Bistrotea Teapods Review & Win a Year's Supply

I am such a tea addict, whatever bio on whatever social media you read I can almost guarantee it will say about my love for tea!
My favourites (you will already know if you read my tweets) being green tea and plain old boring black tea! These don't take alot of effort as it is but when I heard about these new "teapods" I thought to myself.... why didn't I think of that!

These teapods are from the company Bistrotea and are a simple and unique way to get that all important cup of tea without the mess and effort of a regular teabag.

I was lucky enough to be sent some of these teapods to try out by the lovely people at Bistrotea. There are 11 snazzy flavours to choose from which at first scared me as I am a bit of a wimp when it comes to trying out new things - especially foods and drinks but I plucked up the courage and actually really enjoyed tying out load of new flavours! 

Using teapods couldn't be easier.
 Just choose the flavour you want, pop it in your mug and stir whilst pouring in your boiling water -done.

We are British - we love tea. But I'm sure we are all guilty of dripping tea all over the place and/or burning ourselves with teabags on a regular basis! 
These little beauties need no squeezing or wringing to extract the flavour - with just the quick stir your cup is brewed to perfection - how easy is that - bye bye drips and burns.
It also totally dismisses the need for a teaspoon as your use your pod to stir - that means less washing up people!
 (It says 3-5 minutes.... a may have stirred for a little less on some cups, but I left it after and it still tasted lovely!)

The flavours available so far are : 

Black Teas - English Breakfast, Earl Grey & Apple Cinnamon

Red Teas - Jasmine Lotus, Strawberry & Vanilla Peach

Green Teas - Ginger, Lemon Grass & Mint

Herbal Infusions - Fruit "Goji" Berry & Herbs 'n' Honey (Both caffeine free)

My favourites have got to be the red tea in Strawberry and the black tea in Apple Cinnamon - which was a total surprise to me as they are flavours that I've never tried before and things I wouldn't ever normally choose.

These teapods are fab - I am totally hooked! I love how easy they are and all the different flavours really have me sold!

Now I have rambled on with my thoughts and feelings about these teabag replacements we will get to the bit you guys are probably really interested in - how to win a year's supply of  teapods.
Bistrotea and their lovely dog Tufty are giving you the chance to win a year's supply of TeaPods, worth £175.20. 
That is a whopping 384 TeaPods (12x cartons of 32 TeaPods, worth £14.60 per carton)

All you have to do to win is click HERE answer this 1 simple question - 

How many blends of Bistrotea TeaPods are currently available?
Just head to the link above and follow the instructions to enter - make sure you also check out the brilliant, unique way that the winner will be choosen too!

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(***Disclaimer : This product was kindly sent to me by the lovely people at Bistrotea. All thoughts, opinions and ideas are always my own and I would never include an item or product on A Yellow Brick Blog that I didn't truly believe in.)

Kirstie's Travel Diaries #14 : Horse Riding In Hollywood & 21 Jump Street Premiere

Catch up with #13 here.

DAY 14 (13/03/12)

It was our last day in Hollywood, our last day in Los Angeles.... but luckily not our last day in California (keep reading to find out our next stop)! I was definitely not ready to leave the west coast just yet either ( it was so nice to have some sunshine after the freezing temps of NYC!).
We had been looking through all the leaflets, posters and other tourist type information in our hotel and something which we had wanted to do but had not yet picked up the courage was to go horse-riding.
Now I hadn't been horse-riding since I was a tiny child and even then I think it was just at a fete or something, going round in a circle.... and maybe even that was a Donkey - I only remember that because my parents have photos of it!

So yes, horse-riding was our plan for the day, and seeing as we had been good and packed most of our stuff the night before, we got up early and prepared ourselves for some cowboy action!
We called our lovely driver, the awesome and hilarious Harry, who picked us up just before midday and took us on the short journey to our destination - Sunset Ranch in Griffith Park. (and we're not the only ones to have had some fun here....)

We rocked up, paid and filled out some forms (basically so we couldn't sue) - left our bags and things... apart from our cameras of course, with the lovely people at the ranch and joined the queue.
We waited for their to be a group large enough to take out, got our helmets on (totes sexy) and then e were assigned our individual horses.
Now ... my first horse I hopped on didn't really want to co-operate and started to head back into the stables... with me on him! 
Now I am a total beginner at horse-riding and anything to do with it so I was bloody hopeless. All I could think to do was shout "umm... someone?" whilst my friend watched on crying with laughter!

