New Blog

I was meant to have a new blog up and running by now, but it hasn't happened!
I have been busy creating, re-organising my studio and working hard at bringing new products to the shop.
I hope you don't mind being patient for just a little bit longer and that it is worth the wait :0)

You can see how far behind I am in my own personal journalling!  2011!  Phew - lots to catch up on.

The best day and a gift

I turned 50 and I had the best day!  Celebrations with some close and dear friends, my wonderful family (What would I do without the help from my Sisters and Niece!).

Now, (seeing I intend to live until 100 at least), this is the second half of my life.  Time to get things happening! Can't wait for 2013! 

 To celebrate turning 50 I am going to give a 15% discount on my journals that I have listed in my shop, until the end of December.  If not currently in stock I will still give the 15% discount when sent.

I will also be doing a bit of a catch up and posting again soon.  Please email me if you have any questions regarding the journals.

Breakfast and Dinner

This was breakfast.  Still trying to get used to having protein for breakfast!  Good news is - I can revert back to having museli after the 14 days. It has to be homemade though, as the commercial ones have so much sugar added.  I have been looking around on the net and have seen some good recipes for homemade museli, but if anyone has one they would like to share that would be great.  I have been feeling much better after the initial shock to the system!  And I think I have lost a bit of weight too.  Bonus!!!

This was dinner last night.  Sorry for the blurry photo.  I was allowed to have a stirfry.  Yay.  A semi cooked meal.  I don't mind salads and raw food to be honest, but when you are used to eating something warm/cooked, you miss it when you don't have it.  I don't think I will be going totally raw, but 70-80% perhaps.  I am feeling that my body is better for it, but it has only been 4 days so far.

Going to be growing mung bean sprouts soon.

I have a lot of Leslie Kenton books.  Worth a read.

Raw food - Day 1

Beginning of day 1 of the 14 day plan.  Started off well at the gym.  I know the first couple of days will be the hardest.  I am already craving sugar (one of the reasons for trying this!).  I knew I would, but if I persevere the craving goes away - Right?!!  Hope so.
Anyway.  Didn't much like breakfast.  Being a muesli girl to have to eat smoked salmon, egg and spinach for breakfast was really hard let me tell you.

I was allowed a couple of nuts (4 -6 to be precise) for a snack, and the lunch on day 1 was salad with a piece of grilled fish.

That's the salad part.  I'm not hungry as such, but the idea is to not focus on the food as well I think.  Try and get myself into a mindset that it is for nourishment and only occasionally for indulgence!
I am mainly doing this to feel well and not feel as though I am just dragging myself through the day sometimes.
I am not allowed alcohol or coffee during the 14 days, but I am going to cheat a bit with the coffee.  If I had to give up both red wine and coffee all at the same time - believe me - you would not want to know me!  I will cut down though.
So - let's see how I go.  It is only half way through day one :0)

ATC Swap

In the month of September I started participating in an ATC Swap which has been organised by the ever efficient Bev Lea from Art Queens!
I am having the best time creating these, as I had not done them before and have fallen in love with making art on the small scale.  The ideas and themes are endless.
The first one was monochromatic.  Any one can join the group.  The more the merrier!
These are mine that I created -

And these are the ones that I have received as the swap -

From Glenda Laing

From Ruth Spitzer

 

From Maryse Aluis

Thanks Ladies!!!

The next swap was fun too.  We had to create an ATC with a corregated card as the background.  The rest was up to us!

What I created -

The scan isn't the best I'm sorry, but peeking through behind the corregated card was some lovely scrapbook paper that I had.  I used stamps from Teesha Moore - Love those!

Raw food and Turning 50

Shortly I will be attempting a 14 day kick start meal plan in order to help me introduce raw food to my diet.  I am doing this for a couple of reasons.  I have always been interested in the power of raw food and I have re-discovered books in my bookcase that I have had for a number of years now.  Lately I have been feeling pretty 'Blah' and when I look in the mirror I don't really like what I see.  A lot of it has been emotional, and how I have been feeling about myself, and some of it has been the inevitable change which happens when you approach a certain age! 
So, I have decided that I will 'DO' something about it and be accountable by posting this. 
My naturopath has advised that a lot of the problems I am having are coming from the liver, and after extensive investigation, I have come to the conclusion that this is the best way to go for me.  Can't hurt anyway!
I don't want to go into my next half century feeling tired, bloated, unable to cope.  Even though initially I might feel worse, before I feel better, I want to give it a go.
So, once I have it all set up and cleaned out the pantry, stocked the fridge of fresh food and veggies, I will include you in my journey.
I know it won't be easy, but making an effort to post this will help me keep on the path.  Any encouragement would be good too.  And my efforts might even inspire someone else!  Hope so.

My fridge should look like this soon!!!

Another watercolour finished

My scanner isn't the best, so apologise for the clarity of the pictures.  The watercolours are a bit denser on the actual art piece, but a bit hard to capture on screen.  Some of the finer lines have not shown up either.