Hot baths, bath bombs & a little Christmas Inspiration......

With the nights getting cold and dark nothing beats a long hot soak in the tub and the bath bomb is definitely the icing on the cake as they say. Lately I have developed a new found love of LUSH bath bombs – the smell, the way they leave your skin feeling sooo soft  and the fizzing / whizzing they do in the bath is an addictive combination! However the price tag (I am on a savings mission) does not excite me. So I decide to have a go at making my own and they turned out surprisingly well! Why not have a go or make them for little stocking fillers as Christmas approaches. - perfect Sunday afternoon craft session or what?!

Homemade Bath Bombs (makes two large size or 3-4 "Easter Egg" size depending on your mould (you can easily double or triple)

4 oz. baking soda

2 oz. corn starch

2 oz. citric acid

2 oz. Epsom salt

1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons water

1 teaspoon essential oil (I love otto rose)

1 1/4 teaspoon oil (I like coconut or olive oil here)

1-2 drops food colouring (optional)

How To -

1 - In a bowl combine the dry ingredients (the first four listed above).

2 - Whisk to remove any clumps, corn starch tends to be clumpy.

3 - In a small glass jar stir together the wet ingredients (the last four ingredients listed). If you're using coconut oil, give it a quick melt in the microwave or stove top first so it will more easily combine with the other ingredients.

4 - Slowly pour the liquid mixture in with the dry mixture, whisking as you go. If you see the mixture fizz or foam, you may be adding the liquid too quickly.

5- Once all the wet ingredients are combined with the dry, take a small amount in your hand and squeeze it together. It should stick together fairly well in one or two big chunks. If it's still too powdery to hold together, just add a tiny bit more water and mix until it does hold together.

6- Then fill each half of your bath bomb mould with the mixture until it's just overflowing a little. Press together, then gently remove one side of the mould.

7- Place the bath bomb on a tray and allow to dry out just a little (10-12 minutes) before removing the other side. Once you are ready to remove the other side, gently invert the bath bomb so the uncovered side is facing down, then gently remove the other half of the mould from the top.

8- The key word, if you haven't noticed, is gently. These can fall apart on you very easily if you're not careful. If a bath bomb does crack in half while you're removing it, you can gently press it back on top of the other half, or remove all the mixture back to the mixing bowl and start the moulding process again. I had this happen to a few, so don't fret, it's easy to fix.

9 - Once they are completely out of the mould, allow them to dry out for 8 hours or overnight. Once very dry, you can wrap them in plastic wrap and store in a dry place until you're ready to use them, or you can gift them to friends. Enjoy!

You can add dried flower buds, like lavender buds, to these pretty easily. Just remember to use food grade dried flowers to avoid flowers that might have been grown with pesticides as you don't want to soak in a bath with that. No thanks! Do keep in mind that after using a bath bomb with dried petals, you will have to remove these from your tub. So if that bothers you, then leave the buds out.

Winter days, Yoga & Comforting Tomato Soup.......

After discovering the benefits of yoga , I promised myself that I would work hard to move the positivity of my practice off my mat and into the typical, everyday moments of life. Most specifically, I wanted to use mantras to help combat moments of stress, lack of motivation, anxiety, and frustration, which tend to rear their ugly heads all at once when I’m feeling like my plate is overflowing with tasks.

Since upping my practise recently, I’ve been using mantras (positive things I say to myself)  more regularly to push myself through moments when I feel stuck. Do you use mantras? If so, what are your favourites and when do you use them? Below are some of the mantras I find most helpful…

 1| Let. It. Go.

 

2| Yes, I can.

 

3| The time is now.

 

4| Inhale love, exhale hate.

 

5| I am enough. I have enough. There is enough.

 

6| Quiet. Focus. Trust.

 

7| Breathe in peace, breathe out love.

 

8| Be true. Be kind. Be present. Breathe.

 

So what does this have to do with tomato soup? Nothing other than the fact that it’s the perfect meal to warm up and nourish your body after some quality time on your mat. Considering most of the UK has experienced a freeze over the last few days, a soup recipe was warranted. This vegan tomato soup gets its rich and creamy texture from puréed cauliflower and nutritional yeast. The addition of red bell pepper, garlic, and plenty of spices creates layers of flavour that will keep you coming back for more. It’s the perfect meal to warm your heart during lunch or dinner, and it’s pretty much a requirement that it be paired with grilled (vegan )cheese. This soup will warm your soul on a chilly winter's day.

