RAW living with A Beautiful World

‘Why raw? Why take a week out of your life to go RAW?’  I honestly don’t mind if you ask.  You see, I’m curious.  Curious enough to allow A Beautiful World to supply me with divine smelling raw beauty products to smother myself in.  And curious enough to allow Raw Fairies to feed me.

The promises are HUGE: 

glow (even mid winter)

energy (we never have enough)

younger-looking skin (everyone’s wish)

better tasting food (let’s see…)

an improved sex life (no comment)

 The theory behind raw is that the food ingredients (in beauty products and diet alike) haven’t been heated above a certain temperature, as it’s the cooking which destroys the powerful multi-beneficial enzymes.

A Beautiful World is the site which where ALL the raw superfoods live… in jars. Concentrated sources of bio-identical nutrients, minerals, enzymes and antioxidants – packaged exclusively for the UK by The Body Deli as well as Bee Yummy – for us to exfoliate, moisturize, refresh, illuminate and revamp our bodies.

So, over the next 5 days, I’m fully embracing all things raw.  I’ll snap as I go and each day update this blog post with whichever raw potion or juice has collided with my semi-burnt-out body.

Feel free to join in too.  You can buy all the creams and potions here and chat to the fairies here.

Day One: Blueberry Fusion Micro-Scrub / The Body Deli £28

P1020135The fresh blueberries feed the skin while the natural fruit acids (whizzed up with natural earth particles) exfoliate.  Just be careful not to lick…

IMG_2083My second (of 6) juice of the day was very green (celery, cucumber, fennel, courgette, kale, romaine lettuce, broccoli, spinach, parsley, alfalfa sprouts, lime). I now feel like a green-eyed monster.

Day Two: Moroccan Mint Cream / The Body Deli £24

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Ok so I must admit, I’m less full of beans today.  Infact, I feel exhausted.  It’s 8pm and I’ve already had my juices and my bath (not together) and have lathered myself in this luxurious body cream. I can almost feel it restoring my essential fatty acids and natural oils.  And the smell of fresh mint is making me feel MUCH happier and a little less hungry.

2014-02-04 12.19.36-3The best bit about Raw Fairies is the salad at lunchtime.  Today’s Rainbow Salad with sprouted wild rice and citrus dressing was SO delicious.

Day Three:  Green Detox Scrub /The Body Deli £28

IMG_2171A scrub is something I usually can’t be bothered to do.  Let’s face it – it’s messy, gritty and needs to be applied out of the shower.   But this is worth EVERY grain currently scattered all over on my bathroom floor.  I’m not sure why I’m nauseatingly happy today… but I think this might be why.  Green happiness in a pot.

IMG_2178This is my 5pm snack.  Cashew milk.  Isn’t it a pretty colour?  Bet you’re jealous…

Day Four:  Radiance Enzyme Superfood Peel £38

2013-06-12 11.19.12Never a dull moment in this blogging world but many a dull face, I’d say.  And no, I’m not talking about the readers… Our faces are dull because our skin is tired.  So… I’ve just covered my face in Manuka honey… mixed with acerola berry and a load of probiotics.    This is super super superfood skin treatment which could transform your home into a (temporary) spa and give your skin an illuminated wake-up call.

2013-06-12 11.36.48-1At least I didn’t have to assemble this greenie.  On Day 4 that might touch a RAW nerve…

Day Five:  Bee Yummy Skin Food £32

2013-06-12 11.29.27Excuse me but there’s a bee in my Bee Yummy Skin Food…  Listen up people, this is perhaps the BEST kept secret of the natural skincare world.  In short, it’s a super-powered hydrating moisturiser.  The long story is that it is made of TOTALLY raw ingredients – it’s so pure you could eat it!  (stay tuned for a further post about this wonder cream and its celebrity cult following).

My RAW week was written in partnership with A Beautiful World.  A huge thanks also to Raw Fairies for my endless supply of organic juices and salads.  I feel great – really great – and I have been asked twice now if I’ve had botox!  My skin is glowing…

Ps The Food Police (aka the Smalls) have made me promise that I will mention that a) they liked the juices and b) I sneaked a little yoghurt/blueberries/scrambled egg in at breakfast when I felt too hungry to drive them to school….. other than that – I managed the mission for 5 days of raw!

 

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Neom LOVE candle

Generally, I say no to candles.  I should clarify: I say no to reviewing candles when approached by the PRs.  (I NEVER say no to receiving a candle as they are one of the best gifts ever and I certainly don’t have any fear of fire).

The reason I decline is based on the simple fact that I can’t sit here writing about how a candle smells.  Nor how it burns or how relaxed/sick I felt as I inhaled the latest in wax aromatherapy.  No I can’t.  I feel it would be an awful waste of life.

the Limited Edition Neom LOVE candle

the Limited Edition Neom LOVE candle

However… this time I said yes.

Neom and its luxury organic burners really are the best of the flamers. Made only using vegetable and ultra pure essential oils (none of those synthetic fragrances in these beauties), their candles are causing quite a stir in, what is, a pretty saturated market.

the packaging makes it EVEN more special as a gift

the packaging makes it EVEN more special as a gift

So, while the beauty and fashion editors are raving about this home/beauty/ lifestyle brand, I consented to gratefully receive their new Limited Edition LOVE candle.  I justified my decision by pre-empting  that we could do with a little extra lurve this month.  Scented with tuberose, mimosa & jasmine, the lit candle is floral and sweet but – balanced out by the spice – it really is a very good smell.

