Subscription Boxes - A Surprise Treat, For Yourself, Each Month or The Perfect Last Minute Gift

Subscription boxes are the big thing at the moment and for good reason. Not only are you getting value for money. Beauty Boxes for £23, with the contents worth £108 (approx) and in these times of austerity its nice to treat yourself….as reward, as it were, at the end of the month for paying the bills and working hard. 

I love getting mail and have done since I was a kid, the only difference being now is that I no longer stalk the postman from an upstairs window. Quite frankly because I would be there all day, our postman's round is so erratic. 

So when i heard about The Lucky Dip Club via craft magazine Mollie Makes, I had to get myself some of that action. Owner and founder Leona Baker sends out a set amount of Lucky Dip boxes and due to demand this amount increases every month. On the first of the month, around 7am, the website opens up to take orders with the option of a one off box (£18) or sign up for a monthly subscription (£15) or 6 monthly subs (£75). Postage and Packing is free within the UK and anywhere outside of the UK is a flat rate of £9.

I missed out the first month I tried to order because I foolishly underestimated the demand. I thought I’d place my order when I got back from the school run at 9am. I was sadly met with the Sold Out message. So the following month I set my alarm for 7am and also decided to to go straight to a monthly subscription to ensure I could get my goodies fix. After all you can cancel your subscription at any time.

I was already like a kid at Christmas just with the anticipation of the box arriving and it must have rubbed off onto my 6 year old son, Callum. My first boxes theme was Woodland Wonderland and before I’d even got the string of the parcel (Old fashion style) he was wrestling me to get inside it, like he was at a Black Friday Sale. And as we pulled goodies out from the tissue paper, I was suddenly reminded of my 80’s & 90’s pen pals. We used to send each other little gifts like smelly rubbers and little necklaces and if you were as lucky as me to have an American penfriend you got amazing stuff like Hello Kitty Plasters. At that time, in England, all we had was orangey elastaplast!

DIY Fox Sleep Mask

Personalised Owl Badge

It’s difficult to believe that The Lucky Dip Club has only been going for 6 months. Leona currently works from a little table in her lounge, making up each box individually with Handmade, Vintage and surprises. In the new year she is moving to a bigger flat that will allow her to have a whole room dedicated to her business. Given that Leona mailed out a total of 700 boxes for the December campaign it’s no surprise she needed to expand her workspace.  

700 December Boxes - There'll be 800 in January

Leon 'Lucky Dip" Lounge Office

There are plenty of new and exciting things to come, for Lucky Dip Club, in 2015. There will be a 3rd Lucky Dip Cat Club Box launching in February and these extra special boxes will become a bi-annual event. Leona will also be collaborating with Artists, Illustrators and Small Businesses, from around the UK.

There will also be a packaging redesign and the boxes will come will a pull out pamphlet that will contain giveaways, interviews with the collaborators, DIY tips for the Craft Kits and what inspiration is behind the themes of the boxes. 

Sneak Peek of December Box

Lastly, and you may want to brace yourself for this, but in January the theme is ‘Valley of the Unicorns’ and will feature the very first collaboration!

Speaking of very firsts brings me to the next subscription box I want to tell you about. Literally just launched this December is the PaperHaul box. 

My interested was first piqued, again by social media, when I saw this tweet: “Do you have friends who love postcards, snail mail, Washi tape, tags and paper loveliness? Please share #Paperhaul with them”

I have slowly been getting back into Snail Mail, and whilst I’m never going to be as prolific as 14 year old me I’m still passionate about what stationary I use. So with the reignited memory of childhood memories from Lucky Dip Club I couldn’t help myself. Getting gorgeous stationary and it comes in a parcel to your door? One bird, two stones in my book.

Having found out about Paperhaul in September it’s been an anxious wait until December to receive the box, with sign up in November. It was well worth the wait though, well worth it.

I was almost giddy with excitement opening up the box, I knew what it was because it came in a box with a lovely Paperhaul sticker on it, and Callum tried to stifle his enthusiasm this time but on seeing a card with a Moped in he was as keen as me, to rifle through the treasure trove.

