Life's Loves: February Favourites

Yes, it's a little late, but it's time for another favourites post! I hope you're not bored of them by now. Another month sped by in a flash! February was full of running, train journeys and family. I had a lot of very busy weekends filled with my favourite people - and food, and I can barely collect my memories together for this post.

As usual, I like to share a few of my favourite things with you all in the hope to inspire you and even give a little advice. So, without further ado, here are a few of my favourite things from this month!

Beauty

Couvent des Minimes Hand Cream - Botanical Recipe of Love

Containing beeswax, shea butter and coconut oil, this hand cream is light and incredibly moisturising. Honestly, this came in a set of three and I've been using all of them every day - I love the fresh, natural scents and this has been perfect during the chilly few weeks before spring!

Soap & Glory Smoulder Kohl eyeliner

Eyeliner is a staple in my makeup bag - I honestly feel a little naked without it. I bought a set of four from Soap and Glory in the Boots January sales as it was such a bargain and have fallen in love with them! I've used the black kohl liner before so jumped at the chance to try a few different colours to mix things up a little. These stay on all day, which is perfect, and are so easy to use. I love the brown colour for a more subtle look and adore using the green for a pop of colour.

Jewellery

Aubergine Fox teardrop necklace

I love to try to support smaller businesses when I can, and I've been following Aubergine Fox on Instagram and Twitter for months. When I heard that they were selling some of their Etsy products in a local start-up store in Southampton I couldn't resist popping in, and bought this delicate teardrop necklace! I wear it all the time and have had many complements from friends and family. I can't resist simple gold jewellery to finish an outfit.

Books

All the Bright Things by Jennifer Niven

This book hasn't been out for long, and so I was excited to get stuck in! All the Bright Things is a Young Adult novel, but I don't think that should stop anyone reading it - after all, great books like The Fault in our Stars are also classed as YA! I loved this book and it certainly is an emotional read, so I hope to write a review of sorts very soon.

Top with Cinnamon by Izy Hossack

A recipe book written by a blogger with gorgeous photos and delicious recipes? Perfect! I was given this for my birthday in November and have been trying it out over the last month - so far, so good! Aside from a little mix-up with cayenne pepper and tbsp vs tsp (ooooops!) everything has been very tasty. If you're looking to expand your recipe book collection and want an attractive addition I cant recommend this enough.


Homeware

Pearl small clear bowl, The Hambledon

I purchased this cute glass bowl during one of my little jaunts to Winchester - and it's perfect for all of my little bits of jewellery! I love how simple it is and it's the perfect size. 

Music

Film scores

Throughout the month of February I was listening to film scores pretty much non-stop at work - I find they're perfect for motivation and relaxation! You read my recent post to find out about my favourites.

Food & Drink

64 degrees

At the very end of the month I indulged in an incredible evening at 64 Degrees in London. I will be reviewing it in the next few weeks but for now I will just say...WOW.  It's definitely a restaurant to choose for a very special treat.

Beetroot, Oxford

I stumbled across Beetroot when I was wandering down Cowley Road in Oxford one rainy Saturday. I can't resist a health food cafe and ended up diving straight in without hesitation and ordering a bowl of salad and a fresh apple and pear juice. Everything was so fresh and light and it was the perfect healthy treat! Sadly they don't have a website but if you're in the area I'd recommend checking it out.

Savoury pancakes

February of course involved pancake day! I'm normally a lemon and sugar kind of girl, but I fancied something a little different this year! I ended up enjoying pancakes for both a main meal and dessert, enjoying a vegetable and goats cheese pancake. It was delicious, and I'll definitely make them again for a light lunch!

What were you enjoying last month?

RECIPE: Simple Sweet Potato Falafel and Roasted Vegetable Wrap

Sometimes you come across a recipe online that you know you just have to share. This is one of them.

I've recently been trying to cook more from scratch using fresh ingredients, herbs and spices and experimenting a little more in the kitchen. This has been spurred on by my 10km training, and with my run fast approaching I've been trying to fuel myself with better food.

I've taken to pinning recipes and finding them on Pinterest (I'm somewhat addicted!) and I stumbled across this recipe during one of my daily browsing sessions.

The falafels are a BBC Good Food recipe - so a trusted source which means you can't go wrong! I love falafels, but find them so expensive and wanted to find a homemade alternative which involves baking, not frying - thus making them healthier! I also wanted to make a batch to freeze, giving me falafels on demand!

I whipped these up one night after a run and although they took a little extra time, I found the cooking process calming. This recipe involves coleslaw too, but I wanted it solely for the falafels, so I ignored that part.

They were easy to make (peeling soft sweet potatoes is strangely satisfying!) and I was very impressed with the results!

I enjoyed three falafels hot from the oven in a wholemeal wrap with houmous, salad leaves and roasted vegetables and it made the perfect light meal. I froze the rest, so that I have some ready for lunch over the next week - office lunches can get dull! So far, I like to eat them in a salad with leaves, tomatoes, cucumber, tuna and balsamic vinegar.

