Chia Seed Pudding with Chocolate
Hi, I’m Nathalie, and I have a sweet tooth. I love sugar, donuts, cakes, and most of all, chocolate. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t keep chocolate hidden away in the kitchen, but there are worst vices than sweets, right?
If you follow me on my second Instagram page, @woahliving, you may have noticed that I’ve been posting healthy foods on my Stories almost daily.
Since my sweet tooth is always a thing, I've had to find healthier options to satisfy my sugar craving when it hits.
An easy treat that I've been making for years is Chia Seed Pudding. It's only four ingredients and takes no time at all to put together.
Best of all, there's barely any sugar in it, and in fact, you can probably omit the sugar altogether and simply top your chia seed pudding with fresh fruits.
Below you'll find my recipe for chia seeding pudding with a twist. I topped it with the usual berries but added my favourite Theo Chocolate. I'm obsessed with their Organic Dark Peanut Butter Cups and the 70% Sea Salt Chocolate. For this recipe, I used chunks of the 85% Pure Dark Chocolate bar. I find that one square of the chocolate bar is enough whenever I'm craving sweets, but you can add as much or as little chocolate as you like.
Bon appetite.
RECIPE: Chia Seed Pudding
INGREDIENTS
Makes 1 serving
3/4 Cup Plant-Based Milk
3 Tbsp Chia Seeds
1 Tbsp Maple Syrup
Pinch of Pink Himalayan Sea Salt
METHOD
Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
Cover and store in the fridge for at least two hours.
Top the oats with your favourite fruits, berries, raw nuts, or chocolate.
Enjoy!
Photographed by Nathalie Martin.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to buy something, I will get a small commission from the sale. This doesn’t impact the price you pay. Affiliate links are just another way to monetize my blog.
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Easy Overnight Oats with Goji Berries
During the week I love an easy breakfast that’s both tasty and nourishing. Overnight oats have become a staple in my house and often I’ll batch make enough for 3 days worth of breakfast for both Geoff and me.
I created this recipe after having bought a packet of overnight oats online during the lockdown. The story goes that I paid $7 for some organic, gluten-free bag of oats. I thought it was multiple servings but when my online order arrived, I felt deceived into learning it was a single serving pack. Note to self, don’t shop online late at night for new products before doing some research, and always pay attention to the serving size.
When I looked at the ingredients at the back of the bag I realized that I already had a majority of the stuff on hand. Why I didn’t make my oats from scratch, to begin with, is beyond me. Let's blame lockdown.
On the upside, this experience inspired me to create this easy, fail-proof, overnight oat recipe that I'm sharing with you here.
Aside from the usual oats and plant-based milk, I added dried goji berries to boost the flavour and to add additional nutrients. Goji berries are rich in vitamin A and C, minerals, fiber, protein, iron, and antioxidants.
To thicken the oats, I added ground flaxseeds and chia seeds.
For flavour, I added a blend of cinnamon, a favourite of mine, and half a teaspoon of this delicious Turmeric Sun Mylk Latte from Toronto-based Lake & Oaks Tea Co.
Adding a latte mix to oats might sound weird - but this blend contains organic turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, ashwagandha, maca, nutmeg, and black peppercorn. It's divine served as a drink and it's just as good, if not better when I add a bit to my overnight oats.
If you don't have Turmeric Sun Mylk Latte where you're from, feel free to improvise by adding a bit of turmeric, ginger, nutmeg to your oats for a nice spiced flavour profile.
If turmeric oats don't appeal to you, feel free to leave it out. The most important components of this recipe being oats, ground flaxseed, chia seeds, and milk. You can even leave out the goji berries too if you wish as this recipe is very versatile.
To sweeten the overnight oats, I use either maple syrup or organic coconut sugar for its slight caramel taste. Feel free to use honey or agave if you prefer.
You'll find these oats aren't overly sweet as the intention is to serve them with fresh berries or seasonal fruits.
I also like to serve my oats with raw walnuts, almonds, hemp seeds, even almond butter if I'm feeling extra hungry on any particular morning.
Finally, I find it keeps well in the fridge for about four days, but it never lasts that long in my home.
I hope you'll enjoy making this recipe! Bon appetite and don't forget to tag me on Instagram if you make these overnight oats!
RECIPE: Easy Overnight Oats with Goji Berries
INGREDIENTS
Makes 4 large servings or 6 small servings, depending how how much you like to eat for breakfast.
