Laura Thornberry

Showing posts with label lifestyle. Show all posts

New Year’s Eve, the biggest party night of the year. Celebrating the end of one year and the beginning of the next should be fun and enjoyable for everyone. Right? But as a singleton, you're probably thinking this is the night we all love to hate. Will I have plans? Will I be counting down til midnight alone? Will I get my midnight kiss? If you're still not sure, I'm going to share with you great ways you can have fun as a singleton and 10 activities to do on NYE that will increase your odds of meeting someone that night.

1. Go to your local nightclub

Most nightclubs will have a special event or themed party for New Years Eve. They are always very popular, so make sure to grab your ticket early. Whether you're into pop, rock or house music, there will definitely be a nightclub that suits your music tastes, and you might just find your significant other at an event like this, as you'll definitely have something in common.

2. Head to a firework display

Welcome the new year in style by attending a fireworks display - the one in London is always a great celebration and absolutely phenomenal. With a spectacular fireworks display on the River Thames as Big Ben strikes midnight and crowds gather to welcome in the new year, you'll definitely be surrounded by fellow singletons for you to keep your eye on, and grab for that midnight kiss!

3. Host a singles party

Hosting a party is a solid way to keep busy as well as not dwell on the fact that you are single. But why not grab all your single friends and their friends together and have a great night in. Whether you order in some pizzas, put together a buffet or even host a cocktail event, having a house full of other singles will allow you to mingle with all the guests and you might even get introduced to someone new and find someone you're interested in that night.

4. Download an adult dating site / dating app

Whether you're looking to make friends, find a partner, have a no strings attached dating style or just casual sex dating, joining a dating site like No Strings Dating can be an easy way for you to have fun, whist being single at New Year. With single people right at your fingertips, it's the perfect way to meet new people and have fun.

5. Plan a work night out

If you've got your eye on someone at work and want a chance to spend some time with them, but you're not confident enough to ask them out alone, why not plan a party with your whole work team. Whether you go bowling, a restaurant, to a pub or bar, having people you are comfortable with around you might help you pluck up that courage to talk to the person you've been crushing over.

6. Have a singles night out

Grab all your single friends and go all out! Hit the pubs, bars and clubs and make sure you have a brilliant night out. Whether you meet someone new or not, you're bound to have a great night out regardless!

7. Make new friends at a local event

If partying and drinking isn't your thing, why not have a search of local events in your area that you could attend instead. Whether it's going to a concert, a musical, or even a restaurant event, you're bound to meet others and have a really enjoyable night out.

8. Ask out your crush on a date

This might seem like a crazy idea, but surely if you know what you want, you'll want to get it. Think positively. You know the saying, "New year, new me" - use this attitude to your advantage to help gain confidence, courage and feel like you can do anything, especially asking out your crush on a date. You never know, it might go really well and you can thank yourself later!

9. Go speed dating with your single friends

Speed dating is a great way for you to really have some fun and meet potential partners in a more relaxed environment. You could grab a load of your single friends and make a great night of it. It's a super fast paced activity that you need to make an good impression and work out if you want to see someone again, and you might just get lucky!

10. Drinks at your local bar/pub

A pretty standard activity if you ask me. Get all your friends together and head down to your local. A great place to socialise, have fun and meet new people - this is a perfect way to spend New Years Eve.

How are you spending your New Years Eve?

*AD | This post has been sponsored by Get Blogged

Putting together a stocking for your friends/girlfriend, your sisters or female relatives shouldn't be a hard task as there are endless possibilities as to what to include. As seen in my Men's Gift Guide for this year, I chose 5 items to include in that. However, for my Women's version, narrowing it down to 5 was simply impossible! So I've chosen 6 gifts that I think would make great stocking fillers for any woman in your life.

Women's Stocking Fillers Gift Guide 2019

Gift 1 - Chocolate

The first stocking filler is obviously a box of chocolates. Who doesn't love receiving chocolate? Such a classic gift that is just an essential, there are so many varieties and flavours to choose from, but you can't go wrong with a box of Cadburys Buttons.

Gift 2 - Body Scrubs

Next up is a beauty product that is absolutely perfect for this time of year. Say goodbye to dry, winter skin, instead keep it super soft and silky with this gorgeous scrub. A yummy blend of oozy salted caramel and rich, nutty macadamia oil is the perfect combination for super soft skin.

