This year's winter lights was a reflection of our times. One of the stand out installations was 'Idle Time' by Marcus Lyall, making us question if we make productive use of our free time. At a time where we have more resources to make life easier, some of us still struggle to find spare time for leisure. Could it be that time is flying past and we're just playing catch-up? Or is it that we are not making valuable use of our spare time time at all. The questions Idle time raised will stay with me for sometime, helping to remind me to intentionally make better use of my time. Here are the  highlights, including some other public artworks I discovered along the way. 

In the words of Paul Dini my “one wish is that the summer never ends!” But as we know, all good things must come to end. So, what better way to say farewell to the warmth of summer and welcome the cosy vibes of autumn, than with some chilly brews, lollies or smoothies! I’ve posted some of the recipes below for those looking to try them out before the summer ends. Hope you enjoy the last of the summer days!

.Fruit Lolly Recipe
- To keep it simple, it's best to use a 1:1 ratio of fruits to pineapple juice
- For instance, use 1 cup frozen mango cubes to 1 cup pineapple juice
- Blend together
- Pour in a ice lolly mould
- Leave to set for 12hours
-Demould and enjoy!

Repeat the process for other fruits such as Kiwi, Peaches, Apricots, Blueberries or any fruits of your choice.

 Mango Kale Ginger Smoothie
- 2 Handful Curly Kale (diced, stem removed)
- 1 Whole Mango (cut into cubes)
- 1 Teaspoon Grated Stem Ginger
- 1 Cup Almond Milk
- 1 Teaspoon Honey

Mango Kale Smoothie
2 Handful Curly Kale (diced, stem removed)
- 1 Whole Mango (cut into cubes)
- 1 Cup Almond Milk
- 1 Teaspoon Honey
-  Soya Yoghurt Or Yoghurt of your Choice (Optional)

Carrot Kiwi Mango Smoothie
- 1/2 Cup Freshly Grated Carrot
- 1 Cup Frozen Cube Mango (slightly thawed)
- 2 Kiwis Peeled (cut into cubes)
- 1 Cup Almond Milk
- Blend all ingredients together and serve

Quick ways to prepare smoothies for future use with:
Frozen Smoothie Cubes
- Blend your smoothie
- Pour into silicone mould
- Allow to set for a few hours or overnight
- Demould and store in freezer, should last up to 3months

To Use Prepared Smoothie Cubes
- Place cubes in mason jar or glass bowl with lid and allow to melt
- Mix and enjoy your smoothie
- Or blend again adding more ingredients if needed
- Pour and serve

Cold Brew Tea
- Place loose leaf tea of your choice in a cold brew bottle
- Add cold filtered water
- Let tea steep for 4-6 hours or can be left overnight
- Drink tea within 24hrs

Iced Tea
- Place some loose leaf tea in a cold brew bottle
- Pour freshly boiled water over tea leaves
- Let tea brew for 15minutes
- Fill bottle with filtered water
- Let tea brew for 2-4 hours in fridge
- Drink tea within 24hrs

Measurements:
I used a basic recipe of 1-1.5 Teaspoons of loose leaf tea to 1 Cup of water. Depending on how strong I want my tea.

Finding quick, no fuss snacks to eat whilst working on a project is as important as the project itself! Afterall it takes energy to create and a no frills sarnie like this one or a few sweetened slices of sourdough bread will do the job nicely.

Making basic random how-to videos has become a thing. This one's on head wraps. As far as head wraps go, they can be as elaborate or as simple as you want them to be. But whether dressed up or down, head wraps can add a subtle elegance to any look.

Every now and then, it's a good idea to go for a wander and get lost in the moment be it indoors or outdoors. This video is a collection of things that filled my wandering space.

There's nothing like a good journal to keep you going even before your pen inks up the pages of your blank book. Whether it's a store bought book like this one or a handmade book I took the pleasure of making myself, the allure of a beautifully crafted book should never be understated. 

In need of a refreshing, rich, leafy green energiser? This Kiwi Spinach Mango combination will do the trick!

All you need is a few basic ingredients to make this luscious combo:

• One whole mango, prepped and cut into cubes.
• Two handfuls of spinach
• Two whole kiwis, peeled and cut into cubes
• One cup of almond milk to give it a creamy edge.

Instructions:

• Put all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
  
• Pour into a glass of your choice and serve.
  

Then enjoy your energetic tropical blend in readiness for the day ahead! 


 

Found this recipe here whilst looking for a child-friendly wood polish to use for a toddler's memory box. I didn't want to use the standard wood vanish, since a toddler could touch the box and possibly put their hands in their mouth! This way, I know the ingredients used are child-friendly. Tried it out and I must say, it worked out pretty well.

Items Used:
1 cup Olive Oil
1/4 Cup grated Beeswax

Instructions:
1)Put the Olive oil and grated Beeswax in a Pyrex or microwave safe container.
2) Allow to melt in a microwave at 30 second intervals until fully melted. Mix intermittently.
(This stops it from overheating or bubbling over).
3) Once melted, pour into heat proof jars, allow to cool and set.

Use as Wood Polish:
1) Apply a generous amount of wood polish onto cloth.
2) Polish the wood in the direction of the grain
(This enhances the natural features of the wood).
3) Wait for a couple of minutes then polish again using a new cloth.
That's it!

Storage:
Store in a air tight container
Can last about a year.

One of the key things with making crafts is knowing when to stop. Wanted to add more bits to this mini jewellery box, but it just looked better to keep it simple. Maybe I would do something with it later. For now, I'm happy to keep it simple, just had to sand it down and varnish. As they say, less can be more!