Liverpool Food and Drink Festival

Today I went to my first ever food and drink festival. My sister and brother-in-law rave about the Liverpool Food and Drink Festival every year and this year I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

To start with we got there early and got our tickets and goody bags. Tickets cost £5 and the contents of the goody bag were - Vimto Extra Concentrate Juice, Typhoo Tea Bags, Popchips, Bear Alphabite Cereal and some Kheils and Carmex samples.

Inside the atmosphere was amazing, food lovers all together. It's something that just seems magical. I loved it all (even if it was a bit muddy) the smells, the sounds and the way everyone was just in the best mood.

Our first stop was Street Dawg Co. for a hot dog with crispy onions with ketchup and mustard. I was starving but this was literally my favourite food of the day. All I've wanted for ages is a hot dog and even though so simple it was perfect! Tasted amazing, perfectly juicy and yummy all at the same time. We scoffed this so quick we were starved!!

We then went on to have a Waffle on a stick, probs the most unique of all the foods we ate today. They were made by Poffertjes King who also make little dutch pancakes. Our waffles were smothered in Nutella and covered with sprinkles. It was a little piece of heaven on a stick!

We were alternating with savoury and sweet. Me and Lee LOVE MEAT!! Like proper LOVE it! We seen a place that was smoking meats! Gaucho BBQ was smoking Rib Eye Beef and BBQ Lamb, they were very forthcoming with the samples, so natually we decided to get some treats from them. My sister got a Lamb Burger with a Garlic Conserve and we got a Rib Eye Steak burger it was so good, absolutely delicious. Probably the most tender meat I've ever tasted. I'm so gutted Gaucho is in Devon otherwise I'd be there!

Churros Susanna! was our next stop. I don't usually like churros but these were delicious! The hot dipping chocolate was the perfect combination of bitter and sweetness. The only critique I had was that there wasn't enough cinnamon on them.

Our final stop for the eating portion of our day was the Oh So British Kitchen for a Pork Belly burger. I wasn't overly impressed with it but Lee really seemed to enjoy it. I think I was thirsty so decided to try a Harry Brompton's Raspberry and Cucumber Alcoholic Iced Tea which was lovely and refreshing, it was lovely. I regretted not buying a little 4 pack of them.(Remember you have to be over the age of 18 to consume alcohol: Drink Responsibly). Kelly and Her Lee got a Curry and a massive Pizza with Chorizo and Mushrooms which looked nice but not my bag.

I decided I wanted to take my other sister home a treat and she loves chocolate cake and I seen the most amazing brownies from Treats Bake Shop. Bought 4 MASSIVE brownies for £9 and they are literally the best brownies I've ever had. I got a Salted Caramel (pictured), two Nutella Hazlenut and an Oreo Brownie. Absolutely amazing, have looked them up and if I'm ever in Middlewich in Cheshire I will be popping in to get some more!

As Lee doesn't like brownies, I knew exactly what to get him instead. A Black Forest cake from The Little Round Cake Company who I knew from their amazing meuringues in Selfridge's. Lee really enjoyed his cake when we got home. He ate it so quick I didn't get a chance to get a picture #greedyguts.

Our last stop was Bonny and Blithe who are a small company in South Liverpool that specialise in vintage tea wear. Me, my sisters and my mum all love a cup of tea so we all got an egg in a cup which was a vintage tea cup and saucer with an easter egg inside. My sister and my mum loved them, they made the perfect present and we are now planning to have afternoon tea at home using them. If you're from Liverpool and you love tea and vintage you need to go here!

Overall I had an amazing time and now cannot wait until the Summer Food and Drink Festival! I would definitely recommend it for all foodies! Anyone who appreciates food would have a fab time here.

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ProActiv+ 20 Day Update.

Now I want to be 100% honest with everyone reading this. The second 10 days of ProActiv+ was not as good as the first 10.

It was all going great until day 13 when I broke out really bad on my chin, literally in agony with sore pin prick spots all on my chin and jaw. Really disappointed because it's now day 20 and it's not going away.

My mum says it's probably working deep cleansing my skin pulling all the bad stuff clogged in my pores and bringing it to the surface. I am going to continue it and hope that this is the case.  I'm so disappointed in this section of my 30 days which is why it isn't as thorough as my previous posts. Spent most of my time stressing about my spots.

