Spring Cleaning

Hello!

The temperature outside is rising and so is my mood! It’s a direct correlation (yes I’m nerdy I know).

A little sunshine goes a long way 🙂

Despite the looming FE Exam, I’m still trying to maintain this internal happiness in any way possible. Which is why I decided that it’s time for…

Spring Cleaning!

But wait…this is not the physical labor kind of cleaning. This is an internal, emotional kind of cleaning.

I want to purge all negativity out of my mind and cleanse my body and soul.

Winter can really take a toll on our emotional health and well-being. If you’re anything like me (and I’m sure many of you are), your mood significantly drops during the winter months. I even read somewhere that women eat more in the winter!

Our lives are so fast-paced, stressful, and hectic at times, and an occasional detox can only do you good. Personally, I feel lazy and drained (and severely out of balance), so my body craved some sort of cleansing.

A few days ago I explained the forcing of myself into a “springtime mentality.” So today I decided to start the day off with a little detoxing meal.

I first did my research and found a great list of foods to eat and avoid during a detox:

Detox Foods List

Then, this meal was created:

DETOX BREAKFAST MEDLEY

Ingredients:

-1/8 cup red quinoa

-1/8 cup millet

-1/4 cup fresh blueberries

-3 large strawberries

-5 cherries

-1/4 cup diced mango

-1/2 Tbs. brown rice syrup

-1 Tbs. each of assorted nuts (I used almonds, walnuts, and sunflower seeds) = 1/4 cup of nuts total

-1/2 cup almond milk (I used vanilla flavored)

-1/4 cup beets, boiled (can be done ahead of time) and blended to a pulp

Directions:

1.) Combine the millet, quinoa, beets, brown rice syrup, and almond milk in a medium pan and cook on low heat until the grains are soft, about 20 minutes.

2.) Remove the mixture from heat, add in the nuts, and mix together thoroughly.

3.) Transfer to a bowl, top with fruit, and enjoy!

Don’t be afraid to try out this breakfast. It’s ridiculously filling and uniquely delicious. The beets add a gorgeous color and a subtle sweetness while the nuts add the perfect crunch. You can choose any fruits you want, but avoid “heavy” fruits such as bananas.

The quinoa-millet combo looks so vibrant and pretty!

And the beets make the entire mixture even prettier!

Can you say, helllooooo spring?!?

I feel better already just looking at this uplifting bright color!

Mix in the nuts (make sure to avoid peanuts though!).

Top with fruit!

This breakfast is the perfect blend of whole grains, fruits, veggies, and nuts.

What a gorgeous way to ring in spring, huh?

“Mental happiness is total relaxation”

~From Russia With Love~

 

An (Almost) Perfect Day

The sun is shining, the temperature is warm, the birds are chirping. Spring is near indeed.

What an instant mood booster!

I wanted to share last night’s dinner with you…it was definitely interesting!

I felt a creative streak going through me so I made up a dish that ended up very tasty.

Lets just say it was a sweet dinner.

SWEET MILLET BAKE

Ingredients:

-1/2 cup millet, rinsed

– 1 cup vegetable broth

-2 Tbs. raisins

-3-4 dried figs, chopped

-1 Tbs. whiskey or rum

-1/2 cup water

Directions:

1.) Soak raisins and figs in the whisky/rum and water. Make sure that the fruits are completely submerged in the liquid. Allow to sit for 10 or 15 minutes and then drain.

2.) Combine the remaining ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil. Add the raisins and figs, reduce to a simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes or until millet is soft.

3.) Fluff up the millet and allow to sit, covered, for another 5 minutes before serving.

*Serves 2

This dinner will take you no more than half an hour to make…so quick and easy!

I’ll admit I was pretty scared soaking the figs and raisins in whisky, but it was the right choice 🙂

Combine all ingredients in a small pot and bring to a boil. Then reduce to a simmer and cook for about 20 minutes or until millet is soft.

This dinner won’t let you down!

The day is (almost) perfect. But one thing feels very very wrong- the devastation in Japan. Seeing the images and videos of the event literally brought me to tears. It’s terrifying.

Life is so scary, so unpredictable, and so unfair sometimes. But if we live with such negativity and fear towards life, we surely will be even more miserable than in light of catastrophic events. People are very resilient, and as they say…this too shall pass.

So always take the optimistic route in life, as hard as it may be at times. Tell yourself that everything happens for a reason, even if you don’t quite know what that reason is.

I live by that motto, it has always been a part of me and my personal views on life. It has helped me countless times, even on my bleakest days.

Understanding that life is unpredictable is the only way to truly live at peace.

“Live for each other.”

~From Russia With Love~