Festive Foodie Delights… Spiced Chocolate Brownies

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Hi everyone, I spy some Chocolate Brownies… fudgy, chocolatey and simply moreish and spiced especially for Christmas! A must for all serious chocolate lovers! This recipe is shared from my lifestyle blog at ‘My Yellow Jumper’. Check it out and happy festive baking!

Mairead x

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Hello all, its that time of year again, December… dare I say soon Christmas!  Whats not to love… twinkly lights, the scent of forest fresh pine, aroma from Christmas spices, wafting from the kitchen and an excuse to indulge and spend time with loved ones.  So on the note of indulging, for me Christmas would not complete, without some form of chocolate!

Therefore, December is the perfect time to experiment with some spices in one of my favourite bakes!  Chocolate brownies… need I say anymore, deep, dark and intensely chocolatey and who doesn’t love a good brownie.  There are many views on what makes a good brownie, with slightly different methods and additions.  I’m definitely in the ‘cake camp’, resulting in  a much lighter crumb.  I have tried and tested many recipes and nothing compares to  Nigel Slater’s brownies, light, fudgy, and a gooey texture with an intense decandant flavour.  Chocolate lovers you will be…

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Nourish your body this Christmas… Receive 10% off Lastone Therapy Massage

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Hello everyone, Christmas can be a very busy time of the year and so often we can get ourselves completely wrapped up, in the whole chaos of the festive period.  Sometimes we just need to stop and take some precious time to ourselves for relaxation before the big day!

Nothing feels more relaxing than time to escape and experience, that feeling of being enveloped in the warmth of a Hot Stone Massage…  LastoneTherapy™

We at Lastone know that in life you need balance.  Warmed volcanic rocks and
subtly cooled marble stones massage away life’s tensions and draw you into a truly deep state of meditative relaxation… like you’ve never experienced before.  Lastone Therapy™ the original hot and cold stone massage.

I have combined this deep penetrative work with warm essential oils & massage which results in healing from “many pairs of hands”, for a complete sensory experience.  This enables me to work on individual areas of the body whilst  still giving continual total body  heat and relaxation.

(Lastone Therapy Massage 10% off, valid until 20th December 2016)

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So what are you waiting for…  if you are suffering  muscular tension and just need some ‘me-time’ to unwind, then experience the deep relaxation this massage has to offer!  Complete bliss!!

Mairead x

Click here –  for more information

 

Nourish your senses… with the warm and spicy aroma of Black Pepper

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Hi everyone, autumn time brings a need for cosiness… that feeling of been cocooned in warmth, whether it be food, clothing or a deeply relaxing and nurturing massage. Therefore as the temperatures become cooler we can benefit from a warming essential oil, such as Black Pepper to ease tired achy muscles and boost circulation!

Black Pepper is a very commonly used spice for culinary purposes, known as ‘king of the spices’.  It has a hot taste and a warm, spicy and pungent aroma, adding flavour and warmth to our daily meals.

Within the world of aromatherapy Black Pepper essential oil is extracted from the fruit of the scrub, using the steam distillation method.  The oil is derived from Black Pepper rather than white as it contains greater quantities and much more aromatic!

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Firstly, it is  a very stimulating oil, helping to strengthen the nerves and emotions, warming the heart and blends extremely well with Rose, adding a calming floral note.  Try adding a few drops to a diffuser to help ease anxious feelings.

The most beneficial means of using any essential oils is through a massage, not only are you experiencing a relaxing massage but the aromatic scents and therapeutic properties enhance the overall treatment experience.  Therefore, using Black Pepper in massage is more beneficial when combined other essential oils, increasing its overall therapeutic properties.  Try blending it with Cedarwood, creating a calming and grounding effect, and relaxing the body and mind. 

Black Pepper is also beneficial in helping to ease muscular aches, pains and tired and aching limbs.  It is a great oil for sport enthusiast, especially after a rigorous workout, to help ease muscle discomfort.

