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Get Natured

om shanti amazonite

It has been quite awhile since I have written in this space. The routines of life have a way of eating up time for writing and reflecting and creating. In the gap, I have changed. My life has changed. My people have grown and changed too. I have learned to stop forcing things on myself and to better care for my body in nurturing rather than challenging ways.

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

IMG 0497
 
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...

matcha bowl wisk

matcha

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

IMG 0480

frothy matcha bowl

…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).

matcha latte

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!)

matcha mint soft serve

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.
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the winter project

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:
  • Introduction to The Winter Project
  • Week 1: Connecting with the season
  • Week 2: Nurturing your basic needs
  • Week 3: Leisure time
  • Week 4: Connection and community
  • Week 5: Movement
  • Week 6: Healthy food reboot
  • Week 7: Warmth and comfort
  • Week 8: Making a nest
  • Week 9: Creating a bedtime ritual
  • Week 10: Winter play
  • Week 11: Remember when- recreating winter play from childhood
  • Week 12: Making room for joy
  • Week 13: Get some sunlight
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.
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the winter project

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):
  • Winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing are a great way to get out in the sunshine and stay warm. I love springtime skiing in a t-shirt!
  • Are you planning a garden for the spring? Spend some time outside preparing your garden area for planting. Not sure when it is time to plant? Check out this website for planting dates for a variety of crops.
  • Pack a hot lunch and have a picnic or enjoy a meal hot from a Thermos after a day of playing in the snow.
  • Visit your local farmers’ market on a sunny day. Consider bringing your favorite hot drink to enjoy while you browse.
  • Sit outside or go for a walk, run, hike, or bike ride. If it is cold but not freezing, consider leaving your arms bare but wearing a vest for extra warmth.
  • Go on a photo safari outside. You don't need a fancy camera- just a sunny day and a few minutes to observe things around you before taking a few shots.
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:
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.
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About me

About Me

My name is Allison. I am a writer, boy mom, and a nature lover in Northern California. Read more here.

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