Hello September

So my wish was answered (kinda) and we've finally had some decent weather in August.

I've been soaking up the sun in the back garden and am pleased to report that my previous paleness has been replaced by a healthy summer glow :-)

In between sun sessions and work, the last few weeks have been spent catching up with friends, visiting family and making the most of being home before I head back to uni at the end of September.

I'm sure this summer break has been competing in the Olympics because at the speed it's flown by it definitely deserves a gold medal :-/

How was your August? Anything good planned for the month ahead?

Holly xx

P.S Who else is sooo excited for autumn?!

Here's some pics from the last month...

My favourite boy

Holiday dreaming

New obsession

Bank holiday vibes

Every day :-)

Weekend essentials

Pasta love

These would be much appreciated...

Daily essential

Summer lunchin'

Lazy weekends

All about the pinks

#Nailspo

Too much cuteness

For more pics follow me on Instagram @misshollyamber

Beautiful breakfasts

Breakfast has always been my favourite meal of the day, I've never understood people who can go without eating in the morning - I need food to function!

I always allow time to sit down and enjoy a good breakfast, even if it means getting up extra early. That quiet, blissful moment when nobody else is up yet allows me to wake up properly and prepare for the day ahead.

I've never been much of a savoury breakfast person and always opt for fruit, granola or pastries over eggs and cooked breakfasts, although this can sometimes lead to unnecessary amounts of sugar - the last thing you want to be fueling your body with in the morning.

Here's a few of my favourite healthy breakfast recipes that are both delicious and nutritious, and are a great way to begin your day.

Holly xx

Berrylicious porridge (serves 1)

A deliciously fruity take on standard porridge, this warming bowl of goodness will keep you full until lunch and satisfy your sweet tooth without adding any sugar.

Ingredients

50g rolled oats

250ml almond/coconut/oat/rice milk

1 handful raspberries

1 handful chopped strawberries

1 handful blueberries

Flaked almonds (optional)

Cinnamon (optional)

Method
-Place the oats and milk in a saucepan, bring to the boil and simmer for 4-5 minutes while stirring.

-Add the berries and simmer for a further minute.
-Mix in the almonds, a sprinkle of cinnamon and serve.

Superfood smoothie (serves 1)

You would never guess it contains half of your daily serving of greens, but this tasty antioxidant packed smoothie will fill you up, give you lots of energy and make your skin glow.

Ingredients

1 chopped banana

1 handful blueberries

1 handful spinach

1 handful kale

1 stalk chopped celery

10cm sliced cucumber

1-2 tbsp cashew/almond butter

250 ml almond/coconut/oat/rice milk

1-2 tbsp chia seeds

1-2 tbsp lemon juice

Method

-Combine ingredients in a blender.

-Mix in the chia seeds and serve.

Almond and coconut granola (serves 10)

The perfect weekend breakfast, this refined-sugar, wheat and gluten free granola is best enjoyed with fresh blueberries, a dollop of coconut yoghurt and the Sunday paper.

Ingredients

500g rolled oats

10g flaked almonds
1 handful raisins/sultanas

5 tbsp dessicated coconut

2 tbsp maple syrup/raw honey

2 tbsp melted coconut oil

100 ml almond milk

2-3 tbsp cinnamon 

Method
-Preheat oven to 180C.

-Place all ingredients except the dessicated coconut in a mixing bowl and combine well.

-Spread evenly on a greased baking tray and place in the oven for 10 minutes.

-Carefully turn over the mixture then bake for a further 15 minutes until the oats are golden and crunchy.

-If you prefer a more 'baked' taste leave for a little longer - just make sure it doesn't burn.

-Remove from oven and leave to cool.

-Once cool, transfer mixture into a bowl and add the dessicated coconut and a little more cinnamon to taste.

Berry yoghurt bowl

A quick,easy and satisfying breakfast loaded with berry goodness and the options of hundreds of different toppings.

