Just like one's health, sleep is one of those things that you don't appreciate until it's gone. Having had two children only 18 months apart three years ago, sleep is sadly one of the things I miss most. Long weekends snuggling under a duvet until 10am are long gone; these days I'm lucky if I get to sleep in until 8am on a weekend! So, feeling exhausted and looking haggard, I'm always on the look out for things to help me get to sleep that little bit easier. When Pukka Tea recently contacted me to see if I'd be interested in participating in their 'Sleep With Ease' campaign, I jumped at the opportunity. My challenge was to keep a sleep diary and drink their slumber-inducing teas to help encourage an easier night's sleep. Here's my journey... First off, the tea. I loved the beautiful floral artwork on the boxes. I artfully stacked them on my kitchen table and found I enjoyed just looking at the tea. But of course, I actually had to drink the tea to reap any benefits! Pukka's Top Tips to Sleep With Ease The tips were easy enough to follow. Day one - Creating a clutter free environment was my first task. With two young children running around, I'm often guilty of leaving stacks of clean laundry in piles on my window seat, so I made an effort all week to keep the surfaces tidy and it definitely had a more calming effect. Day two - Removing technology from my sleep space was more difficult as I've become accustomed to watching Tik Tok videos or catching up on Facebook before bed, but I obliged nonetheless. Day three - Setting a sleep time. This one is relatively easy as we have a pretty early bedtime anyways given we're so exhausted from taking care of the kids all day! Day four - Practice a sleep routine you love. I've now started enjoying a nice hot shower and a cup of tea before bed, both of which make me feel refreshed and ready for bed. Day five - Cut down on caffeine. I've yet to rid myself of my 2pm coffee habit, but Rome wasn't built in a day, so I haven't given up hope yet! Day six - Unwind with sleepy ingredients. I've been loving all of the different Pukka Teas. From their Relax Tea (chamomile, fennel and marshmallow root; to their Night Time Tea (oatflower, lavendar and limeflower), it's a nice way to ease into the evening (preferably with a good book). Day seven - Introduce light and movement to your day. We try to take the kids out each day for a nice walk, which is great for getting in some fresh air (well as fresh as it can be for London) and it gives us a bit of light exercise. Win win. The verdict: I'd definitely recommend Pukka's teas for anyone looking for delicious teas that help you feel relaxed and get you in the mood for sleep. For more information on how you can sleep with ease, visit:
https://www.pukkaherbs.com/uk/en/sleep.html Click here to learn more about Pukka Teas Ashley Miln
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I love avocado on toast as much as the next lady, but let's be honest, it gets a bit dull after having eating it at nearly every brunch outing over the past five years. So, when the fabulous bakers at Bertinet Bakery shared their five favourite recipes that are certain to inject a bit of pizazz and creativity into recommendations for sourdough toppings that go beyond the usual offerings, I was all for it. Bertinet Bakery is a local bakery in Bath renowned for using traditional methods and only few simple ingredients to create delicious bread. They don’t use anything artificial to synthetically boost shelf life or softness. Instead, they invest the time and discipline needed to create real, honest loaves that look, smell and taste amazing. Here are Bertinet Bakery’s five ways to jazz up your sourdough toast (beyond smashed avocado): GARLIC, COTTAGE CHEESE AND HARISSA SOURDOUGH TOAST 2 heaped tbls low fat cottage cheese 1 small grated clove garlic Squeeze lemon juice 1 tsp Harissa paste Sprinkle of chilli flakes Fresh basil leaves Sea Salt & cracked black pepper Drizzle of herb olive oil or plain Mix the cottage cheese with the garlic, lemon juice, salt & pepper. Spread on seeded sourdough toast and top with the harissa, chilli flakes, basil & oil.
Ashley Miln
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