Recently I’ve been coming across situations daily that made me question why it’s easier to see the glass half-empty instead of half-full. When positive mindset is considered to be a driving force in improving wellbeing, isn’t seeing the glass half-full a positive thing? Then, why don’t more people embrace this approach? With the advancement of social media and the prominence of digital imaging perfection, along with the stressful impact of modern daily living, could it be that we are overloaded with ‘Too much information’ that we can’t see straight?

I know we all have a choice in the decisions we make, but I also believe what we see daily impacts our lives sublimally. So what is the solution? There is a proverb that says’ Only the person going through a difficult situation will know how it feels.’ Which simply means, the solution, is to ‘know thyself’. Because you are your own best judge, you do what is best for you. Find what works for you and stick to it. I’ll let you into a little secret, ’you don’t have to have it all’. The illusion of the ‘must have’ fad is purely that, ‘an illusion’. It fills a temporary void and before you know it, you’re back to where you started. So, in the midst of the maze of daily living, be your own compass and make your own way, using the resources that comes your way.

When things go well, acknowledge those moments and when things go horribly wrong, focus on the things that are going well for you in that moment, no matter how little or insignificant they are. It’s called ‘seeing the glass half-full’ and that my friend, may get you through. Also, finding people or things that re-enforce your glass half-full mentality is key to keeping you positive no matter what life throws at you. No good thing is achieved in a hurry, so take your time to fill your glass.

Valentine’s day is about showing love and appreciation to those we hold dear. Who show us unconditional love everyday without requesting anything in return and we know who they are. To them, I say happy valentine’s day! Love is not a one day event, you are appreciated and loved everyday. Never stop loving, neither be weary of doing good, because you are the ray of sunshine that lights up our world in these dark crazy uncertain times.
Luv always, Kemi West xx.

My quest to find fresh healthy breakfast alternative led to this interesting combo. It's quite a filling winter warmer!

Had a wonderful time at Women and Youth Art Foundation ceramic workshop. Met some great artists who were incredibly humble and wasted no time sharing their artistic knowledge with me, as WY Art Foundation is about impacting knowledge in the community and society at large. Their next  workshop is on 6th, 12th  and 13th of April 2019. See link below for details:
https://www.instagram.com/wyartorg/
Luv WY ART foundation!

Glad to find a new home for this ethnic inspired hand bound book. It's about to start it's journey as a well cherished recipe book for an up coming chef! 

With winter comes cravings for comfort foods and for someone like me with a sweet tooth, the challenge is finding sweet things I can eat that are enjoyable and healthy when eaten in moderation. That's why I chose Puff Puff, a popular West African dumpling. It was nostalgia that led me back to this beautiful snack, as I remember fondly eating it at family gatherings as a child. From the moment I poured the flour into a bowl, to the moment I mixed the ingredients together by hand, I couldn't help but smile, as I remembered fun childhood memories from innocent young times. I guess that's why some say that cooking is therapeutic. 

Puff puff is traditionally made with plain or self-raising flour, but I wanted to make a contemporary version using organic and gluten free ingredients.  It's a dish for someone with a sweet tooth, so I used a 100% organic coconut sugar  and as the coconut sugar wasn't so strong to taste, I used organic honey as a side sauce to give it a little tasty sugary boost! Puff Puff or West African dumpling as I like to call it, is usually deep fried and for this I used 100% organic rapeseed oil. Achieving the right consistency took some experimentation as the conventional puff puff is usually a rounded shape, but using an alternative flour with xanthan gum as a binding agent came out really well I could barely tell the difference. The proof as they say, is in my picture! Hope you find your perfect winter warmer. Bon Appétit! 

Whilst we ought to take care of our physical appearance, our internal appearance should be of equal importance. Taking ownership of our wellbeing is crucial, especially for people like me who live in a faced paced city.

Whatever method you choose, having a healthy lifestyle needn’t be expensive and can be done on a shoe string budget. For example, If I’m on a budget, I would eat foods in season. For exercise, walking costs me nothing. If I need to pause and reflect; finding solace in the little parks around the city or absorbing the beautiful earth around me does the trick. Other little things I do, is listen to music, take pictures of everything and I mean everything! I read quick books, as I hardly have time for big books, create crafts for leisure, spend time with loved ones, watch movies or spend time doing something new. The list is endless, but I have a choice of priceless things I can do to improve my wellbeing that won’t break the bank. And I'm sure there are countless ways I haven't thought about that others use to improve their wellbeing too.

Although healthy Living is different for everyone, what matters is finding your own healthy way of living and hopefully it will help you radiate healthy vibes from the inside out!

If anyone wants to share their healthy life style tips, I would love to hear it, as I'm always looking to learn something new!