New Food Subscription: Degustabox Unboxing & Overnight Oatmeal Recipe

We're back from Iceland! While it's sad that our holidays are over and it's now back to the daily grind, I'm actually glad to be home. It's just nice to have everything on hand for when you need it and not have to live out of a suitcase, you know? Moreover, whenever we travel, after about a week of being beyond happy about eating out (as in, someone else having to cook and do the dishes while I can just kick back and enjoy the deliciousness), I do start missing making my own meals. I guess I find it hard to maintain my normal diet while traveling and at the end of the trip, I'm itching to get back to more balanced meals.

You guys may remember from my mentioning in passing that I cook about 90% of our meals myself, and both me and Mr consider ourselves 'foodies' - by which I mean that we like to eat, and we like to eat well. I've wanted to incorporate some more food-related content into the blog for a while but wasn't sure how to start, and then Degustabox*, a new food subscription service, reached out and asked if I'd be interested in showcasing their box and coming up with a recipe incorporating the products they sent. Not only was I excited about the prospect of free food (I mean, who wouldn't be?), I also thought that it's a subscription service I could actually put to good use - the products from various beauty boxes I've tried in the past would usually end up lingering in drawers untouched for years, but food really is a consumable resource, and thus more in line with my somewhat minimalist tendencies. It's fun to share food porn, so why not? Maybe it'll be inspiring for someone out there.

Degustabox* is a subscription service that will set you back $19.99/ month, including delivery, and each of the monthly boxes contains between 10-15 food products, some full size, some trial/ snack size. Obviously all the products that come in the box are non-perishable food items, and many of them are products that are just being released on the market, so that you get a chance of trying something new you may not have heard about before. If you're interested in signing up, you can use my affiliate link here to save $10 off your first box (or not - whatever you prefer!), and you can cancel your subscription at any time.

 Now, onto my first Degustabox unboxing! The box was delivered about 5 days after I received my shipping confirmation and everything inside was packed with care (lots of bubble wrap, heavier items on the bottom). The box also came with a welcome card and a page detailing all the products, their prices and short descriptions, as well as two recipes featuring two of the items. I have received 10 different items but there were more than one packet/ bottle of some:

4 snack-sized bags of Wise Popcorn (2 x reduced fat sea salt and 2 x Cinnabon flavors) - $0.75 each
1 bottle of Briannas Italian Vinaigrette salad dressing - $3.99
3 foil packets of Vita Coco Coconut Oil - $1.29 each
2 bottles of Topo Chico Mineral Water (one unflavored sparkling, one lime flavored) - $1.00 each
1 jar of Jif Peanut Butter in the Cinammon flavor - $2.99
2 snack-sized bags of Orchard Valley nuts - $1.98 each
1 bag of Haribo Sour Gold-Bears candy - $2.79
1 carton of Elmhurst Harvest Pistachio milk-alternative beverage - $3.00
1 bottle of Soy Vay Veri Veri Teriyaki Sauce/ Marinade - $4.99
1 bag of Honees Cough Drops - $2.75
Total Value: $33.34 for $19.99 

I find this to be a pretty good value - and to be honest, if I were to shop for these products in store locally (in Brooklyn), I would probably pay closer to $40-45 for all of these items (NYC livin' ain't cheap). You could probably find some of these items cheaper if you shopped around online/ used coupons, but I still think the box is great value. Also, I found all of the products included to be relevant to my lifestyle and preferences - I was excited to see a nut milk since my husband is allergic to cow's dairy, and while he's also allergic to garlic so that we won't be able to use the Soy Vay marinade, I can easily pass this item on to a friend (I'm keeping the garlicky cheesy Italian dressing for myself though, muahaha). We eat lots of nuts and peanut butter in this house and I like snacking on popcorn, so those are all great as well - and I'm excited to try the sour version of Haribo Bears, which used to be one of my favorites candies when I was a kid.

As for the creative aspect of this post - a recipe featuring some items from this month's box - I was a bit pressed for time so I went for something very simple (not that the food I make is generally complicated; rather the opposite, to be honest). Most mornings, we eat homemade granola with Greek yogurt (me) or soy milk (him) and berries for breakfast, but I decided to make this Triple Nut Vegan Overnight Oatmeal this time. I'm sure most of you have heard of and tried overnight oats before, but if you haven't - here goes:

1/4 - 1/3 cup of old fashioned oats (I use Bob's Red Mill - don't use the instant kind!)
3/4 - 1 cup of grain/ nut milk: I used the Elmhurst Harvest Pistachio Beverage, which is sweetened - if using unsweetened variety, add in some sugar/ honey/ maple syrup to taste
1 tablespoon of flax seed (you could also use chia - or skip altogether)

Mix everything in your breakfast bowl the evening before and set in the fridge overnight to soak and thicken. The flax seeds/ chia seeds expand and get more of a jelly consistency when soaked in a liquid, which gives this oatmeal a pleasant creamy texture, while the oats soften so that you don't actually have to cook them. In the morning, you can reheat in the microwave if you like, and top with just about anything - I used unsweetened coconut flakes, raspberries and blackberries, and a teaspoon of Jif Cinnamon Peanut Butter in the center; hence the Triple Nut (Pistachio, Coconut and Peanut) - get it?

And that's it, a quick, simple and customizable breakfast that's also filling and relatively healthy (although a bit on the sweet side from the sugar in the Pistachio milk and Jif Peanut Butter - we normally eat unsweetened kinds of both of these items). Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this somewhat different post, and let me know what you usually have for breakfast; I recently tried dairy-free overnight yeast waffles on the weekend (which you may have seen on my Instagram) and those were a big hit too. Now I'm thinking of venturing further into the world of yeasted deliciousness... I'll keep you posted.

