Saturday: Study, Cookbook and Pumpkin Soup

After a morning spent grocery shopping I was looking forward to getting out in the sun this afternoon to do a bit of study. This is one thing that I'm really enjoying about my course....being able to study when I feel like it.....and being able to study where I feel like it. My iPad that was provided for my course allows me to do this.
I set up my hammock in the sun, but it was a little too hot, so I moved to the shade. Studying in the fresh air, outside, with the chickens softly clucking in the background..... this is the life for me.

I love cookbooks that are written by people with some type of health qualifications because the recipes should be healthy. This book is one of these. It is written by Lauren Burns who is a qualified naturopath, nutritionist and herbalist. Lauren is best known for winning the first Olympic gold medal for taekwondo in the -49kg category when the sport made its debut at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Lauren became a vegetarian at the age of three and is proud that, despite many nutritionists telling her it simply wasn't possible, she was able to continue being a vegetarian through her elite sporting career.

While grocery shopping this morning I found this pumpkin, locally grown without the use of pesticides, and as I've had soup on my mind I couldn't resist it. The pumpkin soup recipe is from Lauren's book.

Thanks for visiting,

Julie xxoo

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

. . . . . . . .

(inspired by SouleMama)

A clean, tidy, decluttered area of our home. 

Yoghurt is so easy to make

using this method.


I have wanted to make yoghurt from scratch before, but I kept putting it off because I didn't think I had enough time. Then I found these instructions and it looked simple so I thought I'd give it a go. It didn't take much time at all, it was simple and the yoghurt tasted lovely.

I used this Jalna yoghurt as my starter. This is the yoghurt I had been using, but I didn't like that it comes in plastic, and I really wanted to make it myself. The yoghurt I made also tasted nicer than the Jalna, it is more mild in taste. The home made version is also a lot cheaper.  From now on I will definitely be making my own yoghurt. I also used organic milk which means my yoghurt is organic. 

The finished product served over homemade granola and blueberries, my favorite breakfast. I have milk on it too.  The granola recipe is from here. 

Friday

 My Country Style magazine arrived in the mail.

A storm arriving after a hot day.

I dragged our mini tramp inside and did a workout while watching the storm.

I love a storm after a hot day.

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

. . . . . . . .

(inspired by SouleMama)

Last Sunday, sitting in the sun relaxing, looking at the blue sky, clouds and flowers. Bliss!

I hope your weekend is full of health and happiness.

Take care,

Julie xxoo

A Lovely Day At Home

After spending the previous three mornings out and about, doing some grocery shopping and odd jobs, it was time for a day at home having a bit of a catch up. 

First bit of catching up is on my blog.

This week I have been soaking grains and beans, cooking them and storing them in the freezer. 

Here is tri-coloured quinoa soaking.....

I love all the different colours.....

Next we have some white beans soaking......

Quinoa has been cooked and is being prepared for the freezer....

White beans in the saucepan cooking away....

While out grocery shopping this week I was very excited to find some organic blueberries in Woolworths. 

In K Mart I found these heart shaped silicon molds. (only $5)

I am going to make soap in these for Mothers' Day.

 

I am removing as much plastic as I can from our home at the moment.

I found this stainless steel citrus juicer in K Mart too, (only $5), to replace our plastic one.

 

I am upping my exercise routine at the moment too.

I couldn't resist these hand weights.

The 0.5kg weights were only $3 each and the 1kg weights were $5 each. 

 

Back to today.......

I had a lovely time working slowly and mindfully through my tasks. 

As I wasn't in a rush I actually enjoyed myself doing the washing, hanging clothes on the line, washing up etc. 

I also enjoyed making and eating healthy, organic, whole, nutritious foods. Whole grains, beans, fruits and veges, with lots of filtered water plus the odd cup of earl grey or dandelion tea.

 

I read a bit of my new book "Down to Earth" by Rhonda Hetzel.

In her book Rhonda says:

"Housework never ends, so don't try to finish it."

"Streamline your tasks and don't aim for perfection. Take breaks."

...."understand the reason for your work and look for the pleasure in it. Be proud of what you achieve every day because you are providing a good home for your loved ones, you are making the most of the resources you have and looking after what you own. Stop thinking that you'll never get through it all. Housework never ends, so don't try to finish it. Just do as much as you can do or feel like doing today, and continue with it tomorrow." 

This sounds like my kind of advice.

To finish my day I enjoyed this pizza. 

Wholemeal lebanese bread for the base. Sometimes I make the base, but not today. 

Topped with organic tomato paste, spinach, basil, spring onions from our garden, leftover pumpkin from yesterday, organic fetta cheese and a sprinkle of nutmeg. 

This was baked in the oven.

I then added olives and avocado. (I took the photo without the avocado because

 I'm not very neat at cutting it up.) 

I hope you had a lovely day today too. 

What did you get up to?

Name Change

You might have noticed that I changed the name of my blog a week or two ago.

The new name:

Creating Wellness is in line with the direction my life is going.

As you might have read I am studying with the Institute of Integrative Nutrition to become qualified as a Holistic Health Coach.

My aim is to 'create wellness'

....in myself.....my family...... and hopefully inspiring others to 'create wellness' in their own lives. 


I hope you enjoy reading and following my blog.

Take care,

Julie xxoo

Sunday

Brown rice and lentils soaking. These will be cooked and frozen in small batches ready to use during the week.

Enjoying calendula flowers picked from our garden.

Enjoying the sunshine.

Appreciating this picture, given to my husband from his grandmother, when he was born, 43 years ago.

Loving Heather's idea of making bread dough in a large bowl. That way you can knead the dough in the bowl, keeping flour off your kitchen bench. It makes cleaning up so much easier.

I sat out the back today with the warm sun on my back. While sitting there I noticed the blue flowers against the blue sky. Very pretty.

I also love the look of the occasional white cloud with the blue sky. The colours of nature, you can't beat them.

Remembering that it is autumn, my favorite time of the year. 

Thinking of my blogging friends in the northern hemisphere, where it is now spring. I hope the sun is bringing some gentle warmth to you.  

My lunch today, chickpeas, greens, avocado, tomatoes, olives, drizzled with olive oil and lemon juice with freshly ground pepper. Yum! I am loving having the greens growing in containers near our back door. It makes me more inclined to use them as they are so close at hand.

Organising a new recipe folder.

The finished loaf of bread. This is the softest, nicest bread I have made so far.

Feeling gratitude for family and friends, blogging friends and other friends, both near and far.

Noticing this video.  I hope I'm that fit and flexible at 95. I love this lady's home too, simplicity, beauty and comfort.

Loving the slowness of a Sunday, yet productive too.

Enjoying the music wafting through our house.

I hope your Sunday was enjoyable too. 

Friday

A couple of new purchases for me today. I don't do this very often, but once in a while, I think that's OK. 

I have been eyeing off the baskets in our local wholefoods shop for ages. Today I purchased this one. I can think of many uses for it, so it will be put to good use in our home. 

The book I have been waiting for is on sale. I finally purchased my copy. It is such a beautiful book, filled with gorgeous pictures and lots of inspiration.

I can picture myself reading this book, in a hammock, enjoying the autumn sunshine. Then re-reading it, just in case I missed something, in front of our wood fire this winter. 

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

. . . . . . . .

(inspired by SouleMama)

My package arrived from the Institute Of Integrative Nutrition, containing the materials I need for my course to become a Holistic Health Coach. It was so exciting to receive this in the mail this week. I am full of happiness, gratitude and excitement as I begin this journey.