Healthy and Delicious Broccoli, Pesto, and Chilli Soup

 I know I'm probably stating the obvious when I say this, (actually I know I'm stating the obvious) but England gets a lot of rain. Whether it's the icy sheets that come with winter winds making you run for a blanket and mug of hot tea, or the pattering showers warmed from the soft sunshine, we're pretty well known for our turbulent weather. And whilst it's usually easy to shrug off the unpredictable downpours with a quick dive into a shop (something else we're pretty well known for) or pull of a hood, the persistence of the rain can sometimes leave you yearning for a bit of sunshine. 

Now this is where this recipe comes in handy. Refreshing, healthy, and the chilli giving it that little bit of ommf!, this recipe will have you dreaming of summer days in the countryside. Given this past week, when London was predicted a month's worth of rain in a couple of days, I could appreciate a little bit of sunshine in a bowl.

Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Sugar Free Chocolate Cookies

This recipe was born from an idea for my friend Helen. For years she has suffered from a severe dairy allergy that has left her unable to eat any desserts except for toffee apples. For me, this is unbelievable. As anyone who knows me can tell you, I have the biggest sweet tooth going. I crave sweet food all the time and the only thing that has stopped me before now from becoming a toothless, obese lard zipping around on an electric wheelchair is finding healthy alternatives to my favourite sweet treats. So when Helen told me how long it had been since she last ate dessert, I paused a minute to pick my jaw up off the floor, and headed straight to the kitchen.

DIY Tee Shirt Yarn

I have a confession to make- I am a massive hoarder. Clothing specifically, and I'm sure others have some other aspect of their lives like books or gadgets (basically something much more constructive) that they can't help but keep every item, despite the protests of sagging bookshelves or limited storage space. In my case it's the umpteen suitcases it takes to transport my closet on moving day, the hours of organising it all into colour-coordinated, razor-sharp folding piles that would put designer stores to shame.  I don't buy clothes unless I desperately want/need it and is good quality, so for me each item of clothing represents the hours of researching it took to find the right piece, the cost, and more importantly, the memories associated with each one. As you can guess, there are clothes in my closet that have been in there for six years or more, and even though they're frayed, have holes, stains, or have lost their shape, I can't bear to part with them and they remain in my wardrobe on the flimsiest of excuses....

Now, you can imagine that the combination of my love of DIY with my hoards of clothes, my tiny London flat can start to resemble a Primark Boxing Day Sale. For all those hoarders like me out there, I dedicate this DIY project to you. Transforming your raggedy tees and dresses into fabric for scarves, rugs, or anything else that takes your fancy is a handy way of keeping your treasured clothes whilst simultaneously freeing up more space in your closet and creating something new. Not to mention, it is ridiculously simple to do!

Nothing Good Gets Away

I love this website, and in particular, this letter on love by John Steinbeck
http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/01/nothing-good-gets-away.html

Ulysses by Lord Alfred Tennyson

Designers and Inspiration

For awhile now, I've been getting interested in Middle Eastern fashion and jewellery designers- their designs just seem reminiscent of the history of the region, and offer a little something different to the high street. Working in a shopping mall means I spend most of my lunch breaks wandering round the shops, and looking at what is on display. All I can say there is not much- all the high street shops stock the same designs, quality of fabric, it's what I call 'conveyor belt' fashion. So when I read an article about emerging designers in Beirut in the latest issue of Real Travel magazine, I checked some of them out online, and I have to say I'm particularly impressed with Nadine Mneimneh ( http://www.nadine-mneimneh.com/p/blog-page_12.html). Her FW2011 collection, with the combination of men's tailoring and japanese kimono, looks fantastic, and I'm already wishing the tailored blazer from the collection was in my wardrobe.

I'm in love with Nada le Cavalier's mosaic jewellery as well- http://www.nadalecavelier.com/ . They work great as statement pieces with a simple outfit, and the simplicity of her charm bracelets look sweet and elegant at the same time.

Palestyle http://www.palestyle.com/#!accessories has also come out with a bold collection of clutch bags that would look great with an LBD. Best of all, a percentage of their sales each year goes towards helping women in Palestinian refugee camps.

