Category: lifestyle

December 13, 2015

Vegetarian Sweet Potato & Ginger Soup Recipe

Vegetarian sweet potato and ginger soup recipe
I just love soup. It is the perfect winter warmer for both lunch and dinner and even better if it is homemade. I made this soup up a few years ago now and even Lewis with his ‘soup-is-alright’ attitude loves it! It is super (souper) easy and cheap so let’s get cooking!
What you need…
– 1 large sweet potato
– 2 large potatoes
– Half a red pepper
– 2 carrots
– 1 onion
– 1 clove of garlic
– 2 tsp of grated ginger
– 1 vegetable stock cube
– Olive oil
– Crème fraîche (optional)
Vegetarian sweet potato and ginger soup recipe
What you do…

1. Fry finely chopped onion in olive oil. After a few minutes add chopped garlic, grated ginger and red pepper. Cook until soft on a medium heat. 
2. Add cubed sweet potato and potatoes and sliced carrots; stir. 
3. Pour in enough boiling water to cover all the ingredients and chuck in a vegetable stock cube.
4. Bring to the boil and then reduce to simmer for about 30 minutes or until the potatoes are very soft and almost breaking up.
5. If you have an electric hand whisk, blitz the soup to taste. I prefer leaving a few surprise chunks of potato in there. Otherwise you can use a potato masher to smooth those ingredients out into a nice chunky soup texture. 
6. (Optional – stir in a couple of tablespoons of crème fraîche) Season to taste and serve with crusty bread, homemade croutons or… a cactus!
7. Enjoy!
I would love to know if you try this recipe and what you think! Either in a comment on here or on any of my social media channels which you can find just below <3
Izzie x

December 5, 2015

Christmas Gift Ideas: The Blogger

Olympus Pen Camera – via AMAZON
2016 Diary – PAPERCHASE
Mermaid Phone Case – Skinny Dip via ASOS
Weekend Bag – LONGCHAMP
#Girlboss by Sophie Amoruso – via AMAZON
For the final instalment of my Christmas Gift Ideas series, I just had to do a special one dedicated to all you blogger friends/family/colleagues out there. It cannot be a blogger essentials list without the Olympus Pen – the ultimate blogger camera, which I will definitely be buying with the help of some Christmas/birthday money come the new year. It is great because it’s super small, takes amazing photos, connects to wifi and has a flip down screen for those essential selfies.
Blogging take a lot of time, preparation, planning and motivation so as a blogger you need a way of organising yourself. Between this jazzy Paperchase diary, The Bloggers Planner notebook and the #Girlboss book for motivation, you will be on the right track to success. 
Even if you are not a travel blogger specifically, blogging will involve some travelling so it is important to have some decent luggage. This Longchamp bag is the perfect size for weekend trips and it’s a classic. And finally, all bloggers like a novelty phone case, am I right?
I hope you have enjoyed my Christmas Gifts Series! Check out The Fashionista PART ONE & PART TWO, THE HOME BIRD and THE TRAVELLER just below. Now I actually have to start making decisions and buying…!
Izzie x


December 4, 2015

Christmas Gift Ideas: The Traveller

Travel wishlist christmas ideas for the traveller
Backpack – HERSCHEL via ASOS
World Map Sticker – TEN STICKERS
Travel Print – ETSY
Paris City Guide – MOLESKIN
Luggage Tag – CATH KIDSTON
Journey Journal – ETSY
Travel Kit – PAPERCHASE
Part four of my Christmas Gifts Ideas series is for your loved ones that love to travel. You can see THE HOME BIRD and Fashionista PART ONE and PART TWO just below. I have chosen a combination of gifts, from useful things to have whilst travelling to things that a traveller might like to have in their home. How awesome is this world map sticker? And I just love that travel print featuring one of my favourite quotes – so true! 
Of course guide books and travel journals are always essential when away exploring but the MOLESKIN city guides combine the two. I have included the Paris one here (obvs) but they have over 30 different cities in their collection. I actually had the Paris one when I did my year abroad in Paris and it’s great because the sleek black cover conceals the fact you are looking at a map and there are categorised sections for you to write down places/bars/museums that you like!
My next trip away is to Paris next weekend and I cannot wait! Christmas markets and vin chaud here I come! Where are you going on your next trip and which of these essentials would be the perfect companion?
Izzie x



