Journal

Raw Vegan CBD Bliss Balls: Chocolate Orange, Turmeric and Raspberry ?

CBD, derived from the hemp plant.

I created these Raw Ginger Bread and Black Beauty bliss balls before which don’t contain CBD, although you can also make all of the snacks below without CBD. I made these CBD infused raw vegan bliss balls for the LDN CBD launch with Hempen double infused coconut oil ✨?

Turmeric Cashew Filling with Turmeric and Black Sesame Topping

Raw Vegan CBD Bliss Balls by notetoiris

Chocolate Orange Filling with Orange Peel and Goji Berry Topping

Raw Vegan CBD Bliss Balls by notetoiris

Raspberry Coconut Filling with Pistachio Topping

Raw Vegan CBD Bliss Balls: Chocolate Orange, Turmeric and Raspberry

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July 7, 2018

Journal Life

Turn Toxins to Oxygen! Air-Purifying Plants For Your Home ?

written by notetoiris

Breath, De-stress & Grow. That’s just what the doctor ordered for the rest of my pregnancy. Bloombox indoor plants subscription boxes to the rescue!

Plants have sort of always been my thing. When I was little, my job was to water the plants, this to avoid that my mum would neglect them 😉

After working with flora and fauna in lots of different ways (strawberry, tomato and cucumber fields in the summer when I was a teenager to managing a cute florist and gift shop in Peckham) I now realise that I currently don’t have a lot of plants in my life, even though my home is my office… I’m writing this from my tiny desk in my flat with the view of the station and shopping street, people seem to be rushing to catch their train and connections back into central London.

Bloombox Plants Subscription by notetoiris

Indoor plants are proven to purify the air

Given that people nowadays spend over 90% of their time indoors, air quality should matter to all of us. Especially living in London, I find that the car exhausts and general pollution seeps into our home, living just off the south circular…

Good news is that there is a natural solution to combat the presence of that and it comes straight from the natural world. Plants are known to purify the air, making them part of what NASA calls “nature’s life support system.”

Bloombox Plants Pots by notetoiris

I love the colour and texture combination of these plant pots that came with my delivery.

Ready to Purify Your Home? Get The Indoor Subscription Box

The lovely people over at Bloombox Club have put together an Indoor Plants Box that contains all listed in this article for those of you who want to take action now and have them effortlessly delivered right to your front door (and at a great price we might add—buying quality plants like these individually can get expensive quickly).

Bloombox Club Plant Subscriptions by notetoiris Bloombox Club Plants Subscription Box by notetoiris

When it comes to having air cleaning plants in your home, the rule of thumb is the more the better. Each plant pumps out lots of fresh oxygen and cleans toxins and harmful VOC’s out of the air just how nature intended. If you are ready to go all in and upgrade your indoor air quality then this is for you.

Use discount code ‘IC15’ at checkout for 15% off everything on the Bloombox website.

June 19, 2018

Journal Motherhood

What I Ate During My First Trimester of Pregnancy (Vegan) ??

written by notetoiris

For my first trimester I counted myself pretty lucky, I only had mild nausea spells in the mornings… By being able to rest, eating mostly raw vegan diet and continuing exercising it felt very manageable. I know not everyone feels like they’re on a pink cloud but I thought I’d share what was helpful for me and maybe it’ll be helpful for you too!

Always travel with a bottle of water! And a snack.

I felt the most nauseous I’ve ever felt in transport, while I never feel car-sick, I certainly did now. Travelling with a bottle of water to hand and an apple/banana, some crackers and possible a healthy snack bar, all turned out to be life-savers for me.

Breakfast, most important meal of the day.

Although it was sometimes a struggle keeping anything in, especially in the mornings, I force fed myself a bowl of oats with fruit every morning. Your body is craving fuel and sometimes you think you’re feeling nauseous but you might just be hungry…

Breakfast in my first trimester of pregnancy by notetoiris

Juicing, especially with adding fresh ginger.