I'll be back in 10 days with my final review of ProActiv+

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Nolita Cantina Liverpool

NolIta Cantina is a little hidden treasure buried in the midst of Bold Street in Liverpool City Centre. It's menu consists of American Classics which are becoming popular throughout the UK. Here's what NolIta Cantina's Mission Statement is:

"NoLIta Cantina is an independent restaurant & bar situated on Liverpool's bustling Bold Street born out of the mutual passion of two chefs looking to satisfy their appreciation and longing for traditional, homemade American style food."

NolIta Cantina is one of the best little burger places we've ever tried. We went for my birthday and it was a real treat with Chicken Wings and Corn Dogs for starters. The wings were absolutely massive and so delicious, with a Dr Pepper sauce. I'm very critical when it comes to Corn Dogs and these were absolutely amazing, perfect with mustard and ketchup!

The real winners of the whole meal were the amazing burgers! They really are a spectacle to be seen, perfectly formed. I got a pulled pork burger which was lettuce, burger, cheese, pulled pork, Dr Pepper BBQ sauce and 'slaw! It was perfect and cost £11. Lee got a "Big Boy" Burger which was absolutely massive, I have no idea how he finished it with 3 burgers, bacon, cheese, onion rings, more cheese, 'slaw, hash browns and pickles. A LOT OF FOOD! This cost £15. These burgers came with mixed fries - Regular and Sweet Potato, which to be honest was a lovely touch because who doesn't love sweet potatoes. 

NolIta Cantina, besides from the food, has a fantastic atmosphere. The servers were all really friendly there seemed like a great chemistry between the staff and kitchen staff. The place itself is really small and does get packed but from the food and the service you can understand why. This little restaurant definitely holds its own when it comes to being a top notch place to eat. 

I'd highly recommend this to any one who loves American food and has a thing for burgers. 

NolIta Cantina

81a Bold Street

Liverpool

L1 4HF

0151 708 5061

Opening Hours
Monday 3pm-9pm
Tues-sat 12pm-10pm
Sun 1pm-9pm

www.nolitacantina.com

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*All my own and honest opinion*

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Pro Activ+ First 10 Days

I've been trying Pro Activ+'s 3 Step System for 10 days now and this is my first update. I've been updating the below every couple of days to tell you my progress. If you missed my first post you can catch up: here.

Day 3: 

After using Pro Activ for 3 days I haven't noticed a massive difference in the appearance of my skin. I am still quite red and blotchy but it's only day 3. The feel of my skin is a completely different story, my skin feels really soft and not as dry as it was but there's still small patches of dry skin by my eyebrows and round my nose. I can feel it getting there.

Day 5: 

I am definitely starting to feel the difference. My skin is starting to look a little less red and blotchy but I feel a lot fresher. I think now after using it for 5 days my favourite product out of the 3 step system is the Pore Targeting Treatment Facial Cream, I've been using this product by putting it on cotton pads and sweeping across my face. The amount of dirt and grime it's lifted from my pores has been amazing.

Day 7: 

Been using Pro Activ+ Daily 2 times a day morning and night for a week now and I'm starting to feel a lot more confident in my skin. There's hardly any red blotchy patches anymore and I haven't had any spots break out since I started. My skin feels soft and smooth with no dry patches anywhere. I really hope this lasts. Used the mask for the first time and it's good it felt like my skin went through a deep cleanse.

Day 10:

After using it for 10 days I am loving Pro Activ+ but I've still got a few imperfections I hope will clear up with my further use of the 3 Step System. So far I would recommend this to anyone who has uneven spot prone skin.

Happy with my progress!

My next update will be posted on the 5th April.


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Tassimo Vivy

This is the kitchen gadget I now cannot live without. The Tassimo Vivy (T12) was bought from Curry's on offer but is available to buy for £44.50. I have the White model but it is also available in Black.

I have a bad caffeine habit, I used to spend about £15 a week in Costa just on Gingerbread Latte's. This Tassimo has really helped my bank balance because a pack of 8 Latte T-Discs is only £4 - £5 and can be bought in bulk in Costco. I bought 5 packs in bulk in Costco for £20 which has been amazing.

The art of the Tassimo is that you put cold water in the tank and the T-Disc's have barcodes on which are scanned by the machine so the machine knows exactly how much water to pump through and the size of the cup suited to that drink.

The drinks take less than 3 minutes to prepare. Which is great if you need to grab a caffeine boost on the go. I got a thermal takeaway cup from Paperchase and I prepare my drink while I'm getting ready for work and it's still nice and hot for when I get in my office.

