't easy, but I'm now happier than ever on the roads. I drove to Newcastle the other week which is a three hour motorway journey and didn't flinch and I'm now looking at holidays down south.  So how did I get my driving confidence? Here's a few of my tips.

Practice, Practice, Practice

The best thing you can do is get behind the wheel as often as possible and practice. Every time you go out on the road you will be faced with more challenges and the more you drive, the more you will learn how to overcome these difficulties.

Remember every driver makes mistakes

If you're wanting to improve your driving confidence, the most important thing you need to remember if that every driver makes mistakes. Many drivers believe that you actually learn to drive once you have passed your test, rather than in your lessons and I agree. When you're on your own you need to make your own decisions and adapt to different situations on the road. These can all take some getting used to and at first you will make mistakes, just make sure you're being as safe as possible and when in doubt take it slow.

Go on a drive with an experienced driver

If you are still struggling, consider going on a drive with a friend or family member who is an experienced driver. They can act as both a passenger and a little mentor and can give you tips on anything that worries you. When I first got my car, I asked my dad to come with me while I drove on the motorway and only say something about my driving if it looked like I was going wrong.  If you don't know an experienced driver, there's nothing wrong with booking additional lessons with an instructor if you feel like you are struggling with certain things.

Get on the motorway as soon as possible

This was probably one of my biggest mistakes. It took me several months to get on the motorway because the thought of it terrified me, but it isn't as bad as it seems. I find the motorway so much easier to drive on than any dual carriageway because you have plenty of space and as long as you indicate in good time, most drivers will move over for you. The sooner you get on the motorway, the sooner you will realise there is nothing to be scared about and you can start planning your road trips.

I found the quote 'life is always a bumpy road, eventually you just have to learn how to drive on it' while searching for driving quotes and although it's more aimed at life, I think it pretty much sums up learning to drive. Whether you're a learner or someone who has passed their test, there will always be obstacles on the road and challenges you will face, but if you persevere and believe in yourself, you will eventually be able to drive on those 'bumpy roads'.

Have you ever experienced anxiety while driving?



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St Mary's Inn, Morpeth


Just under a fortnight ago I was invited up to the beautiful countryside of Northumberland to check out St Mary's Inn situated on the outskirts of Morpeth. The county has recently been under the spotlight due to the Robson Green ITV series 'Tales of Northumberland' and I was eager to see for myself the areas Robson Green had been talking about. After driving on dozens of tiny country roads and getting lost amongst farmyards, we eventually found the remote Inn nestled in a little estate, the only built up area for miles.

St Mary's Inn, which was once a hospital building in the 1900s, is a small B&B consisting of only 11 rooms, a restaurant and a bar. Hotel guests are mainly walkers, families and those touring different parts of Northumbria as Morpeth is quite a central point to many great Northumbrian attractions.


It has been years since I stayed at an inn or B&B so when I arrived I forgot that places like these very rarely have a dedicated reception area. Instead St Mary's Inn's reception is a bar, but a welcoming bar it is. The bar was adorned with locally brewed ales and homemade cakes and the room was very cosy with a log fire beaming in the corner of the corner. As we checked in we instantly got the feeling that
St Mary's Inn was a home away from home and that it is a B&B where you can let your hair down and be yourself, where heels are more optional than obligatory and a place where dogs are just as welcome as their owners.


We arrived at the hotel quite early so we drove back out to Morpeth village and then came back a few hours later for a spot of lunch. Shortly after our meal, we were then taken upstairs to check in our room 'the Whittle Dene' suite. The Whittle Dene suit is absolutely stunning and if you're a lover of antiques and traditional countryside interiors like myself, this would be your heaven. The bed was covered in a pretty embroidered throw and in the corner of the room was an antique dresser with a rocking chair placed beside it.


The bathroom was rather opposite to the bedroom - it was modern with a grey scale colour theme and featured wooden boxes filled with Arran Aromatics toiletries and flannels and a large shower head over the bath tub.


Once we made ourselves at home in our room and got dressed, we ventured downstairs for our evening meal. The restaurant was really homely and comfortable and at the time we sat down it was just starting to get busy with many local customers. It was a friendly environment - everyone seemed happy enjoying their food, there was a lot of chat and quite a few families eating together having a catch up. Despite the restaurant gradually getting busy, the service ran smoothly and the waiting staff were very prompt at taking our orders.


While browsing the menu at St Mary's Inn I noticed that there was a lack of vegetarian food on the menu and it was quite disappointing to see a restaurant which is has recently been featured in The Times '25 Best New Restaurants' with only one vegetarian dish available. I was a little bit apprehensive waiting for my meal as I'm not usually a fan of curries, but when it arrived I was really impressed with both the flavour and presentation and quickly forgave them. It was a hearty, bold dish that really filled me up and wasn't too overpowering. I was worried that I would find the lentils to be quite bland, but this dish was far from dull.


For dessert I opted for the rhubarb cheesecake. Cheesecake is my favourite dessert and when I need a pick me up or a treat, it's one thing I often crave. The rhubarb was sweet and not too tart and the flavour combination worked really well, without being too heavy or rich. It was the perfect end to the meal and I went back the room feeling incredibly satisfied.


