when clean eating is hard

I'm slowly, slowly losing weight. Probably a little TOO slowly, but I'm confident I can more easily keep it off if I lose it slowly. Problem is, though, that I have hit that part of my journey where I'm losing momentum, losing motivation, losing inspiration and just finding things altogether too hard. I haven't given up by any means. I know I just have to keep plodding along, but I'm just going through the motions half heartedly and I'm succumbing to temptation too much with my strong cravings for sugar and junk food. Why can't clean eating be easier? Why can't I love and crave whole foods all the time? Stupid sugar.

Anyway, my goal for now is to find some inspiration to reignite the fire within me to reach my health and fitness goals. I need to find something that can get me passionate about it all again. The gym date I have lined up with my personal trainer in less than a week might get me going!

food journey update

Well, I'm pleased to report I'm 3kgs down so far. Slow and steady wins the race right? I've been pretty good at stripping away all the junk food from my life and filling the void with fresh food. I'd love to go back to organic all the time, but finances are a bit tricky for now. Surprisingly I haven't had too many bad cravings for bad and sugary food as much as I thought I would, but when I do I have found great solutions to satisfy my tastebuds. My favourite go-to sweet treat is two slices of Burgen Soy & Linseed bread with half a dozen strawberries on top, a little cottage cheese and a drizzle of maple syrup. Yum!

I've also been finding new things to try like the Loving Earth Chocolate Buckinis! Oh my! Have you tried these? They are super delish with a few spoonfuls of greek yoghurt. Even my four year old, who has a very limited range of foods she eats, loved these. I've already been through a bag of these and ready to order more. They come in caramel too which I'm keen to try.

Easter was a bit of a blip. But I just wanted to enjoy a good hearty but still healthy Easter lunch with my family, and maybe a chocolate or two as well. Or three. Or was that twenty? Anyway, I'm back on track now.

**This post is not sponsored at all. As per my new policy, anything I write about on my blog is because I have chosen to tell you about it because I like it! The only advertising I will be doing is sidebar advertising.

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the old and the new

This little photo just warms my heart. We were leaving my mum's friend's house and when I looked up before me, I saw this and quickly snapped a photo. Zoe doesn't easily warm to many people, so this is pretty special. Friends.

goodbye junk food, hello clean eating

I'm a bit scared. Tomorrow I get measured and weighed and start a 40 day focus that will see me eating cleanly (ie. no processed foods, only whole unrefined foods and no carbs after 2pm) and exercising like a crazy person. Well not too crazy. Well, the only crazy thing about it really is that I'll be doing this over Easter.

I'm almost too scared to write that I'm doing it here, for fear of failure at this yet again. But no, I can do it, and I WILL do it.

They gym I've joined is running the program so I will have people checking on me. I'm tired of feeling sluggish and not proud of the way I look. I just want to be happier and feel better about myself, and be healthier. But that will involve a lot of hard work. So, yep, I'm scared. But I just need to get on with it and do it. No excuses.

So goodbye junk/sweet/treat food. Hello healthy stuff, like paleo pumpkin bread. Mmmm yum.

Do I sound convinced?

Feel free to hit me with any great sites for 'clean eating', especially lovely clean sweet treats!

so here's the thing...about blogging and advertising and stuff

I know. That was a really long blog post title.

Anyway, the thing is. I don't really like what the world of blogging has turned into in lots of ways. When I first started blogging, it was just a fun little hobby and a way to connect with a wider community of people to help me keep my days sane. And thrown in there, I used to love sharing things that I used, bought, found and these were just my own finds or discoveries. And then somewhere along the line, things changed and now blogs can be platforms to advertise things, and well, now it kind of feels like a product or a discovery can't be mentioned without feeling like it is necessary to explain whether you genuinely are sharing it as something amazing or whether it was gifted to you or is (or isn't) a sponsored post, etc. etc. 

I more or less fell out of blogging while a lot of this blog monetising/advertising thing started to really take off and it has scared me off coming back to it I think. It all seems like such a serious business now, and all the while I can't help thinking......it's just a blog. When did it all get so intense?

So, anyway, from now on, I'm not going to do reviews, give ways or anything else of that nature anymore. I just want this blog to be a place where I can write about whatever I want, whenever I want, like I used to. The blog post content will be mine and not influenced by gifts or money. So if a product is mentioned it will be because I bought it and I genuinely want to share about it.

And now, it's back to normal viewing and posting.....like being silly taking selfies while your 4 year old pretends she's still a baby in a high chair. As you do.

check out my melons!

Well, there's only one melon - but check it out!

