Hotel Chocolat Festive Wreath Review

We can't have a wreath on our front door- living on a high street means it would just get lampooned by revellers on a Friday night. But this is one wreath that I can have- because it isn't for your front door, it is for your belly!

The Hotel Chocolat Festive Wreath wreath is made with 50% cocoa milk chocolate, with caramel, crunchy cookie bits and hand cut Florentines.

It looks beautiful.

With crunchy bits that...

...run all the way through!

And it is totally delicious!! Not too sweet, fabulous texture, and apparently great for sharing. I am not sure I do 'chocolate' and 'sharing', but this is rich enough that you only need a small bit at a time to satisfy that choccy craving- so you never know, I might offer some to somebody else....if they are very lucky! At £21 it is at higher end of what I would normally spend on chocolate, but the quality shines through, and like the whole Hotel Chocolat range, it is beautifully presented making it a wonderfully luxurious gift.

Hotel Chocolat have a fab range of festive goodies- I also have my eye on this one- The Signature Christmas Collection - partly for the contents, and partly because the box is so gorgeous- definitely one to keep as a jewellery box or somesuch! The whole range is luxurious and beautifully presented- a perfect gift for a chocoholic. Visit the website to see the full range, or pop back here tomorrow for a chance to win your own Hotel Chocolat Wreath!

Love Miss Cisco XXX

Silent Sunday ~ 8th December

 

Politicians- The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Nelson Mandela died. At 95 years old, it should not be an occasion for too much sorrow, his life was long, difficult, triumphant, and brought great change to not only his own country, but to the world at large. We can mourn that the world has lost an incredible man. We should celebrate his amazing legacy, and wish that our own politicians learn something from his ability to listen, forgive, and have dialogue with even those who had imprisoned him.

I have seen so many quotes from him popping up online today. And they all inspire us to become better human beings, to let us know that we can achieve change, and that we must not let hatred rule our lives. Such important lessons. He will be long remembered, and I hope the world takes his words to heart.

Yet in amongst the moving and emotional tributes to this great man on breakfast news this morning, sat an interview with George Osborne which reminded me of how little I trust our own politicians to have the best interests of the whole at heart. He talks of business and growth, while children go hungry. He talks of needing to resolve things now so the burden does not rest on the next generation- yet they are currently facing crippling university bills, denial of access to benefits, and mass unemployment. As a parent of a teenager, plus two younger ones waiting to come up behind her, I fear for their financial security as they try to make their first tentative steps from the nest. I was fortunate. My parents did well for themselves, my children will have far less help from us- we are battling our own rising bills and static incomes to an extent where there will be little from us to pay their way through uni or help them get on the property ladder. Hell, we can't even get on the property ladder!

Yet we are lucky. We have enough. We eat well, and are warm. Our Christmas Tree will be surround by a mound of gifts on the day. Father Christmas will have filled the children's stockings and eaten his mince pie. For too many this year Christmas dinner will rely on the generosity of others and food bank parcels. Parents will be feeling guilty for not being able to tick off the items scrawled in childish hand to Father Christmas. While Osborne talks of austerity and savings for business, he is not doing enough to help those on low wages make ends meet. It is brutal out there for so many, and yet the focus is on all the wrong things. He could do well to learn from Mr Mandela:

“Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like Slavery and Apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great. YOU can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom.”

We can be that generation, but not with chumps looking out for the rich holding all the keys to the public purse. The world needs more attitudes like the great Mandela's, and less of the old school network. 

And as for the ugly, there are some paying tribute to Nelson Mandela who should really be including an apology for past behaviour in their eager and earnest attempts to get their sorrows stated for public record. I am not saying your opinion of a man and a situation cannot change in the decades that have past since the end of Apartheid, but I am saying that you cannot unsay something, you can only apologise for being wrong in the past, something that Nelson Mandela was humble enough to do.

When a few months ago we lost another leader, one I was far less enamoured with, I hoped that we could use of dislike of what she stood for to inspire us to make the world a better place. How different this occasion is- this time I hope it is love that gives us the kick up the backside we need to get things changing. Nelson Mandela was proof that change for the good is possible.

Love Miss Cisco XXX.

