read | the ten books challenge

Crappy iPhone picture... sorry!
Also - couldn't find all the books on my list
I am clearly less tidy than I thought...

The other day I was tagged in a Facebook post to list ten books that have stayed with me in some way.

So, naturally, I thought, why not make a blog post!

My ten books are probably not exactly what you would expect, but one thing is true - they have definitely stayed with me over the years!

OK... so let's kick it off!

1.  'The Rainbow' D H Lawrence
If you know me, then you'll know this is so obviously going to be my number one choice.

Basically, this book has informed my opinions on everything to do with religion and spirituality.  I actually cannot get enough of D H's (this is the way I refer to him in my head - it kills the magic when you realise his name was actually David Herbert) descriptions of nature.  His books and poetry have changed the way I look at the world.  He saw so much beauty and made it his mission to show us what he saw.  As you can see, my copy is very dog-eared.   I've read it a lot!


2.  'The Power' Rhonda Byrne
Many of you out there will turn your noses up at such 'self-help', but I actually found 'The Power' to be a really great help and a wonderful way to aspire to live your life.  It's basic mantra is that love is the all-powerful force of life.  Give out positivity through giving love, and you will recieve back positivity.  A great little read that reminds you that life is meant to be great and it is going to be great!


3.  'Far From the Madding Crowd' Thomas Hardy
My favourite Hardy novel!  Sadly, I couldn't find it!! We've been having a massive reshuffle at home, so most of our books are packed up in the garage.  But this book is such a lovely read.  It reminds me of all the wonderful parts of England.  I actually read it on a beach in Spain, and even though I was in a bikini and it was really hot, I was reading about a snowy field in the Dorset and I was there.  Totally transporting.

As a side note, Gabriel Oak is my classic hero of choice.  Can't be doing with all those moody Mr Rochester's and Mr Darcy's.  It's strong, straightforward, positive Mr Oak all the way.


4.  'New and Selected Poems' Mary Oliver
If you have never read any Mary Oliver, then I strongly urge you to do so.  She writes so very beautifully and touches what is real and true about life.  When you don't feel like trawling your way through something overtly complicated, or archaic, read Oliver.  When you feel like you need a pick-me-up, read Oliver.  When you feel so unbelievably confused about what the heck you're feeling, read Oliver.  She's like a soothing salve for the soul.

I'll give you a taster...

I don't know exactly what a prayer is.  
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down 
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass, 
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields, 
which is what I have been doing all day.  
Tell me, what else should I have done? 
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon? 
Tell me, what is it you plan to do 
with your one wild and precious life? 

'The Summer Day' Mary Oliver

Doesn't that last line just get you!? So direct.  What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?


5.  'Wise Children' Angela Carter
Probably one of the zanier books on here.  But I love it! I studied it as part of my A-Levels, and I loved it then.  It's incredibly life-affirming and confidence boosting.  Things are OK as they are - and you are OK as you are.  We've got to accept ourselves, love life, and really go out there and live it.  Things are going to go wrong - they inevitably do - but that's all part and parcel of this rich experience called life.  One refrain stuck with me especially: 'what a joy it is to dance and sing!'  Isn't she right?!!


6.  'It's All Good' Gwyneth Paltrow
I know this is a cookery book, but it was probably formative in showing me how to enjoy food and how to cook it for myself.  I thank you Ms Paltrow, for showing me that I can eat a peanut butter cookie, I can make a peanut butter cookie, and I can enjoy it.  Also, for showing me that that peanut butter cookie is actually good for me, and for my soul.  Thank you.


7.  'Noughts and Crosses' Malorie Blackman
This was a childhood classic for me.  Not sure how many times I read this series through! I remember being totally obsessed with it.  It's your classic Romeo & Juliet tale, but with added spunk and lots of relevant issues like race relations and terrorism.  Absolutely great story!


8.  'Romeo & Juliet' Shakey 
Yes, I do have a nickname for Shakespeare.  I am an English student at heart! I studied this for my GCSE's.  Just at that age when you are pining for your own Romeo.  There are passages of such great beauty in this play, and the emotion is so very vivid.  How could you not love it?  I remember at one point I think I pretty much knew the entire play off by heart as I had read it so much.  At the end of the course we watched the Leonardo di Caprio version of it, and after that my fate was sealed.  It's great!


9.  'Little Women' Louisa M Alcott
Another childhood classic for me.  I loved Jo so much, and really wanted to be her.  But I knew that on the surface people would never think I was like her.  A classic case of having all this 'you' underneath, but everyone having a separate picture of 'you' that you feel you need to conform to.  

The book has also got some great messages in it about family and life.  I remember reading it several times and trying so hard to get those messages into my life.


10.  ????
And then I was stuck! There are so many more books I have read, but none that take a place in my memory as much as these.  I was dabbling over 'Rebecca' by Daphne du Maurier, and 'Eat Pray Love' by Elizabeth Gilbert... and then there were several more.  But I guess I will have to keep this one open, for whatever new and exciting books I will read in the future!


What are your top ten reads?

Enjoy today
- rosinaviolets    x

[Emily!]

make | zippy maca bars

Happy Wednesday afternoon everyone!

And so, here is our first make post after our hiatus! I warmly introduce you to my friend, maca.

What is maca?

Maca is a plant grown in South America.  It looks a bit like a turnip (it's related to turnips and radishes), and in South American countries it has been eaten as a vegetable for years.  In fact, it was eaten by the Incas before they went into battle to give them strength and endurance.  That's why these bars are 'zippy' - they'll give you lots of energy! 

Is maca good for me?

