a tropical lifestyle blog by singer & songwriter, indra | "kingdom call" album – February 17
Greetings, so today the blog has officially reached readers in 111 islands and countries. Thanks very much to everyone who’s been here for awhile and to those who are now finding it or eventually will. I started what’s now called itsjoywithin.com to the sound of crickets on a farm in Bim and it’s organically grown […]
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Having access to real food is something to be thankful for, and growing food and cooking a meal with some or all of what you grow is a beautiful thing. Even if that looks like a few herbs in a cup on your kitchen sill, spinach or watermelon climbing up a fence or picking fruits […]
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Greetings, today’s vlog shares a visit to an art studio with a beautiful view of the Jura Mountains, a drive through the vineyards of Vaud cruising past The Alps, seagulls liming by a lake and baking penne pie. This was my third trip to Switzerland but the first time seeing these mountain views and what […]
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Harmony – “agreement, accord, an orderly or pleasing combination of elements in a whole. A relationship in which various components exist together without destroying one another.” If you’ve been here for a bit you might remember this but if you’re new, sharing something I love to do and have done for countless artists – harmonies. […]
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If you (like me) have ever been through a storm or the enemy tried to snuff you out, steal your joy, test your character, scare the stuffin’ outta you, step on your faith, drain you of hope and out your light…you already understand that redeemed time, peace of mind, fresh purpose and mercy of the […]
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Swans, seagulls, geese, a shag bird and a frozen fountain are just some of the things you’ll see in the vlog coming up. Greetings sis, today’s post shares some easy-to-make vegetarian meals, a relaxing walk in a park, green juice making and a boatride by a river. I’ve been enjoying doing more video editing these […]
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Greetings, I hope things are bright on your side. A short video to share with you and a light reminder that as long as you have breath and the gift of life, there’s hope. Something can come from what looks like nothing, and a stormy season can break forth into a blue sky. Onto that […]
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Recently it’s been chilly and as I type this, it’s -7 °C. Today’s post is a relaxing vlog sharing cold weather walks and three cosy vegetarian meals to make:
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5 °C and out for a walk. Today, the sky is a soft grey. Some trees are holding onto their leaves for as long as they can before winter turns up the volume, and some trees look like stalks of fine thyme after you’ve raked fingers up along the stems to add every single leaf […]
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It can seem a bit overwhelming at first : but you don’t have to know every – single – thing about the entire journey to take a series of steps forward. Procrastination, temptation to compare, intimidation, insecurities, being out-down, flashbacks of former fails and feelings of being overwhelmed by tech can tug at any of us and stir up […]
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Greetings, short post to share a new video but before that I hope you had or are still having a blessed day. So, “Tears They Fall” dub plate WavZ session filmed at Culture Mix is now on Evidence Music‘s YT. Here’s the link to watch it and lyrics to read. Sometimes (only some) I just […]
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Greetings, it’s been a little while – not ’cause I forgot to post or anything like that but have been traveling and recording recently, and blog writing is different from songwriting. One thrives in quiet and the other naturally fuses with pockets of stillness, pressing topics and obvious sound, sometimes at full volume. Today I […]
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Breadfruit is a healthy, filling and delicious staple that grows on a tree in tropical places. It’s a very versatile food that can be boiled, baked, roasted, pickled or fried, and when over-ripe – even blended into drink or made into a dessert. Today, we’re boiling breadfruit, not til it’s soft enough to mash but […]
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Blessed day. It’s no secret that naturally-grown (otherwise known as organic) fruits, vegetables and provisions are good for our health but a lot of the time the nutritious value of the leaves springing from these same plants don’t get as much attention as they could. This wasn’t always so, but change in the name of […]
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Soursop, full of nutrients yet low in calories and high in fibre, folic acid, protein and flavour. It’s a very juicy fruit but like the name says, not the sweetest yet still one of the healthiest natural foods that grows mostly in South America and The Caribbean. There’s a tree in the yard and I’ve […]
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Ever since volunteering as a farmer for a year awhile back, gardening has become one of the beautiful additions to my life. Saving seeds, tending to plants, digging up soil, composting, watering, monitoring weeds and pests, moving stubborn rocks from future garden beds, hands in the earth tilling willing soil, lifting buckets of one things […]
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Blessed love beautiful people, today is the official launch of “Shine On You“ – the first single from my upcoming album “Kingdom Call.” For anyone who has been through a struggle or is on the way to overcoming one all now, this reggae soul anthem is comfort food for the soul and shares a message […]
