Depression Quote.

It is important not to suppress your feelings altogether when you are depressed. It is equally important to avoid terrible arguments or expressions of outrage. You should steer clear of emotionally damaging behavior. People forgive, but it is best not to stir things up to the point at which forgiveness is required. When you are depressed, you need the love of other people, and yet depression fosters actions that destroy that love. Depressed people often stick pins into their own life rafts. The conscious mind can intervene. One is not helpless.

- Andrew Solomon, The Noonday Demon; An Atlas of Depression.

Peace out.

- L. x

It's (almost) Summer, Therefore It's ICYPOLE TIME!

So there was a thing in my son's school newsletter requesting icypole recipes. Being the healthy mum that I am (where Spawn is concerned, at least) I obviously have a million icypole recipes on hand! Decided I'd share the same recipes with my readers (if I even have any? Are you out there? Or do I constantly talk to myself?? - this I KNOW I do!!)

So here you go. Enjoy, fellow crazies. Obviously, all of these recipes are not my own. Some are, but regrettably, I'm not always that creative!

-         Each recipe makes approx. 4 ice blocks.

PINA COLADA

**A great creamy, icy treat for those hot summer days when you want creamy without the dairy!**

2 bananas

200g mango (approx.)

130g pineapple (approx.)

200ml coconut milk

·         Put all ingredients into blender and blend until smooth, before pouring into moulds and freezing for 4-6 hours. (also great as a smoothie!)

WATERMELON

¼ watermelon

·         Cut watermelon into manageable wedges, stick a paddlepop stick into the skin and freeze for a few hours. Quick, easy and delicious!

You could also blend the watermelon and freeze in moulds for something a little fancy.

STRAWBERRY & MANGO

1 mango

1 lime, juiced

½ cup water or coconut milk

½ cup chopped strawberries (into smallish pieces)

·         Blend mango with lime juice and water/milk until smooth, then put strawberries in and mix it around a little (do not blend!) before pouring into moulds. Freeze for 6 hours/overnight.

COMPLEX RAINBOW GOODNESS

**these are time consuming, so best made in advance!**

Punnet of blueberries

3-4 kiwi fruit

Pineapple

Orange juice

¼ watermelon

·         Puree fruits and then pour some of the fruit into each mould and freeze for 30 mins or so, then add next colour to make a rainbow, starting with blue/purple. With the orange juice, freeze for longer before adding watermelon, and then freeze overnight.

STRAWBERRY, BANANA & COCONUT

Punnet of strawberries (250g)

1 banana

½ cup coconut milk

(optional) white chia seeds

·         Blend ingredients and pour into moulds, then freeze for 3-4 hours.

Peace out.

- L. x

Thirty-something.

At what point did someone decide that a person's 30s would be mysterious? I don't find myself at the point of saying "thirty-something" just yet, but feel it's inevitable.
Why are a person's 20s so specific? "Oh, you're 29?! That's the best age." Don't ever mention a specific 30s number above 30 though. Oh no, do that and you may as well request your death certificate right now.

People are so funny. I'm kind of over the idea of being in my 30s. Maybe when I'm "thirty-something" life wilel be different, but for now, yay. Life! Age is but a number and I feel so stupid for getting so worked up over turning 30. I'm going to rock my 30s so hard!

I've decided to rediscover myself. I've been 'Spawn's Mum' for so long that I cannot remember who I really am. Obviously I am Spawn's Mum, but I'm also me. I have my own personality, interests, hobbies, dislikes....
I don't think I ever truly knew who I was, to be honest. I always thought I was real, and didn't pretend to be someone I'm not. But looking back, I realise I kind of was. I conformed to what I thought those around me wanted. I suppressed aspects of who I am to suit the people around me. 

To be honest, I think somewhere along the way, that became the reason I lost myself. I developed so many "personalities" that I forgot who I really was. What my entire personality was like. What aspects of myself conflicted with other aspects to make me interesting. Why people loved me, and why people hated me. Why so many people envied me.
...envy. There's a feeling nobody has had towards me in a long time. Why would anyone envy a person who doesn't know who she is? I sure as hell wouldn't. But one day, they will. Because I know that deep down, I'm effing amazing.
And it's time it came to the surface! So to kick things off, I'm dying my hair a crazy, vibrant colour! A colour that will remind me that I really don't care what others think of me. That I'm not afraid to be myself. That I'm strong, brave and fierce. RAWR.

These have been the ramblings of a deranged mind. Thank you for reading.

Peace out.
- L. x

P.S. I apologise for any crazy typos. I got a new phone and it hasn't figured out how I type yet. It actually predicts text in a way in which a 2 year old would use it. Ridiculous.
As many of you know, I don't reread my posts, ever. Unless they're recipes, because I have to make sure those make sense. But seeing my inner thoughts on a screen for all to see? Well that makes me feel a little, dare I say, vulnerable. So I apologise for that. :)