A review of my new best friend…Sorry Diego

I'd never replace you Diego!

I’m being completely honest when I say I always want a quick fix.  I eat the wrong food and diet for two days and want results.  I sometimes fall asleep with my makeup on and then I’m horrified when my skin suffers.  I don’t think I have changed much since my teens and twenties, except that I have noticed that I’m not getting away with it as much.

So last month I came across a gadget called a Magnitone.  It claimed to empty out pores and tone your skin.  I suppose it was like an electric toothbrush but for the face.   Now being the sort of person that wants quick results, I thought I’d give it ago. After all it promised results in just seven days.  So I ordered the ‘Full Monty’ Magnitone (after of course convincing my husband that I really needed it in my life and I would definitely use it!) even though it was more expensive than the ‘Barefaced’ Magnitone.  I went for this particular model because you could also use it on your body and feet.

Easy to use

When I got it through the post, I was impressed with the packaging and I loved the fact the Magnitone was a bright colour.  It really stood out on my dressing table which meant that I would be less likely to misplace it (I have a very annoying habit of losing things).  I loved the fact that it had a USB charger meaning that I could use my iphone plug to charge it or just simply plug it into my computer to charge which is great for traveling. Getting the Magnitone through the post made me remember the time when I was 13 and I had four friends stay over. As they were all sitting round the table having breakfast, my mum came along with a parcel she had received, she told us she had ordered a face massager to tone her face. As she was opening the box she informed us the importance of looking after our skin. As mum pulled out her new face massager from the box and started to massage her face, I felt my heart sink and my face turn a beetroot colour.  My friends couldn’t stop laughing as my mother rubbed this phallic looking object over her face, while she called us dirty mined! Thankfully the Magnitone looks nothing like that!

I don’t really read instruction booklets and found that the Magnitone was idiot proof.  You press a button and off you go! Initially I charged it for 24 hours and decided that I would use it once a day just before bedtime. So I did my usual and washed my face to remove my eye makeup and added some cleanser and used the magnitone (toning setting) and worked around my face and neck, it was so quick it only took a minute and there was a beeper every 20 seconds to remind you to move to the next area of your face and automatically stopped after a minute. 

Stands out on my messy dresser

Results

After the first couple of uses my face definitely felt smoother, after one week my pores on my nose and chin were definitely much smaller.  The real test came when I saw my mum.  My mum (also my backbone and my critical friend) took one look at me and said “your skin looks good, what are you using?  Whatever it is I want one!”.  I was  pleasantly shocked as my mum normally tells me that I need to look after my skin and is the first person to point out if she doesn’t like what I’m wearing, if I look bloated, etc (she has a way with words).  

It’s been two weeks since I have started using the magnitone , its only added one minute to my bedtime routine and my husband is impressed that I’m still using it.  I love it and just like I won’t be going back to using a normal tooth brush, I won’t be giving up my Magnitone…It's a great investment for a busy mum. 

No...We are not going back!

Things to remember when using the Magnitone…

     1. you only need to use it once a day. Night is better as it’s when you have the most grime on your face! 

     2. Don’t press hard on your face just glide in circular motions. Remember you are not scrubbing your face. 

     3. Wash the head after each use 

     4. Replace the head every three months 

     5. Don’t use it on your eye area. 

     6. It’s waterproof

What makes the Magnitone special?

Unlike many similar looking products on the market the Magnitone doesn’t work like them (a scrubber). It uses a combination of pulsed vibrations and sonic oscillations that wobbles the dirt out of the pores, tones and boosts micro-circulation (Magnitone.co.uk).

Even though I love my Magnitone, if I could improve it I would...

1. have a light that would come on to notify me if I’m pressing too hard on my skin/face, just like I have on my electric toothbrush, when I add too much pressure on my teeth a red light comes on.

2. have it come in red, the barefaced Magnitones come in many different colours.  The Full Monty only comes in grey or teal.  I love strong colours especially red…

If you have any questions about the magnitone, just send me an e-mail and remember also eating well is key to looking good!

I need to remember to get one for my mum before she comes over and nicks mine!

Speak soon,

Minoushe xxx

P.s If Magnitone is reading this please send me a red one! 

Carve a pumpkin and nail it...

