6 months married and its time for BABIES?!

Wow its weird my Wedding was 6 months ago now, it feels like ages ago and only yesterday at the same time!

Any way, we didn't really celebrate BUT we did get some BABIES!!

Baby PLANTS that is!!!

This is the biggest vege garden I have ever planted and I'm so excited to see my babies grow!!

Gardening is such a hopeful exersise.

• I hope the weather is kind to my wee plants, enough sun and water.
• I hope the snails don't eat them in the night!
• I hope there is HEAPS of produce I get to give it away!

I also LOVE the idea of comanion planting! I've use some online guides to get plant buddies next to each other.

Its cool how some plants help others grown and even defend each other! (Some don't like each other either! I hope my spring onions are'nt too close to my peas!)

I need some famous companion flowers now, sented Marigolds!

and I am also hankering for warmer weather cause I REALLY want to grow HEAPS of Basil!! My favourite herb!

In other news Me and Joe are BOTH starting new jobs!

YAY!

Our next project is sticking to our current tiny budget even though we will soon both be earning a little more; the aim is to SAVE SAVE SAVE!

xx

r

p.s You may have noticed the absence of "Urban Garden - Seed Bomb" Updates . . .  well, there has been a few storms and some severe frosts and i think my dream has died . . . oh well, next year i'll do more research and try again! maybe its all about timing! who knows?

Green Monster Smoothie Day 2

Strategy works :) must keep preparing smoothie evening before.
Yesterday the smoothie did keep me full till lunch time which is good for me because I am usually ALWAYS hungry.
Im not sure if the vitamin & mineral benefits would have started "working" yet but I defiantly feel good . . . I think its that feeling of achievement; "Eaten My Greens" or like a secret weapon . . . kind of like the feeling of knowing you're wearing an awesome underwear + bra set combo and nobody knows but you.

Green Monster Smoothie - DAY 1

Today I made us a Green Smoothie!
YAY
Finally!
I have made them a couple times in the past but failed to get a routine going . . . I think I figured it out!
Half prepare the ingredients the NIGHT BEFORE!!
So LAST night I put all together in the mixer jug in the fridge.;
1 x Peeled Orange
2 x Peeled Kiwi Fruit
1 x Big Handful silver-beet
1 x Big Handful baby spinach
1 x Tbsp Cacao Nib
1 x Tsp of Fresh Ginger shavings

and in another wee jar I put 3 tbsp of Chia seeds and filled it with water.

THEEEEEEN in this morning I added two chopped frozen banana's all the chia gel and a little extra water and gave it a big WIZZZZ!!

SUCH a gorgeous green!
Felt happier and healthier just looking at my glass of goodness.
I had to convince Joe it wasn't going to just taste like Spinach and grass . . . he slugged it back - good boy.

Im so pleased this is going to be our thing . . . first goal one every work day in October :)

FUNdraising Fun

"The best $60 ever raised" - Joe Kennedy
I feel like a bad wife posting this GIF but I think its worth it "for the kids".

Easy Kale Miso SUPER Soup

Easy Kale Miso SUPER Soup - Rich in ANTIOXIDANTS!!

When its Cold outside OR you have a cold this is THE BEST SOUP!!!
It is SO full of good immune system boosting vitamins, and so easy you can make it on the go even if your head cold is making you slow mo!















How and What:
I pick a bunch of FRESH Kale, Cabbage leaves, Spring Onion & Parsley in the morning.
Finely Chop them up.
Throw in a finely chopped small Garlic Clove (remove the green sprout cause it makes it bitter)
Add one heaped teaspoon of Miso Paste (I choose a mild No GMO Vegetarian one)
Put everything in a Venti size Keep Cup and take to work.

At lunch time add Boiling Water.
Stir.

Find a warm sunny spot (for your daily vitamin D serving) and sip away.

If working with people you may want to brush your teeth after to avoid Garlic Breath.

Its SO good for me I can feel myself getting better all ready!!

Tomorrow I'm going to add some GINGER shavings!

xx R

Yay for spring! Nay to this icky flu!

today is a sick day.

QUIETLY (as throat hurts to talk) I went to the library and picked up some "LifeStyle Guide Books"; "Eat Well Save More - Feed four people for $80 a week!" by Cath Armstrong, "The Small Edible Garden - A guide for New Zealand and Australia" by Diana Anthony and "The Get Healthy Go Vegan Cook Book" by Neal Barnard.

We'll see . . .

I also bought some CHIA seeds and Vegetarian MISO soup paste . . . I've heard its good for you. At this point i'll try anything I am sick of either me or Joe getting a cold or flu!!!!!

