A CHALLENGE FOR ME (and maybe for you ...)

I'm proposing a challenge - for myself and for anyone who wants to join me. I am going 14 days straight of bonafide vegan. That's right my darlings, this girl is on a mission (for the next fourteen days). It has technically already kicked off for me so I'll be finishing up on Wednesday 28th May but I didn't get mah butt into gear to launch this post yesterday!

What the bleep is 'vegan'? Well I think this hippy little picture explains it best ...

Found here

For me, veganism is about conscious and kind consumption. It's about knowing and appreciating where our food and clothing has come from, and being able to celebrate that no harm was inflicted on earthlings to allow us these gifts. It also reflects a respect for the connectedness of all living things and allows us to fully enjoy the incredible blessings that we're given from the earth. Everyone may have a slightly different definition or interpretation of 'vegan' and may incorporate other philosophies or other dietary practices into their integration of a vegan lifestyle - I am all for that. I cheer on bioindividuality and appreciate that we are all so juicily different and attract different experiences along the way. But, strictly speaking, vegan is a term used to reflect the absense of any animal products within that person's diet and/or lifestyle. And yes, that means no leather or fur for the next fourteen days. I'm not a huge leather or fur fan anyway but I do have a beautiful leather handbag that was gifted to me - for the next fourteen days, that's being swapped for ultra chic calico.

Over the next few weeks - I will keep y'all posted on my triumphs and tribulations, my highs and lows, my tofu and my facon (fake bacon). I will also be running with the whole 'vegan' theme to bring you delicious recipe posts, resources to learn more about vegetarian and/or vegan lifestyles, information regarding the impacts of industrial agriculture and cattle rearing, my personal reasons for the challenge and a whole lot more. I will also be Vlogging (video bloggin') a little more over the coming weeks to have some 'one-on-one' time with you lovelies.

Don't forget to sign up for the Bless this Mess newsletter which will feature bonus information, recipes and links over the next few weeks! If you're keen to join me for the full fourteen days, or even for one meal (!), pledge your commitment in the comments below or shoot me an email!

Blessings and bucket loads of vegan chilli x  

CLEANSED, SPARKLY & REJUV'D - A Review

The delicious daily juice pack by Inner Ego

I am full o' beans, bright eyed and glowy skinned after my very first two day juice cleanse. I have always been interested in trying out a juice cleanse, after years of struggling with all sorts of digestive issues and troubles, but have never been able to source a local supplier. So you can imagine my delight when I discovered the beautiful instagram account by @innerego - a Perth based cold pressed, juice cleanse company. 

I had a little stalk of their beautiful website - do yourself a favour and have a looksie here - and decided that THIS was the supplier for me. The offer cold pressed, raw and fresh juices, delivered straight to your door in one, two or three day packs. The cleanse consists of eight juices per day, packed and ordered for your ease and convenience, that you enjoy in place of solid food. These juices are jam packed with essential vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients - so do not fear that you're not getting enough goodness in your body - you are! The beauty of these juice cleanses is that they provide short term detox and digestive rest. They are not designed to be consumed for more than three consecutive days in lieu of food - BUT Inner Ego do offer individual orders (minimum of six bottles) and have a few little stockists around the place for those of you looking for a daily afternoon energy kick! 

The box was delivered by the owners, exactly when they said it would be - and service with a smile. What could be better?! The box of juices is so beautifully put together and packaged - a handful of colourful straws, tips and instructions for the cleanse and, of course, 16 little jars of vibrant nutrition! They had me at hello. 

Each bottle comes perfectly portioned, labeled, numbered and ready to enjoy. The quaint labels use a very rustically inspired template that are easy to read and interpret. On the front we have the order number of the juices (one through eight), list of ingredients and an 'experience summary' (i.e. a sweet green remedy). On the back you can find information on the juice such as how it's produced//created as well as a nutritional panel for each and every juice. VERY handy if you are calorie conscious (although when it's good, real, plant based food - I really don't believe number crunching is necessary! S'all good!) or wanting to see a little more of the breakdown of the juices' nutritional punch. 

A few extra tidbits of information - the juices have a shelf life of three days as they don't possess any additives or preservatives. They are to be consumed within two hours of opening, so you can sip and enjoy your juices but not too slowly! When you grab them out of the fridge (and yes, they must be refrigerated!) they may look like they have separated with a bit of layering noted at the bottom - this is a natural part of the juicing process and they just need a little pre-drink shake up to mix it all up! The masterminds over at Inner Ego have created a brilliant FAQ page on their site which serves to answer all of your niggling questions. The owners are absolutely lovely - with an incredible mission to provide quality assured, easy to access, on the go nutrition for people who want to implement healthy changes into their lives but who are too time or resource poor to self juice!

Day one kicked off on a busy work day and I can't even describe how incredibly convenient it was to be able to have brekkie and lunch packed in no time. Easy peasy! I tried to space out the juices appropriately - with at least an hour and a half between each juice. I pretty much stuck to this plan and managed to get all my juices in. I was so full in the afternoon though that I needed to break up the juices a little longer. Inner Ego have done a great job in creating filling and satisfying juices! I felt a little headachy on the afternoon of day one, nothing too hectic, just a little spacey and achy! This sensation passed within the hour and I felt lovely and relaxed in time for bed.

Day two FLEW by and I guzzled down my juices with ease. I don't know whether it's because my body had become more alkalised or whether it was random coincidence but the juices tasted SO much better on day two. Very energetic, light, settled tummy and sharp mind. Day two was fabulous! No detox symptoms either which was a wonderful bonus. I must admit - I got a little hungry in the early evening but nothing too terrible or too tempting.

