Saturday, December 22, 2012

portable cabins

Often, you will hear this good portable cabins. This is one of the services, with different types of portable office buildings, storage units steel toilet, and a variety of other products.

How Choosing the Right Portable Buildings for Your School?

With growing class numbers, age group segregation and an increasing number of school subjects on the curriculum, many schools have started to consider portable buildings as a way of creating more space and improving resources. Portable classrooms have been used for many years by schools up and down the country and they have proven very popular with pupils who enjoy the adventure of leaving the main school building to take their lessons!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Greater Vancouver realtors are now forced to quit and find new jobs

Mr Shen, a newly minted realtor ri since 2011 had been working for a year without reaching a single sale. He had just quit RE and is training to be an electrician... When interviewed by SingTao, Mr Shen said he had a university degree in business administration. Upon seeing the hot RE market in early 2011, he paid $5000 for a realtor prep-course and obtained his realtor license. Ever since he’s working as a realtor. He’s been busy every weekend showing houses, one client even had him show 10 units.

Monday, September 3, 2012

Diary of a Detox :: Day 7


Today I woke up, set the alarm early hoping to get some stuff done before work - but BAM, it hit me for the first time in a week: that extreme tiredness that I got with adrenal fatigue. So so bone tired. I'd forgotten - oh so quickly - that this was my daily existance for the past 2 years. One week of detox and it was back. I am not surprised, starting a new job is full on, and clearly despite my all intentions, you just work from adrenals and excitement.



And when you've got no reserves, you feel like I did today. But amazingly, it started to lift when I nourished  myself foodwise.



It's such an automatic reaction - I feel tired, I grab food that'll give me a(n immediate) lift. But really, it's not the immediate lift I need, but a sustained nourishment lift. I'm really starting to see this.



Day was pretty on par, work is getting easier, food is still delish and filling, and in regards to ahem, cleansing, I'm still on track with the #PoopJuice. I had another serving of it last night but my body clearly did a lot of cleansing last week and it's been much smoother sailing today :) Except for the tummy gurgles (audible to my buddies in the office!)  it's been pretty ok.



Ahhh, it's nice to be ok :)

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Cleanse :: Day 6 The Weekend wrap


Weekends are proving hard for me.




I was still a little tired when I woke up - I guess throughout the week I've been on go-go-go that I've not thought about having time to nap, sleep or be tired. But now that I have a chance to sleep past 6am, my body calls out for it!





I really napped and slept in this morning, so there was no time to prep my green smoothie before I dashed off to teach yoga. Get this though: after teaching, the only thing I wanted was HOT CHIPS. I could smell them, could taste them, my mouth was drooling.





So if there is ever a lesson to be seen - nourish yourself properly before you head out! 

Wow. What a lesson! I made it home (NOT via the fish & chip shop, despite temptation!) and whipped up a green smoothie in record time. I must have put a bit more coconut oil in than usual because MY GOD it tasted phenomenal! Amazing! So my coconutty green smoothie certainly filled the whole.





I followed it up with my 'official' breakky, of quinoa toast with scrambled eggs, spinach and lemon. DELISH. Seriously, how can you crave hot chips after that?





That is one thing I've totally noticed this week - that I am so FULL that I'm not picking, and when I'm not picking, I'm not generally craving the chips/chocolate/sugar/coke that I've talked about this week. Most of those things make an appearance in my diet but I've always had heaps of fruit (yum, sugary!) in there and salads so kind of thought I was doing ok. 





But then when something like adrenal fatigue hits, like Angie keeps telling me, we need to get my body nourished in every single way it can be. All my meals need to fill me up at this deep level - and when I follow her plan to a T, it totally works. 





I have found that this is a lot more food than I'm used to eating, but when I eat most of it, things fly along. I don't snack - I have no desire to! I notice when I eat early (we're talking 6am smoothies here, breakfast at 830ish!) I am sustained, alert and on the ball.


* * * * * *



I totally wouldn't wish adrenal fatigue on anyone. You are exhausted all the time. And not just, 'I need a wee nap and I'll be fine' exhausted, but total bone-tired cannot get up exhaustion. Not only physically either, but mentally concentration is a challenge and this stuff isn't simply fixed by even a week of sleep. It's sustained nourishment, and I'm so glad I'm on the path :)





Phew, big outcomes in only a week!





