Recently the kind people at Kiss Me Organics sent me a bag of their organic matcha green tea powder to try:

 

I am a huge fan of matcha but haven’t ever made anything with it (other than tea) at home. In the past I have found good quality matcha to be really expensive and I haven’t been willing to use large amounts of it to bake, etc. This matcha is more affordable ($25 for 4 ounces on Amazon with free shipping for Prime members), so it is a better choice if you want to experiment a little!

First, I made a matcha latte:

I started with 1 teaspoon of matcha in my bowl...





…I added 1/4 cup of water (hot but NOT boiling- boiling water makes bitter matcha!) and whisked it until it was frothy...





…then I added about 1/2 cup of hot vanilla almond milk and a tiny bit of raw honey.

So good!

(Note: my milk frother did not create foam with the almond milk that I used. If you’re a big fan of the foam, soy or dairy milk may work better for you).



Next creation: matcha mint soft serve!

Several years ago there was a restaurant in my city that had a matcha mint blended drink on the menu. Of all of the wonderful things in their restaurant, that is the one that I miss the most since they closed! Using that idea as inspiration, I made some matcha mint soft serve.

(Recipe: Process 1 frozen banana, 3 large dollops of plain yogurt or a splash of milk, a dash of vanilla or vanilla flavored Stevia, 3-4 fresh mint leaves, and 1 teaspoon of matcha in the food processor until it is the consistency of soft serve ice cream. Serve topped with raw cacao nibs for extra yum!)



Thank you to Kiss Me Organics for the chance to review this matcha. I am looking forward to trying some new recipes- maybe some cupcakes next!

*Legal stuff: I received a free package of this match for review purposes. I was not compensated in any other way for this post.

Thank you so much for following through the winter with The Winter Project!
(What is The Winter Project?)

Through this project, I shared insight into my strategy for staying happy and healthy through the year's darkest and coldest season. I also offered challenges to help you begin to build tools for nurturing yourself through challenging times.

Below is a summary of The Winter Project challenges by week. Though longer days and warmer weather are just around the corner, I urge you to continue building and using the bag of tricks you have created this winter. The most powerful tools for me are the basics: adequate sleep, regular exercise, sunlight, and healthy food. From there, I know that spending good, quality time connecting with people and activities that I enjoy will keep me buoyant.

Summary of The Winter Project challenges by week:

Thank you again for following this project. I would love to hear about your survival skills, struggles, and successes in the comments or by email (you can reach me at getnatured@gmail.com). Feel free to reach out any time!

Don’t miss out! If you haven’t subscribed yet, sign up today to receive free Get Natured updates so you won’t miss any future posts. Thank you for reading! xoxo

Other ways to follow along:
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*Important note: I am not a licensed mental health professional. This advice is not intended to take the place of therapy or medications. Please seek professional care if you are suffering from depression or anxiety symptoms.

Welcome to week 13 of The Winter Project!
(What is The Winter Project?)

Winter play: Soak up some sunshine!

In this final week of The Winter Project, I encourage you to soak up some sunshine! In addition to squashing the winter blues, sunlight aids in our skin's production of vitamin D. Vitamin D greatly increases your absorption of calcium for strong bones, boosts the immune system, and reduces your risk of serious illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

Challenge for week 13: Whether you can spend time outside or you must settle for an indoor spot near a sunlit window, try to get some sunlight each day this week. Just 10-20 minutes a day in the sun is enough. Keep in mind that sunscreen blocks ultraviolet light which is the key requirement for your skin to produce vitamin D. So apply your sunscreen after the first 10-20 minutes if you plan to stay out longer.

Ideas for catching rays (dependent upon your local weather, of course):

I hope that you find some sunny days wherever you are and that the "polar vortex" craziness that some in North America have been experiencing is behind us!

~..~..~..~
As we move through this project, I would love to hear about your survival skills, struggles, and success in the comments or by email (you can reach me at getnatured@gmail.com)!

Don’t miss out! Subscribe to receive free Get Natured updates so you can be included in The Winter Project. The weather outside doesn’t have to be frightful! xoxo

Other ways to follow along:
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*Important note: I am not a licensed mental health professional. This advice is not intended to take the place of therapy or medications. Please seek professional care if you are suffering from depression or anxiety symptoms.

Welcome to week 12 of The Winter Project!
(What is The Winter Project?)

Winter play: Make room for joy!

I joined a book club this year and we have just started our second book. Or, rather, the rest of the group has started the second book and I have been trying to finish the first one. Because I’m on-the-go a lot, I tend to do more “reading” by audiobook. I listen when I run, drive, walk the dog, fold the laundry, etc. Tonight I peeked at my Audible app as I was heading out the door to walk the dog- only 35 minutes left of the book, thank goodness. The book is far less interesting than I expected and I am ready to move on…one more click in my Audible app...ugh, that was 35 minutes left in the FIRST HALF of the book. Bloody hell.

What do you do in moments like this?

Following what brings you JOY is how you fill your tank and find your superpower.

Challenge for week 12: Think about the ways that you are spending your time and what keeps you busy. Are there any goals or projects that no longer feed you or serve your life in a positive way? If you are someone who writes New Year’s resolutions, what about your goals for 2014? Do they give you energy or are there any that feel more like something that you are holding over your own head? Release the old to make way room for new joy! Creating a little space in your life will make room for whatever you invite in- new experiences or things that you would like more time for. You get to decide!

~..~..~..~
As we move through this project, I would love to hear about your survival skills, struggles, and success in the comments or by email (you can reach me at getnatured@gmail.com)!

Don’t miss out! Subscribe to receive free Get Natured updates so you can be included in The Winter Project. The weather outside doesn’t have to be frightful! xoxo

Other ways to follow along:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram


*Important note: I am not a licensed mental health professional. This advice is not intended to take the place of therapy or medications. Please seek professional care if you are suffering from depression or anxiety symptoms.