Neglecting Me

I'm having a really off few days. Not sure if it is because:
A) I've launched Life Is Crafted and having a bit of a lull (even though there is still heaps to do!)
B) I worked 16+ hours for a few weeks in the lead up to the launch and I didn't balance it with healthy living (not much exercise at all)
C) I had a big weekend and let loose after being so work focussed and my body and mind is not handling excess alcohol and the repercussions...
D) There is something else going on and the Universe is sending me signals to pay attention.

You'd think I'd have learned my lesson from the experiences in my past to try to live a more balanced life - to listen to signals and know how beneficial doing yoga, journaling and theta is for my mind, body and soul.

Everything was going so well that I think one side of me said I didn't need to do all that 'good' stuff. I was in the flow, kicking goals and my attention was taken up by positive deadlines and getting all the necessary stuff done. My priorties seemed right, but skewed that in the end I neglected my core health and the habits that give me strength, sanity and stability through challenging, and even enjoyable times.

I guess this post is me talking out loud a little. Trying to work through these icky feelings and attempting to understand what is going on.

I know the solution and the lesson is here, I just have to be patient and attentive and catch the penny when it drops.

Do you ever feel anything like this SSSs?

Making it as I wish,
Arienne xo

Building Confidence - Adding a Notch to My Belt

Photo Credit

At yoga the other day I was confronted with a situation I noticed I was totally resisting...

The instructor was demonstrating with a partner how to do an assisted handstand that he wanted everyone to pair up and try.

The voices in my head went something like this:
"You've got to be kidding me. I can't do that."
"I don't have enough strength."
"I have to pair up with a stranger and show them how I can't do it?"
"I don't want to look around and catch anyone's eyes."
"Of course he can make it look so easy, he;s been doing it for years."
"How can he expect us to do that?"
"I'll never be able to do it. Maybe I should give up yoga altogether?"
"I wonder if anyone would notice if I sneaked out of the room right now?"
"If I'm reacting like this does it mean I'm a chicken?"
"Yup, it means I'm a failure! I will never be able to succeed at anything in life..."
"I never do anything well. And even if I even try I will just stumble and crush some poor little yogi underneath my mammoth body..."
"Shit...he's finishing the demonstration...the door is only 3 metres away..."


Then, through the momentum of everyone starting to move and pair up I locked eyes (whoops!) with this fit looking girl about a head shorter than me - she smiled and started walking in my direction...

Then I gave in - better than resisting right?? She introduced herself and I warned her that I didn't really have confidence in being able to pull the position off and apologised in advance if I toppled her over. Brave woman that she was she still wanted to give it a go with me!

I offered for her to go up first with me assisting and she gracefully arched into position and went up into a perfect handstand. I was super impressed and told her so.

Then it was my turn. Buoyed by her success but still caught up in the distrust of my ability I reluctantly arched into position. She supported my shoulders and told me to start lifting my legs. I hopped up a little and my feet landed back on the ground. Another bunny hop and I could feel my face filled with blood and effort.

I stood up and said I didn't know if I would get it but that I'd have one more try since we were there anyway...

Deep breath, hands down, positioned outer shoulder width apart, core in, legs lifting, trusting in her support. Then...

SUCCESS

I was in an assisted handstand! My legs splayed wide, then came together again. Then I splayed them wide again just for fun and then brought them in to touch! WOW! I was in control of it. I DID IT! I was basking in my headstand glory! My red face was grinning wildly! I wanted to stay up here forever.

My mind was officially blown...

After all that blah blah bullshit that was raging on in my monkey mind, I managed something that I clearly didn't believe was possible for me at that time.

In that moment something shifted. I gained an understanding that I can do things I never thought I would be able to. I looked at the different situations that I am currently facing and it gave me renewed strength to tackle the daunting tasks I've set for myself.

From that experience I have gained a valuable amount of confidence. The issues that I am 'freakin' out' about I am much more willing to give a good old go with.

Maybe they'll be just like that handstand. Something I thought was impossible, but with some effort perhaps success will show up again...