Gift 3 - Face Masks

Who doesn't love a good face mask? Dry skin? Oily skin? Dull skin? You name it, there is a face mask out there to help combat your skin worries, and have you glowing in no time. I picked up this 7th Heaven Assorted Face Mask 5 Pack, that comes with a great variety to test out, including mud, clay, peel-off and sauna masks.

Gift 4 - Reed Diffuser

Another stocking filler that would be great for anyone is a reed diffuser. They come in such an array of scents and fragrances, that there is definitely one to suit everyone. I picked up the Winter Spice from Primark Home, and it's the perfect scent to make your home smell cosy and christmassy! An absolute steal at just £1.50.

Gift 5 - Lavera Body Care Duo (*gifted)

If you don't receive some kind of bath or body care product in your stocking, is it really Christmas? I've picked out this gorgeous gift set from Lavera which includes a body wash and body lotion sweetly scented with organic plum and vanilla - the perfect festive scents!

Gift 6 - Christmas Jigsaw Puzzle

Isn't a jigsaw so nostalgic of Christmas? It's a great way to get everyone together, have fun and spend some quality time with your friends and family. I picked this Santa jigsaw up from The Works for just £3!

What stocking fillers are you giving the girls in your life this Christmas?

* Items marked have been gifted by Pravera to feature.

Have you ever been stuck with choosing the perfect venue for special occasions and parties in London, but unsure of where to look? With so many cool party venues in the capital to choose from, it can be hard to know where to begin. A city that boasts such a multicultural and buzzing atmosphere, London is the perfect destination for the next big party or event in your diary. No other city on the planet matches London for its wealth of culture and rich heritage. London is home to a variety of restaurants, bars and venues, perfect for any budget and occasion that suits your needs.

If you're on the hunt for somewhere to book your next Christmas or New Year party, or an upcoming occasion in your calendar, then I would suggest looking online for some amazing venues and bars. The squaremeal site is a great place to find lots of different party venues, meeting venues, eateries, wedding venues. Some benefits of booking restaurants through squaremeal include great money saving deals, special offers and rewards. With over 7,000 London and UK restaurants and bars, whatever you needs, you'll find it on squaremeal!

I've chosen a few of my favourite London venues that I think would be the most incredible places to hold a party, whatever the occasion - birthday night out, wedding reception or your annual work function, these venues are sure to be a favourite with everyone! Whether you opt for the cool and quirky vibes Shoreditch has to offer, the affluent area of Mayfair, a real escape from the city in Greenwich, the neon-lit streets of Soho or the dynamic, culturally diverse area of Brixton, there will be the perfect party venue depending on the vibe of the occasion.

Somerset House - a unique venue that promises to add the wow-factor to any party. Set on the south side of the Strand, Somerset House is beautiful and iconic - the perfect combination to make it one very cool party venue. Overlooking the River Thames, this party venue is perfect for seeing the picturesque views London has to offer, and capturing the perfect memories for your special occasions.

Under The Bridge - home to Chelsea FC’s multi million-pound live music venue, UTB is the perfect spot for your stylish blowout parties and celebrations. With all lighting and production equipment, two large bars, a dance floor, relaxing booths and VIP areas, it has everything you could want for a party to remember and the perfect venue to celebrate in style!

Tropicana Beach Club - bringing a tropical paradise to London for you. With a ‘lagoon pool’ style dance floor surrounded by beach cabanas, party booths and vibrant decorations, think tropical birds and exotic flowers. You'll start to feel as though you're in an exotic destination, not even London any more. Who needs a Caribbean holiday, when you can have the Tropicana Beach Club as your next party venue!

Where are your favourite places in London to host parties? Have you visited the squaremeal website before?

* |AD - This blog post has been sponsored by Get Blogged

It's that time of the year where we start browsing for gifts for our friends and family, and realising some people are harder to buy for than others. For me, I have three brothers, and finding gifts that will suit each of them is extremely difficult! However, I've managed to find five gifts from the high street that I think would make great stocking fillers for the men in your life.

Gift 1 - Novelty Socks

Socks can definitely be that present men really hate and it can seem quite boring receiving them at Christmas, but in all honesty, they are definitely an essential gift for any man. It's something you wear everyday, so it's something practical that will come in handy. There's nothing wrong with just getting some basic socks as gifts, but I've chosen some novelty pairs from H&M to make the gift of receiving socks from Christmas a little bit funnier. My personal favourite is the cute Christmassy avocado pair!

