Vegan tips for life

 

A plant-based diet and becoming a vegan are two different subjects, decide why you want to become vegan if it is for the diet or if it is for the animal welfare side. If it is a bit of both remember perfection does not exist when it comes to being a vegan. Just doing your best is what you should strive for. 

My first tip would be to go in slow. Try being a vegetarian first. Do this for a few weeks and then the transition to a full-blown vegan diet is much easier. 

Next tip: Try not to be an unhealthy vegan. Chips and coke can be vegan. You do not want to end up overweight with skin issues and low energy levels. Look out for replacements to get you through in the beginning. Tofu, soy, tempeh are all good protein alternatives. Check out all the recipes online. Pinterest is a good site for recipe inspiration.

You can pretty much make any of your non-vegan meals with vegan replacements or simply leaving out the non-vegan ingredients. My favorite egg replacement is chia and flaxseed mixed with a little water which goes great in cakes and bakes. Tofu scramble instead of eggs are easy and healthy.

Do not let people judge you, if you are concerned with this you do not have to announce to everyone you are vegan, you can always say you follow a plant-based diet. On the other side, it is also important to understand people who are not vegan. If there is one way to turn people off beckoning vegan, it is a vegan that does not understand or judges them. Remember this is a lifestyle, not a diet, start slow and see how your mind and body feel in the process.

Images from: https://pixabay.com

Sincerely Madia & Matilda 

Summer of Cutlture - Things to do this Summer

Cultural trips? Outdoor gigs? Summer pub crawls or foodie festivals? You’re spoilt for choice this summer, so get that diary filled to make it your best one yet.


With the help of Blogger Thaiane Dalvino (@itsthaii)  We’ve rounded up things for you to add to your must-do list, from the best spots for a cold summer pint to the biggest events heading to the city, plus epic days out that the whole family can enjoy. They’re best enjoyed while to weather is at its peak, so get to it!



London

Finally it's summer in London and we present you this beautiful place, found in London Battersea. Lost Society, a cocktail bar/ restaurant with a garden on the external area. 

The decoration was designed by the Casa Jaguar Design that provide us this amazing botanical haven and lots of different ambient, colours and textures though the place. Amazing for celebrations, meetings and a beautiful back drop for your inta stories!

Don't miss the opportunity to visit the garden on this summer. The hot weather might not last long!

National Park City Festival from Jul 20 to Jul 28. Take part in hundreds of events and activities across the week all celebrating the city’s green spaces, trees, waterways and natural environment.

There’ll be urban wildlife walks, free fitness sessions, outdoor theatre, explorations of London’s lesser-known green spaces, family activities, workshops, opportunities to look after green spaces, boat trips, bike rides, tree trails and more. 

Watch out for special boat trips, like the upcoming Movies on the river night, or 

Summer by the River 

Credits

https://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/summer-by-the-river

 Thaiane Dalvino (@itsthaii) Dress Issabella - SS20 Madia & Matilda at the Lost Society London

Go site seeing  or looking for educational days out with the kids why not try out The Postal Museum this summer? In greater London is one of our all-time favourites! Featuring a mini railway, a play area and lots of interactive exhibits, it’s a great place to go if you’re looking for indoor summer activities. If you’ve got kids under 8, be sure to pick up a Mail Rail Family Trail booklet - it’s included in your ticket.

If the Postal Museum, not for you take a look at this list of 10 great family-friendly museums in the UK instead.

Credits https://www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/blog/summer-activities-things-to-do

 Bristol

In central Bristol for a day? The Coffee House Project is the first of its kind in Bristol. A caffeine-fuelled celebration of the best the city has to offer, this two day coffee festival focuses on local, artisan roasters, independent food and drink retailers and home-grown

when? From 7 Sept 2019to8 Sept 2019 Our kind our festival! 