3 Cups Plant-Based Milk
2 Cups Quick Oats
4 Tbsps Goji Berries
2 Tbsps Ground Flaxseeds
2 Tbsps Chia Seeds (ground or whole will do)
2 Tbsps of Coconut Sugar (maple syrup, agave, or brown sugar will do)
1 Tsp Cinnamon
1/2 Tsp Turmeric Sun Mylk Latte (optional)
Pinch of Pink Himalayan Sea Salt
METHOD
Make the night before and wake up to an easy, tasty breakfast in the morning.
Combine all of the dry ingredients into a bowl and mix well.
Add milk (and liquid sweetener if you had opted for honey, agave, or maple syrup), and mix again.
Cover and store in the fridge overnight.
In the morning, stir the oats before serving. No need to heat up.
Top the oats with your favourite fruits, berries, raw nuts, or almond butter for extra protein.
Enjoy!
Photographed by Nathalie Martin.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to buy something, I will get a small commission from the sale. This doesn’t impact the price you pay. Affiliate links are just another way to monetize my blog.
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The Perfect Margarita Recipe for Cinco de Mayo (or whenever really)
As a tequila drinking newbie, I was always under the misconception that margaritas were these sweet slushies drinks that just so happen to contain a splash of alcohol.
Perhaps the memory comes from that one time that my father made cocktails from one of those "just add tequila" frozen drink mixes, but clearly, I wasn't impressed. (Sorry, dad.)
After an evening of food and drink (via Zoom) with Herradura Tequila, I learned more about what makes a quality tequila (hint: look for 100% agave tequila with no additives, fillers, or colouring) and how to make the perfect margarita.
Having made Herradura's Cucumber Mint Margarita a few times now, I'll fully admit to being a tequila convert.
Cheers!
Herradura Silver is an estate-bottled, silver tequila is crafted from 100% agave and aged in white oak casks for 45 days.
Flavour profile: Robust earthy nature. Woody aroma. Complex fruity, agave, black pepper, citrus zest, and vanilla tones.
Savour on its own or as the Cucumber Mint Margarita from Herradura.
THE RECIPE
Herradura Tequila Cucumber Mint Margarita
2oz Herradura Silver Tequila
1oz fresh lime juice
0.5oz agave nectar
2 cucumber slices
4-6 mint leaves
Add mint and cucumber to a cocktail shaker and gently muddle them together.
Add the remaining ingredients along with ice and shake for 15-20 seconds.
Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
Garnish with a cucumber wheel and fresh mint sprig.
Photographed by Nathalie Martin.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to buy something, I will get a small commission from the sale. This doesn’t impact the price you pay. Affiliate links are just another way to monetize my blog.
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11 Best Instagram Spots in New York City
As many times as I’ve visited NYC, I’ve never experienced it through the eyes of an “Instrgammer” until now.
On my most recent girls trip with fellow blogger, Roxanne West of bonjourblissblog.com, we jam-packed as many photo-worthy sites as we could in 2 days.
Our trip began bright and early with a 6 am flight via Porter Airlines from Toronto to Newark. I’ve always favoured Porter for creating a relaxing travel atmosphere, mainly because the staff is always warm and inviting and they have complimentary snacks, beer, wine for guests available inflight. Considering the flight from downtown Toronto is a mere 90 minutes, it’s almost as if you blink and you’ve arrived.
Once we landed, we took the Amtrak into Penn Station and grabbed a taxi to Tribeca.
Honestly, this list of “11 Best Places to Visit in NY” could have been longer, if it wasn’t for our busy schedules that morning. We started with an Instagram masterclass held by ShopStyle, followed by lunch at Locanda Verde in Tribeca.
Afterward, we went to SoHo, a must-visit, to explore right before the downpour started. (Thank goodness we looked at the weather ahead of time and brought umbrellas.)
We had tea and dessert at Ladurée, did a bit of shopping at Anine Bing, The Real Real, and Free People before heading into Brooklyn to retire early to our hotel. (Btw - I don’t recommend doing this on a short trip unless you’re planning to actually explore Brooklyn. We both loved the look of the Hoxton Hotel Williamsburg and had an incredible stay, but we did all of our exploring in Manhattan, which meant we spent more time traveling to and from and spent a small fortune on cabs.)
