A Pretty Plateful

There is much more to healthy eating than crudites and cold pressed juicing. While working on my final major project, a magazine combining health and fashion content, I have come to appreciate how exciting and diverse healthy eating can be. It is not just for budding Gwyneths or yummy mummies, nor is it just for those with pockets deep enough to splurge on 'superfood' powders and organic veg. It also isn't as London-centric as most would think.

Healthy eating is actually very easy to do, regardless of your age, location and occupation. It is just about making clever choices and allowing yourself enough time to prepare lighter meals at home. I  look to the Deliciously Ella app for balanced tasty meals, but I am also rather smitten with The Detox Kitchen.

Lily Simpson founded The Detox Kitchen in order to design and deliver meals that are as delicious as they are nutritious. Lily started off by working with chefs and nutritionists to create a range of calorie-controlled meal plans to deliver directly to her clients across London. Reacting to the restrictive nature of traditional "diets" or "cleanses", the daily packages are not ridiculously low calorie and are far more manageable than juice cleanses. They also taste great.

Fit for Feb

Happy February all.

I don't know about you, but it actually makes me feel a little bit ill that we are already a month into 2014* but let's push onwards and rejoice that it's basically Spring!

Okay so I may be jumping the gun a little bit there, but I feel like Winter may have overstayed it's welcome again- will it never learn? Let's just say I am looking forward to tucking away my woolies as SS14 takes the candy coloured reigns.

On that note, I am sure you are all astute enough to have noticed the first drop of Spring delights in stores now (did somebody say & Other Stories humbug striped short suit?), and though I could bore you in writing up my extensive list of pre-Spring hits that I need in my wardrobe right now (starting with crop tops and moving swiftly on to tennis skirts and chiffon culottes) I will resist. It is also just under two weeks until Valentines day, so I will probably post lots of lingerie. In the mean time, chaps, just look to the (proper fit) Rosie Huntington Whiteley collection at M&S for a failsafe gift for your lady friend. Add some Champagne truffles and you're on to a winner.

Hoppy Easter Monday!

I think i'm addicted to Pinterest- and this image is another of Pinterest's very finest. Wickle bunny foo foo. You can find the original image here if you feel like spending your Monday oooh-ing and aaah-ing  

Happy Easter Monday you gorgeous lot. 

I hope that, like me, you shall spend this morning nursing a chocolate hangover while watching trashy TV... That's what Bank Holiday's are for, you know.

I just thought i'd share with you some lovely Easter treats to keep that chirpy Spring smile on your face! 

First up, I found this adorable (and easy) recipe on Pinterest for Bunny Tails! All you need to do to make PIZZAZZERIE's sweet treats (original recipe here) is whip up a tub of softened Philly, add a teaspoon of Almond Extract- or coconut for a tropical touch- and then add 4-5 "cups" of icing sugar- one by one- to create a thick dough. Once you've got the perfect consistency- think truffles!- roll the mixture into 1 inch balls and roll in desiccated coconut.

Yummy scrummy, as Mary Berry would say. 

If the very thought of more food is making you a little queasy, go for these sweet scented candles from the lovely Yankee. 

Chocolate Bunnies smells, as the name subtly suggests, like creamy milk chocolate bunnies- the very essence of Easter (£19.99 here).

If you've overdone the chocolate this weekend- i'll put my hands up to that one- then opt for the pretty in pink Bunny Cake candle which is a divine marriage of coconut, citrus and vanilla- gimme, gimme, gimme! It's currently out of stock, but keep checking back here to buy it for £19.99. 

1. The glorious Sitting Bunny pendant is available here for £120
2. The Sitting Bunny earrings are an adorable update on the simple gold stud. Buy here for £108
3. My favourite is this Sitting Bunny ring in gold which you can buy here for £180

For something rather more indulgent, put a Spring in your step with these divine little bunny pieces by Alex Monroe.

