Fluffy dressing gown to the rescue!

Hi guys! Sorry I haven't posted for a while. I've had a lot on my mind recently and haven't had the energy to muster up the words for a blog entry.....needless to say, here I am, making a return at 4.15am!!!

I just woke up to a snow scene outside the window. Yes, it's blummin snowed AGAIN, meaning more two hour commutes to work on ram packed buses....sigh. We may have a white christmas after all.

Anyway, I'm currently wrapped up in my new, thick, fluffy dressing gown. It saved me. I'm toasty now :-) I'm under my duvet thinking about the day to come and of the one just passed - I actually had a great saturday :-) Slept in late, gym and spinning, lunch with my man, christmas DVD shopping (we decided we needed to have a back up plan for the imminent bad TV over christmas) and then a trip to see my little grandma who was 90 years old yesterday! Breakfast today was half a wholemeal bun, toasted with PB and maple syrup, and a clementine. Scrummy. Ive been instructed by my doctor to eat 3-4 small meals a day at the moment as my appetite has recently suffered due to a prolonged episode of depression (hence the insomnia). It's amazed me how "physical" depression can be. I've suffered from it in the past but this time round it wiped me of everything I had. I'm now on the road to recovery and am working towards a nice christmas :-)

One of my new years resolutions is to blog more regularly. Gonna put it into action now though!

What are your new years resolutions?

much love x x x

My first Thanksgiving :-)

Hey Guys!

I hope everyone who celebrated Thanksgiving had a great time...I did! Yes, you heard it right, I celebrated Thanksgiving here in Blighty :-) I spent the night with some American friends, a Canadian beauty, a Mexican lady, a French comedian, a German German and a few guys from Cambridge :-) It was so great! We had lots of laughs and the food was AMAZING! God bless the cooks :-)

Well.....the snow is currently about 7inches thick here in Newcastle. It's snowing like crazy as I type this post! The cold weather has definately brought with it dreams of roast veggies and squash. I made this chickpea/squash/veggie mix the other night and chased it with some clementines. I've managed to work my way through two whole bags of clementines in the last week!!!

I've also been taking simple skincare measures in the last couple of weeks. My stress levels have been so high recently and my skin broke out big style! No matter how stressed I get, my skin doesn't usually brake out....yeah I hate spots! I'm loving St. Ives apricot scrub at the moment, along with "food for the skin" in the form of a goji berry body lotion I managed to get on sale in a local health store. It's definatley keeping the winter dryness at bay :-)

What did you give thanks for yesterday? What's your favourite skincare product?

Much love xoxo

The Little Things

There are a few little things that keep me right. You know the little things that make you feel free, happy and content?

Like eating fresh, juicy strawberries (or even better going strawberry picking and eating more than you take home :-)


Like making healthy treats like these date and walnut truffles :-)

Painting at 4am

Taking pictures of the natural world

And the thing that sets me free the most.....dancing

What are your "little things"?

Much love xoxo

True colours shining through

Hi guys. To all those who take the time to read my blog, thankyou. You're all so great. I'm currently lying on the sofa with my sister's little puppy. I'm looking after him whilst she's in Gambia. He loves climbing up on the back of the sofa and then falls asleep right by my head. Super cute :-)
Once again, I've been struggling to blog. I've been exhausted. I've been dreading getting up each day, I've lacked motivation, I've slept for England.....and so it goes on.....
For those of you who have struggled with depression, know that you're not alone. Today I have a little bit of hope. Hope that wasn't there yesterday. Hope that will grow tomorrow.
My intention is to get back into blogging and show you some of the recent things I've been creating in the kitchen. Until that happens, I'll still be reading about all you guys and your wonderful talents :-)
Love to all
Emm x x x

Halloween Nightmare

Hi guys....excuse the above photo - It just doesn't want to rotate! This is my version of one of chocolate covered katie's vegan cupcakes. I used all the same ingredients but made frosted fingers instead :-) http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2010/10/26/healthy-vegan-cupcakes-for-one/

I've spent the last two hours having a halloween nightmare. See this little gal - little Poppy...well we had to rush her off to the vets for emergency treatment. I've never heard such a little thing squeal so loud...just horrible :-( Fingers crossed that this little precious will be a bit better by morning. It was horrible having to leave her at the vets......I can't imagine what some people have to go through at the vets' office.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN Y'ALL! I hope your treat bags are full of lots of fun stuff :-)

xoxo

Life is like a box of chocolates.....

Hi guys :-)

I know, I know....I've been a bad blogger. No posts for ages. I've still been reading all your fabulous blogs but haven't been able to muster up any words of my own....

To be honest, I've been battling with depression. My diet always changes if I'm struggling mentally....I need warm food! The other night I made a beany-tomato-spinach mixture and served with a peppery sweet potato. It hit the spot :-)

Every time I feel low, I can always pick myself up by thinking of the amazing friends I have. I like to write notecards to my nearest and dearest whenever the feelng strikes - just so they all know how special they are.

Today I made some raw vegan choccies for some of my girlfriends. Superfoods galore went into these babies! :-) I think they're my best batch yet!

I'm hoping the dark cloud will lift more by the day so that I'll start to feel more motivated. I hate the feeling of "I can't be bothered!" I'll be back soon so that I can finally tell y'all about my new vitamix!

Love to you all. x x

London Adventures :-)

Heyyyyy! How is everyone? It's currently 1.11am in the UK! I know, waaay too late but hey, I just had to post about my cool, mad day :-)

Last night I had a simple mixture of courgette, onions, beetroot and cucumber mixed with tahini, cider vinegar and nutritional yeast. It hit the spot....as did the macaroons I pulled out of the dehydrator. I only made a handful as it was my first time at macaroon making....but yeah, the Ani Phyo recipe makes for a pretty scrummy coconutty delight :-)

Oh and there's my finished granola. It's pretty awesome nutrition-wise but next time a little more cinammon methinks.
Anyway.....guess I went today?.......London! Ta-dah! And here's St Pancras station - pretty cool eh.

I decided to head to the "Festival of Life" to see the lovely Laura from http://www.coxetersfayre.com/ Check out her AHHHMAZIN creations. (Laura it was SO GREAT to meet you - may there be lots of future fun ahead :-)

Here's a cool statue in the train station - it made me want a man hug :-)The festival was pretty awesome! Lots of wonderful people all coming together to celebrate healthy and eco-living. Lots of raw and vegan emphasis and smiles all round!

Laura packed me off with a box of treats - THANKYOU SWEETIE!

And I bought her last bit of tarte :-) I resisited the urge to sample this on the way home so I can share it with the boyfriend during our afternoon tea tomorrow...it's our little Sunday thing :-)

Ooooh and I bought some yacon syrup - low GI and prebiotic. Bonus! Pure2raw girlies - this purchase was inspired by you. Love to you both - I hope things are working out for you.

And I tried hemp milk for the first time ever. Loved it so now have this carton in my fridge :-)

To top off a cool day...I got back home to a little package....the one and only SPIRALIZER! Wohoo! I'm so excited to make courgette spaghetti. Ok that's it.....I'm officially getting excited about a kitchen implement!

Love to all....I hope you all had a great Saturday

xoxo