Disclaimer: Product marked with an asterix (*) is a press sample I received from the brand's PR for review consideration. The post contains an affiliate link, which means I'll earn a commission if you decide to sign up to Degustabox after clicking. All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter if the product featured was purchased with my own money or provided free of charge. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

Current Favorite Teas and Dark Chocolate

While the Anti Make-up Phase is still going strong (and by the way, thank you for all the amazing comments - you guys are obviously my tribe!), I thought I'd entertain you with a little non-beauty favorites post, focusing on my favorite teas and dark chocolate bars of the moment. Because let's face it: if I don't blog about them now, there soon will be nothing left to blog about in the first place :)

You may know from my '30 Random Facts About Me' post that I'm a discerning coffee drinker, but I actually drink more tea than coffee, and my tea consumption reaches about 4 mugs a day in the depths of winter - I just like hot drinks in my cold, cold belleh! I do try to moderate my caffeine intake, so some of the teas you'll see here are of the herbal variety. Recently, my husband also got me really into dark chocolate (I used to be a milk chocolate kind of girl, and Lindt's bars are still among my favorites) and now a nice hot cup of tea with some dark chocolate is my all-round favorite treat.

Let's start with the ever-so-popular David's Tea. One of the benefits of moving to New York is that we now have access to a physical David's Tea store and are able to smell all the goodies in person. My general impression of David's is that while they do have some wonderfully tasty teas, unfortunately some of the varieties they carry smell better than they taste (looking at you, chamomile-laden Mango Lassi!), but you know, there's always a bit of trial and error with previously untested teas.

David's Tea Organic Cream of Earl Grey (black tea with vanilla and bergamot flavor) is my ultimate favorite for the mornings. I think Earl Grey is a bit like Marmite in that some people love it and some people hate it, but if you enjoy this classic variety, try to hunt down something with a touch of vanilla as well. I also like Adagio Tea's Earl Grey Moonlight, which has the same taste profile.

Next up, a little night time treat: David's Tea Jessie's Tea, which is a rooibos blend with coconut and lavender. Jessie's Tea is a case of something that sounds pretty weird on paper, but tastes really good in reality - you get the slightly sweet, grassy notes of rooibos, creaminess of coconut and a bit medicinal, relaxing lavender finish.

Lastly from David's Tea, the unassumingly-named Citron Oolong. We bought it to replace sadly discontinued seasonal Tangerine green tea, and I love it just as much. Oolong ('black dragon' in Chinese) is a variety that sits somewhere in between green and black tea, and this blend is scented with jasmine (those are actual jasmine flowers you can see in the photo!), lemon myrtle and citrus essences. I'd also like a matchng perfume, please.

Now for an old favorite: Adagio Tea's Thai Chai. It's a comforting, warming black chai tea blended with coconut, lemongrass, cinnamon, ginger and cardamom. This particular blend differs from most chai teas in that it has the light freshness of coconut and lemongrass. I don't usually take my tea with milk, but I find that this benefits from a little splash to mellow out the spice and bring out the Thai flavors.

Now for the newest favorite: Mountain Rose Herbs Hibiscus High Tea. This is obviously an herbal tea (or what the French like to call 'tisane') - a blend of hibiscus flowers, lemongrass, mint, rose petals and orange peel. It tastes sweet, fresh, fruity, slightly cooling with lemongrass and mint; I actually need to try it as iced tea, I bet it would be pretty fantastic. It's a good substitute for fruit juice in the winter months, but quite difficult to get hold of (only available online from Mountain Rose Herbs store, and I found the shipping to be pretty extortionate), so I might move on to a diffrent hibiscus infusion after I finish this box.

Time for dark chocolate noms! Gourmet dark chocolate can get very expensive very quickly, so here's a little online shopping tip: I get my dark chocolate bars from Vitacost (this is my referral link, if you care for it*) - I find their prices a lot lower than any grocery store around me, Whole Foods included, and they have a very nice selection of fair trade, single origin, oftentimes organic dark chocolate. Their customer service is pretty outstanding and they have lightning fast shipping!

Madécasse is a Madagascar chocolate brand we've been buying for a long time now.  My older favorite is Citrus & Pink Pepper (63% pure cocoa) for it's bright, subtle spiciness, but now I've been cheating on it with Sea Salt & Nibs (63% cocoa) - it's a bit bolder, less sweet, with the delightful saltiness and crunchy texture from cacao nibs. Yum! Husband also really likes hot Cinnamon & Chili Pepper variety.

Our favorite inexpensive discovery: Equal Exchange Chocolates in Organic Very Dark Chocolate (71% cacao content) and Organic Panama Extra Dark (80% cacao). I used to dislike very dark chocolate because I often found a strange bitter/sour taste to it; these two have none of that, just super intense, concentrated cocoa flavor with a hint of vanilla bean. You really have to let a piece melt in your mouth a bit to savour all the amazing chocolate-ness of these... no rushing! Between the two of us, we go through a couple bars a week.

Let's wrap this up with a little bonus treat - my current favorite pastry. This is Tarte Framboise Meringuée from Maison Eric Kayser bakery here in New York. So far, I've found this international bakery chain to be the only one to properly execute a French tarte pastry; the crust has to be buttery and uhm, crusty, and this version (not to be confused with the regular Tarte Framboise, which comes with vanilla cream filling and no meringue) has a sweet and sour lemon cream, meringue AND fresh raspberries on top. Simply indulgent. Get their Torte de Meule, a large sourdough bread, and some Mini Cereales bread rolls while you're there.