I've also been told this week on 3 separate occasions that I'm looking really well - which I love. Am revisiting that awkward moment when people comment on how tired you look all the time but that now you're looking grdat. Yes, awkward.





But good, and it cements why I want to do this! Thanks Angie xo




Keep Calm + KEEP DOING THIS!




Saturday, September 1, 2012

Cleanse :: Day 5, Happy Spring!




One of the girls had a coke in the office yesterday, and whether it was because I had a sandwich for lunch (when I'm on a pretty-much grain free cleanse) or a cupcake after lunch (um, sugar sugar sugar) - I couldn't stop dreaming about coke.  *drool*





BUT I didn't have it - I didn't succumb! And today, I'm so glad I didn't. Today was not what I'd call awesome. #PoopJuice was on the menu last night again, and whilst it was no repeat of earlier in the week, I felt a little queasy and (very technical term here) yuck.





Pretty low on energy. Pretty blah.





But I had a beautiful day other than energy-wise, that started off with my loved green smoothie (coconut water with chia seeds, vital greens, coconut oil, an orange and handful of spinach) and then I met a friend for a coffee date. She had coffee, I had a peppermint tea. I was going to allow myself plain scrambled eggs for breakky (no milk, no bread, just the way I like 'em, and detox allowed!) and then when my coffee date pal mentioned she'd already eaten, I decided to save my treat out for another time.  I was impressed with myself ;)







The sun was shining at Breakkie, I even got a rainbow on my face! 


I followed it up with a kinesiology session (which I'm hooked on!) and was feeling really great and excited, but then my body spoke up. If you have ever tried kinesiology, you know there is no hiding. Your body speaks. And my body was saying, loud and clear, that my adrenals and thyroid were shouting out in tiredness.





In my transition back into a new job and new timetable, I have been extra careful about not tiring myself out, setting limits, and taking care of myself. I guess excitement still plays a role though, and being so switched on was showing up in my body. Still, it makes me so so glad that I've committed to Angie and the cleanse, because clearly it's just what I need.





I poached my first egg!


On returning home I had a delish bowl of chicken broth, quinoa, steamed greens and a poached egg (my first homemade poached egg) which was technically my breakky dish. God it was good! I had quite a lot of work to do so settled in at the computer, still tired and lethargic, but keeping on. I did have a nap in the afternoon and by the time I woke up it was too close to dinner to have a late lunch. So I snacked on an egg and some seed snaps (oh. my. god. These seed snaps are SO yum!) and pottered. Dinner was meant to be another broth but I was a bit brothed out to be honest, so had a huge salad instead - AMAZING fresh, organic veggies (snowpeas, cabbage, carrots, mushrooms) with garlic, ginger and oil. YUMMO. Heaps of seeds on top and I was a happy camper.






Before I knew it, bed time was calling out and I really listened. Detoxing is one thing, food is another, balancing work/life/play is yet another. So I needed an early night and I had it. 





:)










Friday, August 31, 2012

#Detox Day 4 - the Day of Truth


So yesterday was all about cravings. But then I came home to my amazing Food Connect box. Yay! If you're not au fait with Food Connect, it's an awesome enterprise based on the principles of Community Supported Agriculture. It's delicious, seasonal (& organic/ chemical free) produce that comes from LOCAL farmers living within a short radius of the city. Cool hey!





Now it's friday, how'd we go? Much better.


Well, till lunch.

You want honesty? You’ve got it. 



I had a work meeting/wine tasting with catered-for veggie sandwiches for a new client, and seeing as I wasn’t wine tasting, the least I could do was eat the sandwiches! I had a few triangles, which equalled one sandwich, and the belly was rumbling but I’m not sure if that’s because of the bread (wholemeal, and rye – I tried to go for the better ones) or because of the whole detox thing.







Regardless, a cupcake was thrown in there too – hey, it was the end of the first week of my new job and my boss bought them for us all! So I felt like I had to, but – honestly – it wasn’t a hard decision to make. I enjoyed every mouthful!





