MONDAY MUSINGS

Feed your face and your skin

Make sure you load your supermarket trolley with the following face-saving edibles;

• green tea - reduces cancer risk and may assist in reversing sun damage
• tomatoes - cook your tomatoes for many health benefits, also said to help eliminate skin-ageing
• sweet potatoes - loaded with vitamin C which is essential for collagen production
• almonds - they fall in the seed not nut category, a powerhouse of vitamin E
• dark chocolate - improves skin texture and resistance to uv rays
• carrots - the vitamin A repairs damaged cells, reduces the development of skin cancer cells and keeps your 'peepers' in top form
• flax seeds - the omega 3 fatty acids wipe out spots and fine lines
• spinach - the big C hates these luscious green leafies, they literally bolster the cells' ability to renew themselves

It's so easy, feed your "temple" with the above yumminess and your skin will automatically benefit.

Add this to the above and you will be "health-happening";

• use crushed garlic daily - it reduces your risk of many serious illnesses including cancer and heart disease
• add beans to your daily raw salad - it is said that people who eat legumes have a far lower risk of obesity than those who don't
• eat apples daily - full of anti-oxidants, vitamin C and potassium. Just add to smoothies or salads or munch as a snack.
• lemon juice - add to your filtered water, one lemon gives you 45% of your daily vitamin C - so simple!

Who can be an Urban goddess (Lulu McNamara);

Any woman can! Any woman who wants to reconnect with her divine female energy can realize her true Goddess potential.

Remember, as a woman, you are already an expression of the universal female archetype, and you deserve to be honoured as such. No matter how ordinary you may feel you are, you can still be a Goddess in spirit and action with your own unique Urban Goddess energy, characteristics and style.

More Urban Goddess Inspirations to follow in future blogs.

Last night's nosh;

Loads of lightly steamed crunchy Broccoli (including the green leaves) and a veggie bake, which included potato, golden Patti pans, courgettes, green beans, lentils- smothered in a tomato sauce and topped with wholewheat breadcrumbs for crunch. Oh, chilli and garlic of course. Together with this we had a carrot and cuke salad dressed with lemon juice and some herbs from the garden.

Today I am grateful for;

• yesterday's "cutie-pie" shopping for my two darlings
• the hours I spent yesterday working on Picasa - SOOO much to learn, SUCH fun
• it's November - Yay!!! almost holiday time again
• my early morning swim today
• today's breakfast of oats, apple 'n loads of flax seeds with green tea

Why;

do weekends seem to pass at the speed of a formula 1 racing car? So many things to do, so many places to go and so little time.........

Wisdom Card Reading;

Everything I do is by choice.

I now listen to what I say. I don't say anything that I don't mean to become true for me. (this is very difficult!)

Cultivate a habit of zest, experience every moment as extraordinary. Find a park, jump on a swing and giggle .....

Peace 'n whirlpools of luv

xxx

YAY IT'S FRIDAY!

Take this fun survey from Veganview.

Here are my answers;

Choose between locally grown or organic, which do you usually choose?

First locally grown. Of course organic would be ideal but often pricey.

Favourite way to prepare potatoes?

Curried.

Do you press your Tofu before cooking?

Nah, far too much trouble.

Name a favourite recipe that is a tradition in your family?

Bayerisches Kraut.

When you want to go to a fancy dinner, where do you go?

I don't do fancy, I'm a cheap date. Give me veggies and I'm soaring!

When you have a cold, what do you crave?

soup....soup.....soup

What kind of water do you drink?

Filtered.

Name a flavour of soda you would like to see.

None, I generally don't drink soda.

If recipes you ate as a child were compiled into a cookbook, what would the title be?

Mama's Simply Delishus.

Favourite type of mushroom?

Pink Oyster.

Usual response to a veggies favourite question. "But where do you get your protein from?"

Yawn!!! Dark leafies, beans, nuts, and....and....and....

If you were baking your own birthday cake what flavour would it be?

Carrot cake with yummy drippy lemoney icing.

You have 3 minutes before you have to leave the house and you're starving - what do you eat?

Pumpkin seeds, last night's leftovers, strawberries if I have, a carrot, etc.

If Martha Stewart, Paula Deen and Rachel Ray got into a fight, who would win?

Probs Martha Stewart - I'm sure she picked up fighting tips while in jail.

If you got to travel to one country and learn all the traditional dishes there, where would you go?

India or Morocco.

Favourite late night snack?

Popcorn - made the old-fashioned way.

Name a holiday food you look forward to all year long?

Christmas Trifle.

If you could convert anyone to veganism with your magic want, who would you convert?

My family and my pups

Fun links;

www.anxietyculture.com how to stop worrying and other gimmicks

www.templeofthai.com homestyle Thai recipes

www.outdoor-photos.com WOW landscape pics

Last night's dinner;

A huge raw cabbage salad (finished most of it), roasted potato, pumpkin and onion, caulie'ncarrot in a veggie stock sauce and steamed squash.

Caulie'nCarrot Recipe;

• caulie, chopped into florets
• carrots, sliced (scrub - do not peel)
• onion, chopped
• garlic clove
• veggie stock
• chick pea or wholewheat flour
• himalayan rock salt and black pepper
• olive oil

What to do;

• sauté onions in olive oil until transluscent
• add chopped garlic clove, caulie 'n carrots,veggie stock and simmer until veggies are still a little crunchy
• sprinkle some flour over veggies and stir (this thickens the sauce)
• Eat!

