I’ve been feeling exceptionally spring like this week, we have been enjoying some amazing weather. All of a sudden I’ve started craving things like crisp green apples, refreshing smoothies (well I kind of always crave those), strawberries and asparagus. I can’t wait for the spring to really kick in!

Pretty sunrise!

This has been a good workout week:

• Sunday – AM outdoor run approx 3.5 – 4.5 miles, 30 minute power yoga flow
• Monday – AM 5 min cross trainer warm up, strength workout B from Base phase of Female Body Breakthrough, 10 min HIIT step machine, 10 min HIIT bike
• Tuesday – AM free style yoga, PM 20 min HIIT, Body Pump
• Wednesday – AM 5 min cross trainer warm up, strength workout A from Base phase of Female Body Breakthrough, 10 min HIIT step machine, 10 min HIIT bike
• Thursday – PM Yoga class
• Friday – AM 5 min cross trainer warm up, strength workout B from Base phase of Female Body Breakthrough, 10 min HIIT step machine, 10 min HIIT bike

My yoga class last night was really good, we did some tougher poses that really challenged me and left me feeling really stretched! Food wise I’ve been using up that magic mixture all week, firstly spread inside a herbed socca served with lettuce and alfalfa sprouts:

I also had some spread on home made raw juice pulp crackers with a pile of veggies for lunch:

I’ve also been using up some tins of Amy’s soup I’d been sent ages ago for review:

This was the vegetable and barley soup topped with sprouts and alongside some Lydia’s raw crackers. I also had a tin of the lentil and vegetable soup with blue corn chips on the side for dinner last night:

Both were pretty good for a tinned soup! Of course no week of mine would be complete without a green smoothie or two! I had a massive craving for one yesterday morning so made a light one in a glass to accompany my raw granola and coffee:

The smoothie contained spinach, alfalfa sprouts, a pear and a nectarine blended with water and a few drops of vanilla stevia. I had it along with a bowl of Living Intentions raw cacao granola and some home made almond milk. I also had a green smoothie post workout, a chocolate pear and ginger one made with the amazing new stevia sweetened Chocolate Hemp protein powder from Good Hemp, spinach, sprouts, pear, fresh ginger and topped with dried pear, buckwheaties and bee pollen:

Snacks wise I’ve been enjoying apple and carrot with raw tahini for dipping…

…nectarine and frozen raspberries with home made almond milk…

…and persimmons with raw matcha green tea cookies and a glass of almond milk:

The best raw milk and cookies ever!

Oh and I have to give a special mention to this amazing Gourmet Raw brownie I tried:

This is the Carob Hazelnut and it is amazing, tastes like Nutella in a bar!

On my weekend send off Love List this week…

Popchips! I loved these when I visited NYC and they are now available here in the UK. I was very kindly sent these to review and can’t wait to try all the varieties. They are available from these retailers. Also…

March arriving – and seeing the light at the end of winter // Pinterest – I’ve become even more obsessed this week! //Having a spring clean in my work office and feeling organised!

What have you been loving this week? Are you feeling full of the joys of spring yet?

I think I’ve had a parcel arrive every day this week, when its not something for me its a gift I’ve ordered for someone else which makes me even more happy!

First up I received my Secret Santa gift from the lovely Nada:

This wasn’t so secret as obviously I had to let her know who she was buying for! I received some gorgeous earrings, a beautiful festive mug and a pack of the most delicious sounding Hotel Chocolat hazelnut truffles.

I also received another Secret Santa gift, when I first mentioned doing Secret Santa only one none blogger commented that they wanted to take part, the lovely Bronagh, who I have also corresponded with via email for some time. I thought it would be fun to organise a little private not so Secret Santa gift swap with her:

She clearly knows me so well! I received some vanilla coffee, some Hotel Chocolat Reindeer a pretty hanging photo frame and the most lovely candied ginger flavour Body Shop lip balm.

It hasn’t stopped there, yesterday I was so excited I screamed a little when I received a package from Jemma:

A few months ago I had signed up to take part in Jemma’s international food swap and unfortunately my partner didn’t hold up her end of the deal so I received nothing in return. Jemma is so kind and thoughtful that she got me some goodies on her trip to the states including blueberry and lavender dark chocolate, nut butter sachets, mini luna bars, flavoured coffees and my absolute fave choc covered sunflower seeds from Trader Joes. What a star she is, thank you so much Jemma :-)

Earlier in the week I also received a package from Amy’s Kitchen with a selection of their soups to try out for review:

I’ve heard of the Amy’s brand from the states so its exciting that they are launching here. I’m really looking forward to tasting some of these!

So not a bad post week! James also helped me out sourcing the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s back catalogue of CD’s so I have that to look forward to arriving! There’s just something lovely about this time of year and all the parcels being sent and received :-)

Before I go – why not check out Good Hemp’s competition on their Facebook page? Submit a recipe that uses a Good Hemp product and the recipe that gets the most likes will win a Good Hemp hamper worth £100 and a Tefal breakfast set! Even if you don’t have a recipe to submit why not check it out for recipe inspiration and give my honey and hemp granola and honey and hemp muffins recipes a ‘like’ while your at it ;-)

Do you like receiving parcels? What’s the nicest thing you’ve had in the post recently?