Losing weight with The Diet Plate

July 9, 2017July 10, 2017Leave a comment

If you are one of my loyal followers then I am sure that you have realised that I may have put on a bit of weight recently… I was travelling a lot, eating a lot of unhealthy food and didn’t have much time to exercise. It is the beginning of June though and as I am planning to go for my holidays in September or October this year, I’ve decided it’s time to start doing something about my weigh.

First step was to re-join my gym. I really enjoy exercising in the morning before work and it gives me some extra energy to face a day ahead. It’s always nice to have something accomplished by the time I get to the office.

Secondly, I did some research and this time I decided to start a diet plan that I would stick to, in order to achieve my dream weight. I came across the Diet Plate.

PLATE ONLY RANGE Small

It is a visual method of weight loss by controlling the portions sizes and adjusting the nutritional food values directly at the point of serving your food. I really liked that concept because it means that I can have most foods and as long as I follow the portion sizes. It also means that I do not have to cook something separately and can have a dinner with my husband eating the same food. What else could I ask for?
I have also read that The Diet Plate was clinically trialled and the results state that anyone using it is 6 times more likely to lose weight rather than going it alone. The endocrinologist Dr Sue Pedersen from the University of Calgary, said the results were “outstanding and ground breaking!”.
The Women’s Complete Set of plates costs only £31.99 and is dishwasher and microwave safe.

How to use it?

Step 1 -get your own set of plates:

femalebowl & booklet NEW

Step 2 – Learn how to use your plates:

How to use plate

3. Fill in the plate and enjoy:

finished plate

Thirdly, I joined The Diet Plate® online programme which works independently or with the Diet Plate set. It has taken 3 years of development and what I love the most about this programme is that when you join it you can decide how much weight you wish to lose and how quickly you wish to achieve it. Consequently, the programme calculates how long it will take you to reach your ideal weight so you know it from the start of your weight loss adventure. I’ve been using it for a few weeks now and I can see a steady weight loss.
What’s great is that The Diet Plate® online programme works for anyone so you can use it. It doesn’t matter if you are underweight and wish to gain weight or if you wish to lose weight or maintain goal weight. It is very personal and it almost feels like you are using a personal dietician. I love the dashboards that display a lot of important information and help me make informed choices. I am able to see the nutritional content of my food at a glance and combine foods together i.e. for salad you can add all its components and it will display the overall nutritional KCAL value. In addition, I found them quite motivating as they display a break down with lots of short term goals that show how far I’ve come. You can access it from any device that has an Internet connection.
The programme is extremely affordable and you can decide how long you wish to register for.

Results:
I’ve been using the plan for a couple of weeks now and I love it. I can see a steady weight loss and as long as I manage my portion size and do not exceed my calories allowance I can eat whatever I wish to. The Diet Plate online programme is the best diet plan I’ve ever used and a set of Diet plates should become a kitchen must-have for anyone who wishes to lose or gain a bit of weight.

Website:

You can learn more about the programme and purchase it on the official website:

http://www.thedietplate.com/

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

Pauline

Tried and Tested: Jan Marini Rejuvenate & Protect Duo

July 7, 2017July 9, 2017Leave a comment

Today I would like to tell you about the Jan Marini Rejuvenate & Protect Serum and Moisturiser that I’ve tried recently. I love trying new products so I was really looking forward to trying this range.

Firstly, I applied C-ESTA Serum based on vitamin C and DMAE – a powerful antioxidant cocktail which neutralizes free radicals to prevent skin cell damage. Other ingredients of this serum include: Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamins (B6 & E), Tyrosine and Zinc. They are great if you wish to prevent premature signs of aging, including fine lines and wrinkles. C-ESTA Serum is a perfect solution for younger, healthier looking skin and it protects your skin against future damage. In addition, Hyaluronic Acid stimulates collagen production for firmer, more resilient skin.

Secondly, I applied Jan Marini Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant over my Elemis moisturiser. It is a great weightless, daily face sunscreen that provides both UVA and UVB protection. This invisible revolutionary shield offers unequalled skin protection against toxins and decrease the risk of cancer and early skin aging caused by the sun. Jan Marini Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant is fast-absorbing and it contains microscopic particles for additional oil control. It can be worn with or without makeup.

jan-marini-rejuvenate-protect-duo-d21

Price:

£95.00 for both products and currently you can also get a free cleanser if you purchase a set.

