Healthy Banana Pancakes!

Yay, it's Friday!!! 

To celebrate, I whipped up an impromptu post-workout treat in the form of clean banana pancakes! They were spontaneous but so delicious, so thought I'd share the recipe.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 Large Ripe Bananas
2 Eggs
5 Tbsp's Oats (I used porridge oats)
1 Tsp Almond Butter
Pinch of Cinnamon
Pinch of Baking Powder
A Small Amount of Coconut Oil (to cook them in)

There's no difficulty involved in the making of these beauties, and I would know, as I'm generally a terrible cook! So no excuses.

Simply mash the banana, whisk the egg and blend both together using a fork. Then mix in the rest of the ingredients, and voila! You have your mix ready in no longer than 10 minutes.

Add a teaspoon of coconut oil to a frying pan, and spoon the pancakes mix into the heated pan.

I got a bit carried away watching Hollyoaks (multitasking at its finest) and sort of burnt the first sides.

Oops! 

The second sides turned out a lot better. Learning from my mistakes!

You can add whatever tickles your fancy, but I used the following to top them off:

Choc Shot - my new found favourite chocolate condiment...and it's all natural! (Click here for a full post on Choc Shot, Three Ways)
Raspberries
Chopped Roasted Hazelnuts
Pecans

And this was the outcome... orrrrrrgasmic in taste and look.

I enjoyed them with a cup of green tea and my favourite magazine.

Try them! And if you don't like, I will personally come over and apologise. Or buy you a drink for providing you with false information. Your choice.

How do you enjoy your pancakes?

XOXO

The Male Species According to 'Made in Chelsea'

Yesterday was special for two reasons: 

1) I managed to try not one, not two, but three new delicacies at my favourite cafe (if you follow me on instagram or twitter, you will know that I am talking about none other than Gail's Bakery. I also apologise for my constant updates/check-ins. I never thought it was possible to fall in love with bricks and mortar...until I walked into the one in Barnes village). And of the three, the buttermilk pancakes with pear, maple syrup, walnuts and a side of greek yoghurt was my fave! Picture below *queue inevitable mouthwatering* 

2) My favourite reality show ever returned to our screens...Yes, Made in Chelsea is back bitches!

After watching yesterdays episode however, and as the show is based around people; their friendships, relationships and fallouts, it made me question the nature of 21st century adolescent behaviour! (Admittedly, a lot of it is for show but I live by the saying 'ignorance is bliss' when watching it as it makes it so much more enjoyable...)

Firstly, is monogamy really that hard to come by nowadays? I mean, even Chelsea's happiest couple are on the rocks as Alex supposedly did the dirty on poor Binksters!! Is he taking a leaf out of love rat Spencer's book?!?!

And let's just take a minute to address the fact that Andy and Spencer, previous rivals and crucial members of Louise's love triangle, are now bezzies?!!!?? They even order the same drink (and surprisingly it's a cappuccino, not a bloody mary!) *samesies* *snapsies* *cutesies* *sick-in-my-mouth-sies*

....Another shock to the system was that Louise ends up at dinner with none other than her ex-boyfriend aka Spencer aka cheating bulldog, and Alex and Binky on what appeared a double date type thaaang. Does this mean that she's forgiven him?! Should we do the same for similar scumbags we will most likely come across at some point in our lives? Finally, what does it say about relationships nowadays when commitment to one sole person is almost out of the ordinary, and cheating the norm! 

And then there's Jamie Laing. As much as I can't help but have a soft spot for his cute little face and puppy dog eyes, he is the worst of them all! Making a grand gesture on a horse and carriage and declaring his love for beautiful Lucy at the end of last season, only to go to America a week later, sleep around and tell another girl he loves her. If I had a penny for the amount of times that boy has thrown the word love around, I'd be spending a lot more time in Topshop (if that's even possible). 

Jamie's probing Spencer to warn Alex of the cheating rumours was all down to 'boy code' it seems, judging by his claim that boys have "gotta protect the boys"...

