MOVE, NOURISH, BELIEVE - A SNAPSHOT MY ACTIVE LIFE
So here's a little snapshot of my active life over the past fortnight! I am a huge Lorna Jane fan and I love her brand as a whole for not only being a gorgeous active wear brand but also for the lifestyle she has created among so many women across the nation. I believe her philosophy is so true and so applicable to so many of lives.
'At Lorna Jane our aim is to inspire women to live their best life through active living. We believe in a three pillared philosophy of MOVE NOURISH BELIEVE and it is this mantra together with our clothing that encourages and motivates women globally to be the best they can be. Lorna Jane is not simply a clothing label, it is a way of life'
My 'pledge' for active nation day:
When you are supported and encouraged by others around you, you always feel more inspired and motivated to make your life better, I do anyway and there is one person in my life who stands out to me the most as being one of those people who inspires you, and someone who I share so much passion for active living and healthy eating - my fabulous mumma! My mum and I are quite regular gym junkies and running buddies, and so in the lead up to Lorna Jane's first ever 'Active Nation Day' yesterday (Sunday the 29th September) we made sure to step up our training and get decked out in a heap of super bright and beautiful Lorna Jane Gear :). We joined in the action for the day by running 8.1km (my longest ever run!!! :o) around the Botanical Gardens in Melbourne, followed by a delicious (and well earned!) breakfast at Café Domain.
I have been adding a little more running into my weekly exercise over the past few weeks, I have never been a particularly strong or passionate long distance runner, (partially thanks to my asthmatic lungs!) however I have begun to make it a challenge to myself to prove that I can do it! I'm working myself up to being able to run 10km's comfortably, and am even hoping by November this year that I can participate in the City to Sea 14km (gasp!!!!) - but that's a while off so baby step's first!! - I prefer a lot more weight based and HIIT training, but I think its great to mix it up now and then and I have even tracked a couple of my recent runs which I am pretty proud of the improvement in terms of distance!! - I'm not really focused on times right at the minute, I'm just happy I'm pushing myself to achieve new things!
This week I think I will make my challenge be to achieve at least 8.5-9km :) I'll get back to you all in a weeks time about how I go! in the meantime, just some more health and fitness related motivation for you to browse through! - and of course some of my recent post-workout fashion which you may have already seen on my IG ;)
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My breakfast this morning, good old fashion porridge made with water and almond milk and topped with melted berries, fresh blueberries and chia seeds! - one of my all time favourite breakfasts! :) and a little light reading about sugar on the side ;) with Sarah Wilson's 'I Quit Sugar' - I am currently reading about this and thinking of doing the 8 week program. Will let you know what happens!
Enjoy! and don't forget to get active! It's never too late to start achieving the best version of yourself! :) xx
GET ACTIVE, BE ACTIVE, STAY ACTIVE
Firstly I must apologise for neglecting the lifestyle section for a while! I'm sure you can all relate to those times when life kicks you in to 'I have only one gear at the moment which is full pace' modes and then you stop for a breath and realise the whole week has pretty much already passed! - yep well that's been me for a couple of weeks, but I'm picking up the pace now and no more slacking off for the lifestyle, as I love sharing all kinds of motivation and personal fitness and health pleasures with all you little beauties!
So for a little while now I have been battling with my bod, against a few niggling tummy bugs and other common health troubles (won't bore you with the details but all I can say after what I have learnt is that if something doesn't seem right with your body, listen to it! It really is your body's way of telling you something is up) - but after much cleansing/detoxing, resting, clean eating, as well as a few shifts in career path, I'm happy to say that I am back on track and more determined than ever in being on my way to achieving my health and fitness goals! I have amped up my training (and loving being fully active again!) as well as my clean eating, and (very slowly) but surely I know it's starting to pay off!
I can't tell you happy it makes me feel to live a clean and active life! I really feel for people who don't know just how good their bodies are designed to feel if they just took a little more care - one of the reasons why I always love helping out a friend, or anyone for that matter, with any of my own tips and advice on easy ways to get active or eat clean! Here's some bits and bobs of all things health and fitness for you to gawk at and hopefully give you a little extra inspiration to make your day even more amazing (and healthy of course!). Stay tuned as next week I'm going to share a little post on one of my favourite healthy/active living ambassadors and brand, Lorna Jane, as well as introducing you to a little special something that I am taking part in at the moment ;) Until then my lovelies, Get up, eat clean, get active and be amazing!! xx
Boxing anyone?..
Me, post Monday morning workout a few weeks ago, fuelling up for recovery after a big session with a super-greens juice and clean banana-walnut protein muffin :)
I've said it before and I'll say it again people, BREAKFAST, BREAKFAST, BREAKFAST!! - Don't Skip it! - and oh-em-gee this looks so yum! ;)
Who doesn't love a little J-Hawk in a leotard for some gorgeous glowing inspiration :) - nourish yourself on the inside and you will glow on the outside!
I made this image for instagram a few nights ago, I was feeling pretty proud after this 41kg deadlift in my workout - now ready to push myself further and up the weight on the next one! hehe! - I honestly live by this saying, not only in my fitness and health, but in all aspects of life - 'If it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you'.
