Valentines Day : Some Thoughts & Inspiration

How is it February already? This year seems to be flying by, the mornings are growing lighter and we've actually seen blue skies overhead here. 

As we all know, February is the month of love and Valentine's Day is fast approaching. So many people dread this month and just don't buy into the commercialism of it, but treating someone you love will always be ok to me. If not a partner then a friend or a relative; I believe we should always treat the ones we love.

Whether you choose to celebrate Valentine's over a home cooked meal, go out to a restaurant or just meet up with a friend for coffee and a catch-up, time spent with a loved one is never wasted. Throw in the fact that the money spent helps support businesses and jobs and I just don't think you can fault it!

I thought I'd share a couple of my favourite gift ideas...

Handmade Valentine :

I saw the cute idea for '52 Reasons Why I Love You' pop up over Instagram a couple of years ago, and thought I'd give it a go.  It's actually easier than it sounds to write the list, my hubby loved them and it was such a lovely gift to give.  I wrote each reason onto individual cards and then tied them together with some ribbon, but there's loads of other ways you could choose to present them too. If Valentine's Day is about making your partner feel special then this certainly does that!

Keepsake Valentine:  

If you wanted to truly spoil a loved one then beautifully crafted jewellery is always worth investing in. I have a few key pieces that I wear every day and this Daniel Wellington watch had been on my wish list for some time. It's such a classic design, I just love wearing mine. (You can even get 15% off with my discount code '1501michellelouise' until the end of February!)

Calendar by the talented Feling Poh, free to download from her website

Of course, it goes without saying that a fresh bunch of flowers will always be appreciated in my household :) 

Have a wonderful week ahead x

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Simple Honey Granola : gluten, dairy, nut & refined sugar free

This granola is seriously addictive.  I first made it a couple of weeks ago and since then we've been eating it with everything; it's great for a quick snack, with milk or for throwing on top of a yoghurt bowl with some fruit (Oh yum, I want to eat some now!).

The beauty of granola is that you can pretty much throw any nuts or seeds in there and it'll taste great whilst giving you a healthy dose of nutrients.  My recipe is nut free however, as my son is allergic to them.

Sunflower and pumpkin seeds are great for promoting healthy bones and energy production, whilst cacao nibs are fantastic for their antioxidant properties and ability to enhance your mood.  Of course, the oats themselves also promote digestion and release energy slowly.

I use honey to sweeten the mix and olive oil to add some crunch.  The issue of sugar is a complex one but the general consensus is that refined sugar is bad, natural sugar not so much - either way we should be aware of our intake.  I've found that the lesser amount of honey in this recipe is plenty for me as I usually eat it with sweet things like coconut milk, fruit and soya yogurt, whereas my husband doesn't and so likes his batch a bit sweeter.

Recipe:

2 cups gluten-free oats

1/3 cup sunflower seeds

1/3 cup pumpkin seeds

1/3 cup cacao nibs

1/4 cup olive oil

3-6 tbs honey (depending on taste)

pinch of salt

Method:

Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 3 and line a baking tray with baking paper.  Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well, then spread evenly onto the baking tray.  Bake for about 20 minutes then stir the mix again to ensure the oats cook evenly, then bake for a further 5-10 minutes.  When the granola is ready it will be golden brown and crisp.  Allow to cool and store in an air tight container for up to 2 weeks.

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Sunset at Brockholes

Last week my husband and I took some time off work to recharge after the Christmas rush, and it was so nice!  Getting outdoors, stretching our legs and breathing some fresh air is always high on our list of things to do.  


Usually we head North into Cumbria and the Lake District, but last week we thought we'd try somewhere a little closer to home.  Brockholes Nature Reserve is on reclaimed wetland just half an hour from us, and has a short Gruffalo trail Noah really wanted to see too.

It's incredibly calm and peaceful to say that it's just off the motorway.  Even in the depths of winter it was beautiful, I can imagine it would be even more so in summer when the waters are bustling with wildlife.  We took the Reserve Trail, strolled through the grounds and took a few pictures along the way while our little one kept warm in the buggy (A Baby Jogger City Mini GT for any mums who are interested!  This all-terrain pram is just incredible).  After a pretty cold couple of hours we were then treated to an amazing sunset, which we watched while drinking tea in the cafe as the birds bobbed about us on the water...

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Banana & Coconut Porridge

As the weather gets colder I find myself reaching more and more for a warming and filling breakfast, and this really does hit the spot! 

Gluten-free oats keep me filled but not bloated, while the banana and coconut milk bring a dairy-free yet totally creamy taste to the bowl which is just delicious.  On its own the oats, coconut milk and banana are full of fibre, vitamins B12 and B6 but with a few choice toppings you can bring even more nutritional goodness to this bowl.  

I like to add pumpkin seed, flaxseed and cocao nibs to mine as they're high in healthy fats, zinc, magnesium and omega-3; cocao nibs are fantastic as they are actually anti-oxidising chocolate!

Recipe:

3/4 cup of gluten-free oats

1 cup of Alpro Coconut Drink (a coconut & rice milk blend)

1 banana

Honey to taste

I also add

Pumpkin seeds

Flaxseed

Chia seed

Cocao nibs

Add the oats and coconut milk in a pan and heat for about 5 minutes on a low-medium heat, stirring often.  When the oats are almost ready, add the chopped banana and stir in for another 3-4 minutes until softened and warmed.  Pour into a bowl and add your toppings of choice, though go easy on the powders, you don't want the porridge to dry up! Drizzle with honey if needed and serve immediately, then enjoy a deliciously warming and nutritious start to the day.

Enjoy!

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Chaos & Quiet

I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas and New Year! Ours was wonderfully chaotic as usual;  I just loved seeing all the family, exchanging presents and catching up, then curling up once everyone had gone to enjoy some quiet time.


This got me thinking about life in general, about how finding a balance between chaos and quiet is so important.  My husband and I own a business, which is also where we live and, as you can imagine, it can be pretty hard to switch off!  A lot of our meals are eaten quickly or on the go, which is why it's so important to make healthy choices and why I love drinking green smoothies so much.

My view on healthy living has become the same philosophy I try to apply to everyday life; that everything should be in balance.  Home, family and work are all key aspects in my life which all need and deserve attention.  Allowing myself a few moments of relaxation a day is important as well.  In the same way, healthy living for me isn't about deprivation, it's about finding the foods that are both exciting and nourishing, as well as allowing myself a treat every now and then.  That way it never feels like a diet, just healthy living, with a 'treat' being exactly that.

More and more I'm reminded to take joy in the little things in life; whether that's escaping to the country, enjoying a nutritional meal, successes at work, spending time with my boys or just a quiet cup of tea without any interruptions.  I need all of these things to keep me balanced and able to appreciate both the chaos and the quiet.

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