Riccardo’s in Chelsea: An Italian Restaurant with a vegan twist…

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Tuscany is one of those wonderful places in the world that you find yourself dreaming about from time to time. The warm sun, the unforgettable landscape, the architecture. But for me, and many others, it’s the food that we recall the most. Sun drenched tomatoes, olive oil,  fresh basil and other vibrant herbs, a crisp, toasted bruschetta and… Chianti! as the winter is beginning to really set in in London at the moment, those Tuscan hills, and those long lunches and suppers in the sun seem quite far way.

I ride my push bike to work in the mornings and home again in the evenings… come what may weather wise. I love the journey through the streets of the City, past Buckingham Palace, and then through Chelsea back to Fulham. One site that I take in on my way home is an Italian restauarnt called Riccardos, in the heart of Chelsea. Each night, when I ride past, it’s lit sweetly with fairy lights around the garden that sprawls out on to the pavement in front of the restaurant. I see and hear full groups, families and couples enjoying each others company and, semmingly, the food. I claimed to my wife that we must try it out… so we did.

The restaurant is as charming on the inside as it looks from the outside. The place is simple but in that wonderful, local, family restauarant sort of way. Unlike other restaurants in the area, it doesn’t suffer from the pretension that seems to come with the highly priced real estate in the area. The friendly staff, lead by Paz, the maitredee, greet you with a smile and make you feel comfortable. Paz, we later learnt has been with the restaaurant for a number of years. That continuity in place is quite special I think, a welcome smile form someone you know and trust.

Reading the menu brought all those memories of Tuscany flooding back. To start, a delicious crudité platter of raw vegetables with an anchovy and garlic dip and warm olive vinaigrette. I also enjoyed a glass of organic Sicilian red, Montalto Nero D’Avola, with a grilled bruschetta with home-made courgette pesto and organic tomato. If you do enjoy eating organic produce you will be comforted by the number of dishes on Riccardos menu that include organic, fresh ingredients. Another message comes through from the menu, which was later verified by Riccardo himself when we were fortunate enough to meet him as he was dining there himself that evening is that the menu unashamedly includes a number of very healthy options. The Riccardo’s team have also prepared a thoughtfully put together vegan menu. The team haven’t simply pulled together a few additional recipies but it seems that Riccardo and his team have spent the time to work out how to incorporate vegan friendly ingredients into some of the most popular dishes. There are also a number of gluten free options. Eating Italian food at Riccardos can be a very healthy and nutritious experience and the restaurant openly encourages it’s customers to do so.

Riccardo’s tapas style menu also means that you can enjoy a number of the wonderful dishes on offer if you would like to. Two that I would recommend whole heartedly are the vegan  pizza topped with fresh wild mushrooms, capers and onions and the gluten-free choclate and almond cake that was simply delicious.

We left with the restaurant full to the brim with families, groups and couples, the people that I ride past. It’s a testament to what Riccardo, Paz and the rest of the team have achieved. A healthy, wholseome, popular italian restaurant that’s become a new favourite local in Chelsea.

words by Nick Reid

Riccardos Restaurant London www.jamesbedford.com

For more information or to book visit http://www.riccardos-italian-restaurant.co.uk

Keep motivated. Stay in the driving seat. Achieve your goals… Here’s how.

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When it comes to achieving goals, I think it’s fair to say we can easily lose our way and get distracted, even though we all start with the best of intentions! Suddenly you find yourself totally un-motivated and frustrated at the whole situation. You see… our little friend motivation, is a bit like a naughty puppy, take your eyes off it for one moment and it’s gone walk-a-bouts! It is possible to retrieve it back again and that’s’ where H&H come in! Sustaining motivation is the key to the tricky lock of goal setting and goal completing, so we want to share our H&H secrets to staying motivated, whatever your goals may be…

Be Specific
Rule number one, don’t be blasé with goal setting. You may have a rough idea in your mind of what you want to achieve but in order to give yourself the best start you need to be specific. Want to start running? Set yourself a distance. You want to make sure your goal is as recognisable as possible so that you’ll know as soon as you’ve achieved it. Being 100% clear on your goal will help enable you to figure out a successful strategy.

Know your reasons
Another significant factor to be aware of is understanding why you want to achieve your goal, as it’s important to have some kind of underlying passion for it. Whether it’s quitting sugar (if you haven’t already!) or spending more time with your family, get a pen and paper, and note down why it’s so important to you.

Display your inspiration
Being able to see something that inspires you towards you goal is so easy yet incredibly effective at keeping you motivated. For example, if your goal is to save some money for your dream holiday, stick some pictures of your desired destination around your house (I stick mine inside cupboard doors!) You’ll constantly be reminded of how much you want to go and it will over-ride the temptation to spend money on that morning coffee! (Make a green tea at home instead!)

Get reading
Reading about and researching your goal is another good one! An on-going goal of mine is to be more adventurous in the kitchen so I’m constantly looking at new recipes online and scrolling through books and magazines to gain inspiration. Becoming knowledgeable in your goals is a great way to keep you motivated and you’ll gain a better insight in to what works and what doesn’t.