My next, and 5th, pair of Nike runners! - What can I say? A girl can never have too many shoes ;)
My little splurge in Lorna Jane today, picked up some awesome goodies! always love the LJ range, such beautiful designs and amazing colours! - who said anything about daggy gym clothes - NO THANKS!
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A little post workout (shameless) selfie after my super Saturday 2hr 1015calorie workout! - Feeling goooooood :) and happy to be able to rock out the my fav Nike Pro shorts again, now that the weather is not so chilly!
and just to prove I wasn't mucking around when I said 2hr and 1015calorie session! hehe. Challenge yourself, you might be surprised at just how much you can actually achieve!
AIN'T NO BORING BREAKFAST
Are you one of those people who skips breakfast? (gasp) or lacks ideas and passion for the most important meal of the day? (double gasp), well there is no need to panic. Breakfast for me is like the most creative meal of the day! There are soooo many ways to make it fun, healthy and delicious. Of course we all know by now how much I LOVE my oats for breakfast, so whenever I hear someone saying they skip breakfast, or don't bother trying oats because they're boring (OH MY GOSH - GASP) I tend to launch into a crazy rant about how they are most certainly NOT boring, and start rattling off some of my favourite combinations. Come on people, breakfast is only boring if you let it be boring, and oats especially, are not boring! - if you're a skipper, please STOP right there - before we go any further, please raise your right hand and repeat after me - 'I will never skip breakfast ever again. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and certainly isn't boring'. - Great, now that you have reached the first step to becoming a passionate (and maybe slightly obsessed) breakfast lover like myself, here is a little inspiration for your morning meals. Some delicious oatmeal and porridge combinations that I have recently stumbled (and most likely drooled) over from some super creative people on Instagram, there's also a couple of my own. Enjoy! - and remember, don't skip breakfast!!!
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Above is one of my favourite, quick and easy oat breakys. It's so simple, just organic oats made with water and almond milk, served with mixed frozen berries (melted on top), a couple of fresh strawberries chopped and a good sprinkle of chia seeds! - oh and served with a side of fresh green juice (always on hand too and super easy to make, you can create so many different combinations! - this one was celery, cucumber, spinach, fresh squeeze of lemon juice, fresh ginger and a green apple blended together with some water)
This was a new little combination I whipped up after the gym this morning, and it was DELICIOUS. Yesterday I picked up some Brookfarm 'Power Porrij' from the health food store to try. Its a combination of oats, barley, rye, almonds, organic quinoa and amaranth, organic golden flaxseed oil, rice bran, macadamias, cinnamon and prune juice. It's a great source of protein and omega 3 and packed full of goodies. It cooks the same as regular oats into the consistency of porridge, only with a little more texture. It was delicious and definitely a new favourite! - I made it with almond milk and water, and topped with chopped banana and fig, pomegranate and chia seeds. YUMMY.
XX
MAKE UP PICKS
So after one of my recent blog posts I had a few questions about how I did my make up and hair for the shoot and what particular products I had used and although I am currently in the process of trialling some new more natural/organic cosmetics and beauty products (but that's another post for another time!), I thought I would share with you all how I created the look!
1. Prime - when doing my make up I always use a good pre-foundation primer. Primers prep your skin for even and easy application of your base foundation and also help prevent that 'blotchy' look that I'm sure we have all experienced by the end of the day!! I always use a primer when applying my make up and so far one my favourites has been Napoleon Auto Pilot Pre Foundation Primer.
2. Conceal - Next I conceal any blemishes, spots and under-eye dark shadows with a good long wearing concealer. In this particular look I used MAC cosmetics Pro Long Wear Concealer. I apply it sparingly using a small concealer brush and only to areas that need it. This concealer I found great for me because it covers and conceals well without being heavy, and most importantly it lasts all day or night!
3. Foundation - again another MAC cosmetics product Studio Fix Fluid foundation. I had tried a lot of foundations in the past, but this one I found to be a great match for me, they have a wide range of colour tones to match all skin colours. It has a good level of coverage which can be built up in light layers to desired coverage, but it's also long wearing without being really heavy (also why it's important to use a primer to achieve longer lasting coverage and help prevent from clogging the skin).
4. Powder - I use a small dusting of Napoleon Camera Finish powder, this is one of my favourite powders for keeping shine at bay as well as finishing the foundation. I like to use a small dusting over the more oily-prone areas of the face (T-Zone, nose, chin etc).
5. Bronze - So far my favourite bronzer yet, MAC cosmetics Mineralize. It has a great colour without the shimmer/glittery effect that most bronzers have. It's also very light and can be built up from a light glow to a deep bronze. I like to apply lightly around the neck to blend, and very sparingly over entire face then to create more definition I layer a little more along the underneath of the cheekbones using an angled brush.
5. Blush - personally I've never been a big fan of pink coloured blush and felt it never really matched my skin well, so I was thrilled about finding this Gorgeous Cosmetics powder, which is technically sold as an eyeshadow however can be a multi-purpose powder for your face! And in a bright orange colour 'Goldfish' it gives me the perfect blush colour. I apply it lightly over cheekbones with an angled brush.