I've long been a fan of Alex Monroe's dainty fine jewellery and I only wish I could afford to treat myself to these gorgeous golden trinkets!

The bunny pendants, earrings and rings are the perfect Easter Monday treat, if you ask me. How very adorable is the twig ring with diamond detail?

1. Speckle me pink with SCARCE (here £14.50)
2. Speckle me blue with FRAGILE (here £14.50)
3. Speckle me purple with SPECKLE (here £14.50)

Last but not least- a little Easter sweetness for your fingertips from ILLAMASQUA.

Cadbury's sweet pastel Mini Eggs are an Easter tradition and I could (and would) happily eat bag after bag of these tasty morsels!

If you're equally enthusiastic about good old Mini Eggs, you'll be pleased to see these Speckled polishes. They look amazing on (i've had a look at a number of beauty blogs) and i'm particularly fond of the duck-egg blue shade.

Cheers To That!

What girl doesn't love a cocktail? I am only just back in Edinburgh and I am already planning post Christmas cocktails at the Harvey Nicks bar with one of my most fabulous partners in crime.

In the meantime, though, I shall need to quench my thirst with some homemade treats... Be they shaken, or stirred.

With a crate of gorgeously indulgent Rekorderlig winter cider sitting cosy in my flat, I was rather excited to receive an email from the lovely team at Rekorderlig giving me the recipes for their delicious cocktails from The Winter Bar (see my post on the cool event in the Old Truman Brewery here)

So, as it's Christmas and all, I thought i'd share them with you! 

This little beauty is refreshing with a little kick. 

This one was my pick- sweet but spicy, boozy but fruity and the perfect drink to get you just on the right side of merry this Christmas. 

I love a mojito, I do, and this one sounds truly marvellous- like a jolly festive mojito!

For those who like their drinks zingy and tangy, this one is for you. Who doesn't love gin? Not me...

Last but not least, I bring you a hug in a glass. This is, perhaps, better than hug. Warm, spicy cider with a little sour bite- this tastes just like a big slice of apple pie. 

Cheers to that! 

Halloween Hibernation

an assortment of Halloween recipes  

1. Pink Cocoon Coat £85
2. Grey Wool Coat by Miso at Republic £60
3. Navy Coat by Chalayan at Avenue 32 £1350

Muuuhahahaha. Happy Halloween my lovely readers!

And also congratulations to Mum and Dad who are celebrating their 25th Wedding Anniversary today in Paris... Yes, they married on Halloween. That's why i'm such a gargoyle/witch/devil-child/gremlin/demon goat (delete as appropriate lads)

Oh, and, if you're reading this Dad, there is a gorgeous handbag in Céline with my name on it, I feel it's only fair given that i'm am the glue that holds your marriage together, obvs.

OKAY so back to Halloween. You may be wondering what relevance this selection of cocoon coats has to Halloween, and rightly so... Well, my pretties, I have come to the conclusion that this season fashion has decided to be a little more forgiving... -ish.

One huge trend is the oversized look which I have come to realise is the PERFECT excuse to stuff our faces with the delectable, devilish treats I have included above.

Pair these cocooning, cosy, roomy old coats with your faithful black skinny jeans, towering Jeffrey Campbells and you're good to go! No one will ever know (or care) that you're hiding too many cakes under that big fat Toppers coat. 

If you're more interested in satisfying your sweet tooth, then check out these ghoulish but glorious recipes!

BLOOD ORANGE COCKTAILS

PERFECTLY POISONOUS OREO PARFAITS

PEANUT BUTTERED'S PUMPKIN CUPCAKES

RIP CHOCCY PUDS

BLOODTHIRSTY VAMPIRE CUPCAKES

BEJEWELLED HALLOWEEN CANDY BARK

PUMPKIN CHEESE CAKE ICE CREAM

SALTED CARAMEL DRAGON SCALES

If  you have any more delicious dastardly recipes, trick-or-tweet me @SWfashion_ or pop a comment below.