I read somewhere that ginger is a great natural remedy to nausea and therefor morning sickness! I love ginger and I know it’s not everyones cup of tea. Try adding a little bit of ginger at a time if you’re not into spicy foods.

Also green juices are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals when you’re finding it hard to eat. Make sure they are full of dark green leafy vegetables.

Rest as much as you can!

“Even when you’re not sleeping, you are resting” is what my family used to say. It couldn’t be more true now. I find it hard to take a nap during the day but I do love to read a book or listen to a podcast. This also relaxes you, try not to watch tv or your phone during your time of relaxation. You can also try meditation or yoga for pregnancy which I both find very helpful to center myself.

Exercise, even when you only want to rest.

By going for a walk or breaking a sweat at least once a day, you make sure that you’re readying yourself for the birth of your child. If you’re not into weightlifting (which I struggle with at times) try using your body weight only by doing exercises like squats, press ups, donkey kicks etc.

Bye for now, from me and the bump x

Pregnancy Announcement - First trimester notetoiris

June 4, 2018

Journal Motherhood

Pregnancy Announcement – Vegan Baby On The Way!

written by notetoiris

We are expecting a little bubba!

You might have noticed I’ve been quiet on my Instagram lately and I’m sorry if I cancelled last minute to catch up, I’ve been a little preoccupied…
Later this year, for our 5 year anniversary, we’ll receive the gift of life, a new life for us 3 ?? So excited to share this special time with you all!
First scan went well, we’ll have a healthy vegan bubba end of this year ✨

Pregnancy Announcement notetoiris

Pregnancy announcement first photographs!

May 29, 2018

Journal Tech

How Crowdfire Fired Up My Blog Traffic In 5 Simple Steps

written by notetoiris

Crowdfire is an app that helps you discover and schedule content. It combines all my social media channels in one handy app. The sleek and simple interface is key to why I use it daily.

Are you time poor but still want to grow all your socials? Then these tips are for you!

Boost your followers by being at the right place at the right time: I have optimised my Twitter and Facebook following by using the Crowdfire app to help me follow the right people and posting at the right time. It’s easy seeing who has followed and unfollowed me.
Content is where it is at: By publishing carefully curated content to my followers at an automated optimum time, it took away the hassle of finding content and then filling in the specific time and date to post it on. Scheduled content is the way forward if you want to save time!
Once, twice, three times lucky: In between content of others I can easily schedule my own blog posts to tweet at an optimum time, 3 times a month. As soon as I publish a blog post I will get a notification to share it on my social media channels. With other apps I get tired of all the uninteresting notifications but with Crowdfire it’s to the point and useful. Even funny at times as the bot if fun and friendly.
Add your own Feed: Additionally you can add your own RSS feeds. I am currently not using this function but I probably should 😉 Let me know if you’ve got any tips on RSS Feeds.
And last but not least!
Increase productivity by eliminating distractions: Using the app has made me more productive for sure. I used to spend hours searching on Google news for content which is now minimised to using Crowdfire for 15 minutes a day! Linking all my social media accounts to each other has saved me a lot of time. Can not recommend it enough. Specially if you are a blogger or a small business owner.

Crowdfire works with Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, WordPress, Etsy, Shopify, Medium, 500px, Vimeo and many more platforms.

I’m also a big fan of the Crowdfire blog and you can read one of my fav posts: 21 Instagram Post Ideas to help your Creative Block. If you are on the gram make sure to follow me: @notetoiris and @crowdfire

Crowdfire has 19 Million users worldwide and I love how it really feels like a community, see you there 🙂

Let me know if you have any more questions and follow me on Twitter: @notetoiris

March 1, 2018

Food & Drink Journal Restaurants Travel

A Vegan Twist On Traditional French Cuisine at Aubaine

written by notetoiris

One of the many perks of living in London is the endless options of cafes, brunch spots and dinner plans. This did change a little when we first went vegan, our options became very limited and we stopped going out as we were bored of the bowl of chips with a side salad…

