One of the challenges in our 28 day wellbeing calendar is to read. I used to think that having the time to pick up a book and actually read was a luxury. Something that I saved for a holiday, or Christmas time when work was quiet. I no longer see reading as a luxury, it’s a daily priority and part of my wellbeing.
We love puddings here at The Zest Life, and this delicious vegan baked cheesecake really hits the spot with a ground almond base and a cashew and tofu filling. Serve with a homemade fresh fruit couli and you have a dessert that’s healthy and scrumptious!
February, the month of love. Yes it is often associated with the romantic commercial type of love but for me this month is a beautiful reminder of my love for nature. I have often wondered where and when this love was sparked. I know that this love is vital to me and I have a huge appreciation for the seasons, as honouring them and learning from their overcharging flow has been a massive part of my healing journey.
I grew up on a farm, surrounded by beautiful hills here in Wales. We had the joy of living next to my grandparents and my grandfather Baba, was a farmer. I have fond memories of him and his sheepdogs working the land and the livestock.
Finding space in your space – 10 tips for how to store your Christmas decorations
One of my favourite days in the year is the day we (I) take down Christmas decorations. Don’t get me wrong I love Christmas and making it special for the children is such a joy but I am really not a huge fan of all the stuff. Christmas and a more minimal way of life don’t really go together, so I do find having all the decorations up quite a challenge. Especially when the children want them up so early, I hold out until December but even then it seems a long time to have a large tree in you front room.
I was chatting with a friend the other day about the shift that we all take into Winter. She commented on how it had taken longer this year to get there, to that place of acceptance and joy of the Winter months.
I was relieved to hear this as I too have found this year’s winter transition a struggle.
I think the incredibly mild October we had was partly to blame and the last retreat we did mid-November was so warm and I remember thinking I wished I’d packed shorts! But thank goodness as we move into December it has now turned cold.
Let’s face it, we all spend too much time on our phones. They beg for attention with notifications and pop-ups. All it takes is for your hand to drift towards your phone, and then minutes (or even hours!) later. you find that you’ve been doom scrolling through Tik Tok or, Instagram.
Research shows that excessive mobile phone use can have negative effects on our mental health. It can affect your sleeping habits, your social life, and lower your self-esteem. It’s time we all set boundaries!
As it’s the season to be jolly, we thought we’d share a recipe for one of our favourite things to have with a cup of tea, Millionaire Slice.
This recipe is vegan, doesn’t have any added sugar, and is super easy to make – but it still takes like a festive snack that will win you all the points!
I don’t know about you, but the pressure that this time of year brings starts to fill me with dread. Why is there this need to book exciting events with the children, plan family outings, parties with colleagues, shopping days out with friends, hair appointments… the list goes on. It literally makes me want to run away and hide. Do you feel the same?
It’s almost as if our success and happiness is based on how busy we are and the navigation of the festive season seems to be the ultimate symbol of how well we are coping at life. (more…)
This delicious raw sushi and sunflower pate comes from our Lakes chef, Kelly Mason.
Sushi at home may seem a little daunting, but you soon get the hang of it after a few times, and this recipe really is worth practicing for.
It’s a light yet filling lunch – and is packed with flavour!
I find his time of year to be such a contradiction. The season of Autumn shows us, quite literally, that it’s alright to let go. Nature’s energy starts to slow down and turn inward. So why is it then, that we look outwards with this idea of needing and wanting more? Halloween, Black Friday (week!) Christmas; all these events are designed to draw us towards feelings of lack and not being enough, so that we in turn spend more, buy more and do more. It’s those qualities that actually lead us to feel less than when we started and it culminates in us being on a never-ending quest in search of fulfilment. Nature is simple and steers her attention inward, so why don’t we look to the simple things?