Gift 2 - The Emoji Game

Something to get stuck into and lift the mood is fun party game for the whole family. After all the presents have been opened and you're waiting to tuck into Christmas Dinner, The Emoji Game would be a super cool gift to keep the festive cheer going all day long. The emoji card game is all about collecting a complete set of five emoji cards in your hand. Use the action cards to swap emojis, pick on opponents and attempt to win the hilarious all-play competitions! I picked this game up from Boots.

Gift 3 - 2020 Diary

Thirdly, a brand new diary is the perfect way to help the men in your life get organised and ready for the new year ahead. This simple, yet sleek designed diary is something I picked up from The Works for a super affordable price of just £1.50, so if you're only a tight budget, this could be a great gift! You could also take it that extra step further and write some notes or events for specific dates that they can look forward to in the future.

Gift 4 - Chocolate

If there is ANY gift that should be included in a Christmas stocking, it's definitely Chocolate! There are so many varieties out there, that there is something for everyone. I picked up these two blocks of chocolate from ALDI, and they look so luxurious and delicious, and only cost £1.65 each! Absolute bargain and they come in a variety of flavours.

Men's High Street Stocking Fillers Gift Guide 2019

Gift 5 - Brain Maze Puzzle Ball

Lastly, I had to include something super tricky and perfect to keep the guys quiet on Christmas morning - A puzzle ball! I picked this brain maze from The Works for just £5. They had such a variety of puzzles, it was hard to choose just one, but with a difficulty level of 4/5, I'm sure this will keep them focused and occupied all day long!

What stocking fillers will you be getting the men in your life this Christmas?

When it comes to styling outfits for evening dinners or nights out, I always pick pieces that I know I will be comfortable in, but still look cute and like I made an effort. Whilst browsing the Femme Luxe website, I managed to pick three pieces that I wanted to style and share with you how I would wear each piece.

Khaki Oversized Sweater Dress - Ola

Starting off super casual, a simple oversized Sweat Dress just screams comfy to me! Khaki green is a gorgeous colour on every skin tone, and a perfect shade for the Autumn/Winter season. To give the dress some shape, I've thrown a belt around my waist, and finished the outfit with a simple black leather jacket.

Black Slinky Ruched Basic Co-Ord - Mila

Something a little basic but really feels like an outfit is pulled together, dressing up a Co-Ord is a great outfit choice for a night out. I opted for a black slinky crop top and skirt combo which is so cute and girly, yet sophisticated. To dress the outfit down a little, I chucked on a khaki denim jacket to add some colour.

Black Bardot Twisted Front Bodysuit - Ivanna

Finally, if super casual is your thing, an easy Bodysuit and jeans outfit is a definite must. I picked out this gorgeous bardot style slinky body, which crosses over at the front for some added detail. Paired together with some high waisted jeans, and a belt, and you're good to go!

Overall, I was really impressed with both the sizing and the quality of the pieces I picked from the Femme Luxe site. I think my favourite outfit would definitely be the Oversized T Shirt Dress. It's probably the easiest and most comfortable outfit I have put together and it still looks like you made a huge effort with your outfit. You can dress it up or dress it down, making it such a versatile piece for your wardrobe, whether you need a daytime or evening outfit.

Have you shopped with Femme Luxe before? Which outfit is your favourite?

* AD | This post contains samples sent from Femme Luxe to feature for a product review

All thoughts are 100% honest

One of the most joyful yet saddening experiences is watching others around you celebrate another year of life. While the celebration itself should be a happy occasion, it can also be a reminder that everyone is growing up and will one day have a life of their own. Despite the bittersweet nature that this can bring, we all want to make each birthday memorable and fun.

Sometimes, schedule conflicts can prevent proper advance planning. In other cases, financial woes may make it difficult to put all of the pieces of the birthday puzzle together ahead of time. Whatever the reason or cause, even a last-minute birthday party – when planned appropriately – can be an exciting and fun-filled experience.

If you're in need of last-minute ideas and plans for a great birthday party, then keep reading.

Secure Your Funds

Before you can begin preparing for any birthday party, you need to have an idea of the budget – and of course, you need to have the funds. In many cases, waiting until the last minute is due to a financial struggle. There are ways to get around this, however. Take the concept of payday loans for instance. The payday loans that are available from a place like Cash Lady can be secured in virtually no time at all, can be customised for the exact amount needed, and easily paid back in the short term without a massive interest rate. If possible, you can also consider borrowing the funds for a birthday party from a family member or close friend. What's important is that you only borrow what you need and that you ensure the funds are there in time for the big day.

