Updated on February 7, 2020
FASHION FRIDAY: CITRUS AND SILVER!
Hi Guys,
I cannot believe this is my first Fashion Friday blog of 2020! Where did January go this year? The last time we spoke I was preparing the nest for the arrival of our two darling rescue puppies, Chico and Lola. They came for a week but sadly, their Foster Mums and their three other dogs spent the week crying! They missed them so much and asked if I would consider sending them back to them. Before we bonded, I agreed, as I know what it is to love puppies. They call it Puppy Love as the song goes… but I don’t think that’s what Donny Osmond meant! So doggone it my friends, January saw me really going to the dogs!! No time for fashion. I was in the dog house for the whole month of January!
I digress…back to Fashion! Since Christmas, our weather here in Victoria has been really miserable, with grey leaden skies and lots of rain. I said to myself enuff is enuff!! I need colour! I felt like a jolt of silver and citrus and out came this outfit. By the time I had it on, I felt like the Sun was shining again! If you cannot find the colour in your weather, stoke it up with your fashion. But the thing about colour is there is yellow — and there is yellow! This citrus yellow is more of a winter yellow, and looks great with silver and grey. I tend not to wear it in the summer, opting more for sunshine and buttercup yellow. Citrus is a cool yellow, buttercup yellow is warm. Then there is winter pink and summer pink, winter white and summer white, and so it goes!
If you feel like the weather is gloomy and you need a little perk-me-up, check out your wardrobe for some cheery colour! Bet when you shop in your home closet, you will find a bright cheery scarf, some jewellery, or even a bright colourful pair of shoes. Voila! Your mood will lift and you’ll feel right as rain again. Remember ladies, each day is a catwalk day!!
Love your life and do what makes you happy!
Patricia xx
Posted on January 23, 2020
UNDERSTAND YOUR WIRING!
Hi Guys!
Long time no write! I’ve been busy over Christmas, ate too much, enjoyed myself too much (no hardship there!!) and loved having all the kids home for Christmas. The lead-up to Christmas is always big and stretches our hearts with so much joy we can hardly contain it! Then the post-Christmas blues makes January seem like the longest month of the year! “Did I really spend that much?” are questions people ask their Visa. Others would say Christmas is the most depressing time of the year for them. I can totally understand both sides. Each one has a compelling argument.
Substance abuse over Christmas can be difficult on a lot of families. Financial strain, in-laws, out-laws, the Mammies amongst us stuck to the kitchen sink, endless rounds of shopping, etc. So yes, it can be an energy drainer for some. Not for me! I love all that hustle and bustle! I understand my wiring. I can handle it like a Woman! I thrive on seeing people being nice and kind to each other. Magic does happen at Christmas and sometimes the miracles are so miraculous, they carry us well into the New Year and beyond.
The key words are ‘Understand Your Wiring’. These are the words I bring with me as I enter a roaring new decade and new year! And it sure came in like a Lion! We’re about to adopt two rescue puppies, so the past two weeks have been busy with negotiations between the Rescue Shelter and Foster Parents. Our new fur babies arrive on the 25th, so that’s the best part of 2020 so far!! Yay to that!!
I’m a caretaker by nature, thanks to my Sun in Pisces and Moon in Cancer! I have found there is no better way to understand your wiring than by studying your individual birth chart. It’s what makes us unique! Ask Dr. Google. He has all the information at your fingertips!
Get out a journal, and ask yourself the following questions:
How well do you know your wiring?
What makes your heart sing? Music? Books? Art? Animals? Design? Travel?
What’s on your Bucket List for 2020?
What lowers your mood? Recognize and then eliminate the enemy!
Do people drain you? or do you get your energy from them?
What stage of Life are you at?
The First/Third (1-30) we are Learning.
The Second/Third (30-60) we are Earning.
The Third/Third (60-90) the BEST for last!
Whatever stage of life you are at, whatever makes your particular wiring work, DO IT!! Life goes by so quickly…Give it your best shot!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR! HAPPY NEW DECADE!
Hugs,
Patricia xx
Updated on January 4, 2020
FOODIE FRIDAY: SUGAR FREE 2020 YUMMIES!
Hi Guys!
Don’t know about you, but I’m totally SUGARED OUT! I told myself I wouldn’t do it, but I couldn’t resist all those yummy Terry’s oranges I consumed over Christmas. I convinced myself they had vitamin C in them — LOL as if!! There was chocolate everywhere I went, even in my dreams! Who can say no to peppermint crisp or chocolate yule logs? Especially when they ask you so nicely. And of course Christmas would not be Christmas without my annual Chocolate Almond Roca! Layers of butter, sugar, and slivered almonds, concealed beneath a blanket of dark deccadent chocolate. Ok, that was then…this is now!
Bananas are my go-to weapon when I need a guilt-free sugar hit. I googled the internet and found this recipe for sugar-free cookies. I tried the cookies last night and actually enjoyed them. I think it was the addition of chopped walnuts and shredded coconut that added the essential crunch and flavour. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did!
