Tewkesbury Food and Drink Festival 2016

Supporting local businesses is one of the most important things you can do as a consumer. Not only are you reducing your own carbon footprint, as the products you are purchasing don't have to travel from overseas, but you're also pumping money back into the local economy. I'm a big believer in supporting small businesses as well - I would much rather give my money to someone striving to make even with their dream, than a major corporation.
With this in mind, I gleefully set off to Tewskesbury's annual food and drink festival last Saturday. Tewkesbury is this tiny town near Cheltenham in Gloucestershire. I've recently moved near to the town, and the festival was a great chance to check out Tewkesbury Abbey, which the event was held in.
I'm not going to lie, I was ravenous when we turned up. I knew I'd want to sample everything and anything, and so came on an empty stomach. Although all of the stalls were absolutely beautiful, and offered stunning displays of food and drink, I definitely had some firm favourites. 
As soon as I entered the grounds, the sight of Belgian chocolate cascading down a fountain had my little eyes glimmering with delight. I ended up with a cup full of strawberries, marshmallows and a flake, smothered in oozing milk and white Belgian chocolate. This even had my chocolate-hating boyfriend so intrigued he needed to give it a try. 
Next up, we took one walk around the entire tent sampling little bits and pieces with a cup of sweet apple cider in hand. I'm that person that meanders everywhere and has to look at every stall before deciding what to purchase. So we had to walk around the tent three times. Obviously.
The Croombe cheese stall was a firm winner on my first journey round - I tried about 10 different cheeses in the end and fell a little bit in love with all of them. The roasted garlic and parsley cheese was literally heavenly, with the scrumpy and crunchy apple cheese coming in at a close second. Seriously though, those flavours. Get in mah belly.
The Queen's Park Preserves stall was another one I had to practically be dragged away from. I've got such a soft spot for jam and always get drawn into buying it, before remembering that I rarely actually finish a jar before it goes mouldy! The Chuckleberry jam was like nothing I had tasted before, and I was so impressed. Plus they even do a pear and chocolate version so um, hello, need?!
There were SO many things to choose from, but I limited myself to only picking up a few (HA). The first was some rhubarb fudge which oh my god totally melts in your mouth and 100% deserves the title 'moreish'. 
After spending an age at the Garlic Farm stall because garlic is my one true love really, I finally picked just one bottle of garlic infused extra virgin olive oil. Y'know the stuff you drizzle on your pizza when you go out to eat and it smells like garlic in a bottle? Now I can drizzle it over my homemade pizzas and I am SO READY.
What I'm trying to say with this post, is that if you have a local food and drink festival coming up soon you should totally check it out, because there are some amazing little gems in these events.
Have you been to a food and drink festival before?
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Disney Store Wishlist

