I’ve spent too much time crying in front of the TV lately.

-Sunday. The 10 year anniversary of 9/11. Crying like a silly baby.

-Monday. A documentary on life after the tsunami in Japan. Cried some more.

But today was different. I swear I actually don’t watch that much TV but today I had the food network on and watched Cupcake Wars. And I got inspired.

So at 9pm tonight I started making some muffins which is odd as I haven’t baked in ages. But when inspiration strikes, you shall not withhold!

They’re definitely much healthier than their TV counterparts so go and make them! They also happen to be vegan and gluten free friendly (if you use gluten free oats that is). But beware, they’re not your usual muffins. They’re not that sweet but are perfectly suitable for breakfast. If you wrap them well they will also keep superbly in the freezer. So when you’re busy you’ll instantly have a healthy snack on the go.

Where The Heck Is Summer? Muffins

Based on these muffins
Name inspired by that lovely English weather

Makes 12 muffins

Ingredients:

• 3 large ripe bananas (mashed)
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 1 chia egg (1tbsp + 3 tbsp warm water mixed)
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 cup brown rice flour
• 1/2 cup Scottish oats (quick oats)
• 1/3 cup applesauce (unsweetened)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup shredded coconut (add more for a stronger coconut taste)
• 2 tbsp milk (I used coconut milk) – optional
• Directions:
• Preheat oven to 180C°
• In small cup prepare chia seed (you can also use 1tbsp ground flax if you can’t find chia). Mix and set aside
• Mash bananas and mix in all wet ingredients. In another bowl combine all dry ingredients and mix well.
  Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until you’ve got a nice batter. If it’s a bit too thick, add 2 tbsp of milk.
• Spoon the mixture into the cups of a well greased muffin pan (I used cooking spray).
• Bake for 20 minutes
• Remove from oven and don’t eat them hot unless you like having a burnt tongue (mine hurts..)

The only bad thing about baking this late is that the light is absolutely terrible. So apologies for the photos.

Now if that isn’t some major food-blogging revival…

But there’s something else that makes me even happier than muffins…

Two days left until Selina and Christine arrive! You have no idea how much I’m looking forward to their visit. I would cross off the days off my calendar but my dad once told my sister off for doing so when she was a kid because “every day is precious”. Wise words pop but I still wish I could tick the days off until Thursday.. evening that is. I have no idea how I’ll be patient enough at work. I’ll probably check my watch every five minutes. And then come 5:30pm I’ll rush out the door and head to Heathrow! I already have so many ideas for things we could do.. and they mostly evolve around food. Not so sure if they’re too thrilled about that but I’ll feed Sel with some Green & Black dark organic chocolate ice cream (her favourite) and she’ll follow me like a puppy. It’s going to be harder with Christine as she’s not that easily lured…. Haha I’m only kidding of course (kind of.. there are lots of great foodie places I want to show them) but I’m so freaking happy and giddy I could dance nonstop.

Sadness and happiness go hand in hand but that’s perfectly fine. We’re people who have emotions and feel! Why want it any other way?

Perfect weather for heading to the posh parts of London and meeting a friend!

Blandine left France for England (because of the ginger lads and Henry XIII of course) and had a quickie “layover” in London before heading to the countryside. I kept her company.

It was so good to see her again after many many years! We actually started off as pen pals. (Yay for pen palling! It taught me English and I’ve made lots of great friends).

We both thought we look awful on this pic but hey, I’ve got to post some evidence.

Anyway, we headed to daylesford (or better: we accidentally stumbled upon it) and did some catching up while having lunch. It was so good discussing everything from former schoolmates with babies to French politics and good music.

I wouldn’t be me if I wouldn’t write about food.

I had eggs florentine – I can’t help it, I love brunch!

The interior of the place was so typically “hip”. The rustic/modern/farm style is very very popular with restaurants/cafés these days.

That’s fine by me though because the food was delish.

We then headed to Starbucks and then it was already time to say goodbye. I can’t wait for Blandine to move to London next year! (Visit soon my friend!)

I then headed back to the Victoria station and as I was changing tubes in Euston I had an encounter that wasn’t unfamiliar.

Dude: “Why do you look so sad?”

