I've found the secret!!!

A long time ago my friend gave me a great bit of advice. I was rabbiting on about not having the will power or determination to get myself on the health train and she said... (dum da dum dum) "Don't take things away just add them" 

It's actually such a simple and elegant solution to the "I cant give up sugar" or "I don't have time to exercise" or any other excuse. In essence don't give up sugar. Don't even think about the sugar you eat and drink just add as much water and clean food that you can. Drink that coke and eat that chocolate but add in a few glasses of water and some almonds for example. The idea being that if you slowly keep adding "good" things you eventually wont have space or time for the "bad" things that you're trying to give up or change about yourself.

I took her advice on board at the time. I thought it made sense and was pretty smart actually but didn't really do anything about it until recently.  Since I've moved into my own house I've been trying to add things to my routines. I'm very driven by routines , I love them. In the last month I've added a glass of water, A face washing-hair brushing-tooth cleaning routine to my mornings and I've added a ton of walking to my day.  So far I'm noticing that waking up is so much easier and I'm so much more on to it when I get to work.

I've added in my asthma preventor medication twice a day and OH MY GOD I ran for the train this afternoon and humid as it was I was barely out of breath and nothing like the red faced, heaving chested wheezy mess I usually am!!!!

I'm loving this simple idea and it's already working for me. In the next few weeks I want to add as much water as I can and I want to add more sleep. About 8 hours a night sounds good to me. After that I will add some sort of exercise class I'd say. I've only been thinking about doing it for about 3 weeks but the results are great so who knows what the future might hold and I can still enjoy drinking coke and eating Easter chocolate!! PERFECT

xo

If you dont look closely I totally look like a real grown up!

This is me at 6 am this morning LOL. In my fave dress that I wear when I want to look like a real grown up! Hahaha :) I look so tired in this pic it kind of makes me laugh but whatever!  

Today I pulled out my ninja smiles and continued to smile and chat with the masses like I was having the time of my life despite the fact that OMG I am tired and OMG I really didn't want to be there. It's kind of cool how working in the hospital brings out the best in you ... or me at least lol

I can't wait till the weekend so that I can catch up and start feeling human again. I hate it when I get this tired and stuff. I fall so far behind on life and start over thinking things that I should NOT be wasting energy on. Despite the things that I want to have happen in the next couple of weeks I actually have hardly any control over them so I just need to worry about me and go with the flow. Do my bit and get out of the way of what's gonna happen. No point being insecure or demoralised or angry. 

Que Serra Serra and all of that

xo

Looking after ze kisser...

I recently saw the paw paw and honey balm reviewed in a blog and went straight out to purchase it! This stuff is so amazing. The texture isn't sticky and it really lasts on your lips. I've been loving how moisturising it is and even how it tastes is a win! I've found that the Lucas pawpaw ointment that most people are buzzing over tends to dry out my lips and disappear in 2 seconds and this version does neither. Awesome Awesome AWESOME!

I recently had a blonde moment and left the house with a clean but unmoisturised face and ended up sunburned! The sun here in NZ is intense and a few day later I am still suffering with painful lips. My day moisturiser has an SPF 30 in it and I usually put on a bit of sunblock on top of that so without the protection my face burned in a few minutes :(

And so today I realised that despite how much I absolutely love the Suvana I need to go get some lip protection with a good SPF in it. Neither of these do the balm part as well but they are pretty decent and they'll actually protect my lips for the long future kissing career ahead of them! hahahahahahahahaha

xo

Fancy-schmancy shopping!

Today, for the first time in my life I made a purchase at Smith + Caughey's on Queen street. It's the kind of store that really makes you wish hard you were made of money. I was salivating my way through the beauty department let me tell you.

This is my new boyfriend and my bit on the side. Sorry Mr-Mr I have found L.O.V.E in the schmancy tea isle. There is a serious addiction forming here! This stuff is divine and I want to go back and try the choco-coconut flavour and pumpkin spice. Just have to get rich LOL

I do have to say that the mannequins below really put me off. How creepy are they! OMGawsh and they're kind of offensive. Why on earth would you display clothing presumably for human women on mannequins shaped like aliens? I will never understand high fashion if that's what this could be described as.

xo

Caffeine withdrawal is a bitch

I've been feeling like a zombie with a sore head for the last 4 days or so and it only hit me last night that what I was experiencing was in fact caffeine withdrawal! How embarrassing but stopping coffee has pretty much sent me to bed for days!!! I gave in and brewed a pot tonight ... which I've enjoyed with some Tia Maria and now I feel so much better hahahaha 

The coffee has had to go because I've been finding that it's making me feel really gross. I just end up with so many things not right after a cup of coffee that in the end it's better to forgo that pleasure. I am now trying to be a tea queen. I miss the creamy hot drinks so much so this is a really hard transition. I completely understand that's very much a first world problem but it's my reality for now and it's sucking :(

