February Favourite Healthy Products

Well, it's time for me to say it. I am trying to go vegan. Now everyone will be freaking out because ohhhhmyggoood she's going to turn everyone into a grass-eater and hate everyone who eats meat or fish or eggs or milk blah blah blah.

PLEASE. Who the hell do you think I am?

FIRST, almost the entire world knows I am lactose intolerant and allergic to eggs, so yeah, I can either be omnivore or basically directly vegan, I can't be vegetarian since I cannot eat those two elements anyway.

SECOND, I am doing it to try and see if it has any good effect on my health and body and for environmental reasons. I read online different things, good and bad as it's a controversial topic on which there is also a lot of ignorance and prejudice which keeps information to directly get to you. Also, a lot of research is still been done about it so new stuff keeps coming out. Still, I have never been a fan of the idea of eating animals, it's just empathy, maybe, I don't know. I simply found it not too different to eat one another, I mean if we didn't have animals we probably would.

BUT I don't give an utter shit if you DO eat meat or eggs or milk or fish or whatever the hell you like because this is just MY choice at the moment to see if I can get any benefit from this lifestyle but I am not going to be one of those people who rant about having to go vegan, hate on people who aren't, judge, and I am certainly not going to turn down meat or fish once in a while if I happen to be offered some or just feel like eating it.

I just want to see on myself if I can get any of the results I read online and if I actually can feel better. If not then, oh well I tried.

SO, that said, here there are my favourite products of February, talking about food and health!

1) Rude Health Muesli Super Fruity

This is definitely one of my favourite muesli of all time. My breakfast, as many of you already know, is one of my favourite meal of the day. Screw that, it's my ABSOLUTE favourite meal of the day. I always have muesli but I try not to go for the refined sugar packed one with loads of artificial shit in it that tastes like sugary stuff and not like oats and raisins and fruits and seeds. I like crunchy muesli, but I don't go for seed-y ones as I freaking love raisins and dried fruits and I appreciate it not being too crunchy and hard. So this one, with absolutely not added refined sugars, no wheat and no nuts is a freaking amazing recipe. They just taste... awesome! If I could I would go through the whole package in a couple of days! So yeah, they are definitely my favourite, at the moment, adding some special feeling to my lovely morning soya yogurt and berries.

2) Virginia Harvest Cold-Milled Flaxseed

I don't know if any of you is familiar with flaxseeds but... they are just THE thing. I usually put either them or Chia Seeds in my morning breakfast as they are full of Omega 3, Proteins (that I definitely want to get as much as I can since I don't get them from meat or fish or eggs or dairy), Iron, Magnesium, Potassium and Manganese other than being a huge source of dietary fibre. So yeah, they taste nice and are slightly.... munchy-crunchy that makes them lovely to have in the morning and help me kickstart my day. Moreover, they are gluten-free, not genetically modified, cholesterol free and nut free (in case you have any allergy!)

3) Meridian Smooth Almond Butter

I seriously don't know where this had been all my life. It tastes like pure heaven. Like, it's smooth, soft, slightly salted, almond-y... it is seriously as if I took almonds and made them jelly-ish. I swear! It tastes gorgeously with any type of bread and it's a fabulous snack! Obviously we don't have to exaggerate with it if we care about our silouette since well yes it is always butter-ish and it contains fats. It's completely diary-free and most fats are Omega 3 healthy fats so that makes us feel a bit less guilty, doesn't it? Oh, well, I don't feel any guilt...

4) Biona Organic Coconut Oil

I think I will never stop saying how nice this tastes. I have been using it to make my new love, my Banana Bread, and it just tastes lovely. It's useful for weight loss, it's packed with loads of healthy nutrients and it's just so sweet and exotic that it adds an amazing flavours to every dish. I use it in my salads, good alternative to olive oil, or I also use it in my spelt dishes for dinner. It's lovely to stir all of my vegetables in a pan with just a teaspoon of that, it adds so much flavour and exoticness to a dish that could result as boring! Like, you have no idea how much I am loving my dinners lately. Also, they are packed with energy and, since I suffer from fatigue, that helps a lot.

