LIVE FULL: Alice's Caramel Slice

Hello Everyone!

Here I am, back after a couple of months off. Where have I been, you ask? Well, you'll all find out soon enough ;)

We all know I'm a huge believer in moderation when it comes to food, and I'm feeling the need to shift more towards the healthy side after the month I have just had. While on the subject, I wanted to share with you a recipe from my gorgeous friend Alice, who makes the best treats, full of raw, healthy goodness, that actually taste really scrumptious!

Alice's Caramel Slice

Base:

1 Cup Almonds
1 Cup Almond Meal
1 Cup Shredded Coconut
2 Tbsp Coconut Oil
10 Dates, Pitted
2 Tsp Vanilla Essence
1/3 Cup Water

Blend all together, adding water last until at desired consistency. Press into a tin and put in the freezer.

Caramel:

18 Dates, Pitted
4 Tbsp Coconut Oil
3 Tbsp Maple Syrup
2 Tsp Vanilla Extract
1/4 Cup Water

Blend all together, adding water last, and gradually until it forms a thick paste. Layer on top of the base and put back into the freezer.

Chocolate:

4 Tbsp Coconut Oil
1 Tsp Honey
2 Tbsp Maple Syrup
2 Tsp Vanilla Extract
3 Tbsp Cacao Powder

Heat in pan over low-medium heat, constantly stirring. Pour over the caramel and refrigerate for 1 hour before cutting.
If moderation is really what you're after, melting dark chocolate for the top layer is also an option. 


Voila!! 

Want to see more? Let me know!

Your Christmas Gift Guide: Subcriptions for Her

With only one working week left until Christmas, a lot of us are left in a frazzle over what to gift people. If time is the one thing you don't have this silly season, consider gifting a subscription and share the joy throughout the year! Here's a few I know I would love to recieve, and I won't be the only one, so support local and get clicking!

1. I AM CO. DELIGHT BOX $39 - $350
For the health nut, or the one that intends to make lifestyle changes next year, the I AM Co. Delight Box is a fabulous way to trial new products. Buy one, or up to a years' worth at a time for that special person in your life. It really is one of my favourite subscription boxes available in New Zealand. Check out the website blog for awesome recipes, ideas and inspiration.

2. TOGETHER JOURNAL $50
For the Bride to Be, this is one of the most gorgeous Wedding Magazines available on the market. At only $50 for a 12 month subscription, it fits within most budgets, and is incredible value for money!

 

3. EVE LASHES $16.99 - $75 

For the beauty addict, this subscription, it's just plain genious! Purchase anything from 2, up to 20 pairs monthly - whoever you are gifting to will never be without lashes! A huge benefit is that you can chop and change the lash styles in each subsciption, and shipping, like the other two options is free within New Zealand.

The Miraculous Facial Oil that is just that - MIRACULOUS

Time to take a little break from all of these gift guides and talk about something that is also totally relevant for this time of year - Allergies.

Growing up, I never expereienced hay fever, or any allergy-like symtoms. I had Eczema, but that phased out at an early age. So, for me to come out in a freakishly crazy, itchy rash all over my body last week - I just couldn't understand what was going on! Heck, I didn't even want to leave the house looking like that, and it took a huge hunk out of my self-esteem - I was fighting back tears at work for a solid two days. Even Antihistamine would not make this thing go away.

I was lucky enough to go to the races last Friday night for my partners work-do, and in the bathrooms were a number of samples of the Linden Leaves Miraculous Facial Oil, which I may have taken a few too many of! For three nights following, I slathered this all over the affected areas, and it just disappeared. Halle-freaking-lujah! 

If I'm totally honest, if it wasn't for these samples I probably wouldn't have actively gone out and purchased this oil. It's a bit pricey, at $64.99, but a little does go a long way. On top of that, my original opinion of Linden Leaves was that it was a brand targeted towards older skin types. After reading up on how the brand came about and has developed over time, I'm now 150% totally sold. Take a read of their story here.

Now that my rash is gone, I've started using this oil on my face a night to help bring some moisture and balance back. It's early days, but I think it's safe to say this miracle worker is going to become one of my ride or die beauty products for years to come. 10/10 from Mama!