Find a goal buddy
Grab a friend and get them on board! Conquering a goal is way more fun when you can share the experience with someone! It becomes less of a goal and more of an exciting challenge where you can both take part and be a supporter too. Besides a little friendly competition never hurt anyone!

words by Molly Jennings

ican

Hello Sunshine: A Hip & Healthy Holiday in Mauritius…

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Le Telfair Spa Resort 

I know it is a long way – a twelve hour flight is no joke, make sure to pack plenty of moisturiser in your hand luggage – but I can promise you that it is worth every minute. Mauritius is a one of the true gems of the Indian Ocean, with all the spirituality and uniqueness of Sri Lanka and all the luxury of the Maldives or the Seychelles, you won’t be disappointed by this enchanting island. Whether you are taking your entire family or embarking on a magical honeymoon there are a plethora of hotels to choose from, but being the dedicated daughter that I am, I decided to take my Mum for a once in a lifetime experience and booked into the Heritage Le Telfair resort for her 60th birthday. I knew we had made the right decision as our private transfer whisked us up the manicured lawns and we were greeted to the sight of the stunning French colonial-style building before us. I know that feeling of having a long, long flight that arrives as the sun is setting is one of total exhaustion, but on this occasion, arriving at night is a spectacle you wouldn’t want to miss – the building is bathed in delicate, yet show-stopping light and has that un-doubtable wow factor; feelings of tiredness dissipate as excitement settles in, a feeling that I can guarantee doesn’t leave you throughout your entire stay.

After a super-healthy and much-welcomed fruit cocktail in the lavish reception area, we were escorted to our room through a maze of olive trees and exotic flora and fauna, with the twinkling fairy lights strewn over trees and a Narnia-style lamp on almost every corner – you could be forgiven for thinking you had stepped into a fairy’s grotto. It is, I would say, an understatement to call the accommodation simply a ‘room’, it is more like a villa with tonnes of space and charming French windows opening onto a veranda with either a view of the pool, lagoon or the river – or sometimes all three. Designed with light green, beige and cappuccino colours all warmly contributing to the historical, glamorous, colonial atmosphere, giving it an intimate yet stylish finish – the only drawback was that we never wanted to leave it.

The Seven Colours Spa is a total Hip & Healthy sanctuary and I am not ashamed to say that on the dot of 5pm every evening we spent several hours enjoying the peace and serenity of the beautifully designed space. Based on the concept that we are drawn to particular colours depending on our emotional needs, moods and physical attraction, the Spa tailors every treatment to your colour or colours of your choice. For example I was most attracted to the yellow/orange colours meaning that I am on a constant search for energy (yes, yes I am!), where as my Mum was attracted to the blue/purple colours that are typical symbols of relaxation – she finds it almost impossible to relax (unlike me, no problems there) so this diagnosis made complete sense to us. We then had detox massages that were based around these specific emotions and attractions, resulting in a heavenly and most of all healing treatment.

spa shot le telfair

If you aren’t into spending hours in a Spa (who isn’t?!) and feel you are more suited to bracing activities then don’t panic, from kite-surfing to kayaking and paddle boating to personal training there are a myriad of activities to choose from and helpfully nearly all are included in the package of your trip. Take the glass bottom boat out to the extensive coral reef for a viewing platform with a difference and if you are happier with two feet on dry land, an exhilarating self-driven quad bike tour of the nature reserve is a truly enchanting excursion. H&H Tip: Wear a bikini under your clothes as they don’t tell you that a pit-stop at a lagoon, complete with mandatory fable-like waterfall, is on the agenda where you can swim off the heat of the day and the dust from the bikes.

We had wanted a holiday that would detox us both, but we didn’t want to choose a strict, no frills ‘detox specific’ resort, because let’s face it, some of these extraordinarily healthy retreats and resorts do not necessarily end up being much of a holiday! But with its relaxed attitude, inspiring Spa, range of activities and some essential indulgent gourmet experiences – Le Telfair will remain a firm favourite in our eyes for detox and serious relaxation for a long time.

Enjoy 7 nights at Heritage Le Telfair, Mauritius from £1,444 per person, including accommodation in a Deluxe Room, daily breakfast and dinner, private transfers and international flights.  Call Turquoise Holidays on 01494 678400; Visit us at www.turquoiseholidays.co.uk; Email us at [email protected]

beach le telfair

 

#bootsmakeithappen Twitter Chat

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Hip & Healthy Promotion

Yesterday H&H got involved in an exciting #bootsmakeithappen Twitter party with the lovely Jenni Baden Howard of nonstopmama!

We wanted to find out how you were getting on with your newly formed healthy lifestyles and what kept you inspired to stay motivated throughout rainy January! Answers were flying in and we had a blast chatting to all of you! It made us so happy to hear how so many of you are embracing a healthier lifestyle and it was fun to share each others tips and tricks to making healthy living even more delicious and exciting!

H&H want to send out a massive thank you to all those you joined in, to Jenni from nonstopmama and the Handpicked Future team for organising such a great chat!

