Happy 1st Birthday Little Blog! || Giveaway

Hello Lovelies,

Today marks the 1st Birthday of my blog, Hurrah!!!

For me blogging is like a chat with my best friend, as I write I feel as if I'm tucked up on a big comfy sofa with my best chums, tea in hand chatting about my life and little adventures.  Filling them in on my favourite products and nattering about the yummy food I have been consuming.         

After nattering away my mouse hovers over the publish button, and then click, off it shoots into the big wide web.  I then wait with baited breath to see if you all like it.  I share my news, recipes, likes and dislikes and you leave your comments and lovely likes on Bloglovin' (which always make me smile).  Although I know some of you read my musings and don't comment, I am confident that you will eventually say hello and let me know a little about you.  So I suppose in a nutshell today is a little (big) thank you note to all of you who read this blog. 

To celebrate my blog's birthday/anniversary I wanted to give you lovelies a little something.  It would be fab to be able to give you all a prezzie but sadly it just isn't possible so instead, fate will have to decide who the winner is.

As I'm a massive jewelry fan and love rings, I thought what better way to celebrate than to give you guys the chance to win a 'Pandora Birthstone Ring' I love mine and wear it everyday.  It is the perfect pretty little ring that is just fab for Spring/Summer, as you can stack it with others or wear it alone as a statement piece.

So to be in with a chance of winning, you need to be following this blog on Bloglovin' then leave a comment in the section below telling me what your favourite piece of jewelry is.  To get an extra vote you can also tweet about the giveaway (if you do let me know by tagging me at @SophsJane).  This Giveaway will close on the 23rd April. 

Good Luck! 

The winner of this giveaway has been notified, thank you so much for entering. XXX

Azo Equipment Dessie Pouch

Hello Lovelies,

I love organising things (this however doesn't include my bedroom, it looks a complete utter tip at the moment), my handbag being one of the most satisfying.  I find pouches are the best way to separate all my clutter so my large tote is full of them.  Although I have rather a few I have never found one that is the perfect size to keep my makeup in, they are always a little to small or to big and bulky, but hallelujah ladies I have finally found one!  

Azo Equipment is the company that gets the applause for this perfect pouch, and perfect it is.  I originally bought it for a friend as he was going travelling but spotted something else for him and ended up keeping it for myself!  Although I'm quite girly and like my pretty prints and patent leather the waxed cotton of the Dessie pouch appealed to the country bumpkin in me, it reminds me of pulling on my Barbour and wellies and stomping through the fields with the dogs, which is one of my favourite things to do.    

I have mentioned Azo Equipment before as I was/am lusting after their Bashilo bag, but if you are new here then I will give you a little lowdown on Azo Equipment. 

Azo (Ethiopian for Crocodile) Equipment is a brand that aims to 'bring bags and other travel related products to the world which are of the highest quality,' long lasting and offer a new style.

The Dessie pouch like the Bashilo bag is made of British waxed cotton with a waterproof lining, a leather zip pull and a coiled zip.  It is 25w x 15h (cm) (and fits a Nexus 7 tablet) so the perfect size for those daily makeup essentials.  

Although I'm pretty sure Dan didn't design it with makeup in mind, it is rather perfect for all your on the go makeup bits and even fits a couple of brushes. 

 I have found my perfect handbag makeup pouch, could it be yours?  

Verditer Slim Satin Bracelets

Hello Lovelies,

At the beginning of the week I was reading some of my favourite blogs and while reading the Lux Life Blog I saw a lovely bit of wrist candy.  The bracelet in question was by Verditer, so I cracked out my laptop and had a browse around their site. 
  

After lusting after all the pretty satin bracelets, I had a little read about the company.  Verditer was started by University of Exeter graduate Caspar Giles, the vision being to 'build a British lifestyle, clothing and accessories brand, which was inspired by the sporty university experience, British heritage, and the town country life'. 

They started with bracelets in the brands colours (which are so pretty) and they then started producing bespoke bracelets for university sports teams in club colours.  Soon after hey launched the range of solid satin slim bracelets which were available for all to buy (of which one is happily wrapped around my wrist right now).  

The company not only makes great bracelets but has fab values and tries as hard as possible to keep components, materials and manufacturing close to home.  With everything but the snap being made and produced in the UK.

I bought my first bracelet in 'Sea' which is a lovely grey/blue colour, I originally wanted something rather subtle to wear with lots of silver bangles, but after it had arrived I decided I needed some colour as well, as I'm just willing Spring to arrive!

So after taking some snaps I hopped back onto my laptop and ordered  two more in 'Steel' and 'Turk' a lovely gold/grey and a beautiful turquoise colour. 

As I was away when I ordered my first one I didn't realise how quick they were when it came to postage, having ordered them yesterday I wasn't expecting them to land on my doormat this morning (fabulous service). 

After ripping open the parcel like an excited toddler I found the two bracelets I had ordered as well as an extra one in 'Gold' (thank you very much Casper) which will look lovely in the Summer with a pretty white dress.

The  braclets make a fab alternative to the good old fashioned friendship bracelet, can add a lovely pop of colour to any outfit, and are perfect for stacking. 

