Chia Seed Pudding by Calgary Avansino

I am a huge fan of Calgary Avansino, executive fashion editor at Vogue. I have been a bit ill the past few days so I decided to have chia seed porridge/ pudding this morning (similar to Calgary's second recipe) to perk me up and boost my health. Here Calgary shares her tips on enjoying chia seeds as part of a healthy diet.

If there is one question I am asked quite frequently it is:"How do you make chia seed pudding?" So, I shall tell you!

The pudding itself couldn't be easier, but first let's talk about the amazing nutritional benefits beneath chia's trendy exterior. Two tablespoons of these little wonder seeds provide approximately 4g of protein (containing all the important amino acids), 5g of Omega 3 fatty acids (direct brain food), 250mg of calcium (think strong hair and nails) and 10g of fibre (the most efficient "regulator"). And if that's not enough to persuade you, chia is said to have twice the potassium of bananas, three times the antioxidant power of blueberries and three times the iron of spinach. And on top of all that, chia seeds hold 9-12 times their weight in water and do exactly the same in your tummy so they are both incredibly nutrient-rich and make you feel fuller for longer on less food!

S t e p   O n e

The base of any chia seed pudding is made by simply combining chia seeds with any non-dairy milk you prefer, but I find coconut milk and almond milk make the tastiest puddings. All you need to remember is the ratio: 3 tablespoons of chia seeds for every 1 cup of liquid. So if you are making enough for four servings (it's good to make a lot at once because it stays fresh for days) you will need ¾ cup of chia to 4 cups of liquid. Combine and give the chia and milk a good stir.

S t e p   T w o

Now, the fun part of creating your own bespoke puddings with wholesome ingredients. I usually use two or three extras per recipe, but do whatever sounds good to you. A few ideas are: dessicated coconut, coconut flakes, walnuts, slivered almonds, cacao powder, grated apple, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, vanilla extract, dried cranberries, chopped mango, raisins, pomegranate seeds or pistachios. Once you add in your extras, give it all a really good stir (or put it in a mason jar and shake it) and then leave the mixture in the refrigerator overnight, or even just 20 minutes if that's all you have, and it will set to chia perfection.

S t e p   T h r e e

Before eating, give it a stir once more, add a bit more milk and top with blueberries, raspberries and a little maple syrup, agave, stevia or honey if you feel it needs extra sweetness.

Here are a few of my favorite recipes that I (and my kids) eat for breakfast, afternoon snacks and desserts.

V a n i l l a   C o c o n u t   A l m o n  d   C h i a   P u d d  i n g

2 cups of coconut milk

2/3 cup of chia seeds

1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract

2 tablespoons of unsweetened coconut flakes

2 tablespoons of sliced almonds

½ tablespoon of maple syrup (optional)

Top with blueberries and raspberries

C i n n a m o n   S p i c e   C h i a   P u d d i n g

2 cups of almond milk

2/3 cup of chia seeds

½ teaspoon of vanilla

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

½ teaspoon of nutmeg

½ teaspoon of ginger

2 tablespoons of chopped dates

2 tablespoons of dried cranberries

C a c a o   A l m o n d   C h i a   P u d d i n g

2 cups of almond milk

2/3 cup of chia seeds

1 tablespoon of ground cacao

2 tablespoons of unsweetened dessicated coconut

½ tablespoon of maple syrup

Bare Faced Beauty

I don't know if you have noticed but recently there has been a lot of press about wearing no make up. I believe this whole craze was kicked off by Sarah Jessica Parker (claiming she was) wearing no foundation to the Met Gala Ball earlirt this year. Whether the Carrie Bradshaw star started this trend or not, it has taken off. Loreal have launched their own no make up campaign with Cheryl Cole, Gwyneth Paltrow later turned up to an awards ceremony without make up, and Spring Summer catwalk beauty championed face-sin-slap.

Here are some faces of S/S 2014.

I love this trend as it is easy and care free. To look like you are not wearing any make up- sometimes you do need to wear a bit just to make yourself look appropriate. Focus on a tinted moisturiser (I like Laura Mercier), a good subtly blush (I use Liz Earl blossom), and concealer to hid those dark circles you have acquired (I use Boots No.7) and hey presto- this look is all yours.

NB: This look always looks better when you are healthy- the healthier, the less help you need with make up and the better you will look. Do not attempt this look if you have had a heavy night out- one generally looks better with a lick of mascara to bring out your alcohol swollen eyes (from my experience anyway). 

