DIY: How to be thanked by your tummy.

Hello little kittens!

Today I'm back with a...
Recipe!

Every person who knows me can tell you that eating is kind of a lifestyle (I'm not exaggerating that much), and that I'm a real sweet tooth (but I've already told you I was "one of them").

That must be the reason why I wish I could eat breakfast everytime I take a meal, ahah.

After this revelation, it won't be a surprise for you if I present a granola recipe, right?

When I went to my market last week, I was staring at all kind of cereals and I was like "OhMyGeorge, why are them so expensive? It's nonsense !"
It's like I HAVE TO pay between 7 and 10 dollars to eat granola for a week. I'm just a student, I don't want to be ruined because of my gluttony! And they always put too much this or that, and not enough pecans in their boxes. (NEVER ENOUGH PECANS!)


Then..
I finally decided myself to cook my own granola for this Autumn, with everything I love (not exactly everything, ice cream would have melted if I'd put some..) and I can tell you: that was one of my best ideas!
I'm giving you my recipe right now, or I'll never stop talking writing.

You'll need:

- 2 cup oatmeal (500g)
- about 1 cup oleaginous seeds (between 200g and 250g). I put pecans (I had to!!), hazelnuts and unsalted sunflower seeds.
- 2/3 cup unsweetened dried fruits (150g). I put cranberries and prunes.

- 4 tbs (4 c.à s) coconut oil (or walnut oil, for example, but coconut is the best, according to me)
- 4 tbs (4 c.à s) maple syrup
- 3-4 tbs (3-4 c.à s) agave syrup
- 2 tbs (2 c.à s) honey
- 2 tbs (2 c.à s) vanilla essence

What you'll have to do:

First of all, put your oatmeal and your oleaginous seeds in a big bowl.

 Mix a little bit.

Add your unsweetened dried fruits. I sliced my prunes because I prefer to have a lot of pieces scattered in my granola than entire lumps. (it's already pretty nice, isn't it?)

When you're done with this step, you can put your coconut oil, your maple syrup, your agave syrup, your honey and your vanilla essence in a hot pan until everything is mixed up.
Add your preparation in your big bowl. With the help of a big spoon, stir until your almost-granola is entirely covered with your liquid part. (I was very dubious with the quantities but it has been fine, so don't worry if you think you lack sauce, you just have to continue and be patient!)

Then, spread it on a baking tray covered with aluminum. Put it in the oven at 270ºF for 30 to 45 minutes.
When you think it's enough, let it cool and put your granola into jars!


I eat mine with almost everything: almond milk, applesauce, ice cream (I couldn't include it in my recipe but I can take some with my recipe!), or greek yoghurt if you like it..

Once you've done your first batch I think you're ready to change your recipe depending on seasons (with papaya, mango, macadamia and coconut slices for Summer, hmmm) or your mood.

And because you'll be proud of you, every morning will be joyful and cheerful, with a touch of comfort,  trust me! 

And you, what's your favourite granola recipe? What would you put in yours?

Have you ever tried my recipe? Please let me know, and send me your opinion about it!

Ginger Potter.

There's no combination of words I could put on a back of a postcard..

I will never forget.

I will never forget what you brought me. You probably didn't realise that, right ?
I met you when I was hopeless, I thought I was a "desperate case" and you made me think I could be special, just for one person. But you were exactly the kind of person I wanted to be special for.
It's been more than two years and I cannot imagine who would I be by now if I continued to be the girl I was, with her dreadful and tortured mind.

I shared almost everything with you. My happiness, my wishes, my weirdo side, my projects, my tears and my fears. I shouldn't have.
In my opinion, that's my biggest mistake. I should have been strong enough to keep them for me, in me.
Our perfect special relationship became a destruction, for both of us. I was too anxious, too nervous, too peculiar. An unstable girl.
It's been two years you entered my life, and even if it wasn't always good or clear, I had you in my mind, very close to me.
We both shared some parts of our lives, but I probably told you too much. You knew too much, you knew me too well.

Sometimes, it's like you were/are the only one capable of understanding me without any judgement, I wasn't too special or weird for the entire world when I was with you, I had my own place, my own role.

I can't put words on our relationship. I don't even know what kind of message I'm trying to transmit here.

It's just that.. There is something unaccomplished between us and I just want you to realise that I wasn't using you, I've been completly honnest and you could see the girl I was/am.
But we needed this end, we needed to start something else and I was hoping you wouldn't take me out of your life. But it happened.

I can't force you to be friend with me and I can understand I'm unbearable.
But please, please, never doubt : you changed me. Life appears differently. You made mine kind of a good movie and now the film is over.
You were the kindest person I could met and I've been lucky. My most beautiful moments. My most cheerful days.

Everything needs a real end, even us.

I will never regret.
I will never forget.
Thank you, for eveything.

Ginger Potter.

“Worrying is carrying tomorrow's load with today's strength- carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worrying doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.”

I am anxiety.
I'm not anxious, no.
I am anxiety. My entire body and my mind are anxiety.

Sometimes I feel like my heart is jumping out of my body, and it's really, really painful.
You know, it's as if it wasn't possible to feel anything else than tension, fear and apprehension in there.
No more positive or lovely feelings. No more reason, anxiety lays down what you have to think or do.
You can't control anything. Your mind is lost, your body doesn't respond anymore.
Breath is hard to find.
Everything seems so blurred, so messy.

Here we are.
ANXIETY.

But you know, you get used to it.

It's not always as horrible as it sounds because you learn to deal with it, to feel it come and to be prepared to face it.
But sometimes I'm not strong enough. Sometimes I feel like it's an endless fight I can't win. It makes me feel so weak.
Because yes, in my opinion, it's an endless fight. But if I try harder and harder, maybe I'll be able to lead this "war". The only thing I have to avoid is to become hopeless.
Nobody can do anything with no hope and you know, by keeping it, you'll be able to go through anxiety but also quite everything else.

Nevertheless, I admit it : I envy all those people who are not under this everyday pressure. You know, those persons who do whatever they want, whenever they want because they're no afraid of the consequences. Or maybe because they're confident with them, their choices.
For so long I wish I was them, and sometimes I still find myself thinking how my life would be if I could live free from this feeling.
But I can't. And I'm not free. I will never be free the way I want but it's ok.
I learnt to accept, and to go on with it.

I just want you to understand one thing : you need to accept. Yes you're anxious. So what? You're also joyful, sportive, talkative, charismatic, full of life, an artist or whatever. This is not your only characteristic and if you can say "Yes, I'm anxious !", you'll have achieved something great and you will be free to expose your other sides to the persons around you.

Acceptance is the key, positive thinking is the way to follow.

(I don't know why did I write this article because I haven't any tips for you. When it happens to me, I'm powerless. I just try to be as positive as I can, to go out, to watch a GOOD movie (not something depressing, please, you need to cheer yourself up), to eat some comfort food and to relax myself. It doesn't always work, but that's life and when it occurs... Please be patient. It's getting better, all the time.)

And you, are you anxious?
What are your little tips to fight anxiety?

Ginger Potter.