Justine Spencer

The Stories of a Twentysomething

Extreme Green Pesto Risotto

In need of quick, easy and delicious dinner that's packed with nutrients? Look no further than my sensational Extreme Green Pesto Risotto. It can be quickly whipped up in a Tefal Cook4Me, or you can work wonders on the stove top!

There’s an odd trend with my blog’s recipes: most of them I hated growing up. Including (can you believe it) risotto. However, after years of dislike I changed my tune when Kyal and I bought our Tefal Cook4Me pressure cooker. One of their built-in recipes is Pesto Chicken Risotto, and it was love at first mouthful. Over the course of time, I’ve amended it to include an extreme amount of healthy greens. Seeing as it only takes six minutes to cook with the pressure cooker, this recipe is one of my absolute faves because it’s so easy to create despite my current busy work/long commute lifestyle. Plus it’s full of nutrients and deliciousness!

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Planning for 2018

If I had to describe myself in one word, it’d be easy. Planaholic.

Remember Ashley Olsen’s immaculately organised journal in New York Minute? Well that was when my love for planning began. Her journal was colour coded, highlighted and tabbed. Plus there was a compartment for everything! Ever since, I’ve always had a planner nearby to keep my life in check.

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FRIYAY: Seas the Day

Happy first FRIYAY for 2018! I am honestly in complete shock. Where did 2017 go? In fact, where did the last decade go? I’m in slight denial that I started high school almost ten years ago. But nevertheless, I am in full celebration mode. Summer has finally kicking in, I have a new MacBook Pro on its way, I’ve just wrapped up my first week back at work and I have a whole new year (filled with opportunities) that I have to look forward to! And for me, there’s no better way to celebrate than getting comfy on the couch and enjoying a summer-esque FRIYAY.

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January Goals

I’ve got to be honest – I really struggled with my November AND December Goals. While this was partly because of the time of year – the festive season can get craaaazy – I also believe it’s because I didn’t set up my goals properly, nor prepare for them. While I haven’t had the time to work on how I establish goals, it’s something I’m planning to do before February. Especially because I also want to work on my 10 Year Plan.

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2017: A Year of Growing Up

2017 was a lot of things to me. It was living in the west and then living in the east. It’s been adventurous and it’s been dull. It was moving slowly and then it sped up. It’s comprised of many challenges and I’ve learnt more lessons in one year than I’ve learnt in my previous 21 years of life. 2017 was many things, but it was the year where I’ve truely growing up.

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Christmas In A Cup: Gingerbread Man Tea

Seeing as I successfully gave up my morning coffee (thanks to my November Goals), I’ve entirely embraced the diversity of tea. While I’m an avid lover of T2’s Liquorice Legs and Caramel Brownie tea, I have a new festive favourite that’s skyrocketed through the ranks. It’s Tea Garden Co.‘s Gingerbread Man and it’s an absolute heart warmer.

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Cinnamon Scrolls

As many of you have realised by now – I’m a cinnamon addict. Particularly when it’s Christmas time. While my Sohum Christmas Gingerbread Candlette has been burning no stop, I’ve been sipping away on my Spiced Apple Cider and watching Love Actually for the gazillionth time. For me, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without cinnamon (and Hugh Grant’s classic “Jump (For My Love)” dance moves). So I figure the best way to amp up the festivities is with my warm, mouth-watering Cinnamon Scrolls. Be warned – there’s no way you can resist these beauties!

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Berry Christmas Cocktails

It’s beginning to look a lot like cocktails!

Honestly, if there’s a time to have cocktails it’s in the lead up to Christmas! On December 1st alone I had at least ten cocktails, and most of those were before happy hour (shout out to my work’s bar tab!). Since then, I’ve remained committed to my love of cocktails, and I don’t plan on slowing down until the New Year!

Along with my Spiced Apple Cider, another cocktail I like to whiz up this time of the year is my Berry Christmas Cocktail. It embraces the festive flavours of blueberry and rosemary whilst also being refreshing for hot Australian summers. If you’re keen for a cheeky drink without the fuss or mess, this cocktail is for you!

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December Wish List

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Why? Well not only is it Christmas, it’s the one time of the year when I can write out a wish list guilt free! To be frank, I started this wish list at the start of November because I was eager to get into the Christmas spirit! Being my first Christmas out of home and away from my family, I was excited to start collecting decorations and develop my own Christmas style. While some might say I’ve jumped the gun, I think it’s never too earlier to start thinking about Christmas and (most importantly) what you’d like to find under the tree!

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Coconut Christmas Cake

Seeing as I’ve enjoyed all of my Christmases in the Southern Hemisphere, I’ve never had the pleasure of experiencing a White Christmas. It’s interesting — and difficult — to  find a balance between the two types of festive seasons. While northerners are wearing ugly sweaters and drinking hot cocoa by the fireplace, us southerners are showing off our Christmas guts at the beach.

Leading up to Christmas, I really wanted to create something that’s relevant to both halves of the world. So what could be more perfect than a Coconut Christmas Cake? It’s perfect for northerners because it looks like a Winter Wonderland. Yet the tropical taste of coconut is perfect for the southerner’s warmer weather!

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