I'm a blogger, get me out of here!

Well this is going to be an interesting one- the ever smashing Sarah at Mum of Three World has tagged me to answer some 'In the Jungle' type questions. Now I really like her, so I am going to answer her questions, BUT I have never seen the programme to which the questions refer- so if the question says Jungle, I am literally considering a jungle- not a film set containing Timmy Mallet, a pretty, but unheard of woman, and the member of a boyband nobody remembered, even when they were famous.

I am sure it will be fine....

1.What one thing about being a parent makes you scream 'get me out of here'?

Bedtime dragging on too long. In an ideal world I would have one of them wall punch machines that you stick a card into at 8pm and clock off for the day. In reality there are many nights when I am trotting up and down stairs with drinks and for reassuring hugs until at least 10pm. I have complained to my union about my hours, but they didn't exist, so did nothing.

2. What qualities would you bring to the jungle?

Laziness. Sarcasm. Grumpiness. All useful in the face of adversity I feel.

3. How are you likely to annoy people if you were stuck with them for 3 weeks?

See the answer to question 2.

4. What is the worst thing you have ever eaten?

A tortellini bake in a Harvester. It looked, smelt and tasted like vomit. In fact it would probably have been nicer if I had eaten it, and regurgitated it. Vile.

5. What  item would you smuggle into the jungle with you?

My house. I would tuck it in my bra, nobody ever looks there.

6. What is the most daring thing you have ever done?

Ate cake offered to me by a Hells Angel. It was not normal cake. I should have said no, but I generally like cake, even if it has been baked by Hagrid's scarier cousin. 

7. Who would you miss most if you went into the jungle with a bunch of strangers?

Bill Turnbull in the mornings. I like having a cup of coffee with him in the morning, can I take him to the jungle with me?

8. What celebrity alive or dead would you like to have with you in the jungle and why?

Steve Irwin. He can wrestle all the wildlife for me.

9. What would scare you about being in the jungle?

Bugs. I am a massive wuss about creep crawlies. Or D-list celebrities- they are pretty terrifying too...

10. After leaving the jungle, you go to a luxury hotel. What would be the first thing you did on reaching your hotel?

Cry big fat tears of relief I should imagine.

11. Who do you think should win the Jungle Crown this year?

Bagheera.

12. Who is your least favourite celebrity in the jungle and why?

Errrrrrr.....

13. Which celebrity has surprised you most and how?

The bloke who has his hand up Orville once surprised me by popping a balloon. I cried. I was small. That is a lie.

Hooray, that's me done, and there wasn't an ad break or a kangaroos testicle in sight!

Love Miss Cisco XXX

I'm Dreaming of a Warm Christmas

We live in a big, lovely, old, wonky flat. It spans 2 floors of a seventeeth century building, complete with draughty original sash windows. We love the size, and we love the character, and we love the location. We have also had a fascinating potter through some of the old census records, finding out about some of it's inhabitants over the past couple of centuries.

I will tell you what we don't love though. It is COLD. We only have storage heaters, there is no gas to the property leaving us with little option. I dream of central heating. I dream of instant hot water. I dream of not spending winter snuggled up under a blanket- damn whoever ripped out the fireplaces- we could do with them!!

We are thinking of moving next year. We have no garden where we live, no parking outside, and the cold is starting to get to our old bones. I would love to live somewhere with a modern heating system, like Hive Active Heating. This is an add on to your existing heating system that is SO cool (or warm if you will....) that it has an app meaning you can operate your heating and hot water away from home using your smart phone, tablet or laptop. As someone who lives with no control whatsoever, other than on/off, this futuristic sounding system seems amazing.

If you are coming back from a weekend away, or just early from work on a cold day, you can remotely pop the heating on so you come home to a toasty welcome. And of course, not only does it mean you never go cold, it also offers economic benefits, as you have complete flexibility over when your heating comes on, whether you are home or not. This means you aren't heating an empty house just because the timer has come on, and with our bills rising by the week, we could all do with making some savings there! It also means you can keep an eye from a distance to ensure the house doesn't get too cold and burst your pipes if you are away for an extended period in the winter months, even having a special frost protection programme to prevent just this.

