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Recipes

Peanut Butter Cups

Peanut Butter Cups

Another little stress-free treat from me to you. This delicious recipe was inspired by the incredible Joe Wicks from The Body Coach.

Its the perfect weekend indulgence that is full of protein and great after a hard slog in the gym.

Really simple to make and incredibly tasty.

Peanut Butter Cups


Ingredients:

Dates
Mixed Nuts
Protein Powder (I used That Protein)
Cacao Powder
Coconut Oil
Natural Peanut Butter
90% Dark Chocolate


Method:

Blitz all the ingredients except the peanut butter and chocolate in a food processor.

Heat your oven to 150c

Grab a cupcake tin and grease the bottoms

Spoon a nice dollop of all the mixture into each cup

Then add a nice layer of Peanut Butter

Place in oven for 10 minutes – then remove from oven

Melt the dark chocolate and drizzle over the top

Voila – delicious and nutritious

Peanut Butter Cups


These Little Cups are Perfect to Take to Work!

If you store in an air-tight container in a cool dry place these should last a few days. Take them to work in Tupperware and enjoy a little treat when you need.


For More Stress-Free Nourishing Recipes Click Here: Nourish

Balance

Fitness Friday’s: Fitness Fusions

After a hard week in the office which has often been stressful and exhausting it has become the societal norm to head out in the evening and go for drinks. Often than not this can take a greater toll on our mental and physical well-being than the week at work we have just had resulting in us returning to the office the following Monday without have the adequate R&R. Perhaps it is time for a re- think of your weekend activities and focus on something that will restore clarity, strength and a sense of well-being.

Exercises classes these days have transformed from the 1980’s aerobics class into a much more social event with fun names like Destiny’s Child Dance Workout or Light Meditation. They build community and friendships and add an activity to your evening which will leave you in a much better state than other alternatives. Try it this weekend. Make a change to your usual routine and try something new.


This Friday is all about: Fitness Fusions: Class Reformer Pilates

This small Yoga and Pilates business is based in Clapham High Street. Tucked by the side of BetFred really close to Sainsburys. The venue is cute, small team and has beautiful flowers supplied by Bloomon which really brighten up the place.

Reformer Pilates is a different kind of pilates to mat Pilates. Its on a Reformer Machine (see pictures). Reformer targets both large and smaller supporting muscle groups, toning you up like no other exercise. Once your muscles are worked to fatigue by the springs and pulleys you can use small equipment on the reformer gives you that little bit of extra stretch. Because of the extra focus on stretching out your muscles, Reformer Pilates gives you long, lean and toned limbs without adding bulk which other exercises can. By correcting posture in your back and shoulders you’ll be walking taller and leaner.

Come and try it out this week. It is on most days but I will be heading to the 18:15pm class.

Download the Mind Body Online App and get booked in! They are offering your first reformer class free to try! Bargain!

Comment below if you go! I will see you there. Places fill up quick so get booking.

Balance

Using your Senses to relieve Stress: Clarified Designs

Life is full of stress. From the moment we wake up BOOM goes our alarm we are on edge throughout the day. If you live in a city you have to deal with noise, traffic, people, coffee, work, meetings, exercise, emails, telephone calls… the list goes on.

Finding daily ways to calm yourself to keep stress at bay is imperative to make sure you keep balanced. Having an internal toolkit to help you bring your levels back to Zen is key to remaining calm in all situations.

Your senses are key to calmness and clarity. Think about when you visit home and the smell of your mum – that relaxation it sends through you. When you taste that herb that takes you back to when you first tried it. The feeling of your favourite sweater soft against your skin. Your senses can transport you to a place of calm and it is this technique that I want to share with you today.


 

I recently received my beautiful blend from Clarified Designs. An elixir of essential oils in a beautiful necklace to help balance me out. The smell is divine and provides the reminder to take a few minutes in stressful times to stop and effectively smell the flowers.

I wanted to find out more about this wonderful company so I got in contact with their founders to find out more about this inspiring idea.


When was Clarified Designs Founded?

Clarified Designs was founded in our (Rachel and Francesca) joint household in Brisbane August 2015

What was the inspiration behind its creation?

Rachel first introduced me (Francesca) to essential oils in 2014 when we met.

It was about September 2015, where I started becoming more aware of the spiritual and magical properties of the oils while reading at work. (Francesca)

I came home to Rachel explaining how the vibration of oils worked just like crystals, except we could interact with them on a different level (smell) which made them so much more present and permeating to me. I told her how wonderful it would be to wear the oils all day! She had tiny little bottles in her room which she had bought at a craft store a few weeks ago because she thought they were cute!

Coincidence or alignment?

From there the idea was born, we started wearing necklaces and all our friends and family around us wanted to wear them as well!


What attracted you to essential oils?

For both of us it is definitely the luxury of smelling such a potent plant oil. I felt instantly better when I smelt the right oils, and I think on a soul level, I always knew how magical they were.

Essential oils are such a gentle and instantaneous way to soothe your soul, mind and emotions, let alone all their physical benefits as well


Which oil is your favourite?

Francesca: Rose, because I feel she is the queen of all essential oils. She balances a woman’s entire reproductive system, soothes her heart, and instils her with passion, love, patience and elegance.

Rachel: Geranium, because it is extremely balancing and smells floral and herbaceous at the same time.

Internally it calms me down and allows me to embrace everything with positivity.


How important are essential oils for young women in stressful jobs? 

We would say that essential oils have a lot to bring women in stressful jobs.

Not only can they calm the central nervous system, they can help a young woman come to understand her true nature, desires and life purpose.

They will fuel her fire, increase drive, motivation and desire to attain fulfilment.