The H&H Team x

Ultimate Beauty Time Saver: the new Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturiser

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Hip & Healthy Promotion

Slept in a little too long? Got sucked in by another episode of the Kardashians? Hit that snooze button one too many times? Rushing around to get ready in a state of panic, seriously regretting playing ‘just one more round’ on QuizUp? It’s no secret we modern women are busy ladies, running around between meetings and Pilates classes via the nail salon or juice bar. Which also goes to show, we like to look good too.  This can create a problem. How to look our best with such little time? According to a study by The Harley St Clinic, we average a whopping 474 days putting on cosmetics during our lives. That works out as 3 hours, 19 minutes each week! It’s not really surprising, given the amount of lotions and potions we slather onto our skin daily. But then there’s the dreaded aftermath – the waiting for them to sink in, with what seems like hours of constantly touching your skin to see if that stickiness has subsided so you can put some clothes on and get out of the door. Not fun.

But moisturising is an essential part of an effective skin-care regime, and without it skin is dry, lack lustre and signs of ageing are much more visible. So how to save time whilst moisturising to the max? Well, that’s where the new Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturisers will, quite literally, save you precious time and skin stress. These super sprays are revolutionising the way to smooth, soft skin, and are the ultimate beauty buys for busy bees.

Having already taken America by storm, the Vaseline Spray & Go moisturiser is now changing the lives of Britain’s beauties with its one of a kind formula. It is easy to apply (simply spray and you’re on your way!) and won’t leave skin feeling greasy or sticky. Containing pure natural extracts and STratys-3 multi-layer moisture, the lotion is absorbed in seconds – meaning you can apply and get dressed instantly. No more waiting for your moisturiser to sink in whilst standing in your underwear? Sounds good to us.

There are also three different options to choose from – Vaseline Oat Soft, Vaseline Aloe Fresh, and Vaseline Cocoa Radiant. All are dermatologically approved, smell divine and nourish your skin in seconds. They also ensures all areas benefit from it’s moisturising boost, as you can spray those hard to reach places that normally get left out! We recommend using after bathing – simply spray after your shower, give your skin a couple of rubs, et voilà – silky smooth skin without the dreaded stickiness.

So next time you’re in a rush, heading out to work or for weekend drinks, there’s no excuse not to look after your skin. For with the Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturisers, you’ll be left feeling and looking gorgeous in a jiffy, and all without breaking the bank.  Only £4.99 each and available in all leading supermarkets and chemists, it’s the sure-fire way to fabulous feeling skin in a flash. So we say, spray away!

words by Frankie Rozwadowska

Beet Burgers with Spirulina Guacomole

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recipe by Saskia Gregson-Williams

I absolutely love burgers (the veggie kind) and today I’m sharing my recipe for the most delicious Beet Burgers – that’s right, these burgers are made with 100 percent free range beetroot!

The beet burgers are made with quinoa, beetroot and kidney beans with an amazing sweetness from the added sultanas and lemon juice. Not only does this combination taste incredible when hot and crisp out the oven they are great for your health too. They’re rich in digestible protein (unlike the beef kind) meaning all that goodness is absorbed straight away! Quinoa is a complete protein  and a good source of anti-inflammatory, mono-unsaturated and omega-3 fatty acids. It is a Low GI carbohydrates, which increases energy over a longer period of time and and leaves you fuller for longer. Kidney beans are a great source of fibre, blood building iron and protein. They also contain vitamin K, which is a powerful antioxidant preventing against free radicals in the body. Beetroot is really the main flavour of these burgers and make them really sweet and delicious. Beetroot are a vegetable with a unique group of antioxidants, called betacyanins. They give beetroots their distinct colour and help to support the liver and purify the blood – this makes beetroot a good food for detoxifying.

The burgers are paired with a Spirulina Guacomole. However bizzare this sounds it is a great way to up the superfood ranking, and is honestly is so delicious. Spirulina is a health-promoting algae, containing 62% complete protein. Spirulina also gives you an incredible dose of B vitamins, beta-carotene, vitamin E, manganese, zinc, copper, iron, selenium and essential fatty acids. Combined in my ultimate Guacomole recipe, its pure heaven!

Let me know how you get on by tagging @sassyballerina and @hipandhealthyuk on Instagram and Twitter and hashtagging #hipandhealthy!

Burgers:
Serves 4

100g quinoa
14oz a can of kidney beans
3 small beetroots/ 4 cups grated
2 large handfuls fresh coriander chopped
1 lemon
1/2 cup brown rice flour/ other
gluten free flour
1/3 cup sultanas (optional, but amazing!)

Method: Cook the quinoa. Wash and drain the kidney beans. Add to a large bowl and mash well. Peal and grate the Beetroot, add to the bowl along with the cooked quinoa and dried herbs. Continue to mash until all is combined. Add coriander, sultanas, lemon juice and flour, continue to mix well. The mixture should stick together well, but don’t be afraid to add more flour if you need a stickier consistency. Mould into 8 burgers, refrigerate until ready to cook.

