At the beginning of January, I received a complimentary pack of Nutribuddy's Weight Loss Starter Kit.  The kit consists of 

• A large bag of Sculpting Whey
• A shaker bottle
• A bag of multivitamins
• A bag of appetite suppressant tablets

Also included as part of the kit was this booklet

Which is full of information to help start a healthy diet and motivational tips to keep on track.

 

​ The multivitamins are taken as a daily single tablet which is easy enough to remember to do.  I simply started taking them first thing in the morning with my breakfast. The Hunger Fix capsules, however, proved to be much more difficult to fit into my routine.  The instructions for taking them are 1 or 2 capsules three times a day, one hour before meals.  I was finding it difficult to remember to take them at the appropriate time.  Then I remembered that my iPod has a reminder function.  A quick chat with Siri and the problem was solved.  I get three daily reminders set for an hour before my usual mealtimes and I take the capsules regularly 

It took me much longer to start using the whey.  I have to admit to being very apprehensive about this product and actually a little bit scared of trying it, what if it tasted disgusting.  As soon as I persuaded myself to open the pouch all my fears evaporated.  Imagine the aroma of top quality vanilla ice-cream or your favourite vanilla milkshake.  That was the smell that greeted me as I opened the pack.  From that point, I had no hesitation in using the powder.  But I did come across a couple of problems.  A scoop is included in the pouch but the instructions for use give a weight rather than a number of scoopfuls.  The first couple of times I used the whey I had to get out the measuring scales to find out how many scoops made up a portion.  And then I discovered that the scoop was too big to fit the shaker bottle and I had to use a teaspoon to get the powder into the bottle.  I know this problem has been fixed and a different sized scoop is included with new orders of the whey but at the time, this was an irritant.

The Sculpting Whey can be used as a snack, to help prevent picking on crisps, biscuits etc between meals or it can be used as a meal replacement.  Depending on the circumstances I use it both ways.  If my husband is home during the day I use the whey as a mid-afternoon snack.  Mixed with water a serving is less than 120 calories.  When Leigh's shifts mean that he is at work at a meal time I mix the whey with skimmed milk and use it as a meal substitute.

In fact, because his shifts often mean he doesn't have access to anywhere that provides a healthy meal he has started taking a portion to work with him.  It is easy and convenient for him to mix with water and helping him to lose some of that weight gained while he was unwell.

Seeing the whole point of the Starter Kit was to kickstart a weight loss programme for 2016, has it worked?  The first week of dieting I lost four pound which was the amount I had gained over Christmas.  Since then I have lost a steady 1 pound a week.  To some people that might not seem like a lot  but I am trying to follow the tortoise principle here, slow and steady wins the race.  One pound a week, every week, would mean a weight loss of over three stones by this time next year  and I would be thrilled with that amount of loss.

Would I recommend this product to other people wanting to lose weight?  Well, as I am planning to continue using it and will purchase further pouches of whey when this one is empty then the answer is a resounding yes, I am happy to recommend Nurtibuddy's products to anyone who is looking for some dieting help.

After a long period of ill-health, my husband is, at long last, well enough to return to work.  While this is great news, well I think it is great news I'm not so sure he is keen on the idea, it does mean a return to the shift pattern that sees me spending many nights on my own.

After being married to someone for over thirty years who has always worked shifts, you do tend to get used to your own company but this time, I decided I needed a new man in my bed for those nights Leigh isn't home.

Let me introduce you to Johnny Slept

​With his brooding good looks and dark seductive eyes isn't he the most perfect companion you could imagine?  He doesn't snore, he doesn't steal the duvet, he listens without interrupting and he doesn't divulge any of my secrets.  He is soft to cuddle up to yet has hidden depths and he is so handsome.  What more could I ask for?

​Those of you who think I am being selfish and treating myself to a new companion while Leigh sleeps alone during the day here is his new friend.  Taylor Slept

​She is cuddly and cute but there is definitely a naughty side, Taylor is more than happy for a bit of daytime pillow talk. 

On the weeks Leigh is working a dayshift Johnny and Taylor are content to keep each other company but they are always ready for a nighttime cuddle.

ChattyPillows are made from 100% cotton.  The pillowcases are designed in the UK and made in Spain

They are generously sized at 50 x 75 cm for each pillow case and are machine washable.

They are the latest addition to the Chattyfeet range which is the brainchild of Gil and Humberto, you can find out more about them at their website, and at £12 each or £22 for the pair of pillowcases they make the perfect treat for yourself or gift for an appreciative friend.

