May: Lately I've Been Loving

*means I've received the item free of charge for review Here are my May loves:

I fell head-over-heels and then some for Typology* the Vegan French skincare brand which is now available in the UK. See my review HERE.

We've been enjoying some fabulous Edinburgh restaurant dinners - Dining at Home experiences - above Angels with Bagpipes - Angels Wings' main - Pork Belly, Fondant Potato, Apple, Cabbage & Sage Jus (which was delicious!) We've never actually dined at this Royal Mile restaurant - but we plan to when we're allowed to dine out again!

We also enjoyed dinner at home with The Little Chartroom. We've dined at this bijou restaurant before and loved watching Roberta cook her way through the Great British Menu on TV recently. That Chocolate Tart with orange and creme fraiche was to die for! Truly delicious.

Last night, we enjoyed First Coast at Home which was a yummy Indonesian Style Feast! 

We also enjoyed Smith & Gertrude At Home who offer a CV19 Weekend Survival Pack! It contains a bottle of red, white or fizz, a selection of local cheeses, bread, Charcuterie and chocolate (although the chocolate has now been replaced with olives).

We've also been making good use of our local wine shop - the fabulous The Fine Wine Company in Portobello (you can also pick up beers and a wide range of spirits) who also do home delivery in the local area. Last night I tried a delicious summery fresh rose wine - I must admit I was also swayed by the pretty label!

Hubby treated me to a couple of face masks by Catherine Aitken which are gorgeous! I've been wearing them going to the supermarket.

My good friend Nardin had sent me this hot chocolate bauble at Christmas (eek) and I hadn't got round to drinking it. Was fun to watch it melt slowly and the see the little marshmallows appear!

My gorgeous Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box entitled Spring - see my review HERE.

My My Chronicle Book Box which contains a book this month which isn't published in hardback until August! See my review HERE.

I've also been loving the sunny days and restrictions on lockdown - it's the simple things really that count! What have you been loving this month?

My Chronicle Book Box: May: Searching for the Truth..

It's always a very exciting day when my My Chronicle Book Box lands! This month inside is a signed 1st edition hardback book which doesn't go on general release until August 2020 (it's also one I requested on Netgalley and got turned down for, so silver linings and all that!)

The theme this month is "searching for the truth" and in the book character Isla must unravel 30 years of secrets in a community in Sydney to free her father from being suspected of murder..  The book this month is The Silence by Susan Allott, which I'm looking forward to reading! We also receive a personal note from the author along with some other goodies.

Also inside this month is a beautiful book-ish candle - Veritaserum (a truth serum candle inspired by the world of Harry Potter) which smells gorgeous (fresh and floral) which is made by Danielle at Bookworm Candles & Crafts along with a book-ish tote bag.  I'm pausing my June subscription as I've got the book next month on kindle so I'll be excited to come back for July!

As ever, everything is packaged to perfection and included as always is an informative info sheet.

Sign up for June HERE (at £25 a month).

My Chronicle Book Box: April: Secrets from the Swedish Forest...

I signed up for a My Chronicle Book Box Subscription (£25 a month) last month - see my post HERE. I was very excited to see what April would bring...

April's theme is "Secrets from the Swedish Forest.." and this month there are two books!  Louise felt that during this time of uncertainty and isolation her subscribers deserved an extra treat so along with Will Dean's Black River there's also an ARC of vintage crime adventures Sexton Blake and the Great War (which published on 16 April).

I love the attention to detail, pretty packaging and lovely extras! The extras this month are gorgeous FortyVenus glossy botanical coasters and a Scandi Noir notebook, inspired by Will Dean and his books - perfect to record clues, observations and lists!

There's just something so nice about receiving a signed first edition! This is my first book by Will and I'm looking forward to delving in! It is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone (I think I've actually got Dark Pines nestling on my kindle - perhaps I should bump it up!)

As ever, we receive a nice informative note from founder Louise and an exclusive letter from Will Dean.

The second novel Louise has included for us this month is an ARC of vintage crime adventures Sexton Blake and the Great War.

Sign up HERE. I'm excited to see what next month brings (this for me is a monthly parcel of pure joy) Are you a subscriber?

March: Lately I've Been Loving: My Chronicle Book Box, Pure Anada, Kiss the Moon, Bloom+The Simple Things mags

Everything changed so much in March with the coronavirus - I hope everyone is staying well and safe. *Means I've received something free of charge for review. Here's what I've been loving in March:

Hubby made Kedgeree, a delicious mix of basmati, smoked haddock, onion, curry paste and boiled eggs with a sprinkling of chopped parsley. We had it for brunch (but would have it for dinner too!)

My first My Chronicle Book Box which I reviewed HERE. It's such a carefully thought out subscription.

*I fell head-over-heels for Pure Anada's Peppermint Cream Effervescent Bath Soak* and Cocoa Body Butter*. The scent is almost good enough to eat - sugary mint with a touch of vanilla. Just sublime. This duo is fabulous for a non-calorific treat. See my review HERE and pick yours up HERE. 

*A truly decadent box of treats from Award Winning Kiss the Moon. The luxe packaging, beautiful scents with effective formulas just make my heart sing. Perfect for a moment of calm before bed. You can see my review of their GLOW Bedtime Bath Salts* HERE and their CALM after Dark Face Face Oil* HERE. A review is coming shortly for their gem CALM After Dark Sleep Balm*. The range is perfect for some me-time and to calm and relax both the body as well as the mind.

Lovely lifestyle magazines - my favs being Bloom and The Simple Things - with two gorgeous covers! I adore the 'lil' birds on a branch!

What's given you joy throughout March?

My Chronicle Book Box: March: An Invitation to Die For..

I blame Jo over at My Chestnut Reading Tree for enabling me to sign up for My Chronicle Book Box (I read her review and knew I wanted to be a member straight away!) The subscription costs £25 a month and payment is taken on the 1st of each month. What you'll get is a hardback signed first edition (swoon) and some other treats which tie in with the book that month.

March's theme is An Invitation to Die For....

Inside the box is your wrapped book (I had no idea what the book was so didn't initially read the info sheet), a card with an interview with the author, a wooden invitation made by Cam Graphic, a plant bookmark displaying deadly botanicals and a cute little mini planter which is suitable for miniature blooms and succulents and made by Sheffield's Burgon & Ball.

So far...so good..

I was really excited that this month's book was firstly one which I hadn't read but also one which is on my wishlist! The Guest List by Lucy Foley is Lucy's second crime thriller and the storylines surrounds the marriage of Jules and Will on a remote island off the Irish coast. Everything has been planned to perfection and it should be the perfect day. Oh and it is.... until the body is found... I'm really looking forward to reading it and will share my thoughts in my monthly book round up (not likely to get round to it this month - but it will be soon!)

And for a closer look at the other bits in the box..

I'm really chuffed with my first My Chronicle Book Box. Are you a subscriber? What are your thoughts on the theme and contents this month?