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The next time you want a light yet filling vegetarian-friendly meal, how about making turmeric rice and brown lentil stew? With the current warnings about global food access, learning how to make resourceful yet tasty meals is something to consider. Today’s recipe features 2 dry ingredients that can be stored well to last long and […]
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Time…it’s one of the first things that comes up when many of us either think about nurturing ourselves, whether it’s stepping up our skin-or-hair care routine, eating better, getting more movement in, reading that book, or starting some other healthy habit. Yet, when we purposely carve out time or recognize moments that align with those […]
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The new Duronic Slow Juicer arrived and I thought I’d share a short review of it. Since the first green juice post is a crowd favourite here on the blog, there’s a recipe for another blend in this post too. I was advised to get a slow-pressed juicer rather than a conventional one because it […]
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Hi, let’s make some breadfruit cou-cou with curry bodi (long beans) and greens, plus a bonus snack from the leftovers. Have you heard of or tried breadfruit before? If so, you might know already that it can be prepared and eaten so many different ways – roasted whole or sliced and fried like chips, boiled […]
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100 countries? On ‘Top 45 Caribbean Lifestyle Blogs & News Websites To Follow‘ by FeedSpot amidst all those big budget companies 2 years and counting? With no paid promotion, blogging on a phone for a year with dinky wifi half the time – working from home before it was trendy these days? God is good, […]
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Breadfruit trees decorate many roadsides of the country and parts of the coast in and around Barbados. Although it’s a fruit, like its name says it’s bready in texture and makes a healthy, wholesome staple that’s so versatile it could be added to most menus on any given day. Otherwise known as ‘Ulu in Hawai’i […]
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Hey, how’s your day going so far sis? Hopefully not overwhelming and if it is, sending compassion your way. One of the lessons I’ve learned along the way is that life doesn’t need to seem glamorous to others (or us) to be precious. Sometimes, having everything handed to us without any effort stirs up a […]
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Hi, let’s make some healthy and delicious okra soup that’s full of flavour and vegetarian-friendly. Of course you can add something else you think will go well or better with these ingredients.This is my standard recipe that I tweak every now and then. Sometimes bean or rice noodles are in the mix or a few […]
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An early start on a bright and breezy day in a place called Portugal. The first mission was to visit a place neither of us had been to before – an olive oil factory. Growing up in The Caribbean, I’ve used oils my whole life. From being given cod liver oil, castor oil and shark […]
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Greetings, here’s a short video of a trip to Portugal. You’ll see: Thanks for coming by and reading today’s post. Your visit to itsjoywithin.com means a lot. In this 9-year journey of blogging, there have been over 300 articles with online writing steps, work at home tips, creative career talks, recipes, encouragement and multimedia refreshment […]
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A little time amidst creation or even a few moments watching a nature video can inspire lighter thoughts and a brighter state of mind and being. Hope this short video from our nature walk does just that and more for you today, sweet sister.
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It’s a natural brain food, hair growth herb, immune system support, soup flavour enhancer, skin rejuvenator that’s also rich in antioxidants – rosemary. This herb has been used throughout centuries, generations and in several different locations and traditions. Today it’s all about re-growing or propagating the fragrant rosemary from cuttings taken from a healthy plant. […]
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“See dem in the distance
Hear it on the news
Read it in the paper
In dem interviews
Read between the lines
Decipher all the signs
Pray that we’ll be wise
To see through dem disguise, ya betta
Run dem out…”
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Anyone else have days when you want to eat something light, fresh, healthy and (mostly) un-cooked for lunch? Salads can make light yet filling lunches and be more than a miscellaneous colourful addition to a hot meal, tucked away at the side of a plate. With a little innovation, adding different combinations of flavours, textures, […]
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Today’s theme is fast-becoming a hot topic around the map. Gardening – growing and storing food, to be precise. Along with being a means of producing food in front of our very eyes and enhancing our physical and mental health, gardening can also lead to a lighter shopping bill at harvest time, provision at home […]
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The world is noisy. If it isn’t the news, it’s notifications or people voicing opinions and asking interview-style questions left, right and center. It’s not that it bothers me; more like it unappealing and can be more than a little unnerving – the noise of it all. It’s not that I don’t have thoughts or […]
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5 ingredients and 10 mins. is all it takes to make and enjoy a green juice that can enhance your health in a multitude of ways. The fact that it’s a juice and not a smoothie means it’s taking all the fiber out (separating it from the juice) so you’ll be taking in a concentrated […]
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When’s the last time you went on a slow nature walk, where you weren’t pressed to rush back home, meet anyone or do anything else right after? Nature walks can be so therapeutic; nourishing to the soul and our state of mind before during and after. You don’t need to save up to do it, and […]