With Roxanne West at The Butcher’s Daughter
The next morning we had a light breakfast at the Hoxton (complimentary for all guests), before checking out and going back to Manhattan. Even though we didn’t get to the Top of The Rock or the Brooklyn Bridge (the irony), we explored a ton of Instagram worthy spots around Nolita and ate the most amazing vegan lunch at The Butcher’s Daughter, before eventually catching our Porter flight back to Toronto.
Admittedly, had we been more organized we could have seen so much more, but it’s New York City after all and coming across cute spots by chance is part of the magic. Overall, we had a fabulous trip and honestly, I didn’t even mind the rain!
I hope you’ll enjoy my list of Instagram worthy spots in NYC! When you’re done here, make sure you head over to bonjourblissblog.com for Roxanne’s list. Yes, we were together but you’ll get a chance to see NY through her eyes.
11 Most Instagrammable Places in New York
1 // EGG SHOP
LOCATION: 151 Elizabeth Street, New York
Known for its iconic black and white exterior, this place also has killer breakfast and brunch and is flooded with plenty of natural light for awesome food photos.
Photo by: Roxanne West
2 // THE BUTCHER’S DAUGHTER
LOCATION: 19 Kenmare Street, New York
On the next block over from Egg Shop, you’ll find The Butcher’s Daughter, a vegan restaurant that’s so good, it’ll even appeal to carnivores. With a bright and cheery exterior and plenty of natural lighting indoors, the place is bustling but completely worth a visit. Try the Cardamon Chai for a warm treat.
Photo by: Roxanne West
3 // PIETRO NOLITA
LOCATION: 174 Elizabeth Street, New York
Just down the street from The Butcher’s Daughter, you’ll stumble across this small 1950s-style bar/eatery with a pink motif. The exterior serves as the best backdrop for all of those pink themed Instagram feeds. Once you got the perfect photo outside, head indoors for some more pink decor and yummy food.
Photo by: Roxanne West
4 // SHOO SHOO NOLITA
LOCATION: 371 Broome St, New York
This restaurant features contemporary Mediterranean cuisine and chic European decor that’s totally Instagram-worthy, with bistro tables outside and a stunning bar inside.
5 // SOHO, NYC
LOCATION: SoHo, New York
You never know who you’re going to run into in New York, let alone SoHo. Once I bumped shoulders with Ezra J William from Rich Kids of Beverly Hills (one of my favourite reality shows EVER!). And then last year I ran into the designer, Jeremy Scott.
Fabulous people aside, the streets of SoHo are lined with luxury boutiques like Isabel Marant, Chanel, Anine Bing, Acne Studios, Opening Ceremony, Louis Vuitton, and The Real Real for some second-hand shopping. Don’t forget to check out some The Mercer Kitchen for a quick bite while you’re there.
6 // ANINE BING
LOCATION: 330 Bleecker St, New York
A must-visit if you love fashion. Anine Bing carries a variety of edgy and contemporary apparel, gold jewelry, handbags, and shoes from her eponymous clothing line. Be sure to grab a selfie in the well lit fitting rooms while you’re there and take plenty of decor notes too. Everything about this store makes my heart sing.
7 // LADURÉE SOHO
LOCATION: 396 W Broadway, New York
If you love desserts, then you’ll just love the cakes at this upscale Parisian bakery. Be sure to sit in the backroom and enjoy some earl grey tea and Rose Saint-Honoré, a French choux pastry with chantilly cream and raspberries, topped with a single rose petal. Bonus points if you can score a table at the beautiful outdoor patio for some amazing Instagram moments. (Sadly it was pouring cats and dogs while we were there.)
Photo by: Nathalie Martin
8 // TINY’S & THE BAR UPSTAIRS
LOCATION: 135 W Broadway, New York
Even if you don’t get a chance to eat at this rustic New American fare restaurant, be sure to stop by for a quick photo op of the exterior of this iconic tiny pink Townhouse.
Photo by: Nathalie Martin
9 // LOCANDA VERDE, TRIBECA
LOCATION: 377 Greenwich Street, New York
Coming from someone who is an elitist for handmade pasta, the spaghetti here was sadly disappointing but everything else scored high on the list. The decor of this rustic Italian hotspot is everything, from the European style coffee bar to the exterior of the building. The food and cocktails also photograph beautifully so go hungry!
