Gus and Bella Best Mum Cat Box

Anyone who knows me or follows me on social media will know that I am a mad cat lady, we currently have two fur kids who mean the absolute world to us and despite still coming to the terms with the loss of one fur baby last Summer, the boys have continued to be quite the support. Gus and Bella got in touch to see if I would like to review their latest box and naturally I agreed. Gus and Bella is a subscription box for both cats and humans and it is such a cute idea that you can treat both the cat and the owner in one big box!

Gus and Bella came to being after being inspired by two cats, known as Gus and Bella and like my boys, they were central parts of the family. Gus and Bella were indoor cats and the idea of the gift box was born out of a desire to help other cat owners to find a new way to treat their furry friends and occasionally themselves.  As soon as this box arrived, my two seemed to know it was for them and couldn't wait to see what was inside.

The cat subscription box delivering happiness
to cats and their humans

The March box theme is "Best Cat Mum" in honour of Mothers Day and it is filled with little treats for both you and your cat(s) and as soon as you remove the box from the outer packaging, the first item is the Rosewood Jolly Moggy Play Tunnel, an item I have always purchased when we have got a new kitten as it creates hours of fun, even now, my two play with the tunnel as a means to jump out on one another in a game of chase, so this is a welcomed addition.

Then inside the box is a whole host of treats that got one of my boys very excited, so much so he pretty much tried everything there was on offer and laid in the presentation box and fought me if I dared to touch anything to take a photo.

My Cat Grass - All of my cats have always been a fan of cat grass, we always buy one of the grow your own kits in the summer for them to munch their way through. 

If you didn't know, cat grass is really beneficial for your kitty and not only does it help them to deal with furballs, it also helps with preventing constipation, aids digestion and encourages water intake.  This is a great item within the box.

Hi-Life Cat Treats - Another favourite for my boys comes in the form of cat treats, as soon as they hear the packet rattle they come bounding through into the kitchen to see what is on offer.  From Hi-Life we have the 'It's Only Natural Chicken Breast Treats'. 

This freeze-dried treat is made using just 100% chicken breast and it has been carefully diced to ensure it is the right sized portion.

For the cats again we have two further bags of biscuits with the Arden Garden grain free treats in Ocean White Fish and Potato and Fresh Chicken and potato flavours. Arden Grange is a family business whose core philosophy of ‘nutrition without compromise’ is the foundation on which Arden Grange has been built. 

All ingredients within their foods have been included for their nutritional value and promote optimum health and vitality.

Up next we have the Gus & Bella customised travel candle which is a really cute addition to the box and alongside them is a bag of Hames chocolate Hearts and a really cute designed "Happy Catmum Day" card.

Finally, we have a Flamingo Candles Mother of Cats - This is probably my favourite item in the box and it is called a Mother of Cats Key Tag and is has 'Mother of Cats' engraved on black acrylic with a silver keyring. For me, this is perfect for adding to my bunch of office keys which has a very worn out Mickey Mouse.

The Gus and Bella Box is a subscription service and it costs £26.95 per month or £28.95 every two months and with that is £2.95 for postage and packaging.  You can also use the option to purchase one-off box, such as this one, then it costs £30 plus p&p which I personally think is an absolute bargain and my boys would agree with that too!

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Glossybox - All Eyes On Me

All Eyes On Me is the title of the March Edition of Glossybox and it is designed to make you feel more confident than ever.  The Glossies have curated a box which features five products, four of which are said to be makeup must-haves and one skincare item.

I really like that there is a mixture of makeup and skincare within this box and whilst I have tried some of the products before, there are some I have now.

First out of the box from Eyeko is the well known Black Magic Mascara. This is an award-winning mascara which is enriched with a botanical Shea Butter blend which helps to take care of your lashes whilst at the same time intensely volumising and curling. 

Housed inside a silver squeezy tube the conditioning, Keratin-enriched formula works in tandem with the curved brush by coating every lash from root to tip to lengthen, lift and add curves. I like that this is not a clumpy mascara and I like how easy the brush can be wiggled between my lashes, top and bottom.

From Ciate London comes the Stamp & Drag Liner Duo. Described as being the must-have tool for winged eyeliner.  I have a love/hate relationship with eyeliner, I either wear or I don't but it is never the product I feel lost without.

Featuring a pointed tip on one end of the pen which allows you to draw that precise line across your lashline and a wing-shaped stamp on the other end to ensure you get that symmetrical wing shape.  I like that the pen itself is quite chunky to hold onto and the liner itself is a dark black shade.

Moving away from makeup to skincare and from Sebamed we have the Q10 Eye cream. This Lifting Eye Cream is specially formulated with co-enzyme Q10 to help slow down the appearance of ageing around our eyes.

Q10 is a natural antioxidant that protects your skin from free radical damage as well as helping to maintain the skin's elasticity and increase the production of new skin cells.  I like that this is not a thick formula and it is one which once applied, is not at all greasy or tacky on the skin, over time I would be intrigued to see the effects it does have on those fine lines around the eyes.

From MCoBeauty comes a long-lasting lipstick and I have the shade flawless. Described as having an ultra-creamy formula which is intensely hydrating, this lipstick is one which glides effortlessly onto the lips.

The shade flawless is a bright pink shade and one that is perfect for the warmer months, though not a shade for me as it doesn't suit my skin tone, but I do have another lipstick from this brand and I do like how it feels on the lips, almost weightless and balm-like.

