Wednesday, 24 June 2015

Aduna - Baobab and Moringa Testers + Two Recipe Trials

 



 

Recently, I discovered Aduna, a company who have been trying to publicise the Baobab and Moringa 'superfood' powers. After requesting a free sample from their website, I received a tester of both powders in the post and decided to try out two new recipes, incorporating them in.
 
Moringa is a green powder with a slightly spinach like taste to it. It claims to aid energy release, blood pressure, bones, teeth, healthy nails, hair and good skin health.
 
It also has...
24 x iron of spinach.
21 x calcium of milk.
Almost 25% protein. 
 
Tuna Guacamole
- 1/3 Can of Tuna
- 1 Handful of sweet corn (Frozen ones, defrosted)
- 1 Handful of Peas (Same as above)
- 1/2 Green Pepper
-1/2 Stalk Celery
-1 Tbs Moringa powder
 
-1/2 Avocado
-Chunk of cucumber
-Tomato (optional)
 
Use a little olive oil to cook  the pepper and celery together and leave to until golden brown. Mix in the tuna and  defrosted sweet corn and peas. Add salt and seasonings of choice.
 
When cooked move place into a bowl and add 1/2 avocado and cucumber chopped into cubes.
 
Skinkle more pepper and feast.
 
**************
 
Baobab is claimed to have many health benefits aswell including the aid of good skin health, immune system, stress, metabolism and energy levels.
 
It also has...
6x vitamin C of oranges.6x potassium of bananas.
2x Calcium of milk.
50% fibre.
 
It has a pear like taste and it all sounds good to me!
 
A Taste of All - Energy Balls
-2 Tbsp. Chia Seeds
-5 Tbsp. desiccated Coconut (2 Tbsp. when blending then 3 Tbsp. or more when creating a suitable consistency to make them into balls)
-1 Tbsp. Peanut Butter (or almond butter)
- 1 Tbsp.  Baobab Powder
-1 Tbsp.  100% Cocoa Powder
-1 Tbsp. Nuts of choice (I used 1/2 Tbsp. hazelnuts and 1/2 Tbsp. almonds)
-1/4 cup Dates (chopped)
-2 Tbsp. Pumpkin Seeds
-1 Whole Banana
-1Tbs Olive Oil (optional)
 
Blend together all the dry ingredients in the blender and make sure all whole nuts have been made blended into roughly powered consistency. This might take a while, so mixing it  with a spoon in between will help!
 
Blend the banana and olive oil into the other ingredients- this helps everything stick together better. Finally, hand mix the rest of the desiccated coconut into the mixture and add more if needed to hold everything together.
 
Make them into balls and place them into the fridge to set. Eat and Enjoy!
 
I love these balls because they are super healthy and you could use more or less of any of these ingredients depending of what you have in your kitchen at the moment.
 
I will be sure to invest in both the Baobab and Moringa superfoods to add to my daily diet. If you tried the recipes, let me know if you liked them!
 
Priyanka xx
 

Sunday, 21 June 2015

Starting the Day With a Fresh Thing or Two in Mind



The morning is the one of the most important times of the day. It's not about rushing to the kitchen for your beloved cup of tea, neither is it truly about eating your breakfast and then running out the door even though these are things that we have to do eventually whether we like it or not.

Since my exams have finally finished and two and a half months of a summer and fun has arrived, I'm going to take this as an opportunity to re-wire my mind so that it can not only be an action packed summer but one in which I can become the best possible version of myself within.

During the past few months I've been trying out a few different things so that I can become less stressed and use the highest possible energy into what really matters in my life.

So without further ado, here is my morning run:

Try not to hit snooze
 I know this one is practically impossible. No in fact it's very, very close to literally being impossible. However, we're all in this together! It's simply mind over matter - you need to get things done, why delay something when it can be done quickly so you can do other (hopefully more exciting) things with your day?

Life hack:
- Set one alarm off 5 minutes before you usually do (mentally allowing yourself to snooze it).
 -Set your alarm off when you wake up (lay in bed letting it ring several times, knowing you have to get up- and now!)
-Set one alarm after 5 minutes (you should not delete this one and is ONLY for over runs in case something happens (like you feel extremes symptoms of laziness or fatigue and you don't get up on time)

Do what you would begin to do and then go down for your tea
I usually wake up, wash my face, put my clothes on and then run down for my cup of green tea with a squeezed slice of lemon (my continued obsession is here for y'all to read and laugh at).

