(Ad - Gifted) The Old Curiosity Valentine's Day Gin Gift Box - Review!

 Valentine's day is coming and the Scottish craft distillery, Old Curiosity has launched a new limited edition gift box in preparation perfectly capturing the spirit of the day. With its whimsical and charming packaging this gift box is designed to adorn and enhance a gin-lover’s collection.

The Secret Garden Gift Box contains gin which are distilled with botanicals grown in the distillery’s Secret Herb Garden on the outskirts of Edinburgh. 

The Secret Garden is an award-winning herb nursery with over 600 naturally grown and tended varieties of herbs and flowers which are picked, dried and distilled by hand to deliver the pure essence of nature. The nursery is most renowned for the highly acclaimed and multi award-winning collection of premium, 100% natural, Secret Garden Gins which are stocked by some of the UK’s most prestigious retailers and now exported to 11 countries around the globe. The distillery also produces ranges of teas, soaps and hand sanitisers.

The gift box contains two 20cl bottles both 39% ABV. The Apothecary Rose Gin offers a familiar Turkish Delight flavour whilst the Pink Elderflower and Jasmine satisfies a sweeter tooth but is sugar free.

The gin gift set has a RRP of £29.95 and I think that is a great price. The box is gorgeous and has such a pretty design and the bottles are so cute. I am not usually a gin drinker but I will be giving it a try tonight and I am especially looking forward to giving the Apothecary Rose Gin a go.

Hamish Martin, Director at the Old Curiosity Distillery, said: “This year, it seems more important than ever to show the ones we care about, how much we love them. That’s why we have put so much effort in to creating gifts that are guaranteed to make the ones we love, smile.” He is totally right. Even if you don't want to send this to a romantic partner you could send it to a friend just to say you care and don't forget that it is Mother's day in March.

With Valentine's coming up it is a great excuse to have a little fun and make some cocktails. These gins would make a great addition to one. Here are some ideas:

Rose Negroni.

25ml Rose Gin 

25ml Campari

25ml Vermouth

Method: Stir over ice, strain.

Garnish with orange peel.

Love Potion Fizz

50ml Elderflower Gin 

15ml Lime Juice 

15ml Elderflower Liquor 

Top with prosecco

Method: Shake with ice: Gin, lime and liquor, Strain over cubed ice and top with prosecco.

Do you like the sound of either of these cocktails or the gin?

I was sent the The Old Curiosity Valentine's Day Gin gift box free of charge in exchange for this blog post.

Week 4 of #Project365. 23rd - 29th January. A photo every day for a year!

How is it nearly February already> Considering we haven't been anywhere or done anything really exciting, the time is flying over. After the news about the schools not reopening until at least the 8th of March it looks like we really do have to get used to the home schooling. It has gone well this week. Hooray!

I used creative as my Word of the Week and I think this weeks photos show that. We seem to have been busy with different projects. I have even being doing some of my cross stitch which I haven't done much of since the summer.

Now for a photo every day.

23/365 - 23rd January

I'm onto the Easter chocolate now. hehehe Mini eggs are so good.

24/365 - 24th January

A frosty morning here. We didn't have any snow unlike the rest of the country. It seemed everyone had it but us.

25/365 - 25th January

Ellie had a screen free day on Tuesday so got a head start on her work on Monday by building a eco house. It could have been made from anything but she chose Lego.

26/365 - 26th January

The screen free day involved a lot of cutting, painting and gluing making a stage for her Design and Technology project.

27/365 - 27th January

English work. They have been learning about poetry and this weeks poem was Stealing by Carol Ann Duffy. Ellie had to make a storyboard with some of the key points from it.

28/365 - 28th January

Becky finished her paint by numbers set and I think it looks amazing! I need to get a frame for her and she has a list of other one's she wants to get.

29/365 - 29th January

As of writing this Becky is on with dying her hair fluorescent green. Eek! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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This week my Word of the Week is: Creative! #WotW

This week my Word of the Week is:

We have had a good week. We seem to have found our groove with the home learning, finally! I think the school having a screen free day and doing a few more creative pieces of work has helped.

The school announced that they were having a screen free day and I thought it was a fantastic idea. Ellie had been staring at a screen with Zoom calls sometimes for about 5 hours a day which in my opinion is just too much. The school set some work that was creative and didn't need the use of a computer at all.

First up was to write a poem with the title "stealing". It was like pulling teeth and took about 2 hours to finish. She hates writing and was a little worried about it not rhyming properly but we got there eventually and this below is half of it.

Ellie had started building an eco house out of Lego on Monday for Science, getting a bit of a head start and did a great job. She then had to write about what made it an eco house on Tuesday. As much as she hates writing she enjoyed doing this piece. I think when she has a real interest in something she is easily motivated.

Then Ellie had to continue with the work for creating a festival for Design & Technology. She had been looking forward to this weeks work, designing and making a stage for all the acts to perform on.