My horse taking me on a ride the wrong way - HELP!

Needless to say I was off that horse and on a happier horse in seconds!

Up the trail we started and it suddenly occurred to me about the fact that I could be scared of this experience and actually... I really was, I was terrified.
I decided to cover up my wimpy-ways with laughter - I couldn't stop. My friend on the other hand decided to scream and shout - which in the end made it such a hilarious experience I still laugh about it to this very day.

The fact we were so high up made it scary enough but the fact that the horses had to walk along to side of cliff made it even scarier! This was so that if there was a predator down there they'd be able to see it coming - at this point in time I wanted to get off and run back down to those stables BUT I was in Hollywood riding a horse next to the Hollywood sign with one of the most insane views I've ever seen - I needed to take this all in.

Back on our feet and feeling a tad safer we thanked the lovely ladies for looking after us dramatic Brits and called Harry for our ride home!
This journey was hilarious as Harry came out with some amazing stories about an unfortuate wedding and a crazy MJ fan he once had to drive around LA - he truly was a highlight of LA for us!

Time for food and a wonder round Hollywood & Highland before the exciting events of the evening.
We knew that the 21 Jump Street premiere was happening that evening right by our hotel at the Chinese Theatre and there was noway we were missing out on that (Channing Tatum alert)!

We waited for what felt like hours for the big stars at arrive and the crows that gathered were insane! 
A Hollywood premiere was a seriously exciting thing for us to witness (and you may hate me for the photos I'm about to share with you!)
Channing and Jonah turned up and it all went a bit crazy! Channing came over to where we were - I could not believe it. He was really nice, making time for everyone, taking photos and signing autographs! and YES girls he is more gorgeous in real life.

It was insane and the perfect way to finish off our trip to LA! 
Round the corner and back to our hotel to bed we went - our flight the next day was at about 12pm so we knew it was a fairly early start for us! Bye Bye Hollywood.

NEXT POST - Hello San Francisco! 

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Mac Amplified Creme Lipstick - Girl About Town Review

Here is the last of the Mac lipsticks I got for my birthday (I know, I'm a lucky lucky girl!) Check out my previous reviews of Impassioned & Candy Yum-Yum! As you can tell I have a major love for lipsticks.... especially pink ones! 

Another Amplified Creme from Mac here, a gorgeous creamy formula (my fav!). I have been eyeing this up honestly for months and months and now I finally have it I'm actually annoyed I hadn't bought it sooner because it is a beaut!

This shade reminds me slightly of a Mac lipstick I bought years ago called Trimming Talk, which was discontinued, (yup I was devo!) just a little less vibrant - it is a gorgeous deep fusicha shade.

As you can see I've already worn this one - couldn't wait sorry! Although I probably should of cleaned it up a bit before giving it a photoshoot - opps a daisy! I do look after my make-up I promise!

This is such a wearable colour - daytime, nighttime even bloomin bedtime - I will be wearing this!

I choose to wear this out for my birthday night out and thought I'd insert some photos in here so you can see what it looks like on - because normally I'm rubbish at doing that - blogger fail! (in some of these I may be a little tipsy... but it was my birthday so you can let me off right?)

It's a little darker than the other shades I featured recently but for me this is a must have colour! If you're looking to purchase a new or even your first mac lipstick I would highly recommend Girl About Town!

The pigmentation as always with Amplified creme's is perfect for me - just one swipe and you get a flawless thick opaque colour (like below) - what more could you want?

Girl About Town  is £15 and I think well worth it - I've found a pink that is so wearable and great for my skintone, a product I'd buy over and over again!

Have you tried Girl About Town?

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Product Of The Week #2

Yeah so I had a bit set back.... started these weekly posts and then - totally missed week 2 (although I did pre-warn it may not be every week)! Haha I'm such a fail, but in my defense it was my birthday week and I was super busy! 
BUT here is #2 and I promise to try my hardest to keep this up weekly from now on!

Product Of The Week #2 - Bath & Body Works I Love You Bouquet Anti-Bac Hand Gel.

I've mentioned before that I am obsessed with hand gels - I always have one in my bag and am constantly applying them. (I'm probably immune to them now the amount that I use them but still... it makes me feel better!)

