Healthy Living
Issue 3
July 2014
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Summer
ORGANIC SUNCREAM
Designer left overs HONEY FACTS Our monthly quote! Share your Up-cycling ideas with us.
BE CREATIVE…..
HEALTHY LIVING MAGAZINE , PASSIONATE ABOUT LIVING THE RIGHT WAY
Hi, I'm Linda
!
I've been passionate about healthy living for most of my life and, as Jodie will confirm, we lived off the land for many years, sometimes out of financial necessity but mostly because we knew it was a healthy way to bring up a family, all things considered!
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In ten years we never had to resort to antibiotics, which inspired me to write my first book 'Grow Your own Pharmacy' - published by the long standing community spirited foundation - Findhorn Press - back in 2007. I've since gone on to write more books on home and garden topics and have an insatiable desire to talk to anyone who'll listen about the virtues of healthy living in all its wonderful forms.
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And of course I blog about it! http://growyourownlifestyle.blogspot.co.uk
!
It is our intention to bring you plenty of tips and tricks so you can create a healthy lifestyle for you and your family.
Hello I am Jodie,
!
I’m a 30 year married mummy of 3 living in sunny Devon. My children are Alice (12) Oscar (5) Toby (2), In the past 2 years I have learn so much about the organic world. I am passionate about Healthy Foods and Organic products. I have just recently become a consultant for Neals Yard which I am very excited about.
uk.nyrorganic.com/shop/jodiegascoigne
!
I am the founder of Bloomintots Boutique;
A baby and mummy clothes brand with a growing selection of organic baby clothing. Working very hard to become certified ~ Long and expensive process, but well worth it.
! www.bloomintots.co.uk
!
The idea of creating this magazine was a bit of a sudden brain wave. But being dyslexic I kinda knew I couldn't do this on my own. So what do we do when we need advice “Call mum” !
We joined forces and here we are! With my mum’s passion for growing vegetables and being a published author It just seemed to make sense.
Contact us: healthylivingad@gmail.com
Page 2
IN THIS ISSUE:
……………………………………………………………….
Beauty Regime
4-5
Bright Ideas 24-25
Peace Of Mind 6-7
Tiddly peeps 26 27
Growing Your Own Food 8-9
Healthy change 28-29
July Check List 10-11
Saving Time 30- 33
Bean Sprouts 12-13
Next months issue 34-35 Resources 36-37
Herb Corner 14-15 Moments of appreciation 38-39 Edible Flowers 16-17 Games 40-41 Recipes 18-19 Monthly Quote 20-21
SUBSCRIBE 42-43
Feature Page 22-23
Page 3
Healthy Beauty Regime DONT FORGET YOUR SUN CREAM
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Page 4
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Peace of mind
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Christmas herbs Here's a great way to avoid the unhealthy stress overload of Christmas shopping‌
Christmas Herbs
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Okay I know it's July but they say Christmas comes earlier every year, and this year, as usual, most of us will be wondering how to get through the long shopping expeditions as well as stressing over the bank balance.
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Not necessary! Give friends and family potted herbs to grow in the kitchen or plant outside. the following Spring. Herbs are always welcome as they are practical and attractive in the house as well as in the garden. Earn loads of Brownie points in the kitchen by adding fresh mint leaves to new potatoes!
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At this time of year, you can often find herbs and small shrubs in garden centres at reduced prices. Make sure they are healthy though. Even the un-reduced plants aren't particularly expensive.
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To save even more money, use your own plants. Take cuttings from healthy shrubs now, push cut end down into pots of fresh compost and keep warm and watered so that when you give them away as presents they are growing well and developing roots. I bought an aloe vera plant last year that has so far produced 8 new plants and the original is still growing well!
Peace of mind
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So how do we get around all this? The best herbs to give as Christmas presents are perennial such as:
*Aloe Vera *Sage *Thyme *Rosemary *Bay *Chives *Mint *Lemon Balm
Look around for different varieties. For example there's a new hybrid mint that smells like chocolate, and is perfect for garnishing an ice cream dessert.
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Some herb varieties differ in the colour of flowers or leaves. Rather than buying the first one you see, check for healthy growth. If the plant is drooping or has brown leaves, discard and find a healthier one. The idea is you want to keep them alive and kicking until Christmas, after that they are their new owner's responsibility!
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Keep the plants on a windowsill or warm bright place in the house and don't let them dry out. If you have to re-pot them, make sure the new pots are well-drained and use fresh compost to give them a good start.
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Then all you need to do is buy a pretty container. Clay pots can be handpainted with a simple daisy design and sealed with a clear varnish. Tie a bow round the pot and you have an instant Christmas present, that's taken you months to grow!
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GROWING YOUR OWN FOOD
Starting Winter Crops ! July is a great month to think about winter crops. A little planning never goes amiss after all! !
Harvesting fresh organic vegetables during the winter months is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your family. All those fresh vitamins and minerals at your fingertips every day will help boost immune systems and help prevent colds and flu all through the colder months of the year.
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So what can you grow?
! !
**Plant out any winter crops you've started from seed, such as winter cabbages, Brussels sprouts etc; If you didn't start any this year, you'll probably be able to find plants in your local garden centre or garden supplier that are ready to plant out now. It's definitely worth a trip to the garden centre to have fresh organic veggies in the winter months.
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**Same with leeks. All leeks should be planted out by the end of this month at the latest. Make a hole with a dibber and pop the each leek into the hole. Fill with water and allow the soil to fall back in naturally. Some growers like to cut the roots before planting. I always found this to be a bit drastic, but there are gardeners who insist this is the 'right' way! Cut the tops down after planting to encourage growth and avoid too much swaying about.
