Black Bean and Zucchini Quesadilla......

C/O www.fitnessmagazine.com

I am sharing another delicious recipe under 500 calories on the blog this morning....It is Monday after all, and we are all back on the diet wagon, right? This black bean and zucchini quesadilla is not only low in calories but it also has the added nutritional benefits from the beans and zucchini. Next time you are in the supermarket pick up the following ingredients for your next healthy/low cal meal! 

* 1 cup of chopped zucchini

* 1/2 cup of black beans - rinsed and drained

* 2 teaspoons of olive oil

* 1 teaspoon cumin
* 2 whole wheat tortillas
* 1/4 cup of shredded cheese
* 2 tablespoons of salsa

Make it: Saute first 4 ingredients for 5 minutes. Place mixture on tortillas; sprinkle with cheese. Fold in half and cook in pan until cheese melts and tortilla is toasted. Top with salsa.and enjoy!

I heart shoes!......

When it came to planning the theme to my wedding and the style I wanted to go for, I didn't think for one minute. I knew right from the start that I wanted a fun, yet quirky wedding with a rustic/vintage feel. So it really wasn't a surprise when I went a purchased these stunning shoes by Vivienne Westwood! From then on my 'red heart' theme has exploded with colour and quirks, thanks to the inspiration from these little lovelies. What shoes are you going to be sporting on your wedding day? Whatever you decide to wear, make sure you quite literally 'heart' your shoes!

Want the same style? Get yours here @ www.viviennewestwood.co.uk 

When 'Love' Takes Over.....

With 17 weeks to go until my wedding, 'Love' has quite literally taken over! For the past 8 months, my life (and my fiance's) has been consumed with organizing and planning our perfect wedding day celebration. As the time gets closer it has become more and more difficult to keep up with my other interests and hobbies such as baking, cooking, blogging, hiking, photography, crafting etc.....I often wonder how different my life will be again when our wedding is past?. Don't get me wrong, I have absolutely loved the process of planning our big day but I am also looking forward to getting back to normality and having time on my hands again to live life to the full and not constantly be replying to emails or pinning things on Pinterest! Yes. It will be lovely, but until then I am going to enjoy every single minute....after all, you only get to do this once!

Throughout the whole process I have tried my best to stay cool, calm and collected....and I think I have done quite a good job at that. I have found that there are certain things that have helped me through and if I were to share my advice with other blushing brides to be, this is what i'd say:

1. Remember it is your day, no one elses. Have enough strength to say what you and your partner want and don't want. Not everyone will like the same things you do, but that is OK. Your wedding should be a reflection of your personalities as a couple.

2. BLOW YOUR BUDGET! (well to a certain extent)...I don't mean go out and over spend by £30,000 but I do think it is important not to be so hung up on sticking to a budget. As long as you are flexible and have time to look for the best deals then I definitely think there are ways to save in some areas and not so much in other areas. So...if you want a photographer @ £2000 then only spend £100 on a cake. Prioritize what is important to you  and the budget seems to fall into place. Blow your money on some things and save on others!

3. Communicate with your partner. This one is crucial I think. Some people forget about the importance of the marriage and get so caught up in the day. Stay connected with your partner throughout and take time to plan activities together, go on dates and keep that flame alive!

4. Take time for yourself: pamper yourself, go for long walks, eat healthily, hang out with friends, go shopping...whatever it is that you do to de-stress. This is an essential part of keeping you mind healthy and active. How can you possibly plan a wedding if you don't have a clear head?

5. DELEGATE. This one is my favorite. Don't be afraid to allow people in your life to help out and take on some jobs for you. You will be surprised at how helpful and eager people can be. It makes you feel blessed to have people on board that actually care about helping you out.

