Keeping active in colder months

One of my resolutions for this year was to be more physically active, and become stronger and fitter, following on from a long period of inactivity due to health. In summer I really enjoyed talking long walks, which was especially spurred on by lovely bright sunny weather, having a dog for a few months who required regular walking, and the promise of ice cream if I made it far enough. Roll around autumn/winter, dark nights and cold weather, and I have found that being curled up on the sofa with a hot drink is much more appealing than venturing outside and doing some exercise.

In light of this, being active in these colder seasons takes a more concerted effort. 

Here are some of my favourite ways of staying active:

Dog walking or just walking! I love this as it's a gentle option and doesn't involve any pre-planning other than grabbing your coat, boots and gloves. In these seasons, I tend to walk more during my weekends and on days off as it's very dark before and after work.

Swimming and aquaerobics is a great option since its an indoor activity, can be done no matter what the weather, and if it's dark outside. I particularly like aqua-aerobics as it helps keep me motivated to do a full hour of exercise, as the instructor is there to keep me engaged. The session I go to is really good as the instructor varies the excercises week to week, and usually incorporates a section of upper limb weight training, which I love as I really need to work on the strength in my arms.

A new favourite way to stay active is cycling. Liverpool has recently launched loads of city bike stands, all across the city. The premise of city bike is that you register online (which can be done via your phone), top up your account with credit, then go to a stand and pick up your bike. Bikes can be picked up and dropped off from different stands which is so handy. A couple of weeks ago, my sister and I rented bikes in the city centre, rode along the waterfront and dropped them off at a stand 5 minutes from my house. Also, these bikes are so comfortable to ride, they don't give me any wrist/upper limb pain which is amazing for me.

Fi x

Getting into skincare: The Body Shop's Camomile Cleansing Butter

I really wanted to write a post about a skincare product which really love, and has changed my outlook on skincare.  I have not ever really been too excited about skincare, and to be honest was pretty lazy at taking care of my skin - mostly using face wipes to remove makeup, and only very inconsistently actually washing my face (tut tut).

The Body Shop's 'Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter'  has changed all that for me.

This cleansing butter is brilliant as it removes all makeup, including waterproof eye products without having to scrub and pull at your eyes. It cleanses the skin really effectively without feeling harsh and leaves the skin feeling lovely and moisturised, and has a lovely gentle smell. I use this by taking a small scoop and massaging it all over my face (onto dry skin), and then wash it off using a flannel and warm water. This product also works well mixed with a small amount of brown sugar to make an effective facial scrub, which helps to remove dry skin. 

It costs £12 but you can always buy it as part of some deal (psst - the Body Shop currently have 40% off everything). 

I have always had a very simple skincare routine of cleansing + moisturiser, but this product has made me start to really enjoy my little skincare regime and has meant I've started researched other skincare ingredients and products, so I may have a few more reviews coming soon.

Happy face washing!

Fi x

Being content

Seeking contentment is something I have always struggled with. I tend to get very excited for the next stage of life, which can mean I feel dissatisfied with what I have, where I live, where am I in my life. It's not that I don't find joy in my everyday being - I am very happy. But sometimes I look back on situations and think that I didn't appreciate how great it was at the time. For example, when I lived in Aberdeen I went to school 2 of my best friends -  we saw we each other every day, spending many hours of the day together, and rarely going a weekend without hanging out. I was so blessed to have met such amazing friends there, and I so appreciated it at the time - but only looking back did I realise how good I really had it.

There are 2 things that I've read recently that got me thinking about being content. 

Hannah Maggs (www.hannahmaggs.co.uk) - who writes a blog/makes youtube videos, is a new mum, and has recently started a business - has spoken about the concept of blackout. 'Project Blackout' is a challenge to switch off the internet for a set amount of time, regularly, and spend time doing things without feeling the need to be updating facebook, instagram, twitter etc. Myself, I feel that I have to re-learn how to relax and spend leisure time, as currently my automatic way to relax is my grabbing the laptop and a cup of tea (sometimes for unhealthly periods of time). Whilst the internet is an amazing way of connecting with people, exploring interests and learning; an unhealthly proportion of it can exacerbate discontentment, feelings of inadequacy and make it seem like everyone else is living a more perfect, successful life than you.

