Guest Post | The Health Benefits of Acai Berries

This post has been brought to you by http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/

Acai is a type of berry which grows on palm trees which you will find in South and Central America, mainly in areas such as floodplains and swamps. These trees, which are known by the name ‘acai palms’ are able to grow to levels of anywhere between fifteen and thirty metres tall and have leaves whose shape resembles that of feathers and which can grow to around three metres length. The acai palm tree is quick to grow and produces acai berries which are small round and purple, looking a little like small grapes, and which are utilised for a variety of different purposes. Amongst other things acai berries are used to produce drinks, as the juice has a sweet flavour. However they are also utilised in natural health and fitness products available from such major outlets as http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/

The health and nutrition products containing acai which are sold at places such as Holland & Barrett include capsules, tea bags and juice drinks, and the berries contain a number of very useful nutrients. These include amino acids and protein, omega -3, 6 and 9 oils, vitamin A, B1, B2, E and fibre. It is considered by many within the health and nutrition industry to be one of the finest sources of organic nutrients available in this market. When it comes to the health benefits offered by products containing acai, one of the primary things that acai does it to act as an antioxidant – meaning that it helps to kill those molecules in the body that are referred to by the term ‘free radicals’. The build-up of these molecules has been shown scientifically to contribute to the development of a number of illnesses and diseases – including cancer. Although there have been some claims made for acai as an aid to weight loss, there is less evidence to support this than there is of its usefulness as an antioxidant.

Disclosure: this is a guest post for which I received compensation.

Team Weight Watchers... Time to get serious

There's something I've not been telling you. Something that's been on my mind for the last few weeks, but I know if I speak of it here it will make me more accountable... and I've been desperately been trying to ignore it!

But then at the same time I don't want to ignore it...

I'm fed up with being heavier than I was when I was pregnant with Tilly and Jasper.

I'm fed up of having boxes full of clothes that no longer fit, and very few clothes that do... because I keep promising to myself that I will not be this size for much longer, and what's the point in spending the little money we have on clothes that I supposedly won't be wearing for long... yeah right!

I'm fed up eating for the sake of eating... yes, I know I have a reason to be emotionally eating, but I need to use it as a motivation to get slim, fit and healthy again.

... So about 3 or 4 weeks ago I joined Team Weight Watchers - a group of bloggers who are using the online Weight Watchers ProPoints Plan to help them get back to their ideal weights.

It's been a shaky start for me. I have never really dieted in my life and couldn't possibly tell you how many calories were in a Mars Bar... or anything else. For most of my twenties I was a size 8/10, could eat as much or as little as I wanted and not have to worry about a thing. And then the inevitable happens... settling down, slowly starting to fill out (and ignoring it because 'that's what happens'), two babies... at the same time... and bam... I'm not the person who I was 5 years ago!

If I am brutally honest with myself I am a size 16... but my head refuses to believe that I could possibly be any larger than a 12... and I tend to ignore mirrors as much as possible!

So I started the plan at 12 stone 7... lost 3lbs the first week... put 2lbs back on the second week... and lost 0.5lbs the following week... which gives me a total loss in three weeks of 1.5lbs... woo! (That was a sarcastic 'woo' by the way!)

This week I have given myself a good talking to. I am keeping a closer eye on what I'm eating and sticking religiously to my points limit. Fingers crossed... we'll see when I weigh myself on Sunday!

I've downloaded the Weight Watchers Mobile app to help keep me in line, and I've been using the recipe builder (really useful) to work out the ProPoints values of the meals that I normally make on a regular basis. I'll also be going back through all my blogged recipes and adding the ProPoints to them as a get around to them.

I know I need to add a bit of exercise into the equation... but I thought I would let myself get used to eating probably less than half of what I normally would before I inflict more drastic changes to my routine!

The plan is to update the blog with my progress and thoughts... so it would be right to assume that if all goes quiet, then I'm still struggling! But I'm getting into it now, so hopefully that shouldn't be the case. I know there will be blips... fingers crossed there won't be too many! My short term goal is to lose a stone by the end of August... in time for Tilly and Jasper's birthday.

So please feel free to wish me luck... and offer any advice and support... I need it!

Disclosure: As part of Team Weight Watchers I have been given a 6 month subscription to Weight Watchers online, and will receive products to use and review... but as this is an emotional subject anyway, my views and opinions will be open and honest, and entirely my own.

Trendy Toddlers Wear... MASH Junior

^ That there is Tilly looking like she's posing perfectly for Mummy, where as in fact I was just getting in her way and she was trying to look around me at the television!

