Best Gin Advent Calendars - Pre-Blogmas Warm Up!

Hey Guys!

One day until the 1st of December and then it's officially Christmas! Before starting Blogmas I wanted to do a pre-blogmas warm up by sharing with you the best gin advent calendars I've seen this year. If you are a gin lover like me then a gin advent calendar is probably one of the best gifts you could treat yourself to or someone else's treat you to ❤

There are a variety of gin advent calendars out this year, with Morrisons, Aldi, Waitrose and of course Ginvent blessing us all with a variety of gins both classic and fruity! Maybe it is time to put the chocolate advent calendar away and try out something new ⭐

Edinburgh Gin Advent Calendar

Photo Credit: John Lewis & Partners 

Edinburgh Gin Advent Calendar is available at John Lewis & Partners for £120. In the advent calendar, there are 25 mini gin 5cl bottles, including 5 original Edinburgh Gins, 4 Seaside Gins, 3 Cannonball Gins and 13 Fruit gin Liqueurs such as Raspberry and Rhubarb & Ginger. If you are a fan of Edinburgh Gin and don't mind splashing the cash on their advent calendar, then definitely treat yourself this Christmas ❤

Fever Tree Gin & Tonic Advent Calendar

Photo Credit: Waitrose

Fever-Tree's Gin and Tonic Advent Calendar is available at Waitrose for £60. With 12 x 50ml bottles of popular craft gins and 12 x 150ml cans of Fever Tree Tonic. The gins include Haymans of London, Sipsmith London Dry Gin, Tanqueray, Bombay Sapphire, Hendrick's Gin, Opihr Oriental Spiced London Dry Gin and Audemus Pink Pepper Gin. While the Fever Tree tonics include Elderflower Tonic Water, Mediterranean Tonic Water, Aromatic Tonic Water and the Premium Indian Tonic Water.

It is perfect for you gin-lovers out there! ❣

The 12 Gins of Christmas

Photo Credit: Aldi

Aldi has answered our prayers and has created 'The 12 Gins of Christmas' advent calendar for 2018. Available for £34.99 Aldi have hand-picked 12 premium gins paired with 12 tonics (and ginger ale!). The advent calendar includes gins such as Gordon's Premium Pink Distilled Gin, Gordon's London Dry Gin, JJ Whitley Elderflower Gin, Edgerton Blue Spice Gin, Aber Falls Welsh Dry Gin and Greenall's Wild Berry Gin. 

Photo Credit: Aldi

This is perfect for the festive season! Why not end your day right with a gin and tonic while watching your favourite Christmas movies 🎄

Gin & Tonic Advent Calendar by John Lewis 

Photo Credit: John Lewis & Partners

Other than selling Edinburgh Gin's Advent Calendar John Lewis & Partners have also done their own version, The Gin & Tonic Advent Calendar. Being sold for £95 - the calendar includes a full bottle of award-winning The Lake Distillery Explorer Gin and a huge selection of premium tonics. Behind every door is something new, contents include Gin Lakes Explorer Gin 70cl and tonics such as Dutch Cucumber and Watermelon Tonic Water, Pomegranate and Basil Tonic Water, Lixir Blood Orange and Cinnamon Tonic, Franklin and Sons Rosemary Tonic with Black Olive and Franklin and Sons Pink Grapefruit Tonic with Bergamot.

So, when it's gin o'clock crack open a bottle of tonic, pour some Lake Distillery Gin into a glass and add some ice 🍸

Ginvent Calendar 2018

Photo Credit: Ginfoundry.com

The Ginvent 2018 Calendar has been carefully curated and a wide selection of gins have been selected to suit the wants and needs of all gin lovers. For £124.95 the Ginvent Calendar includes gins such as London Dry, Old Tom, Navy Strength and a variety of fruit infused gins. Why not start the countdown to Christmas the right way ❣

 Gin Advent Calendar by Morrisons 

Photo Credit: Morrisons

Have a Merry Gin-Mas and a Tonic New Year with Morrison's Gin advent calendar for £54. You won't be disappointed with the huge range of gins they have selected. While you count down the days till Christmas you will be surprised with a different gin every day, with the selection including gins such as Edinburgh Gin's Christmas Gin, Gordon's Premium Pink Distilled Gin, Gordon's Special Dry London Gin, Edinburgh Gin's Plum & Vanilla Liqueur, Whitley Neill Parma Violet Gin, Edinburgh Gin's Raspberry Liqueur, Greenall's London Dry Gin, Brecon Botanicals Gin, Martin Miller's Gin, The Lakes Rhubarb & Rosehip Liqueur, Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin, Whitley Neill Rhubarb & Ginger Gin, Sipsmith Sloe Gin, Edinburgh Gin, Hendrick's Gin and  Bloom London Dry Gin. You won't be disappointed with this collection! 