Here's the BBC Good Food Sweet Potato Falafel recipe.

I used 1cal olive oil spray to oil the baking sheet and it worked like a guilt-free dream. I may use a little more in the future to ensure a crispier falafel, but otherwise they're perfect.

Follow the recipe and prep some roasted vegetables of your choice; I used mushrooms, peppers and courgette, but you could roast some tomatoes, leeks and red onions too. Once you've turned the falafels halfway through cooking, pop your vegetables into the oven.

In the meantime, grab a wholemeal tortilla, smooth on some houmous and add some salad leaves. Place your warm falafels and roasted vegetables into the tortilla once ready, and enjoy!

If you try these out, let me know what you think - or, if you have another falafel recipe, I'd love to know!

Life's Loves: January Favourites

Last year I documented my favourite items every month in my creatively named 'Monthly Favourites' series - a concept which is seen on hundreds of blogs and YouTube channels.

I loved the idea of keeping track of my favourite products - I'm not much of a beauty blogger, but I love to shout about the things I do find that are great quality - be they cosmetics, food or books!

I want to continue doing this but, for 2015, I fancied a bit of a face lift. I'd like to broaden my views each month and take a look at everything that has captured my heart for the previous thirty days; products, yes, but also music, films, other people's blog posts and ideas which have made me think a little harder.

So without further ado, here's everything that has captured my heart during the first month of 2015.

Beauty

Le Couvent des Minimes - Cologne of the Morning

Just before Christmas I was lucky enough to win a selection of beauty products from Le Couvent des Minimes on the lovely Zoe Newlove's blog. My prize arrived mere days before Christmas with a gorgeous stocking and, my, the contents were superb. I'm hoping to do another post detailing the products in more detail, but I have fallen in love with this natural company. My favourite for the last month has to be the Cologne of the Morning, which is gorgeously fresh and the perfect spring-time scent. Keep your eyes out for another post on this brand soon.

Rimmel London - Kate Matte Lipstick 107

Ah, a cult blogger beauty classic. This little beauty is literally on everyone's lips. I've been wearing this lipstick a lot this winter - the perfect deep wine shade, flattering and very long lasting. I'll probably still be wearing it throughout spring when lighter shades should be adopted.

Maybelline Lash Sensational Lash Multiplying Mascara

I choose my mascara very wisely, and when I saw this recommended by many bloggers and friends on Instagram and Twitter I knew I had to try it out - especially since it was on offer when I hunted it down! It works like a dream, makes my lashes look longer and separates them wonderfully. I also love the packaging - one of the main turn-offs for me is garish, bright or tacky packaging.

Weleda - Skin Food & Almond Soothing Facial Oil

These two have been saving my skin throughout the winter and really are utterly fantastic - and completely natural! I plan to write a full post on these gems later this month but for now I'll just say that my skin has never felt so good - Weleda are well and truly on the radar for me now.

Jewellery:

Beadin' Nora Rose Gold Necklace - Notonthehighstreet.com

This gorgeous necklace was a present from my parents at Christmas - it's so delicate and understated and I get so many compliments when I wear it. I do really think I need to check out Notonthehighstreet.com more! Rose gold is just beautiful too.

Books:

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

After receiving this book from my (not-so) Secret Santa at work, I was excited to finally see what all the fuss was about! It took me a few weeks to finish, but this book made me want to go to bed early just so that I could read some more. Watch out for a spoiler-free book review coming soon!

TV:

Hannibal

Ok, this is a bit cheeky - this is my housemate's new DVD set, and I've only been watching them with her - but it's an absolutely brilliant TV show. It's the perfect combination of crime, mild horror and  thriller, with an excellent cast. It's gory at times, but this is made bearable through the pure imagination and intricacy of the stories - I find it fascinating that people come up with ideas like these! I'm looking forward to finishing the first series and recommend it to any box-set junkies out there.

Food & Drink:

Ebb & Flow, Southampton

I loved my lunch date at Ebb & Flow, a new restaurant / bar in Southampton's city centre a few weeks ago. I am already planning my next visit to test their cocktails.

The Corner House, Winchester

The Corner House cafe in Winchester is a little gem tucked away from the main high street, and was recommended to me by a close friend. I went last week and it's already one of my favourite eateries in the city. It's cosy, with delicious food, an impressive cake selection and a lovely atmosphere. I can't wait to go back - and as usual, you can read my review!

Chococo Cherry and Amaretti Clusters

Chococo is a local chocolate company - which makes this even better as I love finding smaller, local and fresh companies to support! I always try and pick up a couple of gifts for others when I visit their Winchester store, but this time I bought a little something for myself. These are little bites of heaven -  the flavours combine perfectly. Because they use 67% dark chocolate, they relieve my chocolate craving but mean I don't need to eat the whole packet to feel satisfied! A true treat - I can't wait to try more of their products.

Recipes:

Spanish Scrambled Eggs

You may have already seen my recipe post this month inspired by the Happy Egg Co.'s January Tastemaker's challenge. I can't wait to whip up this tasty breakfast treat again!

