I am sure I am not alone in thinking or believing that we are already in NOVEMBER ..... how on earth has this year gone as quickly as it has. One moment ago we were enjoying the Summer, Winter came and went and just like that we are heading very quickly to the end of the year again. I have been thinking about time a lot over the past week and how easy it is to let life just fly past at an incredible rate. How can we slow time down ?. How can we embrace every day and not just let time slip away from us ?. As my mind has pondered this very thought I feel its time to share my thoughts with with you.

I love this clock created and planted in the Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh.When I lived there 13 years ago I would marvel at its creation. The thought that had gone into it and also the time it took to plant it, nourish it for everybody to see and enjoy. It took time, a lot of time. If this had been created in a fast and furious pace. Would it be as beautiful ? Would it be admired and enjoyed by everybody who passes it everyday. Maybe not. So the question that sits in the front of my mind. Is how can we slow down and embrace and love every second and minute of our incredible lives and for it to not just rush and pass us by.

Well my friends.It's TIME to get really organized ..... I am very luckily a Virgo as well as a Health and Wellness Coach so being organized is a very natural part of my life. But it may not be for many others. So I have created a list which I hope will help.

1 - Go to bed at the same time everyday. Get up at the same time to. This way your body will naturally get into a rhythm. If you need your phone as an alarm. Turn it onto aeroplane mode,

2 - Write a daily To Do list. Make it managable so that your not overwhelmed. On this list make sure that you add in some quality time for yourself.

3 - Prioritize your day with what's really important. What needs to be achieved and the steps needed to make it happen.

4 - Get organized - As a family get the kids to help with cleaning the house, unpacking there school bags. Emptying the dishwasher. Feeding and walking your pets. It takes Team work. Get your children to help you cook dinner and set the table. They love jobs and maybe a sticker chart could be helpful to with a nice reward at the end.

5 - Get a good nights sleep - Waking up feeling full of energy and ready for the day is so much better than hitting the snooze button and dragging yourself out of bed.

6 - Create a weekly menu , this will also save you money in the long run. During the week, there is nothing wrong with making a larger amount of a dish and having it to eat two nights in a row.

7 - Make your freezer your best friend. Cook in advance, fill up the freezer for those nights when you just don't feel like cooking.

8 - Make time for yourself. This is so incredibly important. Add this time to your dairy and stick to it. It could be catching up with a friend. A long hot bath. A walk down the beach. Coffee with a friend. Make it happen, your mental health will thank you for it.

9. If you are feeling over whelmed during the day. Take time out. Concentrate on your breathe. Go to the park and kick of your shoes and feel the grass between your toes.

10 - Everyday the sun will rise and the sun will set. If you have had a bad day. It's ok, you have tomorrow to fix it and make it better .

What's coming up for Charley Chop Chop ?

Join us for my Edible Christmas Present Workshop on Saturday 1 December 2018

You will find more information on my Facebook Page.

Allow your mind to have more awareness around TIME

How can I give myself more time everyday ?

If I did have more time , how could I use it ?

Don't just let life slip away. make the most of this beautiful life that you have and remember, every day, hour, minute and seconds count.

Have a wonderful month. Love and blessings today and always. Be the sparkle you were born to be in this world. Be Brilliant everyday. In love, health and Wellness Your Charley Chop Chop - Be Brilliant with Charley xx

Wowzer its October already, how on earth did that happen so quickly !! It is a wet rainy day outside so a perfect opportunity to sit and connect with you all.

I have been reflecting a lot this month about the power of friendships. I really would not be where I am today without the love and support of all of my friends here in New Zealand and around the world.

When my world fell apart at the start of the year when my husband and I decided to separate. The first thing you do is to reach out to your friends. Instantly you are wrapped in a bubble of daily love and support, coffee dates, dinners, walks in nature. Text messages, emails .... that old saying "All you have to do is ask for help " is so true . If you are going through a tough time at the moment. I encourage you to do just that, take a deep breathe and ask. It is so ok to not be ok, and no matter how small or large you feel your problems are. There is a bucket load of support just waiting for you.

True friends are there through thick and thin, the good days, the dark days. The happy days and the sad days. True friends lift us up. Give us a hug, wipe our tears and encourage us to be the best we can be.

