Nourishment Part 2

Here's what I've been loving these past few weeks:

Service

John Lewis Personal Styling Service

This is a free service available at selected John Lewis stores and I highly recommend it. I wanted to find a pair of jeans (many of us know how difficult this is!) plus a few key pieces to update my wardrobe. I'd fallen into a bit of a rut and wanted to try some new looks. You can book either a 'Wardrobe Refresh' (2 hours), which is what I opted for, or a 'Key Look' (1 hour) if you're looking for a specific outfit for an upcoming event. Once you've done this you can choose the store you want to visit, hand pick the stylist you'd like, choose your date and time and get it booked. You then have the option of giving some extra info about what you'd like to focus on in your appointment, your estimated budget plus skin, hair and eye colour etc.

At my appointment I met my stylist and we went to a private fitting room to discuss what I'd like to get out of the session. Whilst I relaxed with a drink she scoured the shop floor and selected lots of items before bringing them back for me to look at and try on. I didn't feel rushed, had privacy to try everything on and felt comfortable enough to tell her if I didn't like something. She popped out and selected some more items a few times. I was really pleased with what she chose for me because I'm generally a lazy shopper. I choose a lot of the same or similar things to wear. But I now own some key pieces that I would never have considered if it wasn't for this service.

So if you have a special birthday, wedding, interview etc and you're looking for some inspiration and would welcome someone else's opinion definitely consider this service.

Skincare

Sweed Pro Eyelash Serum £

A little pricey but totally worth the investment if you want longer eyelashes. Applied every day, along the lash line, this serum nourishes and extends the growth phase of your lashes. Sweed state that you will notice a difference within four to six weeks but, for me, it took a little longer. Just when I thought it wasn't working it did. I apply it every night before bed. £42.00

Food

Burrata & Blood Orange Salad

This is a really easy salad to make. It looks and tastes impressive without much effort. I made it on repeat last summer as it's a refreshing alternative to your standard salads and I've started serving it again now that there is a glimmer of warmer weather about. It also works perfectly when transitioning into autumn with grilled chicken, fish, roasted vegetables or a charcuterie or cheese board. If possible try to buy the best burrata that you can although it will still taste good with your standard mozzarella. Blood oranges are generally in season from December through to about June but you could substitute them for the flesh of normal oranges or peaches.

Ingredients:

For the salad:

Lettuce/salad leaves (any type) I like lambs lettuce, watercress and rocket

2 blood oranges peeled and sliced into segments. Plus the juice of half of another orange (I'll just add that I often find it difficult to slice them into segments as the oranges are so juicy. Therefore I just pull the segments apart. It's not a neat salad when I do it!).

1 or 2 Burrata depending on how large you want the salad (Burrata is much softer and more creamy than your normal mozzarella)

A handful of Pistachio nuts

Garlic bread as a garnish

For the dressing:

4 tbsp Olive oil, 3 tsp honey, the juice of half an orange, the juice of 1 lemon, salt, pepper

Method:

Take the burrata out of the fridge an hour before starting to prepare the salad to reach room temperature

Preheat the oven and then cook the garlic bread (this isn't essential but adds a nice contrast of flavours)

Peel and cut the two oranges into segments removing all white pith

Squeeze the juice from half of the third orange and set aside for the dressing

Place salad leaves into a bowl of iced water and set aside. When ready to serve drain and dry the leaves (this keeps them fresh and crisp)

To make the dressing add the lemon juice to the bowl of orange juice, mix in the olive oil and honey along with some salt and pepper and whisk together

You can serve how you like. I usually serve by laying the leaves in a large salad bowl with space in the centre to place the burrata. I arrange the orange segments on the leaves, sprinkle the pistacchio nuts on top, drizzle over the dressing and add bite size pieces of garlic bread on top

Book

Fika - The Art of the Swedish Coffee Break

A beautiful book about the Swedish art of coffee making. This is one of those books that you can pick up and put down several times and it doesn't affect your reading experience. What I love is reading about the culture of Fika and understanding that it goes a lot deeper than a hot drink and a pastry. Grab it when you've got a coffee in hand and a chance to relax for twenty minutes. The first half of this exquisitely designed book introduces you to the Swedish traditions of Fika, whilst the second half offers lots of mouthwatering recipes. I've only tried making the Chokladbollar chocolate balls but will definitely try more. This isn't a big coffee table book, rather a smaller more tactile handbook making it the perfect gift for any occasion. £11.95 Amazon

TV

Last One Laughing - Prime Video

The premise of this show is a competition between ten comedians who are competing to try to make each other laugh. Two laughs and they are out of the game. The comedy is a mix of hilarity, ridiculousness and complete off the wall. What made it even more hilarious was the techniques and lengths each of them go to in order not to laugh. If you need cheering up Bob Mortimers magic show or Joe Wilkinsons RNLI presentation will be just the tonic!