Category Archives: Food & Drink

Before Chocolate is a Hot Chocolate like no other

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When I was approached by Before Chocolate to product review for them I was very excited. It is rare to find a chocolate product that is dairy free and made to a standard that is so exceptional. Today on my blog I am going to talk about my experience and taste testing of this delicious brand.

Before Chocolate Original Hot Chocolate

About Before Chocolate

Established in 2019 by Harry and Mandi. A UK based company with high standards for producing a chocolate that is not only good for you, containing natural ingredients, as well as no allergens. But their mission was a simple one, to create a product that was chemical and additive free, that tasted like real chocolate should.
They work closely with the Cacao growers they use to find the finest beans for their products. Harry is an EU Organic Superfood importer, and Mandi is a mother of two who has always had a passion for real chocolate.
Before Chocolate is made from South American Fino de Aroma Cacao beans. And are Winner’s of 17 Great Taste Awards. They have also been featured on ITV.

Some Words from Before Chocolate and how they create their Artisan Hot Chocolate

Our chocolate products are a result of our collaboration with some of the world’s best cacao growers and chocolatier’s. Our range is inspired by the finest traditional superfood ingredients, multi-generational chocolate-making expertise and a desire to go back to the roots of chocolate making.

Chocolate as we know today is industrially processed, contains refined sugar, E numbers and many other nasty ingredients making it nutritionally poor. We’ve simply taken chocolate back to its origins; simpler, healthier and more natural than modern day chocolate as we all know it today.  Our cacao-rich super smooth chocolate is made up of high quality organic wholefoods, ethically sourced directly from the very best farmers around the world.

We’ve kept our ingredients list as short as possible with just single origin Peruvian and Ecuadorian Organic Cacao, Organic Coconut Sugar (15%) and with added superfoods such as Camu Camu, Turmeric, Maca, Lucuma and Chia seeds.

Before Chocolate products are allergen-free, vegan, organic, free from refined sugar and most importantly taste delicious. Great for all of the family, convenient healthy treats on the go or to simply have as a healthy snack at work.  Now you can enjoy your chocolate, guilt free knowing its actually a better alternative. Before Chocolate represents simple, clean and natural ingredients. Exactly how Chocolate should be enjoyed. 

Original Hot Chocolate

What’s In Before Chocolate Hot Chocolate?

Organic Cacao Paste
Unrefined Muscovado Sugar
Organic Light Agave Nectar

Cacao solids are 51% of the packet. I was given 135g bags which turn into 5 portions (regular mug size).

Chocolate Orange

The Products I Have Reviewed

When I was sent the hot chocolate pouches I could tell from the packaging that it was made to a high standard. Everything was clearly labelled with all the information that you could wish for. From the ingredients list to everything you needed to know about the product that was inside, including how to prepare it. The pouches are also resealable with a wonderful enclosed lip, this allows you to use just what you wanted and save the rest for another day.

I found that the bags contained 5 portions per bag, but liking my hot chocolate quite strong and also using a large mug I decided to add a little more into my saucepan than the recommended 3 spoonful’s, I used four. We had 4 portions of drink from the Original pouch, and 5 portions for the Orange and Spiced flavours.

I invited some family members over for the afternoon where I made everyone a hot chocolate of their choice using Almond Milk (we are a dairy free household) and I found it was simple to prepare. Using my favourite milk saucepan I poured in enough almond milk for the mug chosen and waited for it to simmer. Then I began stirring in the wonderful rich Cacao from the Before Chocolate packet. I used a silicone whisk to ensure a smooth finish. I made each drink one at a time for the different flavours, and then we sat around drinking them.

The overall view was that each one was certainly smooth and rich in flavour, I had personally never had a hot chocolate with such defined flavour. I actually think my choice of almond milk really complimented it. The before chocolate drinks were like velvet across your tongue, strong chocolate flavour and a nice after taste.

Original

This has to be the smoothest hot chocolate I have ever tasted, rich and delicious. A few minutes after I had finished it I did find myself in need of a glass of water, I think due to the richness. It was an indulgent and decadent treat for my taste buds. Knowing it was good for me, even though it tasted divinely naughty with its strong chocolate taste made it even better. Halfway down my mug I decided to squirt a little dairy free cream on the rest, and that complimented it very well too. The overall view was that it was a hot chocolate ideal for any time of the day or night, and it was ready in only a few minutes.