After an incredible nights sleep we walked back down to the restaurant area, this time for breakfast. Breakfast consisted of a continental breakfast with yoghurts, croissants and cereals as well as a hot menu ranging from a full english breakfast to avocado and egg on toast. I chose my favourite avocado and poached egg on sour rye toast and it did not disappoint. The eggs were perfectly runny and there was just the right amount of avocado on the toast, it was a great dish to fill me up for my three hour car journey back home.

Overall I really enjoyed my stay at St Mary's Inn and it was lovely to stay in somewhere so rural and a little bit off the beaten track. Our room was really cosy, the staff were really friendly and the meals despite there not been many vegetarian options were really tasty and enjoyable. I would happily stay there again and recommend it anyone looking to visit the Northumbrian countryside.

Have you visited St Mary's Inn before?

*My stay was complimentary in exchange for a review
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Dinner at Jesmond Dene House


There's nothing I love more than treating myself and my husband to a meal at a fine dining restaurant. We're both foodies and avid Masterchef followers, we both enjoy a good glass of wine and I firmly believe our regular date nights are the key to why my husband and I are a really strong, happy couple. Our latest foodie date night was at the Jesmond Dene House hotel in Newcastle, where we dined on smoked salmon, truffles and ate the most spectacular desserts. 

The restaurant at Jesmond Dene House, awarded three AA rosette stars in September 2009, is overseen by Head Chef Michael Penaluna and features an array of contemporary British dishes that are light, fresh and flavoursome using classic culinary techniques. The menus range from the All Day Dining Menu through to an eight-course Tasting Menu (£70). In addition, there is a seasonally changing Dinner menu, Early Evening menu, vegetarian menu, family-friendly Sunday Lunch menu and afternoon tea menu.


When I dine at a new restaurant I always get slightly anxious about their vegetarian offerings, especially if it is somewhere a little bit more refined or a la carte, but this was something I didn't need to worry about at Jesmond Dene, their menu had plenty of options. Admittedly service was a little bit slow to begin with, but the waitress did apologise and kept us in the loop as to when our starters would be ready. When they did arrive, the starters were definitely worth the wait. I opted for the Celeriac with apple and stilton tortellini and my husband chose a smoked salmon dish. Soup can usually be very hit or miss as a starter as some soups can be rather bland and uninspiring. This soup however was very flavoursome and the stilton tortellini added texture and a salty rich flavour that complemented the celeriac perfectly. 


Service picked up when it came to our mains and we were both presented with two superb dishes - my husband chose the Sirloin steak and I went for the dish that had been intriguing me since I first read the Jesmond Dene menu, the 'Spelt Barley Risotto' with baked jerusalem artichoke, trompette mushrooms and truffle. I'm not usually a risotto fan, but I do love mushrooms so this dish really stood out to me and when it arrived, I was blown away by the spectacular flavour combination. It tasted very fresh, like the ingredients had just been picked out of the garden and it wasn't too rich and creamy, like some risottos have a tendency to be. 


At the beginning of the meal James and I told each other that we were sticking to two courses that evening, but as the night went by and we saw other guests being served show-stopping dishes, we both knew we had to try one. As I'm a big fan of Rhubarb, I went for the Rhubarb and Vanilla Gateaux with Rhubarb Sorbet, while my husband opted for the Chocolate and Blood Orange cake with Blood Orange Sorbet. Despite our bellies being full, both of us managed to easily eat our way through dessert. My gateaux was light as a feather, really fruity and so beautifully presented and although chocolate and orange sounds quite rich, James said it was balanced quite perfectly and the 
orange sorbet helped cleanse his palette.

Overall we both had a really good time at Jesmond Dene House and I would definitely recommend this restaurant. Starters start at around £9 and mains are upwards of £16, which can be pricey to some people, but it is worth saving for if you're looking for somewhere special. Both my husband and I will more than happily return to Jesmond Dene House in the future.

Have you dined at Jesmond Dene House before?

*This meal was complimentary in exchange for review
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Jesmond Dene House, Newcastle


Newcastle is one city in the UK that I had never visited before, so when I was invited to go check out Jesmond Dene House which is just five minutes out of the city, I leapt at the chance. Jesmond Dene House is a grade II listed historical mansion built in 1822 that was converted in an independently owned hotel in 2005. The hotel has a fascinating history and was a well respected establishment in high society. Jesmond Dene has played host to many Chinese ministers and Japanese princes as well as the famous novelist Rudyard Kipling.

Today Jesmond Dene House boasts 40 bedrooms and suites, a restaurant with garden room and terrace, cocktail bar, billiard room, great hall and reception rooms and a beautiful contemporary style garden overlooking a river. The hotel is renowned in the Newcastle area for having won 'AA Hotel of the Year 08/09', the 'North East Tourism Small Hotel of the Year 2012', the 'Good Hotel Guide City Hotel of the Year 2013' and 'Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence in 2013.'


