Weather today: Grey skies, looks like we could be in for more rain.

The thunder yesterday turned into an electrical storm which lasted for quite some time, a couple of hours infact. There is a lot of flooding in the UK, we nearly had a flood ourselves until my hubby realised that the drains outside were blocked over with leaves, so he rushed out into the garden and cleared them so no flooding for us, thank goodness!!

Oh! I received my packs of seeds last week, so I have planted 3 different types of kale, beetroot and butternut squash.

I coloured my hair last night so I didn't have to do it this morning, that is one job I hate having to do! The grey is all covered up now.

I have just had a strawberry and banana smoothie for breakfast and I am thinking of making a pressed salad for lunch, which I will show you when it is done.

The weather today: Pouring with HUGE rain drops, thunder, grey skies and the fog horn has been going all day. This weather has been like this for days, infact most of June.

OOps! not blogged for a few days..not good!
Weigh day today and I have gone down 2lb which IS good!! I measured my body last week and I will measure again in about a month or so.
I still have not incorporated exercise into my days yet BUT I am being more active with more housework, my housework rota which is what I am sure has helped with the 2lb weight loss this week but I of course want to lose inches too, so exercise is a must really!

What am I up to? Well, I have just started a 10 week Raw Chef Academy Course and even just in this first week, I am learning!

This week I am learning about:
Setting up my kitchen.
Setting myself up for success.
Setting up my store cupboards, fridge and freezer.
Equipment.
Knife skills.
Flavour balancing.
Meal planning.
Prepping.
Shopping.
We also learn about substituting elements to make our own recipe.

So as you can see, there is a lot in the first week. After I have finished this course I am thinking of doing Russell James' Raw Dessert course.

Right then, I might get back tonight but if not then I will get back tomorrow.
Over this weekend I will be making a Russell James recipe and a recipe that we had to change/substitute elements, so watch out for that.

Been to the GP and I am indeed perimenopausal...great!..NOT! Well, at least I do not have thyroid trouble, anaemia, kidney trouble and my blood count is fine which I am SOO pleased about! Have you noticed that as we get older we start and really hope we don't have whatever wrong with our bodies but when we were kids we weren't bothered, it just meant we got attention, but gosh! Put a few a few year on us and ARRGHH...PANIC! I'm not panicking now though, it is just the normal things, perimenopausal and NOT something horrible...WOOOOHOOOO - I'm happy!

I went for our big grocery shop on Friday, so all stocked up again. Oh! I received a couple of raw orders yesterday.

Raw hot hocolate drink
Vanilla, almond Snakaroons
1kg Raw almonds
Mulberries
3bags Durian, freeze dried
He Shou Wu
Almond flat bread
Cherry extract/oil
Coconut wraps
Sacred chocolate, milk chocolate heart
Gynostemma tea
Box 12 raw chocolates

I took a few pics of my grandchildren also

Ebony aged 7 years
Ellie aged 5 years (6 in December)
Michael aged 3 years (4 in July)

I asked Michael to give grandma a smile and this is what I got...teehee - typical little monkey.
He has some of those water slide kiddy tattoo's stuck on his arms, unfortunately he likes them, they just wash off of course but I would sooner have not allowed him to have those.
Michael's T shirt has, 'My life my rules' printed on it...yep, that's about right for little Michael.
Michael doesn't have a snotty nose, he fell over and banged his little top tip....awwww

AHA....I got my smile from Michael...it came out a tad blurry...typical...teehee Michael is standing (above) as if to say.."ta daaa"...teehee

We had the Olympic torch go by the bottom of our avenue; I managed to capture a picture of it.

You can see the flame but not a full picutre because of the tree's.

You can see the torch bearer in the white track suit. The torch flame can be seen better on this photo.

Well, that is all for today so I will be back tomorrow.
Night Night

Weather: over cast with the sun trying to burst through...wonders shall never cease...sun, here in the UK!

Up at usual, showered, hair washed.
I had a nap again this morning for about 1 1/2 - 2 hours...I am so tired today.
I have snacked on banana's and later I have my blood appointment, such a pain having to go backwards and forwards to the doctors...ah well, it's for my own good and I am grateful to all the doctors and the health service!