I did follow it up with some quinoa bread and toppings *nom nom nom* but now I’m feeling a wee bit bad – I know I need to do this detox because of what I uncovered in Day 1. I WANT TO BE WELL BECAUSE.....





That means no processed stuff. 




But I want to be realistic too, because socialising will be a big part of my life working in publicity. That said, that’s why I’m loving Angie’s detox - it's about choice, making the best available decision, and being so full of wholefoods and delish veggies that I'm not craving sugars. 




Afternoon snack - back on track!


I was expecting cravings - of course! But they haven’t been half as bad as I was anticipating, and I was expecting some vicious sugar and coffee callings! But no. Totally surprised.


I’m not hungry in the slightest – at all, not even 1%. I am not snacking like I normally do. I’m not, on the whole, craving sugar. Ok – so at night I’ve thought about my normal after dinner dessert, but it was probably only on the 2nd night I really craved it. 





Since then I’ve been totally sated.  I will be interested to see how the symptoms go tomorrow now that I had sugar and bread today. But it’s also somewhat inspiring to not throw in the towel just because of one afternoon’s mishap. Now THAT is living.





x stella





Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Cleanse :: Day 3


Thursday will now be known as 'craving day'.



Pizza? I’m craving it.

Bread? Give it to me.

Chocolate? I wouldn’t push it away.



It was a day where my colon cleansing magnesium oxide totally, 100% lived up to it’s name. I've nicknamed the drink 'poop juice' and today, I was pooping all day long.

All. Day. Long. Morning and afternoon.



Seriously.



So truth be told I actually haven't been that hungry today, but by the time the evening rolled around, all those half-meals I’d eaten made for a very hungry me. Hence the cravings. D'oh! So lesson learnt - Angie has me on portions and times because they work!



Gee habits are a hard thing to break, and so far the most challenging thing for me has been eating early in the morning. But I'm a green smoothie lover and having that on my way to early morning yoga is the trick. It totally works and by some kind of magic, I'm starting to crave my green juice (now that's a good craving!) when I wake up!



Poop juice is 'magnesium oxide' and can only be taken for a small amount of time (not permanently, unless you want to cause permanent damage!). It basically works to clean out your insides so you have a wee bit of the runs in the morning. I am taking it alternate nights during my first 21 Days and would you believe that the first night I took it, nothing happened? That whole next day I was waiting.. waiting.. and there was a bit of tummy gurgling, but nothing like what happened today.





But oh well, I feel light! And cleansed! And I feel totally at home in my new workplace now. Ahem.



So all in all, Day 3 is going on. Cravings are about but I think they're more mental than physical as the dreaded headaches have not arrived - I guess it's because I'm totally topping up and nourishing and am not hungry, there's no deprivation, so in effect I'm crowding out the sugars/caffeine and it all seems to be working. That Angie sure knows how to do this :)



Anyone else out there making changes for Spring? Come share the love with me!

x stella

& later on that night....






The day started off well.. how did it end? x



Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Diary of a #Detox Day 2





It's Day 2 of my wholefoods detox and the sun has gone. Not out of me - but out of the sky. And ok, truth be told, I'm a little sun-less myself right about now too. 2 Days of no coffee, no packaged stuff, no white stuff, no processed sugar, and all in all I'm not feeling so bad. Yet. I thought I'd be climbing the walls right about now, but I'm ok. I am thinking of all things food - because obviously that's what you do on detox - and I miss the idea of sugar. I will also admit  quietly, I miss the jump-start sugar gives me when I'm stressed and need to keep going. I'm a little tired today. And I really miss our evening dates together. Last night I totally missed dessert.






But alas, it's just over 2 years now since adrenal fatigue kicked my butt & totally, absolutely defeated me. Hair falling out, periods stopping, huge weight loss kind of adrenal fatigue (AF) depths. And now that I'm re-entering full time office work (I've been teaching yoga full time since then) I'm quite frankly, terrified of falling into the shit-heap that AF covered me in.