It's no secret that Disney is my jam really. Curling up in soft blankets with snacks to watch a Disney film is possibly one of my favourite self-care rituals, and one that I love to rely on when my sister is visiting and we're at a bit of a loose end. Having said that, I haven't really spoken about my love for this franchise on my blog at all yet, but having found out that I'm going to be heading to Disneyworld (Florida) next year (EEEEEK!), there's going to be a few more Disney-related posts cropping up on Nourish ME. So watch this space!
If you've been keeping up with my Instagram lately, you'll know that, despite being fairly late to the Tsum Tsum game, I've been making up for lost time. I've fallen head over heels for these tiny little stackable toys, and can't wait to get a whole shelf of them. The next additions I really want to add are Marie and Thumper. The little pink bow in Marie's fur and the yellow detailing on Thumper's ears are JUST TOO CUTE. Seriously, how could I not love these little guys, especially as I own my very own little 'Thumper' aka Ted. 
There's only one thing that trumps cute little tsum tsums: a tsum tsum hooded onesie. I don't think I've wanted anything more in my life. As soon as Autumn rolls in and I start wanting to cosy up in a snuggly onesie in the evenings, this is going to be sitting right at the top of my life wishlist.
In case you haven't already guessed, cuddly toys are kind of my thang. Has anyone else seen the trailer for Finding Dory? Because oh my word baby Dory is the cutest little thing, which basically means I need this baby Dory plushie, right?! I'm a sucker for anything with big pretty eyes, and this ticks all of my boxes. Plus, y'know, buying it would totally be an excuse to get an 'under the sea' themed duvet cover and pillows. Obviously. 
You know all those blogger photos with mounds of pretty white/gold/marble cushions on? Well the Stitch face cushion is something I would need to add to balance blogger goals with my own personality. Lilo and Stitch is one of my all-time favourites from Disney, and this loveable little alien deserves a place in my home
Now, let's move on to the 'adult' things. I'm a massive green tea drinker, and have my own little favourite mugs that I like to drink out of. As I work from home, there's usually a mug of (most likely cold and forgotten) herbal tea on my desk, and I would love to add this nemo mug and the minnie mouse bow cup and saucer to my collection. Nemo is utterly adorable, and his little (not so) squishy face is basically needed to perk me up when work is slow or non-existent. And the minnie mouse one is just so elegant, I couldn't resist adding it to this wishlist.
Finally, we have a little collection of Alice Through the Looking Glass. Alice in Wonderland was a big favourite for me as a child - I once watched it three times straight when I was off sick - and I'm SO EXCITED for the new release in the franchise this year. 
The Alice compact mirror is something I want to pop in my handbag and keep with me everywhere I go. I can also imagine it being a pretty awesome blog prop for any makeup posts, so keep your eyes peeled if I do pick it up!
The Alice alarm clock is basically something I 100% need in my life right now. I'm terrible at keeping my phone topped up on charge, so it's fairly likely that it'll die overnight and the alarm I had ready won't go off (this has happened too many times). I also love the idea of having an old fashioned alarm clock on my bedside table because, y'know, aesthetic and all. 
 Last up is this cute and slyly detailed Alice tank top. I love the combination of royal blue and gold on this one, and I could see myself pairing it with some shorts or my black skinny jeans all summer to add a pop of colour to my life.
What would you add to this Disney wishlist?
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#BloggersBall Event + GIVEAWAY

I really haven't been to many blogger events in my time. In fact, bar a couple of get-togethers with other bloggers, and an event I went to with Champneys as a member of the media rather than a blogger, I haven't been to any. 
Last weekend I eagerly (and very nervously) headed down to Piccadilly Circus in London to go to the the 2016 Bloggers Ball organised by the lovely Scarlett London. Although I've spoken to a fair few bloggers that were going on Twitter, I was uber anxious about meeting new people, being able to speak to them and not coming across as the lonely girl in the room who came on her own. Thankfully the lovely Laura (Elilibee), Emma (Essays and Wine), Chloe (Mojichlo) and Kayleigh (Very Berry Cosmo) took me under their wings and ensured I had a fab day. 
We were greeted by a mass of lovely PRs and brands who were incredibly willing to help us out with any queries. The people at Seed & Bean were especially lovely, even though I was that person who asked whether their bars contained nuts or soy. Whoops. All in all, I was very impressed with how friendly the PR people were, and how much they know about the brand. That is, until disaster struck. Now I'm not going to name names, but a skincare brand rep was not only rude to a number of other bloggers but had the grace to inform me that my skin was quite clearly 'problematic' because of my freckles and obviously large pores. Thankfully I wasn't too hurt by this, but honestly can people not watch what they say? So. Damn. Rude.
There was a whole variety of stalls down there - fashion based ones, jewellery ones, foodie ones and more. We all know I don't do fashion that much, so my little beady eyes were drawn to the skincare and food/drink stalls more than anything. My favourites of these were definitely Seed & Bean (um they do lavender flavoured chocolate), Vatika who gave me the most nourishing garlic hair oil, and the On the Dot team who were SO enthusiastic about their brand. 
Anyhoo, I had SUCH a fab day, and came away seriously laden down with all the goodies I received, and that's to say nothing of all the food and drinks I got to sample whilst I was there. The Roam and Relish pastrami was absolutely gorgeous, and I may indeed need to repurchase it. Plus, if you've ever wondered whether Boomf marshmallows taste as good as they look, they do.