Nowadays we, I must say, are spoiled for choice. Fair enough we don’t have a vegan cafe on every corner but there are vegan options on the high street as well as in supermarket and restaurants. The fact that Aubaine, a traditionally French restaurant in the heart of Mayfair, is providing a full vegan menu means change is here to stay. People often ask me if I’m going with the trend, the mainstream, following a diet to stay slim. It is true that the louder the voices, the more I could no longer keep my head in the sand and deny the unsustainable torture of planet, humans and animals. Following my heart is the best thing I’ve ever done and now also the tastiest 🙂

Aubaine

The Aubaine Veganuary menu was a lovely surprise. The portobello mushroom and black bean burger is one of the best bean burgers I’ve ever had, not dry, great taste and texture.

Couldn’t recommend the raw Peruvian organic chocolate and raspberry brownie enough! Although it is very decadent (I sure didn’t mind as I ate both desserts ?) The raspberry sorbet is fresh and compliments it very well.

Beetroot tartare by notetoiris

Beetroot and apple tartare with avocado and orange dressing

Roasted cauliflower by notetoiris

Roasted cauliflower with turmeric, smoked paprika, pine nuts and pomegranate

Mushroom bourgignois by notetoiris

Mushroom bourguignon with mashed potato and carrot bacon

Portobello and black bean burger by notetoiris

Portobello and black bean burger with French fries

Polenta and plum cake (Vegan) by notetoiris

Polenta and poached plum cake with mandarin sorbet

Brownie by Aubaine

Raw Peruvian chocolate and raspberry brownie with raspberry sorbet

Aubaine have also sourced a fantastic vegan wine: Muscat/Viognier 2016 vintage, light and fresh.

Green juice at Aubaine by notetoiris

Green juice and the Veganuary menu which will be continued in February

Desserts by Aubaine

And yes, I ate both desserts… ☕️

February 16, 2018

Jonathan Pielmayer, vegan, pasta, macaroni

Dishes Food & Drink Journal Recipes Veganise

Super Creamy Easy Vegan Mac & “Cheese”

written by notetoiris

Vegan comfort food at its finest, this tasty vegan mac and cheese is made with butternut squash, carrots and other real-food ingredients. No weird stuff here – just natural macaroni and cheese-like deliciousness!

Mac and Cheese has always been a favourite since meeting my partner Joel. When we met, he made it with indulgent dairy cheese and I remember we (almost) fell a sleep straight away after eating it! Now we make it with vegan dairy free cheese and it’s still indulgent but without the food naps…

I’ve been contemplating giving it a plant-based and healthy make over for a while now. Creating a sauce from cooked butternut squash and carrots as the base of the the creaminess. You could also use sweet potato instead of carrots. Adding a bit of nutiva coconut manna to make it a little more decadent plus you have the option of adding vegan dairy free cheese on top for that little extra 😉 The good thing about using this coconut butter, it’s organic and 100% coconut! Check the back of canned coconut milk and you’ll find lots of ingredients and usually only 50-70% coconut…

This recipe is perfect for getting children or fussy adults to eat more veg. The carrots give it a natural sweetness 🙂

Let me know how you get on and if you decided to change some of the ingredients around to your own taste! You could add fresh chopped chilli for instance and make it spicy.

Super Creamy Easy Vegan Mac &

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Serves: 4 Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cooking Time: 25 Minutes

Ingredients

8 ounces macaroni pasta (penne, shells and rotini are also good)
1/2 small butternut squash diced (3 cups )
2 medium carrots (or 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and diced, about 2 cups)
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1/2 medium chopped onion (about 1 cup)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon mustard of choice
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon mixed herbs
1 teaspoon sea salt + more to taste
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper + more to taste
1/2 cup vegetable broth (or use the boiling water you used to cook the butternut squash)
3/4 cup coconut butter (or use coconut milk: the sauce may just be a bit thinner)
1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon soy sauce, to taste