Ditch the Complexity

Planning a great birthday party often creates mental imagery that is beautiful, complex and dazzling. Ultimately, most last-minute planned events don't work out when focused on micromanaging everything. Whether it's the cake, decorations, other menu items, party games or even the venue itself, simpler tends to be better here. Children – younger ones in particular – can be easy to please: rather than making things too complex, focus on a few key points and strive to make them as great as possible.

Ask for Help

Putting together a great birthday party isn't just about securing the money and drumming up a plan: it also takes real work to make it happen! Since time is your enemy, asking for volunteers among family members and friends is an absolute must for creating the best party possible. Whether it's help from grandparents or even a hand from your other children, never be afraid to ask for help at the last minute. An extra volunteer or two can make a huge difference in the outcome of the party, what gets done and how memorable the event is for your child.

Focus on Food, Music and Games

If you can deliver great music, fun games and delicious food, then the party itself is almost guaranteed to be a success (the only other concern is getting invites out!). If you have spare time to focus on any aspect of a birthday party, then put that energy here. Everybody loves music, games will ensure all of the guests are entertained, and good food will ensure both parents and children alike are happy. These three elements combined help make or break the party atmosphere and entertainment value of any birthday gathering.

The thought of planning everything at the last minute can be stressful and worrisome. However, planning the perfect birthday party can be done in relatively no time at all. By simplifying the process, focusing on the key ingredients of a good party, securing your party budget and asking for help, you can bring everything together quickly and efficiently!

How do you plan for birthday parties?

* AD | This is a collaborative guest post which has been sponsored.

It’s very easy to get stuck in a style rut. You love your favourite jeans, you adore that old t-shirt and blouse, and as for that eyeshadow palette? Well, you’ve been using it for years! Before you know it, you realise that your look hasn’t altered for a decade or so – which means it’s definitely time for a change. You don’t have to do a dramatic image overhaul. Sometimes, just incorporating a hint of the unexpected into your style can make a big difference. Here are some tips to help you.

Accessorise with a scarf

The humble scarf has the ability to transform an outfit. Tie it around your neck to make your favourite blouse look instantly retro-cool. Wrap it around your head as a great alternative to a hat. They’re even good for tying around your wrist as a fabric bracelet. Try layering two to create added interest.

Get your lash on

Not a fan of mascara? Try using some false eyelashes instead. For a sixties vibe, go for thick, black lashes; or if you’d prefer a more subtle look, choose dark brown, thinner lashes. A good pair of false eyelashes completely open up the eyes, creating much more drama and sex-appeal.

Change your jewellery

Do you normally stick with delicate silver jewellery? If so, go for something bold and ethnic-inspired; such as a leather choker or fabric pendant. Alternatively, if you normally wear big statement pieces, try something petite and pretty for a change.

Get textural with your nails

Nail polish turns your hands into instant focal points. Rather than settling for just a pop of colour, choose some nail polish with texture, such as a glittery or crackle finish. If you’re feeling artistic, stick some cute nail stickers on too.

Go for a different cut (of jeans)

If you live in your skinny jeans, now might be the time to switch them up for something different. Try a slouchy boyfriend cut or a 70s flare. They’re ultra on-trend and breathe instant life into your wardrobe. You can also experiment with colour too – for example, if you usually stick to pale denim, go for navy blue or black.

Change your fragrance

If you’ve been wearing the same scent for years, now is the time to try a new one. Choose something that’s totally different to your usual fragrance. If you normally go for a floral scent, try out something fruity or musky. Masculine fragrances are also ideal – not to mention distinctive. Sauvage perfume is a great example.

Invest in new lip colour

Okay, so beige or nude lipstick feels nice and safe, and it’s suitable for work – hooray! But now might be the time to choose a few others shades too. A deep ruby red is perfect for going out in the evening, or if you want to get in a springtime mood, choose a burnt orange or pillar-box red.

Get experimental! You can have a lot of fun playing around with your look – and often, you’ll find long-forgotten clothing or cosmetics in your wardrobe, just waiting to be rediscovered. Get experimental and enjoy.

* AD | This is a collaborative guest post which has been sponsored.
Photograph taken from pexels.com

These are not your boring old brownies…they are loaded with delicious popcorn, luxurious white chocolate and a splash of rich dark chocolate to give it a fun twist on the classic recipe. Popcorn and brownies might sound like an odd combination, but after reading this post, you'll definitely be off to the kitchen to whip some up!

