#EstimationNation Bake Off with Smart Energy GB

In early May I was invited by Smart Energy GB to attend an event organised to highlight the absurdity of estimation in our daily lives. We don’t and wouldn’t accept it in other parts of our lives yet seem to have no problem using estimation to pay for one of the largest household bills, our gas and electricity.

On 19 May the date had arrived, hubby had managed to say nothing of what was in store* and I made my way through the streets of trendy Hoxton, dodging hipsters, the pools of beard wax on the pavement outside overpriced bars and artisan coffee houses to Open Kitchen.

So, what was on the cards? Well, it was described as a strange an unusual punishment in a jokey way, but it actually turned out to be four hours of fun, laughter and a great chance to see how other bloggers coped with the challenges. Hosted by Ian Cumming of chocolate well fame from a certain baking show had developed two recipes for us to try and bake, the twist being that the recipes didn’t have any measurements, we had no way of measuring anything and we had no idea what temperature and for how long they had to be baked for – everything was to be done using estimates.

As we had an odd number I had the beauty of lots of advice and assistance from Ian. Without it I would have been lost, completely lost and despite his expert help I have to say the first challenge resulted in lovely looking cakes but on tasting them they had a sharp taste. Way too much bi-carbonate of soda!

As the chefs from Open Kitchen made their way around the work stations to judge the offerings we had come up with we adjourned downstairs to a beautifully decorated area where we learnt more about smart meters and how they will bring an end to the age of estimation and drag one of the last analogue industries into the digital age. We even got to watch a short hidden camera video showing the reaction of shoppers when a supermarket estimates their final bill. I had seen it before but it still makes me laugh. You can see it here:

After taking on some tea it was time for Ian to set the second challenge. Cheese and herb scones! I’ve never made a scone in my life and dreaded this section! After much tutting and deliberation it became clear that I had to get a move on and again I was pulling my scones out of the oven as time was called. These were much worse than the cupcakes and it took about five minutes to chew one bite – not good.

There were prizes for the best estimator bake and to my surprise the worse bakes also received vouchers for cooking lessons with the excellent chefs at Open Kitchen.

I didn’t win, I couldn’t (see the disclosure at the bottom) but that didn’t take anything away from the day which I thought was a fantastic way of bringing energy and an energy related topic to life, brilliantly organised and well executed.

Three things I learnt on the day:  

• Estimation sucks and smart meters will finally bring this to an end for my bills
• Ian Cumming is not only a great baker but also he is a genuinely lovely man and it was an honour to cook with him
• Smart meters will show me, in pounds and pence what I’m spending on my electricity at home - we don’t have a gas supply.

Smart meters are being offered to every household in England, Scotland and Wales between now and 2020 at no additional cost. They show how much energy you are using and do so in pounds and pence so you can use the display to make energy efficiency savings around the home, easy steps like changing to energy efficient light bulbs, turning off lights when leaving rooms and switching devices off standby.

*it’s an obvious disclosure but hubby does work for Smart Energy GB, he offered no help on the day and he even excluded me from the possibility of winning or losing so there could be no accusations of bias. It was fun though and an experience I’ll never forget.

 For added fun you can see how hard this challenge was:

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Boutique Spa Classic Pedicure

I hate feet, it isn't a new fact and it isn't even that unusual, what's more, I hate my feet being touched full stop so when I was given the chance to enjoy a pedicure, I was in part filled with dread that I wouldn't enjoy it and fearful that as soon as someone touch my feet, I would, as I usually do, kick out!

Boutique Spa is the sister company of Spa and Massage, which I have recently visited and reviewed here and it is based in Queensway, just a few stops up from Oxford Street  in London with another to open in Fitzrovia later this year. As with its sister company, Boutique Spa aims to make having a treatment easy and is open on Monday to Saturday from 10am until 9.30pm and on a Sunday from 10am until 8pm, they offer a walk-in, no appointment necessary service or you can also book a treatment in advance.  

Upon my arrival, I was greeted with an offer of freshly made Lemonade, Water or Tea and then asked to choose a nail polish that I would like used for my Classic Pedicure.  Gratefully accepting Lemonade, I looked at the wall, yes an entire wall, full of nail polishes and eventually settled on an Essie Shade which is quite unlike anything I would usually choose.

Once I had chosen my nail polish, I was taken over to the Pedicure section of the Boutique and told to get myself comfortable, remove my shoes and relax.  What I liked about this Boutique was how clean it was and having got myself relaxed into a chair, I could have quite happily sat there all day just watching the world go by.  Nothing was too much trouble and I was kept hydrated the whole time I was in the Boutique.

I was to have the Classic Pedicure which lasts for 45 minutes and costs just £35. The treatment include smoothing of the feet, cuticle tidy, foot massage, shape and then polish.  So once my feet had been soaking in the amazingly warm water, absolute heaven as my feet were pretty tired and aching from all of the walking I had done that day.  The first part of the treatment my therapist did was to cut my talons, file them into shape and then tidy the cuticles around each nail, a totally painless exercise and one, which like your fingernails, is important. 