Today I spent hours under a tree in the local reserve trying to let the fresh air and calm do it's thing on my foggy head. It really didn't help AND I think I got sunburned but while I was there I shot a lil silly vid for my Mr.Mr. I had been thinking I wanted to see what real speed reading would look like LOL

I'm currently reading "Crazy Rich Asians" by Kevin Kwan. It's pretty fun so far :)

xo

Walking Stars Half Marathon 2013

On Saturday my sister and I walked the 'Walking Stars' half marathon for the Cancer Society. It was a hell of an experience. I am so proud of myself for finishing it when finishing things I hate really goes against my grain. This year I have learned the fine art of perseverance. I have learned to suck it up!

The walk led us around our fair city and it was actually pretty awesome to be a part of it. I loved walking by the harbor bridge at night and right alongside busy motorways. I loved all the drunk encouragement from the night club punters as we went through that part of town. It was amazing how they had timed things so perfectly that I was just saying to my sister that I really wanted some poweraid or something and then we round a corner to the rest stop where they are providing electrolytes! Awesome. I nearly didn't make it because the first hill just about did me in. I felt like throwing up and nearly did right in front of a classy looking building. If I had I think I would have been so embarrassed that I would have stopped. Luckily I kept it together :)

I think they could have planned a better route perhaps than one that had us finishing by slogging up a massive steep hill! that was the worst part actually. I came so close to skipping the last 2k but I didn't ... mainly because my sister wouldn't let me LOL

We were walking for our aunt Bev who passed away earlier this year from leukemia. It was really sad to see all of the people who were walking with long lists of names on their backs. Some people were walking for several family members AND a bunch of friends. It was just so sobering. I think the whole event was really cool and importantly a big FUCK YOU CANCER!!!

I have some lovely friends and family who have been so generous in supporting my sister and I. We managed to raise our team goal so hopefully our little contribution combined with all of the other contributions on the night will make a difference in the fight! 

Next year some decent shoes and some good training and I will own those hills!

x

Map My Walk App

On Saturday night my sister and I will be walking our first ever half marathon. We're doing it for the cancer research foundation and in the name of our aunt who passed away earlier in the year. 

I haven't had much time or motivation to train for the event so have to say I'm probably going to suffer BUT nevertheless. I will do my best to finish in a reasonable, if slow time.

I loaded this app on my phone months ago when we decided to do the walk but only recently ( like yesterday) figured out how to use it. Great Idea!!! it's a bit of a drain on the old battery and data package but it's so good to have an accurate measure of how far and fast you're walking. If I were doing the training for weight loss or management it can also record all of those details. I'm keeping it simple and just recording the walk and how fast I complete it. Once you figure it out its super easy and given that it's a free app I'd say it's a vital tool in any training program. There are also versions for runners and cyclists. The internet is an amazing thing people! 

Now it looks like the rain is holding off so I will try and do another walk today. Yesterday was only 7.4k and it was in 1.08 hours. SLOW. ARGH I hope they keep the course open long enough for me to finish the event! LOL

x

EDIT: well it doesn't really work on cloudy days apparently. I couldn't get GPS up and going today so couldn't log my walk. *sad face* LOL 

Day 3

Today is day 3 of my man flu. Luckily I am improving but gees it's impossible to do anything of a vertical nature for more than a few minutes without becoming so exhausted that I can hardly keep my eyes open. Off course I am also unable to sleep when I do put my head down so.. BRAIN MELT!!

It's amazing weather for staying in bed and cuddling up with some tea and a book so that's what I'm about to do even though my brain wants to sleep... like seriously I am having such trouble focusing and thinking and stuff. OMG I am so sick of this!! GRRR

Anyhow, I have my green tea, I have the best blanket ever, I have some mallowpuffs for good measure and am going to dive back into 'Clockwork Angel'. I'm about a quarter of the way in and so far I love it. Hopefully I wont have to re-read everything I read this afternoon. 

And then 'Heart of Dixie' is on this evening so ... sweet! 

x

Man flu and a cool book haul

The last couple of days have been full of Social Studies essay writing and being sick! ARGH I hardly ever get sick. I generally get a head cold or two per year but that hardly counts. This time I have actually been forced into bed! OMG this really sucks ... (shockingly hahahaha) I think as much as anything this is the one time when being a single person with no car is hard to deal with. I want somebody to bring me stuff and cook me food! I'm too dizzy to walk up the road to the supermarket and then be trusted with the heat required to cook. UGH. Oh well I will stay on this bed and hopefully the world will stop spinning by this afternoon and then if I stay a little longer hopefully I will be able to walk down to the Library tomorrow because I have a CD that is a few days overdue and racking up fines like a mofo!