Creamy Vegan Tomato Soup – Serves 4

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for garnishing

 4 cloves garlic, minced

 1 medium yellow onion, diced

 1 red bell pepper, roughly chopped

 2 28-ounce cans whole peeled tomatoes in juice

 1 small head cauliflower, roughly chopped

 1 teaspoon dried oregano

 1 teaspoon dried basil

 dash of red pepper flakes (optional)

 ½ teaspoon sea salt, more or less to taste

 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast flakes

 ½ to 1 cup water (if needed to thin soup)

 fresh basil, chopped (optional)

 

How To -

 1.Add olive oil to a large stock pot and heat over medium heat.

 2.Add in garlic and onion. Cook for 3-5 minutes until tender.

 3.Add in the red bell pepper and cook for another 2 minutes.

 4.Add in the tomatoes, cauliflower, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes (be sure to submerge the cauliflower chunks in the tomato liquid as much as possible -- it will seem like there is too much cauliflower, but there is just enough)

 5.Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and allow the mixture to simmer vigorously for 25 minutes.

 6.Turn off heat and purée mixture with a blender for 5-10 minutes or until the mixture is very smooth

 7.Add in salt (to taste) and nutritional yeast. Simmer on low for an additional 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. If soup is thicker than desired, add in ½ to 1 cup water and whisk into soup.

 8.Ladle soup into bowls. Drizzle with olive oil and top with chopped fresh basil, if desired. Enjoy!

Cozy Socks, Winter Nights & a guide to Vegan / Cruelty Free Candles.....

When the days grow shorter and the dark of night begins its wintry reign, you know the signal to cozy-up your living space and create a nurturing environment has been officially sounded. A key ingredient in this process is the addition of candles. They provide ambience at dinner parties, set the mood for romantic evenings at home, and even play a role in our spiritual lives, giving our personal spaces a warm, peaceful glow. They smell good, look good, and cast a snuggly light that begs for you to whip up a cup of hot cocoa and settle in for the night. Best of all, today's cruelty-free, alternative-wax candles support our desire to live compassionately while keeping the home fires burning with a cozy warmth.

But did you know that many conventional candles contain harmful ingredients and animal by-products like paraffin, benzene, toluene, lead, parabens, and other artificial fragrances that have been linked to asthma attacks, allergies, eczema, and even lung cancer, with regular exposure?

Most candles are made with paraffin—a petroleum waste-product. When burned, paraffin releases carcinogenic toxins like benzene and soot into the air, which, in addition to being dangerous for your lungs (and your animal companion's lungs), can settle on furniture and countertops, damaging surfaces. A better bet for a soot-free home is soy. That's right: The mighty soybean that yields so many health benefits also lends itself to candles. Natural soy-wax candles are not only healthier for the environment, but more economical, too, because they burn up to 50-percent longer than their paraffin counterparts.

Alongside soy Mother Nature has generously supplied us with another natural source of cruelty-free candle wax in the bayberry. You could call bayberry the "patriotic alternative to paraffin," since colonial Americans were the first to transform the teensy little berry into candle wax. Today, as in the past, bayberry candles enjoy extra popularity around the holidays, when they are burned to bring good luck for the coming year. When scouting for these special candles, be sure the wax consists of pure bayberry (a pleasant, delicate fragrance on its own) and not artificially scented paraffin wax.

My quest for cruelty-free candles made from renewable resources brought me to an unexpected source: palm wax. Like olive oil, palm wax oil is a ”virgin" oil that doesn't require refining—just a bit of filtering and deodorizing. Shaped from the fruit of the oil palm, palm wax candles also burn clean and last longer than those made with paraffin, and are a fabulous alternative to beeswax—the production of which usually involves drug and pesticide treatments, genetic tampering, wing clipping, and the use of manufactured pheromones. There's nothing natural about that.