Website:

https://www.dermacaredirect.co.uk/jan-marini-rejuvenate-protect.html

Overall result:

I have been using Jan Marini Rejuvenate & Protect Duo for over 3 weeks now. My skin looks radiant and has a more even tone. I have a combination skin so I was worried at first whether the products will be too heavy but they are both suitable for all skin types and absorb quickly.
My skin looks younger and I’ve already seen an improvement. My fine lines seem less visible and my skin is lastingly glowing with youthful beauty. I even declined to wear make-up over the weekend as I like how radiant and fresh I look.

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

Pauline

2017 Summer Must-haves

July 2, 2017June 29, 2017Leave a comment

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you’re having a great weekend! As I started preparing for my summer holidays I put together a short ‘2017 Summer Must-haves’ list. I hope you will find it useful and it will give you some inspiration on the products worth getting this season.

1. me&i Summer Dress

I recently came across me&i and liked their summer collection of dresses. me&i was founded in 2004 from the kitchen table in Barsebäck, Southern Sweden and since then grew massively. As of now, the company has 850 sales representatives who bring the brand and the clothes to their client’s houses. According to the website: ‘me&i is a Swedish clothing company that makes clothes with a unique design and comfortable fit.’ All products are made using high quality soft materials and are manufactured in Portugal and Turkey. me&i launches new kids’ and womenswear’ collections twice a year- one kids’ collection and one women’s collection.

I decided to order a lively, slim- fit dress with dotty diagonal stripes. The dress has a sleeveless boat-neck and is draped at the side for a flattering fit. What I like the most about it is that you can adjust the length from calf-length to short meaning that you can adopt it for everyday wear as well as for smart occasions. As it was extremely warm and sunny in London last week, wore it on its own when I went for a lunch with one of my friends and then on another day I paired it with a simple PhaseEight jacket and wore it to work. If you are looking for a comfortable, affordable, high quality clothes than you should definitely check me&i’s website:

http://www.meandi.com/en

2. A perfect Japonesque – Brow Kit

In a search for a few summer and travel friendly products I came across a Brow Kit from
Japonesque. This beautiful set contains the professional crafting tools including:
– tweezer- to get rid of any unwanted hair;
– brow powders- to provide your eyebrows with some definition;
– wax and gel for perfect setting and finishing touch.
This summery set comes in a pink, travel friendly, small compact that not only looks
stylish but also contains a high-quality travel version of all eyebrow essentials:

https://face.co.uk/collections/japonesque/products/japonesque-brow-kit

japonesque-brow-kit-3_grande 3. Nomad Design Eye Masks

All of us need some pampering and Nomand Design has some lovely lavender scented and velvet backed eye masks. They are the perfect accessory to to keep you looking and
feeling fresh. The masks will help you ensure that rested and ready to face a next day ahead. I believe in aromatherapy so I loved the concept behind the mask to combine a luxurious mask and lavender aromas that help to unwind and encourage sleep. The masks are made from the traditional silk Ikat. The masks are hand dyed and handwoven by weavers in Uzbekistan and come in a selection of four jewel colours. I got a pink masks and it looks very glamorous!

raspberry-frankie-ikat-eye-mask-nomad-design

The collection is available on Nomad Design’s website:

https://www.nomaddesign.co.uk/eye-masks/

I love all 3 products from this Summer Must-haves list and I hope you will like them as much as I do.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

Pauline

Tried and Tested: SkinYoga Face Scrub

June 18, 2017June 17, 2017Leave a comment

I have recently received a box of Almond Orange Face Scrub from SkinYoga.

almond_orange_face_scrub_large

SkinYoga range is 100% natural skincare that was created for people who wish to move into a more natural lifestyle. All products are fragrance-free, preservative-free and paraben-free and they are inspired from ancient times to be adopted in our modern day lifestyle.

SkinYoga Almond Orange Face Scrub comes in a lovely wooden box so it is perfect for a gift. This luxurious at home facial spa treatment is vegan friendly and contains: Almond Meal, Dried Orange Peel, Chickpea flour, Organic Turmeric. The ingredients of this lavish Face Scrub will make your skin smoother, softer, hydrated. The product aims in de-tanning, pigmentation and helps your skin tone to become more even.

Application:

This luxurious facial scrub can be used for daily cleansing or as a mask. I decided to use it as a cleanser during the evening. The website recommends to take 1 teaspoon and mix it with hot water to bind ingredients until a thick paste is formed. I applied it thickly, and after I massaged it into my skin for around a minute, I rinsed it off to uncover a clean, smooth looking

Skin type:

SkinYoga Almond Orange Face Scrub has been formulated for all skin types.

Price:

£24.00 for a 50g jar

Website:

https://www.skinyoga.co.uk/

Overall result:

I have never tried any SkinYoga products before so I was really pleased with the results I achieved with this 100% natural face scrub. I am using it daily now during the evening and my skin is soft, smooth and it looks glowing. I would love to try some more products from SkinYoga range soon!