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**Fast growing veggies such as radishes, some lettuce, land cress and even courgettes can be sown now. These crops probably won't survive a frost and should be harvested in the autumn. Although in a mild weather region, you may get them to keep growing until the end of the year.
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**There are a few varieties of carrots, beetroots and turnips that can be sown now. Again they may not survive a frost but definitely worth growing for autumn eating. Also, look out for fast growing peas and beans. You may get an extra crop in before the autumn.
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**Kale, mustard greens, Swiss chard and some oriental greens can be sown this month. Check on the seed packets for growing recommendations before you buy. Some varieties will last through the winter, others will need to be harvested in the autumn. Kale is a particularly hardy crop - and very high in nutrients - and well worth a space in the veggie patch.
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**If you have a greenhouse or a warm conservatory, make the most of it and plant a few winter lettuces or Chinese cabbage crops. I've grown winter lettuce in a greenhouse all through the winter months. Although salad crops aren't always appealing on a cold winter's day, they certainly liven up a meal and fresh organic food is always worthwhile.
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GROWING YOUR OWN FOOD
These winter veg varieties are recommended for sowing in July: These are all available on the Thompson & Morgan website (UK)
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http://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=2283&id=87202
Kale
Carrots
Beans
Kale : Black Tuscany
Climbing Bean 'Cobra'
Spinach
Carrot : Flyaway F1
Pakchoi
Beetroot
Pak Choi 'Green' F1 Hybrid
Beetroot 'Boltardy' (Globe)
Spinach : Medania
Peas
Pea 'Oregon Sugar Pod'
Salad
Salad 'Niche Oriental Mixed'
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What to do in July‌..
Here's a quick checklist for your garden in July:
Checklist:
There are plenty of things to do in the garden in July...
! !
**Plan your winter garden and prepare the land. Leave pea and bean plants to die back naturally as they enrich the soil with nitrogen.
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**Start sowing winter crops - winter lettuce, some Chinese cabbage varieties and quick growing crops, such as radishes, can all be sown in July.
! !
**Don't forget to water your plants, especially if it hasn't rained for more than 24 hours. Tomato plants especially won't thrive if they lack water. But then most annual plants won't survive if too dry.
! !
**Lettuces should be shaded from midday sun. Unless you have a boltresistant variety - and even they aren't totally immune - lettuce plants will bolt (run to seed) making them bitter and mostly inedible. Water well every day, even twice a day if necessary to help keep them grounded!
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What to do in July‌..
**Check for blight: Tomato and potato plants are vulnerable - especially when the weather is humid. The traditional prevention treatment for blight is Bordeaux mix, which claims to be organic. Double check though before you use any product on your plants.
! !
**Dead-head flowers. Use a sharp pair of secateurs or scissors and remove dead blooms. This will encourage plants to produce more flowers.
! ! **Summer pruning: Cut back dead wood after raspberries and currants have been harvested. ! !
**Mow grass regularly before it gets too long and difficult for the mower. Alternatively, plant a clover lawn. Clover encourages bees and other good bugs to your garden and, although you may have to watch you don't step on a bee, this is a great way to avoid having to mow every week.
! !
**Keep up with the weeding. Popping out into the garden every day and pulling a few weeds is often enough to keep on top of the problem.
! !
There are claims that some crops will grow in weeds perfectly well, but 'weeds' will take nourishment from the soil that would otherwise be taken up by your crops so .... although the jury's still out, we would advise pulling up those pesky weeds for now!
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Growing Beansprouts
Growing beansprouts isn't a new age veggie thing - the Chinese have been growing and eating beansprouts for thousands of years. Most beans can be germinated and eaten while still at the sprouting stage. Mung beans are probably the easiest and quickest to grow.
!Other beans and seeds can be used though. In general it's better to sprout beans and seeds that are fairly small and soft. Larger beans can grow mould before they sprout making them inedible.
!Try lentils, cabbage seed, fenugreek, alfalfa and of course mung beans. And if you're having trouble locating good supplies, Amazon are worth a try!
!Most seed packets will have instructions for the best way to
growing beansprouts. But just in case, here's a general overview of just HOW to create those wonderful crisp and nutritious beansprouts the Chinese have sworn by for centuries. ( NO fat, LOW in calories, HIGH in vitamin and mineral content and quick to grow in minimal space )
How To Do It!
!You need: !*a glass or plastic jar ( or tumbler ) !*a piece of cloth ( preferably muslin but any cotton cloth will do ) large enough to cover the top of the jar. !*An elastic band to secure the cloth over the top of the jar. !Oh...and some seeds to sprout! !! Method: !*Pour seeds in your jar to about a fifth full or check on instructions on your seed packet. !( A cup of mung beans will make 4 cups of beansprouts. ) !*Pour tepid water over the seeds and swish around the jar for a few seconds. Then cover the jar with the cloth - secure with elastic band - and drain all the water through the cloth. !*Place the jar, with cloth cover, in a warm dark cupboard ( 75 degrees F. is good ). !Every morning and evening, pour warm water over your seeds, drain and replace in cupboard. !Your seeds should start sprouting within 2-6 days depending on the type of seed you're using. !Eat as soon as the sprouts are one or two inches long. !Keep in a dark place for white shoots. If you prefer green shoots, leave in a lighter place after the seeds have started to germinate. !NB If you find your beans or seeds grow mould before they start to shoot, try soaking the seed in tepid water for 24 hours before you start. This may be recommended on your seed packet anyway.
