How running has changed my life

It feels like such a long time ago that I wrote my post all about the reasons that I signed up to run a half marathon. Finally, 3 months later the big day itself is looming and in the run up to the race I have come to realise a few things.

I think the main thing that has become apparent to me is that although I first signed up with the predominant intention of completing the distance, there is so much more to training for a race than the race itself. Yes, that will be a great way to mark the culmination of my training and to show how I’ve improved as a runner but it is what has happened in the lead up to the race and also what will happen afterwards that is important; there are so many wider implications.

Getting a Good Nights Sleep

Life is very hectic. I’m sure everyone can agree on that one? Sometimes managing a job, a social life, a fitness routine and finding time to relax can seem more impossible than solving an algebraic formula (and I was never very good at that). There just aren’t enough hours in the day nor days in the week. Since starting a 9-5 job I have found myself more exhausted then ever. I have over an hour commute there and back and quite frankly, waking up at 6.30am after three years of a leisurely student lifestyle came as a huge shock to the system.

Salads – More Than Just Rabbit Food

Before I went to uni I had a super fast metabolism and never really had to watch what I ate. During this time, I would have turned my noes up at the idea of a salad. A plate full of veg and lettuce did nothing for my huge appetite and it was an area of cusine that I never really explored. Since discovering the concept of healthy eating, salads now play a huge part in my day to day life and I have realised that there is a lot more to them than just ‘veg and lettuce’.

The possibilities are endless. Some of my favourite things to use in salads are humous, beans and pulses, sweet potato, quinoa, feta, avocado… In fact this list could go on forever! I do love to experiment with different things though.

So, here is a little recipe that I recently tried and loved! It is a combination of grilled goats cheese, avocado and peaches with blueberries and balsamic. I love using fruit in a salad as they add some sweetness and feel incredibly summery!

Graduating: What I Learnt When I Moved Out

Last Wednesday I graduated from the University of Leeds.

Wow, I can’t believe I can say that? It must not have hit me yet as it still doesn’t quite feel real. So I am no longer a student… How did I get so old?! I really have no idea. Anyway, amongst all the celebrations that come with graduating, one of them being a lovely trip to Betty’s Tea Rooms, I keep finding myself reflecting back on my time at university. There are so many things that come to mind and it would take three full length volumes (at least) to write about everything that happened, everything I thought and felt, and everything I learned during that time. I know it sounds cliche but amongst all of the last minute deadlines, the parties etc I did learn a lot. Not just about myself but about real life. That strange strange place that I seem to have ended up in now!

Afternoon Tea at Bettys, Harrogate

Last weekend I was lucky enough to be invited down to Bettys Tea Rooms in Harrogate to try out their new Lady Betty Afternoon Tea menu. I was over the moon to be given this opportunity for two reasons.

Firstly, I absolutely adore afternoon tea. The delicate sandwiches and the assortment of miniature cakes look like they belong in a dolls house and there isn’t much that beats a good scone with jam and cream. If there was a food heaven it would feature all the elements of a good afternoon tea. Also, obviously, there is the tea. Now I’m not at all a fan of your standard Yorkshire brew, but I really can appreciate a weak, black tea infused with pretty sounding flavours.

Secondly, I got to spend the afternoon with my Mum. One of my best friends and the source of all wisdom! I couldn’t wait to spend some quality time with her and what better setting to do that!

Childhood Memories

All through my childhood, from about the age of 7, I became obsessed with one thing: getting my ears pierced. I watched as the other girls in my class came in on a Monday morning show casing their new jewellery with pride. I looked on with envy; I just could not wait until that was me. I thought they looked so pretty, so grown up!

Egg – cellent Recipes

You may have read my post way back in February all about my plans for lent. I basically wanted to try maintaining a vegan diet for 80% of the time, mainly because I wanted an excuse to try out some different foods! I wasn’t sure how easy this would be to do and I will be totally honest in that I only really managed a vegan diet 40-50% of the time. I was on the move a lot during those 40 days and other than being inconvenient at times, it also proved to be an expensive way of eating! Also, one of my favourite things to cook with are eggs. I use them a lot. Not only are they dead cheap (not sure I should use that phrasing?!) and so versatile, there are also a lot of health benefits. Obviously though, they aren’t vegan! So I found it quite difficult to stop cooking with eggs.

Days Out in Yorkshire: Ilkley Moor

About a month ago, after I had handed in my dissertation and I was finally free from the ties of university deadlines,  a few friends and I decided to explore some of Yorkshire. I may have lived in Leeds for three years but the majority of that was spend in the uni bubble,which consisted of nothing more than the shops, the clubs and the library. We decided it was time to go a little further afield and see what our uni city had to offer.  

Li Lash: How to make your eyelashes grow

I have fond memories of searching through my mum’s makeup bag when I was younger. I used to long for the days that I could wear those pretty colours on my eye lids and on my lips. However, it was when I first discovered mascara that I really fell in love with the power of makeup. I remember the first time I ever used it and I couldn’t believe the difference it made to my eyes. I have always had very pale lashes due to my blonde hair and I quickly became addicted to the product that allowed me to change this. Over ten years on, I always feel more confident when my lashes look longer, fuller and darker and I would probably say that mascara is my number one staple piece of makeup. So, when the lovely people at Li Lash asked me if I would like to grow my lashes, I couldn’t turn down the opportunity.

The best places for Brunch in Covent Garden, London

I was recently having a conversation with a few friends and it became apparent that there was a distinct divide between those of us that were in love with Brunch and those who thought the whole concept was completely bizarre.

I personally love it. Breakfast has the potential to be one of my favourite meals of the day, but often the best breakfasts are quite a lot bigger than what you would normally want first thing in the morning. Brunch becomes the perfect solution. One of my friends found the concept of merging two meals together very strange and said that she was never sure whether she was meant to eat before ‘Brunch’ or simply wait it out. Which side of the camp are you on?