Monday 22 June 2015

A bit too personal?

So this is where things get a little personal and I share with you something that I've been wanting to post for while but just didn't think it was something anyone else cared about. I'd been seeing the various  different brands of the so-called "Teatox" on Instagram and other social media where many people including celebrities had posted their results of the 2 week or 1 month Teatox. I have to admit at first I was surprised to see how much of a difference having tea twice a day for 2 weeks made to your body. So after reading into it I finally decided to give it a go and see what all the hype was about.

The brand I tried was BooTea from Holland and Barrett (14 day) that claims to increase your metabolism and detoxify your body. The pack contains 21 teabags, so you drink one in the morning and one at night every other night. I was quite eager to try it so I had my first mugful after coming home from a night shift. And then this is the part that they don't warn you about on the box. I woke up later that day with the worst possible stomach pains, went to the toilet and lets just say I couldn't go out for the rest of the day since I had the runs. The teabags contain a laxative which I'm guessing is rather strong and starts to work around 8 hours after consuming. I was mad enough to finish the entire 14 days but not consequtive days, I missed a few days in between.

By the 7th day I noticed my belly had become flatter than what it had been at the start and I felt as though my entire body had been cleansed from the inside. And upon completion I was happy with the results, but not sure if I would do it again. One thing to bear in mind is that you cannot start the Teatox without having a balanced diet and taking part in some sort of regular exercise. Those three things combined was the only way in which I gained good results.

So the question is would I recommend it to other people? Well yes obviously! The results are amazing but on the other hand I had to use the bathroom far too often than I wanted to and kept forgetting to brew myself a mug especially in the mornings, only in the evenings did I realise I'd missed the morning one. I'll leave this for you to decide, but it definitely was worth it!

Hope this was helpful to any of you.

Habeebah xxx

Saturday 13 June 2015

Almond and date power shake


This smoothie/shake is seriously the best snack I've come across since Avo-toast and I kid you not you'll be as addicted as I am from that first sip, but thats definitely a good thing because it's packed with all the good things to keep your tummy happy and satisfied. And since Ramadhan is coming up in the next few days it's a perfect 30 second Suhoor idea after all, I know I'm not the only one who wakes up for Suhoor with the intention of eating the entire contents of my fridge, but all I can manage is half a banana and a sip of water. It's packed with potassium from the banana and dates which will help your body retain water and stop you from feeling thirsty. I've also linked an article at the bottom of the page that has tons of Suhoor ideas in case you're stuck on what kind of foods you should eat that help release energy throughout the fasting day.


Ingredients (for 1):

  • 1 frozen banana 
  • 1 heaped tablespoon almond butter/or peanut butter if you prefer
  • 3 Medjool dates
  • 1 cup milk 
  • Ice (optional)

Method:
  1. Whizz up all ingredients in a blender. Enjoy!
Yes it's as simple as that! You can add your own extra ingredients like a protein powder or swap the whole milk for Almond milk but definitely give it a try. You'll thank me later!
Have a blessed Ramadhan and remember the entire Ummah in your duas especially those in need.


Habeebah xxx


Monday 8 June 2015

Summer shoe favourites

Okay let's not even talk about the fact that coming up with the idea for this post was just an excuse to buy more shoes that I obviously didn't need. But as they say a girl can never have too many shoes right? I've picked out some of my favourite and most worn styles I've been loving this month. I don't have the most photogenic feet so bear with that but anyway hope it gives you a little inspiration for when you go summer shoe shopping. Enjoy!

1. Chunky sandals Bringing back the 90's feel with a chunky heeled sandal. These are definitely way more comfortable than they look and so practical (after running after a 3 year old all day). I bought these from Primark a few weeks ago and I'm sure they've probably sold out by now but you can purchase similar styles from AsosRiver Island, and some gorgeous styles that are currently on sale online at Miss Selfridge.


































2. Floral whether it be high heels, flats or pumps a floral print shoe is a must have in your collection as it perks up any plain outfit. Check out Asos and Dorothy Perkins where I bought mine from and they also have matching flats which are perfect for daytime, then dress up your outfit for the evening with high heels in the same print.





































3. Birkenstocks - The ugly sandals that turned glamorous overnight as seen on the Olsen twins who are like the queens of fashion! I recently took these on holiday to Portugal along with a few other sandals which I neglected and wore these right from when we reached there to when we got back home. They are so comfortable to travel in and perfect for touristing. Asos have got some great styles but be sure to check Office since they always have a sale on their site.































4. Solilas are the new craze in the shoe world at the moment as I've seen from recent tumblr and instagram posts, naturally I didn't want to miss out. I picked this pair up from Portugal on my recent trip and haven't stopped wearing them since. Day or night Office have got a huge range that you won't be able to resist.



































I have to say my absolute favourite style have to be florals this season, can't wait to add a few more to my collection! Shoe shopping is crazy addictive, I've got to the point where I have to justify buying shoes with quotes like "you only live once" just so I don't feel bad after buying them. I hope I'm not the only crazy lady that does that!

Until next time

Habeebah xxx

Sunday 7 June 2015

A week in Algarve

Totally forgot to finish off my holiday post. So where did I leave off? Oh yes we were on our way to Algarve. The journey seemed super long at first but before we knew it, we had reached Albufeira and checked into our gorgeous villa we were going to be staying in.






I was up early the next morning, starving of course, so we headed to the local supermarket called 'Pingo Doce' and came back with a trolleyful of supplies including breakfast. The rest of the day was spent relaxing in the villa including an afternoon swim and later that evening we headed down to the beach which was only a few minutes walk from where we were staying. 








Starting the day off with a filling breakfast and enjoying it on the balcony with the perfect view was definitely one of my highlights of our trip. 

The next couple of days we drove around Algarve visiting the small villages and their amazing beaches and eating delicious food from different cuisines. My favourite place was Praia de Arrifes in Albufeira which was a beautiful coastal area, waves smashing on the rocks, wind blowing through your hair and the familiar smell of fish wafting in the air. We stopped to have a dinner of freshly caught bream, bass, sole and prawns at the nearby restaurant that overlooked this breathtaking view. 



















The last day of our stay had arrived and obviously everyone was feeling rather glum but determined to make the most of our last day. I went out shopping since I hadn't bought anything for myself yet and just spent the day eating good food, a final trip down to the beach and ended the day with a movie and snacks at the villa. Then it was time to pack away all our belongings ready for the journey back home the next morning. 













Hope you've enjoyed the holiday posts and its made you want to visit Portugal if you haven't already.

Habeebah xxx