I thought the easiest way of sharing my experiences with you is to break down each of the juices - tell you a little about the flavours, effects and snazziness of these bottled wonders. Sounds good right? Let's kick it off ...

Juice One - Cucumber, celery, lettuce, lemon and mint
This one was very difficult to swallow on the first day - hello acidic body! It became much easier to drink on day two - but still holds sharper, strong flavours of lemon and mint. Very good for a mind/body wake up and uber relivitalising.
In a word - ZAP!

Juice Two - White tea, pineapple, lemon and mint
YUM! This juice had a very light, refreshing and subtle flavour that provided an amazing morning pick-me-up. The label says great for 'clarity' and I must admit I was sceptical - but it hits the nail on the head. Mental and physical clarity a go-go with this juice. It's made from Fujian white tea which possesses less caffeine than other white tea varieties so is nice and gentle for our bodies.
In a word - Refreshing.

Juice Three - Carrot, orange, lemon and ginger
One of my absolute favourites from the cleanse. Beautiful rich, full bodied, strong flavours of orange and lemon. This juice was a lovely mid-late morning kicker because it is a little thicker and 'heartier' than the other juices - very filling in my tum! The juice is also aesthetically gorgeous - with a vibrant orange colour that invokes an instant perception of freshness.
In a word - Zing!

Juice #4 - Carrot, orange, lemon and ginger

Juice Four - Beetroot, pineapple, celery and lemon
Strong, powerful and very earthy in flavour. If you're not a fan of beetroot - this one may not be for you. Luckily I love me some beetroot so my reaction to this juice was 'gimme'! It's slightly sweetened from the pineapple which leaves it tasting rather refreshing and energising. Like it's juicy predecessor - the vividness of colour this little juice packs let's you know it's full of goodens.
In a word - Earthy//grounding.

Juice Five - Green apple, pear, kale, lettuce and celery
For late lunch it's your typical 'Green Juice' - loaded with vital greens and sweetened slightly by the apple//pear - this juice is a fantastic early afternoon addition to the cleanse. I downed my juice at about 3-4pm, just prior to my workout on day two, and it left me feeling pretty dang good. It possesses a delicious, light and humble flavour that would make it an amazing one to consume on its own (separate from the cleanse pack).
In a word - Recharging.

Juice Six - Grapefruit, pears, lime and mint
I must preface this reflection by stating that I'm not a fan of mint. I'm one of those rarities that just do not like the strong flavour - whether it in a juice, salad or even icecream//chocolate! But I love and appreciate it for it's very refreshing and rejuvinating properties so I definitely can see it has its place in the world. My first reaction on day one was 'zing!' - I found the flavour so overpowering (rich in lime and mint) that I had to actually hold my nose to get it down. The beauty of biodiversity huh!? So many different taste preferences and experiences! Day two was a completely different story - whether the amounts of ingredients differed slightly or whether my body was more alkalised - it was actually a very light and enjoyable drink!
In a word - Full on.

Juice #5 - Beetroot, pineapple, celery and lemon

Juice Seven - Red apple, decaffeinated green tea, strawberry, pomegranate and tomato
Holy yum. I loved this (mainly) fruit juice! It has a very distinct berry flavour that is still only moderately sweetened by the fruit juices - very uplifting but not so much so that I was over-energised before bed - it's really such a perfect blend. Despite being derived from pure juices - this one is actually quite creamy and filling - it leaves you feeling very satisfied and refreshed.
In a word - Nourishing.

'Juice' Eight - Filtered water, almond, cacao, dates and spices.
The healthy foodie's take on chocolate milk. This delicious almond based night cap was soooo good at the end of the day - giving you the feeling of 'dessert' minus the guilt, heaviness and regret that late night dessert consumption usually brings. I think they saved the best til last with this baby but so perfectly placed it at the end of the day to provide your tummies with a smooth, delish and satisfying drink. It reminds me of a sort of cacao chai - not overly sweet, slightly spiced and so dang delicious. *Adds 15 of these to cart*
In a word - Indulgence.

There is quite a great deal of controversy at the moment as to the safety of such cleanses. It's my informed belief that two or three day cleanses provide a safe space for internal detox and mental clarity. They ensure that you are still able to get vital nutrition and nourishment to your cells - while allowing a bit of rest for your digestive system. If you do your research and choose good quality juices (or better yet, if you're not able to find a company that you endorse//support - create your own juices!) so that you can be sure you are getting optimal nutrition. The juicing regime that I embarked on encourages the consumption of eight juices per day - that's three litres! Other juicing trends//diets that have been recently under the media spotlight have reportedly involved having three juices per day with people reporting feeling hungry but embarking on the regimes in an attempt to lose weight. Cleansing and weight loss are separate things. I did not once feel deprived, starved or 'lacking' during my cleanse and never felt like I was consuming the juices out of obligation or in an effort to lose weight. It provided me with a chance to rest my digestion, get some good quality phytonutrients into my body and to promote mental clarity//sharpness. Set your intentions prior to your cleanse, and always ensure that your decisions are driven by love, respect and kindness for yourself and your body. 

Blessings, juicy smiles and a light, happy heart x

Disclaimer - Although I am reviewing the Inner Ego pack - I received no financial endorsements or incentives for completing this review (other than the initial cleanse pack). The opinions and review that I have provided is completely independent and reflective of my experience with the juice cleanse. At the time of this post - I am not an affiliate or employee of this company and all opinions//information stated above is entirely of my own. 