I received a pair of pillowcases for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

My first bit of baking this year.  This is such an easy cake to make that even a novice baker could do a great job with it.  The recipe is very forgiving and easily adaptable.  As it has no milk or eggs in it a simple change from using butter to a non-dairy spread would make this suitable for vegans.  If you don't like nutmeg then use a different spice or leave it out altogether.  The same applies to the walnuts.  Even the banana could be replaced with pear or apple.  Once you have successfully baked this tea-bread the variations are infinite.

The Husk Breaktime Beaker is product I had never come across before. Obviously lidded beakers are nothing new but the way this one is made is so different from anything I had come across previously that I hadn't even considered the possibility of recycling this waste product to make something new.

The beaker is made from Rice Husk Fibre.  When I think about it, it  becomes obvious that all that rice available from the supermarket or on our plates accompanying delicious Chinese and Indian food must produce a by-product as it is made ready for our consumption.  Previously though I had never even given a passing thought to that mountain of rice husk that is produced so that we can have ready to cook rice.

One of the reasons I was interested in trying this beaker is that I am planning on a touring holiday next year and need to buy everything to stock a camper van.  The Husk range looked as though  I could get some of what I needed without troubling either my conscious or my wallet particularly.
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I nearly always have a mug of coffee on my desk, keeping me company as I work, and since this mug arrived in the post it has been my Go To mug.  It has quickly become my favourite mug.  Not just during breakfast but all day long.  The mug isn't insulated but the coloured band is very efficient at protecting my hand from the heat of the drink.  The lid is secure and I can carry my drink from kitchen to office without worries about spills.  It fits the cup holder in my car and is secure while at the same time is nice and easy to use.

​It is a great product to use now and I can see it being extremely useful in a camper van when traveling around Europe next year.  I can also see many other items in the range e.g. bowls, plates, cutlery and storage boxes being bought for our trip.

• Made from 80% rice husk fibre and 20% starch
• Fully bio-degradable
• Can be placed in dishwasher 
• Can be used in freezer
• Useable at a temperature range of between -30C and +120C
• Not to be used over direct heat or for baking and cooking
• Not recommended for prolonged soaking.

​For more products in the Husk range visit olpro

Earlier this week I was watching the first episode of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's new TV series Hugh's War on Waste.  I was feeling quite smug as if there was one thing I was certain of it was that food is not wasted in this household.  But I decided to check the fridge anyway and, much to my horror, found a forgotten about bag of lemons and lime hidden in the bottom of the salad drawer.  They were in desperate need of using up and so I had to think of something to do with them.

Not having a lot of time to spare a quick and easy recipe was required  I often make lemon curd and so I simply adapted the recipe to use lemons and limes instead of just lemons.

• 4 unwaxed lemons or limes (or a mixture of each)
• 7oz sugar (I used granulated)
• 3.5oz unsalted English butter by Sainsbury's
• 3 eggs plus 1 egg yolk

​

This makes quite a tart tasting curd.  If you have a sweeter tooth than me you can increase the amount of sugar.  Experiment until it is right for you

I use lemon/lime curd as a topping on vanilla ice cream or stirred into yoghurt.  I also use it in place of jam if making a sponge.  If I am feeling adventurous,  I use it to make the most amazing ice- cream I have ever tasted.  Of course, it can be used in the traditional way as a tart filling or there is the option of standing by the fridge with a spoon and eating it straight from the jar.

With the weather having turned autumnal and there being a definite chill in the air in the evening,  Leigh and I both felt the need for a bit of comfort food.  After having a quick look through the cupboards I spotted that we had a loaf of bread that was starting to go stale.  Almost unheard of in ths houshold as we do love our bread.  Anyway, the combination of bread needing to be used up and the desire for a warm comforting desert meant that a Bread and Butter pudding was on the menu for the evening.

We decided to spend two nights in a budget hotel near the city centre and I used Hotels.com to look for somewhere cheap and cheerful that would be ok for a short stay.  Their site came up with the details of the Pension Elizabeth and as it sounded just what we were looking for so I booked a room for two nights.

As well as receiving confirmation from Hotels.com, as soon as the reservation was made  an email came from Pension Elizabeth also confirming all the details.  Five minutes later another email arrived from them, I opened it with some trepidation expecting it to say something had gone awry and that there were no rooms available. Instead, the email contained comprehensive instructions, with photos, showing exactly how to get from the main railway station in Salzburg to Pension Elizabeth.