6. Eyes - Eyes for me are generally bare on a day to day basis, I try an avoid eye make (and any make up) when I don't need it, however here I lightly dusted my eyelids with a gold eyeshadow by Napoleon Perdis, curl lashes with an eyelash curler then apply two coats of Mascara (as I don't generally wear mascara I don't buy it often so any mascara of choice would work)
7. Eyebrows - I am constantly asked about my eyebrows and often get a suprised reaction when I say that I create my definitive shape with an eyebrow pencil/shadow and brush! I like my eyebrows to be fairly bold, and unfortunately I am not blessed with naturally thick and beautiful eyebrows like some so I have learnt to intelligently improvise ;) I started experimenting with shape, colour and definition with using eyebrow pencils which are great (but always have to kept sharp!) however at the moment, and for this particular look I used a Gorgeous Cosmetics eyeshadow in 'Fudge' and a very small angled brush. Eyebrows can take time to perfect so practice practice practice! Play around with a pencil or shadow and brush until you find a shape and depth that you're happy with! It's a great way to finish your look, especially if you have light or thin eyebrows.
8. Lips - to finish I used my favourite nude lipstick, 'Gamelia' (so close to my name! hehe) by Napoleon Perdis Divine Goddess Collection. This colour is very nude so you don't need to use much when applying. For this particular look I applied it on it's own, however it also looks great finished with a nude/light pink gloss over the top :)
9. Hair - Another question I am repeatedly asked about is how do I achieve my curly/wavy hair. Well my first tip is I no longer use a GHD or hair straightener to curl with - I find this method was really damaging on my hair from the constant pulling, that was until my fabulous hairdresser introduced me to the curling wand by MUK. (Available from selected hairdressing salons and most good hair supply stores). The MUK stick curler changed my life! :) I found it cut down the time it takes to curl all my hair significantly and it's so quick and easy to use you simply wrap your hair around the wand hold for a few seconds then unravel. (I don't style my hair unless for an occasion or in this case shoot, as I try to keep my hair in tip top condition without damaging it with tones of products and stress from styling and heat). To achieve this look I washed and conditioned first and let dry, almost completely naturally then finished with a hair dryer to get some volume. Once dry, I divide into sections and curl large pieces then lightly spray with hair spray and brush out with a hair brush to blend and create a more 'wavy' effect.
So here's a little snapshot of my active life over the past fortnight! I am a huge Lorna Jane fan and I love her brand as a whole for not only being a gorgeous active wear brand but also for the lifestyle she has created among so many women across the nation. I believe her philosophy is so true and so applicable to so many of lives.
'At Lorna Jane our aim is to inspire women to live their best life through active living. We believe in a three pillared philosophy of MOVE NOURISH BELIEVE and it is this mantra together with our clothing that encourages and motivates women globally to be the best they can be. Lorna Jane is not simply a clothing label, it is a way of life'
My 'pledge' for active nation day:
When you are supported and encouraged by others around you, you always feel more inspired and motivated to make your life better, I do anyway and there is one person in my life who stands out to me the most as being one of those people who inspires you, and someone who I share so much passion for active living and healthy eating - my fabulous mumma! My mum and I are quite regular gym junkies and running buddies, and so in the lead up to Lorna Jane's first ever 'Active Nation Day' yesterday (Sunday the 29th September) we made sure to step up our training and get decked out in a heap of super bright and beautiful Lorna Jane Gear :). We joined in the action for the day by running 8.1km (my longest ever run!!! :o) around the Botanical Gardens in Melbourne, followed by a delicious (and well earned!) breakfast at Café Domain.
I have been adding a little more running into my weekly exercise over the past few weeks, I have never been a particularly strong or passionate long distance runner, (partially thanks to my asthmatic lungs!) however I have begun to make it a challenge to myself to prove that I can do it! I'm working myself up to being able to run 10km's comfortably, and am even hoping by November this year that I can participate in the City to Sea 14km (gasp!!!!) - but that's a while off so baby step's first!! - I prefer a lot more weight based and HIIT training, but I think its great to mix it up now and then and I have even tracked a couple of my recent runs which I am pretty proud of the improvement in terms of distance!! - I'm not really focused on times right at the minute, I'm just happy I'm pushing myself to achieve new things!
This week I think I will make my challenge be to achieve at least 8.5-9km :) I'll get back to you all in a weeks time about how I go! in the meantime, just some more health and fitness related motivation for you to browse through! - and of course some of my recent post-workout fashion which you may have already seen on my IG ;)
My breakfast this morning, good old fashion porridge made with water and almond milk and topped with melted berries, fresh blueberries and chia seeds! - one of my all time favourite breakfasts! :) and a little light reading about sugar on the side ;) with Sarah Wilson's 'I Quit Sugar' - I am currently reading about this and thinking of doing the 8 week program. Will let you know what happens!
GET ACTIVE, BE ACTIVE, STAY ACTIVE
Firstly I must apologise for neglecting the lifestyle section for a while! I'm sure you can all relate to those times when life kicks you in to 'I have only one gear at the moment which is full pace' modes and then you stop for a breath and realise the whole week has pretty much already passed! - yep well that's been me for a couple of weeks, but I'm picking up the pace now and no more slacking off for the lifestyle, as I love sharing all kinds of motivation and personal fitness and health pleasures with all you little beauties!
