Smoothie Love Day 29

Smoothie Love Day 29

The smoothies posts technically should have finished today, but I must have miscalculated the 30 days somehow, which is not a problem as the smoothies have been delicious.  

If you have been joining me I am sure that you would have noticed a number of benefits to your health and well-being.  Along the way I decided to cut down all the changes that I would be making and focus on getting the nutrition from the smoothies and drinking more water.  The exercises started today, and I spent quite a bit of time in the garden making changes to plant location and cutting back.  Its coming on and I will share some images - might even do a garden video walk round.   

The smoothie for today consisted of Banana, Mango, Tangerine, Melon, Almond milk, Carrots, and melon.

I am looking forward to combining making the smoothies and getting more exercise. Come back tomorrow for Day 30 Smoothie.

The smoothie is part of the 30 days of change, click on the image below to see what it involves.

Smoothie Love Day - 27 and 28

For some reason I thought that I had posted yesterdays smoothie, but here it is, another delicious blend of flavors.  

This smoothie has the following ingredients: Pear, Apple, Mango, Banana, Goji berries, Cashew nuts, Almond milk, it was delicious and I made some for all the family.  Today we have all had this smoothie, to start us off.

Only two more postings to go for the Smoothie Love!

The smoothie is part of the 30 days of change, click on the image below to see what it involves.

Gratitude's and Celebration Journal - Week 47 - Don't let the energy drainers in your life

Don't let the energy drainers into your life - focus on what matters most.....

I have missed a couple of weeks of the gratitude's journal, which coincided with my making a healthier change. It has or seems to be full on, as I am also decluttering and clearing our home, waiting in for builders who come when they please even after making arrangements. The toothache has gone, the hay fever has come and the earth is still rotating. Did anyone see the full moon last night

As I was clearing the bedroom, well, I am still clearing, and just having a break, I thought I was making headway and it looks messier than when I started. The plan was to go through all the draws, remove what wasn't needed, wanted or broken and make room. But along the way something triggers a memory and as you follow it you leave behind a trail. The 30 days of change - Smoothie Love posts are coming to an end and will be replaced by a fitness change of sorts.

The image I did for today's post really speaks to the chaos, but there is method in the chaos and you can find beauty, you just have to see it through and be patient. Deciding what things to focus on in your life is so important and the way you prioritize will make the difference between something that will make a positive difference in your life or will add more stress.

I am grateful today and celebrate choice, and pray for discernment to make the right choices for the coming week.

What can you do for you that will really make a difference to those you allow in your person space? What do you need to focus on at the moment?

Gratitude's and Celebration Journal - Full of Inspiration!

Have a blessed weekend! If you want to see how I made the journal (click here) Blessings!

Smoothie Love Day 26

Smoothie Love - Day 26 of 30 days of change

Starting out early this morning.  Have a lot on and I sometimes underestimate how long something will take.  This challenge is a good example.  Our good health cannot be gained by a quick fix miracle drug, nor overnight sensations.  We have to be determined in our minds that the benefits that we will achieve through taking time to invest in our health far out weighs where we currently are at the moment, and that you are willing to do all that is necessary to take the daily steps - each and every day, when you feel like it and more importantly when you don't.

I haven't really spoken about the exercise routine over the past few weeks, other than at the beginning that a minimum of 30 minutes will be spent exercising.  I have not been as consistent as I would have hoped, and done a little here and there, but not enough to make a dent.  I will be picking up the pace when I complete the smoothie posting on Monday, and I want to incorporate a creative aspect to my exercising, whether it is take a picture or create something in my journal.

Anyway, here is the smoothie for the day - it is a mixed one, and it contains:  Raspberries, Strawberries, Blackberries, Banana, Mango, Melon and Almond milk.

The smoothie is part of the 30 days of change, click on the image below to see what it involves.

A Bit more play - Shining light

There is always room for a bit of creative play.  Where you can just put colors down without having an agenda, and then going with what you see. I have been trying to do that every day depending on my location, and I do have a travel kit that serves me well outside the studio.

Making my gelli plate was one of the best things I've made so far, and it provides a quick and easy method of placing color in a random way - you can see how I use it HERE. This is one of a selection of paintings that I have done.

This is how it began, after I had laid down some color on the plate, I continued with some stamps and also added some doilies that had been painted 

I started sketching a vague image using charcoal

Then she started to take on a life of her own,

I love using color

Remembering that it is just about play I continued to add color and she continued to emerge out of the paper.