But what about girl code? Surely Louise's forgiveness of dear Spennie, and Lucy's apparent forgiveness of Jamie nearing the end of the episode, isn't showing us girls in the best of light! Surely it only serves to suggest to the boys that they can keep doing what they're doing and get away with it as they'll be forgiven in the end. I much preferred the feisty Lucy we saw at the start of the ep when she refused to let Jamie kiss her and walked out on him in the bar #justsayin'

The quote of the episode would have to be Mark Francis in his attempt to comfort Binky over the whole Alex sitch: 

"Great minds discuss ideas, mediocre minds discuss events, simple minds discuss people". 

I love it! Such truth in these words. You can always rely on Mark Francis to lighten up a situation (even if he was quoting Socrates). 

All in all, a wonderful episode and I can't wait for the rest of the action to kick off this series! 

What were your highlights? 

XOXO

Outfit Of The Day: Pub To Club

Hollaaaa

Yesterday I went to the pub with my girls and gay to watch The Grand National. We really used this monumental sporting event as an excuse to get merry in the pub, and it was great fun! Made better by the fact that no horses died this year- yayyyyyy!! Me and Rosie were flinching/screaming at every fence in anticipation of another horrible fall. Poor horsies! 

I came second this year and ma bezzie Laura won 100 pounds!!!! Wooo! Although there was me cheering on for her like an idiot, thinking both my horses were out of the race, when actually I was in second with Balthazaar King! (and I didn't do it each way whereas Laura did so the ideal outcome would've really been for me to win and her to come second so we could both splash the cash. But life goes on!)

It just goes to show it really is a game of luck. My dad,  the 'Mr Know It All' of horse racing (or so he likes to think) didn't win anything and my brother, another horse whizz, did win some dollar, but this was probably because he had about six different bets going!

After the race, we had some more drinks, chowed down a Nando's and then went on a bit of a pub/bar crawl up Northcote Road in Clapham. Of course, we ended up in a club - Artesian Wells - which, despite being £10 entry, was a really fun and was a refreshing change from the standard Clapham High Street. I definitely recommend for all you South-West Landaners innit.

Anyways, I went shopping recently (there's a surprise) and put together an outfit with some of my purchases. I didn't realise we would be ending up in a club, but I think you can just about get away with it for an evening look, minus the jacket and sunnies!

Boyfriend jeans are so comfy and can be dressed up or down. I love. 

I also love my new jacket from New Look. It's nice and light, but definitely appropriate for the  unpredictable nature of British springtime!

I Am Wearing

Crop Top - Missguided

Boyfriend Jeans - Topshop

Jacket - New Look

Boots - Missguided

Socks - Topshop

Sunglasses - Topshop

Bag - Asos

Watch - Michael Kors 

Gold Leopard Bracelet - Christmas Present from Joely

Rings - H&M

Necklace - Chiswick Car Boot Sale

Nail Varnish - Rimmel 60 Seconds in 'Mind The Gap, Victoria'

Lipstick - Mac's 'Ravishing' and Maybelline's Colour Sensational Shine Gloss in 'Cashmere Rose'

Sunday smooches all round!

XOXO

How To: Easy Eyebrows in Two Minutes

Ever since my mama booked a makeup/ photoshoot package for me and my sister three Christmasses ago, I have been hooked on one product for my eyebrows: 

i-smoulder in 'chocolate' by new id cosmetics

Interestingly, this product is actually defined as a 'smoky eye pencil and shadow', but the woman doing my makeup used it to define my eyebrows, and I have been in love with this simple little multitasker ever since. What a clever little stick! As well as being one of the brands best sellers (probably for its versatile nature), it's also named after my favourite food, chocolate baby! 

It looks like this - 

And my eyebrows (pre-grooming) look like this - ew!

I hate the fact that eyebrows are very rarely identical to one another. I read on Kate J's blog (aka gh0stparties.com) recently that "brows are sisters, not twins". I like this comparison a lot, it's so true!

SAD BUG

There are two ends to the pencil:

1) The 'Shadow' 

I start by filling in the start of my eyebrows (the thickest parts) with this shadow end as it blends really easily and doesn't leave an obvious 'drawn on' look. Scouse brows no more!

