My Froley

RECIPE | Vegan Creamy Coriander Tofu Curry

noreply@blogger.com (My Froley) — Fri, 20 May 2016 11:11:00 +0000

Happy National Vegetarian Week!! I love that National Vegetarian Week also falls on my one year 'Veganversary'. I've been vegan for a whole year! Woow, I can't believe it. I still remember back when I aspired to be vegan. It took me years to work up to it, and it turned out to be the easiest and best thing I ever did for myself and my family. Yay!

To celebrate National Vegetarian Week and my one year 'Veganversary' I'm going to share with you a super duper delicious recipe that I served at my mum's birthday dinner last weekend. Everyone around the table couldn't get enough of it and there were even some third helpings being had.

The kind team at Ilumi sent me a box of goodies to try out, I collaborated with them a couple of years ago before I stopped eating meat so I was really excited to try out their meat free range of food this time around. I was able to use their gorgeous turmeric rice to accompany this recipe, it was so easy to pop it in the microwave a couple of minutes before serving and have one less thing to worry about on the stove.

They're doing a 3 for 2 offer on their entire vegetarian food range until Sunday so head over to their website for more details and fun pickings: www.ilumiworld.com

Ingredients:

(serves 4)

1 tbsp coconut oil

1 tsp mustard seeds

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 onion, chopped

A thumb of ginger (about 1.5 inches), crushed into a paste

4 tomatoes, pureed

A large handful of coriander leaves (cilantro)

2 tbsp maple syrup

1 tsp turmeric powder

1 tbsp coriander powder

3 bell peppers, deseeded and chopped

350g silken tofu, pureed

350g firm tofu, pressed and cut into cubes (optional)

Ground Pepper

Sea Salt to taste

Rice to serve

Directions:

Heat up your coconut oil on a medium heat then add mustard seeds and cumin seeds to the pan moving them around constantly until the mustard seeds start to pop. Add onions and ginger paste to the pan and cook for 1 or 2 minutes. Pour in 1.5 cups boiling water, pureed tomatoes, half the coriander leaves, maple syrup, turmeric powder and coriander powder. Stir well and let it cook for about 10 minutes stirring occasionally.

Add the pureed silken tofu, chopped peppers, the left over coriander leaves, the cubes of firm tofu (if using) and salt and pepper to taste (I recommend the pepper as it helps 'activate' the goodness in the turmeric). Reduce the heat and simmer for a further 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. If it gets too thick add some water.

Side Note:

We ate this dish without the firm tofu, but my mum, the only meat eater around the table, made the suggestion to add it. Everyone else thought it was perfect without, but if you have people around your table who are used to having a meaty texture in their curries perhaps add the tofu so they can get their texture fix. Personally next time I make it I'll do it the same as before, without the firm tofu.

This Life Of Mine

noreply@blogger.com (My Froley) — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 02:37:00 +0000

I've mentioned before that last year (in 2015) I put a travel ban on myself so that I could save some money and I guess to see how not travelling would affect me. I think I wanted to find a bit more acceptance with my life where it is. And, I really think the past year put some things into perspective for me.

Not only was not travelling hard, it was pretty much unbearable. And here are my thoughts on that: if I am so desperate to escape and have holidays from my life then maybe I'm not living the right life for me. I understand that it's normal for people to want to go on holidays but my desires to get away almost verge on desperation, and I always dread returning home a bit.

To be honest, the life I'm living right now isn't how I picture my life. When I think of how I'd like my life I see an almost opposite scenario. For a few years now I've had a dream of moving abroad and I think being stuck in England for a whole year without a break has given me the push to take my dream seriously. This is my one and only life and I need to act accordingly.

I'm not saying I'm moving abroad right now. I don't have a plan. Just a dream. And a passion to get out of this freezing cold country. I told Orlaith we'd be here at least until her birthday in March, and I asked her if she'd come on a big adventure with me. She agreed without hesitation. My co-pilot is on board and nothing else really matters.

So, I'm just putting a little tiny thought out there. I have a few things to sort out here but I'm hoping that in a few months we might be embarking on a great adventure, whether it's a trip which we return from, or a trip we don't return from... either way, I'm out of here!

RECIPE | Easiest Aminos Rice

noreply@blogger.com (My Froley) — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 20:09:00 +0000

A lot of people overlook the importance of whole grains in their diet but whole grains contain so much goodness which helps every part of our bodies function properly. Whole grain rice is full of fibre, protein and so many essential vitamins and minerals your body needs to feel fantastic. And what's even better is that whole grain rice is really delicious!

Rice can be used in so many different ways but sometimes when the fridge is empty or I'm in a rush (or can't be bothered to cook anything more exciting) I always fall back on liquid aminos. We are absolutely obsessed with this dish at home as it tastes great, can be prepared quickly (especially if you have leftover rice) and it's really easy to throw some additional dishes on the table to make a complete healthy meal.

Bragg Liquid Aminos is a really great addition to meals. It contains 16 of the 20 amino acids, some of which you can only get through diet. It's basically plant protein in a bottle and it tastes delicious.

Ingredients:

Leftover Whole Grain Rice (or cook a batch to packet instructions)

Bragg Liquid Aminos

Directions:

Spray (or pour of you don't have the spray bottle) liquid aminos over your rice to taste, we use about 15 sprays (or 1 tablespoon) per cup of rice, and serve with some nutritious side dishes to make a delicious meal. Or eat on it's own if you're feeling glutinous. Simple. As. That.