Once you've made the choice to bring natural-wax candles into your home, be sure any added fragrance is pure, essential oil—otherwise your good intentions will go literally up in smoke as harmful by-products from artificial scents are released into the air.

There is no denying the magic of candlelight. With a little detective work, you can enjoy the beauty and comfort of candles while keeping your home cruelty- and toxin-free.

Candle-buying Guide

 

These online retailers offer candles for the conscious consumer.

 

A Scent of Scandal

This vegan-owned company is committed to creating quality soy-wax candles—and a healthy dose of sass to match. Our favorite scent? Oh Snap! Smells like fresh-baked gingerbread.

Intoxicated Zodiac

There's one of these organic soy-wax candles for every sign of the zodiac. Not into astrology? The packaging is subtle enough that you'll never notice you're actually an Aries.

Pacifica Candles

The company known for its beautifully-designed perfumes also produces a seductive line of scented votives. Try Bourbon Island Vanilla, Zanzibar Cinnamon Almond, or the Indian Chai scent.

SoyBeam

GMO-free soy wax and cotton wicks are just two reasons to love these green candles. With soothing scents such as Lavender & Geranium and Vetiver & Sweet Orange, you'll be relaxed in no time flat.

Yankee Candle

From a small start, Yankee Candle has become the most-recognised name in the candle business worldwide. Today they offer the world’s largest and most compelling selection of scented candles, accessories and home fragrances. All of which are vegan and cruelty free.

Harper’s Candles

Save the best until last they say and Harpers, to me, are they very best. Their candles use no animal products, they are not tested on animals and neither is the wax or the fragrance – and they carry The Vegan Society logo to prove it.  They also support dog sanctuaries with charity candles that have proper donations (£3 from each candle sold). On a green note, the tins can be recycled and they use recycled paper wherever possible. They use high grade soya wax made from 100 percent sustainable resources and as many as possible of the local deliveries are done on foot. Amazing right?!

 

 

Time for Tea........ (with recipe)

 

As the days get colder and the nights get longer nothing warmers your heart like a cup of tea and good boook (yeah I am so rock and roll nowadays!) But tea is more than a beverage, it’s an herbal remedy. This quote describes it well:

 Tea began as a medicine and grew into a beverage. ~Okakura Kakuzō

 Tea is a perfectly simple way to access the health benefits of herbs. The quiet ritual of preparing and sipping a cup of tea is a wonderfully relaxing and peaceful practice. Creating your own tea blends is easy and much less expensive than buying some of the pre-made bags at the store. Homemade tea also makes a delightful gift.

If you ask me what my favourite tea is, Feminine Balance would be my answer. It is amazing for hormone balancing and doubles as a fertility tea. This is based on a formula given to me a few years ago by a friend. This tea is perfect for stress, bad periods, PCOS, and other hormone related symptoms. It helps nourish the body at a cellular level and really get things balanced out.

Here are the herbs in Feminine Balance Tea and what they do for the body:

 

•Alfalfa – promotes estrogen

 •Red Clover Leaf and Blossoms – promotes estrogen

 •Raspberry Leaf – uterine tonic

 •Nettle – bioavailable nutrients, including calcium and magnesium

 •Yarrow – uterine tonic

 •Oatstraw – nourishing

 •Fennel Seed  – carminative (good for digestion); aromatic

 •Rose Petals  – lift spirits

 •Lemon Balm* – lifts spirits, carminative

 •Orange Peel  – catalyst herb; carminative

 •Hibiscus Flowers – vitamin C, flavorful and aromatic

 •Peppermint or Spearmint, or both  – aids digestion, uplifting

 •Vitex – helps balance hormones

 

*Leave out lemon balm if on thyroid medication.

 

How To –

Combine 1 cup of each herb in a large bowl and mix with a wooden spoon. Store in a quart mason jar with lid out of direct sunlight.

 

To Brew -

 

1.1 tsp dry herbs (use 2 TBS herbs if using a quart ball jar) per cup of hot water.

 2.Cover and let steep for at least 20 minutes and up to 8 hours for a more potent infusion.

 3.Sweeten as desired, preferably with coconut sugar or fruit syrup.

 4.Drink up to a quart warm or at room temperature throughout the day.

