Mexican Beans

Beans, not the most attractive of blog posts but I am starting to explore this little world of tinned pulses and I am enjoying the results. The mexican bean 'dip' that I make just keeps getting better and better and I just need to write about it. This bean dip is great smothered on a plate underneath your nachos, great to add to any mexican mince dish and a nice addition to a pumpkin or tomato soup rather than cream.

Ingredients:

Onion, Zucchini, Carrots, Red Capsicum, Garlic

Herbs/Spices - Paprika, Cumin, Salt & Pepper

Chilli Flakes only if your game

Tin of Red Kidney Beans 

Method:

1. Fry the veggies off till slightly softened

2. Add your drained beans, add a bit of water if needed

3. Add your herbs/spices to taste > Roughly 1 tbsp Paprika, 1 tsp Cumin, S+P to taste

4. Stew for 10 minutes or so

5. Put it all in a food processor (love my food processor), add a bit more water if you need to loosen it up a touch. And there you have it, yummo bean dip.

Variations: tomatoes, corn or grilled red capsicum would be awesome. Celery could work well too. I would also add some parsley or cilantro (hehe, fancy word for coriander). Chilli flake it up if you love spice. You can use a mix of beans too, looks like I added chickpeas, butter beans and bertolli beans (?) in this batch.

Closing word: FREEZE the mix into small batches in snappy bags. Flatten the bags contents before you freeze them! This makes is quick and easy to defrost, and also easy to snap off a smaller bit if you wanted to add it to some tomato or pumpkin soup instead of cream, etc.

Down but not out

It's not fun having a cold. I hate being held back from living life full of energy. But I'm being forced to put my feet up today or I'm never kick this nastiness.

I'm definitely enjoying this healthy lifestyle living and don't find it hard to be inspired.

Today I've checked out the Lorna Jane MNB website. I've tucked into some of my health and fitness mags. And there's something inspiring about getting around the house in my snazzy new runners.

Mid Week Mid Section

Workout: I tried a new class this morning CXWorx. I have been around long enough to think I knew what I was doing, but I have just had a light bulb moment > Core strengthening.

When it comes to my body type I have a 'tank loaf' style mid section, nothing like a french stick, long and lean. My mid section is short, thicker than I'd like and with minimal shape. I have never achieved a super tight tummy and never actually thought this would be possible for my body type until now. Core strengthening might just be what I need, why did it take me 15 years to work that one out?

What am I sussing out right now: Core Strengthening

The best thing I could do right now

And I know I'm ready for it. Clean eating.

1 body, 1 life. Why not treat it well and get the most out of it? I can't wait to explore a new world of recipes. And continue to see if this lifestyle change can become my family's reality.

The Challenge

Day 1: no I won't continue counting.

 

Today I hit the gym. Woohoo. It's only been 4/5 years.

 

The question that I really want to answer is can someone who is not linked to the fitness industry live and maintain a healthy living lifestyle? I'm yet to get my clean living book. So we'll just stick to the 'healthy living'concept for now.

 

 

Workout: Back to the gym. I wondered if I should leave my shoe laces in a single knot so I'd have an excuse to stop and do up my shoes. My first class was Grit Strength. 30 min high impact workout with minimal to no rest breaks. I survived, just. I now know what Burpies are. I also stayed for Body Balance. I know how awesome it is to give your body some time and stretching.

 

How do I feel: Apart from my legs almost giving out as I hit the bottom of our staircase, twice, I am feeling awesome and ready for this challenge.

 

Enjoy my journey if you feel like reading in.

 

What am I sussing out: High protein foods that come from natural forms. No shakes thanks.

 

*Before and after shots will come along once I have something worth showing.

Mind Body Soul

It's time to get focused. Its time to start focusing on what's important in my life right now and that, my friends, is managing my health and well being.

 

Rather than committing to an unachievable fitness routine I'm taking the slow approach by getting my mind in the right place first. It's all about the will power from within.

 

So to start off this change I've been focusing on everything that I put in my mouth. Is it good? Is it nutritious? Will it give me the sustainability that I need until my next meal? Do I need this? Why am I eating this?

