Whole30 Wednesdays / Kale

This week it's all about Kale. The green stuff that ticks all the good-for-you boxes.

Kale has been a lifesaver during my Whole30 days. My favourite (quickest and easiest) way to use it is mixed into chicken broth - a delicious and quick mid-week meals. Here 's the recipes...

Recipe #1 Maria's Chicken Broth with Kale and Coconut Oil:

Directions: Boil up a chook (add a little salt and pepper to the stock). Once this is ready (an hour or so later) get a smaller saucepan ready to prep your single-serve of soup. Keep the rest of the stock in the fridge (or freezer) for quick soups all week long.

Single-serve soup:
Fill a small saucepan with stock (enough to fill your soup bowl)
Add some boiled chicken pieces
Chop some raw garlic (I like about 1/2 a clove, but I'm a bit strange like that)
Add a bunch of herbs (your pick)
Chop and add Kale
Add broccoli/snow peas (any greens go nicely in this)
Stir in a tablespoon (or less) of Coconut Oil
Add a dash of Sesame Oil to taste (optional)

Once the greens have just cooked through, serve immediately and sprinkle in freshly chopped spring onion.

Recipe #2 A sneaky Kale Snack:

Place washed and dried kale leaves (not the stems) on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle sea salt. Bake on high for 10-15 min until crispy. Very addictive!

Reminder

via

Have a wonderful start to the week, doing all the stuff that gets you giddy. Maria x

Friday's Finds

via

 Roses make all sorts of bullsh*t better, don't you think? Take these few cheeky links as my little offering of blooms for your Friday-slump-hours (aka bullsh*t). Enjoy!

Excuse the ugly links...there was some strange thing happening when I'd link them in a pretty way...

1. A new website snoop! The Minimalist (theminimalist.com.au)
2.Glamping - go from girl scout camps to glamorous thanks to this shop (anthropologie.com/post/53842669563).
3. A really good pinterest board . Of ballet dancers. OK...it's my pinterest board (sneaky).  (pinterest.com/Marianiarchos/feet-were-made-to-point/)

Have a great weekend everyone. Thanks for the blog love this week (muchos thanks!)

See you after 2 days of fun stuff; by fun I mean the usual training, a little painting and of some wonderful catch ups with my sunshine-like ladies.
What are you up to?

Maria x

Whole30 Wednesdays

via

That's right. I'm a Whole 30 kid again (for the 3rd time). As I work through the next 30 days of clean eating, I'll be talking about all sorts of health tips, tricks and recipes in my series of Whole30 Wednesdays - inspiration to get you through the Whole30 challenge or to incorporate some healthy habits into your days.

This week is all about: Coconut oil
Trekking the Whole30 trail has made me more aware of the things I'd once thought of as (ehhm) all-talk-no-action-health-foods. I'm eating my big, fat words! I've realised there are some brilliant health food additions that DO make a difference (inside and out)...like coconut oil. Whole30 is the perfect opportunity to get this versatile ingredient into (or onto) you. Here's why.
Controls weight
Eases digestion
Supports immunity
Boost metabolism
Stops sugar cravings because a good fat like coconut oil is more satiating than carbs
A nourishing skin moisturiser by replenishing skin with natural oils
Deep conditioning treatment for your hair
Reduces toxic build up in your skin if you drink it - add to tea or coffee or drink coconut water.
Helps with cholesterol

Whole30 Week 1 tip: KEEP AT IT!
Push through and get yourself to 7 days. It's smooth(er) sailing from then on. Here are my previous reviews. The first week is the killer but it's worth it! Hand on heart, this is the best lifestyle change I've made - why I keep sticking by it!

---

What is Whole30? Just think no carbs, processed food, alcohol, dairy, grains, legumes, sugar.

---

The way you feel in week 1 depends on your eating habits before you kick off the 30 days - you can feel a whole lotta good or a handful of crappy. Thankfully I didn't overdo the "one last final binge (never a good idea) of sugar, carbs and dairy so I'm feeling pretty bright and chirpy today. No headaches and no moodiness related to sugar bans.

---

Have you tried incorporating coconut oil into your days or cooking? If you have some recipe ideas I'd love to hear them.  

Have a bright and healthy Wednesday! Maria x

Guided by my beating heart

via

I'm floating away to the sentimental stuff. Bare with me, it's just that this tune has been (on repeat) pulling my heart strings for my greatest memories of life in another town; strangely, the lyrics are the word-for-word-perfect storyline to those days guided by my beating heart; where morning hours woke me by sweet sunshine spilling onto my bed through treetop leaves; where I daydreamed over brewed coffee and wonderful people and packed my senses with the simplest pleasures - days spent finding myself without even knowing I was lost.

