October 19, 2013

Things you should do on the weekend.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of taking the city you live in for granted.

For the first time in a while we had a lovely afternoon here in London. So doing as I should more often, on I went for a stroll from Kings Cross St. Pancras to Tower Bridge and these were a few of the sights I was able to capture along the way.

The great thing about London is you can walk for hours and see so many amazing things. It’s nice to feel like a tourist again.

Clerkenwell

St Paul’s Cathedral

The Shard

Tower Bridge

October 9, 2013

Bliss Balls: Chili, Chia and Chocolate

I have been in the kitchen – again, making bliss balls – again. Come of late I have been obsessively adding chili to everything so I thought why not add it to my favourite treat!

I wanted to share this recipe as it is amazing. The balls have a subtle chili after taste that keep you warm without needing to guzzle a mango lassie. The great thing about this recipe is you can really add as much of anthing you want the dominant flavour to be, so I chose chili!

Huge caveat – my measurements are not exact, so I have given rough amounts aimed at inspiring your own creation!

1 packet of sainsbury’s dates

2 tablespoons of peanut butter (I prefer organic with no additives)

1/2 cup of almond meal

1/2 cup of coconut flour

2 tablespoons of chia seeds

2 tablespoons of chili powder

1/4 cup raw cacao

2 table spoons of coconut oil

Method:

Put dates in a food processor until they are a thick and creamy paste. If you have a small stick mixer you will want to process the pack in halves to ensure they all blend easily.

Scoop the mixture into the bowl and add all dry ingredients. Using your hands mush all of the date mix with the dry mix. At this point you wil be able to judge how much peanut butter and coconut oil you will need to add. Play with the amount adding tablespoon of each at a time.

Start mixing everything together (with your hands) until you have what resembles a giant chocolately ball of dough. Break off sections similar in size to a large marble and roll into balls.

Put the balls into the fridge for around an hour or so (or the freezer for 20 mins if you are impatient like me!) to harden.

These make great little party treats or pre-work out snacks as they are great for warding off hunger for a little while!

For another Bliss Ball Recipe Click Here

October 1, 2013

I Amsterdam

We arrived in the UK almost 10 months ago now, and to kick it off with a bang, Amsterdam was the first European city we visited. It was cold, really cold. My Australian internal thermostat had not yet acclimatised to the European winter and I was nill to be seen venturing outside the hotel without an uncomfortably large amount of layers to protect me from the sleet and chilly mist that covered the city.

Amsterdam has taken we a while to write about. I wanted to paint a picture that was more than just the red light district.

The Stay: 4 days & 3 nights in The Best Wester Apollo Museum which was much nicer than a Best Western in Australia, the room was small but very modern, had an amazingly nice hot shower (or so it seemed at the time) and a comfy queen bed. The location was a little ‘away’ from it all, as the name suggest it is located in the museum quater so perfect if that is what you are after but a short hike from the city centre.

The City: Amsterdam is a colourful mix of cafe culture (both normal & the ‘other’ kind), high fashion, history, art & and yes, the red light district that draws the tourists.

The dutch are friendly, and for a city that is swarmed by tourists they handle them really well.

My favourite part of Amsterdam was definitely the cycling. It was so much fun dominating the roads on a bike (and I mean that literally). Bikes are so cheap to hire (£10 for around 4 hours) which is ample time to see most of the city at a glance. On your cycling route make sure you detour through Vondelpark, it’s massive and very beautiful and a great path runs through the whole thing.

Culture stops is something Amsterdam isn’t short of – we unfortunately didn’t do many of the museums but the Anne Frank house was at the top of my list for good reason. It’s emotional tour that takes you through her sad yet inspiring story. A book every young girl should be made read.

Amsterdam after dark. It shifts, the beautiful laid back city by day becomes a mecca for wild tourists to let their hair down with Amsterdams liberal laws on ‘truffles’ & weed. It’s something to behold and I lived in the valley. The girls in windows, the ‘corners stores’, everything about it is intoxicating and kind of exciting. Even if your aren’t into partying like a rockstar, the night life is something to behold, and would most definitely be a shame to miss.

September 28, 2013

Blueberry Smoothie

Smoothies are definitely my favourite breakfast food. They’re an easy way to pack in some great vitamins and nutrients into one simple meal! The key to keeping it super healthy is not using store juices, minimizing processed foods, like with anything, the closer to its natural state the better. I use Baobab powder in this one as it’s leading up to winter and this mighty powder is a great source of vitamin C and Iron.

All you’ll need is a blender, peeler and knife and the following ingredients!

1 person serve

1/2 punnet of blueberries
2 Bananas
2 apples peeled and chopped
120ml of coconut water or Raw Almond Milk
1 heaped tablespoon if coconut Manna
1 teaspoon of Baobab fruit powder

Put all ingredients in a blender on high for two or so minutes or until completely smooth.

