OK, a pitiful start to blogging i know! Pitiful considering i have been keeping a personal journal since i turned 11, at least, and surprising that i had not started a blog long ago. I have had a lovely week, doing nothing in particular. Which i like to think is well-deserved! I have not had a stick-to schedule, which certainly makes a nice change.

In my last post i promised i would share details on my juicing, which i did not actually get round to. I finished juicing Wednesday; so i juiced for 5days. Which is sure enough time to feel as clear-headed and vibrant as i do! Seriously, juicing is a huge step toward brilliant health, and fills you to the brim with love, life and clarity! I learned all about the powerful effects of juicing not so long ago, from a lovely lady Dawn Campbell of www.dawncampbellholistichealth.eu I enrolled myself on her new detox program, which i strongly recommend if you want to detox for the New year, or anytime of year for that matter.

I was ridiculously flexible with myself in terms of what to juice; meaning i threw what ever i fancied at the time into the blender! I use a base of cucumber and celery, for water and sodium. Almost every juice involved beetroot too, my organic veg box has an abundance of beetroot at the moment, not that i am complaining as i adore it, and as a result it shows up on either my plate or glass at the moment. A handful of greenery comes next, kale being my favourite, and again abundant at this time of year.
I have tried my hand juicing most things including brussel sprouts, all have been devoured in their entirety.

I don't use specific quantities either, i almost always have enough juice for 1 and a half very large wine glasses full. Yes, i drink juice in wine glasses, because i do not drink wine and something surely has to fill them.
Generally i use a handful or two of everything... I will be more accurate though and share with you my festive juice, which will be filling my wine glass on the big day instead of the red wine.

Revel in Red

1 large overflowing handful of kale; the darker the variety the better
3 medium sized beetroot
1 grapefruit
1/2 - 1  cucumber
2 apples
Knob of ginger ( if you fancy it)

I personally do not own a juicer, so i blend the above and squeeeeeeze through a nut mylk bag, a clean stocking, muslin cloth, or a fine sieve! Alternatively if you have a juicer you could use that (: 
If you have never juiced greens, be warned they are delicious in juice but very strong flavoured! 


I am going to be doing all of my Christmas Day preparation on Christmas Eve, which is going to be hectic, because i am planning on doing almost everything possible then. I have created my festive menu myself, so i will have details on how it went with my non-vegan, non-raw family which is surely the best feedback i can receive? I am going to be making my mum a raw carrot cake for Christmas, which is a recipe i have also made myself, complete with a cashew cream cheese icing! I am so excited to make it, and more so to taste! Carrot cake is her favourite, and on special occasions i always seek out a new carrot cake recipe and bake it for her, this year it will be unbaked, totally raw and i have created the recipe! Carrot cake was the only baked cake i have ever enjoyed, i detest the texture of sponge cake, so all carrot cakes i made were super moist with mounds of nuts and fruit. I will have photographs, and a recipe for it very soon, along with my 4 mushroom tart, creamy cabbage/ brussel sprouts, spiced red cabbage.All raw of course ;)

I am also putting up the Christmas tree on Christmas eve, and decking out the living room with handmade bunting and evergreens. So some Holly picking will have to be done eve morning. Yes, Christmas has arrived really rather late this year, and in my previous post i claimed not to have felt the Christmas vibe this year, tonight however, i am feeling frightfully festive and dare i say it looking forward to the crazy events to come. Perhaps it is because i have a delicious mug of hot chocolate, made with almond milk, raw cacao, agave nectar, and a blend of warming winter spices; cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, mace. I made the almond milk with lightly heated water, perfect to warm up my hands and my tummy and So delicious!

I have also just opened a huge bag of goodies from my Nana which of course, had to involve socks and books! My two brothers ( Lewis and Liam) and moi just could not wait any longer!So perhaps that is why i am feeling more Christmass-y, whatever it is it makes me feel childish and giddy.

