Flower power

Every Sunday, I feel like it's my duty to make the most of a free day and go out somewhere nice; whether it's to eat out, go on a walk, go to the gym or of course, go shopping! This Sunday, Lucy and I went to Moseley private park and it was such a nice morning, we couldn't help but take a few shots by the flowers. It may just be me, but I always love a photo more when there's something bright featured in the background, especially when its flowers. Not only are they stunning on their own, posing in front of them really brings out your outfit and facial features.

Here, Lucy is styling a light pink and cream, satin bomber jacket from Zara. It has a Japanese style bamboo print which I'm obsessed with! Light bomber jackets are massively in at the moment, acting as a classy, summer alternative to the usual quilted bomber. The pale colours massively brighten up the outfit and the golden zip could be matched with gold accessories to co-orindate the fine details. She also wore a beige, knitted, ribbed crop top from Forever 21. The two pale items together make the outfit look more well put together, complimenting each other and looking effortlessly chic. This was then paired with black culottes from Urban Outfitters, adding a smart and stylish cropped leg. Cropped trousers are gracing the pages of all magazines at the moment, and you can't go wrong by buying a pair. Trust me, you will not regret it. They can be worn with practically any shoe; looking casual with trainers and smart with heels. Her black and white vans make this an everyday outfit, suited for pretty much any occasion.

From Zara, I wore a striped round necked crop top. This is in their new spring/ summer range and can be found in various colours, but the best thing about it is it's £3.99! Definitely check them out, because they're so cheap and really good quality material.  I was so impressed with the price,  I bought two. I mean come on, who wouldn't? I then paired this with a blue denim skirt from American Apparel. I love shopping in American Apparel just because the shop always looks so clean and nice, but whatever I try on the sizes never fit. I feel like a lot of their clothes are made for petite people, which being 5'11, I am far from. Although, last year I found this skirt and it just about fits. Denim is a material that gives a casual sense to all outfits, yet can also be glammed up, making items really versatile, which I love.

 How cute are these ducklings?

Recently, I bought these grey/beige Converse and I adore them so much. Converse are a perfect spring/ summer shoe with their huge range of high top and short trainers. I'm, particularly liking the look of their new suede and leather range and when my size is in stock, I'll be straight into Office buying a pair. The classic brand knows exactly what people want and you can rock them at home, out in the day or on a night out.

Spring and summer excite me so much, I want to chuck away all my clothes and start a whole new wardrobe. Everything in the shops is so pretty, I want to buy it all! If only.

How do you like to spend your Sundays? Daisy xx

Brain food breakfast

Recently, I've been trying to eat more healthily because I've really got into keeping fit and finding new recipes that are guilt free, yet effortlessly delicious. Porridge is my go-to breakfast that keeps me going for hours. Oats slow-release energy, keeping your blood sugar levels steady throughout the day and making them perfect before a work out or exams. Today, I stirred in some cinnamon and topped it with strawberries, blackberries, flaked almonds, chia seeds and honey.  Red berries are perfect to add on any kind of breakfast meal, whether it be cereal, yoghurt, granola or oatmeal. They are full of antioxidants, with some high in vitamins that help to combat disease. Also, blueberries apparently improve memory, which is pretty much what most exams rely on. Sprinkling nuts and seeds on the top is also great as they are full of protein and fibre, acting as a great alternative to meat for vegetarians or vegans. I know a lot of people don't like porridge, so a good way to incorporate oats into your diet is honey or chocolate granola or some kind of breakfast crumble.

I then had a raspberry and banana smoothie and it was so good, you have to try it! First, put any plant based/ normal milk or coconut water into your blender. Then, add two tablespoons of Total greek natural yoghurt. The reason I used this, is because it's really thick and creamy and it doesn't have that much flavour so you don't just get a yoghurt tasting smoothie. If you are vegan, you could thicken it with dates, avocado or maybe a bit of soya yoghurt. After that, I put in around three handfuls of frozen raspberries (if they're frozen it's thicker and really nice and cold) and half a banana in for a fruity flavour. You don't have to use these fruits, you can change it up and use as much or as little as you like. When you serve it, add a couple of cubes of ice and you are good to go! If theres some spare, you can always put a glass in the fridge and have it later or the next morning. 

These two together honestly keep me going until lunch. They don't leave you bloated and feeling really heavy; it's a really nice light, summer breakfast to have.

