Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
A few weeks ago I got in touch with The Treat Kitchen to learn more about who they are and what they do. After emailing backwards and forwards with Jodie, the Marketing Assistant, she invited me to the store to take some pictures and pick up some gifts to feature on the blog and tell you all what I thought!
If you have been into the city centre of Nottingham you will probably have walked past The Treat Kitchen, it is hard to miss and shame on you if you haven't been in or at least stopped in awe at the colourful displays of tastey treats in the windows. The Treat Kitchen is an independent sweet shop which opened in September 2014 after the owners, Jess and Martin Barnett, returned from living in Australia for 3 years following the birth of their son Max. Whilst in Australia Martin worked for the countries largest retail group as confectionary buyer and Jess worked for RMIT University. The Barnett family have two confectionary factories in Nottingham and are passionate about using traditional methods of production such as copper pans and hand crafting sweets using their original recipes.
As a love for sweet treats has been in the family since the 1890's, Martin and Jess felt that there was a gap in the market for a sweet shop selling high quality goods in a modern and attractive setting. If you think of the usual old fashioned sweet shop you picture a wooden looking room full of plastic containers and a man or woman at a till waiting to weigh them out and put them in a paper bag, right? Well, that is the complete opposite of this sweet shop! The Treat Kitchen has huge glass windows, pastel and light wood decor and beautifully displayed jars and pouches of colourful sweets. The walls are white and the shelves are white and this really does make the products stand out! Jess and Martin also wanted to be resourceful and help the environment at the same time as providing amazing treats - this is why all of their products come in pouches, jars and glass milk bottles so when you have finished eating the delicious contents you can reuse the packaging for whatever you like, a pen pot or a makeup brush jar or even for smoothies?! We have all seen the amazing Pinterest boards with re-used glass bottles and jars.
Now you may be thinking that the sweets aren't any different to what you find in your local Sainsbury's? You are mistaken! Every single sweet has been chosen to reflect the enchanting world of confectionary and the theatre that goes along with it. Supporting other local businesses The Treat Kitchen have traditional sweets with a twist. The hard boiled sweets and rock (including Nottingham Rock) is made at the Barnett families factory and all of the Gourmet Fudge is made in-store and comes in a mouthwatering variety of flavours. Fancy some chocolate? Well then why not try the locally made Gourmet Chocolate Pizza's made with the finest Belgian milk, dark and white chocolate? Or how about some hard boiled sweets resembling family favourites by Tilleys Sweets...Lemon Meringue Pie flavour or Banoffee Pie anyone? Making the windows and shelves colourful is made easy by the 36 different flavours of Jelly Beans available in pouches and bottles all with one flavour in - no more half eaten bags as you will like all of the Jelly Beans you buy! Finally, if you don't want to be completely unhealthy or have to watch your sugar intake The Treat Kitchen also stock Stockley's Sugar Free goods which use naturally occurring sugars so there is no compromise on taste! With 300 varieties of different treats you could easily spend all day filling you arms with months, ok weeks, of sweets for you and your family.
I was lucky enough to be given a sample of a few different products they stock including some traditional favourites. I am a big fan of Jelly Beans and as The Treat Kitchen supply The Jelly Bean Factory ones I knew they were going to be good. Raspberry Jam and Cinnamon (my ALL TIME favourite) were in my bag of goodies and they both were so good. I was also lucky to be able to try the Barnett family's Nottingham Rock which although tastey was lacking a little something, with a slight citrus sweet taste I had to keep reminding myself I was eating rock and not a plain hard boiled sweet. The Treat Kitchen have recently launched a range of Radioactive Sours - a delicious hard boiled sweet covered in malic acid which really makes you squirm for about 30 seconds. After the sour taste has gone you are left with a delightful sweet underneath - I received the Watermelon flavour and they were amazing! Sweetshop classics cannot be forgotten even in a modern environment therefore you are still able to buy your pink shrimps, fizzy cola bottles, chewy milk bottles, torpedo's or even aniseed balls. I got a pouch of foam bananas and although I am not a big fan of banana they really were delicious.
Finally, the big ending to this delicious roller coaster ride is the Gourmet Fudge! The Treat Kitchen have 30 flavours in their collection but rotate 12 flavours at a time on their amazing display which is right in front of you as you enter the store - it seriously grabs your attention before anything else. A small taster of Salted Caramel and Raspberry and White Chocolate was in my bag of treats and they were so creamy and moreish that I was disappointed when I had eaten them. The Salted Caramel was creamy but lacking salt however, the Raspberry and White Chocolate flavour was amazing it was the softest fudge I have eaten and truly tasted like I was eating chocolate not a bar of fudge.
Everything in The Treat Kitchen has been thought about down to the last detail and they even do themed ranges for holidays such as Father's Day and Valentines Day. A range of Strawberries and Cream flavoured goods were also on display for Wimbledon!
Thank you to everyone at The Treat Kitchen for gifting me with the lovely sweets - I will definitely be back!
