Benefits from drinking Hibiscus Tea

Photo: Erin Kennedy

Hello to one and all!
For this post's topic, I want to write to you about the benefits of drinking Hibiscus tea, and why it is good for you to drink it. I will also explain why some people may need to stay away from Hibiscus tea.

To start off with, I would like to explain what Hibiscus is and then the benefits of drinking hibiscus tea.

What is Hibiscus?
Hibiscus is a plant from the mallow family, which is grown in the warmer climates. Hibiscus plants are known for their large and colorful looking flowers, which are large and trumpet shaped. The hibiscus plant captures our attention with its beauty and tantalizers our taste buds when brewed into a tea.

What is Hibiscus tea?
Hibiscus tea is a herbal tea which is made as an infusion from crimson or deep magenta-colored calyces- sepals - of the roselle plant. The scientific name is Hibiscus sabdariffa. The Hibiscus sabdariffa, also known as Roselle or Sour Tea, is a tea where usually the dark flowers are used for brewing. The Hibiscus sabdariffa is also a species of Hibiscus native to West Africa, and can be used for the production of bast fibres and also as an infusion, which can also be called carcade.
Hibiscus tea can be drunk either hot or cold. Hibiscus tea has a tart-like and cranberry taste to it.
Hibiscus tea is rich in vitamin C and various antioxidants, and can help in treating hypertension as well as anxiety.

Photo: Erin Kennedy

Benefits of drinking Hibiscus tea:
Relief from High Blood Pressure - According to research, which was done at Tufts University in Boston, hibiscus tea can lower blood pressure by up to 10 points because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Hibiscus tea has diuretic properties which increase urination, while simultaneously lowering your blood pressure. While hibiscus tea has diuretic effects, it also has choleretic and effects, thus controlling blood viscosity by reducing the blood pressure.
Helps to cure liver disease - Antioxidants help to protect the human body from diseases because they neutralize the free radicals which are present in the human body's tissues and cells. So drinking hibiscus tea can increase your lifespan, by maintaining good overall health, in many of your organ systems.
Reduces the risk of cancer - Hibiscus tea contains hibiscus protocatechuic acid, which has anti-tumor properties. According to study, hibiscus can slow down the cancerous cells by inducing apoptosis (Also known as programmed cell death). Due to the antioxidants, hibiscus tea can help fight off certain cancers.
Bacterial infections - Hibiscus tea is rich in vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid and L-ascorbic. This is an essential nutrient to help for the growth and repair of tissues for your whole body, and will also help stimulate the activity of your immune system. Therefore, this can help prevent you from getting the cold or flu. Hibiscus tea can help aid discomfort caused by a fever, because if its cooling effect.
Aids digestion - Hibiscus tea can help the digestion system by increasing both the urination and bowel movements. It can also be used to help treat constipation, due to the diuretic properties, and can help improve the health of your gastrointestinal system.
Can help speed up the metabolism and can help with weight management - Studies have shown that the hibiscus extract can lower the absorption of starch and glucose, which can help with weight loss. Drinking hibiscus tea can help fill you up and can effectively help your overall calorie intake. Hibiscus inhibits the production of amylase, which can help with the absorption of carbohydrates and starch, so therefore, drinking hibiscus tea can prevent the absorption from occurring. A study has found that drinking hibiscus tea was able to block sugar and starch absorption.
Can help improve fat absorption - Hibiscus tea can help improve food consumption and efficiency, which means that hibiscus tea can help to process fat from the food you consume, in a way that it gets stored as energy, instead of being stored in your fat cells.

Photo: Erin Kennedy

You can drink hibiscus tea both as a cold and as a hot beverage. For winter, brew the tea and drink it just like regular tea. If you have the hibiscus loose leaves, you can use a strainer to brew your tea.
In summer, you can make an iced tea from hibiscus tea. It may take longer to prepare, but then you can cool yourself off in a refreshing way.