5) Mori-Nu Silken Firm Tofu

How could magic tofu not been included on my healthy-shit-ranting? Of course here it is! I had never tasted tofu before, I admit, I was scared it tasted awful. But guess what? It doesn't. It's actually lovely, it doesn't have a strong flavour and it's perfect with anything. I put it into salads, grill it, cook it... what you can do with it is neverending. Soy has so so so many proteins (soybeans, edamame, soy milk, soy yogurt....) and it's absolutely fundamental to who doesn't get proteins from animals and animal products. Of course I don't want to have any nutrient deficiency and I surely want to use artificial integrators as less as I can. So yeah, tofu is a great choice and I am very much liking it. Also, it costs SO much less than any steak or fish fillet.

6) Waitrose Pearled Spelt

Okay, yes, I discovered Waitrose and lately my dinners have mostly been composed of grains, proteins and vegetables of any sort. Spelt is definitely one of my favourite in terms of taste (oh my good it's sooooo nice) and nutrients. It contains few fats and lots of proteins even being a grain! It gives you a lot of energy and minerals. It's not gluten-free, though. Aaaaand it takes 20 minutes to cook which, since I hate waiting, makes me look like that person who keeps looking at the water hoping for it to boil faster. But oh well, what can you do.

7) Chia Seeds Cibocrudo

I was skeptical about Chia Seeds as I thought they were just very fat and caloric and didn't give many benefits. I was wrong. First, they are full of healthy fats, which is very different. Fat is not all bad, some of it is absolutely fundamental to our nutrition. Second, it is so crunchy and nice I love to munch it under my teeth and hear it 'pop'. Some people put it in water to get it jelly, I love it natural. I alternate them with flaxseed, as you read before, for my breakfast and I never regretted it since.

8) Clipper Organic Orange and Coconut Infusion

Okay, okay, I know you expected this since I have been talking and loving this for ages on any social network. This is the best infusion I have ever tasted. Like, it's like drinking a cake. Seriously, it doesn't even need any sweetener to be absolutely delicious. I have it before going to bed and it feels like I am drinking pure awesomeness. I would inject it in my veins if I could. Also, it's organic, so whoop whoop!

9) Organic Spirulina Powder

This is probably one of my favourite products of all time. I seriously have been having this every morning for like 4 months and I have never felt better. So many proteins, amazing source of CALCIUM which I lack from my lactose intolerance, so much IRON. It tastes disgusting but I always have a tablespoon together with juice and I swear to God you can barely notice it's there. I got used to the taste as well. It's seriously one of the best thing I have during the day. It helps my concentration and energy on such an amazing level. Take my word on this, it's awesome.

10) Slim Lotus Tea

Okay, I have to admit this is a new entry in my life. It definitely is. I bought it as a random buy and read what it actually was online after having it. It's a super green tea, basically. I have been using it for a week but... like it tastes so so so so much better than any other green tea I have ever had (and you all know how much I love green tea) as it's pure leaves you soak in hot water (85°C) and then drink. I know it doesn't sound too nice to say, but seriously my intestine has been working so much better thanks to it! I feel less as a balloon and everything works better on that side. It's amazing! It doesn't have any caffeine so it doesn't interfere with natural energy but it gives you a boost anyway. It's genuinely amazing, even just for the taste. Best random buy ever.

11) Quinoa

Quinoa is another one of my weaknesses. It's a seed but it feels like it's a wholegrain. It tastes gorgeous with seriousl anything and it is packed with proteins! It's also very nice to cook and it's still low in fat, in salt and in sugar. There is not much to say, just try it, it's genuinely awesome.

12) Superfood Raw Peruvian Maca Powder

This is another one of my favourite. And it tastes lovely! Like... malt. You can use it into any non-dairy milk, yogurt, smoothie... anything. It is a huge source of minerals and energy. It boosts metabolism, everyday energy and also helps balancing the hormones. It's so nice I've been using it in my Banana Bread, lately, and it seriously does its job. Definitely gonna be on my shelf for a while.

Aaaaand I guess that was it for today! I hope you liked it, I also want to know what you think of any of this products and which one is your favourite. Let me know in the comments below! I'll let you know how my vegan tryout is going.

Ellie x

PS: Best places where to buy this stuff in Italy is either your healthy food supermarket, Cibocrudo or Amazon :)

Not enough time

Do you ever have the feeling you don't have enough time to do all the things you want to do?