For all of my readers you can get 10% off your online orders when you type in the promotional code 'ELLIE10' at the checkout.
This cannot be used instore but don't worry you will not miss out as the fudge cannot be purchased online so you get the added treat of being able to buy this in person rather than have it delivered.
The Treat Kitchen, 21-23 Wheeler Gate NG1 2NA Tel: (0115) 941 1661
Twitter: TreatKitchen
The Treat Kitchen, 21-23 Wheeler Gate NG1 2NA Tel: (0115) 941 1661
Twitter: TreatKitchen
I received gifts from The Treat Kitchen for review purposes however all views are my own
I have been browsing the new arrivals of loads of websites wanting to update my wardrobe so I thought I would put together a wish list of the items I am lusting over this Spring!
- Flamingo Candle - Rose and Marshmallow Scent Classic Jar
- H&M Rose Gold Bracelets
- Warehouse D Frame Sunglasses
- No7 Match Made Stay Perfect Lipstick
- Pink Floral Cup With Straw
- New York Couture Jumper
- Flora by Gucci Eau De Toilette
- Pink Slim Cigarette Pants
- Lace-Up Blutcher Flat Shoes
- Max Factor Creme Puff Blush
- The Redchurch Handbag
- Enamel Triangle Studs
Let me know if you have your eye on anything! I especially love those flats, the floral cup and I have seen a lot of people talking about the Max Factor blushes. Now I just need to stop myself from buying everything...
Every year in Nottingham we have a 'Light Night' city wide event which celebrates light in many forms by local businesses. This year there were 40 businesses taking part and I was lucky enough to be invited along to see how Debbie Bryan was involved.
Debbie Bryan opened her store in the Lace Market area of Nottingham in 2009, selling her own award winning scarves and brooches. With a Masters in Fashion and Textiles Debbie has exhibited and sold her work in 6 countries, including Italy, Hong Kong and the USA. The store, which is nearby to Debbie's design studio, has expanded it's offerings over the past 6 years and now houses the cities Lace Archives, independent art, home decorations, textiles and a tucked away Tea Room. In the historic Lace Market and Creative Quarter, Debbie has been able to contribute a creative business in this perfect location and beautiful building in a secluded street that is still easy to find.
During this festival of light, Debbie offered a late Crafternoon where customers were able to have a relaxed get together and stitch their own items whilst enjoying the event. With inspiration all around the store and a cheerful host it was easy to sit there for, what felt like, hours and watch the people come and go and see the creations people were making. Crafternoons are sessions that Debbie holds for groups of people who may wish to get together and enjoy tea and cakes whilst creating their own Lampshades, Wreaths or even Cake Stands.
If you are interested in going along and crafting you don't have to be in a group though as regular events are held for occasions all year round. These are perfect for those budding crafters or close friends who want to do something a little different on an afternoon whilst spending some time together and taking something home handmade by you.
The majority of items are made in store and everything is labelled to be bought or just admired at your own leisure. From the simple gift tags to jewellery and items of clothing this store really does have something for everyone and if you are in need of a last minute Valentines Day present these cute 'I Love You' bowls would be perfect.
Getting back on track to the Light Night event, I took some time to take a look around the store at all of it's offerings. It may not look large from the front but once you step in side you are greeted by a lovely decorated space and beautiful furniture housing delicate and intricate pieces of fabric and art. Framed original lace and sections of delicate white lace can be bought for your own collection or possibly used when you attend one of the craft events. The store is welcoming and has beautifully selected pieces that make you want to stay there and never leave - though with the store open until 6pm you can definitely enjoy your time there for as long as you want to.
I am a huge fan of scented candles, aren't all bloggers? So when I saw this new collection of fragranced kitchen candles I was blown away by their scents and affordability (£15). In large white ceramic jars there are sweet and savoury scents for everyone's home and I am sure many homes in Nottingham will soon house one of these. My favourites were Rhubarb and Custard, Victoria Sponge and the amazing Hot Chocolate one that was burning in the Tea/Brew Room. So heavenly and comforting I wanted to buy them all, maybe just a few to start.
Light Night is a celebration of light creations interpreted in many different ways. As Debbie sells gorgeous home decorations she displayed her offerings of lights and handmade lampshades throughout the store. Lit up in windows, in display cabinets and on tables were multiple lights each with delicate details and soft shades that would suit any work top or bedside table. The store has been carefully designed to incorporate many items at the same time and have them relate to each other in a way that doesn't look too cluttered and messy.
As the new Brew Room and Afternoon Tea offerings were being advertised I couldn't help myself but to pull up a comfortable wooden chair and enjoy a Pot of Tea with a Homemade Scone served with jam and clotted cream. The tea pot kept on giving and the scone was delicious and big enough for an evening snack but not too dense or heavy. Everything was enjoyable and I could have eaten a few more scones if my stomach would have allowed me to. There may have also been a cheeky tipple added to my tea that made me love the evening even more - well it was a Friday night!