Double Chocolate Berry-Licious Popcorn Brownie Cake

I was kindly sent the popcorn* for this recipe post from The Popcorn Shed. They offer a wide selection of gourmet popcorn, including flavours such as Pecan Pie, Salted Caramel and Say Cheese, to name a few. For this recipe, I opted for the Berry-licious flavour, a magical mixture of fruity tart raspberry and indulgent smooth rich dark chocolate. Whether it's nuts, chocolate, or fruit, their tasty treats are so much more than just popcorn.

You will need...

1 Chocolate Cake Mix (I used one from ALDI)

1 packed of Popcorn - (I used Popcorn Shed*)

1 bar of Dark Chocolate

1 bar of White Chocolate

Cold Water

Vegetable Oil

2 tsp of Butter

Step 1 - Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and line your baking tray with greaseproof paper.

Step 2 - Add the brownie cake mix to a large bowl and pour in the water, oil, melted butter and a splash of milk. Mix well with a whisk.

Step 3 - Break up 3/4 of both the white chocolate and dark chocolate into small chunks. Fold these into your brownie mix and stir.

Step 4 - Pour half the brownie mixture into your prepared cake tin. Sprinkle in a handful of the popcorn, and cover with the rest of the brownie mix. Then press in a few pieces of popcorn into the top of your brownie. Then you are ready for the oven!

Step 5 - Cook the brownie cake for around 40 - 50 minutes. You can test your brownies are ready if you press a skewer or knife into it. If it comes out clean, your bake is ready!

Step 6 - Once out of the oven, leave to cool for around 30 minutes before. Once cooled, I topped my brownie cake with some melted chocolate and extra popcorn!

This brownie cake was SERIOUSLY GOOD. All kinds of textures to get your mouth watering.. crunchy popcorn, oozing chocolate chunks and a moist sponge. The Popcorn Shed Berry-licious popcorn was seriously good! The fruity raspberry flavour really stood out and helped contrast the flavours of the chocolate. I think the Salted Caramel popcorn would be a great alternative to use in the brownies!

You can view the full range of Popcorn Shed popcorn here.

What are your favourite recipes for brownies? Have you tried Popcorn Shed popcorn before?

We all love a cup of tea now and again. But sometimes you might want to switch things up and pick a new flavour tea to try. That's where Shibui Tea come to the rescue! If you've not heard of Shibui Tea before, here's a brief overview. Shibui Tea are a family run business with over 35 years of experience. The company have their head offices split between the UK and Canada. With two brothers who run the operation - John in the UK and Paul in Canada. With a large range of loose leaf tea with flavours to suit all palates, from premium classics through to fun and modern concepts. The companies teas are sourced from all over the world, primarily from China, Japan, India, Sri Lanka, Africa, and Taiwan.

"Shibui is a Japanese word which has no direct translation into English. It is a way of describing something which appears simple but has actually an underlying complex nature. We feel that this sums up our perception of tea perfectly. Tea is just tea, surely? Ah – but look into it in a bit more detail and it’s a lot more complicated than that!"

I was kindly gifted a selection of their Tea Pyramids* in a variety of delicious flavours.

The tea bags are made from a biodegradable corn starch and contain no plastic. The tags are sealed to the bags using an ultrasonic method so no glue is used. The wrapper that the tea bags come in inside the tube looks like it's made from plastic but it's actually made from a clever material called Natureflex - this is made from wood pulp and is compostable and biodegradable. Super environmentally friendly!

- English Breakfast -

Everyone loves a good cup of tea, and English Breakfast tea is definitely a winner with everyone. You just cannot go wrong with it!

Brewing: 3-4 minutes at approx. 100°C

- Matcha & Sencha -

This flavour has a really strong green tea scent with a hint of sweetness. It smells very earthy and natural.

Brewing: 3-4 minutes at approx. 80°C

- Earl Grey -

On first impressions, this Earl Grey tea has a very warm and earthy smell to it. With a blend of rich Assam and Ceylon black teas flavoured with citrussy bergamot, it's definitely a tea for the more adventurous and those who like their cuppa a little bit stronger.

