healthy eating and snack ideas.

Recently, I've been getting back into my health and fitness! As in I've made a choice to actively start eating healthier again and start exercising again, even if that means a 20 minute walk. I did a Les Mills Body Pump class today, which is a one-hour fitness class focusing on using weights to target all the muscle groups of the body. Because I'm so weak and unfit and it was my first time ever, I did find it quite difficult. Pulling a muscle in my right tricep wasn't too much fun either. And my shoulder hurts. But once the initial pain and suffering ended once the class was over, I felt quite good! Mentally/emotionally, too. As in, I felt quite good about myself and the fact that I had completed a decent workout for a change! I felt quite pumped! So later on today, I also did a 30 minute walk with my dad (practically had to force him to go but he gave in in the end haha) So it's been a good exercise day for me!

I've also been thinking a lot about eating right lately. And how it's so VITAL to eat properly! I believe the way to do this is by having:

• nutritious, filling breakfast
• small, healthy morning snack
• decent lunch
• satisfying but healthy afternoon snack to tie you over 'til dinner
• and a balanced, substantial dinner
• something small and sweet for dessert if the craving arises!

You see, it's been proven that eating regularly throughout the day (as long as they are healthy foods) boosts your metabolism therefore making it easier to lose weight, if that is what you are aiming for. Not eating regular, proper meals everyday will not only slow metabolism way down, it also puts the body into starvation mode which just makes weight loss harder. Not to mention getting the proper nutrients and energy (the body's fuel), which are so vital to good health and wellbeing, is nearly impossible when not enough food is being consumed. Food and eating RIGHT are so important, I cannot stress this enough! 

I randomly joined this plan on this neat website recently, My Special K, which I'm not taking too seriously, but they do have really good meal and exercise suggestions on there which I have been taking some inspiration from in my own journey towards good health. They suggest a full meal plan each weak of 5-6 meals a day (same as I have mentioned above) which includes the recipes. They are all so healthy but delicious and from what I've seen, not too difficult to make. Although, I usually just gather inspiration from the snack ideas which they give. You first complete a short survey so that they can design a plan suited to you and your needs/goals. If for no other reason, just try it for fun. It is actually pretty fun... lol.

Anyways, thus here begins a series of posts in which I will share with you my favourite healthy snack ideas, which will be quick, easy, tasty and affordable, since those are the things I look for in my snack of choice. ;) 

The first is one I tried today, Jarrah Choc O'Lait - hot chocolate. It's a tiny 45 calories per serving, 99% fat free. And.. IT. IS. DELICIOUS. Wow.

{photo source}

So quick and easy to whip up, and perfect for those chocolate cravers out there such as myself. (: My new fave hot drink!

cupcakey deliciousness.

Over the past few weeks I've been getting into my cupcake baking quite a bit due to the receiving of a beautiful cupcake recipe book called The Cupcake which I received as a gift on my 21st. I've found that I quite enjoy this activity, especially the devouring eating of the finished product... ;) Here are the ones I've made recently...

Red Velvet

{These were actually from a box mix, not the recipe book.}

Ultimate Chocolate (Christmas Cupcakes)

 {These were actually amazing.}

Pink Lemonade

 {Aren't those decorative straws so cute? Dale and I had good fun baking these ones.. ;)}

Want something fun and rewarding to do? Got some spare time? Bake some darn cupcakes! ;) 

They're so easy to make and there's like a million different recipes to suit every taste. Yum.

{All photos are taken by me and are subject to copyright, 2013. Do not use without permission.}

this year will be the best year yet.

It's the New Year, as you probably already know. I haven't blogged throughout Christmas or New Years, apologies. I'm sure you survived though? ;)

My Christmas and New Years were very good, rather enjoyable. And don't worry, I'm not going to ramble on with a detailed account of everything I did. It's done now, may aswell move on and look ahead right? hehe. Since everyone has been writing New Years resolution type posts, I figured, why not review the goals I made last year (in April...was a tad slow there.) and the outcomes of said goals...

According to this post last year I wanted to:

• Read at least 1 fiction book. I need to read more and by "more" I mean more than just a few chapters a year....... ahem.  Did this.
• Keep this blog up to date and do at least 3-4 posts per week every week. Gotta keep my lovely readers  happy ;) Didn't do this, sorry... ):
• Do a significant amount of various photography shoots. Nope.
• Manage my time better when it comes to doing course assignments. Kind of?
• Get a tattoo. Not yet.
• Learn to cook at least 4 new dinner meals and 2 deserts.  (Yeah, I never cook to be honest. Not good.) Didn't do this.
• Keep growing my hair out long. Resist the urge to keep dying it black. (I want to grow out the black so I can dye it a deep, dark red one day!) Kept it long. Kept dying it black.
• Save up at least 3 grand in my savings account. Uhhhhhm...
• Improve my wardrobe and enhance my fashion style. Too poor.
• Make more handmade birthday gifts for family and friends. Too lazy.
• Get a bookshelf in my room for all my books and magazines! Got one for Christmas yay!
• Go to a theatre production. Nope.
• Refrain from getting any library book fines. Didn't even get any books out...
• Learn something new (almost) everyday. Nah.
• Eat something new that I have never tried before. I think so? Can't remember what it was...
• Go to a place (town, city) that I have never been to before. Um don't recall.
• Stay committed to going to the gym at least 2-3 times a week and get my money's worth out of it! I need to get my fitness up... (I can't even run for like 1 minute straight without needing a break to catch my breath. Shameful.) Didn't do this. Quit the gym. Too poor. And lazy.
• Remember the birthdays of everyone important to me. Yes.
• Create and produce a final end-of-year course project that I am happy with and can be proud of. Umm yeah I guess I was pretty happy with the finished product.
• Gather some idea as to what I will be doing with my life next year. Working (soon) hopefully.
• Keep on drawing closer in my personal relationship with my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and continue to follow in His ways. (and this, to me, is the most important thing on this list!) I believe I did work on this and continue to do so (: This will always be an ongoing thing!
• Continue to learn to be a patient, loving and selfless person. (: Still learning.
• Improve my friendships/relationships that I have with everyone close to me! (Be a better friend, girlfriend, daughter, sister etc.) Still working on it.
• Bake some goodies occasionally. Actually did this! Stay tuned for a cupcakes post...
• Buy a new pair of good shoes. Yes, I guess? If jandals count.

Hmmmm, yeah. I kinda suck at sticking to the goal lists I make to be honest.. 10ish things out of 24 isn't the best effort I realise. I want this year to be better! Here are some goals I'd like to achieve this year. Hopefully the less I make, the more I'll achieve ;)

• Get a job.
• Save as much money as I can.
• Revamp my wardrobe.
• Get into some sort of regular exercise routine.
• Blog more.
• Bake more.
• Cook meals way more.
• Read more.
• Laugh more.
• Travel more.
• Do more photography!
• Get my full driving license...
• Re-design this blog.
• Be a better person in every way possible.
• Continue to draw closer to God and improve my personal relationship with Him! 

I definitely want to make this blog better this year. It's my THIRD year blogging! Wow, time has flown by. I hope you will continue with me on this wild, fun, random journey of a blog! There will be many more great things to follow I promise. (: Including this cute pic.

2013: This is going to be the best year yet!!!

my crazy life.

Okay so I know I said I was back in the previous post... then I didn't blog again for over a month!! So slack I know. But so much has been going on! Yet again. Let me update you.

• I have finished my degree!!!!!!!!! :D I did it! I officially completed my 3 year graphic design degree! I am now qualified! How scary is that! That 3-year period of my life has been such a process of growth, learning, maturing, and making new friends who have become almost like family to me. I will miss them immensely, however I am looking forward to this next stage of my life!
• Which lead me to looking for a job.. Haven't actually handed in my CV in to anywhere anytime soon, but I will be doing just that very soon. I really need to find a job ASAP, my money source is dwindling fast! I'm hoping to get a full time job preferably at a place which relates to what I've studied for (Arts & Design, specifically, Graphic Design) so I've been praying that God will lead me to a job soon that will be good for me! Even if it's just a stepping-stone type of thing...
• I turned 21 on the weekend! It was such a fantastic birthday overall! As you may or may not know, I've been putting a lot of time and effort into the planning of my birthday party so that has been taking up a bit of my time these past few weeks. Spent most of the day setting up the backyard and getting ready, then in the evening, we had dinner at a restaurant then returned back to my house to have a dessert buffet! Was delicious! And the backyard looked reeeeeally pretty! It turned out even better than I had hoped! And the company was great. I love my friends dearly. I was so spoiled blessed! Got way too many gifts.. ;) Year planners, chocolate, heaps of jewellery, a voucher for a pro massage and manicure (yuss!) books, clothes store vouchers and much more!
• I still have not done one sufficient/legit work out in months. How embarrassing. :/ I need to re-read this post I'm thinking. For inspiration..
• I shall leave you with some photos of my 21st! You're welcome.

My outfit! Was wearing black heels but switched to flats after the dinner. (I am in between my parents in this shot but it's the only one where you can actually see my dress...kind of.)

Us at the restaurant after people sang happy birthday and they brought me a mini pavlova cake yum.

 The table centre pieces.

The overall set-up in the backyard!

 The amazing, delicious dessert table setup.

 Eclairs, cream puffs, mini pavlovas, chocolate cream stuffed strawberries, bavarian cheesecake, whoopie pies, jelly slice, boysenberry cheesecake. YUMMMMM!

Another angle.

