I dedicate this post to the beautiful city of Brisbane.
Sometimes I get bogged down by my daily routines and forget to remember how fortunate I am to have the life I live. Sometimes I forget to look up and notice the world around. Below are a collection of photos capturing those times I have looked up.
I was not sure if its to pre-mature to post a recipe that is perfect for hot summer days. The days are heating up here in Brisbane, so I thought why not?!
Here is a really quick and easy breakfast you can whip up in minutes and with only a few simple ingredients! Its kind of my twist on the Acai Bowls that are trending at the moment. I’ve found with the businesses that are known for their Acai Bowls, are using the Acai puree packets with added Guarana. This adds unwarranted sugar and energy into the mixture, causing a hit of satisfaction followed by extreme sugar withdrawals and irritable stomach.
My recipe uses a mix of natural sugars found in fruit topped with fibres from Flaxseed and sustainable energy in Chia Seeds. It is equally as yummy but without the tummy ache from that the Acai berries seem to add.
What you will need:
A Blender (duhh!)
Frozen Mixture:
1/2 Cup Frozen Mixed Berries
1 FROZEN Banana
25-50ml Unsweetened Almond Milk
You can top it with anything you love! But I chose:
Linseed Meal (Flaxseed)
Chia Seeds
Cinnamon
Spirulina
First Step: Add the Almond Milk. Less is best to start off with. This makes sure the mixture does not become to runny.
Step Two: Add Frozen Mixed Berries – AND BLENDDD!
Step Three: Check out that goodness that is being whipped up inside!
Step Four: Time to add the frozen Banana. Using unfrozen banana will not keep the mixture thick and cold.
Step Five: BLEND!
Step Six: The best part – time to get creative with your presentation! I’ve topped the bowl with Flaxseed (great source of fibre), Spirulina (contains rich vegetable proteins), Chia Seeds (loaded with antioxidants, fibre and protein), and Cinnamon (great for blood sugar control, minimises irritable bowel syndrome and sugar cravings).
There are numerous ways you can topped this bowl. I switch things up sometimes and top it with muesli and coconut yoghurt!
Are there any summer recipes you make to cool you down?
Its spring time here in Australia and that means things a warming up again. I thought this would be a great time to share with you one of my favourite beaches in sunny Queensland, Rainbow Beach.
If you’re needing an new beach to explore, than I highly recommend this one. Smooth white sand, crystal clear blue water and mountains, rainforest tracks and beach activities to enjoy. Usually, I stick with heading to the sunny coast but its worth venturing to new places.
Last weekend I stayed there with a group of friends. Can this post have any more shades of blue in it?! #love
Where is your favourite get away location?
Market to Market.
Brisbane weather is by far the best in Australia. This could be seen as a bias opinion as I am born and bred here, but each weekend offers more sunshine and endless amounts of markets to explore. Friends from Melbourne always send their love/hate for the perfect weather that enables the enjoyment frequent market ventures.
The quality and quantity of markets that are starting to appear in Brisbane is growing. The weekend just passed I went to one of my favourites in Brisbane, and its only a youngin’ – Red Hill Farmers Markets, on Fulchers Road. This market is full of food, glorious food! Delicious traditional food, arts and craft and live music. Usually markets are filled with fresh produce, but these seem to have a focus on good assortment of food. My favourite being the huge wheel of brie, slowly melted, then scraped onto fresh sour dough and served with home made relish.
Where is one of your most treasured markets that you visit? – I want to find one with an array of fresh fruit and veggies.
I will be sure to blog about this recipe when i’ve made it myself! Delicious!
This slice is super easy and the perfect cure for a sweet craving! Don’t worry you can make each layer as you go so you don’t have to spend a large chunk of time in the kitchen. Be careful it’s addictive!
Ingredients
Base
4 Medjool dates, pitted and diced
1/4 cup Almond Meal
1 cup Cashews, raw unsalted
2 Tbs Coconut, Desiccated
3 Tbs Coconut Oil, melted
Strawberry Filling
2 cup Strawberries, fresh
1 1/4 cup Coconut, Desiccated
1/2 Raspberries, frozen
5 Tbs Rice Malt Syrup
2/3 Cup Cashews, raw unsalted
1 Tbs Coconut Oil, melted
Chocolate Top
3 Tbs Coconut Oil
2 Tbs Rice Malt Syrup
3 Tbs Cacao Powder
Method:
To make Base;
1. Combine almond meal, coconut, dates and cashews in a food processor until a crumb mixture forms. Followed by melted coconut oil (melt in microwave). Press into base and freeze for 10 mins.
To make…
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That first cup of coffee feels in the morning.
Nothing is better than that.
Speaking of mornings, heres how I spent mine.
Morning ritual: Wander on over to my favourite coffee shop in Brisbane. Amble & Adore is hidden away in the suburb of Cooparoo, and by far the serves the best tasting coffee this city has seen. It boast an amazing array of food and drink for, vegan, vegetarian, diary free, gluten free, foodie out there! Also have a selection of clean sweet treats – YUM! Highly recommend.
Coffee beans used: Coffee Supreme
On a side note; another great coffee place is one that is on wheels. Any Brisbanite may have seen it around town. Kombi Koffein also serves up a good ‘cuppa of joe’. Regularly located down near the rowing sheds in West End during the week but make appearances at festivals around town such as, Pushies Galore.
