Happy New Year Everyone

Photograph Courtesy
of
Dallas Olsen

Day at the Beach

I'm going to the beach tomorrow......

Tomorrow Dainel's taking me to 90 Mile Beach. It'll be the first time I've been there and I can't wait! Tomorrow's the first day I will have actually done something typical of a holiday and it's well deserved let me tell you. LOL!! The last two weeks as you all know we've been busy moving and settling in so now it's time to sit back, relax and enjoy what's left of our holidays.

And of course I had to go shopping for it which I did before leaving Melbourne. Here's what I bought:

* Seafolly Costa Del Sol Twist Bandeau & Mini Hipster with Belt
* Sheridan Beach Towel (White, Pink & Orange)
* White Cotton Kaftan
* Denim Shorts
* Beach Hat
* Beach Bag

It's meant to be 35° tomorrow so as you can see by my list I have chosen my clothing whilst keeping in mind sun protection. I've also got my 30+ Sunscreen so I'm all organised. We've even packed ready this evening so we can hit the road as soon as we eat, shower and change after the gym in the morning. We've packed healthy snacks to eat and plenty of water to keep us hydrated. Daniel's taking his surfboard and a beach rod, here's hoping he catches me dinner. *yummo* There's nothing like eating freshly caught grilled fish straight of the bbq. So to keep myself entertained whilst I'm sun baking I'm taking along the most recent copy of UltraFit Magazine. Nothing like catching up on a little reading. Lindy Olsen has written an article in it I want to read so it'll be the perfect opportunity to do so wouldn't you agree. I honestly can't remember the last time I stopped and took time out to do nothing other then catch up on rest and relaxation. Trust me when I say that there'll be a lot more of it in 2008. It's as equally important as eating, training and sleeping in my opinion. It's just I don't do it, that's all.

I hope you all have a fantastic week and remember, live each day as if it were your last. xx

Quote of the Day

"When faced with a challenge, look for a way,
not a way out."

-- David Weatherford

Shopping Day

Yesterday we went shopping in Taralgon. It's a 30 minute drive from where we live but with a larger variety of stores. Snooze was our first point of call to buy a Kombi Lowboy to match our existing bedroom suite. Now we have the queen bed, bedside tables, wall mirror and lowboy. It's a 6-8 week wait which is a real bummer but will be well worth it when it eventually arrives. It's been a long time coming for the extra storage space so is a welcome addition to our bedroom.

Then we headed over to Officeworks. I picked up a black leather document tray to match my existing office accessories. 2008 is a big year for me so I'm getting everything organised in preparation for it. That and I only have one more week of holidays before I return back to work. I'll be hitting the ground running so it's best I get on top of things now whilst I have the time to do so.


And last but certainly not least was my pink noodle. I picked this up from the Reject Shop for $5. It's supposed to be used in the pool as a floating device and/or toy but I cut it up into three equal pieces and will use it for Self-Myofascial Release (SMR). If you have no idea what I'm talking about best you check out this link, it explains it better then I ever could. If you're serious about your sport then you have to try this for yourself. It's inexpensive and effective, what more could an athlete want.

My 1st training program for the new year is written, printed out and in my folder in my gym bag ready for tomorrow morning. That's all I'm going to say about that. Daniel put a lot of time and effort into it so I have no doubt it'll be a real doozy, we'll see how I pull up from it. I'm guessing they'll be a lot of letric soda baths and self-myofacial release going on at home this week. LOL!!

Well that's enough from me today. Things to do and work to get done. Enjoy what's left of your Sunday. xx

Photo of the Day

Goal Setting

The S.M.A.R.T. Model

S = Specific
Is your goal tangible?
Is your goal direct?
Is your goal clear?

M = Measurable
How will you know if you're on track?
How will you know when you reach your goal?

A = Attainable
Is it possible for you to achieve your goal?

R = Realistic
Is it within your capability to achieve your goal?>br?

T = Time Phased
Do you have a specific date when you will have achieved your goal?

Key Notes:
1. Your goals must be written down
2. They must be visible on a daily basis
3. Use a coloured paper as your eyes are naturally drawn to it
4. Create a rewards list for weekly, then fortnightly and monthly
5. Your rewards are to have no money or time restrictions imposed on them

So what are you waiting for? Get started now on your goals for 2008! :o)

Poster of the Day

Are you a reason, a season or a lifetime?

Pay attention to what you read. People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. Which one are you?

When someone is in your life for a reason . . .It is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend, and they are! They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part, or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered. And now it is time to move on.