I completely have come to understand that physically my body took a wee beating 2 years ago, and adrenals worked overtime, thus getting burnt out. But more than that, at the root of all the illness was some pretty sad emotions. The never ending work in order to please others was something to look at. That leaves me pondering today: Would I do it again?




- Would I work through my lunchbreaks because I was so busy?

- Would I stay late every night to prove myself to my boss & coworkers?


- Would I be so stressed out when pitches/releases didn't work out, would that make me so depressed that I'd question my ability to do my work?





The first few days of work in my new job so far have proved to me that one can learn a lot in 2 years. One can start to trust their ability. I can trust that I don't need to work all night to prove I can do my job. I can trust that I could leave on time even if there was stuff to do. Yes, I'm feeling much more confident about all of that. 





I guess with distance comes some clarity - I left my last job, devastated that physically and yes, mentally, my self was giving out, despite (in spite of??) all my efforts.




So it's funny to think that this 21 day cleanse is bringing me space and time from foods that aren't helping to heal me, in much the same way that time and space helped me build 'me' back up in the last 2 years.



Lightbulb Moment:

Foodwise all is good - I am totally realising that I don't eat enough, nor regularly enough. And that has a huge HUGE impact on how I feel and get through the day. A little sleepy today, but nothing crazy, and excitingly no cravings. Much. I think the cravings are coming more from mind (habit!) than any physical sugar/coffee withdrawals.



I'm also realising that when I eat at the times Angie tells me to, I can eat most of it, and then don't dive into food later because I'm starving. I also haven't had a sugar rush or sugar shakes which is a nice bonus.



Oh, and it's really interesting to see just how much sugar I normally have in a day. Angie cleaned out my fridge and my normally stocked sauce and condiments shelf in the fridge now looks like this:










And this is my No-Go Zone!





She told me every single thing in the no-go zone was loaded with sugar. (And I totally know it.)



So instead, my fridge now looks completely stocked with this:






aka WHOLEFOODS HEAVEN!

How can I not be excited by this?



x stella


Cleansing for a brighter ME #Detox Day 1


I'm doing another cleanse as we transition back in to a gorgeous sunny Spring, here in Sydney. I have always struggled with Winter, and this one was no different! A bit of the blah's and a vicious viral infection that saw me in bed for close on 2 weeks (and ingest 2 rounds of antibiotics!) has made me ever so glad to smell the Spring air.



I've also started a new job this past week and am totally loving it, but wanted to ensure I was in the best health physically and emotionally to get back behind a desk 5 days a week. I've lived a freelance life for the past 2 years, full of yoga and flexibility, so with this in mind I spoke to my gorgeous friend - Angie Cowen of AngieGlutenFree and we agreed we'd work together on a 21 Day Cleanse.



When I did my courageous cleanse earlier this year (you can read all about it here, here and here) it made such a huge difference in my life and after 2 years of strong adrenal fatigue, I finally saw a wee bit of light at the end of the tunnel. However, it's not something that is going to be 'fixed' in just a day or couple of weeks - but it's balancing on all levels that is required. Mind, Body and Spirit.



So yes, starting a job was a good time to be in tip-top condition, and Angie felt the same about nutrition as I do - that it's absolutely what we put in our bodies, but also what we feed our minds.



Rundown:

- I had an initial meeting with Angie, to talk about my life - my emotions, digestion, thoughts and what not. I'll be honest - I enjoyed a coffee over our chat with sugar. ("There'll be none of that on the cleanse", Angie said when she spied the processed white sugar!)

- She also asked me, "Why do you want to be well?" and it was the kicker. I knew we were meant to do this together when she asked that! Um. It's obvious, or so I thought, but really, WHY? I have spent (as I'm sure you all have!) so much time and money on feeling better, but what is the drive? It was really great to have this at the forefront of my mind (& pinned up in my kitchen! Seriously - see below!)) to remind me of joy and vitality (especially in Week 1 of detox when it's always a wee bit tough)








- Day 1 - let me tell you, I've not for a LONG time felt so full - but not overly full, just totally nourished.