GETTING BACK TO NATURE - A Guest Post by Emily Ehlers

It gives me oodles of pleasure, pride and cheerleading pom poms to introduce Emily Ehler's to you all. Emily, besides having a freakin RAD name, is an absolute earth angel. She is a mama, blogger, health coach, friend, daughter, wife & dedicated lover of life. She oozes passion & vitality & is one of those people who lights you up just by BEING there. She has graciously shared her words of wisdom in today's blog as she discusses a prevalent & real problem in our community - our severe lack of connection to nature. So brew up a tea, put up your feet and soak up these inspired words from one of the world's most incredible women.

_________________________________________________________________________________

We have all heard of Attention Deficit Disorder but what about Nature-Deficit Disorder? Yep, it’s a real thing.

Nature-deficit disorder: a reduced awareness and diminished ability for adults and children to find meaning in the life around them, due to a reduced amount of interaction with the natural environment.

Us humans are not going outside enough and there is an ever-growing list of credible studies that show this is a huge factor in the rise of behavioral problems, mental illness and obesity. Oh and not to mention the degradation of our society’s happiness and health. No biggie.

We are constantly distracted by flashing screens, controlled environments and artificial lights and it goes against the universal law of nature. I – up until recently – was a shocker for retreating into a man-made existence. While I adore being outside there are some days where it just gets away and before I know it I am in bed without having felt fresh air on my skin. You know the days. You go from bed to car to office (where you eat at your desk) to car to bed. Or you get so caught up in menial housework or crazy children that before you know it the day is gone and the sun hasn’t kissed your cheeks.

Basically, going outside has become an option.

It is not an option.

It is a non-negotiable.

And beyond that, it’s fucking glorious!!!

Why should we go outside?

Need any extra persuasion…

Oxygen, glorious oxygen

We are made of cells and cells live off oxygen. If you stay in the same, closed off space all the time you are going to be breathing the same yucky air and depriving your body and brain of what it needs. Fresh air is full of negative ions (see below) and will invigorate you.

Negative Ions are Positive you oxymoron!

I am not scientifically wired so I am going to explain this in the crudest way that I am sure would disgust even a Year 8 science student. Negative Ions are good; they make us feel energized. Positive Ions are bastards; they make us feel dull.  Negatives ions are in their highest concentration near moving water – hence we feel amazing near the ocean. Positive ions are omitted from electronic equipment like TV’s and computer monitors or polluted air.  SO… get near those negative ions.

“Generally speaking, negative ions increase the flow of oxygen to the brain, resulting in higher alertness, decreased drowsiness, and more mental energy”

Pierce J. Howard, PhD, The Owners Manual for the Brain: Everyday Applications from Mind Brain Research. 

Vitamin D

Our bones are constantly growing and breaking down. However if you don’t have Vitamin D, you don’t have calcium absorption and you don’t have bone growth. So your bones are just breaking down. Vitamin D deficiency has also been linked to all sorts of nasties like depression, various cancers, heart disease, weight gain, autism and auto-immune disease.

Connection and Syncronicity

Since starting study with Institute of Integrative Nutrition I have been encourage to develop my spirituality and I have found it in nature and yoga. Those are the times when I feel connected and calm. Apparently when you are in tune with your spirituality  it can lead to synchronicity – i.e. the subtle interaction between an individual and a universal force (like nature). I wanted to share this quote from the principal of IIN because it is the most beautiful, poetic, heart-tickly note of encouragement to get outside that I have ever heard…

I believe that whatever force makes the day turn into night and night turn into day, and winter become spring and fall become winter; whatever keeps all the stars and planets going around perfectly in their orbits, creates new buds in the spring and moves old leaves to drop away in autumn, can surely look after this one little life of mine.

Joshua Rosenthal

But…

Even though there are some pretty compelling reasons there, in this modern, busy, convenient world it can still be bloody hard some days. So I’ve compiled some easy ways to integrate your inside with your outside.

Sit outside for 10 minutes a day

There are NO excuses unless you live here. Go outside and sit still for 10 minutes – preferably near or under a tree. If you want extra gold stars you could meditate during this time. But otherwise just go and let your mind watch and wander. If it has been a mad day your verandah/porch/balcony/door step will suffice.

Do not break universal laws

There is no surprise at all that we are a culture plagued with insomnia and kidney disease when we trick our bodies into thinking it is daytime with bright lights and flashing screens. Of course we make incorrect food choices – like eating hearty, grounding meals in summer – when we are tricking our body with air conditioners cranked to sub-zero.  Controlling our environment like this breaks universal laws.

Don’t fight nighttime – turn of the TV, use lamps instead of lights, have a technology-free space a few hours before bed. Feel real feelings. Winter is cold, your first option should be a jumper before you heat the house. (Within reason obviously – for all you Siberians that are reading this). Always have a window open in your home, office or car. Even in winter. Even if it’s just one and just a crack.

Earthing

Earthing (or grounding) is as simple as walking barefoot on the earth or (in fancy terms) connecting to the earth’s subtle electrical field. It’s all about those cheeky ions again. So if you are going for a walk and it’s safe to do so, try go barefoot to get an instant hit/re-connection with nature. Earthing has also been shown to reduce pain and inflammation and increase quality of sleep. If you can’t go barefoot though you can buy mats nowadays to have at your computer or under your mattress (seehere) to keep you grounded at all times.

Bring your outside in

Incorporate nature into your home. Get some plants, some fish, have curtains, windows and doors open. Surround yourself with natural fibers and materials. Reject chemicals.

Leave your car

If you can walk, do. Even though I never feel like it at the time, when I get home from the shops and I haven’t had to deal with bad drivers, cramped parking spots and getting my pram in and out of the car I always feel amazing.