So for a little while now I have been battling with my bod, against a few niggling tummy bugs and other common health troubles (won't bore you with the details but all I can say after what I have learnt is that if something doesn't seem right with your body, listen to it! It really is your body's way of telling you something is up) - but after much cleansing/detoxing, resting, clean eating, as well as a few shifts in career path, I'm happy to say that I am back on track and more determined than ever in being on my way to achieving my health and fitness goals! I have amped up my training (and loving being fully active again!) as well as my clean eating, and (very slowly) but surely I know it's starting to pay off!
I can't tell you happy it makes me feel to live a clean and active life! I really feel for people who don't know just how good their bodies are designed to feel if they just took a little more care - one of the reasons why I always love helping out a friend, or anyone for that matter, with any of my own tips and advice on easy ways to get active or eat clean! Here's some bits and bobs of all things health and fitness for you to gawk at and hopefully give you a little extra inspiration to make your day even more amazing (and healthy of course!). Stay tuned as next week I'm going to share a little post on one of my favourite healthy/active living ambassadors and brand, Lorna Jane, as well as introducing you to a little special something that I am taking part in at the moment ;) Until then my lovelies, Get up, eat clean, get active and be amazing!! xx
Boxing anyone?..
Me, post Monday morning workout a few weeks ago, fuelling up for recovery after a big session with a super-greens juice and clean banana-walnut protein muffin :)
I've said it before and I'll say it again people, BREAKFAST, BREAKFAST, BREAKFAST!! - Don't Skip it! - and oh-em-gee this looks so yum! ;)
Who doesn't love a little J-Hawk in a leotard for some gorgeous glowing inspiration :) - nourish yourself on the inside and you will glow on the outside!
I made this image for instagram a few nights ago, I was feeling pretty proud after this 41kg deadlift in my workout - now ready to push myself further and up the weight on the next one! hehe! - I honestly live by this saying, not only in my fitness and health, but in all aspects of life - 'If it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you'.
My little splurge in Lorna Jane today, picked up some awesome goodies! always love the LJ range, such beautiful designs and amazing colours! - who said anything about daggy gym clothes - NO THANKS!
and just to prove I wasn't mucking around when I said 2hr and 1015calorie session! hehe. Challenge yourself, you might be surprised at just how much you can actually achieve!
XX
AIN'T NO BORING BREAKFAST
Are you one of those people who skips breakfast? (gasp) or lacks ideas and passion for the most important meal of the day? (double gasp), well there is no need to panic. Breakfast for me is like the most creative meal of the day! There are soooo many ways to make it fun, healthy and delicious. Of course we all know by now how much I LOVE my oats for breakfast, so whenever I hear someone saying they skip breakfast, or don't bother trying oats because they're boring (OH MY GOSH - GASP) I tend to launch into a crazy rant about how they are most certainly NOT boring, and start rattling off some of my favourite combinations. Come on people, breakfast is only boring if you let it be boring, and oats especially, are not boring! - if you're a skipper, please STOP right there - before we go any further, please raise your right hand and repeat after me - 'I will never skip breakfast ever again. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and certainly isn't boring'. - Great, now that you have reached the first step to becoming a passionate (and maybe slightly obsessed) breakfast lover like myself, here is a little inspiration for your morning meals. Some delicious oatmeal and porridge combinations that I have recently stumbled (and most likely drooled) over from some super creative people on Instagram, there's also a couple of my own. Enjoy! - and remember, don't skip breakfast!!!
Above is one of my favourite, quick and easy oat breakys. It's so simple, just organic oats made with water and almond milk, served with mixed frozen berries (melted on top), a couple of fresh strawberries chopped and a good sprinkle of chia seeds! - oh and served with a side of fresh green juice (always on hand too and super easy to make, you can create so many different combinations! - this one was celery, cucumber, spinach, fresh squeeze of lemon juice, fresh ginger and a green apple blended together with some water)
MAKE UP PICKS
So after one of my recent blog posts I had a few questions about how I did my make up and hair for the shoot and what particular products I had used and although I am currently in the process of trialling some new more natural/organic cosmetics and beauty products (but that's another post for another time!), I thought I would share with you all how I created the look!
1. Prime - when doing my make up I always use a good pre-foundation primer. Primers prep your skin for even and easy application of your base foundation and also help prevent that 'blotchy' look that I'm sure we have all experienced by the end of the day!! I always use a primer when applying my make up and so far one my favourites has been Napoleon Auto Pilot Pre Foundation Primer.
2. Conceal - Next I conceal any blemishes, spots and under-eye dark shadows with a good long wearing concealer. In this particular look I used MAC cosmetics Pro Long Wear Concealer. I apply it sparingly using a small concealer brush and only to areas that need it. This concealer I found great for me because it covers and conceals well without being heavy, and most importantly it lasts all day or night!
