A Relaxed Bank Holiday Weekend

I hope everyone has had a fabulous bank holiday weekend last week.

Being transformed into a true Londoner I had hoped to head on down to Notting Hill Carnival, where every year the streets come alive with food, music and colourful costumes for Europe's biggest street festival. 

I guess you could say in reality I am a quintessential countryside girl at heart. So instead of dancing in the streets of London's festivities, I opted for a relaxing weekend filled with many cups of tea, movies and good reads. This choice was mainly down to this being the last weekend I can relax before London Fashion Week madness starts. I will be working late nights and weekends.. so essentially I will be working 24/7. I am actually excited and I am sure I will have loads of stories for you all on the reality of interning in the fashion world in the run up to Fashion Week, as well as all the behind the scenes knowledge from the show!

But for now, let's relax... 

Woke up thankful it's the weekend.

Unwrapped my new trainers I purchased on Friday after work.

Wore my Nike Jordan's for the most part of the day, they are seriously like wearing slippers.. comfort galore!

Morning coffee is a must. The day does not start until the kettle has boiled and the coffee is poured.

Breakfast loving. Topped off my mound of weetabix with banana and clementines.

Stocked up the cupboards in preparation for the busy weeks ahead.

Errands completed, now for movie time.

Traded in my Jordan's for some fluffy socks.

Cuddled up to my bear for extra cosiness.

Got creating.

Salad bigger than my head.

It's Sunday! Time for church.

An organised Bank Holiday Monday. Meal planning in my Filofax.

Then things got messy in the kitchen. Lunches of salads, vegetables, eggs, smoked salmon, cheese crackers, fruit and an un-pictured soup for the week ahead.

Food prepping complete. Followed by Monday's humungous salad bowl filled with all kinds of goodness and drenched in balsamic of course.

Night time read.

With some chocolate of course.

Many yawns later and it's time for bed, ready to reconvene the next day as The Textile Intern working in the mad, mad fashion world. 

The Model Diet - Qnola

As mentioned in my SBC workout post, I promised to tell you all more about the Qnola that was given at the end of the workout session.

Photograph by Danielle Copperman

Quinoa Granola (Qnola) is a healthy alternative to your typical Granola breakfast. Granola is packed with sugar, additives, processed dried fruit and many more unwanted extras. I know it's yummy, I was heartbroken too when I discovered this originally thinking of addictive Granola as a healthy breakfast. But unless you read the ingredients and understand what is good and bad you wouldn't have a clue how you are honestly fuelling your body, you know what they say, if you can't say it don't eat it! I am definitely someone guilty of overindulgence with Granola, there is actually quite a few good organic and gluten free brands on the market that I would look at investing in if you can't resist your fix, but now Qnola is on the market I am a Qnola convert. I never missed my normal Granola breakfast at all when I had Qnola in my cupboard. This really is the ultimate no-nasties breakfast, combine it with nut milk or add it to natural yogurt with some fruit to experience something mouthwateringly special... I tried both combinations and couldn't get enough.

Breakfast snap before my first mouthful!

Qnola is rich in antioxidants, nutrients, vitamins and minerals and free from gluten, grains, refined sugar and dairy but is packed with texture and nutty flavour with many superfood ingredients including chia seeds, coconut, goji berries, organic sunflower seeds, almonds and pumpkin seeds. There is also a number of added goodness ingredients in each flavour like beetroot powder, cacao, cinnamon, ginger and agave... healthy never tasted so good! 

Danielle Copperman

We all have the beautiful Danielle Copperman to thank for this heavenly natural, unprocessed creation. Danielle is a qualified nutritionist and model, so if there is anyone who is going to get us that Victoria Secret body it is this woman. If you want to find out more about Qnola you can check out her post about the breakfast that will change your lifestyle over on her blog here.

I also nabbed a few photographs from Danielle's instagram, which I recommend for more healthy meal ideas!

Photography by Danielle Copperman

You can grab your Qnola from The Detox Kitchen at their Kingly Street Deli in London, but it has caused quite the stir.. so if you can get your hands on some you are in luck! They do re-stock the range, so all is not lost. Danielle is also going to be selling Qnola online so everyone no matter where you are can experience this beautiful breakfast...

Glorious. 

My week in smiles #2

HELLO. Happy Sunday. 

This week has mostly focused on good health. As mentioned in previous posts, I have realised that my body is not healthy and functioning properly.. which is effecting me being a good Textile Intern, the Textile Intern I had promised to be at those endless amount of interviews. So I have been focusing on gaining a healthy body & a healthy mind. 

Also, you or may not know this about me, depending on how well we are acquainted. But it is no secret that I am very unlucky when it comes to technical products. I would estimate that I have broken around 8 iPhones and 6 laptops - I once had 3 new laptops in a year - I can imagine my insurance company wasn't best pleased. Now I have to sadly declare that my technical unluckiness has made its way on to kitchen appliances as I have said bon voyage to the second microwave I have broken since moving into my flat, to make it even more a sad farewell the last one came with a vegetable steamer, It had full approval from the rest of the kitchen equipment - excuse me well I just fantasies about everything coming to life dancing and singing around the kitchen recreating Beauty & The Beast - Shameless Disney fan & proud. Any-who to continue my ramble, yep, I have undeniably broken.. not one.. but two microwaves in the space of a month. I sincerely apologies to my accommodation. On the topic of microwaves, I also managed to somehow burn/disintegrate a sweet potato in the microwave the other day, this was a not such a smiley part to the week as I was so Hank Marvin at the time (a bit of cockney rhyming slang, living the London Lifestyle after all) Luckily, I managed to cook up another quickly before my stomach got too foul mouthed. Anyway, I hope you all had a peachy week and lets hope the sunshine doesn't quit on us just yet!