What are you thinking is impossible in your life SSSs?
Make it as you wish!
Arienne
xo 

PS. A few months ago I thought the below position (wheel) was impossible for me. I worked on it and can now do it. Another notch on my confidence belt!

Photo Credit

Yoga With A View

Our friends Luca and Lidia are amazing people. After getting fed up of losing friends and loved ones to cancer, they decided to REALLY do something about it. Dedicating much of 2012 to fundraising towards cancer research, they have been hard at work organising events around Sydney and Italy.

One of the most mindblowing upcoming events is their Tour of Italy -  running 20 marathons in 29 days in each region of their country of origin. To support them in any way you can please visit Outrun Cancer.

A few weekends ago, they organised Yoga with a View. It was a beautiful Sunday morning at Cremorne Point full of nourishing outdoor yoga, fresh juices and yummy food. They ended up raising $700 toward the cause.

Does this get you thinking about the little things you could do to give back to a cause that is important to you?

Make it as you wish SSSs,
Arienne

How To Deal With Being Sick

Cough, sneeze, throbbing head, slow movements, low energy, foggy outlook... Many of us have experienced not feeling well - yukky, poo, bleh!!

I've been so proud of not being able to remember the last time I was sick that I was boasting about it to my sister over Christmas. Well, I'm learning to eat humble pie as I have come down with a cold. The annoying kind that has taken a couple of weeks to creep up and finally manifest. And the whole time I've just not quite felt myself. Have I said boo hoo yet?!

Talking to Miss Z the other day, she also believes,

I'm not a big one for taking medication unless I have to. I like to trust my body and its awesome immune system to do what it needs to do while supporting it as best I can.

Dos & Don'ts & How to deal with feeling unwell/sick

1. Drink lots of liquids (mainly warm ones or at least room temperature!). Water, teas & fresh fruit/veg juice can go a long way (may be accompanied by frequent trips to the loo.)
2. Take vitamins - a multi, vitamin C and zinc are great.
3. Eat if you can. Soups, fresh fruit and veg. Even something bland like toast to fill the stomach.
4. Don't be a martyr and suffer unnecessarily. Take something if you need to. Go see the doctor if necessary.
5. Don't force yourself to go to work if you are really unwell. They don't want your germs and you need to rest.
6. Rest. Sleep if you can. Or it is a great excuse to watch movies. Just relax, your body needs time to heal. Even though my body and mind are tired, there is only so much sleeping you can do while you're healing. I sometimes find easy activities to do that don't take up mental or physical energy much - knitting, sewing etc
7. Stop worrying about what you should be doing. Even if you attempted to do them, you wouldn't be doing a good job of it anyway. Heal up quickly and then tackle them. It is rarely the end of the world.
8. As above, stop feeling guilty for sitting on your arse or lying in your bed! You need some quiet time to recouperate so you can get back to what is important to you!
9. Burn healing essential oils. Here is a great article on cold remedies using essential oils
10. Get hugs from loved ones. Love goes a long way!

Any other remedies or suggestions that make you feel better when unwell? Please share them below!
 
Get better soon and get back to making it as you wish!
Arienne (cough) xo

The Wellness Warrior

 Jess Ainscough

Check out this amazing woman who is eating and treating herself healthy! Jess at The Wellness Warrior has a great story to share and an upbeat way of looking at life and providing insight and inspiration with her journey.

If you're interested in cleanses and eating and living well - check out her bargain new ebook.

I've admired her from afar for a while and hope to connect some time in the near future.


Make it as healthy as you wish SSSs!
Arienne
xo

A-Tishooo!

Groan! Moan! I think I caught me some man flu!
Nah! I'm not that bad but I am whinging a bit because I haven't been any where near what you could call sick in ages...And now I have one of those anboying head colds where it is quite hard to think clearly...

But I'm trying to stay up-beat and take vitamins and drink water and visualise myself in perfect health. So to stay focused here are some pretty pics from earlier on in the week :)

 Daddy-O made a delicious Cheese Fondue last weekend. Hmmm maybe that wasn't so nutritionally meaningful!