I'd love to know what your go-to breakfasts or smoothies are. Feel free to comment!
Daisy xx

Making revision more bearable and successful

This post may not apply to everyone, but I thought because most of my time at the moment is spent revising, why not post about how I make revision more bearable and successful? In order to get maximum revision time and frequent breaks, I think the best thing is to wake up relatively early. Because it's a Sunday, I woke up slightly later than I would in the week and started my day at nine. This way, you don't have to work solidly all day, dying of a heavy workload. Then, I like to make sure I have a filling breakfast that will keep me going for the entire morning. For this, I always have some form of porridge because I can go for hours until I have to eat again. Today, I had quinoa porridge with flaked almonds, raisins, grapes, cinnamon, chia seeds and raspberries. If you'd like the recipe, let me know because it is so delicious! I also had specially selected green tea. You can buy this in Aldi, it's super cheap and a really good alternative to normal tea because it's loaded with antioxidants that help your brain function. In other words, it is perfect to have before revision. 

The third thing I do is have a shower or wash my face. You'd be surprised how much more awake and better you feel after cleansing yourself. Being awake is the most important thing when paying attention to the pages and pages of notes you have to learn. And when you're done, don't get back into your pyjamas! Resist the temptation and wear comfy clothes like joggers or leggings. This may sound  stupid, but being in outdoor clothes brings you back to normality when staying at home constantly. You'll feel more fresh and less like you're in hibernation.

I also like to sit outside (only if it's sunny). Being in the sun with the breeze makes revision so much more enjoyable. It also keeps you away from any distractions inside; staying in you're own little bubble away from everyone and everything else. To accompany this, always stay hydrated with a massive glass of iced water and sip away whenever you feel you might just break down and give up.

If you're like me, snacking is a massive weakness when it comes to controlling what I eat. When you're revising, it's very tempting to sit with a massive bag of sweets or a bar of chocolate and non stop eat, but you're only going to feel worse about the fact you haven't moved all day. You might also have a short energy burst and then become really tired, which you don't want to happen when you have a certain amount of work to finish. Choose a healthy snack which you know will satisfy your needs, yet not leave you craving Dairy Milk. I had half an apple and three rice cakes with Meridian crunchy peanut butter- palm oil free.

Then for lunch, I had a light, Mexican style quinoa salad. Having something that is full of fresh and nutritious ingredients will really benefit when focusing for so long. Keep you're body feeling energised and ready for the long hours ahead.

After lunch, I always try and do some form of exercise and take my brain away from writing for half an hour. Whether it's walking your dog, going on a run, going to the gym or just doing a mini work out in your garden. Don't sit down. Think about anything else, but revision and you'll feel much better when sitting back down for another few hours.

When taking breaks, whatever you do, don't watch TV! You'll get caught up on a current series or a film and not realise how long you've been sat down wasting time. Take short frequent breaks every hour. I like to keep the latest Vogue or Elle magazine next to me, to flick through when the amount of work becomes too much to handle.

Finally, SLEEP. Don't stay up too late, especially the day before your exam. You'll be too tired to function and you won't be ready for any form of exam paper that's about to be put in front of you. Try not to sit on your phone or laptop, you will get carried away when scrolling through and watching things and completely regret it the next morning.

Sorry for the late post, let me know your thoughts.
 Daisy xx

Chocolate galore

Seeing as it's my birthday this week, there can't be a better excuse to bake a cake. This chocolate cake is the best thing I have ever tasted, and for anyone who likes to bake, you have to try out this recipe! My moms friend is an amazing cook, and made this cake for a friends birthday; once I tried it, I became slightly obsessed. It seemed a little strange making a cake for my own birthday, but I was desperate to try this out and I'm so glad I did. 

The recipe is by Nigella Lawson. It's perfect for any celebratory occasion or maybe just a cosy weekend in. There are quite a few different parts to the method, so I've put in the link if you're willing to give it a go. I'm not the best baker, so it can't be that hard! The sponge is super moist, and the dense chocolate almost makes it taste like a brownie. As in the recipe, I used a thin layer of dark chocolate frosting which is really shiny and reflects the light- if you don't like dark chocolate you could use milk or white. The basic frosting could have been left as it was, and the cake would still of looked and tasted incredible. However, because I had a load of Maltesers and chocolate fingers I decided to cover the cake and pile it all on. I even crumbled cookie, and sprinkled glitter on top to finish it off.

If you ever get bored, the list of things to bake is endless, and this is just one of them.

Daisy xx