Blooming Books #3 An Evening with Madeleine Shaw

CALLING ALL FOODIES!

Last month I had the pleasure of going to the launch of Madeleine Shaw's book at Whole Foods. Maddy is a holistic nutritional health coach, food b/vlogger, yoga instructor and can now add author to her string of bows - talk about burning the candle at both ends! Her cook book 'Get the Glow' is brimming with delicious Antipodean recipes and is currently Amazon's #1 best seller. The magical evening consisted of three cooking demos, an insightful Q&A and a meet and greet.

We chowed down on Maddy's scrumptious raw pad Thai, raw cherry and chocolate fudge & date and cardamom almond milk. She retorted that the beauty of rustling up raw food is that you can't burn it... that's my kind of lady!

If you're into cooking and fancy contraptions, I highly recommend buying Hemsley & Hemsley's spiralizer - I'm going to start looking like courgetti!

It's almost been a month since I got my hands on a copy and I'm still drooling over her desserts that rival Willy Wonka's and often find myself dipping into her chapters for practical nutrition advice.

Banana and cinnamon loaf / Date & cardamom almond milk

Date and pistachio cupcakes / Apple tart

Goodie bag treats (I ate/drank the rest on the train home, oops)

I first connected with Maddy three years ago when I began interning at Nutrition Rocks, as she was a food contributor for the site. Two summers ago I went along to her first supper club and was blown away by her recipes and infectious sunny personality, which funny enough I would totally describe as a glow! It's incredibly inspiring to see her grow and thrive and it was so lovely catching up with her on the night - she deserves every success!

You HAVE to try Maddy's raw coconut and apricot bliss balls!

I can't recommend Get the Glow enough, it's worth buying for the delightful food photography alone - it's also on offer for just £6.99 at the mo! Maddy's Youtube channel and Instagram are also worth checking out...

Nectarine, Parma ham, asparagus and goats cheese salad / Relaxing Yoga Tutorial For Beginners

Keep Blooming!

Blooming Books #2 P-P-Pick up a Penguin

As I was killing time between lectures a few weeks ago, I nipped into Waterstones and spotted Penguin's vast collection of short stories all priced 80p in celebration of their 80th birthday.

 I was actually on my way to my writing short stories class so it only seemed right that I pick up one or two (*cough* or twelve). As my commute to uni is just shy of an hour, I thought these chic editions would be ideal to pass the time productively! I also feel like I'm five years old again chronologically organising the numbered spines as I did Mr.Men books!

If you also like to dabble in and out of far off lands and centuries, p-p-pick up a penguin! Here are a few snaps to lure you...

Did I mention all twelve cost less than a tenner?! 

Who is your favourite Mr.Men character?

Mine has to be Mr.Topsy Turvy - so much nostalgia!

Afternoon Good!

Empties #1 A World Where Roses Bloom

It's been weeks months since I last blogged, but I have a good excuse I promise! In the past eight weeks I've finished my second year of uni, moved back up north and have completed my 9 to 5 placement at Nutrition Rocks! ~

YOU CAN NEVER GO HOME, BUT THE TRUTH IS YOU CAN NEVER LEAVE HOME, SO IT'S ALL RIGHT - MAYA ANGELOU / LA VIE EN ROSE

As you may know if you follow me on Twitter, a few months ago I moved house - I made the big move from London back up north. During the stressful process of packing ten years into fifty two boxes, I tried to adapt my new minimalistic attitude and use up lots of lotions and potions once and for all. I thought I'd share some of my recent empties and let you know which products I instantly repurchased!

This decadent Laura Mercier pot was a PR sample from when I was writing an article on coconuts for NR. It may cost an arm and a leg, but it lasted almost two years - a little goes a long way with this dreamy almond coconut milk honey blend. As my bank balance is depleting, I can't say I'll be repurchasing any time soon. I've got my eye on this more affordable bath potion! I was also sent the soufflé body crème which smells COSMIC - my friends always rhapsodise about the scent as it's pretty pungent!

I was actually wandering around John Lewis the other day and smelled their fresh fig range of Laura Mercier products and time stood still. Maybe I should write an article for NR on figs soon...

I've raved about aqueous cream for many moons so it will come as no surprise, but I've recently found a new use for it. For as long as I can remember, I've suffered with light KP on my upper arms and have found this cream really soothes it and practically makes it vanish. Where have you been all my life?!

Anyone else have no idea how to pronounce this?! I call it Aquarius cream! 

There are three makeup staples that are on their last legs that, as you can see, are well loved! I've been loyal to Rimmel's wake me up foundation since writing this review over two years ago. I've also converted most of my friends to soap & glory's supercat eyeliner for the ultimate feline flick and been through countless Rimmel matte powders (006 warm beige)! I'm going to branch out next and test Bourjois Healthy Balance powder. I've read Amelia's glowing review about how it's an incredible dupe for Chanel's Les Beiges; apparently Bourjois is owned by Chanel, so both products are likely made in the same factory. Jackpot!