Orange

Well if you like orange flavours this would be the choice for you. As my mother said as she tasted hers “it’s like drinking a liquid chocolate orange”. Again a deliciously smooth feeling as you drink it, and full of flavour throughout every mouthful. It was even mentioned between us that you could make this and pour a little over ice cream or other desserts. Something we might have to try with the little bit left in our packet!

Spiced

A delicious chocolate flavour with a lightly spiced taste. It’s smooth and that hint of spices is so warming alongside the hot chocolate and its created warmth from the saucepan. This one is particularly good for this time of the year, ideal for the festive season, definitely one for adults to enjoy more so.
Although you could add portions of half original and half spiced and your children would likely love the smooth lightly spiced flavour of this hot chocolate with the rich smoothness the finished product provides.

I used my milk saucepan and almond milk to make our delicious hot chocolate drinks
Sabrina’s Serving Suggestion – Dairy Free Whipped Cream and Vegan Dark Chocolate Curls

Where Can I Buy Before Chocolate

Buy direct from Before Chocolate online. The website link below this sentence will help you to find out more and you can view the current range of products that are available to purchase as well.

The Website for Before Chocolate

Would I recommend it?

Yes I would recommend it. Not only is the hot chocolate incredible taste wise, but it is better for you than a high street or supermarket variety of hot chocolate. I would rather be putting this Cacao made version into my body than anything that has added sugars, E numbers and chemical additives in it.

Before Chocolate ingredients are actually good for you, they are delicious, it’s vegan friendly and it’s made with it’s growers in mind too – good karma! Overall it is an inviting and indulgent chocolate delight, a warming and comforting drink in the colder weather. The fact that it’s made in a way that is not harmful to your body just makes me want to drink it more, it tastes naughty and rich and yet it’s so good! It’s a win win for everyone.

Product Packaging Quality 5✩
Product Quality (Taste and Flavour) 5✩
As Advertised Online 5✩
Product Variety 5✩
Ease of Preparation 5✩

5✩ Overall I rate it 5 Stars 5✩

Thank you for reading my blog post today, I hope you have enjoyed learning about this brand and perhaps I have inspired you to try it. I also have a little video on my social media below if you’d like to watch that.

Instagram / Facebook / YouTube

Thank you for visiting my blog, I hope you have a wonderful day.

✩ Sabrina ✩

Indulgent, Inviting and Deliciously Rich

✩✩✩

Collaboration: I have been provided with these hot chocolate pouches from Before Chocolate in order to complete this honest product review. I would like to thank them for the opportunity to showcase their fabulous brand across my platforms. I have loved taste testing them over the last few weeks and it was also nice to get my family involved as well. Thank you Before Chocolate, I have thoroughly enjoyed trying your delightful drinks and will be telling everyone I know how good they are.

All words, photography and opinions in my blog are my own, unless otherwise stated.

Please do not copy any information without my written permission but feel free to share the link to my blog with people you know if you believe this product would benefit them knowing about it.

If you have any questions or would like me to review a product for your business, please get in touch via my contact tab across the header of my blog homepage. Thank you, Sabrina.

October 2023 Treatbox Reveal and Review

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Hello October…

Well, I’m not sure what happened to September, I must have blinked and missed it! The days flew by and before I knew it I was receiving my dispatch email for this October box! Goodness! I hope my latest Reveal finds you well, and that you enjoy seeing what was inside the October box with me. Thank you for joining me today as I go through the contents of the October 2023 Treatbox!

If you would like to see my unboxing video please click this link which will take you to my video on my Facebook page

What was inside… a Woodland Theme…

October Calendar Print
Treatbox Original Enamel Pin – Be Kind with a Bear
Treatbox Original Socks – Toadstools
Gnaw Chocolate Bar – Belgium Chocolate 35g
The Make Arcade – Toadstool Decoration Kit
Treatbox Original Prints – Colouring Sheets for Autumn x 2
Timeless Aroma’s – Soy Wax Melts – Fireside Treats
Gardner’s Cookie – Hedgehog Shape Biscuit “Hedge Hug”

My Honest Opinion

I find that every Autumn box is one of my favourite boxes of the year, without a doubt as I look back on them, the themes and items are always excellent in October. This box is up there in my top 3 of this year.