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Growing Beansprouts
Growing beansprouts is probably the cleanest vegetable gardening you can do - and no back ache :-)
! Get the kids involved. They'll love it! ! Reasons For Growing Beansprouts: !
Because we eat the shoot of the plant soon after germination, the vitamins and minerals are readily available to us. Seeds and new shoots usually contain significant quantities of vitamin E.
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Vitamin E is considered to be one of nature's best antioxidants, protecting the body against free radicals. Long term illness can cause vitamin E deficiency, symptoms include anaemia and problems with the nervous system. However in a healthy body vitamin E deficiency is rare.
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Noodle Dish
! ! 1.Gently cook noodles or leave in recently boiled water for a few minutes until soft. ! 2.Heat a little oil in a wok and fry a chopped spring onion or two. !
3.Add beansprouts and stir over the heat for a couple of minutes. Then stir in the drained noodles and add a generous splash of soy sauce.
! 4.Cook for a minute or two, stirring all the time then serve hot. !! Other Stir Fry Options: !
Ginger, garlic, fresh herbs are all classic flavourings you could add to your stir fry. Spices and herbs can be very strong in taste though.
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Beansprouts have a very light taste and can be overpowered by too much garlic! However, because they do have a light taste, you have almost a blank canvas to experiment on!
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Bean sprouts can be combined with watercress, lambs lettuce, cucumber, spring onions, peppers to make a delicious salad. Using soy sauce in your salad dressing will give it that 'Chinese' taste.
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Or how about a quick healthy sandwich... goats cheese in wholemeal bread with a few beansprouts and lettuce leaves makes you feel good!
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Herb Corner Coriander - The Curry Cheat!
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Growing coriander in your garden really will put spice into your life! The coriander plant is two plants in one - a spice and a herb. Chopped fresh coriander will add a mild curry taste to any dish, which means you can save on buying or making curry sauces.
! The pungent seeds are the spice, and the leaf is the herb part. !
Coriander has been grown for many centuries as a medicinal and culinary herb. The Chinese believed it to have life-lengthening powers, and it has been referred to in history as an aphrodisiac.
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Coriander has a very strong smell and defined taste. It is used chiefly to flavour curries, soups and stews. I have always grown coriander from seed. It tends to germinate well and will re-seed itself in moderate climates. A coriander patch can look after itself for years!
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Positioning: Find a nice sunny spot for coriander. It is native to warm climates, and likes the sun. It will tolerate some shade but avoid draughty or cold spots.
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Grow a few plants here and there among your vegetables. The smell deters aphids and other garden pests. It doesn't worry the birds though!
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Planting: Prepare the soil to a fine consistency and remove weeds and large stones. Coriander seed should be sown about half an inch (2cms) deep in rows 9-12 inches (25-30cms) apart. However, I've simply scattered seed around in the vegetable plot and had great success with growing coriander! I used the seed I had collected from my plants the year before and therefore had plenty to play with.
! But if you're starting from scratch, don't risk wasting them. Sow them in lines as the seed packet tells you. ! Sow a few very short lines of seed here and there around the whole garden, remember to add a line to your herb beds.
!
Generally, coriander can be sown fairly early in Spring, but you should check the growing recommendations on your seed packet to make sure.
! Water your seeds in and keep weed-free. !
Growing coriander in containers: As with most herbs, coriander can be grown in pots, and even kept indoors ( in fact, keeping a coriander plant near an open window can deter flies from entering your home all summer )
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Keep soil watered and well-drained. Feed with an organic fertilizer every few weeks to help the plant produce lots of leaf.
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Herb Corner Looking after coriander:
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Keep weed-free and watered during very hot temperatures. Otherwise, just pick and use! Add a few chopped coriander leaves to salads, boiled potatoes, potato salads, stews, soups, curries.
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In a moderate climate - when the temperature doesn't get below freezing for more than a couple of weeks during the winter - you may be able to leave your coriander patch to re-grow itself year after year.
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Coriander is an 'annual' and will produce seed and die. Leave some plants to drop their seed naturally and clear the dead plants later. Hopefully, in mid-late spring some of these seeds will germinate. Dig up the new plants gently if you want to move them, when they have 4-6 true leaves.
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If your soil is very acidic, add a little nitrogen but adding nutrients can impair the taste of the herb, so should be avoided if possible.
! Storing: !
Coriander leaves are best used fresh, but as with most herbs it can be stored reasonably successfully.
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! Drying: !
Either hang whole stems upside down in a dark airy place for a couple of weeks, or lay out on racks to dry in the sun, turning regularly. When completely dry, crumble into glass jars, label and store out of direct light.
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Drying does take away some of the strength of taste and scent.
! ! ! ! Freezing: !
Freeze quickly on trays and store in freezer bags. Label.
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Storing coriander seeds is probably the most efficient way of capturing the coriander taste long after the plant has died. Simply collect and store in a glass jar with airtight lid. Store out of direct light.
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Edible Flowers DOG ROSE (Rosa canina):
About Dog Rose:
!The dog rose is one of the wild varieties of the rose family and grows prolifically
along hedgerows throughout Europe and elsewhere. Roses have been cultivated for over 2000 years and are known as the queen of flowers. They need no description although there are over ten thousand cultivated varieties, ranging from climbing roses, shrubs with huge blooms right through to the miniature tea rose.
!! All of the varieties in the rose family have similar medicinal properties although the
dog rose is highly valued for its prolific growth in the wild as well as the fruit of the plant known as a ‘rose hip’. The rose hip is a good source of vitamin C and is used in cordials and syrups. During the war years, rose hips were picked and used by families all over Europe, especially in the UK. Rose Hip syrup is still considered to be a healthy drink for babies and young children.
