On Friday I did one of my favourite things to do in October: visit the farmers market. The farmers market is held at Monument in Newcastle on the first Friday of each month. Most months, you don’t tend to get any fruit and vegetable sellers, but in the autumn a couple turn up, often with a great selection of veggies! My autumn visits have become quite a personal tradition, I think I’ve done this for the past three years now. As well as a couple of things from the farmers market itself, I also raided the Grainger Market, Holland and Barrett and Waitrose:
I stocked up on more vanilla chai tea and some naturally sweetened mince pie filling ready for closer to Christmas. I also got some rainbow chard and squashes, the orange ones from the farmers market and the little kabochas from Waitrose. Then there was some harissa paste and curry powder, chilli cheese, fresh figs, cauliflower and blackberries. Quite a lovely haul of foodie goodies!
I had decided to make a day of my visit, so headed into town early for a treat breakfast:
I couldn’t resist another Pumpkin Spice Latte with a delicious iced cinnamon bun. They tasted utterly gorgeous, but what a reinforcement of how sugary stuff makes me feel, I ended up quite bloated and had a real energy dip a couple of hours later. But it was kind of worth it ;-)
I had also booked my hair appointment for that day and on my way to town I had decided that it was time for a change:
I’ve gone back to a bob! I’ve had my hair in this style on and off for years, and I really don’t know why I bother with anything else as I do feel this suits me the best. It was a bit messy after coming home in the wind and rain in that pic, but I really love it to bits! I had it done at Savannah an Aveda salon, and the stylist was excellent. I also had a complementary neck and head massage and hand and arm massage. It was ‘me’ day bliss!
As well as the treat breakfast I ended up grabbing a brownie from a farmers market stall on the way home:
This should have tasted amazing, it was peanut butter with pretzels, but it was just meh. As I’m doing the Super Conscious Living Programme at the moment, I identified that I had grabbed this because I had allowed myself to get too hungry. I also noticed that when I have too much sugary food my hunger levels get seriously awry. If I had just had my treat breakfast and then a proper meal for lunch, I would have been fine. Lesson learned!
As well as market shopping and getting my hair done, I did a little clothes and beauty shopping:
I got the leave in conditioner at the hairdressers, the Dr Organic face scrub and deodorant from Holland and Barrett and the nail polish from Boots. I’m loving the nail polish, it feels so good to have my nails done! I also got these cheap and cheerful boots from Primark:
Just £22! I needed some new black boots and thought these were a steal. As much as they are cheap, I have several pairs of shoes and boots from Primark that have lasted well with a lot of wear so I’m hoping these will be the same.
Eats wise, I did make up for the meh brownie with a gorgeous dinner:
I made James and I home made organic beef burgers. I had mine on a chard leaf ‘wrap’ with spicy tomato chutney, cheese and red onions along with roasted kabocha squash and roasted broccoli. It’s good to have kabocha back in my life!
More good eats from this weekend include another cracking salad:
Just like the one I made last week, this included caramelised pears but instead of hazelnuts I used pecans and added some dried cranberries along with the goats cheese. Recipe coming in the Newsletter next week!
I also used up some of the market fruit in this lovely snack plate:
This was apple, figs and blackberries with yoghurt, tahini and honey plus a little fresh basil on top!
So it has been a really lovely weekend, Friday left me feeling nicely refreshed. Yesterday I visited my sister and saw my nephews and parents then I had to get down to some work, as I briefly mentioned I’m hopefully going to be delivering some courses in the community and the paper work is crazy! I did make sure I was finished up at my desk by 5.30 so I could enjoy dinner, then have a nice relaxing bath, followed by some dark chocolate. I think I’m doing well with my monthly pledge so far!
How has your weekend been? Do you visit any farmers markets? What’s your favourite thing to buy from them?
Your hair looks great, Laura! I’ve been playing around with the idea of going shorter, but I’ve had long hair for so long that it’s hard to make that change… Maybe someday…
I hit up the farmers’ market almost every weekend, and usually load up on things like carrots, tomatoes, broccoli, cucumbers, chicken, and eggs. But now that squash is in season, you better believe I’ve been loading up on that as well :D
Thanks Amanda, as I said on Twitter you would really suit it like that I think! I wish we had a more regular farmers market, that sounds amazing :-)
Love the new hair Laura, it really suits you!
