As I come to a wrap of my final week before the "final" semester of my 4 year journey to my honours degree, *okay am getting very emotional at the mention of this, tears building up and emotions going on a whirl* Wondering if I should go on with today's post even, because I seem to have opened a door I didn't mean to. hmmm!??
<BIG SIGH>
You know what? I will just go on with it. This blog is a very personal one to me. Like I said when I started it, was meant to serve as an auto-biography of my mommy's precious lil' girl, that was fearfully and wonderfully made and brought to this world one beautiful early morning, in the mid October of the late 80's. One, as a gift and also for a purpose that I am on the quest to discover and live to the fullest. This colourful auto-bio, though the main focus, will sure have 4 different main approaches, just to remind you, Exterior, Interior, Fashion and Cuisine(food).
It is for this reason that am drawn back to where I am coming from and now feeling I ought take a lil' moment instantly, to thank my Lord for seeing me through so many years and situations and filling my life with sooo much purpose. I can't deal with how great his grace has been upon my life.
*on repeat this instance as I write this is ~ I will praise him ~ Joyous Celebration 15*
He has been sooo good to me and my life as a whole is a testimony of his faithfulness. I am who I am now, because of his love and grace in abundance. whomever wrote "you can take my PRAISE away, but you can't my GRACE away" was soooo spot on. I love colour, yes I do. I seem to be finding my course towards my purpose through my interaction with colour and you know what? I never consciously thought about it until right about now that the author of colour, yes, theee perfect author himself, is on my team. He is my author as well and carefully embedded this colourful extra sense in me for a purpose. Thank you Jesus..!
Have you been through an emotional roller coaster in your life? Have you experienced his grace? Do you have something to be thankful for? If you answered yes to the last question, do you feel like you will do it later? We always procastinate our praise and gratitude, but Now is always the best time. Just take a moment and say thank you to whomever you think is worthy of it this instance.
Maybe you are also reading this and thinking what is this grace Nitos is going on about, or wishing for an experience too. It's right there in front of you and all around and not rocket science. God loves us all, it's actually a given that everywhere we go his love is all around, and also that his grace is sufficient and already upon your life, yes you, infact, all our lives. Just take a moment to thank him and make an attempt to relate back with him.
Now back to the post which has turned out to be very long now. Bear with me please, I just had to. 2012 is MY YEAR of TESTIMONIES. A year of change, plenty-a-changes. A year of Action. A year to love. A year to live life without regrets and to the fullest. Ever since I took up on this self impossed challenge, I feel fullfilled more and more, with each passing day.
This week marks the start of a new chapter, where I have been making changes in the kitchen. I have always loved food presentation and been food informed. I know most of the do's and don'ts, but for years I lacked discipline and consistency in that area. This year, as I get organised and purpose driven with my food, I used my eye and attachment for colour in the kitchen. So I "spring cleaned" my eating habits (yes, one other reason was to shed a few christmas extras. I mean, I did mention before in an earlier post right in here that if you don't like sumn, then do sumn 'bout it) mainly to create a lifestyle I want to teach my kids when they join in the family(I believe in planning ahead to stay on top of your game and stand a chance to be less disappointed and arrested by situations).
Gosh the way I hated veggies over the years right through from childhood, I never thought they could have ever tasted any tastier than this week. So I kept a record of my meals for the past 5 days. Unfortunately I have no clue what happened to the pics for day 2 :-( but here goes.
Day 1
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| Went swimming after my gym session that day so yes my hunger and my meat lover craving levels were honkers on me so had alil more than enough protein, hence the wing. Ideally since this was a chicken wrap there wouldnt be any side serving of proteins. Everything in moderation is key. |
Day 2
Unfortunately like I already mentioned I cannot find the pictures, but on the dinner table was:
1.pasta tuna salad
2. roasted mixed vegetables
3. boiled egg salad
4. Fish cake - very small portion
Day 3
Day4
The most colourfully brilliant of the days. A quick 20 minutes tops preparation, that is quite the sight for sore eyes. It turned out tastier and better than I imagined it would and it was simply as a result of multiple ingridients craving.
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| So it all began when the whole day I had been craving for eggs but I was also tryin to stay disciplined to the plan that I eat a full meal only for dinner, which my partner in crime DK, bless her, *you will meet her soon* always makes sure am reminded of *smiles*. So I guess you will understand why I was excited when dinner time came by, but because my protein plan this week was strictly fish and chicken breast, I decided to do an egg and fish omlet, to satisfy my craving that is, and remain faithful to my week plan of course. You ought to try this 1. Very very yummy even for the not soo big on fish individuals. |
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| Ready made, Mediterranean herb Tortilla wrap |
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| Lettuce with fresh squezed lime juice-added great flavour and aroma |
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| I am in love with the colours. You'd be shocking if you don't like this atleast |
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| Yummy wrap |
Day5
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| Herbal tea without sugar and a dash of fresh lemon juice..the life I once termed "eeew" but am now beginning to think green teas are not so bad after all. Oh don't you just love my cup as well? |
Oh by the way, because of my current eating plan with intent of shedding a few kilos I only prepare a full meal for dinner (all the above meals are dinner) and have a fresh fruit shake for breakfast and Lunch. Not forgetting Plenty of water throughout the day too.
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| Today's was a hand blended vanilla and kiwi shake. I should be able to explore more with fruits and other ingridients once I get myself a blender or food processor *frendship random gift hint* hahaha |
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| I guess I love me some kiwi. If you're observant you would've noticed it featured twice this week |
Finally now that am out experiencing with food. A hobby my precious hubb and the fam' and frends we frequently have over should hopefully be very glad I tumbled upon :-) I have one more thing on my wish list.... Someone? Anyone? .........sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeety...............?
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| This 288 page book by Tilson has been labelled a rare find and just from a preview into it, that I had the other day, it might just be that missing ingridient in my kitchen, to broaden my scope and trial new approaches. Image via jaketilson.com | |
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All this talk 'bout food matters got me missing the dinner nights at ours, that my husband and I used to host for our fam' and close friends, the few months just before I came back to Uni.* Sniff* 2011 was also such a great year waitse *humbled*.
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| Was not in the habit of photo capturing most moments then, but found yo'll some few pics from when we had both our parents over for dinner at ours, for the 1st time after we got married. I recall I was very tired from work and had to come rushing through the traffic hours in time to prepare dinner from scratch as we couldn't all get together on an weekend then |
The longest post ever I hope *hides* but was worth the change in focus along the way. Happy viewing
Tip from self: Plan all your meals and don't eat only because you are hungry, rather eat intentionally and in moderation and make the meal as colourful as you possibly can (natural colour, the best, and easy to achieve with fruits and veggies). Finally know that "if you feel you are thirsty it's because you are dehydrated" ~ Captain Cooke
