*Alphabet Tuesdays*

‘C’ stands for ~Coconut Chai Popcorn~ I was standing in line at the video shop the other day and picked up a packet of microwave popcorn. After turning it over and reading the ingredients, I quickly put it back on the shelf.
When I got home I grabbed a medium sized saucepan, turned the hot plate to a low heat, added 1 tablespoon of coconut oil, 1/2 cup of Lotus organic popping corn kernels and put the lid on.

After a couple of minutes there was a party in the saucepan and everyone was invited. In a separate saucepan I melted a couple of teaspoons each of organic butter and raw organic honey, then drizzled it over the popcorn. To top it off I sprinkled it with Hari Har chai spice mix (organic cocoa, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cardamon).

The coconut oil is the best choice because it can be heated to a super high temp without oxidising and turning rancid. Plus the subtle coconutty flavour is divine.

Perfect for lunchboxes, afternoon snacks and rainy day movie marathons. xx

The Essential Health Bliss Balls

                                                             *Alphabet Tuesdays*


                                                        ~B~ is for BLISS BALLS!

There are soooo many bliss ball recipes out there. The part that I’m not keen on is that the majority are based on dates and other dried fruit which are super high GI.

About 8pm the other night I was staring into the pantry looking for something sweet. Let’s face it; it was a complete waste of time because my shelves look just like the ones in my health food shop. So basically I started throwing things in the food processor!

It seriously took less than ten minutes from start to finish and there’s only one thing to wash up!


1 Tbsp peanut butter (the 100% freshly ground stuff from the health food shop. None of this Kraft business)

1 Tbsp extra virgin coconut oil

1 Tbsp organic cacao powder

1 Tbsp vanilla protein powder (I use pea protein)

A handful of pecans

A handful of almonds

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 banana

½ cup sesame seeds or LSA or desiccated coconut or chia seeds to coat the balls in



Whizz together in your food processor then roll into balls and coat with sesame seeds and store in an airtight container in the fridge.



Makes 12.



Dairy free

Wheat and gluten free

Vegan

Raw

High in protein

Rich in antioxidants

Great source of fibre



Go crazy on the variations:

Tahini –for extra calcium

Molasses –for extra iron

Spirulina –for a super nutrient hit

Maca –for lots of minerals

Slippery elm –for happy gut health

Psyllium husks –to cleanse your bowel

Flaxseed oil –increases essential fatty acids

xx.

Work-home-work-home.

There’s nothing quite like being told “You look tired today” to make you feel wonderful about yourself.


Full-time work fascinates me. Not so much the work itself, but the lifestyle that comes with it.


What works for me:

*Drinking over two litres of water throughout the day gives my brain clarity

*Eating raw and fresh foods like fruit and veg and saying “NO” to leftovers!!

*“Sensible” inserts in my shoes to support my flat feet

*Grazing on small meals

*Making a “power smoothie” and putting it in a stainless steel drink bottle to sip mid-morning

*Packing a whole bag of food to take with me so I don’t end up spending a fortune on sushi, gluten-free muffins, juices, etc

*Six spirulina tablets in the afternoon to get me through the 3pm energy slump

*A hell of a lot of New Zealand reggae music!

*Going to yoga, pilates and gyrokinesis 4 nights a week makes me feel empowered about my health and allows a break in the home-work-home routine

*As soon as I get home from work I’ll get out of my work clothes

*Aim to be in bed by 9:30pm to keep me in a good mood all day

*Having something exciting to look forward to eases the blow too. Like a reflexology appointment or massage, meeting up with a friend or even just a steaming hot bath with some essential oils and candles

But most of all the most important thing is having a rewarding job in a field that you are passionate about is the key.

Please share any tips that work for you! xx.

Welcome to *Alphabet Tuesdays*!

What better place to start than *A* for apple cider vinegar! This nifty liquid is super alkalising! Never hungry in the mornings? Add 2 tsp of ACV to half a glass of water and sip slowly 15 mins before a mea...l to stimulate digestive secretions and your metabolism. Also yummy as a salad dressing or splashed over steamed vegies! Or even diluted as a toner for oily/acne prone skin! Always choose organic because apples can be so heavily sprayed with pesticides. xx

Lady luck

I’m not a fan of “luck”. Do you know anyone who answered a knock at the door to a stranger shaking their hand, handing them a uni degree, their new name tag to a great job, a huge chunk of cash and then introduce them to their soul mate?

I was in the bank today and the teller asked me how my parents were going. When I replied that they were travelling up the center of Australia in their Winniebago then heading over to Western Australian in Spring to see the wild flowers the lady said “Half their luck!” No, it’s called getting a uni degree, working your fingers to the bone, making courageous business decisions, then saving your money and investing it wisely. I know it was a passing comment, but do you get what I mean?

I read once that luck was when preparation meets opportunity. This sits well with me. If you want the rainbow, you’ve got to put up with the rain because there are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going.

Do you consider some people “lucky”? Are you putting in the hard yards to work towards your goal or looking for the next quick fix?

Have a beautiful weekend everyone xx.

Pleasure beyond measure.

“This toothpaste is so good it nearly makes me orgasm every time I brush my teeth!” exclaimed my customer last Friday. Followed by a “God, this is what my life has come to....” I reassured her that it’s a fantastic thing to find happiness in all the simple things in life, especially when you are a sleep deprived mother of a newborn, a toddler in his terrible two’s and have just returned to work.

Another customer that day told me that the Ayurvedic soap he uses makes him feel like he’s levitating as soon as he gets in the shower.


Incorporate little bursts of happiness into your day to bring you joy. Here are some of my little daily rituals that make my heart feel lighter xx

Opening the bedroom blinds when I wake up and feeling the first rays of sunshine on my face.

Feeling the chilled terracotta tiles under my bare feet as I rush out to my courtyard to check on the garden’s progress.

Extra sprinklings of cinnamon in my morning chai.

Pouring the chai out of my favourite white and navy anchor teapot.

Listening to Fat Freddys Drop on repeat for the whole day at work.

The glow of vanilla scented candles in empty jam jars while I have my bath.

The intoxicating smell of home grown basil in the food processor while making homemade pesto.

A goodnight phone call from my husband.


You don’t need to spend endless amounts of money on new things, because the best things in life are free. All the happiness that you need in your life is already right there inside of you. xx

PS. Just incase you were wondering, the “orgasmic” toothpaste is MiEssence organic mint toothpaste ;)

I Luvju too.

I am constantly scouring health food shops for hidden treasures. Lately I stumbled across a collection of individually wrapped chocolate hearts by Loving Earth. So far I’ve tried the mint and afa (afa is a green superfood) and the coconut milk chocolate one.

In a nut shell:
Australian certified organic
Fair trade
Raw
Organic
Packaging is 96% plant based compostable material
Low GI
Gluten free
Lactose free
Vegan
Australian made

35g bars for $2.95.

Soooo velvety and rich! I’m salivating at the very thought...

Remember, choose quality over quantity!

To suss out more about Loving Earth and their products click here.
Happy Easter everyone xx.