A snapshot of the App Home Screen

My dream house would combine the best of both worlds. I love living in a property with a sense of history to it, but would love to combine that with both modern heating technology, and the oldest heating of all- an open fire, for that bit of romance. This year we will be here still, and relying on my Nan's methods of keeping warm- blankets and hot water bottles- actually, it is quite cosy in it's own way- I shall take those blankets with me, even if I have new fangled posh central heating in our next home!

Love Miss Cisco XXX

Disclosure: This post contains content which has been paid for, but I retain full editorial control.

Is Volunteering Right for Me? – Common Obstacles to Making a Difference

Morning peeps- am handing over the blog to the lovely chaps at Cancer Research UK today, and they are talking about volunteering, and how you can make a difference to them, or another charity of your choosing. Have a read, and see if it reassures you that you CAN help, whatever skills you have and however little time you have got. 

Love Miss Cisco XXX

Image by woodleywonderworks

Most of us have probably thought about volunteering at some time or another, only to be held back by uncertainty. Do I have the time? How much use will I be? What would I do? Now, obviously it’s important to consider questions like this before committing to any one cause, but far too often these questions put people off altogether. It’s like we’re afraid we’ll somehow get it wrong and wind up making no appreciable difference. Unfortunately, this kind of inertia can have a knock-on effect, meaning charities are starved of vital and necessary support – something none of us want. So if you’ve ever considered volunteering but just didn’t know if it was right for you, then please read on as we answer some of the most common questions raised.

Problem: Do I have the time?
This is probably the most-common reason prospective volunteers hold back from applying. Not because we begrudge giving up our free time, mind you, but because we’re worried that we simply don’t have enough of it. In our fast-paced modern world that’s hugely understandable, but it misjudges exactly how time-consuming volunteering is. The truth is that most charities have roles to suit all schedules, from a whole working week to as little as two hours. That’s right: two hours. Basically, as little or as much time as you have to give, charities are willing to have you onboard – and you’ll be valued just as much as anyone else.

Problem: What can I do?
This problem is also known as the ‘but I’m useless’ problem. See, most of us picture a very specific type of work when we think of volunteering; and if working in a shop or answering phones isn’t our kind of thing, then we tend to assume we can’t bring anything to the charity.
Again, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Big charities have an almost limitless variety of roles volunteers can fulfil; from helping to organise fundraising hikes to simply donating an hour or two a week to help with HR requests. If you have a specialist talent (i.e. you work in a specialised field not catered to by most volunteer positions) charities will frequently even consider creating a role especially for you, if they feel you could be of value to their cause. Whoever you are and whatever you do, any charity would love to hear from you.

Image by Craig Sunter

Problem: I live in a rural area, or travelling simply isn’t an option
Of course, not everyone can get to a charity store or head office, even if they do want to volunteer. You may be ill and stuck at home, or on maternity leave or simply live way outside of a major urban centre. The good news is that this needn’t stop you from volunteering. Aside from the obvious option of doing some local fundraising, many charities now offer the chance to ‘volunteer from home’. So long as you have an internet connection, you may be able to volunteer help with some head office tasks, completing them at home and sending your work in. It’s a great way to connect and do something valuable while you’re stuck at home.

Problem: What cause is for me?
Today, there are so many worthy causes vying for our time and money, meaning that many of us tie ourselves up in knots over which cause or charity we should be donating our time to, with the end result that we don’t do anything. If you’re honestly having trouble finding a cause that is ‘right’ for you, don’t panic. Simply sit down when you’ve got the time and think about what’s important to you. Do you care about animals? Does someone in your family suffer from a specific illness? Has your life been touched by a particular issue? Whatever the case, there’s a charity catering to your concerns, and your time would mean the world to them.

We really hope that we’ve answered some of the key questions that get in the way of caring and conscientious people getting involved with the causes that are important to them. If you still have questions, or if you’d like to know more about Cancer Research UK’s volunteering opportunities, please visit the Cancer Research website for more information.


Disclosure- Images and main content provided by CRUK. No payment was received for this post.

Christmas Pyjamas and more from Mothercare.