The weather was so beautiful on Monday, I moved my office out to the Courtyard and kept Daddy-O's laundry company

So, wish me happy healing!

Make it as you wish SSSs! 

Arienne xo

Bootycamp

So today was the end of the first rotation of Bootycamp!

BFF C and I joined up when we were starting the Raw Food Challenge (raw food post to come!). Bootycamp would be two mornings a week for 6 weeks, each session lasting for 1 hour.

We have a great little group working out together at a park down the road. The trainer is great and friendly and nice (even though we jokingly send her evil looks when she gets us to do another set of bloody lunges...). We do everything from laps of the park, lunges, squats, numerous variations of sit ups, boxing, circuit training around the play ground, to pull ups (I am the group champion in that one. And only that one), throwing and catching balls.

Doing it in a group with a trainer has fantastic motivations associated with it.  I know that if I had been doing a lap in the park alone, I would have stopped and walked. And I definitely wouldn't have done 3 laps!!! It really does keep you going and if you are at all competitive, the group pushes you further than you might if you were on your own.

During the first session we did a fitness test to see what our base levels of fitness were. Mine were...hmmm...let's say not so great. The test involved the Beep Test (anyone who has done it hates it!), holding the plank for as long as possible, push ups, wall squat and I am sure there was something else, but I may have blanked it out.

Today, we did the fitness test again to see how far we'd come. Thank god there was a super duper improvement in my stats! It is fantastic to see these sorts of results because it makes me more motivated to do more. And I am seeing changes in my body - slimmer arms, tighter torso (The Man is just hoping the...ahem...special bits don't shrink too much!).

It can be quite challenging waking up at 5.30am to get there for a 6am start. But I learned that while it was hard to get out of bed, I always felt soooooooooo much the better for attending. And it really showed the rest of the day with more energy, sharper focus and psychologically feeling great that I had done something fabulous for my health.

So, because I have a goal to be fit and fabulous for 30 (which is not too far away - May 17 everybody!), I've decided to invest in the next round and continue on next week.

Plus I'm continuing with Yoga, though I've not scheduled much time for it lately and I disappointed my lovely new yoga bud Mrs M by canceling on her this week (tsk tsk Arienne).

Here's to shaking our Booooooooties :)

How do you keep fit and motivated?

Make it as you wish SSSs!
Arienne xo

Raw Food Challenge Day #19: Challenges

Well, the last few days have been quite challenging. Being out and about a lot has been quite hard in respect to the Raw Food challenge. There are not many raw options available when you're out. Unless you are supremely organised and have a whole bunch of food with you. Raw in Sydney is not very good for spontaneity.

Last weekend we went for a lovely brunch with some friends at a cafe nursery with beautiful balinese decor. I pretty much could only have a fruit salad, then a fruit juice. Man I was totally fruited out. Then we decided to meet another couple and went to a cafe near the city. Unfortunately there was nothing available on the menu and I didn't want to uproot everyone and search for a more suitable location.

So I tried to survive on a peppermint tea and the nuts I had in my bag. I really didn't feel very great with the lack of energy and nourishment. This diet, to be feasible for the next 10 days with a busy schedule, I've decided to expand my options to include raw fish. This means I can at least dine out a little easier with friends and a hen's evening I'm joining (thank god raw is over for the wedding!).

And okay, I have to fess up...My soul just needed a bit of something. Some nurturing that only warm food can bring. So I had a vegetarian noodle dish last night on Date Night with The Man. I know, I know...But I've been 100% raw for 18 days. I didn't even eat the whole dish! I had about half and was supremely filled up. So I listened to my body and I have to say I don't feel guilty because I know I needed it. And it wasn't chips or a fatty dessert!

And I soooooooooo enjoyed it :) I was full of appreciation for the warmth and the flavours. A plate of noodles never tasted soooooooo good.

The major thing I am missing is coffee. I went shopping with some girlfriends this morning looking for shoes for her bridesmaids who live out of town. I had never noticed how many coffee shops there were at that shopping centre! I had a fresh juice instead.