It's been a while so I thought I'd ease myself back into blogging with pumpkin carving. Before I begin I just want to say thank you to those that have e-mailed for advise or help, it's always such a pleasure to hear from you. <3




To carve a pumpkin you will need the following;

A pumpkin;
A curving tool kit ( see pic for tools);
Kitchen roll (it gets messy);
A stencil ( you can buy or download these);
Sticky tape;
Led tea lights (far safer than the real thing);
A puppy to eat the mess caused on the floor (optional);
Patience 

Step one:
Begin by chopping off the bottom of the pumpkin. This is far better as the lid normally tends to shrivel and go mouldy.

Step two:
Scoop the inside of the pumpkin out till it is hollow. Make sure you do this properly as if the inside is too thick the design won't work well.

Step three:
Tape your stencil onto your pumpkin, this can be a bit fiddly.

Step four:
Using the stick thing and/or the roller with jagged edges to go over the outline of the stencil (this takes a bit of time).














Step five:
Remove the stencil and you should end up with an outline of the picture.

Step six:
Use the saw tool to cut out the perforated edges.

Step seven:

Rinse, dry your pumpkin and display with your with the Led tea lights.Tip: so your pumpkin lasts longer store it in a bucket of water.

Click below for free pumpkin stencils

http://www.pumpkinpile.com/patterns.php

Stretch marks can be an utter pain...See my review of Viridian's Ultimate Beauty Skin Repair Oil

So I'm 30 weeks pregnant and to be honest I feel like a hippo. I can feel my belly getting bigger and bigger, which is great in a way because it means the little guy in there is growing. However one thing comes to mind is stretch marks!

Stretch marks affect a lot of people (men and women). Before I had my son I was lucky enough to have never suffered from them, however within the last few days of my pregnancy they appeared all over my tummy. I'll be honest I didn't take it well. I tried creams, lasers and even wanted a tummy tuck (which I was told I wasn't a suitable candidate for). At the time I just obsessed with them and wished that I had tried to prevent them. 7 years later they have really faded and I'm paranoid about them returning. I have met many people that have been bothered by stretch marks and I suppose many of us don't think about preventing them until we get them. 

Just over four weeks ago I was given the opportunity to review a few products by Viridian. 

One product in particular really stood out and that was the "Ultimate Beauty Skin Repair Oil".  I thought this is definitely worth a go and was also safe to use when pregnant.  I read the instructions, the oil was to be applied morning and night. Initially I thought this was going to be messy, but the oil came in a bottle with a pump, which meant that I could dispense it without making a mess.  So I started in the evening after my shower. I was so pleasantly surprised that when I applied the oil it was absorbed into my skin straight away and I could wear my clothes almost immediately, which was proving very handy in the morning! I didn't need tons of it either and as I applied it the annoying itch I had on belly disappeared, It was soothing and actually helped my sleep.

Before using the Viridian Skin Repair Oil, I was using coconut oil which was really messy and wasn't getting absorbed into my skin as well. I next looked at the ingredients and did a bit of research and found that the Viridian oil contained 'Rosehip fruit oil'. Rosehip oil contains a natural derivative of vitamin A which is safe to use during pregnancy. The more research I did about this stuff the more I found out it was hailed as a beauty miracle. It renews damaged skin and fights wrinkles and stretch marks. It's seems to be the beauty secret to the likes of Kate Middleton, Victoria Beckham and Gwyneth Paltrow. So if it's good enough for them it's definitely good enough for us!

It's been a crazy few weeks for me, dealing with a poorly child and getting my house ready to be attacked by builders and living in a dusty house without any ceilings. Most of my beauty rituals have gone out of the window but I have religiously stuck to applying the oil to my belly.  I haven't given up mainly because the relief I have been getting from my belly itchiness, how soft my belly has felt and the ease and the lack of mess in applying the oil.

I love the fact that Viridian is Organic and made without the use of synthetic fragrances or colourings and is an ethical company. I also love the fact that a little of the Skin Repair Oil goes a long way.

I have been using the oil for just over four weeks now and I'm still stretch mark free even though I have exploded! My Bump is huge.  I must admit I'm very fussy with my creams and on my face I use Creme de la Mer.  I am a cream snob so for me personally I have been very impressed with the oil and will continue go use it after pregnancy.

  
Viridian Ultimate Beauty Skin Repair Oil costs £15.76 for 100ml 
http://www.viridian-nutrition.com/shop/Ultimate-Beauty-Skin-Repair-Topical-Oil-P598.aspx

If you have any questions about Viridian skin repair oil, pregnancy or stretch marks, just Tweet or e-mail me!