Enjoy!

September 23, 2013

Winter Breakfast: Cacao Oats with Coconut and Blueberries

Raw cacao has been the health foodie buzz-ingredient for a while. I have to admit rolling my eyes a few times when ever I see a picture with the words Cacao and #rawfood hashtagged at the bottom of a delightfully healthy looking meal on Instagram. But as usual I’ve succumb to what is an amazing alternative to highly processed chocolates out there, and let’s all be honest what is a life without some form of chocolate!

Since the weather has cooled down I have really come to appreciate porridge again. Unfortunately porridge isn’t the most exciting of meals so any way to “dress it up” in a healthy way is a good thing right? So here is a tasty spin on the an old breaky dish that seriously takes no longer than 15 mins to whip up.

1 serve of organic GF Oats (I usually use around 1/2 cup of oats)

1 Tablespoon of dessicated coconut

1 Tablespoon of Nutiva Coconut Manna (This can be purchased from Whole Foods)*

1 Teaspoon of Raw Cacao Powder

1/2 cup of organic milk.

1/4 punnet of blueberries

Put all ingredients in a saucepan and cook as per normal oats. I usually use quick oats. Top with a little extra dessicated cocnut and serve with fresh blueberries!

P.S it’s much tastier than it looks in this pic!

September 17, 2013 Image

B is for Bliss Balls

Me in the kitchen is usually a little haphazard. So when I ‘create’ there are no guarantees on the outcome.

But these little balls were amazing so I’m sharing the recipe with the world. Warning: my measurements are not overly exact so play with texture it should be sticky enough to not crumble.

3 Tbs Almond Meal
3 Tbs Raw Cacao
3 Tbs Coconut Flour
1 pack of dates (Sainsbury’s)
1 large Tbs of Essentials Organic Peanut Butter
1 Tbs Coconut Oil
2 Tbs of desiccated coconut

Mix the dates with a stick mixer or food processor till creamy. Put the creamed dates in a bowl with peanut butter, coconut oil and knead together until evenly combined. Add dry ingredients and knead into date mix until evenly blended.

The mix should resemble cookie dough.

Divide mixture into small even portions and ball. Make them as big or small as you want!

Roll the balls in your desiccated coconut. You might need to roll the coconut into the ball to make it stick.

Refrigerate for a couple of hours and enjoy!

September 15, 2013 Image

What’s found it’s way into my gym bag..

I love beautiful, functional, gymwear. I love the shopping experience and the motivation it gives me to get my backside off the couch and do something active!

So my latest additions are some of my favourites as they include a new mix of labels that I have come to appreciate since being here in London – and probably won’t be the last buys of the season. Here is a little about them – tried and tested!

Stella McCartney

Purchased in Stockholm, this is my first Stella McCartney for Adidas piece and I love it. I was always turned off by the price of Stella’s kit but after trying it on & trying it out I’m ok with the price tag.

This vest is movable, has a shelf bra (though for extra hold I’d recommend a sports bra) and fits perfectly and wicks for the sweatiest situations.Technical specs aside the colour is great and the front racer is very cute. I’d say this isn’t the last Stella piece that will make it’s way into my gym bag.

Sweaty Betty

Sweaty Betty is the newest member of my gym kit wardrobe. I love the colours and styles of the Sweaty Betty Autumn/Winter 2013 collection and couldn’t wait to add a few into the mix.

These two are very much suited to low-impact moves like yoga, weights or a walk. Both have a in-built shelf bra so I have found them great for travel (fewer bra’s taken for carry-on!).

The Eleve body suit is suited for dance (and I don’t dance – even after a few cocktails!) so I love to just wear this when I’m loafing about or for a little at home body weight exercise. The suit fits great and the material is lovely and wicks sweat away no problems. Anyone with a bigger bust might find they are prone to wardrobe malfunction, so team it up with a sorts bra for extra support.

The Utthita top is beautiful for yoga, the fabric is bamboo and totally soft & flexible. Recommended only for ‘normal’ yoga as the sweatier versions tend to weigh the fabric down.

Lorna Jane

As far as tech goes I love love Lorna Jane’s new Move Bra – it keeps me strapped in and ready for action no matter how much bouncin’ round I’m about to do.

The Maxivate Long Sleeve Hoodie keeps me perfectly warm post sweat and the colour and reflective logo will be great when those darker evenings approach.

The LJ four way stretch fabric is my favourite of all gym fabrics – nothing maintains shape, and keeps you dry quite like it.

All in all a very happy shopper and I can’t wait to share what creeps in my bag next 🙂

September 11, 2013

Into the wild: Hiking in Peru

If there was ever a point in my life I have been so close to what I consider perfection it was in Peru.