I have to say being without meat is not too bad. I'm craving things like rice and pasta more than I am meat... I feel like I'm making this big list in my head of all the things I want to have when it's over. Naughty! I don't want to have a week of eating all the more unhealthy meals just because I haven't been able to go near them the last month!

What I have found is being this strict with the diet is quite unsustainable. At least for me. I would recommend doing it 80/20. 80% raw food and juices etc 20% healthy cooked options. Moving forward I would like to have a strong foundation in eating a large portion of raw, but having other foods in moderation.

Otherwise I am still feeling good and seeing the benefits in my skin and body in general. My energy is much more consistent and my mental clarity is quite high.

Make it as you wish SSSs!
Arienne xo

Raw Food Challenge Days #7-11: Can you feel it?

I sure can! 

After 11 days on Raw Food, I really am starting to feel great :) On the most part it has been a lot easier than I expected and I am soooooo proud of myself to have cut out caffeine, dairy, meat, processed foods etc. But I am kind of craving some things (hmmmm steak...) with another 20 days to go, I really feel I can do it and even afterwards, while I may not stick to 100% raw, I am going to be carrying over many of these fabulous habits and ways of eating.

I'm perhaps not seeing as big an impact as I have heard from some people. There could be a few reasons for this:

• I'm still going through changes and it is only day 11 after all. There may be even better improvements ahead!
• My starting point wasn't too bad
• My body is pretty hard working and efficient at what it does already

It is hard to describe the positive changes I am feeling but they are there!

• Clearer eyes - who knew they could be this white (the pic above is not my eye though)
• I can breath easier, it just seems that things are flowing well. Goodness is flowing all around me
• I've got more energy. I've had some pretty early starts and am getting through the day really well
• More confidence in me. I mean 11 days in a row without without a coffee? Or a glass of wine? Or milk and meat? Pretty cool.
• I'm slimmer and stronger from both the diet and bootycamp :)

I'm discovering some great food combos and flavours that I haven't tried before and may not have made the effort to try if I was sticking to my normal routine.

Tonight we made a delicious smoothie with watermelon, banana, coconut water along with chia seeds, LSA and physillium husks. Delicious!

We've been totally juicing it up. Got some spinach? In! Zucchini? Why not...Chard, beetroot, carrots, brocolli stems, apples, cucumbers, kale it makes a wonderful juice.

I have to say that I am really interested in the reactions people are having to the Raw Food Challenge. I have had several different people really anti the idea. And quite vocally too! They don't understand enough about it or the reasoning as to why I'm doing it. They are thinking Fad Diet, stupid and ridiculous etc. Not seeing that I'm doing it to see how I feel, for my overall health. Gosh, it's not like I'm living on lemon water for a month. I'm having the largest range of fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds as possible, in versatile and delicious ways, that is giving me pretty much all the vitamins and minerals I need (I've been taking B12 supplements as you can't find it in this diet).

I'm not doing this as a drastic way to lose weight (because that is definitely not the way it is working for me - though I'm losing a little and feeling slimmer and building a little more muscle).

Anyway, I know the big picture and it is not a fad diet. It is a health challenge. Though I guess it does sound pretty fad-dy - Organic Vegan Raw Diet...

Make it as you wish SSSs!
Arienne xo

Raw Food Challenge Day #4, 5 & 6: Onwards and...upwards?

Well I've been a little slow in the updates, but here are three days rolled into one post. Why not?

Friday there wasn't too much to talk about health wise. My arms were super sore from boxing, but I guess that is expected. Lucky for me The Man is good at rubbing Tiger Balm into my back for tingly soothing. Total hightlight of my day.

Saturday saw me venture to the Organic & Farmers Market at the Orange Grove School grounds. There are some great stalls there and if you hunt around a little you can find some bargains. The other great thing is shopping for seasonal fruit and veg and enjoying what is meant to be eaten now (though I really did want cucumbers and nobody had them...).