Schedule catch ups around walks

Wine bars are so tempting. But for a fun change schedule dates and catch ups with friends around walks or activities. You can even pack up your own eco-cup with your own coffee or make the coffee shop or wine bar the end goal. Maybe don’t put the wine in your keep cup though.

Build it into your kids routine

Because I have a propensity to get stuck inside my house I have now built it into Lucy’s routine to ensure that I get outside – for her sake. We are out most mornings but I am now scheduling one hour every afternoon that is dedicated outside time. For older kids, maybe have a technology free hour. And get out there and play with them! Climb trees, get dirty, be a big kid.

Plant a garden

Whether it is in pots or in the ground get out there and get some plants growing. Then you are forced to go out and water them most days. Forced connection.

Eat outside

I saved the best for last. If you can, set up a little table outside and eat out there as much as possible. Obviously this is easiest in summer but if you can rug up and light a few candles and sit on a porch then do. For added romance try a picnic blanket.

I thought I would leave you with the lyrics to my favorite song (Green Garden by Laura Mvula). I play it ever morning because not only is it damn funky but if reminds me of everything I have spoken about above. You can see the video here, but for now here are the lyrics.

Take me outside, sit in the green garden
Nobody out there, but it’s okay now,
bathe in the sunlight, don’t mind if rain falls,
take me outside, sit in the green garden,
ooh ah, ooh ah oh,
ooh ah, ooh ah oh

And I’ll fly on the wings of a butterfly
high as a tree top and down down again
putting my bag down, taking my shoes off
walk in the carpet of green velvet

Dance in my garden like we used to,
ooh ah, ooh ah oh
Dance in my garden like we used to,
ooh ah, ooh ah oh

Take me outside, sit in the green garden
nobody out there, but it’s okay now,
bathe in the sunlight, don’t mind if rain falls,
take me outside in the green garden

I’ll go, wherever you go, wherever you take me, I’ll go
I’ll go, wherever you go, wherever you take me, I’ll go

Blessings and cuddles to the power of Emily squared x 

YOU DESERVE TO BE 'JOLLY, NOT JELLY' THIS CHRISTMAS (a freebie for you darling)...

As the song goes 'Tis the season to be jolly', but the composers must have been on a tight time schedule and weren't able to fit in 'tis also the season to be partying, and making poor food choices, and trading exercise for pudding, and waking up on Boxing Day feeling like a stuffed pig. Falalalalalalalalala'. Not as catchy is it? But the truth is, we have ALL been there. We have all stuffed ourselves stupid and excused that 'it's the holidays' but felt guilty with every bite. We have all foregone our early morning exercise sessions in exchange for chasing a few extra zzz's after a late night. We have all eaten (ahem, gorged on) leftovers all the way til New Years and then spent January 1st making outrageous promises that mean a few weeks of deprivation...

It's a shitty cycle ain't it? Firstly - it doesn't have to be. Secondly - when you realise and come to accept that life is all about cycles and rhythm, it kind of makes you feel calmer about the whole ordeal. I came across this message the other day and it resonated with me completely and I think actually could be interpreted and utilised during those periods in our lives where nothing seems to be 'set'.

"All of life is cyclical: the moon, the stars, and the very universe. Life inhales and then exhales again. So why should you be surprised or upset that you too have cycles? There are times when you feel energised, awake and alive. There are other times when you feel isolated and shy. Your body, too, goes through pronounced cycles and changes. Celebrate these rhythms, and embrace them as the essence of the lifeblood that courses through you!"

Maeve Angel Card (Doreen Virtue).

Sigh, isn't that powerful? I absolutely adored pulling this card and it's my life to a tee at the moment. Life was frenetically paced for the past few weeks and now its slowing a little. For me slow = scary. I have this mental program, which is entirely false and I'm working on rewriting it as we speak, that tells me that slow living = lazy living. The life that I have created means that my routine is fairly unpredictable and no two days are the same. I am flat sticks busy one minute and then twiddling my thumbs the next. But I am embracing it at the moment because it allows me to check in with you guys and leave a bit of extra love and attention around these parts.

But back to Christmas. Life is a balance and you have to make sure that whatever you do comes from a place of love and respect. Sure, eat a whole heap o' yummies over the festive season, if that's what you TRULY want and will serve you. Be present and happy in your decisions.

I have whipped up a printable poster for you to pop up at your desk, beside your bed, on your fridge or wherever will inspire you to make sure this season leaves you feeling 'jolly' and not like 'jelly'. Click here to download your copy now!

What will YOU do this season to ensure you enter the New Year rejuvinated, healthy and, above all else, happy?

Blessings and good tidings to you and your kin x

FEED ME MONDAY - The 'Shine Bright Like a Kale Salad' Edition

Now don’t fall over in absolute shock and horror – but yes, it’s FINALLY a Feed Me Monday post for you. I apologise and will continue to do so until I am blue in the face that I haven’t been so diligent, with this segment if the blog in particular, in getting posts up and out to you. But it has always been my rule that I would never write if I felt I was ‘forcing it’ to come. I write because I feel inspired to share or create or document or learn – and when I’m not feeling it, it just cannot be forced. Chu’ know man?