As I arrived at Jesmond Dene House, I was highly impressed with the spacious car park, the luscious green gardens and the exterior of the building, which has been kept in excellent condition considering its age, I couldn't wait to see the inside. In the entrance of Jesmond Dene House was two beautiful wire sculptures from local sculpture Gary Tiplady. His work can be seen all around the hotel from the rabbit in the garden to the dogs in the entrance and bar area. We arrived to the hotel incredibly early and unfortunately our room wasn't quite ready, but the staff were really friendly and ordered us a taxi into Newcastle centre to pass the time. Our taxi cost us £7 which is really affordable for a large city and it meant that I could leave my car at the hotel and have a few drinks in the city centre without worrying about parking.


When we arrived back to the hotel we were promptly shown to our hotel room. I was really impressed with the room as it was homely, yet sophisticated and had lots of unique finishing touches that made our stay highly enjoyable. The mini bar was stacked with everything you could wish for on a luxury break from crisps to peanuts, champagne to diet coke. Although there was a charge for the mini bar, I thought the prices were quite reasonable compared to some of the hotels I have previously stayed at. I loved that our hotel room had the latest issues of Vogue and GQ magazines on the dressing table - these were lovely to read while waiting to go down for dinner and I really liked the vintage style DAB radio next to the bed. I don't know whether it was intentional, but as we walked into the room the radio was switched on and playing classical music, it really helped put us in a relaxing mood.


The bathroom in our hotel room was incredibly clean and yet again faultless. We had a bath in the evening and it was the perfect temperature and I was happy to see some Arran Aromatics miniatures on the side of the sink as I really like the brand. Arran Aromatics products have quite a sensual and relaxing scent that remind me of being at a spa and these scents were echoed throughout all the hotel in the form of Arran Aromatics diffusers in the hallways.


That evening my husband and I dined in the restaurant and had a superb meal, but to keep this review short and sweet, I will be doing a separate write up on the restaurant. When we returned to our room, as soon as our head hit the pillow both of us fell asleep. The mattress was a little bit on the firm side for me, but nevertheless I managed to get a great nights sleep and woke up bright and early and eager for breakfast the next morning.


The breakfast menu at Jesmond Dene House was everything you would expect from a luxury hotel - Eggs Benedict, Omelette Arnold Bennett and a continental breakfast of croissants, fruit and cereals. I opted for the Eggs Florentine which is a poached egg on spinach topped with a hollandaise sauce. I have to say the one I ate at Jesmond Dene House has to the best Eggs Florentine I've ever had. The yolk was perfectly runny, the hollandaise sauce was creamy but not too rich and the spinach was as fresh as can be. 

I really enjoyed my stay at Jesmond Dene House and I would go back there in a heartbeat. For those looking to visit Newcastle, but also wanting a little bit of space from the hustle and bustle of the city, Jesmond Dene House is the perfect place to visit. Whether you're looking for a romantic evening away, a girls day out with afternoon tea or a quiet family break, Jesmond Dene caters for all.

Have you been to Jesmond Dene House before?

*My stay at Jesmond Dene House was complimentary, but all views are my own.
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Treatwell Event, RMUK Leeds


A few weeks ago I was invited to an event at RMUK in Leeds to celebrate the launch of Treatwell, a 24/7 online booking system where you can book salon and beauty appointments with ease at the times you want and prices to suit your budget. Treatwell is the largest hair and beauty bookings website in Europe and with 20,000 local partners it is easy for you to browse through their impressive list of salons in your local area and hunt out discounts. The system is perfect for people like me who are a little bit spontaneous with their appointments and love a good deal. If you think the concept sounds very familiar, you may recognise Treatwell's former name, Wahanda. Late last year the company rebranded under the name Treatwell to help with it's European expansion. Having used Wahanda in the past and really enjoyed the service, I was eager to find out what Treatwell have in the pipeline and learn more about the direction they are going in.


I attended the Treatwell event with one of my friends Lizi from Glasses Girl and during the evening we were pampered by the staff at RMUK in Leeds. RMUK are a salon listed on Treatwell and they offer a wide range of hair and beauty services. It is a high quality salon like many of them listed on Treatwell as the staff at Treatwell carefully choose who they partner with and only want the best. Having been to RMUK for many events in the past, I have to say it's one of the nicest salons in the Leeds area and the staff are incredibly friendly.


The Treatwell event in Leeds attracted many local businesses, VIPs and bloggers, including some of the cast from Emmerdale. There was also expert advice and tutorials from Liz Hambleton, the former beauty director of Grazia and advice from celebrity make-up artist Armand Beasley. One of the highlights of the night for me was talking to Lopo Champalimaud, founder and CEO of Treatwell. He is a really down to earth guy who is incredibly passionate about his brand and he really wants the best for his customers.

To celebrate the rebranding of Wahanda and to introduce you to the brand Treatwell, I'm giving away a £25 voucher so you can try out some of services for yourself, whether it's a hair appointment, a much deserved massage or an express manicure. To enter you need to be 18 and over, live in the UK and you need to fill out the form below. Good luck!


Listed on Prize Finder


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