Disclaimer: Broken-Hearted Girl is based on a true story after having a fallout with a high school friend in 2017. Let’s call her Emma* – her real name has been changed for privacy reasons. This poem is 100% original and bullshit-free. I am re-publishing all of my poems to reflect the direction that this blog is headed in. Thank you for understanding. If you like this poem, feel free to check out my other poetry musings here. ✨
P.S. I also wrote a break-up letter called, Weeding Out Toxic Friends Part 2, which you can read here.
Disclaimer: This poem was originally posted under pages, so nobody stumbled upon it. I am re-publishing all of my poems to reflect the direction that this blog is headed in. Thank you for understanding. If you like this poem, feel free to check out my other poetry musings here.✨
Disclaimer: This recipe was originally posted as a separate page. I changed it to reflect the direction that this blog is headed in. Thank you for understanding! ♥
Most recipes found on this blog are designed for 1-2 people, particularly college students or small families who are short on time. If you are making this smoothie for 4 people, simply double the recipe. You can add other fruits such as peaches or add a handful of spinach/kale for a green smoothie. If cantaloupe isn’t your preference, you can use other kinds of melon instead, such as honeydew or watermelon. #melon-fruit-power from pixabay.com
WHY SMOOTHIES?
Fruits and vegetables contain important enzymes, vitamins, and minerals that we need to stay healthy, maintain energy levels, and keep diseases at bay. Making delicious smoothies from fresh fruits each day is an easy and tasty way to obtain your daily nutrient requirements. Smoothies are thicker than fruit juices and they may contain other ingredients such as milk, yogurt, ice cubes, etc.
CHOOSING INGREDIENTS
The quality of a smoothie is directly related to the freshness of the ingredients that you use. Try and use the best fruit that you can get by choosing fruits at optimum ripeness. Although fresh and organic are usually best, fruits that are flash-frozen soon after picking may be better than fresh fruit that has a short shelf life. Examples of summer fruits are strawberries, cherries, raspberries, and peaches. If you use canned fruit, avoid fruit soaked in syrup and aim for fruit soaked in water or natural fruit juice.
EAT WELL, FEEL GOOD, AND LOOK GREAT!
The nutrition that you are consuming by drinking smoothies on a daily basis will also begin to show through your radiant glowing skin, energy levels, and overall improved well-being. For example, antioxidants are found in fresh fruits and are also essential for younger-looking skin. Another example is folic acid, which is found in many fruits and helps keep hair and nails strong. Another advantage of drinking smoothies is the high water content that is found in fruits. It is easy to forget to drink 8 glasses of water per day. Many beverages that we consume such as coffee, tea, and alcohol are dehydrating compared to smoothies which are very hydrating.
CANTALOUPE SMOOTHIE
Servings: 2 Time: 10 minutes Difficulty: easy
INGREDIENTS
1 cup peeled, cubed cantaloupe
1/2 banana, frozen chunks
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 tablespoon lemon or lime juice
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 tablespoon flaxseed (optional)
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS
Add the cantaloupe, banana, orange juice and lemon juice to a blender (I am using a Vitamix blender). Cover and blend on high until the mixture is smooth.
Add the yogurt, flaxseed and vanilla. Cover and blend on high until the mixture is smooth.
Pour into 2 glasses and add milkshake straws (optional). Serve immediately.
Disclaimer: This recipe was originally posted as a separate page. I changed it to reflect the direction that this blog is headed in. Thank you for understanding!
This recipe is a remake of the Taro recipe I posted on Yummly years ago. Unfortunately, I was unable to locate that recipe and it wasn’t exactly healthy. Taro bubble tea mix often comes in instant creamer-like packets. If you think about what is in these packets, it’s pretty unappetizing. Can we do better than that? Yes, we can, and I will show you how 💁♀️
At this time, I plan to make a collection of flat belly-friendly recipes for you all. However, bubble tea generally isn’t healthy, to begin with, plus it is often laden with calories. The horror! 😱 Yes, tea is good for you and should be consumed in your diet but the added refined sugar, tapioca pearls, and saturated fat in the drink outweigh the benefits of consuming the drink in the first place. I am here to give you a healthier version of this beloved beverage. You can sub any fruit out for the mango. I chose mango because it nicely complements the coconut. I added coconut milk for the healthy fats and extra vitamins.
