Honestly Good Smoothie Company

Today's post is a little late as I planned to publish it during Veganuary but I've been struggling with motivation so much recently; however I am excited about today's post as it's something I haven't tried before - smoothie deliveries! Since I purchased my Nutribullet about five years ago, I have been using it constantly and the first couple of years I used it mainly for making smoothies but I have fallen out of the habit. Thankfully The Honestly Good Smoothie Co have a great solution for those, like me, who struggle to think of interesting smoothie ingredient combinations or who prefer the convenience of frozen fruit and pre-prepared ingredients.

*Honestly Good Smoothie Co 

The Honestly Good Smoothie Company very kindly sent me a range of their smoothie selections to try out and I'm impressed! They have a range of box options to choose from all of which are 100% natural and organic. You can choose between the fruity box, veggie box, green box or the variety box, the latter would be great if you haven't tried many smoothies or if you want to sample their range. The delivery options vary from one week, fortnightly or monthly and you can choose the number of smoothies in the box, either five or ten. Additionally, you can choose the delivery day (delivery is free!).

All of the smoothie kits, as well as the glass and straw, came well packaged and protected within sustainable packaging. Their kits also only use seasonal ingredients making them better for the environment. The smoothies arrive frozen with dry ice (which is very fun to dissolve but be careful) and they are all pre-portioned which is ideal for someone like me as I do keep track of the protein, fat and calories I eat each day - it's always very handy to have something I can scan the barcode of instead of weighing each ingredient.

I love the packaging for all of the kits, especially as you can see all of the ingredients and I just love how convenient they are, particularly for a super healthy and quick lunch or breakfast. To use the kits, all you have to do is add them to a blender (I use my Nutribullet and I cannot recommend it enough for everything from soup and sauces to smoothies and dips) then add in the stated amount of liquid and blend. I have been using orange juice for the fruit smoothies and almond milk for the others which works well for me but you can experiment adding different juices and plant milks to your smoothies.

The first smoothie kit I tried was the 'Good Morning Sunshine' combination which contains banana, strawberries, oats, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds and almonds which is the closest combination to the smoothies I would make years ago. I love banana and strawberry smoothies and I liked the addition of the nuts and seeds, although it make the smoothie a little less smooth - it was still one of my favourites though!

My second favourite of the five I was sent has to be 'Cheer Me Up' which contains pineapple, apple, acai berry, cucumber, seeds, oats and dates as well as 'The Almond Tart One' which contains an unusual mix of pear, butternut squash, apple, avocado, prunes, almonds and cinnamon - it's surprisingly good. There are still two smoothies I have tried yet and those include: 'The Cacaonut One' (banana, sweet potato, courgette, blueberry, hazelnut, cacao nibs, pumpkin seeds and salt) and 'The Fitness Fuel One' (banana, apple, cannellini beans, dates, seeds, peanuts and tofu) which again is another very unusual combination. I'll be sure to update today's post when I've tried the last two.

Overall, from the packaging, unusual flavour combinations, convenience, organic ingredients and the option of a very nutritious breakfast or lunch, I cannot recommend The Honestly Good Smoothie Company enough. The kits are very convenient, handy for those who are always busy and ideal for quick and delicious smoothies within a couple of minutes.

Have you tried any of The Honestly Good Smoothie Company kits? 

*gifted

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Valentines Day: Blossoming Gifts

Valentine's Day (or Galentine's day, if you prefer) is just around the corner! I've already published a few posts featuring Valentine's Day and Galentine's day gift ideas including special personalised gifts. Today's post is all about one of the most quintessential gifts for Valentine's Day, flowers. I personally love to receive flowers and not just because they are perfect photography props...

*Blossoming Gifts Valentine's Day Bouquet 

I was very kindly sent a beautiful bouquet from the lovely people over at Blossoming Gifts. I've been lucky enough to receive lots of lovely bouquets to review on my blog over the past few years but there's something extra special about receiving a simple bouquet of red roses - they have to be the symbol of Valentine's Day! They came well packaged and presented with no damage, thankfully.

Roses are such beautiful flowers and I think red roses are ideal for Valentine's or Galentine's Day! Even though red roses are my favourite kind of roses to buy and receive, there are so many other options to choose from too including a very unusual bouquet of black roses (£34.99 - sale), colourful rainbow roses (£34.99 - sale) and classic white roses (£29.99), among many others.

There are so many bouquets to choose from as well as the option to purchase a single red rose (£14.99 - sale) and even a 'forever' rose (£29.99) which is supposed to last for one year - I have tried forever roses before and I think they're amazing! All of the rose options would make ideal romantic Valentine's Day gifts this year.

If you're looking for a bouquet for Galentine's Day, then you'll be spoilt for choice on the Blossoming Gifts website as there are plenty to choose from. My favourites have to include the: letterbox champagne, sky and the scented lavender bouquets, the latter especially as we all know by now how much I adore lavender!

They also offer a range of gifts too that you can gift with a bouquet such as personalised gifts (including books, home decor and keepsakes), potted plants, gift sets and a selection of gorgeous hampers - they even have a vegan hamper! Check out their site for product information and offers.

