● Laura Thornberry ● Lifestyle Blogger ● London Based ●

AD - GIFTED | Wild & Game; a company founded by Steven Frampton and Michael Cannon at the end of 2017, with the aim of turning the UK into a nation of game lovers. Wild and Games product range is growing steadily. It currently includes sausage rolls, pasties, pies and sausages, with the new additions of game pâtés which I was kindly sent to try and review.

The new products to the range include a Grouse, Brandy and Herb Pâté*, and Pheasant, Pistachio and Port Pâté*.

“Our mission is to make game popular on British dinner tables all year round. It’s low-fat and readily available, so it deserves to be used more widely. At Wild and Game we have a focus on traditional dishes that people already love, so pâté seemed a perfect addition to our range."

Pheasant, Pistachio & Port Pâté*

This pâté was probably my favourite of the two I was kindly sent. Pheasant has a mild taste, not too overpowering, working with pistachios is a great flavour combination. Pistachio nuts have such a distinctive flavour, so rich and nutty, I really liked that they gave a coarse, crunchy texture to the pâté. Finished off with a rich and gloriously sharp, fruity taste of port to round of the taste.

Grouse, Brandy & Herb Pâté*

This pâté had a distinct gamey taste. I had never tried Grouse before, so this was definitely a new thing for me. This pâté had a much smoother consistency and texture, compared to the Pheasant Pâté. The herbs; Parsley, Thyme and Marjoram really complement the dish and bring all the flavours together nicely.

These pâtés would be brilliant for all different types of culinary occasions; from packed lunch boxes to picnics to dinner parties and maybe even on your Christmas Dinner menu. I found the packaging to be very smart and practical, your pâtés will stay fresh and moist with its resealable lid, so definitely no worries about it going hard or stale. A great invention for sure!

Have you heard of Wild & Game? What Pâtés do you enjoy?

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Pasta Evangelists; a small London based team delivering some of the best pasta in the UK to homes across the country, as well as beautiful sauces & garnishes sourced from Italy. A great one-off or subscription service, inviting you to prepare a luxurious 5* pasta dish in your own home in just 5 minutes!

"We believe fresh is best. Our founder, Alessandro, hails from Genova in the Italian region of Liguria, and was disappointed with the fresh pasta available in the UK, machine-made & a world away from the pasta of his youth, handmade by his nonna. And so Pasta Evangelists was born to bring fresh, artisanal pasta of Italian quality to homes across the UK."

I recently discovered Pasta Evangelists via a Facebook Ad, and browsed through their website. They offer both One-Off delivery or they have a Pasta Subscription box that you can opt in for. I'm such a pasta lover, so this is a great way to try new dishes and flavour combinations! Pasta Evangelists deliver the fresh pasta, sauces & garnishes in insulated packaging alongside chilled ice packs, so if you’re not home for delivery, your food will stay cool and fresh until you’re back. Amazing, right?! Artisanal, five-star pasta dishes in minutes with our simple recipe cards. Alternatively, freeze your dish for up to two months and prepare it later.

Pasta Evangelists have such a range of pasta dishes that get changed every week, so there is always something new and exciting to try, great for meat eaters and vegetarians, as well as those who follow a gluten-free diet! From the weekly menu of fresh pasta recipes, I picked out the Gnocchi Tricolore with Slow-Cooked Beef Ragù, costing £7.95 a portion and using the finest seasonal ingredients and produce from Italy.

"Our chefs carefully brown pieces of marbled beef until they take on a deep, burnished hue. This is where all the flavour is. We then slowly braise our caramelised beef with red wine, onions & tomatoes to make the meat as tender and flavourful as possible. This very special ragù is served with handmade gnocchi tricolore, a beautiful mixture of white, green and red dumplings."

The Gnocchi Tricolore with Slow-Cooked Beef Ragù was a pasta lovers dream. An indulgent dish containing some incredible flavours and produce from Italy, I was truly happy with the choice I had made! The dish contained Gnocchi, an Italian favourite that I had only previously tried once when I went to Milan a few years ago, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Such soft, small dumplings that simply melted in the mouth, nothing too stodgy or heavy which was perfect!

The Slow-Cooked Beef Ragù was to die for. The caramelised beef was so flavoursome and tender, if you ask me it was cooked to perfection! Combined with red wine, onions and tomatoes, this gave the ragù such a deep and authentic flavour that really showcased to me real Italian cuisine with such high-quality, seasonal produce. Topped off with the rich and creamy Parmesan cheese, simply bring all the flavours of the dish together for the perfect Italian feast!

Have you heard of Pasta Evangelists before? What are your favourite pasta dishes?

Check out some of my previous pasta recipes!
Super Smoky Bacon & Spicy Tomato Pesto Penne
Super Speedy Vegetarian Tagliatelle
A Teatime Mac n Cheese with Batchelors

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When it comes to makeup, my one true love is definitely Mascara. Mascara has a number of benefits, these include instantly adding thickness, length, and a wash colour to the lashes. This therefore draws more attention to the eyes as they are one of the main focal points to the face, creates definition and makes them appear more prominent. Simply perfect for those natural or 'no makeup makeup days', as a coat or two of mascara is quick and easy way to make your eyes pop!

