Hey! Hey! Hey! How’s all of your week’s shaping up?
I’m feeling so much better than I did at the start of the week. Thank you so much for your lovely comments-you guys seriously are the BEST! I’m so glad that I became a part of blog land as I’ve met some amazing and inspiring people. Okay! Okay! I will stop with the smooooshy talk! But seriously guys…you are all A-MEH-ZING! 😀
Yesterday morning for breakfast I made a huge bowl of Creamy Chia Oats. I used my usual 1/2 cup of oats to 1 cup of oat milk (or any milk alternative) and 11/2 cups of water and pooped them in the microwave for 4/5 minutes stirring occasionally. Whilst they were getting all thick and creamy I added 1/2 tsp of cinnamon, 1/2 tsp of ginger and the ground seeds of 1 cardamom pod.
Toppings included a maple syrup swirl, pecan nuts, omega mixed seeds and a gigantic spoonful of dark chocolate dreams…
This was so creamy and voluminous…perfect!
This morning I had a gorgeous green smoothie. It included a banana, lots of spinach, fresh pineapple, pineapple coconut water, a nectarine and hemp protein powder and xanthan gum. I topped it with banana chips, crumbled coconut butter and a crumbled raw breakfast biscuits that I have been asked to review by Lusciously Raw.
The Breakfast Cookie on the smoothie tasted fab and I can’t wait to try the other raw products in my bundle.
Yesterday for lunch I had a repeat of Tuesday’s salad topped with Gena’s amazing Raw Ranch Dressing. Today I was working from home and had made arrangements to meet Emma for lunch who also had some spare time in her very busy schedule. We headed over to Wagamama’s for some amazing food and had a quick look around the Birmingham Food Festival. Emma is so, so, lovely. It felt really surreal meeting another blogger, but I had a great time!!! 🙂
For dinner tonight I made a quick vegetable Thai green curry using a load of veggies that needed using up in the fridge. In went an aubergine, courgettes, carrots, peas, string beans, a small sweet potato, a pepper, mushrooms and topped with some pumpkin seeds.
This made the perfect dinner as I was still full from the delicious chocolate peanut butter Zone Perfect bar that I had before my Body Pump class this evening. The class was awesome, it was great to be back after missing yesterday’s class. I also fitted in some yoga for runner’s this morning too. Yesterday I was up at the crack of dawn for my run. I managed 4.81 miles in 49 minutes. I probably could have pushed my pace a little more, but I’m quite happy either way. Last night I also headed over to my Spin Core class which included 40 minute of sprints and hill climbs and 20 minute of solid core work- man I was sore after this class!
The time to post out your swaps to your partners is almost here (Monday 20th latest!). If you are having any problems then please drop me an email and I’ll see if I can get it all sorted for you! I’ve also created this button that links back to the original post where you all signed up…
It would be great if you could include it on your blogs when you write up about your swaps. If for some reason you can’t post about your swap, please get your partner to post up both swaps on their blogs so we can all see what you got. I’m so excited for this! It’s going to be great to see what you receive in your packages! 🙂
I’ve also got a lil’ giveaway coming up at the weekend from my June blog sponsors Nakd, so keep your eyes peeled for that! 🙂
What’s are your favourite add-ins for your oats? I pretty put everything but the kitchen sink in mine, but I really enjoyed the chai spices of yesterday morning’s breakfast.
Have you ever met up with a fellow blogger before? I was a little nervous at meeting Emma first, but it went great and I really had a great time chatting about lots of random things and of course blog related things. 🙂
oooh those oats look so perfect my favorite add in would be coconut and sunflower seed butter mmmm!
Ooooh your oats sound absolutely delicious! Where did you get your chia from?!
I’ve never heard of Lusciously Raw but I’m definitely jealous after seeing their products! I may have to order some 🙂
Sounds like you had a lovely day with Emma! I was nervous to meet Laura too but it’s so weird when you do finally meet and you feel like you already know each other because you can talk about so much bloggy stuff! I love the blogging community I really do 🙂 We’re all very special and it’s so good for loads of people with similar interests to be able to talk about things with each other!
ahh i love the oats! ineed to use chia more! my fav ad in.. well on TOP- nut butter! its a MUST!! cnt wait for a giveaway! oo is that the zone bar i sent u!?!
Yes it tasted amazing!!! 🙂
Thai green curry sounds amazing right now after seeing that 😀
Glad you’re feeling better!
Thank you! I think Thai green curry has to be on e of my favourite dishes. 😛
I really enjoyed our lunch today too! Looking forward to doing it again soon. Glad you made it to BodyPump ok!!
My favourite add-in to oats is jam or nutella. I just can’t get enough of it!
Yeah I really enjoyed lunch too and we must do it again soon. Body Pump was hard core as per, but I love it! Glad I made it even though it was a bit of a rush! 🙂
My favourite add-in for oats include sliced banana, grated apple, chia seed, ground flax, cocoa powder and nut butters (not usually all at the same time).
I’ve never met up with another blogger. I’d like to at some point, but I imagine it’s strange because I feel like I kind of know other bloggers without having ever met them or even heard their voice.
It was strange at first, but after the first few few minutes all of my anxieties went away. I really had a great time! 🙂
I’m a bit odd… I like my oats raw… straight from bowl to spoon to mouth. No milk, no microwave, no water… just chew!
You have stirred up a craving for something I used to have post-swimming training though… oats with hot milk (not too much, need to stand my spoon up!!) and some hot chocolate powder. Aww I feel about 7 years old even just writing that!!!
Serious?! Like raw oats? I have never tried them that way before.