Coffee + Almond Milk = Storm in a team cup.
Another coffee shop I stumbled upon (they are always the best ones) is called U&I Espresso located in Ashgrove. Cute, quirky and serves up some great meals for breakfast, lunch and brunch! Something tells me they know what they’re talking about when it comes to handling art of coffee making. Let them be the Goose to your Mavrick and fly through your busy day with ease.
Where is your local and favourite coffee place in Brisbane? – I would love to experience them all.
#thanksalatte
I recently just moved into a new house. Wooden floors. High ceilings. It has a great energy. However, being a student I struggle to find the funds to decorate and style. So I am here to share some of the easy, cheap and some what controversial to your taste decorating ideas.
Australia Fauna. Its a classic and one of my favourites. They last for up to three weeks in water and even on their dying days, they look beautiful. As they last for quite some time, I highly recommend these to any student or anyone on a budget to buy. The vase I put them in are Mason Jars and an old glass juice bottle. Keep an eye out next time you buy a drink in a convenience store or super market as you would be surprised by the shapes and colours that products come in. Just give them a soak in warm soapy water and the labels slip right off.
How cool is my little Jellyfish Air Plant? Its a beautiful birthday present I received from a friend of mine. I bought the Tillandsia from my favourite nursery in Brisbane, Mappins Nursery. Tillandsias are natives from forest, mountains and deserts in Central and South America. They are the best, low maintenance plant you could have living in your house. Give them a spray of water every 2-3 days a week and it will happily grow whenever you choose to stick them. I’ve seen all sorts, in seashells, driftwood, even woven into rope.
You can buy a Ceramic Jellyfish holder like mine here.
Ok ok, here is probably a very controversial way to show off your flowers, as it may not be to everyone taste. In my opinion, the contrasting colours and unexpected beauty from flower and empty beer bottle is something I love. As I said before, keep an eye out for bottles that have interesting shapes, colours or labels. I picked these flowers on a walk one afternoon.
Here is another example of using what you have already bought and turning it into something completely different. I planted chillies and a small succulent in empty cans which would have just been thrown away. The key is finding colours that compliment each other. Once again, I bought these guys from Mappins Nursery
What have you done around your home to style and decorate on a budget?
Soul is rested and recovered after a weekend well spent catching up with family, in a place I call home. Time spent in the country air as well as upholding family traditions of visiting places such as the great Hopetoun Tearoom.
POV shot of Brisbane City from approx. 14,000ft (?)
Arrived in Melbourne. We had 1 hour to spare before our bus left to take us out to Cantani. We hired a locker, stored our bags and made a mad dash to the legendary Manchester Press. If you haven’t eaten there before, I highly recommend you do. Bagels topped generously with an array of different combinations. Coffee is smooth and hot. If you have been, than you know why we didn’t waste that hour, we used it to devourer the best!
Sisters @ I-forget-the-name-of-the-cafe-but-its-somewhere-near-Leongatha
Definitely spent most of my time near the fireplace. “We don’t have these up in QLD, their purpose is for decoration not warmth”. Red wines consumed in front of this fire approx. 2 bottles.
Driveways are different in the country.
Feast for the eyes and belly. Ladies and Gentleman, may I introduce you to the legendary Hopetoun Tea Room.
What amazing places have you seen from your travels through the city and country?
A few months ago now I decided to try my hand at growing some carrots from the seeds that I received from a promotion I entered. In the back on my mind I thought my lack of a green thumb would not allow anything to grow; I still decided to give it a go.
Day 1: I put a couple of seeds 1cm below the potting mix. I used egg cartons to not only divide them into separate areas but also the cardboard helps keep in the moisture. Allowing the seeds to be moist, but not wet. Perfect growing environment for my little seedlings.
Day 10: So (sow!)… this was happening! I couldn’t believe that my little seedlings were growing up so fast. Now onto the next stage in their life. Should probably plant a money tree while i’m at it, i’ve heard raising kids can be expensive.
Day 119: Progress is on point. Another month and they’ll be right for the pickin’
Day 168: Today was the day I decided to harvest a few carrots that I have been growing over the last 6 months; As its getting into the cooler months not much growth will be happening anymore. I grew these from the seedlings and have watched them flourish ever since. They may not be your stereotypical carrot size but I’m super proud of my inner city farming.
Have you tried growing a garden before? I’m totally diggin’ it right now (pun intended) and loving just being outside, getting my hands dirty, and seeing your hard work pay off. Let me know of what your green thumbs have produced.
I’m feeling so accomplished after my first DIY venture. That chest of drawers you’re seeing right there, is renovated by yours truly.
I bought these old drawers from a charity store. Sanded them back. Painted a primer coat, then two coats of white paint and finished it off with new handles.
I could of easily gone out and bought a new chest of drawers from any furniture store for the same price it costed me to renovate this (paint, new handles and time = $$) but I love having something in my house that represents me. Something I can and will proudly keep for years to come.
I’ll let you in on a little secret though, painting is a bitch! I highly recommend finding an attractive person, getting them oiled up and shirtless, and then making them paint your DIY project for you. Much less painless. Much more enjoyable.
ricepaty 