6. Reflect/ write it down....and by this I don't just mean write a 'To- Do List' (that is a MUST) I mean take time to think about things, don't race ahead. Reflect on the importance of your day, think about your life after the wedding - how much fun you and your partner will have when you are actually husband and wife and continually remind yourself that it is just a celebration of love (or the words I use: IT IS JUST A BIG PARTY). No one cares what colour your bridesmaids are, that your cake was bought from M&S or that you handmade your own stationary. People just want to see you happy together and really do just want the best for you both, not only on your wedding day but for the rest of your lives.

To conclude, yes 'Love' can quite literally take over. It is ok not to have time to write a blog, bake cakes or take your camera out on big long walks. You only get to do this once so make the most of it, these things can wait until after the wedding, after the honeymoon even but if you can seem to fit it in (like I have done today by writing this) then that is great too! Enjoy, stay chilled and remember....it is only a wedding. The marriage will be the fun part! xxx

Roses are Red......

Violets are blue.....(ah, you  know the rest!)

Valentines day is fast approaching and this year I decided to make things a bit more personal by designing and painting my own cards. All you need to make this is some white card, a black pen, paint and your finger. Once you have written the word 'Love' at the bottom all you need to do is use your finger to create coloured finger prints in the shape of a heart. This is a cheap and thoughtful way to show your loved one just how much you really care and appreciate them...Happy Valentines Day!

Getting Foxy.....

C/O youaremyfav.com

Don't you just LOVE these cute little Valentines Day puppets? Perfect to make with your kids or as an alternative to giving a card! I know what I am going to be making next week......now lets get crafty! Learn how to make yours and get the free printable at www.youaremyfav.com. FOXY indeed!

500 Calories and Counting.....

Chicken and goats cheese flatbread

On a mission to lose my last 7lb and get myself 'wedding day ready' I have ventured down the road (for the very first time in my life) of counting calories! After all isn't that the most basic and sensible way to lose weight, reduced calories = reduced fat. Simple really.

With a 1400 calorie a day limit (thanks to 'My Fitness Pal' app) I am on a tight budget! Up until now I have pretty much been eating whatever I like and not actually realising how easy it is to accumulate calories each day. A handful of m&m's here and there won't kill anyone right?

Anyway, I am now on day 4 and have lost 2 lb already! 'It is working' I hear myself scream, this is the encouragement I need to keep going. So, how can you prepare evenings meals that are delicious and still low calorie I hear you ask? I asked myself that question at first too but after many nights of researching and sampling some of the best meals under 500 calories I am here today to share them with you and assure you that calorie counting, really does work!

Click  HERE  to see how you can make your very own 440 calorie Chicken and Goats Cheese flatbread)

New Year Resolutions.....

I am a great believer in new year resolutions and I feel that it is important to continue to set yourself goals and life challenges, not only to keep things interesting, but to give you something to focus on your energy on and keep you grounded. With January out of the way and the remnants of too many Christmas puddings finally burned off, I figured it was time for me to think about my goals for the year and get them written down somewhere (so that I don't forget them, or have an excuse to not at least attempt most them). So here goes....in no particular order.....

* Get married
* Lose the last 7lb
* Run a half marathon (training has begun!)
* Restore a piece of furniture
* Bake a pie
* Knit one item
* Incorporate more vegan/vegetarian meals into meal plan
* Spend less time with mobile phone
* Paint apartment/ or move?
* Continue to grow blog
* Continue to work on small handmade craft business
* Complete online Psychology course
* Complete children's book
* Honeymoon in Hawaii
* Climb the Quiraing on the Isle of Skye/ Find our piece of land
* Take more photographs for my photography portfolio
* Spend less time around negative people and focus on the positive people
* GET A JOB!

I know this may seem like a lot but hopefully most of them are pretty achievable. I am setting myself 100% success rate and look forward to writing my reflections at the beginning of 2015 to see how many I managed to tick off! Happy ticking :)

Reflections.....

As I look back on 2013 with smiling eyes and a warm heart I remember all of the wonderful experiences, people and places that the year brought. For me 2013 was a year of changes, growth and learning curves; with that said, it was also one of the best years of my life.