Postcards

Paperhaul Boxes

Vehicle Washi Tape

Snail Mail is not the only paper passion that Paperhaul satisfies. There are beautiful tags, craft & Scrapbooking papers, and Washi tape. So it’ll come as no surprise that this fledgling box has made The Guardian Top Ten Subscription Christmas Gifts. 

Paperhaul boxes cost a flat rate of £10 a month plus Postage & Packing as follows:

UK                 £2 1-2 Working Days

European £5 5-7 Working Days

Rest of World £6 10-16 Working Days

There is currently no subscription scheme, other than the Gift Subscription, so sign is by the 1st of the following month. So sign up by Jan 1st 2015 to receive your first box after Jan 14th. There is no contract so there is nothing to cancel if your circumstances change. 

*10p from each box sold goes to UK Charity Postpals.

Paperhaul is the brainchild of another small business - Crafty Creative owners, and sisters, Claire & Isobel. Their craft based subscription box launched back in July 2012, evolving from themed boxes to specific craft kits.

Isobel then emigrated to Canada in June 2013 and in October this year she left Crafty Creatives. Her sister Claire took over, with a 6 month old baby strapped to her and launched Paperhaul. Claire is hands on with both the assembly of the boxes and being a literal working mum. 

Lucky Dip Club                                    Paperhaul                                                    Postpals

Our Girl

It's been a whole two weeks since the final episode of ‘Our Girl’ aired, so this is more of an appreciation than a review BUT this may, inadvertently, contain SPOILERS.

I was lucky enough to spot and watch the original two part drama (Pilot), starring Lacey Turney, last year and I couldn’t praise it enough back then.

So when I heard that Series 1 was being filmed early this year, I got that tingly feeling. The feeling that nearly makes you wish the Summer away, so that you can get straight to the good Winter telly. I couldn’t have begun to anticipate just how good it was going to be. 

The writing is of course the foundation to any successful drama and by golly did Tony Grounds get it right. Having had the basis of the storyline Tony Grounds also spoke to service personnel in order to flesh out the bones authentically. Add that to the fantastic acting skills of Lacey Turner (Medic Molly Dawes), Arinze Kene (Cpl Kinders), Ben Aldridge (Capt James) and Iwan Rheon (Smurf) to name but a few and you have a drama that is so close to the truth that it triggered my PTSD. 

I was that ‘fresh out the box’ (Female) troop, on her first tour of duty, in a war zone. I put female in brackets because the sex of the service personnel doesn’t define them but it does make some situations exceptional. I was one of only 3 women to 800 men when I arrived in Bosnia, you can’t help but feel a little intimidated. That you need to prove to them that you can look after yourself but able to keep the back of the rest of your platoon. Watching Dawes arrive in Afghan, was almost like watching myself arrive in Bos, in a weird out of body experience kind of way. 

Lacey Turner as Medic Molly Dawes. Photo via walesonline.co.uk

When Dawes went on R&R, she experienced what so many of us have. Not being able to articulate what we have seen and done. Not being able to explain our reactions to a car back firing or why we subconsciously avoid walking on the grass….’stay on the hard’. This is one of the reasons that Smurf becomes so infatuated with Molly, its not only a hero worship for saving his life akin to Lois Lane and Superman but also that no one else, not even the rest of their platoon, can understand what happened in that life or death moment.

Its not that we think our civvy friends and family won’t understand, but sometimes we don’t always fully understand what has happened ourselves. 

We have been functioning 24/7 in survival mode. I found being in camp almost Big Brother-esque. Minimal contact with the outside world, someone else controls your mealtimes, activities etc. When you step outside the gates some of the ‘audience’ not only want to vote you off but want to kill you. The only place you go by yourself is to the bathroom. Service personnel are high functioning machines, thats the only way you have a chance of surviving, whilst you do the job you came to do.

And then after all that adrenaline, comes the heart wrenching return to the UK and what that means. Fellow troops killed, friends and Oppo's injured, no longer able to do the job that has been their life. The effect that has on everyone that they’ve ever met them. A ripple effect that leaves no one untouched. “I gave the Army my two boys and they just give me back a flag” Smurf's Mum 

Ultimately ‘Our Girl’ showed and reminded us of the immense courage our troops have, who constantly return to these war-zones time after time to do the same the job. It might be a different country, it might be a different enemy but war is war. 

