The Monday Piece - Bays English Muffins Competition

Pizza Genius Wanted!

Do you rule in the kitchen, when it comes to toasting up some tantalising treats for your family and friends? Have you ever made pizzas on English muffins? Did you toast your English muffin before you melted the cheese on them? Did you use olive oil, tomato sauce or something else as your base? Did you broil or bake? Did you spice it right? If you haven't tried Bays English Muffin pizzas, you're missing something tasty that's super easy to make. All you have to do is grab your favourite toppings, pour on some sauce and get toasting. Bays makes it easy, delicious and fun. And, everyone can create their own masterpiece using Bays English Muffins as the blank canvas.

The good news is that anyone can be a Bays Pizza Genius. 

Here is a super scrumptious recipe for your Bays English Muffins!

Gorgonzola and pear pizza recipe

4 Bays English Muffins, split and lightly toasted

3 tablespoons of olive oil

1 cup shredded Italian cheese blend

2/3 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese

1/2 cup coarse chopped walnuts

1 Bosc pear cut into 16 thin slices

2 teaspoons lemon juice

Sea salt

Heat oven to 400, place toasted muffin halves on foil sheet on a baking tray, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle Italian cheese, Gorgonzola and walnuts on the top. Coat the pear slices with a little lemon juice, place on the muffins. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes or until cheese has melted. Sprinkle a little sea salt if you desire, and serve!

Serves 8 as an Appetizer or 4 as a light main dish - serve with a tossed green salad.

Enter the Sweepstakes

Click on this link facebook.com/baysenglishmuffins to enter every day for a chance to WIN a countertop Pizza Maker Oven and twopackages of Bays.   Enter and share why you are a Bays Pizza Genius from February 27– March 18, 2017. The official rules are located at bays.com. There’s no purchase necessary.

New Bays English Muffins Pizza Recipes

If you want to start cooking your Bays Pizza Muffins now, there are some terrific new pizza recipes at www.bays.com:

• BBQ Chicken Pizza – Make this family friendly meal any night of the week

• Gorgonzola Pear Pizza – Try this Italian flavor combo anytime

• Pizza Margherita– Freshen up a classic with select ingredients

• Shitake Mushroom Herb Pizza–Dress up your Bays with this elegant recipe for dinner

• Southwest Shrimp Bacon Pineapple Pizza –Fire up the fresh taste of a Hawaiian pizza 

• Fig Prosciutto Arugula Pizza– Make mouths water with this sweet and salty show stopper

Watch this video and you will see how easy it is to be a Bays Pizza Genius!

This is a sponsored blog; while the views expressed here were genuinely mine, consideration was paid to me by Bays English Muffins to review this product.

Boohoo X DOTM - Bloggers Dress Of The Month February

I adore shirt dresses as they are mega easy to style - Boohoo are working with bloggers sending out a surprise dress to style up and wear as they please for their Boohoo X DOTM campaign. This striped shirt dress has an oversized vibe and large fluted cuff sleeves which I love, I've worn it with my warm aviator jacket and some velvet thigh high boots to keep it fun and sassy but ideal for the weekend. It's a great campaign that is all about embracing new trends and wearing something that you maybe thought that you couldn't 'pull off' plus breaks the rules of fashion and leaving your comfort zone which I always think is a good thing. I've also worn it with this black Koko Couture handbag, they have a huge selection of bags and accessories on their website, I picked this black flap style with a chain handle, it looks sleek and I can fit so much in it which is always a bonus! They are stocking in Topshop too which is mega exciting so keep an eye out for their styles hitting stores! How would you style a shirt dress?
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*c/o Boohoo dress, here*
*Zara jacket*
*c/o Koko Couture bag, here*
*c/o Public Desire boots, here*
*Bracelet, gift*
*Necklace, gift*

The Monday Piece - Vinyl Want List

This week's Monday Piece is on vinyl want list! I love anything shiny and slightly over the top so these different coloured vinyl trousers from Topshop have seriously caught my attention - the red pair are very Britney but I adore them and think they'd look awesome with the AC/DC t-shirt and some heeled boots. The silver pair are just as eye catching, I'd wear them with some navy velvet boots and a distressed top! I'm also spying bags and accessories, im obsessed with fluffy things and cute bag charms as I love to add a little fun to my bags so the monster, heart and Pom Pom charms are definitely creeping up my want list. The Fendi mini peekaboo bag has fast become a bit of a cult bag and I'm desperate to own it, the monster eyes and studded top with soft leather is a little different and so much fun! Would you wear vinyl trousers?
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Weekend Studs

I'm a huge fan of studs and love a bit of embellishment, so i'm wearing them on my jeans, shoes and bag for a triple whammy! A quick outfit update from this weekend, I've been dashing around running errands and spent 4 and a half hours in the hairdressers yesterday getting my hair refreshed and trimmed - I've gone for a bit more balayage and a sunkissed look, let me know what you think! Today we've been on a walk to Symonds Yat to get some much needed fresh air, then spent the afternoon visiting family so it's been a chilled weekend - i'm still loving this shaggy black and white bomber jacket, it reminds me of the Charlotte Simone styles that are totally amazing!
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*c/o Irisie black and white fur bomber jacket, here*
*Zara jumper*
*Topshop studded jeans*
*c/o Rosegal boots*
*Furla bag*
*Michael Kors bag charm*
*Bracelet, gift*
*Necklace, gift*