Then using various foot buffering tools, my feet were scrubbed, rubbed, buffed and exfoliated, not just the heels of my feet either, each toe, the back of my heel, the ball of my foot and the sole, a tool for each job used and some more abrasive than others, but impressive at the same time.  Once my feet had become soft and smooth to the touch, I was then given a foot massage, the part I had really not been looking forward too but wow, what an absolute treat it was and it was so good, I almost fell asleep in the chair, I was that relaxed and de-stressed.  My feet were massaged from top to bottom with varying degrees of pressure applied, it wasn't uncomfortable nor did it hurt, it was just absolute bliss (Beautykinguk take note!!)

Once the massage was complete, it was time to paint my toe nails, it is rare that I have no nail polish on my toes and when I do, it is always a dark polish. Having had a base coat applied, the Essie shade I had chosen, Sunset Sneaks, was then applied and then a cuticle oil.  I was then told to sit back, relax and wait for the polish to dry, which I did.

The whole treatment lasted 47 minutes and it was so much better than I had anticipated it would be. Not once did I flinch or get the urge to kick out, infact I enjoyed the whole process so much, I didn't want to leave.

Boutique Spa is a fantastic little find. The staff are incredibly welcoming and easy to chat too, nothing is too much trouble and the entire experience is so incredibly relaxing with the scent of aromatherapy oils in the air and some light music in the background.  So if you are in need of a lunchtime treat, this place is the the place to be!

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Elizabeth Arden Sunset Bronze Collection

I was recently given the opportunity to try some of the Elizabeth Arden makeup range, something I have never done before and I am grateful for that chance because it is just absolutely amazing. The Sunset Bronze Collection** for Summer 2016 which was inspired by the breathtaking summer sunset is just as stunning as the packaging suggests and it includes a few limited edition products which are well worth hunting down to purchase. The range includes Prismatic Lip Glosses, a Bronzing Powder and Eyeshadow Palette which means there is something for everyone. The only product I don't have from this collection is the Prismatic Highlighting Stick which is described as being a creamy, luminous stick which is infused with hydrating ingredients such as Aloe Vera, Zinc PCA and Vitamin E to add a glow to your cheekbones.

I have the Primastic Bronzing Powder in shade Warm Bronze 01 and it is perfect for my pale skin. The silky bronzer is diffused with golden shimmer which runs throughout and in doing so it leaves a glow to the skin which adds warmth. Again, packed with skin-perfecting ingredients, this bronzer helps to minimise fine lines and wrinkles and using Vitamin E and Argan Oil to not only keep your skin moisturised but to also keep it feeling soft.

I love the pattern of the bronzer and if you look closely enough, you can see that it is made up of a few different bronzer shades and that there is a slight sparkle.  The compact, which also replicates the amazing packaging features a handy mirror and it comes with a half moon brush which is incredibly easy to use.

The Prismatic Lip Glosses are Limited Edition and they are rather quirky looking. Available in three shades: 01 Moonlight Kiss, 02 Midnight Kiss and 03 Sunset Kiss. I have 01 Moonlight kiss which is described as being lavender in shade. What I love about it is how glossy it is within the tube, if you turn it within the light, it changes colour slightly and that is owing to the lustrous pigments and multidimensional pearls it is packed with. Each gloss within this range has a high-shine iridescence and they nourish the lips with moisture. Using Aloe Vera to soothe, comfort and moisturise whilst Vitamins A and E help to protect the lips whilst also adding moisture.

I am not usually a lipgloss kind of girl, I find them annoying, especially if they are tacky on the lips and you spend half the time picking your hair out of the gloss. This Prismatic Lipgloss is one that is not tacky when applied and it is one I have constantly used to the point of being obsessed with it. I wear it on top of lipsticks and on its own and just love how moisturising and hydrating it is, add that to the sparkle and shine and it ticks every box for me.  The swatches above show the gloss with flash, in natural light and then with no flash.

The final item I have from this collection is the Summer Seduction Eyeshadow Palette. Again the compact mirrors the packaging and has a handy mirror and brush for on the go application. The palette features five gorgeous very pigmented shimmery shades from a soft pink and golden amber to taupe-plum and rich purple powder, which you could use together or on their own. All of these shadows are really creamy to the touch but do not crease once applied and there is hardly any fallout which is incredibly impressive. I adore all of the shades and am slowly getting used to wearing something other than nudey eye, but I am not quite there yet.

As you can see from the eyeshadow swatches, where I have done all the pinky shades and not the yellow coloured one (oops) they are just stunning and the swatches are just one swipe of the finger on top of each shade.

The entire collection is beautiful and it is one I would recommend looking at if you have never tried anything from Elizabeth Arden before, for me, this was my first look into the make up of a brand I have heard so much about, but have never delved into and now I am glad that I have.

What is your favourite piece from the collection? You can find the collection HERE.