Wow! Welcome back readers, it has been absolutely forever since my last post as University exams and study overtook my life. But now that it is all over, lets have a chat and catch up on what has been going on!
I have had mini flare ups upon mini flare ups! The pollen has been driving my skin absolutely crazy; as soon as the wind picks up my face gets itchy and swells. I am so ready for spring to be over!
To combat this, I have been keeping on top of my antihistamine intake, using the appropriate creams that keep my skin nourished, keeping windows shut when it is windy and staying inside as much as possible and finally, using my airwasher and salt lamp!
Yes, I bought a Salt Lamp! Well technically it is an early Christmas Present. I have always pondered the use of Salt Lamps and Salt rooms and whether they would work. But after my first salt therapy session I knew it worked for me! I went from angry and flaring skin to calm and almost normal skin in 45 minutes! So I got a salt lamp. It sits in my room and honestly, it has made such a difference to my skin! Combining my air washer and salt lamp has ensured that my room has stayed free of dust, pollen and mould, which means my skin is a lot happier.
Stress has always been a factor in my skin and its flare ups, with stress making every bit of skin worse. With exams usually comes stress, however this exam period, I have kept everything under control! Learning to not stress and manage my stress levels has been instrumental in not only keeping my skin in a better state, but ensuring a clear head for my exams!
Finally it is starting to heat up here in Australia, so heat reactive eczema sufferers will be likely feeling a bit frustrated! I know I am! More on heat reactive eczema in another post to come sooner.
Expect more posts now that I am free of exams! Anything in particular you would like to see?
Monday, 23 November 2015
Friday, 23 October 2015
Chocolate Pudding? Yes Please!
My friends and I go over to each other's houses, and the host gets to cook for the rest of the group. I absolutely love doing this as it is great to spend time with each other and get a little bit creative at the same time! I had my night the other week and decided to go a little bit crazy in the kitchen and did Homemade Garlic Bread, Curry Chicken (recipe to come) and Chocolate Pudding :)
The chocolate pudding was so good I decided to make it again a few nights later! So much for the 6 serves I put in the fridge, it was gone in 4!
Ingredients:
3 Tablespoons Cornflour
2 Tablespoons Water
1 1/2 Cups Milk of Choice (I used Soy)
1/4 Cup Cocoa Powder
1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
Sugar to taste ( I only used a pinch, but you may want it a little bit sweeter!)
Method:
1. Mix Cornflour and Water in a separate bowl
2. Place Milk, Cocoa Powder and Vanilla Extract in a Saucepan on a medium heat
3. Add Cornflour and Water to the mixture
4. Simmer on a medium heat (You do not want the mixture to boil!) until the mixture starts to thicken.
5. Take off the heat and stir before pouring into serving dishes (Cups, Bowls etc)
6. Let it cool for 10 minutes or until the serving dish is cool to touch before placing in the fridge till serving
NOTE: Top it with whatever you want! I did crushed Freedom Foods X and O's and fresh mint leaves and I also did Berries and Chocolate Chips (Sweet William) :)
You can also add whatever extract you want instead of vanilla! I've also played around with coffee extract, orange flavour (juice etc) and it tastes great!
The chocolate pudding was so good I decided to make it again a few nights later! So much for the 6 serves I put in the fridge, it was gone in 4!
Ingredients:
3 Tablespoons Cornflour
2 Tablespoons Water
1 1/2 Cups Milk of Choice (I used Soy)
1/4 Cup Cocoa Powder
1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
Sugar to taste ( I only used a pinch, but you may want it a little bit sweeter!)
Method:
1. Mix Cornflour and Water in a separate bowl
2. Place Milk, Cocoa Powder and Vanilla Extract in a Saucepan on a medium heat
3. Add Cornflour and Water to the mixture
4. Simmer on a medium heat (You do not want the mixture to boil!) until the mixture starts to thicken.
5. Take off the heat and stir before pouring into serving dishes (Cups, Bowls etc)
6. Let it cool for 10 minutes or until the serving dish is cool to touch before placing in the fridge till serving
NOTE: Top it with whatever you want! I did crushed Freedom Foods X and O's and fresh mint leaves and I also did Berries and Chocolate Chips (Sweet William) :)
You can also add whatever extract you want instead of vanilla! I've also played around with coffee extract, orange flavour (juice etc) and it tastes great!