2011: Year in Review

I hadn't originally planned on writing one of these, but after my Facebook homepage was inundated with people complaining that '2011 was the worst' etc., I'm feeling compelled to look back at the good points of last year. Sure, at some points of last year there were tears, tantrums, and sticky situations, but I prefer to look back and remember all the good times that have brought me to this new year.

Working in Qatar: Of course, there were times there last year I felt like hitting my head into a wall, but despite those hardships I am glad I went out there and accomplished what I did. After flailing in England to get any decent advice or get my journalism career off the ground, I managed to get published in several magazines and websites thanks to my experiences in Qatar. I grew so much in my archaeological experience and photography, and gained more confidence in my work. Not only that, but I made friends with some pretty amazing people, worked with National Geographic, and traveled all over a country most people hadn't heard of. I also managed to prove to myself that I could again move to a different country and successfully build a life for myself. I also proved that I could stand up for myself, and to trust my decisions and instincts more.

Working at Minerva: I was initially nervous about working as an intern for a magazine, after hearing all the horror stories from other interns and watching The Devil Wears Prada a few too many times. Plus, I'm not very good at making hot drinks. But working at Minerva magazine provided me with invaluable experience that I am certain would not have happened with any other magazine. I participated in every part of the magazine's production, website, even attending press release events, and never once got bored or questioned what I was doing there.

Moving in with John: Finally, after four years together, John and I finally moved in together. It was a little rocky at first; arguments over 'guitar bedsheets', my 'floordrobe', and food shopping. We're both very stubborn and have strong tastes in how we want things to look, but now we're all settled in like an old couple, even if John hasn't given up on those guitar bedsheets.

Going Back to School: After graduating with my BA, I was steadfast against going back to university. I couldn't afford it, but more importantly, I didn't see the point in spending more of my time in a building writing essays when I could already write. Part of my obstinacy was feeling completely overwhelmed after researching journalism courses: which was good, why was that one £11k for one year, whilst this one is £2k? Were these 20 week intensive courses actually reputable, or are they a waste of money? It took several months of research, talking to different people, and finally seeing things in a different perspective to 'I don't need a journalism degree, I just need an opportunity to prove myself' to finally take a deep breath, and apply for the journalism MA at Birkbeck university. I am glad I went back in the end, because in the space of a few months my writing has definitely improved, and I am learning so much knowledge about the way journalism is run. Yes, it is easy to get down and think 'I could have easily gotten an entry journalism job pre-recession' but there's no point looking back and thinking what could have been, instead I just think think that if it has been possible for me to build a successful career in journalism despite the economic climate, then just think how successful I will be when things finally pick up!

Travelling to Morocco: For years, Morocco has been on my bucket list of places to visit, and I finally got my wish when John and I spent a week surfing in Taghazout in November. I had always been fascinated to see the mixture of African, Arabian, and Berber cultures, and Taghazout didn't disappoint. Morocco is full of amazing landscapes, great weather, and friendly people, and after only a week there I was reluctant to leave. I also got to enjoy spending time with my second love, surfing, and in the space of a week improved my ability on the board tenfold.

Those were the big ones, but the year was also littered with many good memories and times that I they deserve a brief mention here: seeing the Red Hot Chili Peppers in concert, going to Secret Garden party festival, having a royal wedding bbq, watching England beat Wales in rugby at the Twickenham Stadium, held a snake, learnt to knit again, went to Qatar's first music festival, seeing Ed Sheeran in concert, seeing Foo Fighters and Biffy Clyro in concert, seeing friends again, getting my SLR camera, ice skating again, exploring London, celebrating my birthday with a National Geographic film crew, dancing the night away at the Doha Dive Club, having weekend lunches with Rasheed and others from church, going back to church after a long absence, going to a jewellery exhibition, going to a book exhibition, watching friends perform at the London Jazz Festival, seeing photography exhibitions at the Southbank Centre, various house parties, getting henna done, fights in the snow, watching films outdoors with picnics at London Bridge amphitheatre, discovering the delights of the Hummingbird Bakery and the Adventure Bar (bad news for my waistline).

2012 is already looking good, I will see you here same time next year :)