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01Mar

cashew protein boost balls

I love being outdoors…for a nice walk, a picnic or a bonfire party. But when it comes to exercising being outdoors is not my thing. I like a mud-free, climate controlled environment. Regardless of the environment being fit is very important to me, especially when I feel stressed, running and boxing are great ways to release stress. With an increase in my exercise routine in the last few months I have noticed that my body is asking me for more food, and it’s very hard not to oblige. If you are a serious gym goer, protein intake is no joke. A lack of protein in your diet can causes muscle weakness, fatigue and lethargy. And I ain’t got time for that. A gym buddy introduced me to protein balls, the popular brand I tried tasted nice but felt a little like a jawbreaker and were incredibly dry.  I liked the idea of a high protein snack so decided to start playing with a few ingredients. This is a great recipe, and it is not only for gym lovers, these little balls are a good pick me up for the slump in those hours between breakfast and lunch. Chia seeds is my favourite
3 mins read
796 Views
22Feb

Beetroot and apple salad with walnuts

We all have a dish in our repertoire that we never change, right? Grilled chicken breast, classic salad dressing and the same cake every Saturday. It’s not a bad thing, it often means we have found a really good recipe, but sometimes it means we’re in a cooking rut. I tried beetroot for the first time at 14 and it was mainly because I was anaemic. My grandma knew it was a vegetable full of iron, so she would cook it for me, slice, season and add a drizzle of olive oil just for me. So this is the way I have always prepared them, and I love them this way. But in the interest of trying something new I added texture to my beloved beetroot, and I was so pleased with the result. As we are a lactose free household this recipe works well for us, but some crumbled feta on top would be an amazing addition. Beetroot and apple salad with walnuts 2 beetroots, cooked 1 apple 100g walnuts 1 shallot 1 tbsp chopped parsley 3 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar 1tsp whole grain mustard 1 tsp honey Salt and pepper to season Method: 1. Grate
2 mins read
806 Views
16Feb

Easy peanut butter ice cream

As a petite girl I often have to have my clothes altered to fit me better. I was sharing this with a friend and said I would love to learn how to sew so that I could do it all myself. Said friend was baffled, “why would you want to do that? It is too fiddly to do and hard to learn”. Yes, but it means I can alter clothes to fit me…I even started to dream of making my own dress. I can understand my friend’s line of thought, it is much easier to go shopping for a dress, or even do it as I often do, shop online.  I love that our modern world offers us so much convenience, giving us the time to go do other things we enjoy. But to be very blunt here, I don’t get people that don’t get the feeling of achievement when creating something, be it made of fabric or a nice chocolate cake.These days you can find absolutely anything that your heart desires in a shop, so it doesn’t surprise me that homemade items are highly appreciated presents. I can cross the road and buy a tub of ice cream for less money than
3 mins read
1112 Views
11Feb

Let’s talk about planning your menu for the week ahead

My husband and I have always considered ourselves to be spontaneous when it comes to food. We come back from work, go straight to the kitchen and figure out something to cook for that evening. This routine worked for us for a long time, but since our son was born getting in the kitchen to cook our dinners has not been easy. During his first months (he is now 16 months old) my husband took over the role of chef as I was busy breastfeeding or trying to put him to bed. Or do both at the same time. When the little one started to sit at the table with us we had the challenge of having to think of recipes that we could all eat. But coming back from work, having no idea what to cook and often not having the right stuff in the cupboards was becoming a daily stress. I can hear you say: Sounds easy! What is she talking about?!? But I really didn’t find it easy, and it took us a while to get to the level of organisation we have now. I don’t want to go back to the days where I had to
3 mins read
725 Views
06Feb

Valentine’s heart piñata gift box

My husband was working at sea in Africa for two and a half months, so I was home alone all that time. Not only did I miss him terribly but I also noticed my home life became a little hectic, especially in regards to my sleep and diet. This is how I realised, after all these years, that he really does complete me…and helps me to be a functioning adult. We settle to sleep together, he makes me check my bank balance every week and the dinners I cook when I get back from work are really for him. I had no want to cook for myself when I was on my own and gave into a routine of eating breakfast for dinner and watching 30 Rock until 2am on a school night. He’s back now, which means I am eating more vegetables and getting a solid 8 hours sleep. And after he brought me back a Chanel perfume from duty free, I felt that he needed an extra special gift box. And I think I’m more excited to see his face when he sees the piñata rather than the actual gift! Materials: Thin cardboard – I used biscuit boxes  Masking
3 mins read
807 Views
03Feb

Top picks: Carnival themed party

Clockwise from above: Caipiroska//tropical garland//paper ball chain//fringe drink stirrers//fruit wedges//headdress//pineapple decor For those of you who don’t know, the biggest party in the world will be starting in Rio on Friday. The Carnival celebrations are a big deal in Brazil, people will have an extended time off from work and have gatherings where samba and good food are at the centrepieces. I know that you are probably reading this whilst wearing a thick wooly jumper and socks, so turn the heating up and get inspired by these seven DIYs to turn your house into a tropical festivity. 1. Caipiroska is a good alternative to the famous Caipirinha, it is made with vodka rather than the traditional cachaça. Try our mango version here. 2. If you are going to do anything carnival related, you gotta add a touch of gold. This gold leaves garland made by Wild Birds Collective is perfect. I love the contrast of the gold leaves and green foliage backdrop. Check out their tutorial here. 3. Garlands are a must for carnival, or any party in my opinion, and Dana created this great paper ball chain which is super colourful. She tells you how to make them step-by-step
2 mins read
743 Views