Photo by: Nathalie Martin
10 // URBAN BACKYARD
LOCATION: 180 Mulberry Street, New York
If you like tea then you have to stop by this quaint little cafe. Though teeny-tiny with limited tables for their patrons, they make up for it with delicious matcha teas in flavours like Rose Matcha, and vegan cupcakes decorated with icing resembling a cacti garden. Be sure to snap a photo of the exterior of the shop, which features black and white hexagonal tiles that are the perfect backdrop for your IG food photos.
Photo by: Nathalie Martin
11 // THE HOXTON HOTEL, WILLIAMSBURG
LOCATION: 97 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn
Last stop! If you have a chance to cross the Brooklyn Bridge, be sure to visit the Hoxton Hotel Williamsburg for breakfast or cocktails in the evening. The decor here is also major goals, and trust me when I say I took plenty of notes for future home decor plans.
Disclaimer: In collaboration with Porter Airlines.
All photos and opinions are my own.
Additional photos by Roxanne West, bonjourblissblog.com.
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My Productive Morning Routine feat. Melitta Coffee
An hour before work your alarm goes off. You hit snooze. Not once, but twice. Forty minutes is enough time to shower and get ready right?
On your way to work, you're groggy, cranky and irritable. I feel you. That was me for most of my adult life.
I started reading about articles on how the most successful people are morning risers and get more done by 9am then most of us doing a day. They aptly call it, CEO mornings. I mean, if that’s the case then it was worth trying it out right?
I began converting myself to an early bird by retiring for bed at 9pm so I could be ready to conquer the day bright and early at 5am. The first couple of days sucked but soon my body got used to the routine and I looked forward to it.
Sadly, I wasn’t able to keep at it past a month but if I learned something hugely important from my CEO mornings in how to structure successfully structure my day. These days I’m up at 7am but I stick to my morning routine almost every single day.
1. MORNING JOURNALING
Writing down a conscious stream of thought right when you wake up is said to help your mind and keep you on track with your personal goals. I’ve been doing this for about a month now and I find on the days that I skip it, I feel like I’m lacking direction. Aim to fill three pages.
2. WATER
Hydrate your body with a tall glass of water upon getting out of bed. I get night sweats (ew I know) so I need water first thing. I actually won’t even drink my morning coffee without having water first. Bonus points for adding lemon or apple cider vinegar to your H2O.
3. EXERCISE
My retired neighbor Bert said it best, “motion is lotion”, LOL. Keep your body active with at least 30 mins of exercise a day. Go with what works for you - HIIT, dancing, walking, strength training, it’s all for the better good.
4. GET READY
Whether your working from home or working in an office with others, get ready for your day like you mean it. Run a brush through your hair and put on some cute shoes that add a skip to your step. If you look good and feel good, chances are you’ll be more confident and happier.
5. BREAKFAST
Having a protein filled breakfast in the morning will keep you fuller longer and it’ll keep your mind from wondering about what sugary snacks hiding in the kitchen. The proper fuel for your body means you’re not eating as much in between meals.
6. COFFEE
This is an obvious one. Instead of caffeinating myself first thing in the morning I wait until after I’ve exercised and showered before having my first cup. My current obsession is the Melitta Heritage Pour Over series. All you have to do is pour boiling water into the top filter with your freshly ground coffee beans and voila. I throw the filter and beans into the compost once I’m done because I read somewhere that compost loves coffee. (Who doesn’t?) Plus, it hardly takes up space in my kitchen and looks super cute on display.
Click here to shop Melitta using my promo code Nathalie15% for 15% off your purchase. #PourOverIsBetter
*This post is sponsored by Melitta. All photos and opinions are my own.
RECIPE: Ginger, Turmeric & Cardamom Latte with Manuka Honey
It's flu season, and it seems like everyone in my circle of friends and family is sick right now.
When Geoff came down with a nasty cold for the second time in two weeks, I ordered him to stay home from work and sleep it off.
That day, I made sure that he had lots of warm veggie soup, herbal tea, and plenty of ginger and garlic to help boost his immune system back to health.
Of course, as he was getting better, I got sick.
I spent the day in bed, sleeping it off, just like I had recommended to him.
When I couldn't sleep anymore, I grabbed my iPad to browse one of my favourite blogs, goop. Yup, this once-upon-a-time Gwenyth hater is now totally head over heels smitten with her and her site.
