Chocolate and Beyond

What I've been busy with is Wren Elite Travel!

Yes, I did manage a new year post (yippee) but I thought it was time to announce on my Chocolate and Beyond site what it is that I've been busy with, which is my new internet-based travel agency, Wren Elite Travel.

I did launch late last year, but it is now that I feel that the foundations are in place and I'm truly ready to roll. It's very exciting: Wren Elite Travel specialises in luxury holidays and tailor-made travel, adventure and activity, weddings abroad and honeymoons, and escorted treks and tours.

I provide a more comprehensive service than online holiday booking engines can provide, yet without the overheads of a high street shop, can be competitive in price. As well, if you already have a quote you'd like to see if I can better, and if not by price then with some extras - just let me know the details (such as who your current quote is with, on what dates and for how long, and at what price).

If you read Chocolate and Beyond and would like to enquire about a holiday, quote 'Chocolate' when you speak to me or email, and I will ensure to send you a chocolate treat when you confirm your booking!

Wren Elite Travel website: www.wrenelitetravel.co.uk
Telephone: 0845 475 0342
Email: enquiries@wrenelitetravel.co.uk

A Chocolate Rose for you?

An absolutely delightful name for a blog, Chocolate Rose is the journal of Beyond Chocolate girl Amy, the latest addition to my list of diet-dumping blogs.

Amy has a few gorgeous-looking recipes on there, well worth checking out and trying a few for yourself!

Sisterly plug: The Wedding Hair Portfolio

Well, if there is anything that a woman might drastically diet for, it is her wedding, so I'm not altogether 'way off the mark' for mentioning my sister Nina's web venture The Wedding Hair Portfolio here!

I just wanted to give Nina a little plug as she's worked so hard on her website - which is a very new concept as an online hair magazine for brides - and it is so beautifully photographed it is worth having a nosy on even if you have no plans to marry!

Email Nina if you want any more information on her services. She also owns Bridal Hair and Tiaras, and Posh Pins.

How to get more people to read your IE blog

I know many IE (intuitive eating) bloggers are just happy with getting their experience written down, but others would like to share their stories with a much wider audience. If you want to find ways of getting the IE message out there, as well as getting more people to read your articles on your site, then I found this great little way of doing it.

Write an article for GoArticles.com and link to your blog within the piece. I wrote this feature called Ditch the Diet for a Healthier New You a while ago for a magazine and it never got used, so I just decided to edit it a little and put it on the site last week.

The feature has now had 14 requests, meaning that other people will be adding it to their sites or publications and circulating my blog link, which is in the article.

Scales are for fish

Yes, yet another blog I've discovered and this one appears to be based on Beyond Chocolate (although please correct me if I'm wrong, Gemma!). Scales are for fish has a great title, don't you think? Gemma has been on the intuitive eating journey for a couple of months, she says, and her latest post on exercise talks about how our attitude to it can change once we're not doing it for reasons of weight loss or calorie burning (which is pretty futile anyway).

Exercise definitely shouldn't be something you HAVE to do, it should be something you enjoy, and of course, the ladies behind Beyond Chocolate, Sophie Boss and Audrey Boss, like to focus on the idea of movement rather than exercise.

Looks like I started a trend!

It's always fun to discover other people who are loving their new found freedom away from dieting, and I just can't believe how this intuitive eating blog thing has taken off since I started mine oh-so-many months ago (was it September 2006? My goodness!).

It looks like I really started a trend, because I'm certain I was one of the first.

I just happened upon Bliss and Beauty, another great intuitive eating blog, and I was amazed to also see a whole blog roll list on the site (without Chocolate & Beyond added, unfortunately!) of about 24 other IE blogs.

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Because then, of course, you'll be kept updated of when new posts arrive, without having to keep logging on to check if there is anything new to read! And what better way to keep informed of my ups and downs while I'm on the path to the Nirvana that is a life free of dieting?

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Diet-dumping blogs

Non-Dieting Weblog: For all diet survivors, Linda Moran's blog has a wealth of information for those of us who want to get off the treadmill of diets. She also runs a yahoo group called Diet Survivors for those interested in joining.

The Amazing Adventures of DietGirl: Belly laughs all round for this blog! Follow Shauna's incredible quest to shed 14 stones (89kg) of weight and her attempts to do it through exercise and mindful eating, rather than diets.

Srumptious sites

Chocolate and Zucchini: Nope, I haven't just decided that a vegetable and cocoa mix is a combination I want to try (although I've tasted chilli & chocolate sauce before and it was very delicious), but I've been so mightily impressed with Clotilde Dusoulier's blog that I thought it deserved some special attention.

Her site has received worldwide attention, and has even been written about in international press such as Olive magazine. Clotilde's insightful musings, gorgeous recipes and easy-to-read style make this Parisian lady's blog one worth keeping an eye on. A foodie lovers fairground, and perfect for diet-ditchers (have a look at Clotilde's photograph, she's lovely and slim, and she eats!).