Karin: “Sorry, that’s just my normal face!”

Well sorry, I don’t look like Angelina Jolie but you know, I’m fine with the way I look (so effff off you idiot!!!!!).

sigh… You have NO idea how often that happens to me.

I don’t want to be rude to people but I’m really annoyed whenever that happens. And you know what? It’s always random guys who ask me that.

Oh and in case this is some super strange pick-up line (which I really hope it isn’t) – what if I really was sad? I don’t think I –or anyone else for that matter- would talk to a complete stranger about the cause.

</end of frustrated rant>

Wait a second. It isn’t over yet.
When I got off at my station I saw a guy wearing a turban standing by the exit. Not unusual. People walked past him and right when I walked by him he asked:

“Have you ever thought about doing yoga?”

A bit perplexed I answered: “I already practice yoga”.

Maybe my sad face needs some positive energy.

I should consider Botox.

(KIDDING!!!!)

Love you all,

Happy sad-face Karin

It’s mostly about chocolate.

(Double chin alert!)

Post office opening times are lame. I’ve had this nice little pick-up-that-package-slip for a week and was waiting eagerly for Saturday. The only problem was: I had to leave the house at 9:15. The post office opened at 9. With the package under my arm I basically sprinted back home. I assume that some people must have thought I stole it.

Once I got back home I realised I had 4 minutes left so I of course had to take a peek.

My parents sent me the most thoughtful and amazing package on earth. I just couldn’t believe it.

Just look at that piggy!

Two blurry pigs!

Oh and chocolate that will last me a week. Tops. hehe

There were more foodie goodies and tons of toothbrushes (my mum’s a dental hygienist so that explains it).

Massively happy I bounced my way to the tube and chatted to my mama on the phone. How much I miss my parents!

I spent the rest of the morning on the tube and then running a sweet 10km race (Pride Run – hence the rainbow).

Despite the fact that it was 3 loops it was tons of fun. I just ran and tried to take over the guy with the sombrero in front of me. I also tried to ignore the fast guy who sounded like he was about to give birth. Not much luck there.

I never race with fancy gadgets and so I had no idea how fast or slow I was (soooo 2006 I know!). I reached the finish by the time the clock said 53(something) minutes. Insane. I was basically 6 min faster than last time. Good that I kept up with Sombrero-lad then (I was faster than him in the end hehe).

I then met up with a friend for blueberry pancakes and maple syrup soup. Just as good as the race before.

Now I’m watching X-Factor best & worst and debating whether or not I should go and see HP7.2 again. I’m tending to yes. (Nerd! I know.)

How’s your Saturday going?

I woke up rather groggy and headed half asleep to Camden. Camden was asleep as well.

Reason for my trip was a yoga class at Alchemy. It woke me up nicely.

Then I headed to inSpiral which is London’s veggie heaven.. It’s uber hippie-ish and their raw cakes are to die for.

Instead of opting for cake I had a berry bliss smoothie and some hemp, oat and goji berries porridge.

Awww porridge!

And then I headed to an other foodie heaven (I know it’s not all too fascinating for non-foodies but I get ecstatic while groceries shopping)

Oh and then I got some running shoes. Now I have a pair of Adidas (on their last leg – no pun intended) and a pair of Nikes. I hope they won’t secretly fight themselves.

Speaking of shoes… I’ve had this mess ever since I moved to my flat:

That’s what happens when you don’t have a shoe rack! So I headed to Argos (and almost died of laughter – what a hilarious concept they have…).

Ten minutes after I got back home I ended up with this:

I put it together all by myself (shameless pride here!!)

On my catalogue shopping trip I also picked up a fabulous frame …

Zytgloggeeeeee!!!!!!

And then I basically spent my entire afternoon sorting out my room. But of course I also took some breaks to drink tea and snack (what else did you expect). I then watched the Toughest Race On Earth. Crazy! A Marathon is a walk in the park in comparison.

My flatmate Mel and I are currently watching “the Lincoln Lawyer”. As she said: “Wild Saturday night for us girls!”,

But hey, I joined Twitter today (@KarinOnTheRun). Let’s see what the buzz is all about!

Kx