Little Inspirations - Self Growth

It's a little overdue that I share some little inspirations.

As we are making choices day to day, the future is constantly changing. There will always be events that we cannot control. We can, however, control how we react to these events, where they will lead us and what we will do next. The trick is to keep ourselves inspired and have a goal that we are working toward - you may have a plan A, B and C, but it is better to come prepared than to not have anything prepared at all, only to be swept up by the stresses of the unknown.

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Avocado Sauce - Easy Peasy, Thick And Creamy

You like avocados? I like you. You like avocado sauce? I like you even more.

Today I whipped up a quick avocado sauce to put on some zucchini noodles (that I also whipped up quite quickly, so expect a recipe coming soon. *wink*). The process was so fast, it was over before I even realized it began. IT WAS THAT FAST.

Since the last recipe I posted, the Next Level Tacos With Nopales Cactus Paddle, took a whopping 11 steps before it was completed and ready to eat (I believe that holds the record of the most amount of steps I have ever written in a single blog post), here's a particularly easy recipe that can be made in a whopping 2 steps. It's all about balance, eh?

This recipe makes enough for one person - because there is only one person I need to worry about feeding in my life right now (me). If you want to make enough for 2 people, I would suggest doubling it. Or if you really like the recipe you might as well triple it because avocados really are just. that. good.

Avocado Sauce

Ingredients:

~ Avocado - 1

~ Garlic - 1 clove

~ Cilantro - 1 small bundle, about 1/4 cup before it's chopped

~ Lime juice - 3 to 4 tbsp

~ Salt - 2 pinches

~ Pepper - 2 pinches

~ Cumin - 1/2 tbsp

Instructions:

1. Chop the garlic and the cilantro into small pieces. Mincing isn't completely necessary.

2. Place all of the ingredients in the food processor and blend until smooth.

Voila!

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6 Reasons To Wake Up Early

'Each morning we are born again, what we do today is what matters most.' ~Buddha

1. Watch the sunrise.

The sunrise is such a beautiful part of this world. It happens every morning and every morning you have the chance to watch it happen. So many of us choose to never witness this miraculous part of life because we would rather sleep for just a little longer.

Brahma Muhurta is known as 'the special time,' between 4:24 AM to 5:11 AM. I won't go into a lot of details but Brahma Muhurta is part of Ayurveda, which is a traditional system of Hindu medicine. Basically, waking up during this time sets your body clock in sync with the sun's clock, providing you with many benefits. This video can give you a better idea of Brahama Muhurta.

2. You time.

Wake up early and have time for yourself. Everybody around you is asleep so there are no interruptions. Take some time to read a book, explore your creativity, meditate, take a walk, learn some song lyrics, the possibilities are endless. This is time to help yourself become a better version of you without distractions from the outside world.

3. Exercise.

You don't have time to go to the gym, huh? You would have time if you woke up an hour or two earlier. No guilt trip intended.

The air is fresh, the streets are still, the birds are chirping - why not go for a run, jog or even a walk?

Exercise will get your endorphins going, which helps you to feel happier. Imagine starting your day bright and early, all while feeling happy and very much alive.

4. Remove the stress from your life.

Waking up earlier means getting things done in a timely manner. Complete that extra work in the morning, make yourself a beautiful breakfast to keep yourself going all day, pick out an outfit you actually feel good about (instead of throwing on the first thing you see), leave for work at a reasonable time.

With this time you have all for yourself in the morning, you can get much more accomplished and feel like you have more control over your life.

5. Take control of your life.

Waking up early requires going to bed early. So what do you need to do in order to go to bed early? Stop procrastinating. You will stop holding things off and letting them linger in the back of your mind until the last possible minute. This, in turn, will help you take control of your life.

6. You are alive.

Why would you choose to sleep when you could be up and living your amazing life? We are so lucky to be alive and healthy, though I think it is safe to say that there are times when we are all guilty of taking that for granted. Notice the beauty in the world. Watch the sky change from one beautiful color to the next. Watch the world wake up around you.

