Today I reached over 100 blog followers! Big thanks to Sarah who has really championed the blog over on iheartcosmetics. A big welcome to my new followers, hope you enjoy the blog! I really believe that beauty starts with good nutrition and exercise so hopefully you’ll find some inspiration here. I know not everyone that reads is signed up as a follower so if your a new reader a big welcome to you too!
My day started with a lovely breakfast – 1/3 cup of Dorset Super Cranberry, Cherry and Almond Muesli, 2 tablespoons of Total Greek Yoghurt and some of my apple, berry and cinnamon compote:
Apple, Berry and Cinnamon Compote
- 3 apples that are past their best
- 1/2 cup of frozen mixed berries
- 50ml of water
- 2 tablespoons of agave syrup
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
Core, slice and chop the apples (keeping the skin on) add to a small pan along with the berries, water and agave. Simmer for 10 minutes or until the liquid as turned syrupy and the apple has softened. Use a hand blender to blend the mixture to desired consistency – I left mine a little chunky. Allow to cool then store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
This tasted wonderful with the muesli and yoghurt. It would also taste great with some raisins or soaked goji berries added to it. I was also really impressed with the muesli. It contains toasted wheat, barley and oat flakes which I find lighter than muesli that is oat based. As always with Dorset Cereals there were plenty of dried fruit, seeds and nuts in the mix too.
Mid morning I snacked on a little pot of my home made hummus with carrot and sugar snaps for dipping. I used a really straightforward recipe for the hummus:
Straight forward hummus
- 1 tin of drained chickpeas
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil
- 2 tablespoons of tahini
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 clove of garlic
- water
Add the chickpeas, olive oil, tahini, lemon juice and garlic to a food processor. Blend to a smooth consistency adding a tablespoon of water at a time if required. You may also need to scrape down the sides of the food processor too. I added a pinch of ground cumin and finished with a good grinding of oak smoked chilli paprika and pepper.
Mine turned out thicker than a shop bought version and with more texture which I really like.
Lunch was a bowl of my home made Roast Tomato, Pepper and Chilli soup which was perfect for this horrible wet and rainy day along with a juicy pear.
Before leaving work for the gym I had a Beet It Shot.
At the gym I started with a 5 minute warm up on the cross trainer then continued with my usual HIIT (high intensity interval training) session on the cross trainer, step machine and bike. I finished off with 5 minutes on the rowing machine and some abs exercises. I didn’t push it too much with the Great North Run coming up but I still got a good workout in.
I just wanted something quick and easy for dinner so I made a cheese omelette using 1 egg and two eggs whites filled with a little grated edam cheese and served with a huge salad of spinach, yellow pepper, carrot, cucumber and red onion – got to get those raw veggies in!
For desert I made up some mint chocolate protein ice cream by blending a scoop of chocolate whey powder with 3 ice cubes, soy milk, natural mint extract and 1/2 teaspoon of xanthan gum to thicken. I topped it with a few raw cacao nibs.
Yum! This was lovely and filling as always although I wasn’t very happy as while making this one of the blades in my blender broke! I can still use it but I’m going to have to invest in a new one. Any recommendations? I need something pretty hard wearing that can deal with ice and daily use. I also had an un pictured apple.
Unique fashion and home wear
Over the weekend I spent some time browsing on a few websites that specialise in offering products that are more unique, either because they are one off or because they are customisable. I love things that are a bit different – I think they can add so much individuality! My favourite websites for products like this are Not On The High Street and Etsy. Here’s some the items I spotted:
Personalised Printed Cotton Shopper Bag – Not On The High Street
Engraved Heart Charm Necklace – Not On The High Street
Silver Leather Hobo Bag – Etsy
Night and Owl, Pair of pillows – Etsy
Soft Leather Ballet Flats – Etsy
Wooden Gold Gilded Letters – Graham and Green
Have you bought anything from Not On The High Street or Etsy before? What’s your favourite website for finding more unique items? I’m so in love with that heart charm necklace, I may have to leave a few hints for the hubby in time for Christmas!
