» Listings for January 2016

1. Aduna Super-Cacao

   Posted on 7:33pm Wednesday 27th Jan 2016

    

    

   Aduna Super-Cacao Powder Blog Review

    I am so excited to report that Aduna, one of my favourite superfood brands, have now launched their very own ‘Super-Cacao’ powder.  Not only do I love this brand already, but I’m a big big fan of cacao and regularly use it in recipes to satisfy my chocolate cravings.  If it couldn’t get any better, Aduna’s cacao is the FIRST cacao to be backed with an EU-approved health claim for heart health.

   This powder could not have been sent to me at a better time as after two terrible weeks of unhealthy eating over the Christmas period, I have now stopped eating any regular sugar filled chocolate.  Before this I was only consuming choccie as a treat on a Friday night, but now I’m not bothering at all.  There really is no need to eat any bad for you choccie when there are so many exciting choc filled recipes to be made with heart healthy cacao powder!

   I’ve blogged about cacao many times, but here’s a roundup if you’ve never heard of the stuff:

   • A natural product from the cacao tree, Theobroma Cacao, which means ‘food of the Gods’
   • Cocoa is a more refined highly heated version and doesn’t contain as much goodness
   • Great for heart health, especially improving the elasticity of blood vessels
   • Amazing for skin, especially for improving skin hydration and anti ageing
   • Full of antioxidants to protect you from free radicals
   • A rich source of vitamins and minerals
   • Can make you feel good thanks to its phenethylamine and serotonin content
   • It has a low GI so won’t spike your blood sugar levels
   • Boosts energy

   So, what’s different about Aduna’s cacao powder compared to other brands?

   • Scientifically proven to help improve blood flow if consumed every day
   • Contains 8x the flavanol content compared to other brands
   • Contains premium West African cacao powders, one of which contains an exceptionally high amount of flavanols meaning Aduna’s cacao can be granted ‘super’ food status
   • Every purchase helps to support small scale farmers in Africa

    

   The first thing I did with my cacao powder was to make me and Bella a ‘healthy’ chocolate and banana milkshake.  Using my small NutriNinja cup I blended one and a half bananas with two teaspoons of Aduna cacao powder and oat ‘milk’ up to the line.  So simple, quick, easy, nutritious and delicious!

   For a luxurious hot choccie mix two teaspoons with a touch of warm water and teaspoon of coconut oil, then top up with more hot water whilst stirring.  It tastes so naughty, but is actually so good!

   There are more cacao recipes in my blog and you can also find some great ideas in the Aduna website recipe section.

   Have you tried cacao powder?  What are your favourite ways to use it?

   I was kindly sent this cacao powder by Aduna.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.  I highly recommend Aduna and their superfood products.  I’ve always been impressed.  Click here to shop (I may receive a small commission)
   

    

   

2. Coconut Blush Review: Natural Handmade Soap

   Posted on 1:57pm Tuesday 26th Jan 2016

   

   

   

   Coconut Blush Handmade Soaps

   I ordered these a few months ago, but typically received soap as a gift and another soap to review within the same week!  What are the chances?!  So as one of the best things about using soap is the fact it lasts for aaaaaaages, these lovely handmade soaps from Coconut Blush have had to patiently wait all wrapped up on my side.  I didn’t even have a peek in the wrappers as I wanted to save my excitement for the day I could actually use them!

   At the time I ordered them it was three soaps for £10 so I took advantage of this offer and struggled to pick exactly which three I wanted!  They all sounded so good.  So far I’ve used the Spearmint, Oatmeal & Mandarin Scrub soap.  It has a rough texture as expected for a scrub and I just rub it directly on the skin in the shower!  It has a light scent, not too overpowering, and leaves my skin feeling clean, soft and smooth.  I’ve also used it on my loofah and it lathers up just lovely.

   I’m excited to try the Tea Tree and Dead Sea Mud soap next.  This has the strongest scent and I’m a big fan of Dead Sea mud.  It’s full of minerals and leaves skin exceptionally cleansed, so I’m expecting good things!  The Cocoa Butter and Vanilla soap seems to have the faintest scent of all three as a dry block, but perhaps it will be released more once used.  It looks scrumptious though and the name sounds delicious! 

   The soaps are all natural with a base of oils such as olive and coconut.  There are no nasties such as parabens or SLS which I stay well clear of.  They are suitable for even the most delicate of skins including those which are dry and eczema prone.

   There’s something ever so visually appealing about blocks of handmade soap and these bars do not disappoint.  They would make great gifts for her too. 

   View the whole range at www.coconutblush.co.uk

    

   

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3. The Adventures of Coral the PaddlePak

   Posted on 3:53pm Monday 25th Jan 2016

   

   

   

   

   

   A Blog Review of ‘Coral the Tropical Fish’ – Medium PaddlePak by Trunki

   How awesome is this ‘swimming’ bag by Trunki?  I was super excited to show Bella when it arrived and she immediately wanted to use it.  That evening she was off to Nana’s for a sleepover, so we moved her staying over gear from her usual backpack to Coral the tropical fish!  I wasn’t sure it would fit, but we managed to pack in a spare set of clothes, pyjamas, her two favourite teddies (smallish ones) and a toy car!  It filled out even more when packed and looked amazingly fish like as she ran around the house not wanting to take Coral off!

   It’s so fabulous how it puffs out like a fish when on the back.  I’m not sure who loves it more, Bella or me!  I say ‘swimming’ bag as although Coral is designed for pool and beach days, with its fabulous water resistant material, it also has a multitude of other uses as a handy kids backpack.  The waterproof material would also be appreciated for any outings in this country as you never know when you’ll get stuck in some rain!