Banana bread (made from soaked whole buckwheat) for Breakky (after I had a yummy green smoothie) and hearty Pumpkin Soup (for lunch) followed by Quinoa loaf (soaked to ease digestion) heaped with Angie's home-made hummus, and then chicken broth packed with quinoa and organic steamed veggies for dinner. I actually had to remind myself to eat the quinoa loaf in the arvo as I was still full from the morning!






Banana Bread for Breakfast / Chicken broth and Roast Veg + Quinoa for Dinner




Thoughts:

Normally I don't eat till early afternoon, but Angie let me know our digestion is up and happening and primed for work between 6am and 2pm, so I'm changing my timings and habits. No cravings on Day 1 so this is off to a good start :)

Also, having Angie on the other end of the phone to talk me through stuff is simply like a big warm hug. I cried when talking to her. Emotions of first week at work? Or just having someone concerned about me and my wellbeing? Not sure, but it totally goes to show you that food is just one part of the equation and awesome as it is, cleansing needs to be supported - 100% - on all levels for any long term joy to be achieved. I just know this is going to be amazing :)



x stella



Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Spring Cleansing means Taste-Testing :)


So our 2nd official eCourse, 21 Days of Spring Cleansing, is available now - and kicks off on the 1st of September (yep, first day of Spring).



This means that the gorgeous Jacqui and I are busily busily creating content, interviewing our guest experts, coming up with meditations and of course, road-testing recipes, natural therapies and other such goodies to share with the course participants.



All in the name of YOU, our beloved participants, we recently hit up Sadhana Kitchen in Newtown for some raw food/whole living foods goodness and we weren't disappointed! Green smoothies and berry smoothies rocked our world.




In other news, the early-bird rate for course sign-up's closes in just 24hours, so head on over quickly if you want to save some pennies.





In other news, I've commenced my study with Endeavour - Naturopathy makes my heart sing but gee it's taking some time to get used to the old brain working in that uni student way again :) Love love loving it though, and will be sure to share all my knowledge with you here :)





Big love and hugs xxx

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Special Day


My first Food Connect box arrived today - so ultra-excited!



Don't forget - tell me what amazing recipes I can make this week with the following goodies and you can win a spot on the upcoming 21 Days of Spring Cleansing eCourse (valued at $75!). Loving the entries so far - you guys make me hungry :)



Nom Nom Nom xx








Monday, July 16, 2012

Seasonal Meal Planning


So I'm a joyous little yogi today, as I'm starting to meal plan for my first box of delicious, local, organic and seasonal fruit & veggie delivery!



My first Food Connect box arrives at the end of this week, with the following goodies:






I am pretty unadventurous (so far!) with my food and obviously I can see a potato, leek and cauliflower soup in there. But what else? I am excited!





Give me your suggestions, to go into the running for a space on the upcoming TwentyOne Days of Spring Cleansing eCourse :)





Email me or leave a comment below!





Love x
















Friday, July 13, 2012

Green Smoothie Power!


I'm kicking off Round 2 of the adrenal fatigue battle. I kicked ass over it at the beginning of this year, but bad habits slowly crept up on me & with all the career & life changes that have happened this year, it's time for another repeat performance.



I've had random green smoothies over the past few months but I'm recommitting to daily smoothies, lemon & hot water in the mornings, meditation and loads and loads of veggies, fruits and whole foods.







I just read through a couple of my own posts here as well and was astounded by the transformation I experienced before, and can't wait to dive into that again!



Love to you x


Thursday, July 12, 2012

Sharing = Caring (5 sites I'm digging right now)


Here's some websites that you simply must check out. One) because they're great and I regularly visit them. Two) because they remind you to find the sunshine in your day - come Winter, Spring, Summer or Autumn. Seriously. Hop to it xo



Marc & Angel - Hack Life :: they say their website is about Practical Tips for Productive Living and they've pretty much summed it up. Some of my all-time fave must-reads are: 16 Harsh Truths that Make Us Stronger, and 15 Ways to Live, and Not Merely Exist.  Prepare to spend hours on here :)




The Wellness Warrior :: Jess Ainscough is one helluva tough cookie, and inspiration gal to boot. She took her health into her own hands and now shares her knowledge and spark with others most days.