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Hi sis, how are you today? The answer isn’t really my business but i still care. By the way, guys who are subscribed to this blog and reading now, y’all are always welcome here. No offense intended when you see ‘sis’ ok? All of us have been through something – a challenge, encounter or storm […]
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What first comes to your mind when you think of “quiet mornings?” It’s no secret I enjoy them. Anyone who knows me well knows this. Do you? If so, what’s your favourite thing about them – and yes, you can totally mention the amazing blessing of being gifted with a new day, a fresh breath […]
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What time do you usually wake up? What makes someone a ‘morning person’ and what are some benefits to enjoying early, calm and quiet mornings. How can doing this can influence our default attitude during the rest of the day? Our lives have different variables, components, responsibilities and rhythms, so the time that works best […]
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Rainy days can be so relaxing. Find so too? Not those power-washing, tree-grabbing showers that come with stormy weather, but the light yet present rain that cools an otherwise baking day. You know – the one with a breeze that makes you get up and go close the windows on one side of the house. […]
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Are you called to blog but are feeling a bit nervous about the process or overwhelmed by the idea of being consistent with your writing? Here’s some sisterly encouragement and maintenance tips for you. We can have all the free resources, tech tools and planning apps, but one thing is for sure: mindset, mission and […]
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Okay, so you have different assignments to write, complete, hand-in or upload. The research methods and tools may vary but the timelines given are pretty close together. One writing format is more conversational or poetic and the other is more academic or corporate. This is probably where I’ll mention straight-up that my default writing, thinking and […]
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Remember when BBs came to town? Blackberries – the phone, not the fruit. i remember the first time that shrill triple alert resonated through the room, “pweep-pweep-pweep!” and even then, had the thought that this whole phone thing could become an annoyance if not managed. Is your phone bossing you around? Is it your phone, […]
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Greetings, first let me start by saying that migraines are not fun – at all. I first experienced them after being accidentally hit in the head – right between the eyes, in a secondary school ’rounders’ game gone bad. Ouch! ‘Rounders’ is a spin-off of baseball that I’ve never heard of at other local schools, […]
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Doubles a treat and a half for any Trini or anybody who enjoys a good curry. What are they? I’m so glad you asked. ‘Doubles‘ are a popular savoury pastry filled with curries peas, originating in one of the Caribbean culinary capitals that is Trinidad & Tobago. Tucked inside two flaps of soft yet supple […]
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Painting on natural fibres from tropical trees to produce pieces that brighten homes and spaces. I gather the most durable ‘canoes’ and fronds from the floor bed while on walks to the beach or in the countryside…then prep, paint and sun-bake them and sell them locally (in Barbados.) They made up a part of the […]
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As I find myself looking forward to the ripening of the sea grapes while scanning nearby trees for signs of fruits transforming from lime green to deep red, I remember the anticipation and excitement of mango season that then makes way for the same sea grapes and right after (though sometimes before), breadfruits. This causes […]
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The manchineel (also know as “beach apple,” ‘the manzanilla de la muerte,’ ‘Hippomane mancinella’ or ‘death apple’) is a yellowish-green fruit that is not to be eaten. “The world’s most dangerous apple” exists and thrives in places called ‘paradise’ – another lesson for life. Both the sap from the tree/bark/leaves and the fruit itself are […]
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Sea baths can be so refreshing and a sand scrub (with fine not gritty sand) can revivify the skin better than any man-made commercial product. Sea breeze is ambient medicine and deep breaths within its reach is often doctor-recommended for people recovering from respiratory challenges or coping with mobility ones. Just the other day, someone […]
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Hiking Chronicles: A bright, sunny day and beautiful journey on the south-east of Barbados. Sea breeze is therapeutic and walking barefoot on the sand is so refreshing…beyond the physical. The south-east coast of the island is mostly rough (road and wave wise) but there are some areas like Bath beach in St. John and small […]
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Kalanchoe pinnata | Wonder of the world | Leaf of life | Air plant | Bryophyllum pinnatum. Did you know that ‘wonder of the world’ leaf is edible, and that it can be helpful to treat headaches, coughs and congestion? I’ve grown, used and munched on this beautiful plant for years, without any side effects […]
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Eastbourne. This isn’t my first visit here but the view through the window this morning was enough inspiration to share some of this place in a post. It’s a seaside town that’s directly east of the highest chalk sea cliff in England, called ‘Beachy Head.” Eastbourne used to be a market town longtime ago and […]
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Its Joy Within 