LOVE Life chickpea and butternut squash curry, by Waitrose

 I recently made this recipe from the Waitrose website and couldn't believe how easy, simple and tasty it was! It's very healthy too. I can't recommend it enough! Fortunately I made enough for my freezer, but I shall definitely be making this again.

Online:

Little Miss Katy: Happy Monday

One of my favourite bloggers, Katy's weekly posts are a true pick-me-up on the most hated day of the week. I love catching up on what she's been up to, but also getting inspired - it's important to stay positive and focus on the good things life throws at you, regardless how day your bad is.

Being Erica: It's all about the #newyearnewme nonsense

In the month where our news feeds and offices are full of talk of resolutions, I loved Erica's honest, refreshing and thoughtful post. When so many of us pledge to be healthy (guilty as charged!) it's important to set more realistic - and often, more valuable - goals. The resolutions she's made mean much more than stopping at one glass of white on a Friday because 'myfitnesspal will go nuts'. There's more to life than calorie counting and smoothie-making.

What have you loved this month? Share your thoughts in the comments - or leave links to new things I might enjoy!

Recipe: Spanish scrambled eggs

My brunch choices nearly always involve eggs - soft boiled, poached or scrambled, they're always an essential part of my meal.

When the Happy Egg Co. got in touch challenging bloggers to make the humble scrambled egg a little more exotic, I couldn't resist. Given the choice, I would always choose poached or boiled over scrambled egg...but it's time that changed! Scrambled doesn't have to be bland.

It's no secret that breakfast and brunch are my favourite meals. Nothing beats sitting down on a weekend morning with a steaming cuppa, your favourite people...and some great food. This was the perfect chance for me to try something new!

So, last Sunday I headed to the kitchen, fresh from my post-run shower and in desperate need of some brunch. That morning, Spanish-style scrambled eggs seemed the perfect antidote to the chilly January air.

This recipe is inspired by my visits to Madrid and Barcelona and the flavoursome food I experienced there. I loved Spain when I visited, and the culture that I learnt about when I studied Spanish at school. Warm summer days surrounded by tapas bars, bustling streets and hot cobbles underfoot. These eggs brought a little slice of Spain to my kitchen.

I've combined some simple, tasty Spanish flavours to bring a little luxury to a breakfast staple. No Spanish meal, for me, is complete without chorizo. I wanted to make the accompanying toast a little more interesting, and decided to recreate a national dish of Catalonia, pan con tomate, which was served with every meal during my visit to Barcelona in 2011 and is incredibly popular. It's moreish, fresh, and a little different.

This is a quick and easy but delicious alternative to the humble, plain scrambled egg - I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Serves 2

You will need:

5 medium eggs (I used Happy Egg Co. eggs, laid by happy hens!)

1 fresh tomato

1 clove of garlic

1 loaf of ciabatta bread

1 chorizo sausage

black pepper

oregano 

splash of milk

(whisk, bowl, frying pan, knife, chopping board)

Gather your ingredients together and get started with preparing everything - it's the easiest way to start!

Crack your eggs into a bowl, add some oregano to taste, a few twists of black pepper and a splash of milk. You won't need salt - trust me. Put this to one side.

Finely chop your chorizo into chunks - for two people I recommend half a standard sausage, but this can be more or less depending how much you want!

Add the chopped chorizo to a pan (no oil needed) and cook over a medium-low heat until the meat is hot and there is oil from the chorizo is in the pan.

As the meat cooks, slice your ciabatta into medium/thick slices and toast. Peel your garlic and halve your tomato.

Make sure you have time to make a cuppa now! It all happens quite quickly from here. An extra pair of hands could help, so get your friend, family member or other half involved. You need to keep an eye on the meat.

Run the garlic clove over your toasted ciabatta, then rub the tomato - cut side down - onto the bread. This should make the ciabatta moist, full of flavour, covered in tomato flesh and pips. You can make it as tomatoey or as plain as you want. Pop onto a plate, ready and waiting for your eggs.

You can't deny it - it's looking pretty tasty by now. I'd suggest doing a few extra slices to nibble on as you finish cooking!

Pour the eggs from the bowl into the pan with the chorizo and fold over a medium heat until they're scrambled to perfection - don't dry them out! The oil from the chorizo will turn the eggs a glorious colour and the smell should be making you very hungry by now.

Serve hot, fresh and tasty straight from the hob with your pan con tomate. ¡Que Delicioso!

If you fancy a veggie alternative, consider adding chunks of tomato, olives and mushrooms instead.

I couldn't get enough of this brunch dish, and it'll be making a very regular appearance on my kitchen table when friends and family visit. I think it's the perfect way to jazz up your simple eggs, bringing a little sunshine to even the chilliest day.

Let me know if you try this recipe out - I'd love to know what you think! How do you spice up your scrambled eggs?

x





*This was not a sponsored post - I chose to take part in the Happy Egg Co.'s blogger challenge after being contacted by email because I love to be creative with food. I never post about a company unless I genuinely love their product.