Not sure what to have for lunch but I do know that I am not going to stray.

*UPDATE*
Back from the doctors and bloods have been taken. The nurse couldn't get my bloods out of my favourite left arm so she had to go to my right arm...success! She took 4 bloods, she said they were checking other things also but I forgot to ask what....DURR I get the results back next Tuesday...I'm curious now!

I haven't had any lunch, I have been busy doing laundry and hanging it around radiators to dry, I then had to make the boys their lunches and then I had to get ready to go to the doctors, so by the time I had done all that I ran out of time to prepare my lunch...how time flies sometimes eh?
I am craving a banana and strawberry smoothie....a lot better than craving something processed, maybe I am making progress!

I am making the family chicken curry for their evening meal and I will have a salad of some sort AND a smoothie.....why not!?

BACK LATER 

Weather: overcast. The sun came out late afternoon.

This is MONDAY 11 June Post, I don't know why it is showing Sunday, I thnk it is because I posted early in the morning.

Up at my usual time and showered.
I made some raw condensed milk last night and I had a tablespoon amount with a banana for a breakfast snack.

Condensed Milk
1 C Unsweetened Almond Milk
1/3 C prepared Irish Moss Gel
1/4 C Erythritol
1/4 C Coconut Sugar
1Tb Lecithin
1 tsp Xanthum Gum
1/2 tsp Stevia Powder (white)
1/2 tsp Salt

Vitamix everything together

I am going to clean my bathroom now, it is 7.57am...GO ME!!

I have been busy all day cleaning, I have cleaned all the downstairs and upstairs floors and the stairs, I have also cleaned the bathroom, done laundry, polished around the house and other bits and pieces...busy, busy, BUSY!!

I have snacked on bananas most of the day but unfortunately when I was making the boys lunches I sneaked fried bread....OH NO!! Not fried bread! I couldn't have sneaked anything worse could I?...ARGGH But I did, it is behind me now and for my evening meal I had a salad and now that is me done eating for today.

I am going to have a shower and do some beauty....ahhhh bliss! And then early to bed me thinks. I have an appointment tomorrow to have my bloods taken to check for menopause, they are also checking for thyroid....ummmm...I wonder!!

BACK TOMORROW

This post is SUNDAY 10 JUNE.

A good, healthy day to be had. Here we are, day 4 already.
I have started my day off with a Strawbery and Banana smoothie. I am looking forward to a day of good food!

*UPDATED*
I fell asleep for about 1 1/2 hours this afternoon, still needing those sleeps.

I have just had a salad for my evening meal, it was YUM! I really enjoyed it!

Nothing else to report today, quite a lazy not doing anything day. I am going to maybe make something soon; a raw pie or something.

BACK TOMORROW

Weather: Rain, rain and MORE rain!

Up and showered at the usual time this morning and then we popped to Asda at 8.15am for some groceries. I have stocked up on some fresh produce i.e Kale, Avocado, Pineapple, Spring Onions,Strawberries, Romaine, Courgette, Banana's etc etc. I am doing a big grocery shop next week. I took the boys with me to Asda and of course, kids being kids they want chocolate which mean't going down the sweet aisle, I confess to buying a small bag of Peanut Butter cups which are gone now but I wont let it spoil the rest of my day of raw eating as I would normally. it didn't dawn on me until just now that in future I can just send the boys down that aisle and that way I can avoid the processed, sugary junk altogether...GOOD IDEA!...WOOHOO

I have plenty housework to get through today and I also need to go to my mothers to show her how to go on with her dehumidifier as she calls it....teehee

Back later, I'm off to my mothers now.

*UPDATE*
I was at my mothers for 2 1/2 hours, I enjoyed being there. I helped her with her dehydrator; she put in pineapple, banana, carrot, kiwi fruit, potato and I also took her some Krazy Kracker 'Got Curry' Kracker mixture/sauce that I had left over from last nights Kracker making. I thought her dehydrator was one of those that didn't have the fan but when she plugged it in and switched it on the fan started, I was so pleased that she bought a dehydrator with the fan! As far as I know the dehydrators without the fan cause too much moisture and can create mould, correct me if I'm wrong.

