I received an exciting email in my inbox from It's In Nottingham a few weeks ago inviting me to attend their first Secret Dinner Club. I jumped at the chance as I love mystery (it makes life interesting, don't you agree?).
I wasn't provided any information to which venues I would attend on the evening of September 28th for dinner and drinks. The only information I was given was to meet at 6:30 pm next to the lions in the old market square along with fellow local bloggers.
When we arrived It's In Nottingham where waiting for us with a photo frame to take pictures for their Instagram and for our social media pages.
At 6:40pm we headed off to the first venue which was the Boilermaker.
I've never been to the Boilermaker before, however, I'm following them on Instagram and I've seen photographs of their innovative, unique and playful cocktails. I loved experiencing it in person. Every cocktail has it's own hashtag which is perfect for the social media world that we live in today.
The Boilermaker reminds me of the saying "Never judge a book by its cover" as it's hidden behind a boiler showroom and then you walk through the doors into a funky and contemporary bar. I like how the Boilermaker is different from other regular bars as it's table service. We all sat back and relaxed while we waited for our first cocktail of the evening.
We were served a Left Lion cocktail with a cute little origami lion on the side of the glass. This was a mixture of G&T, syrup from DoughNotts, Coffee and tonka been liqueur.
At 7:30pm we went to the second venue for dinner which was The Curious Tavern.
The Curious Tavern is very dark and atmospheric. It's beautifully decorated and I love the little quirks in this hidden gem.
I sat on a table with Monet (@monetbrooks) , Dan (@highstreetgent) and Sophie (@SophiesNotebook). We were served "selfie" cocktails which was a mixture of rhubarb and gin with added star sunglasses on the side. I'm not a fan of gin however the fruity rhubarb masked the taste. I like fruity cocktails the best.
I was served a meat pie with smooth mash potatos and peas. It was delicious comforting autumn food which warms your belly. Yummy :)
At 8:45pm we headed to the third and last venue of the evening which was the Homemade Cafe.
The Homemade Cafe has a delicious window display of homemade cakes and savoury treats which invites you in.
We were served a selection of 3 sweet treats which were a lemon drizzle cake, oreo cheesecake and a after eight brownie with a fruity strawberry lemonade to wash it down with. My favourite was the oreo cheesecake. I love how cosy and intimate the Homemade cafe feels which will make me return again for a visit.
So there you have it. I visited 3 venues which I have never been to before and I would 100% love to visit them again.
If you would like to experience this for yourself. Head over to It's In Nottinghams Food and Drink Finder which helps you decide which city centre venue to go for breakfast, dinner, coffee and more.
Last night it suddenly dawned on me that at the end of January in a few months time I shall be turning 30 years old.
This may seem like a celebratory birthday milestone but in my mind what hangs over my head is a feeling of dread.
Why do I feel this way? well, when I was 18 years I had a vision that by the age of 30 that I would have my dream job and be in the right relationship with the right man. Life hasn't turned out how I expected it to and this gives me a feeling that I've not measured up.
Can all of my desires and goals still happen? of course, they can. I'm trying not to feel discouraged because I'm not where I want to be. Timing is everything. My time will come.
Despite how crap I feel sometimes I can see the positives to where I am in life. I have the opportunity to be able to drive my life in whatever direction that I want it to.
So how do I deal with approaching 30? well, I have an attitude of gratitude and think about everything which I have achieved so far in my nearly 30 years of being on this earth. I can see the growth within myself and take all of the experience to learn from. I let go of the old expectations of where I should of been and create new goals of where I want to be.
I'd like to share with you 3 goals which I would like to achieve by the age of 30
3 Goals I Would Like To Achieve At 30
1. Learning How To Drive
I would love to pass my driving test. I've had lessons on and off over the years but it would be amazing to pass my test to be able to get into my own car and drive. I have researched what car I would like and how much MOT and insurance is going to cost. It's all prepared in my mind but it's just at that stage where I'd like to put it back into action and get back into the driver's seat. I can stop borrowing my friends car for selfies after I have passed my test. haha :)
2. Attending More Social Events
I'm getting to a point where I'm no longer Hayley the social butterfly who enjoys passionfruit margaritas, putting her false lashes on and dancing the night away. I've turned into Hayley the hermit crab who doesn't go out and prefers to wears no makeup and cozy pajamas at home. Quiet nights infront of the TV are more appealing to me right now and that's OK (I'm absolutely loving Great British Bake Off).