There may be benefits for hibiscus tea, but there are also some side effects from drinking hibiscus tea, and they are:
If you are already suffering from low blood pressure, you should not drink hibiscus tea. Even though hibiscus tea will help lower your blood pressure, it is not ideal for people who are already suffering from low blood pressure to drink hibiscus tea. Also, do not drink hibiscus tea if you are taking blood-pressure medication, unless instructed to do so by your specialist.
Hibiscus tea is not recommended for women who are pregnant, due to the tea's emmenagogue effects, which can stimulate the menstruation or blood flow in the pelvic region. For those of you who are taking birth control pills, it is recommended that you consult your doctor or health specialist first with regard to any consumption of hibiscus tea.
You might develop an allergy toward the tea, such as hay fever or itchy eyes, just keep this in mind.
Drinking too many cups of hibiscus tea can be toxic to your liver. It is crucial to not drink too many cups.
If you are watching your weight, try to avoid adding sugar to your hibiscus tea, or choosing hibiscus tea which already has added sugar.
It is recommended that you should drink up to three cups of hibiscus tea a day, and no more.

Photo: Erin Kennedy

Overall, hibiscus tea has got amazing benefits, but the side effects I have mentioned are not to scare you away, they are just precautions to warn you what could happen. On the plus side, hibiscus tea has a lot of benefits and some great benefits to help you with your weight management. Hibiscus tea is rich in antioxidants, which earned it the status of a "therapeutic agent". The antioxidants in hibiscus tea can help fight free radical damage caused by poor nutrition and exposure to chemicals.

Did you know that almost 15-30% of hibiscus tea is composed of organic acids. These acids are tartaric acid, citric acid and malic acid. These 3 acids can be found in many fruits such as grapes. They can help in boosting immunity, promote better skin, lower cholesterol and blood, manage inflammation and help improve digestive issues.
Lastly, hibiscus tea can help lower high triglycerides, cholesterol and blood sugar, as well as helping to manage healthy weight and prevent liver disease.

You can purchase hibiscus tea from Wellness Warehouse, and also Faithful to Nature from their online store.
Wellness Warehouse: https://www.wellnesswarehouse.com/
Faithful to Nature: https://www.faithful-to-nature.co.za/

I thank you all for taking time to read this blog,
I hope that this information has helped you,
Stay fit and healthy!

Smoothie Bowl recipes

Hello everyone!
For those of you who have read my previous blog post, you can see that I spoke about what the product Wazoogles has to offer.
I have decided to give you some recipe's I have made with regard to smoothie bowls, and I hope that it will inspire you.

What are smoothie bowls?
Smoothie bowls are a thick blend of whole foods, such as: Frozen fruits and vegetables.
The smoothie bowl is almost like an ice-cream base and a smoothie bowl also has a slightly thicker base than your normal smoothie you're used to drinking.
One main way to make your smoothie bowl thicker is to add avocado.
Here are other foods you can use to thicken your smoothie: Oats; Chia Seeds; Frozen fruits like bananas; Yogurt.

Why are they so popular nowadays?
Smoothie bowls seem to be the latest trend nowadays. It could be because of their artsy-style photos.
They could be popular because they have some great qualities, like they contain more fruit than liquids, which makes the smoothie bowl more filling and will keep you fuller for longer.
Instead of sipping on a straw on your smoothie, you are using a spoon, which makes you more of a mindful eater because you also slow down on your eating.
Another amazing feature about a smoothie bowl has got to be the toppings you put on them. You can decorate them in any way you want.  You can decorate the smoothie bowl with coconut flakes, chia seeds, banana slices, berries, basically anything you wish to decorate your smoothie bowl.
This adds an additional opportunity for you to add more health benefits to your smoothie bowl.
Smoothie bowls can also be a great health benefit for you.

Here are some of the recipe's I have made thus far:
Green bowl:
1 Scoop Wazoogles Plant Power
1 tsp OhMega Nut Butter Peanut Butter
4 tsp Nature's Heart Superfoods Alkalising Superpowder
About 2 cups Bluediamond Unsweetened Almond Milk - Try and have enough liquid
1 Cup Spinach
1 Frozen Banana
1/2 Avocado
Topped with:
Soaring Free Superfoods Berry Burst
Coconut Flakes
Chia Seeds
Rolled oats
Cinnamon

Benefits: Alkaline superfoods: Help balance the pH level of fluid in the human body which includes the blood and urine.
Spirunlina: A natural "algae" powder that is very high in protein and has a good source of antioxidants and B vitamins. Spirulina is one of the most potent nutrient sources available, when harvested correctly.
Spinach: Low in fat and cholesterol, and spinach is high in niacin, zinc, fiber, vitamins A, C, E and K, B6, folate, iron, copper and calcium.