Brew some green tea and chill it in the fridge. 2 cups is more than enough for 2 servings.
Using a pot, fill the pot with 4 cups of water and bring to a rolling boil. Next, add ~1/3 of the package (approx. 1 cup) of tapioca pearls to the water and 1/4 cup of brown sugar – half of the brown sugar you are using. Following the instructions on the package, cook the tapioca pearls. This step takes a while and it’s easy to mess up. It won’t cook properly if you cook it at the wrong temperature, hence the recipe being medium difficulty. Occasionally, stir the tapioca pearls so that they don’t stick together.
Once tapioca pearls have risen to the top of the pot and they have the desired chewy consistency (I taste them to make sure), strain pearls under cold water and make a sugar syrup for the pearls using the rest of the brown sugar. Set aside.
Using a personal blender or my personal favorite, being the Vitamix, add the brewed tea, mango chunks, coconut milk, and ice cubes. You will need to scrape the sides of the blender depending on the consistency you want. I recommend working in batches since a cheaper blender may get jammed. The Vitamix however, can handle it like a champ.
Divide the cooked tapioca pearls and add them to the bottom of 2 tall glasses. Add the blended mango coconut slush to the glass along with a wide milkshake straw for pearl slurping. Enjoy!
I encourage you to give this recipe a try. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments section below ↓ I love reading your comments 🥭💕
Disclaimer: This recipe was originally posted as a separate page. I changed it to reflect the direction that this blog is headed in. Thank you for understanding!
Nothing beats this classic drink recipe. You may have noticed that I talked about this delicious drink in my blog post titled, March Recap Spring 2021 because this drink was one of my favourite things to drink while I was pregnant. Re: Virgin Piña Colada!
I made this drink often while pregnant, and people ridiculed me for drinking it because they thought I was drinking its alcoholic cousin. Seriously, who do you think I am?! To this day, I rarely drink alcohol because I really don’t see what’s so great about drinking nail polish remover. Sorry, not sorry! Alcohol does not taste good to me and I have to drink it with loads of sugar to make it more palatable 😝 So if you came here for the alcoholic version of this drink, feel free to add your own alcohol. For the rest of you who enjoy Shirley Temples and other fun non-alcoholic drinks, you are in for a treat today. My sans alcohol version of the classic Piña Colada has been tested and approved by myself and my family. Cheers! 🍍🥥
Virgin Piña Colada
Servings: 1 Time: 2 minutes Difficulty: easy
INGREDIENTS
4 tbsp. crushed pineapple
1/3 can low fat coconut milk
2-3 tbsp. pineapple juice
6 ice cubes
DIRECTIONS
Using a personal blender (I use a Nutri Ninja), add the crushed pineapple, pineapple juice and coconut milk. Quickly pulse the ingredients. Using a spoon, taste to make sure the coconut balances the pineapple. If flavours are balanced, continue to step #2.
Add the ice. Personally, I like my drink very iced so I use 6 cubes. Slowly add a few ice cubes and pulse. Then add a few more ice cubes so the blender doesn’t get jammed. When the desired consistency is reached, it is ready to drink.
Pour into a fancy glass and add a milkshake straw (optional).
Photo credit: Pineapple Supply Co
I encourage you to give this recipe a try. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments section below ↓ I love reading your comments 💕
Disclaimer: This recipe was originally posted as a separate page on November 15, 2017. I changed it to reflect the direction that this blog is headed in. Thank you for understanding!
My husband and I take health and well-being very seriously. Usually, I will make several trips to the grocery store when trying a new recipe but this time, I decided to only use what was in my cupboard. I changed the original recipe I was referencing quite a bit. You can find the original carrot muffin recipe over at Genius Kitchen.
CARROT COCONUT MUFFINS
Servings: 12 Time: 40 minutes Difficulty: easy
INGREDIENTS
1 egg
1 cup orange juice
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 cup coconut
2 cups shredded carrots
DIRECTIONS
Crack an egg into a bowl and whisk the egg.
