Reading list

this is what's on my bedside table right now...

• The Art Journal Workshop by Traci Bunkers
• The Seed by Jon Gordon
• Songs of my Life slightly out of tune by Susan Dintino
• Where do I go from here? by Miriam Neff

What are you reading?

Mixed Media artwork

I signed up for the Brave Girl Art School recently, and this is one of the mixed media pieces that I completed.  These artworks and online courses are a lesson in letting go of my perfectionist tendencies.  I need a lot more practice in getting my hands dirty and colouring outside the lines and being brave about making my own rules for my life.

Garden show

I visited the garden show at Lifestyle Garden Center in Johannesburg, and I'm inspired by these beautiful gardens...

 

 

Peanut butter frozen yogurt

Thanks to Maryann Moss, I have a tub of peanut butter frozen yogurt waiting for me at home in my freezer.  I looove peanut butter.  I don't like eating it on its own with a spoon (as some people like to do), but I adore it in milkshakes and biscuits and chocolates and stirfry sauces... so I had to try the frozen yogurt version.  I think you're going to really like this...

 

It tastes a lot better than it looks.  Promise

CHOCOLATE PEANUTBUTTER FROZEN YOGURT

Ingredients

• 1 tin condensed milk
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (I added a lot more than just half a cup!)
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
• 2 cups nonfat plain Greek yogurt
• 1 cup low-fat milk
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted

Directions

• In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat together condensed milk, peanut butter, vanilla, and salt until smooth.
• With mixer on low, beat in yogurt, milk, and cocoa powder until smooth, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary.
• Freeze until firm but scoopable, about 4 hours, beating with an electric mixer every hour (I got to 3 hours and forgot about it, no harm done)

Cape Town

I spent 3 days working in Cape Town last week.  My diary was jam-packed with work on this trip, but from now on, I'm going to make time for 'little adventures' each time I visit Cape Town.  It's nonsense that I've been working in Cape Town for a few days each month for the last 3 years, and all I've seen is Kirstenbosch Gardens!  I may not get it right on every trip, but at least a few 'little adventures' are definitely part of the plan for 2013.

 

The Vineyard Hotel has been redecorated; not sure that I like the stark white walls and silver grey decor.  But the bed was comfortable

Good morning.  The view from my bed

the view from our office in Observatory 

 

A little art project

During my blog sabbatical, I researched (and tried) a few other blog options.  They were either very expensive, or very difficult to use.  I'm hoping my uploading issues with blogger are now over...so holding thumbs that it's business as usual from now on.  I really missed blogging. I find that I live more consciously when I blog - I notice things around me, I pay attention to the little things, and I think more about the stories unfolding around me as I go through my day.

 

Here is a little art project that I've been working on for the upcoming HeartMap Retreat that I'm hosting on 11 May...

 

Email me if you'd like to join us for the day.  The HeartMap Retreat is being held at a beautiful location in the Honeydew area in Johannesburg, the cost is R700 per person for the day including snacks, a light lunch, and 2 take-home art projects.  It's going to be lots of awesome goodness!

Be the good

My friend Tanya made this for me.  It lives on the wall of my bedroom, and inspires me every day...thanks T!