So many goodies from the farmers market, they are always so much fun to look round. I know exactly what you mean with sugar – I find it really addictive! For example, if I start eating a bag of sweets I won’t crave any other food but sugar, leaving me hungry and likely to grab more sugar!
Thanks Claire, I am like that with sweets, I’ve even noticed that fruit doesn’t fill me up at all and just makes me want more. I definitely have a sugar monster hiding at times!
I think it’s so useful to be able to identify why you make certain food choices at different times-I know that when I’m out shopping on empty I buy things that usually make me feel pretty lousy after! I’m lucky enough to have a farmers market in the park opposite my flat every Sunday, and I always go for meat, veg and eggs. Sometimes I treat myself to olives and cheese depending on pay day! I love going for the buzzy atmosphere and chatting to the lovely stall owners!
You lucky thing, that farmers market must be fab! I would love that :-)
Your hair looks fab, really suits you. I have that exact same nail varnish and love it as a go to autumn shade.
Thanks Jemma, the nail varnish is gorgeous, as you say a perfect shade for autumn!
that’s such a pretty picture! you new hairdo looks really great. and yum, I’m already dreaming about a rawified version of that pear salad!
Thanks Sonja :-) Oh yes that salad would be fab rawified!
Awh sounds like such a nice ‘me’ day! Your hair looks totally fab, love it <3
I popped to the farmers market too..love having one here :) I also got some kabocha from Waitrose haha :) And I still practically live in the Grainger Market…such great bargains and I live getting odd freebies for being a loyal customer that you just don't get in the supermarkets ;)
And the 'meh' brownie, well all in balance eh? You eat pretty amazing the rest of the time ;)
Thanks Nicky! The only kabocha they had in Waitrose were little ones, I demolished one straight away haha! Yep the farmers market is great, I wish the one at Durham was as good!
This autumn I’m determined to try kabocha squash! It’s on my to do list’
Oh you must! It’s an amazing food :-)
I love farmers markets, so nice to walk around them. I find I really crave sugary things if I get too hungry but often find them don’t taste as good as I’m expecting – I do like the idea of the pretzels on the top of the brownie though, maybe one to re-create in a healthier way! x
That’s something I’ve been noticing more, that certain foods just don’t live up to my expectations! I agree that would be amazing if done a bit healthier :-)
I love going to the farmers market and getting fresh fruit/veggies. Jealous of your kabocha, I haven’t got any yet this year, hopefully soon! Love the hair!
Thanks Lauren! Hope you get your hands on some kabocha soon!
I love going to proper farmers markets- there is a local one here but they don’t tend to have that much. I always get tempted by all the different squashes at this time of year.
I had a cinnamon bun today, for a late lunch, but that was what I was looking forward to all morning :)
It’s great when you have something you’ve really been looking forward to isn’t it :-)
Love the new ‘do – you really suit a bob, but I think you’d suit your hair any length really as you have a lovely face shape.
I’ve never really been to a farmers market, because I always worry that the quality of the produce might be inconsistent? I don’t know…I’d just be heartbroken if I got a bad Kabocha haha ;)
I’ve had a nice weekend, thanks! It poured down at the Kielder Marathon today, but I still had a good time, which was nice considering how many bad races I’ve had recently.
xxx
Glad you enjoyed the marathon! Looking forward to your recap :-) I’ve had some amazing kabocha from the farmers market but again, they seem to be disappearing. One year I think I bought all they had!
So funny you posting about homemade burgers, I’ve got them on the menu for monday night dinner … I have a hankering for them at the moment.
Love the hairstyle, it certainly DOES suit you.
Hope you enjoyed your burger! Glad you like the hair :-)
That haircut is perfect for you! So pretty :)
Love the farmers’ market, was thrilled to discover there’s a lovely weekly one here in Bath.
That pear, pecan and cranberry salad looks amazing!
Thanks Emma! I wish we had a weekly market, I bet it’s lovely to visit yours often :-)
I keep seeing a sign for a local farmers market and always mean to pop in but never give myself the chance. I do love them!
It’s a shame about that brownie :( I know what you mean about lots of sugar. I get so lethargic and feel so bloated. But it’s fine now and again!
Exactly, I’m ok every now and again, I think I just know the limit now, a pastry for breakfast and a brownie for lunch is overdoing it ;-)
I’m amazed at how many people I know are going for the chop, and I’m desperately growing my hair!