Lastly I picked up a punnett of PEA Seedlings!! WOOP WOOP I am SOOOOOO hopeful about eating FRESH Green Peans off the vine!! 

Winter's Over Harvest!

I always thought you couldn't grow veges in Winter?!!

With all this HEAVY Rain we've had this winter and even a SNOW day I am happy to have LOADS growing in our wee Vege Patch :)

I pick a few Kale, Lettuce and other Green leaves every day for my sandwiches and then pinch a few most nights to go in out dinner :)

Joe picking a Broccoli & Spring Onion

This week we've eaten TWO of our first Broccoli's as well! and they taste AWESOME! :)

So looking forward to our Spring/Summer Harvest . . . what shall we grow next?! any recommendations for a novice and lazy gardener?!

So far I'm thinking more Cos lettuce - they are SO easy to grow!, Spring onions, Chives,Tomatoes (maybe purple or yellow ones so the birds don't get them) PEAS!, basil, zucchinis . . .

xr



the dream: an urban medow : part 4 & The Lorax

It's not about what it is, it's about what it can become. - Dr Seuss

It seems extremely poignant that on the evening I released the bulk of my seed bombs we watched THE LORAX DVD!

I had no idea what it was about (I can't remember the story book at all!)

Its a great kids story with a STRONG moral,  set in Dr Seuss's wonderful imaginative world and a call to action! I'm definitely going to have it as one of the family favourites for my future kids.

So tonight I was humming the theme song while throwing the seed bombs . . . which have become my babies . . . I REALLY HOPE THEY GROW!! Because I care a whole awful lot!

I also realise tons of PINTEREST posts have been inspired by the movie

Such as; 

https://pinterest.com/pin/21673641927399159/

this now makes sense! haha

"UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." - The Lorax.

Fingers Crossed my seed bombs continue to grow and inspire some hope for my beloved New Brighton.  Updates to come . . . in the mean time gather a bunch of children and read them The Lorax by Dr Seuss and if its a rainy day hire the DVD as well. Then, when the sun comes out Plant a Seed.

xx r 

the dream: an urban medow : part 3

We've had ALOT of rain this past week!
So much so that I havent deployed many of my seed bombs . . . infact instead of "Drying Out" they are starting to grow!!

I'm so excited!!

Hopefully if it clears up tonight I'm going to get out and BOMB a local empty lot in New Brighton Village YAY

Caine's Arcade

This short film is so beautiful!
It brought tears to my eyes and reminds me of the simple hope that we all had a kids . . .
PLEASE watch

Caine's Arcade from Nirvan Mullick on Vimeo.

the dream: an urban medow : part 2

the seeds arrived and now its time to MAKE THE BOMBS!!

ALOT of Wild Flower Seeds from www.kingsseeds.co.nz

Beautiful Rich Soil = 1 part Potting Mix + 1 part rich black "cloggy" MUD

Seed Bomb Recipe = Soil + Seeds + Water + News Paper to lay them out on

Wearing gloves; Roll a golf ball side handful of soil (adding a little water to the mix the get is "cluggy not sloppy"

With your finger, make a little hole in your bomb, add some seeds, then re-roll your ball (to pick up a small amount of seeds I just pressed my finger into the seed bowl and put one finger tip amount per ball)

Place seed bombs on Newsprint to "dry" and repeat . . .

Alot of seeds = HEAPS of Wild flower Artillery!!

Urban Meadow here I come!

xx r

Happy Monday

Great way to start the week:


(Video was directed, produced, and edited by Seth Ekberg. The song is “Be Still” by The Fray. The Calligraphy by Lindsay Letters)

Spending sometime in PSALMS this week I think.

Olympic Opening this Weekend!!

Me & Joe DON'T have a TV so we're hoping to go somewhere to see the spectacle . . . in the mean time, I'm selling some collectable SMURFS 

The pictures look GREAT if I do say so myself!

my fave is the toothbrush one :)

Happy Weekend

<3

the dream: an urban medow

step one: purchase seeds
step two: await their arrival


until then . . . keep dreaming 

Tuesday I choose . . .

