Coconut Oil Beauty Recipes: Products You’ll Want To Eat

Coconut Oil – This tropical oil has become widely talked about the past few years. The versatility and health benefits of coconut oil are endless. The popularity has probably risen due to the low cost and it’s endless uses.

Many people want a reliable and versatile product they can trust, (of course) but did you know that Coconut Oil has got hundreds of different uses? From cleaning the home to cooking and using in you skincare? There would be an endless list of what coconut oil can be used for.

When I started using Coconut Oil (2 years ago) I can honestly say I was blown away by the results as well as my savings. I’m currently using it during my pregnancy to help with stretch marks, it’s fantastic! I have also been eliminating harsh chemicals (daily) and saved money from costly moisturisers and makeup removers. Who doesn’t want that?

I have set up a list for you to browse, learn & enjoy some D.I.Y Coconut Oil beauty recipes, so good in fact you’ll want to eat them! NOM!

D.I.Y Cranberry Coconut Lip Gloss & Cheek Stain Hello Glow have shared an incredibly easy & beautiful DIY lip gloss and cheek stain. Maybe your looking for some cute gifts to make? Or trying out new ways to make yourself something healthy & safe to use. It looks so delicious, what product do you know is safe to eat? Full printable instructions are in the link

Lemon and Coconut Oil Sugar Scrub Who doesn’t want a fresh, zesty sugar scrub to wake you up in the morning? Chic California have shared a genius and simple recipe for you to make for yourself or as cute gifts!

D.I.Y Coffee Scrub for Glowing Skin For me, nothing beats the smell of fresh coffee. There is something about coffee that just makes me feel warm and good. Having found this coconut oil & coffee scrub and learning it’s benefits has made this the ultimate skincare D.I.Y!

Whipped Chocolate Body Butter The Coconut Mama has shared an all natural, velvety chocolate body butter – you can actually eat! Although not recommended, there is no harm licking it off your finger! Yum!

D.I.Y Orange Body Butter A fresh & energising shaving foam or moisturiser you can make from home, delicious! And only 4 ingredients…

Edible Brown Sugar Lip Scrub With Honey & Coconut Wow, how great does this look? What another lovely gift idea, get’s rid of dead skin on your lips and moisturises at the same time with honey… delicious!

DIY Oatmeal Brown Sugar Scrub Leaves your skin feeling super soft & it’s great for sensitive skin too. The oatmeal makes it look so tasty!

The Toddler Kitchen

Cooking is a life-skill. We benefit so much from cooking such as embracing culture, learning where our food comes from and understanding what ingredients work together.

When it comes to introducing basic cooking skills to a toddler, it is important to let them be creative. A messy kitchen and dirty bowls are certain but by letting your toddler use their instinct and creativity skills, this will lead to a confident and happy cook. Cooking is fun and a great way to relax. There are thousands of recipes out there you can use – no matter what age you are!  Let’s start with the basics:

Tools: Bowl & Spoon

Placing essential tools used in the kitchen is a fantastic way for your toddler to identify what is used for basic cooking and preparing. The most practical ones such as a bowl & spoon is a great way to start. Watch what they do with it and explain what it is used for. This should already be a useful starting point for a little helper in the kitchen. (The mixer of course!)

Add some flour and water in the bowl for some playtime fun!

Techniques: Rolling, whisking, kneading, sifting

After showing your toddler certain tools used in the kitchen it’s on with the techniques. ‘Roll those sleeves up!’ . The rolling pin is a fantastic tool to roll and create, how about some basic biscuits or rolling out some dough?

How about the whisk? Whisking can be great fun and it’s actually very energetic. You can be brave and let your child crack an egg in the bowl or use some regular milk and make some bubbles. Whisk away!

Kneading dough is a great task for a child loves that play-doh feeling. Just pull and fold or roll the dough around , I’m sure they will create an ‘original’ loaf! If you cook your child’s creations they will be over the moon.

Using a sieve is another tool that your child is bound to love using. Watching flour go into the bowl in a soft and fluffy texture is going to get messy but teaching various techniques in baking and cooking will ensure a happy & confident cook!