Reflection + Resolution

noreply@blogger.com (My Froley) — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 21:41:00 +0000

The dust has now settled on the whirlwind that was Christmas and we find ourselves standing here in a brand new year. A blank slate to make the next 365 days into whatever we want. It's quite an exciting thought. In the past I've made lists of too many goals (which were rarely met) but this year I knew instantly what changes I wanted to make for myself.

Last year my life changed a lot. It was quite a quiet year on the blog front, I'm such a closed person and I hate criticism so making big changes in my life, while they've been, without a doubt, amazing and positive for me, I have taken a step back from sharing too much because I wanted to feel 100% comfortable and confident with everything.

I don't often give myself credit, I focus on the things I didn't do a lot, instead of the things I did do, so it's fun when I give myself a moment to reflect and I see that I actually achieved so much in my personal life this year that I've been wanting to achieve for years.

2015 | REFLECTION

Veganism

In May this year I went vegan, something I've been working towards for about 3 years. My skin has never been better and my long battle with depression came to an end. There are hundreds of reasons why I'm in love with veganism but I would have done it for those two reasons alone. In addition to that, Orlaith started her vegan journey in September this year. I'm honestly so proud of her, she's handled it so well and has been so mature about the changes and embracing all her new food choices. It's been such a positive experience so far.

Minimalism

This year I started embracing minimalism and it's changed my life completely. In fact, I read through some old posts of mine the other day and I constantly talked about dealing with clutter and excess. I've finally actually dealt with it. My home has never looked better (it does still get messy, but that's life) and it allows me to focus on things that are really important instead of wasting time of pointless things without much purpose. I'm not 100% done but I'd say I've let go of around 70% of our belongings so far.

Other Changes

I always resolve to generate and save more money, and I put a travel ban on myself in 2015 so I could focus on saving. And I finally actually achieved that. OK, I chose to spend the money in the end (haha) but it was on something I deliberated over for a (very) long time and I don't regret my decision at all. I've made some other big, more personal, changes this year (like getting braces and finally straightening my teeth) which I couldn't be more pleased about.

I think this year has been a lot about living in the now instead of resolving to do things in the future. Because all we really have is the present moment. In reflection it also seems to me like I've been trying to cleanse myself, perhaps to wipe the slate clean in a way. I'm realising that there's a certain way I'd like to live my life and I can see myself working towards that.

2016 | RESOLUTION

Personal

So carrying on with the 'cleansing myself' theme I've decided that in 2016 I'm going to stop drinking. The goal is to go without alcohol for a year, and from there decide on the next step. I'm approaching it the same way I approached going vegan, without any pressure on myself. If I have a drink at some point in 2016 I won't kick myself for it, I'll just accept that I had a drink and carry on with my sobriety from there. What's the reason I want to stop drinking? There are lots, but in a nutshell drinking alcohol has been having a negative affect on my body and my mind recently. I don't drink a lot at all, but even small amounts of alcohol have been affecting me in big ways and it feels quite toxic right now. So I'm saying goodbye to the booze... for now.

Professional

The other thing I'd like to really buckle down to this year is getting my art business up and running. This has probably been a resolution for so many past years. But really, the lack of progression in this area is ridiculous. I need to have more faith in myself because I can do this. After cleansing my home of all the superfluous junk that allowed me to procrastinate so much before, and after showing myself that I can achieve things I perceive as being difficult, I think this year will be the perfect year to make progress in this area.

Have you made resolutions for 2016? If so, I'd love to hear them!

Orlaith's Bedroom Tour

noreply@blogger.com (My Froley) — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 23:33:00 +0000

Hanging Butterflies - Similar / Bunny Pillow - Primark / Bed Sheets - Morleys

Play Kitchen - Ikea

Bookcase - Ikea / Table + Chairs - Ikea / Gro Clock - Here / Beatrix Potter Book Collection - Same Here

Wardrobe - Similar

It's official, we're moving home! I don't know when exactly but probably in the next two months. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. And then it crossed my mind that I've never really done a proper bedroom tour of Orlaith's room in the whole (almost) five years that we've lived here. It will be nice to have something for Orlaith to look back on when she's older. Her first proper bedroom.

Orlaith's room was lucky to get a lick of paint a couple of months ago so it's looking pretty fresh compared to the other rooms in our home. I've spent a lot of time over the last few months going through all our belongings, pairing things down to just what we need with little excess. Things are a lot less cluttered and a lot more manageable now. Not everything has a designated place yet, but most things do, and I don't think there's much point putting too much energy into it right now since we're moving so soon.

All the furniture in Orlaith's room is ours so we'll be able to take everything with us when we move and set up her room fairly quickly. Next time round there's a few things I'd love to try in Orlaith's room, like adding some wall colour, maybe even try a patterned wall, adding some shelves and new art work, and perhaps investing in some blackout blinds, like these ones from VELUX, which I've heard promote better sleep. But for now, we're just enjoying the time we have left here together.

Mildreds Soho

noreply@blogger.com (My Froley) — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 21:45:00 +0000

Last week I met up with a friend for lunch in Oxford Street, it felt quite naughty going into the city for leisure on a week day. We wandered down Oxford Street popping into some shops along the way before heading to Mildred's for a bite to eat.

Mildreds is a popular vegetarian restaurant in Soho with lots of vegan and gluten free options. The atmosphere there is really buzzing, it's very laid back and just after we arrived it got packed for the lunch time rush. It was one of the busiest places I've ever eaten at, but the tables weren't too close together so it didn't affect our meal in any way.

When I first walked into Mildreds I started drooling as I passed a takeaway bar that was packed with colourful, delicious looking (and smelling) food. We sat down and ordered our meal quickly, eager to get some food inside us. We ordered a 'side dish' of smashed avocado with lime, chilli and blue corn chips as a shared starter which was filled with giant chunks of fresh avocado and was so light and delicious.