YogaGlo :: a subscription site that offers over 1000 yoga classes a week! Watch 'em on your computer and be inspired. Some amazingly talented teachers here - I'm loving Jo Tastula, Dice Il and Tiffany Cruikshank at the moment but all of them are awesome. Ask me next week and I'll love someone new ;) So inspiring and this site has jazzed up my personal practice no end!




Love More Fear Less :: non-stop beauty, inspiration, quotes, movement, bliss. Seriously - go check it out, amazing!




From Love More Fear Less




Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Eat Food, Not Too Much, Mostly Plants


I went to see the phenomenal Michael Pollan at the In Conversation With series at the Sydney Opera House this week, and all I can say is WOW. I love this guy.



Anyone who can pack out a full auditorium, speaking about food, in a non-heated but inspiring way has to be doing something amazing.





It's funny - the more I study holistic nutrition and health, the more I find just how heated this area is. People all believe that what they think & do is right. And don't get me wrong, I completely understand how hard it is to look outside the box. We are told by our own government, by our tv's and media that the right way to eat is A, B, C. Yet let's face facts - we're an overweight country, we're addicted to sugar and processed foods, we pop pills left right and centre to 'heal', and there are agendas that want us to believe certain things.



We have lost touch with the truth, and Michael's bringing it back!



Michael Pollan isn't a scientist; he's a journalist and teacher who is generous, down-to-earth & engaging. There's been some wonderful feedback on his talk (you can read some quick tweets! Or a great post here or another here) but it really got me thinking.



I'm studying health, nutrition and naturopathy, and yet I'm a sugar addict. I suffer from depression which often leaves me so tired and depleted that I either a) don't eat, or b) grab takeaway. Neither of these options are healthy, and if I am at least part way educated on this stuff and still fall into these traps, no wonder we're an obese country with a love of processed foods. And no wonder it's so hard to inspire people to believe otherwise.



But in the quest for change, I'm continuing to stay educated and inspired. I've just ordered my first box from Food Connect (yippee!). Have you heard of these guys? Food Connect offers sustainable produce, direct from local farmers. So none of this shipped from overseas stuff - it's organic or chemical free, it's local, sustainable, and money goes to the farmers (& not just 10c in the dollar which many of our supermarkets pass on to them).




From the Food Connect site, "We challenge people to:


  • Think about where their food comes from,

  • Find out what food quality means to them and

  • Consider the impacts of chemical farming on their health and that of the farmers and the natural environment."









Why have I not used Food Connect before? I'll be honest - I looked at the food boxes (I ordered the small mixed seasonal box) and thought, "I'm still going to have to go shopping - it has stuff I don't eat in it, and not everything I do eat."  I mean, who cares if my strawberries are pumped full of herbicides and chemicals, and they were shipped from Italy weeks ago because they're out of season here? I want what I want! Yes, it's true. I'm humbled to admit it aloud! And I know I'm not alone in living an on-demand life of convenience.



But change starts with where we're at, and so today I signed up. I'm actually totally excited to start supporting our local farmers, and to start cooking with new ingredients (which has been a goal of mine for a wee while).   In being part of this scheme, I've also managed to get only what's in season, reduce my carbon footprint, and get to know who is growing my food (and how they're doing ht!). Pretty cool, huh?



So stay tuned to check out some (hopefully) wonderful dishes coming out of Shiny's* Kitchen in the near future.  I'll be posting "what's in the box" here online each week and would LOVE to hear your recipe suggestions.



Love

x










Shiny* Library


A dear student asked me after class this week if I had any good book recommendations. I'd just shared a few quotes in class from the inspiring Brene Brown, and he mentioned he liked the kinds of things I often spoke about in class. I thought it would be good to start sharing those things right here on this blog, so you can all fall in love with them too.



One of the books that my first beloved yoga teacher recommended to me when I was going through a particularly tough time (as this student is), was "When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times".





Pema Chodron is a Buddhist teacher who I can't talk about enough - she gives fabulous interpretations of Tibetan philosophy that Western audiences love, and they're so accessible that I've referred to her over and over again - personally and professionally.



What is this book in particular about?