Last night I looked down the barrel of my weekend of food related indiscretions (nothing terrible by any stretch, but luckily my body lets me know when it has had enough and a few sneaky chips here and there, alongside nibbles and a busy weekend overall makes for an irritated tummy and a body yearning some hearty nutrition).  So I wanted to create the biggest bowl o’ goodness that I could come up with, using only ingredients found in my fridge so it didn’t mean venturing out in my daggy ‘round the house’ pants o’ course! And so this dish was born – boasting a total of 4 au naturelle colours and therefore a shittonne of vital nutrients (“count colours and not calories”) this dish was the perfect end to a blissful Sunday. And o’ so easy to prepare. If having a plate of veges for dinner isn’t your thing just yet, you can serve this baby as a side salad alongside some grilled fish, chicken or meat of choice. Just make wise decisions when purchasing your meat and exercise caution – conventional meats are often bathed in chemicals, preservatives, hormones and even sometimes ‘bleached’ to create a more appealing aesthetic.

Power Plants (with a hint-a-pink)

Kale bunch (washed and roughly cut)

½ small sweet potato (skin thoroughly washed and cut into large chunks)

Small zucchini (skin thoroughly washed and cut into large chunks)

½ corn cob

Beetroot Dip/Dressing

410g tinned beetroot (drained) (READ YOUR LABELS WHEN BUYING TINNED, avoid those with added sugar or preservatives/additives in the ingredient list)

½ cup greek yoghurt

1 tspn cumin

1 tspn dried coriander

Salt and pepper to taste

For the dressing/dip – simply pop all ingredients into a food processor and turn that sucker on until your ingredients and combined into an incredible pink concoction of flavour. Steam all veges starting from those taking the longest to the least (sweet potato, corn, zucchini and finally kale) and arrange beautifully onto the plate. Drizzle with the beetroot mix and then eat that son of a gun. Nom nom nom.

How our food is prepared is SO important, almost equally as important as the type of foods we are eating.  As is how you eat it. You can prepare an incredibly nutrient dense salad, but eat it at Ussain Bolt speed and mindlessly as you dash between meetings or appointments, and all of that energy and high vibration quality of the food absolutely goes to waste in your stressed and busy butt. But if you lovingly prepare and arrange your food, sit down and mindfully savour every bite, the process of eating is firstly more enjoyable and you’re also maintaining the loving energy and high vibration, nutrient rich qualities of the food. Maybe a bit fru fru for you but you know the old saying ‘you are what you eat’, well I’d rather be a vivacious, high energy chickita than a no thanks giving fast food eater. Start to make little changes in your life that will benefit you and your health, there truly is nothing more important than our health and happiness guys.

Love, blessings and a pink stained kitchen bench x

MY WEEK WITH THERMIE

You know the expression 'time flies when you're having fun'? Well I'm guessing the person who first uttered those now infamous words was the new owner of a Thermomix and was referring to the lightening speed at which time passes now that he was in possession of this incredible little appliance. I spent five love and food-filled nights with Thermie and, in hindsight, should have taken some time off work so that I could spend some real quality time with this baby. David and I tinkered for 5 nights, trying all of the different settings, add ons and features. We made nut butters; lamb curry; quinoa and vegetables; soups; stock and more. This machine really does sell itself, BUT I would strongly advise you attend a demo regardless of whether you think  you are interested or not, it will amaze you and you are often treated with a three-five course meal - incredible. I would also recommend, for those of you in or around the South West, to contact me via blessthismess@hotmail.com.au to get the contact deets for the two amazing consultants that I attended the demo through. 

Found here

Features of the Thermie

+ steaming
+ chopping (no more teary onion eyes!)
+ stirring (reverse feature)
+ mashing (butterfly attachment)
+ stir frying
+ slow cooking
+ rice cooking/small steamer basket
+ sautéing 
+ blending (and essentially juicing due to the high speed nature of the machine)

What I love about Thermie 

+ Easy peasy to clean: 'Nuff said.
+ It requires bugger all dishes: Are you noticing an 'I hate cleaning' theme running here?
+ Built in scales: Oh holy devil THIS was handy. You can literally measure as you're adding things in - no measuring spoons or cups in sight.
+ SO time saving: I honestly cannot emphasise this enough. Dave and I would come home, prep dinner and start it cooking while we took pup for a walk, come home and enjoy a delish meal and then have time to watch a movie or just spend time together. Um, this NEVER happens. With prep, cooking, washing up etc, we usually finish dinner and old mate goes straight to bed. It was SO lovely getting to spend a bit more time together and I was so appreciative of the gift of that during Thermie week.
+ Healthy as fug: It ain't no secret that I'm a little health obsessive. The reassurance of knowing exactly what was going into my food was an absolute blessing. I loved knowing that there were no additives, numbers, preservatives or artificial anythings in my meals.
+ The wealth of recipes and support: Both in the books that the company produces to the official online forums, and unofficial recipes via food blogs etc, there is no excuse to not get creative with this thing. I tried the Essentials and Vegetarian official Thermomix cookbooks, as well as sourcing a few recipes online. From drinks to entrees to salads to curries to deserts, there is nothing that isn't available to you. And if you have a favourite family recipe that you're wanting to try out in the Thermie, then send it through to Head Office and their recipe department will convert your existing recipe into a Thermomix friendly version. How cool is that?
+ Beautiful food: It makes ridiculously yummy food. Especially because you're not relying on any canned or packaged food sources, everything is made from scratch, the tastes are exceptional.
+ User friendly: I swear this thing is idiot proof. And thank goodness, because some night's I was so overwhelmed after work that I forgot to add things or press certain buttons, and Thermie's gentle beepy reminders ensured that I didn't mess anything up too badly.

