Donating a Print

K has created this print with her watercolours and her love.
We framed it for her and she has donated it to YANA for their upcoming auction.
My heart is so proud of her.
I must admit that I will probably buy this as it will forever remind me or her spirit.

Bleaching T-Shirts

 I brought this crafty idea to brownies and, with 17 girls, we made bleach resist shirts.
We put on stickers and freezer paper stencils, then sprayed bleach on.
Within 10 minutes the girls could pull off the stickers and then "colour" in with fabric paint pens.

I can see us doing this quite often, for ourselves or for gifts.
I had the clorox bleach pens too but they were forgotten so I am eager to try those out.

Living Raw Once Again

After a rather long hiatus from the RAW world I am back.

I sure have missed it.

I gained 30 plus lbs since I left over a year ago and am hoping to look and feel better pretty darn soon.

I have tried twice to get back but for various reasons it hadn't work.

I know it was because I didn't have my focus and will power.

I am focussed and my will power is iron clad now.

Bring it on.

Apart from the detox acne that has plagued me this week, ( hubby asked if I was hit with a buckshot) all is well.

My body is adjusting perfect and is really quite happy all in all.

Because this is the case and I am not all sick and stuff I am able to focus on my menu.

 A priority at all times is mylk.
I love my cold cereal with fruits and nuts but can't stomach it with juice.
Has to be mylk.
Chocolate even!
I made this batch with a mix of cashews, almonds and sunflower seeds.
Soak overnight, add dates, salt and fresh water, and blend.
So quick and easy and cheap.
Strain through a mylk bag and its good for up to 3 days in the fridge.

Here is my morning cereal of chai, buckwheat grouts, hemp seeds, coco nibs, gogi berries, sesame seeds and so much other goodness.
I add fresh or dried fruits depending on what I have on hand.

 There are few foods that I an buy anywhere other than a Raw restaurant.
This cheesecake from Rawthentic is my favourite.

 Here is my Chocolate Mousse (recipe below) that fools even the most seasoned fan.
Made with avocados and other Raw goodies, the girls happily gobble it up.

 Harmonic Arts is my haven for ingredients and snacks.
They were just getting off their feet last time round.
They have just opened a store front and I am so glad.

 Here are a few other snackies that I can actually grab on the go and instead of having to make everything.
This helps so I am not tempted in any way to break my will.

 Treats I always have on hand, in the car and at home, are flavoured seeds and nuts, trail mixes and kale chips.

 Dehydrated bananas are always perfect, anytime, anywhere.

Of course fruit roll ups.
These ones are apple and cinnamon.
Simple as blending up apples, spices and add a bit of water, pouring out on dehydrator sheets for an overnight drying.

 Don't forget the endless supplies of smoothies and juices I consume in a day/week.
These orange creamsicle(recipe below) are filling and super delicious.

Creamsicle Recipe
1 1/2 c. cashew soaked overnight
1c. orange juice
1 or 2 oranges peeled and cut up
1/4 agave syrup
2 Tbs coco oil
2 Tbs orange zest
Blend till smooth

Chocolate Mousse Recipe
2 avocados
2 Tbs cocoa butter
1/4 c. maple syrup
2-3 Tbs agave syrup
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp tamari sauce
1 Tbs vanilla
1/2 cocoa powder
Blend at low speeds till all combined the high for a minute or two.
Refrigerate overnight then serve.
Store in fridge, good for only a day maybe two if it can last that long.

Parrot Refuge

 We headed down Island to visit all the local attractions, only to find 4 out of 5 were closed for the season.

Parrot World was open though and that was a relief and a hit.
It's one of those happy/sad sort of places.
Happy that these parrots have a safe, well provided home.
Sad because there are over 800 birds that have been re-homed here for various reasons, most of which are  horribly sad.

Most of the parrots are starving for attention.
Some pick all there feathers out from boredom or neuroses.
The people/volunteers that work there are amazing but there just isn't enough help or money.

We do love to go there and show the birds some love and to learn about all the varieties and species.

When we came home this time I had the kids draw and write about their experience this time.
What K wrote made me see just how she really gets the tenor for the place.
"Pure need for hope"

I have to admit I am in ove with these creatures and if we lived closer we would be there daily.

E had her thumb bitten really hard and so this picture shows which one was nice and which one was  the biter!!

Not so Tacky Thrift-Store Idea

As seen on Pinterest, Martha Stewart and many more sites, these necklace redo's are quick and fashionably sweet.
Take any funky, cool necklace and fold in half.
Tie ribbon on each side and bingo bango!
New up-to- date jewellery for your spring wardrobe.
Great gift ideas as well.

(Another) Tacky Thrift-store Craft

Ok?!
So who hasn't seen these tacky record bowls?
Again, I could not resist the "I did that" factor for this one.
Oven.
LP.
Bowl.
Thats it.
And now I have 2 tacky plastic bowls that I will have to pawn off.
I do know a music teacher that may find these cute for her classroom?!!!

For Forks Sakes!!

I keep seeing these fork crafts and think it's kinda kitschy but kinda funny at the same time.
For 10 cents at the thrift store it is a rather low investment so who cares if they turn out or not.
Or if I'll ever use them or not.
They are neat as coat hooks though.
This is how far I got so far and it may just be as far as I ever get.
But now I can say, "I have done that!", as if anybody would ever care.