Sunday started with a lovely juice. I weighed myself and pH'd myself. Oooh, is it possible after all this to go backwards in acidity?? I have to admit that I was a little disappointed that the scales and the pH levels hadn't moved too well in the right direction. Though I'm not beating myself up about it. It is only day #6 and maybe I had one too many gazpachos for the acidity? And this is really for better overall health, and I am noticing some things changing. I'm feeling a little more energetic and something in my body is feeling pretty good. Though it hasn't been leaps and bounds.

I bought Kris Carr's book Crazy Sexy Diet on Kindle to read on my iPhone as it is not available in Australia until April or something this year! I've just read a few chapters and the way she writes is inspirational and motivating, so I am reading it at the right time.

It is opening my eyes to different perspectives on food. Better health in general is really quite straight forward. Even if we don't practice it, we all know that it is about healthy eating and exercise. When you really look in depth at food it is quite fascinating. and learning and understanding where your food comes from should be a necessity for everyone. I think we are often so unconscious about what we put in our mouths that a little bit of focus and attention on these areas is important. Just so we can create informed choices, and perhaps if we choose meats and eggs, choose the ones that are better for us, for the animals and for the environment. I think The Man might think I'm becoming this crazy food activist from all the discussion I was having with him in the car, but rest assured I don't think I am. At least not yet...I would still like to have a juicy steak and some cheese...but perhaps I would now want it as organic beef and goat cheese.

Anyway Sunday then progressed to having brunch with a lovely friend of mine Miss S. About Life is a great place to go for Raw Food and healthy options. They are probably one of the only places in Sydney that I've found that are offering Raw options on their menu. Poor BFF C went to get some take out from Raw place she'd found online last night and was very disappointed with the food and the pricing :( I had a wonderful Bircher museli made from nuts with fruit salad and a big green juice.

I'd been warned that weekends can be a bit trying as you're not always as busy as you are during the week. It wasn't too bad, though today has been a little bit harder as I've given myself some time to relax and read, but my mind keeps wandering to the fridge (and I've just been given a bowl of rockmelon and some kiwi/banana 'ice cream' - who am I to say no?!).

So it's almost been a week, only three to go...But I am feeling better than I was a week ago! How much better will I be after another week? Heaps? yeah, bring it on :)

Make it as you wish SSSs!
Arienne xo

Raw Food Challenge Day #2: Gazpacho!

Well Day #2 wasn't too bad. I'm thinking that some of my headaches are coming from my glasses that are a bit tight at the sides of my head. I guess that is one of the downfalls of having a super round face - it is very wide (thanks mum and dad) and can be quite difficult to find glasses that suit and fit! I should start using my sleep-in contacts again (I think there is an official name for them, but you pretty much insert the hard discs in like normal contacts just before you go to bed and then take them out first thing in the morning and you can see during the day without glasses or contacts!).

I'm really surprised that it is going quite easily for me. I admit that my will power is not the best, though I'm aware that it is a muscle that can be exercised and strengthened. Sure there are hard moments. There was about 5 minutes today when I could have killed for a bowl of some meat infused broth. It is a little tricky when The Man is eating normally and the smell of toast and meat come wafting over (and then the show My Kitchen Rules was on TV showcasing yummy food...I found the remote control very quickly).

There is something awesome going on that I can't even find the words to describe. I feel smoothe and light. Like things are flowing easier. It's only the end of Day #2 so can it be the food already?

Today I Had:
Juice: beetroot, carrot, celery and apple
Breakfast: Muesli, almond milk and strawberries
Lunch: leftovers from yesterday! Zucchini, Carrot, tomato, basil pesto
Dinner: Gazpacho - cold tomato/capsicum/cucumber/garlic soup - think Virgin Mary (Bloody Mary without the vodka!)
Snacks: raw nuts (brazil, walnut, hazelnut, peanut and almond), cherry tomatoes, blueberries, apple, plum
Drinks: water, peppermint tea


I love Gazpacho. Dad has made it throughout our lives, but it didn't click to me that it is Raw Food! This realisation dawned on me as I was running some errands and contemplating what was for dinner that evening. I didn't think I could stomach something similar to Lunch and BFF C hadn't let me know yet. So I made an executive decision, stopped off at the health food store and picked up the ingredients along with a few prepped raw food snacks. It totally hit the spot and I can't wait to make it again.