During the same week as thinking about blackout, in church we studied Psalm 73, which describes someone who feels frustrated and discontent with their life, away from God. They are envious of those who have money, health, and seem to have no worries. However, the psalmist realised that all he was envious of was temporary. I took this passage as an encouragement to continue to trust in God; to look to Him for contentment and happiness,  and not be consumed by desire for material things and to know things that pain, stress, are only temporary. 

So in summary, I want to balance both enjoying each day, without internet dominating my time, or feeling reliant on it to relax; and try to keep perspective that God has all the big (and little) things planned out for me, and that truely being content will come from knowing Him more.

Fi x

A little trip to Paris

This July we took a little trip to Paris. John had been a few years ago when travelling around Europe, but I hadn't been since I was a toodler squeezed into a cot in Disneyland Paris.

This trip was a treat to celebrate my birthday, graduation and our 3 year wedding anniversary. We stayed for 4 nights in a studio apartment in Montemarte that we found on airbnb (https://www.airbnb.co.uk/). I would really recommend that Montemarte area if you're planning a trip to Paris - it's more reasonably priced and still very easy to get into Central Paris via the Metro.

For this type of holiday - a 'city break' - 4 days was an ideal amount of time, as we didn't have to try and squeeze everything in too quickly, but managed to see most of the places we had wanted to (minus the Musée d'Orsay). For me, the highlights included the amazing cathedrals, Eiffel tower at night (cheesey but true) and the delicious food. Paris is just such a beautiful city to walk around and spend time in, I would love to visit again.

John & I decided to 'vlog' our trip - as a fun way to look back and to share with our friends & family.

Here are the videos documenting our trip.

Fi x

Liverpool favourites - Bold Street edition!

It's been a few months since I noted down a few of my favourite finds in Liverpool, since then I've found a few more stand out places - which all happen to be on Bold Street. John & I resolved at the start of the year to make sure we spend more quality time together, which has happily resulted in us trying more food/cafe places. So, here's round 2 of my favourite places to hang out/eat in Liverpool...

[The Italian Club]

I first visited this quaint Italian restaurant with a friend, which we stumbled upon when walking past. From the outside, it looked like it had a really nice atmosphere. The prices are so reasonable - we split a salad and a massive pizza and it only came to about £5 each! (This restaurant is listed on the Indepdendent's top 50 cheap eats.) The pizzas are totally amazing, the best I've had outside Italy without a doubt. Yum yum!

(The picture is from when I took John, who, being a boy, refused to share a pizza and therefore we had waay to much food! We did get it packaged up to take home though.)

There is also a sister seafood restaurant called The Italian Club Fish, which is also on Bond Street, and also amazing (albeit more expensive).

[Leaf]

Leaf is an independent teashop/cafe/bar. It's open 9am til midnight - and serves delicious food to suit any time you go. It also a venue for some small gigs, and other events you can pay for (such as the 'pudding club' - where pay something like £12 and get a 5 course meal consisting entirely of deserts - amazing). They do a lovely afternoon tea, which I treated my sister to for her birthday - I'd highly recommend it for a treat/special occasion. (You need to ring up and book at least 24 hours in advance for afternoon tea.) 
The best bits in my opinion: the large menu of teas, the rich chocolate brownies, and weekly (free) acoustic nights.

[Bakchich]

Bakchich specialises in Lebanese street food (if you've not had it before, think humous, yummy marinated, chargilled meat, baklawa...). But really, you just need to go there and try it - it's so delicious! Everything is really fresh, and there's great veggie options too.  I'm now completely converted to falafel after being totally against it (I blame the dodgy supermarket pre-packaged falafel wraps).

All this talk of food has made me hungry, so I'm off for a cup of tea and a couple of biscuits!

Fi x

Recipe book: blueberry muffins

Blueberry muffins are my favourite kind of muffin. This recipe, has developed through trying many other recipes. These, for me, are the ultimate blueberry muffins because  of the yummy "coffee shop" style crumbly topping.

