Quick and easy gluten free food with Copper Stone Pans

It’s about time I visited the topic of my culinary skills again after the successes of my pumpkin soup post during labour. Two well-known facts for those who are familiar with my lifestyle is that I love to cook and I am a coeliac. Just the other day I was hungry (as per) for something new, quick and unbearably good to sooth my hangry self. So I decided to grab a few items and head on down to my mum’s new kitchen (cheeky I know) to make something great. Here’s some quick and easy gluten free food with Copper Stone Pans.

These pans are ultra non-stick, so depending on what you’re cooking, you won’t have to splash in the oil or butter. Plus, the extremely tough, scratch-resistant coating combined with a forged aluminium body and steel base means these pans are built to last. Here are the ingredients I used to make a scrummy pesto pasta dish in ten mins flat:

  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Mushrooms
  • Gluten free green pea fusilli
  • 100% pure rapeseed oil
  • Pesto (2tbsp)
  • Creme fraiche (2tbsp)
  • Spinach leaves
  • Schar gluten free bread

There are many benefits to using rapeseed oil such as its non-greasy qualities, not to mention a great choice for cooking health wise too. I put the smallest dash in one of my Copper Stone Pans along with the tomatoes and mushrooms while my pasta cooked in a saucepan.

Once they looked nice and sizzly, I added the pesto, creme fraiche and the spinach leaves.

In my smaller pan, I decided to toast my gluten free bread with some of the rapeseed oil. This worked so well, and who needs the hassle of grilling bread when you don’t own a toaster?!

The toast was just how I liked it – the quick and easy gluten free food with Copper Stone Pans was a success! Hassle-free, super yummy and best thing of all, the pans just needed a wipe down and that’s it!

The Copper Stone Pans range from £19.99-29.99 and are available from  www.JMLdirect.com. Suitable on gas, electric, induction and ceramic hobs.

Saharasplash x

This is a sponsored post, PR samples included 

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New house, new home for mumma

If you know my Mum, it isn’t that hard to believe that she has decided to move house. Not just to any old house mind you, but a rather lovely new house which we are in the process of helping her move in to this month. It’s been a long time coming, as the house she currently resides in is far too small for our ever growing family. Now that Alice has come along, the timing was right to make some major life adjustments as pretty soon she will need her own little room. The house we are leaving behind has a long history, starting out as my first home I remember and quickly becoming my Mum’s first nursery. I remember living upstairs and the nursery being downstairs. Our garden always filled with sounds of playtime and fun. But 24 years on, we have now outgrown the house, and plans to renovate and expand finished before they even got started when it just wasn’t possible to upscale as Mum would have wanted in the current quarters.

So, the search for a new house, new home for mumma began, and sort of by luck, one just happened to come our way just one mile down the road from the old house! It was just perfect- and had everything my Mum wanted in a house- bigger garden, bigger upstairs area with five bedrooms instead of three, and the dealbreaker- an indoor swimming pool. My Mum is definitely a go hard or go home lady, and now she can do both and put her feet up in her brand new digs as soon as we are done unpacking!

I’d love to share some photos with you from the new house, new home for mumma before we get started on doing the place up:

If you are looking to move house and need some help with moving, I’ve got a great service for you to hire all different sorts of vehicles for your job: https://www.psdvehiclerental.co.uk/

Saharasplash x

Thanks for reading new house, new home for mumma! I hope you’ll stay for one more post and check out my makeup dupes challenge with Beauty Base!

This is a sponsored post 

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I’m my own Galentine! The 2018 Edit

So this year I thought, why the hell not focus a little on myself for Valentines Day? I’ve written this post from my very own heart and I’m impatient to show you some products I am absolutely loving right now. This post has a bit more pink in than I’m used to, but hey when it’s the 14th Feb, the time is right to spread some passionate pink all over my blog!