Fast forward 10 months since I separated from Wayne and 6 months that and I am happily settled into my new life in Nelson. I am blessed beyond words by the love and friendships I have made and created since I arrived . I have found my Tribe. My support network. My team. My cheer leaders. These friends are right here with me in Nelson. But coming from the Uk. I am also blessed to have many beautiful friends still in Hamilton and around the world. I love nothing more than heading back to Edinburgh and being around my friends who mean the world to me and within minutes its like I have never left. True friends have than impact on your heart. They truly do. No matter how many years pass, once you are reunited , its like you have never left.

I am very lucky that I make friends easily. It might not be the same for you. If you are reading this. Your Tribe is right there just waiting to welcome you with open arms. What's the best way to seek out new friends ...... Search out a club or a creative outlet that inspires you and makes your wheels spin. Join the club. Be brave. Ask out a Mum from Kindy, the school gate or play centre for a coffee. Have an open and friendly approach to everybody that crosses your path and I hope with all of my heart that new friends will naturally start to appear in your life.

I am very very blessed to have many beautiful, inspiring and loving friends, who without a shadow of a doubt have helped me to be the happy go lucky Charley who is right here with you today, tomorrow and forever. Thank you for everything I love you with my whole heart and more.

Anna. MJ. Raza Mate. Sister Em. Sister Lou. Kathy. Suzette. Mandy. Rachel. Michelle. Sharron. Caron. Debbie. Carlene. Vanessa. Emma. Smooth Operator. Marti. Kit Kat. Boo Boo. Em Mc. Foxy. Diane. Christine. Bex.Talia. Leigh. Clare. Tina. Kaz.Thommy. Amy. Marie. Nige. Mark. Josh. Paris. Al .Laura. Heather. Maria. Briony. Liddy. Ron and Spike. Karen Claire.

. Take your best friend out for lunch or dinner. Buy your friends flowers. Babysit there children so they can have a night of. Send an I love you and thank you text to a friend. Send a card to a friend who lives over seas, or even better write them a letter. Head out into nature with your best friend. Lie on your backs and watch the clouds float by. Take a walk through the forest, or a bare foot walk down the beach. Curl up on the couch with a bottle of wine and a large bag of chips and watch a movie. Laugh together. Support love and hug each other.

In love, health and wellness

Charley xx

Spring is a perfect time of the year, to dust of your jandels, peel of your socks and feel the warmth of the sun on your face again. Spring is a beautiful time of the year. Blossom graces the trees and there is a bright new energy in everything we do. Its a perfect time of the year, to throw open all of the windows of your home, let the sunlight come streaming in and to treat your house to a full Spring clean.Get into the cupboard under the stairs. Dare to see what is lurking under your bed, hang your duvet and pillows out for an airing in the sunshine and head to the beach or the bush. Take off your shoes and feel the grounding energy of the earth.

Meanwhile on the other side of the world Autumn is coming. An equally beautiful time of the year to. Autumn is a great time to get into your garden and put it to bed for the winter. The more work you do now the less you will have to do once Spring rolls around again. Many Children are heading back to School after there long Summer holidays. A chance for Mum and Dad to catch there breathe and as a family get back into a routine. Take long walks out in nature and marvel at the changes.

Autumn calls for really nurturing your health and preparing your body to prevent the winter colds and flu. This Turmeric Tonic is a daily must. Turmeric is so good for us. Ginger is a natural anti - inflammatory. Lemon naturally detoxifies and alkalizes the body and lemon will give you a good Vitamin C kick .

You will need

3 tablespoons grated turmeric - fresh is best

3 tablespoons of grated ginger - fresh is best

The juice of 3 lemons

3 teaspoons of honey

A good grind of black pepper to activate the Turmeric

A pinch of Cayenne pepper to boost your metabolism

9 cups of filtered water.

How to

Measure everything into a pot

Bring to a simmer - turn of the heat. Pop on a lid and let it infuse for 30 minutes.

Strain into a mug and enjoy.

The extra can be stored in a glass jug in the fridge

Many of you have made my Green Goddess Dressing. It is a Spring must. To boost your greens and to pour over a salad. Add to roasted veggies. Drizzled over some poached fish. Poured over your poached eggs or drunk straight from the jar it truly is that good.

Once you have made this, you will never use another salad dressing.