Ingredients

For the muffins:

3 cups plain flour

1 1/2 cups caster sugar

4 teaspoons baking powder

2/3 cup veg/sunflower oil

2 eggs (a very ripe mashed banana works well as an egg substitute)

2 cups blueberries (I use fresh, but tinned or frozen would work)

2 tablespoons lemon juice

For the topping:

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup plain flour

50g butter (cubed)

1 teaspoon cinnamon 

Method

1. Make the cake batter...

Beat the eggs, then mix in the oil, sugar and lemon juice. Mix the baking powder and flour together (do this in your weighing bowl to save washing up) and add to the wet mixture. Carefully fold in the blueberries. It helps to lightly coat the blueberries in flour before mixing in, as it prevents the blueberries breaking up.

2. Make the topping...

Mix the dry ingredients, then rub in the butter. You can adjust the amount of cinnamon to your personal preference.

3. Assemble & bake...

Put the cake butter into muffin cases, and top with the topping. Bake in an 180°oven until ready (25-30 mins).

Enjoy with a cup of tea! 

Fi x

Quick beauty tips #2 - How to make your hair last longer between washes

Here we are with the second instalment of quick beauty tips! Washing your hair every day is "unhealthy" for your hair as it strips it of it's natural oils. Here's a couple of tips I found for how I actually shampoo and condition my hair to help prolong how long it will last between washes. 

Tip 1. When shampooing, place your shampoo on your scalp and concentrate on massaging it in there. Since the scalp is where your hair will become greasy fastest, it is the area that needs the deepest clean. You can then let the shampoo wash through the length of your hair as you rinse it out. This is will enough to wash the rest of your hair.

Tip 2. Before conditioning, squeeze the excess water out of the ends of your hair. This will make your conditioner more concentrated and help give your hair a deeper nourishment. (It will also mean you can use less product so you won't run out as fast!) Only apply conditioner to the ends of your hair as that hair is the oldest therefore most dry and damaged. I like to leave in my conditioner for a couple of minutes before rinsing to let all the goodness soak in to my hair. 

Hope you found these helpful!

Fi x

5 years.

Today is a very special day for me as it marks five years since John and I started dating. Even though we now have a wedding anniversary to celebrate, this date will always hold a special place in my heart. Let's take a little trip down memory lane...

[2009]

Our first couple selfie! We took this after walking up the Law, which is the big hill in the middle of Dundee, to watch the sunrise (aw, how romantic). It was freezing but very fun.

[2010]

Our first anniversary trip to Broughty Ferry (just down the road from Dundee). We took a walk along the beach and enjoyed the sunshine.

[2011]

Taken the day after we got engaged (by my lovely sister). I was working in a chalet in the French Alps for the winter season (5 months) and John was in his final year at uni in Dundee. He came out to visit for a week with my family and asked me to marry him!

[2012]

This is from our first camping trip in the Peak District as husband and wife. It was so sunny and hot, living in England felt like a foreign country to me that summer!

[2013]

A sneaky kiss at a friends wedding.

[2014]

Ringing in the new year!

I can't quite believe it's been 5 years...! As cheesey as it sounds, my life really did change when I meet John. Before, I didn't really understand relationships and why people would want to spend so much time with their boyfriend. I remember a few weeks after John & I starting out going, I had a big long conversation with my sister about what love is, and how you know if you are in love. (She will probably remember it and laugh at me!) When we met, I was going to be a doctor live in Scotland and John was going to be become a scuba diving instructor in Mexico. Somehow God put us on the same path and brought us together. 

John brings out the best in me, always encourages me, looks after me and makes me laugh. I am so blessed to have had him as my best friend for 5 years!

                                                                            Fi x

Recipe book: tattie & leek soup

My mum makes the best soups. Not only are they totally delicious and healthy, but she has the talent of whipping them up so effortlessly that you don't even realise she was cooking until you have a steaming hot bowl of yumminess before you. Here is her recipe for tattie and leek soup (potato and leek) as requested by a friend. This is a great easy-to-make cheap lunch or dinner option. Enjoy!

Ingredients (to serve 4)

2 chicken stock pots/4 chicken drumsticks/bones from a roast chicken

4 medium leeks

4 medium potatoes

200ml milk

Salt, Pepper, and Bay leaves.

Method

Make the stock according to directions, or if using drumsticks/chicken bones boil just covered in water with salt and couple of bay leaves until the meat is falling off (approx. 45 mins). 

Note: if you use chicken bones that are quite fatty, you might need to clear some fat off the top of the stock. You can use kitchen roll to do this, or allow it cool & solidify so you can lift off the fat.