        

Will you be giving your wrist a little present this Spring?

 (go on you know you want to)

Rimmel's Rita Ora Nail Polish in 'Don't Be Shy'

Hello Lovelies,

I have been looking after my fathers dog for the last week or so and completely forget to pack any nail varnish, although Labradors don't tend to care what colour your nails are, I however can't stand looking at my unpainted talons so some nail varnish was needed pronto!  

The next time I was in Tesco's I grabbed the new Rimmel Rita Ora Nail Polish in 'Don't Be Shy'.  I haven't actually scoured the rest of the collection so can't really comment on any of the other colours, but what I can do is gush about the brilliance that is 'Don't Be Shy'.  

This almost pains me to say but I would pick this over any of my Essie pinks, which is a pretty big as I love those little glass pots with pretty white lids.  The colour of this polish is gorgeous, it is a really nice bright pink with blue undertones, a perfect Spring/Summer colour, which I can see frequenting my nails a lot during the coming months.

It has three fab points, number one  it has the one stroke brush that gives you really even coverage and means you only need one coat, two is that it dries in 60 seconds (fabulous for the impatient) and the third is it's amazing staying power, most nail polishes last about four days on my nails, but I have had this on for a good week. 

Will you be giving this collection a try?

Super Spinach Pesto || Recipe

Hello Lovelies,

I am a massive pesto fan, and although I love knocking up some classic basil pesto, I do like to experiment.  So this trusty little recipe is for spinach pesto, now don't run away in disgust, it is super scrumptious and nice and healthy, the best of both worlds.

Ingredients:

1   cup of soaked cashews (1 hour)

2   large handfuls of spinach

2   cloves of garlic

1   glug of good olive oil

1/2 a cup of fresh parmesan 

1/2 a lemon squeezed   

This is seriously easy to do and can be used in so many ways, I love it in sandwiches but it is also fab with pasta or on a pizza.

After soaking you cashews for an hour in water throw them in a food processor and give them a good blitz.  I like my pesto slightly coarse so I don't blend the cashews to a paste.

Next you want to throw your spinach in and get blitzing, until it turns lovely and green. 

After you have blitzed the spinach and cashews you want to add your parmesan, lemon and garlic.  Give it another quick whiz then put it in a mason jar.

 To keep your pesto nice and fresh flatten your pesto with a spoon then grab your olive oil and pour a layer over the top, close it up then find a place for it in your fridge.

Bon Appétit!

Are you a Pesto fan too?

Fresh Mint Breakfast Ice Cream

Hello Lovelies,

If you read my blog regularly, you may know that I recently went to Dubai for a bit of sun, and after catching some rays and getting a little tan I returned to the Uk to grey skies and drizzle.  However I am not giving up on Spring, and am just willing those sunny days to come, but in the meantime I am experimenting with some Spring/Summer recipes.

My first is breakfast Ice Cream, something that feels like a treat but really needn't be.  It is made with fresh mint, which makes it really lovely and fresh tasting and is full of all sorts of goodness, so lets get cracking and give you the recipe. 

Ingredients:

2   frozen bananas

3/4 almond/rice milk

2   large handfuls of frozen spinach

1/4 cup mint leaves

1   cup of Greek yogurt

I'm not however even really sure you can call this a recipe as it is so ridiculously easy, but here we go.

You really only need to throw all your ingredients in a food processor to blend, so it is super easy, no harder than making toast! 

(I do tend to break up my frozen banana as my food processor is rather old!)  

Once all the ingredients are blended it will be an almost soft scope consistency, I tend to eat it like this, as I am very impatient!  

However if you want more of an ice cream consistency then you need to pop it in an ice cream maker, as this freezes it quickly so large ice crystals don't form which makes it almost crunchy.  

Once you have spooned out your ice cream you can garnish with a sprig of fresh mint or your favourite berries, before you start enjoying the minty goodness.  

With this recipe you can be super naughty and eat ice cream for breakfast but be completely guilt free, my idea of heaven! 

Does anyone else like to experiment with breakfast, or are you strictly cereal and toast?

Bountiful Breakfasts and Sumptuous Lunches

 Hello Lovelies,

The saying you should eat breakfast like a King, lunch like a Queen and supper like a pauper is very true, and eating breakfast like a King is most definitely possibly here.  The buffet style breakfast is insane, there is anything and everything, from pastries to mountains of fresh fruit, cheese and cold meats to curry if that's your thing. 

I have to admit to not being incredibly adventurous with my breakfast, for the last few days I have eaten exactly the same thing.

I have started each day with a cup of black tea, then filled my glass with some fresh flavoured water, (the cranberry and raspberry is amazing). I've then piled my plate with various kinds of melon, and a bowl of Greek yogurt.  Although not the most adventurous of breakfasts it is light but still fills me up for that very strenuous morning of sunbathing and swimming. 

I've been eating lunch by the beach everyday, snaffling Greek salads and Shish Taouk Wraps (which are super yummy) it is chicken, hummus, beefsteak tomatoes, lettuce and a few cheeky french fries all inside a wrap, a pretty naughty lunch, but you've got to treat yourself now and again.