I do. Lately more than usual. I remember a friend of mine used to tell me he was getting frustrated about the fact that he wanted to study as much as he could, train, do stuff but he was compelled to sleep at some point and to him that time was wasted.

At that time I thought he was exaggerating and I felt that being in his mind must be incredibly stressful and frustrating. But now... I think I understand the feeling.

Now let me explain, I know it sounds crazy:

a) I love studying. Yes, I admit I do. But not everything. I like to learn about things that I find interesting and, unluckily (or luckily?) for me, they are an awful lot. I regret so much not to have studied in a different high school because of this, too. I am not studying all of the things I used to, now, as my uni is very sectorial. Also, I work, and it takes away a lot of time to this. In addition, I am an extremely unorganised and inconstant person, which means I start all the way with something and I then get absorbed in something else which makes all the effort I put into my previous work pretty much useless. It happened, for example, with philosophy which I absolutely love but that doesn't sound as interesting when you're studying it on your own. I like to have actual people explaining things. I literally adore listening to good teachers and professors. Or even friends of mine explaining me stuff. I plan on learning loads of stuff by myself: philosophy, literature, history, physics, maths, history of art... It's just... such a nice feeling to be able to know all those things! Argh, I get chills just talking about it!

b) As many of you know I am in the middle of a very important and time-taking process of writing a book. I am almost to page 200 and it is taking away most of my time. Well, I want it to. Thing is I get very distracted by the internet and it is very difficult to me to write while I am at home here in Italy. I need to be surrounded by a specific environment to be able to put all my effort into writing. This is one of the reasons why my writing has been inconsistent during this last year. But I am now fully back on it and working like crazy on organising all of the research I did about the main topic and all the things I already wrote. It's harder than it sounds, I had genuinely forgot how hard you have to work to make something like that work.

c) I am a book addict. That's as much as I can say to justify myself (if I really have to). I am always reading some kind of books and sometimes even more than one at the time. My favourite time to read is before bed, as it relaxes me and I get fully on it. Lately, though, I have been dedicating myself a lot to writing so I struggled to find the time to read. This year, in addition, I set myself a goal of books to read, so I really want to read them all! It's just frustrating I can't do more than one thing at once.

d) I really enjoy training, going to the gym or keeping myself fit, anyway. It's nothing too big, I just enjoy keeping myself busy and for a mind as stressed and agitated as mine that's the best way of calming me down and just make me proud of what I do. I know it sounds weird said by me, but I genuinely get disappointed when I don't manage to do anything during the daytime. It just makes me feel good, maybe it's because of endorphins I have no idea but it just is and I struggle to find the time to do that also because it's freaking cold outside!

e) I am a film-lover and I spend days browsing through different kind of films, trying to find the one that suits my taste and sounds interesting. When I get into one, then, I need to make everyone aware of how good or how bad it is so it also takes away time emotionally. I know, it's weird, it's just that I have a massive list of films I want to see and between all of these things to do... how the hell am I going to find the time to watch a 2 or 3 hours film? In my sleep?

f) I unfortunately (or luckily?) work. So that... definitely takes away a lot of time. And it's tiring too. And when I am tired creating is just out of reach. Like, definitely impossible. My mind shuts down and oh, that's frustrating.

g) This is definitely unfortunate because I have sometimes to go to doctors to get checked, and we all know how long we usually wait at the doctor/dentist/therapist.

h) My physiological need to eat can't really be skipped and I am also quite picky, as many of you know. This means I spend a lot of time buying organic and good stuff I can make into something appealing and healthy. I noticed such a HUGE improvement in my health since I have been doing this that is actually... incredible and I'll never stop suggesting this to everybody.

i) I aaaaalso work as a Youtuber, videomaker and photographer so... that is not a job that takes away just a few minutes. I wish it did! Oh, well, I'd actually prefer the other one to do so. But yeah, I need to be available all the time and when someone needs a shoot it may take away entire days! And let's not even start with the editing. That takes ages sometimes.

l) I have friends and a family I cannot really ignore. And I don't want too. Sometime though, I have no idea how to manage it all.

So that's part of what's going on in my head. There are loads of other more private things I have to do and keep checked and think about and I am just HOW THE HELL CAN I DO ALL THIS, I WANT TO DO ALL THIS, WHY CAN'T I? I slept less and less, I tried to do more at once but.. yeah it doesn't help. So yes, that's frustrating. I feel like I need a timeturner.