Teaching Safety: Hot! Sharp! Raw!

Of course the kitchen can be dangerous too. Big ovens with buttons, gas hobs and knives left, right and centre. My son loves to come in the kitchen and touch everything so I have to explain there are certain things that grown-ups must use instead on him.

If your child want’s to cook all the time, maybe placing red stickers on dangerous tools or objects is a way of telling them it’s dangerous, ‘adult’s only’. You will find a way, but don’t scare them away from the kitchen.

bon appetit

Stock source: pixapay.com

VITA COCO ‘ORGANIC COCONUT OIL’

This month Mama Bee has been ‘coconut mad’ learning the uses and benefits of the mighty coconut. The sweet, inviting smell is enough to tempt me but I must admit I didn’t really understand how this ‘super food’ could be so good for us inside and out.

The perfect oil?

There are many natural oils out there and with so much choice that can be really confusing. We like to keep frugal and organised whilst understanding what we really use on a daily basis. I think what we have to learn is what natural oils truly do for us. You might already have your ‘perfect oil’ that you are really happy with providing great results but is it a versatile oil? Does it have the same benefits as coconut oil?  The real question is ‘What does Coconut oil do for me?’ Recently I watched a documentary about eating fat in our diet and how we simply cannot ignore the fact our body needs the ‘good fats’. Nuts, oily/fatty fish, olive oil, avocado and many more. I have now understood the importance of eating this food group into my everyday lifestyle and the energy boost really helps. (My skin has improved, hair and nails as well as my mood and energy). Regards to the coconut I didn’t truly believe it could be the ultimate food and beauty source we need for everyday life.
Recently sampling food’s containing coconut water as the main ingredient (producing non dairy products), I have been keen to understand the coconut oil and it’s benefits. Life-changing.

Oil’s are everywhere… expensive too… so which one?

More and more of us are realising that natural oils are important and kind to our well-being. Women can now make their own D.I.Y beauty products for themselves or even gifts. We are not being frowned upon as we realise they are better for us than the commercial & expensive alternatives. They don’t contain potential harmful chemicals and are completely natural which is now a common thing we look for on product labels. Common problems such as dry skin, dull hair, tough nails, chapped lips etc can be helped with natural oils. Some people prefer to use coconut oil in the kitchen as it can tolerate high heat without loosing it’s vital properties as well as having lower calories! Many ‘good’ oils like argan oil, avocado oil, olive oil, rosehip seed oil, are what people use but really isn’t it better to have one that does the lot?

Vita Coco – ‘Organic Cold-pressed Coconut Oil’

In order to fully understand the benefits and uses of coconut oil, Vita Coco have sent me a jar of their own. I was so excited to finally experience what coconut oil does for me and my body. As soon as I opened the glass jar the smell hit me. Instantly I thought I was walking alongside a tropical island on a sunny day. It might sound like I’ve got insane but I can assure you it’s true! This oil can be used for eating, cooking or a part of your beauty regime!

Coconut oil sets at room temperature so don’t pour any of this stuff down your drain! 

I scooped out a little of the oil where it started to melt from the heat of my hands. I rubbed my hands together for the oil to warm through and then applied on my arms. Immediately I noticed how much thinner and pleasant this oil was compared to my heavier/greasier oils. After about 3 minutes the oil soaked into my skin that left me glowingand smelling amazing. 
Next I decided to apply the oil on my face – scrubbed and cleansed beforehand. I rubbed the oil along my cheeks and nose, then spread onto the rest of my face. The sensation was lovely and left me with a healthy looking glow. 10 minutes later (oil nicely sunk through) I decided to do my usual make up routine. My make up lasted all day!

Converted and coconut mad, I began using the oil in my hair which has made it look so much healthier and nourished!
I wanted to start using this oil in the kitchen so I decided to mix a little coconut oil with my peanut butter (100% peanut butter) as a spread – again (Amazing!)