Let's live. :)

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Little Inspirations - Yogi Feels

Yoga is a growing interest of mine. I love the idea of mind body wellness. Caring for yourself from the inside out. Yoga helps to connect you with the earth, your body and your mind. Yoga is not about how 'good' you are at doing different positions. It's about channeling an inner strength that helps to push yourself beyond your expectations and become more aware of your mind and body.

Let's take a moment.

Namaste :)

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Healthy Vegan Crunch Bars

Or more properly titled: Healthy Vegan Crunch Bars of Doom

Fair warning: These bars will turn you into a monster and you will devour them all within the hour.

Everybody loves the classic Nestle Crunch Bar. Not everybody loves the ingredients. With a list including Soy Lecithin, Vanillin and Sugar, I decided to make my own version of the tasty bar. Now you can munch and crunch all day long without a care in the world. *Happy sigh of relief*

Ingredients:

~ Cacao powder - 1/2 cup

~ Coconut oil - 1/2 cup (melted)

~ Coconut sugar - 1/4 cup OR Maple syrup - 1/4 cup

~ Brown rice cereal - 1 cup

~ Vanilla extract - 1 tbsp

~ Himalayan pink salt - 1 pinch


Instructions:

1. Mix the melted coconut oil, cacao powder, coconut sugar (or maple syrup), vanilla extract and himalayan pink salt in a medium sized bowl. Mix until well combined. Side note: this is your basic recipe for healthy chocolate!

2. Pour your brown rice cereal into the bowl and stir until all of the cereal has been covered in a tasty coat of chocolate.

3. Evenly pour the mixture into either a pan, glassware container, or whatever else floats your boat. I used a 4X6 inch glassware container to create a thicker bar.

4. Place the container in the freezer for 1 hour, or until hardened. Slice and devour.

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Little Inspirations: Old Ways vs New Days

I have started taking a hot yoga class that begins at 6:30AM - while some people probably think I'm crazy, I leave class feeling so energized and ready for my day that I really think it is worth it. The hardest part about this class is waking up at 5:40AM. Yes, you read correctly.

That being said, I could use some motivation. Whether you are doing a yoga class before the sun rises or you are doing something else that you may or may not really feel like doing (but you know you should), I am sure you could use a little motivation as well. So here you go.

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WTF: What's That Food?

Introducing the newest portion of the blog! Biweekly I'll be posting about a weird food that's either underrated, unheard of or unappreciated. First impressions, nutrition facts and recipes will all be posted along with some pretty pictures.

THE DRAGON FRUIT.

This is a badass fruit.

~It's hot pink
~It has polkadots
~It has leafy spikes
~It's fine
~It's fresh
~It's fierce
~It looks like a hand grenade

It's a shame more people don't eat this bad ass fruit. Maybe it's a little off-putting in all of its hot-pink-polkadot glory...that's why I'm bringing you some solid facts, a few inspiring pictures and a ridiculously easy recipe to introduce you to your new favorite food.

Which part of it is edible?:

~ Eat the black and white part as shown in the picture. (Dragon fruits can also be a deep red with black polkadots.)

~ The skin is not edible.

~ There is a thin white layer between the skin and the flesh. This is bitter and gross. Avoid at all costs.

How should a dragon fruit be cut?:

~ Cut vertically down the center of the fruit as shown above.

~ The flesh can be scooped out with a spoon, an ice cream scooper, or diced.



What does it taste like?:

~ The colors may be bold but the taste is mild.

~ Very juicy.

~ Think of a cross between a kiwi and a pear.



How should it be served?:

~ On it's own

~ In a fruit cup

~ In a smoothie bowl

~ As a sorbet

~ In a smoothie

~ With oatmeal

~ With cake

~ With rice pudding (healthy recipe coming soon)

~ The possibilities are endless

RECIPE
Dragon fruit sorbet

Ingredients:

1. Dragon fruit - frozen for at least 3 hours, preferably overnight

2. Coconut milk - 2 tbsp (optional)


Directions:

1. I wasn't kidding when I said this was easy. Put the dragon fruit in your food processor and blend until a sorbet-like consistency has been reached. Adding coconut milk will make the sorbet creamier.