 

For best results, make sure to drink a quart every day. It really gives you an energy boost and helps with mood levels, anxiety, balancing, nourishment and so many other wonderful things. So put on those fluffy socks, grab your favourite book and enjoy!

Exciting News & Essential Oils.......

What started off as ordinary day quickly turned into a pretty amazing one when I opened an email from one of my favourite companies – Essential Oils. They kindly wrote to tell me that they loved my profile on InstaGram and thought it would be a great idea to run a collaboration with little old me via my blog! Excited was an understatement. I love Essential Oils for many reasons but to name a few they are -

• Vegan
• Cruelty Free
• Gluten Free
• Natural
• Ethically Sourced
• Organic

They told me they’ve recently launched a new range of 100% certified organic essential oils, which is very rare in the global market. So many things can be made from them such as scented candles, body scrubs, lip balms, body lotions, soaps and so on, all natural and organic. They also love to focus on EDUCATION and spreading the awareness of how beneficial organic essential oils are for our overall wellbeing. And we all know how much I love and support education!

To add to the excitement they are growing so fast that they've even recently had the honour to be a sponsor for the business summit and gala ball of the Australian Women's Network alongside names such as BMW Melbourne, Lorna Jane, Bonds, Swarovski and Vodka+ just to name a few.

Then they said the magic words – ‘we would love to send you a few samples to see how you like them’. A few clicks of the mouse, a quick send of an email & a patient wait by the letter box - they arrived!

Essential Oils were very kind and gave me a choice of which samples I would like and which I felt I would get the most from. I choose stress relieving and digestion aid as I felt they were both needed in my life at this time. So let me tell you all about them……

Relieving Stress

What’s in it: Lavender, Fractionated Coconut Oil

How to use it: This is already diluted with organic coconut oil and ready to be applied with the roll on. Best to apply on back of the neck to feel the relaxation.

I used this after a long (standard for me!) day. I had been up at 6am, been to the gym, worked a 9 hour day at work, gone for dinner with the girls then headed home to do a couple of hours uni work so I was very tired and stressed when I sat down with my lovely man to enjoy a film. I ached, couldn’t focus and felt my mind was racing at a million miles per hour. I applied the oils to my neck as advised and waited for them to work their magic, which oh my goodness they did! I could feel the tension ease out of my shoulders and I was able to relax and enjoy the evening. Since trying this de stressing oil it has become an essential part of my bed time routine.

Digestive Aid

What’s in it: Peppermint, Ginger, Rosemary, Fractionated Coconut Oil

How to use it: This is already diluted with organic coconut oil and ready to applied with the roll on. Best applied to stomach area for digestive relief.

I really struggle with my digestion so I was excited to try this oil. I have IBS and a gluten intolerance as well as struggle with anxiety which often makes me feel sick/ my tummy turn all of which have a direct impact on my digestion. I started to use this at the beginning of the day to help set me off for the day ahead, I incorporated a simple stomach massage for a few minutes into my morning routine and have found it really helps set me up for the day ahead. The peppermint and ginger help lift any early morning blues while the rosemary leaves me feeling balanced and calm. Another winner for me.

If you’d like to check out this amazing brand and try some of their fabulous natural products sign up to their mailing list here tiny.cc/register-eog

For further info -  

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/theessentialoilsguide

Instagram:

www.instagram.com/essential_oils_guide

Website:

www.essentialoilsguide.com.au

The Mountains are Calling & I'm taking Vegan / Gluten Free Lasagne.......

Some times its good to step back and look at what we have, sometimes we need that space or break away to help us to see what we have and appreciate it. We live in a world that spins so fast it’s easy to lose focus on how we feel and what is important to us.  With all significant relationships there can be too much going on or maybe there’s not enough, whatever the problems sometimes space and time are the only answer. This week life and I needed a break. Frustrated and drained with the constant noise, hustle, and endless treadmill of work / study - I knew I needed some time out. So when an invite came our way to have a mini adventure celebrating our second anniversary I jumped at the opportunity.

