Monthly Archives: December 2011

Merry Christmas

27 Tuesday Dec 2011

Posted by in Change, Writing

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Christmas gift suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.” – Oren Arnold quotes

Another Christmas over for another year.  Have I ever told you how much I love this time of year?!  Look at the photo above, I mean how stunning is the Coromandel – I am so blessed to have grown up in New Zealand and still living here.  I would not trade my upbringing here for anything!

The New Zealand Christmas tree out in flower – beautiful.

Me biking around the local Hahei streets – so much to explore and so much fun!

Our humble abode – home away from home.

I am lucky enough to call this place home – Mount Maunganui!

Meri Kirihimete everyone, I hope you all enjoy this festive season to relax and unwind from this busy year.  It has been a challenging year for my family so we are looking forward to the start of 2012 with a positive outlook.

Enjoy & travel safe xx

Called to rise

14 Wednesday Dec 2011

Posted by in Reading, Writing

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We never know how high we are Till we are called to rise; And then, if we are true to plan, Our statures touch the skies – Emily Dickinson

 I HAD a guinea golden; 
  I lost it in the sand, 
And though the sum was simple, 
  And pounds were in the land, 
Still had it such a value          
  Unto my frugal eye, 
That when I could not find it 
  I sat me down to sigh. 
  
I had a crimson robin 
  Who sang full many a day,         
But when the woods were painted 
  He, too, did fly away. 
Time brought me other robins,— 
  Their ballads were the same,— 
Still for my missing troubadour          
  I kept the “house at hame.” 
  
I had a star in heaven; 
  One Pleiad was its name, 
And when I was not heeding 
  It wandered from the same.         
And though the skies are crowded, 
  And all the night ashine, 
I do not care about it, 
  Since none of them are mine. 
  
My story has a moral:          
  I have a missing friend,— 
Pleiad its name, and robin, 
  And guinea in the sand,— 
And when this mournful ditty, 
  Accompanied with tear,         
Shall meet the eye of traitor 
  In country far from here, 
Grant that repentance solemn 
  May seize upon his mind, 
And he no consolation          
  Beneath the sun may find.

Part II from Life poem

Dry body brushing

10 Saturday Dec 2011

Posted by in Health & Well-being, Wellbeing 101

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Skin is the largest elimination organ in/on our bodies, and plays a key part in detoxification.  It makes up about 15% of our bodies & helps control our body temperature.  Skin has several layers to it, people generally only worry about the top (epidermis) layer but there is also the dermis and subcutaneous layer which are just as important. 

Dry brushing is generally used in health spas (expensive ones may I add) and holistic massage and body therapy places.   It is done BEFORE you shower in the morning – hence the name dry brushing :) !

What will I need to dry body brush?

You will need a long handle brush (soft or hard you choose) here is the one I use  and a pottle of body scrub, here is my favourite one from Lemongrass House which sells all natural products. 

How to dry brush…

  1. Give yourself 10 – 15 minutes YOU time before your day starts
  2. Always brush TOWARDS your heart as you want to assist the natural flow of lymph through the body. Work from feet to thighs, hands to shoulders, and neck to chest.
  3. All of your movements need to be long and sweeping motions.  Repeat each stroke 3 – 5 times over the same area to increase the flow of lymph.
  4. Circular motions can be made over areas where lymph nodes are located ie: behind the knees, groin, and underarms. 

Here is a picture to show the directions to dry brush towards. 

Enjoy!

Supercharged foods

03 Saturday Dec 2011

Posted by in Change, Food, Health & Well-being

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New recipe book by Lee Holmes

Lee is on a mission to try to change our eating habits and supercharge our lives – one meal at a time!

Supercharged Food is full of over 90 flavoursome meals to cleanse the immune system and maintain long-term wellbeing. All of the recipes are all gluten, wheat, dairy, yeast and sugar-free for a better eating plan.

Sarah Wilson, a writer, tv presenter and foodie who wrote I quit Sugar e-book swears by this book because it was designed for people with food intolerances and auto immune disease sufferers like herself.

Here is one of 90 recipes – it looks so delicious and making cauliflower mash – easy way to trick kids into eating vegetables – Genius! Mums will love this.

Check out her website http://www.superchargedfood.com  for recipes, plan weekly meals, creative cooking ideas and lots more.  There’s also information about detoxing, and other superfoods.

Bon appetit

Festive season tips A – Z

01 Thursday Dec 2011

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With less than a month until Christmas, I need to start preparing for the festive season.  Here are some A-Z tips

A – Advent
Signifies the start of the Christian year.  It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and finishes on the 25th December – Jesus birthday.  

B – Boxing Day
Origin of boxing day is unknown.   A lot of people say it originated when unwanted gifts were delivered to churches and placed in a box that would then be given out to the ‘poor’.

C – Christmas Cards
Every body appreciates Christmas Cards in the post – you can even make your own for a low cost and its fun using glitter, coloured felt tip pens etc

D – Decorations
To really creative a festive season atmosphere at home or your workplace, put up some decorations, its always nice to stick to a theme eg: silver and blue or gold and white – remember less is more

E – Exercise
Stay active during the festive season – its always nice to go for an evening walk with a friend or spouse.  The weather is generally nice too :)

F – Friends & Family 
The festive season is a good time to relax after a busy year and spend more quality time with family and friends.  We all get busy so its very important we spend valuable time with loved ones – life is too short not too.

G – Good Gifts
Purchase a Really Good Gift today and help change a leprosy-affected family this festive season.

H – Happiness
The festive season is a time to take a break from everyday routine and sit back and relax with friends and family.  Enjoy your break over the Christmas and New Year period.

I – Ideas
With all this free time on your hands over the holiday period it can give you a good time to think of some ideas of things you want to do next year – in 2012.

J – Jesus
Jesus is the reason for the season – celebrate his birth 

K – Kindness
Kindness is something we should exercise everyday, but with stressful everyday routines it can get forgotten easily.  This holiday season exercise your kindness muscle by using it atleast once a day.

L – Light it up
When the sun goes down turn your Christmas lights on and watch them flicker with   seasonal  hues.

M – Memories
Remember the good times with close family and friends – it will bring up a feeling of gratitude and thankfulness for all the good times in the past and all the events to come.

T – Time

During the festive season you will find yourself more time than you are use to – use it wisely including giving yourself time to refresh and rejuvenate

V – Volunteer
A lot of people are lonely during the festive season for various reasons – families members are overseas, their family members have passed away or other reasons, so its nice for the fortunate people to lend a hand at their local mission, visit people in a near by resthome or invite your neighbour over for a festive meal.

Z – ZzZzZzzz
Sleep – enjoy an afternoon nap

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