She is beautifully modelling a rather scrumptious outfit from MASH Junior... an Italian childrenswear brand favoured by celebrity parents of the likes of Sandra Bullock and Sarah Jessica Parker.

I'm actually quite taken by the outfit... I love that the t-shirt is girly and yet charcoal grey with a cute Tweety Pie cartoon detail, which is such a coincidence as we've been getting into Looney Toons recently and Tweety Pie is Tilly's favourite.

The trousers were a total shock to me as they are not something I would have considered buying... they are a cotton/silk mix and pale ivory... not the most practical for toddlers who like to get anywhere and everywhere. Or so I thought! We headed to a car boot sale shortly after taking these photos... on a sweltering hot Sunday... in the middle of a dusty field. Surprisingly the trousers stood up to it amazingly! They are light and loose - I think Tilly found them very comfortable in the heat and they avoided the dirt amazingly well!

Jasper was a more reluctant model, but I think I managed to get a few decent pics of him putting his outfit to the test.

The plaid cargo shorts are perfectly coloured for this year's festivities and look rather cute on his short little legs and the rugby shirt is a great cover up from the sun and stylishly preppy.

The little details are beautiful... rhinestones, ribbons, silk and sequins and subtle branded tags and embellishments.

The quality of the garments is fantastic, and although they would be out of our normal price range I think they would make great outfits for special occassions... Tilly's in particular.

Disclosure: We were sent these two outfits from MASH Junior for the purpose of this review, but as always my opinions are honest and entirely my own.

♥♥♥ ... linking up with ... ♥♥♥

Trendy Toddler Tuesday at Very Busy Mama

Make it | Comforting Eye Mask

It's been a while since I've got crafty, let alone share any of my recent makes.

The truth is I haven't really felt like it since making my teddy bear in memory of Dad. I still have a half-made teddy stashed away and I just can't bring myself to finish him off yet. And I promised my sister I'd make her one for her birthday... which was in March!

I have been furiously pinning away on pinterest in the hopes that something would spark me off... and then last week I came across a gorgeously simple, but oh so lovely, comforting eye mask from one of my favourite embroidery blogs - Wild Olive. It was late at the time, but I knew what I'd be doing the following night.

And here it is...

I added a few drops of lavender oil to mine, in the desperate hope that it might help me sleep better! Simply heat in the microwave, or chill in the freezer for the perfect soother in this barmy balmy weather.

Quick. Simple. But so satisfyingly soothing :)

Guest Post | How to Choose your Bedding

Most of us spend around eight hours a night in our beds, if we’re really lucky we get to spend a few more over the weekend too. Given all this time in our beds, it’s important to pick out the most comfortable and suitable bedding. There are several factors that should be considered when picking out bedding. Without considering them you may find it difficult to get those precious eight hours without interruption. Firstly, it is important to consider if the person using the bedding has any allergies. Many people in the UK suffer from dust mite allergies, which cause sneezing and swollen nasal glands. This can be very uncomfortable when you’re trying to get to sleep and can contribute to snoring due to breathing being restricted. To overcome this problem you can purchase hypoallergenic bedding that is sealed to prevent dust mites from entering it. This reduces the build-up of dust around and within the bed and makes it a much more allergy friendly area. As well as buying the appropriate bedding it’s essential to clean it regularly and to occasionally turn over your mattress. This will keep your bedding fresh and dust mite free.

The second important thing to consider when purchasing new bedding is the thickness of your quilt (or duvet). If you’re someone who gets cold easily then look into purchasing a quilt with a very high tog rating, such as 10.5 or more. Equally, if you get extremely hot while sleeping buy a quilt with a much lower tog rating, say 7 or less. There is nothing worse than shivering all night long or dripping with sweat while you sleep. Another factor that can contribute to a comfortable quilt is the fabric from which it is made. Cotton is generally deemed much more breathable than polyester, though it is often a little more expensive too.

Finally, the kind of mattress you choose will greatly affect the quality of sleep you achieve each night. The amount of support your mattress provides is also an important factor to consider, especially if you have back or neck problems. A firm mattress is not necessarily the best, as it can result in your body lying at odd angles. The best mattresses are now considered to be the ones that absorb your body shape, such as memory foam mattresses do. You can find a great collection of these mattresses from the Bedding Company, which also supplies Silent Night Bedding. Of course, another consideration when choosing a mattress is whether or not you find it comfortable. Trying out a friend’s can be a great way of determining the sort of mattress that suits you.

Now that you have all the key information for choosing the appropriate bedding you are ready to enjoy a great night’s sleep, wake up well rested and ready to get on with the day!

Disclosure: this is a guest post for which I received compensation.