!Roses are grown commercially for their cut flowers and for many cosmetic and herbal preparations. Rose hip tea is available in many high street supermarkets. !The dog rose grows rapidly and should be allowed quite a large space in the home garden to thrive, although it can be trained to climb over fences and other structures. The plant flowers in early summer, and the fruits can be harvested as they become ripe. !! Growing:
!Dog Rose plants are normally started with cuttings although can be grown from seed. The seed, however, may take up to two years to germinate. Cuttings can also take about twelve months to grow roots but the rate of successful cuttings is high. ! From seed: !Because the seed can take up to two years to germinate, the success rate tends to be a bit hit and miss. There are many factors that can lead to the seed not surviving over a long period; lack of heat and/or water, or indeed too much of both. If you are determined to have a go, you should be able to keep the trays in a very warm place and then allow them to cool down periodically.
!If you sow the seed before it reaches full maturity they can sometimes germinate slightly quicker and may come up in the
following spring after autumn sowings. When you buy the seed, check on the supplier’s growing recommendations before sowing.
!Use well-drained seed trays filled with new compost and keep soil moist. When the seedlings are large enough to handle prick out into individual pots and look after them until they are large enough to plant out in the garden. !Dog Rose thrives on a sunny border i.e. next to a low fence or hedge, although it will grow well in part shade. It can also be trained to grow as a hedgerow. !Do you have edible flowers lurking in the back garden right now? Other edible garden flowers include:
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Edible Flowers From cuttings:
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Generally roses are propagated by cuttings, and dog rose is no exception. Prune your plant back in the autumn after the last flowers and fruits have matured and been harvested. Trim the cuttings and select the strongest and healthiest looking stems to use. Don’t use stems that are diseased or damaged.
! !
Cut the pieces you have chosen back to a few inches (7 or 8cm) in length and push them into well drained pots of new compost. Pots need to be fairly deep. Keep the soil damp but not too wet. Or you can take new shoots from the main plant to propagate more plants. Choose shoots that are about as thick as a pencil and are healthy and free from damage. Push them into pots of compost and keep fairly damp but not too wet. Always make sure pots are well-drained.
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Cuttings and shoots can be kept in a cold frame until they have developed roots. Shoots could be ready the following spring, but may not be ready until later in the year. Keep plants until the following year before planting out in the garden, if they haven’t established roots by the first spring. Cuttings can also be planted directly outside in a seed bed and moved to their permanent position later on.
! Layering !
:
Propagation from layering is also an option with the dog rose. The plant has long trailing branches and is perfect for this kind of propagation. Choose a low branch that is strong and healthy and peg it to the soil, where it naturally touches the ground, with a U shaped peg. Cover with a light layer of compost and water well without disturbing the compost. Water in dry periods and keep weeds away.
! !! Storing !
When the new plant has developed roots it can be cut from the main plant through the layering branch and then re-planted, or left to grow where it is. Cut back the branch remaining on the main plant.
:
Dog rose petals can be dried and used in pot pourri mixtures although stronger smelling roses are normally used for perfume. Leaves can be dried by hanging in bunches or laying on trays in the sun, then crumbled and stored in a glass jar and used to make tea.
! !! Medicinal uses for Dog Rose: !
The fruits - the rose hips - should be made into syrups and cordials as soon as possible after harvesting, although they will keep for a day or two before they start to dry out.
The medicinal uses for all the plants in the rose family have been well documented through the years. The fruits of dog rose the rose hips - are probably one of the highest sources of vitamin C available, having many times, weight for weight, than the vitamin C content of oranges and other citrus fruits. A cordial made from rose hips is a natural way to keep colds away.
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Rose leaf tea is considered to be a calming drink and the leaves are a good tonic.
Recipes
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Summer Tomato Soup !
Vegetable soup recipes don't have to be limited to winter months. Served with a hot crusty loaf, this summer tomato soup is as good as a wholesome meal on a warm summer evening.
!! INGREDIENTS: !
As many tomatoes as you can fit into a large soup saucepan 1 medium sized potato 1 small onion A little cooking oil
!! !! !! ! METHOD !
:
1. Remove skin from tomatoes before cooking. This can be tricky and time consuming. Try blanching by plunging the tomatoes into boiling water for a few seconds. Make a cross with a sharp knife in the base of the tomato first and remove any leaves and stalks. Blanching will help loosen the skin. Then either slide the skin off with your fingers or use a small sharp vegetable knife to remove it.
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2. Peel potato and cut into cubes. Peel and chop onion. Gently fry both in a little cooking oil in a large saucepan. Stir until potato is fairly soft. Don't let it burn.
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3. Then start adding your peeled tomatoes. Cut them up roughly and add a few at a time, stirring well after each addition. Keep the heat on low-medium, and add your tomatoes until there's no more space! You shouldn't need to add water, but make sure the mix isn't too dry. If it is, add a little water at a time.
!
4. Stir over a gentle heat until the tomatoes are cooked and everyone is hungry. Add a sprig of basil during the last few minutes of cooking to really zip up the flavour.
! !
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Recipes
Summer Fruit Pie or Crumble !
Use any summer fruits; strawberries, blackberries, apples and pears all work well. Or try rhubarb or blackcurrants.
! Ingredients: !Enough fruit to half fill an ovenproof dish A little beaten egg or milk to glaze if using pastry !Short crust pastry:
6oz (150g.) flour 3oz (75g.) hard butter (or equivalent baking fat) cut into small cubes Cold water
!Crumble mixture made from:
4-5oz (100-125g.) flour 2oz (50g.) hard butter (or equivalent baking fat) cut into small cubes 2oz (50g.) sugar
!! ! ! Method: !