Now onto the bit you guys are all actually interested in, right? I received SO many goodies in the end - so many that I couldn't not share them with you guys. So, I've got a giveaway including bits and pieces from Bravura UK, So ... ? Fragrances, Exuviance, Lipivir and Carmex. Altogether this bundle comes over to just over £100, eeeek! 
The giveaway is open to UK RESIDENTS ONLY (sorry but shipping costs are just eurgh). You need to be over 18 to enter and all entries will be checked. I am not responsible for any breakages or damage during shipping. The giveaway will close at midnight on the 9th July.


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LUSH Face Masks Comparison

I know, I know another LUSH-based blog post. We all know I have really sensitive skin, and LUSH face masks are simply something that I can come back to time and time again with the assurance that my skin won't flare up after using them. I've been thinking about it recently, and although they're not all pictured here, (I've spent forever scouring back through my archives to find pictures, but it turns out I'm pretty shit at taking pictures of the face masks!) I've used almost every face mask that LUSH has to offer. Whoops. 
Some of them I've done full review posts on (check out my BB seaweed one and my Oatifix one), but most have really fallen under the radar. So, here's a round-up of all the LUSH face masks that I've given a good go. Bear in mind that I have dry-combination skin, so all of my favourites are going to be ones that are good for that. However, I used to have really oily skin, so I should have you covered on that front too *insert wink face emoji*.
First up is BB Seaweed, which is particularly fab if you've got dry and dull skin. The rosemary oil and rose absolute in it help to hydrate your skin, whilst the millet seeds and ground almonds get rid of dead skin cells. This is one I come back to time and time again, particularly in the winter when my skin is likely to get chapped.
Next up is Oatifix. Obviously I've talked about this and BB Seaweed pretty extensively in their own posts, but I have to say that this is 100% my favourite face mask of all time, and that is a pretty darn large honour. It smells like banana-y oatmeal (NOM) and is incredibly nourishing for your face. If you've got dry skin and are heading to LUSH to give one of their masks a go, this is the one I would recommend. Again, this has ground almonds for some gentle exfoliation. 
Love Lettuce is another favourite of mine for dry skin. This was actually the first LUSH face mask I ever used, way back when I was still in school. I love the fact that this has a kind of classic face mask vibe - dark green, thick and would go perfectly with some cucumber eye circles. This one has lavender in, so almost creates an aura of aromatherapy whilst you use it. It also has honey to go that little extra mile in terms of moisturising your skin.
Although a lot of LUSH's products are vegan, Brazened Honey uses honey too, as well as eggs. SO, if you're looking to go cruelty free, this one isn't a mask you should be opting for. This is a pretty fab one for combination skin - it keeps your skin moisturised, without using oils, so it shouldn't make your skin too greasy. Indeed, the moisturising honey is combined with cleansing (and a little drying) lime juice. This is my go-to in the heat of summer when my T-Zone is getting a little cray cray and slippery (grim). 
Now let's move on to the ones a little more suitable for oily skin. Don't Look At Me was totally an impulse buy on my part. It's bright blue, and I wanted to give a bright blue mask a go #sorrynotsorry. However, it turned out to be my least favourite LUSH mask. I used it during winter, when my skin really needed a little extra moisture and gentleness. Don't Look at Me is a really drying mask, and was a little too harsh on my skin. It contains grapefruit and lemon, which are both fab at toning your skin, but also dry it out in the process. If you've got really oily skin, then this will be great for use once a week, but for me it was just too drying.
Finally we have Cupcake. This is one that I'd seen a tonne of other bloggers raving about, and it smells like chocolate muffins, so I obviously couldn't pass it up, right? If you've got super super sensitive skin, this is one that you might want to pass over, as it works on getting deep down into your pores, and excavating as much dirt as possible. This isn't as drying as Don't Look at Me - nowhere near - but it still won't do much for hydrating your face. Instead, this is one that you should look to if you want to soften the skin on your face. 
So there it is: my roundup of all the LUSH masks that I've given a go. Next up on my list is the Mask of Magnaminty as I've heard amazing things about it. What's on your list?
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Pineapple and Grape Green Smoothie Recipe