You can buy your own ‘vita coco coconut oil’ by clicking here

Overall I believe Vita Coco provide an affordable, high quality coconut oil which we all need in our cupboard. Coconut oil is truly so versatile I cannot stress enough how useful it really is. Value for money considering it is a widely used ingredient throughout the day. Please try Vita Coco for yourself… you will be pleasantly surprised!

Leon enjoying his ‘Vita Coco’ Coconut water Juice drink

JUNGLE GARDEN

Spring is here and the sun is out! This week’s theme at Mama Bee is all about nature, messy-play andexploring – so we decided to do just that!

Winter is over – the animals come out to play!

The very first thing I did to Leon was take his shoes and socks off. ‘Ahhh’ ‘This is new’ There’s nothing better then feeling the grass between your toes one minute and the feeling of sand the next. (I could tell Leon was realising it felt different!) –  Learning different Textures

Another lovely game was playing with Leon’s Zoo animals. What’s the point of them being stuck inside the living room floor when they can explore the wonderful ‘JUNGLE GARDEN’

Here are some photo’s of what we’ve been up to:

“Tiger visiting the sand pit for the first time”

“Rhino can balance too!”

“This is cold on my toes!”

 “Grrrrrrr”

 “Drink time!”

“And relax!”

Leon & his Zoo animals had so much fun in the ‘Jungle Garden’. They explored everywhere and even met a few tiny animals along the way. What a great way to explore the outdoors with your tiny friends!

GARDEN PLAY

The sunniest day of the year so far and this only meant one thing, more outdoor play! We decided to visit the sandy beach this morning and by afternoon, we returned for a nap and had even more time in the garden. I can proudly say Leon is fast asleep after a very action-packed day.

Spring is one of my favourite season of the year, and I think Leon enjoys it too. Waking up to birds chirping from the nearby tree and learning new colours from the back garden flowers. Following the ants and waving to the butterflies! What a difference from a cold winter & staying indoors to keep warm. Leon now can’t stop saying ‘garden’, ‘garden!’ as he is now an experienced explorer!

We loved watching Leon play at the sandy beach today. Running around to the sea with his bucket and spade – making some sort of ‘mud pie’ artwork. Eating his picnic with mummy & daddy (watching everyone play on the beach) and burying Daddy in the sand! – Regret not bringing my camera!

After a 3 hour nap (Yes 3 hours!) – Leon woke up at home, ready for more fun but this time in the garden. His ‘Clam Shell Sandpit’ that Nanny got him on his first birthday, we decided to fill one half of warm water and bubbles. FUN!

Tomorrow is supposed to be a lovely day again, I wonder what we will do next…

CLASSIC HOT CROSS BUNS

Easter time is here & we are celebrating! Traditional Hot Cross Bun’s are a perfect treat for Easter (& of course the chocolate eggs!). If you are from the UK, you have probably heard of British baker – Paul Hollywood. Known for his fantastic pastries, breads and traditional recipes – I wanted to master his ‘show stopping’ version of the Hot Cross bun.

No mixer was used for this recipe, just love, care & patience!

Full recipe (Scroll down)

As this was a Paul Hollywood inspired recipe, I have included the full recipe below.
You can also click HERE for the recipe.

Ingredients

For the buns

• 300ml/10fl oz whole milk
• 500g/1lb 2oz strong white flour
• 75g/2½oz caster sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 7g sachet fast-action yeast
• 50g/1¾oz butter
• 1 free-range egg, beaten
• 150g/5oz sultanas
• 80g/3oz mixed peel
• 1 apple, cored and chopped
• 2 oranges, zest only
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• sunflower oil, for greasing the bowl