1. Preheat oven to Gas mark 4 (350F, 180C) 2. Prepare fruit: remove any leaves, stalks and damaged fruit. Cut into halves (or quarters if using larger fruits) Rinse gently and drain well. Layer in the ovenproof dish and pour over a little water to moisten and avoid sticking. 3. Sprinkle over a little sugar if fruit isn't sweet enough.
!! To make pastry: !1. Rub butter into the flour until mixture resembles breadcrumbs, adding a little more flour if too sticky.
2. Then, adding a little cold water at a time, press the mixture together to form a smooth dough. Roll the dough out on a floured board, and cut to fit the top of the ovenproof dish. Place over the dish, greasing the edges if necessary to avoid the pastry sticking. 3. Brush a little beaten egg or milk over the top to glaze.
! To make crumble: !Rub butter into the flour until mixture resembles breadcrumbs, adding a little more flour if too sticky. Stir in the sugar and pile the mixture on top of the fruit. Smooth out gently with a knife or back of a spoon ! To bake both: !1. Bake in the centre of a pre-heated oven for about half an hour or until the top is starting to go golden brown. Don’t over-cook. 2. Serve hot or cold with custard or cream.
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MONTHLY QUOTE
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MONTHLY QUOTE
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"Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance." ! Eckhart Tolle
FEATURE PAGE ‘
Gratitude Gratitude
!!
! !
If you've watched 'The Secret', read the book or dipped your toe in any self-development theories over the past few years, you've probably heard about the incredible powers of gratitude. Practising gratitude is one of the key components to create abundance in all areas of your life.
!
But there are a couple of questions that invariably come up...
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1. How and why does it work, if indeed it does? 2. How do I feel gratitude when I'm stressed and worried all the time?
! Let's address these now... ! 1. How and Why Does It Work - and does it? !
The main reason why gratitude works is that while you're in a state of gratitude you aren't sending out feelings of lack to the Universe, or God or whatever force you believe in.
!
And, therefore, according to the law of attraction, you won't be attracting circumstances of lack into your worl
! ! ! !
There's been some incredible research in the past few years on the advantages of practising gratitude. And the results have been astonishing. Simply feeling and expressing gratitude on a daily basis has been shown to give you:
!
**more energy **higher emotional intelligence **more forgiving attitudes **less depression **less anxiousness **more feelings of being socially connected **better sleep **fewer headaches
! !
In a busy daily world with problems about money, relationships and general everyday stress often being forefront in our minds, how on earth do we express gratitude to bring all the advantages we deserve into our lives? So ...
!
FEATURE PAGE ‘
Gratitude 2. How do I do this?
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In a world where instant manifestation is apparently key to success, it's not always clear to us, as individuals, what 'success' actually looks like.
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Is it having tons of money? Is it about working in a career you adore? Is it about meeting 'the one' and having 2.4 children? Is it about having more than 300 'friends' on Facebook?
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Success should be about fulfilling your own dream lifestyle - not the lifestyle that others expect of you.
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Choose a dream. It doesn't have to be huge. It just needs to be something you really desire and is possible to achieve... And don't forget - there isn't much that isn't possible :-)
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Side note: Make your dream slightly out of your comfort zone - so that you believe it’s possible but not sure how you’re going to achieve it.
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Once our dreams are firmly in place we can let them off into the Universe and get down to daily stuff...
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Every day take at least one action that moves you closer to your dream - this in itself is a subject for a whole book, but by taking baby steps, you will feel that you're doing something to benefit you and your family and friends.
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And in turn, this makes it easier to appreciate what you do have ... Keep a gratitude journal to get you moving in the right direction.
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Write at least 5 things you are grateful for as soon as you wake up. It only takes a few minutes but if you really don't have time, do it before you go to sleep.
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Keep it simple and make it personal. Here are a few examples - swiped from my own journal I admit :-)
! ** I am truly grateful for my body because it allows me to do all the physical things I want to do ! ** I am truly grateful for my family who I love and who love me ! ** I am truly grateful for the abundance of knowledge at my fingertips at any given moment (Google never sleeps!)
SEN PH D IN
OF OT YO OS UR
P R WE O J ’D L E OV CTS E
TO SH
AR ET HE M.
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BRIGHT IDEAS! We love up-cycling. Having a creative mind is always easier when you want to up-cycle. But for those who aren’t so much, here are a few things we think are just wonderful.
Colour
!
Colour can have a dramatic effect in our environment. Painting your bedroom black can seriously affect your mood as oppose to having it painted all white. And of course there are many alternatives;
! !
Red: Red is just about the strongest colour in the spectrum and can actually get your pulse racing. Really it should be used in rooms where you want to be lively, although a touch of red here and there can be very attractive.
! !
Brown: Brown is a comfort colour (thinking chocolate here!) and feels warm and relaxing in most environments. Dark browns can be a little oppressive but lighter browns will work very well.
! !
Orange: Orange is zesty and similar to red in it's 'feeling' properties. Use in a room where you want lots of chatter and fun. Can be a bit over the top in bedrooms.
! !
Yellow: Yellow is a 'sunny' colour of course but the wrong shade can be a little depressing so be careful with this one. Choose the right shade and use in sunny breakfast rooms and kitchens.
! !
Green: Green is a re-assuring colour. The colour of nature, it tends to make us feel comfortable and relaxed and will enhance most rooms in the home. However, again don't choose a 'sickly' green as this could possibly have the opposite effect!