The Monday Piece - Penclic B2 Bluetooth Mouse Review

This week's Monday Piece is on this Penclic wireless Bluetooth mouse! I'm a sucker for a new gadget and love a bit of tech, especially when it can make life so much easier and has a great use. I've been trying out this ergonomic mouse from Penclic, the mouse connects with Bluetooth to your PC or Mac so there's no need for annoying wires, it comes with a little dust bag too which is ideal for keeping it clean and carrying it around on the go. It is so sleek and the white colour looks so classic, you don't need any extra software or downloads either so you literally pop in the rechargeable battery and off you go. It can operate on any surface making it even more ideal for travelling or using practically anywhere you like whether it's on the train or in the park.

The 5 button and scroll wheel make it easy to use and it fits in the hand neatly, it's smaller than I thought it would be but this is great as it's not bulky at all and is really lightweight - the wireless range is up to 5 metres which is super clever and convenient. As well as all of the amazing technology, the Penclic mouse is also designed to prevent repetitive strain injury - a common problem more of us are having to deal with due to increased computer use - i use a PC at work all day and by the end of it my hand always feels stiff and clammy from gripping onto an old school basic mouse that's not really very ergonomic at all. I've switched it to the Penclic and although it took me a few 'goes' to get the hang of it, I've mastered the upright more natural design and have been loving it, it's like a dinky joy stick!

The smart Scandinavian design is durable, sleek, great quality and has given me so many advantages in comparison to the usual mouse I use. If you're tired of using the same mouse and are looking for a new gadget that is ultra cool and useful then snap up a Penclic B2 Bluetooth Mouse - it's so convenient and can be carried everywhere due to its light compact design, plus if you suffer with RSI or stiffness in the hands you will see notable improvements in symptoms. Priced at £79.99 the mouse offers fantastic design and great value for money as it's a gadget that brings assistance and help as well as being ergonomic and great to look at.
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*c/o Penclic B2 Bluetooth Mouse, here*

Winter Beauty Saviours

I am pretty loyal to my regular hair and beauty products, but every so often when I see something that ticks all of my boxes I have to give it a try! It has been so cold and miserable lately over here in the UK so my skin and hair have been suffering a little, though it meant it is the ideal time to bring in some fresh new products, all of which I have been loving and are now part of my regular routine.

I've been using Kerastase products for a few years now, and i'm always impressed with the amazing results my hair gets from the range - I've been looking for a new hair oil for a little while and have been waiting for the Kerastase Elixir Ultime for fine hair to go into sale but it never did so I decided to go ahead and give it a try anyway as I've heard so many amazing reviews for it. My hair is long but quite fine, it tangles easy and during the winter months it can be a bit lacklustre and lacking in shine and volume. The Kerastase Elixir Ultime for fine hair is a light spray oil fortified with argan and maize, and is designed to enrich hair without weighing it down, plus it adds shine and volume. I've been using it on my damp hair before styling, then on dry hair too to finish the style - the oil is really light and not heavy at all, it soaks into hair immediately giving an instant result - more shine, more tamed ends, and more volume too - plus it smells incredible and acts as a hair perfume which is great for me as I wash my hair every 2-3 days so it freshens it up! You can buy this oil direct from your hairdressers, or you can get it online for around £40.00 pre sale, it's not cheap but the glass bottle it really big and you only need a few sprays of the mist at a time so it will last for ages. For me it's something that i'm loving and will continue to use.

Comvita Medihoney Skintensive cream is a skin cream I've introduced into my routine recently, with a milk like consistency it's an intensive moisturiser filled with goodness and natural ingredients, most notably medical grade Manuka honey and rich plant butters. The cream is designed to smooth and help visibly dry, itchy, or eczema prone skin, and is fragrance free and pH balanced so it's ideal for the most sensitive of skins. I've been using this on any 'problem' skin areas and have been really impressed, it leaves my skin so soft and feels so silky when applying it to the skin. Cold weather dries out my skin, and it can get a little patchy from the excessive central heating too, it's been a saviour for helping with this and it absorbs into my skin quickly leaving a non greasy and soft result. The cream is so light so it's definitely something i'd use all year round, priced at £8.99 a little goes a long way and as it's full of natural ingredients so I think it's a bit of a bargain as it has so many uses!

When we took a trip to Hong Kong last year and there were so many cute packaged make-up products, but I ended up leaving without any so when I spotted this South Korean Tony Moly pocket bunny moist mist spray in my local TKMaxx I had to pick it up! The packaging is so cute, and their whole range is as equally as adorable as this, but it's not just the packaging that has impressed me. I love the formula as it's made up of French Celtic water, strawberry, peach and apple, and it smells so fresh. The spray can be used as a primer, make up setter, and as a refreshing spray throughout the day adding lots of freshness and vitamins to your skin - this has been adding some much needed moisture to my skin giving a nourished feel and glowing look! I am already looking out for more Tony Moly products as they look totally adorable and work so well too, you can pick this up online for about £9.00 or in store at Selfridges for £12.50, but check out TKMaxx as I got it for £5.00, a total bargain.