Brewing: 3-4 minutes at approx. 100°C

- Rooibos & Orange -

A zesty tea blend of organic South African rooibos with refreshing citrus fruit flavours. It definitely has hints of juicy oranges that really bring this tea to life. This tea is full of sweetness and bursting with fruity flavours.

Brewing: 5 minutes at approx. 100°C

- Chocolate & Ginger -

With a delicious blend of warming ginger and rich chocolate, this combination sounds very odd to be made into tea, but it definitely makes a great drink! You get just the right balance between the warming ginger and the rich, velvety chocolate.

Brewing: 5 minutes at approx. 100°C

- Tropical Green -

If you're a lover of fruit flavoured teas, this one's for you. Bursting with fresh, fruity aromas, this tropical green tea is packed with juicy pineapple and peach.

Brewing: 3-4 minutes at approx. 80°C

- Mulled Spice -

All the Christmasy feels with this cup of tea. With fragrant hints of berries, orange, cinnamon and clove, it has a very deep sweet and warming scent making it a perfect flavour tea for a cold winter's night.

Brewing: 3-4 minutes at approx. 100°C

- Gingerbread-

With a warming scent of gingerbread, this tea has such spicy yet sweet notes to it. You can really smell the ginger coming through with some fruity hints.

Brewing: 5 minutes at approx. 100°C

Apart from a good cup of English Breakfast Tea, my favourites from the selection of teas was definitely the Tropical Green and the Rooibos & Orange. I love fruit teas and think they make a great alternative from the traditional cuppa!

By visiting Shibui Tea online, you can browse and choose from over 200 teas!

Have you tried Shibui Tea? What are your favourite flavours of tea?

* This post contains PR Samples sent by Shibui Tea for review purposes

All thoughts are 100% honest

When it comes to Valentine's Day, finding the perfect git can be really hard, but if your partner has a super sweet tooth, Lir Chocolates could be the perfect place to look. Lir was created in Dublin in 1987 by Connie Doody and Mary White and began on Connie’s kitchen table with a food mixer and a bowl. Those early days instilled a spirit of creativity and attention to detail that are still integral to Lir Chocolates today.

To mark Lir's 30th birthday celebrations, they have created the beautiful Discovery Collection* which I was kindly gifted. Wrapped in rose gold, delicate pink hues, the packaging alone is simply stunning. The Discovery Collection showcases eight exotic and creative flavours that will excite your taste buds. This new range brings together Lir’s delicious chocolate exteriors with mouth-watering exotic centres, such as Persian lime oil, Spanish pistachio and vanilla from Tahiti in the South Pacific.

"We are constantly exploring, constantly experimenting, and constantly pushing back the boundaries of what is possible at the hands of the modern chocolatier."

With 16 decadent chocolates in eight luxurious flavours, this is definitely the perfect selection box to gift this Valentine’s Day.

Persian Lime Truffle - A surprising black and white combination of rich dark chocolate and white chocolate truffle infused with Persian lime oil.

Dark Chocolate Torte - Vanilla from the South Pacific is set within a crisp dark chocolate shell in this rich intense dark chocolate torte.

Chewy Pecan Caramel - Just wait for the generous covering of creamy milk chocolate to dissolve to reveal a chewy caramel centre with crunchy salted pecan nuts.

Hazelnut Gianduja - A creamy white chocolate exterior slowly and teasingly dissolves to reveal the beautifully smooth taste of a hazelnut praline.

Cinnamon & Raisin Cream - Exquisite Belgian white chocolate ganache, infused with aromatic and warm cinnamon, juicy raisins and velvety Irish cream liqueur.

Coffee Crunch - Delve beneath our blonde chocolate to find a deeply creamy white filling with coffee and caramelised cocoa nibs.

Irish Sea Salted Caramel - Two worlds collide delightfully when Irish Atlantic sea-salted caramel combines with Tahitian vanilla in crisp dark chocolate.

Raspberry & Pistachio Duo - An intense explosion of taste from a fusion of fruity raspberry compote with Spanish pistachio paste hidden in creamy milk chocolate.

These chocolates are seriously unreal. A collection of handcrafted gems created to surprise and delight, and they definitely did that.They are like nothing I have ever tasted before. All the flavours were spot on, so fresh and such high quality - I couldn't even pick a favourite as they were all SO good!

Pick up Lir Chocolates’ Discovery Collection (180g / £10) from selected Morrisons, Tesco and Co-op stores in the UK. To find out more about Lir Chocolates visit the website at www.lirchocolates.com

Have you heard of Lir Chocolates before? What flavour from their Discovery Collection would be your favourite?