Then people come into your life for a season. Because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They bring you an experience of peace, or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.

Lifetime relationships teach you lifetime lessons: things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person, and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Work like you don't need the money.

Love like you've never been hurt.

And dance like no one is watching.

Photo of the Day

Photograph Courtesy
of
Dallas Olsen

Ironing Lady

That was me late last night up ironing. It was well past midnight before I finished but thankfully I did and that's one less thing to do. Now my w-i-r- look lovely and organised with all my folded and ironed clothes on their wooden hangers. No point in having nice clothes if you're not going to look after them. I'm feeling it now though because I still woke up at the same time, nothing a skinny latte won't fix. LOL!!

Well today's grocery day. I have my list downloaded into my smartphone so I'm all organised. So today I'm going to check out some different places like a local health food store, a butcher and a fruit and vegetable market. It'll take a little longer but when you move like we do you have to shop around to find exactly what we're looking for and I don't mind travelling or paying for quality food. After all, we are what we eat remember. LOL!! I'm trying a new recipe today, a chicken and asparagus cob loaf. I'll let you know how it goes.

I haven't made my bed yet so I best make a move. I hope today is as lovely as it is here for you there. xx

Recipe of the Day

Daniel's Gaucamole

1 x Avacado
1/4 Finely Diced Red Onion
Tabasco Sauce to Taste
Juice of 1/2 Lemon
Cracked Pepper to Taste
Salt Flakes to Taste

Quote of the Day

"Build upon strengths, and weaknesses will gradually take care of themselves."

-- Joyce C. Lock

So what's in your gym bag?

Here's what's in mine:

Program
Jenny Lynn Laminated Personally Autographed Photo
Black Towel
Weight Belt
Gym Gloves
Livestrong Wristband
Baby-G Watch
Extra Sweetmint
HB Pencil
Palmers Lip Balm
Ipod Shuffle
Resistance Tube
2 x Square Grips
Water Bottle
5 x Post-training Bags
GNC Protein Shaker

My Home

Little Miss Cranky Pants

Nothing worth having ever came easy, there's no truer word spoken. Every day I find that life challenges me, in different way shape and forms. But what is significant are the choices that I make.

1. How do I let things effect me?

2. What do I do about it?

For some unknown reason last night and this morning I've turned into Little Miss Cranky Pants. Poor Daniel, he's worn the brunt of it. I'm surprised he hasn't given me a big kick in the you know what for my shocking behaviour. Well unfortunately that rolled over into the gym this morning. I was quite the drama queen, more so than usual. LOL!! About half way through my squats, I stopped, rested my head against the bar, shut my eyes and gave myself a good talking too. Honestly if you'd been there you'd think I had split personality syndrome or something. I just pretty much told myself off like I would anyone else in that exact situation. So I took a few deep long breaths, in with the good, out with the bad and got on with the job. It still wasn't the greatest session I'd had but I didn't give into my bad behaviour and stuck with it. After all, it was my choice to get up and go to the gym so I have no-one to blame but myself. So no matter how much of a bad day I think I'm having, I just have to STOP IT AND GET ON WITH THE TASK AT HAND. It's never going to be the right time, right place, right motivation, right inspiration so why waste valuable time for something that's never going to happen. Life is what it is and that's challenging. Now that I've embraced this concept for the umpteenth time it makes it easier.

So here's a picture of me this morning on the leg press. See I'm ending with a positive because the glass is half full after all. :o)

Motivational Photo of the Day,

Inspirational Poster of the Day

The choices we make....

have consequences, so luckily I made all the right ones for me. Deciding to give up drinking kahlua and to eat clean and train on the xmas break has certainly paid off in dividends. Not only do I feel satisfied and content, I've fueled my tank ready for gym in the morning. Now that's NEVER HAPPENED to me before and what a HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT that is for me. I new my choices would be very challenging, especially during the move and the festive season. I also new I would give it all I've got but to actually follow it through is a whole other story folks.

I ACTUALLY DID IT......AND IT WASN'T EASY.....BUT I DID IT.....AND IT FEELS GREAT! :o)

Competition Jewellery For Sale

1 x Diamonte Necklace & Matching Pair of Earrings

2 x Diamonte Rings

1 x Swarovski Crystal Drop Earrings

Tofu Chocolate Mousse

The ingredients from the recipe are dark chocolate, silken tofu, no-fat milk and a vanilla paste then garnished it with frozen raspberries as you can see in the above picture. I've given it a four stars out of five stars. The only reason I marked it down was because of the absense of sweet in it. I'm a sweet tooth so therefore like a little sweetness from time to time. So next time I'm going to either try adding splenda or using milk chocolate. I've also thought of layering it by placing a layer of mousse, then a layer of frozen raspberries and so on and so forth. You get the idea. LOL!!

