Hello and welcome to Nourishment. This is where I'll share anything that has nourished me in one way or another in the hope that, if you are reading this, you might find it interesting or of use too. I often get asked for recommendations on difference things so I thought I'd start a new series -'Nourishment'. I'll share snippets of anything that has brought me joy.
Before we start here's a little bit about me if you've just stumbled upon this article. I'm telling you this because it will undoubtedly shape what I write about. I'm Nicola. I've been a Holistic Therapist and Facialist for sixteen years and UK Training Manager for two big skincare and lifestyle brands for ten years before that. All in all I've been part of the wellbeing and skincare industries for over thirty years. It all started when my dear nan gifted my an M & S Peach bath form for Christmas in 1985 which ignited such enjoyment and excitement. A Saturday job at Boots whilst at school, college and uni saw me working on the skincare, make up and fragrance counters and my obsession fully blossomed. My experience and skills have landed me opportunities in New York, Paris and Provence and in the last few years I've worked on wellness retreats, secured a residency providing facials in the New Forest, designed and delivered more training, mentored individuals, wrote a variety of articles and welcomed clients to my treatment space - The Wellness Room.
I'm a 'midlifer', have two daughters, both in their later teenage years, and a husband who works in IT. I'm originally from Brighton but have lived in and around London for the past twenty five years. I absolutely love being a twenty minute train ride into central London and a short drive away from Brighton. I adore 'solo' dates when I'm not working as I like my own company in which to explore. But I equally enjoy connecting with my close circle of friends and family. I am a homebody, although I relish visiting new and old places. Cooking isn't one of my favourite things but I do love entertaining at home. I'm often a lazy shopper, traipsing around the shops for hours is not my idea of fun. I'm not a gardener either although I do enjoy the beauty of potted plants and a freshly cut lawn. Reading, music and walking are a staple within everyday life, I really like pilates and have recently dipped my toe in reformer classes too. I'm a big advocate for continuous self development in any form, self reflection and, as I've got older, being kind to myself.
Anyway, that's enough about me. Here's five things I've been loving recently:
Food
Spiced cauliflower soup
I've been making this simple hearty soup for years and as it's still officially soup season now is the perfect time to give it a try. This recipe should make approximately four servings.
Ingredients:
1 large cauliflower
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 onion, finely chopped (I sometimes use frozen chopped shallots)
2 pressed garlic cloves
1 tbsp medium curry powder (I sometimes add more depending on how I'm feeling)
1 vegetable stock cube
100g greek yoghurt
Toasted pumpkin seeds
Toasted pine nuts
Method:
Remove all leaves from the cauliflower and cut up all florets into small chunks.
Heat the vegetable oil in a large pan and add the onion and cauliflower on a medium heat for
10 minutes stirring regularly until everything is a golden colour.
Add the garlic and cook for a further 2 minutes.
Add the curry powder and cook for 1 minute.
Mix the stock cube in the recommended amount of water (see packaging) and allow everything to simmer for 20 minutes until the cauliflower softens.
Add the yoghurt and stir through.
Either blend to a smooth texture or serve chunky.
Before eating add a sprinkle of pumpkin seeds and pine nuts and a grinding of black pepper.
(You can keep a couple of florets aside for decoration and added crunch once ready to serve. I don't always do this but here's what I do if you like the sound of this - thinly slice the raw florets, toss them with some lemon juice and black pepper before placing them on top of your cooked soup).
As you can see food photography is not my forte! But believe me when I say it's delicious!
Book
Self-Care for Winter by Suzy Reading £14.05
A beautiful book with very practical advice about tackling these darker, colder months. Even though there are little signs that we are coming out of the darkest months of the year and into more spring like weather there is still a lot to be gained from this book. I love Suzy Reading and own several of her books and have gifted a few of them too. She is a Chartered Psychologist, coach and an advocate for being kind to yourself and embracing the little things in every day life. This book is the perfect companion to have by your bedside or next to your spot on the sofa. I read it in bed over the course of a week and still have it to hand to dip and out of. I invite you to cozy up and read a few pages with your drink of choice.
Home
Fragrance Diffuser
Laboratorio Olfacttivo 500ml £65
I have honestly never had a fragrance diffuser that lasts as long as this brand. I'm eighteen months in and it's still going! It hasn't lost it's fragrance and there is still liquid left. The fragrance I have is Incensamente which has ambery notes combined with bergamot, patchouli and cedar. A light fragrance it is not but it's not overpowering either. I'm having difficulty finding this particular scent online but the brand do have other fragrances and I'd 100% recommend them for their staying power. I completely appreciate £65 is a lot of money to part with but economically it works out a better option than the cheaper versions which last a fraction of the time and have to be bought much more regularly. There is a smaller size of 200ml in some of the fragrances at £39.00.
Skincare
Eye Balm
Ringlight Creamy Illuminating Eye Balm by Sali Hughes £10 (although often reduced)
There's lots of things to love about this eye balm. It's lightweight texture, it's light reflecting particles to disguise dark circles, it's pump dispenser and it's price. Often under £10 it is such good value compared to many similar products on the market. You only need to use the smallest amount in the morning to lift the eye area and because of this it lasts for many months. It gives a dewy illuminating appearance whilst hydrating and soothing the under eye area. It's the no make up make up but equally acts as a great base for make up around the eyes. I'm also a fan of many of Sali's other products. All of which you can get in Superdrug, Boots, Look Fantastic and Sainsburys. They are all equally reasonably priced. Sali is a renowned beauty journalist with years of experience. I trust her opinion on everything!
TV
Bridgerton & Queen Charlotte (Netflix)
For no other reason than it is total escapism. If you aren't familiar with the show, firstly where have you been?!?! It's set in the Regency era in England and focuses on the siblings within the Bridgerton family. They have an important place in elite society and we get to experience their quests to find true love in a very competitive marriage market where money is often favoured much more than love. I have really enjoyed the diverse casting, the engaging storylines and how modern day touches are subtlety intertwined in to the regency era. These series are based on novels which were written by Julia Quinn in the early 2000s. There are three seasons of Bridgerton and one of Queen Charlotte which is a spin off miniseries focusing on her life as a young queen. I will eagerly await the fourth season of Bridgerton which is apparently due for release next year. Can not wait!
If you've read this far I hope it's because you've enjoyed my ramblings. Please do send me a comment. I'd love to know what you think.
Until the next one ...
Thanks for reading,
N x
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