Working in the studio

Once I had finished my play, she was ready to stand on her own two feet, I might leave it at that, use it for another piece of work, we'll see.

Shine your light - Mixed Media

For now she will continue to shine her light. and inspire and I will continue to play.  

Smoothie Love - Day 25

Smoothie Love

I shared yesterday the missing smoothies from the 30 days of change, one of the things that I have been benefiting from is the increased nutrients that I am getting each day.  I think that the smoothies are now going to be part of my way of life.

I was thinking that it would be great to have a light weight portable mini blender to be able to take with you when you go on holiday or away from home.  I am going to experiment with some of the more tropical Caribbean fruit in a smoothie such as Sweetsop, Soursop, and Jackfruit.  

What has been your favorite Smoothie so far?

Smoothie for today ingredients includes: Logan berries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Strawberries and Almond milk, 

The smoothie is part of the 30 days of change, click on the image below to see what it involves.

Smoothie Love - Missing Days 12 - 16, 18 & 19

Smoothie Love - Missing Days

I remembered that I hadn't posted the smoothies for days 12 - 16, 18 and 19, for those who have been following.  I explained what happened in my posts HERE and HERE.  I can't quite believe time has flown so quickly and there has been many lessons learnt that I have posted, and a few more besides. 

Only a few more days left for the postings for 30 days of Change and I will still continue to make smoothies, I will always be on the look out for some unusual ingredients and combinations, that help enhance and maintain health.  Looking after our health and well-being is key.  Everything we can do to enhance and increase our health will benefit us when we need it most.

If you have any questions about the recipes please let me know and I will be happy to answer them.

Here are the missing days and ingredients:

Day 12

Day 13

Day 14

Day 15

Day 16

Day 18

Day 19

The smoothie is part of the 30 days of change, click on the image below to see what it involves.

Smoothie Love - Day 24

Smoothie Love Day 24

Smoothie for the day for the 30 days of change...

Got off to another good start had to leave out early this morning so I didn't have time to wash and cut up fruit. Used frozen in this recipe, and it will stay chilled until I get to my mums. She has the builders in so having something with me that can fill the gap and taste good is essential. Haven't yet had my water quota for the day, but will work on it. 

Here is today's smoothie: Mango Chunks, Banana, Almond milk, Grapes, Melon and Tangerine.

The smoothie is part of the 30 days of change, click on the image below to see what it involves.

Quote Wednesday - Dale Carnegie

Your purpose is to make your audience see what you saw, hear what you heard and feel what you felt.  Dale Carnegie

Check out my wordpress weekly quotes..

Smoothie Love - Day 23

Smoothie Love Day 23

Smoothie for the day for the 30 days of change...

Got off to a good start this morning, with a smoothie, slightly chilled because I used some frozen fruit, our weather is hotting up over here so it is a welcomed addition to the smoothie. I also managed to drink more water which is good for the system. 

My grandson Malakai and step daughter Ahisha came round to visit and it was a great excuse to make some more smoothie and get some more vitamins in.

More smoothie to go round!

Malakai is used to having smoothies - his parents make them regularly, so he knows when he is on to a good thing.  He really enjoyed it especially in this heat, it made a refreshing drink, though I think that he was expecting a bigger glass!

Malakai enjoying his smoothie

After he finished his Smoothie he was after more, I wonder what he would have made of yesterdays smoothie!

Here is today's smoothie: Mango, Banana, Apple, Melon, Cabbage, Almond Milk

It definitely hit the spot!

The smoothie is part of the 30 days of change, click on the image below to see what it involves.

Smoothie Love - Day 22

Smoothie Love Day 22

Smoothie for the day for the 30 days of change...

Well, the start of the week brings with it something different, and thought I would play a little. I am quite proud of my smoothie and being able to get the two layers. You have to pour the top layer in slowly for it to sit on the bottom layer, garnish with some kiwi and you have yourself a delightful combination of flavors.

Here is today's smoothie: Blueberries, banana, dried cranberries, cashew nuts, mixed fruit. Bottom layer - Mango chunks, grapes, banana, and pear.

The smoothie is part of the 30 days of change, click on the image below to see what it involves.

Smoothie Love - Day 21

Smoothie Love Day 21

Smoothie for the day for the 30 days of change...

I thought I would get this post up in time for you to follow the recipe if you wish. Smoothies are a great way to get your vitamins and minerals in your system. Depending what you put in them they can be a power house of goodness.