For our main course we both chose dishes from the 'specials' menu. Mine was a mushroom and chestnut wellington with gravy and vegetables which tasted really lovely and was such a treat, and my friend had a creamy squash tagliatelle which she thought was gorgeous. We ordered a bowl of fries (although I'd call them chips as they were quite chunky) with chipotle ketchup and basil mayo which were the perfect addition to the table. The chips were beautifully crispy and both sauces were out of this world, I could eat the basil mayo on everything. It was so light and creamy and completely vegan.

I was really hoping I'd have room for pudding after my meal but we were both so stuffed there was no way we could eat any more food, which was a shame as I'm sure the desserts at Mildreds would have been lovely. Mildreds is now top of my list of places to eat, all the food that came out of the kitchen looked delicious. I'm definitely going back very soon.

You can visit Mildreds Soho at 45 Lexington Street, Soho, London, W1F 9AN. They don't take table reservations so you'll just have to cross your fingers and try your luck, and if they're busy you can enjoy a drink at their bar while you wait for your table.

Vegan Food Diary

noreply@blogger.com (My Froley) — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 12:43:00 +0000

I can't do my vegan food diary as I was doing before. Firstly, on the days I work we don't get home until 7pm, Orlaith has already been fed by her childminder (who is amazing and cooks her fresh vegan dinners every night) and the sun has already gone in (the sun is my photography light). So basically I just grab photos of food here and there wherever I get a chance now. It's usually on the days I don't work, and is usually some kind of leftover from dinner the night before. P.S. on week days I either eat leftovers for dinner or a big bowl of miso soup with noodles so there's nothing too exciting that's being missed.

Orlaith's still in a more picky phase. Honestly sometimes she looks at her food like I've dumped a bunch of alien people on her plate. It's just a different type of broccoli mate, just eat it. I probably don't help by making random things that she probably won't like but I love recipe testing and discovering new dishes to add to our 'love' list. It's a bit of give and take most days.

Pesto Pasta w/ Spinach, Avocado, Toasted Pine Nuts + Nutritional Yeast - We absolutely love pasta. I try not to make it too often, maybe once every week or two, because we tend to have less veg when we eat it. Orlaith had hers just with the pesto + nutritional yeast. The pesto was shop bought, Sacla do a lovely vegan one we use often (here).

Potato + Lentil Stew w/ Rice + Veg - Ok, I'm fully aware this may look gross in the picture but it's one of our absolute favourite recipes we make at home. It's meant to be a soup but I cook it longer so it turns into more of a stew and serve it with grains and veg, It's packed with lentils and beautiful spices. I gave it to Orlaith and her friend who came over for a playdate and they couldn't get enough of it.

Leftover Sweet Potato Gratin w/ Baby Corn, Yellow Peppers, Toasted Peanuts + Avocado - If you like Asian food you'd like this sweet potato gratin (recipe here). Orlaith had one taste and recoiled like I'd put poison in her mouth (hah) so I ended up making her steamed corn on the cob and tender stem broccoli instead. I generally don't make separate meals but the flavours were strong on this one. I quite liked it but probably won't make it again.

Leftover Black Beans + Rice w/ Kale + Avocado - These black beans are another favourite of ours. We had them for dinner the night before, with the rice and black beans separated and served with tender stem broccoli.

Update + Feelings On Life Right Now

noreply@blogger.com (My Froley) — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 23:52:00 +0000

Life has changed quite a lot for us recently and while I deal with change pretty well I've been having trouble feeling settled with everything recently. I've been having sleep issues for weeks, I haven't been making the best food choices, and other life choices have been kind of bad. It seems I'm on a little self destructive cycle (it's oh so subtle but I can see the tell tale signs) and it's all to do with internal anxiety and uneasiness. And for someone who doesn't normally go out socialising that much I've been going out a hell of a lot lately. Not that that's a bad thing, it's probably the only positive thing about my current self destructive cycle, but I'm using all the late nights and tired days as a distraction from the way I'm really feeling. So, let me give you a little update:

On New Jobs & Not Following My Heart

Two weeks ago I started a new job. It's not a job I wanted (wah), the salary is really low (wah) and I'm back to commuting into the city which pretty much kills my soul twice a day (wah wah). But on top of all that I guess I'm just pissed at myself for not trying harder at doing the things I really wanted to do and ending up in this situation again.

I have two plans I really want to pursue. Both take time, commitment, planning, effort and organisation. Oh and self belief (in which I'm lacking)! One takes a bit of money to set up, one takes a lot more money to set up (but I'm sure there's a positive way around that). But I'm going to make an admission:

Right now my fear of failure is bigger than my desire to succeed.

I am absolutely terrified of my goals. But I really don't want to be working a job I have zero passion for, for close to minimum wage, while dreaming of bigger things. I need to give myself a big kick up the arse and a major talking to and get the ball rolling. For now I'm sticking with the job, because bills need to be paid and I'm not really ok with sitting around doing nothing. But I sincerely hope that in a couple of months I may have a more positive update on this area of my life.

On Blogging & Wanting A Bit More Privacy

When my new job came along I lost a lot of the time I previously had in which to be creative (let's be fair I wasn't using it effectively at all when I had it). With the little time I have left I'm not sure how much I'll be able to commit to this space. I don't have a plan for this blog, I'd like to make one, or not make one and stop. But this constant in-between-ness is not serving anyone.

