Citrus Blast Mango Smoothie

A new year calls for the obligatory new year's resolution of trying to become a little healthier in the coming months. Every year I have the same resolution and every year it only lasts a few months (if that) but hey at least I try. My favourite way to start the day at the moment is a smoothie - quick, easy and super healthy, where can you go wrong? I've been experimenting with different flavours but this is mango one is my current favourite! 

Ingredients

• 150g mango
• 100ml apple juice
• 2 tbsp low fat greek yoghurt
• juice of 1/2 lime
• 5/6 fresh mint leaves
• drizzle of runny honey

 How to

This doesn't really need much explanation....pop all of the ingredients into your blender (I use the Magimix Le Blender) and blitz up until smooth in consistency. If like mine, your blender has a smoothie setting use this to get perfect results. Add more lime or honey until it's just right for you. 

As I said, this is my go to smoothie at the moment, I absolutely adore mango and the lime juice gives the perfect zingy kick which is just what I need to get me raring to go for the day ahead! 

If you'd like some more smoothie recipes let me know in the comments section as I'd love to do some! 

What's your smoothie of choice? 

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5 Pins I'm Loving {3}

All too often I manage to spend an entire afternoon getting lost in the depths of Pinterest so it's a good thing that I still manage to regard it as an afternoon well spent! Here's the shortlist of my favourite pins from the past month or so... I hope you don't suffer from Pinterest envy! 

1. Recently lot of friends and family have been commenting on how long my hair has gotten so my attention keeps getting drawn to cute hair styles. I love this knot style with the beachy waves. It's so simple and looks great. All I need now is to learn to style it on my own hair! Pin

2. This time of the year can be so miserable so I'm sure I'm not the only one already dreaming of summer holidays! There's something about Santorini which makes it seem the perfect holiday destination, it may have to be next on my list! Pin

3. This outfit is just perfection. The neutral tones look beautiful against the added scalloped texture of the skirt. Pin

4. Since we've been flat hunting I can't stop decorating our future flat in my head and the bathroom is the most important room in the flat as far as I'm concerned. These tiles are absolutely stunning especially with the plain wooden mirror above. Pin

5. Stacking dainty jewellery adds a little something special to an outift. These gold bracelets would look beautiful with the neutral outfit above especially with a little sunkissed skin! Pin

Do you love Pinterest too? 

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Tips For Your First Solo Trip

Going travelling alone for the first time, more often than not, is a terrifying prospect and is something I can very much relate to. Four years ago, more or less to the day, I was planning my first ever solo trip and I was definitely more worried than excited, but I can safely say it was the best thing I’ve ever done. Here are my tips for planning your first solo trip… 

1. Where to go?

Deciding where you go can often be the toughest decision but it’s one you really can’t avoid making. So whether you have one place you’ve always dreamt of exploring or you simply close your eyes and pop a pin into a world map get this done first! 

2. Do your research!

Make sure to look into everything from the currency you’ll need, areas of your destination with  a bad reputation to local traditions and customs. Without this knowledge it’s all too easy to accidentally offend someone or worse, get yourself into a dangerous situation so don't skip it!

3. Get organised. 

We’ve all heard the stories of people simply ‘winging it’ and seeing who they meet and where the wind takes them. Don’t get me wrong, this can be a very fun and spontaneous way of travelling however I would recommend booking at least a few nights in advance. Make sure to check the cancellation policies and if something better comes along or your plans change then you can always cancel your original booking! 

4. Is a group tour/trip right for you? 

A pre-organised group trip with a company such as Real Gap or Frontier can be a great way to easy yourself into solo travelling. You can travel to virtually anywhere in the world and everything at your destination is organised for you taking all of the pressure off you and it will put your parents minds at ease! These can last anywhere from a week to several months so if you do your research I can guarantee you’ll find something suited to you. 

5. Want to do more than just travel?

There are so many other things that you can incorporate into any trip so that the benefits last you long after you return home. Whether purely for your own benefit or as something to add to your university application/CV these are a great thing to look in to. You can incorporate any number of things into your trip, from volunteering or learning a language to martial arts training or mountain trekking, there’s something for everyone.

6. Have the basics at your finger tips

There's nothing more disorienting when travelling than not understanding things around you, be it signs, menus or needing to ask for directions. Download a translation app such as iStone - it'll become your best friend! 

7. Pack light

The prospect of packing for a a trip of a month or more may seem daunting but stick to the basics! You can always pick up extra bits and pieces as you go and don't forget you've got to lug it all around with you everywhere you go! 

My three months of travelling was the best thing I’ve ever done and, as cheesy as it sounds, it really helped me develop as a person! Although I was pretty organised and booked myself onto a volunteering programme to start my trip off and did plenty of research it was still a steep learning curve so I hope that these tips will help you in making the most of your next trip. My final word of warning, be prepared to get the travel bug and spend a considerable amount of time from then on dreaming of your next trip! 

Do you love to travel to? Have you got any tricks to being organised or making the most of your trip?

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Homemade Sundried Tomato & Garlic Hummus

Snacking seems to be that habit that I really struggle to give up but with trying to be healthier as one of my new years resolutions I wanted to find some more quick and easy snacks that I don't need to feel guilty about. This is where hummus comes in, or more precisely sundried tomato and garlic hummus. 

I've read a lot of hummus recipes over the past few months but on this occasion I decided to 'wing it' and see where that got me. This recipe couldn't be easier, no cooking or weighing of ingredients, there really is no excuse not to give this a go!

What You'll Need To Buy...

- 400g tinned chick peas (drained)

- 2 garlic cloves (peeled) 

- 1/2 cup water

- 3/4 large pieces sundried tomato

What You'll Need To Do...

1. This couldn't be easier, simply pop all of the ingredients except the water into the blender - I would recommend crushing the garlic first. 
2. Pop about half of the water in to begin with, put the lid on the blender and blitz until smooth. 
3. If you're struggling to get a smooth texture just add a little more water at a time until you have the result you desire. 

That's it, now you have the perfect homemade hummus which will keep in the fridge for around 4 days if kept in a sealed container. This is the perfect mid-afternoon snack when your starting to flag and need a bit of a pick me up. 

I can't wait to try adding some different things to this to make different 'flavoured' hummus. Next on the list might be lemon and coriander, what do you think? 

Have you ever made your own hummus? What's your favourite 'flavour'?

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