Purple bowl:
1 Serving Wazoogles Unicorn Berry Protein Blend
1 Sachet of Buttanut Tree But Butters Cinnamon Macadamia Spread
About 2 cups Bluediamond Unsweetened Almond Milk
1/2 Beetroot - chopped finely
1/2 Avocado
1 Frozen Banana
Cinnamon
Handful of Raspberries and blueberries
1 Frozen Strawberry
Topped with:
Chia Seeds
Coconut Flakes
Mixed Nuts
Granola
Soaring Free Superfoods Berry Burst

Benefits: Berries: Antioxidants, also called anthocyanins, which helps to keep your memory sharp and the berries also contain ellagic acid which is a compound with anti-cancer properties.
Beetroot: Is high in immune-boosting vitamin C, fiber and essential minerals such as potassium - healthy nerve and muscle function - and manganese - good for the human bones, liver and kidneys.
Beetroot contains the B vitamin folate, which will help reduce the risk of birth defects.

Chocolate bowl:
1 Serving Chocolate Moondust Protein Blend
1 Frozen Banana
2 Heaped tsp Soaring Free Superfoods Chocolate Shake
2 tsp Buttanut Tree Nut Butters Cinnamon Macadamia Spread
1/2 Avocado
Cinnamon
About 2 cups Bluediamond Unsweetened Almond Milk
Topped with:
Soaring Free Superfoods Berry Burst and Maca Xpresso raw chocolate
My Protein Pantry High Protein White Chocolate Bark
Trek Cocoa Peanut Peak Protein Chunks
Nature's Heart Superfoods Cacao-Covered Goldenberry
Granola
Chia seeds
Nuts

Benefits: Raw Cacao: Has 40 times more antioxidants than blueberries, is the highest plant-based source of iron, is full of magnesium for the heart and brain and has more calcium than cow's milk.
Macadamia: Are a rich source of vitamin A and a rich source of iron, protein, thiamin, folates and riboflavin. Macadamias contain antioxidants such as Amino acids and selenium. Macadamias also contain a moderate amount of zinc, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus.
Chia seeds: An excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, is rich in antioxidants and they provide fiber, calcium and iron.

Coffee bowl:
1 Serving Wazoogles Kung-Fu Coffee Protein Blend
1 Frozen Banana
1/2 Apple
1/2 Avocado
1 tsp OhMega Nut Butters Almond Butter
4 tsp Nature's Heart Superfoods Vitalising Superpowder
1/2 Handful of Blueberries and Raspberries
About 2 cups Bluediamonds Unsweetened Almond Milk
Topped with:
Soaring Free Superfoods Berry Burst
Apple Slices
Coconut Flakes
Granola
Nature's Heart Superfoods Raw cacao-covered Goldenberry
Almonds
Chia Seeds

Benefits: Maca Root (In the Wazoogles Kung-Fu Coffee Protein Blend): A plant that helps adapt to the needs of the human hormones and immune system.
Raw Tumeric: The raw tumeric in the Vitalising Superpowder will help boost digestion, will help to provide relief of stomach issues and has good anti-inflammatory properties. Raw tumeric is also good for the skin and is a good antiseptic.
Banana: Helps to maintain low blood pressure because banana is rich in potassium, and also fiber. Bananas is a good source to help prevent cancer, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
The fiber, vitamin C and B6 found in bananas can help support heart health.

Vanilla bowl:
1 Serving Wazoogles Vanilla Sky Protein Blend
2 tsp Youthliving Natural Peanut Butter
4 tsp Nature's Heart Superfoods Cacao+ Superpowder
About 2 cups Bluediamonds Unsweeteend Almond Milk
1 Avocado
1 Frozen Banana
1/2 Dragon Fruit
Cinnamon
Topped with:
Banana Slices
My Protein Pantry Red Velvet Protein Bites
Soaring Free Superfoods Trail Blaze
Clicks Smartbite Coconut Chips

Benefits: Dragon Fruit: Has a good number of phytonutrients (Substance found in certain plants which could be beneficial to human health). Dragon Fruit is also rich in anti-oxidants and contain vitamin C, several B vitamins for carbohydrate metabolism.
Avocado: Is incredibly nutritious as avocado's have more potassium than bananas, and have a good amount of fiber in them. Avocados is loaded with vitamins such as vitamins K, C, B5, E and B6. Avocados is a high fat food, containing monounsaturated fatty acids. Avocados can also lower cholesterol and Triglyceride levels. Lastly, avocados can help absorb nutrients from plant foods, as studies have shown that consuming avocado with vegetable can increase the amount of antioxidants a person takes in.

