May Favourites

I haven't done a round up post in a while, and there's quite a lot of stuff I've loved over the past few weeks...

Go Air

So I went here with work a couple of weeks ago, and LOVED every minute of it. Trampolining parks are springing up everywhere at the moment, and if there's one near you I implore you to go! It's absolutely hilarious; you regress back to a state of boisterous childhood, where falling over is fun and throwing yourself into a foam pit seems like the best idea in the world.

Not only is it ab-achingly funny and will 100% put a smile on your face, but it's knackering (...and I burnt 300 kcals in an hour's session.).


Clif Bars

I've been eating my way through these all month; the team at Clif sent me these to showcase some new flavours. Favourites have to be...... coconut chocolate chip + white chocolate and macadamia.

H&M + Newlook Activewear 

I don't know about you but I've noticed some amazing activewear on the highstreet recently. Check out these amazing pieces I got from Newlook & H&M...

These leggings are Newlook, and I'm so impressed. They're totally opaque, which is a necessity when squatting in my books! The waist band is lovely and supporting, offering a really great structure. The pattern is bang on too.

I've been wearing these with *drumroll please*, this lovely top and sports bra below from H&M (as pictured above at Go Air, also..):

How nice is the mesh paneling on the top? (To quote my dad "what's the purpose of that though, Katie?" ~ he clearly doesn't get activewear chic). I'm also a huge fan of the bra, with its TRNG motif and racer back straps.

I know that they're all black, and summer is all about neons and brights but, I just can't resist a bit of timeless black workout wear.

I can't remember the prices off by heart but from memory I believe the leggings to be around £17.99, top around a tenner and sports bra £12.99? (If anyone knows then feel free to correct...)


Science Afternoon Tea

I was invited by Cloud23 to try out their latest Afternoon Tea selection - Science Afternoon Tea + Cocktails. If you know me, you'll know that I'm a fan of alternative afternoon tea, so I was excited to see what Cloud23 would pull out the bag.

Even if you're just up at the bar on the 23rd floor for a drink, bagging a window seat with a cocktail in hand is pretty majestic even on the gloomiest day in Manchester, so; when fashioning a lab coat and goggles, the experience is made all the more special...

As the pictures suggest, it was pretty cool. I'd definitely recommend it. As well as watching a cocktail demonstration we also got to make our own (no knowledge of the periodic table needed), and tuck into one of the nicest afternoon teas I've had. Faves included the pistachio macaroons (and I don't really like macaroons, so this was a revelation), smoked salmon + beetroot brioche and the spinach bresaola wraps.

The science lab has been created for the summer to promote three new science themed cocktails: Daltons Atomic, Old Thom Henry and Up and AT'om, as well as to celebrate Manchester being crowned European City of Science in 2016.

Recipe bookmarking 

How often do you buy cookbooks, drool over their amazing photography + long list of ingredients, and yet never actually use them as inspiration for cooking? For me it's a hell of a lot of the time. Yes, they look beautiful and are perfect for flicking through on the coffee table, but I've made a conscious effort recently to bookmark key recipes and actually make them. It's soo satisfying. Just call me Nigella.

Vanilla + Peanut Butter Post-workout Protein Shake

Got miiiiilk? This little beauty is a firm favourite of mine at the moment; it's so creamy and thick it feels like a pudding, but the macronutrients of the ingredients make this an ideal post-workout shake.

To make this, you'll need:

1 ripe banana
1 scoop vanilla protein (I'm using Sunwarrior's vegan vanilla flavour at the mo)
1 tablespoon runny honey
Handful of ice
200ml unsweetened almond milk
1 tablespoon peanut butter (Meridian, Pip + Nut and Whole Earth are my preferred brands)

You know the score, chuck everything in a blender and whiz until smooth, then pour into an edgy, instagrammable glass / jar, and enjoy.

Protein and carbs are needed to aid muscle tissue growth and repair, and having protein with carbs after a workout is essential as when you're working hard, your body becomes starved of stored energy (glycogen) and usable energy (glucose). To compensate, with no more energy available for your muscles, your body secreted cortisol (the stress hormone), which essentially converts muscle tissue for protein into glucose - meaning you can actually lose muscle tissue.

More on that topic here, on the Body Building website, althougggh these guys do say that fruit isn't the best source of carbs here, and recommend something called waxy maize but, I love the taste of banana and it seems a little less processed.

Have a good one!

Creamy, Smokey Vegan Chilli

This smokey little number is perfect for BBQ season + would make a great side dish at a summer event. It's also a main attraction by its own right though, and, given our typically muddled summer season, is also ideal on its own on a cloudy day. Which is exactly what tonight is all about.

I've shared vegan chilli recipes before; the main difference here is the oaky, barbeque flavour from the chipotle paste.