December 3, 2015

Christmas Gift Ideas: The Home Bird

Wall Mounted Vase – URBAN OUTFITTERS
Cat Cushion – URBAN OUTFITTERS
Gold Pyramid – URBAN OUTFITTERS
“I’m a princess” PJs – ASOS
Letter Mugs – ANTHROPOLOGIE
“Relax & Unwind” Print – DOT CREATES
Deer Bust – ANTHROPOLOGIE

Hello! And welcome back to my Christmas Gift Ideas series – go check out FASHIONISTA PART 1 & PART 2 as well. Well I hope you and your loved ones like turquoise and gold because that seems to be the colour palette I am going for here…an alternative Christmas if you will. Here are some of my top picks for someone who takes pride in their home or someone who prefers snuggling up indoors with a big mug of tea. I had lots more home ideas from the likes of PAPERCHASE, ETSY and THE WHITE COMPANY but they just wouldn’t all fit on this collage – sarry.

I am someone who likes some cute (and admittedly pointless) finishing touches around the house including motivational quotes and this novelty cat cushion – obsessed! I think initial mugs are a nice personal present – although I get angry because the “I” normally looks rubbish or does not exist haha, but from ANTHROPOGLOGIE you can get any letter! Finally you need some loungewear and I love these original PJs from ASOS – go and have a closer look on the website at the “I’m a princess” pattern – so perfect!

How do you like to decorate your home?

Izzie x



October 5, 2015

September Favourites

Fash pack in Tuileries gardens at Paris Fashion Week PFW
AF Vandevorst SS16 catwalk at Paris Fashion Week PFW
Bonjour my lovelies! I know, I know – this post is called September favourites and it’s already 5th October. I was a bit delayed doing this post because I have just been in Paris for 5 days for Fashion Week so things have been a bit hectic.
Talking of Paris Fashion Week, “Fashion Month” as I like to call it, is first up on my September favourites. New York, London, Milan and Paris – it has been an absolute treat to see some amazing street style images, read bloggers’ reviews and find inspiration for the coming seasons. And that’s why Fashion Month is one of my favourite times of year. I’ve got loads of posts coming during the next two weeks from PFW – including my three outfits, the best of street style and my favourite catwalk collections – so stay tuned!

Cat Therapy by Charlotte Segond-Rabilloud et al – AMAZON

So I’m going to delve a bit deeper than usual to explain this September favourite. Over the past few months I have been suffering from lots of anxiety and stress, which is one of the reasons that I left my vintage shop job in Paris. During this time, my mum sent me an adult colouring book, which is supposed to relief stress and honestly it is a joy to do. I have always imagined that painting or drawing would be really relaxing but I can’t draw for shit, so colouring in already drawn cats (yes it’s an exclusively cat colouring book – the obsession just grows and grows), is perfect. Have any of you tried this and what did you think?

&Other Stories jewellery gold hoop earrings and gold ring
Gold hoops – &OTHER STORIES, Ring – &OTHER STORIES

I am currently obsessed with &OTHER STORIES jewellery! It is beautiful and the prices are decent so when I realised that there was one just a few blocks from my Barcelona apartment, I treated myself to these lovely gold hoops and spike ring. Just the start of my collection from &OTHER STORIES but I am sure it will grow and grow!

Pastel buildings on Carrer Verdi in Gracia, Barcelona
Me at Parc Montjuic, Barcelona
Dress – TOPSHOP (old – SIMILAR HERE), Trainers – VANS
And lastly, but probably most importantly, I could not have September favourites without my new beginning in Barcelona. I am really enjoying the chilled way of life here, working on my blog and spending time with Lewis. Soon I will have to get a job but for now I am just treasuring these few weeks and I cannot wait to share it all with you!
Izzie x


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