Start Christmas off right, by decorating the Christmas tree with a gin in hand 🎄

Gin Advent Calendar Premium Selection Pack by Sainsburys

Photo Credit: Sainsburys

Available at Sainsburys the Premium Selection Gin Advent Calendar for £60 will delight you gin connoisseurs. With 25 different mini gins behind the calendar window, you'll get a clean, fresh or spiced gin to enjoy with your selection of mixer, whether it be lemonade or tonic. The variety of gins include JJ Whitley, Sipsmith Lemon Drizzle, Sipsmith Sloe. Tanqueray, Hendricks, Edinburgh Rhubarb & Ginger Liqueur, Gordon's Pink, Edinburgh Christmas Gin, Edinburgh Rasberry Liqueur, Whitley Neill Raspberry, Edgerton Spiced Blue, Chase Elegant 48, The Lakes Rhubarb & Rose Hip Liqueur, The Lakes Sloe Gin Liqueur Brecon Botanicals and The Lakes Gin. Plus many more. 

Add a refreshing glass of gin to your winter evening routine ❄

Which gin advent calendar would you want to receive this Christmas? Let me know in the comments below ❤

See you tomorrow for Day One of Blogmas! 

Amy x

Favourite Podcast of The Month: David's Out For A Good Time

Hey Guys!

I've been listening to some great podcasts this week, but I'll have to share them in my next Monthly Favourite Podcasts post next month as in this post I'm focusing on one podcast in particular which I've been enjoying a lot these past few weeks! ❤

David's Out For A Good Time

David's Out For A Good Time is a newish podcast which came about in September (unfortunately I didn't discover it until October so I had a few episodes to catch up on!) and has since released an episode every week with a variety of celebrity guests discussing topics from new and old music, to mental health and cameo appearances in movies. There is such a variety of guests and topics to discuss it doesn't disappoint! 

David Olshanetsky and Naledi Dube are great hosts, as they discuss current pop culture topics, Twitter discussions and men. You can't help but relate and laugh.  They also give advice on LGBTQ+ issues such as relationship struggles, dating someone who isn't out yet or general advice sharing their own experiences.  

A great segment they have on the podcast is 'Coming Out Stories' where listeners of the show can send in their stories about how they came out as gay, bisexual, pansexual or didn't need to in some cases. It is a great segment where other listeners can either relate to or hear other people's coming stories. Every week someone new talks about how they came out and the experience behind it. 

Favourite Episodes

My favourite episodes have been Courtney Act, MNEK, Professor Green and William. I watched Courtney Act on Ru Paul's Drag Race and The Bi Life and as someone who is quite well known amongst the LGBTQ+ community it was a great episode listening about her new plans, moving to London and having moved to Los Angeles a few years ago from Australia. I learnt a lot more about her, that I didn't know before. 

 Professor Green's episode was such an interesting one where he discusses his new music with Rag'n'Bone Man and the documentaries he has been doing. He was a great celebrity guest to listen to, especially as I feel a lot of people can relate to him especially having dealt with mental health and depression. 

MNEK I'm a big fan of, especially loving his collaboration with Hailee Steinfeld, and William I know from season four of Drag Race which I haven't watched properly (I skipped to season 6). William speaks a lot about Ru Paul, tension and the drama surrounding him and other Drag Race stars, which was entertaining to listen to as I'm a huge fan of Ru Paul's Drag Race and love to hear some tea! 

This podcast is my favourite to listen to when I'm in the shower and when I'm getting ready for university in the mornings, I'm always laughing in the shower and doing my makeup listening to David and Naledi ❤

I recently got the opportunity to speak to David about his podcast and about how the idea for David's Out For A Good Time all came about. So, below are the questions I got the chance to ask and David was kind enough to answer: 

How did ‘David’s Out For A Good Time’ all begin? 

I created a pitch presentation and took it to Spotify. I was very lucky they enjoyed it and after shooting a pilot in July we retooled it. That shows how long it took for it to come out.

You have some great celebrity guests on your podcast such as Country Act, MNEK, Professor Green, do you get to choose who comes on to the podcast?

We’ve had guests who I’m friends with, guests who’s management we’ve asked and guests who have asked themselves to be on. It’s probably the most stressful element of the show because until they’re sat in that studio anything can happen.

 If you could have any one feature on the podcast who would you choose? And what questions would you be dying to ask? 

I’ve mentioned Halsey loads and we’ve tried (and are still trying) so hard to get her on! I’d love to just discuss her upbringing, her music, creativity and more.

I personally listen to your Spotify playlist ‘David’s Bops and Bangers’ a lot, what is your ultimate number one song to listen to at the moment? 

I’m loving Hurts Like Hell by Madison Beer.

 In episode two of your podcast series you discuss social media, specifically Instagram. Do you think that social media is a positive or negative influence on Generation Z?

 I think because the majority of Generation Z either came of age or had it already as a part of our lives in a major way by that time, it’s difficult to decide because it’s all we’ve ever known. However, with that in mind, I’m certain it hasn’t made life harder for myself and I imagine many would say the same.

There is a section on the podcast where listeners tell their coming out stories, for those individuals who want to come out but need some courage and advice what would you say to them?

 I think that before you can say it to anyone else you need to be able to say it to yourself and to make sure that you give everyone time to adapt - because it took you time to accept yourself and they deserve the same amount of time.

Lastly, what are the top three podcasts that you listen to currently? 