Tuesday, 20 October 2015
The Perfect Allergy Friendly Buttercream!
I have been baking allergy friendly for years and years, but I have always struggled to make a delicious icing to go with cakes and cupcakes!
Because Nuttelex and other dairy free margarine/butter options do not hold the same consistency or amount of oil as regular butter, the proportions were often wrong for the ingredients and it ended up tasting too sugary, too buttery or just being a mess on top of a cake. But I have found a recipe that had people wondering how I made it so allergy friendly! I thought I would share it with you all, let me know how it goes!
185 grams of Butter (I used Nuttelex)
2 and 1/4 cups of Icing Sugar
2 Tablespoons of Milk or Water ( I used water and it came out perfectly! But Milk also works well)
Flavouring/Colour of choice
1. Beat Butter until it is paler than normal
2. Add sugar and water gradually until combined
3. Add desired colouring/flavouring
NOTE: When I made this, I added coffee extract and cocoa powder which did alter the consistency a little bit. In the end it is all about playing around and adding tiny bits of each ingredient until you make it perfect for you. But this recipe is the best one I have done thus far! I found I added a little bit more water after I put the cocoa powder in, but it all balanced out in the end. This Icing is perfect for piping as well!
Good Luck and let me know how your Buttercream goes!
Because Nuttelex and other dairy free margarine/butter options do not hold the same consistency or amount of oil as regular butter, the proportions were often wrong for the ingredients and it ended up tasting too sugary, too buttery or just being a mess on top of a cake. But I have found a recipe that had people wondering how I made it so allergy friendly! I thought I would share it with you all, let me know how it goes!
185 grams of Butter (I used Nuttelex)
2 and 1/4 cups of Icing Sugar
2 Tablespoons of Milk or Water ( I used water and it came out perfectly! But Milk also works well)
Flavouring/Colour of choice
1. Beat Butter until it is paler than normal
2. Add sugar and water gradually until combined
3. Add desired colouring/flavouring
NOTE: When I made this, I added coffee extract and cocoa powder which did alter the consistency a little bit. In the end it is all about playing around and adding tiny bits of each ingredient until you make it perfect for you. But this recipe is the best one I have done thus far! I found I added a little bit more water after I put the cocoa powder in, but it all balanced out in the end. This Icing is perfect for piping as well!
Good Luck and let me know how your Buttercream goes!
Thursday, 10 September 2015
Just Allergy Things...
Just Allergy Things... those things that only those with allergies understand/do!
1) Carrying a mini pharmacy around in your bag. Antihistamines of different types? Steroid Cream? Epipens? Moisturiser? Hand Wipes? Steroid tablets for mild reactions? With all this and more, it's a wonder any of us can carry our handbags around!
2) Ringing restaurants before you even go out. "Hi, I was wondering if you could tell me your allergy policy, I am allergic to x, y, z and I would like to dine at your restaurant" You usually have a pre thought out speech for when you call or email a new restaurant so that you can establish whether or not you can actually eat there.
3) Reading all the labels. Before even placing that packet into the shopping cart, instinct tells you to flip it over and scrutinise the ingredients list. It doesn't matter if you have had that product before, or even if it states it is free of your allergies, you will always read the ingredients!
4) Taking your own food... everywhere. School Camps, Dinner out, Parties, Holidays and many more situations require you to take your own food purely because they cannot cater for your allergies or it is just simpler to take your own food.
5) Feeling the need to educate those around you. So someone at the next table made a snide comment about how long you took talking to the waiter, or made fun of you for reading a label on that snack you have in your handbag. Rather than let it slide, you feel the need to inform them that they are a little misinformed.
6) Being a whiz in the kitchen. With all your allergies it can be hard to buy things in the supermarket or at cafe's. So you whip up a quick batch of cookies, cupcakes, slices etc and there you have it! Allergy friendly treats. When you have allergies you get really good at cooking as you have to do it a little more often than other people might.
I'm not saying any of these things are bad, they are just some facts of life when you have allergies! Did I miss anything? What are your: Just Allergy Things...
