30 Days of Change - Day 2

Alright then, starting a challenge and making changes in your life is not always easy, and you have to remain flexible, that being said it was great to make a start towards change.

Starting as I mean to go on with the smoothie from day 1

I was able to do most of the things planned, didn't quite get to drink a litre of water for some reason, and ended up eating dinner past 10 pm, because I was trying to do too many things at once!  A bit of sabotaging going on there I think...

Here is the smoothie for today

I have managed to drink the water and will be doing some exercises shortly, which will involve spending time in the garden:).  I have yet to upload the vlog for each day, but I will be keeping it simple, and will be sharing on the vlog and just letting you have the smoothie for the day on the blog.  

Your welcome to join, you don't have to do 30 days, you could do 3, 5, or 7 what ever will kick start you to change.  You might just want to change one thing, why not start today, and share how you are getting on!

30 Days of Change - Healthier Lifestyle

I have committed myself to make a change in my lifestyle to hopefully impact on my health, starting today.  The changes include:

• Exercise - minimum half and hour
• Drinking Water - Minimum 1 litre
• Having a Smoothie - Once a day
• Pampering session - for encouragement - once a week
• Cut down on sugar
• Eat more fruit and vegetables
• Not eating after 8pm

There is no time like the present to make that change, however small you want to make it, do it for you.  I wanted to use it as a way to kick start my healthy routine, loose some weight and get into a couple of really lovely dresses in my wardrobe!  A small change each day can add up to something worthwhile.

I will be having a smoothie every day to make sure I get all those vital nutrients, here is what I had today, I mixed mine with oat milk but you can use water if you wish!

Here is the smoothie for day 1

I will be doing a vlog of the journey - (keeping it simple) and posting the smoothie recipes here.  Hope you come along for the ride, start where you are and make a commitment to your own health and well-being!

If you are going to join, do share what change/s you will be making, and let me know how you get on so I can come and cheer in your corner!

Gratitudes - Jacket Potato

Jacket Potato

One of my favourite comfort foods, it’s nutritious filling and hits the spot with cracked black pepper and a dash of salt.  I could have it for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

What are you grateful for this week?

Tuesday Feeling - to be or not to be

We ended last week with some sunshine amidst the downpour which for July seems to be a common occurance.  Our summers have changed over the years, and we see the changes in the climate in other countries and the unusual weather they have been happening.  I have been spending more time in the garden, pottering around 'weather permitting' and decided to grow some cherries,  it would seem as if I have 3 growing strong, I'll do my best to protect them from the slugs and snails that frequent the garden.

After some lovely scented flowers, my young Honeysuckle plant seems a bit poorly, have to keep an eye on it, be grateful for any advice for the yellowing and, dropping leaves.

Every time I open a fruit or vegetable I have been saving the seeds to plant to see what will grow,  this is my latest - squash, I think this was meant to be...!

I've also tried to grow some, apples and pears - not sure that the weather is warm enough for these but worth a try, alongside some pulses that I sprouted - the black beans seem to be coming up quite well and I will transfer them in a few weeks.

I have made an effort to improve my diet and have been eating more pulses and salads.  I will be sharing some of the recipes   I did a butterbean casserole  and today I will be doing a recipe that uses aduke beans.  I have also brought some split peas, lentils, and a whole range of other beans to try.  If you make enough you can freeze them and be able to have a readymade snack as and when you want.  Let me know what your favourite recipe is.

My son went to his prom and here he is all done up in his suit and his patent leather black shoes!  He had a great time, there were all dressed up and polished as they danced the evening away.

Last but not least I forgot to share the biggest news, which actually happened on the 5^th May.

I became a Grandmother!  Say hello to Malakai Dominic William Springer.  I was initially not wanting to be called grandmother and searched for examples of words used in other cultures – maw maw, numa, nana, and the rest, feeling that the term was mostly associated with old people.  I felt I didn’t qualify!.....and so couldn’t embrace the word...... but with maturity comes understanding.  Grandparents should be elevated as there is so much wisdom that they have, many of the lessons that my mother taught me now have stood me in good stead as an adult, and I pass the wisdom down to my son.

 Malikai is definitely a bundle of joy!

Graze Box - What are you snacking on?

I saw an advert for a Graze box and though I’d try one for myself  The promotion is a free box with half price on the next box you receive.  Mine arrived in the post which was handy as I didn’t have to wait in. 

Their website was easy to navigate and make the choices of things that i would want in my box. There were two choices the nibble box which is what I brought or the snack box which is a bit larger.

For those of you who like to snack its a great way to eat snack size portions of food that are healthy for you rather than high fat, content foods that will make you feel sluggish and tired for the rest of the day. I had a great selection for my first box which included black pepper pistachios and vanilla mix which was a mixture of vanilla, dried cherries, pumpkin, sunflower and sesame seeds.  These two were my favourites and is the just the thing you need for a mid morning snack!

The only criticism that I found was once you opened a pack if you didn’t want to eat it all at once you couldn’t seal it back, so a lid that seals would have been great and then I could have popped it in my bag!

Making your on line selection is easy and I was able to type the things that I wanted to try or deselect items that I never wanted to try and out of your choices, they send you a different selection each week.  They have a large selection to choose from, my favourites are the seeds, nuts and exotic fruit selection, but there have dips, breads, you name it!

The box and its contents are recyclable so you could try doing a creative project, which is what I will do and let you see the results.  Until then happy grazing!