With hiking boots, fluffy onsie and champagne packed in the car, my thoughts turned to food (what’s new!).  Self-catering has so many advantages especially when it comes to maintaining meal plans and dietary needs etc. One of my favourite advantages of self-catering   is that you can prepare meals and take them with you so after a day’s amazing adventure there is a fabulous home cooked meal minutes away from being in your rumbling belly. There was no doubt that I would be taking our favourite vegan and gluten free lasagne away with us , easy to make, great to freezer and reheated in minutes – what’s not to love!

 

Spinach and Mushroom Lasagne – Serves 4.

3 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for greasing

3 cloves garlic, 2 thinly sliced and 1 whole

1 teaspoon fennel seeds

Pinch crushed red pepper flakes

1 pound white mushrooms, sliced

One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes

Salt

One 12.3-ounce package firm tofu, strained

One 10-ounce package frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

One 8-ounce package vegan cream cheese

1/2 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves, plus more for garnish

3 tablespoons nutritional yeast

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

6-8 Gluten Free lasagne sheets

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella-flavoured vegan cheese

 

How To -

 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch square baking dish with oil.

Heat the oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sliced garlic, fennel seeds and red pepper flakes and stir until fragrant, about 45 seconds. Add the mushrooms and cook, undisturbed, until they begin to brown in spots, about 3 minutes. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 4 minutes more. Add the tomatoes, 1 cup water and 1 teaspoon salt, bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce is reduced and most of the water is evaporated, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool.

Meanwhile, add the tofu, spinach, vegan cream cheese, basil, nutritional yeast, whole clove garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and nutmeg to a food processor and pulse until smooth.

Spread a few tablespoons of the mushroom-tomato sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish and top with 4 noodles (it's OK if they overlap slightly; break 1 noodle into pieces to fill in any gaps if needed). Add half of the tofu mixture and spread out evenly. Top with a third of the sauce. Repeat with another 4 noodles, the remaining spinach mixture and half the remaining sauce. Finish the lasagne with the remaining 4 noodles and sauce. Cover with foil and bake until the lasagna is hot, about 45 minutes. Remove the foil, sprinkle with the shredded vegan cheese and bake until the lasagne is very hot and the cheese is slightly melted, about 15 minutes more. Let cool for a few minutes, cut into 6 pieces and garnish with basil leaves.

Serve with an icy cold glass of fizz whilst snuggling up in your onsie. Enjoy!

Period Pains & A Fab Little Bag.......

As an eco friendly bunny happily skipping along, trying to be the change I want to see in the world there are the occasional tiny (ok – some times massive) stumbling blogs and decisions about the right and wrong of an action that need to be made. Now this issue has been bothering me for some time, ladies – how do you dispose of your tampons?

 

If, like me, you care about the environment, or have ever experienced a blocked toilet, you probably hate the thought of flushing tampons – but the alternative “bag and bin” options can be fraught with anxiety, embarrassment and difficulties…

 

We know flushing a tampon is just not a good idea for several reasons:

 •Our sewer systems can only handle bodily waste and toilet paper; anything else, are a nightmare and frequently get stuck, and if it floods can end up in our rivers, seas – yuk!

 •Embarrassing… they don’t always flush away, if you’ve ever experienced poor plumbing you’ll know the problems flushing tampons can cause!

 •Sometimes you just can’t flush them eg. septic tank, festivals, camping, sailing etc.

 

So you can imagine my delight when I was contacted by Martha Silcott - inventor of FabLittleBag TM. The list of there amazing qualities goes on but here are a few…..

 

• Super Practical

 

FabLittleBagTM is a discreet little bag that you can drop your used tampon into and then seal securely with one hand using the patented clever finger loops, this is really useful if you are holding a used tampon in the other hand!

 

• Environmentally a better choice

 

Made 35% from organic material, oxo-biodegradable, and since there’s no need to flush they keep tampons out of the rivers, seas and sewers.

 

• Guilt-free, Stress-free

 

No need to worry about if there is a bin, or if you have a nappy sack on you or if there is enough toilet paper to wrap it in. FabLittleBagTM puts you back in control of disposal, every time, anywhere…

 

The best solution. Period.

 

Get yours at Amazon, Ocado or Waitrose.

 

Find out more at http://www.fablittlebag.com/