 

 

I mean if we be realistic it is not hard to eat to live. To maintain a balanced diet. Actually thinking about it, how many times do we reward our kids with a lolly or treat?  No wonder this way of thinking becomes our habit later on in life. Rewarding ourselves with food. Breaking the after dinner craving is a tough one too. I really do wonder where this one comes from. Totally unnecessary after a big meal. Oh and portion control has been something to keep an eye on too.

 

Pre-Loved Shopping Joy

Give me $10 to spend in a second hand store and I'll leave as happy as if I've just spent a couple hundred in Westfield. It is fun scouting around the shelves finding little treasures for my home.

No more mouldy crumpets

I just hate throwing food out. Crumpets are always a culprit for mould before we are able to finish them. And i don't like the way they keep in the fridge. Freeze fresh between baking paper, too easy.

I found my time

Today I had a mini celebration over my yummy yogurt and toasted muesli for breakfast - I have finally found my time! Reality is, it was always there to begin with. I just resulted to the usual excuse 'I just can't find the time'.

 

I am a morning person. I can wake up 6am every day and feel great. Morning time for this mother of 2 is the ideal my time for me.

 

After a coffee and some quiet time with the Lord, I can finally fit in half an hour of exercise to my day. Hooray!

 

And there is nothing like getting the blood pumping, the muscles aching and feeling like your finally doing something good for yourself.

 

My routine is simple. 10 laps around the house, varying tracks for interest. Interval jogging and walking.  100 sit ups and 100 hits to the bag. So yay, I've found my time.

 

What to do and what not to do in Bali

1. Dont Listen to your driver
2. Don't Assume your driver knows where you want to go
3. Dont Ask your driver to take you to a nice restaurant
4. Don't Ask your driver to take you anywhere nice
5. Dont Tell your driver unnecessary information, it confuses them (can you tell we had fun with drivers)
6. Don't pick up those information phamplets at the airport, rip off
7. If anyone wants to carry your bags or help you jump the queue at the airport or offer you time share - say no thanks.
7. Oh and if they act like they want their wife to get a photo with you for 'happy memories', do assume he is carrying a printer in his bag and he'll want you to buy the photo.
8. Don't start bartering unless you really do want it
9. Don't stop bartering and don't forget your Aussie dollars, they really do love it, they make jewelry for their children.
10. If the shop front has a door or fixed price tags you are best not to barter, but you can ask with a smile 'Ada discount'

11. Research your restaurants, we really were let down by the food
12. If you see something you really like, buy it! You won't see it again even if they appear everywhere on that day
13. Being worried about Bali belly and tummy bugs is overrated. Not once in our 2 weeks did we refuse ice in drinks.
14. The mozzie issue is also overrated, they have mozzie spray everywhere, that's all you need
15. We paid $30 000 for a beach umbrella and 2 chairs. $50 000 for body board hire. Sarongs are good at $30 000/$40 000, We got the bintang singlets for under $30 000 each.
16. Jimbaran Bay - don't ask a driver to take you to "Jimbaran Bay", we were taken to the crap hole end and didn't get the real experience until we went with our instincts and got a driver to take us to the resort end where all the NICE restaurants were. Know where you want to go.
17. Ubud - we stayed about 10 minutes out in a local village. A great experience if you want to live amongst the locals. This suited us fine, just make sure you have a driver at hand.
18. Seminyak - we booked all of our accommodation via Trip Advisor. We were able to book an awesome villa as we were travelling with another couple and could pool our money together. This is a great way to really enjoy living Bali life. It feels like a home away from home.
19. Bali, away from the resorts, is very different to the impression you get of Bali from the resort, so make sure you get out and explore.
20. Lastly, All day tours sound great, but are super tiring especially with kids. And no, they are not a big tour bus with air con and a tour guide telling you lots of information. We got a local driver taking us around with little to no information. Then almost refusing to take us and the kids home because we were tired and didn't want to eat at the tacky Jimbaran Bay restaurant that was the last stop on the 'tour'.

All in all Bali was a great experience though and we will be back one day.

Please note, these are simply the thoughts and advice based on the trip we had travelling with 4 adults and 2 young children in September 2012.