This recipe is a family favourite! Years ago I ordered a greek salad at restaurant and loved it so much that I re-created it at home. The biggest difference was that it has no lettuce. It's straight-up chucks of veggies, feta and it's sooooo good! ​

There are a lot of AMAZING Fat Bomb recipe's out there. I created this one with the Keto friendly ingredients I usually have on hand. It's so simple and they taste delightful. Each each fat bomb has 5 Net Carbs (10 total carbs - 4 fibre - 1 sugar alcohol), 22 Fat, 6 Protein and 251 Calories.

Recipe Directions:

• Measure out batter ingredients into a large mixing bowl & mix up!
• Line a freezer safe food storage container, that includes a lid, with wax paper. (I use a tupperware container that measures 7x11x1.5 inches)
• Pour in half the batter, spread evenly, top with 12 pieces of dark chocolate
• Place another piece of wax paper on top
• Pour in the other half of the batter and top with 12 more pieces of dark chocolate
• Cover with a lid and freeze
• Once frozen, cut into 12 even pieces, cutting through both layers, creating 24 delicious fat bombs! 
• Keep frozen and enjoy one per day for a Keto friendly sweet treat!

Batter Ingredients:

• 1 cup Peanut Butter
• 3/4 cup Almond Butter
• 1/2 cup Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
• 1/2 cup full fat cream cheese
• 1/2 cup Organic Black Chia Seeds
• 1/3 cup Organic Whole Fax Seed (freshly ground with a coffee grinder)
• 1/2 cup Shredded Unsweetened Coconut
• 1/4 cup Keto friendly sweetener of choice. I prefer Xylitol or Granulated Monkfruit 

Topping

• 100gram of 85% Dark Chocolate divided into 24 pieces

I have this quote posted beside my bathroom mirror to help me have a healthy perspective. It’s to remind myself, that while I may feel like a mess, to God, I am a beautiful mess, I am His masterpiece, He created me, just the way that I am and for that reason, I am enough. 

No amount of make-up will make me more beautiful. It only enhances what’s already there. I am a living, breathing piece of artwork, created in the the image of my creator. And while I am not perfect as He is perfect, my imperfections are made beautiful when I give them to Him. As a master artist can make something amazing out of a pile of scraps so can God use my mistakes and failures to create a masterpiece.

When I live out of that truth I can humbly see the beauty in myself and others. I can appreciate that while they might look like a mess, they are in process, just like me.The analogy of a beautiful mess reminds me of an incident with daughter quite a few years ago. I woke up one fateful morning, walked into my kitchen and discovered a massive mess! There were white sticky handprints everywhere... on the walls, floor, cabinets etc. Apparently, my little darling had awoken before me and managed to pry open a bucket of drywall mud, left out by my handyman husband---need I say more? At first I was furious. I promptly placed her in a time out and proceeded to clean up the mess! But as I began to scrub, my frustration began to dissipate, as I saw her lil white handprints as works of ark. I began to imagine her delight as she touched the goey substance, placed her hand on the wall and discovered it’s imprint! “How cool, I gotta try that again, and again, and again..... and again!!!” I had a conversation with her afterwards, and explained what she had done wrong. She was sorry and I forgave her.

Now years later, we cherish two little white keepsake handprints, I decided NOT to clean up that day. They are on display, on the side of an old wooden desk that had been sitting in my kitchen all those years ago, complete with crayon marks she later added to top off her masterpiece.

​Sometimes, messes get messier, but there are always opportunities for life lessons along the way, and there in, lies the beauty.

Let just be honest, as adults we still make messes. Our parents may not be there to help us learn from our mistakes. They may have passed on, abandoned you or just aren’t in a place of a authority over you any longer. But I believe God is your Heavenly Father, wether you acknowledge that fact or not. He is always there waiting to lovingly guide you through life. Our mess’s can become beautiful supernatural works of art when we simply say, “God, I’m sorry... I messed up, please help!” When we do this, He promises to work ALL THINGS together for our good. Why? Because we are His masterpieces, from the moment of our conception. It doesn’t matter if you were conceived in the midst of a mess or not, loved or abandoned by your parents, black, white or purple, accepted or rejected by society, raised in poverty or prosperity. Failure and/or success doesn’t define you. You are valuable because you are a living, breathing piece of art, created with a mind, body and spirit. You might have been unplanned by your biological parents but you were planned by God, on purpose for a purpose. You might feel like a total mess but I challenge you to change your perspective and to surrender your mess to God. Just watch and see the beauty that comes from your mess.

Writing is something that I have been drawn to do from quite a young age. I remember the very first journal I received. It was a little white book with a silver lock and key. I remember the thrill of documenting my days and keeping them locked away in a secret place that was just for me. That little book of childhood memories turned into stacks of wire ringed notebooks filled with with pages of teenage thoughts, feelings, poetry and prayers. It was a safe place for me to express and process life. I was writing my story and I didn't even realize it.