Don't forget to enter the giveaway on the facebook page for a great QV or Kinnerton gift pack! facebook.com/theeczemaexperienceblog
1) Carrying a mini pharmacy around in your bag. Antihistamines of different types? Steroid Cream? Epipens? Moisturiser? Hand Wipes? Steroid tablets for mild reactions? With all this and more, it's a wonder any of us can carry our handbags around!
2) Ringing restaurants before you even go out. "Hi, I was wondering if you could tell me your allergy policy, I am allergic to x, y, z and I would like to dine at your restaurant" You usually have a pre thought out speech for when you call or email a new restaurant so that you can establish whether or not you can actually eat there.
3) Reading all the labels. Before even placing that packet into the shopping cart, instinct tells you to flip it over and scrutinise the ingredients list. It doesn't matter if you have had that product before, or even if it states it is free of your allergies, you will always read the ingredients!
4) Taking your own food... everywhere. School Camps, Dinner out, Parties, Holidays and many more situations require you to take your own food purely because they cannot cater for your allergies or it is just simpler to take your own food.
5) Feeling the need to educate those around you. So someone at the next table made a snide comment about how long you took talking to the waiter, or made fun of you for reading a label on that snack you have in your handbag. Rather than let it slide, you feel the need to inform them that they are a little misinformed.
6) Being a whiz in the kitchen. With all your allergies it can be hard to buy things in the supermarket or at cafe's. So you whip up a quick batch of cookies, cupcakes, slices etc and there you have it! Allergy friendly treats. When you have allergies you get really good at cooking as you have to do it a little more often than other people might.
I'm not saying any of these things are bad, they are just some facts of life when you have allergies! Did I miss anything? What are your: Just Allergy Things...
Don't forget to enter the giveaway on the facebook page for a great QV or Kinnerton gift pack! facebook.com/theeczemaexperienceblog
Tuesday, 1 September 2015
Giveaway!
Time for a giveaway!
There will be two winners!
Winner One:
5x Kinnerton Chocolate Bars
Winner Two:
1x QV Shampoo
1x QV Conditioner
1x QV Gentle Wash
1x QV Cream
1x Dermaid
1x Sensitive Sunscreen
1x Flare Up Cream
1x Flare Up Wash
1x Flare Up Bath Oil
It is really simple to enter, it only takes 3 steps!
1) Go to www.facebook.com/theeczemaexperienceblog and like the page and the pinned giveaway post
2) Comment your best eczema or allergy tip on the post and tag a friend who would like the pack!
3) Share the post to your own timeline!
Winner will be chosen on the 1st of September so enter now for your chance to win!
Big thanks to Ego and Kinnerton for sponsoring this giveaway! :D
There will be two winners!
Winner One:
5x Kinnerton Chocolate Bars
Winner Two:
1x QV Shampoo
1x QV Conditioner
1x QV Gentle Wash
1x QV Cream
1x Dermaid
1x Sensitive Sunscreen
1x Flare Up Cream
1x Flare Up Wash
1x Flare Up Bath Oil
It is really simple to enter, it only takes 3 steps!
1) Go to www.facebook.com/theeczemaexperienceblog and like the page and the pinned giveaway post
2) Comment your best eczema or allergy tip on the post and tag a friend who would like the pack!
3) Share the post to your own timeline!
Winner will be chosen on the 1st of September so enter now for your chance to win!
Big thanks to Ego and Kinnerton for sponsoring this giveaway! :D
Sunday, 23 August 2015
Spring is coming...
With Spring just around the corner, allergies and hayfever are almost upon us! If you are like me and pollen drives you absolutely crazy in terms of your eczema and allergies, I have a few tips! From simple to a little bit more expensive, these tips can see you surviving spring just a little bit better!
1) Shower at night!
It might seem a bit odd to say this, but showering at night can actually help! During the day you accumulate pollen on your skin and clothes. If you shower in the morning then you are taking all that pollen into your bed and it gets onto your sheets. This only makes your symptoms worse.
2) Keep your house well ventilated and vacuum regularly.
Just like keeping your house clear of dust, regular vacuuming and keeping the house dry and well ventilated can keep pollen levels inside the house as low as possible.