Let me know in the comments your favorite teas and dark chocolate of the moment, or any other treat for that matter! I love discovering new things through your suggestions, and I need to replete my stocks pretty soon :) Also, if you're craving more tea reviews, especially of the bagged variety, check out my older tea favorites right here.

*Disclaimer: If you use my referral link to make a purchase at Vitacost.com, we will both receive a $10 coupon off of a minimum $30 purchase. You don't have to use my link - but it IS a nice deal. I'm not affiliated with or sponsored by Vitacost, I just genuinely like their service.

January Beauty Detox

Ugh, January blues are striking yet again; I'm sure that after Christmas holidays, I'm not the only one who feels a little nostalgic for all the festive fun we'd had. Well, sad, but also quite overindulged, be it from all the delicious but not too healthy food I've had, or just from burying myself under a woolly blanket for the better part of December.
Generally speaking, December and January also tend to be the most difficult months for my skin and hair; it's probably part travelling, part stressing, part frigid weather + heated rooms. Here's a little edit of detoxifying products I've been reaching for to remedy spots and dehydration.

Starting with some 100% natural beauty products: there are very few things better than bentonite clay and Manuka honey, in combination or separately. I've reviewed this Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay before, so let me just say that I still do use it - sometimes on larger areas, more often just as a spot treatment. I like mixing it with equal parts apple cider and water, and sometimes I add in extras like honey, natural base oils or a drop of an essential oil. Also, if you dislike the pulsating, tightening effect of the product (which does tend to lead to some redness afterwards), just keep misting it with a toner/ water spray so that it doesn't set on your face. I usually alternate the clay with my Manuka honey to avoid excessive dryness - it's great on spots but also dry, cracked lips.

Cleansing is probably the essential part of a successful skin detox, and currently I'm using the Elemental Herbology Purify & Soothe cleansing balm, reviewed here. I feel that this helps to both get rid of every last trace of make-up and sebum but also nourishes the skin at the same time. The massaging action really helps to get the circulation going and effectively buffs away little flakes of dry skin. To further quench my poor abused skin, I like using the Avene Thermal Water spray; one tip to get the most out of this product would be to avoid letting it dry completely on your skin - I like to seal in the moisture by using a moisturizer or an oil when my face is still damp. On mask days when I don't feel like whipping out my whole powder clay mixing kit, I go for Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal mask.

Lastly, little miscellanous beauty bits: my hair tends to get overloaded with product easily, especially when I'm traveling, resulting in limp, oily strands. Every 2-3 weeks, I switch out my regular shampoo for MoroccanOil Clarifying Shampoo to get rid of the build-up and add a boost of volume. If you're looking for a good clarifier, I can safely recommend this one: it's color-safe (no sulfates) and less stripping than regular purifying shampoos as it contains a little bit of argan oil, but still very effective. I'm also currently giving my nails a bit of a break from constant manicures (no A Month in Nail Polish post this January!), and I'll be strengthening with my trusty bottle of original OPI Nail Envy. Lastly, my lips also deserve some much needed pampering, and I've been reaching for the fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF15 the most - it's really fantastic, if a bit (a lot!) overpriced.

Are you on a beauty detox right now as well? What is your detoxifying routine?

A Couple Spring Candles...

Feeling very repressed because of my self-imposed and until now unofficial beauty no-buy, I decided I could at least cheer myself up with some new candles, especially after I have significantly diminished our house supply. In all honesty, I'm not a huge candle burner - a small tumbler/jar usually lasts me for about a month, and that's when I'm feeling very into candle burning. But, I've found some good deals and couldn't resist picking up a couple... or more like three couples.

I first went into Bath and Body Works; I really quite like their candles, actually. They look pretty, come in a very wide variety of scents that changes seasonally, have interesting fragrances and burn for a really long time. Their small 4 oz. tumblers are currently on 2 for $10 (they're normally $9.50 each, which is why I wait for specials) so I picked two from the Beautiful Blossoms collection and two from the Tropical range.

Lilac Blossom is a blend of, why yes, lilac blossom, muguet (lilly of the valley), heliotrope and violets. I love the scent of lilac; in Poland, it blossoms in May, and the bushes are planted everywhere: in parks, between apartment buildings, in gardens, backyards, along fences... My parents also have about three plants to the back of their garden, just at the little gate to the forest. The candle is very much true to the actual blossom, fresh, sweet and heady, and I can detect the muguet as well. If you like spring flowers, I think you're going to love this one.

Flower Shop blends lilac, pink freesia, hyacinth and cooling greens - I've been absolutely obsessed with hyacinth lately! Compared to Lilac Blossom, this is much greener, less heavy, more aquatic - for some reason I actually thought about wild roses the first time I sniffed it. I get a lot of freesia from it, but it's not as peppery as the real deal, maybe freshened by the hyacinth? Lovely, and if you're not into florals, I still recommend you sniff this one.

I'd say 90% of the time, I'm not a huge fan of tropical scents; I like my Pina Coladas and Daiquiris as cocktails, not candles, thank you very much. I did however pick up Tiki Beach, a blend of toasted coconut, vanilla musk, purple orchids and sugared berries. This is quite a refreshing scent for something that seems so sweet from the description; it's maybe even a bit masculine...? I do get quite a lot of sharp musk, mellowed by the sweetness of coconut and vanilla. Something for fans of clean (laundry detergent) fragrances.

