Category Archives: review

The New Beauty Wonder Oil- Cacay Naturals

13th December 2016
I’ve been a fan of using oil based products in my beauty regime for a few years now. I first picked some up whilst on holiday in Spain- my hair was feeling the wrath of 40 degree heat and having spied Argan oil in a shop I grab some out of desperation and the rest, as they say is history.

Since then it’s not just been on my hair that I’ve used oils. Although I’ve not ventured in to the territory of facial skin care I do use coconut oil on my very dry elbows and knees with excellent results. When I received an e-mail about a new oil on the beauty block that is suitable for all skin types, is 100% natural/organic/vegan, is cruelty free and contains more benefits that my old faithful Argan oil I was intrigued.

Cacay oil claims to be the purest anti-ageing oil out there, rich in vitamin E and linoleic acid and with skin healing properties I was really eager to try this for myself.

But first, what is Cacay oil? Not something I’d ever heard of that’s for sure. Apparently it is an oil made from the highly nutritious nut of the Cacay fruit. This edible, protein rich oil has been used for centuries by indigenous Amazonian people to treat skin irritations and to help with wound healing.

Sounded good to me!

There’s not much to say about the oil itself, I was a bit surprised that it doesn’t really have a scent to it but that’s not a bad thing. I really liked that the bottle comes with a pipette dropper which makes application really easy and precise. Over the last week I’ve been using this oil in all aspects of my beauty regime- and that includes, out of interest on my hair.

Does it work? Well, I can’t claim to look ten years younger after such a short space of time but the fine lines that insist on appearing around my eyes are less noticeable to my eyes. My elbows and knees have never been so soft and my hair is loving this (applied with a light hand before blow drying) and feels silky smooth and nourished. Being somewhat haphazard whilst making mince pies the other day I also popped a drop of Cacay oil on to a rather nasty burn on my hand that was driving me mad and although it didn’t magically heal up it did sooth the searing pain and scorched skin feeling.

So overall I’m impressed. As I mentioned it’s really hard to gauge the anti-ageing properties after only a week but I am happy to report back if anyone wants to know.

Cacay oil is available to buy on amazon (direct link) at £32.75 for a 30ml bottle which strikes me as reasonable given a) the sheer number of ways you can use this and b) you only need the tiniest amount so it will last forever.

Let me know if you give it a go or want a more in depth review of any of the claims.

Posted in beauty, hair, review, skincare

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Super Snacking with Planet Hemp

11th December 2016

When I was given the opportunity to review a new snack product I was pretty excited, I much prefer a little and often approach to eating and snacks happen at least three times a day for me. I admit I was less excited when the snacks arrived- despite kind of knowing what I was getting in to by accepting a product containing hemp, when faced with the reality of actually trying it my confidence wavered. There are lots of benefits to consuming hemp though, and in a bid not not rely solely on biscuits for my daily snack intake I decided to just be brave and get stuck in.

So, why eat hemp? Where to start! Firstly hemp seeds contain more protein than chicken and it’s high in omega 3 and 6 as well as iron, magnesium and manganese. Hemp is easy to digest as it contains no enzyme inhibitors (unlike many grains, legumes and nuts) and is also an excellent source of essential fatty acids. Hemp also contains all of the essential amino acids that our bodies require but can’t produce- never before has a snack of mine been such a nutritional powerhouse.

Super Mini Bouchées c/o Planet Hemp

These Forbidden Fruit flavoured hemp snacks come in an attractive pouch and promise a big taste as well as a big nutritional punch. A two piece serving contains 110 calories and is an excellent source of protein which is something I’m trying to be mindful of when it comes to my food choices.

I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about these to be honest. This is no bad thing, it means they aren’t terrible but I do find the texture for me has taken some getting used to (but I am an odd creature with many food texture aversions). If you can get past the texture- kind of crunchy but also kind of chewy they taste pretty good! The fruity flavour comes through well and there is no plant-y aftertaste which was probably my main concern for some reason.

With their short and simple ingredients list (of which you can pronounce everything, always a bonus!) and the fact they are gluten free, raw and vegan these are well worth a try if you’re trying to eat healthy or are looking for a nutrition boost over party season. As they are quite a dense texture and not crumbly they transport well and would easily slip in to your handbag. The protein fills you up nicely, perfect for all of the dashing about that comes with this time of year!

Planet Hemp is brand new to the UK and there are many other products in their range including hemp protein, hemp oil and hemp seeds. I haven’t been able to find an awful lot of UK stockists at present but you can order online at Dolphin Fitness who I’ve used before with success.

Let me know if you’ve tried any hemp products or have discovered any healthy new snacks- I’m on a food discovery adventure right now and I’m game on for pretty much anything.

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Posted in food, review, snacking

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Silver Screen Style with Lindy Bop

08th December 2016
Party season is now in full swing and with it comes some seriously stunning outfit options. I’m kind of gutted that I only have one actual party to go to as I’ve managed to acquire some really lovely pieces over the last few weeks- pretty enough for me to actually want to break free of my anti-social shackles which is quite some achievement! As it stands though there are no more parties on my horizon and instead I am saving this latest arrival from Lindy Bop for Christmas day itself; what better excuse to get dressed up just to spend the entire day at home on the sofa chilling with the family?


Dress c/o Lindy Bop | Boots: Bertie @ T.K. Maxx (similar)

This dress is from Lindy Bop’s new Silver Screen collection and I can’t explain how much I love it. The embellished bodice is just so pretty and the mesh over satin skirt hangs like a dream. It’s quite a modest dress which is a refreshing change from a lot of what is on offer at this time of year and also a timeless classic that I can wear year on year.

Lindy Bop isn’t a brand I’m ever owned anything from before although I’ve often coveted their dresses on instagram and also through the ever stylish Char’s blog.