Sugar-free Oatmeal Banana Cookies:
2 cups of oatmeal (quick cooking ones)
4 ripe bananas mashed together
1/4 cup of almond milk (or regular milk will do)
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup sugar-free shredded coconut
Method:
Heat oven to 350 degrees c
Mix bananas and oatmeal together, add almond milk, chopped walnuts and coconut to mix. You can choose different add-ins like raisins or cranberries, etc. I decided to use walnuts and coconut as I like that combination in cookies. It’s such an easy recipe to play around with.
Drop little spoonfuls of mixture on to a baking pan. I made approx 1 dozen from above mix. Flatten each cookie with the back of a dessert spoon and pop into the oven for approx. 15-20 mins. until they look golden in colour and are well cooked. Allow them to sit and relax while the kettle is boiling. They need post-oven time to adjust. They will be gone before you realize it!!
EnJOY!
Cheers,
Patricia xo
Updated on December 13, 2019
FOODIE FRIDAY: BEST EVER BANANA BREAD!!
TGIF Guys!
It’s happy Friday again! My favourite day to dress up and cook something special for my honey! Banana Bread is one of my favourite loaves to bake. Over the years I have tried and tested several versions. The recipe I am sharing with you today is hands down the most delicious. Not only is it finger licking good, it is also more healthy than my regular bread. No white flour and no white sugar! Try it and enjoy! Ripe bananas were on sale yesterday so I got loads and am freezing the loaves for Christmas!
BEST EVER BANANA BREAD
Ingredients:
1/3rd cup melted coconut oil
1/2 cup maple syrup or honey (I used maple syrup)
2 eggs
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (3 medium – keep 1/2 banana for decorating top)
1/4 cup milk
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda (not powder!)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups wholewheat flour
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Method:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F or 165 degrees C
Grease a 9 x 5 loaf tin
Gently melt coconut oil. In a large bowl whisk together the melted oil with maple syrup, add eggs and beat well. Next whisk in cup of mashed bananas and milk. (About 2 1/2 bananas and keep the remaining 1/2 banana to slice on top of the loaf). Add baking soda, vanilla extract, salt and cinnamon and whisk together. Stir in flour and finally gently fold in the walnuts. Pour mixture into loaf tin. Slice remaining banana and place on top of the mix.
Bake for 1 hr. and 10 mins. approx. until pick comes out dry. Let sit for at least an hour to settle. Even though it is hard to resist not eating it immediately! While bread is resting, I clean up the kitchen. Then put the kettle on for a cuppa. You’ve earned it! EnJOY!!
I find this loaf is lovely and moist compared to other banana breads I have tried. I attribute that to the coconut oil and maple syrup. The yummy taste of walnuts adds a nice crunch! I really like the fact there is no white flour or refined white sugar in the mix. The sweet ingredients are kinder to the body making it a guilt-free treat. EnJOY!
Happy Friday!
Cheers,
Patricia xo
Updated on December 8, 2019
MONDAY MUSINGS: A VERY SPECIAL WEEKEND!
Hi guys,
How was your weekend? Hope you had fun whatever you were doing and got a headstart on your Christmas shopping and baking!
Spiritually and emotionally speaking, it was a very special weekend for me. It was all about the Mothers in my life. Both my Mother, Therese and my Mother-in-law Doreen had a life-long devotion to Our Lady, and by divine co-incidence, Doreen’s birthday was Saturday the 7th December, my Mother died on December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. For somebody who was devoted to Our Lady, it was a perfect day to pass! Her second anniversary was on Sunday. My Dad’s 7th anniversary is today, Monday the 9th, so yes, an emotionally charged weekend for sure! My parents died within a day of each other – 5 years apart! This was the weekend to really remember them all!
Friday the 6th I renewed my vows to the Legion of Mary. The girls bought me a yummy cake to celebrate and earlier that day a friend brought me a very special gift! It was an antique holy water font she found during an archeological dig in England. We reckon it must be over a hundred years old! I love it and shall treasure it!
On Saturday, we had an absolutely magnificent celebration for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Like my Mum, and Mother-in-law, Doreen, I also have had a life-long devotion to Our Lady, so it was such a joyful celebration! My sisterhood in the Legion of Mary hosted the lunch. We all brought food. I did mini vegetarian quiches and some mini quiche Lorraine, as well as some smoked salmon appetizers. The food was OUT OF THIS WORLD!! Ham, chicken, pork chow-mein, salads, selection of exotic cheeses, mini croissants filled with smoked salmon, artisan breads, cakes, The massive white chocolate and lemon cake was finger-licking good! My tummy is still groaning. We sang, danced, said the rosary, and each of us presented a rose to Our Lady. It’s always one of my favourite parties and a lovely start to the Christmas Season! We all went home singing, happy as Larry, and tummies replete!!
Chat soon!
Hugs,
Patricia xo
