Friday 27 February 2015

Healthy Banana Pancakes!




I love weekend breakfasts to be that bit more indulgent, without spending a long time making it.

So what's great about the recipe I am going to share, is that it is very healthy & also easy to make!


Ingredients (makes approximately 6 small pancakes, enough for 1 person)
  • 1 ripe banana 
  • 1 tsp cinnamon powder (or to taste)
  • 1 tsp of vanilla extract (or to taste)
  • 1 tsp of baking power
  • 1 egg
  • Honey or agave syrup 
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil (can add more if you want them more crispy)
  • Sliced strawberries, sliced bananas, blueberries or any other fruit (to decorate)


Method

1. Mash up the banana in a bowl using the back of a fork

2. Crack one egg and mix with the mashed banana

3. Add the cinnamon powder, vanilla extract and baking powder & mix altogether

4. Add in blueberries or any other fruit you may want to add in the mixture (I don't add anything here, just out of personal preference)

5. Place some coconut oil in a pan and pour the mixture in (I make 6 small ones) and cook on a medium heat (when mixture starts creating bubbles then flip over)

6. Stack your pancakes, drizzle over some honey or agave syrup & add some fruit (strawberries, bananas, blueberries... I used grapes as that is all I had at the time!)

7. All there is to do now is tuck in!

F & F

xx




Wednesday 25 February 2015

Product Review: L'Occitane Immortelle Divine Cream




I first discovered the L'Occitane Immortelle Divine Cream in 2012 in NYC, and since my first purchase I have never looked back!

I knew this item was an award winning anti-ageing product but I had to try it out and see the results for myself.

The Immortelle is a tiny yellow flower which L'Occitane has been researching its properties for over ten years in order to perfect its anti-ageing skincare products.

It is the essential oils of this flower which makes it the vital ingredient for L'Occitane's Immortelle skincare range.




I use a small pea size amount of the cream every night, as a little goes a long way.

Warm the product between the fingertips and gently spread evenly all over the face and neck.

The cream smells divine (as the name suggests!) which sometimes makes me use that tiny bit more!... I feel the aroma also make me sleep well!

The cream feels so luxurious and just melts into the skin.

I have combination skin so was a bit skeptical about the dense texture of the cream as I feared excess oil would cause a breakout. However the cream has worked a treat for my skincare regime and turned out to be a product which I cannot live without.

My skin is definitely brighter, more glowing, toned and youthful!

I even brought the travel size which is perfect for weekends/holidays away!

F & F 

xx

Sunday 15 February 2015

My Travel Essentials

As I am constantly travelling I like to make sure I have my comforts with me in the sky!

These are the items I currently have in my cosmetic/travel bag:




1. Cosmetic/Travel Bag - make sure it is a good size so everything fits in, I like to make sure there are no excess items floating around my handbag

2. H&M Wet Wipes - these are the perfect size for travelling and very moist

3. Mac Pressed Powder Compact - always handy to have a mirror!

4. Extra Chewing Gum

5. Clarins Hand & Nail Treatment Cream - to keep your hands nice and soft (see here)

6. Smint Mints

7. Caudalie Beauty Elixir - great relaxing mist to freshen up your face (will do a post on this soon!)

8. Kleenex Tissues 

9. Suitcase Lock - most suitcases have combination locks attached, but I have had this break when travelling, so it's always handy to have a separate lock!

10. Olbas Inhaler - my nose hurts when the plane is in the sky, (due to the dry air, cabin pressure etc) so I carry this around to soothe it

11. Pen - incase you need to fill out landing cards etc

12. Nail Filer - you know how annoying it is when a nail breaks!

13. Chanel Chance Perfume (travel size)

14. Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick in Monte Carlo - i take this as I get dry lips so this lip colour is just the right amount of colour & very moisturising

15. Hair Grips

16. Bath & Body Works Hand Sanitizer - because wipes are just not enough!

17. Futurocks Power Bank - to charge up your mobile phone on the go

18. Plasters

19. Vaseline - for lips or any dry/sore areas (all round great multi tasking product)

20. Mac Concealer

21. Headphones - always good to have your own, I like these Marc Jacobs ones.




Also, try & make sure all liquids are under 100ml & take a clear plastic bag with you for the countries where you need to separate your liquid items.

Finally, I don't like plane food so I always try and take my own food/snacks!

Safe Travels!

