With the current lockdown and strict tier system in place, this is the perfect time to focus on the mind and body. With our quick yoga tips you can begin to practice self-care at home.
With the current lockdown and strict tier system in place, this is the perfect time to focus on the mind and body. With our quick yoga tips you can begin to practice self-care at home.
Christmas is closely approaching and it is the perfect time to start thinking about gifts for your loved ones and yourself. We have created a Madia & Matilda wish list for you to browse, helping you find some inspiration from our favourite products this season.
Share and follow our social media, mention us on Instagram, for a special chance to win a product from our wish list!
During the first lockdown the world saw everyone become obsessed with banana bread - people were sharing recipes, attempting to cook it at home and posting about it on social media. For lockdown 2.0 we found a slightly different recipe for those of you who did not get to try it out last time or for those who want to cook it again but with a little twist. So if you are looking for a fun activity to do during this lockdown - keep reading!
This banana bread is different from the typical as it is made with oats and blueberries. Oats are nutritious and will fill you up for hours whilst blueberries are known for being one of the best sources for antioxidants!
This particular recipe is also perfect for our vegan readers as it contains no dairy or eggs.
The ingredients you will need are:
Bananas
Baking powder
Baking soda
Salt
Almond milk (unsweetened)
Blueberries (fresh or frozen)
Oats
Light spelt flour
Grapeseed oil/light flavored oil/applesauce
Vanilla extract
Cinnamon
First you need to mash your bananas by hand - the best way to do so is by using the back of a slotted spoon or fork.
Mix together the flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add to that the mashed bananas, oil and almond milk. Mix to combine, just until the flour is incorporated - make sure you do not overmix. Then, gently fold in the blueberries.
Pour the batter into a lightly greased loaf pan. Optionally, add a few blueberries strategically to the top and sprinkle a small handful of oats over top.
Place in a preheated oven and bake for 50 to 55 minutes, rotating once halfway through. The top of your bread should turn golden. If you stick a toothpick in the center it will come out clean.
Once done, let cool for 15 minutes in the pan and then place on a rack to cool completely.
Hope you enjoy!
Recipe from The Simple Veganista: https://simple-veganista.com/
Sincerely Madia & Matilda
The Linda Midi Dress
Available in Black and Red
Linda Midi Dress in black |
Linda Midi Dress in red |
Linda Midi Dress in red |
Shop Madia and Matilda a black-owned business |
Black Friday is here. The most popular shopping day of the year, where brands sell their products at discounted prices for customers, encouraging customers to purchase Christmas gifts. A range of retailers participate around the UK.
However, behind the day of discounts and shopping galore, there is more to Black Friday that meets the eye. There are many speculations on the internet regarding the truth behind this particular day. There have been reports that during the 1800s, Black Friday was a day named by plantation owners, as they bought slaves at discounted prices after the celebration of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving originated from the Harvest Festival, which ended before winter and families would need additional work and required slaves, therefore, these theories are based on a certain element of the truth.
Due to the current lockdown situation, most shops are currently shut and who knows what will be open in time for Christmas. Sadly, having a festive browse in the popular retail outlet stores of London and the famous Christmas markets that bring us that Christmas cheer, is not currently an option. Therefore, turning to online shopping has become the new normal of 2020. Now, this will also apply to Christmas this year.
Sincerely Madia & Matilda
Vegan Chicken Noodle Soup, perfect for winter
(via @cleaneatswithcleo)
Ingredients
1 tbsp olive oil
1 large yellow or white onion, chopped
4-5 large carrots, peeled and cut into coins
4-5 celery stalks, sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp fresh thyme (dried works too)
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 15-oz can of chickpeas
10 cups vegetable broth - you can add more to achieve desired consistency!
8 - 8.8 oz of noodles, I used @barillauschickpea rotini
Fresh dill for serving (or parsley!)
Heat olive oil over medium high heat. Add onions, carrots, celery and cook until softened.
Add the garlic and thyme, salt and pepper and cook for 2-3 minutes.
