Happy Sunday you lovely lot! Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend. It’s not half bad in these parts as last night Alfie and I headed out for our first date night since baby AJ was born. We had been dying to see the latest Hobbit movie, but unfortunately it’s no longer showing so we went to see Kingsman instead. I loved the film, well, what I saw of it as my body thought it would be a good time to take a nap. Oh well, it was nice to get out of the house baby free for once.
After a horrific January, we had some wonderful news on Friday which I thought deserved and indulgent celebration, more on that in a minute. Whilst out shopping for photography props I popped into Costa for a wedge of carrot cake and hot chocolate. It’s been a while since I had some carrot cake so this really hit the spot.
I had a lovely breakfast this week of toasted brioche topped with runny fried eggs and a slice of avocado. Normally I don’t have bread, so the brioche felt like a lovely treat and something a different for me.
We had a bit of snow yesterday morning and it actually settled on the ground, although disappointingly it soon disappeared hours later. Even so, it freezing so I warmed up with a lovely bowl of pear oats made with unsweetened almond milk, full fat Greek yoghurt, honey, cinnamon and peanut butter, so tasty!
Another hearty bowl of peanut butter cup banana porridge really set me up for the day. A few of you have asked for the recipe for this and there isn’t one really. It’s just porridge oats cooked with a mashed banana, cocoa powder, honey and unsweetened almond milk and then topped with smooth peanut butter. It feels so indulgent when you eat it, but it’s got lots of good stuff in it too.
Most of my meals this week have been eaten to keep me cosy warm, lots of porridge and soup have helped. This was a store-bought Thai sweet potato soup with an apple that I had for lunch. I really need to make my version of that soup because it was utterly gorgeous, I love those Thai coconut flavours.
This bowl of loveliness is a rustic vegetarian soup that I’d made for a freelance project that I’m working on. It’s a really hearty soup, so perfect for this chilly weather we’ve had.
This salad was full of so many of my favourite foods right now: mixed salad leaves, beets, feta cheese, avocado, sweet red peppers and pomegranate seeds. I’ll definitely be making this again very soon as it’s become one of my go to salads to throw together.
On to that good news! My lovely Nan came home from hospital on Friday, much to my family’s relief, it’s so nice knowing that she is home surrounded by the things and people she knows so well. Also, my article all about superfoods has been published in Center Parcs Village Life magazine. I was so excited to get my copy in the post and seeing my name in print. A perfect excuse for a slice of carrot cake in my opinion.
I haven’t made it to the gym this week yet and may go later, but I have been out for lots of long walks, including a lovely family walk around Blenheim Palace yesterday. As one of my goals for 2015 I’m totally committed to getting my yoga on this year. Yoga is nourishing for the mind, body and soul, starting tomorrow I’m aiming to do 2 yoga workouts a week. I’ll be posting updates on my social media accounts to stay accountable, please feel free to join me by tagging me in your posts and using the hashtag #yogalovingfeb as I would love to see how you’re getting on.
Have you ever napped whilst watching a movie at the cinema? What films have you all been enjoying recently?
I’ve just finished my second consecutive 30 day yoga challenge with Erin Motz. All the videos are under 20min so fit into a busy mummy lifestyle. You can find her as the Bad Yogi on Youtube and she also has a 30 day challenge on the DoYouYoga channel on Youtube. I had no idea that daily yoga was what was missing from my life. Good luck with #yogalovingfeb and happy that you had a positive end to your month!
I think 20 minutes is a lovely doable length for busy mums. I’m really looking forward to getting back into yoga this month.
I did smile when you said about falling asleep in the cinema! I have been so close doing that several times in the past!
I am really glad your Nan is out of hospital!
Laura x x x
Thanks Laura! I can’t believe
that it’s taken us 4 months to get to the cinema and I ended up napping lol. 🙂
The worst time I slept was when we went to see Ken Burns (who does amazing documentaries) talk at the BFI- after his talk he then showed an episode of his new one about the Roosevelt family. Well, by that point it was gone 10pm, on a work night, and I just kept nodding off! I don’t think I learnt that much! But at least I enjoyed his talk first.
Ha! At least you enjoyed what you saw of the talk and got a sleep in too. To be honest, I think I would have fallen asleep too, past 10pm on a school night seems extreme for a talk.
Congrats on the mag article! Its good you got out for your first date since Alfie was born – hope you enjoyed yourselves!
It was so lovely to get out of the house. 🙂
Yay is the yoga month – Laura is doing a 5 min a day challenge so I will be giving that a go:) And yay to being in print – its always exciting to see your name in actual ink!
Thanks Kezia! I’m really hoping to get back into yoga this month and hopefully build it into my routine for the rest of the year.
I love porridge, so I will try your peanut butter and banana porridge, it sounds delicious! 🙂 x
It feels like such a treat in the morning. 🙂
So glad to hear about your Nan, it must be such a relief to have her home now. Awesome job on the Centre Parcs article, it looks great and I bet holidaymakers will love to read it – especially as they can buy most of the things you mentioned in the shop there!
It’s great to know that my Nan is finally home and surrounded by her own things. Thanks Claire, I really hope the holidaymakers are enjoying my article.
I had carrot cake this weekend too. I always forget how much I love carrot cake.
I am happy that your Nan is out of hospital.
I love carrot cake, so yummy! Great minds…
Haha I’ve never napped during a movie in the theater but I used to do it all the time at home! Now I tend to just watch TV shows on Netflix because I can’t stay away for a whole movie! I’m glad you guys had a good weekend, Jemma!
I seem to have a problem with staying awake during movies these days, especially if we watch them to late in to the evening. Hope you had a lovely weekend Liz! x
Congratulations on the magazine article! Those bowls of porridge look so good – definitely what is needed on such cold mornings. x
omg i so need your motivation and determination, it all looks fantastic x
I love a good cinema trip. We went to see the new Hunger Games when we were in America but I fell asleep twice in it – I haven’t even had a baby to justify it!! It was just a bit boring (really it’s just setting it all up for the last film) and I think I was worn out from all the crazy parks and holiday-ness.
Carrot cake is one of my favourite cakes. SO good.