Race Chaser with Willam and Alaska, Views with David Dobrik and Throwing Shade.

Overall David's Out For A Good Time is a great podcast to listen to while you are getting ready, in the shower, on your way to work/university or while you are getting work done!

David's Out For A Good Time is a Spotify Original podcast so you can find it in either the podcast genre section or just click here. 

Make sure to follow David on Instagram and Twitter. Naledi's Instagram is @SleepingWithNaledi ❣

What are your favourite podcasts at the moment? Let me know in the comments below ❤

See you soon!

Amy xx

Book Review: The Last by Hanna Jameson

Hey Guys!

Over the past couple of months, I've been posting a lot more content related to books and book reviews. Before I didn't really talk about books much on my blog but as I've found my love for reading again I've become more interested in discussing the books I'm reading, what I potentially want to read and my thoughts on particular novels. 

Back  in August, I received 'The Last' by Hanna Jameson in the post after being chosen to receive the book. I've never been sent an advance proof copy by a publisher before, so to be one of the three individuals chosen by Hanna was very exciting!

The Blurb

Jon Keller was on a trip to Switzerland when the world ended. More than anything, he wishes he hadn't ignored his wife Nadia's last message.

Twenty people remain in Jon's hotel. Far from the nearest city, they wait, they survive.

Then one day, the body of a girl is found. It's clear she has been murdered. Which means that someone in the hotel is a killer...

As paranoia descends, Jon decides to investigate. But how far is he willing to go in pursuit of justice? And what happens if the killer doesn't want to be found?

About The Book

The Last is written from a first-person perspective. It is an account/diary by Jon Keller on life before and after the world ended, including the discovery of a dead girl's body. Jon details life at the hotel in Zurich, events and relationships between the characters, problems they face as a group of survivors and the investigation into who murdered the girl. The main storyline focuses on life after the world suddenly ended and the uncovering of a murdered girl, but alongside these events, mini-stories develop throughout the book relating to the lives of the other characters and how they all ended up at the hotel in Switzerland, detailing their back stories and relations to other characters.  

It isn't really a diary, but more of an account of information and events, which details the feelings and thoughts of Jon and what he has discussed with other characters. Jon details his life before the world ended sharing memories of his wife and children, what would have happened hadn't such events taken place, his ideas and thoughts of the future and what might happen to the group he has found himself residing with. 

When I was reading the book it reminded me a lot of 'The Walking Dead'. There are a lot of parts in the book that reminds me of a lot of scenes I saw in 'TheWalking Dead' series, especially because of the end of the world scenario where shops are ransacked and people have to kill to survive. I loved watching 'The Walking Dead' so to read a book with a somewhat different storyline but a similar outcome was fun! I would always finish a page or a chapter and talk to my mum about what was happening or my thoughts, as there was so much going on all at once and I was always coming up with scenarios in my head of who was behind the events taking place and who I suspected as the murderer. 

My Thoughts

When I read the first couple of pages I had absolutely no clue what was going on! I was so lost. The book started without explaining any of the context or what had happened, so I had no idea what to think about the storyline until I got further in and the story properly began. The first couple of pages are very similar to those of a diary/account and are very short and don't explain a lot of detail, so for a while you don't really know what is going through the mind of Jon Keller. However, after a while, the story takes full swing and a lot more context and detail is given to the reader to help you understand why such events had taken place.

Having the book written in a first-person perspective made the book feel a lot more personal, you felt like the character was sharing their thoughts and feelings with you,   details that nobody else knew, so it felt very special as a reader. I became invested in the story very quickly! 

There are a few moments in the book where you are wondering what the hell is going on, as it can jump from one thing to the next without much notice. But when you finish the book a lot of things make more sense and all the random details add up to paint one big picture! Especially as there is a huge plot twist that explains a lot of what was going on in the main storyline. 

The book made me question and think a lot about the world we live in currently and I was always asking myself what would I do in an end of the world scenario and whether I would be tactical enough to survive. Questions like what resources would I need to survive and how would I plan to live as long as I could with the resources I had came to mind. 

What was kind of scary reading the book was that what happened in the book could actually happen in real life, and is a very realistic novel when it comes to how the world ended and the reasons behind it.  

When I finished the novel and read the last page I was questioning what happened to so many characters such as what did Nadia's message imply, what happened to Nathan and did everyone survive? What happens next? The book will leave you with so many different questions about what will happen next and about what everyone around the world experienced in those last few weeks. It is definitely a book where you have to stop and think sometimes, what would we do if this disaster really happened? 

A lot of the time I had to put the book down to process what was going on and take it in, especially as a lot of things were going on at the same time throughout the book! 

If you like murder mysteries, adventure or apocalyptic novels then this is a book for you! You won't be able to put it down and you'll be constantly questioning what will happen next.

 As the book isn't officially out yet, look out for 'The Last' on the 31st January 2019, the link to pre-order the book on Amazon is here. Make sure to check out the author Hanna Jameson on Twitter here. 

Look out for some more book reviews soon. What book are you reading at the moment? Let me know in the comments below ❤

See you soon! 

Amy x