Add orange juice, margarine, brown sugar, and white sugar to the bowl. Stir well.
Sift together dry ingredients in a separate bowl.
Stir in egg mixture and mix until dough is moistened.
Gently fold in carrots and coconut. I shred the carrots using my Vitamix blender.
Spoon into well-greased muffin pans. Cupcake liners are optional but I don’t recommend using them for this particular recipe. The dough is too dense, making the cupcake liner difficult to peel away.
Sprinkle some of the white sugar on the muffin tops for extra shine. Again, this step is optional.
This recipe was originally posted as a separate page. I changed it to reflect the direction that this blog is headed in. Thank you for understanding. 🌱
This recipe is fantastic. Although Dr. Ann Wigmore’s energy soup is not the most palatable the first time you try it, it really starts to grow on you the more you consume it. I use this recipe whenever I am feeling moody, depressed, need to detox, or whenever I’m in pain (for example, toothache). Sometimes, I grow my own bean sprouts but I often buy them for convenience. Eating a 1.5-liter jar of homegrown bean sprouts is quite the challenge for one individual.
I doubt other 20-somethings eat energy soup at all. Even my husband cringes a the thought of eating this stuff on a weekly basis. Eventually, I hope to make this soup on a daily basis. The health benefits outweigh the taste, and the bland flavor is greatly improved with a little garlic and lemon juice. The original recipe was created by Ann Wigmore and you can read about her here. However, the recipe I have adapted comes from Karyn’s, so be sure to check out these two amazing women.
“Let me share my vision with you: I see a world without sickness, sorrow or mental disturbance in which we are living in perfect balance with abundant health and harmony. Reconnect with nature and your body will take care of the rest. This is the beauty of self-healing.” – Dr. Ann Wigmore
Confession: I do not use Rejuvelac. Instead, I substitute Rejuvelac for green tea. I have adapted and modified Karyn’s version of Ann Wigmore’s energy soup. I do not think my version is necessarily healthier. In fact, I highly doubt it contains as many vitamins and minerals compared to the original recipe. However, as a university student who is tight on time and energy, my recipe is easy to make and very palatable. I am NOT a vegan or raw foodie by any means and I do not encourage you to hop on the bandwagon. I am currently dealing with Iron Deficiency Anemia and can use a boost of vitamins and minerals every now and then.
RAW GREEN ENERGY SOUP
Servings: 2 Time: 10 minutes Difficulty: easy
INGREDIENTS
1-2 cloves garlic
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 1/2 cups green tea
1 teaspoon seaweed
1-2 apples, coarsely chopped
1 cup baby spinach leaves
1 cup beansprouts
1 avocado
DIRECTIONS
Prepare 1 1/2 cups of green tea. Set aside. Soak the dried seaweed in water and add 1 teaspoon of soaked seaweed to the green tea. Pour into a powerful blender such as the Vitamix (what I use).
Coarsely chop the garlic and add to the blender. Blend on low until smooth
Coarsely chop the apples and add to the blender. Add the avocado. If you don’t have avocado you can substitute with coconut oil. Pulse the apple and avocado to combine with the green tea base Pulsing adds texture to the soup.
Add the beansprouts and the spinach leaves. Pulse in blender until you have reached the desired consistency. Add the lemon juice for freshness and flavor.
Pour into a bowl and serve. Garnish with parsley if desired. Store the leftover soup in a glass container and refrigerate up to a week. The soup tastes best when consumed within 1-2 days.
Yes, the raw green energy soup is really this green! Put your future in good hands ❤
Note: I garnished the soup with cilantro because I couldn’t find the parsley. I tried making the soup from memory and the color of the soup ended up being much lighter. Why?! Because I forgot to add the seaweed! The raw green energy soup was still delicious – a perfect midnight snack!
Whenever I have zero motivation to write a blog post, I remind myself to take a step back and think about the topics that have been accumulating in my rough drafts. I currently have 34 topics in my rough drafts but I have zero desire to write about any of them. I had to take a Marie Kondo approach and ask myself the following question: Do any of these topics spark joy? Sadly, the answer is no. Perhaps it is time to scrap my rough drafts and start over again.