Your Christmas Gift Guide: Experience

If resorting to vouchers is all that's left, investing in something that's going to create memories is definitely the way to go. Check out this gift guide for all the experience related inspiration you need to get your mind ticking!

1. HANMER SPRINGS PAMPER PACKAGE $369
This package was probably the most favoured gift we received at our engagement party, and for couples in similar positions to us, having renovated all year, this is the perfect Christmas gift for them to have a little getaway amongst the madness! There's a number of packages to choose from on the website, just click here.

2. OUR DATE NITE EXPERIENCE $25 - $1475
I recently saw a collaboration with this fantastic company and She Said Yes blog - These guys can literally help you plan the perfect date night to suit any budget! For now, most of their packages are tailored to the North Island market, but they have plenty of experience working with South Island vendors, so before you discount them, definitely check out the website here, and send an email to info@ourdatenite.com.

3. THE DRAWING ROOM VOUCHER $100
Earlier this year, I went to an art class at The Drawing Room in Christchurch and had so much fun with pouring medium! You can check out my work here, excuse the terrible photos though! They have just moved to a fantastic new site, and offer a range of classes to suit most interests. Email paul@thedrawingroom.co.nz to get this seasons class options, prices and dates.

4. PAINT AND SIP STUDIO CLASS $50
You don't even need to be gifting to a budding artist to hand over this voucher, I went last year with a few girlfriends and had the best time painting our pets over nibbles and a few wines! We sent through pictures of our pets before the class and waiting for us upon arrival were our canvas' pre-sketched with our furry friends - foolproof! Paint and Sip have a huge variety of themes to choose from, there will be something you might just want to hang up on your wall afterwards. Children's classes run over the school holidays too, details can be found on the voucher page.

5. BREAK ONE CLAY TARGET SHOOTING $135 - $160
Gifting for someone who just wants to shoot some s**t, or is just a general thrill seeker? Clay target shooting is a great idea. Break One are located in Queenstown, and guarantee you will hit a target! There are plenty of crowds around the country that do this, just have a look online to find one suitable.

6. APPELLATION CENTRAL HELICOPTER WINE TOUR $975 - $1475 
Now, you don't have to totally splurge and lay it all on with a Heli and Wine Tour, but this post is after all, about creating memories - so if it's in the budget I'd totally recommend! Appellation Central Wine Tours have a number of tour options from $199 upwards, and better yet, they can work to accommodate any special requests if there is a particular winery you would like to visit.

7. EPIC ADVENTURES FISHING TRIP $300 - $1500
Our family got together and purchased this experience for the men in our lives earlier in the year. They made a long weekend trip up to Auckland and had a whale of a time on the boat - excuse the pun... definitely money well spent! Check out Epic Adventures for more.

8. HIGHLANDS MOTORSPORT PARK FAST LAPS $295
Any motor-head needs to do this once in their lifetime! My pick is Fastlaps, but Highlands Motorsport Park have plenty of options available to suit the "need for speed" in that special someone you are buying for.

Your Christmas Gift Guide: For Her

Not shopping for myself when putting this part of the Gift Guide together was oh so hard! There's so many beautiful items in here I would love to own, and I hope the women in your life do too. 

Enjoy xx

1. STATUS ANXIETY THE ASCENDANT BAG $200

You cannot go past a good handbag, and what better than one that will go with everything! The size of this hip bag means it is perfect to carry around at any occasion, and will definitely not go unnoticed! Ballantynes has a great range in store, or jump on the net to find out the best location to get yours.

2. THE HORSE WATCH $169 - $229

These watches are just amazing. I can't say enough about them. For those of you that have been eyeing one up, your New Zealand stockists Paper Plane Store have 20% off The Horse range until midnight tonight. Get shopping!

3. NIKE WOMENS METCON 2 ROSE GOLD EDITION $200

Got a Crossfit Queen in your life? Well, she needs a pair of these for Christmas - so long as she doesn't have narrow feet! Available in stores or online at Nike NZ - just go there now.