Instructions

Fill a large pot 2/3 full with water and place over high heat. Once boiling, add a few generous pinches of salt and add the pasta. Cook according to the time on the package until al dente. Drain and return to pan (off heat). Set aside.
While the pasta is cooking, fill another large pot 2/3 full with water and place over high heat. Add the squash and carrots. Bring to a boil and cook until the veggies are fork-tender, 7-8 minutes. Drain and add to the pitcher of a heat-proof, high-powered blender (or a normal blender). Set aside.
Place a medium saute pan over medium heat. When hot, add the coconut oil. Add the onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for another minute. Add the mustard, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir. Remove from heat. Pour in the vegetable broth and stir to release any of the browned bits of onion and spices. Pour into blender pitcher. Add coconut butter and 1 teaspoon soy sauce. Puree until completely smooth. Taste and add additional soy sauce, a teaspoon at a time, to taste, along with more salt and pepper if desired.
Pour sauce over cooked pasta in the pan. This recipe makes a lot of sauce (because I like it saucy!) so you might not want to use it all. Stir gently with a wooden spoon until all of the pasta is coated.
Add grated dairy free cheese on the top of your oven dish if you want that extra indulgent and place under the hot grill for 10 minutes. Serve…

Notes

If you would like to add nutritional yeast to the sauce, I found 2 tablespoons to be a good amount. Just add it with the sauce and blend.

June 6, 2017

Journal

Sacred Elephant: Incense That Make Sense

written by notetoiris

Handcrafted luxury incense traditionally prepared using only the purest, highest quality ingredients provided by nature.

Made by Sacred Elephant, according to timeless recipes handed down through the generations. A clean, smooth burning incense that transports you to another world with luxurious fragrances to suit your every mood or meditation.

I personally love the Agarwood which smells heavenly and is made of Assam Agarwood oil. This deep and sensuous aroma in the house is perfect for a romantic night in…

There are also lovely packages which make for great gifts:

Ethically produced, vegan and made with pure essential oils, what’s not to love?

January 20, 2017

Breakfast Food & Drink Journal

Not Another Boring Breakfast… Granola to the Rescue!

written by notetoiris

The Living Food Kitchen, established in 2009, believes that loving what you eat for breakfast is essential to feeling good. Based on wholesome, natural, living food, provided by nature. They look to incorporate the goodness provided by nature in to great tasting snacks. All their food is therefore plant based, 100% natural and, where possible, organic.

The Buckwheat is slowly dehydrated to preserve the plant’s enzymes and nutrients. Perfect as a snack, sprinkled on yoghurt or soaked in almond milk. Here’s a few variations for you to be inspired by:

• Raw Apple and Cinnamon

• Raw Blueberry and Banana

• Raw Cocoa and Vanilla

• Raw Sprouted Buckwheat

You can get these nutritious granolas delivered straight to your door through www.thelivingfoodkitchen.com, or purchase at Wholefoods, Planet Organic and Selfridges.

January 15, 2017

Fitness Journal

Fitbit, a Bit

written by notetoiris

It is January. It has actually happened, we are now well in 2017. Time has gone by so fast, as I say every year, while summing up my new years resolutions. This year however, I am on my booty like Kanye is on Kim’s. Together with my new Fitbit!

Starting off with this little new friend I have from Fitbit. Meet my new Fitbit Alpa, I have called it Frederick. We have set off on this fitness journey together and like any good fitness buddy, he nags me when I don’t do as I promised. I have set myself very basic goals of walking 250 steps per hour between the hours of 9AM and 5PM. And a daily step goal of 5,000 which supposedly should be at least 10,000.

Luckily you can earn badges and trophies so I can spur myself on with winning things and showing off to my friends! We are millennials after all…

Another good thing about me getting an interactive watch is that I get text and call alerts so I no longer need to carry my phone around the gym. Plus my grandmother is specifically happy about this feature, no more excuses.

You can befriend me on Fitbit and challenge me for a duel, send me a DM on Twitter. For now it is just me and Frederick, we will update you in good time, hopefully with booty progress pictures 😉

January 3, 2017

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