Ingredients

1 handful raspberries

1 handful strawberries

1 handful blueberries

1/2 chopped banana (optional)

1-2 handfuls granola/rolled oats

150g coconut/soya yoghurt

Method

-Place the yoghurt and berries/banana in a bowl.
-Sprinkle with oats/granola and top with an optional dash of honey, maple syrup or cinnamon.

18 reasons why autumn is awesome

The few weeks of sunshine and 'warm' weather known as the British summer time now seem like a distant memory and it's as if out of nowhere dark evenings, misty mornings and an array of brown fallen leaves covering the ground have appeared.

Despite the damp weather, unavoidable frizzy hair and extreme urge to hibernate, autumn's positives definitely outweigh its negatives.

Here's 18 reasons why autumn is absolutely awesome.

1. Falling leaves

Ok, so they can be a pain when they are wet, soggy and get stuck to the bottom of your shoe, but on a crisp autumn morning there is nothing prettier than the burnt orange and brown blanket that covers the ground making the world look just that bit more beautiful.

2. Cosy nights in

Finally there's an excuse to have a 'night in' and curl up in your pjs with hot chocolate and a good film instead of feeling anti-social when declining the numerous offers of pub-garden drinks and nights out on the town that are inescapable throughout summer.

3. Daylight savings time

Putting the clocks back and getting an extra hour in bed. Bliss.

4. TV shows


Strictly, X Factor, Downtown Abbey, I'm A Celeb... the endless choice of new shows gives us the perfect excuse to snuggle up in front of the TV before spending the first hour of work the next morning discussing the previous night's performance and voicing our views on wtf so-and-so was wearing.

5. Fall fashion

Ankle boots, blanket scarves, thick tights and chunky knit jumpers. Layering up, feeling snug and looking stylish while doing so definitely beats denim shorts and crop tops. 

6. Festive drinks

Hello honeycomb hot chocolates, pumpkin spice lattes and delicious eggnog, praline and gingerbread flavoured brews. Who cares if they contain almost a whole days worth of calories when they taste so damn good? 

7. Late night shopping

The shops staying open that little bit later make every night the perfect opportunity to pop into town at the end of the day or meet up with friends for a spontaneous late night shopping spree. Hello Boots 3-for-2, goodbye wages.

8. Comfort food

Chunky soups, home-made stews and delicious golden pastry pies. The colder temperature and slightly more-forgiving clothes means comfort food is most definitely back on the menu. Anyone for seconds?

9. Dark evenings

Although they make the day feel shorter, dark evenings are the perfect excuse for getting into your pyjamas as soon as you get home and avoiding pretty much any task you don't want to do. This includes skipping the gym after work and ordering takeout instead of going food shopping. It's simply 'just too dark'.

10. Bonfire night

Watching fireworks and eating toffee apples while standing around a huge toasty bonfire is something we look forward to all year round... Even if that is simply because it's the last official calendar event before *Christmas*

11. UGG boots


Love them or hate them - there's no denying they're THE most comfortable footwear option. Wearing slippers out in public and it being socially acceptable? You'd be crazy not to.

12. Berry shades

Kiss goodbye to the candy pinks and pastel shades of summer. Autumn is all about dark berry lips and deep burgundy nails.

13. Scented candles

Candles are great all year round but nothing beats the sweet comforting smells of vanilla, cinnamon, apple spice and gingerbread that are widely available at this time of year. They just make your home feel that extra bit cosy when lit on a dark autumnal evening while you relax in front of the TV.

14. Open fires

What better way to spend a lazy Sunday than next to a roaring open fire with endless cups of tea and a good book? Alternatively finding a country pub or rustic bar that has the luxury of  an open fire makes the experience all the more enjoyable. 

15. Limited edition products

Terry's chocolate oranges, cinnamon scented candles and the Body Shop cranberry joy range are just a few of the fantastic special edition products only available at this time of year. Time to stock up!