That core spin class sounds really fun! I love when classes incorporate high intensity stuff with muscles, too.
I’ve met a few fellow bloggers that happen to live in my town but would love to meet more! Possibly at a conference if I can ever afford to go 🙂
I would love to go to the HLS. I bet the place is swarming with bloggers! HA! The spin core class is amazing and really kicks you in to shape…so tough!
I’ve only ever met up with 1 other blogger, Debs from Smoothie girl eats too. I love her she is the most amazing lady. I hope to meet up with some more this summer : )
I would love to meet up with more blogers. It’s so much fun! 🙂
How exciting about the meet up!
I have never met people from blogland, but I have exchanged emails and sort of got to know a few people better. I love it though, everyone is so friendly and supportive!
I sent off my swap stuff, and took pics but I have not posted yet so it is a surprise for Britt!
🙂 Love the button though, so clever
Yayyy! For sending off your swap. I cannot wait to se what everyone recieves! 🙂 It was so much fun meeting another blogger and everyone is so supportive in blog land. I love it
How exciting, a blogger meet up! I’m about to send off my swap stuff so I’m quite excitied. Love the oats! I adore “Pumpkin pie” oats, with ginger, nutmeg, and a whole lots of cinnamon with pumpkin and a scoop of AB 🙂
It was very eciting and I would love to meet more bloggers. Your pumpkin pie oats sound delish. And yayyyy for sending out your swap!! x
Yep, I’ve met several bloggers and all of them have been amazing people: it’s saying something that, even though with ‘normal’ people I struggle to speak due to my social anxiety disorder (and with strangers I practically run away…) when I’ve met up with bloggers I’ve felt so at ease and comfortable.
I’m sending my swap stuffies tomorrow 🙂
With oats, I think the question is what don’t I like to put on them. Nut butters and jam are the ultimate I think, though crumbled bars work well too when they melt into the oaty goodness.
xxx
I think maybe it is because you already a sense of who the bloggers are already. When I met Emma it was kinda like meeting a friend rather thatn a stranger if that makes sense. I’m so excited for the swaps. 😀
great post! You sound so upbeat and happy – love it! and your oats are so scrummy looking!
I’m happy that moods come across when I write. Maybe I shouldn’t post when I am feeling down lol. 🙂
YAY for a blogger meetup–I’ve never done one, jealous!!
Mmmm, your oats look PERFECT! I love melty nut butter on mine 😀
Love all your pictures….yum, you have so many wonderful grains incorporated (my favourite food group) 🙂
In my oats – cocoa powder, almond milk, chia, bran buds, frozen blueberries and ground flax. YUM. Looking forward to them tomorrow morning already.
I hope you enjoyed your oats! What are bran buds? i have never heard of those before. 🙂
you’re my hero! i’ll take one of everything please! clearly i have a lot to learn =)
Awww Jess you are super sweet! Don’t be silly, your blog and food are amazing. And WIAW is just genius! x
Wow, those oats look perfect! Now im hungry!
Whitney
Thank you! They were great! x
Awesome, I want oats! Have bought them, now just need to use them! Sorry to here you were feeling down at the beginning of the week but I’m glad you’re feeling better now. Sounds like you pulled out all the right moves to improve how you felt.
Hey, I’ve just realised that we use the same wordpress theme for our blogs- isn’t it the best! I love it x
Yes I love the Mystique theme. It’s the best one I have come across on wordpress so far. I would love to design my own thoug, but unfornately I am I.T. inept.
I met the lovely Nicky from Kabocha Fashion and I’ll be meeting Jessica from Almost Over Now this weekend! Its really strange how well you can know people without even meeting them! Favourite oats add in has to be fruit and nut butter!
I know. I did feel like I knew Emma before I met her. It was really weird at first. Have fun with Jess! I would love to meet her and you of course!! 🙂
I’ve met up with a couple of people from blogging or fitness forums etc. It’s always nerve-wracking at first, but the more I do it the less strange it feels. And like Laura says, you realise that you actually know each other pretty well, once the initial shyness has dissipated!
Great run btw — your pace is really picking up 🙂
Thanks Alison. I can feel myself improving on every run. I find that I am recovering better too. I really want to meet other bloggers, but it is true it feels like you know already before you actually meet them. 🙂
I haven’t met up with another blogger. It sounds fun, but I’d be nervous too. My favorite oat mix-ins are protein powder or cinnamon with walnuts and half a banana.
It’s so muich fun! I would love to meet other bloggers. It’s such an amazing and inspirational community to be apart of. I love it!
favourite oat add ins = nut butters, definitely!
but at the moment, tahini and dried figs(: it’s amazing when the tahini goes all melty mmmmmm!
We are in need of a U.K. blogger meet up, I think!
xxxx
oh, and am a bit jealous of the raw goodies that yo ugot to try, they sound really good!
I definitely let you know how they are when I’ve tried everything!! 🙂
Those oats look great! Chai spices are among some of my favorites… I just love the extra kick they give to any sweet dish, and they’re especially good in oatmeal. My oats always have to have banana and almond butter in them… and after that, anything goes 😀
all of that looks SO GOOD, but I’m most curious about the breakfast cookie…. 🙂
I think this is so cool because you met up with my food blog swap partner yayyyyy!! hehehe. Oh boy, I’m so easily amazed. how funny! I didn’t know that you had chai oats, but this morning I made quinoa with vanilla and chai tea! 😀 so delicious…
I’ll be at camp when my package comes but I’ll review it in August when I come home!! Can’t wait!
I just love adding how seeds add such a nice crunchy texture. And OMG, that chocolate dream topping just looks spectacular. Nice pics 🙂