I'm also craving a bit of privacy. I'm not sure how comfortable I feel sharing so much about us and our lives, and at the same time I don't feel like an impersonal blog really works. I've met some amazing people (even made good friends) learnt a lot and even changed my life in some ways through blogging. I'd hate to lose this outlet but, if I keep it, I want to be more purposeful in the way I use it.

Let's Call This An Overview

I'm hoping life will calm down a bit soon. Unfortunately I started my new job at the same time Orlaith started half term so with no childcare in place things have been incredibly hectic for the past few weeks. We have a new childminder starting on Monday who also looks after some other kids too, so before and after school Orlaith will have a little extended family to hang out with. She'll like that so much!

I don't know if I've ever rambled this much on the blog before but I hate being silent and elusive on here. Writing this was a bit like therapy for me so thank you for reading. I just wanted to explain where things are right now. There's more private stuff I haven't gone into but I think this pretty much covers the reasons behind my unease lately: Not feeling in control and not following my heart.

For me, being true to myself is a big thing and I always look back in regret on the periods in my life when I wasn't following my heart. It's all a learning experience, but I feel like I've learnt most of what I'm living already and I'm not really willing to re-live my past regrets. It's all about taking steps forward, no matter how small they are. I need to take control of my situation and get things moving in the right direction.

Picture Sources 1 | 2

Vegan Food Diary

noreply@blogger.com (My Froley) — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 08:31:00 +0000

Orlaith is being super fussy with her food right now. She's always eaten quite a wide range of food, but now she's refusing to eat certain things she's happily eaten in the past. I hope it's just a phase. It's not fun when I spend time planning and preparing a meal for it to be picked at and complained over. Five year olds ey!

Falafel & Roasted Pepper Fajitas / Salad - Orlaith had her wrap with just the roasted peppers, she's not a fan of falafel or avocado. This falafel came from a packet and it wasn't the nicest one I've had. I'll make my own next time.

Hotdogs - Yup, I had a super duper lazy kitchen day. We like these meat free sausages.

Bang Bang Tofu - It looked and sounded so good but we weren't the biggest fans of this dish. It was definitely edible, but there was nothing exciting about it. Recipe found here.

Falafel Wraps - I had to use up the rest of the falafels so we made more wraps, this time with tahini and salad.

Broccoli Quinoa Bowl - Another recipe that didn't quite hit the spot for us. I thought it was fine, Orlaith disliked it and just ate the broccoli and toasted nuts out of it. I added avocado and a large quantity of chilli to mine to make it a bit more exciting. Recipe found here.

19 Oct '15 - 25 Oct '15
Monday: Falafel & Roasted Pepper Fajitas / Salad
Tuesday: Hotdogs
Wednesday: Bang Bang Tofu
Thursday: Leftovers
Friday: Falafel Wraps
Saturday: Broccoli Quinoa Bowl
Sunday: Dinner Out

Vegan Food Diary

noreply@blogger.com (My Froley) — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 16:56:00 +0000

I'm happy to introduce this new feature on the blog. I went (almost) fully vegan in May and Orlaith followed suit in September (we still eat honey so we're not 'officially' vegan but we do what works for our family).

Having a diet rich in predominantly plant based foods is the healthiest way to go. I want to use this feature to share the food I cook for dinners during the week (and weekends if we eat at home too). Orlaith and I sit down together at the table every day after school and eat the same meal so these meals are both adult and kid friendly.

I'll start adding recipes for some of my favourite meals soon, if you see a meal without a recipe link that you want to know more about please let me know in the comment section and I'll make it a priority to get the recipe up. I hope this feature might encourage people to add a few more plants to their diets and perhaps a bit less meat.

Black Bean & Pumkin Orzo Soup - As soon as pumpkins hit the shops each year Orlaith begs me to make this recipe. I added avocado and chilli to mine, Orlaith had hers plain.

Leftover Pumpkin & Black Bean Orzo Soup - The day after you make the pumpkin and black beans orzo soup the orzo soaks up all the sauce and it becomes more of a 'stew'. I added mine to a bed of spinach and sprinkled it with coriander and chilli, Orlaith had hers plain.

Aubergine & Sweet Potato Curry - This is one of my favourite dishes at the moment. Orlaith dislikes it... a lot. Sorry kid, I was really craving aubergine and made it anyway. Orlaith had double rice and a just few mouthfuls of the curry and ate hers with a bowl of peanuts.

Leftover Aubergine & Sweet Potato Curry - I didn't get home until late on Friday so Orlaith and I ate separately. I mixed the rice and curry up and threw in a giant handful of spinach and some coriander when heating it up. Orlaith had these noodles instead of the curry.

12 Oct '15 - 18 Oct '15
Monday: Pumpkin & Blackbean Orzo Soup
Tuesday: Leftovers
Wednesday: Aubergine & Sweet Potato Curry
Thursday: Dinner Out
Friday: Ramen Noodles in Miso Soup (& Leftovers)
Saturday: Dinner Out
Sunday: Dinner Out

A Wedding Portrait

noreply@blogger.com (My Froley) — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 11:56:00 +0000

I've been very lazy with my painting this year but I recently did paint this custom wedding portrait for my friend Theodora and her husband for their wedding gift. See more details over at my art blog Alex + Orlaith.

Dog Days

noreply@blogger.com (My Froley) — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 13:32:00 +0000

I really wish we could have a pet. I mean, technically we could, but we're not in the right place right now to have one, I don't think it would be very kind. We live in a small apartment with no outdoor space and we travel way too much to justify getting a pet. In the future, once we've moved to a home with a garden (next year fingers crossed) and in the case we have someone who's happy to look after it when we travel, I'd love to find a little dog to join our family.