F & F

xx

Sunday 8 February 2015

Product Review: Clarins Hand & Nail Treatment Cream

I love using hand creams, but I hate that greasy film that some creams leave behind.

I first used the Clarins Hand & Nail Treatment Cream around 5 years ago when my sister introduced me to it.




I have to say this cream is, in my opinion, the best hand cream out there.  I have used different ones in between but I have always come back to the Clarins cream again and again.

As I have been using this for a while, I thought I would let you know why it's brilliant!

1. Moisturizes the hands beautifully. The cream just sinks in straight away - and no greasy film left on the hands!

2. It strengthens nails.  I have thin, brittle nails which I find hard to grow, but if I use this cream everyday my nails definitely become stronger.

3. The cream has a lovely light scent, just enough to know you have used a cream and leave a nice smell.  It is not overpowering at all!




Sssshhh.... rumour has it that the Queen herself uses this hand cream! If it's good enough for her majesty, then it's good enough for us girls!

Try it out & let us know what you think!

F & F

xx




Thursday 5 February 2015

Florence - Italy

When I wrote about visiting Tuscany on a previous post (see here), I mentioned that I would also give you an insight to Florence.

Florence is approximately a hour away from the picturesque Tuscany (by car/taxi), making this an easy commute if you want to stay in the quieter hills of Tuscany.

As Florence is the capital city, it is a lot more busier and filled with tourists.

Florence is full of beautiful Renaissance architecture and historical monuments all over.

It is also ranked in the top 50 fashion capitals in the world, which is why it's no surprise that the international Menswear fashion event, Pitti Uomo is held in Florence twice a year.

Places to visit include:

  • Uffizi Gallery - Full of Renaissance art, it is one of the most oldest & famous museums of Europe and the world!
  • Gucci Museum - history behind Gucci and some of it's most iconic prints (includes a Gucci Icons shop, a Gucci Cafe & Restaurant, gift shop & a bookstore)
  • Salvatore Ferragamo Museum - history and collection of Salvatore Ferragamo, showcasing over 10,000 models of shoes
  • The Duomo (also known as Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral) - the main church in Florence
  • Piazza della Signoria - a square where Uffizi gallery & Gucci Museum is located
  • Piazzale Michelangelo - another square with amazing panoramic views over the whole of Florence
  • Ponte Vecchio - old medieval stone bridge over the Arno River
  • Basilica of Santa Maria Novella - first great basilica in Florence
  • San Lorenzo Market - a market for leather goods, clothes etc
  • Mercato Centrale - part of San Lorenzo Market but specializing in food, including a gourmet food court!
  • Caffe Giacosa - a historical & famous caffe, restored by Roberto Cavalli (includes a restaurant, tea room, pastries and much more)


The Duomo


The Duomo


Gucci Museum


Gucci Museum Caffe


Gucci Museum Caffe


Uffizi Gallery


Piazza della Signoria


Piazzale Michelangelo


Ponte Vecchio


Ponte Vecchio


Salvatore Ferragamo Museum

Salvatore Ferragamo Museum


Salvatore Ferragamo Museum


Basilica of Santa Maria Novella


Caffe Giacosa



If you want to shop, there are all the high street and designer shops you could think of; Tiffany & Co, Chanel, Miu Miu, COS, HnM, Zara & the famous online store Luisa Via Roma, which has a stand alone store in Florence.

Florence also has great links via it's historic train station, Firenze Santa Maria Novella; with train connections to Rome, Milan, Pisa & many more!

Don't forget to try some authentic pizza/pasta & gelato for dessert! - there are many authentic restaurants all around the streets of Florence.


















Remember, Florence is best discovered by foot, so wrap up warm, grab a coffee and start exploring!

F & F

xx




Tuesday 3 February 2015

Product Review: Dr Sebagh Deep Exfoliating Mask



I first discovered the Dr Sebagh Deep Exfoliating Mask on my birthday week.  I was looking for a party pick me up when I was introduced to this item in a Space NK store...seven years later I am still using it and would still highly recommend it!

There are many masks on the market however the thing I love about this one is that it is instant and quick with visible results after just one application.

I only use it on special occasions or before an event.

Apply a thin layer of the smooth gel textured mask to your face avoiding the eye are for approx 5 - 10 minutes (10 minutes as a maximum). Thereafter wash with warm water.