Preheat the oven to 190 degrees Celsius. Heat a little extra virgin olive oil in a frying pan, add 4 burgers. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, before placing on a baking tray. Once all the burgers are cooked place them in the oven to bake for a further 15 minutes.

Spirulina Guacomole:

1 large ripe tomato
2 ripe avocados
juice 1 lime
1 tbsp Spirulina powder
a handful coriander, minced
1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
1 chilli, red or green, deseeded and finely chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Method: Use a large knife to pulverise the tomato to a pulp on your chopping bowl. Add to a bowl with the avocado flesh. Tip all other ingredients (except the coriander) in and mash or whisk until desired chunky texture. Add the coriander and mix well. Season to taste.

Screen Shot 2014-02-05 at 16.56.17

Stress Management – An Ayurvedic Massage Reviewed

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Treatment:

Abhyanga – Ayurvedic Whole Body Massage (1 hour), £60

A relaxing massage that can help to improve lymph flow, stimulate the immune system and revitalise the entire body.

Review:

The ancient concept of Ayurveda – the holistic medical system from India – was extensively explained to me as I settled down into a comfy chair 5 minutes after arriving for my treatment at Ayurveda Pura in Greenwich Millenium Village on a dank, cold January day. Colette, the Ayurveda Pura’s Spa Manager shared her in-depth knowledge of the practice and what comes across most is her ability to sum 1000s year’s worth of Indian tradition into a brief pre-massage chat. You know someone really knows their stuff when they can demonstrate it in lay mans terms and still evoke inspiration and complete confidence.

Through understanding the 5 basic elements which are the principles of Ayurvedic tradition and what my unique balance of Doshas was (learnt by taking my pulse and looking at my tongue) I was intrigued by Colette’s perceptions of my general well being. From picking up the tension in my arms and shoulders – a product of a particularly energetic boxing class I’d been to the day before – to identifying my ‘fire’ side which gives me a tendency to plan and analyse all matters (cue anxiety) she was confident in what particular areas she would focus on during my hour long Ayurvedic massage treatment to get me rebalanced and reset.

With diagnosis discussed, I was already in a calm and confident place in terms of my treatment plan and ready to hop onto the massage bed. In long sweeping movements which crisscrossed my entire body in figures of eight it felt magically like I had 10 pairs of hands working on me as opposed to two. With particular care taken over my neck, shoulders and arms, it was the head to toe sweeps very unlike any other massage I’d had before that provided the most amount of relaxation. These long motions and the use of specialised 100% organic Ayurvedic oils in abundance (you absolutely have to shower post massage!) are the key differences to this type of treatment. These combined with the beautifully incensed room and the very spiritual sounding music playing quietly in the background is enough to transport you from a grey rainy day in East London to a beautiful Indian spa on a spectacular hilltop.

I usually find it hard to relax during massages and although my body is happy, my mind continues to whirrrrr… perhaps it was the particular focus that Colette was giving to calming my fire imbalance or just the combination of the oils, warmth, music and defused light which fully transported me to a new and very relaxed place. A place I’d like to be a little more often!

In our post massage chat over a cup if Ayurvedic tea, I learnt about the organic and holistic approach that forms the basis of the Ayurveda Pura Spa. This unassuming spa really packs a punch in their offering and I was surprised by the breadth in their treatment menu, plus yoga courses, vegetarian café and their own range of certified organic Ayurvedic beauty products Holistic Essentials.

This one stop health and wellbeing gem in South East London could quickly become a weekly favourite, whether it would be popping in for a treatment or just a simple totally organic snack with friends post yoga class, the friendly atmosphere is completely un-intimidating and welcoming and this combined with deep professionalism and expertise really sets this place apart and should be on any health’s fanatics radar.

Ayurveda Pura, London
Health Spa & Beauty Centre
48 Newton Lodge
Oval Square
Wets Parkside
Greenwich Millennium Village
London SE10 0BA

http://www.ayurvedapura.com 

words by Laura Morris

The Colour Purple: Stylish Sportswear That Has One Thing In Common

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Be honest, your activewear collection is looking a bit lacklustre these days. With spring still months away and dark, gloomy mornings greeting you each day, no one blames you for dressing in a monochrome palette. When it comes to activewear, it’s such an easy choice to slip on your favourite black leggings and worn-in charcoal sweatshirt. However, with Pantone announcing the vibrant hue, Radiant Orchid as the official colour of 2014, why not add a dose of colour to the mix? Better than a jolt of morning caffeine, perk up your fitness regimen with a punchy pop of purple.

words and image by: Jen Mendenhall-Waldorf of StyleBomb

Splits59 Tank Top, £60:

http://www.hipandhealthy.co.uk/product/splits59-sabrina-razor-singlette-tank/

Puma Trainers, £30:

http://www.shop.puma.co.uk/R698-Future-Trainers/354999,en_GB,pd.html&q=sparkling%20grape&vid=#!i%3D10%26color%3D13_blackberry_cordial-white-sparkling_grape%26size%3DUK_13

