Mistakes...

I love this stamp! Mistakes are part of the dues one pays for a full life. I really like this page!

Tasty strawberries!

This recipe was super fast, all no fuss fruits. I really loved the flavour too. It was amazing that the strawberries could be tasted even though there wasn't that many of them compared to the rest of the flavours. This one didn't make as much as some of the other smoothies, but still a winner!

Swapsies

I changed this one up as I had run out of pineapple, so I used watermelon which is on the list of ingredients you can swap one for one. Watermelon worked really well for this! I also ended up running short of almond milk.

Christmas tags

Cooking with gas! That's me :)
Here is my entry into Rubber Dance's stamping competition. I have made 2 tags. I had a lot of fun with these and even used some products I'd had for ages (buttons and the embossed flowers)
Thanks for checking them out!

Crafty thing!

I finally got time to get a little crafty! Here are 2 tags that I've made to enter the competition at Crafters Cupboard. It was pretty hard to get a photo as the paint that I've used for the base is metallic, so very shiny! You can see that in the second photo.

Mango and donation!

This smoothie is very similar to the Healthy Dark Chocolate Smoothie, I think I prefer the other one, but this was still pretty nice! The pineapple I had wasn't very sweet, but it did the job. So far I've not made one I hated, and I would have them all again. The only problem is the calories are a bit high, as is the sugar. Being on a calorie restricted diet means I do get a little hungry after these.
I've been going strong since Sunday diet wise! I had one breakout splurge and that was last night. I topped out at 1900 cals. Most other days I've been under 1300cals. I managed to get the the gym Monday for 2 classes. Thursday I slow rode 10kms delivering election material for a friend.
I'm hoping to see a good lose this week.
I also got a donation for my Ride to Conquer Cancer. Very happy!!
45 days until the cruise!!!

Day 3

This smoothie really surprised me, actually I'm pretty sure all smoothies have surprised me lol. The flavour was pretty good! I was expecting it to be over citrus'y but it wasn't. I'm sure if I had a better blender the chia seeds would smash up better, but that's ok.

Get your smoothie on!

WOW! So if ever there was a green smoothie you should try, it should be this one! My gosh! It was delicious. A very similar recipe to that used in the challenge is up on Incredible Smoothies. It was sooo tasty. The only thing I didn't like was the high sugar levels, but that's what you get when you use a whole mango.
I am amazed at the taste of a green smoothie, honestly I expected everything to taste like a bunch of spinach. I bare eating spinach, but I don't love it! So far I can't even taste it in the drinks. Whoo!

Please don't forget to sponsor me in the Ride to Conquer Cancer. Every dollar counts to helping fight this disease!

Trying new things

So... I have never liked the look or sound of 'green smoothies' they sound terrible and look rather displeasing too. I have a gym instructor that often talks about them and another friend that is a huge fan. I promised said friend I'd give them a go (you know rather than judge them with out trying - as I'd been doing!) Anyhow I signed up to a free 30 day challenge from Incredible Smoothies. I'd signed up and had the emails come in for a couple of weeks before I finally took the plunge. I've been failing at meal planning so I took the leap and put down one week of smoothies for breakfast as well as lots of other healthy meals for lunch and dinner! I've got a goal of 4kgs to lose before my cruise!
Yesterday was the day for smoothie number 1 (which is actually week 2 of the challenge - I'd lost the first email- but the lady that runs the challenge was lovely and resent it). This smoothie was pretty good! I didn't gag which is what I was expecting haha. I could taste the kiwi and the pineapple and the spinach didn't make an impact other than to colour the drink. The only things that could have made it better was if the pineapple was sweeter and if I'd thrown some ice into the smoothie, it was tepid because the almond milk was only made that morning and didn't have a chance to get cold. Neither of these 'bad' things are the fault of the smoothie though :)

Here is my dinner. It's 12wbt Chicken Parmigiana. Michael cooked this!! I was at the gym doing a double class, so he cooked, I'd prepared the salad earlier. I am pretty impressed! I think I might have to make him cook more often. Haha!

Recent Events

Well here I am posting again, almost a record for recent years :D

Call me crazy, but a couple of weeks ago while cheering on my friend Kerry who was completing the 200km 'Ride to Conquer Cancer', I decided to join up! It is a little crazy right? It's a massive challenge, but one I'm excited to partake in. There is a massive fundraising goal of $2500 before I can ride and I have one year to collect that money. If you would like to donate to the cause and help me to get on the road the you can do so HERE. I am so lucky I have my wonderful gym buddies joining me as well as an extended friend group. It's going to be an amazing journey.

I also have to report back, I won the Crafters Cupboard challenge! I'm so excited!! I am totally going to buy some more Jofty Stamps! Love them. Make sure you check out the newest competition over at CC's blog!