Credits

https://visitbristol.co.uk/whats-on/the-coffee-house-project-p2444593

 Or are you looking for something more cultural?! As the home of Banksy, Bristol is full of creatives and Upfest – Europe’s largest urban paint festival and a rare chance to see some of the best graffiti artists work their magic right in front of your eyes. No need to leave the kids at home either... It’s a great day out for the whole family, with lots of creative workshops and activities for the little ones.  

Bristol festivals are world famous. Take the Bristol balloon festival – an international fiesta of hot air balloons spanning four glorious days each summer. Head to Ashton Court Estate and watch mass ascents of balloons in all sorts of amazing shapes and sizes, morning and night. There’s also night glows set to music, fireworks and lots more family fun.


Then there is Bristol Harbour Festival, the mother of all maritime festivals, which celebrates the city’s vibrant Harbourside. You can watch daredevil stunts, go on leisurely boat rides, nod your head along to local bands and eat and drink Bristol fashion from the many amazing market stalls.

Into finding your inner chi? Join Bristol's first Yoga and Vegan festival in the lovely green campus of Fairfield High School. Participate in all-day long Yoga & meditation sessions, enjoy yummy vegan and raw vegan food, shop for vegan products and attend talks on mental health and wellness

Credits 

https://visitbristol.co.uk/whats-on/bristol-yoga-and-vegan-festival-p2744623

Leeds 

There are a few events to take note of, if you are in leeds over the holidays, the first is Yorkshire Sculpture International is the UK’s largest dedicated sculpture festival, a series of exhibitions, international commissions, events and learning programmes not seen on a scale anywhere else – with sculpture in its broadest forms on display across four major galleries and outdoors in Leeds and Wakefield.

This first festival builds upon Yorkshire’s rich history as the birthplace of pioneering sculptors, including Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore, and as the home of this unique consortium of galleries and celebrated sculpture collections. Definitely worth checking out!

Reflecting the curatorial theme put forward by British artist Phyllida Barlow that ‘sculpture is the most anthropological of the artforms’ 

Credits yorkshire-sculpture.org/

Leeds Pride is Yorkshire’s biggest celebration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans* life. Running since 2006 and is now the largest Pride in the UK to still be a completely free event with over 40,000 people attending. It is also considered the UK’s friendliest Pride. The celebrations are run by a skilled team of volunteers with close links to local Leeds LGB&T community and the event is funded through community fundraising.

Over the Leeds Pride weekend there will be a whole host of events celebrating love, equality, sexuality and gender identity across the city. This is the 13th year that Leeds Pride has taken place.

Where you ask?

All over the city! The fun all starts at the Millennium Square Stage on the Sunday and the parade then heads through Leeds before ending up on Lower Briggate for a massive party to round off a wonderful day. Sunday 4th August

Cornwall 

Cornwall the home of the Cornish pasty, beautiful British beaches there's plenty of things to do during this summer in Cornwall. 

We found this great little restaurant for foodies, 12 Beach Road, overlooking Towan beach in Newquay, combines the best local produce with global flavour fusion.
The new restaurant brings modern, relaxed, family dining to the north Cornish coast along with Yallah artisan coffee and beachy cocktails.

Credits 

https://cliffhousenewquay.com/12-beach-road-newquay/

Afterwards you could watch a performance at the Minack Theatre in a spectacular location to watch theatre. Or visit the Oasis Fun Pools with the kids, based in the North Coast, Newquay

The Oasis Fun Pools at Hendra is great indoor and outdoor splashtastic fun for the whole family with flumes, fountains, a geyser, river rapid ride, waterfall, and toddles area.  Also a café, bar and much more! But, if your more of an Adrenalin junky, take the zip wire at Adrenalin Quarry near Liskeard. In numbers, the zip wire is 490 metres long, suspended 50 metres above a flooded quarry, and you can reach speeds of 40mph. Not for the faint-hearted.

Credits https://www.cornwalllive.com/all-about/newquay

But, if you prefer some light hearted fun, why not watch or get involved in the Crantock bale push in September, teams push a hay bale over 400lbs in weight around the village in one of the craziest fundraising events in Cornwall. Takes place on the second Friday of each September.