My favourite items are the Bear Pin, the Socks and the cute Biscuit! I thought the colouring pages were also really well designed and I cannot wait to sit around with a mug of something warm to drink, nibbling my chocolate and colouring them in. I loved that we have a real mixture of items this month, and I can’t wait to put my toadstool socks on! I also look forward to doing the Craft Kit, that looks great! We have done Make Arcade before and to add a little handmade Toadstool to my autumn décor is going to be fabulous! (So long as I don’t stuff up the sewing ha ha!) I will do a video of it when I make it and put it on my socials.

I’m really not a fan of the wax melts, we’ve had a fair few of these, I can’t ever use them due to allergies, my son is allergic to soya it makes him very sick. As soon as I’m done with the review they have to be relegated to my garage where my son can’t smell or come into contact with them. This is the only item I didn’t like inside this month’s box. Though the item is lovely and of high quality and lots of other people will find they can use them and enjoy their autumn scent, it’s just not possible in my house sadly.

Even disregarding the wax melts that I cannot use the box is still in my top ten for the year, for the simple fact that it’s been a well executed theme and the items all come in at a very high standard. We have four Treatbox original items which are what makes the box extra special in my eyes.

Overall I love it, what a great box, and I’m really going to enjoy using and eating the products. Check out my social media for the items in use when I do get to each of them as the month goes on. Now for some more of my photography.

Thank you for reading this unboxing post and review with me today. Don’t forget to follow me across my social media for more updates on the products as I use them throughout the month.

Search #SevernWishesBlog on Google or #SevernSabrina on Instagram,
Alternatively click here to follow me on Facebook / Instagram / YouTube

If you’re thinking of subscribing to Treatbox I’ve also attached a link to their website TreatboxUK
Don’t forget to tell them you saw my review when you order too!

Have a great and fun filled October!

✩ Sabrina ✩

#SevernWishesBlog #TreatboxUK #ProductPhotographer #ProductReviewer #SevernSabrina
#TreatboxOriginals #October #Reveal #Unboxing #TreatboxPics #RevealandReview

September 2023 Treatbox Reveal and Review

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Hello! Thanks for visiting Severn Wishes Blog today. I am reviewing the products I had inside my subscription box for Treatbox UK this September 2023.

When I unboxed this I found several delightful items including the monthly planner which is a Treatbox Original (TrOr) product, and the delicious Divine fairtrade chocolate. I liked the pink and black theme as well as the flowers throughout. So let’s talk about the entire box now and go through every single item.

What was inside the box this September?

September Calendar Print
Monthly Planner TrOr
Divine Chocolate Bar – White
the Little Coffee Bag co England
Hanging Ceramic Trinket “everything always works out…” TrOr
Black Velvet Scrunchie
White Bullet Biro Pen
It’s Me Time – Magic Makeup Remover Cloth

✩

Let’s take a look at my photography now of every item.

My Honest Opinion

I really liked this box for September, the quality of the items is excellent.

As someone who has long hair a nice scrunchie is always great to have. I don’t wear makeup every day, and when I do I plan to try out the new remover cloth.

The usual calendar print is useful and the monthly planner is a wonderful asset to a busy lifestyle that most of us do have. Treatbox originals are always made to a high standard and are unique to the Treatbox brand. I always use my TrOr planners and notepads. We even got a pen to use with it too! Fabulous!

Finally we have the edible items, coffee to drink and chocolate to devour. It’s great when the Treatbox has a bit of everything within it, something to eat, something to drink, something to use, something to keep, something for our self care and something to help us to stay organised. This box ticked all those boxes for me.

I actually don’t drink coffee but I’m going to make it up for my mother the next time that she visits me and she can enjoy it and let me know what it’s like! Overall a great box with a fabulous variety of products inside it.

Thank you for reading this unboxing post and review with today. Don’t forget to follow me across my social media for more updates on the products as I use them through the month.

Search #SevernWishesBlog on Google or #SevernSabrina on Instagram,
Alternatively click here to follow me on Facebook / Instagram / YouTube

If you’re thinking of subscribing to Treatbox I’ve attached a link to their website TreatboxUK

Have a great remainder of September!