As it is a warming and stimulating oil, it helps to boost circulation, therefore aiding and giving some relief to those suffering  with rheumatism and arthritis.  Due to these properties it is useful in expelling toxins from the body.

Black Pepper is extremely beneficial in the overall digestive system.  It stimulates the salvia glands and  promotes secretion of digestive juices, having an overall strengthen effect and therefore facilitating digestion.

Blends well with: Bergamot, Cypress, Frankincense, Cedarwood, Geranium, Grapefruit,                                                       Rose, Rosemary, Sandalwood and Ylang Ylang.

Precautions: Too much can over stimulate the kidneys and cause possible skin irritation.

So a good twist of black pepper not only adds flavour to our food, but has an entire list of benefits!

Mairead x

 

 

 

 

A closer look into the magic of… Rowallane Gardens

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Hi everyone, I would like to share this beautiful post from my lifestyle blog over at my yellow jumper.

I find gardens such magical places to experience and always love to explore, picking up so much inspiration along the way. Hope you enjoy!

Mairead x

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Hello everyone, Happy October!  It’s Autumn time and my favourite season.  So time to think about and plan our gardens for the coming  year. I find it difficult to resist, not buying copious amounts of Spring bulbs, especially tulips in all colours and varieties!

As much as I love urban living and its green spaces, its always good to get totally immersed among the flowers and greenery and loosing  myself, in the wilderness of a country garden.  A local park just doesn’t fulfil my inspiration.

Rowallane Gardens and House is a national trust property in Saintfield, Northern Ireland and  I always enjoy exploring.  Each visit I come across something new and interesting depending on the time of year!

This time I was in search of much needed inspiration for my tiny patch of front garden.  It is amazing what ideas you pick up, not only in the variety of flowers, but in…

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Fall in love with Ayurvedic Massage this Autumn

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Hello everyone, Its been a while! Doesn’t time just fly by!  We are now entering into Autumn!  Such a magical time of the year, with its rich tones, long walks, rustling through fallen leaves and the abundance of fruits from the harvest.  Whats not to love!

With the change in seasons so does our bodily needs.  So as temperatures become cooler, we could all appreciate a little extra comfort in our lives.  Autumn is a time for inner reflection, release and letting go, making way for new growth!

Therefore  its no better time to allocate some precious ‘time’ to ourselves within our ever growing schedule, to nourish our mind, body and soul.  So ‘Fall in love with Ayurvedic Massage this Autumn’ and enjoy this space to unwind and declutter our busy minds!

Ayurveda is one of the oldest medical health system, dating back 4000-5000 years ago.  In Sanskrit ‘Ayur’ means life and ‘Veda’ means knowledge, so literal meaning the science/knowledge of life.

The principle of Ayurveda are our bodies are controlled by energies, known as dosas, vata, pitta, kalpha, which in many cases are out of balance, resulting in poor health. Therefore, Ayurveda adopts an approach to treat the cause of the disease and not just the symptoms. It’s practice is to increase awareness around our health, through lifestyle changes, such as; diet, yoga and integrating massage therapies into our routines, in order to achieve perfect balance of mind, body and soul!

Ayurvedic massage  also known as Abhyanga,  is a full body detoxifying massage using herbal oils selected according to ones dosh.  It works on mama points to release any blockages, eliminating impurities, strengthening and boosting the immune system, therefore increasing vitality!

I must say nothing feels more nurturing than a good massage, leaving you totally relaxed… grounded and not just a luxurious indulgence, but extremely beneficial to our physical and emotional wellbeing.
So if your feeling totally out of balance, low in energy, generally run down, or suffering muscular tension, then an Ayurvedic massage will help to bring some harmony and equilibrium.  The perfect autumnal pick-me-up!