In the last couple of days, whilst writing that essay I discovered my uni library! .. yes with about 6 weeks of classes left I have discovered all of the resources available but what eves. The first thing that rocked my world (apart from the man flu...) was working on a huge desk top computer. Gosh it was awesome to write on a big screen on a comfy chair instead of a lap top. Might have to think about that when I get a job next year. In the computer lab they have this awesome piece of art. It's done with glitter which doesn't show up particularly well but WOW it's perfect. I really love this piece :)

The other thing that I discovered at the Library was an amazing .. AMAZING selection of YA novels. OhMyGAWSH they have all of the new and popular novels. I picked up a bunch of books that I am currently about 20th to 40th in line for at the public library. Seriously wish that I'd looked a bit further when printing off my assignment cover sheets earlier in the year.

I've decided to give David Levithan a final chance with these two books. I seem to have gone from completely loving his stuff almost 'meh' in the space of 3 books. With the Mortal Instruments movie just released I was going to read that series but so many book-tubers have said that the Infernal Devices series is better so I'm starting there. I've just started following Maureen Johnson on twitter and she's so funny so I thought I would look up some of her work. I was so surprised to realise that I have actually already read several of her novels so I grabbed this one as I enjoyed 13 little blue envelopes from memory. 'Holes' is simply my first foray into books suitable for primary age kids and 'The boyfriend list' is one that is beloved by my fave book bloggers ....and it was there...so yep. I have actually had 'The Golden Lily' in the past and never got to read it so hopefully this will be my opportunity. I mainly picked it up because I really enjoyed the Vampire Academy books.

The Uni Library is now my favorite thing! Not only all of the above awesomeness but also a set of L.M.Montgomery books from 1938 which is only 3 years after the original publication date of some of them! ... I know its a weird thing to get excited about BUT ... they're old!!! 

The other thing that happened yesterday was that my nephew came to visit! YAY! Love hanging out with him. I really hope that I didn't pass on my bug to him. I was going to refrain from picking him up but that's impossible so I just tried to stay away from his head ... I know I know I'm a horrible germ bag :( anyhow he's got teeth!! he looks so different with his two front teeth poking through. It was really weird to begin with but then I stopped noticing them. He's also crawling like a champ and pulling himself up on stuff. I think it's about time that all of this growing and learning new things stopped!! hahahaha  :-P   

I left class with a bunch of inspiration today

So how do you delight and amuse a grown woman? Task her with creating a badge that represents her. This was a total win for our Technology teacher today. The pink and yellow lines represent my childish girly side as well as my love of uniformity and routine. The stars are my dreamer side and also my love of shiny things. The books are more obvious... I like books! hahahahaha

I left class feeling light and positive which is an AMAZING change :)

I am currently full of motivation and inspiration about getting my stuff together and what I would like to create for the future. I started thinking about how I was going to put my resume together for the end of the year and also how I'm going to go about giving up some of the things I love love love ( coffee and coke I'm looking at you) in order to finally get my health under control.

Aside from that I have also made peace with my overly busy mind regarding a friend of mine that I have been spending a lot of time talking to recently. He's so different from me and there are a ton of real reasons why having him in my life is a bad idea BUT I have decided that it's not often that you meet someone who you get along with so well and if something is fun why analyse the life out of it. Just relax and see what happens.

I am going to focus on why I CAN do things rather than why I cant and I am going to simply enjoy what happens and take every opportunity that I come across. After all. That's what Beyonce would do!

:)

Gettin my health on ...

Today I did... NOTHING towards getting my butt into gear and getting my health on. In fact I would say I did the opposite. I currently feel gross and my meals today were a joke! It's not rocket science now is it. Rubbish in Rubbish out! - I did however have some of the protein powder in a drink for breakfast ( I HAD BREAKFAST! Go mE!!). It's not horrible, it's quite palatable even but the taste is still lingering... and its pea. mmm 

I also picked up a script that I'd forgotten I even had waiting. The lovely peeps at the pharmacy called me to remind me it was sitting there :)  check it out, months and months of easy breathing for the bargain price of $5.00! SWEET 

I've been reading a few blogs to try and find some motivation from other peoples journeys and some of the best ... or some of my faves at least are Jessica at Lovely Little Things  and Jana at Perception is everything.  

Neither of these blogs are exactly health & fitness blogs but they're both ladies who have that glow that I'm after and who work hard on choosing a healthy life. They're both a bit younger than me but I'd still love to be friends with them :) -check em out!

x

Taking Chaaaaaarge :)

Today is Thursday which means.... only ONE DAY of holiday left :( such a bummer and I am really really not ready to go back to university. It's probably a good thing though because I can feel myself becoming very good at being a sloth! I am actually guilty of napping during the day! NONONONOOooo that wont do. I haven't gone so far as to turn the television on before the 6pm news but it's just about that bad!