For a slower pace and for the adventurer in you, Cornwall has  some of the best views and beaches, St Michael's Mount  has some great views and at the most southerly point of mainland UK, Lizard Point is a wild and weather-beaten chunk of land which stands strong against the elements in the Atlantic Ocean. There is excellent walking to be had all along here, as well as stunning views and a cracking cream tea.

Sincerely Madia

& Matilda

Mind Week - Mental Health Awareness Week

Mental Health Awareness Week starts every year on the second Monday in May, Mental Health Awareness Week 2019 will be taking place 13 -19 May.  We all know what it’s like to feel stressed - being under pressure is a normal part of life. But becoming overwhelmed by stress can lead to mental health problems or make existing problems worse.

Taking steps to look after your wellbeing can help you deal with pressure, and reduce the impact that stress has on your life.

There are still lots of practical things you can do to manage the amount of pressure you're under day to day.

We have complied a list of services that can support and advise on practical steps to help you 

Mind

Mind provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. We campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.

Everything we say and do is rooted in the experiences of people who know what it’s like to live with a mental health problem. That includes the thousands of people who rely on our local and national services, our incredible supporters and campaigners, our fundraisers, volunteers, staff and trustees. Their experiences bring our work to life.

Mind provide life-saving information when people need it most. Mind bang on doors and call for change; they demand that people get the support they need and the respect they deserve. And we show that there are actions we can all take to challenge stigma and transform experiences of mental health for the better. 

Rethink Metal Illness

Rethink Mental Illness is a charity that believes a better life is possible for the millions of people affected by mental Illness. For 40 years we have brought people together to support each other through our services, groups and campaign

CALM

The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is leading a movement against male suicide, the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK. Join the campaign to take a stand against male suicide and get the tools you need for action.

Child line 

Childline is a support service to help with whatever's on your mind to guide you & help you make decisions that are right for you.

Their tips and techniques, ideas and inspiration, can help you feel more in control and you can access them in your own time, at your own pace!

Beyond Blue

The Beyond Blue programme is aimed at mothers who develop mental health issues during or after pregnancy. It has recently been launched at the Bright Beginnings Children's Centre.

Samaritans

Samaritains make sure there’s someone there for anyone who needs someone.

Every year, they answer more than 5 million calls for help via their unique 24-hour listening service, email, SMS, letter, face to face and through our Welsh language service.

Samaritans give people ways to cope and the skills to be there for others.

From us at Madia & Matilda, We hope this list of available services, can be of some support or comfort for you, as mental health is so important to take care of and discuss how you are feeling. 

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Foodie - Vegan Cinnamon Doughnuts

Vegan Cinnamon Doughnuts

Ingredients

For the batter1 1/4 cup plain flour
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice/all spice
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/3 cup pumpkin pureé
2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla
​
For the Cinnamon Sugar Coating
1/4 cup melted coconut oil or vegan butter
1 cup organic sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon

The recipe

Preheat the oven to 180°C and grease the doughnut tin.

In a large bowl mix the flour, spices, baking powder and salt. In another bowl lightly whisk the brown sugar, almond milk, pumpkin pureé, coconut oil and the vanilla.

Next combine the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients a little at a time, this should result in a thick batter.

Then, using a spoon to fill the tray, make sure that the mixture is evenly distributed in each mould. 

Bake for 10-12 minutes.

Leave to cool on a wire rack and prepare the sugar coating.

In one bowl, mix the sugar and cinnamon, in another pour the coconut oil or vegan butter. Make sure the oil/butter is a liquid but not too hot.

Once the doughnuts are suitably cooled, dip one side into the oil/butter and then straight into the cinnamon sugar mix.

If they last long enough, you can display them on a cake plate or stand.

If you want to find out more information about this recipe, click here. #madiamatilda if you would like to share your creations with us

Sincerely Madia & Matilda