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

Pauline

J W Marriott hotel, Washington D.C.

June 16, 2017June 28, 2017Leave a comment

Last week, I was in Washington D.C. and stayed at the 4* J W Marriott Hotel.

Location:

J W Marriott Hotel is perfectly situated just a couple of minutes walk from the White House in the heart of downtown Washington D.C. . It has a perfect location as it is close to all the major sights and museums of Washington, steps from the U.S. Capitol and a short 5-minutes walk from the National Mall.

Service:

The reception desk is open 24 hours. The service was friendly, attentive and always happy to suggest the places to visit or restaurants to dine in.

Rooms:

I stayed on the 2th floor in room 225 which features some breath-taking views of downtown. The room was chic, comfortable and it was furnished with a spacious desk, modern armchair to rest on and a comfortable king-size bed.

The room was also equipped with Air Conditioning, flat-screen TV with satellite channels and a minibar.

There is Wi-Fi connection to Internet available throughout the Hotel at an extra charge of $12.95 per night.

Bathroom:

Our marble bathroom had a beautiful modern décor, a bathtub and a shower.

There was a selection of natural bath toiletries provided.

Facilities:

Breakfast is offered for a surcharge and provides a selection of cold and warm dishes to choose from and costs $26 per person per night.

All hotel guests have a complimentary access to the heated swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna and fitness area. There are 2 restaurants available to dine in-Avenue Grill and 1331 Lounge. In addition, all guests can grab a coffee at Sturbucks located on a ground floor past reception to recharge their energy levels.

Overall experience:

J W Marriott Hotel offers everything you need for a wonderful visit to Washington- a great location, friendly staff and comfortable rooms.

Website:

For more information and to book visit:

https://www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/travel/wasjw-jw-marriott-washington-dc/

Address:

1331 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington District Of Columbia

20004 USA

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

Pauline

Esplanade Zagreb Hotel, Croatia

June 11, 2017June 28, 2017Leave a comment

A few weeks ago, I visited Zagreb in Croatia with my husband. We decided to stay at the 5* Esplanade Zagreb Hotel.

Location:

Esplanade Zagreb Hotel is situated just few minutes away from the heart of historic Old Town center of Zagreb. It has a good location for anyone wishing to do a bit of sightseeing as it is close to all its major sights.

Service:

The reception desk is open 24 hours. When we arrived we went straight to the receptionist to check in. We were welcomed by quite a grumpy receptionist… Throughout our stay, we were disappointed with the friendliness of the staff and none of them smiled. I was surprised as most of the exclusive hotels I stay in have extremely friendly staff which wasn’t a case in Esplanade.

Rooms:

Esplanade Hotel dates back to 1925 and is one of the most famous buildings in Zagreb.

It is famous for welcoming many distinguished gusts such as presidents, politicians, film stars and musicians. Esplanade Zagreb Hotel has 208 rooms and suites. We stayed on the 4th floor in room 404.

Our room was elegant, spacious and offered traditional art deco suroundings. It was furnished with soft carpets, spacious desk, modern armchairs and a comfortable king-size bed. The walls were decorated with some basic paintings.

Our room was also equipped with Air Conditioning, flat-screen TV with satellite channels and a minibar. There was a free Wi-Fi connection to Internet available.

Bathroom:

Our marble bathroom had a classic décor, a bathtub and a shower.

There was a selection of natural bath toiletries from L’Occitaine collection.

Facilities:

Breakfast is offered for a surcharge and provides a selection of cold and warm dishes to choose from. As my husband doesn’t normally eat breakfasts, we decided to skip it as it was around £20 per person per night.

All guests have access o the health club and the use of sauna and fitness area is free to all guests staying at the hotel. The Hotel doesn’t have a swimming pool.

Overall experience:

Esplanade Zagreb Hotel has a great location, comfortable rooms and nice small relaxation area. There is also a couple of restaurants on site if you are too lazy to walk to the city centre. The only negative aspect of our stay was the service we received and I hope that it will improve as other than that the hotel has the facilities to enable anyone to have an enjoyable stay.

Website:

For more information and to book visit:

http://www.esplanade.hr/

Address:

Mihanovićeva ul. 1,

10000, Zagreb,

Croatia

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

Pauline

Dinner at Vinodol restaurant in Zagreb, Croatia

June 9, 2017June 15, 2017Leave a comment

A couple of weeks ago, I was with my husband in Zagreb in Croatia. On our last evening, we booked a table at the popular local restaurant – Vinodol.