Prawn Cocktail

We've all had a prawn cocktail so nothing new there. But what was different was the eat-clean sauce. Instead of our traditional rich thousand island dressing this recipe was a welcome addition. I give it a three star out of five star. I did enjoy it don't get me wrong but it's going to be one of those work in progress recipes. With a little bit of time and patience we'll come up with just the perfect eat-clean sauce to have with my fresh seafood. :o)

Go Santa! Go Santa! Go Santa!

I am so sore....

from yesterday's weight training and I love it! LOL!! So obviously I've been and checked out my new gym, it'll do for the time being. My work is building it's own gym so hopefully it'll be up and running by March. :o)

For those that know me well know that I have very different spiritual beliefs so therefore don't believe or participate in the christmas festivities applied by western society. It would be hypocritical of me to say the least. What I believe in is so much older than that. So anyways, here's a photo I just took of my personal altar which takes pride right next to my desk. It's taken me quite some time to source just the right pieces but patience is a virtue after all. Every single piece I've acquired has it's own story to tell and that's what makes it truly magical.

So what have I been up to today? Well as promised I'm eating clean with the help of a couple of great recipe books The Low GI Diet Cookbook & The Eat-Clean Diet Cookbook. So here's what today's food looks like:

Breakfast: Homemade Muesli
Brunch: Poached Eggs & Bacon with Spicy Tomato Salsa
Lunch: Prawn Cocktail
Afternoon Tea: Fruit & Nuts
Dinner: Asian Chicken Salad
Supper: Tofu Chocolate Mousse & Frozen Raspberries

Two are new recipes I'm trying. Prawn Cocktail, more importantly the sauce and the Tofu Chocolate Mousse both from The Eat-Clean Diet Cookbook. I'll photograph them before eating and report back on my findings. Like I've said before, eating clean doesn't mean you have to sacrifice on flavour.

Well I have an entire basket of ironing to do so I'm going to put on The Devil Wears Prada and get stuck into it for the afternoon. I hope you all have a wonderful day and enjoy this time with all your family and friends. xx

Merry Xmas

Serenity Prayer

"God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
the courage to change the things I can;
and the wisdom to know the difference."

-- Reinhold Niebuhr

I'm finished!

There's no better feeling then when you finally finish unpacking and you're completely settled in a new home. I'm so glad that is over, now I can enjoy my holidays. *woo hoo*


Although I have to admit I desperately need a wash, I feel so dirty from all this unpacking and cleaning. LOL!! Once I'm finished here I'm going to run myself a nice bath and soak in it. There's nothing more relaxing at the end of the day then a soak in a bath, positively bliss!.


Tomorrow morning I'm up bright and early to go to the gym. I'm back training at full capacity now after shoulder surgery, by that I mean NO RESTRICTIONS. I still have to start with higher repetitions lower weight but at least I can do whatever I want within reason of course. This week is going to be a great week, I just know it.

Time to finish my food prep for tomorrow and run my bath so I'm out of here folks. Good night. xx

Xmas Lights

Jen Hendershott & Adela Garcia

It's better the devil you know

I thought I'd better update everyone on how I'm going since I gave up drinking kahlua for life. For those that know me well know I'm not a big drinker as such, my drink of choice was kahlua and milk with lots of ice in a big glass. Well bigger than the standard drink at least, probably equivalent to about a double.

So far so good, but it hasn't been without it's many challenges this week. Earlier in the week I was stressed out and my normal response would be to grab myself a nice glass of kahlua and milk just to take the edge of the day and help me relax. But this time around that wasn't an option so I fought my inner demon like you wouldn't believe, so much so I was on the verge of tears purely out of frustration. I knew that it would pass but in the meantime it wasn't a pleasant place to be. Or nor was I pleasant to be around.

Poor Daniel, he thought he was married to a crazy woman. LOL!! Of course the following morning it had past and I felt so much better for getting through it without giving into temptation. You see, that's all I can do or for that matter any of us can do. We have to stop, make a conscience decision, stick to the plan no matter what and ride it out until it gets easier.

Nothing's impossible and giving up isn't an option! :o)