Coconut Yogurt With Banana And Cinnamon

So I'm not sure if this really counts as a recipe, but as it's a something I've been loving recently I thought it was worth noting.

I first tried this for breakfast on holiday in Tenerife (more about that here), and was totally hooked on it the whole time we were there.  I decided to re-create it at home and now I'm pretty much hooked again!

Coconut, or coconut flavoured yogurt is super creamy and goes wonderfully with the banana, with the cinnamon adding a bit of a kick.  On holiday they had coated the banana in cinnamon powder, but at home I just sprinkle a little mixed spice, a blend of cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg, on top with the end result being near enough the same.  

Not only does it taste great but cinnamon is also loaded with powerful antioxidants and additional anti-inflamatory properties.  Alongside the yogurt and banana you can enjoy a healthy, delicious start to day.

Recipe:

1 pot of coconut or coconut flavoured yogurt

1 banana

Sprinkle of cinnamon or mixed spice powder to taste.

Method:

Combine the yogurt and chopped banana in a bowl, top with cinnamon powder and enjoy!

Have a wonderful week ahead x

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Lavender & Oat Facemask with Young Living Essential Oils

Over the last couple of years I've changed quite a lot about my lifestyle.  My overall health has become a lot more important to me, and the results I've experienced with a more natural diet have led me to rethink my beauty routine too.

I've always had sensitive skin prone to breakouts, something that really knocked my confidence for years, but I just thought it was something I'd have to live with.  I would compensate by trying to cover up with heavy makeup and to treat breakouts with products which I now know to be harsh and totally unsuitable for my skin.

As I began exploring more natural and homemade alternatives I came across essential oils all the time.  These plant extracts, created through steam distillation and cold pressing, could apparently be used to create everything from soothing and effective beauty treatments, to air fresheners and household cleaners.

There's actually so much information out there that they can be a little intimidating.  I wanted to try some out but didn't really know where to start!  So I was pretty excited when Nicole of blog Today Is My Favourite suggested a collaboration.

Nicole and her family have been on a wellness journey over the last couple of years with Young Living Essential Oils, the worlds leading essential oils manufacturer, becoming such an important part in their lives that she now works to spread the idea of natural, chemical free homes to others.

'We're so excited to incorporate them into our health and wellness as a family as a safe alternative to normal chemical products we use in our home.  As a mama to little Emmett and Gideon, I love having a natural way to maintain health and wellness in our home.'

'Young Living Essential Oils are 100% pure and derived straight from the plant.  They contain the plants own natural immunity, hormones and scents.  When oils are pure, they have the ability to work with your body, not against it, to bring about change in your health.'

Nicole was kind enough to send me some samples of her favourite Young Living Essential Oils; Lavender and Thieves.

I'm going to do a couple of posts about the oils and my experiences with them, with this this post focusing on my personal favourite of the two; Lavender.  I was recommended this oil after the birth of my son for its healing abilities, which worked wonders, but I had no idea there were so many other uses too!

It's amazing before bed for rest and relaxation, by rubbing a drop on your neck or temples you can encourage a good nights rest; mix it in with some coconut or olive oil to create a soothing cream for eczema and dry skin.  It can be diluted into a spray with some epsom salts to create a soothing mist and homemade air freshener, free from any chemicals.

When used as part of a beauty routine, Lavender oil can prevent outbreaks by regulating the bacteria that causes spots, and even reduce the signs of existing scars.

After I mentioned that I was interested in natural beauty remedies Nicole recommended her favourite go-to facial recipe, which I've been using with a lavender water spray and still can't believe how much better my skin has been because of it.

The great thing about this recipe is that you can keep the oats and lavender mix in an airtight container, then all you have to do is portion some out, mix in the water and it's ready to go.  It's so quick, and so simple.

In this recipe there are oats to exfoliate, lavender oil to encourage a balanced complexion, and water to create the paste.  I also like to add some olive oil into my face masks as it's fantastic for hydrating your skin, and works great on any annoying lines or wrinkles.  This mask left my skin feeling soft and nourished, not to mention it has that beautiful lavender scent!

Oat & Lavender Facial

1/2 cup of Oats
7-10 drops of Young Living lavender oil
Splash of water
Splash of olive oil (optional)

Grind the oats in a food processor or pestle and mortar until it becomes a fine powder, then add the lavender oil.  Store in an airtight jar, then when you're ready to do the facial, just pour some out and add a splash of water and olive oil, stir in so that it becomes a paste.  Apply to your skin and leave on for around 5-10 minutes, then rinse off with warm water and cotton wool.

If you're interested in reading any more about essential oils then I'd definitely recommend taking a look at Nicole's blog, nicoleneesby.com, where she has lots more information about Young Living and some great recipes too.  There are essential oil classes available online as well as an online community to share recipes and answer any queries.

You can also find her on social media:

Instagram - dwelling simple essentials
Instagram - personal 
Pinterest
Facebook 
Twitter 

Thanks again to Nicole for sending me these oils and for all her help, I can't wait to share more about Thieves soon.

Have a wonderful week ahead! x

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Blueberry & Banana Smoothie Bowl

One of my favourite ways to start a warm spring or summers morning is with a smoothie bowl.  They're refreshing, nutritious and so delicious.