What I didn't like about Thermie

+ Noise: It is a fairly noisy little appliance and during high processing dishes (like soups etc) it tended to be quite loud. Obviously for things like milled buckwheat or ice or anything that was solid and needed to be processed - it got super super loud.
+ Cost: I was lucky enough to be loaned this incredible machine in order to do a mini review for the blog, so I haven't yet purchased one of my own. But it's definitely in the near future. Dave and I were absolutely sold on the incredible capabilities of this machine and it was so fun to have a play and experience it first hand. Admittedly, as it costs approx $2000, this can be perceived to be a lot of moolah to spend on a kitchen appliance. But when you look at the cost of all of its capabilities (blending; steaming; food processing; frying etc) and the individual costs of appliances that serve that one sole function, you can already see that this is a good investment. I especially think that for new homeowners or young couples, like Dave and I, who are just starting out and building up their kitchen stash - it's a clever investment early on. 

Overall I absolutely LOVED my short lived time with Thermie and I can't wait til it's a permenant fixture in our home. Eee. To be continued...

Blessings from my grateful and full tummy x

I WANT YOU - The Life Changing Hump Day Edition

Image found here

 

This image, in all it's glorious simplicity and modern tweaks, perfectly depicts where I am at right now. I'm looking at you, I'm strong and sure, I'm wearing a festive-as-fug hat and I sincerely want YOU to live your BEST life. Whatever that may mean for you. If that means a better job - I want that for you; better health - I want that for you; better relationships (friendship and romantic) - I want that for you; better income - I want that for you; better career - I want that for you; more energy - I want that for you; more gratitude and happiness - I want that for you. Believe it or not, the universe is abundant and infinite. If you get crystal clear on what you want, it delivers. But you need to get so dang clear on what it is that you want to come about, why you want it to come about and when you want it to come about. A beautiful friend of mine gave me the analogy of the universe being like the ocean, we can go to the ocean with a thimble and extract a tiny amount of water; we can go to it with a bucket and get a little more; we can go to it with a GIANT mother flippin' hose and likely won't even see a dent in water levels. The universe can't give us what we don't ask for and what we're not ready or prepared to receive. True story.

 

So what brings me to the blog today... Well I've been getting so clear on what it is I want, what goals and aspirations and scary big dreams I have ahead of me and where I want them to take me and why I want to get there. I have spent the past two weeks soul searching harder and further than I EVER have before. As a result, I am FEELING better than I ever have before. Physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually - I am literally buzzing every day with anticipation and excitement and momentum when I think about what the future holds. But I needn't even think forward to the future because at the moment, my present is so dang good. Sure there are things that I would love to bring about, and I will, but my entire life right now is a direct result of how I have designed it and I take FULL responsibility for what's around me. And it's amazing. I have so many things to be grateful for that my gratitude lists are honestly getting ridiculous.

 

Part of my journey to get where I am today is by finding my 'tribe'. I am so so fortunate that my friends and family have ALWAYS supported me no end and they stand absolutely 110% behind everything that I do. But part of getting to where I am now is also through my connecting with people, all around the world, who have the same passions, values, direction, beliefs and energy as me. These women (I always seem to have incredibly strong women in my life and not so many fellas. Come at me boys!!*) have fanned the flames and kept my passion burning bright. Finding people that love and support you. Whether you, like me, were blessed with an army of angels around you from the time you were born (looking at you family and my girls) or whether you've discovered your tribe later in life OR whether you're yet to discover them. They're out there. Trust me they are. And they're the ones who will get you from where you are to where you want to be.

 

A HUGE and recent change in my life is the people I have met through Isagenix, the nutritional cleansing company that I connected with a few months back and have not let go of! The people I have met in my journey to 'wellness' - who share similar goals, values and overall enthusiasm for life and all its incredible possibilities - are the most powerful and instrumental people I have ever come across. They are changing lives, building a better tomorrow and smashing their goals, left right and centre.

 

I want YOU to have that. I want you to find your tribe and start your journey to your BEST life. I am looking for people to join my team - who are motivated, passionate and driven and who ultimately want to build a kind, well and FREE life for themselves. I want financial freedom and physical freedom to be the 'norm'. I want us to stop living our lives the way that we've been programmed to and instead break the mould and live life YOUR way.

 

I have told the universe that I will be living in a beautiful big old house on Yallingup hill with ocean views and a beautiful, inviting open floor plan by the time I am 30; I will create a life that allows me to travel and not be limited by financial or physical restraints; I will be perfectly aligned in mind, body and spirit so that everything I work for and achieve happens in perfect synchronicity with the universe. I will spend the rest of my life, til my dying days (and even then some) helping, serving and supporting others.

 

If ANY of this resonates with you and you want to become your healthiest self (and healthy in every single sense of the world - physical health; emotional health; spiritual health and financial health) then I want you to declare this the day that you start your new life and email me at blessthismess@hotmail.com.au and let's DO this. I promise you that I will put every ounce of myself and my heart into helping you achieve your goals.

 

Blessings and cuddles and excitement and every other positive emotion in between x

 

*In a completely platonic way of course ... I love you David!

FEED ME MONDAY - The Raw Porridge Smoothie Edition

Monday, Monday, gonna get down on Mondayyyyy! I trust you all had a wonderful weekend, moved your butts, ate well and of course surrounded yourself with fabulous company.

Today's recipe is a breakfast inspired delicious treat - however it should be noted that I whipped this up last Friday night when our dinner plans suddenly fell through and my barren fridge bore nothing promising. It was incredible. Uber filling, nutritious, tasty as fug and easy as anything - being prepared in 5 minutes.

The original recipe can be found on the Healthy Bitch website - a website dedicated to encouraging health, wellness and kindness through its 'minimal living' daily articles.