   The bag has a great opening, which I couldn’t find at first.  Rather than read the packaging, I dived straight in trying to find the opening zip which I assumed it had.  Feeling rather dumbfounded and even asking Ben to see if he could see it, I then looked at the packaging.  Ah ha.  I did wonder why there was a safety clip at the top!  You simply undo this and open out the mouth, then unroll it three times!  Then you fill (or feed) coral with your things, roll it back up and close the safety clip.  I’ve never seen a bag open like this before and I actually think it’s pretty cool.  It’s quite fun to have a bag that opens and closes so differently to any other.

   There’s a handy zip pocket on the tail which would be great for locker change when swimming or for safe keeping of shells discovered on the beach!  It also features a handy glasses holder on the strap so they’re within easy reach.  Trunki really do seem to cover all angles and think of everything when they design kids products.

   The following weekend we took Coral for an outing to the shop and park.  We were hoping for a dry weekend, but we didn’t have total luck.  It was damp, wet and spitting every now and then.  So, we decided to pop to the shop during a dry spell to fill coral up with snacks and munch them in the park.   It was such a gloomy day, but I couldn’t help but feel cheerful with Bella playfully skipping ahead with a luminous Coral in place!  I certainly wouldn’t worry about losing Bella in a crowd!

   We sat on a bench in the park and Bella enjoyed opening her bag which we’d just filled with snacks.  Bella reached into Coral’s mouth and pulled out our goodies one by one.  It was super windy and Coral nearly blew away to which Bella exclaimed ‘Gosh!  Hold on tight!’.  The wind sadly put Bella off playing in the park so we ventured home where Bells danced round the living room keeping Coral on the whole time!

   I’m sure Coral will enjoy many more adventures with us and I can’t wait for a summer day as she’ll be perfect for our next beach trip.

   I thought I’d ask Bella for her opinions too and here’s what she said:
   Mummy: ‘Do you like your new backpack, the fish one?’
   Bella: ‘Yes I do.  It’s goooooood, I like it, I like it like scrambled eggs and cheese butter!’
   Mummy: ‘What’s the best thing about Coral?’
   Bella: ‘Wearing it and carrying it’

   You can find Coral for £19.99 and free UK delivery here: https://www.trunki.co.uk/paddlepak-pink-tropical

    

   I was kindly sent the backpack for review by Trunki.  I was able to choose the design I liked best and would definitely recommend this product.

    

   

4. Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner #2

   Posted on 9:16pm Friday 22nd Jan 2016

   

   

   

   

   Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner #2

   These are three quick and healthy veg packed vegetarian meals that can be whipped up in no time at all.

   Breakfast: Ripened avocado spread on wholemeal homemade toast.  Homemade bread is the best as you can control what goes into it.  No nasty chemical preservatives in sight!  Mine contains simply wholemeal flour, butter, water and yeast.  I don't even add salt or sugar and I think it's scrumptious - full of flavour.  Sometimes I use olive oil instead of butter to create a 'ciabatta' loaf instead.  It has to be wholemeal too - full of goodness unlike refined white flour.  Avocado is scrumptious too and always feels luxurious to eat.

   Lunch: Cold wholemeal pasta from the fridge (extra cooked the night before and saved) on a bed of spinach with sun-dried tomatoes, olive oil and a good sprinkle of parmesan.  This is so enjoyable to eat, it quite literally slides down in no time and is very satisfying.

   Dinner: Stir fried strips of yellow pepper and circles of leek (I had an abundance of leeks) with a few Quorn pieces and 'Olive Branch Roasted Pepper Paste with Fresh Chillies' (received in this Flowbox) and a sprinkle of cumin.  Stir fried in coconut oil until softened and wrapped up in a wholemeal wrap.  Delicious.  I'm cutting down on Quorn still so tofu could be used instead or more veg.

    

   

5. Braces at 30 – A Pre Teeth Out Dentist Appointment…!

   Posted on 8:16am Friday 22nd Jan 2016

   Something I definitely won't be eating after paying so much for prefect teeth! (source)

   Braces at 30 – A Pre Teeth Out Dentist Appointment…!

   Yesterday I went to the dentist so she could look at my teeth (again) and make sure I just needed a normal length appointment (20 mins) for taking my two baby canine teeth out.  Luckily I do, so it sounds quick and easy!  I think it was more the receptionist thinking it wouldn't be long enough.  

   The receptionist also seemed concerned I was only having the teeth out three days before the top brace went on.  I was certain it would be fine as they're little teeth with short roots and the orthodontist had suggested only 3-4 days.  The dentist didn't seem concerned about this short time frame either, phew! I really didn't want to be walking around any longer with two teeth obviously missing and no brace on show, so this was a relief.

   The orthodontist also wanted confirmation from my dentist of the size gap to create for my false lateral incisor.  Lateral incisors are a little smaller then the incisors.  My incisors are 8.5mm, so the dentist thinks 6.5mm for my lateral incisors.  I was surprised my peg tooth is 5.5mm as it looks tiny to me, but perhaps when in place and not overlapping teeth it will look different.  I felt a little relieved that I'll only have a 0.5mm gap either side of the peg tooth once it's in place which doesn't sound too huge. So it's just the 6.5mm tooth sized gap on the other side I'll be conscious of for the duration of the brace!

   I’m really keen to get going with the treatment now.  Only 7 weeks to go!