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BRIGHT IDEAS!
Sculpture !
This beautiful sculpture was created from pieces of wood, branches etc; and can be found at The Eden Project in Devon (UK).. Well worth a visit!
Seed Pots
!
And don't throw those cardboard tubes away. Toilet roll and Kitchen roll inner tubes make excellent seed starters.
!
Cut the smaller ones in half, and you may get three out of the longer ones. Place them closely together into a tray.
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Cardboard won't last long because you'll need to water seeds and seedlings. But the great bonus is that you can plant the whole pot into the ground or into larger pots later because the 'pots' will naturally degrade.
‘ IT’S ALL ABOUT THE TIDDLY~PEEPS….
! Summery Snacks For Little People!
Jelly Mega Block Tastic!
!
Find the children, find the mega block! lego and run to the shop! Buy some! jelly and have some fun! !
!
Our tip- Add fruit of your choice to make it even more yummy.
Image found over at www.babble.com
Stary Melon
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Refreshing and yummy. All you need is a star shape cutter and lunch is made fun and healthy.
IT’S ‘ ALL ABOUT THE TIDDLY~PEEPS….
And parents ... you are not alone…
! !! Here are a few of our favourite quotes to make you smile! !!
“Oh, to be only half as wonderful as my child thought I was when he was small, and only half as stupid as my teenager now thinks I am.”
! Rebecca Richards ! ........ ! !
“When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to twenty one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.”
! Mark Twain ! ........ ! “Wrinkles are hereditary. Parents get them from their children.” ! Doris Day ! ........ ! ! “How do I cope with my children? I have a big house … and I hide a lot.” ! Mary Ure ! ! ........ ! !
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HEALTHY CHANGE
White Foods
!
One of the latest health tips is to avoid 'white' foods. White flour has a very similar effect on the body as white sugar so if you're not gluten intolerant and love bread, opt for a healthier option.
! Whole-wheat is definitely better than white bread which has been processed almost beyond recognition. ! Sugar is one of the most dangerous addictive foods on the planet - especially white processed sugar. It messes with insulin levels and can be a trigger for diseases such as:
!
-diabetes -heart conditions -obesity
! and of course tooth decay. ! ! Quick fix solutions: ! 1. Try opting for honey wherever possible ! 2. Choose dark chocolate instead of regular sugar laden varieties !
3. Make fresh fruit ice lollies by mashing up fruit and freezing it in ice cube trays or lolly moulds
! 4. Avoid processed sauces - they are often high in sugar content. !
Alternatives to sauces are relatively easy: Keep a few pots of herbs on the kitchen windowsill so they are readily available. Check the Herb Corner article for coriander - a perfect curry cheat!
‘ DID YOU KNOW?
Honey Save The Bees: Encourage bees to your garden by planting flowers and flowering herbs. In recent years there has been a dramatic reduction in the bee population across the world. We need these wonderful creatures.
Honey is certainly a miracle of nature. Bees collecting pollen and turning it into a food fit for kings must be worth a mention! ! The Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and other cultures used honey to treat various ailments, including eye and skin conditions.
!
Honey has been researched for many years and has been used in various scientific studies.
!
Please note that it is widely agreed that honey shouldn't be given to infants under a year old because of a bacteria that very young children can't digest and can lead to botulism.
! Apart from that, honey has been known to: ! ** Aid in many skin conditions, such as dandruff and skin lesions ! ** Reduce alcohol intoxication !
** It's anti-inflammatory properties can reduce symptoms of allergies (although because of the flower origin, care should be taken here that you aren't allergic to the flower!)
!
** Sterilize wounds and skin ulcers (in it's unprocessed form) ** Provide small amounts of vitamins and minerals such as niacin, calcium, magnesium and more
! **Help fuel the body before and after a work-out due to the carbohydrate and vitamin content !
There have even been small studies that have shown honey to improve the memory, although because they were small, science hasn't acknowledged them - yet :-)
!
Honey does contain around 65 calories per tablespoon so if you're on a calorie controlled diet, this will need to be taken into consideration. However, surely honey must be so much better than a couple of spoons of white sugar.
! !
‘
Saving Time
50% Less Cooking ..
!..without hitting the fast food button! Don't you just cringe when some clever kitchen type tells you what you could be doing with the leftovers in the fridge, when it's plainly obvious the leftovers will stay there until they walk out by themselves!
!More often than not, saving money with leftovers, although a great idea, takes a lot of time in preparation and relies on many other ingredients being available. So... !Design your own leftovers! !Cooking twice as much as you need 'by design' allows you the extra time tomorrow with the added bonus of knowing what you're going to cook. !Most 'in-the-pot' dishes like bolognaise, chilli, casseroles and stews can all be made in double quantities in very little
extra time. Make sure you thoroughly reheat meat dishes until piping hot. The only real problem with in-the-pot recipes is that you're obliged to eat the same meal two nights in a row. Although you can serve it with rice, pasta, or potatoes to add some variety.
!Rice Dishes: !If you've managed to cook enough rice to feed the neighbourhood, don't throw away the leftovers. Let the rice cool
completely, place in a bowl, cover with plastic food wrap, and refrigerate. Then the following evening you have a base for a new and exciting meal...try these ideas:
!Egg Fried Rice: !Make a plain omelette and remove from pan. Cut into small pieces and set aside.. Put cold leftover rice in the pan and stir gently. Add omelette pieces, stir and heat until hot right through. Serve with Chinese style ribs, or veggie sausages. !Special Fried Rice: !Fry in olive or nut oil a finely chopped onion, tomato, green pepper and a few sliced mushrooms. Add leftover rice to
pan. Stir gently. Add sweet corn for colour and a few chopped walnuts if liked. Serve with any meat, fish, egg or veggie dish.