Next time, i may have something more exciting to exert; hopefully some Christmas recipes and photographs.


Ciao for now!

Beginnings.

There are only 10 days until Christmas day, and whilst not in the 'festive' mood myself i can definitely feel it fast approaching. Most people will have already begun gorging themselves silly, on chocolates, mince pies, and other so-called goodies we associate with this time of year; most probably commencing December 1st with their chocolate advent calender. Majorly young children being the accused.

It is near impossible to shop without seeing reduced price offers on huge tins of chocolate and biscuits, and i imagine Christmas trees adorned with red/ white striped candy canes, homemade gingerbread men, and chocolate baubles! Come Christmas eve, children will leave mince pies, milk or whisky; depending on how jolly Father Christmas is feeling that evening. A tradition my family had when i was younger, was a visit to Mcdonalds for a happy meal as a rare 'treat' on Christmas Eve, and later followed by a selection of 'party food', warm sausage rolls, cocktails sausages, sweet treats, and goodness knows what else.

Christmas day morning, started early of course; usually before 6am, and would undoubtedly involve chocolate from our stockings for breakfast. Followed by 'who could eat the most skittles in one attempt,' something on my part, resulted in losing a tooth one year! Of course, more chocolate would be devoured throughout the day, as every member of my family would present us with yet another selection box, or chocolate Santa Claus! Christmas dinner would be mountainous, which of course had to be succeeded with dessert of some sort. Later more chocolate would be consumed, and probably some leftover Christmas lunch. The gluttony of the day, unsurprisingly leaving every body sluggish, lethargic, bloated and sickly. No one ever wants to see a brussel sprout again, nor do they want to eat another morsel of chocolate... That is until Boxing Day, when yesterdays events are repeated, this time with leftovers in turn a more relaxed atmosphere, as little cooking is done and we are still all more stuffed than the turkey was!

If the situation above sounds familiar, do not be alarmed. I imagine most families can relate to it. This year however, i am going to be having a health-filled Christmas, to beat the post Christmas blues. I have several reasons for this;

- This will be the very first Christmas i will be having totally animal produce free
-  My dinner will comprise of all raw and vegan yummies
- I want to be bursting with energy and positivity, and want to encourage others along the way
- I am tired of having a guilt-ridden Christmas

Despite being part of a nation, not wanting to be told to eat this or not eat that, i believe it is so important to make important decisions for your health. I am fairly new to raw and living foods, i first learned about the benefits in September, after a talk at a Greenpeace festival, with a new friend Jo, who has a fantastic raw cafe in Norwich suitably named The Nectar, if you are ever in the area be sure to visit, and sample the best cake you ever will!

I knew very little back then regarding raw foods for this vibrant health i know so much about now. Since then i have read bounds of literature and internet articles, and experienced said vibrancy first hand everyday since. I was Vegan for a few months before that, preparing all of my own food, as i am ever the enthusiast in the kitchen but the majority of my foods were cooked, even salads included cooked beans or grains. The latter of course is a great starting point for introducing raw foods into your life, eating half cooked food and half living foods, and helped my struggling transition. I had cravings for cooked food, at first but soon learnt it was mind over matter, and i really could do it! Now I want to spread the joy i have experienced from eating life-fueled food. To prove how delicious everything is, to prove eating chocolates should be guilt-free, and actually beneficial to your health, if the chocolate is made with lovely raw organic ingredients of course! 

So back to the subject of beginnings, to mark the celebration of my first blog post, i am going to be juice feasting starting tomorrow. I will share my daily routine, and i aim to inspire you to juice feast too to have a peaceful, energetic Christmas!

I will be sharing recipes, photographs, and lots of love shortly, and if anyone has any questions, please do not hesitate to leave a comment, and i will gratefully receive all and any email any one wishes to send to me; dickybirds@hotmail.co.uk

Until tomorrow

Wishing you health and happiness, 
Louise x x