The fact I've been using this particular one loads recently it a massive coincidence with the fact it is also Valentine's week!
 I had loads of these from when I went to America and have slowly, along with other brands, been getting through them all. Bath & Body Works is so amazing, we need to get it over here!

This stuff smells amazing, if you've had these gels before you will know how awesome BABW make them smell.
This scent is super sweet and lasts for ages - there is a certain zest to it which I can't quite put my finger on but what ever it is I like it! It also has the lovely bursting beads!
I love this anti-bac and I am going to be gutted when it runs out as I actually think it's the last one I have left from the US - *sad face* - time to get myself on eBay I think!

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Empties #3

Another Empties post for you lovelies today! I feel like it has been ages since I have done one of these - and I'm sure since then I've been through a good few products but here are a few I've saved to share with you all... because I love them!

Looking at these now I think they have all definitely been featured or mentioned on A Yellow Brick Blog at some point in the past 6 months... I hope this doesn't bother you lovely people! (Just proof that I really do love them really!)

1. Nutrasome Thickening Shampoo
This shampoo was mentioned in my January Favs and I just finished the bottle last week! Although like I said there, the smell is a little masculine - this stuff has actually worked. Since writing my Jan Favs I have actually been to my hairdresser and she even commented on how thick my hair was feeling compared to the last time she saw me! I think I'll definitely be re-purchasing this stuff! I got it from Boots and I think it was about £8.19!

2. Nivea Express Hydration Primer
This stuff is a god send. I so so glad I picked it up last year! I use this every morning after using my Liz Earl Skin Tonic. It gives a great base for make-up (although most day I do wear a simple primer as well as this stuff!) and keeps my skin feeling smooth and hydrated without getting clogged up or greasy. I already have another one of these on the go - I highly recommend this, it is a fab daily moisturiser and under £5! 

3. Indeed Labs Hydraluron 
Another hydrating product? Why yes it is! I gave into the hydra-hype and coughed up the £20ish it is for this little tube! But I have to say I am glad that I did - this stuff made my skin feel smooth, silky and plump aswell as getting rid of the couple of dry patches that randomly seemed to appear this winter. Right now I'm, of course, on a spending ban, (sad times) so I can't afford to buy a replacement tube - but maybe somewhen (that's an Isle Of Wight word that you guys have probably never heard!) in the near future U'll be able to invest again!

4. Taylor by Taylor Swift Perfume
I'm a huge Swiftie - duh! So obviously I own this! I love it and it probably took me about 5months to use this 30ml bottle (I'm always changing up my perfumes!) so I bought another one in the xmas sales (which you probably saw in my Boots haul - total bargain) so don't worry I'm not without!

5. Seventeen Miracle Matte Pressed Powder
Previously I've never been one for powders - but putting one over the top of my liquid foundation to set it has become an everyday occurrence now. I love the finish it gives my skin and being a matte powder this helps banish any unwanted shine I may have! It takes alot for me to hit pan with products as I change them up alot so this is proof that I am addicted - I need to buy a new one asap, my daily routine wouldn't be the same without it!

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Mac Matte Lipstick - Candy Yum-Yum Review

I told you they'd be more! Number 2 review of my new lipsticks is here (Check out my review of Impassioned here)! 

Today it is all about Mac Matte Lipstick in - Candy Yum-Yum.

Candy Yum-Yum is one of the Mac lipsticks I have been umming and arring for so long about getting. Just the name has me sold - that seems like the best job in the world... making up names for shades -  how do I go about applying for this?! Anyway....

I didn't actually realise this was a matte shade - I'm so blonde sometimes! I only own a couple of matte shades but am definitely a fan.

Even though it is matte it still has a gorgeous sheen about it and doesn't feel drying at all.

I would recommend using a good lip scrub before using this too - lipsticks always need a good base to work well. 

TIP : If you don't have, want or like lip scrubs then invest in just a cheap manual toothbrush, use in a circular motions over your lips a couple of times a week for soft, flawless lips!

The pigmentation is, like all Mac lipsticks, gorgeous! Just one swipe gives a fabulous opaque colour - which like I said before is always what I look for in a lipstick.

If you like brights - this is the shade for you! A vivid fuchsia pink which stands out a mile will having you looking and feeling girly and glam in seconds!

Perfect for summer days and girl's night's out - this would go so well with both a simple daytime eye and a something a bit more full-on with a pair of false lashes!

What do you think then girls? Love it? Want it? Own it? .. or does a shade so bright scare you?

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