Lastly, Aloha Vanilla is a blend of mango, vanilla absolute, creamy coconut and lotus flower. This is fun: the sour juiciness of fruit juxtaposed with the fatty richness of vanilla and coconut (what can I say, I really like vanilla and coconut, especially for the summer). This one is less musky than Tiki Beach, more along the lines of lime and coconut reinterpretation. Perfect for fans of sweet fruity scents.

I also grabbed two packs of tealights from Yankee Candle; I've never tried their candles before, but a new store opened in Bellevue Square a couple weeks ago (they actually spelt it Belleview the first time we received a leaflet in the mail... teehee), plus they are on sale now for $5 each (normally $10). Sun and Sand blends sweet orange flower, citrus, lavender and musk - and it's a lemony laundry/soap scent to me, whereas Tahitian Tiare Flowers (gardenias) smells very much like Monoi oil, quite sexy for a room smell, really.

Oh, and in case you're interested, this is my favorite tea light holder - it's from Ikea and a friend painted it for me when we were still in middle school. I've managed not to break or lose it all these years!

I think in general I'm more partial to Bath and Body Works candles rather than Yankee candles; I just think the latter are worse compositions and terribly overpriced for, well, a glass jar full of scented wax. Have you bought any new spring candles lately? What are your favorite brands and fragrances?

Diaries of an Obsessive Compulsive Picker: Month 2

I can't believe so much time has passed since I started my fight with picking! Time really must magically fly faster toward the end of the year... But anyway, enough procrastinating, I guess if you're reading this, you do want to know how I'm doing with trying to combat my compulsive skin picking.

Well... I think I'm doing really well! I'd say I've managed to cut back about 80% of my picking :) In other words, I still occasionally pick, but mostly whiteheads that look like they could be easily extracted; I'm more capable now of letting my skin do its own thing and I also don't seem to mind every tiny bump or clogged pore anymore. Yay!

Not to let this post turn into a lenghty public display of patting my own ego on the back, I decided I'd share some things that I (retrospectively) think have helped me come closer to my goal of stopping the skin picking.

1) Getting away from it all. I definitely believe that our Christmas trip back home helped me gain some perspective and shift the focus away from my appearance woes. Being home, surrounded by my family, always busy doing things together didn't leave much time on my hands to obsess over every new pimple. However, I did relapse one or two times, and I could clearly see how strongly stress-related my picking is.
2) Addressing built-up tension. Being away and talking to my family also helped me realize some issues here at home that were making me unhappy but which I didn't know how to face. I think I was feeling like I had no longer any control over some aspects of my life, and was trying to regain that by forcing control over my own skin. Addressing those problems and releasing the tension just made me a bit happier and calmer all around, so that I don't feel the urge to pick as often as I had in the past.
3) Getting dermatologic help. Truth be told, my trip to the dermatologist was a direct result of an awful hand eczema flare-up I've been experiencing this winter, but I decided to discuss my acne with the doctor as well. I'll be writing a separate post devoted to my treatment and all that jazz, but just knowing that you're under professional care and things should be improving from now on is a vast relief and a huge source of hope.

And there you have it! I'm not exactly sure how often (if at all) I'll be posting new updates on my fight with picking, just because I'm pretty sure I don't have that many more refreshing thoughts and tricks to share that could be helpful to fellow pickers; there have been some amazing suggestions in the comments to previous 'Diaries' posts though, so go check these out if you're looking for inspiration!

Before I let you go, I'd just like to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for your amazing support, gracious comments and crossed fingers. They all helped tremendously and I'm really grateful for having such a fantastic bunch of readers and blogging friends as you, ladies. Thank you!!!

Diaries of an Obsessive Compulsive Picker: Week 2 & 3

I've been dreading writing this post for a very simple reason: I haven't had much success in the not-picking department these past two weeks. I've been having some trouble breaking away from the vicious cycle of picking: I pick, feel very guilty indeed, promise not to do it anymore, I give my face a break for a couple days to heal and it looks better and better, I pick again because I spy some clogged pores or a whitehead that's begging me to be squeezed. Most of the time, I manage to stop fairly quickly, but twice I definitely overdid the picking and gave myself some more trouble spots in the process. Right now, the challenge definitely feels quite daunting - but I have a couple ideas for improvement to incorporate into my routine.

1) Crochet. To stop my fidgeting fingers from roaming in the vicinity of my face, I picked up crocheting - for realz! I used to do a lot of needlework as a teen, and while at the university, I stopped completely. I believe it's important for me to start doing it again; firstly, it keeps my hands busy, secondly, the repetitive patterns have a very soothing effect, and lastly, it proves that my fingers are capable of doing some good for once. I've started an infinity-scarf project in the shell pattern, which you can see in the photo - I recommend that book too, very easy to follow and lots of ideas/patterns to try!

2) No mirrors. I really, and I mean really, need to stop checking my face in the mirror every time I go to the bathroom. Because, when I'm standing there in front of the mirror, I lean closer, and when I lean closer, I can see every single enlarged pore and tiny pimple that I immediately want to do something about. So, no looking into the mirror for me! (Plus, it gives me a back ache to lean over the sink).

3) Treats. I think one of the main reasons for my recent lack of success is that I've set a bar very high without any sort of external encouragement to motivate myself. I'm on a general beauty and fashion no-buy, plus I'm trying to use up some very unloved items from my collection; it's almost as if I'm punishing myself in the process. So, I've decided to treat myself to something lovely from the top of my make-up wishlist if I manage to at least diminish the picking - I think I deserve a reward!