For the cross

• 75g/2½oz plain flour, plus extra for dusting

For the glaze

• 3 tbsp apricot jam

Preparation method

1. Bring the milk to the boil and then remove from the heat and leave to cool until it reaches hand temperature.
2. Mix the flour, sugar, salt, yeast, butter and egg together in a bowl, then slowly add the warmed milk until it forms a soft, sticky dough.
3. Add the sultanas, mixed peel, chopped apple, orange zest and cinnamon, then tip out of the bowl onto a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough by holding the dough with one hand and stretching it with the heal of the other hand, then folding it back on itself. Repeat for five minutes, or until smooth and elastic.
   Technique: How to knead bread dough
   Watch technique1:58 mins
4. Put the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with oiled cling film and leave to rise for approximately one hour, or until doubled in size.
5. Divide the dough into 12 even pieces, and roll each piece into a smooth ball on a lightly floured surface. Arrange the buns on a baking tray lined with parchment, leaving enough space so that the buns just touch when they rise and expand. Set aside to prove for another hour.
6. Heat the oven to 220C/425F/Gas 7.
7. For the cross, mix the flour with about five tablespoons of water in small bowl, adding the water one tablespoon at a time, so that you add just enough for a thick paste. Spoon into a piping bag with a small nozzle. Pipe a line along each row of buns, then repeat in the other direction to create crosses.
8. Bake for 20-25 minutes on the middle shelf of the oven, or until golden-brown.
9. Gently heat the apricot jam to melt, then sieve to get rid of any chunks. While the jam is still warm, brush over the top of the warm buns and leave to cool. Gently rip the buns apart to serve, revealing temptingly soft edges.

MY BODY UTOPIA

 

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I’m so excited to be trying My Body Utopia’s products! With love and care into every natural home-made product, this U.S family business is truly passionate about their brand and mission.

Is your bathroom covered in different products, mix matched and half used? It’s probably because you still haven’t found ‘the one’, got bored or simply not for you.
What I love about My Body Utopia is that they use quality, natural & clean ingredients.

The first product I tried was a ‘Kitchen Clean Hand’s Soap‘ from MBY’s natural soap range. The first thing I read where the impressive natural ingredients and their properties! Lavender, lemon and melaleuca oils providing anti bacterial, anti fungal and anti viral qualities to each bar. Touch on germs yet gentle on the skin.
(Fantastic!)

As a mum, I’m constantly washing up so my hands tend to get chapped and very dry. This bar of soap is deigned to deodorise the smell of garlic & onion or that ‘pungent’ smell from your hands. Leaving them with a fresh, clean feeling! When I used this, my hands felt so squeaky clean and nourished. I couldn’t believe how better they feel, it just shows you how important natural ingredients are to us. I’m so impressed with this bar of soap, I would highly recommend to anyone who suffers from dry, chapped and ‘worked out’ hands.

Ingredients: Lavender, Lemon and Melaleuca oils.

For the full range of Speciality Soap’s – Please click HERE

Ingredients:Palm Kernel oil, Coconut Oil, Olive oil, Avocado oil, Castor oil, Lye, Water, Lavender essential oil, Lemon essential oil and Melaluca essential oil.

The second product I was really keen to try was the ‘Fruity Splash’ Deodorant. All of the deodorants are just such a fuss for me, I never stick to one particular type and to be honest never impressed. However, this all natural deodorant has impressed me so much I’m still in shock by how incredible it really is.

Firstly, this smells amazing. Secondly all of the ingredients are all natural and essential oils important for your skin. Thirdly? I smell fresh & dry throughout the day.
This is what My Body Utopia have to say:

 

Our dedication to bringing you naturally pure, safe and effective products is evident in these simply magnificent deodorants. They are chocked full of ingredients you can pronounce. Our customers rave about this product. Try it for yourself and you will be hooked. You will be getting Approx: 2.5 oz. It is in a twist tube for easy application. Made with: Coconut oil, Shea Butter, Vitamin E, Beeswax, Arrowroot Powder, Baking soda, Bentonite Clay, Cucumber and Kiwi fragrance. Since this does not have any harsh preservatives, in warmer weather you may want to place in your refrigerator to make it a little stiffer. If you have been using only store bought deodorant then please give your body a little time to adjust to this natural product. Your body will thank you! No aluminum, Phthalates, Parabens 

 

My Body Utopia is a fantastic, loving brand and I will highly recommend to anyone. You deserve to have the best for your body and health. You also deserve to feel confident and feel amazing. Choose My Body Utopia – you will be surprised like I was.