Add vegetable broth and bring mixture to a boil. Add the chickpeas or chicken and pasta, reduce to a simmer and cover for 15 minutes.
Sincerely Madia & Matilda
During lockdown the comfort of your home might start to feel a bit confining and your everyday walk too monotonous. Lucky for you, we have a couple of ideas to help make your daily stroll more exciting!
Image from: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/
Have a chat with your loved ones. Maybe suggest your mom, dad, sibling or friend also go for a quick hike and give you a call. That way it feels almost as if you are walking together! It is also a good way to check in on how they are doing. Talking through your emotions and thoughts can help a lot with the stress you might feel during the lockdown.
Try out photography! It doesn't matter whether you think of yourself as a good photographer or not - this is the time to practice. You can just use your smartphone and look out for interesting things to capture during your walk.
Make up lyrics - keep your mind busy by making up new lyrics for a tune you like or even try to write a poem in your head.
Listen to podcasts. There are tons of podcasts and audiobooks on the internet that will definitely make your walk more interesting.
Play counting games. Take in your surroundings by counting things like how many types of dogs, flowers or shoes you see on the way.
Remember, walking is one of the best ways to both reduce anxiety and keep yourself active. We hope this list will help you to do so!
Sincerely Madia & Matilda
Here we are - back in another national lockdown. During these four weeks you might begin to feel overwhelmed by it all or anxious about the future. We are here to help and for that we have composed a list of things you can do to make this period a little more easier and fun.
Start journaling. Writing down your thoughts can be very cathartic and help you gain some perspective on your emotions.
Image from MetroParent
https://www.metroparent.com/
Learn a language. What better time to do so than right now?
The language learning app Duolingo
Declutter and organize your wardrobe! Decide which clothes you do not use anymore and recycle them. If you find that you might need some new pieces - check out Madia & Matilda! Out with the old in with the new – yes, that’s right, this is the ideal time to get rid of all those unwanted clothes in your wardrobe – recycle, make it sustainable, re sell, or create new garments. Take this time to fill your wardrobe with things that are lockdown appropriate, for example, loungewear like our Kirsty top. Need some help decluttering why not try out our virtual styling consultations we can help you to declutter.
Clarisse Skirt from Madia & Matilda
https://www.madiamatilda.co.
Learn a new dance! Whether you're quarantining by yourself or with friends and family, dancing will definitely help lift your spirits.
Cook something you've never tried before. Staying at home can become quite boring - bring a little excitement into your meals by trying out new recipes.
Image from The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/
Sitting down with your loved ones and celebrating - it all seems picture perfect. However, there is a side to this beloved holiday that is nothing but the opposite of perfect. As The Sunday Post reports: “We throw away a shocking amount, from six million Christmas trees to over 227,000 miles of wrapping paper. Our crimes against festive food are even worse. We chuck out approximately two million turkeys, 74 million mince pies and 17.2 million Brussel sprouts.”
Image from GPT The Waste Solution https://gptwaste.com/6-facts-
This kind of wastage takes a huge toll on our planet! Thankfully, there are ways for us to be more sustainable. Here are some ideas:
Organise your food! Don't throw out the leftovers but try to think of ways to use them in your cooking the days following Christmas or if you have bought too much food you can always do a good deed and donate it to your local shelter.
Gift activities or experiences rather than material things - your present will be much more worthwhile and make a memory rather than going unused and
eventually getting thrown away if the recipient ends up not liking it.
Buy presents from sustainable brands. For example, gift your loved one something from Madia & Matilda!
Knitted hat from Madia & Matilda
https://www.madiamatilda.co.
Use recycled wrapping paper!
Recycled wrapping paper from Ethical Superstore
Instead of buying a Christmas tree, rent it instead.
Try sending Ecards or a festive video instead of a Christmas card, you could even send it with a M&M gift Voucher https://www.madiamatilda.co.uk/allclothing-madiamatilda/GIFT-VOUCHER-c14721567
Ecard from CrossCards
https://www.crosscards.com/