Just join me into this rambling of stress.

Did it ever happen to you? When? How?

x

Ellie

The Amazing Superfoondom Salad

Ingredients: 

• Lettuce - Lattuga
• Kale = Game of Thrones, because it sounds like Kaal and Kaleesi and it's full of iron, vitamines and minerals which make you stronger
• Blueberries - Mirtilli = Doctor Who, because they are blue and full of antioxidants and vitamines to keep you young as if you could regenerate (well, kind of)
• Tomato - Pomodoro = American Horror Story because it's usually reconnected with blood and it just feels like it belongs to that serie
• Cucumber(batch) - Cetriolo = Sherlock, because come on I don't need to explain this
• Mango = Shadowhunters, whoever read the 4th book will know why and it just tastes awesome
• Pomegranate - Melograno = Supernatural. It resembles blood drops and its antioxidant power is just a boost of energy and concentration, plus I'd totally see Dean despising it and trying to get the grains out of the skin cursing while Sam laughs and Cas makes a weird confused face.
• Carrot - Carota = Glee, I don't even need to specify why, people will get it.
• Shrimps - Gamberi = Hunger Games because they remind me of my beloved Finnick. 
• Maca Powder = Harry Potter, because it totally looks like Floo Powder.

This is one of my favourite salads ever. I usually make it accompany some quinoa and cooked vegetables or put some sweet potatoes or salmon flakes in it, dressing it just with a pinch of salt, some coconut or olive oil and a splash of balsamic vinagre. It tastes amazing, my mouth is watering right now and it doesn't take long to make! It's full of nutrients, boosting with proteins, minerals, antioxidants, omega 3, good carbs and fruity sugars. Plus, I made it thinking about all of the damn fandoms I am or was part of, making it even more enjoyable to eat! It feels me up and gives me a lot of energy to keep me going until dinner where I will have something hot like quinoa or cous cous or spelt or rice with vegetables, a vegetable and sweet potatoes soup or an amazing pizza to which I will NEVER say no. I mean, come on it's Gods' food. 

So, while I cry thinking about the angst all this fandoms brought me to, I can pretend I am chopping some onions and eat this gorgeous looking salad. I just love it. I want it. Now. Going downstairs to make some and a vegetarian sandwich. Mmmh. Food. Yess. Hope you will enjoy it! Any tip for anything else to add? :3

ITALIAN:

Questa è una delle mie insalate preferite in assoluto. Solitamente la accompagno con della quinoa e delle verdure cotte o ci metto delle patate dolci dentro o dei fiocchi di salmone, condendola con un pizzico di sale, dell'olio di cocco o d'oliva e una spruzzata di aceto balsamico. E' buonissima! Ho l'acquolina in bocca ora, e non ci vuole manco tanto a farla! E' piena di nutrienti fondamentali e una sferzata di proteine, minerali, antiossidanti, omega 3, carboidrati buoni e fruttosio! In più, la ho creata pensando a tutti quei maledetti fandom di cui faccio o facevo parte così è pure più interessante e divertente da mangiare! Mi riempie un sacco e mi dà un sacco di energia per arrivare a cena dove mangerò qualcosa di caldo come della quinoa o del cous cous, o del farro o del riso con verdure o magari una zuppa bollente di verdure e patate dolci o magari una meravigliosa pizza alla quale non rinuncerò MAI. Andiamo, voglio dire, è il cibo degli Dei. 

Quindi, mentre pianto pensando a tutto l'angst che tutti questi fandom mi hanno portato a provare, posso fingere di stare tagliando delle cipolle e mangiare questa bellissima insalata! La adoro, giuro. La voglio. Ora. Bene ora me ne vo al piano di sotto a farmene un po' e dei panini vegetariani. Mmmmh. Cibo. Sssssssì. 

Spero vi piaccia! Qualche consiglio di qualcos'altro da aggiungerci? :3 Fatemi sapere se vi ha gustato!

Ellie

Bzzz, approda sulla piattaforma.

Perchè diamine sto aprendo un blog? Bah, non lo so, in realtà. Probabilmente perchè avrei sempre qualcosa da dire ma spesso mi viene meglio scriverla che formularla nella testa e farmela scivolare fuori dalla bocca.

