Thoughts And Fresh Veggies... Happy Halloween :)

Happy Halloween !

Today is All Hallow's Eve if you are not sure what that is, it's the eve of Hallow's Day or All Saints Day which is celebrated by Christians on November 1st followed by All Soul's Day on the 2nd when we remember all our loved ones who have left this earth for Heaven . It's a holiday where you get all dressed up and go around collecting candy if you are a child but adults celebrate it differently by making it scary :) Hope you had a great holiday and a memorable one at that .
Last week was not the best week in the news all round and with people's lives . There was the helicopter crash with the owner of the Leicester football club on board . Then there was the plane crash Lion Air in Asia . God rest their soul's . On Tuesday last week my beloved black cat went out as usual after dinner and has not yet returned ... I am very very sad have been looking and calling for him all over the village but no sign of him . But I am not giving up hope he will return . He is such a clever and highly intelligent cat I miss him so much .

I just read an article that a zoo in Holland "Dierenrijk "Mierlo had put 4 bears in an enclosure with 4 wolves because they wanted a challenging situation . The bears tore into the female wolf and ripped her apart in front of the public visiting . It must be awful for anyone who watched and the poor wolf .  It disgusts me that the zoo people said they didn't know why the bears did that and they will not separate the wolves and the bears after this incident , as they say they live in the wild together . The Dutch have never struck me as clever ignorant people. In the wild it's not an enclosed space there are vast areas to run and hide . Zoo's should be closed down it's a disgusting place and animals should not be on show in confined areas .  I have only ever taken my eldest child to a zoo when she was two years old many many years ago and I refuse to take the younger two to a zoo . They have never been to one and never will . I hope the zoo officials find some common sense and separate those animals. Praying all the time !

But here are the eight best vegetables around , we could eat this winter , to get us healthy so our bodies are fit and able to cope with the cold winter months . Even though a lot of people are not fans of veggies , you could cook up some hearty meals to satisfy yourself and keep you warm . These are my favourites and I cook them up in almost everything !

1) Spinach : 2 cal , It's high in fiber , protein ,calcium ,iron , magnesium , potassium and vitamins A ,C , E , K and B6 as well as high in sodium . The best ways to eat it is raw , in salads stir-fried or cooked in a curry .

2) Red Bell Pepper : 30 cal , high in fiber , potassium and vitamins A ,C ,K , D and B6 . High in natural sugars it is best eaten raw , or in salads , roasted or stir-fried .

3) Red Onions : 44 cal , high in fiber , potassium and vitamins C and B6 . They are high in natural sugars . Eat them in salads , raw , sauteed or stir-fried . Aldi and Lidl always have the best offers for fresh onions .

4) Tomatoes : 22 cal ,high in magnesium , fiber , potassium and vitamins A , C and K . High in sugars eat them raw in salads , sandwiches or use them in tomato based pasta sauces . Super delicious !

5 ) Eggplant or Aubergines or Brinjals , wherever in the world you are , those are the names used and I particularly  love this veg . 110 cal ,high in magnesium , potassium and vitamins C , K and B6 . Eat them roasted ,  grilled or stir-fried !

6) Cucumbers : 24 cal , this veg is high in magnesium , potassium and vitamins A , C and K . High in sugars , eat it raw or in salads .


7) Cauliflower : 3 cal , high in protein , magnesium , fiber , potassium and vitamins C , K an B6 . High in sugars eat it steamed ,roasted or in salads .

8) Mushrooms : 2 cal , high in fiber ,protein , iron , potassium and vitamins d and B6 .eat them stir-fried ,sauteed ,or roasted . Add them to pastas , noddles, salads and casseroles !


Enjoy your veggies and get your kids to eat them too ! Have a wonderful day and keep smiling !

Love & Peace xx

Delicious Healthy Chocolate Cups For Halloween !

Happy Saturday !

It's nearly Halloween my favourite time of the year Pumpkins , ghost stories , candles , candy  and Costumes . Yesterday had a little house party and everyone got dressed up and it was so much fun . Had a little ghostly movie as well as some midnight entertainment "Lavender "It had a 12 years certificate so the kids could also enjoy . It was very entertaining and I definitely recommend .

Made some pumpkin soup which everyone enjoyed . The main course was spare ribs , chicken wings , hamburgers , salad    , fries and potato wedges . For dessert I made some delicious chocolate pots which were a big hit . I made them a bit differently so I ditched the cream and used TOFU !!!  Yes tofu a bit of a surprising ingredient but it still tasted delicious . So it was a sort of Vegan chocolate pot . I learned this recipe from a friend of mine and since I love it so much I wanted to share it with you all . If you are thinking of being healthy and shedding some weight  look nor further than this delicious dish . So here goes .