How can we go on living when things fall apart—when we are overcome by pain, fear, and anxiety? Pema Chödrön’s answer to that question contains some spectacularly good news: there is a fundamental happiness readily available to each one of us, no matter how difficult things seem to be. To find it, according to traditional Buddhist teaching, we must learn to stop running from suffering and instead actually learn to approach it—fearlessly, compassionately, and with curiosity. This radical practice enables us to use all situations, even very painful ones, as means for discovering the truth and love that are utterly indestructible. (Source)




I also love and often quote another of her books - "Start Where You Are". There are so many goodies in her works but When Things Fall Apart is often the first book I encourage students to delve into as it's so relatable. I'd love to hear if any of you have read it!

Monday, June 25, 2012

Your Non-Negotiables List


I came across this beautiful post on MindBodyGreen about Non-Negotiables.



As I'm transitioning back into full time teaching (which means lots of travel to and fro, and lots of irregular hours) it's really important for me to create my own list.



It was a really interesting task to complete - tell me, friends, what is on your list of Non-Negotiables?



xo










Do you ever feel like you compromise yourself? Are your happiness and success secondary? Check out the ten things in your life that need to be non-negotiable.


 


1. Your physical, mental, and emotional well-being





The fact is that your well-being is the foundation of your success. When your physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional needs are met, you will thrive.


 


2. A healthy relationship with yourself





When you become your own best friend, you no longer need the approval of everyone around you. Because at the end of the day when you can say “I love you, and I honor you, and I respect you” to YOU, then you can do, be, and have anything that you want.


 


3. The way that you speak to yourself





Your life is a reflection of the conversation that you are having with yourself. Transform the conversation you are having with yourself, transform your life. Period.


 


4. A clean and uncluttered living space





Your home, office, and car speaks volumes. Clutter is negative energy and will stop the flow of abundance into your life. Regardless of how big or small, you deserve to enter into a space that fills you up and gives you peace of mind.


 


5. Keeping your word to yourself and others





The highest level of integrity is achieved when you keep your word to yourself and to others. Your word is all that you have, it is what defines your credibility, or lack thereof.


 


6. Associating with positive people





My dad used to say me when I was 12  years old, “Tell me who your friends are and I’ll tell you who you are.” The company that you keep has a direct affect on how what you think and what you do. Remember that your space is sacred and who you allow into your space is crucial to your happiness and success.


 


7. Your values





What matters the most to you? Love, joy, compassion, relationships? When you are clear on what you value and you live your life according to those values you are...unshakeable.





8. Living debt-free





Having debt is like walking around with a ton of bricks on your shoulders. Take a look at what you are spending your money on. Are you living from paycheck to paycheck? Are your purchases needs or wants? Learning to be financially responsible to is one of the biggest gifts you can give to yourself.


 


9. Having fun





As children fun was non-negotiable. As children we could make anything fun!!! Often times we think we need to accomplish a huge goal to have fun. But having fun is as important, if not more than working hard (or smart)


 


10. Giving yourself permission to dream big and DO big





The best things in life are free....starting with your imagination. Give yourself the permission to envision a life so wild and fabulous that even you get goosebumps thinking about it. The only thing in between your dream and reality is your commitment to take action.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Sleepwalking?


Rory Freedman shares, "If you look around, you may notice that many among us in the human race are sleepwalking through life.  You may be tempted to ask, 'How did this happen? How long has it been going on for? How did I get here?'  Who cares! Life is short! Don't waste another second in no man's land!"




Friends, I'm currently sleepwalking through a great many of my days: and I'm determined to wake up. The past month I've made some huge changes in my life, swapping full time work for consulting and teaching, and it's taken a few different twists and turns that I can't say I've expected. BUT I get a giggle when I realise how much things flow when you step out of the way - the Universe, sheesh! 





For example, a biz opportunity I was relying on (gotta pay rent!) fell through and the very next day I was offered another gig, that paid more, that suited better, that was more than I could dream of :)










I'm currently studying Holistic Nutrition, and am also about to begin a Bachelor of Health Science (Naturopathy). Over 12 years since I last studied full time, I'm back. And scared. But it's time.  No more sleepwalking!  One of the best things I've always known but recently am getting shown more & more, is that to be a good health coach, nutritionist, partner, mother, teacher, sibling, bus driver - whatever... - is that more than the words we speak, people respond to how we live.