You will need

1 clove of garlic

4 tablespoons of organic apple cider vinegar

1 cup of spinach leaves, 1/2 cup of parsley, 1/2 cup of basil leaves

1/2 cup of the green part of Spring onions, roughly chopped.

3 tablespoons of lemon juice

1/4 cup of olive oil

1/4 cup of filtered water

Salt and pepper

How to

Put everything into a blender or NutriBullet and blend until smooth. Pour into a glass jar and this will last in the fridge for 5 days.

My true passions in life are to Inspire - Encourage & Teach. My Nourishing Foods Workshops are going really well here in Nelson. September is all booked up. But if you are looking for an inspiring new way to hang out with your friends. learn some new recipes and take control of your Health and Wellness. Drop me a line.

E charleychopchop@icloud.com

Happy Happy Birthday to all my fellow Virgo's out there. Wishing you all a wonderful month of health, wealth and happiness.

Love and abundant blessings today and always

Charley xx

Kia Ora ..... Welcome . Its been a while since I sat and had a chat with you all. But here I am live from my kitchen table here in Nelson with the sun streaming through the window and I felt inspired to share with you all my thoughts and pondering of the last wee while.

I have been thinking a lot recently about how life is really one long set of stepping stones. When you really reflect on this it will amaze you and make you have a real aha moment of the journey of your life. These stepping stones and your journey come from both good ,difficult and challenging situations. My first stepping stone came from growing up in a beautiful home in a small village called Newby in the heart of North Yorkshire. It was here that I learnt to cook, standing on a stool next to my Mum - Ma. Everything happened for us in the kitchen. We got dressed in the morning, warmed ourselves around the fire on a cold winters afternoon. Our summers were hot and we would spend hours riding around on our bikes and building dens in hedgerows. My heart smiles when I think of these precious memories. Its no surprise that I ended up having a career as a chef, which has allowed me to work and travel around the world.

The next big stepping stone in my life happened at the start of this year when my husband Wayne and I decided openly and honestly with each other that our chapter together as a married couple had come to an end. It was a terribly hard decision to come to , but we needed to be honest. We decided that we would make this huge move with love and respect for each other and I feel incredibly proud of us, for doing just that.

Wayne has stayed in Hamilton and I moved back to Nelson. My spiritual home, a town so bathed in beauty it takes your breathe away everyday. I have a beautiful home with a spectacular view of the ocean. I have connected with and made so many amazing new friends and I feel at home. I love the option of going for a walk down the beach, or in the bush or often by the river. I am back to riding my bike, with a smile spread wide at how lucky I feel to be here and the magic this wonderful town creates for me.

I have had many experiences throughout my life and gained so much life experience as my steps have lead me from one stone to the next. I recently qualified as a Health and Wellness Coach. I feel at the perfect place in my life to help support, encourage, guide and inspire my future clients to Be the Best they can be in all areas of there life.

Charley Chop Chop and my passion for inspiring children and families to eat well will also continue and I feel blessed that I have been able to combine these passions which remain close to my heart.

I will write a blog post here on in ever month. But I felt I should share with you what has been happening.

This month I encourage you to.

Spend time reflecting on your own stepping stone journey, feel proud of every step you have taken.I encourage you all to have dinner sitting at the dining table, use this time to connect with your family. It's a precious time and your children are much more likely to eat all of there dinner to !!Have a good look around my new beautiful website.Drink lots of water, sleep well, laugh often. Be gentle on yourself. Take time out for yourself. Hug often. Eat lots of fruit and vegetables and be happy.

What"s Coming up

Spring into Summer Retreat

5 - 7 October Rongo Retreat, Karamea

Find out more at

www.a-radiant-life.com/retreat

Spaces are limited and filling up fast

Be the sparkle in the world you were born to Be Be Brilliant

Love and blessings today and always Charley xxx

Hip Hip Hurray it's the school holidays!. Some of you might be attending a school holiday programe and other's will be at home. Making your own crafts is a wonderful way to spend time with your children, to see the joy on there faces once you have made that extra effort to make your own crafts is very special indeed.

Let's get started with making your own PAINT. Wowee I bet you didn't even think that was possible, but it is and its very simple to do.

You'll need

1 cup of salt1 cup of plain flour1 cup of wateran assortment of different colored food coloring

Mix the salt, flour and water in a bowl. Separate the mix into 2 and add food coloring of your choice.

I have found the best way to use this paint is to do a finger painting.

