3 Ways with British Lion Eggs - Cholesterol in eggs.

I love a good breakfast despite not always having time for it, so on the weekends I always make sure I get a satisfying breakfast to really 'break the fast'. Eggs are a staple in my breakfasts but they're great served with any meal at any time of the day,

One element of a good meal is having a good portion of protein and using British Lion Eggs is a great way to pack around 6 grams of high quality protein into your breakfast. Eggs are one of the most versatile foods around, think of all the ways you can cook one and all the recipes that include them!

 One thing I hear often is that 'eggs have a lot of cholesterol' and therefore 'eggs are bad for you'. British Lion Eggs have set out to debunk these myths and over on their website you can find out everything you need to know about cholesterol. They state that "current evidence suggests that dietary cholesterol does not increase the risk of heart disease in most healthy people." and "most people can eat eggs without adversely affecting their blood cholesterol levels, provided that they are eaten as part of a healthy diet that is relatively low in saturated fat." 

This is great news for us egg lovers and essentially if you're eating them alongside a healthy diet then there is no need to restrict them. I've put together a few of my favourite ways to eat eggs.

Scrambled Eggs

First up is breakfast, there are 1001 ways you can eat eggs for breakfast. Well perhaps not that many but there are a few. I love my eggs scrambled, poached, fried, dippy, boiled and any other way you can thing of. Scrambled eggs are really easy to do. I pop mine in a bowl, mix in a splash of milk, season with salt and pepper and cook in the microwave whilst stopping and stirring them every 30 seconds until they appear scrambled.

These are great served with your breakfast be it a full English, a breakfast bap, or simply on toast. Delicious, filling and balanced when served with mushrooms and tomatoes. I especially love having eggs before or after a workout. Eggs are a great source of amino acids and vitamins A, E and K and B12 which provides you with energy so great before a workout or to set you up for the day.

Egg Mayo Sandwiches

I also love boiled eggs. These are great in salads or sandwiches and I love making egg mayo salad sandwiches. For my eggs, I boiled them using my super funky electronic egg boiler*  until they were fully boiled. I then mashed these with a fork when they had cooled off and added a small amount of light mayonnaise. Pop your mixture in a roll or some bread with some salad (or cress tastes great too!) and you have a great lunchtime treat.

Egg and Chips

To add eggs to your evening meal why not try them fried in a low calorie spray for a healthier alternative. I served mine with home cooked chips. To make the chips simply peel a potato, chop into chunks and parboil for 5 minutes. Drain the potatoes, dry them on a tea towel and place on a baking tray. Spray with low calorie spray and bake at 180 degrees in the oven for about half an hour. The perfect meal to serve with beans, cooked in a healthier way that everyone in the family should love.

 Let me know how you eat yours!

*The Electronic Egg Boiler was provided free of charge in exchange for this post in collaboration with British Lion Eggs. All opinions are my own. For more information, please see my disclaimer. 

April 2015 Glossybox

Another Glossybox down. I actually really love this months 'The Iconic Edit' box and the theme and I can really see how all of the products tie in together. Well done Glossybox! There were four designs to collect this month, I got the blue one but they're all lovely I think!

Lord & Berry Lipstick Pencil in Kiss - Full Size £10
This was the first product I saw and is described as the 'perfect Marilyn red'. I've never owned a pencil style lipstick and I really like the concept, you can line your lips and fill them in all at once! This is such a lovely vibrant colour, I can imagine wearing this in the summer. I have been lightly dabbing this onto my lips and blending it out so its a bit lighter then adding gloss on top and I've been loving the colour. This is pretty long lasting too and doesn't dry out the lips as the pencil is creamy and soft.

Astral Original Face and Body Moisturiser - Full Size £3.89
I opened this up and saw the bright white creamy formula. It smells like a nicer version of Sudocrem, but isn't as thick. Apparently this has been a firm favourite with Hollywood Stars since the 1950's. This can also be used to remove makeup. I have smeared this on my face and then wiped off with cotton pads and it does seem to get everything off  and I do love a multi-purpose cream. I'm not sure I would repurchase this but I definitely enjoyed using it for a change to my usual lotion.

