Not that I wasn’t before, but it will all make sense shortly.
Ok…let me explain, I have been really caught up with events and my attention to this blog has slacked big time. I have a very good excuse though and I hope you will all forgive me.
Well, since my last blog post, I have gone and graduated, with honours, from University. I even did a whole vlog about it and in case you missed it…here it is:
So, I am forgiven, right?
I have been busy preparing for life after university and adulting, that this blog had to take a back burner for a while. I am back though and I will try as much as possible to keep you lot updated.
So yeah, my graduation happened and as a present to myself, I went away (without the kids) to visit my family in Poland (vlog on this coming soon). It was a much-deserved break after slogging away in Uni for the better part of 5 years. I am now back and ready to hustle.
Going to university was not a decision I made lightly especially when trying to be a wife and mother, it can get really tough. How I managed to get through it all, only God knows, as I was on the verge of quitting a few times. I wrote about joining hereand the lessons I learnt here.
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” – Benjamin Franklin
So there you have it, folks, I am now officially a Photographer and it’s on paper. I am super proud of myself for seeing this part of my journey through despite the ups and downs.
DISCLAIMER: This is my personal review of the Simple Green Smoothie Spring Cleanse aka Fresh Start Spring Cleanse 2017. Some of the words used here are from SGS to guide the cleansers (like me) write a personal experience on doing cleanse.
In My Own Words
I have been following Simple Green Smoothies since 2015 when I was looking for ways of improving my diet after having my second child and also introducing vegetables into my kid’s diets. After doing a few internet searches, I found Simple Green Smoothies. As much as they are based in the US and I live in England, that did not matter as I like how SIMPLE their recipes and guides to a healthy you are. It so happened that when I signed up for their newsletter, they were about to start their 30-Day Smoothie Challenge in October 2015 and I knew that would be the start of an interesting journey when it comes to healthy eating.
Well, that is a story for another day.
Fast forward to 2017, here I am looking for a way to get my healthy eating habits back on track and I get a newsletter from SGS about the Spring Cleanse. I have seen them do a cleanse pack before, but I was so reluctant to try as I was so busy with my studies, running a household and just trying to stay on top of things. Now that I have more or less finished my degree, I decided that the timing, although not perfect, was as good as any. So I took the plunge and signed up for the Fresh Start Spring Cleanse aka #FS21. The cleanse was a 21-Day programme from 3 – 23 April 2017, but you can still join the cleanse and start when you are ready. The disadvantage with that is that you will not be part of the Facebook Group that was created for the cleanse as it helps with getting support from other people trying the cleanse. My opinion would be to wait for the next cleanse as you would definitely benefit from having that moral support from other cleansers. The temptation to fall off the wagon is great and seeing that you are not the only one struggling when temptation rears its ugly head can be a relief.
Smoothie Fruit Packs
Carrot Cake Warrior Bars
Herbalicious Hummus with Veggies
Groceries
Mixed Greens with Strawberry Herb Dressing
So, for me, the best way to give my review of the cleanse was to do a video diary. Just me talking about how I feel whilst doing the cleanse, the recipes that I liked and didn’t like and the lessons I have learnt along the way.
Carrot Pineapple Green Smoothie
Black Bean Zucchini Tacos
White Bean Chard Skillet
Apple Cucumber Mint Green Smoothie
Baked Hash Cakes with Peas
Apologies for the long review. Also, some part of the edit the audio does not sync with the video and I could not fix it. So, for that, I am sorry!🙈
Towards the end, I did the following as per SGS’s questions for the review:
The Intro – Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? (ex: where you live, family, job, kids, pets, passions, dream vacation, anything that excites you really )
My Hesitations – What hesitations did you have about buying Fresh Start?
Favourites from the Cleanse – What was your favourite part about the cleanse?
Recommendations – If you had a friend who’s not sure if they should do Fresh Start, what would you tell ’em?
Veggie Pizza with Quinoa Crust
Asparagus Quinoa Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette
Cream Machine Smoothie
Carrot Cake Warrior Bars with Herbal Tea
Indian Coconut Curry with Brown Rice
In the words of Simple Green Smoothies
Fresh Start (spring) is a 21-day cleanse created by Simple Green Smoothies. This positive transformation program is for you IF…
• You’re ready to stop making excuses and take charge of your health.
• You want to feel energised, confident and well rested, so you can feel amazing in your body.
• You’re willing to skip highly processed ingredients and empty calorie meals.
• You believe health is a journey and you’re looking for a system that you can stick to without feeling deprived.
• You’re willing to invest a little extra time in the kitchen, knowing that healthy and nutritious meals take some extra lovin’ in the oven (no more “cooking is a chore” excuses).
• You’re excited to get out of your comfort zone (trying new foods, resisting temptations, giving up caffeine and alcohol).
This year, I decided that I would spend it in Paris.
So here is the thing, I am a fan of Rugby and particularly, Rugby 7s. So around my birthday, the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series final two legs (Paris and London 2017) happen in May right around my birthday. Last year, two things did not allow me to travel to Paris.
One – my visa expired the weekend before.
Two – I had deadlines.
So, I vowed to myself, that the following year, come rain or shine, I will find myself in Paris and here we are. A year later and I got to celebrate my birthday in Paris doing what I love most, travelling, photography and rugby.
This goes to show, with determination, you can make things happen.
Whenever I could, I documented my experience as a TWO-PART vlog for my YouTube channel.
My latest vlog sees me attend an Intellectual Property Law Workshop at the Travers Smith LLC offices as part of the CSR Art Programme.
Last year, during the degree show, my “Women in Sports” project was selected to be part of the programme as it helps us, as students, to transition from studying to the real world. When it comes to creative degrees, there is a huge gap when it comes to learning/knowing your rights as an artist and how to run yourself as a business/brand. This is where the lucky few who are picked to be in the programme get to learn about from professionals on the field, while at the same time, have their artwork displayed in the offices for the academic year.
