Taste of Bali - Nasi Goreng

So since I am almost 3 months post-partum I thought I better start trying to loose the excess weight. Eating healthy can be hard but my favourite dish, which we discovered on our honeymoon, is Nasi Goreng. During our honeymoon we had a cookery lesson and learnt how to make the dish. After almost a year of being back home and in married life we've eaten it numerous times to remember the amazing time we had.

Sorry about the focus of this photo

Ingredients:
Rice
Shallots
Coconutoil
Pak choi
Carrot
Leek (this was added had I had loads left in the fridge)
Garlic
Chilli
Egg
Soy sauce
Ketjap Sauce

I start by preparing all the veg. The veg can change easily and if you want you can add meat or fish.

 First put 1 tbsp of coconut oil in the pan

 Add the garlic and chilli

 Then start adding the other veg gradually with the longest to cook first.

 Add the soy sauce and leave the veg to soften

 Once the veg is ready add any rice you have, I am lazy and use m&s microwave rice.

 Ass the Ketjap sauce

 Fry your egg, I do mine without the oil.

 If you fancy it, out a bit of effort into your presentation, if not chuck it on.

 And voila, your Nasi Goreng, all for roughly 500 calories.

 In Bali they serve it with a spicy sambal but I didn't have any so this had to make do.

 It always leaves a clean plate.

Enjoy

Afternoon Tea - Scoff + Banter Canary Wharf

As a treat to his pregnant wife, my husband brought me an afternoon tea to cheer me up. We went to Scoff +Banter which is located in the Radisson Blu hotel, close by to Canary Wharf. The view would have been amazing on a sunny day, it opens up to a view of the O2 and the River Thames. Unfortuantely when we went, in true British weather, it was grey and drizzly. 

The afternoon tea was lovely. They were very kind an remade my sandwiches as one of the joys of being pregnant is you can not eat mayonnaise and all the sandwiches had some sort o mayo in them.

 To be honest though who comes for the sandwiches, its the cakes we want.There was a wide choicer and although we tried we couldn't eat all of them.

Whenever I go for an afternoon tea I always want to come back and buy new teacups especially since the sun is starting to make an appearance in England.

A london walk

So since it was half-term we thought we would make the most of the early spring like weather. We headed off into London for a wander and mooch around.

We started off walking around the Tower of London but decided we needed a bit of food in or stomachs and a natter before we could focus.

 We headed in the direction of St.Katharine Docks and admired the yachts while we ate our mid-morning cinnamon rolls and warmed ourselves up with come hot drinks.

 Once we had warmed up, we headed back out and walked over Tower bridge then along the South-bank, peeping in shops along the way.

 Eventually we got to the London eye then walked over to BigBen and headed in the direction of Trafalgar square then onto Covent Gardens for a spot of Lunch. Do you sense a theme? In our defense we had walked quite some distance.

 We ate at a place called Joe's Kitchen, it serves southern american food. Think fried chicken, pulled pork and burgers.The food was tasty but there wasn't too much choice on the menu although saying they we all enjoyed what we ordered.

 Since becoming pregnant I've discovered a whole new section of the drinks menu. I drank a lemongrass lemonaid which was very refreshing after our miles of walking. It also helped my poor swollen fingers go down, by holding the glass, so I was able to put my wedding ring back on.

 I had a fried chicken thigh burger with a spicy sauce. Unfortuantely I had to hold the bluecheese sauce :(

 After lunch, we snooped around Covent Garden and did a bit of window shopping (read 'What I want when  the baby finally arrives).

 Then after we walked lunch off we thought we better head off back home to beat the rush hour.

 (I can't wait to start cycling back up again, just seeing these bikes made me jealous)

A Sunday morning walk

It was a Sunday morning and I was starting to get fed up up staying indoors, I phoned my mum and 5mins later I was met by this little pup.

It was a cloudy but dry day so we set out walking apps on and started off.

''Don't leave me behind!"

He wasn't too happy that he couldn't see over the sea/river wall so got a little lift-up.

He spied another dog, triple the size of him.

After all that walking, remember I am  pregnant, we stopped for tea and a slice of homemade cake.

I choose a tangy clementine cake whereas my Mum chose a coconut and raspberry, both were delicious. Bouncer was begging for some cake.

After out walk, Bouncer was ready for a laydown on the sofa.

Packing the hospital bag

For the last few weekends I have been meaning to organise, and start to pack, a hospital bag. This weekend I started (I didn't finish but I started)

Skiphop Chelsea baby bag

I split my hospital bags into two; one for the baby and one for me. The bag I have for the baby's bag is called the 'Chelsea' bag and is by Skiphop. There are plenty of pockets and pouches and you can carry the bag two ways, either by the long strap or by the two handles.

 This bag is going to be out changing/diaper bag which we will continue to use once the baby is here. I am pleased with it so far, the material seems easy to clean and it looks as though it will be comfortable to carry but I will write a review once we have used it for a few months.

Inside the baby's bag I packed a tommee tippee grooming kit just incase.

A few newborn nappies, wipes, cotton wall and cream.

A few outfits with matching accessories.

A tinybaby suit, just incase, and a fleecy suit incase it is cold although in April (if that's when baby decideds to come) it should be warm(ish).

A couple of plain muslin clothes for mopping up mess.

Aden+Anais bib and swaddle

An Aden+Anais Swaddle and matching bib.

Then at the side of the bag we have put in a bottle and some milk. I am planning on breast feeding but they're in there just incase. 

The bottles are by Mam and our friends have highly recommended them so hopefully, if and when we do use them, they will be convenient. 

Onto my bag.

In my bag I have a towel, toiletries and a little bit of make-up so far but I need to add to this over the next few weeks.

Toiletry wise I have a Clarins makeup remover, REN moisturiser and an Elemis shower gel. All of these were part of little sets I have brought or were given to me over Christmas. 

I also have a deodorant, dry shampoo, shampoo and conditioner and a lip balm. The lipbalm is because I have read so many times that where you bite your lips in pain the lipbalm helps to sooth them.I will probably just use the dry shampoo but have packed the real stuff incase I am in there for a couple of days.

Makeup wise I have packed estee lauder double wear concealer as I know this covers anything and if I haven't had much sleep this can perk me up for any photos/visitors. Then I have two mac eyeshadows (naked lunch and bronze) I probably wont use them but they are there.Foundation is by Dior. A nude eyeliner, again to help me look more away and eyes less bloodshot. A blush by nars (madly) again this wont get touched but it is there. Finally I packed a waterproof mascara (Dior Iconic Overcurl) whichis my favourite, another lipbalms and a small perfume (Jo Malone- Mint and Jasmine)

I know I wont care about these things but at lease they are there for any photos, if I want them.

Onto the less glamours; a couple of breast pads

 a few maternity pads

Lanolin nipple cream

 So that's all I have packed so far (I forgot to mention underwear)

Left to pack I still need:

• camera and charger
• nightdress
• flipflops
• socks(to keep my feet warm when giving birth)
• a outfit for coming home
• a hairbrush
• toothbrush and toothpaste

So eventhough I haven't quite finished packing at least I have made a start. Next weekend I'll try to finish it... promise.

 I just wanted to show this lovely blanket, which I have also packed. A family friend made it, it's stunning.