Healthy!

A few notes on HEALTHY topics, 

because....    you know...    healthy is good!!!!

Food & Drink 

In one word, or should I say one kitchen gadget: the Magic Bullet!

This little blender is not only fun and easy, but it chops, blends and liquefies smaller quantities than your blender can.

I asked a pharmacist about getting more fiber in my diet.  He said the best way is through the food you eat.  The plan is simple: Eat your oatmeal and drink 'blenderized' fresh fruits and vegetables.  I could not resist trying out the magic bullet after witnessing this man's enthusiasm and hearing his suggestions for delicious and nutritious personal sized fibrous fruit and vegetable drinks!

So far I have only experimented with the fruit mixes I made earlier this month with red bell peppers and kale.  Tastes good, but sip without smelling, please...  Adding liquid is a must to get a smoother and adequately thin drink.  I used a little orange juice, lemon juice and water.  Coconut and pomegranate are on my list to try next!  It also does an okay job of food processing items like onions and garlic, which I believe I will get more of a feel for as I progress.  Above is a kale and red pepper cheese pasta.

Fresh & Homemade are the BEST!!!... bread and muffins... Mmmm!

In the bread I use about two thirds whole wheat and one third white flour and add sunflower and flax seeds for texture and flavour.  Some people these days just seem to want to go all or nothing.  Well I personally am always going to be going for flavour.  If it tastes good I'll be happy and likely to continue to eat it, rather than go extreme healthy, only to be so very turned off and hungry that I careen off in the opposite direction.  Yo-yo not so my style.

The muffins were a pure experiment: Olive oil, brown sugar, eggs, sea salt, baking soda, cooked and pureed butternut squash, finely chopped apple, ground flax seed, oat flour and buckwheat flour, with yogurt chips, sliced dried apricots, pumpkin seeds and chopped walnuts and an oat streusel.  Flavour and texture were all pleasing.  Doesn't pack as well as flour muffins in lunches though... much more prone to squishing and getting soggy.


Fresh Air & Exercise

Even though its cold outside, if I'm dressed for the weather a short brisk walk really gets me going!

Falling snow is beautiful!
And I am slowly discovering my new neighbourhood.

Positivity, Happiness & Laughter
Friends & Family
Relaxation & Leisure 

That was the idea behind my little visit to Toronto 

last week during my work holidays.  

Laughter and quality conversation are so good for the soul! 

Friends who are like family.  

An open schedule to fill how I liked...  

I think I smiled four days straight!  

Returning and driving along the old familiar routes gave me an 

odd feeling that I still cannot quite place.  

Familiar it was, but detached and foreign also.  

...As if I were watching my life from the outside.  

But when I stepped inside Magda's door it felt overwhelmingly like home.

Time changes most things, but not everything - not the important parts :)

Self Image

Getting older means getting wiser, so I say wiser to preventing myself from looking older.  I need to take care of the skin I'm wrapped in!



Calgary is dry and my collection of various creams and lotions has also run dry, so I decided I should treat myself to some quality (and on sale) products:  Aveeno face care and a large bottle of coconut and orchid scented lotion for the rest of me.  The bar soap I normally use may also be parching my skin, so I've swapped for an oil based body wash.

I need to drink more water too!










Here in this little basket is where I keep my new, bright and cheerful collection.  I challenge myself to a face wash before bed every night and a few more glasses of water every day.  For all those nights I am away, I organized a little travel set to keep my skin feeling and smelling lovely.

I've noted that skin care products can be quite pricey, and they don't necessarily work well either.  Therefore I will be reporting back of the progressive search of the most superior products.





Of course I'll be returning to cakes, but I'd like to experiment with kale more as well...
A little Yin and a little Yang!