week 4 – 29th April

Travelling through the first year of retirement with gusto..inspirational.

firstyearretirement

This is a picture of the first bud on my peony tree – Paeonia Suffruticosa to be exact.  I am always very excited when the first bud starts to open.  I know it is rather silly, but it is such a beautiful plant.  Unfortunately it does not last for long as it flowers when the weather is windy and, once fully opened, the petals are just blown away.  It smells wonderful.  There are 9 buds this year.

Yesterday I went to zumba which was very enjoyable.  It is very low key, being held in the Brixton Age UK branch (!) but we laugh a lot which is always good.

In the afternoon I went for my annual eye check and there was no change in my eyesight from my last checkup.  I am hoping to get contact lens’ but this time daily lens’ instead of the monthly ones, which I…

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Week 2 – 13th April ’16 — firstyearretirement

This is the chilli chocolate cake with cognac cream & brown sugar meringues I served at the Grand National lunch last Saturday. Yesterday I went swimming at 8.30am (knackered after) and then last night went to my first ballet class – 2hrs! OMG I was totally exhausted – there was 1 hr of ‘floor’ work […]

via Week 2 – 13th April ’16 — firstyearretirement

Dr. Organic Shampoo and Deodorant

Dr. Organic produce a whole range of goods; Shampoo’s, creams, deodorants&hand wash to name a few. I needed a new shampoo and had been recommended one from M&S, it looked great BUT it was only available in the superstores and my greasy hair was calling out for a wash!

My flat mate had previously used a Dr.Organic shampoo and conditioner which I really liked.  This time, I decided to try the Manuka Honey&Aloe Vera Shampoo and picked up some Aloe Vera deodorant too.

Aloe Vera replaces the majority of water in the non oil based products.  Meanwhile, Manuka honey is known for its restorative&moisturing properties.

The deodorant includes Aloe Vera, Sunflower oil, Icelandic Moss and Vitamin E. This is a delicate roll on and is best applied and allowed to air, some swift arms rotations do the trick.  It seems to work well initially, even with lots of layers on and going in and out of the heat.

I was less impressed with the shampoo, after rinsing it left my hair feeling dry but I have in the past used a lot of dye in my hair so it is important that it gets a lot of moisture.  It smelled good and is meant to be a daily shampoo but would be best used with a conditioner.  I dont normally use washin&out conditioner on a daily basis but instead use argon oil and a leave in conditioner.  The previous Dr Organic shampoo was coconut oil and I would recommend this instead.

Sadly, after continued used of the deodorant I  found that I was re-applying a couple of times a day and was close to becoming the stinky cycle girl at work!

Dr Organic products are free from:

• Parabens;
• Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (can irritate the skin with prolonged and constant exposure);
• Animal testing; or
• Perfumes and  artificial fragrances.

Kiehl’s SUPERBLY SMOOTHING ARGAN SHAMPOO

Argon Oil shampoo I hear you cry! Yes! Feel that goodness!  I was told by the shop assistant that it was not recommended for daily use. She either a) wants to prevent my hair from reaching its full potential or b) is looking after my best interests as too much moisture and I’ll turn onto Slick Ric.

My bet is on b) but I can always test that theory.

Kiehls have been in existence for over 150 years, the brand continues towards removing parabens and sulphates from its products. Although they have not yet achieved this on all, consumers can easily identify what is contained (or not) as it is clearly labelled on the front.

On first use I was very impressed, it lathered well which not all natural products do.  In non-natural products, sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate are chemicals which are added to give the lather. Previously, it was difficult to find natural product alternatives  that created the same effect.  Luckily due to demand, better products have been produced which are both natural and full of suds!  Hooray! I don’t have to say goodbye to recreating the Marge Simpson shower barnet just yet!

The shampoo feels soft on application allowing for fingers or comb to be easily run through hair prior to rinsing, therefore aiding full coverage.  This product is meant for unruly and frizzy hair, which mine is not but it is dry and this gave it the moisture it needs. It has a good smell which is hard to pinpoint but if pushed I would say lime which was confirmed by my flatmates (open to suggestions though). Price £15.

Great bonuses to this product:

• Argon Oil is fairtrade;
• Sulphate, silicon and paraben free; and
• Great lasting shine.

Peanut Butter Lentils

In the spirit of being healthy for the New Year I have mostly been vegan or vegetarian this week.  I want to cook tasty food but there is a tendency for every meal to taste like Garam Masala.  As per most of my veggie delights.

A big event occurred in my life this week.  I let peanut butter in, shocking I know!  The worrying thing is, had I let it in sooner who knows how much I could have consumed to this point.Therefore this recipe unsurprisingly contains peanut butter.  It is a great winter warmer and incredibly easy to make.