(I think this model may have had a larger than normal dose of photoshop...) 

IFBs tips for gaining blog followers

A while ago I posted IFB (independant fashion bloggers) tips for blogging.  Here I have for you IFBs tips of how to build a following on your blog.  This is great advice and even though some of it may seem obvious,  it is good to be reminded of why one blogs in the first place. Here is the link to the original page. 

1. Know what you stand for

What are you values? Are they clearly communicated on your blog? While some people tend to think that there are no values in fashion, I beg to differ. Eco fashion, luxury, DIY (crafting), working with what you have, body image, modest fashion… they all have a sets of values which can be applied to their niche. You have your own unique set of values which comes out in your blog content whether you intend to or not, so knowing what you stand for helps your readers identify you values and gives them a chance to align with them.

2. Create meaningful content

Do you create content that’s meaningful to others? Do you give them something they can take away, or are you just asking for them to give you attention. Think about Oprah, no matter what, her content revolves around enriching the lives of her followers. “Meaningful” can manifest itself in your content in many ways, does it make people laugh, does it educate, does it inspire? By creating meaningful content, you continually give your readers a reason to come back.

3. Develop a strategy

You know what you stand for, and you create meaningful content, great! You are well on the way to building your loyal following. But what’s your plan? How are you going to grow? Developing a strategy helps you identify what works for your blog and what doesn’t. Your plan might go off with out a hitch, but chances are, it will be in constant evolution. Knowing what you want to achieve, and mapping out a plan to make it happen will help you stay on track.

4. Be consistent

One day you’re talking about the joys of fast fashion, then the next you’re criticizing it. One day you’re working with a lot of brands, then you write a post about not wanting to work with brands anymore, then a week later you’re working with a brand again. Yes, I’ve seen this a lot. It’s hard to be 100% consistent 100% of the time. We all evolve, but there is a line. Stick to your values, your direction and show up on a regular basis. Readers love consistency so make sure you are there for them.

5. Give your followers a name

I’ve not personally done this… do you all want me to give you a name? But I have seen this done, Lady Gaga has her “Little Monsters,” Leandra Medine has her “Repellers,” Clare Sulmers has her “Bombshells” and it’s cute, it’s catchy, it gives your readers base a sense of comradery and belonging to something larger than themselves.

6. Make your followers feel special

Always ask yourself what can you do for your followers. Whether it’s making you followers feel smart, cool, or just plain good about themselves, do what you can to make your community feel special when they come to your website. This can be done with clever content, opportunities to do cool things, or win prizes, speak to them in a friendly tone. However most rings true to you.

7. Engage with your most engaged

Some people advise to engage with everyone who comments on your site or tweets at you. I have tried this, and it works for a while, but there becomes a point where you have to decide if you want to spend your time engaging with everyone or spend your time creating quality content. Since a majority of your readers are silent (even the most loyal and engaged can be silent lurkers) do not sacrifice your content for engagement. However, you can engage with your most engaged, you most loyal followers, the ones that speak to you, or create meaningful interactions. You certainly want them to feel special!

8. Promote your followers

There are a lot of ways you can promote your followers. Here at IFB, we have Links a la Mode and the IFB Project, two things that help promote our community. You can do an interview, post their thoughtful comments to the rest of your following, promote them on social media… there are loads of ways to share your audience with your audience.

9. Give your followers what they don’t know they want (yet)

Sometimes it’s good to ask your readers what they want to see on your blog. I’ve tried giving readers what they say they want… more often than not, it’s not what they really want. What always surprises me is when I put together something that hasn’t been tried yet, and it goes extremely well. The readers never asked for it, and probably didn’t know it was what they were looking for. Chances are, if your readers are asking for it, the information can be found a million other places on the internet. Your goal is to be the one who surprises them with something they never knew they wanted, until they came to your blog.

10. Don’t be afraid to drop what doesn’t work

Maybe calling your readers a name goes terribly wrong. Or inspiring people is just not your style. Maybe your readers hate it when you feature another reader, or worse, they don’t care. If it’s not working for you, drop it. Try it again with a different angle, or better yet, try something new. Building a loyal following takes time, and it continually evolves. My only real advice is to continually think about what you can do for your followers and put it into action. You’ll be surprised how that alone will build a loyal following.