4) Words of encouragement. I cannot stress enough how much your support and the experiences you've shared mean to me; I would just throw in the towel without you! I seriously need to re-read your comments on the original post more often, they help so much! I've also been collecting some inspirational quotes to put me in the good spirit. Here's one my favorites:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God; your playing small doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
*EDIT* by Marianne Williamson, used by NELSON MANDELA on May 10, 1994

I'll leave you with these amazing words for now and check back in 2 weeks to hopefully report some more progress. I hope some of my tips and tricks might help you too - please let me know in the comments if you have any of your own!

November Holistic Skincare Challenge

I think I'm a glutton for punishment: this month I have not only promised myself not to buy any more beauty or fashion related things, but I've also decided to make November the month of holistic skincare here at Rocaille Writes.

Image source

Holistic approach to skincare means taking into account all aspects of a being: its physical, psychological, emotional, social, environmental and spiritual needs and imbalances. To put it simply, I will focus my attention not only on the skincare products I'm using, but my diet, habits and attitudes towards my skin, with the ultimate goal of helping my skin (as well as the whole organism) become more happy and healthy.

I will devote each November challenge post to a different aspect of my treatment, and I will update this introductory post with links when the posts go live, so that you'll be able to navigate the whole series more easily. Throughout the months of November and December, you can expect posts on:
- emotional/ psychological changes I've been introducing (more on that coming very soon... I'm actually a bit hesitant to write about it, but it's part of the challenge!)
- my diet and supplementation
- changes in my skincare routine

I'm hoping that my little series might inspire some of you to try a different approach to skincare - let me know in the comments if there's anything you've been doing differently that helped your skin!

Food Friday: Tricolor Roasted Veggie Pasta

It's been a while since I posted a recipe, and we all know that sometimes food has priority over make-up; especially on one of those windy, drizzly, greyish evenings when you just want to curl under a blanket with a good book, which is mostly what I do come November.

I'm pretty sure most of you have seen/eaten something similar before, but it's sometimes nice to be reminded of a classic, no?


Tricolor Roasted Veggie Pasta (for 1)

1 1/2 cup tricolor pasta (I used fusilli)
3 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup broccoli florets
1/2 cup sliced carrots
1/2 bell pepper
1/2 cup diced butternut squash
1 garlic clove
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp oregano
feta cheese (as much as you want)
salt and pepper

1. Grease a ceramic baking dish with olive oil and spread the veggies evenly. You can use either fresh or frozen veg, anything you have, really. Drizzle some oil on top. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, paprika, oregano and a finely chopped/ minced garlic clove. Cover the dish with aluminium foil.

2. Pop in the oven at 350F for 20-25 minutes covered with foil, then remove the cover and roast for 10-15 more minutes.

3. In the meantime, bring water in a medium sized pan to a boil and cook your pasta.

4. Drain the pasta and put it in a bowl. Take the veggies out of the oven (careful!) and put on top of the pasta. Drizzle the dish with the olive oil left over from roasting the veg. Sprinkle liberally with feta. Voila!

Very Mediterranean and summery, I loved the burst of color and the garlicky taste; oh, and did you know that garlic helps to strengthen your immune system?

What's your favorite comfort food for the cold season?

Vegan Blueberry Chocolate Cake

I figured it'd be nice to start August with something scrumptious...


Here's the Blueberry Chocolate Cake I made for the weekend, following Angela's recipe (check out her blog, Oh She Glows, for some amazing vegan recipes!), and I have to say, and I'm writing it on Monday, that between me and my husband we have managed to polish it off entirely in those two days. We went on a hike on Saturday which was quite an exhausting climb to the top, and Mr kept turning to me, flashing a big grin and saying 'There's Chocolate Cake waiting at home! My Chocolate Cake!', and he's not even a fan of desserts. I think you couldn't get a better recommendation.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cup whole grain spelt flour
• 6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground chia seeds or flax seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 2/3 cup water
• 1/2 cup blueberries
• 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• Chocolate glaze (1/2 cup dark chocolate chips + 1 tbsp coconut oil, melted in micro for 30 seconds or so)
• Blueberries, for garnish
• Unsweet. shredded coconut, for garnish

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 F. In a medium bowl, mix spelt flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, chia (or flax), and sea salt. Set aside. In a blender, combine water, 1/2 cup blueberries, and balsamic vinegar and blend until smooth, for about 60 seconds. Add the maple syrup and the blueberry mixture to the dry ingredients. Stir until completely mixed, being careful not to overmix. Pour into an oiled 9-inch round cake pan. Bake 20-25 minutes. Cool for at least 15 minutes. Prepare the chocolate glaze by taking a small bowl and adding the chocolate chips and coconut oil. Heat in micro on high for about 30 seconds. Stir to get all the clumps out and immediately pour onto cake, spreading evenly with a spoon. Top with blueberries and coconut.

(recipe taken from Oh She Glows)

I subbed half of the maple syrup with 4 table spoons of icing sugar, and sprinkled icing sugar instead of coconut on top - I waited however for the glaze to set in the fridge beforehand, otherwise the sugar would've just melted into chocolate, and I like the contrast between the dark chocolate and snowy sugar. I also added a table spoon of roasted carob powder to the dry mixture, just for the heck of it.