A video for something called Warming Tea Latte caught my eye, which inspired me to run to my kitchen to concoct my own version.
The results are exactly what I needed to get better - a drink that feels soothing, comforting to sip on, with the subtle flavours of ginger and cardamom with a hint of sweetness from Manuka honey.
That night I went to bed early and the next morning I woke up feeling a million times better and ready to conquer the day.
Thanks for the idea GP!
RECIPE: Nathalie's Ginger, Turmeric & Cardamom Latte with Manuka Honey
Makes 2 cups
Almond milk (or any non-dairy milk of your choice)
Water
1 stick of cinnamon
1-inch piece of fresh organic ginger, peeled, washed, and cut
1 tsp of coconut oil
1/2 tsp of ground turmeric
2 cardamom pods
1/4 tsp of nutmeg
1 tbsp, more or less, of Manuka Honey for taste
Fill a mason jar with half water and half almond milk.
Throw the water/almond milk mix and all of your ingredients into a saucepan.
Simmer on low-medium heat for about 30-40 minutes.
Stir occasionally and check in to make sure it's not boiling. Simmer is good. Boiling is not.
Strain into a mug and enjoy!
Flavour with more honey if that's your thing.
How to style a killer bar cart
Geoff and I recently got the cutest little bar cart without actually trying! Well, the truth is we had been looking for one for a few years but never found the right style to suit our decor. Geoff's taste is more masculine and he likes natural wood finishes and clean lines. I, on the other hand, love shiny finishes like mirror, brass or silver and it's not unusual that I'll decorate (and dress) with mix metals in mind. Through trial and error, we realized the mid-century modern aesthetic suits us both beautifully so that's what we lean towards with home decor. We also have an unspoken rule, if we don't love the piece in question then we don't bring it home. I have to admit, this rule is much easier when it comes to my closet because it's just me who has to be happy. With home decor, Geoff has to love it too so it always feels like a triumph when we find a piece that makes us both happy.
So back to the bar cart.
We did some cross-border shopping the other day and went to Target. There was our little bar cart, displayed on the top of a shelf in the home aisle waiting for us. But no really, it was actually the last one in store and we were freaking out a little because the sale price was too good at $68 USD! All of the other bar carts we had previously looked at were $200 upwards and it didn't even remotely leave a lasting impression on us like this one. Long story short, it's ours now.
Once we got the cart home, I started to work o the setup. Geoff knew he wanted all of our booze bottles on display and I knew I wanted to get some cute quirky little decor bits and bob.
Decorating without the help of Pinterest was interesting, to say the least. I thought I had a good grasp of how I wanted to style everything but I got overwhelmed quickly. That's when I took out the iPad and hit my Woahstyle Home board on Pinterest. From there it took me minutes to get everything in order and I was able to move in with my day.
Here's with the perfect bar cart should look like.
The Perfect Bar Cart
Start with the perfect bar cart that will suit your home and your personal taste. Think about how it'll flow with the rest of your decor. Do you prefer a metal finish? Wood? Brass? Silver? Acrylic? Like I said in the intro, Geoff is more keen on natural wood finishes and I prefer metals like brass. We found the ideal cart to suit both of our needs and the overall style of cart blends perfectly with our mid-century modern aesthetic. If you're more on the minimal side, look for something with clean lines a sleek finish.
Think Green
Back in the day, I was a stylist for a television channel and every time I dressed my sets I would incorporate plants. They happen to be fake because we were under hot studio lights that were only on while we were filming and otherwise the lights on set would be off. Having real plants wouldn't have worked in the TV environment but I was adamant that plants, fake or not, were necessary for livening up the sets. I use the same philosophy at home, and my living room is sprinkled with cacti and snake plants throughout. I figure my new bar cart shouldn't be any different so I added a real plant on the top level and a faux orchid that my mom gifted me on the bottom level where it gets less light. (Also I don't have to worry about my cats munching on it.) If you're curious about what plants are excellent for low light settings, make sure to check out my post on 10 Low maintenance indoor plants.
Art
It's no surprise that I love art - everything from abstract to whimsical, animated and Renaissance, I love it all. I'm also very lucky because my brother is an artist and I have a few of his paintings displayed around my home.
Whether your into photography or paintings, hanging artwork above your bar cart will give it some life and personality and it'll provide your guests with conversation starter as they pour themselves another drink!