In the same gorgeous book, Kris Carr says, "Health is more than the absence of disease. It's the presence of vitality." And despite the years of naturopath visits I've indulged in, my diet is - let's be honest, pretty crap right now. 





After almost 2 years to the month that I dived into the struggle with adrenal fatigue, I wouldn't say it's a daily battle anymore. When I undertook the Crazy Sexy Diet at the beginning of this year, I nipped it in the bud, I found some energy. But a month after the cleanse, the old habits kicked back in - the sugar addiction was still there. And let me tell you, when my diet is poo poo, the depression is triple poo poo. 





So I'm going to recommit to living healthy again - in body, mind & spirit.





I just wrapped up the 21 Days of Nourishing ecourse which was PHENOMENAL. What a community! But I was so busy running it, that I didn't get to actually enjoy it! So I'm taking myself on 21 gorgeous, nourishing days right now. I'll be updating as I go :) 





Mind, Body & Spirit = looking forward to an overhaul! xo

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Need some Nourishing?


I can't quite believe that we've got just one more day of the 21 Days of Nourishing ecourse! It's been a wild ride, and I'm totally going to miss setting & practicing the hOMework each day. The little reminders to my inbox have completely changed my start to the morning.



The people (from all over the world!) who've joined in have made me appreciate the special ties of sangha, and I'm forever blessed I've gotten to cross paths with them :)



I wanted to share with you the post from Day 1, to show you a little of what we've been enjoying :)



Love & nourishing to you xo










Day 1: Ingredients of Joy & Meaning







"Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose no regreat. Appreciate your friends. Continue to learn. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is!" - Mary Anne Radmacher





We've been longtime fans of the inspirational Brene Brown here at TwentyOne Days. Her books speak to the heart, crack open our defences and make us realise that our lives - just as they are (messy, broken, shame filled, bright, tidy, or hectic) - are worth celebrating.



One of the gorgeous takeaways Brene shares in The Gifts of Imperfection is the idea of creating our own list, a reminder of what nourishes and feeds us, our own personal ingredients of JOY and MEANING.



In a moment of bright inspiration, Stella pulled together her list - and it sits atop her desk on a pinboard for a daily reminder to LIVE BIG! 












Now it's over to you...




hOMework

Meditation makes your brain stronger, your immunity better, and heck, it even improves sex. So we’re going to be doing a fair bit of it during the upcoming 21 days. So let’s start now – yep, right now. Set your alarm clock/mobile phone/microwave time for 2 minutes and sit. It’s true, you don’t need fancy cushions, blacked out rooms or hours of preparation. Just 2 minutes. (Already meditate? Fabulous, you get to do 5 minutes for this task).




*Begin to visualize how JOY and MEANING show up in your life. How it looks in your world when you are living from a place of worthiness. What gives you juju and spark? 




It doesn’t matter if your mind gets distracted, it doesn’t matter if you keep peeking out at the clock to see how long you’ve got to go. It doesn’t matter if your mind is creating endless scenarios of how joy shows up in your world. Just sit for 2 minutes. Breathe. Repeat. (We’re going to dive deeper into meditation soon; for today – just begin. Start where you are)




*Ding Ding Ding* Time's up!




Now let’s list them.  What are the 6-8 ingredients, the must-haves for joy and meaning in your life? They could have jumped up at your through the meditation, or maybe you knew them already. It’s all good.




Don't just think about these things either, but get out the coloured textas, the magazines, the paper and pens, and write, draw and create YOUR own recipe for Joy and Meaning. Then stick it somewhere you're going to see it daily – on your wall, on your fridge, in your diary etc. (We’ll be referring to this list over the next 21 days)




Extra credit: 

Lists are grand and all, but don't let them become just more tallies of unfinished tasks. LIVE BY IT! Once a week over the next 21 days, cross off at least one yummy, nourishing ingredient a week as you actually put it into your life.







Need more inspiration? Connect with others at the official Facebook page (closed group), share your hOMework and see what makes others tick.




Much love,

Jacqui & Stella xo