It has 3 wicks and burns for 50 hours.  And so it should for £42.

What a great way to start our love month.  Light the candle and smoooooch a little.

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Restaurant review: Martin Morales & his Andean Andina

Martin Morales at Andina

Martin Morales at Andina

Martin Morales.  He… is THE man.  And – from the little I know of him – I know that he’ll blush reading these words.  If you’re trying to place him, let me help.  The UK’s Peruvian (ambassador) who launched Ceviche in Soho a couple of years ago.  The former DJ and founding member of iTunes Europe.  The man I went to hear speak at Innocent Inspires.  But mostly importantly, the most humble (yet talented) man in London’s restaurant world.

Bearing all this mind, imagine how excited I am to find him serving at the tables in Andina, his new ‘picanteria’, a traditional Peruvian community restaurant, last Tuesday evening.  The 80-seater was packed full of those trendy Shoreditch types and the atmosphere is cool, yet a warm cool.

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I was meeting one of my besties.  She and I worked together – for a gadget shop – in the 1990s.  Gadgets were the business back then and with her as the retailer’s buyer and me as their PR, we rocked.  Or, at least, we reckoned we did.  Anyway, almost 20 years later and I STILL clutch my sides when she gets going.

Actually it had been her suggestion that we should meet at Andina.  Firstly, she lives East.  Secondly, her Him (a King in the music world) knows Martin well.  And thirdly, we needed a New Year drink before January was out.

pisco sours at Andina, Shoreditch

pisco sours at Andina, Shoreditch

So we ordered pisco sours (of course) while we perused the menu.

Siwichi - fresh sea bass ceviche in amarillo chilli tiger's milk, sweet potato, avocado and red onion £8

Siwichi – fresh sea bass ceviche in amarillo chilli tiger’s milk, sweet potato, avocado and red onion £8

2 from the ceviche section to share as starters:  Sato (trout in rocoto pepper tiger’s milk) and Siwichi (chunky seabass in Amarillo chilli tiger’s milk).

And then she poked fun at me when I ordered the quinoa burger – but I shouldn’t reckon she’ll mince those words again.  It was a WINNER.

quinoa burger with chips and amarillo chilli mayo £9

quinoa burger with chips and amarillo chilli mayo £9

Before dessert, the main man was back to show us around his joint.  His passion and involvement in the décor at Andina is a big give-away.  It’s subtly Andean so that the theme doesn’t feel over powering at all.  I loved the open kitchen and would request (next time) to sit at the bar and watch the assembly of super delicious super foods (so much of Andean food is really good for you).

our dessert: quinoa chocolate brownie £5 & mousse de lucuma £5

our dessert: quinoa chocolate brownie £5 & mousse de lucuma £5

a sneak view of Martin's Music Room at Andina

a sneak view of Martin’s Music Room at Andina

 

However it’s the Music Room – a 14-seated private dining area – that is Martin’s icing.  His collection of 7-inch Peruvian singles from the 60s/70s together with his super-cool in-house record label, Tiger’s Milk Records line the walls.  So while you’re reading this review, I’m busy working out who would be my 13 guests for a private dinner right here, sometime soon.  Well, actually, I’m only looking for 12 as Martin would be amongst us.

Andina 1 Redchurch Street E2 020 77392446

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SodaStream: RETRO fizz with a conscience.

One of the other reviews I tasked the family with last weekend was the SodaStream Source.  After years of not clapping eyes on this fizz machine, it seems to be everywhere.

our rather handsome bit of fizz, SodaStream Source

our rather handsome bit of fizz, SodaStream Source

Scarlett Johansson is busy telling the world (as the brand ambassador) how wonderfully green the reusable bottle is, last Sunday’s new ski Jump programme was bumpered with the product and then next weekend’s Superbowl will showcase the 70s kitchen icon in full force.

Scarlett gets ready to film the Soda Stream ad for the Superbowl this Sunday pm

Scarlett gets ready to film the Soda Stream ad for the Superbowl this Sunday pm

I explained to the UK PRs that I’m not a big fizzy drinker.  Nor do I like the Smalls to drink anything sugary.  (a 7UP on holiday is a HUGE treat).  But I do adore sparking water and – given half the chance – can finish a bottle of San Pellegrino or Highland Spring in no time at all.

reusable bottles

reusable bottles

And I do feel bad about all that plastic, let alone expense.

So I agreed that we could gratefully accept a Soda Stream into our home.  I had NO idea the excitement (read pestering) that would kick off in such an extreme way.

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It’s now the Smalls’ favourite kitchen appliance.  The sandwich toaster (another throw back) is virtually being ignored.

Even He got quite sparkly about the whole thing, reminiscing where and how long ago he had first seen a SodaStream.  I never had one growing up.  But then we were also the last in the class to get an answerphone.  Lord and Lady Y never wanted to know who had called.

SodaStream premieres its first ad featuring Johansson during Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday night (2nd Feb).

SodaStream help consumers to reduce at least 65% of their carbon footprint (certified by the Carbon Trust) every time they make their own fizzy drink, instead of buying one.

 

 

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