You can get these products from Wellness Warehouse and Faithful to Nature. Here are their online websites below:
Wellness Warehouse: https://www.wellnesswarehouse.com/
Faithful to Nature: https://www.faithful-to-nature.co.za/
These website are also online stores, so you can purchase online.
You can also order online with Nature's Heart Superfoods. Below is their website:
Website: http://www.naturesheartsuperfoods.co.uk/
Here is their website page indicating where you can purchase their products: http://www.naturesheartsuperfoods.co.uk/where-to-buy

Here are the official website for the following products I used:
Wazoogles: https://wazoogles.com/
Soaring Free Superfoods: https://www.rawlicious.co.za//
Bluediamonds Almonds: http://bluediamondalmonds.co.za/
OhMega Nut Butter: http://www.ohmega.co.za/products/
Buttanut Tree Nut Butters: https://www.buttanutt.co.za/
Trek products: https://www.naturalbalancefoods.co.uk/trek-protein-bars/
Nature's Delicacies (distributor for Trek products): http://www.naturesdelicacies.co.za/
My Protein Pantry: https://myproteinpantry.com/
Clicks: https://clicks.co.za/

Thank you so everyone who took the time read this blog!
Thanks!

My Review of Wazoogles

Hello to everyone!
This new blog is an introduction to none other than Wazoogles Superfood Protein Blend.
In this blog, I shall be explaining who Wazoogles is, what flavors they come in and why it is good to use their product.

First, let me explain who Wazoogles is:
Wazoogles is a 100% organic superfood blend that contains no refined sugars, preservatives, flavorants, gluten or additives.
Wazoogles ingredients are made of nutrient-dense plants that they source worldwide. Wazoogles is also 100% vegan and contains pea protein instead of whey protein.
Some other ingredients in a Wazoogles protein blend are: Hemp seeds, Chia seeds, Lucuma fruit and Mesquite.
These are the main ingredients in all Wazoogles packs.

Source: Wazoogles Facebook page.

These amazing superfoods have such fantastic benefits, such as: These superfoods have cancer-fighting antioxidants, have antidepressant benefits, they boost your energy, they help boost your immune system and they are rich in calcium and magnesium.
These are only a few benefits of superfoods, and they do help you to live a healthy lifestyle.

The 4 characters featured on the Wazoogles packs.
Source: Wazoogles Facebook page.

Wazoogles Superfood Protein Blend come in a variety of flavors, which are the following:
Chocolate Moondust - Contains Criollo cacao.
Unicorn Berry - Contains Hibiscus flower and Camu Camu berry.
Plant Power - Contains Moringa leaf, Spirulina and Baobob fruit.
Kung-Fu Coffee - Contains Turkish ground espresso.
Vanilla Sky - Contains Madagascan vanilla pod.

All 5 flavors of Wazoogles.
Left to right: Chococlate Moondust, Kung-Fu Coffee, Unicorn Berry, Vanilla Sky and Plant Power.
Source: Wazoogles Facebook page.

I have tried all 5 flavours and believe me, using this protein blend will get your taste buds going wild.
I do want to say this to you, it depends what flavors you like most. If you love coffee, then try out the Kung-Fu Coffee. If you love berries, then try out the Unicorn Berry. It all depends what you like.
I first started off with Vanilla Sky, and then expanded to all flavors.
One thing I have to say, when you open any of these Wazoogles bags, whichever flavor you choose, you can smell that flavor of the one you choose. The smell is radiant.
I find that the Kung-Fu Coffee and the Plant Power is a great superfood protein blend to use in the morning to help kick-start your day. This is just my own opinion and I find that these flavors are best for the morning.
For my post-workout drink, I like to use Chocolate Moondust and Vanilla Sky.
The Unicorn Berry I would use either use in the morning or post-workout, they are good either way. In actual fact, any flavor is good either way, this is just my opinion.

You can use Wazoogles as one of the following:

• Smoothie
• Smoothie Bowl
• Post-workout shake
• You can also use Wazoogles protein blend for baking, if you wish to add extra protein into your baking goodies.

