TTN Reviews: E1 Candles

Who doesn't love a scented candle, okay so maybe the appreciation levels are lowered if the wrong scent it chosen but since living in my own space for 4 years I am a scented candle convert.

TTN Reviews: Udi's Gluten Free Cookie Mix

With BBC's Great British Bake Off back on our TV screens (Hurry for Mary Berry and her fabulousness), it was only a matter of time before I too tried my hand at a little baking. This is whete Udi's Cookie Mix came in to play....

TTN Reviews: Lizi's Granola

On holiday this year I finally found a breakfast option that I couldn't get enough of - Granola/Museli with yoghurt. When Lizis' kindly offered to send me some samples of their Granola, I couldn't wait to try it out...

TTN Reviews: Kabuto Gluten Free Chicken Noodles

My go to food of choice when I am really craving something is usually some sort of Chicken noodle broth thing (Wagamamas Chicken Itame or my Speedy Chicken noodle broth usually)...

TTN Reviews: Purition™ Fuelled by Nature Protein

Being a regular runner these days (wahey), the one thing that doesn't change is the feeling of seriously needing food the minute I return from a run. Purition very kindly agreed to send me some sachets of their Gluten free  formula and I couldn't wait to get stuck in....

TTN Reviews: Genius Gluten Free Croissants

Yes, people. I finally got my hands on some Gluten Free Puff Pastry!!!! PUFF BLIMMIN' PASTRY!!!!!

TTN Reviews: CELIA Gluten Free Organic Premium Czech Lager

There comes a time when the only thing that will hit the spot is a cold beer- sometimes its after a long hot summers day, sometimes its with a film after a hetic week at work, sometimes even the most healthiest of people need a beer.

Even though I follow a Gluten free lifestyle these days- when it comes to alcohol I don't really pay attention as I have always thought that the fermentation process would denature any gluten proteins anyway. But i have noticed that If i have more than the one bottle of beer, I feel incredibly uncomfortable (and no, not because I'm drunk) and so I have been paying more attention to my tipple of choice. When I came across Celia Gluten Free beer - I was intrigued and so asked the Team at Celia to send me a sample.  Which they very kindly agreed to....

TTN Reviews: 'Honest Snacking' with Frank* Bars

Always on a look out for portable Gluten free deliciousness and for a new snack bar to perk up my packed lunch (I say it proud, people), I stumbled across Frank Bars on Twitter and was thrilled when the lovely team at Frank Food Co agreed to send me some samples to try out!
The Frank Food Co was set up in 2012 by former Everton footballer Neil Robinson- which i think is an interesting tit-bit.... 

TTN Reviews: Bounce® Natural Energy Balls

I have always been a bit a fan of Protein, my love of this Macro-nutrient was increased by my 3 days of Dukan Dieting in 2011 (I do not recommend this diet at all, but it just showed me how positively my body responded to Protein over carbs) and this love was cemented even further when I decided to give my lifestyle a complete overhaul and cut out Gluten and Wheat sources . This meant a need to change the way i would snack and choose foods for convienece. It's products such as Bounce Balls that accomplish the task of being Filling, Gluten Free and Portable ....after trying my first Bounce Ball 5 months ago, I am a huge fan.

TTN Reviews: Ohso® Good for you chocolate

Can you believe that Christmas 2013 is nearly here?? WHERE has this year gone?

Although I seem to be ahead with present buying (2 more to get) and the tree is up and decorated (named Jasper), I completely forgot to purchase a advent calender! But, I am not too bothered as I am getting my current chocolate fix from the deliciously more-ish 'Ohso' chocolate bars.

TTN Reviews: JAX Coco 100% pure Coconut Water

When I initially set out to change my lifestyle in the wake of my diagnosis, I went on a mission to find healthy and delicious foods that would not only satisfy my foodie nature but meet the requirements of my new diet (Gluten and Dairy Free).

Although I have reintroduced dairy (Come on Goats cheese and honey on Figs is the BOMB) one thing that has stuck for me is Coconut water and milks. Hydrating and uplifting i cannot get enough of the stuff and I am always on the look out for new coconut products- thats how I stumbled upon JAX Coco. One read of the website - I couldn't wait to try and emailed the lovely Julie who agreed to send me a sample.