Queen B announced another show today.. .I think that I'm just gonna do it. If I am able to get a ticket I'm going to see the damn show. Who cares about a life of debt. At least it's only a couple of months till I can get a job and at the end of the day its freaking BEYONCE! Hopefully a friend will come with me but I will be more than happy to go alone :)

Over this break I have done a bunch of things including thinking about what my life is going to be like once I am finally free from the shackles of Auckland University (I know, dramatic, but I really really dislike it!).  I've been day dreaming about small luxuries like a magazine subscription and getting my hair coloured. I have been looking at apartments to rent and online shopping for the most amazing wardrobe. I'm deciding which coffee machine I will buy and what I will put in my booze cupboard... you know all the important things :)

Apart from that I have also been going a little deeper and thinking about how I want to live and how I will choose to be a 'single, professional woman in the city' LOL. The first move that I have made is to decide that it's finally time for me to take control of my health a little more than I have. These days it feels like food hates me, so today I started the journey to figure out why. I visited a naturopath and she is going to do a bunch of research and try to figure out what might be my problem and how I might fix it. What seems pretty clear is that if I ever want to be that happy shiny girl walking down the street that  looks like she's lit from within I have a hell of a journey to take.

I'll have to wait and see what Penny comes up with but from our conversation today and my own experiences it seems like a vegetarian/vegan diet is on the cards along with a crap load more exercise. I have years and years of neglect to make up for! I know from my brief forays into the world of exercise that a hard workout really suits me so I need to get on that as well. I'd like to join a gym but that will have to wait till after graduation. Till then it's gonna be up to me to find alternate ways around the issue and alternate motivation.

I may, from time to time blog this journey because it's really something that is going to seep into every moment of my life over the next few months. I might have to learn to cook *gasp*. Aside from the physical things there are also the spiritual paths to tread. This might be in the form of throwing myself into the available arts scene a lot more, it might be new books or music I just don't know. I love the idea of religion but honestly I don't think that is going to be for me. It's pretty impossible to change a lifetime of ardent atheism. ;-) 

The first thing to do in these confusing situations of course is to ask myself WWBD??? and the answer is of course... WORK HER ASS OFF AND GET THE DAMN JOB DONE AND BE AWESOME WHILE SHE DID IT!!!!  So, I shall aim to follow her example and turn my laser , big picture focus on and get the job done.

x 

Wow. Could I be more Blonde! BLAH

Reality is a BITCH!!! 

I've had a good introduction to the realities of teacher life over the last week or so and I sit here on a Tuesday night absolutely shattered at 7pm. This is particularly sad as I've only had a mild dose of reality. I think I prefer my naive, princess alternate universe hahaha :P

I need to think a bit before I speak I think. Today I agreed to go to the 48 hour film fest final. Well .. jumped at the offer is probably more apt but post purchasing of tickets I realised that I will have 4.5 hours to kill between school and doors opening. BUGGER. On top of that I wont get home till almost midnight which is so far past bed time!

AND 

I'm going to the 'Ballet Revelucion' on Friday night which is a dance group from Havana who are in Auckland for a week. The night is a birthday gift from my mother and I've been looking forward to it for months!.  On Saturday I'm heading away for the weekend....  

Yep Monday is gonna be AWESOME

One of these days I will learn to use my head and sacrifice some of the things I want for that bitch REALITY

This is not an ad just ... well.. I love them ok ???!!!???

Sitting in my own comfy chair outside the shop because I was so early

Almost ready for their fans...

Last night I went back to the free yoga classes at Lulu Lemon @ Britomart.

I haven't been for so long that I wasn't sure how I would go but it wasn't too bad at all. I adore Lulu Lemon for providing these classes. I completely understand that it's win-win-win for them and a great business decision but the fact is that I cant afford to go to yoga class and their choice to do this means that I get to experience it.

The staff at this particular store are sooooo cool. They are very skilled at their jobs and really make you feel like they just want you to participate and that they only sell this stuff coz they want to make your life better! They're lovely and really happy to show you stuff and give advice. LOVE THEM.

The classes are run by instructors from different studios around the city so they get to come and advertise which is fine and because the class is free and soooooo packed out they tend to stick to the job at hand and simply work you out rather than hitting all of the notes that you might get in a normal class.

I love how I feel after a really hard yoga class but I am yet to find a way to make the buzz last. All of the people I've met who do yoga regularly from students to teachers to sales staff are all so lovely and of that uber-healthy and majorly perky ilk. Normally those kind of people make me uncomfortable but with the yogis not so much. I tend to find more motivation and things to aspire to when I'm hanging in that world. whodathunk!!! 

My goal is to one day have enough money to actually buy something non-edible in Britomart and I think I shall begin with a Lulu lemon yoga mat! LOL. I may be a touch brain washed but what can I say... results don't lie! 

Now, as I said, I just need to find a way to make the buzz last past the bus ride home...