Fixits that will inspire even you!

Every Sunday, I take a look at the BBC website and a few others, today, I found a video about a guy in France that fixes umbrellas - did you know we throw away so many umbrellas each year that we could build 10 Eiffel Towers...every year!!!

Well, here are a few links to inspire you to embrace the fixit movement - every little thing you do to reduce waste IS useful...BUT...it can also be fun as you'll see from some of these links :)

First my umbrella guy - Thierry Millet - what a darling! http://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-43007051/i-fix-umbrellas-to-save-the-world

then, what about this for a wonderful volunteer group to start up in your city?

http://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-leeds-42705752/the-leeds-cafe-that-makes-a-difference

This one has inspired me to fix some mugs and to consider making my 15 year old car into a work of art...
https://www.boredpanda.com/creative-ways-to-fix-broken.../

a bit more on the practical side - home repair DIY - some may require special bits n pieces, but many are easier than we think... http://yourhouseandgarden.com/home-repair-tips/

Tired of those guys asking $25 to make your headlights clear again? DIY with baking soda toothpaste...and other tips for your ride https://thekrazycouponlady.com/tips/travel/16-seriously-clever-tricks-to-deep-clean-your-car

Have fun and do share any resources you have or pictures of your own fixits!

Horcruxes and confidence as a woman

"A Horcrux is an object in which a Dark wizard or witch has hidden a fragment of his or her soul for the purpose of attaining immortality." (http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Horcrux) 

Sunrise or Sunset. New Beginnings

Quite often, when I’m reading writing that I really like, I think, crap, damn, shit. I am not a good writer. When I come across a word I recognise, but don’t know the meaning of, I think crap, damn, shit. I am so uneducated.

But then I think of my Mum’s favourite quip about education…it’s not book-learning and I think, really Fifi, you can, and do, find ways to express yourself that capture people’s attention and you are WELL educated in your mother's sense of the word. So just Google the meaning of the word and get on with it!

Oddly, I just noticed that Word 2016 figures it should replace 'witch' in the definition of Horcrux with 'which'. Which I'd say is a great indication of how sexism pervades even the most unexpected corners of our lives. Really, this great software can’t figure out that in a sentence containing ‘wizard or witch’, there’s nothing to consider out of place? Double, nay, just exponentially compound the disbelief when you consider that it’s this blog post that gifted me the Horcrux word http://www.everywhereist.com/i-made-the-pizza-cinnamon-rolls-from-mario-batalis-sexual-misconduct-apology-letter/

I need another cup of coffee.

On the brink of ramping up to a new foray into blogging I am realizing how rusty I am but at the same time, how there’s a powerful seam of pure gold confidence in the solid rock foundations I’ve both consciously and unknowingly been building these past years. It’s not that I’m not still fraught with moments of fear and doubt, but they’ve become moments, no longer days or weeks or states of being.  Moments like I just had, no longer derail me, but instead, ignite that excitement that there’s lots more out there to see and explore. I like that.

At some point I hope to recount that journey in a book, but for now, honestly, I’m just glad to have a few miles under my belt and very aware that the road still stretches – invitingly – ahead of me. I am writing in the background though and thanks for those along the way who've encouraged me to do this. 

I’d like you to come along on this new venture with me. Without you, much of what I plan, frankly, won’t work! I promise I’ll give back as much as I can – not just in what I write, but I’ll find other ways to pay back your support, so if you think that sounds interesting – go ahead and subscribe to my blog (top right). Adventure awaits!

Grain-free Gluten-free Paleo cakes to DIE for!!!!!

This is a quick post folks. I have been exploring grain-free cooking and noticing that a growing trend is the use of plantain flour, cassava flour and coconut flour and joy, oh joy, Saint Lucia is now producing a range of grain-free flours that are superb quality - totally natural and fresh! 

But try as I might, I was not getting the results I wanted - except with a few cases, which I've posted here already (links at the bottom). Then this last week I decided I'd just search for the kind of cake I wanted - forget Paleo, grain-free, gluten-free, AIP, IBS and all those protocols and just look for the result I want! (DUH!) 

Not my best photo, but DAMN they taste GOOD!!!

So two cakes later, I must share. EVERYONE who's tasted them has RAVED about the results. So here are the recipes:

https://www.spendwithpennies.com/banana-cake/ 

https://cafedelites.com/best-fudgy-cocoa-brownies/

I did everything the same except I used brown sugar and the following flour ratios

Banana Cake:

Coconut flour 1 1/2 cups

Macabou flour (or plantain for persons overseas) 1 cup

Cassava flour 1/2 cup

Brownies

Coconut flour about 1/4 cup

Macabou flour about 3/8 cup

Cassava flour about 1/8 cup

It's as simple as that!!!

Now let me just plug the wonderful businesses producing flours and coconut products in Saint Lucia - many are available already in our supermarkets, but for those that aren't, perhaps we can request them enough that they will be soon - in the meantime, contact the producers directly and let them know I sent you to them please :)

Naturales - coconut flour and non-gmo supplements www.facebook.com/naturales.plus 758 7143920 naturalesplus758@gmail.com

PlasKassav - cassava flour - www.plaskassav.com 758 4594050 plaskassav@yahoo.com

Gatas Traditional Foods - Yes! flours - Macabou, plantain and others www.facebook.com/gatas.foods gatasfoods@live.com 758 2862475

Rain Forest Foods - sweet potato and breadfruit flours and sweet potato and breadfruit granola 758 285 6973 rffoodsslu@gmail.com (article https://www.stlucianewsonline.com/local-entrepreneurs-create-all-natural-cereal-products-for-export/)

Health Nutz - coconut flour and 'milk' (more like super-thick cream) www.facebook.com/Health-NUTz-790019177822643 www.instagram/healthnutz4u healthnutz4u@gmail.com 

Enjoy your healthy cooking and I'd love to hear how yours turned out!!! Post a comment!

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