PLAY DOUGH is every child's favorite thing to play with so why not make your own.

You'll need

2 cups of plain flour2 tablespoons of vegetable oil1/2 cup of salt2 tablespoons cream of tartarUp to 1.5 cups of boiling water

Mix flour, salt, oil and cream of tartar. Add boiling water into dry ingredients. Stir until sticky, knead until smooth. You can also add to this mix, lemon zest, orange zest, rosemary or cinnamon, for a more natural play dough.If you want it to have color add the food coloring to the boiling water.

Wishing you all a very happy and creative holidays. Why not send me a picture of what you have created as I would love to see it!

Love and blessings

Its been a horrid wet winters weekend here in New Zealand so a perfect chance to make a pot of delicious nutritious soup. I cannot say enough good things about Soup, so here are my top ten things I Love about SOUP !!!

Soup gives us us a daily vegetable boost and gets us closer to our 5+ a day.Soup is filled with heaps of goodness and vitamins and minerals.Soup is cheap to make. Make soup by using vegetables that are in season.A bowl of soup warms us up on a cold evening.Soup is really easy to make.Make soup and freeze for an easy go to supper.Soup is a brilliant way to get your children to eat vegetables.Soup can be served for lunch or supper.Soup bubbling on the stove fills your home with delicious aromas.

TYLER'S ORANGE SOUP

Working as a chef in early childhood education I am blessed to come across children who really touch my heart. Tyler Harvey was one of these children and he loved the orange soup I would make for lunch so to this day it has become Tyler's Orange soup.

You'll need

1 leek chopped2 kumara (sweet potato) peeled and chopped3 large carrots peeled and chopped350g of pumpkin chopped1 lemon remove the rind with a potato peeler2 teaspoons of lemon pepper1 – 1 ½ litres of chicken or vegetable stock

Add a tablespoon of oil to a large pan. Fry the leek with the lemon zest until the leek is soft. Add the kumara, carrots, pumpkin and stock.Simmer for 30 minutes. Blend and check the seasoning and serve in large bowls.

*TIP - this soup freezes really well !

TOMATO AND RED LENTIL SOUP

If you are after a tomato based soup look no further than this recipe!

You'll need

1 brown onion, chopped1 tablespoon of oil2 cloves of garlic, chopped3 x 400 g of chopped tomatoes¾ cup of split red lentils4 cups of chicken or vegetable stock

Heat the oil in a large pot. Cook the onion until it is soft. Add the garlic and cook for another 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes, stock and lentils. Simmer for 20 minutes. Blend and serve.

I love to serve soup with warm buns straight from the oven, but toast or fresh bread both work equally well. Have a wonderful week and happy soup making.

Love and blessings

As a first time Mum, it can be quite overwhelming when it comes to making puree - How do I do it? It's too hard? I don't know where to start ? Do not fear, CHARLEY CHOP CHOP is here!

A child's nutrition is more important in the first years of their lives than any other time. The first 12 months is a time of rapid growth and development, especially for the nervous system and the immune system. Food choices and eating habits are formed in early childhood, so please honor your child by making the best choices for them that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

From six months, your baby is ready to start eating puree. We start with soft, easy to digest puree that we can make in a variety of flavors and colors.

Before we get to the recipes, there is some equipment that will make your life so much easier. You will need a blender. There are so many on the market, you can use a Nutra-Bullet or even a hand held mixer with the small bowl and blade attachment works perfectly well. I use a mini muffin silicone tray for all my purees. I make the puree, place spoonfuls of the mixture into the tray, freeze over night and then place in labelled and dated sandwich bags. Silicon mini muffin tin's are perfect for freezing puree! Once you have made your puree and frozen it, its so easy to pop out a few into a bowl and allow to defrost before feeding. My freezer at work is always full of a variety of sweet and savory puree using seasonal ingredients as these pack the best nutrition punch and are cheaper to. Do your shopping for your puree at your local fruit and veggie shop as it is always much better quality and price. Even better, grow your own!

CARROT, KUMARA AND SILVER BEET PUREE

You'll need

6 large carrots2 large kumara4 leaves of silver beet

Peel and chop the carrot, place in a pan and just cover with water, boil for 10 minutes. Peel and chop the kumara and add to the carrots. Boil for a further 10 minutes. Wash and roughly chop the silver beet and add to the carrots and kumara boil for 5 minutes. Take a few ladle's full of the mixture and place in a blender and blend until smooth. Spoon into your silicone mould and freeze over night. In the morning remove from the tray, pop into a freezer bag (remember to label and date).