Smoothies are my favourite light breakfast, and as Summer hits I usually find myself relying on them more and more. But, this summer I'm living in a room with my boyfriend's parents whilst we save up for our own flat, which means no smoothie making for me. However, my nostalgia for my one true love (green smoothies of course), means that I've whipped this recipe up for you today. I've already shared some of my favourite smoothie recipes of all time with you, including my strawberry and basil smoothie and my antioxidant green smoothie.
My pineapple and grape green smoothie however is possibly the lowest-calorie smoothie I've ever shared, so it's fab if you're looking to drop a few pounds and want a healthy breakfast alternative that leaves you feeling full. As it's a green smoothie, dropping a little bit of vitamin-filled wheatgrass or spirulina in is really easy to do without altering the taste too much.
Ingredients:
1 inch thick slice of pineapple, or about 1 1/2 cups Handful of grapes, or 1 cup Large handful spinach, or 2 cups 3 romaine lettuce leaves 1 stalk celery 150g milk alternative (I use rice milk)
Method: - Chop all of the solid ingredients up, apart from the grapes - Put all of the ingredients in your blender and whizz for 2 minutes
What is your favourite smoothie recipe for summer?
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10 Interview Tips for Anxiety Sufferers

 

If you suffer from anxiety, you'll know just how crippling it can truly be, especially in high stress situations. I personally find that my anxiety is worst when I'm forced to leave the house and in social situations in which I don't know the other individual(s). Obviously this isn't ideal for interviews. However, I've had to do so many since I graduated last June that I'm *sort of* coming to terms with them, and finding ways in which I can reduce the impact of my anxiety on their outcome. Today I'm going to share these with you, and I really hope they provide some comfort!
Remember to take everything I say here with a pinch of salt: these tips do wonders for my pre-interview anxiety, but if they don't help you, that's totally okay. Even though they can be really painful (I've been tempted to cancel my attendance more than once), sadly the more you do the more you become accustomed to what works for you. I've even made you guys a little video with my top five tips here:

Without further ado, here are my ten interview tips for people who suffer from anxiety:

1.) Prepare everything the night before. If your clothes need ironing, do it now. Plan your outfit, pack your bag and have everything you need sorted. Then, if the worst happens and you miss your alarm, or hit snooze too many times, everything is ready for you to grab in a rush.

2.) Create a route to your interview destination. I'm always endlessly worried about turning up late to an interview, and this basically results in me turning up a sweaty mess (grim). Creating a route on Google Maps, or something similar, the night before means you know exactly where you're going and how long it ought to take.

3.) Leave early. This follows on from tip two - if there's a traffic jam, an accident, or your train is delayed and you haven't left any time for maneouvre, then your anxiety is probably going to skyrocket. Leave some leeway and you're sure to turn up on time. 

4.) Arrive punctually. This might seem to be the exact same thing as the last point, but it's not. You should really try not to turn up too early, as it can disturb your interviewer from their work, and it looks a tad unprofessional. If you are early, pop to a nearby coffee shop, bring a book and calm down a little before heading over.

5.) Save a contact number for the company/interviewer into your phone and write it down on a piece of paper. Although the internet is pretty much everywhere nowadays, if something goes wrong, and you're going to be late, it's helpful to have a contact number handy so that you can warn the interviewer.

6.) Make sure you have everything you need with you. I would recommend bringing some ID and your National Insurance card as well as any other paperwork they have asked for. Alongside this, a pen, some paper and a bottle of water are also really handy. Again, sort this out the night before so that you don't have to stress about finding it on the day.

7.) Have some 'me time' the night before. For me, this involves using a face mask, watching Netflix and changing into my PJs early, but whatever floats your boat is all good. If pampering is your thing, have a peek at my top 5 anti-anxiety beauty products for some inspiration.

8.) Look up common questions for the type of interview you are heading to and practice them. Write out answers, or practice how you would verbally respond. Then *fingers crossed* not all of the questions fired at you will shock you.

9.) Keep your body language positive. Yes, you may be a wreck on the inside, but smiling and giving a firm handshake go a mile. Ultimately, the interviewer just wants to see if you are appropriate for their job, and it never hurts to be friendly.