Our flight from Gatwick arrived at Salzburg airport mid-morning and its a 20min journey by trolleybus from the airport to the station.  After a quick lunch and refreshing cup of coffee, we tested out the emailed directions.  I have never found my way to a hotel so quickly or easily.  The directions could not have been better if someone was actually walking with us and guiding us.

The girl at reception was friendly, appreciative of Leigh's attempts to speak German, and fluent in English.  All the paperwork was completed in a flash and we were settled in our room very quickly.

The room was very small but immaculately clean.  We had opted for a double room with a private shower but no WC.  A WC shared by several rooms was further along the corridor and my initial concerns about this were quickly swept away as this was also kept very clean and regularly checked.

Other types of rooms are available.  They range from single rooms with no shower or WC through to family rooms with all amenities and everything in between.

There is a private garden and as the two evenings we were there the weather was very mild we made the most of it and sat outside enjoying the sunshine.

Breakfast was included in the room rate and there was certainly enough to keep the heartiest of eaters happy.  Everything from cereal, boiled eggs, bread rolls, cheese, ham,  and lots of fresh strong coffee.  If you have not pre-booked breakfast it can be bought on the day for €3 which is tremendous value. Also, if you have to leave before breakfast is served a packed breakfast will be provided upon request.  I have never come across that before.

We spent a whole day exploring Salzburg and when we returned to our room it had been cleaned and tidied for us.  Not every 5* hotel we have stayed at has provided daily maid service.

Wi-Fi is available at no extra charge and a PC is available in reception for those who need it.

Overall we were exceptionally pleased with everything at the Pension Elizabeth.  Taking into account that this is a 1* hotel everything was of an outstanding standard.  Assuming you are happy to stay somewhere that is just a step up from a bed & breakfast and don't want to be in your room for most of the day, then I would highly recommend
 Pension Elizabeth

The more I read about the ingredients that go into most antiperspirants or deodorants the less I feel comfortable about using them on an everyday basis.

I like to use natural, organic, non-animal tested beauty products on my face but somehow have continued to use traditional antiperspirants to control underarm odour and sweating

When AA Essentials offered me the chance to try their new deodorant it seemed like the perfect opportunity to wean myself off traditional antiperspirants and move towards something more natural. 

Of the three different scents available I chose the Grapefruit and Cedarwood. variety.  This was based quite simply on the fact that I like both the aroma of grapefruit and the aroma of cedarwood and was intrigued by the combination.  I simply ignored the fact that the label said it was for men

The deodorant comes in a 50ml dumpy glass bottle with a large roll-on ball.  It is easy to apply, dries relatively quickly and smells gorgeous.  But is it effective?  Well yes and no.  On days where I am at home, it works just fine, but then I'm not doing very much.  On days where I am very active and an exercise class followed by a shower is part of the routine it works just fine, but then it is being reapplied a couple of times during the day..
It had a hard time coping with long days outside the house when I was shopping or visiting friends.
I'm finding that I keep a more traditional antiperspirant on my dressing table for use on the days that I know are going to be unrelentingly busy but for the rest of the time this is my go-to product. 

According to the AA Skincare website the ingredients are as follows



Aloe Vera helps to cool, calm and soothe skin and has natural anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties.

Cedarwood Essential Oil is a naturally deodorising oil that brings a smooth woody and masculine note to the aroma. 

Grapefruit Essential Oil is balancing for the skin and encourages the body to expel toxins and excess liquid. 

Thyme Essential Oil is antibacterial and helps to attack the bacteria which causes body odour. 

Glycerin has great moisturising and hydrating properties.

Saccharomyces Ferment is a yeast extract that helps to break down the compounds that cause body odour.


Inci Listing 
Aqua, Aloe barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 laurate, Saccharomyces ferment, Citrus paradisii peel oil, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Thymus vulgaris oil Lactic acid, Citric acid, Xantham Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium sorbate.


Compared to the list of ingredients on the back of the more traditional product I'm using I'm much happier and more comfortable with the above.


If you are looking for a more natural deodorant, I am happy to recommend this product. 

This week the show-stopper challenge was all about cheesecake.  Now I love making cheesecake and this was the perfect excuse to get baking.  However with just the two of us there was no way I could justify making three tiers of cheesecake, each a different flavour.  Instead I made my favourite Lemon Cheesecake and jazzed it up a bit by adding a topping.

The cinnamon topping is adapted from a recipe I saw on an american blog and I long ago gave up trying to convert cups to imperial measurements.  I just bought a set of measuring cups.