Slice the leeks and chop the potatoes into chunks (mum leaves the skin on). Add these to the stock and boil until the veg are soft (approx. 20 mins).

Use a potato masher to break up the potatoes so you get some lumps and also thickening of the soup. Add milk, salt & freshly ground pepper to taste.

Fi x

Quick beauty tips #1 - Nails

I love learn new tips & cheats that make the process of getting ready quicker, easier and more enjoyable.  I've gathered my tips from watching my mum, talking to friends and reading magazines and blogs. So, I'm going to start sharing some of my favourite tips. Here's a few regarding nails.

Tip 1. Cotton buds + nail varnish remover = perfect nails

When painting my nails this is a really quick and easy way to clean up the edges. For me, this is especially helpful when painting my right hand as I have zero co-ordination in my left hand. So if you struggle with getting your nails looking pretty and neat, try this!

Tip 2. Daily topcoats

I heard this tip a while ago and it has helped me so much. I find painting my nails quite time consuming, and since it's so rare that I actually have them painted, I like to prolong their wear for as long as possible. Get your hands on a quick dry topcoat and give your nails a quick lick of this every day. It will prevent chips, keep your nails looking shiny and fresh, and extend the wear of your nail colour. 

What's your best-kept nail secret? 

Fi x

Favourite spots in Liverpool

Since leaving home I've lived in a few different cities, and while there's many things I hate about moving (mainly having to leave friends), one of the best things about moving to a new city is getting to explore & discover new favourite places. We (my husband & I) have been living in Liverpool for around 6 months, so here is a round-up of the gems we've found so far...

Farmers market - Lark Lane

The farmer's market is held on 4th Saturday of every month, with all stall owners coming from within a 100 mile radius. There's an impressive array of stalls selling delectable cakes; fresh fruit and veg; jams, chutneys & dipping sauces; freshly baked breads; and local eggs, poultry and meat.

This week I was sadly beaten out of the last focaccia, but we did manage to buy a haggis and neep i.e. turnip (for Burn's night), a delicious arrabiata sauce, goats cheese, and a chocolate eclair that was consumed on the walk home. Yum.

Moon & Pea - Lark Lane

My first visit to the Moon & Pea was when John & I were in Liverpool for the day viewing houses (which was actually only my second time in Liverpool, ever.) We had heard Lark Lane had good cafes, and since we were near, decided to wander down and found ourselves in the Moon & Pea. Since then, the rest is history. I have loved pretty much everything I've ordered there, but particularly recommend trying the: pea breakfast (just the right size & assortment of fried breakfast items in my opinion), belgian waffles with fresh fruit, freshly squeezed orange juice (yes, they have one of those cool machines!) and the caramel chocolate cheesecake. They also have acoustic nights on a Wednesday and Sunday, which make a lovely date night but can be very busy so you're best to book a table. 

Onion Deli - Aigburth Road

This deli is very conveniently (or dangerously) less than 5 minutes walk from our house. It has a very impressive deli counter, delicious sandwiches & wraps, homemade cakes and freshly baked bread to buy. It offers a nice sit-in area but often, since I can get my cup of tea for free at home, I'll take my food and run.

Moose Coffee - Dale Street  

This quirky american cafe does the best pancakes you will ever try! My favourite order is blueberry pancakes with a side of bacon, mmm... The decor in here is really fun too, with lots of famous portraits with the heads replaced by mooses (meese?) and a proper old-school cash register. One warning: a reliable source says some of the savoury dishes are a bit mustard heavy, so if you're not a fan, beware.

FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology) - Wood Street

An honourable mention must go to FACT, which is an independent cinema, art gallery and bar. This cinema has a really good student membership that's £10 for the year, which gives you 2 free tickets when you first sign up, then you £2 off every ticket after. We went to see 'Inside Llewyn Davis', I loved the music in the film, and cinema itself - it reminds me of the DCA (one of my favourite spots in Dundee). 

What are your favourite spots in your city?

Fi x

Christmas goodies

I'm at the age now where for Christmas I tend to get some money from my mum & dad as my main gift. This works well as it means my that mum doesn't get stressed trying to pick out things for me, and I get to go shopping and not just "visit" things I like, haha! 