What blend would you recommend for those trying to balance work stress and life stress?

We could recommend our Shakti blend
This is designed to balance all energies in our body.

Including masculine/feminine energies, hormonal system, mental, emotional and spiritual bodies. The Shakti blend calls on the divine masculine and feminine to achieve balance within the body. If you are feeling stagnant or lacking direction the vibrational qualities of the oils in this blend will attract inspiration, movement and energy to you. This blend will help your body listen to its own truth, for without balance we are unable to live to our full potential.

The blend includes the Certified Organic Oils of Atlas Cedarwood, Cypress, Eucalyptus, Geranium and Clary Sage.

It has an incredibly refreshing scent likened to the natural scents of the forest and the earth. Balance yourself with this blend to achieve holistic equilibrium.


 

What advice would you give to people new to essential oils?

First of all it would be to follow your nose.

Head into a trusted aromatherapy company and let your nose lead you to your very first essential oil or blend.

Next step would be to read about how that oil and blend affects you to see if it correlates with what you need in your life.

Letting your intuition guide you to oils can be an amazing experience.

Essential oils are an excellent and non-invasive way of treating physical symptoms, altering your mood and lifting your spirits.


Head on over to their Clarified Designs for any questions you may have about their blends. They now ship across the world so you can order your own personalised blend to bring some balance into your day to day lives.

I keep mine loose around my neck in order that I can bring it out and Zen whenever the weight of the world gets too much. Cute, simple and effective.

 

Explore/ Stress Free Style

After work Blow Dry with Brooks+Brooks

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Its Friday!
Finally…something to make you smile. Its the weekend. Its the night of the week when you can let your hair down (or blow-dryed into the perfect up do) and dance the night away.


You can touch up your make up in the work bathrooms but giving your hair a refresh is sometimes difficult. This is where the perfect salon to quickly give you the once over is the answer.

Based in Holborn Brooks+Brooks is the golden ticket.

They transformed my locks from drab to fab!

b11   hair

I was met by Kayleigh at the door who sat me down to go through my options. I was tired from a long day at work and welcomed a sit down and relax. Offered a coffee and a lil brownie to start my day was starting to get a little better.

We chatted about options, hair colour, hair condition and face shapes. Kayleigh suggested a couple of styles…

Heading out for cocktails and a banquet dinner we opted for a half up do.


Kayleigh was ab8 little camera shy so she stayed hidden

Hair Washed
Best Massage
Hair Treated
Hair Heated

and we were ready to get started!


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First she tied knots to make an edgy braid. Playful yet tamed.

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Then mermaid curls.

Kayleigh used a wand to create such magical waves. They set perfectly with the in salon products and lasted hours.

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Th finished style was in incredible. I had been transformed from the dreary end of work look to freshly made for a night with the girls.

Glamorous, Stylish and Chic: Brooks+Brooks Hairdressing is a must check out.

To book your appointment head to: enquiries@brooksandbrooks.co.uk

or call +442074058111


Explore/ Stress Free Style

Monochrome Mondays: Travel Style

1Style while Travelling

When you travel for work it can be quite difficult looking the part but also making sure you are being realistic with your outfit.
Commuting across london, getting to the airport, the plane journey and then finding your bearings the other side, you need to be prepared so you don’t turn up flustered, sore feet and a little disheveled.

Here is my guide for looking like a Girl Boss no matter the Time Zone.

 


Preparation

Pack and plan the night before. I can’t emphasise how important this is. You will be calm, level headed and prepared. If you don’t you make up on the day stressed, tired, late and forget those key and important documents.

Keep all your travel documents in a slip together. Keep your toiletries in a plastic bag to save time and searching at the airport. Separate your work clothes from casual for a quick change. Bring something extra in case of delays.

If you are going to a business meeting in another country remember you may be asked out for dinner that evening so remember to pack an alternative outfit.


 

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Footwear

Trust me it is not a good idea to travel in heels. Rushing about even in the smallest heels can wreak havoc on your knees.
You may have to run for you plane, or make a long walk the other side, and you don’t want to be one holding your colleagues back. There is nothing worse than watching someone rush in heels.
Flat shoes don’t need to be the odd thing out on your outfit: edge up your corporate style while travelling.

These Nike Cortez are sleek, monochrome and stylish can be worn with a suit to give it a nonchalant edge of style while keeping you in a position where you’re ready for anything. You can even use those in the evening when exploring the new town you are in and racking up those 10,000 steps.


IMG_3542[1]Accessories

Don’t think outfits – Think Accessories.

How can you make the outfit you’re wearing look completely different? This helps you save on space in your suitcase. A different chunky necklace or a scarf can transform how an outfit looked.
Bring two tops and one set of trousers. Wear your hair-up and long earrings.
This trick is particularly great if you want to sacrifice space to bring your workout gear.

These trousers are my go-to whenever travelling as one day they are high waisted the next they are peg trousers with a sweater.


Workout Gear

Always chuck in a sports bra, leggings, swimsuit and top.

You never know after a long day your hotel may have a gym/ spa. You may even find a local yoga class and then head back for a sauna.

It’s better to be prepared than miss out.


Handbag

Headphones, book, charger, healthy snacks, water and money.

You never know with travelling whether there will be a delay.
Don’t always rely on technology because when the power is gone – its gone.
Keep snacks on you in-case you don’t find a place to grab a bite, you don’t want to be the one with the growling stomach or low energy.

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Travelling can take its toll on you. Tired, rushed, busy and stressed. If you can take the pressure off yourself in certain areas then you can focus on the job in hand.

What are your tricks for travelling? Would love to hear
Comment Below

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