!Rice Salad: !In a large bowl, mix leftover rice with fresh raw chopped vegetables; onion, tomato, sweet pepper, celery, sweet corn, and any other favourites hanging around in the fridge. Chill for half an hour before serving. A half mayo, half natural yogurt dressing can be gently stirred in if liked. To create a whole summer meal in a bowl, add chopped boiled egg, cooked flaked fish, pieces of ham or cooked chicken or even nuts and raisins!
‘
Saving Time
Potatoes can easily be turned into 'designer leftovers'
!Cooking a whole tray of jacket potatoes will take no longer than cooking one or two, just a few extra minutes scrubbing time needed. Store leftovers in the fridge. !Flat Fries: !Slice and shallow fry leftover jackets in hot olive oil and some mixed dried herbs or cumin spice. Turn occasionally. Serve hot with anything. !Family Omelette: !Peel and dice leftover jackets and gently fry in olive oil, with a chopped onion. Pour over beaten eggs and add some
grated cheese. Cook gently for a few minutes. Turn and cook the other side. The omelette will probably fall apart during this manoeuvre. Just push it back together. No-one will know! Serve hot with a green salad.
!Rough Potato Salad: !Peel leftover jackets and chop roughly. Mix in a large bowl with sweet corn, tuna and a little chopped onion or chives. Serve with a mayonnaise sauce. !Hot mashed potato, served with a delicious gravy, is always a family favourite. Make twice as much and delight the family two days in a row! Cool the leftover mash thoroughly. Place in a bowl, cover with plastic food wrap and refrigerate.
!Baked Mash: !Put leftover mash into a large bowl and stir in cooked flaked white fish, bacon pieces, or cooked vegetables. Place in a greased ovenproof dish, top with grated cheese and bake in a medium oven until hot right through. !Burger Mash: !In a large bowl, mix leftover mash with a little beaten egg, some chopped chives or very finely chopped onion. Then form small balls in your hands. Flatten slightly and, if available, coat with breadcrumbs or chopped nuts. Fry as you would a burger!
!Cottage Pie: !Cook minced beef, or veggie equivalent, a chopped onion and a tin of tomatoes together and place mixture in a large
lightly greased ovenproof dish. Spoon leftover mashed potato over the top, and sprinkle on a little grated cheese, if liked. Heat through thoroughly in a medium to hot oven and serve hot with green vegetables.
‘
Saving Time
Household Chores in Half the Time
!! !Household chores aren't hard, nor are they particularly boring - nice to
have time to think sometimes! BUT they can be time-consuming. These tried and tested tips will cut your 'chores time' in half...
!! ! 1. Organize: !
Start at the top of the house and clear it up! Then allocate places for absolutely everything. Install shelves and cupboards in the bedrooms, and make sure there is enough space for each pile of clothes. Before you go on to the next room, put a label on the front of the shelf in full view of the shorter members of the family. Then there will be no 'But I don't know where it goes' complaints when you ask them to put their stuff away.
!
Work through the house, re-organizing. You don't have to spend loads of money. I was once obliged to use 'cupboards' made from cardboard boxes. They lasted a short time and the kids were quite happy to put their clothes away in the novelty cupboards.
!
Shelves are a must in the children's rooms - you'll always be on at them to clear up but at least the little darlings may actually do it if they know where everything goes!
!
The kitchen has to be organized, no question, or you'll waste tons of time every day, looking for a wooden spoon, moving dishes to fit plates on shelves etc;
!! !! !
2. Health Before Beauty:
!
Wall to wall carpet harbours germs even the most rigorous hoovering won't destroy. Throw them all out and go for polished wooden floors. Use rugs on cold spots and shake them outside every day or two. Sweep wooden floors gently with a soft broom.
!
Avoid hoovering every day - some hoovers emit a very fine dust into the air through their exhaust. This dust isn't particularly good for the lungs, better the dust underfoot!
!
A quick shake of a rug and a sweep will take a lot less time than getting out the hoover, doing the biz, wrapping it all up and putting it away again. And the broom doesn't interfere with the radio!
‘
Saving Time
!
3. 90% less ironing:
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Ironing or pressing cloth reduces it's lifespan considerably. You may have an outwardly smooth appearance but inside the cloth is a tangled mess of flattened fibres.
!
As soon as the washing machine has finished it's final spin, hang the washload on an outside washing line, weather permitting. Shake each item before pegging it out, and pull jeans into shape.
! Air the washload by folding carefully and putting in an airing or warming cupboard, or hang over radiators. !
If there's a delay in hanging out your washing, take it out of the machine and fold it carefully, smoothing and gently pulling each item into shape.
!
Now the moment of truth! Only iron what NEEDS to be ironed. Towels, sheets, jumpers, underwear and overalls probably don't need ironing.
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Smoothing and folding damp washing eliminates lots of creases, and everything that doesn't get a fibre crushing treatment will live a lot longer!
! !
And last but not least, check out the article on the previous page about designer leftovers to cut down time spent in the kitchen!
! !
Plan ahead and organize chores to fit in with your timetable and not the other way round. If you work from home, take a break from your computer every hour or so and spend 10-20 minutes on the basics; peeling veg for dinner, hanging out washing, a quick tidy up, whatever's next on your list.
‘
Next Month’s Issue Weeds We Need!
