The Clean F Word : 2017

Smoothie Challenge - My Top 5 recipes

9:13 PM

Guys, I have some crazy news for you. I have actually made it to day 62 of my 365 days of smoothies. I am incredibly proud of myself because this is the first time that I have kept a challenge like this going for so long. Usually I only last 2 weeks max and then I'm onto something else. This year I did promise myself that I would complete this challenge and so far so good.

For my blog post today I thought I would share with you my top 5 smoothies so far. I still have quite a way to go so there may be more favourites but up to now I have a few that have stood out. If you want to know more about my challenge you can read my original post here. But the general idea is that I have a completely different smoothie every day of the year, thanks to a book called '365 vegan smoothies' by Kathy Patalsky. The book is amazing and I highly recommend it. I generally have my daily smoothie when I wake up in the morning but if I'm not feeling it or life eats a bit hectic I have it as a mid arvo snack.

Ok so here are my top 5 smoothies so far (and if you want to follow the challenge you can follow my daily smoothie photos on Instagram under #cleanfword365):

Strawberry Chia Synergy

1 Cup frozen strawberries

1 banana

1/2 cup orange juice

1/2 cup soy milk

2 teaspoons chia seeds

1 tsp ginger

Few pinches turmeric

1/4 cup ice cubes

Lemon Beet Clarifying Cooler

1/2 cup sliced Beetroot

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 green apple chopped

1/4 cup frozen strawberries

1.5 cups coconut water

Two pinches turmeric

1tsp agave nectar

Ice

Raspberry Runners High

1 cup frozen raspberries

1 frozen banana

1 cup vanilla soy milk

1/4 cup coconut water

Agave syrup to taste

2 tablespoons dairy free yoghurt

Papaya Citrus Pineapple Colada

1/2 cup orange juice

1/2 cup coconut water

1 cup papaya chunks

1 cup frozen pineapple

1 banana

1 teaspoon unsweetened coconut flakes

1 teaspoon spirulina

Coffee Banana Freeze

1 Cup vanilla soy milk

1 scoop instant coffee granules or espresso shot

1 or 2 bananas

Agave syrup to taste

4 pinches cinnamon ground

Ice cubes

1 teaspoon raw cacao powder

Cacao nibs for decoration

So there you have it, my top 5 far. Please note all the smoothie recipe are from Kathy Patalskys Book and are not my own however I have changed a couple of bits to suit the way I liked the smoothie or because I don't have certain ingredients. For all my smoothies I use the NutriNinja Machine to blend.

Stay Happy & Healthy

Liane Xx

365 smoothies - The shopping part

2:08 PM

Since I have started my 365 smoothie challenge I have had so much fun. Not just making smoothies and realising just how many different variations you can do, but also shopping for the ingredients.

Shopping for the ingredients has been an experience in itself. Because all the smoothies are vegan sometimes I have to explore where I shop to find certain items. I have met quite a few new friends by doing this. I now go to my local health store every two days and the ladies in there are absolutely brilliant. I get most of my grains and seeds from them and I have just recently started buying some extra supplements and powders through there as well. The store I go to is the Natural Food Barn at Southgate Reynella. The girls are fantastic and not only do they help you locate what you are looking for they also offer some great advice on anything to do with nutrition and health.

After I grabbed anything I need from the health store I head right next door to my favourite fruit and veg shop Lettuce Inn. Obviously I grab all my fresh fruit and veg but I also grab juices, coconut waters, sauces and my vegan cheeses, dips etc. They always have great deals on and the owners and super friendly and helpful.

I will then head to Coles to get the last of items if I haven't found them in the other 2 stores as I like to support smaller businesses as much as possible. Coles do have a good range of vegan products which is really helpful now. However from Coles I tend to get my dairy free milks, frozen berries and dry goods. I was buying my nuts from Coles but I am thinking of going over to a local shop called Suntralis to stock up on these as they are a pick n mix type place and I think it will be cheaper in the long run. I will also be able to pick up my dried fruits and flours from there as well.

As far as costs go, when I first started I thought it was going to be very expensive to have a different smoothie everyday but it hasn't been too bad. If I don't have any ingredients it cost me about $45 but once I have the main items like the powders, frozen berries etc they last ages so you are just spending maybe $20 a week on fresh fruit & veg.

These Natures Way powders last me for ages and I only buy them when they are on special. I always have the Maca Powder, Acai and Spirulina on hand. I buy mine from Coles but you can buy from health stores, chemists etc.

I buy frozen fruits whenever I see them on special as well which helps with costs and also things like coconut water and dairy free milks I will stock up on when they are going cheap.