Go back up finish something else and then write in a journal
I like to finish doing my bed and then write in my diary. Diaries don't have to be time consuming or excessive, it can take you no longer than several minutes in the morning, especially when your in a rush.

Go for three subheadings:
- Gratitude (everything in your life at the moment which make it worth living as well simple things like the presence of a healthy family that we always take for granted).
- Refection (what was things you did yesterday that were awesome and the things that could do with improvement).
-Today's goals (what are you going to do today and how its exactly going to happen).

Bullet point all these down on a page and that's it!

BUT writing it down is a complete waste of your time if you're not truthful about what you write and if you are not really going to do any of the things which you say you are going to do- you might as well not have written it down in the first place!

Now you are free to make breakfast, rehydrate your system and get ready to kick you day up  backside
I won't go into the typical 'breakfast is the most important meal of the day' because the fact stands that is really and truly is. I drink a lot of water (1.5 litres this morning- but it was a good day) and then that's me pretty much sorted to put my makeup on, pack my super healthy salad and get out the front door.

Ladies (and gentlemen) sometimes that's exactly how is done.

Priyanka xx








Tuesday, 31 March 2015

Birthday Gurrl!

Okkayyy this post is a little late but that doesn't mean anything...

I have been (and will be) VERY VERY busy studying, but lets not let that ruin this :)

 
I am just so damn grateful for everything.

For every moment that I have lived and all the people who made my day perfect because it really was a really special day *tears of gratitude starts to flow and warming background music plays*

 
 

I mean come on...my friends got me macaroons!

So here's a praise to every incredible moment of my birthday:

- My dearest mother cooked me her INCREDIBLE homemade rice pudding. (The rice pudding in pots from Asda doesn't even classify as rice pudding after you taste my mum's thick, creamy, sweet, makesyoudribblemouthwateringwarm rice pudding that she makes with her secret ingredients)

-My best friend arriving at my house at 7.20 before school so we could have pancakes with banana, Nutella, peanut butter, ICE CREAM  *air punch* and coffee for my birthday breakfast.

- Receiving cake, PROM SHOES, macaroons, a helium balloon, homemade cupcakes,  Reeces Peanut Butter Cups (which I had never tried before) and hugs from the cutest friends in the whole wide world :)

-The constant 'Happy Birthday!' s shouted at me

- Receiving an.........................................................................IPHONE 6 + in Gold from my dad!! (When he gave it to me I almost died. This is the first time my whole family has kept a secret from me - I'm kinda beginning to like surprises...)

-Clothes from my mummy

-A phone call from my Grandma in India saying that if she forgets everything, the one thing she won't ever forget is my birthday. I love her so much.

-Eating out at Chimi Changa then watching INSURGENT with my friends

-and more chocolate cake :D


There are definitely a ton more things that made my day so beautiful but I just can't put into words how spoilt and loved and special and so grateful I am for all the people who love me .

Thank you everyone.

Priyanka xx

Monday, 23 February 2015

In Need of that Daily Motivation?

 
 I need it.
 
Hence the religious pinning of motivational quotes and now this...
 
 
Yes, exam season is rapidly approaching, my mind is buzzing with all sorts of thoughts from where I might end up in September, things I would like to do in the summer, where I might end up in 5 years and in 10 (lets hope somewhere like New York or California).
 
And truthfully, this is to remind myself that I need to step up my game and I most certainly can kick these times in the face in the most badass of ways...oh, how cheeky I can be if I put my mind to it ....


I've always been into decorating my room with magazine pages and photos but I think that the quotes give a great touch and a sense of development because I can get a little agitated when I don't see myself going anywhere.

One thing I am weary of is that if anyone comes into my room they tend to look and read everything on my wall so please note to yourself that you should avoid writing up a bucket list containing things such as 'Go Skinny Dipping with my Best Friend' or anything of a similar nature.

I may or may not be talking from personal experience.