Maca's nutritional value is super high.  It's got a great mix of carbohydrates and protein which are responsible for that go-getting energy! It's super rich in calcium (for your bones) & potassium (to break down and use your carbohydrates and make muscle).  It's got good levels of iron (for your blood), zinc (great for anyone young who's growing, for fertility and for the immune system) & manganese (to break down and use your fats and carbohydrates & to help the body make hormones).  

Even more than this, maca has loads of different amino acids (proteins) which contribute to it's biggest and most widely known health benefit - it's fantastic for balancing your hormones.  If you suffer from PMS or zits then try introducing a little maca into your diet. It's important to go slow at first, if you suddenly add tablespoons of maca into your diet your hormones won't know what's hit them! But if you add a teaspoon into your porridge, or use it to make these bars you'll have loads of energy and feel really balanced.  

But what does it taste like?

I personally love the taste of maca, so I guess I am biased.  It took Mum and Sarah a little more getting used to, but everyone agrees that it's got a kind of burnt-caramel-like taste.  It's definitely sweet - you wouldn't want to put it in anything savoury.  But there's also a slightly acidic twang to it too.  Almost gingery? 

In these bars, the maca just enhances the gorgeous caramel flavour of the dates and adds a little spiciness.  Honestly delicious :) 

How much does it cost?

Maca isn't really cheap - I won't lie.  But I think in light of all that's happened, my outlook is now to save money on things that don't matter so much.  Food matters.  What you eat is going directly into your body - why skimp on that? 

Maca can be bought in good health food shops, or you can get it on the internet for around £10, but you can scout around for the best deal! 

So what about these bars, then?

Yes, on to the recipe! 

These bars are fudgy, caramelly, nutty, and satisfying (yet moreish!) 

What's more they are SO easy to make.  They only have 4 ingredients (or 3 if you don't use maca)! There's no excuse not to try them - right? 

You'll know with every bite your getting lots of long lasting energy, fibre and lots of nutrients.  Happy faces all round.  

Even if you don't want to buy maca, please do try these bars without it - they still taste good! Maybe add a little cinnamon?  

Enjoy today!    

- rosinaviolets    x 

Zippy Maca Bars

Makes about 16 bars 

- 2 cups oats 

- 2 cups dates (use either medjool dates, or soak normal pitted dates in some boiling water for 20 minutes before you use them) 

- 1 cup walnuts 

- 2 dessert spoons maca powder 

- enough water to bind it all together 

This recipe is seriously so easy... all you have to do is: 

• Preheat your oven to 180C

• Get a food processor out and whizz the walnuts until they're finely broken up.  

• Get out your blender and whizz the dates to make a smooth paste.  

• Put the dates and the walnuts into a bowl.  Add the oats.  

• Add the two spoons of maca powder.  

• Mix it up! Add enough water to make it all stick together nicely.  

• Line a square brownie pan with baking paper. (We use one that's about 8in x 8in).  Squash the mixture into the tin and pack it down.  I used a fork (that's why you can see the striations on my bars!)  Put the whole lot into the oven for about 25 minutes - but watch it so it doesn't burn.

 

• When it's done, leave it to cool for a bit in the tin, then turn it out onto a rack to cool completely before cutting into bars - have them whatever size takes your fancy! We went for 16.  

• Enjoy that zippy energy!! 

live | and... we're back!

So, it's been a long couple of months, and no posts! I think we need to explain ourselves...

Let's rewind, back to the end of June.  I had just finished my last Law exam (thank GOODNESS for that), and I was sitting in the atrium of the ExCel Centre in London eating my lunch and poring over my new copy of The Desire Map (an amazing workbook, by the way - highly recommended).  I was ready to start my new life, free from the demands of Uni.  When I got home later that day, though, things had become a lot more complicated.

Our Dad had just been taken into hospital, quite urgently it seemed.  We went up there to see him, and I started thinking something was afoot when he was in a special ward and although he was in an NHS hospital, he had a whole room to himself.

It took a little over a week for us to find out what was wrong.  I think, with hindsight, the not-knowing was worse than the knowing.  It's horrific to know that there's something big and something bad but you don't know what it is.  He had been diagnosed with AML - a type of leukemia.

I realise, this is quite a bombshell to drop out there into the blogosphere.  I also realise our vision for this blog is for it to be uplifting, vibrant and fun.  That's why we've left it until now to start writing again.  We needed to take a little break to get ourselves back on track, and now that we've done that, we're ready to get going again and start writing about all the new things we have been learning about.

A diagnosis of cancer is completely and utterly terrifying.  But, it can also be an opportunity to take stock and remember what's important.  Dad is doing well in hospital at the moment.  He's really positive, and so are we.  I know that this event has got me thinking about all the bigger things in life.  It's got me really examining all my excuses for not doing things.  I know I can always cite a million reasons not to do something: I'm too tired, I've not got enough time, I haven't got enough money, I'm not pretty enough etc etc. But what's happened since June is that I've started noticing when I'm giving those excuses and then trying my hardest to realise that they're not real.  We've got to do the things we want and need to do.  Don't let the excuses get in the way.

We're going to use the blog to share with you all the interesting things we learn on this journey.  We've already learned lots about nutrition (something that's really important for sufferers of AML).  We're learning more about holistic wellbeing too - Western medicine is great but there is a lot to be said about other forms of healing in conjunction with it.  We're also continuing to learn lots of great non-health related stuff too.  Sarah's investigating History of Art for her Uni course, and I am investigating several different avenues for my post-Uni job / further study.  So we will keep ploughing onwards, keeping the creativity and ideas flowing and staying strong and positive.  There's lots to be done!

Kind of unrelated photo... but here are my friends
and I at our Graduation Ceremony :)