Feeling Blessed and Guided

In 2012, when I got made redundant, instead of drowning my sorrows with alcohol, I threw myself into juicing.  Me and Aaron have gone through MANY phases where we've juiced daily, usually spending fifteen pounds a week on fruit and veg alone.

We kind of got out of the routine in recent months, for many reasons.

I have been delighted to see that Claire at Grumpinator and Nickie at Typecast have both taken up juicing. Seeing their updates across social media nudged me to get back on the horse, in 2014, and we have been juicing on and off in recent weeks.

I am so very glad I blogged about juicing in 2012, as those posts got me noticed by the social media people at 108 Marylebone Lane, who were hosting the event that launched Joe Cross's 2014 UK book tour this morning.

So there I was this morning at an un-Godly hour 08:30 a.m.  Now if I lived in the West End that'd be easy right, but what did I do to get there? I got myself up at 05:50 a.m. I got Aaron up at 06:10 a.m. and we were out the door by 07:20 a.m.  I'd booked him to start at nursery at 08:00 instead of 09:00 a.m. which requires a fee of four pounds seventy for that extra hour as we are on NEF (12 hours a week).  I'd also asked my friend to have him from 07:30 so that she could drop my son off when she dropped off hers. Sorry Dee that I dropped him at 07:20 instead of 07:30 but hey I had a train to catch ;-)

I walked to hers in 10 minutes (it's a 15 minute walk), and then back passed mine to the station in 11 minutes when it's a 22 minute walk.  I had wind beneath my wings this morning!

I live in zone 6, but if you travel before 09:30 it's fifteen Great British Pounds to travel....  Add to that the prize of a sneaky Lightning McQueen gift bought in the Disney Store on the way home, to thank Aaron for being so cooperative this morning, and it was a pricey day.

Thanks be to God that FIVE delicious cocktails and a complimentary SIGNED copy of Joe's book more than made up for it.  As did being in such a beautiful hotel for the morning in great company.  Was lovely chatting to two bloggers: Bei and Ashley.

Oh I haven't got to the bit that explains why I called this blog post: Feeling Blessed and Guided.

Well it is because that is how the whole of 2014 has been so far.

First of all at the turn of this year I got guided by Hannah's posts about the Fly Lady at A New Addition Blog.

Then, I felt a hand guiding me through 2014. Sara (an old Yoga colleague from teacher training) got in touch via Facebook and asked if I was going to White Tantra Yoga - of course not, I haven't been to it since pregnant, January 2010, and haven't done any yoga since June 2010.  A full day of White Tantra of course not.  Yet her asking served as a nudge and off I went. It was an early start very much like this morning, with similar logistics to get out of the way, but like this morning I DID IT.  I had to go through 3 drawers of yoga clothes to find something radiant that fitted and wash/dry it but I got there and had an exquisite day!

What was special about this morning, is the gym that I taught yoga in for 6 years is was in the basement of the very same hotel that we were in this morning. Only difference being that when I taught there it was Holmes Place in the early years and Virgin Active in the later years.  When I told Virgin Active back in 2010, that I was going on maternity leave they said that the hotel had served them their notice anyhow, so everyone was leaving - end of an era.  What I discovered this morning is that a new 3 level gym in the basement of the hotel, has replaced it.  Stunning.

For Joe Cross's book launch this morning we were in the 108 Bar and Restaurant, but it is part of the stunning Marylebone Hotel - being that it is part of the Doyle collection, there were a few Irish accents there this morning.  I felt right at home. On so so many levels.  I said a little silent "thank you" to myself, several times this morning, feeling grateful that they found me online and invited me to the event.  Being that it was above the basement that housed my old gym, where I had the majority of my radiant being encounters, I don't think it was in any way a coincidence.  Personally for me, I was meant to be there, and it's given me the nudge on my path I needed.  No more time to be complacent!

So between one thing and another it is like my higher self or some other celestial entity is determined to get me back to my radiant self - with yoga and juicing.  I am getting nudged left right and centre, and always at the right time, right place.  It is that same supportive energy that I have mentioned a few times now.  It's great even by itself; I wonder how great it'll get when I throw my might behind it too!

I think I will start with Joe's Reboot!  Well I have nothing to lose (except weight) and everything to gain (like heaps of energy) and thanks to this morning I have an autographed copy of the book!

Here is he and I from today:

So now I just need to decide when I am going to do my Reboot!

He said this morning that you can actually see a huge difference from making NO life changes, if you simply have a litre of his green juice a day.  Now THAT I can do (funds allowing).  

Shame I have to learn all this again, when I was doing all this about ten years ago when I was into Anthony Robbins et al...  I seem to get good and then fall into bad habits... let's see what I can achieve THIS time. So the journey begins #again

Bye for now

Liska xx

Still Juicing Everyday

I know it is a long time since I have posted a juicing blog post but we are still juicing everyday.

Above, Aaron eating a whole bowl full of grapes.  I was glad for two reaons (1) because he hasn't in ages and (2) it is the first time ever that he has not made me peel them!

In the above collage I am showing you some of the things you'll need for juicing with a two year old.

The stool is over 10 years old from Ikea and is ideal.

A chopping board and sharp knife.

Aaron is always near the machine and I chop and pass him all the pieces.  He then feeds them into the machine.