Pop Beauty Kajal Eyeliner Pen - Full Size £6.50
This pencil is nice and great for creating the iconic cat eye look. One end has a smudger for a smokey eye look. This transfers on the waterline as a sooty grey colour but is buildable to create a darker look. The pencil is soft and glides on nicely without dragging the skin. I can't personally use pencils on my upper lash line as I always seem to make a mess but for a smokey eye this works really well.

Color Club Barely There Nail Polish - Full Size £4.10
I love nude nails, especially as I'm not really supposed to wear nail varnish in my job so a nude nail is virtually undetectable but still makes me feel like I've put the effort in. It's also a colour which compliments any skin tone. I put 2 coats of this on and a topcoat and the colour lasted quite well which was nice.

IDC Body Lotion - Full Size £3.59
This lavender body lotion is actually really nice and I am glad I received this one as I'm not the biggest fan of rose scented things. This absorbs into the skin quickly and leaves my skin soft and hydrated and the smell lingers for a few hours after. The scent really reminds me of summer and the smell of my skin afterwards reminds me of being on the beach! I don't know why! I think I would buy this again as it's pretty good value and a lovely product.

 Please let me know what you got in your boxes, I love reading other people's Glossybox reviews!

To sign up to Glossybox, click here.

The perfect office snack - Office Pantry*

(photo c/o Office Pantry)

So, you're sitting in your office. Maybe it’s the morning, you’re on a 1 oclock lunch but it’s only 10:30 and you can feel your stomach starting to ingest itself. It could even be that lunch is over, and you just fancy something sweet to help with the afternoon. Wouldn't it be great if you could have a supply of amazing snacks, within easy reach? If this sounds like you, Office Pantry is something you NEED to check out.

Office Pantry supply snacks to offices across Britain feeding those morning hunger pangs and ridding those 3pm energy slumps. I think this is such a brilliant idea and when I heard about the concept I could imagine it fitting in with my office perfectly. 

Office Pantry offer a selection of snacks like the ones included in this post. They arrive in a handmade wooden pantry complete with menu and price list for your colleagues. The Honesty Model box is something that interests me the most and the concept works around it being just that, an honesty box. You pay for the box full of snacks (prices start at £35) then your colleagues pay as per the included price list. The pantry is delivered directly to your office containing over 35 super snacks so you don’t even have to leave your seat!

One of the snacks I fell in love with was these Hectares Sweet Potato crisps. These were AMAZING, words cannot explain. These are also the sort of snack I can imagine eating in the office and everyone else wanting to try them too, as they’re not something you see in every corner shop. They are also Gluten Free which is great as personally we have a coeliac in our office who can’t always eat the snacks we bring in so it’s awesome that there’s something for everyone.

You decide what and when they deliver. You can vary what you get in your Pantry and if your colleagues don't like a particular product you don't have to have it again - although judging by the samples I received, I can't see anyone complaining!

Another Gluten Free product 9 bars are a great source of energy and a guilt free alternative to a chocolate bar if you want to be a bit healthier. I loved this fruity flavoured mixed seed bar and could easily see myself grabbing one of these after lunch to get me through the afternoon.

My favourite snack I got to sample was this Honeycomb Tiffin from Marshfield Bakery. I imagine these would go so quickly. Technically as this is a fridge bar, I like to have mine out of the fridge so it's nice and cold but I couldn't trust anyone with it. It was literally the most luxurious snack I have ever had at work.

Lastly, another healthy treat. These dried cranberries (from here) really satisfy a sweet tooth and are one of your five a day and less than 100 calories per bag so you can eat these without feeling like you have to do 3 hours in the gym afterwards.

Overall, I am really loving this concept and can really see this taking off in offices everywhere. It's a great idea. You pay for the pantry and box, and get your money back through honesty. Why not pool some money together within your team and try one out?

(photo c/o Office Pantry)

If you want to know more, or find out what other great snacks are on offer, please check Office Pantry out at the below links for more info and get a quote for your office, trust me, you’ll love it. I've also heard rumours they could be offering fresh fruit soon too, so keep your eye out...

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Pinterest
Instagram

*The snack samples were provided free of charge from Office Pantry in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own. For more information, please see my disclaimer. 

Ideal "on the go" snack - Upbeat Protein Drinks*

I was recently offered the chance to try out Upbeat Protein Drinks and thought they looked really good. I'd seen them around as I noticed the vibrant packaging but never thought to pick one up.