✩ Sabrina ✩

#SevernWishesBlog #TreatboxUK #ProductPhotographer #ProductReviewer #SevernSabrina
#TreatboxOriginals #SelfCare #Reveal #Unboxing #TreatboxPics #RevealandReview

August 2023 Treatbox UK Reveal and Review

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Wow! Hello August!

July seemed to go by in a blur and now we are well into the summer holidays and the start of August has arrived. The weather isn’t what we are used to seeing in August with tons of rain showers and gusts of wind to contend with. So this Treatbox really did cheer me up.

As I opened up the box for the first time (during my unboxing video which you can find across my social media channels), I was greeted with pink paper and the theme of Picnics and Strawberries!

What was inside this August 2023 box

Treatbox August Calendar Print
Treatbox Original Socks – Pink with Strawberries and Hearts
Twinings Tea x 2 Bags “GLOW” Strawberry and Cucumber with Green Tea & Aloe Vera
Candy Kittens Wild Strawberry Gourmet Sweets 54g bag Vegan & Natural Flavours
Treatbox Original Cards x 2 “you’re the sweetest” and “big hug little card”
Treatbox Original Coaster “you are some kind of wonderful”
bubble t sheet mask with berries and aloe vera 20ml
Revolution Glow Lip Serum 3.6ml Vegan with SPF 10

My Honest Opinion

Well August 2023, it was Strawberries and a whole lot of pink!

This box was full of some nice surprises, nothing that really gave me the wow factor though. The socks have been my favourite item this month by far. The sweets are really tasty and the cards are a nice touch for us to pass on some summer positive vibes to our loved ones.

I have tried out the lip serum, it’s okay and smells nice with a scent similar to flowers and coconuts. I don’t think it will replace my current daily item but it’s nice to use on a summer day to protect the skin of your lips with that spf formulation.

I haven’t tried the tea yet but it does sound lovely, watch out for that on my social media one day during the next few weeks for sure. I was a little sad to see yet another coaster, as someone who doesn’t drink all that many mugs of hot beverages I don’t use my coasters every day and have several in my drawer now, though the design is lovely.

Finally the sheet mask, again this is something I would normally use on my weekend self care routine because I do a mask most weekends. Watch out for my review on my socials for this one! I hope it smells as nice as it sounds “berries and aloe vera” sounds relaxing yet sweet.

Overall it’s been a nice box, not in my top 5 by any means, but it’s certainly cheered me up on a rainy day and it’s allowed me to gift to others and pass on the positive energy of receiving it.

Thank you for reading this unboxing blog post and review with me today. These reveals are always fun to do because you never know what you’re going to get.

Don’t forget to follow me across my social media for more updates on the products as I use them.

Search #SevernWishesBlog on Google or #SevernSabrina on Instagram,
Alternatively click here to follow me on Facebook / Instagram / YouTube

If you’re thinking of subscribing to Treatbox I’ve attached a link to their website TreatboxUK

Have a fun August and I hope that we all see some sunshine soon!

✩ Sabrina ✩

#SevernWishesBlog #TreatboxUK #ProductPhotographer #ProductReviewer #SevernSabrina
#TreatboxOriginals #Picnics #SelfCare #Strawberries #Reveal #Unboxing #TreatboxPics #RevealandReview

June 2023 Treatbox UK Reveal and Review

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Hello June!

And what a lovely few weeks of sunshine we have had here in the United Kingdom. We have been very lucky lately, though I think we could do with some rain now.

It’s time to Review the Treatbox for June, and I must say I really enjoyed unboxing this one. If you’d like to see my video then click on any of the Social Media links at the end of my blog post to find it.

The theme this month was Self Care amidst the chaos of Summer Life, with lots of Tropical Paradise images of Palm Trees used throughout the Treatbox originals and icons of sunshine too.

Let’s take a look at all of the items contained in the June box, there was certainly a pink theme going on as well as the palm trees. The pink makes me think of flamingos!

What was inside the June 2023 Box?