We have the KT100 from Juice Producer.  What I love about it is that it can do grasses, and the pulp that is left over is minimal, which means you are digesting the majority of the fruit/veg/grass.  I know people who prefer blenders (I also have one of them a Vitamix) say that with juicers, we don't get the fibre and we get too much sugar. Well to that I say, that quite a few bits come through with this juicer, so it is far from just a juice.  I know toddlers don't normally like bits, but as Aaron drinks it with a straw always, he doesn't seem to notice or be bothered by it.  Yoghurt on the other hand has to be smooth or he freaks out! ;-)

The best thing to do after is dump all of the parts immediately in hot soapy water and always have it clean and ready to go and out on the work top so that you use it often.

Saturday's juice (the photos) had these ingredients:

1. Pineapple (a quarter)
2. A few apples
3. A few oranges
4. A chunk of ginger root
5. 2 carrots and
6. A whole punnet of blueberries

Aaron had a quarter of a tumbler where he'd normally drink the whole glass and I think it was because it is the first time we've add blueberries.  I think because they are a super food he didn't need quite as much juice as normal.

I love juicing because Aaron REALLY loves it, and it is a great way of sneaking carrots into him, and helping get him to his five a day.

Regular readers will remember that I bought my juicer at the end of last Summer.
 
Liska xx

Why We Are Not Going Outside to Play in The Snow - UK London Friday 18th January 2013

There isn't a person in the UK right now who doesn't know that it is snowing.

AND it is sticking on the ground!  Even in London.

I have made this collage of our window views.  We can't go out in it as Aaron is very sick.

It was already coming down when we got up so I have no idea when it started.
It's odd as we had snow on Monday which didn't really stick and then it completely went away to the point where yesterday was really sunny with a clear blue sky. With a day like yesterday you wouldn't expect to wake up to this.  It is very pretty when you are inside looking out at it, and don't have to worry about travel restrictions.

A couple of hours ago Aaron's nursery sent a text (he's never gone there on Fridays but they must have sent it to all parents).  It said that parents HAVE to collect children at 15:45 (it's normally 18:00) that they have had severe weather warnings (so are closing early).  I feel sorry for parents who now have to approach their boss to say that they need to leave early.  Yes, some people can work from home, but not everyone.  Maybe some bosses will be totally understanding - here's hoping.

As Aaron has been on medication since Tuesday night (calpol and nurofen) and does not really have an appetite, I am clearly very worried about his nutrition which he needs if he is going to have any chance of fighting this virus, which has seen him with flu symptoms, an eye infection AND an ear infection.

So I resorted this afternoon to JUICING as Aaron LOVES to help me, by feeding the juicer, and he always drinks our creations.

This is made with a WHOLE pineapple and about 5 apples.

It really is YUMMY, and naturally very frothy like a smoothy:

We're linking up with the SNOWTASTIC linky over at Childcare is Fun

Liska xxx

This Little Piggy went to Market - juicing

Juicing can be expensive as you need veg and fruit onhand regularly.

On Saturday we went to a birthday party in Walthamstow and I took the opportunity to get cheap fruit and veg, in Walthamstow Market whilst there, to sustain my juicing habit.

Wednesday, I was already in need of more, and so I travelled to Waltham Cross Market.  I got really really good deals as the video below will show.

My comments would be that:

• The lemons are nowhere near as big as the Walthamstow ones.
• The oranges are nowhere near as big as the Walthamstow ones.
• The broccoli from Waltham Cross is delicious - I am eating it steamed (second lot) right now with fresh steamed salmon.  When I bought it Wednesday (four large ones for £2) he said it had only been picked the day before.  Well bloody hell it is reflected in the taste (no comparison to the supermarkets).
• I would say the same of oranges - beautiful taste (from both markets) again no comparison to the supermarkets.

Please don't use the excuse that you work, as a reason not to go to market.  The stalls set up at 6 a.m. - so check if you can go before work - I am telling you it is well worth it.

I had a productive day on Wednesday.  I changed Chinese herbal tablets I had been sold, that were out of date!  I also got a refund on the potty/toilet system I had got from Argos that did not fit our loo, so all in all a very productive day.

Liska xx

Still Juicing Every Day - nearly

I am missing the *odd* day here and there, like yesterday, but in the main I'd say I am juicing 5 days out of 7.

Just now I used:

a green, red and yellow bell sweet pepper; and
a whole cucumber
a handful of fresh parsley
one golden delicious apple; and
a peeled little lime

It is extraordinarily refreshing, tasty and hydrating.

I hope all these healthy enzymes are zapping round my body and doing me some good.

Used all THREE colours

The little radio that replaced the UGLY one I vlogged (jug was full! I had drunk some when snapped this pic)

So very very little pulp.  But a hell of a lot of juice!

Even though it easily made enough for about 3 people, I have it nearly finished as I haven't had any lunch.

So it's been like a nutritious liquid lunch.

As usual, my juicer of choice pictured, is the KT 100 by Juice Producer.

Aaron is asleep having his afternoon nap.

Liska xx

Jucing with a Two Year Old is great fun!

We're not yet at the stage where he is drinking it although he had a few TINY sips yesterday but he really really loves helping Mummy to make it.

I have done A LOT of food shopping today and have lots of juicing ingredients that a 2 year old may love, so hopefully I will be making some juices that he will love.

Liska x