However my lack of social interaction can be a cause of concern sometimes. If anyone else is like this then please leave me a comment below :)
I'd like to attend more social events even if I have to physically force myself out of the house. I'd like to be Hayley the social butterfly once again because I do like socialising when I get out. I love attending blogger events and hopefully, in the future, I will be asked to many more.
Watch my most recent vlog of what I have been up too below.
3. Indulge
I'd like to indulge and treat myself more often. I'd like to eat out at restaurants or stop by a cute little coffee shop which I always walk past but never go into. Life is meant to be enjoyed and a bit of indulgence in a treat does you good. Who knows who I might bump into. Life can change in an instant :)
Hi everyone
Today's blog post is a rather personal topic. I wanted to share with you 5 reasons why I love spirituality.
I haven't spoken about my spiritual side much on BunnyMoonstone because I wasn't ready to open up and talk about it. But now I feel like I'm ready to share :).
1. Identity
My spirituality is a strong part of my identity. The more that I accept my identity then the more I love myself.
My spiritual path has helped me an enormous amount of self-love which then has resulted in a massive boost of confidence and assertiveness. In the past, I was a giver with no limits. I gave all of my energy and time away without thinking about myself. This would lead to exhaustion and anxiety.
I've learned that I can be the sensitive, big-hearted soul that I always have been but I don't have to be a pushover. I can do whats right for me without feeling guilty because I am my own best friend. I've set healthy boundaries so I don't give all my energy away freely. If you respect yourself then so will others around you.
Doreen virtue's book "assertiveness for earth angels" book helped me and I would recommend it to anyone who is struggling with assertiveness or feeling as though you give too much to others.
2. Growth
I find it truly fascinating to reflect how much I've grown as a person in knowledge, physically and emotionally over the years. Spirituality teaches me that growth is essential to become a better person. Each day I try and be a better person than I was yesterday. I've made mistakes and I continue to make them because it's apart of the human experience.
Spiritual growth has helped me to become more conscious about what I put in my body to consume and also for beauty purposes. I switched slowly to cruelty-free beauty last year in April and it took me a year to slowly change over my makeup whilst learning about companies who do and do not test on animals.
Click here to read the blog post.
Recently I purchased a Salt Of The Earth Travel Size Unscented Deodorant because I was watching videos about harmful chemicals in standard deodorants. This is why I decided to switch to a natural one.
As you are reading this blog, i'm looking into transitioning from cheap sanitary towels for natural chemical free versions as I'd like to go more natural with my menstrual cycle. Reviews of what I decide to purchase will be coming soon.
I do the best that I can with what funds I have. I make little changes which all add up to make a big impact. I live by my own rules because it makes me feel better and happier.
3. Gratitude
Today is 21st September which means it's World Gratitude Day. What are you grateful for? leave me a comment below :)
To have an attitude of gratitude has changed my life for the better. I've learned about gratitude and about how important it is.
Taking a moment each day to stop about how you have a roof over your head, food and water in your belly and everything you have. Stopping to thank people who make a difference in our lives. It's not happy people who are thankful but it's happy people who are. I'm glad that my spiritual path has shown me gratitude because I think that it keeps me focused on the positives in life.
4. Relaxation
Meditation helps me to relax and to sleep better.
5. Everything Happens For A Reason
Spirituality has shown me that everything happens for a reason which is the good, the bad and the ugly.
Let me know in the comments below what you love about spirituality and how it's helped you.
I decided to try Holland And Barrett's Salt Of The Earth Crystal Travel Deodorant Unscented Stick. This is 50g of product for £3.50. It's a perfect size to pop in my handbag and I wanted to see if I liked it before I purchased a full size product (90g for £4.99).
I really like it. It's a long lasting deodorant which causes no white marks on clothes. It's suitable for vegetarians and vegans, unisex and not tested on animals.
This deodorant is potassium alum which is a natural mineral salt.
The directions of use is you apply it to damp skin after washing or you can wet the stick and apply it to dry skin. If you allow this product to air dry then it will last longer. It's very easy to use and applies smoothly.
I really like it as it contains no aluminum chloral hydrate, no alcohol, and no parabens. The deodorant is potassium alum which is a natural mineral salt. It's kind to the skin.
My underarms are very sensitive and I can't use any fragranced products in that area as it cuases irritatation.
After I shower I apply The Salt Of The Earth deodorant stick under my arms. This product lasts the entire day. I don't smell of body odor at the end of the day. Recommended :)
Let me know in the comments below if you have tried any natural deodorants before.