Speak soon,

Minoushe xx

Paleo Banana and Dark Chocolate Bread....Yummy

You know when you have had a week of Just eating all the junk in the world? Well I'm having one of those weeks and its not like I can say, ok I'm on a diet from Monday because being pregnant means that I shouldn't really go on my mad diets (which funnily enough I miss). I'm  feeling constantly hungry and every time I eat I get this horrible heartburn.

 

Yesterday morning I didn't feel too well and I stupidly skipped breakfast and by lunch time I was starving! I made myself a cheese and jam sandwich...Yep you read correctly and as I consumed the whole thing in a couple of minutes, I didn't feel in control of my body anymore...I needed this control back and eating sugary things is just not good for me or baby, so I decided to make a some paleo banana and dark chocolate bread. At least if I then have a sugar craving I could have something that has healthy ingredients in it. So here goes...

First preheat the oven at 170 degrees and grease and line a load tin with baking paper. You will need the following ingredients

300 g of almond flour

1 tsp. of baking powder

A pinch of salt

1 cup and a little bit extra of dark chocolate chips ( I used a bar of 85% green and blacks dark chocolate and chopped it up)

2  eggs (from the fridge)

2 very ripe bananas (chopped)

1/4 of agave syrup (you can use honey too)

1 tsp. of orange juice

 

 

 

Beat the eggs for a couple of minutes with an electric whisk and add the bananas, agave and orange juice and whisk till well combined. Next add the 1/2 the almond flour,  baking powder and salt and mix till well combined, then add the rest of the almond flour and combine well. Lastly fold in the chocolate chips and put the mixture in the loaf tin. Sprinkle on top a few more chocolate chips and bake in the oven for around 35 minutes. Test with a toothpick to see if it's ready. When ready remove from the oven and leave to completely cool on a wire rack!

Cut a slice and enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee!  

Lastly, this appraisal I received last Sunday made my heart melt ...

 

 

 

Speak soon, Love,

 

Minoushe xx

 

Amazing liquid that promises results! UPDATE

For the last month I have stuck to this water challenge as best as possible. It's not been easy seeming that I don't particularly like the taste of water but the results have been worth it.

Here’s why…

Initially I had a few spotty outbreaks, but shortly afterwards my face became clear and smooth. I was getting quite a few compliments about my complexion.

I have always been lucky in that I didn't really suffer from cellulite but pregnancy seemed to have changed this... When I increased my water intake to between 1.5 to 2 litres daily I noticed within a week that my cellulite had started to go - result!

I also wasn't feeling as hungry as I normally was which was good news for me. I felt much more in control of my hunger pangs.

With regards to being pregnant I noticed that increasing my water intake had a positive effect on my constant heartburn and constipation! (Something else you only find out about when you get pregnant).

So have I got used to drinking more water? Yes but I'm still needing to remind myself. The benefits have definitely been worth it and aiming for 1.5 to 2 liters a day makes a huge difference. One handy thing I started doing was when eating out or in coffee shops, I was ordering tap water along side my coffees, teas and meals. I also noticed that I found it easier to drink water that wasn't freezing cold.

Now the challenge is to keep it going!

Speak soon,

Minoushe xx

Pregnancy can be hard!

Quote of the week: Mummy I’m glad the baby will use my old cot because I’ll get to lie in my bed knowing I was the first to fart in it!

Let's put it this way nothing really works out how you planned it to and if it did life would be boring. I know I haven't posted in a long time not because I have had ‘writers block’ but because thinking back to my first pregnancy experience was difficult.  I remember it very clearly and what I remember most of all is how it was nothing like I imagined!

I have a 7 year old and you would think that if I was having another one I would have had it four years ago??? Well wrong..I did always have the intention to but I think my first time round of being pregnant was a shock and to be honest not a lot of mums like to admit it but I will. I found it tough! I found being pregnant really hard. How my body changed was a shock..instead of craving cucumber I craved pizza and chocolate milk. I ended up gaining six stone or what I prefer to say I gained a 12 year old!

Friends looked at me worryingly and held their breath every time I waddled down the corridor..the students I taught wanted me to sit down as they were terrified I'd go into early labour..the PE department referred to me as 'the Unit'. I was constantly asked if I was having twins (trust me I wanted to slap those insensitive idiots silly).