We don’t do enough, I feel, to recognise and thank our troops. It’s almost as if we are too embarrassed to bring it up but I can’t figure out why. If the ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red” installation at the Tower of London has showed us anything, its that the British public need to something to prompt them. “This is not about war or barbarity …. it’s about loss and commemoration” Tom Piper, Creator of Memorial.

Tower Of London. Photo via Historical Royal Palaces & fastcocreate.com

Fantastic writing, acting and production, of the same calibre and subject as ‘Our Girl’ , brings it all to the forefront of our minds. Makes the 2 dimensional obituaries of the fallen into 3 dimensional people with lives, families and friends and I think that it is the very least we can do. To help people speak about their experiences, and share their loved ones story.

I hope that the BBC does commission a 2nd series of ‘Our Girl’, not just for it’s drama but to remind us of the sacrifice all service personnel past, present and future make on behalf of our freedom.

Very Important NB: I wasn't able to name all of the actors involved in 'Our Girl' but they couldn't have gotten any of the banter more spot on and for that they deserve recognition too, so please check them out via IMDB - Our Girl

Celebrating World Ostomoy Day with Gizmo

Happy World Ostomy Awareness Day!

People often ask me how I cope with my permanent ileostomy , as if it has had a negative effect on my life the Surgeons removed my diseased (Ulcerative Colitis) Large intestine and Colon, it not only saved my life but also improved it.

So today I am celebrating all the things I have been able to do since I got my Super Stoma AKA Gizmo

I’m able to look after my son myself

I went to my first festival including camping (and I’ve been back since)

I can eat whatever I want

I can now drink red wine without getting a hangover

I can go anywhere I want, without worrying where the nearest toilet is

Go on long haul holidays, even all the way to Australia by myself

I don’t live in trackkies or PJ’s – I can wear whatever I want

I get 6 pairs of free prescription knickers a year AKA my Super Pants. (I kid you not ladies these are just like a pair of Spanx)

I’ve met an amazing array of people, young and old, with IBD and/or Stoma’s. All of who have added to this amazing journey.

I honestly believe that had fate not had a hand in whether my ileostomy would be permanent or not, I would have still stayed with the stoma rather than have a reversal.

NB: If this is your first visit to my blog and you'd like to know my UC & Ileostomy back story then please scroll down! Thank you for taking the time to read this far.

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Festival Camping...with my Ileostomy

Festival Camping ... with Gizmo (My Ileostomy)

Camp Bestival 2012, Dorset - Part 1

The Weekend 25th - 29th July 2012, was one of the best weekends, so far this year. Not only because we had 4 days of glorious weather but also because we were at Camp Bestival.

This was our 2nd year at Camp Bestival as a family and our second time camping. Had you asked me 3 years ago if I would go on a camping holiday I would have replied "Not all the time I have a bum hole" (see previous blogs for explanation). My aversion to camping is two fold, personal experiences of camping in the 1980's as a child - Flash Floods and Freezing etc. and also because I have an Ileostomy (Google Ileosotomy or see Previous Blog but it's like a Colostomy).

In my single party girl years I wasn't interested in Festivals, Instead I was jetting of to Ayia Napa, Cyprus, for Clubbing holidays. All these years later, I've always felt like I missed out Festi wise. 

Then we had Callum, my 3yr old son, and I thought that was the end of adventurous holidays for us. How wrong was I?

A couple of our friends and family went to Camp Bestival 3 years ago with their kids. One of the children was a baby under 6 months. They all still talk about how great it was now (and still I can't imagine camping with a child under 6 months!).

Before they'd even finished telling me all about I wanted to book tickets for the next year. While I thought, at a push, I could cope with camping for 4 days. I wasn't sure about being able to cope with my Ileo, especially with no proper bathroom facilities. But I refuse to let my bag to hold me back and most importantly I don't want it preventing my son, Callum, from having fun.