4. BIG BOTTLE $21 - $26 AUD

Personally, I find a bigger drink bottle makes me drink much more water - and we all need more of that, especially over the hot summer months. This awesome find has none of the nasties and holds a massive 2.2 litres, so you'll never be caught short. Great for gym bunnies, or a special someone wanting to tweak their lifestyle. Get yours from The Big Bottle Co.

5. CALVIN KLEIN UNDERWEAR $30 - $60

The Iconic have got you covered when it comes to your Calvin's. Their Modern Cotton range is literally the most comfortable underwear I have ever worn, and still so sleek and trendy. If you want an excuse for your lady to throw out her nana knickers - This gift idea will do the trick!

6. BEACH PLEASE ANCHOR ROUND TOWEL $85AUD

Sometimes, you just need to go outside of NZ to get the right print, and Beach Bella in Australia have some gorgeously stylish round towels for the perfect Kiwi Christmas gift. Bit out of the budget? No time to wait? No worries! Cotton On and The Warehouse have some affordable options.

7. CLUB L MERMAID BLANKET $67

If that woman in your life always has cold feet, this is an awesome gift idea. Better still, this gift is perfect for that little lady that is just obsessed with mermaids. Such a funky couch blanket, or one to take to the batch over summer - It's guaranteed to be put to good use! Get it on ASOS - I'd order this week though to ensure delivery before Christmas.

8. PURE FIJI SUGAR GLOW SPA BOX $28

A couple of years ago I was gifted a few items from this brand and my skin reaped the rewards from their oils and scrubs. It wasn't until recently that I was reminded of the product - featured in a favourites video from Victoria Nunns Beauty, and I just knew I had to share it. You can purchase this gorgeous gift pack here - Be sure to check out the rest of the range too!

9. YSL MON PARIS PERFUME $117 - $245

The instant I tried this scent, I fell in love - and you will too! It's taken over my Black Opium addiction, and is just perfect for the warmer months. Farmers have the full range of sizes, including some beautiful gift packs that you could split up, or give as a complete gift.

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Your Christmas Gift Guide: For Him

Even after asking the men in my life what they would like to receive for Christmas this year for part one of my "For Him" series, I was left none the wiser - what a mission these species are to buy for! For me, putting together this post sparked a number of ideas once I thought of a theme for each gift - hopefully your mind gets ticking too. If not, have a think about something the man in your life would like, but wouldn't necessarily go out and buy for themselves.

1. STANCE SOCKS $20 - $40
You can guarantee that there will be something in this sock range to suit every personality, which is why I love them so much! Think holiday, sports team, patterns, STAR WARS - the list is endless. The man in your life will love these socks, even more so if they are a gym goer. Platypus Shoes generally have a good range in stock, otherwise have a google and you will find a number of shoe and surf shops that stock them in New Zealand.

2. MVMT CHRONO SERIES WATCH $70 - $160
Not a local brand this one, but MVMT Watches have a ticker to suit every occasion at a reasonable price. Keep an eye out on this site as they often have free shipping to New Zealand, but you can always ship here using your Youshop account and combine all of your Christmas purchases.

3. TED BAKER TEXTY WALLET GIFT SET $160
If my man is like any man in your life, they will run their wallet into the ground! This trendy set from The Iconic is a perfect Christmas Gift, and one they will have for a long time.

4. WALL MOUNTED BOTTLE OPENER $22.99
Men will use just about anything to open their beer, so why not make it convenient for them to have a bottle opener close to the fridge - and one that will never go missing, might I add! Get them from Man Bits, or if you have time, the likes of Etsy, or AliExpress do have some great designs.

5. WEBER BABY Q 1000 BBQ $399
Definitely a splurge item, this one! Such a perfect little BBQ for carting around in the car of the summer holidays, for the boys to take on fishing and hunting trips, to the batch - you name it! Get it from Mitre 10 - and if you want to add in a few extras, there is a great range of Weber accessories to suit.

6. NBA LEAGUE FAN PASS $10 - $40
Subscription based services are really taking off, and if the man in your life is an NBA fanatic, I think he would love to be the recipient of an NBA Fan Pass. Purchase single games, to monthly subscriptions, through to personalised packages where your man can watch every game your favourite team is playing throughout the season. Pretty cool if you ask me! Stream it on a range of devices, just check out the website here to be sure you have one that's compatible.