The kids always have new pyjamas to unwrap on Christmas Eve, then they put them on, and drink hot chocolate in front of a family movie, before putting everything out ready for Father Christmas. They are the one thing they are permitted to open before Christmas Day itself, and ripping open one parcel seems to allow the excitement to settle enough for some sleep! This year Mothercare were kind enough to send some PJs for Syd, and they are SO cute!

Not only do they sell this lovely 2 piece unisex set, (which starts from a very reasonable £14), but have a whole range of fab designs, not only for babies and toddlers, but all the way up to age age 8, and even have a few bits of nightwear suitable for 10 year olds.

And don't forget their sister store, Early Learning Centre, has a great range of toys too- I have always been a big fan of their role play toys, with a fab range of kitchen items and tool sets etc. Their Happyland toys are great too- we have had a lot of use from the Rocket we bought Syd for his birthday. They also have some great stocking fillers, like this little Robot - Bobby Bot - which is only  £4!  

Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions too?

Love Miss Cisco XXX

It is December.

I am a Christmas humbug, but only until the clock strikes midnight on the 30th of November. Once we have ticked over into December I am a Christmas convert, jingle belling all the bloody way. Therefore:-

You may now wear a Santa hat free from the threat of being punched by me.

I shall embrace the sounds of Noddy Holder's dulcet tones, rather than sticking my fingers in my ears.

You can deck as many halls as you like, with no fear of complaint.

Mince Pies are acceptable at any time of day, including breakfast.

The wearing of sparkly clothing and ludicrous jumpers is now considered reasonable, though you still won't catch me in any. Wrap yourself in fairy lights if you wish - you will feel no wrath from me, though you may give yourself an electric shock.

You may now tell me that you have not only bought, but wrapped all your presents. I will still hate you, but not as much as I would have last month.

I will admire the festive dioramas in shop windows, rather than fighting the urge to lob a brick through the decoratively frosted glass.

You can open the Quality Street. Save me one of the green triangles please.

Love Miss 'rooting about in the loft for decorations' Cisco XXX

Top 5 Christmas Classics.

Hello! For those of you who have been readers for a while, apologies if this post is familiar as it was first published last Christmas. I have taken it down from the shelf, and given it a dusting off so that I can link up with the lovely Aly at Plus 2.4 in her Christmas songs listography link up. Which is a bit cheaty, but these are my favourite 5, can't change them now- although having read Aly's post, I too have to admit a fondness for The Darkness's Xmas ditty! Anyhoo- December is upon us, so wrap your lugholes round this little lot!

~~~~~~

I love a good Christmas song and here are my Top 5 Christmas favourites, they mostly still rock, and they all get me well and truly into the festive spirit, which is lucky really as the last couple of years due to pregnancy and breast feeding, the festive spirit is the only spirit I have been allowed!! :-

5) Elvis Presley - Santa Claus is Back in Town.
 I love a bit of Elvis, he is the king of Rock'n'Roll after all! And while his most famous Christmas song is Blue Christmas, I prefer this one -   a raunchy blues number, where Santa doesn’t use a sleigh but drives in a big, black cadillac - Rockin' good!

4) The Ramones - Merry Christmas (I don’t want to fight tonight)

The Ramones' version of punk rock has its roots firmly in 50s rock and roll and do-wop but faster and louder- this could be sung by a be-quiffed 1950's heart-throb, but it isnt, its Joey Ramone!

3) Winter Wonderland - Doris Day.
I want to pop on a full skirted frock, complete with petticoats, and croon this to my dapper sweetheart...

2) The Dickies - Silent Night.
This song sums me up pretty well - Punk Rock meets traditional Christmas- riotously good fun!

1) Fairytale of New York - The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl.
This song celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and is without doubt my favourite Christmas song EVER and singing along is an absolute must - especially the scumbag  bit!! (As an aside I still love this song despite having to listen to it on repeat for 2 months solid when it was the only thing that stopped my colicky first born from screaming of an evening!)

And as it is Christmas I am giving you a bonus song! One from the Cisco household- my boyfriends festive ditty - Satan Claws....take it away Mr Nazer.....

What is your Christmas number one? Would love to know!

Love Miss Christmas Cisco XXX

Silent Sunday ~ 1st of December