Relax

Have we gone and made these yet? If you haven’t I’ll forgive you because I know how it is when you’re busy. But why not spend tonight whipping up a batch- you won’t regret it 😉 Oh and Happy Halloween! Although I don’t celebrate it myself I have seen lots of little munchkins walking around the neighbourhood in their classrooms- it’s adorable!

I’m hoping since it’s Hump Day it doesn’t mean that it’s all down hill from here, but it does mean that Thursday and Friday will fly by, and I’ll be able to relax (fingers crossed). But first, I’ll have to make it through the school sleepover. The year 3’s that I teach are having a sleepover at the school tomorrow night and as the prac teacher I’ve been invited to come. Of course, I’m looking forward to it but I’m also dreading the lack of sleep and overtired state I’ll be in on Friday. This girl needs her sleep. Oh well, it’s one day and then after this week I’ve only got ONE week till prac is done and dusted! Come at me holidays!

So here I am watching Modern Family’s Halloween edition. Why may you ask? Because I got to the point where I crashed (not literally, although thanks to a bloomin’ rock my windscreen has a giant split in it) and I have no other option then to stop. In an emotional and exhausted state I began to drive to my gym class (participant, not teaching) and realised I was not listening to my body. I am absolutely exhausted and using my athletic mindset I knew the right thing to do was come home and stop. Stop everything and do only the things I wanted to. That included watch some tv, blog to you lovelies and read some blogs- all for enjoyment & entertainment and not for necessity or obligation. Lucky I have an amazing bf who said he will do whatever I need him to- I’m seriously at awe at how lucky I am to have him. Also, luckily pre-crash I had already organised my lunch and gear for tomorrow.

Sometimes the best thing to do is stop. I forgot these past three weeks (these past 3 years more like it!) what it’s like to relax. Seriously, have you relaxed lately? Have you watched some trashy tv, opened a magazine, watched an old dvd, read a book or just took a sneaky nap? Yup, I didn’t think so. And I think that’s what is the big problem. It is NOT healthy to be going at 150% day in and day out- does that sound like moderation to you? I also think that’s a big part of my anxiety- the fact that I don’t know how to just stop. I remember speaking to my therapist about how he walks home and just switches off and notices the little things. Like the plane over head, the sky, the sun and then begins to focus on the simple things. What do I think about when I’m walking? Things to blog about, recipes to make, stuff to plan, my assignment- and all things that I have to do. Sounds relaxing right? Nahtttttttt. I’m really missing my Body Balance– I need that time!

 

So I’ve decided tonight is my night to relax.

What have you done to relax lately?

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Too good to be true Chocolate Chip Cookies

What do you do when your exhausted and should be sleeping? Bake! Well that’s exactly what I did the other night. However, I think that’s mostly due to the fact that I had a big pack of Natvia baking pack to use and I was super excited to get baking with it. And things didn’t totally blow up in my face like I thought they would (happy dance!). So that means I’ve got a new recipe to add to the list! This one is low fat, healthy, sugar free and high fibre…oh and did I mention it’s also delicious?

 

‘Too good to be true’ Chocolate Chip Cookies

Makes 12 cookies.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup of natvia baking pack
• 1/2 cup of unsweetened apple puree
• 1 egg
• 1 cup of wholemeal flour
• 1 tsp of baking powder
• 1/2 cup of milk choc chips

Method

1. Turn a fan forced oven onto 180 degrees celsius.
2. Beat apple puree and natvia together in a medium bowl on medium speed until well mixed and natvia slightly dissolves.
3. Add egg and continue to beat on a low speed.
4. Add flour and baking powder to wet mix, and stir through until combined.
5. Pour in choc chips and mix briefly until spread through.
6. On a lined tray spoon out roughly 1tbs of mixture to make 12 cookies.
7. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until almost cooked.
8. Take tray from the oven and allow to cool slightly before indulging. Best eaten warm!

Feel free to change it up a bit with dark or white choc chips, dried fruit or nuts. Plus the wholemeal flour can be subbed for half white if you’d like. Oh and double or triple the recipe for a bigger batch!

Now these are surprisingly good, so try not to eat the batch in one go 😉 You’ll enjoy these if you’re into healthy but delicious food, chocolate, sweets or anything edible. So if you like any or all of these things, I demand you make these asap! See what I did there? Plus did I mention that I got the thumbs up from my mum, her bf, my brother (self confessed cookie dough eater) and my bf (self confessed I hate healthy food eater).

Tell me about the best cookie you’ve ever had? Mine would have to be the Cookie Time ones I got in Queenstown!

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