Luckily for us my friend Theodora has a cute little dog called Baby who we get to dog sit sometimes when she goes away. Recently, when Theodora went off on her honeymoon, Orlaith and I packed up our bags and went to stay at her apartment in Chelsea for a week to look after Baby.

I really think Orlaith was a dog in a previous life. There are so many funny mannerisms she shares with dogs, and she seems to have a connection with them. Even the biggest most vicious looking dogs, Orlaith will just snuggle right up to them and they'll start playing together. She's been like this since she was a baby. Any shape, any size, any temperament, Orlaith gets right in there like she's part of the gang.

Walking With Deer

noreply@blogger.com (My Froley) — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 17:28:00 +0000

Richmond is one of my very favourite parts of London. It's got everything you need, a bustling high street, a beautiful river walk dotted with lots of restaurants and bars, and plenty of green space including the amazing Richmond Park.

Richmond Park is the largest of London's Royal Parks (it's about three times the size of Central Park in New York) and is a national nature reserve that houses hundreds of deer. There are so many things that draw people to Richmond park apart from the deer, but seeing little Bambi's frolicking in the fields is always our selling point.

I actually don't visit Richmond Park as much as I'd like, which is silly really as it doesn't take that long to get there from my house, but London is a big city and there's always other stuff going on. Last weekend, however, I came good on my promise to Orlaith and I took her there with Warren to see the deer and I was so glad I did. We all had a really lovely day.

Deer are such beautiful creatures. There were a group of males chasing each other and they seemed to be trying to mark their territory. They were making big noises that sounded like loud cows and we watched them in fascination and one of the males seemed to be protecting a large family of deer.

We walked a lot, Orlaith climbed every tree she saw, played in the mud, picked very unripe blackberry's, made collections of conkers and stones and twigs, played with all the dogs and tried to go as close to the deer as she possibly could. Her dream was to pet one even though we told her she wouldn't be able to! It was great to see her keeping so busy in nature.

A French Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (My Froley) — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 09:11:00 +0000

My friend Theodora's wedding was one of the most beautiful weddings I've ever been to. It was set in a grand Chateau in France on a gorgeous afternoon in May. Everything had been planned meticulously down to the very last detail.

I not only had the pleasure of being a part of the wedding as a guest but I also had the honour of being one of Theodora's bridesmaids. Along with the other bridesmaids, and family of the bride, we spent the day of the wedding all getting ready together.

The ceremony and canapés were both held outside with stunning views over the quaint French countryside before we moved inside for the wedding dinner. A DJ was flown in from London to keep the music going (for pretty much the whole weekend) and the rest of the wedding day is a vague blur as a result of all the champagne I drank.

All I know is everyone woke up very happy and very hung over the next morning. I had to walk around the chateau collecting all my belongings that got discarded at various points throughout the night like my camera, phone and shoes. The sign of a very good evening :)

10 Must See Shows In London

noreply@blogger.com (My Froley) — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 21:02:00 +0000

There are a million things to do and see in London and I am definitely guilty of not making the effort to see the great shows that this city is famous for. I do make an effort to go to a show at least once a year, whether it's the theatre, ballet, opera or any other show that may catch my eye.

Here are 10 shows in London which mustn't be missed (current and upcoming). Some I've seen myself and some have come highly recommended by friends, family and lots of reviews. All are on my wish list.

1. LA BOHEME ENO
16 Oct 15 - 26 Nov 15

The English National Opera (ENO) brings you live performances sung in English at affordable prices (tickets start from £12). One of opera's greatest love stories, La Boheme is one not to be missed!

2. THE SNOWMAN
25 Nov 15 - 29 Nov 15

The Snowman is a childhood favourite of mine (and many many other people). Now you can see the characters come to life while enjoying the stunning music from the film in the live show.

3. PHOTOGRAPH 51
5 Sep 15 - 21 Nov 15

This one is a bit of a tease because it's already sold out (of course it is, Nicole Kidman's in it!) but if anyone happens to find themselves with a ticket I'd be incredibly jealous. The reviews for this play are wonderful and I really wish I was able to see it.

4. ELF THE MUSICAL
24 Oct 15 - 2 Jan 16

I always get so excited when Elf (the film) starts showing on TV around Christmas time. The reviews for the live show are brilliant, some even claim it's better than the film (I'll believe it when I see it). And for all those Girls Aloud fans out there Kimberley Walsh is starring in the live show this year.

5. BALLET BOYZ
5 Oct 15 - 10 Oct 15

When talking about ballet I could easily tell you to go and see The Nutcracker or Swan Lake (please do see them if you ever get the chance!) but I am so intrigued by this show. Ballet Boyz has received more 5 star reviews than I can count and reading through them left me itching to see it.

6. THE BARBER OF SEVILLE
28 Sep 15 - 11 Nov 15

Another English National Opera (ENO) production. ENO claims The Barber of Seville will have you smiling from the moment it begins. The whole performance is in English and tickets for the live show are available from £12. If you can't make it to London they are also showing The Barber Of Seville live at Vue cinemas across the UK. More details here.

7. STOMP
On-going

Stomp has now been showing in London for 13 years! I saw it with my family when I was a kid and I absolutely loved it! It was so fun and full of energy with great music and dancing. I think it's time to re-visit this amazing show with Orlaith.

8. THE NUTCRACKER ON ICE
28 Dec 15 - 2 Jan 16

Because the Nutcracker ballet is so well known I thought it would be more fun to see the adapted 'on ice' version. It's had magical reviews, and because ice skating it so beautiful to watch I really hope to see this.