Sweaty Betty Socks, £12:

http://www.sweatybetty.com/blister-resist-socks-prodsb103_spectral/

Lucas Hugh Tank Top, £75:

http://www.lucashugh.com/shop/sale/helium-tank.html

Sweaty Betty Swimsuit, £60:

http://www.sweatybetty.com/dolphin-swimsuit-prodsb074_rosashockingsiren/

Lululemon Yoga Towel, £35:

http://www.lululemon.co.uk/products/clothes-accessories/women-yoga-mats-and-props/The-Towel?cc=12189&skuId=uk_3522162&catId=women-yoga-mats-and-props

Zing Anything Water Bottle, $16.99:

http://zinganything.com/product/citruszinger

American Vintage Prairie State cotton-jersey sweatshirt, £80:

https://www.net-a-porter.com/product/409644

 

If you only do one thing this week… Become an Early Bird!

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We promise we haven’t gone crazy, but yes… we are indeed going to talk about the idea of embracing your inner early riser (gasp!!). It’s a fact, you all have that one friend who wakes up at the crack of dawn and seems to have this constant supply of energy and enthusiasm. While they’re singing in the shower after their “short” morning run, you’re still in bed groaning at the thought of getting out of your PJs. Sound familiar?

This week we want you to stop hitting the snooze button because there is so much more to mornings than feeling like you’re about to have a menopausal flush after sprinting, Usain Bolt style, after your train! It’s a chance to enjoy cooking yourself a healthy breakfast rather than shoving down a bowl of sugary cereal! Take time to prepare your meals and snacks for the day ahead instead of stressing about finding something nutritious to eat at work. Use the peacefulness of the morning to have some “you” time. Dust off that book you’ve been meaning to read for ages, or whip out your favourite nail polish and give your nails some TLC. Try getting in to work before the 9:30 rush. You’ll feel more productive with fewer distractions and you can finish earlier! How lovely does all of that sound? It does take some getting used to but don’t panic, H&H have got some handy tips to becoming an early bird.

Plan your morning routine
Making any kind of decision when you tired isn’t a good idea, especially one that involves getting up early! You’ll be making empty promises to yourself and the snooze button will definitely be getting some action the next morning! Whether it’s trying out a new breakfast recipe or having a full on get-ready-pamper-session, create a morning plan and figure out how you want to use your time.

Keep your alarm clock OUT of arms reach!
I found this tip particularly hard to change as my morning alarm consists of my phone. Having to place it out of arms reach felt really un-natural… (That’s bad isn’t it?) It means you have to physically get out of bed and I have to say it works at waking you up! If you can’t bare the thought of being apart from your beloved phone, invest in a separate alarm clock and make sure you place it on the other side of your room!

Have a shower
Nothing wakes you up more than a morning shower. It’s an instant fix for tired and foggy minds and it’s so invigorating. You go to work feeling clean and fresh, and any traces of “cosy bed syndrome” have been thoroughly washed away!

Awaken your body with some light exercise
Exercising in the morning is a very individual thing. Some thrive on the idea of running half a marathon before breakfast while others shove down a massive bowl of porridge before heading down to an early morning circuits class! The key is finding out what works best for you, it could be as simple as doing 10-15 minutes of yoga or stretching. Whatever it may be, giving you muscles a hello in the morning will help prepare your mind as well as your body for the coming day.

Slow and Steady wins the race
Becoming an early bird is like becoming a marathon runner; you can’t expect to be a pro straight off the bat! A good way to ease yourself into the early bird state of mind is to do it in stages. Try taking 15 minutes or so off your alarm every week to allow your body to adjust rather than shocking it by taking off hours!

word by Molly Jennings

image: www.hush-uk.com

Boots Make It Happen Twitter Chat – 6th February

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Questions at the ready – Join H&H and nonstopmama for a #bootsmakeithappen Twitter chat!

Hip, hip hooray… February is in full swing! Could it mean that spring is on its way? We hope so! Apart from the prospect of (ever so slightly) improved weather, February indicates the tipping point of the New Year’s get fit resolutions! It’s a cross road that many people face – give up or carry on? H&H’s passion is to always inspire people to carry on pursuing healthier and happier versions of themselves and we believe that getting through January is the hardest part!

Join us and nonstopmama on Thursday, 6th February from 12:30 – 1:30 for a #bootsmakeithappen Twitter chat! We want to know how you’ve been getting on and what keeps you motivated to stay on track with your goals. See you there!

http://www.boots.com/en/Pharmacy-Health/Health-shop/Diet-weight-loss/

The H&H Team

 

#bootsmakeithappen Twitter chat Terms and Conditions

 