Location:

Vinodol Restaurant is located in the city’s center on Nikole Tesle’s street.

Atmosphere:

Vinodol Restaurant serves meals that are prepared according to traditional recipes, with a modern approach. The restaurant has a large inside area that can hold up to 180 guest in addition to a green and spacious outdoor terrace that sits 100.

The atmosphere of the restaurant is warm and inviting. We were welcomed by Lucy who was attending our table through the night. She was really friendly and professional.

The menu:

All guests can choose from A La Carte as well as great daily menus made from selected fresh seasonal foods. They both looked great. We decided to have a glass of Prosecco to start with while considering what we should have.

Starters:

While sipping our Prosecco, we decided to order some asparagus, shrimp and wild mushroom risotto from a daily menu. It was delectable and I wish I could recreate it at home.

Mains:

There was a great choice of mains on the menu. We asked our friendly waitress for a recommendation as we couldn’t decide and agreed to share some lamb prepared on spit from Cres island.

It was really tasty and tender. It also came with a couple of sides and some potatoes.

Desserts:

We were full after having our starters and mains but we still decided to try some desserts: some hazelnut fantasy cake and a creme carmel. They were both delicious but the hazelnut cake was simply amazing! It was definitely the best cake I’ve tried so far this year and you should definitely try it if you visit Vinodol.

Overall experience:

We both had a lovely time Vinodol as the restaurant serves delicious food based on fresh, seasonal ingredients. I loved my hazelnut cake and will definitely reccommend it to anyone with a sweet tooth. The service was really friendly, restaurant is located in a city center and it serves great quality, traditional and Mediterranean food with a modern influence so I would definitely visit it again.

Website:

For more information and to book visit:

http://www.vinodol-zg.hr/en/

Address:

Ul. Nikole Tesle 10,

10000 Zagreb, Croatia

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

Pauline

A Summer Ball at the golf club

June 7, 2017June 15, 20171 Comment

SAMSUNG DIGITAL CAMERA

A while ago I was privileged enough to attend a Summer Ball at the golf club my fiancé’s father is a member of. A lot of club members and their guest joined and we were all treated to a night of amazing food, great music and networking. The waiting staff ensured that we were all refreshed and ready to dance the night away.

SAMSUNG DIGITAL CAMERA

The marquee looked absolutely stunning with white decoration and a magnificent table centre pieces. The dance floor was continually occupied with a variety of music provided by a live band playing some of the most popular hits from the 70s and 80s era.

SAMSUNG DIGITAL CAMERA

I am looking forward to attending another Summer Ball this year!

OGX Beauty bamboo fiber-full range

June 4, 2017May 21, 2017Leave a comment

I love trying new beauty and haircare products and today I would love to tell you about OGX Beauty Bamboo Fiber -full range . Ogx is the first to bring the fiber from the bamboo plant and soy proteins which attach to hair strands to help you create thick hair that’s full of volume and smells fresh.

bamboo-fiber set

For best results, all products in this collection should be used together so I decided to try:

1. OGX Beauty Bamboo Fiber Shampoo. Its powerful formula blends bamboo fibres and soy proteins to help your hair appear healthy and full of volume. Size: 385 ml.

bamboo-fiber-shampoo

2. OGX Beauty Bamboo Fiber Conditioner. This lightweight conditioner not only smells great but it also detangles fine and fragile hair. Similarly to shampoo this conditioner blends bamboo fibres and soy proteins to help your hair appear healthy and full of volume . Size: 385 ml.

bamboo-fiber-conditioner

3. OGX Beauty Bamboo Fiber-Full Thickening Root Booster. This hair thickening spray helps makes fine hair look and feel stronger, healthier and fuller hair. Size: 118 ml.

Result:

I’ve been using the whole range for almost a month and my hair not only smells lovely but also looks healthy and full of volume. In addition, it is based on natural ingredients and it is very reasonably priced so you should definitely give it a go.

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

Pauline

Holiday destinations: Brussels, Belgium

June 2, 2017September 16, 20214 Comments

I’ve visited Brussels on the multiple occasions and I always like returning to this city made famous by its French fries, waffles, seafood and beer.

240644_2014481772425_3549509_o

Brussels is the largest city and a capital of Belgium. It has a population of 1.2 million and it has been increasingly becoming multilingual with increasing numbers of migrants, expatriates and minority groups speaking their own languages.

Historically it was a Dutch-speaking city, it has seen a language shift to French from the late 19th century onwards.

253465_2014425251012_6604269_n

Today the majority language is French however all road signs, street names and many services are shown in both languages. If you fancy a short break then Brussels is a great destination as it is only 2 hours away on the Eurostar.