To make this, you'll need:

Serves 4

1 tin kidney beans (drained)
1 tin chopped tomatoes
1 tin butter beans (drained)
1 tin black beans (drained)
1 heaped tablespoon tahini
1 table spoon chipotle paste
1 large red onion
1 red pepper
2 gloves garlic
Squeeze of tomato puree
Salt & pepper to season

One serving of this dish provides 17g protein, so perfect if you're looking for plant based protein sources. 

Finely chop your onion + garlic + fry off in some coconut oil until brown. Then add your red pepper and the beans, stirring so that nothing burns. Add in your chipotle paste and coat the beans. Next, pour over the tomatoes and puree, and turn the heat down low. Stir in your tahini and mix thoroughly. Let the chilli simmer for about 10 minutes (until the edges of the pan have started to go crispy (best bits!!)), and serve...

Tonight, I had mine with jalapenos and crumbled feta (not vegan I know), and I've also got it for lunch tomorrow with some chicken I barbequed (again, not vegan..). It would work well with a fresh spinach salad or quinoa, or a thick slice of bread to mop up all the sauce.

If you want any more vegan chilli recipes, I highly recommend Deliciously Ella's cannellini bean stew or her black and kidney bean chilli.

Naturally Beautiful - honey + avocado

I've never really been one for facemasks, not for any particular reason, it's just not something I'm that into. However, over the past few weeks with the hopeful snatches of summer we've seen, wanting to go makeup-free has been on my mind and I've turned my attention towards my skin which, admittedly, has been getting a little 'out of control' over the past month or so.

I tend to dismiss redness, blemishes and lumps on my skin during winter and blame it on the lack of sunlight, harsh weather conditions and (around the festive time), too much alcohol and rich food. I've been in denial recently about how bad it's got and only really shocked myself into realising this as I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the wing mirror coming back from circuits with no make up on the other day. I didn't recognise the skin as my own!

I've never really struggled with acne or bad skin, I had my fair share of spots as a teenager but nothing to comment on really. But now, as I see more and more of my friends go makeup free,
I get totally self-conscious at the thought of people I know seeing me with these huge red blotches, and a couple of times I've actually skipped going to the gym in the morning just so I don't have to parade my makeup free face! Other instances include slapping on the CC cream moments after waking at a friends house in a bid to harmonise my poor face.

I know, it's ridiculous.

I don't know what the driving force behind this sudden break out is - my bets would be stress, lack of sleep and water and potentially a reaction to having been a bit more 'lax' in my diet over the past few weeks - but I'm determined to sort it in time for summer!

So on Friday, I  tried out my very own homemade facemask and ohmygod what a revelation. No chemicals or shit ingredients, just two kitchen staples known for their skin enhancing qualities.

Ladies and gents, I give you... the avocado & honey mask.

You'll need:

• 1x avocado (ripe)
• 1x tablespoon runny honey

Naturally, the size of the avo will determine how much mask you make. I had baby avocados in and used a whole one. If you've got a normal, medium to large sized avocado I'd say it would make enough for two or three masks.

Simply mash it up (this is where it helps to be ripe; easier to mash), and drizzle over a tablespoon full of honey. Mix thoroughly.

Wash your hands, and get stuck in!

Leave on for 30 mins. Wash off with cool water and pat your face dry.

I can't believe I haven't been doing this regularly. My skin feels soo soft and silky afterwards, and looked really glowy. It definitely reduced redness and soreness too.

Why avocado + honey? 

When it comes to Vitamin E, avocado is on a pedestal and deemed as fantastic for the skin. So say, it can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles due to its antioxidant qualities, helping to protect the skin from free radicals. It's also high in oleic acid, which maintains moisture in the skin, and also helps to reduce inflammation.

Honey is thought to be naturally antibacterial, making it a good choice when trying to combat acne. It's moisturising and soothing (which explains the soft, silky feel) and great for giving skin a 'glowy' quality. I thought it would leave my skin feeling a bit sticky, but not at all.

I read up on this on the articles below, so if you're interested, check them out:

• http://www.sheknows.com/beauty-and-style/articles/1017621/beauty-benefits-of-honey  
• http://healthiestfoods.co.uk/avocado-skin-benefits 
• http://www.beautyandtips.com/natural-skin-care-products-2/25-benefits-and-uses-of-avocado-for-skin-hair-health-and-beauty/ 
• http://www.livestrong.com/article/112833-benefits-honey-skin-care/

I did see a few recipes suggesting to use oats but I feel like this might be a bit too harsh on my skin at the moment...

If you have any homemade natural facemasks that you swear by please let me know on social media as I reeeally want to see if it helps my skin long term!

image credit: http://www.wimp.com/avocado-seeds-contain-a-surprising-amount-of-nutrition-for-something-weve-all-been-throwing-away/