So the only way to get through it was to approach it like a Military Mission. First off were Tent negotiations with Mr SM. Whilst we didn't want to spend a lot on a tent, as this could be the first and last time we use it, I wanted a tent with at least 3 rooms - 2 sleeping areas and 1 living/communal area. After all it would be hard enough changing a bag in a tent, let alone trying to do it whilst hunched and balancing -surfer style- on a blow up bed.

We managed to get a great deal, from Halfords, a Complete Camping Kit for £89 and included:

3 Room Tent
2 Double Blow Up Beds
4 Sleeping Bags
2 Lights
One Ring Camping Stove
Cooking Pans
Food Storage Boxes

Everything else we pretty much borrowed the first time round, this year we added to camping supplies but still borrowed the bigger items - Table, Cooking stand etc

One of the best items we bought this year was a Gazebo with Mesh sides. We did a lot of research on the different gazebo's as anyone that has ever been camping has a horror story involving wind and Gazebo's! After some deliberation we went with a camping make, Oztek, hoping that it would be both compact and sturdy. The point of the gazebo was to create an extra area, that would be pretty waterproof and windproof. Turned out to be a fantastic choice

Next was the 'What to take list'. Having been trapped abroad before by Volcanic 
Ash-Gate a couple of years ago, I now know the importance of at least doubling the amount Ostomy Supplies I expected to use. I take triple especially when in the middle of nowhere. Then of course there is the extra clothing issue, both day and nightwear, in case of leaks and burst bags. Being a girl I have no problem with taking more clothes than anyone else. The clothes I keep to hand in a waterproof bag, in the tent. The Ostomoy supplies I split between the car and tent, that way any freak weather that creates havoc with our tent isn't going to leave me with nothing usable.

So Wednesday arrives, we load up the car and make our way to Poole. Camp Bestival opens on Thursday for people to set up their tents etc. So that you can set up your tent without missing out on anything when the Festival 'Opens' on the Friday.  To break up the journey from Herne Bay to East Lulworth, we stay in a Holiday Inn near Poole Harbour which is just 30 minutes from the Camp Bestival site. No toddler wants to be sat in a car for 3 - 4 hours and no sane parent wants to start pitching a tent after that drive. It also means that you don't have to get up to early to bag a decent pitch, if your in the normal camping area. Boutique and Camping Plus have designated pitches, so you can arrive when you want. 

The first year we went with normal camping but this year we upgraded to Camping Plus for the following reasons:

Designated and Larger Pitch
More Toilet Options (Portaloo, Compost and Portacabin)
Showers (They do have these in normal camping but you have to pay)

Last year, the realisation of Portaloo's was the point were I had a panic attack, crying and saying 'I can't do this' and 'I want to go home'. Ever my champion though my husband convinced me to 'at least give it a try and if it's too much we'll leave'

It took a couple of tries to work out the best way to empty my bag into the different loo's. Despite especially clean for 'Festival Toilets' I still wouldn't want to kneel in front of the toilet and empty that way. Being smaller too the seat hole area is also very narrow - these are my tips.

Portaloo - I sit and empty my bag into a Biodegradable Nappy Bag, If you try to empty it between your legs it just ends up all over your legs. One your done, tie up the Nappy Bag, whilst trying to get as much air out as possible and pop it down the pan.

Portacabin Loo - These have the widest seat area and I am able to empty the bag straight into the pan, as I normally would. If you still struggle though there is still the option of emptying into a Nappy Bag and placing it in a Sanitary Disposal bin. 

Compost Loo - These are situated higher than the normal loo, so I stand in front of the loo (like a man) and empty it down the pan in that way. Again if your not keen on that they provide buckets with lids for Nappies and Sanitary wear so the Nappy Bag trick can be used again. 

There is one more bonus with the Nappy Bag, if like me you wake up about 4am because you bag is full of gas and you don't want to traipse the all be it short distance in the dark and chilly night air, you kneel in the tent and empty straight into the bag!!