16. Pyjamas

Gone are the stuffy summer evenings where you actually debate relocating your bedroom to the garden. Autumn's cooler temperatures make snuggling into bed even more enjoyable and present the opportunity to invest in some cosy new PJs. Fleecey onesie here we come.

17. Woodland walks

The pretty burnt leaves, fresh crisp air and hint of sunshine through the trees giving everything a golden glow actually makes us want to get off the sofa, go on a walk and experience the beauty of nature. 

18. The Christmas countdown

Ok, so November 1st may still be slightly too soon to start feeling festive, but as soon as we reach the mid-month mark it is officially acceptable to let the countdown begin. Christmas tunes, fairy lights, German markets and mince pies... *eek*

What do you love most about Autumn?

Holly xx

Eat Nourish Glow

Having a three month summer break from uni means I've had plenty of time to indulge in things that I wouldn't normally have time for, such as staying in bed until 11am on weekdays, watching daytime TV and reading non-journalism/educational based literature.

Ok so the first two aren't exactly true (not everyday, anyway) but the third is something that I definitely miss during term time when I have lectures to attend and mountains of work that needs doing when I'm not in class. 

I love a good book and usually opt for easy-reading chick-lit or glossy fashion mags when I want to unwind - although health and nutrition is another area I am very passionate about.

Fresh ingredients for making green juice

After reading many of Amelia's articles and following her blog, 

Eat Nourish Glow was on my list of must-reads.

When my sister kindly surprised me with it I began reading it straight away and read the entire thing in a matter of days.

Chicken and pumpkin soup

 Amelia's philosophy about food and the modern diet is spot on. Instead of focusing on eating 'low-fat', 'fat-free' and 'diet' 'health' foods she discusses the importance of eating real and natural whole foods that have not been processed or messed around with by manufacturers. 

The book is a real eye-opener to how dangerous processed food is and highlights how a poor diet can be the cause of so many health issues and diseases, not to mention the rising rates of type 2 diabetes and obesity. 

Amelia's courgetti, a delicious alternative to pasta

Although I try to maintain a good diet and eat healthily, this book has definitely made me look closer at my eating habits and encouraged me to make some positive changes going forward. 

I strongly recommend it to everyone - whether you're interested in health and nutrition or not.
The simple layout, easy-to-follow recipes and pretty pictures will keep you glued and you will most definitely learn something new.


Have you read Eat Nourish Glow? What did you think?


Holly xx

Healthy Homemade Coconut Almond Granola

As someone with a major sweet tooth, granola is a firm favourite on my list of breakfast foods.

Unfortunately store-bought granola can contain huge amounts of added sugar and hidden ingredients which make the seemingly 'healthy' breakfast, anything but.

After searching the internet for a healthier alternative, I felt inspired to make my own - and was extremely impressed with the results.

The recipe can be easily modified to suit any taste with endless ingredient options to create a variety of different flavours.

Here's my super easy recipe for a deliciously healthy granola that you can enjoy for breakfast, dessert or as a guilt-free treat when you need a little pick-me-up.

Ingredients

400g rolled oats

10g flaked almonds

4 tbsp dessicated coconut

1 handful of raisins

2 tbsp runny honey

2 tbsp coconut oil (melted)

100ml almond milk

A generous sprinkle of cinnamon

Makes 500g of granola (10 portions)

Preheat oven to 180C

Place all ingredients except the dessicated coconut in a mixing bowl and combine well using a large spoon or your hands

Spread evenly on a greased baking tray and place in the oven for 10 minutes

Carefully turn over the mixture then bake for a further 10 minutes until the oats are golden and crunchy

If you prefer a more 'baked' taste leave for a little longer - just make sure it doesn't burn

Remove from oven and leave to cool

Once cool, transfer mixture into a bowl and add the dessicated coconut and a little more cinnamon to taste

Store in an alright container and serve with almond milk, Greek yoghurt and blueberries. Mmm.

Feel free to share your own tips and recipes and let me know how you get on!

Holly xx