Bestie #1

Bestie #2 and #3 

(:

Some of us in the marquee! It was a good night. (:

P:S: My one big, grating regret is not taking more photos of my own. I didn't take any of these ones above... And the ones of the setup were quickly taken by my dad. I SO SHOULD HAVE TAKEN SOME OF MY OWN PHOTOS WITH MY GOOD CAMERA!!! Told you this is a big, grating regret of mine. ): Note to self and a tip for everyone else? No matter how busy or hectic things get, or how many people you have to get around to catch up with and things there are to organize at an event such as this, always ALWAYS take your own photos of the things you want to capture and remember!!! You'd think I would have known this being somewhat of a photographer myself... Argh! Man, I'm quite angry at myself actually! fghdighfhdnganfm!! Okay, enough venting of my frustrations...............

Have a lovely day people! :D xx

no, i did not die. (i'm back!)

Life. Oh, Life. You really are a funny thing.

Hello again my faithful, ever-patient readers! I have missed this little space of mine! And I have missed sharing things with you all... I realise I have been absent from here for almost 2 months...shocking, I know. But let me tell you, life has been hectic crazy insane a roller coaster intense rather busy... And have had tonnes on my mind. Let me lay it down for ya.

• Went through a break up. Not fun. Very complicated and not black & white at all. As these things usually aren't...
• Went away to Wellington for a weekend to see the World of Wearable Arts show. It was AMAZING. A truly magnificent experience.
• Started to plan my 21st birthday party, which will be taking place in December. OF COURSE I shall share pictures with you of the night... ;)
• My 3 year degree (Graphic Design) is coming to and end very soon!! And when I say soon, I mean, like, 3 weeks! The graduate exhibition at which all the 3rd year students' final project work will be shown takes place on the 16th of November, BUT all our work needs to be boxed up ready to be taken to the gallery by  the 8th of November!! And I've still got soOoOoOo much to finish! Therefore, this has been taking up majority of my time and mental capacity, preventing me from blogging here regularly, and for this I apologize to you all! 
• I lost my USB which has all the design work I've done this year on it. Cannot find it ANYWHERE. And I didn't back up any of it to another computer. How dumb am I.

I must also confess...

• I have no idea what I'm going to do next year or where I'm going to go.... or what will happen! 
• God has been absolutely AMAZING in my life lately. He has been my constant source of comfort, confidence, joy, love and He is teaching me new things always. Since I have re-committed to living life for Him, I have felt a lot more at peace even though things have been raging on around me! He has been so patient with me, and I really feel His hand upon my life, changing me gently into more of the woman I know He intends for me to be. (: I'm learning to put my trust in Him more and more. Loving it! God is good all the time.
• I have quite a few things I'd like to blog about in the weeks to come (and especially once my course is finished!) so stay tuned! 
• I have failed to do a proper sufficient exercise work out for over a month... I really should get back into it... Argh, why am I so lazy!?!?
• I've lost my beautiful silver bracelet (that was a gift) that I love. It's just disappeared into thin air. Like my USB... ): 
• I cannot wait for Summer!!!!!! It's nearly here! :D Friends! Hanging out! Laughing! Beaches! Tans! Food! Fun! Birthday celebration! Free time! Reading books! Photography! Travelling! Road trips! Shopping! Summer clothes! Bring on the Summer. Can you tell I'm just a little keen for it?

So yes. This has been my life lately, in a nutshell. Hopefully you understand a bit more about why I have failed to blog for so long, and I hope you shall continue to stick around, as I will get back into it again at some point, I promise!

I shall leave you with a couple (unedited!) pics of me taken when I was in Wellington for the Wearable Arts show... 

  

I wish you all a happy rest of your week. (:

21 things im really glad i know how to do.

Hello readers. (: 

Hope you all have had a good weekend!

You may be wondering how I became inspired to write this post. Well,  I was working on my seminar at my desk in the studio at tech, and was talking to a fellow classmate about touch typing. As in typing without looking. I'm doing it right now in fact. (: I learned this ever-helpful skill back in high-school, and I am so glad that I did! It has been extremely good being able to type fast without looking when it comes to writing those essays and seminars for sure. This lead me to wondering what other skills I'm happy to have in my skill bank.. 

{via}

Knowing how to...

1. Touch-type. (as mentioned above)

2. Drive a car.

3. Use online banking.

4. Use Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator/In Design.

5. Read.

6. Write. 

7. Draw.

8. Cook spaghetti bolognese.

9. Take good photographs.

10. Pitch a tent.

11. Apply makeup to myself and others. (well.) - foundation, powder, blusher, eyeliner, eye shadow, mascara etc. 

12. Bake cookies.

13. Design posters, invitations, business cards, brochures, logos (and more!) 

14. Make scrambled eggs. 

15. Style an outfit.

16. Hand make some gifts.

17. Paint my nails.

18. Organise a party. ;)

19. Use the self-checkouts at the supermarket.

20. Encourage others and give advice.

21. Ride a horse. 

Some may seem/are pretty basic or mundane, but I am no less thankful for these than the rest of them! (: 

What are you really glad you know how to do?