My Morning Ritual

So in a last ditch attempt to finish Blog Every Day In May this blog post is about "Morning Ritual".

My morning ritual is basic and mostly focused on breakfast. I love breakfast and can't remember a time that I didn't find it an important way to begin the day. In fact it deeply concerns me that a large amount of people skip breakfast but more worrying are those who skip breakfast to lose weight! FACT: Those who eat breakfast are a third less likely to be obese (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2824987.stm) as it increases your metabolism and stops you from overeating during the day.

I have recently changed my breakfast routine after seeing a Nutritionist who suggested that my constant sweet cravings could be down to the fact that I was starting my day with homemade granola (seriously, no reason to buy granola when you can make it with oats, honey and a little oil then baked in the oven), seeds, natural yoghurt and fruit. Starting the day with such a sweet breakfast, although healthy, may be kick starting me wanting sweet things from then on.

So, my current breakfast routine is this... Wake up at 7:45am, straight to the kettle to make a Green Tea with a slice of Lemon (Green Tea has been linked with lowering cholesterol  raising metabolism, lowering risk of cancer and fighting off dementia and has just enough caffeine to kick start the day).

Now for my savoury breakfast - I pop two eggs in to boil and go away and do my make up. Exactly 5 mins later I am ready to have my multigrain ryvita, wilted spinach, tomatoes and boiled eggs on top.

I make sure I take time to sit down to eat my breakfast and take time to relax before heading to work.

Collections

Today's Blog Every Day in May Challenge topic is "Collections" which I am very chuffed about as I LOVE collecting things!

You will find me rummaging through a vintage sale, charity shop or car boot sale most weekends (and today was no exception!) I am drawn to anything vintage... and I mean anything! I have cupboards full of vintage tea sets and wardrobes full of vintage clothes... I am even due to pick up two typewriters next week.

But... as I have moved so frequently recently - 3 times this year alone - I have found myself having to justify the existence of some of my collections which is when "Afternoon Tea Lights" was born. Afternoon Tea Lights is my little sideline of handmade soya wax candles in vintage teacups scented to reflect the Great British tradition of Afternoon Tea.

Afternoon Tea Lights puts good use to the odd teacups and milk jugs missing their full set that would otherwise be stuck in a cupboard or moved from charity shop to car boot sale until they were finally thrown away. I wanted to encourage people to rediscover the beauty of the teacup and make it something to be put on display and enjoyed.

You can find Afternoon Tea Lights on Twitter: @ANoonTeaLights

First Job

My first "proper" job was working Saturday and Sundays as a checkout girl in my local coop supermarket.

I hated being a checkout girl. I hated giving up my weekends. And I hated working with people who just couldn't seem to get my name right.

But one thing I did love was the newly released blue ipod mini. And the only way I would save up enough money to get one was to work at the coop as a checkout girl.

I got my blue ipod mini and swiftly quit the coop getting myself a new job in the library.

I still have my blue ipod and it reminds me of the first time I truly saw the importance of working hard to get what you want.

"Spring is nature's way of saying, 'Let's party!'" Robin Williams

I love this quote about Spring by Robin Williams and it seemed apt seeing as today, as part of Blog Every Day in May, I am due to write about Spring and I have spent the day at a May Day Celebration Event.

There are lots of things I love about Spring - the chance to get your toes out in sandals and flip flops, a chance to get your legs out in cropped running leggings, a chance to explore further afield with longer evenings (especially the canal paths which I feel are a distant memory after the dark winter days) and a chance to shed off the thick winter jumpers and get out the colourful dresses and bright nail varnish.

Today I saw in Spring with a May Day Celebration event - there was bunting, folk music, afternoon tea and dancing all following the country fayre theme. I hope to celebrate Spring by getting outside more and discovering the hidden parts of London.