I have ordered my favourite brownies from Gower Cottage, I’ve booked my favourite girls, Paul and I tickets to go see 50 Shades of Grey number three (as has been tradition on this day for the last few years) and I’ve picked out exactly what I’m going to be rocking tomorrow for the occasion. See below how I’m my own Galentine! The 2018 Edit:

Eyes: Blank Canvas Cosmetics

A super sexy palette with some gorgeous shades and deep tones.

Nails and lashes: KISS products

These are my top picks for the ‘finished touch’ effect. Pair with attitude and flair.

Body: Hempz

If you’re going out, better be smelling as sweet as a pomegranate with Hempz body wash.

Brows: Eylure x Fleur de Force

My brows will be packing some force with these delights from Eylure.

Face: XIP

Adding some serious glow to the mix with XIP sculpting palette and brush.

Outfit: Coconut Lane

Last but not least, I’m going out in style wearing this banger from Coconut Lane’s new sweatshirt collection, and it couldn’t be more fitting! PS, get 20% off your next Coconut Lane order by using my discount code saharasplash20 at the checkout. ?

Be your own fabulous Galentine this year- wear what makes you feel great, eat whatever your heart desires and definitely don’t let anyone put you down!

Saharasplash x

If you’re up for entering my latest competition, head over to my Image Skincare post to win a bottle of the best hyaluronic filler worth £75! Ends 28th Feb.

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Talking about my skin saviour Image Skincare AGELESS total pure hyaluronic filler

Today I’m going to be talking about my skin saviour Image Skincare AGELESS total pure hyaluronic filler. Wow, that’s a lot of words to take in, but trust me I shall explain all and it’ll be worth it! So Image Skincare are a cruelty free, pharmaceutical- grade company that offers treatments and top of the range products that get remarkable results. The AGELESS total pure hyaluronic filler is perfect for dehydrated skin and for those looking for a filler without actually having to deal with needles! As a 27 year old woman, I have been struggling with my fine lines for a couple of years, especially two that are prominent (to me at least) on my forehead. I really do not like them, but I don’t feel I’m comfortable with having any injections either.

This product came into my life around about the time my daughter Alice was born. Needless to say she has been a life-changer, and I’m guessing that having a child doesn’t do your lines much help what with all the smiling and crazy faces you just love to make at them.

The hyaluronic filler (18% concentrated botanically-derived hyaluronic acid) helps to plump and fill those irritating lines without the hassle and price tag of actual dermal fillers. It’s infused with an apricot essential oil for hydration (so it smells so divine) and includes vitamins B5 and E.

The topical filler definitely delivers an immediate, noticeable boost of hydration to dehydrated or irritated skin, which goodness knows my skin needs these days!

Apply morning and evening, or whenever you feel your skin needs a hydrating boost.

Just look how luxuriously thick the serum is- a sweet wonder in a little bottle!

Image Skincare’s AGELESS Total Pure Hyaluronic Filler, 29ml, retails at £75, but I’m giving you the chance to win your very own one because I love you my fabulous readers! Enter by commenting below why you need this in your life. For extra entries, share this post on Facebook or Twitter and tag me so I know you’ve entered!

Saharasplash x

PR samples included. Competition is UK only, ends 28th February. Winner will be contacted via Facebook, Twitter or email. Talking about my skin saviour Image Skincare AGELESS total pure hyaluronic filler first appeared on Saharasplash.com 

 

Makeup Dupes Challenge with Beauty Base

Do you struggle when buying makeup? Maybe you’re not sure what foundation shade or coverage will suit your skin, or perhaps you are doubtful as to which brand will produce the best result. There are adverts flying around everywhere these days claiming that their brand is the best, with ‘proven results’. But what does that even mean? Do you believe that the higher end price tag will be longer lasting and a better quality product? I’ve recently written an article all about this from a fashion perspective, and now I’m here to show some rather interesting results in the beauty department! Here is my makeup dupes challenge with Beauty Base.

Beauty Base is a great site for many must have purchases in your makeup bag. I put three essential products from my own makeup bag to the test when I paired them up with similar items from the Beauty Base website.