When life gets too chaotic and hectic, I often feel the need to simplify my life. It is important to take a step back to appreciate the things that make my stupid, busy life a little less stupid and busy. And not surprisingly, the items on my list are inexpensive. Does it surprise you that I have a go-to list of 10 affordable purchases that make my life more tolerable? Keep reading if you are interested! 😊
•✽ 10 Cheap Purchases that Improved my Life ✽•
1. Tylenol I know, I know. Acetaminophen aka. Tylenol (everyone here calls it Tylenol) is not very exciting but for anyone who suffers from frequent ocular migraines, it helps provide some relief. I typically use 2 tabs each of 500mg per dose.
2.Hand sanitizer If COVID-19 taught me anything, I learned about the importance of hand hygiene. It would be a crime not to hoard hand sanitizer. I carry it around with me everywhere I go and learned to embrace the plain, boring scents too.
3. Baby wipes These wipes are not just for wiping baby bums! Baby wipes are one of the most useful things to have around the house, whether or not you are a parent. Baby wipes are incredibly useful for wiping faces, cleaning sticky surfaces, and dusting. Yes – dusting! Need to clean something fast? Use a baby wipe!
4. Alarm clock I had one of those loud, obnoxious alarm clocks that could wake the dead from their sleep. I say *had* because it fell apart over the years. Still, I never missed a shift while I was using that alarm clock. Now, I use an obnoxious ring tone on my phone which works almost as well as the alarm clock.
5. The 64-ounce hydrator water bottle Not just any water bottle! This is a 64-ounce hydrator water bottle. I bought mine from Winners for $10 and it holds 8 cups of water. Personally, I don’t like refilling a water bottle multiple times a day. My goal is to refill my water bottle twice a day for a total of 16 cups of water. If you did the math, my goal is to drink 1 Gallon (128 oz.) of water per day. I seem to fail miserably at drinking water unless I am actively tracking my water intake.
Stayin’ alive and hydrated!
6. Sharpie highlighters This is my favourite brand for both markers and highlighters. I only buy this brand for highlighters because they don’t bleed through paper or smudge the ink. During back-to-school season, you can usually find Sharpie highlighters on sale at Walmart.
7. Sheet protectors It seems like my list is turning into a “Things Around the Office” Listicle. What can I say?😂 I spend a great deal of time using office supplies. Sheet protectors are another item that I love using for notetaking, clipping recipes, saving snippets from magazines, etc. Gone are the days where I have to worry about spilling coffee on my notes. I also want to mention that sheet protectors are waterproof!
8. Bubble Bath Hot baths are good for chronic back and neck pain. A bubble bath won’t break the bank and it is one of the few things that I have to look forward to on a typical cold day in Canada. My favorite bubble bath is Korres because it makes the best bubbles in my opinion, even though this brand is more expensive than others. Trust me, not all bubbles are created equal.
9. PlannerA planner can be cheap or expensive depending on your preference. Personally, I like the $4 Dollarama planner which I can throw in my backpack at any given time. For habit tracking, I like the Habit Tracking planner which I got from Costco. I usually recycle my planners after 2-3 years to cut down on clutter. I used to keep ALL of my wall calendars as a kid and ended up with a drawer full of memorabilia junk. Never again.
10. Podcasts Personal development podcasts have changed my life for the better. I use iTunes to listen to podcasts. The best part about podcasts is that they are FREE! Free edutainment – what’s not to like about that?! I listen to podcasts on a daily basis and I love learning about psychology, philosophy, spirituality, entrepreneurial skills, and decluttering. In a previous blog post, I talked about The Mindset Mentor by Rob Dial. Admittedly, I don’t listen to his podcasts nearly as much as I used to, but his takeaway messages are very good. Also, a shoutout goes to my blogger friend Deandrafrom #TBPD. She also has a lifestyle podcast which I recommend checking out! 🙌
Overall, these 10 items help my life suck a little less. Did anything on my list surprise you? What inexpensive items would you add to your list? Please join the conversation by leaving a comment below ↓ I look forward to reading your comments.
Sereneluna 
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