It's very quick and easy and if you like dense, chocolatey, not-too-sweet cakes, you'll love this one. We've become very fond of vegan cake in the house; for the past two weeks I've also been trying different muffin recipes, and they make a great mid-morning/ mid-afternoon snack, nutritious, delicious and portable.

What have you been baking lately? xxx

July Non-beauty Favorites

Fuschia purple orchid in our bedroom

John Irving's Last Night in Twisted River

Aloha's Popsicle and Strawberry Daiquiri votive candles

Tulsi Raspberry Peach and Vanilla Creme herbal tea

Homemade vegan spelt muffins

What are your non-beauty related favorites this month? xxx

Natural vs organic skincare

The proper summer weather with lots of sunshine and warm, lazy days always encourages me to turn to a healthier lifestyle: drinking more water, eating veggies and fruit, long walks and, of course, cleaner cosmetics. I've always been reading ingredients lists obssesively and for some time now I have gradually been trying to eliminate as many chemicals from my skincare as I can - and my skin has been thankful for that!

Photo source: weheartit.com

In my research regarding healthier skincare options, I've come across an interesting distinction between natural and organic products. Isn't this just marketing, you may ask? It turns out the difference is actually crucial.

Any company can label any of their products as natural, and I've found examples of 'natural' Cheetos crisps or Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Between 2007 and 2008, the U.S. natural food market grew by 10 percent to $12.9 billion. Many consumers believe that 'natural' products are greener than 'organic', an adjective which to them sounds like a fancy way of saying 'expensive', according to an article published in the Chicago Tribune.

Certified organic, on the other hand, means that a product contains no silicone derivatives, artificial aromas, preservatives or fillers. These products have to meet strict requirements of a certifying body and are toxin-free and safe for your body. If you choose to buy organic cosmetics, always check the packaging for Organic Certification and read the ingredients list. If you can't recognize the words, it probably means the product contains synthetic chemicals. Also, if one of the first ingredients on the list is water, it may be that you're buying mainly water with a few drops of organic essential oils.

I'm not going to lie to you, 'all natural' product claims have got me in the past as well. There are many cosmetic companies on the market that we associate with natural or organic products while in fact, they still use synthetic ingredients. Think The Body Shop, Liz Earle or Lush. Don't get me wrong, buying organic or non-organic products is purely up to a consumer, not all skincare companies have to go organic at once; but I wish their marketing was more transparent.

Speaking of healthier cosmetics, in my quest for finding the perfect tinted moisturizer, I've come across 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 20. While the company makes no claims of being organic (no certification? but I appreciate the honesty), the ingredients list reveals some delicious pigments, extracts and oils; and no water, which also means no preservatives! I've decided that instead of getting something cheaper but definitely less healthy, I'm going to save up and get this little beauty together with one of their gorgeous Lip & Cheek Tints. Rarely does a product make me so excited!


What's your take on natural and organic skincare? Have you ever felt tricked by some dishonest marketing?

Sunday lunch: Vegetable tarte

This week's been all rainy and gloomy here, but we did get some sunshine last weekend. I was reading voraciously Peter Mayle's "One Year in Provence" then (loved it!) and after drooling over the French cuisine in the book, I decided to prepare something delicious and summery for myself :) Here's the vegetable tarte I came up with:


Here's how to make it:

Ingredients:
150 grams flour
100 grams unsalted butter
a bit of cold water
400 grams assorted vegetables (I used carrots, cauliflower and broccoli)
1 egg
1/2 cup cream
herbs and spices


Mix flour, butter, a pinch of salt and (if needed) a tad of cold water together and put the finished dough in the fridge for 30 mins. Once cooled, spread it on the bottom of a baking tin, make little marks with a fork to prevent it from rising, and pop it into oven preheated to 200 celsius until it becomes golden. In the meanwhile, steam the veggies and prepare the sauce by whisking an egg with cream and adding your favorite spices (I added some oregano, powdered garlic, salt and pepper).


When the tarte is ready, put the vegetables on top, pour the sauce over them and pop into oven for additional 20-30 minutes; the sauce should become solid and golden on top and the veggies cook a bit more. A table!

I love all sorts of tartes, both with fruit for dessert and with veg for lunch. Give them a whirl, they're almost fool-proof and sooo tasty! What's your favorite recipe at the moment? xxx

Boosting your energy with alkaline foods

As a follow-up to my post about balancing the skin, here goes a couple of words about balancing your diet; can you tell I'm all 'bout pH levels recently ;)?

The topic of alkaline foods and cleansing/detoxing diet came to my attention some 2 weeks ago when reading an article devoted to it in the Polish edition of Shape magazine. Basically (and I'm not a specialist by any means, I'm just reporting what I read), the reasoning behind it is that unlike your skin, which is supposed to be acidic and is often made more alkaline through wrong skincare, the rest of your body needs more alkaline environment but is often acidic because of the products we eat every day. The more acidic your organism gets, the lower your energy levels and higher the probability of migraines, inflammation and getting overweight.

While weight is not something I'm terribly worried about, the lack of energy and headaches definitely struck a chord. However, I didn't think much of the theory (seemed a little bit 'gimmicky' to me) until I found many other dieticians and nutrionists also support it, and I decided to give it a try, as some of the tips are super easy to incorporate into your daily routine. It couldn't hurt, right?

So the most acidic foods in the diet include, not surprisingly, red meat, fatty cheese, alcohol, coffee (nooo!) and tea, chocolate (double nooo!) and candy, as well as some seasonings such as vinaigret, soy sauce or mustard.