9. LES MISERABLES
On-going

If you're not familiar with Les Miserables you must be living under a rock (no offence, but seriously). Les Miserables is one of the most beautiful, tragic, musically stunning musicals I've ever seen. I haven't seen it live for years but I've been determined to see it again since the film came out.

10. KINKY BOOTS
Current - 6 Feb 16

I haven't seen the Kinky Boots film yet, and I don't plan on seeing it until after I've seen the musical. The musical has had fantastic reviews, many people saying it's the best show they've ever seen, so it's definitely worth a visit!

This post was written in collaboration with ENO.

A French Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (My Froley) — Mon, 28 Sep 2015 09:05:00 +0000

This year I put a travelling ban on myself. However I ~~unfortunately~~ had to break it because one of my best friends, Theodora, had her wedding abroad. I already popped over to France for the hen weekend in April (which you can read about here and here) and the wedding itself was held in the same region in France over three days in May.

After having problems with the car company I used the car I had pre-rented was not available, but I bumped into some other wedding guests next to me in the car hire queue (who I'd never actually met before) who let me catch a ride with them.

Weddings are always fun, but a whole weekend of celebrating and catching up with ridiculously old friends is an added bonus. A whole chateau was rented for the wedding party weekend where the ceremony took place and for some of the guests to stay in. I stayed in a gorgeous room in the pool house which was a very convenient location for the pool party on the last day.

In between wine tasting, lots of French food, the wedding day, the pool party and barbecue I had the best time. Also it was a child free wedding so, it goes without saying, I was able to relax a bit more than I normally would if I'd had Orlaith there with me. Apart from the terrible hangover I had on the last day it was the perfect weekend.

Filtered Camping

noreply@blogger.com (My Froley) — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 13:20:00 +0000

Back at the beginning of the summer holidays Jack, Warren, Orlaith and I loaded our tents into the car and drove up to Bosworth in Warwickshire (think the Battle of Bosworth) for a camping weekend. This trip brings my camping escapades up to a grand total of three so, yes, still a total camping novice. We pitched our tents without too much issue and then proceeded to hang out in a field for three days. Three. Glorious. Technology. Free. Days.

Bosworth Water Trust is a great little camping spot. It's very family friendly with a generous amount of activities to choose from. The way the camping spots are set up meant that all the kids could play in the middle of the field freely without having to be overly supervised, which was nice for both kiddos and grownups!

We spent a lot of time chilling out, playing games, eating (very unhealthy) food, drinking beer and entertaining Orlaith. I decided against taking my camera, I just wanted a break from everything, so we ended up snapping pictures on Warren's phone. He's got a fun little filter thing going on with his phone camera which made everything look a bit rustic.

Buddha Bar Brunch

noreply@blogger.com (My Froley) — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 20:16:00 +0000

Buddha Bar is an old friend of mine. I celebrated my 18th birthday at it's original London location (I actually preferred that venue) and my 25th birthday at their current location (which you can read about here.) More recently, although admittedly it was a few months ago now, I popped down to meet a friend for some Sunday brunch.

One thing I love about Buddha Bar is their food !! Ever since my first bite there nine years ago I've remembered their delicious food. Sure, it's on the pricey side, but you're not going to eat sushi anywhere in Knightsbridge for anything less than premium prices. Sorry, that's London!

The Sunday Brunch menu didn't disappoint. They had oodles of wonderful dishes to choose from, and because the servings can be quite small it's a great opportunity to order a big variety of dishes and really give your taste buds a party. Almost half of the brunch menu options were vegetarian which was really great for me as I wasn't eating much meat or fish at that point.

On this visit I didn't sample their wonderful cocktail menu or experience their usual buzzing evening atmosphere, there was a much more mellow tone to the lunch time experience and they had a lovely violinist playing to the room of diners which was really enjoyable, and I have to comment on their gorgeous crockery. I obsessed over every single piece that was placed on our table. They were beautiful and I want them all for my home.

To book yourself in for a spot of Sunday Brunch at Buddha Bar you can find their reservation details and brunch menu here.

Unbalanced + Fatigued

noreply@blogger.com (My Froley) — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 14:06:00 +0000

Do you ever feel like when one thing in your life gets thrown off track, everything else gets thrown off track at the same time? When I feel unbalanced I crave balance so much and it's the one thing in my life I need to work on a whole lot more. I don't meditate, I don't journal (apart from a gratitude journal I do with Orlaith some nights), I haven't practiced yoga or exercised for a few months now, and I rarely allow myself to properly wind down and relax.

And of course, while everything is so unbalanced inside, things on the outside start getting affected too. For instance when I can't keep on top of keeping my apartment tidy, at the same time I can't keep on top of planning and eating healthy meals, at which time I'm finding it hard to be productive or concentrate on anything. Plus the non stop colds and other lingering symptoms of someone who's less than healthy.

A few months ago I started getting severe headaches and migraines plus my whole body swelled up. Both lasted a month and then went away by themselves (thank goodness). I still have no idea what caused it. But the symptom that didn't go away is the fatigue. Never ending, debilitating fatigue. It's just the worst. No matter how much sleep I get, I can sleep 10 hours in one night and I can still hardly lift my head off the pillow in the morning or function throughout the day. It makes me short tempered and unable to enjoy doing fun and productive things with Orlaith. Forget taking her to the playground after school, all I want to do is lie down or sleep.

I had some blood tests done recently with my GP and when I called up for the results I was told everything was normal. I felt like banging my head against a wall. After a few more weeks of research and continued fatigue I requested some different tests. When I went in to see the nurse, she went through my blood work again and noticed that, in fact, everything was not normal. I have a ridiculously low iron count. An iron deficiency. It turns out my GP never even looked at my blood work before I was given the all clear. Got to love the NHS!