First get two slabs of dark chocolate good quality 85% cocoa . Break it up and put it in a dish over a hot pan of water so it can slowly dissolve . Give it a stir once in a while but just let it go slow no hurry . Now get your tofu  put it in a clean tea towel . You would need 2 packs of tofu for 2 packs of chocolate . Squeeze out the water from the tofu through the tea towel . So you are left with some dry crumbly tofu . Now put it into a food processor , add the zest of a lime . Now add a teaspoon of dark rum two if it's only for adults. Now add two teaspoons of vanilla bean paste . Add a pinch of salt . Don't forget stirring the chocolate . Back to the processor add in about 150 gms of maple syrup . Now the last  a secret ingredient a pinch of chilli powder well I actually add a little less than a teaspoonful .  Close the processor and blend for at least two minutes . It has got to be silky smooth before you should start adding the melted chocolate  blend it up again and open it should be silky smooth and chocolate heaven . It's ready . Get some little espresso cups or some dainty cocktail glasses and pour your chocolate in . You could add some chocolate shavings on the top or some crushed pistachios and it's super delicious to eat . Enjoy !


I hope you loved this recipe and enjoy making it for your loved ones . Have an awesome weekend and keep smiling . Have a safe and Happy Halloween .

Love & Peace   

October Favourites .. 5 Gorgeous Autumn Jumpers !

Happy Monday !

After a weekend with unusually good weather for October we are now set for a turn in the weather and it's going to get pretty chilly from the next few days .
So we have got to make sure we are dressed suitably but still make sure to be on trend and fashionable.

Today I have chosen out five of my favourite jumpers which are not only pretty but will get you turning heads as well . It really doesn't matter if you think you are not pretty enough because with the right clothes you could feel ten thousand times more attractive than you ever felt before .   Remember we are all beautiful and have attractive features we just need to highlight these features.  If you have been watching Big Brother Tomasz is really over-weight but he has an endearing quality about him and he dresses to suit his personality and that makes him attractive .

Okay so here are my favourite jumpers . Hope you love them as much as I do .
At No. 1 Weekday Balloon Sleeve Open Weave Knit jumper it is priced down from 55 pounds to 44 and is in a beautiful shade of yellow . Certain to draw all eyes to you ..available from ASOS my favourite go to :)
 

At No. 2 is the Brave Soul Emery Chenille jumper with fringing  . It's in a beautiful rust colour perfect for autumn priced down from 30 pounds to 18 and available from ASOS and I love it .


No. 3 The Missguided  Roll Neck Step Hem jumper is just beautiful and a must have . We all need a classic black jumper in our wardrobe and this one fits the bill . At a very affordable 22 pounds down from 28 it's a bargain .


At No. 4 I love this one :)  Blend She Jessie high neck jumper in a gorgeous light brown with beautiful arm detail from ASOS . Down from 45 pounds for 28 it's a very good buy and would certainly last you a couple of years .


Last but not least at No. 5 and so gorgeous down from 30 pounds to 18 ,very affordable  the Brave Soul Lucky Jumper With Frill And Pointelle Detail . From Asos You will be catching alot of eyes with this .


Hope you love my five jumpers recommended for autumn they are very pretty and will be sure to keep you warm . Have an awesome day and keep smiling .

Love & Peace

October Favourite ... Get A Massage & Relax !

Happy Wednesday !

When you run around and are busy all day and somehow you feel exhausted at just the thought of sitting down and watching some telly . What you need is to unwind and relax . A good massage always helps . But if you are not so lucky to have a partner who would volunteer to massage you then you should find a nice Spa place that has the full relaxing treatment . 
Listed below are 3 great places you would not be disappointed with . I love their treatments and would highly recommend it .  

Sodashi Chakra Balancing Treatment
At Akasha Spa at Hotel Café Royal 68 Regent Street, W1B 4DY (020 7406 3360).
This relaxing treatment sets out to align the body's seven chakras using a combination of massage, essential oils and healing crystals. The skin is left soothed. The usual price is 190 pounds for 90 minutes.

Espa Back, Neck & Shoulder Massage
At Boutique Spa, 123 Queensway, Bayswater, W2 4SJ (020 7221 8017)
Your therapist will tailor this massage to sooth your personal concerns using an Espa body oil to suit you. Usual price is 40 pounds for 30 minutes.

Neom Wellbeing Treatment
At Wimbledon Store and Treatment Rooms 38a High Street, Wimbledon Village SW19 5BY (020 8947 9776)
Pick from four themes - happiness, de-stress, sleep, and energise - and enjoy a carefully designed combination of meditation, shiatsu, cranio, Thai massage, trigger point and reflexology with Neom Essential oils. The usual price is 95 pounds for 90 minutes.