Apple Peanut Butter Oatmeal Smoothie 

 

1 1/2 apples chopped

1/2 cup uncooked oats

1 1/2 cups milk of choice (I opted for soy but almond would have tasted incredible!)

2 Tbspns organic nut butter of choice (I used almond, brazil, cashew)

1/2 tspn cinnamon, or more as desired

 

No method needed baby. Just pop in a blending and whiz bang it up! I blended for approximately 2 minutes and it got rid of all lumps until a velvetty smoothie remained. Serve and enjoy!

 

Blessings from my nutty kitchen x



MY 30 DAY NUTRITIONAL CLEANSE - A Reflection on and Review of my Experiences

Those of you who follow the blog, know me personally or have seen my annoyingly food/fitness/positivity related posts on instagram know that I am, what the French call ‘le health nut’. I love to make healthy choices, erryday, that I know will benefit my mind, body and soul. We only get one body and I have chosen to cherish, honour and bless my little ole temple.

Recently I was introduced to a nutritional cleanse system called Isagenix – a natural and plant derived cleansing program that was marketed as something to ‘give my insides a shower’. Truth time. As healthy as I am, the majority of the time, I don’t always shop organic, I indulge in red wine and ‘treat meals’ from time to time and I live in an environment in which I’m exposed to pollutants, chemicals and pesticides every day. My body was as clean as I could have kept it, but I decided that maybe I should call for back up when it came to flushing out the nasties. I, as always, had my sceptical spectacles on and wasn’t convinced about the health claims and results that it boasted. But after chatting with the lovely Peta Kelly, owner and director of Life By My Own Design (LBMOD), she gently chatted me through the ingredients and nutritional and healing properties of each and every single item in my delivery that I automatically felt relieved and excited to get started.

The 30 day cleanse works by structuring each day into ‘cleanse’ and ‘shake’ days. My hazard bells went off as soon as I heard ‘shake’ but again, after an explanation of the live enzymes, plant derived proteins, carbohydrates and good fats in these bad boys, I felt that I was safe. And they were delish. Seriously. Never had to force one down and never thought ‘oh I wish I didn’t have to have these shakes’. Ideally they encourage 2 shakes daily (a 250calorie and nutritionally complete meal replacement); clean snacks; a clean and preferably organic meal and a lot o’ water. In addition to this, my President’s Pak, also came with Ageless Active, Women’s essentials, Natural accelerator and Ionix. Oh gee wiz bang did I miss my Ionix when I ran out in the final week of my cleanse. This drink contains a staggering amount of adaptogens, which are responsible for significantly reducing cellular stress. They literally encourage your body to ‘adapt’ to your environment so a shot in the morning tells your body that it’s time to get up and go; a shot at night tells your body to calm down and promotes a better nights’ sleep.

Cleanse days, initially to me, were my Everest - this big, scary thing that I had to conquer but felt completely overwhelmed by. That is, until I actually did one. And loved it. And did a few more. And LOVED them.  By my 4^th, and final cleanse, I felt so dang good (and energetic believe it or not) by the end of the day that I really wanted to do the ‘double’ and go again the next day. Only issue was that I was out on the Cleanse for Life powder and my fate had been decided, I would have to wait. But this ritual of having one cleanse day a week (and a double chucked in every now and again for good measure), will definitely be one that I’ll continue. Out of the entire programme and nutritional cleanse products, THIS is what resonated with me, that my body responded to and that I will continue to include in my routine.

Don’t get me wrong, the other products are great and I never once had any issue with them. But when I had them, my body liked it, but it didn’t LOVE it. If I really listened to it, and what it craved and benefited from the most, it was the cleansing powder (and cleanse days in general), the Ionix (liquid gold) and the shakes (on days following a cleanse).  These are the products that I am continuing with following my 30 day cleanse and these are the ones I’ll continue to treat my body with as I, no doubt, continue to strive for perfect and optimal health.

However I would have to say that the biggest impact and catalyst for transformation, from my perspective, is the tribe of amazing individuals that you are linked in with who are loving, and openly sharing their experiences with the Isagenix products. Everyone is so positive and encouraging and honest about their journeys, their goals and experiences that it has been an absolute pleasure to see how everyday people have and are transforming their lives. I love me a good ‘before/after’ shot and boy oh boy did they come in hard and fast on the facebook group. Women and men of all ages sharing their stories, their transformations and their newly found confidence and ‘sparkle’ – well that was by far the most incredible and inspiring thing for this health nut to be witness to and be a part of (in some small way).

I came into the cleanse with hopes for a ‘washout’ of all the nasties and an internal ‘shower’ that helped to detoxify me. I was well aware, however, that my lifestyle and habits were already pretty dang good, with definite slip ups and a huge advocacy for everything in moderation, I feel that I have a solid knowledge and appreciation for what health looks and feels like for me. When I started the cleanse, I was already eating a relatively ‘clean diet’, I wasn’t having processed foods, I wasn’t really eating anything that wasn’t in it’s ‘whole state’ and I wasn’t (ever) consuming things without being completely aware of what I was taking into my body. On a plus side, I didn’t have ANY issues at all with the taste of any of the products (with Ionix and the shakes reportedly being a more acquired taste because they were more of an alkalising food and they didn’t have the flavours of sugars, artificial sweeteners or additives that our taste buds have become accustomed to). But on the flip side, I didn’t really have ‘well blow me down’ obvious results from the cleanse and products. The first few days, when a lot of people report starting to ‘feel a change’ as their bodies detoxify and are cleansed with natural, live foods, I carried about as normal. My only change was adding a shiz load of water to my day. My body was already fairly alkaline and it’s been almost 12 months to get me here.

