A Creative Spirit
If we were having coffee, I'd tell you everything aches this week. I think the continued damp weather is getting into the marrow of my bones. One of my friends said she felt the same so perhaps it's not just me. Can your bones ache? Entertaining Friends—On Sunday, we invited a couple of friends over... Continue Reading →
Yay! I did it. I FINALLY did it. I started a Yoga for Seniors class in February; this week was my sixth class. Since the first lesson, the Yoga teacher has been trying to persuade me to get down on the floor. I baulked at the idea and repeatedly told her, "I've only been down... Continue Reading →
Every year, we Brits celebrate Shrove Tuesday with pancakes. We call it 'Pancake Day'. This brilliant YouTube video explains why. https://youtu.be/pw6oRE7NKVM?si=_wpNybpoK8A9NFCO This traditional batter recipe dates back to 1439, as per Historic UK Quote: "The ingredients for pancakes can be seen to symbolise four points of significance at this time of year: Eggs ~ CreationFlour... Continue Reading →
I never thought I'd admit it, but I'm 'fooded' out. Stuffed to <<bursting>>. Move over the laughing Buddha and enter the laughing pig. Except I'm not laughing. I feel fat. February has been a month of celebration, experimenting with new and healthier recipes--which I've shared on my blog--and eating out. Eating out three/four times a... Continue Reading →
Let's talk about food. I love that oats are so versatile and offer an enjoyable substitute for flour. The more I trawl the internet for healthy recipes, the more I enjoy experimenting and researching new ideas to avoid ultra-processed foods. However, whilst researching, I have discovered there is a lot of conflicting advice. Who do... Continue Reading →
If we were having coffee, I'd tell you I've had a hectic week with hardly time to pause for breath. Move Over Roses on Valentine's Day I bet I can count the fingers on one hand for the number of women who received a red bromeliad rather than roses or a bouquet of flowers for... Continue Reading →
If we were having coffee, I'd confide this week I had three social engagements, which also involved food therefore adding a further strain on my already bulging waistline. Fortunately, I have only grown about 1kg since the 18th of December (checks mirror for growth of Pinnocio's nose). Considering all the naughties I've consumed over the... Continue Reading →
Let's talk about food and healthy options. Recently, I've noticed an increasing number of cookie and cake recipes on my FB feed that use oats instead of wheat flour. Keen to discover more, as part of my quest to reduce the number of ultra-processed foods in our diet and replace with healthier alternatives, I dived... Continue Reading →
What a week! I am happy because I did manage to tick off a few major tasks from my To-Do List: Book an MRI Scan, restart Portuguese Lessons, take my new car for a drive and buy another mouse to use with my laptop. Appointment Challenge My main goal for this week was to book... Continue Reading →
Hands up. Who knew the tiny Chia seed packed such a nutritious punch? I didn't. When someone suggested I try them to help with weight loss, I bought a packet, thinking it was a type of tea. I probably made that assumption because chia and chá are similar, and chá is the Portuguese word for... Continue Reading →
Let's talk about food or not. If we were having coffee, I'd tell you my weight loss has stagnated over the last few weeks, and I feel rather ticked off! My goal on the 10th of July was to lose 15kg by my landmark birthday (30th December). No problem, I thought. Wrong! I've only lost... Continue Reading →
The days have flown by so quickly that I've barely had time to catch my breath. This week, I had planned to prepare a meal using the homegrown kale I planted at the end of August. At the mention of Kale, I can already see many of you running for the hills. Trust me, kale... Continue Reading →
Kefir? Is anyone familiar with Kefir? Have you tried it, and do you make it at home? Kefir was recommended to me as a probiotic for gut health. At the moment I'm buying from the local supermarket. I read this article which offers a lot of maybe's: Top 10 health benefits of kefir. Kefir is... Continue Reading →
I have been a busy bee since we last met for coffee two weeks ago. Grandkids: We have just returned to Portugal after a week in the UK to spend time with family and enjoy the grandkids. We stayed with our son, Ian, and daughter-in-law, and it was great to enjoy quality time with them.... Continue Reading →
I am trying to lose weight by adopting a healthier lifestyle and eliminating processed carbs (or at least trying to). Part of my journey is experimenting with low-carb recipes and researching superfoods that have proven positive effects on the body. A while back, a friend waxed lyrical about the benefits of cider vinegar. I bought... Continue Reading →
It's Friday, so let's talk about food. Diets, Recipes, growing fruit and vegetables, pictures of your meals out etc. As part of my drive to change my eating habits, lose weight and adopt a healthier lifestyle, I am experimenting with recipes outside my comfort zone. This week, I made a cake using oats as a... Continue Reading →
If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that I've lost 5.2kg since starting my diet on July 10th. However, I don't look any slimmer, and my clothes are still tight, which is disappointing, but my knees say 'thank you and keep going!' My BMI is currently 32.5, so yes, I hang my head in... Continue Reading →
The past couple of weeks have been hectic. Our family from France has been staying, so it was all hands on deck with shopping and preparation before they arrived and piles of laundry and sweeping sand from every nook and cranny once they left. Still, it keeps us fit, and spending time with them is... Continue Reading →
This week's coffee share comes from a cafe on the promenade overlooking Praia da Luz. As I sip on my coffee and stare out to sea across the beautiful sandy beach, I reflect on the last week. I can honestly say my days are never mundane; boredom does not feature in my vocabulary, and I... Continue Reading →
"How was your week?" Mine...? My sister and her hubby arrived on Tuesday to stay for a few days. She lives in Spain, and I've not seen her for two years. It was great to catch up, but I did feel sorry for them as I'm unable to walk far on a good day, but... Continue Reading →
Piglet in Portugal 