Make it Personal
Just like fashion, your home decor should reflect your personality. In the entire three years of WoahStyle I've always said "forget the trends and buy what you love". This holds true to home decor as well and in particular, styling your bar cart.
Here are the three key things I went for when styling our bar cart:
Something shiny (the mirrored tray I laid down on the first level of the bar cart)
Something scented (my seasonal candle and diffuser from Nest! Right now I love the Pumpkin Chai scent which was gifted to me by the brand.)
Something whimsical (the gold pineapple and brass alligator head that I've had for ages!)
Sure, the pineapple and the alligator head don't exactly go together and if you want to be technical, neither does the scent of Pumpkin Chai but I could care less. These little trinkets make me insanely happy and they reflect my personality.
The mirrored tray serves well too. The reflective surface brings in light and femininity to an otherwise masculine bar cart (because of the wood grain). It also acts as an excellent surface for my guests to pour their drinks and I don't have to worry about spills.
Bar & Glassware
I LOVE classic glassware. There was a time when Geoff and I were trying to go the more modern route with stemless wine glasses but we never ended up using them. We also never used the martini glasses, shot glasses and cocktail shakers we had so we ended up donating them all! These days we usually reach for the classics, a good old wine glass from Riedel and some lovely tumblers that were a gift by a family member. An ice bucket is a non-negotiable and we have a simple clear glass one that we keep in storage until it's ready to be used. Other things that could be helpful are tongs (for said ice bucket), napkins and stir sticks. At the end of the day though you have to create your bar in mind with how you and your guests prefer your drinks. As I mentioned before, we used to be fully loaded with a variety of glassware that proved to be useless for us.
I hope this helps you in styling your own bar cart at home or at least gives you some ideas on how to decorate a corner in your living room. I've also included the above image which helped me tremendously when putting mine together. If you aren't already on Pinterest, you need to get on it! It's such an amazing resource for ideas, decor, and fashion. Make sure you add me @woahstyle!
Testing recipes from CHRISSY TEIGEN’S Cravings
Something you guys might not know about me is that I love to cook and in fact, before I started WoahStyle.com, I had a crafting/ cooking blog where I used to post all of my recipes. For the first few years of years of my marriage I spent a lot of time in the kitchen experimenting with new recipes and perfecting my baking skills. Geoff and I used to entertain a lot in those days but eventually it fizzled out because life got too busy and we started to eat lots of take away food. Sad I know. In the spirit of getting back into cooking, I logged onto Amazon and ordered Chrissy Teigen’s Cravings. I’m a vegetarian and Geoff isn’t so I thought it would be a fun challenge to try to make some of her recipes veggie friendly and omit meat. Our first recipe to try is Chrissy’s Dutch Baby Pancakes! If you’re looking for a super easy recipe to whip together this weekend and impress the taste buds of your family and friends, try these because they’re better than they look!
SHOP THE POST
DUTCH BABY PANCAKES
serves 4
I've substituted some ingredients below in hopes of making the recipe more "healthy" and less dairy ridden. The results is a bit flatter then the Dutch Baby pictured in Teigen's cookbook, but they came out pretty damn tasty and fluffy nonetheless. You can stick to the original recipe (by using the crossed out ingredients) or follow mine if you want.
1 cup all purpose flour brown rice flour, sifted
4 large eggs
1 cup whole milk almond milk, at room temp
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter vegan butter, melted
Ms. Butterworth's pancake syrup Maple syrup
Powdered sugar, for dusting
Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F.
Whisky together flour, eggs, milk, salt and the 2 tablespoons of melted butter and combine until smooth with no lumps.
In a 10-inch cast-iron skillet, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons butter until melted and bubbly. Add the batter immediately and put the skillet in the oven.
Bake until the pancake is fluffy and a deep golden brown colour for about 17-20 mins. The pancake will puff up crazy and uneven.
Remove from the oven and cut into quarters. Pour maple syrup over the slices and dust with powdered sugar.
Bon apetit!
Photography by Nathalie Martin.
Affiliate marketing links in this story are used as form of compensation.