June Calendar Print
Treatbox Original Keyring “You Got This”
Treatbox Original Notebook “have a nice day” blank
Treatbox Original Socks “Good Vibes” in Pink
treatme Coconut Lip Balm Handbag Size 10ml
Gardners Cookie Biscuit with a Tropical Palm design
Miss Patisserie Shower Steam Block with Aromatherapy Scents 120g
Treatbox Original Adult Colouring Pages x 2 A4 “good vibes” & “one day at a time”

This month we received the Calendar Print, 6 items and 2 A4 Colouring Pages.
I think we had a nice mixture of things in different categories.

What is my honest opinion of the contents in this box?

Overall I think this is an excellent box with a good theme that was balanced throughout. I probably sound like a broken record with always loving the socks and the positive vibes that the boxes are known for. But I really love how this month we did indeed get a bit of everything. Something to eat, something to wear, something to use, something to do, something for our self care and something to give us a boost.

When Treatbox has a mixture of items like what I’ve mentioned above, the box flows well and the theme can easily be established. By having a wide range of things which include enjoying, using and doing, there is something for everybody. This month I am happy because I can enjoy every single item within the box and I have no need to gift away anything.

My favourite items this month are… everything! There hasn’t been an item I didn’t like.
I think the lip balm is lovely, I’ve been using it while the sun has been out and it made my lips soft.
The socks have also been worn already when it was cold the other evening, so comfy!
I am planning to enjoy the cookie biscuit this coming weekend so I will pop that on my social media when I tuck into that one!

I have put the notepad into my spares collection for now because I started a new journal a few weeks ago so it’s not needed at present but it will get used eventually. I really like the shower block, it smells lovely and I only opened it a little bit, I feel like it will go a long way actually, and although it says break it in half, I think quarters or even smaller would suffice.

I have coloured in one of the two adult colouring sheets so far, and I enjoyed doing it. And although I didn’t need another keyring in my life I do love this quote, and my son has sort of claimed it now anyway and has hung it in his bedroom currently.

Without a doubt one of the best boxes of the year so far, I look forward to trying out the remainder of the products as the weeks of June progress. Don’t forget to follow me on social media as I post product updates on there all the time too when I wear and use or finish an item.
What item is your favourite this month?

Time for some more of my photography!

Thank you for joining me for this unboxing and review today!
And don’t forget to follow me across my social media for more updates.

Search #SevernWishesBlog on Google or #SevernSabrina on Instagram,
Alternatively click here to follow me on Facebook / Instagram / YouTube

If you’re thinking of subscribing to Treatbox or just to see what boxes the team have been creating lately then click the link I’ve attached here for their website TreatboxUK

Have a great June and I hope I see you here again soon!

✩ Sabrina ✩

#SevernWishesBlog #TreatboxUK #ProductPhotographer #ProductReviewer
#TreatboxOriginals #PalmTrees #SelfCare #Tropical #TropicalParadise

March 2023 Treatbox Reveal and Review

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Hello March 🙂

It’s my birth month! So March has a soft spot in my heart.
I do love Spring as the days get warmer and nature comes alive.

The March 2023 Treatbox landed on my doorstep on the second of March and I eagerly waited to get it open and see what treats awaited me inside. The year started off very well for TBox so I am expecting big things from this months box to keep the momentum going.

Let’s get started shall we! If you would prefer to watch my unboxing video from the other day then you can see it here on either my Instagram or my Facebook so take your pick.

What’s Inside the March Treatbox for 2023?

March Calendar Print – floral design
Treatbox Original Greetings Cards “Keep on Smiling” & “Yay it’s your birthday”
Treatbox Original A5 Print “today is a good day”
Gardners Cookies Iced Biscuit Flower Shape
Two Clipper Tea Bags Peppermint and Berry Burst
Bracelet of Rose Gold and Beads
Organic Cotton Bag “Don’t Worry Be Happy”

My Honest Thoughts About the March 2023 Box

I’m feeling somewhat underwhelmed by this box, and I can’t quite put my finger on why. It could be because Spring and Floral is an obvious choice of theme, or it could be that nothing really stood out for me this month. Yes you still have the usual Treatbox quality of print etc, but I just felt (even while doing my live unboxing video) that something was missing. Nothing made me go “Wow!” at all.