While there have been seasons of my life during which I have stopped jouranling, the better part of my life has been documented on paper. It's one of the very few things that I have been  consistent with. I think that's because, it's not something that I feel obligated to do...it's something that I feel compelled to do. I write to make sense of my thoughts, experiences and emotions and to remind myself of truth when I find myself slipping into negative patterns of thinking. It comes naturally to me and has always been very personal. I do remember enjoying reading and writing essays in school and getting fairly decent grades, but never did I consider writing as a career path or "gifting" that God may call me to share with anyone but myself. It wasn't until I was in my early 20's and going through recovery from a destructive relationship, that I first was inspired to write for someone else. I remember feeling a deep sense, that one day, I needed to write a book and that thought scared me...

I have a lot of fun creating new smoothie recipes and my "Morning Matcha Green Chia Smoothie" has become one of my all time favs! It gives me that extra boost of healthy caffeine while also satiating me throughout the morning.

The Foundation of a Perfect Smoothie recipe:
I always start with 6 large ice cubes in my magic bullet cup and add just enough filtered water to cover the ice cubes. It all depends on your preferences, but I like my smoothies thick like a Wendy's frosty so I don't add a lot of liquid. I then add 2 scoops of MySmart Shake Whey Protein base made by USANA. Their Protein Bases come in Plant, Whey and Soy options. They have clean ingredients, no added sugars, are gluten free, low glycemic and Keto friendly and Paleo friendly. USANA MySmart Shakes also supply a healthy ratio of fat from coconut oil, protein, fiber, and carbohydrates, to help meet your daily macronutrient needs. ​

After the Smoothie Foundation it's all about Customization!
You can add things like frozen fruit, spinach, dark chocolate and peanut butter, hemp hearts ...the list is endless. USANA has some delicious flavour optimizers in their MySmart Shake line as well as a high quality protein booster for people who want more than the 18 grams per serving the base provides PLUS a fiber booster  that provides and extra 12 grams of fibre on top of the 8 grams per serving of each protein base.

Morning Matcha Green Chia Smoothie Recipe:
INGREDIENTS:

• 6 Large ice cubes
• 1-2 cups of water (depending on how thick you like it)
• 2 Scoops - USANA MySmartShake, Whey Protein Base
• 1 TBSP - Organic Chia Seeds
• 1 TSP Vanilla Matcha Green Tea Powder (I used steeped Tea brand)
• a tiny squirt of Liquid Stevia

Give it a try or personalize it as you please! Let me know in the comment below what you think of this recipe or share one of your personal favs!

 This morning was one of those mornings. In fact this week was one of those weeks. Heck it's been a month and a lifetime if I really think about it. That's not to say that I don't see the good in each day...most days... and the blessings in disguise cause I absolutely do. I have much to be grateful for... even if it's just the lessons I have learned through the difficulties I have faced.

Looking back and being grateful for what God has done in my life gives me HOPE for the future but lately I feel like I have begun to lose sight of that HOPE and forgotten to praise and worship Him when I don't feel like it.

I am continually amazed at how God speaks directly into the inner workings of my heart, through pretty much anything, and ties things together to say exactly what I need to hear at just the right moment, even though I haven't necessarily even voiced my particular struggles to anyone at the time. 

That is the beauty of relationship with a the Living God.

So yesterday was Sunday and the message at my home church was all about Faith, Hope and Love and how they work TOGETHER. Most people have heard that Love is the greatest of the three and but I have never really realized the significance of losing HOPE and how it can actually threaten the loss of both Faith and Love. In Fact, may be the is the very reason why our HOPE seems to be under such attack!
​

For quick healthy snacks I often grab a handful of almonds. Today I was craving something a lil extra sweet & salty, so I decided to make my own Honey Roasted Almonds. Yum..... They hit the spot and kept me on track with my healthy lifestyle program.

Sea Salt & Honey Roasted Almonds are quick and easy to make and have have 3 simple ingredients with a host of health benefits:

​

• Raw Almonds. Almonds are packed with protein as well as vitamins, minerals and fiber. They have a positive impact on things like cholesterol, heart disease & cancer risk, not to mention they help you feel satiated which curbs appetite & helps weight-loss!

• Raw Honey. Raw Honey is a natural antimicrobial and antioxidant and contains contains 27 minerals, 22 amino acids and 5,000 live enzymes. It keeps you healthy by boosting your immune system and helping to metabolize cholesterol and fatty acid preventing obesity. Honey has a healthy Glycemic Index (GI), meaning that its sugars can be gradually absorbed into the bloodstream to result in better digestion. I prefer raw honey because it has not been heated and filtered, which robs it of natural nutrients. ​