  • This #bootsmakeithappen Twitter Chat pamper pack give-away is free to enter and no purchase is necessary
  • It is open to residents of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man), excluding employees and their families of the Promoter (Boots UK), its associated, affiliated or subsidiary companies and agents or anyone professionally connected with the promotion
  • Participants must be 18 years or over
  • Everyone who uses the hashtag #bootsmakeithappen will automatically be entered into the draw to receive a pamper pack. There will be five winners in total selected by Boots UK
  • The pamper pack consists of one of each of the following items:
    • No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour
    • Shapers Chocolate Caramel Bar
    • Shapers Sweet and Salty Popcorn
    • Botanics Relieving Bath Soak
    • No7 cocooning body balm
    • Boots Simply Sensitive Deeply Cleansing Face Mask
    • Shapers WATERVIT Daily Defence Still
    • Botanics All Bright Hydrating Day Cream
    • Boots Pharmaceuticals Re:Balance Dream Pillow Mist Lavender
    • The pamper pack’s contents may be changed due to circumstances out of the Promoter’s control, for products of the same or greater value
    • All winners will have used the hashtag #bootsmakeithappen with either a great weight loss and healthy eating tip or insight into their weight goal
    • All winners must be following either @jbadenh or @hipandhealthyuk
    • It is a condition of entry that all postings are subject to the terms and conditions. Submission of a posting will be taken to mean acceptance of the above rules and terms and conditions
    • You can open a FREE twitter account here: www.twitter.com
    • All entries must take place between 12:30 and 13:30 on Thursday 6th February 2014
    • Winners will be notified via DM to the Twitter account they used for the chat. They have 48 hours to respond and claim their pamper pack after being notified, after which time the pamper will be considered unclaimed and will be re-assigned using a random selection method
    • The Promoter may vary or amend the promotion at its absolute discretion
    • The Promoters accept no responsibility for technical difficulties which may result in tweets not appearing in the Twitter stream as viewed via Twitter.com and therefore not eligible
    • The Promoter is Boots UK Limited. Registered office: Nottingham NG2 3A
    • Tweets with the hashtag(s) may be used in promotional materials for Boots UK, used on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Pinterest and other social media platforms
    • Participation will be taken as agreement for use of material in this way
    • Events may occur that render the competition itself or the awarding of a pamper pack impossible due to reasons beyond the control of the Promoter and accordingly the Promoter may at its absolute discretion vary or amend the promotion and the entrant agrees that no liability shall attach to the Promoter as a result thereof

#bootsmakeithappen Updated invite

Three of the best UK Winter Spa Breaks

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Limewood
For the Sybaritic Spa Goer 

Late on a cold but clear winter’s afternoon there is nowhere I would rather be than steaming myself in Limewood’s deliciously hot outdoor pool. Raw green juice in one hand, a good book in the other and three of my best girlfriends surrounding me. This is what it feels like to be utterly relaxed. And yet just less than two hours ago I was immersed in the hectic hustle and bustle of London complete with traffic jam, work worries and a never-ending stream of emails on my mobile. But the moment I step over the threshold of Limewood’s impressive front door (it’s Regent exterior is both beautiful and imposing) I seem to be able to check in all the city stress with my baggage. Not my first visit to Limewood (I discovered this gem of a hotel back in spring) I head straight for the spa where every minute detail has been thought of. Fresh robe and flip flops waiting in each and every locker, bottles of water dotted around so that you never go thirsty, which is important when you while away the time yo-yoing between the sauna and steam room, and enough water jets, rain showers and hot stone beds to keep you amused for hours. If it is a treatment you’re after then you can take your pick from some of the best organic brands around. Then, once all that spa-ing has worked up quite an appetite (and we assure you it will) head over to the hotel’s famous Raw & Cured restaurant where the food is not just delicious but incredibly healthy too. We opt for, and consequently devour, a sharing board, which has three nutritious homemade dips; beetroot; sweet potato and sweet corn (my fave) and hummus. Washed down with a few more fresh juices and then followed by a dairy-free, wheat-free melt-in-your-mouth chocolate brownie… I still have dreams about that brownie.

If you can tear yourself away from the hotel’s sumptuous spa you’ll also discover its beautiful surroundings. Set amidst the New Forrest National Park, Limewood Hotel is a destination in itself. Wild ponies on the hotel’s doorstep, undulating hills unfolding at every turn and next door to a beautiful forest crisscrossed by cycle paths and meandering streams. A word on the rooms too – designed with comfort and style in mind, they are the archetypal home-away-from-home. We have a new saying amongst my group of girls ‘LBL’ which stands for Life Before Limewood, because after you stay here, your standards somewhat shift to a new level of luxury perhaps not experienced before.

Hip & Healthy Loves – The Pai Facial. You can’t get one anywhere else.