3) Keep doors and windows shut if it is windy.
Wind will bring an excess of pollen through those windows and doors and annoy your allergies! So if there is a lot of wind around keep the doors and windows closed.
4) Antihistamines!
From Zyrtec to Claratyne there are so many different types of antihistamines so that you can find one that works for you. Personally I use Polaramine as I find it is the only one that relieves my symptoms! However it can make other people drowsy, so be careful!
5) Air washer/Purifier
This is the most expensive of all the tips, but it can make a huge difference! Air washers clean the air in a room and can eliminate a lot of dust and pollen. I use the Cli-Mate Air Washer which you can add essential oils too and it has a colour changing lights to help kids fall asleep or if you want to enhance your mood for studying or relaxing! I bought mine from the Shaver Shop but you can get them at Harvey Norman as well. Here is the website so you can read more about them: http://www.cli-mate.com.au/products/desktop/air-washer
What are your tips to help beat the spring allergies?
1) Shower at night!
It might seem a bit odd to say this, but showering at night can actually help! During the day you accumulate pollen on your skin and clothes. If you shower in the morning then you are taking all that pollen into your bed and it gets onto your sheets. This only makes your symptoms worse.
2) Keep your house well ventilated and vacuum regularly.
Just like keeping your house clear of dust, regular vacuuming and keeping the house dry and well ventilated can keep pollen levels inside the house as low as possible.
3) Keep doors and windows shut if it is windy.
Wind will bring an excess of pollen through those windows and doors and annoy your allergies! So if there is a lot of wind around keep the doors and windows closed.
4) Antihistamines!
From Zyrtec to Claratyne there are so many different types of antihistamines so that you can find one that works for you. Personally I use Polaramine as I find it is the only one that relieves my symptoms! However it can make other people drowsy, so be careful!
5) Air washer/Purifier
This is the most expensive of all the tips, but it can make a huge difference! Air washers clean the air in a room and can eliminate a lot of dust and pollen. I use the Cli-Mate Air Washer which you can add essential oils too and it has a colour changing lights to help kids fall asleep or if you want to enhance your mood for studying or relaxing! I bought mine from the Shaver Shop but you can get them at Harvey Norman as well. Here is the website so you can read more about them: http://www.cli-mate.com.au/products/desktop/air-washer
What are your tips to help beat the spring allergies?
Thursday, 13 August 2015
Treat Yourself!
Those with allergies can sometimes find it hard to find treats when out and about during the day. When I was younger, there was not as many allergy friendly products around, so when my sisters bought an icecream, I would have to go without, or have something when we got back home.
Now there are so many things out and about that allergy kids (and adults) can treat themselves with!
1) Perfect Fruit!
Perfect Fruit is a soft serve fruit treat! It is dairy free and comes in a variety of flavours.
They recently had a machine installed near my university, and trust me, I have been trying all of the flavours! :)
It's a delicious 100% fruit treat that even those without allergies can enjoy!
Check the website out and see the store locator: http://spcardmona.com.au/en/healthy-brands/perfect-fruit
2) Leda Biscuits:
These biscuits are delicious! They have gingersnaps, tim tam style biscuits and many more that make a great lunchbox filler or treat!
The ingredients vary, but they do have ones that are dairy free, vegan, egg free and more!
http://www.ledanutrition.com/
3) Kinnerton/Sweet William Chocolate
Both of these brands do absolutely amazing allergy friendly chocolate. You can find them at supermarkets, Big W and Target. Sweet William has many types of chocolate including No Added Sugar, Dark Chocolate Orange, White Chocolate Strawberry and many more! Where I live, there is only one type of Kinnerton on sale, but it tastes so good! You can use the chocolate in cooking or just eat it straight out of the packet...
4) Homemade treats
Homemade is just as good as bought! Cupcakes, biscuits, sorbet, custard, jelly and much more can be made easily at home and taste amazing! I love messing around in the kitchen and creating new and interesting treats, such as allergy friendly custard tarts, savoury muffins and much more! It's fun and you feel a sense of accomplishment when your treat tastes amazing.
What are your favorite treats?
Note: None of the companies mentioned have paid me for these recommendations, I put these companies in because I enjoy their products and want to share them with my readers!
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