I freeze bananas so that I always have them ready to go. I haven't started yet but I think I will buy bananas by the box because I eat so many of them. I am thinking of getting a bigger freezer because it really is so much cheaper to buy so many things in bulk.

Sometimes if something is really expensive and I just don't think I will use it much I will just substitute it for something else. It is so easy to find different substitutes for smoothies. If a smoothie asks for fresh berries and I only have frozen I will just use the frozen ones and not use the ice cubes in the recipe and vice versa.

From this smoothie adventure and my regular vegan eating I actually spend less than I ever did eating all the processed crap. It takes a little time and money to make the switch but once you have made that switch it is good health all around :D

Stay Happy & Healthy
Liane Xx

2017 New Year Resolutions

1:28 AM

Well 2016 is finally over! I can honestly that 2016 wasn't one of my best years. 2016 was one of those years where I felt a little emotionally drained and deep down I felt as though I didn't progress much or get where I wanted to be.

I guess 2016 was more like a limbo year.

I sat down over the weekend and really thought about the year past and what I needed to do to feel better at the end of 2017. The biggest thing for me this year is going to be working hard to build my self confidence. I need to remember that I can't rely on anyone but myself to create my own happiness.

This year is going to be about self discovery and pushing myself to really live in the moment and explore more.

So here are my 10 New Year Goals:

1. Finish my 365 smoothie challenge.
One thing I am not very good at is finishing things. I am always getting excited about new projects, challenges, hobbies etc but I can never finish them. I think I get bored quite easily and always jump around from one thing to another. This year I really want to complete a whole challenge from start to finish. I am currently on day 34 of my 365 day smoothie challenge and it is the longest I have stuck at something. I really think I can do this one.Don't forget that you can follow my daily smoothie adventures on instagram.

2. Save $3,000.
During 2016 I attempted to save money for a trip to the UK. I managed to save $2,000 but then life got in the way and I had some major dental work that needed doing and all my savings got used up. I was extremely upset but there was nothing I could do at the time. 2017 is a time for new beginnings so I am starting again......This year my goal is $3,000 but if I can save more I will be extremely happy.

3. Get all my health checks done.
One thing I always forget every year is to get certain health checks done. I am always putting them off and years go by before I know it. This year I want to make sure I get my Pap Smear booked in and done and get the rest of my teeth fixed. I also want to go and have a general check up to see where I am at with all my nutrition levels etc. Being healthy and fit is going to be a very important part of my year.

4. Receive my Certificate III in Event Management.
About a month ago my application was accepted for a TAFE course in Events Management. I am currently attempting to plan for my future career path and this is my first big step. I want to make sure that by the end of the year I have this qualification in my hand!

5. Read 12 books I have never read before.
Every year I tell myself that I want to read more. For 2017 I have decided that I will pick 12 books and read one every month. This will also help me to find some time for myself to just sit back and unwind. Something I am always forgetting to do.

6. Shop thrifty.
Time to get serious now. I am a shopaholic!
I spend way too much money buying silly things that I end up throwing away or never using. This really needs to stop if I want to save money and travel. One of my biggest shopping temptations is clothes. This year to help save more money I am going to try another little challenge and not purchase any brand new clothes. I have been to many op shops over the last year and it amazes me how much clothing just gets tossed away, a lot of it still with the tags attached. It is all such a waste. So if I do NEED any clothes this year the Op Shops are the first place I will be heading.

7. Become more minimalistic.
Same as above! I need to stop living with so much clutter and just experience more of the world and not rely on 'stuff'. I will have a very big declutter session and start being more organised.

8. Go camping.
I tell myself every year that I want to camping and every year passes and it never happens. This year I am going to make it happen!

9. Finish my arm tattoos.
I have quite a few tattoos planned for myself but this year there is one in particular that I would like to get finished and that is the rest of my right arm. I need the top part of my arm done to complete my sleeve so I will make that happen at some stage this year.

10. Learn to float in the water.
My husband has been trying to push me into learning to swim. The water has always been a big fear of mine and I really want to overcome it but I think that the way I approach it might be wrong. I'm always telling myself at the start of the year that I am going to learn to swim. I go to the swimming centre and I practice for a little bit and then I panic. Eventually I go home telling myself that I will try again next week and it never happens because I am so ashamed of failing. This year I am going to tackle it with baby steps. Instead of telling myself that I am going to swim I am telling myself that I am going to just learn to float by the end of the year.

So there you have it. My ten goals for 2017. Some are easy, some are hard and some are damn scary but we will see what 2017 brings and what I can achieve with a little bit of pixie dust and belief in myself......

What are your New Years Resolutions or Goals??

Stay Happy & Healthy
Liane Xx