Fairy Loot - Monthly Box Subscription - Young Adult Fantasy Books & Stuff {review}

Fairy Loot is a monthly book subscription box that provides a new usually hard back young adult novel along with 5-6 other book related items.

Recently I have been reading a lot more, I still do bake (new post coming soon!) and that lead me to start following more and more book bloggers and instagram accounts and by doing so I was introduced to the monthly subscription book box.

There are so many based in the states and the cost of shipping was half the cost of the box and out of my budget for such a thing. So, I started researching UK based ones. There are so many out there, some come with chocolate and tea or an old out of print book, but Fairy Loot caught my eye.

The boxes always seemed to be full of fun things and the themes were interesting. So, I took the plunge and bought the June box - Rebels in Ballgowns.

Which was a great box that came with a great book. I found the characters interesting and I will be curious to see how the develop in the following books. My only niggle about this book is the big cliff hanger. I don't like cliffhangers in books. Anyway, it's not enough reason to not give the book a read!

Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart

synopsis - In a world where women have no rights, sisters Serina and Nomi face two very different fates: one in the palace, the other on an island prison where women must fight to survive.
Serina has spent her whole life preparing to become a Grace - selected to stand by the heir to the throne as a shining example of the perfect woman.
But her headstrong and rebellious younger sister has a dangerous secret, and one wrong move could cost both sisters everything.
Can Serina fight? And will Nomi win?

It also came with a beautiful masquerade mask necklace, a candle from Geeky Clean inspired by Nevernight by Jay Kristoff, a pillowcase designed by Miss Phi inspired by Stephanie Garber's Legendary, a book journal designed by FictionTea Designs with art work by Stella's Bookish Art, magnetic bookmarks featuring the characters from Shatter Me, and a cool iron on patch with a bookish quote and made by Ink and Wonder.

Then I twiddled my thumbs as debated to by the July box the theme The Power Within. This box had the same quality of products all book themed. However, it's the book I am really after and the extra stuff is exactly that extra.

This one came with a fun magic color changing mug designed by Little Inking Designs with a quote from Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes. Again from Geeky Clean there was a room spray that smells like lavender and books! Then there was a tea towel that had a quote from And I Darken by Kiersten White, there was also a vinyl sticker that says "One Eldr" it comes from Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young and means "breath fire."  And last, but not least a pen that is a broomstick and has a Harry Potter quote.

Then most importantly the book! It has sprayed edges and is signed by the author! I haven't had a chance to read this one, but I am looking forward to it!

Heart of Thorns by Bree Barton

synopsis - In the ancient river kingdom, where touch is a battlefield and bodies the instruments of war, Mia Rose has pledged her life to hunting Gwyrach: women who can manipulate flesh, bones, breath, and blood. The same women who killed her mother without a single scratch.
But when Mia's father announces an alliance with the royal family, she is forced to trade in her knives and trousers for a sumptuous silk gown. Determined to forge her own path forward, Mia plots a daring escape, but could never predict the greatest betrayal of all: her own body. Mia possesses the very magic she has sworn to destroy.
Now, as she untangles the secrets of her past, Mia must learn to trust her heart…even if it kills her.

Now the biggest debate is do I buy the next box? I mean it's Pirate themed!!

Overall I have enjoyed both of these boxes, and even if you haven't heard of some of the books they referenced it's a great way to get introduced to new authors and books!

For more pics of the Rebels in Ballgowns (June 2018 box) click here!

For more pics of The Power Within (July 2018 box) click here! 

Pssst -I made a video of the coloring changing mug for IGTV

For a unboxing video of the June box check out my youtube channel here! 

And if you want to get your very own box check out Fairy Loot here! - Price is £26 - £32.95 including tax and shipping

*All opinions are my own, I was not given any compensation for this review, both boxes were purchased by myself; please see my contact/policy page for more information.

The Pastry Challenge September Link-Up (plus August round-up)

There is a little guilt putting the link up and round up together. However, last month was a bit of a bust with neither myself or Jen really getting a pastry entry in! Jen having a much better excuse then myself.

I did make mini gypsy tarts which were suppose to be my entry but as they didn't turn out exactly how I wanted I was a bit weary about sharing them. It seems that a lot of my pastry attempts haven't been working out all that well!

This month my intentions are to try making from scratch puff pastry. It's notorious for being tricky! Any tips out there please let me know!

If it wasn't clear yet I will be hosting again this month as Jen is very busy taking up a new adventure and move! I am happy and excited for her, but a little sad as she's moving away from me! As for the pastry I will be keeping it open again this month with any thing goes!

Before I go over the ground rules again here is last month's entries:

Churros with Sugar (vegan)

mini gypsy tarts

Here are some of our ground rules and below is the button to add your link!

First bake a pastry that fits the theme (anything goes)!
Second blog about it! Be sure to link back to both myself Lisa and Jen.

If you tweet use the hashtag #thepastryhcallenge and be sure to include us @unitedcakedom & @jensfood we like and retweet any we see!

Please feel free to use the image above in your post as a way to help spread the word. I will be adding the entries to the official Pastry Challenge Pinterest board that you can follow here!

Lastly link it up below, following the instructions on the widget/gadget below.

A few reminders we are looking for new or re-posted posts following the instructions above. Feel free to enter more then one entry. Also if you have a few minutes check out the entry before yours and leave a comment!

Any questions please feel free to contact either Jen or myself! We look forward to seeing all your amazing pastry creations!

There are lots of other blogging challenges so overlapping is encouraged and if you have one we haven't heard of please let us know by email or leaving a comment below!