7. SKY SPORT FAN PASS $14.99 - $55.99
Has your man always wanted Sky but only ever wanted the sports channels? Well, you need to buy this. There is a range of options that all include Sky Sport channels 1-4, from daily to monthly passes, and at the moment there are bundles that include a Google Chromecast for you to keep. Click the link here to check out all the details, including compatibility.

8. APPLE TV $269 - $349
We have one of these, and just love the convenience of playing our music, movies and apps all on one device. JB Hi-Fi usually have a good deal, but do keep an eye out for upcoming sales before Christmas day - there will be one somewhere!

Hopefully there are enough suggestions here to get you started, It's really not easy buying for men! Have you found any unique gift ideas for the men in your life recently? I'd love to hear, and share!

Your Christmas Gift Guide - For Her Under $40

I think most of us are in denial that Christmas is right around the corner this year, and thinking about gifts isn't even close to making it on the agenda yet! Don't you worry your pretty little heads - Mama's got all the inspiration you need. Over the next few weeks I'll be furiously blogging away, sharing ideas to suit anybody, any budget - and with the added bonus that most products are sold within our beautiful country, you won't be gazing into your crystal ball wondering if your parcels are going to arrive before Christmas Day (we've all been there, haven't we!).

 So, sit back, relax and enjoy the first issue of my Christmas Gift Guide: Gifts for Her - Under $40 xx

1. LYTTELTON LIGHTS XS CANDLE $23

Locally made, beautifully scented 100% Natural soy wax candles. The XS size has a burn time of 22 hours. Candles are a perfect idea for a lady you don't know all too well, and can so easily be incorporated into a gorgeous pamper hamper. Check out their website for the full range www.lytteltonlights.com

2. UMBRA ANIGRAM BUNNY RING HOLDER COPPER $20

Umbra's ring holders come in a range of designs and finishes to make a beautiful addition to any nightstand. For those that love a bargain, Living and Giving currently have these on sale for around $11-$12 www.livingandgiving.co.nz 

3. O&M SEVEN DAY MIRACLE MOISTURE MASK $40

Hand on heart, I swear by this product - in fact, I swear by the entire O&M range. I get mine from Pure Hair stores, located at The Colombo, and in Rangiora. You can read up on the O&M philosophy on their website too - and if you need a good hairdresser (wink, wink ;))

4. TAILOR MASQUE 60ml $35

Where do I even begin with this masque? I have gifted a pottle of this magic to each of my bridesmaids and all four of them rave about it. It's a fantastic all over masque, or spot treatment to sort nasties out in minutes. https://tailorskin.co

5. CARDS AGAINST HUMANITY AU EDITION $39

This game is nothing short of a barrel of laughs for all involved. The fantastic thing about this game is that you can purchase expansion packs for hours of added fun. I won't lie, I got mine off a Trademe supplier to avoid shipping costs, and I encourage you to do the same if you are in New Zealand, just take care to ensure they are genuine cards as you can purchase an online version and print your own cards. www.cardsagainsthumanity.com

6. CONSTANCE HALL - LIKE A QUEEN $28.51 + $9 SHIPPING (NZD)

I think it safe to say this is the book every woman wants to read these holidays. I don't believe it's in bookstores in New Zealand yet, but you can get your copy over at likeaqueen.com.au

7. SUNNYLIFE INFLATABLE SWANS DRINK HOLDER $29.99

The only reason you're leaving the water this summer is to go to the toilet! SunnyLife have a trendy range of drink holders and inflatable toys this year, you can check them out at a number of gift stores - Ballantynes stock a great range for those in Christchurch, and funkygifts.co.nz will sort the rest of you out.

8. NATIVE RITUALS HYDRATING MAKEUP FIX $28 - $48

This stuff is the perfect addition to any handbag this summer. A fantastic natural alternate to the makeup setting sprays on the market, and a great refreshing mist for our scorching summer days - I just love this product so much. www.nativerituals.co.nz

Who are you struggling to buy for this year? Let me know below, and I'll see if I can help you out xx