"...they say I'm caught up in a dream,
Life will pass me by if I don't open up my eyes,
Well that's fine by me.

So wake me up when it's all over,
When I'm wiser and I'm older,
All this time I was finding myself,
And I didn't know I was lost" - Avicii, Wake Me Up

Ever had a song instantly transport you to past memories when you least expect it? What was the song?

Friday's Finds

via

It's time for some Friday links, kids!  

1. The perfect poach.

via

2. Four handcrafted pieces from Another Feather. Simplicity at its best.

via

3. 99 Problems., inspired by Jay Z's track...99 Problems.

via

Well I'm off to a weekend of (yep you guessed it) ballet, piano and other things to
squeeze in the in-between-times.

Here's to a weekend packed with nice stuff and brilliant, bold people!
Enjoy. Maria xo

It is what it is

via

Life is one sweet ride.

A few magical days spent in Melbourne's wine-drenched countryside; stung with love and smothered in forehead-smooches from my guy. x

Winter Road Trip #2

The boy and I are taking off on another winter roadtrip. Rather than escape the gorgeous crisp air, we're more about embracing it. Last winter we spent a magical 10 days driving around the icy-cold coast of Tassie; this year, we've decided to keep travel time shorter and inject as much sweetness into a few days as possible. What better way than visiting some fine wine country? With winter hitting its peak, we're thrilled to bits about rugging up and wandering between cellar doors, cheese platters and sweet country side views. Back soon!

Rays of loveshine

via my pc.

Sometimes you get those moments where your no-time-for-anything complaints get a kick in the guts with a sweet ol' reality check of "things are great, you fool. Shut it!" Although I do make a point of smiling about all my so-blessed-to-have-thems (daily), I do admit to getting caught up and missing the point; the point being, I should be aching from ear-to-ears every minute of every day. My most recent days have played host to just enough light bulb moments to knock some smiling-sense back into me. Want to know why?

1. A few moments filled me with arms-up-in-the-air-style thanks for the indescribably, brilliantly, glowing rays of sunshine (aka people) I have wrapped snugly in my life. Really. One of those moments was an unplanned phone link-up with a beautiful friend. A few minutes were layered with the simplest laughs and brief catch ups on happenings - we live in different states.

via

2. Adelaide, known as this little "sleepy town" is shaking that tired, old name off its back. Finally. The young folk of town are setting up shop, determined to beat that crappiness to a pulp. And they're doing a pretty fine job. Minestra was my gold nugget find over the weekend - I spent the good part of daylight hours sipping and munching time away with my girlfriend. A touch Melbourne-inspired and a pinch of Sydney's style, these guys have filled the old corner store with charm, good coffee and organically home-grown produce...only!

3. A "turning point" handed me even rosier coloured specks to peep through. Last Sunday sunset, the boy and I got together and seated ourselves to yet another impressive Adelaide find - restaurant The Pot, just off the city's main bustle. That's not the only good thing. Aside from devouring the hands-down best food served to us in a long time, our dinner date for two went through a 'turning point.' You get those moments in every relationship. Things grow, sometimes they fall. Whatever they do, they do it with reason and purpose. Our thing (a 15 year old story), just got sweeter and I'm a giddy girl all over again.

4. Gotta love where you're at and that's what I'm living. Genuine passions my bones ache for are in my days - every second of them; beautiful winter sun makes me smile ridiculously; playing with colours and formatted font...and calling it my day job; surrounding myself with my wonderful friends and family that have proven their genuine selves by being there, always, through thick or thin - honest, loyal, brilliant people; good food, good health, piano tunes and ballet shoes - all the right ingredients. It feels good to rattle off your made-me-smile list once in a while. Try it.

Jitterbug

via

We are all aware by now that I'm swooned by just about any dance-related-anything (ballet, more so). Old-time dance signs included. Happy (almost) mid-week, guys. I'm off to Masterclass in five. Hope you're enjoying whatever is making your days tick on. x

Oh, Odette

via

Swan Lake is in town kids! I'm thrilled to bits to be able to see the Australian Ballet's show in Adelaide; my ticket to their closing night sits proudly on my dresser. The best bit is, last night I got news I'm in the Masterclass with Australian Ballet's Lisa Bolte; to put a few of us through our paces to this solo from SL Act 2 - Odette. Pinch me now and (try) pin me down.

Found

via 1, 2, 3

If my day were to be a little brighter, it'd be because of a Tom Dixon candle, calf leather in my hand and Philip Lim carrying me. What do you think?

p.s. I know I've been missing from this blog (and visiting yours) the past little while (sorry about that). Things are sure to change...soon.