I favour the Latte's, I have tried the Hot Chocolate's but nothing really compares to my own. You put the milk disc in first and it comes out boiling hot and lovely and frothy (just like in Costa) and then you put in the Coffee Pod and then VOILA! a perfectly formed Latte! To top my Latte's off I like to add a splash of my favourite syrups usually either Vanilla or Gingerbread depending on my mood.

The Tassimo Vivy (T12) is the perfect machine for those who love coffee who don't have room for a big fancy coffee maker. Ideal for couples, students and on the goers. Affordable, easy to store and easy to use.

Tassimo T-Disc's can be purchased on the Tassimo Website in Costco in bulk and most major supermarkets. There's a vast range of beverages available suchs as Tea's, Coffee's and Hot Chocolates in such brands as Twinings, Costa, Cadbury's, Kenco and more. The T-Disc's cost between £3 and £6 per pack depending on the product.

If you're interested in Monin Syrups they can be bought on Amazon and in Major Supermarkets. Monin Syrups come in a vast range of flavours and can be the perfect accompaniment to any hot beverage.

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The Wet Brush

I've been a fan of The Wet Brush for over a year now. I got sent one the other week because I lost my other one that I reviewed on my old blog but I want to write about this new one here. This new brush is a bit different compared to my last brush. The first noticeable difference is the color, this metallic pink is a lovely colour and really girly which I love. I feel like the handle has been made a little wider which is a pro because it makes it easier to grip.

The Wet Brush is an amazing hairbrush with Intelliflex Bristles and Soft Tips for gentle styling.

The bristles are amazing especially if you're prone to tangled hair like I am. The are thin,strong and flexible which gently work their way through hair. Whether wet or dry, these bristles can work their way through the most stubborn of tangles without pulling or hurting your head which is why I do recommend these brushes for people with little ones who love swimming. This is the perfect brush for holidays.

The soft tips help aide the prevention of hair loss and I notice that they really massage the scalp. I could literally sit and brush my hair for hours with this brush because I love the way it treats my scalp. It is exactly what it says "Gentle Styling". It's so lovely to use and I think it would be an ideal brush for anyone with a sensitive scalp prone to head soreness.

With The Wet Brush boasting no tugging, tearing, pulling and ripping, I can personally tell you that all these promises are upheld in this brush. Until the opportunity arose to review this metallic pink brush I would have happily bought another because it's an amazing brush and even if this brush would have cost me a lot I wouldn't care because of how great it is, the fact it's not going to break the bank is just another positive for this fantastic product.

This product is one of the strongest competitors for the well known "Tangle Teezer".

The Wet Brush can be bought online at Sally Express for £8.99 available in Pink and Purple. The Wet Brush can also be bought on Amazon where it is available in a range of colours and styles which includes The Selfie Brush which I really want to try out.

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ProActiv+ 30 Day Challenge.

I am doing the ProActiv+ 30 Day Challenge. I was kindly sent a sample pack of ProActiv+ 3 Step System for Spot Prone Skin. I am putting it to the test as I have been having problem skin for a few months now and nothing seems to be helping. I will be posting 10 day updates to see my progress over the next 30 days. Below is my before picture (apologies about my face and my eyebrows, I'm growing them out to get them waxed).

I've been getting spots round my chin and jawline. I've been getting spots in or around my eyebrows. I have been getting blemishes on my cheeks and around my nose.

In the 3 Step System there is:

Step 1: Skin Smoothing Exfoliator Facial Cleanser
Step 2: Pore Targeting Treatment Facial Cream
Step 3: Complexion Perfecting Hydrator Facial Moisturiser
Extras: Skin Purifying Mask

At first glance: 

The box the 3 Step System has came in matches the brand perfectly. From my knowledge of ProActiv+ is that it's a system which has been endorsed by multiple celebs, most recently Nicole Scherzinger, It's meant to help clear up your skin and keep it looking clean and clear. The packaging is really simple which is what I want out of skincare, nothing too fancy. Looking at the back of the boxes I can see the active ingredient is Salicylic Acid which is renowned for clearing skin but I've also heard it can dry your skin up a bit. I am hoping this won't be the case with this.

Schedule: 

I will be using this daily, twice a day for 30 days. I will be using the mask 2 times a week. I will be giving my first update on the 26th March and then again on the 5th April and then my final update on the 15th April.

So I will be back on the 26th with my first update.

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