3. Foundation - again another MAC cosmetics product Studio Fix Fluid foundation. I had tried a lot of foundations in the past, but this one I found to be a great match for me, they have a wide range of colour tones to match all skin colours. It has a good level of coverage which can be built up in light layers to desired coverage, but it's also long wearing without being really heavy (also why it's important to use a primer to achieve longer lasting coverage and help prevent from clogging the skin).
4. Powder - I use a small dusting of Napoleon Camera Finish powder, this is one of my favourite powders for keeping shine at bay as well as finishing the foundation. I like to use a small dusting over the more oily-prone areas of the face (T-Zone, nose, chin etc).
5. Bronze - So far my favourite bronzer yet, MAC cosmetics Mineralize. It has a great colour without the shimmer/glittery effect that most bronzers have. It's also very light and can be built up from a light glow to a deep bronze. I like to apply lightly around the neck to blend, and very sparingly over entire face then to create more definition I layer a little more along the underneath of the cheekbones using an angled brush.
5. Blush - personally I've never been a big fan of pink coloured blush and felt it never really matched my skin well, so I was thrilled about finding this Gorgeous Cosmetics powder, which is technically sold as an eyeshadow however can be a multi-purpose powder for your face! And in a bright orange colour 'Goldfish' it gives me the perfect blush colour. I apply it lightly over cheekbones with an angled brush.
6. Eyes - Eyes for me are generally bare on a day to day basis, I try an avoid eye make (and any make up) when I don't need it, however here I lightly dusted my eyelids with a gold eyeshadow by Napoleon Perdis, curl lashes with an eyelash curler then apply two coats of Mascara (as I don't generally wear mascara I don't buy it often so any mascara of choice would work)
7. Eyebrows - I am constantly asked about my eyebrows and often get a suprised reaction when I say that I create my definitive shape with an eyebrow pencil/shadow and brush! I like my eyebrows to be fairly bold, and unfortunately I am not blessed with naturally thick and beautiful eyebrows like some so I have learnt to intelligently improvise ;) I started experimenting with shape, colour and definition with using eyebrow pencils which are great (but always have to kept sharp!) however at the moment, and for this particular look I used a Gorgeous Cosmetics eyeshadow in 'Fudge' and a very small angled brush. Eyebrows can take time to perfect so practice practice practice! Play around with a pencil or shadow and brush until you find a shape and depth that you're happy with! It's a great way to finish your look, especially if you have light or thin eyebrows.
8. Lips - to finish I used my favourite nude lipstick, 'Gamelia' (so close to my name! hehe) by Napoleon Perdis Divine Goddess Collection. This colour is very nude so you don't need to use much when applying. For this particular look I applied it on it's own, however it also looks great finished with a nude/light pink gloss over the top :)
9. Hair - Another question I am repeatedly asked about is how do I achieve my curly/wavy hair. Well my first tip is I no longer use a GHD or hair straightener to curl with - I find this method was really damaging on my hair from the constant pulling, that was until my fabulous hairdresser introduced me to the curling wand by MUK. (Available from selected hairdressing salons and most good hair supply stores). The MUK stick curler changed my life! :) I found it cut down the time it takes to curl all my hair significantly and it's so quick and easy to use you simply wrap your hair around the wand hold for a few seconds then unravel. (I don't style my hair unless for an occasion or in this case shoot, as I try to keep my hair in tip top condition without damaging it with tones of products and stress from styling and heat). To achieve this look I washed and conditioned first and let dry, almost completely naturally then finished with a hair dryer to get some volume. Once dry, I divide into sections and curl large pieces then lightly spray with hair spray and brush out with a hair brush to blend and create a more 'wavy' effect.
So there you have it! Easy! - Keep a look out for some new posts up here in LIFESTYLE as I review some other beauty and cosmetic products that I am currently trying.
XX
VANILLA PROTEIN AND BERRY BUCKWHEAT PORRIDGE
During my recent 6 week period off from gluten/dairy/soy products, which has been part of some naturopathic treatment, I must admit that the part I struggled with most was finding an equally tasty and satisfying replacement for oats!! - For those who know me well, know that there probably isn't many people who LOVE oats more than I do :) therefore finding something to live up to its standards proved a difficult task for me! - but with 6 weeks to play with I had some time to play around!.
As a clean eater, and an avid breakfast enthusiast ;), I know there a million options when it comes to the most important meal of the day! Ánd following so many amazing food/fitness blogs and instagram accounts means I have endless inspiration and no excuses for lack of recipes to try! - however, I admittedly am a little bit picky - and probably stubborn - when it comes to breakfast. I am not, and never have been big on savory breakfasts - and have never found anything that keeps me full and satisfied for as long as a breakfast made with oats does! - but in saying this I knew it was time to open up my options considering I was temporarily facing the frightening prospect of possibly having to give up my beloved oats for good!