As for the healthy alkaline foods we should eat more of, the list includes wholegrain products, green veg such as leafy greens, asparagus or broccoli (yum!), herbs, sour fruit such as cherries, limes or lemons, avocado, and spices such as cayenne pepper or chilli powder.

photo source: weheartit

What I've been doing recently is: I've been trying to limit the amount of coffee I drink to 1 per week (I reserve it only for special occasions), cut down black tea (to 1 per day max) and sweet treats, and eat more veggies altogether. While these steps might sound quite difficult to you, there's one amazingly simple thing you can do: add lemon to your drinks and food. I know lemon sounds counterintuitive for alkaline food, but while has a very acidic pH of about 2, it has an alkaline effect once in your body. Right now, I'm always trying to start my day with a glass of water with a good squezze of lemon juice.

And you know what? I really do feel it has made a difference. I'm not 100% sure it's just alkaline diet or maybe also some other factors such as the beginning of Spring weather, but I've noticed I have more energy, don't get irritated that easily, and my skin is looking more radiant. I'd say give it a try if you feel like you could use some extra verve.

I'd also like to give a shout out to my beautiful friend Marina, a blogger behind the fabulous website Makeup4All. She's been a very busy lady lately working on a new magazine, which is a guidebook on S/S 2010 make-up trends and must-have beauty products. Definitely check it out, it's amazing! I'm very proud to say that I also had a tiny part in the project by giving Marina some thoughts on my favorites for the season. Congrats on your work, hun!

Have a relaxing Friday night, lovelies xxx

Health kick strikes again!

Honestly, with shades outside the window ranging from grey to taupe I'm craving some color in my life, perfectly embodied in a 5 minute fruit salad I've been devouring recently. Plus, it has some serious Valentines Day benefits (not that I care this year... but you might, right? Right.)


All you need is:
1 orange
1 banana
1 kiwi
1 tsp honey
1-2 tbsp nuts: I prefer walnuts or almonds for this one

Cut fruit into not-so-neat pieces and mix with honey and nuts. Eat right away before someone else sneaks into the kitchen to snatch it.

Oh, and for the obvious health benefits... Did you know that banana has substances that stimulate serotonin secretion to boost your mood whereas honey contains bohrium, an element which enhances your sex drive? Better get yourself some of this salad before Sunday!

If you're on a diet, I found some great recipes for low calorie salad dressings here. Lemon Poppy Seed and Creamy Italian are right up my alley!

What's your favorite food for this dreary winter weather? xxx

Tips for acne-prone and oily skin

Acne-prone/oily is precisely the type of skin I have and have struggled with since my teenage years. It's one of the most demanding skin types and so I thought I could share some tips how to take care of it so that it doesn't ruin your self-esteem and make-up.

I'm not claiming this is something revolutionary nor that it will work for everyone, but I've found these quite helpful in dealing with my skin and worth trying.

Skincare: 3 steps
Cleansing, exfoliating and moisturizing are as crucial in catering to oily skin's needs as to any other skin type. In my experience, it's important not to use too many products containing salicylic acid or other drying ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide, another common acne medication. For example, right now I'm using La Roche-Posay Effaclar K for oily skin which contains salicylic acid as a night and topical treatment, but I'm keeping the rest of my skincare acid-free and gentle. In the past, I found that using many drying products caused my skin to become flaky and dehydrated, which in turn led to my organism trying to counteract the dryness by producing even more sebum; it's simply a vicious cycle.

My product recommendations:
I'm currently using up my Johnson&Johnson Head-to-Toe baby wash which I blogged about here and I still think it's a great quality product worth checking out. Next I'm going to try The Body Shop Seaweed Deep Cleansing Facial Wash for Combination/Oily skin, which many bloggers recommended as a great everyday cleanser.


After I wash my face I follow with Garnier toner for sensitive skin. In the past I also tried some micellar waters and would definitely recommend Bioderma Sensibio which removes even the toughest black mascara or eyeliner that the wash didn't manage to break down.

Acne-prone and oily skin requires exfoliating a little bit more often than other skintypes. I usually exfoliate every 3 days using my trusted muslin clothes I got from The Body Shop. They're gentle enough to be used more often but still very effective. Sometimes, if I feel I need a deeper scrub, I use my St. Ives Apricot Scrub.


As for the treatment, I'd say just go for something that has the active ingredient that works for you (in my case, I prefer salicylic acid over benzoyl peroxide), they all work very similar in my experience regardless of the price tag.

Don't forget to moisturize, most oily skin types are also dehydrated at the same time. The key here is to get an oil-free moisturizer that quickly absorbs into the skin or even better has a mattyfing effect. Right now, I'm testing one mystery product that works wonders so far, but I'll let you know once I finish the trial period.

Diet
I guess you're sick of hearing about it, but drinking water really is crucial to a healthy skin. In fact, it doesn't have to be only water, as long as your drink doesn't have dehydrating properties, as any caffeinated drink has (tea, green tea, coffee) or any alcoholic beverage. It also doesn't mean you can't drink the above mentioned, just make sure to compensate by drinking something more hydrating. My favorite beverage for winter has to be raspberry herbal tea for its warming properties and wonderful smell.

Another thing worth mentioning is a healthy balanced diet. Eating too much simple carbohydrates as in white bread or chocolate can have a devastating effect on your skin by enhancing bacterial activity. Also, acne-prone and oily skins can benefit from taking diet supplements containing zinc, which is responsible for regulating hormones in your body. I'd recommend trying natural sources of zinc such as yeast supplements; the one I'm taking right now is additionaly enriched with vitamin E for glowing complexion as well as pansy extract which is known for its puryfing properties.