I'll start taking some photos of the meals we're eating if you're interested.

Make it as you wish SSSs!
Arienne xo

Raw Food Day #1: Minor Hiccups

I didn't sleep very well last night...I think the idea of getting up at 5am to do a whole lot of things disturbed my sleep. But it is also exciting, today, Tuesday February 15th 2011 (strategically the day after Valentine's Day) is the first day with of the Raw Food Challenge!

So, we were supposed to test our pH levels today to see our level of acidity/alkalinity. BFF C described the process yesterday that we had to spit out a few times and then spit the third 'spit set' in a spoon and dip the testing paper in (lovely!). And she stressed that we had to do it before put anything into our mouths, no water, no anything.

So I woke up nice and bright and early this morning for bootycamp and brushed my teeth and came downstairs. Whoops, so much for not putting anything in my mouth – toothpaste counts! But it was okay because BFF C couldn't find the pH test papers anyway. So tomorrow it is.

Breakfast was raw muesli with almond milk, raw honey and strawberries. YUM!

I was feeling a little tired, at 10am but I'd been up for 5 hours. Where is this energy that was promised? I had to close my eyes for about 10 minutes and it made a difference.

I had a little bit of a headache today, probably from caffeine withdrawals because I was definitely hydrating myself well. Then again, I have 1-2 cups of coffee a day and then maybe a cup of tea and while that's probably not a high cafeine intake

I surprisingly haven’t been very hungry, I managed to eat only half my lunch (zucchini, carrot and tomatoes with a basil pesto) and dinner (I had a steering committee at home and BFF C made us all a bunch of Raw Food stuffs – red peppers stuffed with a yummy raw mixture. I tried not to look at the chips provided for the normal gals). Being okay with eating these small portions is very strange for me as one of my downfalls is the quick eating of large portions.

Day #1 was all in all fine. A little groggy and uncomfortable but nothing I couldn’t handle!

I think I am starting an obsession with cherry tomatoes!

I will set up more of a structured post about the diet and all the things related to it.

Have you ever tried to change your diet? How did you go?

Make it as you wish SSSs!
Arienne

Photo Credit

Oooh Organic!

How beautiful does all this fresh food look? I heard somewhere once that the more colourful the food is on your plate, the better it is for you...I don't know the validity of the statement, but it makes some sense and it looks gorgeous

So going raw also means going organic. Which is quite pricey...But the benefits seem to be worth it. BFF C did say that the food may be a little more expensive. But this is our health, so I am definitely willing to invest in it. Plus we're not going to be doing a lot of eating out so ultimately this may turn out cheaper.

I took a stroll around the local health food supermarket called About Life and snapped the picture above. I've been in there before, but this time I was really paying attention to raw ingredients and the organic fruit and vegetables.

What is organic? There are many different definitions complicated and thorough, but basically, my understanding is that organic food is generally grown without the use of synthetic or artificial methods. No pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, well, no -cides in general really. It is food grown traditionally only using natural methods. That way you are only putting natural food stuff into your body without the arguably harmful extras. Just good natural fresh fruit and vegetable. There is also a movement that this farming is done ecologically with as little damage to the natural environment as possible. I'm sure it emcompasses much more than that but I'm sure you get the gist.

What is raw? Eating raw basically means food that hasnt been heated to over 46 degrees celcius. This is supposedly the temperature that enzymes that are good for your body start breaking down and less useful. So things that are heat treated or roasted or taosted are not in this category.

From my readings there are many different versions of the raw food diet. If you want to know more in-depth official information, Google it and you will find all you need to know! I'm easing in to this and finding out the information that I need to know and that is relevant to me as it becomes important. There truly is masses of information out there.

Our version is pretty much only raw fruit, vegetables, nuts and legumes. No meat, no seafood or coffee or bread or pasta and no alcohol (though we did discover that it is okay to have organic wine...if push comes to shove, but we are definitely aiming no alcohol.