Here is a pic of some of the Krazy Krackers I made last night: Got Curry are the light brown Krackers and the others are BBQ Krackers and Onion Rings.

Unfortunately I have been eating processed food today which I am not happy with, why am I saying that? I was the one who put that rubbish into my mouth. As I said above, I am doing a big grocery shop this next week and I am always tempted by the rubbish so this is going to be good for me because I fully intend in coming back with NO processed rubbish, lets just see how serious I am, this will be good for me!! I will keep you informed and I will be happy to say that I have NOT bought rubbish...you'll see!! I used to come back with HEAPS of processed rubbish over the years but I would say that over these last 2 years the rubbish has dramatically decreased and often I have not bought rubbish at all.

I popped back to my mothers this afternoon to take her some Krazy Krackers that I had made so she could try them, well, what was left because my youngest son, James has done nothing but sneak to the dehydrator and pinch the 'Got Curry' Krazy Krackers. I don't like spices but I do like these Got Curry Krackers.

Well, it is now 9.03pm so I think it is an early night, I am shattered.

BACK TOMORROW

Weather today is dull, overcast and raining and apparently it is in for the day.

Up and out of bed at 6.30am and under the shower, hair washed.
I have had a banana for Breakfast and I am going to have a juice later with some wheatgrass mixed in; I'm going to drink wheatgrass daily.
I have my doctors appointment later today.

Oh! The sweet sauce/pudding I made yesterday doesn't seem to want to firm up, maybe because it was more coconut milk, ah well, I can still eat/drink it.

*UPDATE ON THE SAUCE/PUDDING*:
I have just taken the sauce/pudding out of the fridge and it has set, a soft set but set, I have just eaten it for breakfast also.

*UPDATE*
I fell asleep for 1 1/2 hours today.
I went for my doctors appointment this afternoon but I have to go back next week to have bloods taken to check for menopause. The doctors don't take blood at the appointments we always have to go back for the nurse to take our bloods....ummm - it's always been the case.

My mother wants help with her dehydrator tomorrow; I am not sure whether she is coming here or I'm going there but anyway, I am thinking of making some Krazy Krackers for her tonight in my dehydrator. I need to pop out for a few groceries tomorrow also.

This morning I have eaten a banana and the coconut sauce/pudding and that was it until about 30 minutes ago when I made more spring rolls for my evening meal.
It has rained all day today by the way....hummfff

Well that is all for today so I will be BACK TOMORROW.

Weather this morning: It was sunny but is turning a little overcast, apparently rain is forecast for this afternoon.

I am feeling tired this morning. I haven't been sleeping too great for the last two nights, stress maybe! I will see how I feel as the day goes on but I am hoping to gain lots of energy in time with my raw lifestyle/commitment.

I was up at 6.30am, fed the cats and then into the shower for my usual morning shower, no hair wash this morning, I am washing my hair every other day whereas I used to wash it daily.

Thursday is my official weigh in day so I jumped...not literally...teehee onto my scales and it measured all the necessaries; Weight, Body fat, BMI, Body water etc, details can be found here on my Weigh In page.

I have eaten a banana up to now. My stomach is rumbling and I am feeling a tad hungry so I am thinking of having a couple more banana's. I have some watermelon juice in the fridge that I juiced on Tuesday evening, it made two jars, I had a jar yesteday morning and although it was nice it didn't taste great to me, nothing wrong with it just no sweetness, I think I left it sitting too long before juicing it. I have a jar left in the fridge so I could have that but I'm not sure, might just stick with the bananas this morning and chuck the watermelon juice.

Last night I had my stone grinder going and I ground some raw almonds, I made this partly to make quick almond milk. I finished growing alfalfa sprouts which are now in the fridge. I sort of cleaned out my fridge so I can see what is in there and to hand.

*UPDATE*
I fell asleep for about 2 1/2 hours. I have decided not to deny myself and try and force myself to stay awake when I am feeling the way I do, if I need to nap then I will.
I am at my GP's tomorrow to ask for a blood test to confirm as to whether I am going through menopause or not and if I am then that will explain a lot, the tiredness for starters. I have been getting lots of symptoms for a couple of years now and something needs to be done or confirmed.
I'm getting hungry now and I am thinking of doing spring roll wraps, raw of course although I don't think the sheets are raw but raw foodies do eat them. I watched Michelle K make them.