In January of 2013 I found myself sitting in first class (with a glass of champagne in my hand) on board a BA flight flying towards Louisville, Kentucky. I was moving across to the other side of the world and leaving behind the life that I knew, to start a new one. This was not a choice that I had made on my own but more of an opportunity that presented itself, and boy am I glad that it did! Life in Scotland was wonderful (and I do not doubt for one second that one day we will return) but there was also part of me/us  that, after many years of travelling the world, still had that desire to wander, travel and explore.....deep inside of  me, I had a feeling of wanderlust.

When my boyfriend at the time was offered an opportunity of a lifetime to move to America we didn't hesitate one bit. We decided that he would move over first, as initially it was only for a short period of time and I had a lot to tie up at this end with regards to my job/flat. There was no point in giving that up if his contract was only going to be for a few months. Anyway, time passed and a year later he was asked to stay on permanently and take over some aspects of the business. At that point we knew it was time for me to pack up and ship out as they say! I was nervous and excited all at the same time!

It has now been a year since I moved to Louisville and I have never looked back. We have a beautiful apartment in a quirky/ thriving end of town and a lifestyle that can't compare to that of back home. We are constantly outdoors in the spring/summer/autumn (thanks to the weather) and we have made so many lovely friends with similar interests. We have explored parts of America we have always dreamed of visiting...Chicago, California, Nashville, Las Vegas, Disney World to name a few, and have also explored new parts of ourselves. Neither of us are scared of change and actually get quite excited about the prospect of things changing again. We only know things are going to get bigger and better and are looking forward to whatever 2014 has in store of us. With our wedding fast approaching we are beginning to make plans..not only for our big day but for our married life together. I am already picturing our house, dog and long hikes that we will take on the weekends. I am excited to share all of this with my future husband to be, family and friends; old and new and I am more than grateful for all of the opportunities life has presented me with so far. I have no doubt that the rest of our journey is going to be somewhat a bit of a roller coaster, but I am more than prepared to strap up, sit back and enjoy the ride!

Chicago Reflections

Ten Reasons to Smile!......

1. It makes us more attractive

2. It changes our mood

3. It is contagious

4. It relieves stress

5. It boosts your immune system

6. It lowers your blood pressure

7. It releases endorphins, natural pain killers and serotonin

8. It lifts the face and makes you look younger

9. It makes you seem successful

10. It helps you to stay positive

So go on......give it a try and SMILE! x

Hail to the Kale!

It is that time of year again. We have all indulged a little too much over the festive season and are now struggling to get in to those skinny jeans that we once rocked! If you are like me, then I am sure your health kick has got off to a slow start but with a little determination and motivation you have promised yourself that by Monday you will be working out 5 times a week and the body detoxifying process will be well under way! Well that's my plan anyway! 

I love the idea of detoxing and giving your body's digestive system a well deserved break. I think it is important to think consciously about what you are putting into your body and making sure that it gets all the the right nutrients that it needs. That is where Kale really does become your best friend....this 'superfood' is rapidly growing in popularity thanks to its exceptional nutritional richness, health benefits and delicious flavour! 

Eating a variety of natural, unprocessed vegetables can do wonders for your health, but choosing super-nutritious kale on a regular basis may provide significant health benefits, including cancer protection and lowered cholesterol. Here is a list of the top ten benefits of eating kale:

1. Kale is low in calorie, high in fiber and has zero fat

2. Kale is high in iron

3. kale is high in vitamin K

4. Kale is filled with powerful antioxidants

5. Kale is a great anti- inflammatory food

6. Kale is great for cardiovascular support

7. Kale is rich in vitamin A

8. Kale is high in vitamin C

9. Kale is high in calcium

10. Kale is a great detox food!

For all of these reasons listed above I definitely 'HAIL TO THE KALE!'