Here are my regular products:

  • Vichy Dermablend Foundation: £19.99
  • Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette: £39.50
  • Kylie Cosmetics Lipkit: £32.25
  • Total: £91.49

Here are my makeup dupes:

  • Milani conceal and perfect Foundation: £12.95
  • LA Girl Eye Lux Eyeshadow: £6.99
  • LA Girl Matte Lipstick: £2.29
  • Total: £22.23

I applied each set of products to only one side of my face. Below I used the Urban Decay palette on one eye and the LA Girl palette on the other side- can you tell which is which? My face similarly has two types of foundation- budget brand on one side, higher end brand on the other.

Again for the lips, half my lips have the Kylie lipkit, the other half has LA Girl Matte lipstick. I was seriously impressed at my matching skills as well as the quality of the budget brand- just £2.29 for the lipstick and literally the same effect as the £30+ lipkit!

I had my face on for about 5 hours after applying and the lips, eyes and foundation stayed on perfectly from both sides.

Here is the reveal, my left side camera facing had the three budget products and my right side had my usual brands. The total saving works out at £69.26 difference which is a fair few pennies saved in your pocket.

If you are looking to try some different brands on a budget, head on over to Beauty Base and get yourself some damn good bargains while still looking hella good!

Stay tuned for a YouTube video of my makeup dupes challenge with Beauty Base on my channel at the end of the week to see how I did the look!

Saharasplash x

Thanks for reading! Head back to the homepage to make sure you haven’t missed any more February posts!

An insight into my wardrobe featuring Hawthorn International

For as long as I can remember, I have been obsessed with clothes. I remember going shopping with my family, friends and even by myself from a teenager, and the sheer thrill of new garments has never worn off. Every time I enter a store, my hands naturally go for the fabrics. Different textures and colours are enticing me in, calling me to take a closer look.

Personally, I think I am a very picky shopper, though most people who know me will say I buy the whole store. But that’s just not true. When I shop, I am usually looking for a specific item in mind which I am determined to find at the best quality as well as price.

Price is one of the most important factors when going shopping. We all set out with a budget in our minds as to what we can and can’t afford, so this sort of acts as a compass to what shops we browse through. One of my favourite stores is Karen Millen. Their colours, designs and top grade fabrics make the clothes so desirable and I now have quite the KM collection. However, I always tend to wait for a sale or find an outlet or sample sale where the items are usually 50%-75% off. The quality of the garments don’t change over time so I am happy to wait until I find what I am looking for at a nicer price!

One of my favourite online retailers is PrettyLittleThing. The clothes from here are very different in terms of quality as well as price, but they create designs and patterns that just draw me in, so I am happy to relinquish my standards for a piece that I feel just calls to me every once in a while.

So, we’ve talked about price, designs and quality- and these essentially are the main reasons why we get our wallets out in exchange for the goods. So what is the most important to me when shopping? I would have to say the budget. If I find exactly what I’m looking for but it costs twice as much as what I am willing to spend, I am more than happy to sit back and wait for the sale or find a similar item elsewhere.

My passion and love for what’s in my wardrobe is how it all started you could say, and the reason behind why I started up a fashion and lifestyle blog. Recently I virtually met CCO Tom Lovelace of Hawthorn International, a leading clothes manufacturer, to talk about the different factors that determine if clothing is quality. Tom tells me “there are two main factors- fabric and construction. When it comes to fabric, there are different grades of cotton- that’s the reason why you can purchase a 100% cotton tee shirt from anywhere between £5 to £100. The £5 tee shirt is essentially made from the same material as the £100 one, but the quality and grade of the more expensive fabric will be higher. Next, is the construction- as far as stitching goes, handmade is always best. This is because the operative actually putting the item together can quality check their work as they go along and ensure there are no defects.”

What factors are most important to you when searching through the clothes racks or scrolling through reams of pages online? Do you head straight for the sale or filter by price- lowest first?? Keep the conversation going by commenting below or reaching out on Twitter. Thanks to Hawthorn International for collaborating on this article.

Saharasplash x

Thanks for reading! Now it’s time to see what we got up to on our first family getaway with Alice! 

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