I've heard some great things about this book called Crazy Sexy Diet by Kris Carr. I've tried to see if it's available in Sydney and the bookshop said that it would be in on the 15th of Feburary (exactly the date we start on the challenge). From what I've read it is written in a very upbeat, positive and accessible way. Plus I love her tone and style of writing. So hopefully it should be in my hands shortly.

Make it as you wish SSSs!
Arienne xo

Fit for 30! Fit for Life!

Okay I have a secret to share, I am not the youthful person I have conned you into thinking I am. I am turning (shhhh) 30 this year. Yes, the big 3-0. Dirty 30. Yes.

I have to say I don't have a problem with it. I don't freak out with the thought that I should be further along, or I should have this and that with a cherry on the top. I think my 30s are going to be super exciting and I'm looking forward to the adventures to come.

But back to now. I turn 30 in May and I aim to be feeling like all of the fit and healthy ladies above.
Well, my major goal for the year is to master my health. And health to me means both body and mind. Then physical and the emotional/mental.

My new mantra is "Thank you, I am strong, fit, healthy, happy and confident!".
I have written on the shower wall and on the mirror my related goals.

A few things that I still need to do is:
Write in my journal and really focus on what I am going to feel like
Work out my exercise routine consisting of a bootcamp, swimming, walking and yoga.

Now, for the diet side...
I am normally a person that believes in moderation. I think you can eat anything as long as you only have it sometimes and generally eat well.

But BFF C (that's her and I and our toothy grins above) has developed a major interest in raw food and in keeping with my health goal and growing her skills she suggested we raw food it up for a month.

So I'm being a guinea pig and will be keeping a record of body measurements, pH balance, mood and the experience in general. I've not really decided whether I should publish bowel movements. Please feel free to comment with a yay or nay ;) I've decided to share the journey here (I think I've just realised that 'Journey' is my word for 2011) and give BFF C some feedback.

I've got some concerns about my ability not eat meat, bread, rice, pasta, coffee or alcohol (well, drink the last two). But I know the challenge will make me stronger and build my confidence. Plus the health benefits just seem so great.

I admit I'm being a bit passive here. She is doing all the research and the meal planning, but I've been googling away to discover people's experiences with it and it all is looking positive (including Steve Pavlina). But I trust her and I think you can do almost anything for 30 days. I'll let you know more as I go and I appreciate your support (can I hear you cheering us on?).

So if you'd like to join us, BFF C just told me she's going to start a blog too, check in and see how this journey unfolds... Who knows what will happen after 30 days, but I'm 100% sure I'll be better for it.

Make it as you wish SSSs!
Arienne xo

Too Blessed To Be Stressed? YES!

Gosh, why is it that when you need them the most, you abandon the most useful tools available to you?

I've really noticed that when I get busy and have a lot to handle, I allow work to encroach onto the things that keep my life in balance and in check. I seem to so easily let go of exercising, eating well, journal writing and spending quality time with special people.

Not cool.

A lot of the work that I do I really enjoy, I can have creative space, feel like I'm contributing to a better world and spend time with inspiring people. And that is a problem in a way because work doesn't always feel like work. But I need to balance that with these other important things that I want in my life for important reasons.

I guess that is why they call it a journey. You learn as you go. I think I need to adhere to the routine I have set for myself because there are reasons I've created that routine. There should be some non-negotiables there. Where no matter how busy or stressful life in general can get, I put these things first so I can do a better in the long run.

I exercise and eat well because I want to be healthier so I can live a fuller life. I journal write because it helps me express the thoughts and emotions I am experiencing and that keeps me understanding myself and working through things. I spend time with great people because those relationships enrich my life (and hopefully theirs too!!).

See, sometimes you get it out there and answer your own question!

So, I'm getting up and attending the 6am yoga class, followed by a healthy breakfast and a session with my diary.

I came across this 'too blessed to be stressed' motto - how cool. I am too blessed!