As with any smoothie you can adapt the recipes as you wish, adding or taking away an ingredient. The smoothies over the past few days you will notice don't have any cabbage in them, I have to get some more tomorrow. But you can chose from a wide variety - kale, spinage, red and green cabbage and loads more, just give them a try.

Here is today's smoothie: Pear, Banana, Mango chunks, Fruit Salad mix, Cashew nuts, Raisins, Almond Milk

The smoothie is part of the 30 days of change, click on the image below to see what it involves.

Word for the Week - Proverbs 18:10

Word for the Week

The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run to it and are safe..Proverbs 18:10

Smoothie Love - Day 20

Smoothie Love Day 20

Smoothie for the day for the 30 days of change...

I think that I am beginning to find my flow with the smoothies, and have learnt some lessons along the way - we are learning all the time!, especially with regards to helping me keep consistent. I have my staples which I work with, making sure that I have sufficient supply, and this has enabled me to keep going, whilst providing a nutritious smoothie each day.

The family have been joining in and as I make one for myself, I make one for them as well, knowing that we are all benefiting is keeping me going. It does also help to have an easy to use smoothie maker, and I will have to at some point do a review on the ones that we have brought and what has worked well for us. I am starting a new review site where I will be sharing my views on things that I have tried, hopefully it will help others make informed choices.

Smoothie Love

Here is today's smoothie: Pear, Grapes, Tangerine, Mango and Oat Milk, this one was quite nice, creamy and the frozen mango chunks were quite sweet.

The smoothie is part of the 30 days of change, click on the image below to see what it involves.

Smoothie Love - Day 17

Smoothie Love Day 17

Smoothie for the day for the 30 days of change...

Ok, so I missed a few days, stuff happens, and you have to go with the flow, walk round, jump over and a whole load of other things while you are at it. I made the smoothies, but didn't get to post for a whole host of reasons, some of which I shared in yesterdays post about Taking time out. The main thing is to make sure you take note of whatever lessons you are to learn, then as you move on you are able to see where the possible pitfalls may show their face again.

Here is today's smoothie: Grapes, kiwi, blueberries, raisins, cashew nuts, coconut milk, and spinage.

The kiwi wasn't very sweet and so there were slightly sharp undertones, but it still tastes good. I have stocked up on supplies so looking forward to the coming recipes.

Smoothie Love - Day 17

The smoothie is part of the 30 days of change, click on the image below to see what it involves.

Quote Wednesday - Thomas Edison

To have a great idea - have a lot of them - Thomas Edison

Check out my wordpress weekly quotes..

Taking time out

I've taken time out, so it seems, well, its pretty evident.  Not sure what happened, felt stuck, as if I were in a fog and could only see a hands width in front of me.  I didn't know when it started, but it felt like the moment that I had resolved to make changes that there would be some resistance.

I think I had taken to much on my plate, as well as posting I am taking part in the courses - Soul Food and Life book, as well as dealing with the day to day.  I think the challenge would have been fine if I didn't try and do a vlog and edit and post. Keeping it real via the video is what I wanted but it seem to take forever and a day to load a 15 minute ramble, and then the fog came, and I stopped.

On top of all this as a family we have mourned the loss of my brother - Robert, there is no preparation to how you will feel, or how to deal with it all, .  The year has gone quickly, it's weird, and then again feels like forever, the loss still raw in our hearts and minds.  We remember his joy, his sense of humor, his love, warmth, his strength.

I paint, I draw, I create, as a way through.  I remember my conversations with Robert and the things I said I would explore, so many things that I don't want to let anymore time pass before I get to do them, and so I change.  Change is good.  I am still going to make the healthy changes that I said I would, I just won't worry about giving you a blow by blow video update, because essentially I want to pour all of that time into creating. I want to paint, I need to paint, it has become as essential to my heart as breathing is to my lungs, and a way to allow the heart to heal from the loss of the past few years.  Perhaps this is another lesson learnt from the challenge.

I will share with you some of the pieces as I finish them, and I am quite excited by the some of them. This painting is called Together...it is about our relationships

Together - Mixed media

Together - Though time and dimensions may separate, you will always be in my heart. Came from the same source to lead different lives, you were a strength and a support from the start.

We have to invest in our relationships and make the most of every opportunity, and knowing our purpose live as if it were our last day on the earth. 

Blessings always!

We have raised £1530 for Myeloma UK, if you want to donate you can do so HERE

Word for the Week - Psalm 55:22

Word for the week

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you.  He will never let the righteous fall..Psalm 55:22