I thought it was time for a vege patch up date, so here it is. I continue to be amazed at how quickly everything has grown, and I still get excited when I discover new veges ready for picking! We've had plenty of zucchini's and cucumber, the basil has been great, and of course the watermelon! The vine of the watermelon has gone craaaaaazy. It's growing over the lawn now. Mental note - if we ever grow these again, we will just plant the one vine.

Since the photo above was taken, I've cleared some of the zucchini section and pulled out the remaining rotting bits of cucumber plant and am trying to make way for some new veges in the coming weeks. Our blueberry tree and strawberries didn't fair so well. They were up against possums or rats, so we never got to eat any of the fruit. Actually we did get a few blueberries at the start. So we put netting over the berries but then that got overrun with the sprawling watermelon vine which blocked any sun from getting to them. Anyway, lessons learned there, so for next time we will plan the garden bed a bit better. I'm hoping to plant some carrot, beans, broccoli and maybe some more cucumbers soon.

Am hoping that eventually, we will have enough growing in our little patch that there will always be something that will feed us should we have nothing in the cupboards! Bit ambitious? Maybe, but one can dream!

Anyone got a vege patch they would love to show off? Leave me a link in the comments below!

did you win?

Check the bottom of this post here to see if you won a Moment Watch. Please get in touch with me if it's you! I don't have any contact details for two of the winners.

detox & declutter 2013

I'm on a mission this year.

I want to detox my body and declutter my life.

I want to start on the journey of nourishing my body with the right kinds of foods, and hopefully, along with that, lose most if not all of the excess weight I have added over the last few years. I want to eliminate as many toxins and chemicals as I can from body and skin care products as well as all those non-stick surface and plastics lurking in the cupboard.

And I just want to simplify life really. Have less stuff. I just want things in the cupboard that we use all the time rather than excess. My cupboards are usually chock full of the containers and pots and pans that never see the light of day. There is no point them being there taking up space and cluttering my life.

So yesterday I began. First on the list was the plastics cupboard and then the pots and pans cupboard. I now have a mound of things to get rid of, and I will post them on my local freecycle network so that at least some of them can find a new use rather than going to the trash.

My cupboards now look a little like this. I can actually see what we have. And nothing falls out when I open the door!

If you want to embark on a similar mission and want to share photos along the way of how you are detoxing or decluttering, would love it if you could use the hashtag #detoxdeclutter2013 on Instagram and I'll come take a look. I'll be sharing my photos that way too. Or share your blog post in the comments below. I'd love to hear about it.

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"A portrait of my children (and me!), once a week, every week, in 2013."

Josh: Still loves cars. Always has. Not sure if he will ever outgrow them.

Zoe: Her first love. Sweets. Must be her mother's daughter.

Ben: Peg playing. It's the simple things.

Me: Struggling/cringeing when it comes to the selfies. Looking a little pensive.

Linking up with Jody for the 52 Project.

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"A portrait of my children (and me!), once a week, every week, in 2013."

Josh: At Madame Tussauds this week, Josh posing on the podium with Dawn Fraser.

Zoe: Meeting Marilyn at Madame Tussauds.

Ben: Found him asleep on a pile of his soft toys. Usually he throws them out of the cot, this day, he cuddled into them.

Me: Happy faces. Seeing a very missed friend again.

Linking up with Jody for the 52 Project.

why oh why didn't i think of this??

One of my friends shared this little find with me this week, and I was so excited about it I had to share it, because I'm almost certain you will all be glad to know about these, just like I was.

The other part of me was kind of sad to discover them, because I was annoyed I didn't think of this idea myself. Oh well. I'll keep trying to come up with the next best seller.....

Anyway, these are what I learned about: Squeezems! 

image from Squeezems

Yes, you know, those things us mums spend a fortune on at the shops.....those pesky and expensive squeezy yoghurts? A mum in Australia thought to make these herself and sell them. Genius! So now we can all make our own. 

I've just stocked up in both sizes. They come in 80ml and 200ml. The 80ml is probably a tad too small for my crew. 80ml is about 2 mouthfuls for my bottomless pits, so I ordered the 200ml ones too and these are what I will use for their school lunch boxes. I'm going to go back to making my own yoghurt too now I think and try and save even more money.

Aren't you glad I shared? Had you heard about these before? Do your kids love squeezy yoghurts as much as mine? Why does yoghurt taste better in a pouch?

a more nourished life in 2013

So, the one of my new 'things' over the last year has been health, nutrition, and organics. During the last half of 2012 I found myself reading more and more information online and learning so much. Much of it was challenging my existing beliefs, and things I had taken for granted as being healthy or safe, I was suddenly discovering were not necessarily so. 