If you purchase the 500g Wazoogles bag, you can re-use that bag again to freeze your smoothie/post-workout ingredients in it (That's a bonus!). On these Wazoogles bags, there is information that is interesting to read about, and on the bag you can see how to use Wazoogles and what they are all about.

You can check out their website, as well as their social media platforms below:
Website: https://wazoogles.com/
You should definitely look at their story and why they decided to start the brand Wazoogles. It really is an interesting read.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wazoogles
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wazoogles
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wazoogles/
They have a hashtag which you can use when you want to share your smoothie idea or baking goodies on social media, with the hashtag #WazooglesWednesday and they then get to see your creation. (You use this hashtag on Wednesdays)
They do reply to your messages, so you are welcome to ask them any questions with regard to their product.

You can purchase Wazoogles at Wellness Warehouse, on their own website or you can order Wazoogles packs from Faithful to Nature online (Faithful to Nature's delivery time is quite fast. I once ordered on a Black Friday, which was one of their busiest days to order, and my Wazoogles pack was delivered within a week. Now that is fast!)
Here are their websites:
Wellness Warehouse: https://www.wellnesswarehouse.com/
Faithful to Nature: https://www.faithful-to-nature.co.za/

Source: Wazoogles Facebook page.

Overall, I would definitely recommend you use Wazoogles Superfood Protein Blend because they are organic certified and are packed with nutrient-dense superfoods, and their product will most definitely benefit you on your healthy journey.
When I first started using Wazoogles, I have not looked back. I truly believe that their product has helped me on my healthy journey.

Their logo is a unicorn. Why do you ask? Well, in my opinion, I believe that Wazoogles has such amazing superfoods, that they work like magic.
So when you purchase a Wazoogles pack, think like a Unicorn. Think of all the absolutely amazing creations you can make with Wazoogles protein blend! Besides smoothie bowls and post-workout shakes, you can find creativity in other foods. Think flapjacks, pancakes, date balls, brownies and even snack bars! Let your mind explore and let your inner unicorn shine with creativity!

Here is an example of a smoothie bowl if you are looking for inspiration:
Ingredients:
1/2 Avocado
1 scoop Wazoogles Chocolate Moondust (12g protein)
1 Apple - chopped
1 Banana - chopped
400ml Coconut milk
A couple of blueberries - chopped
A few Raspberries - chopped
1 teaspoon Peanut Butter
Cinnamon
Method:
Blend all ingredients to together until smooth.
Place smoothie into a bowl.
Top the smoothie bowl with rolled oats, chia seeds and berries - I used Soaring-Free Superfoods Berry Burst. (There's a link on Soaring-Free Superfoods so you can check out their page)

Pictured above is the smoothie bowl I made.

Thank you to everyone to has taken the time to read this blog,
I do hope this has inspired you!
So get out there and grab a bag of Wazoogles!
Thanks for reading!

Original photo taken by Erin.

Year 2017

Hello to every single person in the whole wide world!
Can you believe that are are already done with 2017? As I am typing this, we are only a few hours away from 2018.
I can still remember going to see my grandmother and while I was there, I started practicing Yoga sequences, and that was in January, and I still feel like that happened just the other day.
Anyhow, let's get down to business, here are a few highlights of what happened in 2017:

• Hurricane Irma became the most powerful Atlantic Ocean hurricane in record history with winds of 185mph. (This was scary!)
• North Korea tested the first successful intercontinental ballistic missile in Sea Japan.
• Donald Trump was in augurated as the 45th President of the United States of America.
• The tragic suicide bombing attack at the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester which killed 22 and 59 injured. (This was tragic!)
• Floods and landslides in Sri Lanka which killed at least 151 people.
• Mark Zuckerberg received an honorary degree from Harvard University after dropping out in 2004, and Mark Zuckerberg announced that Facebook reached 2 billion monthly followers.
• The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum opened in Springfield, Massachusetts.
• British actor Daniel Day-Lewis announced his retirement of acting.
• Canada celebrated their 150 years since it's formation.
• BBC announced that the first female Doctor Who will be played by Jodie Whittaker.
• Great Britain's Prince Philip aged 96, made his final solo public appearance before retiring from public engagements.
• Actress Emma Stone is the 2017 highest-paid actress.
• 8.2 Earthquake hit South-West of Pijijiapan, Mexico, killing at least 90 people. This is the strongest Mexican quake in history. (This is so sad!)
• Leonardo da Vinci's painting "Salvator Mundi" was sold for $450.3 million at an auction in New York City, and this marks the world record price for any artwork.
• Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their engagement.
• The first pizza party in space was held by astronauts of the International Space Station.
• The Walt Disney Company bought most of 21st Century Fox for $52.4 billion.
• Star Wars: The Last Jedi took more than $450 million worldwide in it's opening weekend, and the 2nd largest opening in North America with $220 million.
• This year there has been a huge crisis with the water in Western Cape. There are now signs everywhere to ask everyone to help save water as the Western Cape is heading for a drought. (With this, I urge everyone who lives in the area to please help reduce your water intake, and save every drop!! It is a huge crisis!)
• The movie Split had a stunning opening weekend with $40.2 million in ticket sales.
• Clearwater Marine Aquarium rescued 3 otter kits, responded to over 230 animals rescues and rescued, rehabbed and released 29 sea turtles.