I think, looking back on it, that’s why cleanse days are what have ‘grabbed’ me. These offer me an opportunity to deeply cleanse, at a cellular level, and replenish and reinforce all the good I am doing day to day during the week.

My results? Well after having banished my scales a few years ago (concluding that my worth can NOT be summarised by a number) – I had to rely on my ole faithful measuring tape. Measurements are taken from all over your body at the start of the cleanse and you do them again on day 5 and again on day 30. Overall I lost 31cm from around my body. The majority coming off my thighs and boobies (if you know me, you know this is a GOOD thing).  My cellulite has reduced significantly, and I have never been one to have too much ‘jiggle’ but I have definitely noticed a difference on my thighs with nil dimples to be found (I was so excited when I noticed this that I showed my dimple-less thighs to my sister, much to her disproval, while she sat unawares watching TV last weekend). My energy and sleep, post cleanse day, was incredible. To be honest, on ‘shake days’ I didn’t notice too much of a change in energy, sleep, skin or other ‘wellness’ domains but I really did feel it on and after my cleanse ones. But, each to their own, we gotta love, respect and appreciate bioindividuality. Some people thrive on things that my body doesn’t and vice versa.

I can’t finish my review without doing a wee little shout-out to the best part of the program (hehe). Green tea infused, clean, dark chocolate. Oh hooley dooley. The best bit about this tasty delight is that you can have them on cleanse days, guilt free, and with a delish cup o’ organic herbal tea. I absolute love this chocolate and will happily offer anyone a taste who is keen (but only one, because I love them so and don’t want to be without).

So, this very long, very open and honest review was written with my heart on my sleeve. It’s hard to capture in a single post what the products are about, what my experiences and results have been, and what I have learnt (both good and bad) during my wellness journey (within the past 30 days and beyond).

If you have ANY questions at all, or want to ask really nicely and would like to see my before and after picture … It’s an undie shot that I’m not willing to show on this forum as I chose the most inappropriate of underwear (yes, I’m a bonehead), please email me via blessthismess@hotmail.com.au.

Blessings, love, cuddles and a 30 days worth o’ green teabags in my bin x 

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY

Want to get your heart rate up? Want to get sweaty? Want a fantastic total body workout that you can knock out in the comfort of your own home? Well then look no more baby cakes, I am here share a killer workout that I promise you I will test drive myself this evening (and will share my experiences via the Bless This Mess facebook page - so be sure to 'like' us and keep up with all the latest from BTM headquarters.

Melissa Ambrosini is another one of my current 'girl crushes'. David is starting to get uber suspicious and he is questioning my authentic 'orientation' as I'm forever quoting, googling and showing him interviews of all my favourite wellness leaders (majority of them being freakin' stunning beauties, and a few spunky boys!). Her blog is a beautiful compilation of recipes, interviews, inspiration and sweaty sweaty workout advice. Her body does the talkin' and she is an absolute spot of 'vision' of health and wellness. This morning she shared her personal trainer's workout, that she recently launched at her 'Babes not Bears' workshop in Melbourne, via her instagram. And it is a gooden my friends.

Burpees

Pushups

Squats

Sit Ups

Squat Jumps

10 reps of each; then 8s; then 6s; then 4s; then 2s

Oh I can feel the burn already. Let's lock it in. Let's break with convention and this afternoon put on our Sunday best (your Sunday workout best, of course) and smash this out. I'll be doing this circuit after my afternoon run (weather pending) so I guarantee my BTM update will be courtesy of some very sweaty fingers as I type it.

Blessings from, and wishing you a happy, sweaty, well and healthy workout Wednesday x

FEED ME MONDAY - The Deliciously Simple Edition

There are countless blessings that come from my living in one the most beautiful areas of the world - the sea essentially at our doorstep, lush green forests behind us, friendly and smiling faces wherever we go, wineries and gourmet food stops only a stones throw away. Blessed indeed. But there are a few definite challenges that come with it too - the three hour each way commute to the big smoke and being pressed for time for each and every weekend that we visit. I wish I could freeze time during these weekends and be able to visit everyone and have countless cuddles and cuppas. 

You may be wondering why I'm banging on about time commitments and limitations and bla bla. But one area of my life that seems to be slipping by the wayside is having the time to get in the kitch and just 'be', play around with recipes and experiment with an array of ingredient combinations. My bad. This weekend is shaping up to be a perfect weekend to have a play so I plan to dedicate just a few hours on Sunday morning to having a play and get my creativity on. So I promise, new and exciting recipes for FMM are just around the corner.

For today's recipe and Feed Me instalment I'm-a keep it real simple. This salad is my daily habit. I absolutely love the taste, love the way I feel after eating it and love the simplicity of the ingredients and the incredible nutritional punch that it packs.

The "Eat Yo' Greens" Salad

2-3 cups assorted greens (kale; silverbeet; spinach; mescalin lettuce mix)

1/3 continental cucumber

1 carrot

8 cherry tomatoes

1/3 tin organic beans (cannelini; chick pea; butter beans)

1 Tbspn organic flaxseed oil 

Sea salt and ground pepper to taste

Optional but uber delicious additions -

Small handful of chopped corriandar

Small handful of mixed dried fruit (sultanas; goji berries; raisins)

5-6 walnuts (crumbled/crushed)

It ain't rocket science my darlings. Combine ingredients and dress with flax oil and garnish with salt and pepper. Stick a fork in the salad and then stick that fork in yo' gob. I love this freakin' simple salad. Afternoon pick me up and all round meal winner.

Blessings from my simple and under utilised country kitchen x