Insomma sì, penso che darò voce a pensieri random della giornata o della settimana in qualche post sconclusionato e a libera interpretazione. Sì, lasciamo stare, l'organizzazione di questo blog è pari a quella nella mia testa, già.

Bè, allora iniziamo con le riflessioni elaborate ultimamente, da qualche parte dovrò pur partire.

• Nuovo Papa, wow, meravigliosa notizia della quale onestamente mi interessa quanto a un pesce morto di economia politica. Non cambierà nulla, lasciatelo là e amen. La cosa inquietante è che ha un intero fandom al seguito! Gente che gridava "Vai, Papa!". Cosa sono, cioè se le fan di Twilight sono Twilighters quelle del Papa sono le Papaiters? Papette? Papettine? Non lo so, il fanatismo del seguito è imbarazzante. Saranno fan della Bibbia, non lo so.
• E' già fottutamente marzo e tra meno di 100 giorni starò piangendo davanti alla porta di casa per non dovere andare a fare la maturità, già.
• La politica è diventata una partita a rubamazzetto, non mi dilungo nemmeno sul quanto siano tutti pessimi a giocare.
• Devo disintossicarmi dal fandom perchè vedere ship ovunque sta diventando assolutamente fuori luogo ed imbarazzante. Soprattutto real life ship, ma il problema è quando rigiri la frittata per riuscire a portarne una all'esame. Riuscirò a ficcare nella tesina Enjorlas e Grantaire. No, non posso. Oh, sì, invece.
• Sono tornata a vedere Les Miserables ed ho già espresso il mio parere quindi copierò e incollerò in tutta la mia trasgressività. Non solo gli attori sono stati assolutamente sublimi, ma è proprio un gran bel film, coinvolgente, con un grande messaggio di forza d'animo. 
  Anne Hathaway, soffermiamoci un secondo sulla bravura di questa donna. Se potessi andrei là a baciarle i piedi, cristoddio, ha fatto un'interpretazione di straordinaria intensità, completamente calata nella parte, realistica, devastante, vera, assolutamente perfetta. Un oscar non solo vinto ma strameritato.
  Hugh Jackman che ha dato il 200% in un personaggio che credo abbia incarnato in maniera eccellente, e canta, eccome se canta.
  Peccato per Russel Crowe che ha assolutamente privato il personaggio di Javert di qualsiasi espressione, davvero peccato perchè è un personaggio che adoro e carico di sfumature pazzesche. L'attore che lo ha interpretato al concerto del 25esimo anniversario purtroppo da questo punto di vista gli fa il culo.
  Colonne sonore pazzesche (sì, è tutto pazzesco), canzoni dal vivo e cori pazzeschi. Ambientazione meravigliosa e costumi magnifici. Non nascondo che tornerei a vederlo immediatamente, nonostante la lunghezza ed il mio odio radicato per Amanda Seyfried.
  Una menzione speciale anche a Eddie Redmayne che ha interpretato alla perfezione Empty Chairs and Empty Tables, al punto che mi sarei voluta cavare gli occhi per asciugarli dalle lacrime. Aaron Tveit, tu grandissimo Enjorlas. Samantha eccezionale, come sempre. Molto bravo anche Daniel Huttlestone, un perfetto e monellissimo Gavroche. (Oh, God, medaglia).
  Bè, quindi sì, credo sia un film veramente ben realizzato e ben interpretato, assolutamente potente e allo stesso tempo devastante. Oh, e non dimentichiamo l'eccentrica Helena Bonham Carter e Sacha Baron Cohen nei panni degli assurdi Thénardier. Insomma sì, questo post infinito e incredibilmente inutile posso dire adieu e tornare a cantare Can You Hear The People Sing. 
• Ho visto Upside Down, non guardatelo, vi prego.
• Oddio domani parto per Londra, aiuto.
• Oddio è la fine.
• Ho troppe OTP.
• Voglio studiare le materie che amo, non quelle imposte dalla mia inutile scuola. Datemi letteratura e filosofia, vi prego.
• Troppo shopping da fare per le mie tasche.
• Ho voglia di pollo. (?)

Detto questo wow, se ne è andato un post, FICO.

Me ne vado, dovrei anche studiare.

Dovrei.

AHAHAHAH, no.

Ellie