The local produce of drinks and food items looked amazing and was very affordable compared to items of similar appearance in your local supermarket (£6). The honey's and local ales look amazing and I over heard good things about their taste too, with some ales room temperature and some refrigerated Debbie had definitely thought of everything to make the evening very enjoyable for all. The next time I am in the area I will be browsing the candles, cards and jars to see what goodies I can treat myself to and support the local businesses whilst I am there.
I would recommend Debbie Bryan to anyone looking for an event space, afternoon tea, gifts or even clothes, there really is something for everyone and with a great host and atmosphere I can see why customers are always returning. Thank you to Debbie and the apprentices who help her run the store I really had an enjoyable evening and will be back again soon.
Debbie Bryan, 18 St Mary's Gate, The Lace Market, Nottingham - 0115 957776
Twitter and Instagram: DebbieBryanShop
Let me know if you have ever been to Debbie Bryan or know of a similar store I should visit! xx
I have been loving all of the blog posts and YouTube video's lately of gift guides and wish lists so I thought I would put one together of the things I have on my list that I think any blogger or YouTuber would want on theirs too!
1. Riva Digital Compact Case - I have been using the white sleeve that came with my camera as my case *slap on the hand* so I think it is time to get a proper case to keep my camera safe when I am out blogging. My camera is the Canon IXUS 265 HS; if anyone was wondering.
2. Michael Kors Mini-Bradshaw Watch - Who doesn't want a Michael Kors watch? I have a leather strap one with a brown face and it was a present to myself when I started Uni but I have been getting slightly bored with it and want a link one now. I know this won't be under my tree on Christmas morning but isn't it so pretty?
3. Grey Cosy Robin Pyjamas - Christmas pyjamas or PJ's are a must for the month of December and really put me in the mood to chill out and watch Christmas movies all day. These grey ones are from Next and they have super soft bottoms with lots of Robins on wearing Santa hats and the top has the same Robins on but underneath some Mistletoe, one of the cutest things I have seen this year.
4. Fairy Dust Candle Jar - I recently have been wondering around John Lewis looking at their new Christmas range and this candle caught my eye. They have a lovely display of Lily-Flame candles and this smells so soft and perfectly warming for a cold December.
5. Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook - This is a book by Gary Vaynerchuk about using social media correctly, basically. I love getting new books at Christmas and after choosing social media as part of my research topic at Uni this book has made it to my list. If you don't know who Gary Vaynerchuk is then check him out on YouTube and you too will be hooked by his videos and his knowledge.
6. No7 Mini Eye Palette - No7 makeup brand by Boots has got to be one of my favourite brands this year. I have been using an eyeshadow palette by them for the past year and I am definitely in need of a new one! This one is perfect in a plastic case, with eight shades and has a handy mirror and double ended brush - what more could you ask for?
7. Party Time Candle Jar - This is another Lily-Flame candle from John Lewis that I have fallen in love with. I have never smelt anything like it but it smells like your bedroom after you have spent an hour getting ready to go out and you can smell that perfume you have on and the room smells sensual, soft and kind of musky. I am terrible at describing things but if you are near a John Lewis go in and smell this candle!!
8. After Dinner Drinks Selection - Who else loves a little after dinner drink at Christmas or throughout the New Year? This can be bought at Boots and features 4 small bottles and 4 mint chocolates. All bottles are 50ml and there is; 1x Cognac, 1x Port, 1x Irish Cream and 1x Amaretto. This is definitely something I would enjoy whilst watching Christmas movies or reading a Christmas book.
I have been hinting for a few things to Jensen and my sister and mum so hopefully they might see this and know exactly what is on my list!
Let me know if you have anything similar on your list too! xx
So this week was my 21st birthday! Woop! My mum and sister took me to Birmingham for the weekend to do some shopping and eating etc. I thought I would share with you what I bought, there isn't a lot but I am sure I will go back again and do more shopping as this was my first time at the Bull Ring. So here is what I bought and where I got it from (top to bottom):
- Moringa and Satsuma Body Spray from The Body Shop
- PJ Set and Crop Lounge Top from Forever 21
- Ring and Earrings from Accessorize
- Naked3 Palette from Selfridges FINALLY!
The body sprays are amazing and this is the first time I have tried Body Shop ones - they also have a deal on at the minute where student's can get one of their loyalty cards for free. I love the cute coffee PJ's the top is a t-shirt that says "Nobody Understands Me Like Coffee Does" and it comes with shorts that have little coffee images on and the lounge top is a long sleeved crop top. I'm not really a jewellery wearer and have decided to try and get back into wearing bits and pieces so these are my two new items to get me going. And finally the Naked3 palette which I have been dying to get my hands on but waited for this shopping trip to do it. I love that it comes with the four different eye potion samples too, which I didn't know about until I opened it - soo excited to start wearing these eyeshadows!
Let me know if you have any of these items and what you think xx
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