Okay, so who or what is JAX Coco?

JAX Coco was created by 4 coconut water enthusiasts (Jane, Jason, Alex and Max) who wanted to make good quality coconut water more accessible to the modern lifestyle. Micro-filtered coconut water from the Philippines in (what the detail obsessed me can only describe as) gorgeous almost gift worthy packaging was the end result. 

The thing that i love is that Jax are a sustainable company who work with the Philippine coconut growers to offer decent prices and help to reinvest in coconut farms by covering the costs of replanting and maintaining the trees. FABULOUS!!

Sooooo after all that wonderful ness 'what the hell does it taste like Katie?' i hear you thinking

TTN Reviews: Vivid Matcha Tea Drinks

With the night and, what seems, the days getting darker- my body needs a serious boost. When the team at Vivid sent me some samples of their Matcha tea drinks, I couldn’t wait to try!

TTN Reviews: Nom Organic Oat Bars

Hey y'all - how are we? All good I hope?
　
Okay so this weke the team at Nom were very kind and sent me 3 flavours to try out- I do love a nice array of flavours :)

TTN Reviews: Perkier gluten free Flakes

I was very excited when the lovely Ann from the Perkier food duo (Ann & Steve are the masterminds behind this funky company) very kindly sent me two boxes of Perkier gluten free Flakes range to try - Fruity flakes and Red Berry flakes.

TTN Reviews: "Big Shotz" Vitamin & Mineral Juice drink by Shotz Health

Always on the lookout for new foodie products to try out- I was thrilled that the lovely team at Shotz Health agreed to send me a few samples of their Mango & Passion fruit flavoured ‘Big Shotz’ juice drink!

TTN Reviews: East London Steak Company

Hello! Remember me? Yes I am alive! Call off the search party, TTN is back!!

Its been a mad few months to start off 2012.... The job has taken a (albeit slight) step up but its my personal life that has really gone in to overdrive. After viewing past photos from NYE 2011/12 I was genuinely horrified at the evidence before me. I had got fat. Yes, I have always been in the curvaceous category but my lord, WHY did no one point the very blatant fact out to me that i had moved back in to the 'more rolls than a bakery' category??

So, 6 weeks of high protein dieting and once again signing my life away to the gym- i am now 1 stone lighter and one very happy lady! Actually, I'm not referring to my new habits as a 'diet' - the word is far too negative and short term for my liking.... instead I prefer to use 'lifestyle' (far more positive and long term, I think). Ive discovered that I actually thrive on goal setting, for every Kilo I shed I treated myself at the weekend (cue: many weekends of dancing and cocktailing with good friends). I still have a goal to reach but I'm getting there. I am hoping to transfer this new self-realisation in to my working life and get myself where i want to be career-wise (however long that will take).

ANYWAY, enough about my fat cells!!

Ill be posting about food and fashion today... first up FOOD...

With my high protein lifestyle the need for meat in my fridge has increased but the problem is actually being able to afford it without a) breaking the bank and b) spending my whole weekend travelling around London trying to actually get the stuff.... enter: The East London Steak Company (ELSCO)!

Check out their website for full details and don't be put off by their name, they deliver outside the M25 as well!

Basically, the concept is brilliantly simple- you order a box of meat from their website, free delivery if you are within the M25, select a delivery time (5:00- 8:30 am or 6pm-8pm, so no need to request time off work to collect your delivery), supply your details... and VOILA! Fresh meat delivered to your door!

I personally love the little cards you get in each bundle- handwritten to tell you the source of the meat and even the farm the animal lived.... it may put some of you off but whats wrong with knowing that your meat was once very much looked after and not from some random battery farm in deepest darkest Peru??

Needless to say the meat was DIVINE and I'm looking forward to placing my next order. This box was £26 and included steak sauce and steak rub as well as 4 burgers, 4 sausages, 2 rump steaks and 2 sirloins.... my tummy is rumbling as i type!
Red meat (regardless of bad press in recent days) is amazing for you and everyone should aim to have at least 2 portions a week in their diets- full of Iron, Zinc and is obviously rich in protein so its a winner for all... well except vegetarians... I don't think they would be too pleased!

Lots of Love

xxx TTN xxx