10.) Finally, remember to breathe. Do a couple of breathing exercises before you go in, and these will help you to reach a place of calm. 

I really hope these tips were useful - what would you add to the list?

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Brownie Skewers and Pineapple Mimosas | Summer Treats

I am a snacker. There's no two ways about it really: I'd rather graze all day on small meals than *shock horror* be confined to only eating real meals a couple of times a day. It's probably down to my hatred for routine, but also has a lot to do with my general love of all things food. 
As summer started to hit in the UK (I say that now mid torrential downpour, but it did happen for a week or so, I promise), I really got the urge to try my hand at making some cocktails. If you've read my final cocktail night post, you'll know that I love the idea of making my own cocktails! Plus, I'd seen some really cute brownie skewer recipes on Pinterest, and just HAD to give them a whirl.
So, I set about to baking and creating to bring you these goodies, which, btw, pair perfectly for when you have guests over. Not only are they the perfect sweet nibbles, put this cocktail is remarkably easy to make. Before y'all cocktail buffs get all aggressive on my butt, these are only 'sort of' mimosas, as they contain sparkling wine rather than champagne #sorrynotsorry. 
The brownies
 I used Zoella's white chocolate brownie recipe for the brownies, which is fast become my favourite brownie recipe of all time. Seriously, you need to give them a try. My housemates devoured them, and I practically had to elbow my way through to get a peek. 
So, once you've got all of your brownies whipped up, ready and cut into squares, you can get started on the skewers. Be very careful when skewering the brownies; they're a little fragile and it took me three or four heavy handed attempts before I was careful enough to get one on without it crumbling. Then chop some strawberries in half and get your marshmallows ready. I used a pattern of marshmallow - brownie - strawberry - marshmallow - brownie - strawberry. You can arrange it in any way you desire. 
Then you're good to go. If you're feeling super fancy, drizzle the skewers with a compote or melted chocolate.
The mimosas (ish)
What you'll need: - Sparkling wine - Pineapple juice - Lemonade
You're totally welcome to use homemade lemonade or pineapple juice for this, and it would be totally #culinarygoals, but I just wanted a quick and simple cocktail making session, so went for the shop bought varieties. 
Traditionally the cocktails would be served in champagne glasses, but you can use whatever kind you want! You basically fill the glass up one third with sparkling wine, then one third with pineapple juice, and finally one third with lemonade. We garnished ours with a piece of kiwi fruit (going for a tropical vibe naturally), but why not experiment?
I really hope you enjoyed this post - let me know if you give either recipe a go! 
What's your favourite snack to make for guests?
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25 small things to do when grief strikes