London is a pricey place so the prices reflect the area! But a nice treat is sometimes the best thing you can give yourself! Life is short and you only live once so indulge yourself now and again .



Have an awesome day and keep smiling !

Love & Peace

The Fairy-Tale Wedding Of Princess Eugenie & Jack !

Happy Sunday !

The weekend was festive and I loved every minute of Friday as I sat down and watched Princess Eugenie marry Jack Brooksbank . It was a fairy-tale wedding with definitely  21st century bits . A true blood Princess marry in so many years well ,since Princess Anne tied the knot.  It was a very well planned and beautiful day  if the wind got rough ,the sun shone and no rain fell so it blessings from the weather Gods as well .

Eugenie's gown was stunning the rich fabric with embossed detailed was so regal looking , it made Meghan's tacky white shiny dress look cheap when she tied the knot with Prince Harry . Meghan's dress reminds me of the wedding dresses available from China at cut price on the web . Eugenie's very modern touch was when she decided to abandon the veil and show off her scars from her childhood surgery . She didn't need the veil the beautiful tiara with the green stones needed nothing else . She was radiant and Jack while looking nervous was clearly  head over heels in love with his bride . I loved the touch when he put on his glasses to see his gorgeous bride glide down the aisle on her father's arm .

The guests were all very classy and no David  & Victoria made it even better .  I loved the thought when Eugenie selected all her young royal relations to be a part of her wedding troop . Harry leaving out the youngsters was in poor taste .  Having Andrea Bocelli  sing at the church was inspired . He is a gifted singer and often gives me goosebumps it was a very nice touch . Fergie was with the Royals again and it could not have been happier for the bride to have her Mum & Dad there for her . If none of the royals spoke to Fergie , who cares with pride of place in the front it's all that matters .
What did bother me was Beatrice shirking all her Maid of Honour duties . From not dressing up as her role bespoke to not being there giving her sister a hand was a puzzle . Eugenie might as well have named her Dad Man of Honour in place of Maid of Honour as I saw he did all the jobs expected .  If people thought Bea was Fergie's  escort that day and support I don't think that was necessarily her role . Fergie never needed to find support for big days she has the balls and attitude to carry herself . Princess Beatrice strikes me as shy and looked a little lost that day . Bea though has gone through some heartbreak and I'm sure she is missing not having a loving partner while her younger sass is already ahead in the romantic game .



The trooper that is Lady Louise in getting all the children up those stairs and down the aisle is a job massively well done . At 14 years old she pulled it off even though the wind caught her skirt at the top , it did not faze her . But I was dissapointed to see  she nor her brother were put in the official wedding pictures . Why was that ??? They were attendants and had a role . I was pleased though to see Fergie standing so close to Prince Philip in the portraits , both looking relaxed and at ease . If Judi James some body language expert states otherwise in some huge lengthy article she is very wrong . Judi James is getting very old and needs to retire . Old people should give way for the younger generation . Jobs are valuable and young people need them . Nobody should work over the age of 65 . I firmly believe it .

Eugenie's wedding far out-did Harry & Meghan's nuptials in my humble opinion . Harry's was a show wedding with stage pomp and tackiness while Eugenie's was Royal & Regal and classic .
Why though were the guests of Princess Eugenie putting up their goody bags for sale on E-Bay ??? I would never sell such a thing if I were a guest . China make some copies of those goody bags I would love to have one knock off copy .

Wherever you were in the world I hope you got to watch Eugenie's wedding . It was magical . I wish them both many many wonderful years together with a strong bond like their parents . God bless Eugenie & Jack and Congratulations .

Have a wonderful day and keep smiling .

Love & Peace 

 

Delicious Black Bean Soup With Poached Eggs !

Happy Monday !

I am enjoying this series of Big Brother immensely it's fun , interesting and I like Lewis alot . He's intense thinks alot and definitely generous and kind . I would love him to win the show . I reckon the housemates feel threatened by him hence the nominations every week . Brooke has proved to be a snake she bitches about Lewis, nominates him then cosies up to him in bed , but that's one way of shooting yourself in the foot . Viewers will see her for the bitch she is ! Izzy should have gone in ahead of Sian who has absolutely brought us nothing , besides smoking like a chimney & we know everyone wants us to quit . She is dull but I have this intense gut feeling she is going to win the show ! Put a bet on it guys , could pay out something nice .  Lewis , Zoe or Akeem more worthy winners than her any day :)

Today I am going to share a recipe which I absolutely love , learnt it from a friend . It's delicious and healthy and you know how healthy is getting more and more important as I have kids and want the very best for them .  This amazing Black bean soup with poached eggs is easy and quick to make . Enjoy .