We spent a little over a week hiking through the Andes, and at the highest point reaching 4450 meters above sea level, even seeing a condor at the peak.

It was tough and I’m talking altitude sickness, can’t put one foot in front of the other with major sunburn tough. No work-out can prepare you for the mental challenge that hiking at high altitude will present you with and you have no choice but to keep on going.

I wanted to share this because with all the travel I have done nothing has compared with how South America made me feel. It was raw, dangerous and filled with the most beautiful people I have ever met.

On our hike we met Andean people living in the middle of the mountains like they have for thousands of years. Among the mountains also hide ruins, temples and even a Mummy, all a build to reaching the final destination – Machu Picchu.

Our hike was the alternative to the Inca Trail and I can say I’m 100% satisfied with my version of the experience.

If you are thinking of adventure, challenge and excitement, Peru is your must have adventure that will steal your heart.

September 4, 2013

Sunshine, Sangria and Spain

Spain, it begins with, well – where do I begin. After a slight hiccup involving my boyfriend, a beer and the strict Ryanair gate closing times I arrived in Spain with my sanity barely in tact and stress levels through the roof. Not an ideal way to start the holiday I had been waiting six months for but it was a start none the less. When I got there I thought, this is only going to be good from here on out – I can do this on my own for day.

Barcelona

The flight from London to Stansted Airport was so quick, and following getting through customs I made my way to the bus that took me to my first destination, Barcelona. If you are traveling on a budget I highly recommend the bus from Barcelona Airport to Placa Catalunya (old town of Barcelona). The cost was 5.90 EU and took around 20 minutes. Placa Catalunya is right where you need to be if your are staying in and around Las Ramblas (where the action is).

My accomodation was booked through Air BnB for our first three nights. We stayed with a lovely couple who had the most beautiful apartment just off the main drag. I have to say Elisa made our first few nights in Spain a treat, she was actually French so understood what it was like to be in a foreign country. It was nice to staying with locals as getting your bearings becomes easier with a little advice and homely comforts for a few days.

To get the full Barcelona experience you need to stay in around Las Ramblas. it’s an easy walking distance to the beautiful beach, and is where the a large selection of food, bars, shopping is located. This is also the ‘old-town’ so the streets likened to a rabbit warren are something this little Aussie was enamored with.

Our days spent in Barcelona consisted of waking up, grabing a fresh juice from the market, sight seeing, beach and then food and of course sangria. We managed to pack a fair bit into the division of time we spent in Barcelona, there really is so much to see and if you spend any less than four nights you’re going to miss it. I’m not a rush, rush tourist and like to take my time to get to know a destination. We visited (and enjoyed thoroughly) Park Guell, La Boqueria Market, Gaudie architechure in its many forms and the beach.

Tarragona

Tarragona is a beautiful, small coastal town about an hour from Barcelona. You can catch the train from Barcelona Sants for around 35 EU and the journey is a great way to see some of the landscape and coast of Spain.

Tarragona was a massive shift from constant buzz of life that is Barcelona. The town lives on the beach and probably because they are some of the most beautful you will see. There are four main beaches along the Tarragona coast and each one different from the next. The water is a bright, crystal blue and backs onto the town and bushland that makes up most of the coastline.

We were advised there are several beaches that we had to visit and it was no more than 10kms. For the record it was not 10kms. Five hours, sunburn and hear stroke later we still were in search of this holy grail of all beaches that we never found. I liken this experience to Tom Hanks in Cast Away – with no Wilson.

The main attraction for Tarragona is the ruins behind the old town. The ruins are a Roman Ampitheatre that was built by the roman colony that inhabited the area. It’s worth a visit as the photo oppotunity is unmissable.

Another area of Tarragona not to be missed is the ‘old-town’ this is where you will find decent dining, their beautiful church and more roman ruins scattered throughout the streets.

While Tarragona is beautiful, we only spend one of the planned two nights. Both Dave and I both got burnt to a crisp on a misadventure so beaching it for two days wasn’t an option. If you are into laying on beautiful beaches then Tarragona is definitely for you.

Valencia

Valencia is the hidden gem of Spain – when I say hidden – I didn’t know it was so awesome.

The city doesn’t have the touristy feel of Barcelona, was more lively than Tarragona and the food was absolutely brilliant. I always find there is always one town you connect with on a trip and for me that was Valencia.

We had heard that you we should wait to have Paella until we are in Valencia and this advice was on the money. Valencia is known for its Paella and I was certainly impressed. Another culinary delight we discovered was Pinxo (pronouced Pinsho) it’s the Spanish version of Sushi train.. With bread, no rice and toothpicks. It’s awesome, try it.

