National Cereal Day with Nutribix

Today is National Cereal Day and I have a confession to make, I don't really like cereal. Well that's not exactly true, I do but you see I don't drink milk so therefore any cereal I have is dry. Yes I'm sure you're all scrunching up your nose at this right now.

Usually I rely on cereal bars for my breakfast fix but as I embark once again on a Slimming World journey this week I'd like to try and find a better alternative, enter Nutribix*. Nutribix has to versions, Gold and Grains and a gluten free version that launched last year found on the aisles of your regular supermarket.

Despite my image above and my subsequent announcement regarding my cereal preferences I have been using my supply of Nutribix is another manner. Instead I have used them as the main ingredient to making the famous Slimming World Weetabix Muffins. I substituted Weetabix with Nutribix and voila I was good to go.

As you only need two Nutribix to one Muller Lite Yoghurt (the other main ingredient) which will make four muffins. Your yoghurt flavours the muffins and you can add in any other fruits you might like to pack a punch. It's so quick and easy to do that every couple of days I can make up a batch ready to eat on the train with my morning coffee. Perfect.

I can't promise my Slimming World journey will be easy nor consistent but Nutribix and these muffins will be.

What's your favourite cereal?

*this post contains press samples

Beauty Picks for Mother's Day

Tomorrow is Mother's Day in the UK and I'm sure we're all looking forward to spoiling our mum's with a few gifts. As is customary in blogging circles here's a rundown of one or two of my suggestions you might want to pick up for your mum if you're planning on shopping today.

Years ago I myself would have turned up my nose a little at hand or foot creams as gifts, now, hand cream especially is one of my favourite things to receive. I could literally put together a post of my favourite offerings across all budgets but Crabtree and Evelyn and Soap & Glory are good places to start.

These handy size tubes from Crabtree and Evelyn are only £5 and available in your local Waitrose and can be added to a box of chocolates or bouquet of flowers for an extra touch. Currently I'm favouring the Pomegranate scent but there are plenty to choice from.

Heading to Boots there is of course a wealth of gifts for you to choose from. Does your mum like sweet scents and fun packaging then Soap and Glory have you covered across the board. You already know my bathroom is stocked up their range of body scrubs but in my bedside draw you'll find a tube of Heel Genius which I pop on my feet at bedtime.

Another brand I'm a huge fan of is Roger and Gallet, they too have some handy sized hand creams, and try anything from the Fleur de Figuier range - its an amazing scent and included in the new body balms I spoke on in a post earlier this week. I've tried shower gels and body lotions and not one product has let me down yet. Track the range down in your favourite Marks and Spencer beauty hall.

My mum enjoys make up and is a fan of using her hands for applying make up but she has been musing lately about getting herself 'some nice brushes'. Perhaps I could help her our but gifting her the Zoeva Rose Gold Brush Set*. I've recently had a chance to try one or two brushes from the Zoeva range and found them to be exceptional despite their lower price tag. They are comparable to Real Techniques both in price and quality and dare I say look a little more attractive sitting on the dressing table.

As you know I'm not a fan of rose scented products but many are. There have been one or two rose scents that I have enjoyed this year, none more surprising than Liz Earle Botanical Essence No 20*. This was created to celebrated Liz Earle's 20th anniversary and I was expecting to think 'very nice but not for me'. Instead I was met with a sophisticated scent of rose that didn't make me wrinkle my nose up.

Another rose product I've found myself enjoying recently is Pixi Beauty Rose Oil Blend*. One of the more affordable serum's around with pleasing packaging that is very 'instagram worthy'. The Rose Oil Blend will help provide all those things mature skins want; luminosity, rejuvenation and radiance. Along with the scent of rose geranium oils there's sweet almond, jojoba and others which make this something I'm enjoying. If your worries are dehydrated, dull or sagging skin then this is the moisture you or your mum might need.

MonuSpa Rosewood Reviving Mist* has been a saviour for me this week whilst being unwell this week. With a changing temperature and moving from the cold outside to stuffy and warm a refreshing mist has been just the thing to keep me going through the day. It has a zesty fragrance which provides the perfect pick me up and would be great for any mum's that enjoy their sports of travel a lot and like to have a hit of moisture when needed.

Another skincare treat for mums who like their products to be multi-tasking is Weleda Almond Oil*. Whether you want to use this as a facial treatment for sensitive skin, eye make up remover or on dry cuticles you can use this nourishing treatment as you see fit. I have mine sitting in my bedside table so that I can reach for it when I need it.

My final shout out goes to Champneys who you may remember recently went under a huge rebranding.  Maybe you want to plan a spa trip for you and your mum or just simply allow her to have the experience at home now you can pick from any of their easily identified ranges such as Heavenly Days or Summer Dreams. My top pick for any new mums is Champney's Heavenly Days Sleep Pillow Mist* with lavender, geranium and chamomile create a soothing aroma that you simply spritz over bed linen and allow yourself to settle for a perfect nights sleep.