Although the Silver Screen range is quite far out of my usual budget I think you do get what you pay for when it comes to an item like this as the quality is second to none and the fit excellent. I currently have my eye on some of Lindy Bop’s regular designs- there is the most wonderful selection of vintage inspired tea and day dresses that are begging to be bought and with prices around the £30-£35 mark once I’m back at work then and bringing home a regular wage this one is totally happening.

Have you got your party outfits sorted?

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Posted in christmas, outfits, review, shopping, wish list

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Mae (Kind of) reviews the latest Purrfectbox

06th December 2016
“Never work with children or animals” the saying goes- and although I can’t speak for the children side of things I’ve never had a problem getting Mae to cooperate when it comes to getting photos of her for the blog. That is until last week when we set aside a morning to explore the latest Purrfectbox*. Despite getting really excited upon first spying the box and trying her hardest to get in to it, as soon as the camera came out my feline fiend went on strike and refused to anything remotely interesting or cute. That’s the thing with my Mae, she is very much her own cat and no amount of coaxing, bribery with treats or offers of human food will get her to do anything unless she wants to.
Eventually we managed to get together enough photos to construct this post and despite her reluctance to show any form of enthusiasm for the most part she really did love this box- the toys in particular which have been carried, chased and thrown all over the house often turning up in the most random of places.
We’ve been lucky enough to receive a few Purrfectboxes now and despite turning her nose up at most of the toys I buy for her somehow they always manage to pack in a selection that become her new favourite things ever. This month Mae was particularly taken with a little pirate creature (which happens to be my favourite too) as well as the selection of catnip filled mice which I keep finding strewn all over the house.

It’s not just toys that you get in Purrfect box though, there were a couple of bags of treats which were swiftly devoured- the cheese chicken cubes from Trixie went down especially well! The deodorising litter crystals were also a nice touch, Mae doesn’t have a litter tray but I used these when I lived in my flat with Tobias and they really do make a massive difference.

Chances are if you’ve read my blog for any length of time you’ll know a bit about Purrfectbox but just incase you don’t then For those that don’t yet know the Purrfect Box is a monthly subscription which costs £19.90 a month with options to subscribe for longer periods of time which will reduce the monthly cost slightly. The contents of the box are guaranteed to be worth at least £30 with 4-6 premium products inside so it’s a pretty sweet deal, especially as each box is catered to your feline’s needs and preferences. Let me know if you decide to treat your feline friend to a box- we’ve had a few of these boxes now and are yet to receive one that hasn’t been well worth the money and Mae has amassed a huge collection of favourite toys- most memorably a dolphin that we frequently find in the bath. At the moment you can also order a Christmas box for £29.90 which contains a massive 8 products and would make for the perfect gift for any well behaved pet (which I have to say Mae really isn’t, but I can’t resist spoiling her regardless!)

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Posted in cats, christmas, gifts, review

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Christmas Cheers with Cracker Drinks

29th November 2016
Somehow it’s almost December, the month where even I ditch my anti-social tendencies and join in with the many festive get togethers. I do love a good party as much as the next person- any excuse to dress up and go wild, but at the same time I think nothing beats a more intimate get together at a friend’s place where you can really sit down and catch up on the year just gone (because somehow we only manage to meet up in December every year and I bet I’m not alone in this!)

I might not be hosting in my flat this year but I’m all for improving my hostess skills ready for next Christmas when I’m determined I will be so when The Cracker Drinks Co. sent over some of their no added sugar fruit drinks and some cocktail/mocktail recipes I was quick off of the mark to get practising.

The Cracker Drinks Co. are experts are creating delicious fruity drinks with no added sugar meaning that the range is naturally lower in calories, averaging around 30% less calories per 100ml than 100% orange juice or added sugar juice drinks. It remains high in fruit content offering the added benefit of 1 of your 5 a day. The range is completely natural and free from any artificial sweeteners, with just Stevia to add a little extra sweetness.

The drinks come in five flavours, of which I was sent the three you can see above. Perfect for drinking alone or using to spice up your Christmas cocktails (with a mocktail recipe thrown in for the non-drinkers out there).

Flowers n Spice

Ingredients
35ml St Germain Liqueur
15ml Vanilla vodka
100ml Still and Cloudy Lemonade
25ml Soda Water

Method
Add all ingredients to an ice filled glass and briefly stir
Garnish
Lemon wedge and twist

Light and Spicy

Ingredients
35ml Vanilla Vodka
100ml Mango & Passion Fruit
25ml Ginger Beer

Method
Fill a glass with cubed ice then add all the ingredients, stir briefly then cap with crushed ice
Garnish
Lime Wedge

Nojito

Take 200ml Cracker Apple, Mint and Lime
Top up with a little sugar free soda water
Add some mint leaves and a squeeze of lime
Serve over ice
Garnish with mint and lime

All three of these drinks were so quick and easy to make, even if I did fail to remember to make up some ice cubes prior to making the drinks- fail! They were all delicious though, the Nojito was my favourite I think- the combination of flavours was just lovely and I’m a big fan of the alcoholic Mojito anyway…serve this up to any drivers/non-drinkers at a part and they’ll love you forever! It’s almost impossible to pick a favourite out of the two cocktails though- both were so different to each other and so unlike any drinks I’ve had before thanks to the unique combination of flavours in the mixers…both big hits with me and new staples on my party drinks menu (you know, if I held parties and had a drinks menu!)

Let me know what your favourite cocktails and mocktails are in the comments- I’d love to try them out, all in the name of research of course

I won’t lie, drinking these at 2pm was definitely a highlight of my especially dull and dreary day!

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Juices provided by The Cracker Drinks Co. to create this post, all other ingredients came from me (hence the lack of ice!)

Posted in christmas, friends, inspiration, recipes, review

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