2017 Deaths:

Over the course of 2017, there had been sadly many deaths of beloved ones. My heart goes out to all of you who lost your loved ones as I do know how this feels!

Sadly, we have to say goodbye to the following people:

Chester Bennington; Tilikum the orca; Sir Roger Moore; Mary Taylor Moore; Adam West; Robert Hardy; Martin Landau; Michael Bond; Hugh Hefner; Miguel Ferrer and John Hurt.
To Tilikum, or Tilly, I am sure you are in a happy place now. It was sad to see you go! You will solely be missed!

A few talented people, and animal, who sadly passed away during 2017.

My drawing on Tilikum earlier this year.

This year, I also had to say goodbye to my grandmother, who unexpectedly passed away at the beginning of the year. She had been one of the main people in my life that has been there for me, and that has supported me throughout the years. I can still remember going to see her and my grandfather, and wanting to go and sleep over by them. I can still remember being excited whenever my mother said "We are going to go visit your grandmother". I also had such great memories with my gran, there are so many I can say, but for now, I can tell you I had an opportunity to be featured on the  "Expresso Show", and my gran was only going to come and sit with me, but not be on the show. When we got to the location, no one else arrived, so the team asked if my gran could sit with me and be on the show, and she said yes. We had such fun at the place, and when we saw ourselves on the TV, it was so quick that we joked about it and laughed so much our stomachs hurt. Ah this was a memory I will not forget.

I miss her terribly! I know how painful it is to see someone you love go. It is not a nice feeling at all.

My grandmother who sadly passed away this year.
I MISS YOU GRANNY!

During 2017, there have been great movies that came out this year, and here they are, to name a few: Star Wars: The Lady Jedi; Kingsman: The Golden Circle; Fifty Shades Darker; Logan; Justice League; Baby Driver; Ferdinand; Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle; Thor: Ragnarok; Coco; Wonder Woman; Baywatch; IT; Spiderman: Homecoming; Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol.2; Captain Underpants; Wonder; Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man Tell No Tales; Kong: Skull Island; Murder on the Orient Express; Despicable Me: 3; Cars 3; The Dark Tower; The Lego Batman Movie and The Lego Ninjago Movie.

As of December 31st in 2017, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle had grossed $169.8 million in the U.S and in Canada, $153 million in other territories, and for a worldwide total of $322.8 million.
As of December, Star Wars: The Last Jedi had grossed $517.1 million in the U.S and Canada. The movie also grossed $523.3 million in other territories and for a worldwide total of $1.040 billion. The movie had a worldwide opening of $450.8 million and was the 5th biggest film of all time, which included the amount $40.6 million, that was allocated from IMAX screenings, which was the second biggest for IMAX.
Kingsman: The Golden Circle had grossed $100.2 million in the U.S and in Canada. The film also grossed $295.3 million in other territories and for a worldwide total of $395.5 million against a production budget of $104 million. In North America, the film was released at the same time The Lego Ninjago movie was released, and was projected to gross $40 to 45 million in the opening weekend.
Fifty Shades Darker grossed $115.4 million in the Unites States and in Canada. The film also grossed a worldwide total of $381 million, against a production budget of $55 million. The film grossed $97.8 million in its opening weekend, which the film was also the fourth largest R-rated international opening of all-time. The top grossing locations for this film was Germany with $11 million, in the United Kingdom with $9.7 million and in France with $8.7 million.

A few movies released during 2017.