Creative Visualisation
The Herb of Courage Summer Holiday Solutions
‘
Next Month’s Issue
Plus……! ! your! ! unique selection of! ! TIPS and TRICKS.! ! * August garden check list! * Herb corner! * Beauty regime And much much more………….
‘ OUR FAVOURITE RESOURCES
Growing Herbs at Home
!
Herbs have been cultivated for medicinal and culinary use for thousands of years. The herbs in this Kindle edition of ’Growing Herbs at Home” can be grown either in pots, containers or in your outdoor herb garden.
!
!
Aloe Vera, Basil, Chives, Coriander, Garlic, Mint, Parsley, Sage, Thyme, Watercress
Grow Your Own Lifestyle
!
Find exciting healthy living ideas at
http://growyourownlifestyle.blogspot.co.uk
!
And follow us on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/GARAbV
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BH30OG4
The Ekokids
!
Follow The Ekokids and find plenty of great healthy ideas to keep the kids amused all year round. http:// ekokids.blogspot.co.uk
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
And follow them on Facebook here: www.facebook.com/TheEkokids
Organic Life
(Facebook page)
! http://goo.gl/6O48CD!
!
In tune with nature, in favour of the planet.
A community dedicated to the the beauty of life, the purity of food, the wealth of all living beings and the protection of mother earth. Join the ride!
‘ OUR FAVOURITE RESOURCES
www.bloomintots.co.uk
! Bloomintots Boutique
Organic clothes brand. Passionate about clothes and design.
Hatha YOGA Classes and 1 to 1
!
Plymouth based.
www.mindfulyoga.org.uk
Place your advert
HERE!
healthylivingad @gmail.com
http://www.sitesell.com/websites16.html
!
‘
Moments Of Appreciation
Laughter ! **Laughter helps release endorphins making you feel good and sometimes even relieves pain
! **A good belly laugh can relax muscles and tension in the body for up to 45 minutes after.
! **Laughter can strengthen relationships and help you develop emotional connections.
!
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Moments Of Appreciation
Water ! **Blessing water with good feelings turns the molecules into beautiful flower shapes
! **And conversely, throwing bad feelings at water will change the molecular structure into an irregular and unattractive form.
! **Our bodies are made up of approx. 60% water... feel good and the molecules of your body will be in tune and keep you healthy.
‘
Entertainment
Traditional Family Games !!
Dragging the kids away from screens isn't always as simple as you'd like it to be. But if you insist the game you're about to play is fun - even if you have to pretend a bit at first - you should get the tiddly peeps joining in. Try this traditional game you can play indoors or out at any time of day.....
!! I Went to Market !!
Players need to be of reading age or close enough to play this game. One player starts by saying one thing they bought at the market that begins with the letter A. The next player declares something they bought with the letter B. This sounds fairly simple until you add the twist. This is an example of how the game should grow.
!Player 1: “I went to market and I bought an apple”
Player 2: “I went to market and I bought an apple and a banana” Player 3: “I went to market and I bought an apple, a banana and a cauliflower”
!! You can see where this is going! The first player to forget one of the items drops out of the round. The players
drop out as they forget the sequence and the last player remaining is the winner. You can play this game with any number of players, although it gets harder with more players because you don’t need to repeat the sequence so often.
!! Memory Game !This is a game we used to play a lot when I was a child. In fact, I remember playing it in school as well. !You’ll need: !A tray or anything that resembles one, A cloth that will cover the tray, And ten or twelve everyday objects that will fit on the tray, eg, a pencil, notepad, a stamp, a coin etc;
!Player looks at the tray for one minute then the tray is covered with the cloth. One object is secretly taken away
and then the tray is revealed to the player, who then has to remember which object is missing. If they remember correctly, another object is secretly taken away. Repeat until player is stuck or has remembered all objects correctly.
!That player then chooses random objects and sets up a tray for the other player to guess from. The more
mundane the objects are the more difficult it tends to be. This is a great exercise in observation as well as memory. Oh and it’s kind of fun too!
! Variation: !Prepare the tray of objects and show it to all players to look at for one minute. Then cover the objects and
players have to write down all the objects they can remember. The winner is the one who has written down, correctly, the most objects on the tray. Use more objects to make it more difficult.
‘
Entertainment
! Balloon tennis/volleyball !
Play indoor volleyball! String a ribbon or similar across the room for a ‘net’ and pat a balloon over the net to the opposing player.
!
This game can be played with two or four players, or more if you have a large playing area. Using balloons avoids damage and is often more fun for younger players as a balloon moves slower than a ball.
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If you want to get a bit competitive, players lose a point if they let the balloon touch the floor on their side of the net. The first player or team to get to ten points is the loser.
! ! !
Squiggles
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This game will bring out the artist in you! Each player draws a squiggle or a wiggly meandering line on their page and then swaps with other players. Then each player has to turn the squiggle into a ‘work of art’
!
Let your imagination flow freely and then show other players what you’ve created. There isn’t really a winner or a loser in this game unless you decide to have an independent judge to choose the best drawing.
!
Drawings can be coloured in and even framed if they’re really good. This is a good game for distracting young children. Draw a squiggle for them to develop and you could buy ten minutes of dinner preparation time, or even longer if you’re lucky!
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Each month we stick to what natures tells us to do! No more wondering if you can plant tomatoes in Feb…. We will let you know!
!
Jam packed with so much information and great facts. Kids tips/cooking/growing etc etc..
! ! !
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‘
Healthy Living You’ve been reading
!
“Healthy Living magazine”
!
Written edited & produced by:
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Linda Gray and Jodie Gascoigne