2. I served mine with a scoop of banana ice cream. Enjoy!

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Room Inspiration - Gold, Fur, Artwork

Here's a little room inspiration to make you want to redecorate...sorry not sorry.

1. I love the composition of this room. The orange against the blue wall, the dainty velvet couch, the frame arrangement, those blue lamps...ooh lala.

2. No commentary needed but I'll comment anyway. That THROW! The colors and the texture are beautiful. I also love the painting above the bed - I want to paint something like that with one of my pets in the center. The paintings on either side of the bed add a little something extra. It's nice that the lamps are two different sizes because it throws the symmetry off a bit.

3. Calming, eh?

4. I love the wall color for a bedroom. People seem to steer clear of colder grays like that for the bedroom but this looks gra(y)t. Ha ha. The fur pillows have the same shade of gray which makes the bed fit in the space better. The pink adds warmth and flowers should be in every room of the house. The artwork is interesting and the gold frames add another coziness factor.

5. This is actually a studio apartment. The glass folding room divider adds an element of privacy without making the already small studio appear even smaller. The floral wallpaper is fun and picks up color from the headboard and opposite wall. The white bedsheets add freshness to keep the room appearing clean and uncluttered.

6. That desk is a DIY that I have been meaning to do for the longest time! Maybe this spring I will actually do it. Check out the link: http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.ca/2013/04/diy-faux-malachite.html

7. Just a fabulous pillow.

8. More gray walls, velvet and fur! Hm... I love the color scheme and the rug. The chandelier above the bed is a great alternate light source and adds sparkle. The artwork adds to the space without taking over. The metallic gold looks great with the light fixture - they play off of each other.

9. This is more of the vibe of my current apartment. Lots of white and lots of light. I love the plants and the golden light fixture. I have a thing for layered rugs and that tiger rug is too cute. More fur on the bed, of course. The hardwood floors look nice with all of the white. Every room looks better with a little life like those big leafy plants in the corner.

10. These are oversized cushions designed in the shape of stones - 100% Merino wool and 100% awesome. By textile designer Ronel Jordaan. He's South African... that explains the coolness factor.

Feeling inspired yet?

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Things I Dig: Cacti

Feeling blue? Like you have no purpose in life? Like everything is falling down around you? Never fear, just buy a cactus!

Water these babies once a month and you're good to go. They look pretty all year long, they're extremely low maintenance and there are more than 2,000 different kinds!

Don't want one? Fine. More for me.

These cuties were being sold for just $8 - make that $7.99 because every penny counts - at my local grocery store! The deal was too good to be true so I happily bought one and welcomed it to the family. I really should have taken full advantage of the deal and bought more than one.

This is love.

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Little Inspirations

I'm feeling really inspired lately, probably because spring must be on it's way eventually...although the forecast says snow and more snow. I've been reading blogs that I'm interested in, pinning on Pinterest and writing in my journal nonstop. Even with all of this, I think everybody could use a little extra nudge sometimes. I could use that nudge right now. I figure there's no better way than to share with the internet world that I am going to stay good to my body - eat well, exercise well, sleep well. Then I will feel well. :) Let's count this as a pact.

Story time:

I went downstairs to search for ingredients to make a healthy lunch just 30 minutes or so ago. Being at my parent's house, they don't care quite as much about living a fully healthy lifestyle as I do. I searched the fridge and the pantry and with nothing really healthy and appetizing in sight. Then I laid my eyes on an unopened box of Valentine's Day chocolate. Dun dun dun...

I'll let you imagine what happened after that. So yeah, I really need this extra nudge of motivation.

First we have this little quote. Tres inspirational. I'm a top notch procrastinator so let's try to remember this one. Ya got that, Isabelle?

No more giving power to the Valentine's Day chocolates. They didn't even taste that good and Valentine's Day is so three days ago. Let's not forget that one either.

Here's a little warm weather inspiration. I think Candice might be from a different dimension with that bangin' bod but a girl can dream, right?!

'If you don't trust yourself, no one else is going to, either.'


More inspirational pics are coming your way so stay tuned, folks. Enjoy the snow and keep in mind that hibernation is coming to an end!

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