I was so relieved to finally know what was causing my fatigue and everything that goes with it. I actually felt really emotional because I knew I could finally start making myself better and stop acting like a really crappy parent.

Since I found out about my iron deficiency I've upped my intake of iron rich foods, started taking my multivitamin daily (instead of once a fortnight) and including lots of vitamin C in my diet to help my body absorb the iron. Of course the body takes time to heal and adjust and all I can do is stuff my face with food medicine and enjoy every morning I wake up with the energy to actually get out of bed without wanting to cry from tiredness.

Of course I'll have to make other changes too to regain some balance in other areas of my life. One step at a time. Do you have any tips on how you stay balanced?

5 Easy Steps To Eliminate Dairy From Your Diet

noreply@blogger.com (My Froley) — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 17:36:00 +0000

Dairy is bad. Scientific paper after scientific paper reports that dairy is bad for humans to consume. It leads to an increased risk of multiple cancers, leaves us with weaker bones, and countless other problems including IBS, skin disorders such as acne and eczema, and depression.

Dairy cows are treated in inhumane ways, spending their lives attached to uncomfortable machines, artificially inseminated to get them pregnant over and over again so they can continue producing milk, then having their babies taken away from them for the cycle to be repeated again. Dairy cows are routinely given animal grade antibiotics and hormones (which gets passed into the milk then into us) and if they're 'organic' cows and they get mastitis or any other type of infection they are left to suffer without any kind of pain/infection fighting medication leaving the cows in agony and their bloody puss passing into the milk. The human digestive system was not built to digest dairy, and cows were not put on this earth to be strapped to machines.

My personal journey eliminating dairy has been a long and rocky one. Giving up something that we've grown up eating is not easy and anyone who does it deserves a medal. It's been four years since I learnt that I was intolerant to dairy, and I can now confidently say that I'm 100% dairy free. I no longer suffer from acne (something I've suffered from severely since I was a teenager and well into my adult life) and (with the help of a meat free diet) my unpleasant journey with depression has all but come to an end. It's pretty amazing that the food we eat can affect us in so many ways.

While change doesn't happen overnight, taking the first step always helps to get you going in the right direction. So here are 5 easy steps to help you begin reducing dairy from your diet.

1. Educate Yourself

Do some research. Watch some documentaries. Read some books. Get your facts straight and be clear on why you are deciding to reduce or eliminate dairy from your diet. Not only will this arm you with proper information when people question your decision (that's if you wish to explain it at all, some people don't), but by having a clear reason why you want to cut out dairy also helps you stay strong on your dairy free mission. On a side note, some people don't like it when others change their own habits, so be prepared for people to disagree with what you're doing. That's ok. The world would be boring if we all agreed with one another.

2. Switch Your Staples

Picture yourself at home, adding a dash of milk to your coffee and spreading delicious butter on your toast, taking that freshly baked cheese pizza out of the oven or getting the carton of chocolate ice cream out of the freezer for that movie night... I still enjoy all these things without the addition of dairy. And I promise you, the 'substitutes' on offer are good. When friends come to mine I prepare food the same way I prepare it for myself and no one ever notices the difference between my butter and theirs, my cheese and theirs or my ice cream and theirs. In fact, most people comment on how delicious what I've given them is. That's when I usually mention it's dairy free and the news is usually met with surprise. If the dairy products are not in your house you are not going to eat them. It's as simple as that.

3. Read Food Labels

A friend of mine recently claimed he didn't eat dairy shortly before ordering and eating a croissant from a cafe. It didn't cross his mind that a croissant is made up of something like 50% butter! When you pick up food and drinks from the shops take a moment to read the label at the back. You'll probably be surprised at how many products contain dairy in them! To this day I always do a quick scan of the ingredients before buying because they sneak dairy into everything these days. When you first start this process is can be a bit overwhelming but you soon learn what does and doesn't contain dairy. In the UK they often put dairy ingredients in bold so it's very easy to see it at a glance.

4. Don't Be Afraid To Ask Questions

When I first went dairy free I would always choose the most dairy free looking thing on the menu. Well, most of the time it turned up on my plate covered in some kind of creamy sauce that wasn't mentioned on the menu. The easiest thing to do it casually mention that you don't eat dairy and ask if the dish you've selected has any dairy in it. If it does have dairy in it, ask them what else they could recommend that doesn't include dairy. If it's as simple as a buttered bun that gets in your way just ask for the bun to come without butter, or for your fish to be cooked in oil instead of butter. Don't be scared of being a 'fussy' customer, there's usually something you can eat in most restaurants and staff are generally more than happy to assist you with finding something to enjoy.

5. Bring A Dish

When eating at friends houses I never expect them to cater specifically to my dietary requirements. Instead, I always ask if I can bring a dish (no one ever says no). Ask how many people are eating, find out if there's a theme to the food (Italian, barbecue etc.) and make enough so that everyone can have some if they wanted to. No one is ever disappointed by extra food at the table.

Instagrammin'

noreply@blogger.com (My Froley) — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 09:29:00 +0000

I may not always be very active on my blog but I always try to post at least once a day on instagram. I love creating little square images to capture the things going on in our day to day lives.

There's been a few small tweaks to our lives lately. We've started swimming once a week, I've been painting more consistently, and our diets have changed somewhat (think plant based). I'm making an effort to put my 'to-do' list aside as much as possible and spend quality time with Orlaith and my family, we've been playing lots of chess and enjoying lots of movie nights and days out with friends.