Stable Deluxe Room bathroom. (Stable E room 69) - Coworth Park (LOW RES - LANDSCAPE)

Coworth Park Hotel
Best For the Elegant Luxe Lover

Set in 240 acres of stunning parkland in Ascot, this magnificent country house is every bit luxurious. It mixes traditional country house style with modern textures and a palate or gorgeous neutral colours. The Mansion House rooms offer views over the woodlands with a Georgian charm while the Stable rooms (where I was lucky enough to stay) provide the perfect cosy, country feel with views over the courtyards manicured gardens. First on my to-do list was to head to the spa. I spent the most relaxing hour of my life in a spacious, airy top floor treatment room with a view to die for! Indulging yourself with a massage at Coworth Park is a must! I particularly loved my view from the cross trainer too. Floor to ceiling glass windows over looking beautiful green pastures? Yes please! I could have worked out all day! Staying on the ground floor is the indoor swimming pool with under water music…how cool is that? If you’re feeling peckish, grab a bite to eat in the Spatisserie where you’ll find breath-taking views over the hotel’s very own polo fields. Or if you fancy something lighter, sip away at one of their homemade smoothies in the relaxation room before grabbing a chauffeured golf buggy back to your room! It’s a tough life! As night falls, I would highly recommend spending your evening in The Barn where you can observe the chefs at work. Tuck in to some unbelievably delicious home grown country food while you keep warm by the open log fire. No ask is too big for Coworth Park and every person working there gives 100% effort to make your stay as pleasurable as possible. I challenge you not to fall head over heals in love with this charming hotel.

H&H Loves – The copper roll top baths! Request a room with one of these divine tubs and soak the night away covered in bubbles!

Spa - pod relaxtion room

Scarlet Hotel
For the Sumptuous Eco Couple 

Cornwall – England’s coastal heaven, is a destination not to be missed. A weekend in this utterly exquisite part of the country would not be complete without The Scarlet Hotel. A romantic weekend away in this gorgeous eco-hotel also wouldn’t be complete without my other half tagging along too – it didn’t take him a second to agree to accompany me! After a lovely scenic train journey we arrived at the Scarlet late afternoon. We were shown to our “Just Right” room, which was more than just right! Our bed faced the most stunning view of the Atlantic Ocean I think I’ve ever seen. We immediately stepped out on to our balcony to take it all in…inhaling the fresh, sea air and exhaling any reminders of the chaotic London life we left behind. After an impromptu evening swim in the indoor pool we made our way to their restaurant, where the menus are created on the day using fresh, local and seasonal ingredients. Back to the room, we decided to rent Eat, Pray, Love from the Hotel’s own DVD library (how very H&H!) but someone next to me fell asleep 15 minutes in so that didn’t quite happen! Men!

The next day we experienced The Scarlet’s most famous treatment, the cliff top hot tub. A 30-minute session in an outdoor hot tub over looking distant crashing waves and beautiful, green cliff tops, should definitely be top of your list. It’s a pinch-yourself kind of moment where you are reminded of just how beautiful the world is. It was by far the most breath-taking treatment I have ever had. This place oozes magnificence and beauty but without costing the planet. Let me tell you now, there is simply not enough space to explain every eco-friendly feature because I would be here forever! But boy have they thought of everything!! One of my favourites is their natural outdoor pool. It uses a living reed bed as a filtration system. Microorganisms and plants balance the chemistry of the water ensuring clean, clear and hygienic conditions for a close-to-nature swimming experience. They also collect rainwater to wash cars and to provide rinsing and washing facilities for wetsuits if you’ve gone surfing, or dirty wellington boots for those who love muddy winter hikes. This hotel’s challenge was to be luxurious without costing the planet. It certainly does that. Sustainable never felt so sumptuous.
H&H loves – Jasper, the hotel’s dog. Going for a walk? Take Jasper along too.

 

5 Tips to Gorgeous Skin…

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This is probably the best anti-aging advice I ever got, and I’m not exaggerating! You’re not going to believe how simple and obvious it is. And I’m certain it will improve your skin and health. First, please don’t get mad at me – I’ve got to give you a little bit of info so you don’t get lost. (For those of you who know this, please feel free to skip ahead to “Live Blood Cell Analysis.” Don’t worry, it doesn’t get gory.)

Let’s talk body pH for a second without getting too technical. The pH scale measures how acidic or basic a substance is within a range from 0 to 14. The midpoint marks a neutral state of 7.0. Alkaline, or basic, measures higher than 7.0; acid is lower than 7.0. Certain diseases, acne, eczema, psoriasis, wrinkles, blemishes, bacteria, fungus (oh you know, like mold, candida, and fun stuff like that), thrive in imbalanced acid-alkaline environments. On either side of the spectrum, if something is highly acidic, like battery acid, or highly alkaline, like lye found in household cleaning agents, it is called reactive. No wonder they are so damaging to our ecosystems, damaging pipes in our homes and, metaphorically speaking, in our bodies.

The pH of food doesn’t necessarily comply with its formation inside the body. Foods that are considered acidic before digestion (like lemons) become alkaline-forming in the body. A healthy body’s normal pH level is 7.365 (in blood), pretty close to neutral. Interestingly, skin is pH 5.5, slightly acidic. However, thanks to stress, coffee, tobacco, alcohol, processed foods (Le Big Mac, sodas, slurpies, yada yada yada), toxicity, and environmental pollution, we are exposed to waaaay more acidity than our bodies can assimilate. That means our bodies are constantly working overtime to get back to homeostasis.