The simple difference between a normal smoothie and a smoothie bowl is the consistency; instead of adding coconut milk or water, you add yogurt to thicken the mixture.

In this recipe there's blueberries for a dose of anti-oxidants, banana for fibre and energy and some vanilla yogurt to mix it all together.  I used soya yogurt, but you can use any type you prefer :)

The thicker consistency means that you can throw all kinds of yummy things on top too; some granola, nuts, seeds, cacao nibs, fresh or frozen fruit are always great toppings, and bring even more goodness to the bowl.

Of course, you don't just have to keep these for breakfast.  I have this as a desert too, and its great for satisfying any sugar cravings!

Recipe:

1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1 banana
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
splash of milk or water if needed

Blend until smooth, add a splash of water or milk to help it blend if necessary, but not too much as it will loose its thicker consistency.  Pour into a bowl and top with your favourite things.

Then enjoy!

Have a wonderful week ahead x

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14 days with Fruiteatox

The word 'Teatox' is everywhere these days.  They promise all kinds of amazing things from clearer skin to weight loss.  I'd been contemplating doing one for a while to see if they really did deliver on what they promised, so was pretty excited when Fruiteatox sent me some of their Daytox and Sleeptox blends to try out.

The lemon Daytox tea is a unique anti-oxidising recipe, a combination of nine completely natural ingredients including ginseng, ginger root, yerba mate and lemongrass that help to increase stamina, keep you feeling fuller for longer, reduce bloating and give your skin a boost.  It smells amazing and was my favourite of the two teas, it was light and sweet and so aromatic.


The orange Sleeptox tea is designed to aid relaxation, digestion and to cleanse your body of toxins with the help of seven ingredients including chamomile, senna, lavender and orange peel.

As wonderful as these ingredients are, and as good as they taste, they can't of course work miracles.

I think it's important to recognise that losing weight in a positive, sustainable way also requires a healthy diet and regular exercise.

Fruiteatox includes a free meal plan, with the option to purchase additional fitness and vegan meal plans at a small additional cost.  They contain some suggestions to get you started with your detox and healthier lifestyle, which I was delighted to find didn't include anything drastic.

From the free plan you can choose from a number of things to eat such as yogurt, fruit, porridge and smoothies for breakfast, sweet potatoes (an absolute favourite of mine), vegetable casserole and baked salmon for lunch or tea.  All of these dishes are full of nutrition and leave you feeling completely satisfied with your meals, and excited for the next!

A lot of the dishes on the meal plan are very similar to the ones I eat usually, so this teatox really fit into my routine.

I started my teatox shortly after returning from holiday.  I'd indulged in sangria and sweet treats more that usual while we were there (why not? it's a holiday after all!) and felt that I needed to give my diet a kickstart and my body a refresh now that we were back to reality.

It worked wonderfully; within a week my stomach was the flattest it's been in years!  My skin felt wonderful, it certainly got me back on track with making healthy choices and was a delicious addition to my morning routine.  I also slept really well throughout the two weeks, but after chasing around my three year old and work I often don't have any problem there anyway! :)

If you're wanting to make some healthy changes to your lifestyle but aren't too sure where to start, then this Teatox plan is wonderful.

I wish I'd tried one of these when I first wanted to make some changes.  The Fruiteatox philosophy is  similar to my own, that only you know what's best for your body - they don't encourage strict calorie control or overbearing fitness regimes.

Healthy living should compliment your lifestyle, not dictate it.

Such a positive outlook would've been so encouraging, and the meal plan would have saved me a lot of time researching and trying to figure it all out for myself!

The tagline used by Fruiteatox is 'Stop the diet, start a lifestyle', which I think is perfect for what this teatox is really about; losing weight and making lifestyle changes in a healthy, maintainable fashion.

If you'd like to find out more about Fruiteatox, or try your own detox then you can visit their website here.  They ship worldwide!

Or find them on social media:

Instagram
Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest

Have a wonderful week ahead! x

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Banana & Mango Green Smoothie

It's been a while since I posted a green smoothie recipe, which is crazy because I have them near enough every day!  This new favourite of mine is just so tasty I had to share.

It's true that Green Smoothies can take some getting used to, but once you do, they're so addictive.  They're so full of goodness and you can quite literally feel the benefits straight away.  As they're already liquidated, they're also a fantastic way of giving your stomach a rest without skipping meals, which is perfect if you're feeling like you've over-indulged a little!

In this smoothie there's iron, fibre, potassium, as well as vitamins C and K...which briefly mean improved energy levels, brain function, skin, vision, digestion and immune system; the list goes on!

All these things combine to make an incredibly nourishing and energy boosting drink, and also serve as a great antidote to that mid-afternoon slump.

Recipe:

1 cup of spinach
1 cup of kale
1 cup of frozen mango
1 cup of Alpro Coconut Drink (or water)
1 chopped banana

I also add:

1tbs chia seeds for an extra dose of fibre, omega-3 and protein.

Method:

Combine all the ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth, then serve and enjoy!

Have a fantastic week ahead x

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