Looking back I can see I made a huge mistake when I found out I was pregnant I wanted everyone to notice I was pregnant so I naively ate and ate..when I was 12 weeks pregnant I looked like I was 25 weeks pregnant. I retained so much water I had to take my wedding rings off..I remember remarking to my husband that my wedding ring didn't fit but it didn't matter anymore whether I was taken or not because I was clearly off limits

After the birth of my little boy I did something I should have never done I decided to try on my pre-pregnancy jeans and I was heart broken when I found that they didn't even fit through my foot.. It was awful, I felt so down..I became invisible to the opposite sex and instead of doors being held for me they were just slammed in my face.  Don't get me wrong it's not that I wanted every man staring at me but its nice to get a compliment (from a man or woman).  Instead of enjoying my beautiful little boy, I felt alone, I felt like I had lost my identity. Feeling like this made me feel guilty and I suppose it’s only now I feel ready to have another one.

Some women have wonderful experiences of pregnancy but it’s ok if you are not one of them! I’m not only dedicating this post to all mummies that found it difficult but also to those who will want to be mums in the future.  It’s important to realise whatever you experience, it’s ok...I guarantee you won’t be the only one.

Here are my do’s and don’ts when pregnant…

1. Do join a pregnancy yoga class. It’s great to talking to other people in the same position as you and the stretching helps with all the back pain.
2. Do get a pregnancy pillow.  It will help you and your partner get some sleep at night.
3. Do get some cream to massage into your belly and body.  

   

   
   
4. Do drink lots of water.
5. Do eat lots of fruit and vegetables, if you are not that keen make a smoothie!

   

   
   
6. If you crave something like pizza or cheesecake, have it but don’t go crazy.

   

   
   
7. Do join the NCT and if this is your 2nd baby, they do a refresher course.
8. Don’t google all your symptoms, trust me it can scare the living daylights out of you. Speak to a midwife instead.
9. Do go to a baby show, you get lots of freebies and you can get an idea of all the new products out there.

   

   
   
10. Don’t compare bumps, remember everyone is different!
11. Don’t eat for two! You will probably need to eat more but don’t go crazy.
12. If you are feeling really down, don’t ignore the signs, speak to your GP or midwife. They will provide you with support.

Much Love,

Minoushe xx  

Whether you are single or not...you can still enjoy Valentine's day...

Card made by my little one for his grandparents

 

Valentine's Day, love it or hate it, it comes around every year and there is no getting away from it.  It seems to trigger very different emotions in people. Some experience love, other experience loneliness, hate or even bitterness. I personally find it strange...don't get me wrong I love getting a card from my grumpy man and sometimes he really spoils me. However I have known men, women and couples who expect certain things...Some women have an agreement with their husbands that they will get a dozen red roses every valentines. Call me old fashioned but what is so special about that? And surely that's a bit fake? On the other hand some people can argue that they need to be black and white about what they want from their partners.

 

Ironically I do love the month of February simply because I love to browse the shops and look at the pretty red and pink products they have to offer. I love it not because I'm a hopeless romantic but because I'm totally materialistic and yes I do buy myself chocolates every valentines. I did that the other day, I got myself some  Lindt white chocolate and strawberry truffles  and I am slowly but surely working my way through them.

I have friends that get depressed and bitter about being single on that day.  Quite a few years ago I  spent valentines away from Ian with a good friend (my gay best mate) who happened to be single and also happened to have his birthday.  I think back of that time very fondly because we went out to dinner and had a brilliant time.  We watched all the hopeless romantics and the singletons that were so desperate not to be on their own that night that they went on a blind date.

I am not going to say that cliche thing of if you love someone you need to show them you love them everyday because I simply get annoyed by people who come out with things like that...Instead that platonic dinner date taught me to celebrate love on Valentine's Day even if you are single!

Buy your mum, dad, sibling or best friend a small gift and tell them how much you love them or appreciate them. When I was little my mum used to always make me a valentine card and buy me a cute piece of stationary. Now I buy my little boy  heart shaped sweets and get him to make his grandparents a 'I love you' card. Whatever Ian does for me comes as a surprise because at times he goes all out and other times he forgets and on reflection I'm ok with that. Yes I may do something special for my little boy,  my parents or friends but I never forget to also treat myself. My mum once told me in order to love others you must love yourself first and as I have gotten older I have come to realise the truth in my mum's wise words. So whether you are single or not, think about spoiling someone around you that you truly love and don't forget about spoiling yourself.