Delicious.

BLUEBERRY AND APPLE PUREE

You'll need

6 granny smith apples, these are less sweet than red apples, peeled and chopped.1/2 a cup of blueberries.

Peel and chop the apples add to a pan with 1/2 a cup of water, simmer for 10 minutes with a lid on the pot, stir often until the apples are soft. Add the blueberries and leave in the pan until everything is cold. I just mash this mix with a potato masher, as I feel its good to have a little bit of texture.

Delicious for breakfast, or a mid morning snack.

So there we have it, just look at how easy it is to make puree. Keep your freezer well stocked, so you won't be tempted to buy puree from the supermarket which is full of preservatives, sugar and salt.

Other great combinations to try are: Pumpkin, carrot and spinach. Beetroot and parsnip. Potato pea and spinach. Pear and banana. Let your imagination go wild and your baby will be so happy and Mummy will be to.

Love and blessings

SUMMER, WINTER, RAIN OR SHINE, THIS FROZEN DELIGHT IS SIMPLE SUBLIME!

The wonderous ice block, ice lolly, popsicle, freezer pop, is in my eyes nothing short of magical, and a very clever gentlemen named Frank Epperson of Oakland California brought the ice block to us in the early 1900s and patented his brilliant idea in 1923. So, why do I think they are wonderous?

THE BLUEBERRY AND BANANA ICE BLOCK

Blueberry and banana Ice blocks are perfect for soothing teething and lowering a temperature.

Having worked as a chef in Early Childhood for a number of years I created the banana and blueberry ice block. I blended together blueberries and bananas with a little water, popped them into a mould with some ice block sticks, and let them freeze over night. In the morning they were ready to be eaten.

These ice blocks do not drip, how brilliant! So no need for a change of clothes. They have proved to lower a temperature, soothe the pain of teething and are perfect if your child has fallen over or had a bump or scrape as they bring instant comfort. You can confidently give these to children from the age of 5 months.

You'll need:

2 cups of blueberries1 banana½ – 1 cup of water

Blend the above in a blender until smooth . Pour into your ice block mould. Add your ice block sticks. Freeze overnight for the best results

THE GREEN ICE BLOCK

GREEN ICE BLOCKS TO ENSURE YOUR CHILDREN ARE GETTING THE FRUITS AND VEGGIES THEY NEED FOR A HEALTHY DIET! My sister Emily took these frozen delights onto a whole new level on a recent trip to the UK. Lets not forget that I went over for Christmas so we are talking the middle of winter and freezing cold and as always she so inspired me. Rory her son who is a toddler suddenly refused to eat his veggies. Meal times became difficult and frustrating for both of them, until she had a brilliant idea ! Making a vegetable and fruit ice block, genius.

The result was instant, a very happy Rory, and a very relieved and happy Mummy that her son was enjoying his fruits and veggies even though they came in the form of a frozen ice block. To keep this a secret from your toddler we shall simply call it.

You'll need:

1 ripe banana2 ripe kiwi fruit2 cups of spinach ½ an avocadoA squirt of honey 1.5 cups of coconut water

Place all the ingredients into a blender, whizz until very smooth, this is really important as your toddler will not like it if there are lumps !! Pour into your ice block mould. Add your ice block sticks and freeze overnight for the best results.

So I have given you ice blocks, for teething and knocks and bumps. Ice blocks for feeding your children veggies, oh yes, and why not make these final ice blocks for a delicious healthy treat that can always be on hand in your freezer. These last ice blocks will give your child a good portion of fruit and the coconut water will also help with hydration and its so much healthier than a bowl of ice cream and just as delicious.

RASPBERRY OR STRAWBERRY, MINT AND HONEY ICEBLOCKS

You'll need:

2 cups of raspberries or strawberries fresh or frozen are just as goodA small bunch of mint1 cup of coconut water1 tablespoon of honey

Place all the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into your ice block mould. Add the ice block sticks and freeze overnight for the best results.

I hope you have found this blog helpful, that you feel a little inspired, and I very much look forward to seeing you all again next week.

LOVE AND BLESSINGS