If you give it a go, you could really inspire yourself and shake up the appearance of your room :)

How do you decorate your room? Clean and tidy or downright messy?

Priyanka xx

Wednesday, 18 February 2015

Skin Care Routine

Let's skip to the truth.
 
My skin isn't great.
 
Its okay most of the time but it does scar easily which means that I usually don't completely ditch the makeup if I'm going out - but as they say there is more to a girl's beauty than makeup *does an advert style cheesy thumbs up and wink*
 

1) First thing's first in the morning with Neutrogena 2-in-1 Wash and Mask - this is the first face wash I have ever bought and have loved it ever since my best friend recommended it to me. I  tried different cleansers in between but my heart has taken me back to this one.

2) For when I'm going out, I use Fade Out Day Cream which is supposedly meant to fade out dark pigmentation and lighten the skin. Truthfully, I'm not sure how much I can back the statement because I have been using it for a pretty long time but what's the harm still carrying on, right?

3) Twice a week I use Superdrug's Aloe Vera De-Stressing Mud Mask which I talked about another blog post here.

4) I've practically stolen all my mum's things from clothes, perfume and obviously face things including Boot's Tea Tree and Witch Hazel Exfoliating Face Scrub which does beautiful things to your skin and smells so damn refreshing!

5) E45 - Its a must bedtime because it puts back all the moisture from your skin that you've probably been missing during the day... and it makes a fantastic hand cream for those grubby little hands.

6) Red spot? *Instantly picks up Neutrogena's Rapid Clear Treatment* It cools down the red thing on your face and lets your breath again. AaaahhhhIf that doesn't help, putting some tooth paste on one actually does!

7) I just recently purchased Bio-Oil in attempt to fade out some scarring but I am yet to know if it really does help. Have you tried it? Please let me know if it does help because my hopes are set high.

8) Finally a product most of you haven't heard of because my family usually buys it (in bulk!) when we go abroad because it is a massive life saver! No. Literally when you hurt your knee as a child and have to deal with tormenting pain and blood Boroline dries and clears everything up in a few days. I started to use it on my face where there may be a raw scar or its a little dry at night and it has helped so much to heal things up.

What is your swear-by skin care product? Do you have any recommendations?

Priyanka xx




Sunday, 15 February 2015

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day everybody!
 
How was dinner with your other half?
 
Did you have a girls night out?
 
Romantic walk?
 


 Or a  romantic movie by yourself (The Notebook- which everyone can't believe I still hadn't watched), listening to Taylor Swift's epic new album, feeling a little sorry for yourself, having Chinese noodles and duck (the sauce is always on point though) then being accompanied by your sweet, much loved friends Ben and Jerry to join you for some left over cake?
 
Well that's exactly how my Valentine's Day went.
 
And actually I'm really happy it did because sometimes I can be really good company for myself, especially when I just need some time alone. Really all my family know is that I was revising and that's good enough since they did leave me all alone. Anyway these things are meant to happen because I'm a teenager.
 

What did you get up to? I bet it was so much more exciting than my day in...

Priyanka xx

Sunday, 8 February 2015

Infusion...Talking About Tea...

Well I love a cuppa' tea.
 
Or four,
If you will.
Thank you
 
 I used to hate Green Tea. Many people hate the taste of green tea and I completely understand why but now I drink the stuff religiously. So much that a) my dad is purchasing it in bulk b) I spend half my time waiting for water to boil in the kettle and c) it seems so wrong and I feel horrible if (I ever) go a whole day without it.

I'm not really sure who can sympathise with me at this current moment but I hope I never get deprived of my healthy tea drinking habit - it just calms me and my stomach down and its especially ideal in these bitter cold winter months.


I also like drinking Peppermint tea after I eat dinner and before I go to sleep as it aids digestion which is great because we tend to have dinner a bit late sometimes - even though I hate it- and don't have time to 'walk it off '.

Not a tea drinker?

There are so many types of herbal teas that you might actually begin to like and add to your everyday schedule. I just tried Ginger tea with blends of cinnamon, cloves and liquorice and it seems pretty nice to me... maybe you'll develop your very own Priyanka-styled obsession over it - you never know unless you try.


What's you favourite type of tea? The old but much loved PG tips?

Priyanka xx