I'm always open to a new supplement to enhance my skin, wellbeing or health - I've been trying out the famous Japanese Mikei Red Reishi essence used by celebrity clients like Kim Kardashian that claims to limit the ageing process, maintain a healthy immune system, improve circulatory health, maintain a healthier cardiovascular system, maintain wellbeing and improve your skin. Once reserved only for royalty, red reishi was the most sought after medicinal herb in Eastern medicine because of its rarity. Today, practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine consider red reishi nature’s most powerful and beneficial adaptogen. The packet comes with a 30 day supply of vegetarian tablets - the Mayuzumi family of Japan is the world's foremost experts on producing the highest quality red reishi mushroom. In 1976, the family patented the most superior strain and perfected its cultivation and concentration methods to the exacting standards of the Japan Reishi Association so you can rest assured that the supplement is from a reliable, historic source. Since using the supplement I have noticed a brighter, cleaner complexion, it's definitely something i'd like to continue taking over time to get thefull benefits, especially with regards to enhancing the immune system. Each supplement pack is priced at around £47.99 depending on where you get it from.

What products have you been enjoying this winter?
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*Kerastase Elixir Ultime spray for fine hair, here*
*c/o Medihoney Skintensive cream, here*
*Tony Moly Moisture Mist spray, here*
*c/o Mikei Red Reishi supplement, here*

The Monday Piece - ToSave Khaki Lace Up Top

This week's Monday Piece is on this ToSave khaki lace up top! A quick outfit update from the weekend wearing more lace up which is a trend I am still loving - the lace up trend has been going on for a few seasons now and it's still going strong, so I'm getting involved (again) with this lace up tshirt from ToSave.com. I love the khaki colour as it goes so well with black, I've worn it with my much worn super ripped Jamie jeans from Topshop and my classic leather jacket - we moved at the weekend from Malvern to Ledbury, so I've kept it pretty simple and comfortable! I forgot how stressful moving places was so it's great to be finally settled and unpacked after sorting out all of the 'stuff' I've not knowingly accumulated! Definitely check out the ToSave website as they have lots more styles just like this one plus they offer free shipping and bargain prices too!
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*c/o ToSave top, here*
*c/o Minusey leather jacket, here*
*Topshop jeans here, boots*
*Marc Jacobs bag*
*Hong Kong Karl Lagerfeld bag charm*
*Necklace, gift*
*Bracelet, gift*

Baxters Souper Swap Challenge

I love a food challenge, especially during winter when it's freezing cold outside and I need some comfort food. I've been taking part in the Baxters Souper Swap Challenge, swapping in a nutritious can of soup from Baxters for my usual standard lunch - my usual lunch at work varies between gluten free salads, bento boxes, and chicken mixed with rice - so I was definitely ready to swap in some soup to add lots of flavour and warmth to my day.

I was sent a full selection of Baxters soups including vegetarian options like Green Lentil and Tomato and Garden Pea and Mint - the vegetarian range is a selection of delicious and nutritious contemporary vegetable soup recipes, they are made with a huge selection of vegetables most including 2-3 portions of your recommended 5 a day. I find they are an ideal and incredibly convenient way to add nutrients and vegetables to your diet that are high in fibre, vitamins and goodness, plus whilst eating them I forgot how nutritious they are because they are just so tasty!

I have a big appetite and am always munching on something, so the range of Baxters Hearty Soups definitely appealed to my hungry tummy - stuffed full of hearty, filling ingredients like chunky vegetables, chicken, bacon, beans and pulses there is definitely something for everyone whether it's Tuscan Style Bean, Bacon and Pecorino or classic Country Vegetable. At lunch time I need something that is going to satisfy my hunger and cravings, I found that these soups did exactly that and I really found myself looking forward to settling down with a big bowl of warm, delicious soup. It's so convenient too as there's no prepping involved, you just pop it in your bag before work then heat it up in the microwave and in 3 minutes you can tuck in to a tasty wholesome meal!

The Baxters challenge has been so much fun and as there is such a huge selection of soups to choose from each day it's always exciting to test out the flavours, plus as they are filled with so many nutrients and fresh ingredients the soup left me feeling full but not bloated, with lots of energy ready to tackle an afternoon in the office. Plus the majority of the soups are gluten free which is awesome for my coeliac self as finding convenient gluten free lunches is a tough call. I'm going to continue enjoying Baxters soup as part of my lunch time routine, I love how warming they are and they are seriously yummy and comforting to eat as well as being full of healthy ingredients - also in comparison to other lunches like sandwiches and pasta salads the soups are lower in calories, fat and salt, but much higher in nutrients, vitamins and fresh ingredients. I totally recommend giving the Souper Swap Challenge a go and it's ideal to kick start a more healthy approach to eating!
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*c/o Baxters foods soups, here*