As this mask is deep exfoliating you would expect it to have some sort of granules however it is not the case with this mask, as this mask has lactic acid and azelaic acid which deep exfoliate the skin for faster cell turnover. You will feel a slight tingling sensation and if your skin is overly sensitive there is also a sensitive version of the same mask.

It leaves my skin feeling and looking radiant and photo finished.

This mask definitely isn't cheap compared to other at home masks but is a considerably cheaper, at home alternative to a chemical peel.

It is an excellent pre-party ritual with amazing results!

F & F

xx

Sunday 1 February 2015

Nutrition Plan

Ok, so it's 1st February 2015 and everyone SHOULD be well into the swing of the new year new lifestyle etc! Good... keep it up it's not a temporary measure! 



As promised in my previous workout plan post (see here), I am now sharing my nutrition plan. Although it seems strict, it is one of the most effective plans i have used and one which I always feel I am eating too much! ( I don't think I ever ate so much before my plan!). More importantly it educates you to focus on the TYPES of food you eat rather than the calorie content, low fat foods etc, which in turn has a longer lasting effect.
  • Protein - keep it high, you wont get muscly like a man... near impossible, you can choose never to talk to us again if you do!
  • Carbohydrates - complex are good, low GI (Glycemic Index) carbohydrates are preferred. All types of sugars including fruits etc need to be low. If it's green you can eat as much as you want!
  • Fats - olive oil, nuts, avocados, coconuts, fish oils; should be your primary source of fats. If you are having dairy then having full fat milk or butter is not a bad thing. These things have got such bad press, and wrongly so, they help control your GI and removing them altogether deprives you of vital B vitamins. Keep in moderation if you choose to have them. 



MEAL PLAN

You must have 5-6 small regular meals to keep the metabolism elevated. Carbohydrates should be tapered & protein and fats should be high. If you follow my fitness plan, it should look like 40-50% protein, 25-30% fats & balanced carbohydrates.  See below for some examples of this.



Breakfast 

1.
SuperVitality Blueberry Smoothie protein shake (contains real blueberry powder, naturally sweetened with stevia), a handful of nuts 
2.
Smoked salmon, cottage cheese, avocado 
3.
2 egg omelette, avocado 



Mid-morning/mid afternoon snack (introducing carbohydrates mid morning)


1.
Greek yoghurt, pistachio nuts, apple/banana 
2. Sunwarrior protein shake, banana 
3.
Rye/Rice cakes with nut butter, cottage cheese 



Lunch

Grilled chicken, tuna can, salmon can, grilled fish, 2 boiled eggs (choose 1), served with salad. Make a salad using a few ingredients from below and a dressing (for example; unfiltered olive oil or apple cider vinegar)
  • mixed leaves 
  • peppers 
  • olives 
  • cashew nuts 
  • seeds 
  • spring onions 
  • avocados 
  • spinach 


Dinner 

Grilled fish, chicken, lean meat; served with a choice of carbohydrates (for example; sweet potato mash, brown rice or cous cous) & some vegetables (for example; steamed broccoli, green beans or cabbage).

If you have a sweet tooth, have natural greek yoghurt (i like Fage 0% or Liberte), nuts and cocoa nibs as dessert.








TIMETABLE (Note: this may vary according to lifestyle) 

Breakfast: 7am 
Mid morning snack: 9.30 - 10am 
Lunch: 12.30pm 
Afternoon snack: 3.30pm 


PRE WORKOUT: banana and half a normal serving of Sunwarrior protein
POST WORKOUT: some grapes and half a serving of Sunwarrior protein 

Dinner: 7-8pm 






SUPPLEMENTS


These are what i would recommend, given the change in diet: 


1. Cod liver oil with each main meal (very important as this will keep you satisfied and eliminate cravings)
2. Green tea (I would recommend jasmine green tea as it's much nicer in taste) - drink more than water as it's a natural effective fat burner 
3. Iron supplement 
4. Good multi vitamin support  
5. Vitamin C  
6. Vitamin B12 
7. Probiotics (15-20 billion viable organism per tablet) - take in the morning. I use Biocare Bio-Acidophilus Forte.




Try & stick to the plan for two weeks and do share your feedback as to how you get along! (After 2 weeks you are allowed a cheat day!)
Stay motivated and once your in the hang of it you'll be able to adapt the key type of foods to how you prefer!



Stay focused & Enjoy!



F & F

xx

Note : Please note, I am not a qualified nutritionist. I am only speaking from my personal experiences.