A must for anyone is to carry a toilet roll and Alcohol rub, although the organisers at CB are pretty organised at keeping the loo's well stocked. For any ostomate I recommend carrying a small make-up type bed (15cm x 15cm apx) to carry some emergency supplies/ Bag of tricks for any manageable leaks whilst you are out on the site. In mine I have: 

• Small travel size pack of sensitive Wet Wipes 
• Adhesive Remover & Protection Wiped x2
• 2 Stoma bags
• Adhesive Remover Spray 
• Always Type Sanitary Towel - Perfect for an emergency patch to plug a leak

Other than that, I just get on an enjoy the festival like everyone else, this year I went just after a Hernia Op on my Stoma so I had a camp bed to sleep on because I was still in too much pain to be able to get myself up off an airbag.  There is a hospital tent on site (most festivals have these) run by fully qualified medical staff and NHS approved. Not only does it give you piece of mind that you can get medical assistance if you need it. They also offer a service where you can leave your medication for safe storage, should you not be happy leaving it in the tent. Again I split mine between the car and tent (CB has a low if non-existent crime rate). This year, being post op, I had Oramorph with me. Imagine my panic when in the night I knocked the bottle over it and lost over the half contents. I spoke to Doctor in charge who told me that should I run out, as long as I had the bottle with prescription label and photo ID, I could attend the Hospital Tent and they'd give me a dose when due. 

So that is my review of Camp Bestival as an Ostomate - part 2 will be my review of Camp Besti as a Festival Goer!!

A Special Birthday Treat

And relax...........

I don't remember the last time I was able to celebrate my birthday properly, obviously I've still received cards and gifts, but I mean going out to celebrate it and this has been down to poor health. The last party was for my 30th and I was six months pregnant at the time. 

So back in April I decided to that this year I would, no matter what. A friend recommended the Lifehouse Spa in Essex - actually its been more raving about ever since she went there. 

My best friend's birthday is on the 4th July, 3 days before mine, so it made sense to rope her into the action. Imagine my surprise when not only had she heard of the Spa but had been dying for an excuse to go too. 

Unfortunately we have pesky husbands that work away a lot, so it would have been too good to be true to be able to go in July. As it happened that worked out for the best because I ended up having an operation on the 6th July. June it was and to be honest we were so excited that the sooner the better was our motto. 

Lifehouse Spa run regular promotions on line, for their spa packages. We paid £99 each, for the LOVElife package, which includes: 

Room

Breakfast

Dinner

Full use of Spa facilities

The Playground (Gym)

Fitness & Wellness classes

Plus a complimentary treatment (Facial, Back Massage or Head Massage)

Glass Walkways
Photo Credit: visitessex.com

June 13th couldn't arrive quick enough and as we drove into the secluded grounds I expected to see the quintessential English Manor House, converted into a Spa. Instead we found a large but completely in keeping, unimposing modern building surrounded by country grounds, seamlessly blending into each other. Similar to those Eco homes you see built on Grand Designs. No building no more than 3 storeys high and glass making up a good majority of the buildings. Including the enclosed walkways to each of the different areas. So even if it's raining, you can still enjoy the surroundings. 

Lifehouse aim to to provide a relaxing environment, which also makes you feel as if you are the only people there. And throughout the stay that is exactly how we felt. Not like we were on a conveyor belt of people waiting for treatments. 

The concierge will park your car for you and takes your luggage into reception, whilst you are checked-in by a dedicated receptionist, who gives you a schedule of your pre-booked treatments, classes and meals. (I thoroughly recommend booking ahead of your stay, as the treatments are very sort after and get booked up fast).  

Concierge then took us to our rooms, with our luggage. He offered to to give us a guided tour but I prefer to nosey around myself. 

Bedroom
Photo Credit: cowans.co.uk

We'd booked a Twin Room, which was very spacious and French Doors overlooking the grounds. Something small but silly, that I particularly liked, was that the beds weren't uniformly next to each other - as you get in other hotels but in a L shape on adjacent walls. . Which meant at the end of the day we could sit and chat on our own beds - in a fun sleep over way. 

The bathroom was also large, with a wet room / shower for two at one end and was constantly at a lovely cosy temperature - that even made the floor tiles warm to the feet. 

No sooner had Mr. Concierge left us to it, were we changing into our swimming costumes and slipping on the complimentary bath robes. Which were gorgeously soft, not rough like they sometimes are from too many boil washes. 

