Kitchen Glamour - Refreshing Face Mojito.

I love Mojitos, they are the epitome of summer fun and frolics. So with spring in full throw and the promise of summer getting nearer I was inspired to make a mojito for my face. My pot of mint is thriving under the windowsill, I love rubbing the leaves as I walk past and smelling the fresh scent. I put about 3 healthy springs in this refresher, mint is really good for the skin, not only can it be soothing for irritated skin, but its high amounts of salicylic acid loosens up dead skin cells, which can help stop your pores from clogging. Mint also has vitamin A in it which means that it can strengthen and balance oily skin.

The other ingredients in this face refresher are 2-3 slices of cucumber, 1 tablespoon of caster sugar and the zest of an orange. I have raved about cucumber in my 3 Ways to Combat Puffy Eyes post. Cucumber is 90% water so its cooling and hydrating for your skin, the cucumber acts as the liquid ingredient of this recipe. I also zest an orange into this, this is optional but I think it adds a lovely zing to the aroma. Citrus is also amazing for the skin because of its high content of vitamin C, it can tighten pores and make your face look and feel a lot fresher, you can read more about how oranges are good for your skin here. The last ingredient I add is caster sugar, this helps to grind everything into a pulp in the pestle and mortar.

Once you have all your ingredients ready, put them into a pestle and mortar and grind away until it is a pulpy consistency. You could pop it into a food blender if you wanted. Once you have your face refresher ready you could place it into the fridge for half an hour just to chill it down or you can use it straight away. I massage the pulp around my face (over the sink to catch any drips). Once I have used all the pulp I rinse it off with some cold water and towel dry. This makes my face feel wonderfully soft, refreshed and ready to slip out for an evening of adventures. 

Hope you have a great, glamourous weekend <3

xkx

Tuesday Teacup - Green Mint.

One day last month I was feeling a bit sad, I'd had a bit of a rubbish day and so Ed surprised me and bought me a month's subscription to Tea Horse. He knows me too well because there are few things in the whole world that would make me more happy than great quality tea being popped through my letterbox. I love Tea Horse, especially the simple icons that accompany each tea, that aid you on your way to brewing an awesome cuppa. 

The Green Mint blend is a mixture of gunpowder green tea and mint. When I opened the little pouch it was housed in, I was hit by the most amazing minty smell. Whatever dried mint tea you have smelt in the past this will smell a million times more delicious. I infused this blend with the Tea Horse filter bags (which are like empty tea bags with one end open) and I was really impressed with them, they were a great alternative for when I am feeling too lazy to use my teapot. I followed the instructions and brewed the tea in water that was 80 degrees for 3 minutes. 

Now this tea is special! I have drunk a lot of green tea and mint tea but this fusion is fragrant, light and refreshing. The green tea is just there supporting the mint flavour whilst not being dominated by it. The mint is so fresh and almost sweet, it didn't have any of that bitterness that some mint teas threaten as an aftertaste. It is also perfect to drink after a sizeable meal and it can even quell indigestion, what more could you ever need from this refined little tea blend? Absolutely beautiful!

What teas have you been drinking lately?

xkx

Tuesday Teacup - Minty Splash.

Even though spring has been very shy raising its head above the frozen earth this year, the brave little mint plants have been battling on, and the first sprigs have pushed their way up through the soil. So I decided to pick a few sprigs and make some fresh mint tea.

Mint tea is absolutely amazing for digestion. If I have indigestion, have had a large meal or my stomach is giving me some trouble I always make some fresh mint tea. Mint is so easy to grow and is pretty indestructible, we grow it in pots outside the front of our apartment but it will grow really well on window sills if you have nowhere else to put it. To make a cup of mint tea all you have to do is pick some sprigs of mint, give them a really good wash then put them in a cup and cover with hot water. I love the taste of mint tea just as it is, it can be an acquired taste at first so if you are not too keen add a teaspoon of honey or agave syrup.   

Happy tea drinking <3

xkx

Saturday Frolics...

Today Ed, mum, dad and I went to Shrewsbury for a little look around. We went to our favourite cafe in the market called The Bird's Nest, it is a gorgeous little shabby chic cafe with a good selection of tea which is rather refreshing. 

This was Ed's fabulous soya latte and may I add you don't need to pay extra 30p for soya milk unlike some of the big corporate coffee houses!

They have Suki Tea! I totally *heart* Apple Loves Mint... YUM.

We also did a spot of vintage window shopping; so many pretty things, so little time.

I totally fell in love with this dress, but unfortunately it was a little too small in the bust for me. So it had to go back on the rail, for some other lucky girl to take it home.

Hope you have had a rather spiffing Saturday and have something stimulating planned for tomorrow! We are off to the garden centre's I think...

xkx

Strawberry Shake.

So lately I have had a massive craving for milkshake. But I find the syrups you buy in the shops can be too sweet for me, so I decided to make my own. So here is how I made my strawberry milkshake, it is super quick and easy!

I took 400g of strawberries and blended them up with a stick blender and then added 2 tsps honey (you could use maple syrup or plain old sugar if you wanted). You can add more if you like depending on how sweet you like it, just taste as you go along. Then just add milk to taste. I divided my strawberry goop up into two because Ed had a soya version. Just add your milk then blend again, this makes the shake thick and bubbly. Then pour into the drinking vessel of your choice. I dressed the glasses with a strawberry each and added a mint sprig to the soya version and a sprig of lemon balm to dairy one. Smelling the mint with the strawberry made me think that next time I might make a mint syrup to swirl in the top, I think it would add a slight kick of yumminess.