An InLinkz Link-up

Love, Chocolate #thepastrychallenge April Link-Up

April Showers bring May Flowers or so the saying goes. This "saying" is the reason I always stuck up for rain. It has such a bad rep. especially here in England.

We need rain. Without it we wouldn't have food or pretty things like flowers and green foliage! It should be worshiped and idolized for bringing us these things. Also for giving us a reason to stay in and relax in our sweats with a hot drink and chocolate.

Yes, another excuse to eat chocolate, like we need one of those! However I am about to give you another very good and valid reason to eat chocolate. This month's Pastry Challenge!! You probably already guessed it, but the theme is chocolate! 

In the tab above is a full overview of the new challenge but here are a few reminders of how it works!

First bake a pastry! Any you like and this month have it feature something chocolaty!

Second blog about it! Be sure to link back to both myself Lisa at United Cakedom (unitedcakedom.com) and Jen at Jen's Food (jensfood.co.uk)
If you tweet use the hashtag #thepastryhcallenge and be sure to include us @unitedcakedom & @JensFood
Please use the image above (right click and save) in your post as a way to help spread the word.
I will be adding the entries to the official Pastry Challenge Pinterest board as they come in, please follow along to see past, present, and future entries!

Lastly link it up below, following the instructions on the widget/gadget below.

A few reminders we are looking for new or re-posted posts following the instructions above. Feel free to enter more then one entry. Also if you have a few minutes check out the entry before yours and leave a comment! Any questions please feel free to contact either Jen or myself!

We look forward to seeing all your amazing chocolaty pastry creations!

An InLinkz Link-up

Nectarine & Almond Tarts {#thepastrychallenge}

If you were to ask me to bake you a cake I’d reply “Of course, no problem.” However, when it comes to pastry’s I couldn't reply that confidentially. It’s one of the reason’s I am super excited to be a co-host with Jen from Jen’s Food on the new monthly Pastry Challenge!

Jen is hosting this month and as it’s the first month the theme is anything goes! Typical me leaving it literally until the last minute to get my post written and linked up! Which is very like these tarts. Super easy and perfect for a last minute dessert or breakfast or just because!

We had them as an afternoon snack and what a good snack it was! These would a great picnic addition too. I have spring and summer on the brain ... already talking about picnics! I am ready for warmer weather, but while I wait I will munch on one of these! 

Nectarine & Almond Tarts

500g all-butter puff pastry

flour for dusting

120g unsalted butter, soft

75g sugar

100g ground almonds

1 egg, room temperature

dash of almond extract

3 ripe nectarines, sliced thinly

Heat the oven to 220C and line 2 baking sheets with grease proof baking paper. Roll out the pastry to 4-5 mm thick. I used a cereal bowl that had a 14cm diameter to cut out six rounds. Place on the prepared baking sheets and set aside.

Whisk the butter, sugar, almonds, egg, and extract together until well combined. Place a heaped tablespoon of the mixture in the middle of each pastry round. With the back of the spoon gently press it down. Circle the sliced peaches around the pastry circles. Gently pressing down as you go along with spread the almond mixture out perfectly. If you want thicker slices of nectarine, you might need an extra one.

Bake in the oven for 20 minutes until golden. Leave to cool only slightly before tucking in or adding a scoop of ice cream on top!

Check out the other entries on Jen’s site and if you didn't get an opportunity to join in this month I’ll be posting the theme for April on the 1^st!

notes: for more information on the pastry challenge click on the tab above! Recipe adapted from the Jamie Magazine recipe yearbook 2014/15. 

February Round Up: The Going On's and Happenings on United Cakedom

This month started out with flapjacks! I added some chocolate covered cranberries I had picked up at Home Sense. I love that store. It’s dangerous every time I go in there because I always come out with something. They have you backed into a corner because if you find something you like, the chances of them being there when you go back can be slim to none!

Then Sainsbury’s set me their panna cotta mix to try out. I decided to infuse the milk and double cream with black pepper and topped it with caramelized peaches and a drizzle of caramel sauce. It was delicious and inspired by an ice cream I had at an innocent (smoothie) event I attended a couple years ago.

For Valentine’s Day I made a no-bake Chocolate Cherry Tart! It was rich and delicious… one thin slice is all anyone could manage in one sitting. So no one had to worry about pits I used a Cherry Pitter from OXO Good Grips that they sent me to use.

I also received a copy of Deliciously Decorated by Charlotte White to review. The book is full of great decorating tips and tricks! The Giacomo Casanova: Venetian Romance design was my inspiration for these cupcakes:

Other things that inspire me are books!! This month I made Silky’s Pop Cakes inspired by The Enchanted Wood by Enid Blyton. My girls really enjoyed eating something they read about from the book we've been reading before bed.

Speaking of my girls my littlest one turned 5 in the middle of the month and she requested a turquoise butterfly cake. I did my best and she was happy with the result!

February is full of birthdays including my friend Cathy who turned 30! She has a love of Lucky Charms and so as a special birthday treat I made her Lucky Charm Bark! I think she was pretty happy with it! I tried some too and it was pretty tasty, but mostly I loved the colors!

And last but not least I wrote my first Five on Friday in months! I hope to be better at keeping it up and it becomes a regular thing. I brought it back with five pans and tools that I bought, but have yet to use! I get all these great ideas and I buy things I NEED to make said great idea. However, things don’t always go to plan! Does this happen to you too?

That’s all for February!! March is going to be a bit book heavy as I've been doing a lot of reading! There are reviews and cake and brownies and much more!