You may already have seen a previous mascara review I published a while ago, where I reviewed the hyped up BADgal Bang Mascara from Benefit. But today, I'm introducing and sharing my thoughts with you on my complete holy grail mascara - Rimmel London Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara. I've gone through numerous tubes of this, it's been my dream mascara for years, and when I want long, defined lashes, this stuff doesn't let me down!

Rimmel London Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara

Rimmel Londons first ultra lengthening mascara that defies the laws of lash length!

- Length that defies limits

- Formula with Micro-Fibres

- Instant wow: Extends lashes by up to 99%

As you can see, the Rimmel London Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara has a thin, plastic, cone-shaped, perfect for grabbing every single lash for definition and separation. The mascara has such a perfect consistency, no too thick and not too watery, once applied to the lashes you get absolutely no clumps! Just perfectly defined and lengthened lashes every time!

This is my before eye look. I do have naturally long lashes. I have simply curled my lashes with my Primark Lash Curler, as my natural lashes are quite straight. Also, you can see have have quite fair dark blonde/brown lashes, so adding a mascara to them will just help to enhance and define my lashes more.

Rimmel London Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara Lashes

The result - just one coat of mascara gives me that instant wow factor, extending lashes by "up to 99%" for a dramatic and defined effect. Plus, the Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara is enriched with Rimmel’s unique Grow Lash Complex which will help keep your lashes in good condition and appear longer over time. It's definitely a mascara to add to your makeup bag ASAP!

RRP £7.99

What is your favourite mascara?

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AD - GIFTED | In regards to beauty, haircare is something I have always been passionate about and something that I love to explore in terms of trying new brands and new products regularly. For reference, my hair is medium length, never dyed, natural dark blonde hair. In terms of texture, my hair isn't very fine and it isn't thick, somewhere in between, naturally quite straight with a few wavy areas, and I do suffer with some dryness from time to time in the mid-lengths and ends of my hair.

In collaboration with Panasonic beauty products uk*, I wanted to share some of my current favourite drugstore haircare products that will have your hair looking refreshed, silky soft and in tip-top condition!

L'Oréal Paris Dream Lengths Long Hair Shampoo, Conditioner & No Haircut Cream

A a trio of haircare products that have become a firm favourite of mine and a recent addition into my haircare routine. Designed for those with long, damaged hair, the Dream Lengths Shampoo and Conditioner work like a treat for my hair. Enriched with Keratin, Vitamins and Castor Oil; this is the perfect combination to help protect hair against breakage and split ends.

The No Haircut Cream is a total game-changer. The consistency is quite thick, but not too heavy on the hair, so it doesn't weigh it down at all. I use the No Haircut Cream on my mid-lengths and ends of my hair, and I find the product absorbs quickly without any residue. It protects my hair from the use of hair dryers and straighteners, as well we the weather outside. So if you've not tried it yet, it's definitely one to give a go!

Karine Jackson x Beauty Kitchen The Protector Multi Purpose Primer

This primer is formulated by 100% natural ingredients, which in turn shields hair from brush and heat damage, as well as protecting from UV Rays and pollution. This powerful cream is great to tame any fine flyaway hairs, to smooth thick hair and help protect hair from heat styling. It conditions the hair quite well, I use this primer on the ends of my hair after washing and you can see and feel visible effects even after few uses.

Aussie 3 Miracle Oil Reconstructor

I've already dedicated a whole blog post solely for this product. It's become a solid staple in my haircare routine, and something I will purchase over and over again! Aussie 3 Miracle Oil Reconstructor is a lightweight oil treatment designed for those with dry and damaged hair. Blended with 3 miracle oils; Australian Macadamia Nut, Jojoba-seed and Avocado, encouraging your hair to look silky, smooth and shiny. A must have product all year round to save your hair from the hot summers and cold winters.

Superdrug Avocado & Manuka Honey Conditioning Spray

Probably the cheapest product in my current haircare routine, but that does not mean its the worst! A simple yet effective conditioning spray that I always use before blow drying my hair. Formulated with Avocado and Manuka Honey, that helps to nourish the hair and to leave it feeling smooth and soft. It leaves your hair smelling so fresh and feeling so silky. If you're after a product that lets hair looks healthier with brilliant shine, this is definitely one for you!

L'oreal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil-in-Cream

L'Oréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil-in-Cream

I've used this product on and off for a while now, but it is definitely something I always come back to due the the great results that it gives to my hair. With intense nourishment without weighing the hair down or leaving a greasy residue on your fingertips, it's perfect for those days where your hair is feeling that little bit more dry and damaged, or when you want to tame frizz and flyaways.

Maui Moisture Revive & Hydrate Shea Butter Hair Mask

This product has also had a whole blog post dedicated to it, because it's so damn good! You can view this post here. A product suitable for those with dry, damaged hair, it's perfect all year round; those hot summer days or those cold winter nights, Maui Moisture has got your back. A hair mask packed with amazing, natural ingredients; Aloe Vera Juice, Coconut Water, Creamy Shea Butter, Rich Coconut Oil and Pure Macadamia Oil, the perfect combination to improve the look, feel and texture of my hair.

What are your current favourite haircare products? Have you tried any of the ones featured in the post? Do you have any recommendations for me?

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