It took us a while to find a box, I couldn't believe it, we usually have loads in the garage but after having a good clear out after Christmas we didn't have much choice. Ellie had planned to use a shoe box but ended up using a bigger one. It didn't matter it just give her more space to paint and decorate.

Ellie painted it yellow, picked the things she wanted stuck on it and cut them all out. All she had help with was printing the things out and Stu cut the box for her. I wasn't letting her loose with a Stanley knife.

This is the stage halfway finished. I am saving the final photo for My Sunday Photo.

As well as the creative work on Tuesday there has been a few other pieces during the week which seems to have given her a motivational boost.

Becky has been cracking on with her paint by numbers set that she started last week and finished it yesterday. Hooray. She has now asked me to buy more sets for her which I am all for. If it means she spends time off technology I am happy. You can see it over on my Insta account.

Last weeks word was "Samey" and this week feels so different, way more positive. I think being creative instead of just staring at a screen has gone a long way to helping.

(Ad - Gifted) Valentine's Day experiences that you can enjoy at home from Buyagift.

Coronavirus has changed many things about our lives and one of those things is how we celebrate things. Birthdays, anniversaries and special days like Valentine's day.

Valentine's day used to mean meals out, nights in hotels or romantic weekend getaways. Now that we're all staying home we have to do things differently and Buyagift is here to help with a fantastic range of experiences so you celebrate Valentine’s Day from the comfort of your own home!

I have been having a look what is on offer and these are the one's which caught my eye.

Afternoon Tea for Two at Home with Piglet's Pantry.

£35.00

Get an afternoon tea sent to your door and enjoy it from home with Piglet's Pantry. This award winning food producer supplies a selection of freshly made sweet and savoury treats to venues all over the country. So enjoy the perfect slice of British tradition from your home. Tuck into delicious cheese and chive quiche, classic sausage rolls, Scotch eggs, sausage rolls filled with cheese and pickle, a selection of cakes and fruit scones topped with jam and cream. You will also receive Earl Grey tea bags, so you can make a pot of tea to go with your treats! Available as a vegan option.

Pizza and Popcorn Big Night In for Two.

£37.50

It’s time for your big night in this Valentine's Day! You’ll be sent everything you need for a fun evening filled with entertainment, delicious pizza and gourmet popcorn! With a Birtelli’s pizza kit and two 80g bags of salted caramel popcorn sent straight to your door, you'll have everything you need for the best night in yet. These handy kits include a choice of par-baked bases, 10 pizza toppings and can be cooked in only ten minutes! Simply choose the date for your big night in, pick your toppings and you’ll receive everything you need on the day. All you have to do is pop it in the oven. You’ll also receive a CHILI movie stream voucher, so you can pick the perfect film to watch as you tuck in.

Online Chocolate Truffle Making Webinar and Truffle Kit for Two with My Chocolate.

£31.00

Treat an aspiring chocolatier to this interactive online workshop. Follow the steps as a talented expert demonstrates how to make delicious cream truffles. This hands-on webinar is a chance to discover how to mix ganache perfectly, pipe chocolate and create a mouth-watering flavour for the finishing product.  Have fun and work as a team whilst getting into the spirit for some chocolate making from the kitchen at home. Make tempting truffles and indulge in these sugar sweet treats knowing they have been crafted by hand from fresh ingredients.

Couples Double Night Ginspiration Online Cocktail Masterclass for Two with Beyond the Bar.

£35.00

Staying in is the new going out, so don your evening gear and head down to the kitchen for a virtual cocktail making masterclass! Hosted by Beyond the Bar, this one-and-a-half-hour masterclass includes mixing up three gin-based beverages using your own ingredients, as well as drinking games and a fascinating history lesson in gin! Expect non stop laughs, good vibes and even better entertainment with a unique and fun-packed experience perfect for gin lovers!

Tuscan Pottery Date Night Experience Including Drinks.

£33.00

Relax and reconnect – we are bringing the ultimate date night to you. This creative at-home experience promises an evening of intimacy and joy. The Tuscan Pottery box will bring all the fun ideas to you, so there’s no need to frantically browse the web for outdated inspiration. These snazzy little boxes include the goods to get the sparks flying. With indulgent snacks and drinks also included, this date box is beautifully designed to bring out your creative spirit with a hint of Italian romance. Impress your other half with a unique date night at home.

Buyagift also have a fantastic selection of hampers to enjoy at home including chocolate, prosecco, beer and snacks.

As well as experiences to enjoy at home Buyagift still have their amazing experiences days. Spa days, afternoon tea's at amazing venues, helicopter rides and meals out. They know times are uncertain so you can shop with confidence as experience vouchers are valid for 20 months and gift experience boxes with 1000s of experiences for your recipient to choose from are valid for 2 years so you can surprise your loved one now and enjoy later!

What have you got planned for Valentine's day?

I was gifted an Afternoon Tea for Two at home with Piglet's Pantry in exchange for this blog post.