With 20g of protein packed into each drink there is certainly enough to give you an energy boost or bring you up from a 3pm slump at work. Each drink is less than 150 calories and made fresh from British Milk. It's a healthy way to get you through the day and keep you feeling 'Upbeat'!

Upbeat Protein drinks come in four different flavours. Mango and passion fruit, Chocolate Orange, Strawberry and Blueberry and Raspberry. The drinks are made with real fruit and have no more than 150 calories, which is brilliant I think for a protein drink. I managed to get hold of the Chocolate Orange and Strawberry flavours in my local Tesco, the others were sold out (probably because they're so good!). To find out where your nearest stockist is, you can check the Upbeat website.

I really love the packaging - It's simple, but fun. Everything you need to know is on the front, and it is clear to understand. The chocolate orange flavour was heavenly. I couldn't believe how nice it tasted for a protein drink. You can tell that this is made with real chocolate as it was so creamy and rich with a lovely tangy orange aftertaste. I will definitely be going to the gym more often if it means earning one of these afterwards!

The strawberry flavour was equally as nice, and I honestly felt energised after drinking it. These are IDEAL if you're in a rush and haven't had time for breakfast, or don't get a chance to eat a full lunch. Upbeat drinks really close that gap giving you that extra willpower you need to continue your day.

The consistency of these drinks is in-between regular milk and a yoghurt. The Upbeat drinks are smooth and easy to drink. 

The best part is you don't even need to be an avid gym go-er to justify drinking one of these. They're the perfect addition to your lunchbox and great when you need that little boost. Upbeat drinks are a great source of calcium and suitable for vegetarians. I am happy to replace my afternoon chocolate and biscuits for one of these drinks and will be even happier knowing it will be guilt free!

Which flavour would you most like to try?

To find out more information, please visit Upbeat's website.

*The Upbeat Protein Drinks were provided free of charge for the purposes of review. All opinions are my own. For more information, please see my disclaimer. 

Your Dreamcatcher - New Clothing Review*

When given the chance to once again work with the brand Your Dreamcatcher, I couldn't turn the opportunity down. As you may have seen here on my previous review, this is a brand that I have great admiration for and loved the product I was sent previously.

Once again I was extremely impressed with the prompt delivery of my item, and the care that has gone into the packaging. I really love the quotes that appear on the business cards, such a nice touch.

I was lucky enough to receive an item from their new Pretty in Pink range, and chose the loose fitting t-shirt priced at just £12. I absolutely love the scooped neckline on this t-shirt and it can be worn off the shoulder or normally. Now that the weather is warming up, I find this t-shirt perfect, and the fact that it isn't clingy means even if it's really hot you won't feel like you're sticking to the clothes.

 

This t-shirt is 100% cotton and feels incredibly soft. Although this t-shirt is made to be loose fitting, it is slightly more fitted at the hips which I love! Just a note on the vest top I previously reviewed around 6 months ago - the logo is still clear, and I have experienced no shrinkage or colour changes so the clothes are definitely reliable. 

From my experience, the clothing is true to size and fits well. The logo is less prominent on the T-shirt compared to the vest and is small but effective. 

 

They also have a lovely jewellery range containing some really unique and dainty pieces which is worth checking out. I absolutely adore the look of the anklets, I feel it would be perfect to wear during festival season don't you agree?

Overall, I am really impressed by this brand once again and I and urge you to check them out. For beautiful, affordable & comfortable clothing, Your Dreamcatcher will not let you down. The website and links can be found below.

You can check out my previous review of Your Dreamcatcher here.

*I was sent this item for the purpose of a review. All opinions are 100% honest and I was not influenced in any way, for more information please read my disclaimer.

Photography by JimmyScribble

Friday Favourites - Beauty & Lifestyle

I haven't done a favourites post since November can you believe! This month I've been loving quite a few things so thought I'd put them all together in a post. I love reading favourite's posts so please link me yours in the comments so I can check them out! These are a right random mix of things but I hope you enjoy reading about what I have been loving!