I’m glad that we have something to eat, something to drink, something to wear (bracelet) and something to keep and use (the bag). But I was a little disappointed in the other items. The “keep on smiling” greeting card has a lovely design but the birthday one I found to be less enthusiastic and a heart for a birthday? I wasn’t sure that really worked.

There were only a couple of physical items this time and the rest of them were flat or edible. I like being able to pass the love along of course, but once you’ve sent the cards and eaten and drank those bits you’re just left with a bag and a bracelet. Perhaps I’m being over critical of it this month. Perhaps because January and February were excellent boxes and this box lacks something in comparison in my honest opinion. As to what that might be I’m not sure, even if we had a third card or an A4 print instead of A5… I’m still just not sure what it is that is missing. And no not socks, we can’t have socks every box (LOL) but yeah, maybe a pen to go with the cards would have been good.

If I had to say what was best in the March box then I do like the bracelet, the Rose Gold part of it is sweet, and the Bag is both useful and Organic which I do commend. Overall it’s a nice box of treats and I will be sending on the giftable pieces to brighten up other peoples days. I look forward to enjoying the tea and biscuit this week too, and now I’m off to place my print somewhere.

Let’s hope the April box will be better than the March one and I look forward to finding out.

Don’t forget to follow me across social media for more updates and individual product reviews as well as witnessing these Treatbox items in use too.

Search #SevernWishesBlog on Google or #SevernSabrina on Instagram,
Alternatively click here to follow me on Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

Have a wonderful month of March! Hope I see you again soon!

✩ Sabrina ✩

Fantastic Quality Magnetic Weekly Whiteboard from Tesco allows you to Plan for the Week ahead with ease

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Hello and Welcome to my blog!
Today I am writing up another product review for you from a recent purchase that I really felt the need to shout about.

The Tesco Magnetic Planner Board was only £3.00 in my local Tesco Extra store. Not only is that great value for money, but it is high quality throughout. As a whiteboard it’s both easy to write on and easy to see with the contrast in white board and black pen.

Inside the cellophane you get the white board planner with the seven days of the week and space to write on the other side. You find two magnetic strips with sticky tape attached so that you can align them and stick them down to suit your needs. Having this board on the fridge in the kitchen is a great idea for keeping track of meals. But you may want to use it for appointments or children’s activities, it’s so versatile.

I bought this to be a meal planner, and was pleasantly surprised when I opened up the pen to find that not only does it write well and smooth, but it has a sponge attached on the lid part so that you can use it to rub writing out once you’re done! That means no more wasting kitchen roll towels cleaning off the board! Another big tick for me! You can also recycle the cellophane the board comes wrapped in at your local Tesco too.


Something else very useful is that the pen does have a designated stand and loop to go into at the top of the board, however there is also a magnet attached to the pen lid squared off part too! Meaning you can even have the pen anywhere on your fridge. Handy!

My final thought about this planner is how well it’s design has been thought out, it doesn’t take up too much space because it’s only 16cm wide by 23cm high. Even if you have a small kitchen like I do, it’s still ideal. The only way I would see you needing more of these would be if you had many children and you wanted to keep track of each one with multiple activities and appointments, which isn’t a bad thing at £3 a board you could get several.

As a mother who has a son with multiple food allergies I always write down the meals that we have had either together or separately because if any reactions were to occur I can refer back to the board that way. I have chosen to buy this so that I am not using as much paper, as I had previously written out my meal planners for the week on a Sunday and then clipped them to the fridge. This board is far more practical and if plans change it is easy to alter it too.

My Final Product Review Scores

Quality 5✩
Product Design 5✩
Product Cost 5✩
Features 5✩
Versatility 5✩

That’s a score of 5/5 and it means I highly recommend this product.

My TOP TIP would be to use this as a meal planner, you can also do one
board per child as an activities board, you can have one board as a family
board which looks at appointments and schedules. The list is endless but
you can decide what you would use yours for, and now thanks to me you
know where to find one!


Thank you for reading this product review today, I hope
I have inspired you to get a planner of your own.

Let me know what you would use yours for!

This product is my Monday Mum Hack for Monday 20th of February
too, why not check out my video on my Instagram.