Being a business hub, the hotels, food and shopping is all a little more premium. We stayed in an Ayre Hotel it was such a great location we were right in the centre of things with gorgeous little restaurants at our doorstep.

Valencia also has a nice beach, but unlike Barcelona & Tarragona the beach is a little far so your best taking a bus from the main square out. There are tonnes of markets, a few bars and overpriced restaurants that lace the beach. If you want to buy gifts or get some awesome corn rows then Valencia Beach is where it’s at.

Another intriguing aspect of Valencia is their Science City. It looks more like a scene from a futuristic film set than an actual living breathing facility. It’s massive and the buildings and vast space it occupies is breathtaking. It’s host to a aquarium, biology centre and planetarium. They are all pretty expensive to visit but even if you don’t take part the area is definitely worth the visit.

Spain so far has been my favourite country we’ve visited. It’s sunny, has vibrant culture and so much to absorb of its rich and exciting atmosphere I can’t imagine anyone not leaving Spain with a sense of adventure and wanderlust to see more of this beautiful country.

August 24, 2013

Serenity in Stockholm.

I’m obsessed with Scandinavia. Being Australian we don’t learn a lot about the Nordic countries, their history, culture or anything really outside of Ikea and the collection of poorly constructed furntiture that once lived in our bedroom.

We decided to use the last long weekend of 2013 wisely and booked it to Stockholm. What a delight it was. Stockholm is, for lack of a better description – stunning. The people are warm, (they don’t make you feel bad for speaking English) and the city is clean and oh so picturesque. There is nothing out of place, dirty, old or dingy it’s just nice in every sense of the word.

The city of Stockholm is fairly easy to explore in two days of solid walking. We started our adventure is Sodermalm. It’s similar to East London, very trendy and full of great places to have coffee, juice or breaky. On day two we made our way back to the South Island for, of course, Swedish MeatBalls at Pelikan Restaurant, this place has the best in Stockholm (we have been told and can confirm) and will happily vouch for that title. They are big, delicious and covered in berries and a sauce of the dilicious kind.

Sodermalm is also home to a gorgeous look out, best enjoyed at dusk where you can take in the view.

Gamla Stan is home to the ‘old town’ where you can take in some of the original Stockholm, the river, the royal palace and touristy shops. For those who like museums – I can’t really report on many as I’m more of an avoid them like the plague kind of person.

For those who want a taste of Swedish luxury shopping NK is where it’s at. NK is gorgeous and enough levels to keep even the biggest shopaholic going for hours. They have an extensive beauty level, a whole department of women’s gym kit which is reflective of the number of girls you see wearing it everywhere and a nice cafe at the top. Shopping in Sweden is a luxurious experience, like the rest of the city it isn’t chaos, it’s civilised, well organised and reminds me of how shopping should be.

Another beautiful part of central Stockholm is Djurgården island and in my opinion is the most beautiful spot. Djurgården island is home to Grona Lund (The theme park) and aslo to a stunny park that makes for a peaceful walk.

Stockholm is also the gateway to the Archipelago. A beautiful cluster of islands that absolutely must be explored. We travelled with Stromma and it cost 240 SKR or around £24.00. It is totally worth every cent. We only did Vaxholm which is the largest island and the furthest from Stockholm, it takes about an hour and a half and has an amazing restaurant on board – if it’s not booked up pre-boarding try and have lunch if not there are plenty of nice spots in the island. Once you arrive spend the whole 3 hours walking and enjoying the sites, it’s quaint and villagy but very charming and worth the ride if not just for the journey there.

Don’t be fooled by the tourist tales you hear of Stockholm being crazy expensive. It’s not that bad, slightly more expensive than London if you’re smart. My advice – do not catch cabs, and walk everywhere – you’ll save a bucket load. Getting around if your not feeling active or had a few too many drinks is done by the metro, buy their version of an city travel card and you’ll save even more than buying standard daily ticket from the ticket office.

Accomodation is fairly pricey, but the hotels are stunning. So you more than likely won’t go too wrong. We had the absolute pleasure of staying in the Courtyard Marriott it was so lovely. The walk into old town took about 20mins but is worth it as it’s entirely along the river and through a park. It is a little out of the way and that’s coming from someone who usually likes to be right amongst it when we travel, so for most it probably won’t be a distance. The hotel bar Bjork is also nice for food & drinks and oddly enough gets a few locals drop in, so there’s a nice atmosphere. We got a great deal through Hotels.com and I would certainly stay there again.

Stockholm from my experience wasn’t a place to party and let your hairdown, for me it was relaxing and enjoying serenity for a change. I highly recommend a weekend city visit to Stockholm if you ever need your batteries recharged and truly escape the hustle and bustle.

Mind – Body – Travel

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