In a pan put 3 tablespoons of sunflower oil . Chop up a handful of celery , 3 pods of garlic  , 2 small onions a little bit of thyme and 2 bay leaves , 1 chilli chopped up add it all to the pan and saute  for a few minutes . Then chop up 2 bell peppers one red and one green into small pieces , throw in and continue to saute add your seasonings salt and pepper to taste. Get some coriander a small bunch break it in half the bottom half chop up and add to the pan . The top half will be used in a salsa to add over the soup as it's served up in the bowls .
To make the salsa chop up the coriander a small chilli and squeeze half a lemon on it and mix together with a couple of small cherry tomatoes chopped up .
Go back to your pan now add 2 cans of black beans and 500 ml of water to the pan and stir . Gently let it simmer for eight to ten minutes then get your hand blender and blend it up . When you have blended it , set it back on the hob and crack 3 eggs in and let it set for a couple of minutes . Remove from the heat and you are ready to serve . Top it with the salsa and enjoy . It's nutritious and seriously delicious . Enjoy it and get healthy. You could dunk some rice in it or have it with a tortilla so good !!!


Excitedly waiting for Friday the 12th ... it's Princess Eugenie's wedding will be watching it on telly . Heard the Duchess of Cornwall won't be attending ( that's Prince Charles's second wife :(  ) She has a prior engagement well I don't think she's going to be missed !!! Seeing as Fergie and Princess Diana were good friends , I don't think Fergie would like to see Camilla at her daughters wedding . Camilla is not actually popular although they keep forcing her on us . Absolutely not a fan . I wish Charles and Diana kept close like Fergie and Andrew . They are a smashing couple . Charles threw Diana out to the wolves long before their marriage ended sadly . Eugenie and Jack good luck for a long and happy marriage .

Have an awesome week and keep smiling !

Love & Peace
 

October Fashion Staples !

Happy October !

Happy Wednesday ! Today the Duchess of Sussex Meghan along with Hubby Prince Harry visited Sussex for the first time, but did she have to wear all black again ? I'm pretty bored by her choice of choosing black all the time . The outfit cost a grand total of four thousand pounds but looked scruffy with a crumpled black ordinary shirt . The black leather skirt was nice but leather for a day time visit with school kids on the walkabout ??? I'm not sold on it . Added to the fact none of the labels celebrated a British designer was a snub to the country adopting her . Word of advice Meghan don't ignore home grown talent and don't ignore your Dad leaves you looking BAD !

Today my blog is about wardrobe staples for Autumn which will give you everyday pleasure of looking well turned out . Buy your local brands like Primark , Topshop , H&M's and actually look better than Meghan for far less dosh !

The first item a must have is a Camel Coloured Coat . This is a classic item and goes with a whole range of outfits . Makes the outfit look smart and can be worn daytime and night .
 
The second would be a leather jacket . This is timeless and can be used for a good number of years . I have mine running on four years and I get so much wear out of it .
The third staple is a white shirt . This can be worn year round and I get so much wear out of mine in summer it can be worn with with shorts in fall under blazers , coats jackets . I bought mine from Primark , it cost just eight pounds and I have never got more wear out of an eight pound item than my white shirt . Definitely worth investing in .
The fourth is a pair of black boots . Invest in a sturdy pair with a small heel so you could wear it out walking all over . Get one that's simple with a small detail so you can keep it classic and make yourself look expensive . Black boots can be styled with so many outfits it can be worn with a dress and a leather jacket . It can also be worn with jeans and leggings . My absolute favourite and every two years I get myself a nice one as it can be used through autumn , winter and the colder days of spring .
Fifth is a good knit jumper in one of the favourite colours of autumn a nice burnt orange , mustard or a burgundy. You could get alot of wear out of it running around in autumn and winter . Keeping warm is so important .
Sixth is an A-line skirt  . Primark has alot of gorgeous ones this October . Paired with a nice knit jumper you are set for autumn . The shape is really flattering and it's soft and very comfortable to wear .
Seven is a black cami top . This is so classic and every woman needs to have one in her wardrobe . It goes beautifully with a pair of high waisted jeans . You could get alot of wear out of it . Throw a jacket over , maybe under a jumper it's worth investing in . It's available in most online stores . It is not something you would think of buying but you would get so much wear out of it , and it could be worn with almost anything .

At number eight is a pair of high waisted jeans . These are so popular right now and I find them very comfortable to wear instead of normal jeans which just hurt my belly button after an hour or two .
Number nine is autumn's best buy a check coat mid length and super stylish just invested in a beauty yesterday and I am thrilled with it .
Last on the list at number ten is this autumn's staple a pair of paper bag trousers . I absolutely love them and have invested in three pairs which I love ,already getting maximum use out of them .

Hope you enjoyed reading and finding out about the ten autumn staples every girl needs in her wardrobe !

Have an awesome day and keep smiling :)

Love & Peace