Are you giving your mum any beauty products tomorrow?

*this post contains press samples

Partylite | Spring has Sprung

Spring has sprung over at Partylite and I was sent some items from the to share with you today and unlike my previous posts where I've focussed on the fabulous candles themselves today I wanted to share some of the different products available.

The beautiful pair of Butterfly Tea Light Holders* are pricey at £28.95 but may I say they are the most delicate and precious porcelain tea light holders I've ever seen. I was scared I'd break them removing them from the packaging. Despite the decorative detail being such fine porcelain means the tealights give a gentle light that is more fitting for the lighter evenings we're experiencing. I've been burning with scented tealights in Lemongrass which may I say fill my room far more than you would expect such a small candle to do.

This pair of tea light holders manage to balance looking decorative without interfering with any decor and have even made me change my opinion on butterflies!

Next is the product I would have suspected to not have been a fan of until recently as I've discovered reed diffusers. I'd never quite understood their purpose but after seeing a few popping up on blogs I decided to treat myself to a cheap one from Tesco during a supermarket shop and was pleasantly surprised. As such when I saw Partylite SmartScents* which is obviously their version of reed diffusers I was keen to explore.

Basically if you're concerned about candle flames or like me tend to find you use candles less in the Summer then this is the way to fragrance your home all day every day. Every stick is made of rolled paper and scented with an oil, in my case with Peony. I was a little enthusiastic and piled all the SmartScents into my cute holder but the correct practice is to start with 1 -2 sticks and add more as you days and week goes along.

If you're that way inclined you can mix and match scents but I was happy with the whiff of peonies I would get as I walked by and again it always surprises me that something so simple can scent a room so strongly. Adopting a critical eye the orange sticks are slightly intrusive especially if they don't match a colour scheme but the beauty of this sort of set up is that you can easily hide in a corner although I've become quite accustomed to seeing mine sitting on my coffee table.

Are you ready to switch up your scents for Spring?

*this post contains press samples

New In | Roger & Gallet Precious Restoring Rose Body Balm

As Mother's Day approaches and there's a tendency to give all posts a 'this would make a perfect gift' angle I'm reluctant to do so with the latest release from Roger & Gallet. Whilst it's a brand I've grown to love and featured numerous times on Florence and Mary I still worry that it's maybe thought of as a brand for the old and we all know that not all mums are 'old'.

Before I dig myself further into a hole let me be clear Roger & Gallet is a brand for everyone. Their packaging may not be as modern as other offerings and retains a more traditional approach but it's certainly got the more sophisticated edge and gifting the newly released body balms from Roger & Gallett would please anyone whatever their age.

I was sent the Precious Restoring Body Balm in Rose* but you also have Fleur De Figuier and Fleur d'Osmanthus to choose from. Each balm comes in a tin housing 200ml of product priced at £17 and are made up of Shea Butter, Glycerine and Hyaluronic Acid, more often found in our skincare rather than body products.

Spring can be a confusing time for choosing our products, skin doesn't need the heavier duty products of Winter but it's not ready to lighten up completely for Summer. The  body balm from Roger & Gallet meets Spring needs both in scent and formula. Thicker than your regular lotion but lighter than a balm it's a product I've been enjoying slathering on.

There are no surprises with this product, your skin is left smooth and evenly scented and whilst I'm not the biggest fan of rose scents this is not overpowering enough to make it unpleasant to me. I'm not the biggest fan of tins or tubs and having scoop to apply but in this instance I'm prepared to make an exception.

You can read more about Roger & Gallet here.

*this post contains press samples

Syn Free | Organii Liquorice Shower Gel

My mum is on Slimming World so as Mother's Day approaches the worst thing I could do is buy her chocolate, cake or a bag of her favourite Bassetts Liquorice Allsorts. Thankfully Organii have me covered with an alternative gift idea.

Organii is a range of certified organic products containing 100% natural ingredients, all vegan and cruelty free which can be found in the likes of Whole Foods. I was sent Organii Liquorice Shower Gel* to try and if mum's lucky she may find the leftovers.

Liquorice isn't a familiar scent in beauty products that I know of and whilst I'm not it's biggest fan I did enjoy it from a nostalgic view, you could easily think you've found yourself at the sweet counter. And it's not all about the scent, Liquorice also has a calming and healing effect on skin so you're covering all bases.

I find the packaging of Organii products to be aesthetically pleasing and where the liquorice scent is suitable for both sexes, so to is the simple packaging. There are a range of scents available the Peach and Strawberry being too I'm keen to sample next. And if you're not looking for any more shower gel why not try one of their liquid soaps.

Of course if you're not worried about the calories a fun liquorice gift basket would be made complete with Organii.

Are you a liquorice fan?

*this post contains press samples