The Spa area itself is only a short distance from each accommodation area, for us it was just past the Waterlillies restaurant and next to the Oriental Bathing Experience - touted as the 'Ultimate in Relaxtion' but at £122 for 120 minutes I am yet to find out what that entails. 

A large Jacuzzi, fits 8 people comfortably, Steam and Sauna room, Salt Inhalation Room and Freezing plunge pool make up the spa. I particularly enjoyed the Salt inhalation which cleanses the sinuses and respiratory systems. Absorbing moisture and killing bacteria. If you have a cold I thoroughly recommend a short stint in here. 

Through a glass partition is the 18.5m Swimming Salt water Swimming pool. All the water in the spa is Salt water, opposed to Chlorine. Again in keeping with the Lifehouse philosophy of detox and purify. 

My first treatment was a Lifehouse Barbor taster facial, (Since our stay, Lifehouse are now using ESPA products for their treatments) in the treatment rooms above the spa. Because the only place you can use mobiles etc (this isn't gestapo enforced) is in the bedrooms. It's impossible to keep track of time so once you've booked in at the treatment reception you are given a buzzer (similar to the ones they give you TGI Fridays, for when your table is ready). You are then shown to the smoothie bar where you can sit until your buzzer goes off and your beautician is ready and waiting. 

I found the treatment rooms to be pretty much like any other i have been in, except a noticeable and welcome difference was that the rooms were warm - not stifling hot and not air conditioned freezing. 

After 25 minutes I felt refreshed and so relaxed I wanted to go to bed not to Dinner. 

I had my other two treatments the following day, a Footlogix Wellness pedicure with Jessica GELeration Overlay and a Jessica prescription manicure with GELeration Overlay. These treatments were done in the Communal Therapy Area - the opposite end to the private treatment rooms. The Chairs are what it must feel like to sit on a cloud in heaven. Every single part of my body was softly supported - I'd not been sat in it for more than 5 minutes before I started drifting off. I'm sure that had nothing to do with the two bottles of wine we had, had the night before but I welcomed the refreshing ice cold glass of water with lemon. 


After each treatment your beautician takes you to the Ssshh zone, with a variety of beds, chairs and sofa's for you to continue with your inner relaxation, even a little nap if you so wish. should you have a need for further relaxation massage chairs are available free of charge. Being a Spa Snorty Snorter I managed to keep myself awake and avoid any embarrassment.

Sssshhh Area

Our dinner was in the Waterlillies restaurant, our server was Monica possibly the most attentive and loveliest lady I have ever had the pleasure to meet. The menu is truly gourmet ad in no way rabbit food. I enjoyed the most delicious and tender Lamb I have ever had the chance to eat. Desert was a Chocolate Melting Pudding with Ice Cream. Perfect again, as I don't like anything too sickly or rich. 

Waterlillies
Photo credit: itsallweeat.com

Positively stuffed and perhaps a little tipsy, we retired to our rooms and what are described as Luxury beds and that they are. One of the best nights sleeps I have had in a while and I think we can thank not only the bed but the whole spa experience. 


The following day, check out was at 11am but there is no need to be physically at reception at that time (queueing with everyone else while you could still be enjoying the facilities). Instead, as long as you've packed up, you can arrange for concierge to collect your bags and continue using all the services and treatments until 3pm. this meant we could have a leisurely breakfast, the remainder of our treatments and as the sun had come out a couple of hours drinking refreshment on one of the many sun trap terraces. We definitely left, as promised, with a the best possible after spa glow - that lasted too!

Surrounding Grounds
Photo credit: maplandia.com

Please do not be out off by the electronic communications in rooms only policy, I am the worst Smart Phone addict there is and I can say hand on heart, no sooner was I out of the room that I barely thought of about it. There is plenty to keep your senses awake and entertained. 


There is also the opportunity to borrow wellies or bikes to explore the surrounding grounds if you get the chance or inclination.


Lastly, a lovely touch, which I didn't use but is a wonderful idea - the Spa offers a complimentary 'Meet & Greet' Service from Thorpe-Le-Soken train station (Must be booked in advance). 




Lifehouse Spa 
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