I make delicious vegan spring rolls with an incredible Peanut sauce-you have to try this.

Spring roll wrapper and veggies for filling
P-nut sauce:
1/2 organic Almond butter or peanut butter
1/4 cup water
1 Tbs fresh lemon juice
1 Tbs raw honey or agave nectar
1 clove garlic minced and about teaspoon minced ginger
dash of cayenne and pinch of salt
blend together for a fantastic dipping sauce

*UPDATE*
I made the spring rolls and peanut sauce for lunch and it was DEEEEELICOUS!! I have developed quite a penchant for spring rolls, infact, so much so I had them for my evening meal also, a fruity version.

Lunch:

Not the best piccy, I have been using macro as per hubby suggested, and this is the result...BAH HUMBUG

Here is my fruity evening meal:

Nope! I wont be using macro again....humff

The sauce I made by whipping up in the vitamix the following:
coconut milk
2 Tb lucuma
1 tsp Vanilla
2 Tb Irish moss gel

I then sprinkled a little bit of strawberry powder on top of the sauce...YUUUUMMY!
In the spring rolls I put sliced grapes, banana's, blueberries and finely sliced apple. The list is endless of the things I could have put into the rolls but that was about all I had available.

I have put the rest of the sauce mixture into the fridge and it is now setting a lot better , so that will be a dessert or snack for tomorrow.

Well, that is about all for today, so I will be back tomorrow.

I have been feeling rather flat lately and unfortunately still am, I don't know why, keep feeling a tad weepy also....ummm....puzzled as to why but, I just got to keep trying to bounce back, I can't give up!

I have decided to re-start and re-name my challenge. I need to give myself more of a reason instead of just, a 66 day challenge.
 I have been thinking on the lines of, 'Raw Body, Mind & Spirit 66 Day Challenge'. I need to help myself and I know that exercise and eating raw will help in all these area's, and the title, 'Body, Mind & Spirit' might just spur me on and remind me who I am doing this for, who I WANT to do this for...ME! So I think tomorrow is the day to start this NEW challenge.

The weather over these last few days has been dull and rainy, and today we had thunder and huge down pours...not suprised!

So there you have it, my NEW, 'Raw Body, Mind & Spirit 66 Days' commences tomorrow, Thursday 7th June 2012

'Raw Body, Mind & Spirit 66 Days'
Outline
For the 66 day's I MUST consume only raw foods and if I am craving something processed I must make something raw to replace the processed craving. I always feel a tad ill after consuming processed food so I know it does me no favours!

I MUST exercise 3 days out of 7 - This is to increased to 5 days per week.
Exercise can be walking, cycling, exercise machine or DVD at a minimum of 20 minutes which is the standard basic amount of time to exercise albeit daily time but little and often will do good.

I MUST follow my housework and beauty rota's.

I MUST be prepared and write in my daily journal to do book also!!

I might get back later today but if not then I will be back tomorrow.

Summeraw 66 Days - 2 June 2012

Yep I am getting back into my 66 days commencing TOMORROW - 2 June 2012 and I am looking forward to it!!

I bought a few note books a month or so ago and I have decided to  make one of them my, 'Daily To Do Diary' I know that I write to do lists on here...sometimes but because they aren't in front of me I tend to just forget them and they get lost down the line of posts, so I thought if I write in one of the note books then I am more encouraged to write in it daily, and read the daily to do's.

I am finally getting on really great with my mam now!! I am so pleased that I have my mother, she was always there I just didn't realise it for such a long time. I do now!!
I have been talking to my mother about menopause symptoms and what I have been going through and she told that she believes that I am going through the change and not to worry. I have an appointment with my doctor in a weeks time so I will get it confirmed for sure. I need to discuss more problems with the Doctor also so I will get everything sorted, hopefully!!

The weather has been dull and rainy for the last couple of days, we have even had the fog horn blasting...I love the fog horn!!

Right then, I will be back tomorrow doing the things on my to do list which I will keep for tomorrow to blog about.