(Ayurvedic Massage 10% off valid until 20th October)

For further information Click Here

Mairead

In the kitchen – Fruity Root Slaw

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Hi, I had to share this delicious and nutritious Fruity Root Slaw from my lifestyle blog . Perfect autumnal colours! Give it a try and enjoy 🙂

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Hello readers, can you believe it, September has arrived!!  My favourite month and time of the year.  I love the transition between the seasons, especially the exciting abundance of fruit and vegetables.  So with Autumn on the horizon, I’m now ready for a change in my diet,  think deep, earthy, and scrumptious fruits of the forest!

So if you’ve over indulged and are in need of something light, fresh and ever so nutritious, then this Fruity Root Slaw is just what your body is craving!
As a vegetarian, salads are a huge part of my diet and I love experimenting with various flavours and texture combinations.  Mostly I just look in the fridge and larder to see what is lurking in the back and plan a dish around what I’ve discovered.  In this instance I had some beetroot and a pomegranate to use and fancied a cleansing salad, especially after a weekend…

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Nourish your senses – Chamomile essential oil

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This month I would like to share the wonderful benefits of Roman Chamomile – anthemis nobilis essential oil.  If you have ever sipped Chamomile tea you are only too familiar with its use in promoting relaxation and aiding sleep, making it perfect before bedtime!

Chamomile is such a commonly recognised herb and has been used throughout the ages by many physicians for its amazing properties.  It was a favourite in many garden lawns, releasing a pungent fragrance of chamomile when walked upon and used also as companion planting.  Today it is more widely used in cosmetics, perfumes and herbal teas.

Chamomile essential oil has a sweet, fruity and heady aroma and the oil is steam distilled from the flowers. It is extremely ease too grow, and has white daisy like flowers, with a yellow centre and slightly furry green leaves. It is known for its calming and soothing properties making it excellent for the nervous system, muscular conditions and soothing skin conditions.

Firstly, it is excellent in easing anxiety, tension and helps to calm the emotions in stressful situations.  It is also very beneficial in raising the spirits if suffering from depression, even smelling the oil can give a ‘feel good factor’.  As it promotes relaxation it is often helpful with insomnia.

It is beneficial in easing muscular aches and pains especially when related to nervous conditions.  Due to its analgesic properties in relieving pain it is also effective for those experiencing headaches, neuralgia, toothache and earache.

Chamomile can also help with regulating the menstruation cycle and ease painful periods. As it has a calming effect on the body it is good for pre menstrual tension and menopause.

It is beneficial in soothing the stomach, easing digestive problems and may help with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.  Also it is thought to help with liver problems, such as jaundice and disorders of the genitourinary tract.

Chamomile is an excellent oil to help soothe agitated babies and toddlers suffering from temper tantrums at bedtime , making it beneficial to induce a peaceful sleep.  It can be used in a in small contractions, 1 -2 drops in a bath (at over age 3) or a vaporiser  in the bedroom. Watch the little ones drop off!

Lastly but not least, chamomile is an excellent oil used within skincare due to its soothing and calming properties.  It has amazing effects on soothing burns, blisters, inflamed skin and good for dry itchy and hypersensitive skin conditions.  It is a great skin cleanser and helps to ease puffiness and strengthen the skin tissues.

It is most definitely one to have at hand and a little goes a long way!

Precautions: Avoid during pregnancy, especially the early months.

Blends well with:  Benzoin, Bergamot, Geranium, Jasmine, Lavender, Lemon, Marjoram, Neroli,                                        Palmarosa, Patchouli, Rose and Ylang Ylang

Mairead x

 

Tea time – Me time

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Tea time -Me time with freshly picked Peppermint leaves, refreshing, cooling and excellent for soothing and calming the digestive system, especially those suffering from IBS problems.  It is so easy to grow, and comes in lots of varieties, but best grown in pots as spreads vigirously throughout the garden.

To make Peppermint tea pick a few large sprigs and infuse in water which has just come off the boil.  It could’nt be easier!  So sit back relax and enjoy!

Mairead x