There were lots and lots of pages I was following on Facebook along this theme. All of which I am missing terribly, as they were such a wealth of information at my fingertips. One of the pages I have been following for some time is Nourished Life. The page started as a passion of Irene Falcone's, as she decided one day to rid her home of any products loaded with toxins and replace them all with non-toxic, natural and organic products. She began sharing her findings, more and more people began following the page, asking questions and wanting to know where to purchase the products from. So Irene, then, opened her own online store, Nourished Life, which stocks all the products that Irene has thoroughly researched and found to be the best for us - all free of toxins, all natural, and many using organic ingredients.

Late in the year, I was fortunate enough to become part of Irene's team at Nourished Life, and I now assist in adding products to the online store and with other projects Irene is working on. It's so wonderful to be working for a cause that is one I am truly behind and passionate about myself. I'm really looking forward to seeing Nourished Life grow this year as more and more people choose to detox their lives and start being kinder to their bodies, both with what goes onto it and inside it. 

Please do check it out if this is something you are even remotely interested in! All the products are tried and tested by Irene before they make it in the store. I have also been buying products too, slowly replacing things that we were using before, and I have been super impressed with how good they are. My current favourite products are the Cosima cleanser and day cream. Such superior products and so much better than anything you would put on your skin from a department store! And lots of things are no more expensive than what you would spend on department store products either.

Here's to a more nourished life for me and my family in 2013!

(PS. This is totally not a sponsored post. In fact Irene doesn't even know I'm going to post this! This is just one of the things I'm super passionate about at the moment, and I can't NOT share about it.

PPS. I buy all my own products from NL to try, none are given to me for free. All opinions about them are my own!)

win one of three moment watches - the john freeman collection

Remember this special watch I was gifted that I shared with you? Well, now it's your turn to be gifted!

Australian artist, John Freeman has partnered exclusively with Moment Watches to launch the world’s first watch brand inspired by stories of love, relationships and new journeys. Following his work as an art teacher, Freeman’s inspiration is drawn from the work of his students, incorporating the use of intense colours, strong lineal elements, and storytelling in the product’s design.

The John Freeman Collection comes in three 'stories' each presented beautifully in a large format mock book, which also comprises a second easel for displaying the watches – making it the perfect gift and collector’s item.

              

The watches come in male and female designs and can be personalised through interchangeable wristbands, available in a variety of bright leathers and glow-in-the-dark synthetics.

To celebrate the launch of Moment Watches and The John Freeman Collection, mum/toddler/babe is providing three readers the chance to win one exclusive watch from this new collection. The three watches are:

The John Freeman Story of a New Journey watch celebrates new experiences and events that make a positive change in us and in the way we see life. The bold shape and monochrome style of the watch makes it the perfect accessory to symbolise a new beginning. Its monochrome design with flashes of red makes it unique within the range.

The John Freeman Story of Friendships watch reflects friendships that energise us and add meaning to our journey. Perfect for changing styles from day to night, this watch comes complete with interchangeable black and white modern styled straps while the watch face features Freeman’s classic bright colours and emotive stories.

The John Freeman Story of Love watch conveys life’s most cherished moments; those of love, and the fruits of that love. Those moments that invariably involve the people we hold dearest to our hearts- husband, wife, partner and children. With its bold use of colour and romantically styled box the watch is a perfect gift for a loved one.

Watch specifications

·        Story presentation book which doubles as a beautiful gift box

·        Mini easel to display watch

·        Rubber-coated watch case

·        Leather strap and design-patented PU strap

·        30 metres water resistant

·        Japanese-made Miyota three-hand movement

·        Stainless steel buckle and case back

·        RRP $90.

To be in with a chance of winning your Moment Watch, just comment below in 25 words or less, sharing your story of either a new journey, a special friendship, or a love story. Each winner will be able to choose which watch they would like to win! This will be a game of skill, and the three most entertaining stories will be chosen. Entries must be made by Friday 18 January 2012 midnight EST. Competition only open to Australian residents.

You can visit http://momentwatches.com/ or http://www.facebook.com/CelebrateYourMoment for more information on Moment Watches.

EDIT: Thank you everyone for entering! The winners of the three Moment Watches are Big brother, little sister; Suzie Love; and babycakequeen. Congratulations! Please email me within the week with your watch preference and to claim your prize.

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"A portrait of my children (+ me!), once a week, every week, in 2013."

+ B: Slowly discovering all the big kids toys all by himself.

+ Z: Enjoying her favourite thing - dress ups and hamming it up for the camera.

+ J: Still loves his cars and making up lots of stories.

+ V: Yes, it's me. I'm going to try and conquer my fear of the camera and include myself into this project. Crazy little twist! Will see how I go.

i'm breaking up with facebook

image

Yep, you read right. I've decided to break up with Facebook. For a long while, at least.