Among the options I began trialling, I came across 'Big Oz Brand - Organic, Gluten Free buckwheat flakes' at a great health food store in Doncaster. I had tried the buckwheat kernals before, but had never had the flakes, and considering I, like many of you I'm sure, have limited time for breakfast preparation in the morning, the cooking time was sure to be halfed with these flakes! So I picked up the pack, along with some 'Sun Warrior - gluten/dairy/soy free vanilla protein powder' and headed home to start creating! This is what I came up with and actually really enjoyed it!
vanilla protein and berry buckwheat porridge
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Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup of buckwheat porridge flakes
- 1/2 cup of water
- 1/4 cup of preffered milk - I use Almond Breeze Almond milk by Blue Diamond
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup of blueberries
- 1/4 cup roughly chopped strawberries
(if you don't have fresh berries then frozen works fine too)
- 1 tblsp preferred vanilla protein powder (I used the gluten/dairy/soy free Vanilla by Sun Warrior Protein
- 1 tblsp coconut oil
- 1 tblsp chia seeds (optional)
Method:
- place buckwheat flakes, milk and water in a saucepan and cook as per instructions (bring to boil then simmer for 3-4 minutes or until preferred consistancy, stirring occasionally). Once the porridge is about 1/2 cooked with still a fair bit of liquid, add in protein powder and stir through well, let porridge continue cooking as per instructions. When almost done add in all the berries and coconut oil and stir through, leave on low heat for an extra minute or too to allow berries to warm - add extra water or milk during the process if you wish/need - pour into bowl, sprinkle with chia and serve!
These easy flakes are like the buckwheat version of 'quick oats' and can be cooked in the microwave too if you are short on time! - same process only cook them for about 1 minute in the microwave or as per cooking method on the box - if you're using a microwave, mix up the protein powder in your milk or water in a protein shaker beforehand, then pour over the flakes and pop in the microwave to cook from there. Then add berries and coconut oil after 1 minute, stir through well and cook for another 30sec/1min depending on consistancy :)
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xx
NEW RECIPE: COCONUT CINNAMON QUINOA PORRIDGE
For those of you following my IG account @_milmil_ you may, or may not, have noticed my recent post about having to go dairy free, soy free AND gluten free for 2 weeks. For some people, this is what they are used to every single day, and I certainly applaude them for it as for someone who is not quite use to doing this so strictly it can be a little tricky at first!! - my biggest withdrawal so far definitely my OATS!!! I love nothing more than a traditional bowl of tummy warming porridge on cold winter mornings and as I was eating them almost every day, it is very daunting to think I may have to give them up for good! :(. However, for the time being I am getting creative with some oat-alternative ingredients and will be sharing with you some of my favourites. I have found LOADS of inspiration for gluten/dairy/soy free recipes (it will take me more than 2 weeks to try them all!) but my first creation after I smashed out an awesome Sunday morning workout today was this: Coconut Cinnamon Quinoa Porridge.
Quinoa is a really great alternative for oats, I must admit, it does have a slightly strange taste/texture and may take a little warming too, but I absolutely LOVE it now and it can be used in so many ways! (tip: quinoa could also be used as an alternative to rice!)
Did you know?: Quinoa is considered a high protein grain as its protein quality is more superior to most other common cereal grains. Quinoa is also is high in lysine, iron, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, copper, manganese, and zinc, which are all vital for good health! source: https://www.facebook.com/#!/ReviveHealthandWellbeing
Next time you have some time on your hands in the morning, grab yourself some Quinoa and give this recipe a try!
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup quinoa
- 1 1/2 cups of liquid (the basic cooking method on the packets use water but to make a more porridge like dish I suggest dividing this measurement between your desired milk of choice and a little water, I used 1 cup almond milk, 1/4 coconut milk and 1/4 water)
- Maca powder
- cinnamon
- coconut oil
- Pumpkin/sunflower and Chia seeds
- 1/2 banana (or any fruit of choice!)
Method:
- combine quinoa and milk/water into a saucepan and cook as per instructions on packet (bring to boil then reduce heat and simmer for around 15 minutes - more if you like it thicker and less if you like a more liquidy texture)
- once quinoa is simmering, thickened and almost ready, add 1/4 teaspoon of maca powder, as much or little cinnamon as you like and a generous tablespoon of coconut oil, then stir to combine and until coconut oil has melted through.
- Once cooked, turn off heat and stir through a tablespoon or so (or desired amount) of all three seeds.
- transfer to bowl and top with chopped banana or whichever fruit you are using, then sprinkle a little more cinnamon over the top.
- pour a little extra milk over if you need.
- Enjoy!!
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DON'T STOP!
Been having one of those days, or even weeks where you can't seem to find your motivation? or maybe you're feeling a little lack-lustre like your hard work isn't paying off yet? or maybe you are feeling great about your progress and just want another reason to keep it up! Well here's some cute inspiration for all you, no matter how you are feeling, sometimes all you need is a small amount of positivity to turn your day around!
You are all beautiful, so let that shine through, be happy and positive and you will always shine!