I'm not usually one for podcasts and things but after reading Laura from Lola & Behold's blog post about this Podcast called 'Serial' I was intrigued. Without giving too much away 'Serial' is a 12 episode series based on the true story of Adnan Syed, sentenced for murdering his ex girlfriend in 1999. After finishing the series I was desperate to find out more and have Googled so many things. If you're into true crime, you should definitely check this out and let me know what you think! I started this in March and finished most of it within a week but have only just caught the final episode this week. I'm starting on 'Criminal' next.

As the nights are getting lighter and the weather is getting warmer, I have been loving salads. It's so much easier to eat healthy when it's warmer - is that just me?  I created a whole post on Summer Salad ideas which you can see here. Maybe it's because summer will soon be here I'm panicking that I haven't got to my target weight yet! Not that it matters as I rarely get a chance to go out in the sun!

Now that I have a car again I've been able to get back in the gym, but can often find my workouts boring. I recently saw Bryony's post about yoga and decided to give some of the beginner videos a try. As a complete newbie, I thought "how hard can it be?" and "it's just posing right?".. Wrong! After just 2 days I literally couldn't move. I could really feel that I had worked the muscles in my core, and I was hooked. Just half an hour is all it takes a day. I've only done 3 of the beginner Yoga With Adriene videos  and I have just invested in a yoga mat and hope to keep it up to help with my flexibility or lack thereof.

Another random favourite of mine this month has been Paperchase postcards. I don't think these are available online but they have a huge selection in store. Some of them are really quirky or just cute. They fit nicely in these Poundland frames I bought too, I just need to find some way of arranging these on a space on one of my walls.

Polaroids. The novelty of being able to have Polaroid prints which come from my iPhone photos for me is really exciting. Is that sad? If you'd like to have £5 worth of prints for free, download the app Polagram and check out my post for a discount code. I've just put another order in so I'll probably arrange these in one of those 'Pinterest Worthy' heart shaped designs.

What are your favourites this month?

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Sweet Potato Burrito Bowl - Easy Cheap Recipe!

I love discovering new recipes and as it's the new year and I am trying to get to my target weight ready for the summer, I've been experimenting with a lot of different recipes lately. This is a recipe I found on Pinterest about 6 months ago and has been one that I like to make all the time. I changed and adapted it a bit to suit what ingredients I had in the cupboard. 

This recipe can of course be adapted to add meat, but I used a sweet potato which makes this really budget friendly and a cheap easy meal. This recipe made enough for 4 small meals, ideal lunch sized portions I would say!

You will need:

1 Sweet Potato.

1 Yellow Pepper.

1 cup of rice.

1 tsp Cumin Seeds

1 tsp Chilli Powder

1 can Chopped Tomatoes

1 can Sweetcorn

1 can Red Kidney Beans

2 cups of Vegetable Stock

Cherry Tomatoes/Salad to serve.

30g Cheddar (optional)

Firstly I peeled and chopped the sweet potato into small chunks and popped these into my saucepan. I added frylight (the 1cal spray!) and 'fried' these chunks for a few minutes to allow them to soften a bit. I used a high heat on the hob throughout this whole cooking process.

I then added the chopped yellow peppers and allowed them to soften slightly too. I also sprayed a bit more frylight into the pan.

After a few minutes I added my cup of rice. I used brown rice as I prefer it but you can use white if you'd rather. I mixed this in and then prepared my other ingredients.

After adding the rice, I added the remainder of the ingredients. First I added the tomatoes, then the beans and sweetcorn, then the spices and gave it a good mix. I then added 1 cup of vegetable stock until everything in my pan was covered.

I kept the other cup of vegetable stock to the side to top up the mix as it started to simmer down.

Whilst the saucepan was bubbling away, I prepared my salad which I served on the side. (Ignore the useby date, I took this photo a while back clearly!)

Slowly the liquid began to reduce, and after about 20 minutes, everything was cooked. If the liquid reduces but the rice is still not cooked, just add more stock and leave to bubble down again.

To finish this off, I added the cheese on top, and let this melt down. This is of course optional.

When everything melted down, I took this off the heat and served with the salad I had prepared earlier. This was really delicious, took hardly any time at all and was very cheap to make. Once cooled, I added the leftovers to a lunchbox in the fridge and ate them over the next 4 days and it still tasted great. It was even nicer cold actually!

Let me know if you find any other recipes that I might like, or let me know if you make this yourself!