A few things have happened in the last week or so that have made me re-evaluate my life in many ways, and I've decided that for now Facebook is better out of my life than in it. I trialled deactivating my account a few days ago, and it was utter bliss. No unquenchable urge to check for updates 45 times a day, no skimming through my endless news feed. It was so nice not to be sucked into the Facebook abyss and I really enjoyed my days at home with the kids far more. I was more attentive, I was insanely productive and have ticked so many things off my 'to do' list already.

So I've decided that I'm going to deactivate it again, and let people get in touch with me in the old school way, by phone or email.

I'm not sure how long I'll do it. And I do know I'd like to go back in from time to time as Facebook is the only way I am in touch with a lot of people and it will mean missing out on that, but I think for me, where I am at right now, I really need the space from social media. I plan to still Instagram and hop on Pinterest when I get the chance, but I don't find those mediums quite so time wasting. I will just reactivate my Facebook account every few weeks or so just to catch up with some peeps.

And funnily enough, the break from Facebook has given me the head space back to want to blog more than I have in a long time. So that's a good thing!

I honestly didn't think I could cut Facebook out of my life, but I feel so much better for it now I've made the decision and given it a little go. Currently I've just announced it to my friends and giving them the chance to grab my other contact details before I deactivate for a long while......bye bye Facebook, it's been fun, but now there is some other fun to be had!

What about you? Do you think you could live without Facebook? Does it take up too much of your time each day? Do you feel compelled to check it 60 times a day like I used to?

grateful for.....

....living so close by the beach. 

There is nothing like the sound of the sea to soothe, the salt water to refresh and the sand beneath your feet to awaken your soul.

the cuteness kills me

The cuteness of these guys really does kill me sometimes. The big two are fighting so much less these school holidays which I am so grateful for, and they are mostly delightful to watch playing together. My favourite thing at the moment is when Josh blocks Zoe's way and he tells her she needs to say the magic words to pass through. After trying to guess what the 'magic words' actually are with 'please', 'pretty please', 'sparkles', etc. Josh finally tells her the magic words are 'I love my brother'. Hilarious. So willing, Zoe declares 'I love my brother!' and is allowed on her merry way. I've since heard Zoe use 'I love my sister' as her magic words for Josh. Cute. So Cute.

year of 52 moments - a special gift from moment watches

Just before Christmas I was gifted this gorgeous watch courtesy of Moment Watches. I hadn't heard of them before but when I read more about them and the artistry behind the watches I was captivated and more than happy to be on the receiving end of one of their timepieces. 

The watch I received is part of a very special initiative called 'Year of 52 Moments'. It's a world first, and a very ambitious task as it means creating a specially designed limited edition watch for every week of the year. Each watch will feature one of 52 personal stories translated into a modern watch design.

The great news is that little old you can submit a design that will be considered for one of the watch designs! If you have a significant story to tell or an inspirational moment to share, you are invited to register on Facebook at facebook.com/CelebrateYourMoment, and then create an illustration or artwork that tells your story or celebrates a special moment. You can also find more information at www.momentwatches.com.

The initiative kicked off on Christmas Day, so the watch I have has a very special Christmas message for me. It represents the bible verse John 3:16: 'For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life'. For me, that is what Christmas is about essentially, so to have received this watch just before Christmas was a lovely reminder of what I was celebrating, and is also a great reminder going into the new year of where my heart needs to be.

There are many more beautiful watches being produced by Moment Watches, including their John Freeman collection. John Freeman is an Australian artist who has designed a range of watches inspired by new journeys, friendship and love. I am super excited to be having a giveaway soon of three of these lovely watches.

Even if you don't submit a design for the Year of 52 Moments, it will be an interesting journey to watch all the watch designs as they are launched each week. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing them and the inspirational stories behind them.

Got any ideas for a watch design? What moment or story would you love to see be used for this initiative?

happy new year!

Hee hee!! Just kidding! Happy 2013!

I found this photo somewhere along my internet travels some time ago, and it always gets a great chuckle from me at the responses it gets. Thought I'd share the laughs to start off the year joyfully!

Last night we spent with some close friends. All our kids had a great old time, swimming, eating, playing wii, watching movies, and then we got home in time for the kids to get into their pyjamas while watching the 9pm fireworks on tv. We could actually hear some real fireworks close by going off at the same time - very cool! Sadly, I was so tired I was in bed before 10 myself - woeful. I don't think I've EVER done that on new year's eve before.....there's always a first I guess.

I hope you heralded in the new year with good times and hopefully good champagne (I may or may not have had a few, or more.).

xx

PS. There will be no more babes for me, just saying.