Here are a few things that have made me smile this last week:

1. The Power is Within You - Louise Hay. I mentioned this book in my last post, I really recommend it even if you don't find yourself struggling in life, it is really interesting how powerful our minds can be & you never know it could change your life in 232 pages. 

2. Cardio Barre - Lower Body Shred Workout. I have been doing this workout on Youtube, it is only 15 minutes but really works your legs and glutes and it doesn't get boring, look out Kim Kardashian!

3. Andrew Johnson - Deep Sleep. This man has been talking me to sleep every night. Zzzz..

4. Lindt 70% dark chocolate. Made baby steps to find my balance, haven't had dessert/chocolate in weeks until today!

5. Cuckoo - Taylor Lautner. Need I say more?

6. Sushi. I only tried sushi for the first time a few months back, I am addicted. I could eat it every day of the week, and this week was one of them. Mmm.. 

7. Picnic in the park. Met up with Rosie on Saturday and headed to Hyde Park for a picnic, luckily the sun was shining brightly!

8. Lemons. When life gives you lemons? I have been loving eating lemons this week. Some might find it weird but I eat the whole lemon, even the skin. The skin actually has 5-10 more vitamins then the juice, and it tastes good.

9. Planet Organic. Treated myself a few goodies from this Devonshire Sq Planet Organic the other day, it is so good in there but so expensive. Why is healthy so expensive?

10. Discovering my new favourite coffee - Black Americano with Sugar Free Vanilla Syrup   I have visited Cafe Nero three times this week for this drink. 

Song of the week: Jesus Culture - Your Love Never Fails. This song cheers me up within seconds!
Movie of the week: The Wedding Planner. Is it just me that misses seeing Jennifer Lopez in movies?
Blogger of the week: Thumbelina Lillie - for making the #ProjectBareAll tag!

My week in smiles #1

Inspired by blogger Cider with Rosie I have decided to do weekly posts about what I've had to smile about that week. I think this is a great way to stay positive, especially at times when you feel like the world is against you, 
a mindset I am trying to get myself out of.
I have been presented with such amazing opportunities to work and live in London and Sydney this next year, 
yet I feel all doom and gloom because of many sleepless nights and my body is not functioning as well as it should be which is really effecting my day-to-day life.
I realise I shouldn't feel this way as I have so many things to be thankful for:

I have an amazing family, my mum is my rock, she has always supported me and her 
love is unconditional.
I have amazing friends who are always there for me, even when I haven't been in contact with them for days or weeks.
I am able to walk, run and jump.
I can eat.
I can breathe.
I am alive.
I am lucky.

Yet the small things in life seem to be getting me down and I have no right to feel this way, there is many people less fortunate than myself. They say your twenties are your best years, I want to look back on my twenties and smile, laugh and reminisce about everything good, not remember the time I spent in my bedroom feeling anxious, worrying about what I ate and complaining about how tired I am. Making myself sound really fun aren't I?

Well I am ready for change! I am ready to say YES to every opportunity that comes my way, even if it is just going to the pub or going to grab an ice cream with my friends.
I may have not started 2014 with the best mindset but I am certainly going end 2014 positively, being the best me I can be.

So I declare to everyone reading this post..

I WILL SAY YES.
I WILL TRY NEW THINGS.
I WILL BE HAPPY.
I WILL LAUGH.
I WILL JOKE.
I WILL SMILE.
I WILL BE POSITIVE.

Welcome to the first of many...

10 things that've made me smile this week:

1. Phone calls with my mum, she always knows how to brighten the day.

2. Oats mixed with natural yogurt. How have I never mixed my porridge oats and yogurt before, such a  satisfying breakfast, top it with berries and banana.. heaven in my mouth.

3. The sunshine. We have been incredibly lucky in Britain with summer sun this year, 
I love seeing everyone outside enjoying the weather, having barbecues, sunbathing in the parks, sipping on fruit smoothies… bliss.

4. My blog. I have been receiving so much support and feedback, I am truly grateful to every one of you.

5. Daydreaming about flying to Australia next month!

6. Church. I have met some amazing people through attending Church, such a great community and overwhelming love that I feel when I step into Church every Sunday, 
my relationship with God is constantly growing.

7. Coffee, all day every day. Getting me through those sleepless nights and 
early mornings.

8. Book Club. Reading is a great way to relax. I could spend hours in a good book shop, 
I love the smell, the atmosphere, the feel of an untouched book as I turn the page for the first time...
The only problem is that I always manage to get over enthusiastic and buy too many books, then I get home, pile them high and wonder when I will actually be able to finish all these books, but then the cycle starts again every time I see a book shop or discover 
a new book I would love to get my hands on - Confessions of a book-a-holic.  

9. Pineapple. This is becoming my favourite summer fruit, so fresh!

10. Discovering the instagram of @yamafujisun, who posts the most adorable puppy images I have ever seen.. here is a snippet to get your puppy senses tingling:

 

Song of the week: Ed Sheeran - Thinking Out Loud
This song is great to chill out to in the summer sun, 'X' is simply the perfect album.
Movie of the week: About A Boy 
A classic, hadn't watched this in awhile but after it was on TV on Saturday night
I remember how great this movie is!
Blogger of the week: Cider with Rosie
Of course Rosie had to be my blogger of the week after inspiring these weekly posts. 
She has such a great lifestyle blog and is a beautiful writer.

What's been making you smile this week? :)