• To Hear: Netsky – 2 2012 Album
• To Eat: Vanilla Ice Cream - Even though its dark and cold outside
• To Watch: Exit through the Gift Shop - If you even slightly appreciate Street Art its a must see.
• To Grow: My Broccoli's have nice little dark green heads!
• To Learn: Truck Drivers Road Code with the Husband
• To Recommend: Hype Machine, better than Spotify for New Music, no ads, available for android & apple
• To Improve: Personal Water Consumption - 8 glasses a day seems so hard in Winter! 
• To Highlight: The good local work of The Sisterhood
• To Say: "Stop Everything and Dance"

still avoiding sugar

by now, it is day 9 i think of my sugar fast.
i am craving sugar and peanut butter (my other vice) ALOT
pinterest isn't helping haha

im a bit bored of blogging my food diary atm but think you should follow my pinterest "food" board to see the interesting recipes inspiring me currently :)

enjoyed my morning walk at the beach this morning
thought i'd share it with you :)

Sugar Fast Day 6

Breakfast = Porridge same as below but with 1tbs CHIA SEEDS! - google them to see all the health benefits!

Mid Morning = Black Tea + Carrot (note extra vegetable here!)

Lunch = Leftovers Millet & Moog Dahl

Cravings = STILL HIGH!! I must admit the mandarin did not rescue me today and I have eaten a cheese & honey sandwich . . . .

Dinner = Family Tea with the in-laws . . . question is, can i resist dessert?! ooooh will have to wait to find out!!

Will also be interested to see when these CHIA SEEDS start improving my health! :)

Day 5 - feeling lazy

Breakfast = Porridge

Lunch = Eggs on Toast

Dinner=  Creamy Millet, Mung Dhal & Veggies

Late DVD snack = Popcorn +butter + salt

HMMM probably feeling a bit crappy because of all yesterdays WHITE BREAD - well, that's my excuse
Also on review looks like i NEED to add more VEGETABLES in my diet!

Sugar Fast Day 4 - eeeeek

Sugar Fast Day 4 - its COLD but the sun came out!!

BUT alas today probably does not count as "sugar free"

Breakfast = 2 x slice toast + marmite + fried egg (minus oil since we have a flash non stick pan)

Mornig tea = Coffee at Church

Lunch = Black Betty's with friends + savoury fill crossant + long black coffee (Oh SOoo good!)

Black Bettys Cafe is a great place, LOTS of people love it as it is ALWAYS busy!

Cravings Nil = BUT I must confess that this mornings toast AND tonights Cheese toasties where made of WHITE BREAD! Arg its practically a sin BUT it was the only thing they had at the 24/7 bakery we went to laaaaaate last night after the gig. SO I admit I practically ate SUGAR for Breakfast, Lunch (crossant) and TEA today . . . .

Dinner = Left over soup from the other night and cheese toasties

Baking Sugar & butter free flap jacks right now (yes 10pm) - again not technically sugar free as lots of dried fruit.

Never mind MONDAY is a new day, a new week and a fresh start for my wee sugar fast.

Sugar Reading = DOH! Dates are just as bad a white bread when it comes to glucose! 

2wk Sugar Fast Day 3

Sugar Fast 

Day 3 - its COLD and rainy

Porrige = 3/4 cup quick oats + 1 cup cold water + 6min in microwave = steaming hot breakfast

Mocha = tsp moccona + tsp cocoa + dash green milk + cup boiling water = Caffine hit

Mornig tea = Black Tea

Lunch = Left over Vegan Lentil & Barley Soup from last night

Cravings 5/10 = ate 2 x mandarins after lunch

Dinner = Beef Stew & Kumara Mash yuuuuuuuuummmmm!! Husband loved too after soccer in the mud this afternoon.


We're going to a gig tonight so my evening snack = Handful of Dates + a chunk of Edam cheese (I need something to keep me going!)

Sugar / Sweet Tooth ADDICT! 2wk Sugar Fast

Sugar Fast Day 2 - its COLD and rainy

Porrige = 3/4 cup quick oats + 1 cup cold water + 6min in microwave = steaming hot breakfast

Mocha = tsp moccona + tsp cocoa + dash green milk + cup boiling water = Caffine hit

Mornig tea = Black Tea

Lunch = Left over Nacho Beans sans the corn chips

Cravings NIL - gee I hope this lasts!

(I have 2 manderines on hand just in case)

Dinner is cooking away at home in the slow cooker = Vegan Lentil & Barley Soup = perfect for a wintery evening in.

I got married

So, you noticed the vast absents to posts to this blog.
Well lets just say I got married;

It was an AWESOME DAY
Thanks to my new HUSBAND and all our favourite friends and family who came to New Brighton & shared in our celebration <3

Check out our Video thanks to an awesome friend called Jake

Joe and Rosita, A Love Story from Jacob Stanley Creative on Vimeo.

xx