The final product within this box is an old favourite from Sleek with the Solstice Highlighter Palette.

This palette is easy to recognise owing to its gold packaging. Inside, the palette features 4 stunning shades - Ecliptic, Hemisphere, Subsolar and Equinox of two are baked powders, one luxurious cream formula and one silky shimmer powder.

I think this is another really good box from Glossybox and one which features products I am definitely using for myself.

As always you can subscribe to Glossybox right here and if you use the code BQUEEN20 you can get yourself 20% off that first box!  

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

How To Work Through Problems In Your Relationship

Image Credit Pixabay.com License CC0

Relationships generally start with a flurry of rainbows, happy memories, and romantic gestures. For the first few weeks, months, or even years of a relationship, it may feel as though you are walking on air when you are around each other. But make no mistaking, being in a committed and loving relationship can be tough at times. As time goes on, you begin to share your problems together. Soon, something that is a major stressor for one of you, will become a stressor for both of you. There will be times when your interests clash, and there will be moments where you feel as though your lives are pulling in separate directions. 

If you are married, as these tensions build-up, it can lead to both of your looking for reasons for divorce rather than trying to cling onto a reason to stay together. Sadly, it is often easier to walk away from a relationship than it is to repair the damage. 

Here are some tips on working through some difficult times in your relationship. 

Identify The Problem But Do Not Assign Blame - Blame and guilt are complex emotions and they can tear two lovers apart. If you are worried about stresses and strains in your relationship, and you feel as though you are constantly butting heads, try and work out what has happened and where the problem lies. You need to address this in a way that does not assign blame or guilt on one of you as there are often very reasons for tensions in a relationship that should be worked through in a supportive way. 

If you can both agree to the areas in which the problems are and are either happy to draw a line under it and solve the problem together, or both admit to any elements of responsibility freely, then you will be able to move on from this point. 

Get Help - Communication can often go out of the window in a relationship. You may not notice it leaving, but once you have an inability to talk about the important matters such as your feelings, then you will hit a hurdle that neither of you can move past. This type of communication breakdown may be caused by the traumatic experience of repeated arguments, or it could be due to an inability for one or both of you to process emotions elsewhere in your lives. 

By sitting down with a couple’s therapist, you will be able to learn to communicate with each other. Communication often starts with being able to listen to each other, and a therapist may teach you to hear and understand what your partner is actually saying without you interjecting and it becoming an argument. 

Remembering Why You Fell In Love - One of the most important things to hold onto is the reasons that you fell in love with each other. You will have meant something very specific to each other, and talking through what you actually mean can remind you of what you need to hold on to and work through. 

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Cosrx low pH GOod Morning Gel Cleanser

New to my skincare collection is COSRX who is described as being a Multi-award-winning brand made famous by beauty and cosmetic experts worldwide. For over a decade MR RX studied peoples skin types and their needs in the beauty industry and it is his experience that he believed cosmetics should look for meanings more than just beauty. So, collecting what customers need and want regarding their skin types and concerns finally establishing Cosmetics + RX = COSRX was founded.

COSRX as a brand is built on 3 concepts:

• Simplicity – using only key ingredients, avoiding any redundancies, will not only reduce the chance of skin irritation but also provide a simple solution.
• High performance – active ingredients to maximum concentration to maximise the effect.
• Cost effectiveness – sufficient volume and plentiful solution at a reasonable price.

For many of us, understanding the basics of skincare and its suitability for your skin can be an absolute minefield, too many 'experts' claim to know what will and won't work for you along with an never-ending list of products you need in your routine, for some, has lead to more confusion and over-use. So sometimes, it is a good idea to go back to basics and find out what works on your skin for yourself.

I have been using the Cosrx Low pH Gel Cleanser and it is described as being a daily face wash that is gentle enough for sensitive skin types.  I use this as a morning cleanser, usually, after I have showered, I still can't be one of those people who washes their face in the shower, weird yes.

Featuring a mildly acidic pH, the cleansing formula is similar to skin’s natural pH level, so once you have finished using it, it doesn't leave your skin feeling stripped of all moisture and taut.  Designed to remove dirt and grime that has been produced by your skin as you sleep, this Cleansing Gel uses Tea Tree Oil, an ingredient you most definitely do notice, to also help remove excess sebum, making it ideal for those, like me, who have combination oily skin.  Using it in a morning, that Tea Tree scent most definitely gives you a wake-up call, as it cleans the skin and I am quite the fan of the fragrance and I love how clean it leaves my skin feeling.  There is also the inclusion of Betaine Salicylate which is essentially a natural chemical exfoliant that helps to keep your pores clean and free from dead skin cells and also Saccharomyces Ferment, a fermented yeast which I am told is responsible for the bright, hydrated glow we all yearn to have.

The formula of this cleanser is Gel, it isn't a foaming gel, it does, however, lather really nicely and because it is a fairly thick consistency, you need only a small pea-sized amount to clean the entirety of your face.  I have been using this for weeks every single day as my morning cleanser and I have not had a single reaction or break-out after using, though thankfully I don't ever suffer from break-outs. What I love is that clean feeling after using and given it is priced at around £14 it is worth every penny.

You can find this Corsrx low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser and the rest of the Cosrx range via Feelunique*.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.