Earlier this week I lost a teacher that had taught me for seven whole years, and as such, I lost a huge inspiration in my life. This really made me think about the death of my Grandfather, or 'Grandy', something that happened four years ago and really really destroyed me at the time. 
Over the past couple of days, I've been thinking about grief in general, and how it never really leaves you. Yet, there are things that help. This list I've compiled is by no means some kind of textbook which will give you all the answers, and definitely should be taken with a pinch of salt. These are all the little things that have helped me deal with grief during my lifetime, especially at a time when I lost the man who was effectively a second father to me.
So, without further ado, here are 25 small things that I've found can help to ease the pain of grief, however marginally:
1.) Seek help if you need it. There's this massive belief that if you're not the closest person to someone who has passed away, you ought to be less effected, and less upset than them. This isn't true: your grief matters and if you think it's all becoming too much, book time into a therapist's office or see what your doctor has to say.
2.) Don't buy into the toxic notion of them being 'proud' of you when you do something right if you don't want to. This has the opposite outcome too: you feel like absolute shit if you do something they wouldn't like. 
3.) Don't feel guilty on the first day that you don't think about them: this is going to happen over time, but it doesn't mean you care any less.
4.) Listen to some music to chill out.
5.) Go for a long walk in a natural environment. Bring a favourite playlist with you.
6.) Don't isolate yourself: explain to a friend how you're feeling and ask to meet for coffee, or a Disney movie date.
7.) Speaking of which, engross yourself in your favourite film.
8.) Accept the tears.
9.) Don't isolate yourself physically - a hug can sometimes do far more good than words can. 
10.) Get a Start Where You Are journal. Honestly, it's amazing. 
11.) Write about your feelings. It doesn't have to be in a public sphere, but physically writing (or typing) can be incredibly cathartic.
12.) Do something you've always wanted to do, but have put off.
13.) On a similar note, take up a new hobby.
14.) Take a companion to the funeral that you can spent the remainder of the day with -  don't spend that day alone.
15.) Deal with admin when you can, and not before.
16.) Explain to people why you're behind, or off. If you can't do it face to face, then do it via an email. Then your work colleagues/classmates won't think you're just being rude when you're quiet. 
17.) Buy a mindfulness colouring book and give it a whirl.
18.) If you don't want to force yourself out of the house, then don't. Curl up in a duvet fort with your favourite snacks and Netflix.
19.) Don't stress about eating - if you're comfort eating lots, that's all good, and if you've lost your appetite, just try to remember to get as many nutrients in as possible.
20.) Don't abandon your self care routine.
21.) Take a long bath with your favourite programme and a nice candle.
22.) Allow yourself time to breathe.
23.) Cuddle your pets.
24.)  De-clutter your home. Make it an environment you truly want to be in.
25.) Finally, accept that your life shouldn't have to end with theirs, and that believing this doesn't make you selfish.
What would you add to the list?
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20 Things I Won't Miss About Living in a Student House

As of three days ago I officially left student housing for good and oh my word I could not be happier. I've spent four years altogether in various types of student accommodation, so this day couldn't come sooner for me. Now that I'm free (y'know free to pay council tax and become a responsible adult), I've made this list of all the things I will never miss about student housing. 
I've gathered a few pictures for you of my new abode as I can finally actually have nice things, and an official blogging and freelance space (wooo!). 
This is by no means a bitter attack on the people I have lived with in the past - I've loved sharing, but now I really feel is a time when I just need to be in a 'real' home. So, here's my top 20 things I won't miss about student living:
 1.) Endless washing up. In an 'every surface is covered and there are no forks left' kind of way.
2.) Stray hairs. Everywhere. In the bathtub, on the shower walls, on the floor, on the sofa, Like how much do we all really shed?!
3.) Having no space that is really 100% mine and off-limits to others.
4.) Waking up to random one-night stands of my housemate's in the morning.
5.) Having to worry about strangers touching, and possibly taking, my stuff.
6.) Being woken up at 3am by crying/angry/vomiting drunk housemates.
7.) Landlords unnecessarily being dicks aka having to live in houses that are just plain unsafe. 
8.) Never trusting anything you touch after predrinks because there's a 90% chance it WILL be sticky.
9.) Always having a tea towel shortage. Where do they even go?!
10.) Finding leftover pizza and housemates sprawled about everywhere all over the house after a night out.
11.) The general unwillingness of everyone (including myself) to replace light bulbs, because dollar.
12.) Because of that, having to spend most of your time in the dark.
13.) Clean glasses basically being a form of currency.
14.) Having really ugly (think: not-bloggable/instagrammable) furniture that was born at least 20 years ago.
15.) Never being able to bring family round because of the state of the place and your semi-nude housemates.
16.) Unwillingly 'sharing' food. I am by no means a sharer, so telling me you've eaten my last freddo but will replace it at some point is only going to spark rage and possibly tears.
17.) Constant bickering/bitchiness.
18.) Having apricot coloured walls with tinges of sick splashes/general dirt/furniture smudges/shoe prints/food/alcohol everywhere.
19.) Uncomfortable beds. With ominous stains from the previous tenant, of course.
20.) Recycle/bin mountain, aka when all housemates reach a stalemate over whose turn it is to take the bin out. This is usually followed by a collapse of the mountain, an end to this cold war, and a need for everyone to group together to clean up the mess.
However, despite all of these minor drawbacks, I'll miss not having to accept adult responsibility in my little student community. 
What would you add to the list?
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