EASY + DELICIOUS AVOCADO PIZZA

For all those having a pizza-craving-messy-bun-all-I-want-to-do-is-nothing day:

Let's turn your day into something special by including pizza (and in the meantime, crosssing a few items off your to-do list).  

The next time you're looking for an easy, delicious and healthy meal, go no further than to try this recipe: it's good.  It's yummy.   And for goodness sake - it's PIZZA. (A not-quite-round/modified/simplified/lazy version but pizza nonetheless)

It's this simple: take two slices bread, slap on tomato sauce, herbs, garlic, carrot, mashed sweet potato, spinach, avocado (the best & most delicious element in my opinion), sliced tomato and a pinch of salt and pepper and put it in the oven until it looks crispy and delicious enough to eat.  Perhaps you'd like to include cheese, unless you're plant-based like I am currently :)  

While the pizza is in the oven, pull your hair into a neat bun, slip on a favourite outfit then much on this delicious pizza and turn your day into something special. 

 Hope your week has been running along fabulously.   My week has thus far been far from easy and enjoyable: motivating myself to get work done has been difficult - an incredible amount of self-motivation and utter determination is required to study full time online and run a business.  But at the same time, I love what I do - it's simply a matter of pushing through the thick and the thin just with just as much determination and force as when I'm doing what I love.

Time to switch productivity up a notch and make that pizza I suppose. ;)

What is your go-to easy lunch or dinner?

xxx 

Craving simplicity

1. the way the light falls into my bedroom 

2. at the kitchen sink 

3. portrait of a lemon

4. yellow & film 

5. dancing forever - from a photo session today 

6. drips of colour

And yet again, I hit the break in the middle of the highway - seat belt locking fast and firm and my car, my life, my mind jolting to a stop.  I pull open my laptop screen and browse, browse, browse - in a constant flux of procrastination, my eyes search for more and yet all I want is less, to simplify, to declutter, to empty.  But I crave more?  I crave the ability to take better photos?  I crave collaborations?  I crave success.  When, oh when, I ask myself will I learn that the journey is the destination - that, except heaven, there is no glimmering, glistening, perfect life.   To stop comparing and start doing -- that is the ultimate destination.  To live simply and wholly and breathe today's air as if it were our last breath on earth.

Forever craving simplicity, normalcy and ease and yet?  I have it here.  Right now.  I own my life (and you own yours) and the choice is ours.  Let go.  Release.  Push away the blogs, books and social media accounts that tell you 'less is more' because without them is less.  Seek less, seek Him.

Have you been craving simplicity and ease amidst a storm?

x

5 TIPS FOR BETTER SLEEP

A good sleep is crucial to waking up refreshed and energetic in the morning.  That's why I'm excited to share with you my top five tips for better sleep.  I hope these tips help you as much as they have benefited me!

5  T I P S  F O R  B E T T E R  S L E E P

1. Darkness

 High melatonin levels stimulate sleep and melatonin secretion increases in the dark.  Switching off electronics, turning off the lights, or closing your eyes will enhance the production of melatonin and help you fall asleep quickly. Can't wind down without a light?  Try lighting a few candles or using dim lighting before or as you prepare to go to bed.

2.  Stretch

I highly recommend this post if you're looking for a few movements or poses to do before bedtime.   One of my favourite calming poses is lying on the ground or my bed with my legs up against the wall.  Another relaxing way to wind down is with a bedtime yoga routine.

3. Breathe 

The 4-7-8 breathing technique makes me drift off to sleep every time I use it! Breathe in for 4 seconds, hold your breath for 7 seconds, breathe out for 8 seconds.  I increase the amount of time I breathe in, hold for and breathe out every time (5-8-9, 6-9-,10, etc).  Most often, I've fallen asleep within five minutes!  I highly recommend reading this related article on the 4-7-8 technique. 

4.  Think Pure

Wash away the thoughts of the day.  Forget your to-do list, your emails, your Facebook notifications, the text messages and the dishes in the sink.  Perhaps even visually imagine all of your worries 'falling' off your soul as you stretch.  Pray.  Meditate.  Read the Bible.  Read a favourite book or magazine.  

5. Prep

I feel at peace and sleep more deeply when I am adequately prepared for the next morning and day. Plan ahead what you'll have for breakfast (perhaps you could prepare a pancake batter and refrigerate to fry the morning after!).  Pick your outfit for the day.  Pack your bag or clean out your purse.  Tidy your desk.  I often write a to-do list for the next before hopping into bed, so that last minute 'Oh I forgot to --!' doesn't come to mind. 

What do you do to ensure a good and restful night's sleep? xx

THE BEST SPAGETTI TABOULI

In Genesis 1:29, God gave Adam and Eve "every seed-bearing plant all over the earth and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit" to be their food.  Our bodies were designed for plant-based foods - that's one of the reasons I've decided to try veganism, a diet without animal products.  I'm excited to announce that for at least one week I will be vegan and will document and share my journey with you!

 I made a big bowl of tabouli on Sunday night and popped it in the refrigerator for the week to come. On Monday I topped my refrigerated tabouli on steaming spaghetti noodles.  Quite possibly the most refreshing and delicious spaghetti I have ever had, Tabolui-topped-spaghetti is a tantalising and fresh spring or summer lunch!   