Psyche
I honestly believe acne is a psychosomatic condition, meaning that it affects both body and mind. Self-esteem usually suffers a lot in those who cope with skin blemishes. After many years of trying to get my skin under control, I found that what helps me the most is realizing that it's ok not to be perfect all the time. Everybody has better and worse skin days; the other day I was watching Gossip Girl and noticed that even Leighton Meester (Blair) suffers from an occasional spot or two, which in no way makes her less glamorous. Moreover, only us, suffering from acne, pay such an obsessive attention to flawless skin! I'm sure most people don't even notice the blemish that drives us crazy; they focus on eyes or lips or beautiful hair instead. Never let your skin make you think less of yourself; in Polish, when we want to say something is totally insignificant, we say it's a blemish. Well, because in a bigger perspective, it is insignificant after all!

Hope that helped some of you and let me know your best tips in the comments. Have an amazing Sunday evening everyone! xxx

Nutrition tips for beautiful skin

In addition to my changed skincare routine, I'm trying to incorporate some 'inside' treatments to help me along and I thought you might be interested. I'm not a nutritionist or a specialist, but I'm just speaking of my own experience and what works for me.

1. Balanced diet. This is the first and most important point in keeping not only your skin, but also the whole organism healthy. Of course, following a balanced diet is sometimes really difficult, but we should always try and aspire to it, whether it'd be refusing another mojito or adding some fruit/veggies to a lunch box.

2. Moderation. Speaking of a balanced diet, the rule of the golden means definitely works for helping your skin out. Too much of anything may cause problems as well as ruling some products out of your diet completely. One example could be a skincare myth stating that eating chocolate may lead to acne, which caused me to avoid chocolate in any form for 2 years when I was 14. Not eating chocolate did not improve my acne, and I felt really miserable not allowing myself even a praline. On the other hand, devouring 2 bars a day will definitely cost you some pimples if not some more serious health conditions.

2. Drinking plenty of water. I know everyone says that and I am the first to completely forget about drinking it (like last Tuesday, when I got home at 7pm and realized I only drank 2 cups of tea throughout the day), but it really helps to get rid of the toxins and keeps your kidneys in shape.

3. Fruit and veggies. In the summer, we enjoy a wide selection of fresh fruit and veggies that contain essential vitamins and minerals that definitely play an important role in achieving healthy, dewy skin. Some nutritionist advise eating fruit or vegetables 5 times a day, which sounds quite unfeasable to a normal, hard-working human being. My methods to smuggle some fresh produce into my meals include eating sandwiches with lots of tomato and chive, berries for lunch and peaches for supper, eating out in a vegetarian bar, or if anything else fails, drinking organic carrot or fruit juice.

4. Fish. Eating fish is especially important for those of us who suffer from dryness, as some kinds of fish like salmon, herring, tuna or mackerel contain lots of healthy omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids that help to moisturize and condition the skin. If you dislike the taste, try taking cod-liver oil tablets, but you have to be careful not to overdo it as vitamin A overdose is toxic (thanks to Little Rus for the info!).

5. Supplements. Currently, we have lots of different food supplements that promise us a beautiful, healthy, radiant skin. What we have to remember though is that these products will not dramatically improve our skin as they're not medicine and as such have no clinically proved results. They can however help if we chose them appropriately and follow the recommendations for use. Right now, I'm using pansy (Violae tricoloris) extract pills to help cleanse my system, but unfortunately the immediate result in my case is having even more blemishes while the skin is getting rid of the toxins. For the next step, I'm going to take yeast tablets which help to regulate hormonal imbalance.

Also, I finally decided to go for a professional facial. I've never had one so far and I don't really know what to expect, but I'm so tired of what's going on with my skin and actually scarred that it might be very difficult to conceal for my wedding day that I'm planning to go this week. I'm thinking of a Dermalogica facial for acne-prone skin, has anyone had any experiences with it? xxx

Vitamin S

Remember all those magazine articles/ posts/ vlogs/ dermatologists' recommendations saying that under no circumstances are you allowed to be in the sun without sunscreen on? Well, turns out there's more to that than it seems...

Prof. Michael Holick, a world reknown dermatologist, claims in his book "The UV Advantage" that avoiding the sun altogether can be potentially harmful for our health. He proves that the advantages gained from a short exposure substantially outweight the risk of getting a skin cancer. His research has shown that sunbathing can prevent many types of cancer, including breast cancer, because vitamin D (calciferol) which is only produced when the UV rays hit the skin prevents uncontrollable cell divisions. Moreover, the research has revealed that for every cancer caused because of the excessive sun exposure fall 30 cases of illness caused by sun deficiency! His findings have led the American Cancer Society to withdraw the recommendations of no UV exposure.

Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorbtion, healthy nervous system, strong muscles and heart. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and helps cure joint pain, allergies and diabetes. Plus, it stimulates the ovaries and our fertility, as well as lowers the level of stress hormones like hydrocortisone and adrenaline in the bloodstream, which affects our mood positively.

The key to safe sun bathing is the time spent outside, which should not exceed 10 to 15 minutes a day depending on your skin type. Also, remember that the effectiveness of sunscreens quickly decreases with a higher factor: SPF 5 neutralizes 70% of UV rays, SPF 10 85%, SPF 15 93%, while SPF 50 about 98%. This means the most common SPF 15 sunscreen is almost as good as the much more expensive SPF 50!

Info source: Polish edition of Shape, July 2009.