Here's just a sneaky little shot of me after a Saturday morning gym session :P. In my beloved Nike Pro shorts, Nike runners, and polar heart rate monitor watch (highly recommended if you don't already have one of these - do yourselves a favour and get one!)
keep working hard, and being positive
xx
BREAKFAST HOTSPOTS:MELBOURNE FAVOURITES
Being an OTT breakfast enthusiast, going out for a delicious breakfast is definitely one of my cherished treats. For a lot people, eating out for breakfast means a big plate of eggs and crispy bacon, toast and maybe a side of beans or sausages! - not me! - I'll have eggs occasionally, but I can almost NEVER pass up an enticing porridge with banana and honey or a bircher muesli with natural yogurt and seasonal fruit or fruit-compote option(insert salivating emoji here!!) - Sometimes when the menu even offers both I get so excited and then indecisive about choosing just one because I don't want to miss out on the other! haha it's pretty fair to say I am obsessed with my breakfast meals! I just love them! So I thought I would share a couple of my favourite breakfast spots around Melbourne. I am always on the hunt and excited for new places to try (though I must always try and see the menu before going just in case I get caught out with none of the above options! - something my lovely friend Emma would understand ;) haha) - I have devised quite a list of places to try and will be sure to share these with you over the following months as I work my way through them! For now though here are 4 of my favourite places and dishes I have devoured more than once!!! ;)
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ST ALI:SOUTH MELBOURNE
Hidden away in one of the many colourful side streets of South Melbourne, St Ali is gorgeously rustic-slightly-retro. Miss-matched furniture, open warehouse space and old jam jar sugar pots, it's a MUST go to place for any of you who appreciate great contempory-style food. Oh and coffee! - their own produced and absolutely delicious! you can even buy if for yourself if you're a serious coffee lover :) You won't find anything plane-jane or boring-betty on their menu! Always packed and buzzing, I love this place more and more every time I go!
The first image above was a 'Super Granola -
Honey clusters of ancient grain granola & organic rolled oats w/ goji berries, chia seeds, fresh berries & natural vanilla yoghurt' - and it was super alright! SUPER YUM!!
Honey clusters of ancient grain granola & organic rolled oats w/ goji berries, chia seeds, fresh berries & natural vanilla yoghurt' - and it was super alright! SUPER YUM!!
The second image was a 'Mango and honey-toasted macadamia Bircher with natural yogurt' - all I can say is WOW. I actually could have eaten two bowls of this (though my stomach would not have appreciated it) it was one of the best bircher muesli's i've had to date!
do yourselves a favour and check this place out!
IL FORNAIO:ST KILDA
This bakery style cafe is right in the heart of St Kilda located at the end of Acland St (and quite conveniently, practically on the door step of my second home). It's quirky and always bustling with life and much like St Ali, it's menu is far from BORING or BASIC :). I have had a couple of dishes of the Il Fornaio menu including an 'Acai bowl - acai berry compote,
granola, banana, berries, honey cinnamon yoghurt' - YUM, the birhcer 'Bircher,mango, strawberry, macadamia nuts & natural yoghurt' and, as seen in the image above, the porridge! I think I love the porridge menu the most at this place and I was SO genuinely excited when I discovered it - get this - you can choose your milk AND your toppings! :O - I thought this was awesome considering most places have one set dish, and it's also perfect for all of us who enjoy other milk alternatives such as soy, almond and rice milk. Here's a peak at what the options are:
granola, banana, berries, honey cinnamon yoghurt' - YUM, the birhcer 'Bircher,mango, strawberry, macadamia nuts & natural yoghurt' and, as seen in the image above, the porridge! I think I love the porridge menu the most at this place and I was SO genuinely excited when I discovered it - get this - you can choose your milk AND your toppings! :O - I thought this was awesome considering most places have one set dish, and it's also perfect for all of us who enjoy other milk alternatives such as soy, almond and rice milk. Here's a peak at what the options are:
Choose your milk
COW // SKINNY COW // SOY
ALMOND MILK // RICE MILK
Choose your topping
+ mango, berry compote, macadamia nuts
+ banana, walnuts & honey-cinnamon
yoghurt
+ il fornaio super food- cashews, almonds,
sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, linseed,
shultz organic yogurt & roof top honey
HUB:ST KILDA
This is another regular especially during winter when they have their porridge option available (as seen above!). A contempory and relaxed little space located in the heart of the hustle and bustle of Fitzroy St. It's light and cosy atmosphere creates a perfectly serene little place to enjoy breakfast on a sunday morning! Also great coffee, Hub provides all your regular breakfast dishes with a slightly more modern take - always reliable and always delicious - I pretty much live here on winter Sunday mornings. This poached pear and cinnamon oat crumble porridge is the PERFECT winter warmer!! - They also do a smashing Bircher with grated apple/toasted hazelnuts and yogurt topping during the warmer months which I would also recommend ;)
SIMPLE AFFAIR:PORT MELBOURNE
An organic cafe, wellness and yoga centre all in one - I fell in love with this place before I even went!. Their gourmet wholefoods menu showcases the freshest organic & biodynamic, locally grown produce inspired by seasonal availability. I think I felt healthy and peaceful just being in this place - hehe - it's so light and airy and has the perfect ambience for a relaxing weekend breakfast - even more perfect if you have just finished a hardcore morning work out or an energizing yoga session - the amazing food, coffee and fresh squeezed juices will have you fueled up and glowing from the inside out for the rest of the day. I had (suprise suprise) the house made Bircher Muesli - Bircher made with natural yogurt & apple juice topped w/
yoghurt house made poached fruit & almond flakes - I could have eaten 10!!!!! It was so delicious - I think I know where I'll be heading this weekend!!