Do you celebrate Valentine's or Galentine's Day? What do you think of this bouquet? 

*gifted

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Valentines Day: Personalised Gifts #2

It's coming up to Valentine's Day and also Mother's Day (if you're in the UK) so it is time to start thinking about gift ideas, whether you are going to be celebrating Valentine's Day or Galentine's Day this year and Just Love Gifts have a fantastic selection of personalised gift ideas for all occasions, gift recipients, interests and budgets so you're bound to find something special! If you are looking for more gift ideas and gift guides, check out my previous posts, here.

*Personalised Breakfast In Bed Slate Tray (£29.99 - sale) 

I'm lucky enough to have reviewed a beautiful personalised gift from Just Love Gifts already (their rose gold bracelet) so I was very happy to review another item, especially as it is something I've wanted for a while. I was very kindly sent one of their personalised slate trays which can be personalised with either your initial or the initial of your gift recipient. There are a couple of styles to choose from in terms of the lettering/design but I opted for the 'brackets' design.

I have wanted a cute breakfast tray for a while but I haven't found one that I loved, until I saw this one on the Just Love Gifts website and if you're interested in this one (or the other style available), it is currently on sale at £29.99. The tray features two stainless steel handles, a 30cm by 40cm slate tray and your initial engraved onto the the middle on the tray.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I love giving personalised gifts as they can make a much more thoughtful and special gift, even if the item is more of a practical gift. If you've been following my blog and reading my gift guide posts for a while then you'll know that I love to give practical gifts so combining a practical gift with a special personalised touch - perfect!

I personally love the look of slate, I think it is such a lovely material and in the form of a cute, practical and personalised breakfast in bed tray, I think it is ideal! The personalised element is simple but eye catching and I love the minimal design of the tray so I think it would look great in any room or with any decor. I think the tray would make a lovely Valentine's Day, Galentine's Day or Mother's Day gift this year!

There are so many gift options to choose from on Just Love Gifts, from slate breakfast trays, photograph frames, personalised drinking glasses, monogrammed jewellery and cooking related gifts to gifts for children, personalised greetings cards and so much more. The majority of their products are very well priced and currently most of their Valentine's Day gifts are on sale.

Have you checked out Just Love Gifts? What do you think of this gift idea? 

*gifted

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Herbalife Tri Blend Mix + BoxxFresh

Today's post is a little late as I should have published it during January as it is one of my veganuary posts with Herbalife but I've been so busy and haven't had the time until now. I've been lucky enough to work with Herbalife a couple of times as I've reviewed some of their body care products and their shakes previously which you can read, here, for more information.

*Herbalife Tri Blend Select - Banana Flavour (£45.75)

I was very kindly sent the new Tri Blend shake which is the first clean wellness shake from Herbalife. It is suitable for vegans, it is gluten free and it contains natural ingredients. It contains pea, quinoa and organic flaxseed so it is high in protein and fibre which is essential for every diet. If you don't consume the recommend amount of protein or fibre in any diet or struggle to cook meals that include enough then a protein shake, like the new Tri Blend Select, might be a great addition to your diet as it's easy to make as a shake or add into other meals or snacks such as porridge.

I have both the banana flavour and the coffee caramel flavour (the latter I haven't tried yet). However even though both options sound sweet, they don't contain too much sugar! I've tried other protein shakes in the past and they haven't been sweet enough or they contained lots of sugar to compensate but thankfully these have the right balance between sweetness and less sugar/lower calories.

The traditional way to use protein shakes such as these is to combine the powder with water or milk (I've used almond milk with the other Herbalife shakes I've tried and it works much better than water) but I personally don't absolutely love shakes of any kind so I'm glad that I can use the Tri Blend Select in a few ways. You can use it as a shake, add it to baked goods (such as protein flapjacks - there's a recipe on the Herbalife website if you want to try it), it can be mixed into overnight oats for an easy breakfast or you can simply add it into your porridge.

I've been using the powder solely as an addition to my porridge since I was sent it last month as it's great for not only adding flavour and sweetness but also the added nutritional benefits as well which is something I am always keeping track of. I use the Lifesum app to track my daily calories, fat and protein intake - I've been using it for almost two years now and I cannot recommend it enough, especially if you're looking to lose weight or to make sure that you are eating enough protein.

I would definitely recommend trying a protein powder within porridge as it's such an easy way to add in extra nutrients, protein and fibre - as much as I love to cook, I'm not the best at creating healthy breakfasts so this porridge combination is ideal for me. I like the banana flavour although it isn't my favourite out of the Herbalife options I've tried so far and I think the coffee caramel flavour will be perfect.

Along with the Herbalife Tri Blend Select in the banana and coffee caramel flavours, I was also very kindly sent a huge box full of fresh fruit and veggies from Boxxfresh which is a produce delivery service in which you can select the size of box you receive as well as the fresh produce. I have tried many subscription boxes but never one like this and I think it is a great idea, especially for those who are busy or find it more convenient to have groceries delivered, as I do. I have the large box at £25 but there are others ranging from £15 to £30 per box; also you can add extras to your delivery after you've selected all of the fresh items. I found ordering a box very easy, I liked the choices, everything was well packed and I cannot recommend it enough.