* AD - This post contains PR samples gifted for a feature and for review purposes

All thoughts are 100% honest

"From a Gourmet Chicken takeaway restaurant in 1994 to the Gourmet Express charcoal grill in 2000. Husband and wife team Ali and Amira invite you to their latest food adventure in South Wimbledon."

Last week, I dined out at the extraordinary AYA Lebanese restaurant in South Wimbledon. I had been to this restaurant before once, but this time I wanted to share my experience, my thoughts and photos. I am yet to do restaurant reviews, but they are definitely something that I would love to start doing more as I am always reading reviews to find places to go and new cuisines to try. For me, Lebanese food is one of the freshest, most flavoursome and most delicious cuisines on the planet and AYA definitely ticks all of those. The restaurant have a BYOB system in place that allows you to bring your own alcohol into the restaurant, so you can bring your favourite drinks that will complement your meal. Otherwise they have a selection of soft drinks and fruit juices available if you prefer.

My recent trip to AYA was on a Friday night with my Dad and 2 of my brothers. From the minute you walked into the restaurant, you are greeted by such warm and welcoming staff. Small things like this make a restaurant experience 10 times better and really gets the evening off to a good start.

Within a couple of minutes of being shown to your table and seated, one of the lovely waiters brings over some delicious and fresh warm Lebanese bread, alongside a duo of delicious dips. The dips consist of a delicious garlic sauce and a spicy tomato based sauce. Both of which are so delicious and addictive. We managed to munch our way through numerous servings of these, as the staff regularly top these up for you when they see them empty. Isn't this great?!!

After we had some time to look through the extensive menu, we all decided on a few starter dishes to begin the meal. AYA has a good range of starter dishes ranging from cold starters or warm starters which gives you the chance to sample many difference dishes and flavours. Between us, we opted to choose four starters to get our taste buds tingling.

Starter number one was the Soujouk. This is a warm dish of spicy pan fried sausages stuffed with lamb, garlic and chilli, served with some tomatoes and a wedge of fresh lemon. The sausages have such a spicy, warming taste, you can really taste the fresh garlic coming through.

Starter number two was the Calamari. Pan fried squid with garlic, chilli, peppers, coriander and lemon. The Calamari is hands down one of my favourite starters I've tried from AYA. The squid is cooked to perfection. No rubbery, chewy texture. It simply melts in the mouth. The accompanying flavours really enhance this dish and bring it to life.

Something new to try on this visit to AYA was the Lamb Sambousek. These are deep fried pastries filled with minced lamb, spices and onion. These were incredible, especially dipped into that delicious garlic sauce! The pastry was so crispy and golden, and the filling was so juicy and soft. It was a match made in heaven. I would definitely have these again!

Finally we opted for the Kraidis. Another of my favourites from AYA. These are pan fried prawns with garlic, chilli, pepper, coriander and lemon - the perfect flavour combination. The prawns were so fresh and meaty and juicy. I could eat a whole plate of these pretty easily!

After the starters had been devoured, we were given some more bread and dips to nibble on whilst we waited for the main courses to be brought out. Three of us opted for the AYA Mix Grill and my brother picked out the Kharouf Mehsheh.

The Kharouf Mehsheh is one of AYA's speciality dishes. You receive a deliciously juicy and soft lamb shank served with carrots and minced lamb rice. The lamb shank is to die for. So tender and juicy, it literally falls off the bone. On a bed of fragrant spiced rice, the flavours just merge effortless together to give you a real taste of Lebanon.

The AYA Mix Grill is not for the faint hearted. You are served up skewers of lamb and chicken shish, minced lamb kebab and slices of lamb and chicken shawarma. It's every meat lovers dream. Cooked to perfection, the meats are so juicy and tender, they just melt in the mouth.

We then chose to order some traditional Baklava. A sweet dessert pastry made of layers of filo filled with chopped nuts and honey. These were absolutely beautiful. So light yet sweet and crunchy. The perfect way to end out meal!

If you're looking for a new Lebanese restaurant to try in London, you need to visit AYA. AYA offers sophisticated dining with a trendy atmosphere, warming hospitality and a delicious, creative menu. There is a great choice of fantastic dishes, each one fresh and tasty. The hardest part will be going through the amazing menu and deciding what to order next!

Have you tried Lebanese cuisine before? What are your favourite Lebanese restaurants?

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