Greggs Sweet Mince Pies

Forgive me but I'm going back there again, yes, Christmas!! Those of you who personally know me (or follow me on social media) will probably know that I'm a bit of a sweet mince pie freak - I wait all year for them to grace our shelve and when they do, I simply can't get enough of them.

I have, over the years tried many brands and varieties ranging from the ridiculously expensive to the cheapest there is to offer and only one comes up trumps year after year satisfying this intense craving I have and that's Greggs.

Greggs sweet mince pies are the ideal combination of sweetness, fruitiness and flavour and are paired with a unique shortcrust pastry which compliments the filling perfectly. They come in a box of 6 and cost £1.50 - definitely worth every penny!

Okay, it doesn't take a genius to work out that there's a few missing out of this box but they're just way too yummy not to eat!

I'm gonna stick my neck on the line here and probably cause a bit of a hoo-haa but these pies are THE BEST SWEET MINCE PIES EVER!! So, if like me you're a lover of these seasonal treats, get yourself into Greggs and give them a try - you won't be disappointed!!

Feel free to pop back and share your opinions, I'd love to hear them! ;)

Quality Portraits by Princessa A S Paradiso

Okay, I know you probably don't want to hear this, but Christmas is only just around the corner and if you're anything like me, then choosing gifts can be a huge problem. Apart from the cost issue, it's always a struggle knowing what to buy, that will be sure to put a smile on the recipients face. I'm also terrible for leaving everything until the last possible minute which is when panic mode sets in!

This year, I was lucky enough to stumble across Princessa A S Paradiso on Facebook and was intrigued to find out more about her unique artwork. Whether it's a family pet or a loved one, she can create a wonderful piece of artwork from just one or two decent photographs. Unfortunately, this proved to be a wee bit of a problem for me as the subject I chose was none other than our pride and joy, Peppa, and would he heck as like stand still and pose!! Out of around 70 photos, only 1 was clear enough to use and here it is .......

Peppa - our Guinea Pig

I simply sent this over via private message on Facebook and Princessa got right to work.

I was really impressed with the way I was kept updated on the progress of my artwork and shown various stages of progress throughout. Princessa has a real knack of using spots to create the end look, but after trying with Peppa, she didn't feel that this worked too well so changed tactic.

Using the spot technique

I can see why she decided to change it but still think it's pretty cool!

Anyway, after this technique didn't quite work out, she started again using mixed media consisting of water, paint, pencil and ink and this was the end result ......

 Apologies for the slight glare but I don't want to remove it from the cellophane wrapper until I can get a frame to display him. She managed to perfectly capture the mischevousness in his eyes and the colouring etc looks amazing.
This portrait was provided to me in A5, and this size generally costs from £35 per portrait. You can also receive your portrait in A4 which costs from £45. You can choose either animal or person although it will cost £10 - £15 extra for each additional head in the portrait. You are also responsible for covering the post and packaging costs. Depending on how busy her schedule is, the portraits usually take between 1 - 2 weeks but you may need to allow a little extra at this time of year.

I was really pleased with the end result of my portrait and the sheer professionalism of Princessa, which is why I wouldn't hesitate to recommend. I find the prices to be reasonable for the time and effort taken to produce such a lovely keepsake, and really appreciated the extra little touch on the packaging .....

Check out Princessa A S Paradiso on Facebook where you can see more of her amazing artwork and simply send her a private message if you're interested in having a portrait done for yourself. She is really fast at responding to queries so you won't have to wait too long for her to get back in touch.

I received this portrait free of charge, in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.