*Boogie break*

When the moon is in the seventh house and Jupiter aligns with Mars...

As much as I'd love to try out the high end cleansers all my favourite bloggers rave about, such as Emma Hardie's Moringa cleansing balm and the infamous Oskia renaissance cleansing gel, the reality is that I'm a broke student. I'm always on the hunt for cheap and cheerful cleansers and have been loving this Botanics cleansing cream! The consistency is divine and leaves my skin feeling as fresh as a daisy! *ba dum-tshh* I'll definitely be repurchasing - Amen to the power of plants and £4 price tags!

I had to include these five nail polishes as we go waaaay  back. On the left is essentially Dorothy Gale's ruby slippers bottled, though a nuisance to get off! The white shade on the right, aptly named 'Snow White', I actually wore to my Mayball two years ago, there's something so offbeat/art school drop out about white nail polish. I actually bought the white bottle in Primark and was thoroughly impressed with its tenacity! 

My mum bought me Topshop's 'gypsy night' to wear when we went to see Fleetwood Mac live two summers ago and I'm praying to the gods that they'll bring it back. It's the most beautiful starry night black and screams Stevie Nicks! This Nails Inc 'Big Apple Red' I believe came free in a magazine and is the pillarbox red! The final shade is an iridescent cobalt blue and a dupe for Topshop's blue on blue, which at the time had sold out everywhere. I bought 'midnight skinny dip' for my holidays last summer as I adored the shade and wanted to set the tone!

If there's one make up item I go through the most, it's hands down lipsticks! No 7's 'plum beautiful' is a mauve-brown shade that is ideal for winter and evening outings. It's also incredibly hydrating, hence it being from the 'moisture drench' range. I finally finished Clinique's 'whole lotta honey' chubby stick, which is also a 90's brown hue - although less intimidating and dark than the tube would suggest.

T: PLUM BEAUTIFUL B: WHOLE LOTTA HONEY

Last summer a bunch of friends and I dip-dyed our hair various colours and the first step was to bleach the ends. Once my blue faded, the tips of my hair were left blonde which I quite liked. I used these Shu Uemura 'full shimmer' shampoo and conditioner once a week to treat the blonde tips and found it worked wonders!

Which empties will you always repurchase?

Bar Jenga

I thought I'd jump online to help any fellow students out there on a budget. If you're tight on cash and need a party gift, buy a set of jenga and write forfeits on blocks which indicate who has to take a shot eg: anyone wearing velvet, lads, bottoms up, or even create dares: staring contest, drink some water, find a hat...

*I may or may not be being tame as my mum jumps on here from time to time.

Monday Blues #10 Dance Yrself Clean

'Ello 'ello 'ello!

I thought I'd scribble a quick post to check in with you lovely lot and hopefully spread a little oomph.

Although times are hard for dreamers, we still must roll out of bed every morning and face the day. Whenever I'm having a wobble, I remember this quote from Woody Allen: 80% of success is showing up. Lord knows it's easier to stay in bed, but walk to the kitchen - crawl if you must - and pour that cup of coffee, brush your teeth, jump in the shower, leave the house & explore the other side of your front door!

Here's a mish-mash of some tumblr posts that have recently struck a chord...

(Feel free to stick them on the ceiling above your bed ~ whatever helps you sleep at night get up in the morning)

~ Natalya Lobanova ~

I am my own muse. I am the subject I know best. The subject I want to better. - Frida Kahlo

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt - Margaret Atwood, Bluebeard's Egg

Louise Bourgeois, To Unravel a Torment You Must Begin Somewhere, no. 8 of 9,

from the seriesWhat is the Shape of this Problem?, 1999

I Have Been To Hell and Back And Let Me Tell You, It Was Wonderful

Louise Bourgeois

I MUST ENDURE AND ENDURE AND STILL ENDURE. -

Tennessee Williams, from Notebooks

The reason I stayed in the house all day by Tom Gauld

Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light - Dylan Thomas

The best way of getting something is not to let anyone know you want it - including yourself. - Diane Keaton

Create a breakfast playlist ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Welcome to the party x

Kali Protomagia!

Happy 1st of May! Today is a rather special occasion in Greece ~ I have fond memories of collecting wildflowers and flying kites on the first of May when I was a little tinker. Here are some of my favourite pieces from Ozzie jewellery brand Oroton inspired by Spring flowers. I adore the tribal/galactic vibe ~ I mean, how mad cool is this floral body armour?

Say it with flowers!