My Go-To & Simple Summer Breakfast

I often go back and forth with my appetite for breakfast. Some mornings I wake up feeling really hungry and wanting to eat buttermilk pancakes with fruit, bacon and maple syrup, eggs benedict or eggs florentine (then my mind wanders about whether I could actually eat all three in one sitting...). Other mornings I have absolutely no appetite at all. The thought of eating anything turns my stomach enough to make me just want to drink orange squash until lunch time. Isn't it weird how my body is so indecisive? I blame it being on a gemini.

However, now that I am back home now and working part-time, eating nothing in the morning is simply not an option anymore. Some workdays I am awake at 5am for a 7am start and need something in me so I don't feel like I'm going to pass out half way through a busy shift. My Mum introduced this recipe to me as she too were in the same boat with early mornings. She has coined it 'Summer Porridge' which I think is a very fitting name.

All you will need for this recipe is:

• 1 small tuppaware box
• Yoghurt of your chosen type and flavour (we often go for strawberry/raspberry/vanilla Activia as they are the lowest in fat and sugar and the tastiest we have found thus far)
• Frozen fruit of your choice
• Porridge oats

Instructions for this breakfast could not be simpler. All you have to do is mix together the yoghurt and oats (the ones we buy come with a measuring spoon- though 1 or 2 tablespoons should suffice!) until completely coated and combined. Pop in your frozen fruit and into the fridge it goes to allow the oats to soak and the frozen fruit to defrost. 

See how easy it is? I often make 2 at a time so I have a back-up just in case Mum needs something in the morning too. As the oats absorb into the yoghurt, it becomes much more creamy and fills you up just like a bowl of ordinary hot porridge on a winters morning would! Be sure to experiment with different flavours and fruit and see what your favourite combination is! 

Thank you for reading and don't forget to share this post with anyone who you think would enjoy it too!

Have a great rest of your day!

Paris x

My New Handbag Love

Happy Monday, everyone!

Today's post is all about a new addition into my handbag collection. Now, I am a self-confessed handbag addict. When I see a beautiful handbag on display in a store, I get the same excitement as many of us do when we see our dinner being brought to us in a restaurant and this particular handbag was no exception...

About a year ago, I was out shopping with my Dad's girlfriend and whilst she was trying on dresses in Karen Millen I was perusing the handbag and shoe display and spotted this beauty. A gorgeous tan leather medium sized messenger bag with large gold square studs around the edges. I'd never owned a tan handbag before, and now that I'm thinking about it I don't think I've ever bought myself a real leather bag. I picked it up and modelled it with eyes full of lust followed by a heart full of sadness as I laid it back down, knowing I couldn't and wouldn't bring myself to lay down a whopping £185 for it.

Fast forward about 4 months and I was in a Karen Millen outlet shop near where I live and spotted the exact same bag up on the shelf for £90!! I can't remember exact details but I'm pretty sure I let out a little squeal and skipped over to it. Again, I modelled the bag and argued with myself about how even with 50% off, I couldn't spend that much money. Let me give you some context, at the time I was a 3rd year student who was buying products for my practical dissertation and travel tickets. So I put the bag back and walked away.

Back to present day about 5 months later and I was walking idly around the same Karen Millen outlet again and yep, you've guessed it. There it was. It was knocked down further to £60 because it didn't have the long strap. However, my Dad's girlfriend had a similar bag and said I could have her strap as she never used it. Score!

Now onto the actual bag itself, as I have mentioned it is real leather. As I've gotten older and have been earning my own money, I have really learnt that quality completely trumps quantity when it comes to handbags and shoes. I also really love the pale gold hardware on the bag as it gives it an edge compared to other plain tan messenger bags. The lining is lovely too, it is a understated and classy leopard print and I think makes the bag a bit more exciting visually as linings can often be very plain. In terms of pockets, it has the usual zip pocket, phone holder and another miscellaneous pocket next to it for an oyster card or keys maybe. On the reverse of the bag, there is a flat pocket with a magnetic closure. I really like this for popping my phone, iPod or my train tickets in here for quick access.

As it has been about a year since I first saw this bag at full retail price, I don't believe it is available to buy anymore but if you live near a Karen Millen outlet, you may see one floating about. I have also seen a few of these bags and other variants on eBay too. 

I hope you enjoyed this little review of my first quality handbag purchase. I really love it and I find it is perfect for the summer. However I do believe my love affair with handbags is now going to become a tad more expensive (though this one was a complete bargain!) but all the more beautiful. 

See you on Friday!