Also during 2017, there have been fantastic music albums that were released this year, and here they are, to name a couple:

Butcher Babies-Lilith; Evanescence-Synthesis; Halestorm-Reanimate 3.0 the Covers EP; The Letter Black-Pain;In This Moment-Ritual; Motionless in White-Graveyard Shift; Arch Enemy-Will to Power;Ed Sheeran-divide; Bethal Music-Starlight; In Flames-Down, Wicked & No Good; Our Last Night-Selective Hearing; Taylor Swift-Reputation; James Maslow-How I like it; James Blunt-The Afterlove; Take That-Wonderland; The Chainsmokers-Memories...Do Not Open; Katy Perry-Witness; While She Sleeps-You Are We; Lindsey Stirling-Warmer in Winter; Linkin Park-One More Light; Paramore-After Laughter; Bee Gees-Timeless: The all-time Greatest Hits; All That Remains-Madness; Nickelback-Feed the Machine; Shakira-El Dorado; Seether-Poison the Parish; Harry Styles-Harry Styles and David Garrett-Rock Revolution.

A few music albums released during 2017.

The heavy metal band Butcher Babies released their album "Lilith" this year, as well as 2 new music videos from this album, but here is one of their latest music video:


The rock band Evanescence released their new album "Synthesis" this year, which does not sound like the other Evanescence music, but Amy has stated that the latest album is going in a different direction. Here is their latest music video from their latest album:


The alternative metal band In This Moment released their album "Ritual" this year, which had songs that are more raw from their other music. Here is one of their latest music video from this album:


The metalcore band Motionless in White released their album "Graveyard Shift" this year. They also released a music video this year from this album:


The singer Taylor Swift released her new album "Reputation" this year, along with a new music video. This song broke many records, including the most played song on Spotify and the most watched music video in 24 hours. Here is the song:


The melodic death metal band Arch Enemy released their album "Will to Power" this year. Here is their latest music video released this year, and this music video was directed by Patric Ullaeus:

On a more personal note:

This year marks 1 full year, plus a few months, since I have started my fitness journey. I can honestly say that I feel much more stronger and fit. I have started practicing Yoga since the beginning of the year. In 2016, I discovered the Youtube channel "Yoga with Adrienne", which features multiple videos, and Adrienne had said on her Youtube channel that she will start, in January 2017, a "Yoga Revolution". Since I was not sure exactly where to start with Yoga, I started the "Yoga Revolution", and then from then on I have practiced Yoga each day. I can tell you that the one person that inspired me to actually start practicing Yoga was Caralishious. I thank her for the huge inspiration and for also having such healthy recipes to look at on her website.

I have also started performing workouts and mostly, Yoga sequences, from the website Spotebi.

Spotebi is a fantastic website for women who will absolutely love following Spotebi's workouts. these workouts are designed so you can perform these workouts int eh comfort of your own home, and you also don't need much equipment for the workouts. One of the main equipment tools you need are dumbbells.

I now workout 6 days a week, and I feel that it is well worth the time. Also remember though, even if you are working out, remember to also eat healthy as well. That is priority!

I have adapted to a healthier approach to food.

This year, thanks to my dear mother, I started following the 12 week-program from BodyBoss Method. This is a definite must try for all ladies as this workout program is mostly based on your own bodyweight. This program only requires minimal workout equipment, and you can also substitute equipment if you need to. With this program, you can actually perform these workouts anywhere, and at any time. You only need 24 minutes, 3 days a week, for the actual workout and believe me, you will thank yourself for getting this book.
I also took the August, September and October challenge from Women's Health SA. In August, there was the 10 push-ups a day challenge for 30 days, September was to do 50 sit-ups a day for 30 days and October was a Yoga October challenge where you performed a different pose each day, and I was so lucky as I won the Yoga October Challenge! YAY! Thank YOU Women's Health!
This year I was also featured on Lucy Wyndham-Read's Youtube channel. I do feel that I have achieved a goal this year, which was to be featured on Youtube. I felt so proud and honored to be featured on her channel.
I still follow Lucy Wyndham-Read's videos from her Youtube channel. I have followed all her monthly challenges and still find other videos off her channel.
Here is the videos I was featured on, taken from my Instagram post:

A post shared by Andria 🍓🌸🐾 (@andriamackinnon) on Jul 27, 2017 at 1:40am PDT

With regard to what health products I have used during the course of the year, I have used USN protein shakes, and also the GNC Soft Chews - which I absolutely loved! I still use Herbex products, but mostly the fat concentrate drink. I also started using the Evox protein shake as well, but then as I walked into a Wellness Warehouse, I discovered a new protein shake by the name of "Wazoogles", now that is an amazing protein blend to have. The ingredients Wazoogles contains are organic based food and when you open the packet, I am not joking, you can smell the flavor its contains. One flavor I do love is "Chocolate Moondust", and when I open that packet, I can smell the chocolate goodness. This is the same for the other flavors as well, such as "Unicorn Berry" and "Kung Fu Coffee". The smell of these flavors are amazing! If you can, I highly suggest you get Wazoogles and see how that protein works out for you.
Another healthy product I came across is the "Nanuki" chocolate bar. This bar is made with superfoods, which is wrapped around rich dark chocolate, but this bar does not contain any refined sugars, dairy or egg. A fantastic bar to have whenever you feel like eating a snack. In 2017, they released a brand new flavor called "Matcha Explosion" which you can guess, contains matcha powder in the bar. This flavor bar tastes so good and super delicious!
This matcha powder is fantastic if you want to try and drink matcha: http://www.get-matcha.com/

I am still a vegetarian, and this year marks 4 years without any meat on my plate at all! I must say I do feel great about that. I don't honestly eat a lot of egg, nor do I consume much dairy products anymore. This year, I decided to use almond milk or soy milk instead as these are great milk alternative's to have instead of cow's milk.

This was also the first year I got to experience being in the snow. I can tell you it is freezing, and yes, super cold! It is always good though to experience what it is like to be in snow. I even exercised in the snow.
Here is my one post on Instagram where I spoke about the snow I experienced:

Happy #MondayMotivation to all #fitfam 🤼‍♀️🤸🏼‍♀️🏋🏼‍♀️⛹🏼‍♀️🤾🏼‍♀️🏌🏼‍♀️🏊🏻‍♀️🏄🏼‍♀️🤽🏻‍♀️🚴🏼‍♀️🚣🏼‍♀️💚 "Sometimes, all we need is a little change in our lives to appreciate the wonders of nature" - Words by me. What I mean by this is at times, we just need a change of scenery or just a change of things in our lives, in order to appreciate what nature has for us. Like in this photo, it was my very first experience in snow ❄️ and I appreciate Mother Nature for letting me experience what I haven't before. And yes, I even exercised with the cold weather as well, and it still felt amazing! So enjoy a change of scenery and enjoy a little change sometimes. Have a happy week and stay fit and healthy and live strong 💪🏻! Happy Monday! #happyday #happy #smile #happymonday #monday #mondayfun #monslay #snow #snowflake #wellbeing #stayfitandhealthy #inspiration #quotes #motivation #goodmorning #instahealth #healthygirl #healthyjourney #fitnessgirl #fitnessjourney #fitness2017 #healthyliving #instafitness #happytimes #strong

A post shared by Andria 🍓🌸🐾 (@andriamackinnon) on Jul 17, 2017 at 1:38am PDT

For those of you who are interested in the Wazoogles Protein blend, you can check out their website and social media sites below:
Website: https://wazoogles.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wazoogles/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wazoogles/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wazoogles
For those of you who are interested in the Nanuki superfood bars, you can check out their website, as well as their social media website below:
Website: https://www.nanuki.co.za/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nanukichocolate/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nanukisa/
For those whoa re interested in the BodyBoss Method program, you can find the program here:
Website: https://www.bodyboss.com/method
For those who are interested in looking up the Spotebi workouts, you can find their website, social media websites and Youtube channel below:
Wesbite: https://www.spotebi.com/
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyHOyk3jHUsWquS8e1DnR-Q
Twitter: https://twitter.com/spotebi
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spotebi/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spotebi/

In 2018, I will definitely try to post a blogs more regularly.
I do hope all of you had a great year and you are all looking forward to the New Year. For those of you with New Year Resolution's, try to keep to those resolution's and commit to them.
Oh happy days ahead! Enjoy the New Year!
2017, it was great knowing you! Now onto the road of 2018 and see what is in store for us there...
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2018!

Goodbye 2017! I can look back and see what memories I have made, but it is time to see what is in store for 2018!
2018 I will be staying as fit and as healthy as I can be!