10 Tips to RELAX and De-Stress right now feat. Nespresso
If you're reading this it's because you're stressed out and anxious and you want to fix it. News flash, I get stressed out very easily and my naturopath confirmed it when she tested my hormones. Just the act of sitting behind the wheel in bumper to bumper traffic is enough to ruin my day. With that being said, identifying what triggers stress is the first step. I put together a list of activities that work for me. They are my favourite activities to relax, de-stress and feel whole again. Give these a try and if there's anything on this list that doesn't appeal to you, that's okay. Just focus on what makes you happy so that you can feel balanced once more.
Photo by Roxanne West
1.
Meditate & Breathe
Just yesterday I was sitting around the dining room table with my best girlfriend and her mother, having a great time and laughing, when I started to feel my heart beating fast in my chest. Something had triggered my stress and next thing I know, my best friend was giving me tips on how to relax. She said, "place your hand on your heart, bare skin to bare skin, close your eyes, breathe and think of a happy memory. Open your eyes when your breathing is back to normal and you feel settled again." You gotta admit it's a really good tip and it works. Try it the next time you're feeling off and let me know what you think.
Alternatively, Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths and clear your mind. Sit in a quiet space and focus on breathing in and out.
2.
Daydream
A while back I went through a couple of months where I was so anxious and stressed that I threw my back out due to the tension I was holding in my shoulders. I’d wake up in the mornings and head on over to my gym, which has a sauna that no one uses. I'd lay on my back and close my eyes and daydream about living in Paris with Geoff and being carefree and enjoying life. The fact that sauna was empty helped me relax and daydreaming got me to the point where the stress actually started to melt away. It took a few sessions of doing this but it did work!
3.
Be alone
I’m an introvert and I love being alone. It refuels me and makes me aware of what my needs and wants are so I need alone time to feel whole again. If you’re always out in the company of others, you might benefit from some me time to declutter your mind. Set aside some time to unwind by yourself.
4.
Do your favourite activity
Everyone has their favourite way to unwind. Geoff’s go-to de-stressing activity is Playstation, though he also loves ping pong, squash and volleyball. I on the other hand love watching movies, painting my nails, doing my makeup, redecorating my house, aromatherapy, Pinterest, reading, being inspired and chilling with my besties Diana and Michael. My activities are a little all over the map compared to Geoff, but then again, it works for me.
5.
Curl up with a cup of coffee
This is one of my favourite things to do at the end of the day. If it’s close to bedtime, I like to have a decaf cup of Nespresso. My favourites are the lungo cups like Vivalto Lungo, Envivo Lungo and Rosabaya blends, but every now and again I'll have an espresso, along with a cookie or a bit of chocolate. Something about sinking into the couch with a hot cup of coffee always relaxes me.
6.
Turn off social media
I find it so curious that social media is the cause of anxiety and stress for so many of us, celebrities included. After the recent passing of my best friends father, the last thing I wanted to do was be on social media; which is hard because it’s a big part of my job! I learned that it’s totally okay to have a little Instagram detox and that your followers will still be there when you get back. What was more important for me, was to be-in-the-now with my family and not worry about how many likes my last photo got.
7.
Listen to music
Turn on your favourite artist and blare it on the speakers and have a dance party! I have such a deep connection to music thanks to my dad, who was always blasting his favourite bands when I was a kid. Even know I’ll turn on my music and dance and sing (both horribly I might add) when I need to get rid of that stressed-out energy.
Photo by Michael Biro
8.
Take a walk
A brisk walk outdoors will clear your head and put things into prospective. My old job was at a television network and it was one of the most stressed out environments I’d ever been in! It wasn’t just me, it was everyone from managers and coordinators alike, who were all very vocal about their distain for the company! I noticed a lot of my colleagues would go for walks to clear their minds during their breaks and I started doing the same. A little bit of fresh air always seems to help.
Photo by Diana Aldea
9.
Call a friend
My best girlfriend and I have been friends for 25 years. We know each other so well that we joke that our talks are like the equivalent to a $190/ hour long therapy session. Talking or hanging out can be just as relaxing as meditation when it’s with your best pals.
10.
Pet therapy
Animals are known to be therapeutic and calming and I couldn’t agree more. Anytime I feel upset or stressed all I have to do is hang out with my cats and I automatically feel better. My motto is “go hug a cat”. LOL
MY RELAXATION PICKS
Home photography by Nathalie Martin.
Street photography by Diana Aldea, Michael Biro and Roxanne West.
This post is sponsored by Nespresso. All opinions are my own.