2) The Pencil

I then use the pencil end just to add definition and thicken the main strips of the eyebrows, as well as evening them up! The colour is also perfect for me, making my thin-haired little brows look just that little bit fuller.

 And voila! 

Please ignore my hair in the above picture...it was taken just after a rough towel-dry!

Overall, this product is super easy to use and literally takes two minutes. Perfect for a quick daily brow defining sesh every morn before work when you're still half asleep!

Have a happy sunny weekend!

XOXO

Confessions of a Runaholic

Helloo!

Sorry for the lack of postings; this week has been somewhat of a different experience, to say the least.

I finished up at my job on Friday, and boy did it feel weird on Monday morning without the sound of my dreaded alarm going off at 6am. I actually cried at the fact I didn't have to go in to work...weird, I know. 

This week has also been a tad alien because I have re-discovered shin splints, or should I say, shin splints have re-discovered me! I thought I had got rid of the buggers for good last year! For those of you who don't know, shin splints are every runner's worst nightmare!

I have made the mistake of continuing to run on shin splints on numerous occasions in my life. Usually, people learn from their mistakes, but not me... no no no... I'm far too stubborn. Instead, I decided to attempt to run through the pain last week, and it's left me a crippled, limping mess. Serves me right really.

If my physio/doctors knew, they'd be screaming "I TOLD YOU SO!!!!" 

Alas, they will never know. (Oh dear, Rory's lah-de-dah mannerisms are having an effect on me). 

I wish this was me...

I guess the point of this story is that it's made me realise how much I love and miss running! I'm one of those annoying people who go to the gym solely to use the running machines. You may ask...why not save yourself the money and run outside? 

Well there's a few reasons for this: 

1) I like to interval train, control exactly what speeds I'm running at and challenge myself to complete certain distances in the fastest time. My record for 5K is 23 minutes, 20 seconds, and the pride I felt from seeing this in front of me on a screen outweighs the benefits of outdoor running where the only screen is the windscreen of the several cars zooming past (I live in London). 

2) Outdoor running = even more pressure on the legs = increased likelihood of developing injuries.  Every pound on the concrete is like a dagger to the poor, defenceless leg joints. Trust me, I've learnt the hard way. 

3) I always feel that with outdoor running, I am more likely to stop when tired, whereas in the gym, the sheer embarrassment (as well as probable flying off the treadmill/ risk of death) of suddenly pressing stop is enough to keep me powering through. That, and Beyonce of course.

4) As picturesque and beautiful it may be to run outside, it's not so fun when it's bucketing with rain or gail force winds threaten to blow you in front of the nearest car. I know spring is now here, but I live in London, so all of the above still applies. Plus, it's motivating to work out in the gym when others are "feeling the burrrrn" all around you (...it's got absolutely nothing to do with the drool-worthy guys at every corner, with their arm muscles on show and the whole sexy, sweaty look they have going on). Oh no, definitely not! 

So for now I'm going to have to take it easy *sigh*

I've made a pledge to myself to go on bike rides around Richmond Park whilst I recover, as well as use the cross trainer in the gym...just to make that gym fee a little less painful! I may even broaden my horizons and attempt the weight machines... who am I kidding? Four personal trainer chats (aka attempts to get me to employ them) later and I still can't bring myself to listen to their advice and change my workout! Yes, I am aware that strength training builds muscles, thus increases your  metabolism and overall calorie burn, even when you're not working out. And no, I don't have that made perception that "weights are only for guys". I simply just don't enjoy it...

and the one thing I've realised about exercise is that you have to enjoy what you're doing, or you won't keep it up!  

This whole shin splints setback has also made me appreciate and embrace the fact that I, Nish O'Connor, am a runaholic. There's nothing like the feeling after an intense, hardcore run. Not only does it relieve stress, but it also gives me an excuse to listen to One Direction/Taylor/Beyonce/Top40 tings at top volume for half an hour straight. What more could a girl want? 

Running endorphins, I look forward to having you back in my life (hopefully sooner rather than later!) 

XOXO