BEEF WELLINGTON WITH PROSCIUTTO

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Another Sunday, & we’ve invited the Grandparents down for lunch. Lloyd & I went our usual early morning walk and decided to get some Beef. Originally planning to cook some Chicken, we realised this can get quite boring sometimes so we needed a change – Beef Wellington. A traditional Beef Wellington contains a good-quality beef fillet however today we decided to get 1 Kilo of beef brisket (it was delicious for half the price!)
Once we returned home, I started on massaging the beef with plenty of olive oil, whole-grain mustard, garlic and fresh rosemary. The Beef required 3 hours of cooking so it gave me a perfect amount of time to prepare the rest of the dish! (I have never made this before!)
I accompanied my Wellington with home-made Yorkshire’s, carrot & swede mash, roast potatoes, roasted red onion & asparagus. I decided the wrap my Beef with Prosciutto & Puff Pastry  – 30 minutes before it was ready.

When the meat was ready to be wrapped with pastry, I collected the rich juices from the meat and added cornflour to make into a Gravy (& a little red wine!) – Strained and topped up with water it was delicious & aromatic. Definitely made the dish.

For a successful Sunday lunch/dinner I believe that preparation is key! (Including washing up as you go!)

Peeling, chopping, cleaning & cooking!
This had saved half of my day clearing up after the meal – not what you want after you’ve cooked for 3 hours.

Everything went according to plan – had a glass of Merlot along the way. The house smelt wonderful!
In the next couple of week’s I will be writing you a recipe of my Beef Wellington (Frugal & easiest way) – watch out for that!

OXO TOT’S DIVIDED PLATE

Unquestionably the most useful product during the weaning stage!

Do you usually guess the portion when it comes to your child’s meal time? Too much? Too little?
This divided plate (6m+) teaches you the correct portion of proteins, grains and vegetables. ‘OXO Tot’s Divided Plate‘ also features a central ‘dipping tray’, perfect for sauces and condiments.
There is also a removable ‘outer ring’, great for guiding food onto little one’s utensils and keeping food ON the plate rather than falling on the floor!

We all know keeping a balanced meal for your little ones is important for growth and development, however portion control is also very important. We all need a balance of certain food groups in our meal- enough of the guessing!

OXO Tot have a wonderful weaning range on their website, all important for little ones’ development stage and tools that truly will be handy.

I just had to test this fantastic product for Leon!

‘A new plate for me? Yay!’

‘Look at all those colours!’

I’m so pleased Leon loved his OXO Tot plate, the useful outer ring prevented the food from spilling out of the plate, yes! I highly recommend owning this divided plate. You know your child is getting that perfect portion and your children will understand the different food groups. You can find this plate HERE in various colours.

5 MINUTE FRESH FRUIT FLAN

Fresh Summer berries on a bed of Greek yoghurt and moist flan base. Drizzled with honey, this incredibly basic recipe could have been created by my 1 year old.
Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and any other berries you can think of are a perfect way to get your children to eat and enjoy fresh fruit. We all want our children to eat as much of their ‘5 a day’ but sometimes this can be a struggle for those ‘picky eaters’.
This flan contains calcium, plenty of vitamins and is a treat to eat!

Your child can learn different fruits, colours and textures. Eating should be enjoyable and also educational – who knew a flan could do this?!

Scroll down for recipe:

Leon enjoying his flan! ‘Yum’

Ingredients:

Flan Base
Greek Yoghurt (full or half fat)
Blueberries
Strawberries (cut in thin slices)
Raspberries
Drizzle of honey (to taste)

Firstly you want to prepare your flan base onto a plate. Using a large spoon, dollop your Greek Yoghurt in the centre of the flan and spread out to the sides. Chop your strawberries (thinly) and arrange them around the base. Fill in the gaps with the blueberries and raspberries. Finally drizzle honey and let it rest to allow the flan to moisten.
Enjoy!