Live Blood Cell Analysis

Am I preaching to the choir here? You probably know all about this, so I’ll get right to the nifty info that Rick Panson just shared with me. Among other cool vocations, Rick is a nutritional microbiologist and pioneer in analyzing living blood cells. He has spent ten years researching diseased and healthy cells under the microscope. It is amazing how much blood tells us! From just a few drops of blood (I promise, it didn’t hurt a bit and I’m squeamish), he told me that I had candida and was dehydrated, among other delightful nuisances. Then he asked me if I knew what to do about it.

No stranger to this lovely yeast playing happily in my body, I offered my educated answer: more probiotics, no more sugar, no wheat, and basically take EVERYTHING out of my food intake that I love! He gave me a satisfied look as if to say, “Lady, you don’t know the first thing about this, do you?” He proceeded to reach into his bag of tricks to produce several sheets of paper jam packed with information. And he told me the following.

What EVERY PERSON NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT RESTORING ALKALINITY TO OUR BODIES. And the first one is FREE!

STEP ONE: Breathing! Isn’t that the most obvious alkalizer in the entire world? That’s right. CO2, carbon dioxide, is the biggest acid your body eliminates daily (100X greater than other acids, according to Rick). If you are at a desk job most days, highly stressful situations, not getting enough sleep, worrying too much, and are bent over most of the day, you are probably taking shallow breaths. I know I am! You can alkalize your body by breathing deeply – inhaling vital oxygen – and focusing on the exhale, letting out the acid waste in the form of CO2.

STEP TWO: Drink quality water. This is another pretty obvious one that most of us (um, me!) don’t do enough. Drink at least half your body weight or one liter for every 30 lbs. After doing TONS of research for Clean Water’s Dirty Secret on Organic Lifestyle TV’s wonderful website, it’s blatant how important and scarce clean water truly is. In fact, not only does bottled water overuse resources to produce, distribute, AND recycle or dump, 98% of the water is acidic. Rick had these neat drops that tested water’s pH, so I gave him my Poland Spring bottled water that I plunked in my bag before heading into the city. Sure enough it scored a pH of 6.0, 10X more acidic than neutral pH.

Even when we added pH balancing drops to increase the water’s alkalinity, once he blew CO2 into the water, it turned acidic again. Ideally, it should stay alkaline. So even when I thought I was hydrating properly, I was actually fuelling the issue!

Though he doesn’t like bottled water at all, he favors these brands if you need water in a pinch:

  • Essentia
  • Icelandic
  • Evian
  • Fiji
  • Evamor
  • Vittel
  • Mt. Valley
  • Zephyrhills

He also nixed purified, reverse osmosis, and distilled water, not only for being acidic, but also for damaging alkalizing substance when it comes in contact with them. UGH! He recommended installing a good water ionizer like Kangen, a medical grade system. He told me my Aquasana filter was good but to STOP using my Britta filter because, you guessed it, it turns water acidic!

STEP THREE: Consume full-spectrum salts. Salt gets a bad rap in the traditional medical world, probably because regular table salts sold in supermarkets stink. But our blood is actually salty! Unprocessed and unheated salt provides a wonderful source of naturally occurring trace elements and minerals, like sodium, in addition to the other three alkalizing minerals: calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Baking soda, a.k.a. sodium bicarbonate, neutralizes acids in the body and can be used as a supplement too, he said. No wonder both salt and baking soda make a great sore throat gargle that works. My favorite salt these days is either Celtic Sea Salt or Pink Himalayan Sea Salt, which contains over 80 trace minerals. Helpful tip: natural salt is not white! It can be slightly gray, brownish, earth tones, or pink.

STEP FOUR: Use healthy fats & oils, as in no CRAP (Completely Refined And Processed). Many companies like to advertise their oils as having “No Cholesterol.” Aside from the fact that I don’t buy into the cholesterol myth at all, those oils have been completely adulterated and breed a slew of many other problems, making the “threat” of cholesterol pale in comparison. Trans fats are BIG no no’s. Enjoy nuts, seeds, avocado, and non-hydrogenated, unrefined, organic oils. Two favorite picks are: Chia seeds, high in omega 3’s, calcium, antioxidants, and fiber, and coconut oil, the superstar oil of the moment.

STEP FIVE: Go green. Start incorporating more green into your diet. Add green leafy vegetables rich in minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. These nutrients support beautiful skin thanks to the abundant vitamins like A, C, K, . Spirulina, chlorella, and green powders help absorb and eliminate toxins from the body. I hope you’re getting why I found this information to be invaluable. By maintaining a balanced pH in the body, skin issues from acne to wrinkles vanish. It really can be so simple. These steps lay the foundation for a healthier lifestyle. Once these cornerstones solidify, making dietary changes like reducing sugar and coffee intake, exercising, and supplementing appropriately further enhance results.

Words by Sarita Coren

Full disclosure: Sarita has no ties or affiliation with Rick Panson other than being intrigued by the information. The MANY opinions on water filtration methods amaze and confuse her. The main goal is to drink clean, filtered water in glass or metal reusable bottles. The pH level is a matter of preference determined by your own research. Not everyone is overly acidic either!