Today I am grateful for;

• leggings - such useful 'in-between-season' fashion
• Victorian Garden 7Herb green clay refining face mask
• wind chimes
• plaits

Quote

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci

Wisdom Card Reading

I rise above all limitations. Whenever I encounter a challenge in my life, I use the experience to learn and grow.

Remember;

That happiness is a way of travel, not a destination. - Roy Goodman

Play lots and hug trees this weekend.....

Peace 'n whirlpools of luv

xxx

SIMPLE SATURDAY

Happy Festival of Lights (Divali) Day.

Food 'n Mood

How we eat, think and exercise has a huge effect on our attitude, health, mood, energy levels and aging process.

Most of us know and believe the above and if we were to practice self-discipline we could all feel good most of the time. Yet, how often do we eat food that does not agree with us and then we pay the price for that 'pleasure'.

How often do we skip exercise and while making this decision we already know it will affect our whole day? Yet we still do it! Dang!!!!

Spring is a good time to start making promises to ourselves and to silence that inner voice that keeps saying "it's OK, just for today I will spoil myself and start again tomorrow" This does NOT work, as there is always a tomorrow .......

What are your goals? Are you taking care of your body the best way you can - consistently? Treat your body well - there are no replacements or upgrades.

Eat with intention and awareness and choose a simple exercise routine that you enjoy. Exercise is the perfect accompaniment to healthy eating.

Get creative with veggies. If you feel you need to eat protein such as meat, fish and chicken keep it to the size of the palm of your hand.

"I do feel that spiritual progress does demand at some stage that we should cease to kill our fellow creatures for the satisfaction of our bodily wants. " Gandhi

Let's all start improving our overall quality of life today.

Today I am grateful for;

• the cute pics of Kent opening the parcel I sent him...I just knew the "Digger" book would be a hit.
• the cross I wear that protects me every day
• my Guardian Angels
• music - No Ordinary World : Joe Cocker
• the cool knitted socks I bought at the Chinese shop

Healing with the Fairies Oracle Card Reading (Doreen Virtue Ph.D)

Miracle Healing.

Card meaning : Expect a miracle. You have prayed for assistance, and it is forthcoming. The more completely you surrender your situation to God, the more rapidly you will realize your healing.

Affirmation : In truth, everything and everyone, including myself, is healed right now. I focus on this truth, instead of illusions of fear.

Enjoy today, you will never get it back again.

Peace 'n whirlpools of luv

xxx

WEDNESDAY IN THE KITCHEN

One of my serious passions is nutrition. So, for today a quick 'n easy recipe with enough cancer fighting ooooomph to kick cancer right off our rockin' planet.

A scrummy-yummy dish for all you creative Goddesses out there.

Caullie in Tomatoeeee Sauce
one whole cauliflower with the leaves
1 tin of chopped tomatoes
tomato paste
crushed garlic
chopped onion
handful of black olives
capers (optional)
dash of cayenne pepper or chillies
black pepper
salt

- saute onion till translucent
- add tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic, cayenne pepper or chillies, salt and black pepper.

Simmer the above until the sauce has reached a thickish consistency. Around 1/2 an hour normally does the trick.

- add olives and the whole cauliflower

and simmer until the cauliflower is cooked. This dish keeps really well and can be warmed up without creating too much damage.

It is important to use a pot that is just slightly bigger than the cauliflower so that it stands in the sauce. The sauce should not cover more than the bottom half of the cauliflower. In other words the top of the cauliflower steams in the pot and is not covered by the sauce.

This is megalicious as a side dish or a main with a green salad.

Exploring Raw Foods and their Healing Properties
Another thing I love doing is reading about the success seriously ill people have had in reversing their illnesses through a mostly raw food diet.

I love books by Natalia Rose BUT my current favourite is Rawlicious by Peter and Beryn Daniel. It is hugely informative, the recipes are simple and there is plenty of advice regarding equipment required and how to incorporate raw food into your life. It's simple, down to earth and basic. What could be more natural!

There's an easy way to start............ substitute dinner party snacks (chips, peanuts, etc) with this Superfood Trail Mix - courtesy of Peter and Beryn's book.

Walk to your local health shop and purchase the following;

- goji berries
- cacao nibs
- raisins
- brazil nuts
- sunflower seeds
- pumpkin seeds

Measure one cup of each and mix well. Store in a glass container and enjoy a handful when you feel nibbly - you will be surprised how good it tastes.

The above power-house ingredients are good for the immune system, give you energy, a good source of Vitamin E, Omega oils and the brazil nuts reduce cancer risk.

Enjoy!

Today I am grateful for;

- my job
- Toffee 'n Shinga
- the sun rising earlier each day
- my friends
- candlelight
- my hair
- jasmine infused green tea

A magic message I received from the Universe (TUT) some time ago;

You know what makes the darkest times bearable, Anita?

Remembering that it's all an illusion - in a dreamed up world - where angels earn their wings - thoughts dress up as things and that 'somewhere back home' you lie safely in bed - in the palm of my hand - snuggled up tight with some big, fluffy stuffed animal.

Nice wings
The Universe

Wisdom card reading (Louise Hay)

I love being me.
I no longer judge or criticize myself.
I am free to love who I am.

May your day be wicked!

Peace 'n whirlpools of luv
xxx