Shopping List
1. Lindt Chocolates From Sainsbury's
2. Tasty Bone Duck flavour from TK MAXX
3. Sugar cubes from Harrods
4. Glitter Cup from Primark
5. Rose and Skull Ring from Kat and Bee
6. Krispy Kreme Love Bug from Krispy Kreme
7. Mr Brainbox Heart plate from Selfridges
8. Pink Rose from Marks and Spencer.

Happy Valentine's day!

Love,

Minoushe xx

Can swishing some oil in your mouth whiten your teeth? The art of 'Oil Pulling'

So last week I had a nasty cold and I was feeling sorry for myself. My skin was dry, my lips were cracked, my nose was a tap and I was coughing so much that I was developing a six pack (I wish)...I am an absolute drama queen when I get ill and I just resented having to spend time in bed. 
While in bed I had been researching something called "oil pulling" I’d heard about it before from my wise mother but at the time I sort of thought 'Yeah O.K.’ But now with my eating habits starting to take a toll on my teeth, I thought I better give it a go.

What is Oil Pulling?
It's basically putting a tablespoon of oil in your mouth on an empty stomach and swishing it around your mouth for 10 - 20 minutes. The toxins attach themselves to the oil to get rid of the bacteria in the mouth. After the swishing you MUST spit out the oil otherwise you will be swallowing all the toxins (Yuck)!

What oil should be used? 
Well people can use olive, sesame or vegetable oil etc but the best stuff to use is coconut oil as it does not stain the teeth and has antibacterial qualities. So I decided I was going to stick to using coconut oil.

What are the benefits to oil pulling? 
The claims are somewhat unbelievable! I'm a rather cynical person and I don't really believe things unless I see proof...the claims are:

1. whitens teeth 
2. Reduces tooth cavities and eradicates bad breath 
3.Reduces headaches
4.keeps the skin clear
5. Increases Energy 
6. Detoxes the body 
And it continues!

I have been very lucky to have straight white teeth and I only have one filling. However recently I've noticed my tea and cappuccino drinking habits have slightly stained my teeth and unfortunately I also have an incredibly sweet tooth. So if this oil pulling business means that my teeth are whiter and my trips to the dentists don't involve any drills then I'm going to keep going with it. 

So when is the best time to oil pull? 
First thing in the morning before you eat or drink anything. Note that for those15 minutes you won't be able to talk so it's best to warn everyone about it...this is great for my hubby as it means that I'm silent for the first 15 minutes of the day. Make sure when you are done with the swishing you dispose of it in the bin, not in the sink otherwise you can clog up your drains. Ok so after the swishing is done, rinse out your mouth and brush your teeth and voila!!

A bit of advice 
Swish when you are doing something else there is nothing worse than standing by the clock and thinking...I've done 2 minutes now, only 13 to go. While I have been swishing I have had a shower, made breakfast or made my son's packed lunch. 
If you find that you have over filled your mouth, spit some out, don't suffer or swallow any! 

Coconut oil is a solid so when you put it in your mouth, it will start melting so don't bother trying to melt it before hand.
Initially putting the oil in your mouth will feel really weird but stick with it.
Don't over swish, trust me you will get mouth ache! 15 minutes is a long time!

Where can you get coconut oil from? 
Health stores and some supermarkets stock the oil now. I love the stuff I use it in my cooking for my hair and body I'm a fan! I've included a few links where you can buy it from.

While researching I found this company called "coco white" (link) and they do flavoured coconut oil in sachets for oil pulling. I haven't tried it myself but if you have please let me know what you think. It's obviously far dearer then buying a jar from Holland and Barrett or Tesco but it is portioned out and flavoured.

Results
After the first time, I saw a bit of a difference my teeth felt cleaner and looked a little whiter. 




*Before

 

I have been swishing for about a week now and I think it has made a difference to the appearance of my teeth.  My teeth don’t seem to get that fuzzy yucky film on them and they are definitely whiter. As for the other claims, I really can’t say that I have more energy etc.  What I do like it that I'm not putting any chemicals on my teeth to whiten them and my teeth feel nice and clean even first thing in the morning.

 

After*

Will I continue with it? Yes, definitely, however it is time consuming and I found that some sites recommended oil swishing twice a day. To be honest I will stick to oil swishing every other day.

Let me know what you think and if you have oil swished before.

 

Places to buy coconut oil:

 

Tesco

http://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/?id=256412443&kpid=256412443

 

Holland and Barrett

http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/search?query=coconut+oil&isSearch=true#totalNumRecs=54

 

Amazon

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=coconut%20oil&sprefix=cocon%2Caps

Love, Minoushe xx

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