2013 so far…I think it rocks don’t you?

12 days in and I’ve kept up with my NY resolutions! Simple ones:

1: To move my body with yoga, running, cardio, walking etc, whatever feels right on the day.

2: To start this blog (yay to me!)

3: To be kinder to myself & to make sure I look after me first.

We, as women tend to put so many others in our lives before us. Our partners, children, family, friends, even the dog. So I’ve vowed to read those books, go for that massage, research that topic I’ve been interested in for ages, laze by the pool and even go for a few days of not speaking to a soul to come back to myself, if that pleases me I’ve done it.

I love this site for constant encouragement, sign up for their weekly newsletter lists, they are always inspiring. http://www.marcandangel.com/2013/01/11/10-ways-to-make-life-good-again/#more-561

I’ve had the luxury of having time to myself as my gorgeous fiance is off at Vipassana meditating (This doesn’t happen often that I have time to myself and I know that for those of you with families your ‘me’ time is so very precious) He will finish today, so after 10 days I will get to pick him up from the airport and I simply can’t wait. I have so much love, time and patience to give him because I have had this special time to myself.

Last year I got engaged to Marty, my partner of 6 years. We spend our lives living between Los Angeles (he is an actor so Hollywood is Mecca) and Bondi, Sydney. We have been through so many ups and downs and roundabouts but have come sailing through still so much in love with each other and loving hanging out together. This year we hope to be lucky enough to start our own family.

We’ve recently become vegan for ethical and health reasons. After years of being slightly dodgy vegetarians we took the plunge to remove all animal products from our diets. We look better, feel better and have more energy, and my skin particularly looks and feels like never before. I’ve also switched to all natural and organic products. I’ll share some scary chemical facts about that in a few posts. Most importantly at nearly 38 I feel better and more comfortable in my own skin than ever in my life. We all want that, right!

In my 37 years I have worked  in two arenas, with flowers: as a florist, and with families: as a nanny when living overseas, and now my passion lies in combining a love of food, my nutritional studies and family health. At this stage I’d like to work in Pediatric Nutrition with a Psychology slant, but that’s this week. There are so many fun and interesting fields involving Nutrition so who knows…

I’m a traditional girl at heart, although I didn’t have a picture perfect family but I believe so greatly in the family eating meals together (Studies show the great, and many benefits of regular mealtimes as a family unit) I loved cooking with my Nan when I was younger, who only knew how to cook for seemingly a herd of people just in case someone in the family dropped by. I seem to have inherited that talent and no-one in my vicinity ever leaves our home hungry!

So in getting this blog together my plan is to share with you all recipes, and anything related to food & nutrition, family health and great websites that I think is of interest to us all.

I am just learning this blogging business so please bare with me. It may well change shape a few times as I find my way…I’d love your input, questions or requests of particular foods. I do a lot of googling and combine recipes, I try to cut out unnecessary sugars, make meals gluten-free and I generally don’t measure when I’m cooking, much to my sisters annoyance, but I will try to keep to the program for you all! There will also not be as much chatter in normal posts as this 1st one I wanted to properly introduce myself to you guys.

I’ve just started with a simple recipe first up, a great breaky smoothie. SO important to get the goodness in at the start of the day and get the metabolism going. We generally start the day with a little fresh lemon in water and then a smoothie 45-60mins later or after our workout. Enjoy and don’t be scared to use what you have in the fridge/freezer that is handy. Try to use the recipes as a guide and if it says blueberries and you have raspberries go for it, sub in! I tend to throw a lot in our morning smoothies so I know we are set up for a great day nutritionally if we start off well. And definitely give them to the kids!! If you have a fussy eater they will love a (naturally) sweet smoothie and its a great way to sneak some delicious super foods in there.

I look forward to sharing this beautiful life and journey with you, my new LoveBomb friends!

I hope to make our lives all a little easier, a whole lot healthier and super delicious, with a side of gratitude for good measure!!

Thanks so much for your support

Peta x

Berry Smoothie (raw, vegan, gluten free, soy free)
Serves 1

• 1/3 cup strawberries
• 1/3 cup blueberries
• 1/3 small avocado
• 1 medium banana (i freeze mine already cut up)
• 1 tbsp chia seeds (these need to soak a little first so they go a little gelatinous so put the milk in, and then the chia seeds while you are getting everything else together)
• 1 handful spinach
• 1 tbsp flax meal
• 1 1/3 cup almond milk (or coconut water from a fresh coconut if available, throw in the coconut meat too, yum)

Blend all ingredients, serve and Enjoy!

Again use what you have at home, you could add a fresh date to sweeten, a little cinnamon, some cocao, maca powder, hemp seeds, a little good quality nut butter, some tahini. It’s great to mess around and come up with great flavors. Please share them with us when you do!

My gorgeous niece Zali loving her berry smoothie!