✩ Sabrina ✩

Sabrina’s Chunky Pasta Sauce Made in 5 Minutes

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Sometimes all we want is a quick evening meal after a long day, so we decide on a fast cooking protein and/or carbohydrate like pasta but we then need a sauce. Only we open up the cupboards and find no jars in sight! Well fear not if this is you every once in a while! Because with my 5 minute sauce you’ll be serving up your food in no time!

Pop your pasta or rice or whatever else on to boil in the background. Then search your fridge and cupboard for any of the following items;

Tomato Puree
Salsa (Mild or Hot)
Chopped Tomatoes
Salt and Pepper
Italian Herbs or Herbs you like or Garlic too
Vegetables – Frozen or Fridge in rough chunks
Onion – Diced (Optional)

Step 1. If you have any onion fry this off in a saucepan until soft.

Step 2. Add 200ml of water to the saucepan now and add a small cup of chunky vegetables per person, easy if it’s out of your freezer but in case it isn’t… Any veg will do like peas or carrots! Just make sure if it’s fresh it’s washed (and carrots peeled) and then cut into small chunks. Add more water now just enough to cover the vegetables and bring it to the boil.

Step 3. While your veggies cook you need to make the sauce part, take all of your chosen ingredients out and put them next to your cooker, also get a tablespoon to measure with. Open any tins that you have like chopped tomatoes and wait for the veg to soften.

Step 4. Once the Veggies are soft carefully drain the water away from your saucepan, then place it back on to the cooker and begin to add the sauce elements.

Step 5. Add in 2-3 Tablespoons of Salsa, 2-3 Tablespoons of Tomato Puree.
Season to your taste with herbs, pepper, garlic etc. A sprinkle of salt is all you need.

Step 6. Mix this all together and now add in your chopped tomatoes, stir well, then return the saucepan to the heat and cook for another couple of minutes until it is hot throughout.

Step 7. Serve with your chosen accompaniment like Pasta, Rice or a Meat like Chicken.

Sprinkle some (I have Dairy Free) Cheese on top too if you like! Delicious!

Thank you for reading this Recipe Blog Post today!

I hope you have a great start to your week.

If you make my chunky pasta sauce I would love to know what you thought of it!

There are tons of Recipes here on my blog, check out the category here
called Sabrina’s Cooking in Minutes.

✩ Sabrina ✩

February 2023 Treatbox Reveal and Review

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That’s it! The longest month of the year is over! Ha! Ha!

January is forgotten as we move into the new month, and February has lots of things in store for us including the arrival of Winter Flowers and the start of Spring Blooms. There is nothing I like more in Winter than a crisp sunny day, taking a walk among the snowdrops…

Well there is something I like just as much as that, and that’s opening my Treatbox! My little treat to myself, a box once a month filled with a host of items just for me!

February TreatboxUK promises to be a good one as I open up the Calendar Print so as to discover what’s inside the tissue paper. If you would prefer to watch my unboxing video than to read this post you can find it just HERE

Let’s see what was revealed for February 2023…

What’s Inside the February 2023 TreatboxUK

February Calendar Print
Treatbox Original Self Care Cards Set x 9
Treatbox Original Heart Print Lilac Socks
Treatbox Original Keyring Lilac & Pink “what a good day to be proud of how far you have come”
Caramel, Raspberry & Dark Chocolate Popcorn from Popcorn Shed “Berry-Licious” 24g GF
Cocoba “Eat Drink Love” Chocolate Spoon with Marshmallow Hearts 50g
Miss Patisserie Bath Slab in Watermelon Scent 200g Vegan

My Honest Opinion on the Box

February 2023 from TreatboxUK is an uplifting and positivity filled box of treats. We once again received a mixture, so we have an item to eat, an item to make into a drink, something we can keep, something to wear, something to use and something that gives us a positive boost.

I really love the smell of the Watermelon Bath Slab, I haven’t had the time to open it and run myself a bath as yet! But the smell is so lovely it’s on my dining table making the room smell so nice for now! I also look forward to enjoying the hot chocolate spoon, but this is something I can only have when my son is away at his Dad’s due to all of his allergies, I shall be able to enjoy it later this month! And I will post it on my Instagram when I finally do!