I wanted to show a few things that I bought!

Small bowls, £4 each (TK Maxx)

I love these cute little bowls! The designs are all different and hand-painted, my favourite is the blue background with white stars. I imagine these would be good ice cream bowls...

Denby butter dish, £12 (TK Maxx) 

I have been searching for a butter dish for ages and I finally found one - woohoo! I love the size, style and colour of this, and it was a good price too. 
The picture doesn't pick up the colour properly sorry, it's a lovely bright blue. 

Forever 21 shirt, £18

I love this shirt, it actually is really similar to one of John's that I used to always steal!

Mental note: make sure we don't wear them at the same time...

Cath Kidston dress, £59

I had a bit of a dilemma buying this dress, as I usually wouldn't spend this much on a dress. Lately I've been finding it difficult to find things I like when I go clothes shopping. I really loved this when I saw it and since had Christmas money I bought it! I especially love the fabric. I might take up the hem slightly, to just above the knee, so that it is more flattering.

Soap & Glory highlighter and lipbalm/gloss, £15

Finally, I picked up a couple of makeup items I've had my eye on for a while. I have this lip product in another colour and LOVE it, so I got another one. I've seen really good reviews on this highlighter and since Soap & Glory was on buy one get one half price, I decided to buy it too.

Hope you like the things I picked! 

Fi x

New year, new goals

It's that time of year again, when I like to refocus myself & think of what I'd like to work on in the following 365 days. I know a lot of people don't believe in making resolutions, but I really enjoy taking time to come up with mine. Here are my resolutions: 

1. "Pre-baby body"

I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune disease) in late 2012, and over the following year lost about 1 stone in muscle due to my symptoms. I've been a lot better since starting some new medication, so this year my aim is to build myself back up again. I want to increase my cardiovascular fitness - not looking to do any marathons, but managing regular 30-45 mins of fast walking would be good for me! I'd also like to incorporate a stretching programme into my daily routine, and work on some gentle strengthening (not sure what that will be yet).

The pre-baby bit of this is because of some advice a very wise friend who has recently become a mum gave to me. She talked about the importance of being as fit & healthy as possible before having a baby due to the stress that pregnancy and looking after a small child have on your body. I figured I should start with plenty of time!

2. More music

This year I would like to look at joining a choir again. I was part of a choir from the age of 7  to 18 and I loved it, I'd like to join somewhere that does classical choral singing but doesn't require members to sight-sing - hope I can find one!

I'd also like to go to more gigs, and spend more time jamming at home with my husband. We actually got together following him coming over to my halls to tune my guitar, and many of our first "dates" involved us singing & playing in my room (much to the annoyance of some of my flatmates!) I love live music, and discovering quaint wee gigs to go to - hopefully there will be more of these in 2014.

3. Date night

We would like to have a date night once a week, and we've decided we'll take turns of who plans what we are doing. Hopefully we'll be able to come up with some fun & affordable ideas!

4. Daily devotional

I'd like to get back into the habit of making time each day to read my bible and pray - when this part of my life is going well I feel much more content & happy. 

5. TV dinners max. once a week

Since we are blessed to have a house with enough room for a dining table, we are going to make an effort to eat together at the table everyday (with the occasional cheat day perhaps!).  Hopefully this will help us to make healthier choices for evening meals too. 

Have you made any resolutions?

Fi x

Highlights of 2013

Hello & happy 2014!

Over the last few days my facebook feed has been full of people giving their highlights of 2013. I decided I'd like to document mine here so I can look back on them. 

Trying lobster for the first time. It was delicious.

Attending a very special wedding in Somerset. 

Our first holiday since our honeymoon (2 years ago)!  We spent a week in a cottage in Pembrokeshire. Best bits included going surfing, watching the cliff diving world championships, beautiful walks & an amazing meal on the last night. 

A weekend getaway to north wales for John's birthday.

Buying our first house (& moving city again!)

A fun camping trip with friends (complete with blazing sunshine & torrential rain!)

Celebrating Christmas with my family in Scotland.


Other highlights include living with our best friends for 5 months while waiting for house (& getting to play with 2 little cuties everyday), becoming part of an exciting new church plant, and finally getting my rheumatoid under control.


Farewell 2013!

Fi x