Make it as you wish SSSs!
Arienne xo

Self Care

Embrace being a woman! The essence of femininity is in all of us girls. Some of us love it, some of us push it away. Some of us are naturally more girly than others and either way its fine. We don't need to be over the top girly girly who's world falls about when we break a nail. But I also think we should stop pushing away 'being a girl' and some of the negative connotations even us as 'girls' perpetuate (cry like a girl, she's being such a girl etc). It may not be all of us women, but we are more emotional, we do like to talk it out, we are more affectionate. We don't have to become more 'like men' to be successful in our personal or professional lives.

For me, part of embracing my femininity is pampering myself and doing things that make me feel good. I'm not talking about deep issues of body image or working on becoming an impossibly perfect physical specimen. I'm talking about hair, nails and pampering!

These things are the little actions that make me feel fabulous and therefore I walk with my head high, and yes, it does cost money and is not a necessity in the grand scheme of things, but the benefit these things give me totally outweigh their costs (and I make sure I keep the costs down - I personally don't feel comfortable getting a $300 haircut, though there is nothing wrong if people do!).

So the things I make sure are in my routine (and I sometimes use them as rewards for working towards a goal successfully) are:

• Manicure and Pedicure - I really suck at doing my own nails, I get the paint all over my skin and I can't do the cuticle thing myself. So I go every month or two to a nail salon and get my fingers and toes done. I love the massage I get as well and I love the happy colours on my nails, often going for a salmon or bright red. Yay! I'm still trying to find what my favourite colour is - but I usually choose out of the OPI range.
  
• Hair - I don't really do too much. I have a wonderful hairdresser in Chinatown that gives me a great $70 haircut that lasts up to 6 months. Just the process of the shampoo and head massage and walking out like I've just left a hair salon (which I have) is an amazing feeling. Then, because I'm lucky enough to be a brunette, I just get a home hair dye kit and get a friend to paint on my colour. Almost any colour will do (I hope I'm not giving any heart attacks to hairdressers!!)
• Massage - I've not been too good an regularly scheduling these because I was feeling guilty about spending money on a massage. But I'm getting over that! I know I feel so much better when I've had one. So I will indulge...thai? swedish? We'll see!
  
• Face Masks & Hair Treatments - I've put it in my routine to do a facemask at home every week together with a hair treatment. I've started wanting to make my own, because they are quite easy to do. I'd just want to see the results before I stick with making them myself. In the meantime I'm using a green face mask that smells divine from Maja. I do feel sorry for the Man when I come to bed with a green face!
• Waxing - we all know how good the results are!
  

Enjoy some self care. Don't break the bank. Small actions big benefits. Enjoy.

Make it as you wish SSSs!
Photo Credit

Namaste

Namaste - a word I have always loved after hearing that it meant 'The divine in me bows to the divine in you'. How fabulous is that!

I've started Power Vinyasa Yoga at the local centre and am absolutely loving it. It's doing yoga at 30 degrees (centigrade my international friends) and you sweat your arse off while stretching, increasing your balance and improving your core. All the while giving yourself space, 'me' time and relaxation.

I also recently spoke to a male friend who had a very bad breakup with a yogi. He and another friend have a theory that yoga can also make people very self centred. My theory is that it depends on the individual... Thoughts?

I've been a few weeks without going to yoga and I really have to say that I miss it. My body feels the difference, my mind feels the difference and I can't wait to get back to Sydney to continue the journey.

Some of my favourite yoga resources are:
20 Minute Yoga Sessions - Podcasts you can download from itunes and put on your ipod or phone for yoga on the go
Kimberly Wilson - for living a stylish life of yoga on and off the mat. She also sells books and yoga workout recording from her main site.

Make it as you wish SSSs!
Arienne xo

Photo credit

Here's to Our Health SSSs!

"The best six doctors anywhere,
And no one can deny it,
Are sunshine, water, rest, and air,
Exercise and diet.
These six will gladly you attend,
If only you are willing.
Your mind they'll ease.
Your will they'll mend.
And charge you not a shilling."


~ Nursery rhyme quoted by Wayne Fields, What the River Knows, 1990

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