• Pasanta or tinned tomatoes;
• A big dollop of peanut butter;
• 1 cup Brown Rice;
• 1 cup Lentils (I used red);
• Kale finely chopped;
• One red onion;
• 3 cloves of garlic;
• A tsp cumin;
• 3 sweet red pepper;
• Stock.

Cook onion, garlic and peppers first (I also threw in some left over brussel sprouts from christmas).  Add stock, rice and lentils, kale and tomatoes.  Cook for 30 minutes (or as long as you have) then stir in the peanut butter just before serving.  Delicious.

Top 5 Natural Beauty Products

I have to totally agree.. coconut oil is AMAZING!! I mostly use it with cooking and mix it with Manuka honey&Coconut Milk as a treat to eat. I am definitely going to try and put it on my eyelashes, who knew it had so many uses!

touchscreens & Beautyqueens

As much as I love that products have been tailored to every whim and catering for my every beauty need, I often look to natural products to treat any beauty ailments. I’ve dabbled around different oils and herbs and gels, and love making my own DIY masks so I’ve compiled a list of my favourite natural products that I think everyone could benefit from.

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Supplements and Immunity

I have just got over my 6th cold of 2013 and through a bit of online research and a chat with my doctor have decided to hit the herbal remedies.

At the same point every month my immunity seems to drop, I either get what is a cold or potentially an intense allergy attack.  It seems that this is actually quite common and can be rectified by balancing my hormones!

After a trip to Holland and Barratt I am now topping up daily with Cod Liver Oil, Maca (apparently mostly used by men.. although the woman in the shop guaranteed I wouldn’t grow a beard!), Evening Primrose Oil and some Manuka Honey (20+ Active) thrown in for luck.

 

• Cod liver oil – High in Omega 3 and helps immune system regulation;
• Maca – Good for energy and hormone balance;
• Evening primrose oil – High in Omega 6 and good for PMS and skin; and
• Manuka Honey – Good for immunity.

I’ll see how I feel after a month or two and if it has made a difference.

Avalon Organics hand and body lotion

My flat mate bought me a tasty new hand and body lotion for Christmas.  She is pro Organic&Natural products and knows far more about it than me…so she is unofficially (aka unaware) my resource source!

This is a very gentle product and you can definitely smell the Lavender essential oil.  Lavender is well known for its calming and peaceful sleep properties, I have been using it after my morning showers.   Although I did almost fall sleep on the tube today so maybe it’s the lotion! Or an excessive New Year.

It leaves your skin feeling very soft and is not sticky after application.  Due to its pump lid it would make a great hand lotion to keep in the bathroom to use after washing your hands.

Key pro points:

•     Smells delicious;
•     70% Organic;
•     Handy pump lid very easy to apply;
•     Bottle is made from 100% recycled materials;
•     Does not contain parabens.

Avalon Organics have a range of products skin care, hair care, body&bath and baby. As it was a gift I technically don’t know the cost but you can buy it on line for about £6.  If you like Lavender its a winner.

Boots Botanics Facial Oil

After purchasing a new organic/natural moisturiser online that never arrived, I decided to hit the local high street to seek some hydration for my dry&cracked face.

Browsing in Boots I was aware that many of the products were branded as natural but when it came down to it had a long list of ingredients that I couldn’t even pronounce let alone recognise (and I did a science degree!).

 I came across Boots Botanic range and the 100% certified organic facial oil caught my eye.  It contains Almond&Rosehip Oil and Citronella which also lends to its lemony slightly nutty smell.

Within two days I had seen a noticeable difference to my skin and it seems to be the perfect winter skin supplement.  As I cycle my face gets especially dry&red, this facial oil provides my skin with the moisture I need.

It is made in the UK, developed with Kew Royal Botanic gardens and at £4.99 is a bargain.  Rosehip is a natural source of Omega oils which helps keep the skin supple and looking healthy.

Application of the oil can be tricky and you have to be fast as otherwise it ends up all over your fingers but the pipet applicator helps aid this and reduces any waste.  Despite being an oil it soaks in well and leaves my skin feeling and looking fresh.

I also purchased a moisturising foundation with SPF 30.  This sadly was not organic but has been formulated to not contain parabens.  It contains Ginkgo which is a natural source of repair for the skin and Ginkgo biloba is one of the longest living tree species in the world.

This product goes on well and will do for the moment but my hunt for a suitable foundation is still ongoing.  This product is made in Thailand and not organic and I have now realised that these are important to me if I can find the right product.