Find me on Instagram: @myfroley

France Weekend | Part II

noreply@blogger.com (My Froley) — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 09:13:00 +0000

A few weeks ago I wrote about a surprise hen weekend that was organised for one of my friends. During the weekend we stayed in a beautiful chateau in a little town called Eynesse in a region of France called Aquitaine where they make lots of beautiful wine.

The weekend involved lots of wine, cheese and food, and a whole lot of relaxing. I unfortunately couldn't partake in the majority of the cheese and food fun because of my annoying dairy intolerance, so my diet over the weekend consisted of lots of bread. And champagne.

It was slightly hard to adjust to the child free life. Because it was such a relaxing weekend there was lots of sitting around and being still, something I'm not used to at all. On day one I really ached for Orlaith, I felt like I was missing something. Then on the last two days I let myself relax and it was just the best and most rewarding feeling.

I never usually get to sit down for long periods of time, I'm always fetching something or participating in a game. Just sitting, relaxing and having adult conversation without having to get up every five minutes was so refreshing and by the end of the weekend I felt like I'd been away for a whole week and my stress levels were so low.

RECIPE | Sweet Almond Balls

noreply@blogger.com (My Froley) — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 09:37:00 +0000

I'm slowly taking steps to reduce the amount of refined sugar and flour in my diet. So, instead of those lovely packets of biscuits I'm used to picking up from the shops, these days I try to make my own puddings and sweet treats when I get the chance.

These almond balls are such a winner in my house, the only problem is they are so moreish that every single one gets eaten regardless of how many I've made, so I always have to make them in small batches.

Ingredients:

(makes approximately 8 small balls)

80g ground almonds

1 tbsp manuka honey (or agave syrup)

3-4 tsp water

ground cinnamon

Directions:

If you have a grinding mill grind your almonds (I use the milling blade on the nutribullet for this). Knead the almonds with the honey or agave syrup and water with your hands until you've created a smooth mass. If it's too thick add more water until you're reached your desired consistency. Form the paste into small balls and roll them in the ground cinnamon. These can be eaten immediately or kept in the fridge to eat later.

Quick Tip:

If you're using agave syrup for this recipe I would try adding less water (1-2 tsp). Manuka honey is thicker and therefore needs a bit more water to soften the paste up.

ZSL London Zoo

noreply@blogger.com (My Froley) — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 08:26:00 +0000

I haven't been to that many zoos in my time, however we always pop into Barcelona Zoo when we're over there. London Zoo has always put me off a bit because of the high entry fees, but during Orlaith's half term I decided to treat us both to a day at the zoo. We both love animals and it seemed like the perfect day out for us.

Well, what I learned from my trip to London Zoo is that it is a very good zoo indeed. There were lots of 'shows' however it simply gave us the opportunity to watch animals being fed while someone explained some interesting facts about them, there were no animals doing tricks or anything (unlike Barcelona Zoo who's dolphin show made me feel pretty uneasy on my last visit). There was a little petting section with goats and sheep which was great for having some hands on interaction with the animals .

My favourite thing about London Zoo is that they try to educate people on animal conservation and the threats to their habitats and give you tips on how you can play a part in saving the animals and the earth (although, in my opinion, the way things are going the earth is way past saving). Also a portion of your ticket price goes to ZSL's conservation efforts so, essentially, you're not just paying to get into the zoo, you're also giving to charity. Yay.

ZSL stands for Zoological Society of London and is an international conservation and scientific charity based in the UK. Their conservation efforts are tremendous and you can read about them at the ZSL website HERE.

OK, not all kids are thrilled by a whole day of traipsing around a zoo looking at animals. Orlaith got bored from time to time. To tackle the boredom I presented her with a project book and a pencil. Every time she saw an animal she liked she drew and labelled it in her project book. This was a great way to have little breaks in between animals and do something more creative. As a last resort there was a playground in the zoo which we visited a couple of times throughout the day to have some longer breaks.

Now when we talk about the zoo Orlaith immediately starts discussing how we can help to protect the animals natural habitats through our actions. Well done London Zoo, you've created a little animal activist.

An Update + A Change Of Direction

noreply@blogger.com (My Froley) — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 08:48:00 +0000

Hello! So, I'm aware things have been a bit quiet around here lately. The truth is I've changed a lot since starting this blog and the things I care about have changed. And the goals in my life have changed. And what I want this space to represent has changed. I was so close to closing this blog down recently. So close! I'm just not feeling passionate about the things I write about anymore.

But instead of giving up and closing it down I'm going to change the content to represent what I currently feel passionate about... So simple, yet kind of scary. Because it's always scary to put yourself out there fully and be different than to just follow the crowd and do what everyone else is doing. I'm just not in that frame of mind anymore and sometimes, I feel like there needs to be a voice to raise a certain amount of awareness to some things. Haha, and while I'm not an influential voice I'd love to share my knowledge and my views.

I won't necessarily be posting a whole lot more than I am now while I adjust (quality over quantity) and I only want to post and advocate the things I truly want to share and feel passionate about. What to expect more of from this space:

-Health + Nutrition

-Family Life

-Minimalism

-Art + Inspiration

-Environmental Stuff

-Clean Living

-Travel

So if any of the above doesn't float your boat then I promise I won't be offended if you never come by my blog again :) When this blog takes a certain amount of hours out of my life to upkeep and maintain (too many hours) I need it to fill me with passion and be a positive thing in my life. I guess trying to adopt minimalism within my life made me evaluate how this space was serving me and, to me, my blog was becoming a stagnant and uninspiring place that just was't filling me with joy. I'm going to try and change that. Thank you for reading, and thank you if you decide to continue reading.