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
I love charm necklaces, but you’re right, they need to be unique.
Great eats as always – don’t forget the carb love for the GNR though ;)
I love notonthehighstreet – I did most of my Xmas shopping on there last year.
I’ve also bought a few bits for the flat – like wooden letters spelling Snooze for above the bed a cushion and storage jars. There is so much stuff I want to buy however!
I’ve bought a few bits from Etsy too – I love original stuff.
Good luck with the hinting :) x
Congratulations on getting 100 followers. I’ve just discovered your blog and I love all your food ideas and gorgeous pictures :) x
I make my own so its definitely unique! Yay to 100 followers! x x
Hey, funny enough, on my blog today, I introduce my new blender! It is a Breville, Glass jar, able to crush ice. I got it from Comet and it was £40 if I remember properly.
Congratulations on the 100 followers!
Ive never bought anything from the websites but really like what they do.
Yes, notonthehighstreet.com is a great web- addition for unsual and quirky gifts certainly agree there, Girlies – discovered this by chance over a year ago now:)I can recall spotting a lovely vintage flask from Graham & Green that caught my eye and attention(pretty and practical it was:)!looking at your Etsy pics I’m liking Etsy too(love the bag and ballet pumps:). You have impeccable taste Laura as has Linz:)
Peopletree.co.uk has goody bags worth over £100.00 for £30.00! Ebay can be good. Cath Kidson has some nice practical merchandise.
My mate’s got a good blender that is tough solid glass(trying to remember the make but it’s completely gone from me head, sorry) I know she bought it from Johnlewis for about £50.00? Try http://www.johnlewis.com as p&p is free over £30.00.
Home-made houmous is great and so easy to make and customise every now and again(fresh coriander, cumin, chili varies it up a bit too:).
Congrats on hitting the 100 plus mark out of the vast numbers of blogs out there, yours is a pleasure to visit and love the way you go take time to acknowledge peeps(really sweet:)with a personal reply:)
I’ve never seen the Not On High Street site but I have ogled many adorable things on Etsy. The Night Owl cushions are too cute for words! I wish I was crafty enough to make my own things, but I have a deep appreciation for those who can!
I bought this necklace from Etsy and I LOVE it, I wear it everyday :)
http://www.etsy.com/listing/55679814/letter-of-your-choice-monogrammed
Love those night owl cushions!
I have such a crush on etsy! I buy quite a bit of vintage clothing from etsy and I just recently got my new camera bag from there too!
I’ve never bought anything from either but I really loved those cotton shopping bags and the soft leather ballet flats, so cute!
Congrats on the 100 followers! :)
Alison – oh yes, I’ll be increasing the carbs over the next couple of days, I don’t go too heavy on them cause they leave me a bit bloated but I’ll be getting some good grains in and plenty of dried fruit which just seems to be my rocket fuel!
Linz – Those sites are great for original xmas pressies, I think I’ll be trying to do most of my shopping on there too
Lilylipstick – thanks! so glad you like the blog!
Tam – I definitely need to start making more of my own stuff. I made a head band for a wedding a couple of months ago and I loved it.
Helene – you’ll have to let me know what the blenders like and how it handles ice x
Cosmic – thanks – I was having a look at John Lewis website and they seem to have some good ones, I’ll have to do a comparison on a few!
Leashieloo – I know what you mean, I do try making some things myself but I don’t often have the patience to do them really
Alanna – love that necklace! So unique and very pretty x
Madeline – I love that camera bag you got! I have looked at the vintage stuff on there and I prefer it to ebay for a better selection I think x
Anne – Thanks – I really like the leather flats too, they look so comfortable
I am def going to try making your soup, it sounds lovely. I love soup but always feel so guilty eating tinned soup as I know how much salt etc is in there! I will make an effort I promise :) I had never heard of Etsy before I started blogging (not too long ago) – it is fab!
i’ve never bought off etsy before but there’s some really cool stuff on it! Congrats on the 100 followers, that’s awesome! :-)