xx
RECIPE:HOMEMADE MUESLI
I have always loved muesli, I think it has so much potential for delicious variations and since becoming more and more of a refined clean eater I have begun to make my own muesli. A really important factor about having and maintaining a clean, nutritious diet is about preparing your own food. This is best way to know and control exactly what you are putting into your body. It's also a chance for you to be creative and make up your own combinations using all the things that you love! Homemade recipes are all about trial and error and once you nail a recipe your happy with, you can make it all the time! It's good to make your homemade muesli in a large proportion that way you can pop it in an air tight container and keep it for the next few days! - this is also a great time saver if you're like me and dont have a lot time to prepare breakfast in the morning - (IMPORTANT - I believe there is no such thing as I don't have time to eat in the mornings'- it's so important to eat breakfast, and it's so simple to get into your routine you have to MAKE time to eat people :), just like you have to MAKE time to exercise - there are a million people out there who are busier than you in their day but they still make time to eat breakfast or exercise! hehe!!)
I have made a couple of different homemade muesli/granola's, but I think this one is my favourite so far. I didn't really follow any particular recipe to make this I basically just made it up with what was in the cupboard :).. oops and sorry guys I didnt really take measurements with my ingredients, just use whatever quantities you like!..
INGREDIENTS:
- Organic rolled oats
- Puffed Millet
- Puffed rice
- Buckwheat (cooked)
- Organic coconut oil
- Organic coconut oil SPRAY (I get mine from COLES)
- Flaked or slithered almonds
- Shredded Coconut
- Seed mix (pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and Chia seeds are my favourite)
METHOD:
- Soak oats in a little water for about 15 minutes prior.
- preheat oven to about 200C
- Combine oats, puffed rice and millet and buckwheat together in a large bowl.
- divide the mixture into two and place half in another bowl.
- melt coconut oil in a pouring cup and pour into one bowl of the mix (if you like a sweeter taste you may also like to add a SMALL squeeze of honey or similar alternative into the oil as well)
- stir until all ingredients are covered (just use enough oil to cover not to make it soaking!)
- Take a large oven tray and spray slightly with coconut oil spray.
- spread the half mixture with the coconut oil in it, over the tray sparingly and flatten out as much as possible to create a thing layer.
- pop tray into oven and cook until mixture has turned golden and crunchy, making sure to check it regularly and mix it with a fork to 'stir' ingredients and get each side nice and crunchy.
- with remaining half, add in the almonds, seeds and shredded coconut and mix.
- Once misture from oven is ready, cool for a little then combine with the other half and stir well
- pop into a container or glass jar, and in the mornings (or as a small snack) top with your favourite toppings and it's ready to go! :)
Today I served mine with frozen mixed berries, fresh blueberries, frozen grapes, coconut water and almond milk!
FIRST RECIPE SHARE:BLUEBERRY COCONUT PROTEIN SMOOTHIE
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup frozen mixed berries
- 1/3 cup fresh (or frozen) blueberries
- Small handful of baby spinach leaves (yep, that's right, spincach! Best way to add extra greens into your diet if you don't eat enough veg)
- H2COCO (or any other brand) coconut water (just enough to make it smoothie drinking consistency)
- Tablespoon of shredded coconut
- tablespoon of chia seeds
- 1 scoop of protein powder of choice (I used a berry flavoured one but any good quality, natural protein powder in a vanilla/berry/coconut flavour would work)
Method:
- Add all ingredients into blender
- blend until desired consistency (add extra coconut water if needed)
- top with a sprinkle of shredded coconut and a sprinkle of goji berries
- Drink and Enjoy!
LIFESTYLE: HEALTH, FITNESS, FOOD, RECIPES, INSPIRATION
Well guys, as promised I will be also be posting some health/fitness and general lifestyle bits and bobs up here on my blog. I am big advocate for clean, healthy and active living, that's right - lifestyle - not diet (very important to understand the difference if you want to make the change in your own lifestyle).
A little bit about me to get started as well as what you can expect to see here. First of all you will soon learn that I have a crazy obsession with BREAKFAST :). It's by far my favourite meal (and the most important!) of the day! It's also my favourite meal for experimenting and creating recipes for! Under my lifestyle section I will share with you some of my oldie-but-a-goodie breakfast recipes as well as new ones, some amazing meal inspirations that have inspired me, as well as some handy health, fitness and clean eating tips! (all of which I have learnt along my own journey)
Healthy active lifestyle is a big part of my life and something I am very passionate about. There is no better feeling than when your body is nourished and well looked after and I will share with you some of my favourite inspirations and motivations, and tips that i have learnt and that have helped me to achieve the lifestyle I enjoy today.I hope I can help inspire you too.
Healthy active lifestyle is a big part of my life and something I am very passionate about. There is no better feeling than when your body is nourished and well looked after and I will share with you some of my favourite inspirations and motivations, and tips that i have learnt and that have helped me to achieve the lifestyle I enjoy today.I hope I can help inspire you too.
Enjoy! xx
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