Have you tried anything from Herbalife? Have you tried Boxxfresh? 

*Gifted

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*Skin Treatments To Consider In Your 20's

Image from Buzzfeed
*This is a paid partnership

Skincare treatments and procedures, particularly non-invasive options, are becoming increasingly popular with younger age groups while anti-ageing procedures such as botox are predominantly used by individuals over forty. There are so many cosmetic procedures and skincare treatments to choose from, for a variety of age groups and skin concerns but there are many more now that are ideal for those approaching their thirties, like me (yikes!).

Micro-Needling 

The first option is derma rolling or micro-needling, which has become more popular with the release of at-home tools appearing last year, although I think I'd much rather have a professional welding the derma roller than myself! Micro-needling, as the name would suggest, involves microsurgical needles that cause micro-injuries within the skin to encourage the skins natural abilities to repair itself, resulting in new collagen production, an increase in the elasticity of the skin and potentially an improvement to the appearance of scars such as acne scarring. If you suffer from acne scarring from your teen years, I think micro-needling might be an option to consider.

Skin Hydration Treatments 

Anti-ageing is something I'm starting to consider in my late twenties but I don't think that any drastic or invasive treatments are needed at this age. However, skin hydration levels, which can affect the appearance of very fine lines is something I do need to address. I've had eczema for over ten years until the start of 2019, so hydration was as an aspect of my skincare that I always needed to consider as eczema makes the skin look and feel as though it has never encountered water or moisturiser! Thankfully I haven't had any eczema on my face since February 2019 but dryness is still a slight issue for me, especially as we are still in the depths of winter. I personally didn't know that skin hydration treatments such as the new Juvéderm Volite treatment existed! The treatment involves the injection of a hyaluronic acid-based gel within various areas of the skin which hydrates, firms and supports the skin while also stimulating collagen production.

Sun Protection 

Last but not least is something we all need to consider, regardless of age, sun protection. I'm one of those people who always forgets to use SPF, even on holiday, which is awful and it's something I need to be more mindful of. Heliocare is an Aesthetic Award winning UV protection product which was voted as the number one sunscreen by medical aesthetic practitioners and the medical aesthetic industry. Sun damage can influence the appearance of the skin and it can accelerate the skin ageing process so it's an important factor to consider in your twenties in order to protect your skin for the future.

Have you tried any of these skin treatments or procedures? Would you consider any in the future?

*This is a paid partnership/AD

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Reading Tips

I'm often asked on my monthly reading wrap-up posts, how I read so much so I thought I'd dedicate today's post to my reading tips, especially as some of you may have new year goals to read more books. Before January 2017, I barely read anything other than assigned reading for university and journal articles but in January 2017, I set a goal for the first time ever to read a set number of books in that year. I set the goal at 30 but more than doubled my goal at the end of the year and I haven't looked back since!

I read for escapism and because it helps my anxiety so much and I think that's one of the reasons I manage to read so much each month - because it helps my mental health. Reading has become an enjoyable past time that has replaced watching TV or movies (for the most part) now and I would rather read a book than mindlessly watch TV or scroll through my phone.

Take Books On The Go 

My first tip is to always have a book with you, whether it's a physical book, audiobook via a subscription service such as BookBeat or as a Ebook on your phone, iPad or kindle. I don't leave the house without taking a book with me as I tend to read whenever I have a spare moment, whether I'm waiting in the car, reading as a passenger or if I'm waiting for an appointment. I would much rather spend my time reading than scrolling through my phone, if I can.

DNF Books 

This is a relatively new tip I've started to do and it's to stop reading books I'm not enjoying. Before the end of last year, I would force myself to read books I'm not really enjoying because I don't like giving up on a book, especially if I've paid for it but I don't want to spend my time reading a book I don't like when I could be reading another book I might enjoy much more which in turns means I'll probably read it quicker - making time for more books afterwards.

Audiobooks & Ebooks

Back in 2018, I was very kindly gifted an audiobook subscription from Bookbeat and I fell in love with audiobooks. Before then I hadn't ever listened to an audiobook but they are fantastic options for those who commute to work, at the gym, for long journeys or as you complete household chores. I always see comments on my blog or generally on social media about individuals not having enough time to read and if that's the case then give audiobooks a go as you can listen to them as you do other tasks.

I also find that when I read ebooks, I tend to go through them quicker than physical books. I think that's because it's easier to read ebooks in bed and on the go as they are all on one device. I use my iPad mini to read via the Kindle app and I cannot recommend it enough as you can have so many books in one place. Also if you don't know what genre of books you like, get a trial of Kindle Unlimited as then you can try as many ebooks in their library as you want.

Time Management 

Lastly, this point also relates to those comments about not having enough time to read and as with most things, it all comes down to time management. I personally cut down on the amount of TV I watch so that I could use that time to read. I also don't spend nearly as much time scrolling through my phone because reading is always another option. I think that if you want to read a certain number of books in 2020 or if there are a few specific titles you want to read, then figure out how you can manage your time differently to make room for reading such as less time on your phone or watching TV.

Are you following me on GoodReads? Do you have any reading tips? 

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