I followed a delicious recipe from here: 

THE BEST TABOUlI 

2 cups fine bulgar

2 cups boiling water

1 bunch green onion

1 medium onion

1 bunch parsley, stems removed, chopped finely

1 bunch fresh mint leaves, chopped finely

2 large tomatoes, chopped. 

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup red wine vinegar (I used freshly squeezed lemon juice instead!)

salt and paper

dash of cayenne pepper (optional) 

Place bulgur in a large mixing bowl. Cover with boiling water and let stand 5 to 10 minutes, then fluff grains with a wooden spoon.

1. Add onions, parsley, mint, and tomatoes to the bulgar and mix.

Add the rest of the ingredients one at a time, mixing well.  Refrigerate and toss before serving. 

NUTRITION: Parsley is an excellent source of iron; the Vitamin C in lemon juice heightens the absorption of iron.  Olive oil is great for your skin and an excellent source of Vitamin E, A, and essential fatty acids (Omega 3 and 6).

What is your favourite meal? xx

morning muesli

Hellooo new series! 'Fresh breakfasts', in which I (hopefully!) inspire you to create and eat delicious and very nutritious breakfasts. 

This delicious breakfast leaves me energised and refreshed, ready to face a busy week!  

Add:

1/2 cup plain/greek yogurt

1/4 cup almond or dairy milk

1/3 cup oats

1 chopped nectarine

1 sliced banana 

(alternatively use fruits and/or berries of your choice)

Drizzle 1 teaspoon of honey on top and coat with 1 tablespoon of chia seeds (chia seeds are a complete protein, which are essential for healthy hair, nails and skin - they’re amazing source of calcium, zinc and Omega 3!).  To accompany, sip a steaming cup of hot water with lemon juice - a refreshing and tangy start to your day. 

Enjoy! x

THE BE PROJECT, V.3

Healthy living is an easy blend of simple living and healthy choices.  I’ve mentioned simple living; I see ‘healthy choices’ as choosing nuts, kale, avocado and milk over chocolate, chips, pizza, and Sprite.  In other words: choosing nutrition — a need  — over ‘junk’ — a want and keeping a balance between the two; sure, indulge in pizza and coke on weekends but let’s not splurge on our favourite junk foods on a daily basis.

A healthy lifestyle is an active one. Choosing to shut off your computer, jump up from your chair, open the front door and step outside can be difficult; beginning a task is often the hardest part.  Go crazy and just do it -- go on a walk, do fifty jumping jacks, run around with kids, take breaks in between sitting down.

While healthy thing living may be ideal, it is essential to put living, exercising, and eating into perspective.  Maintain balance and perspective when you eat; savour life and the food you eat -- be it sweet and sugary (think cinnamon rolls!) or plain and nutritious (think spinach).    

Be intentional.  Know what you're eating and what it is good for (eggs and nuts are a source of protein, spinach a source of iron, and so on). Buy good food, make good food, and most likely you'll eat good food.  It is equally important to be intentional in what you listen to, read, wear and how you act.  Classical music (as well as music in general) stimulates the mind.  Reading literature that encourages you to think critically benefits your mental health!  Even clothing has psychological effects. Clearly, how you act toward, judge and love others is crucial to living a healthy life. 

Get to the root of the issue.

  What is stopping you from eating healthy?  What is it that makes you want junk food?  Stress? Shopping habits?  Worries? Obligations?  Get rid of them! 

Maintain reasonable goals

...for instance, why not try cooking something different and healthy, eating fried egg for breakfast, and working out for 7 minutes?

 Get a friend to shop for you or try online shopping

Give your simple, healthy shopping list to a friend so that you can resist the temptation of a dark chocolate Cadbury bar sitting at the end of the aisle. Online shopping is a great alternative to shopping in person -- and it's a better way to resist picking up items of food you really don't need. 

Buy or borrow a good cookbook. 

Look for a cookbook without a million foreign ingredients you don’t have or haven’t heard of.  Libraries have cookbooks, too!  Or start an email or Facebook chain where you tag friends and share your favourite recipes.  Ask a parent or relative for a few of their healthy favourites.  

Go natural... and cheap.

 Companies earn billions of dollars each year when people like you and I buy their beauty products.  Do we really need the latest (and apparently greatest) cleanser or face moisturiser?  I replaced cleanser for Dove soap and moisturiser for Virgin Coconut Oil.  Dove soap cleared up some of the small bumps (milia) on my forehead.  Coconut oil de-frizzed my hair and my legs felt so soft.  Also, drinking more water (8 or so cups a day) made my skin noticeably clearer. 

greek yogurt + bananas topped with some (unhealthy?) chocolate.  it's all about balance. 

Do you have any healthy routines or habits?  I'd love to hear from you!
xx Acacia


You can view previous BE project posts here

eat sleep create, v 11

Here's to doing something different for my eatsleepcreate project -- making something sweet and tasty rather than creating something crafty!   It's not always easy to make and eat something that is both deliciously sweet and healthy but this simple little snack of mine does the trick.  Bon appetite!

y o u ' l l  n e e d 

5 minutes to prepare 

3/4 cup of yogurt 

half a banana

a bar of chocolate

honey or syrup of your choice

MIX 

plain yogurt with honey in a small cup or jug.

ADD

 raisins, almonds, walnuts, sprinkles, (whatever pleases your fancy) to the mixture.

TOP

Slice the bananas and layer on top.  

Grate chocolate and sprinkle.

Drizzle with maple syrup (or syrup of your choice) 

enjoy. 

I'd love to know -- what is your favourite snack?