We also have the Popcorn which sounds like the TASTIEST flavours ever! I am saving this for Valentine’s Day because (as a single mum) I need something tasty to devour once my little boy is in bed! I’m excited! Raspberry and Dark Chocolate are a winning combination but to also pair it with Caramel… You’re looking at the woman who always keeps Toffee Popcorn in her cupboard so yes, cannot wait! Great choice!

The keyring and it’s quote are uplifting and we also see the theme repeated between this and the socks, the lilac and pink colour scheme. Speaking of sock… so soft and the usual TreatboxUK quality that we have come to know and love! Most days I am wearing a pair of TreatboxUK socks now, as I own more than a weeks worth. They wash and wear brilliantly! Highly recommend them if you ever build a box on the website for anyone definitely add in socks!

Finally we have the TreatboxUK Original items, the Calendar Print and the Self Care Cards. I’m going to be sharing more photo’s of these cards on my social media during the month, some are very poignant like “Stop being so hard on yourself” and “If today was heavy put it down and let it go”. Both are just some of the excellent meaningful quotes and phrases in this pile of 9 cards. You could choose one at random every day to read, or you could pop them around your home so you see them while doing things. Either way they are important acknowledgments about how busy our lives can get, and how stressful things can be, that we all should love ourselves a little bit more and take some time for self care.

Overall I have enjoyed unboxing this February 2023 box and I look forward to consuming and using all of the products that were inside. Hopefully you’ll be able to see more of them on my social media as the weeks of the month progress. I think my favourite item is going to be the popcorn, I hope it’s as tasty as it sounds, and of course I adore the socks.

Thank you for reading this unboxing blog post today, I hope you have enjoyed it.

Don’t forget to follow me across social media for more updates and individual
product reviews as well as witnessing these items I just told you all about in use too. I like to do mini reviews when I can on my socials.

Search #SevernWishesBlog on Google or #SevernSabrina on Instagram
Alternatively click here to follow me on Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

Have a great February! See you again soon!

✩ Sabrina ✩

January 2023 Treatbox Reveal and Review

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The brand new year has begun and the first Treatbox UK box of 2023 landed on my doorstep. I had a few days off over New Year spent with my family, and then I began blogging again at the end of the first week of January. This is why this post is a little later than I would usually do them, however I needed a much deserved rest, and less hours looking at my screens.
I hope your year has started off well! Thank you for joining me today!

So let’s get on to this unboxing! I was hoping for some of the usual “start of the year” items in this box, such as a Journal or Calendar or a Planner, and I also hoped for the possibility of new things that we had not yet seen as well!

And guess what? I wasn’t disappointed! If you would prefer to watch my unboxing video, then you can find that by clicking here… otherwise please continue as I unbox the January 2023 Treatbox!

What was inside the January box?

January 2023 Monthly Calendar Print
2023 Treatbox Original Bound Calendar
Sheet of Stickers for Organising and Reminding
Treatbox Original A5 Print “The new year stands before us…”
Treatbox Original Notebook “Notes” – Blank White Pages
Stationery Pen – Colour Picked at Random – I received a White Pen
Pink Iced Shortbread Biscuit “You Got This”
Pink Velvet Hair Scrunchie

Let us now take a closer look at the products that were inside for January 2023.

What is my Honest Opinion

A lovely box with a well thought out design this month, the dusky pink throughout and a theme of moving forward with the start of the new year. A mix of organisation items and Treatbox original stationery, combined with some treats with the biscuit to eat and the scrunchie to wear.

The Calendar is of excellent quality and I have created a cardboard stand for mine to stand up on my desk, so that I’m able to keep track of everything with ease as the weeks go on. (See image below).
My favourite items are the Calendar, Stickers and the Scrunchie, but all of the items this month are useful and of good product quality. I also like the positive quote on the print this month too, because I personally (as a writer) do see every new year as new chapters ready to be written.

To see the Treatbox UK products in use please follow me on social media as they will feature regularly all month in my photographs and videos. This January box has been a lovely start to the year, and I look forward to the next box in February.

Thank you for reading this unboxing blog post, I hope you have a lovely January.

Don’t forget to follow me on my social media for more updates and individual
product reviews as well as witnessing these items I just told you all about in use too.

Search #SevernWishesBlog on Google or #SevernSabrina on Instagram
Alternatively click here to follow on Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

Have a great weekend!

✩ Sabrina ✩