Food! Glorious Food!

After 3 years of stress leave, major anxiety and depression my body was a mess both internally and externally. The external is relatively easy to clean up with Nutrimetics, but the internal is taking longer. My mum put me onto the GAPS book; and after a lot of contemplation, I've decided to go gluten & cereal free.
However, as much as I like eggs, having them for breakfast every day is getting a bit thin. Especially on the mornings when I've overslept and I'm in a rush to get to work. I really want something I can put in a container and take with me, like I used to do with my bircher muesli.
After some thought, this morning I came up with a solution...
Chopped nuts and dried fruit with yoghurt. I put some almonds, raw cashews, macadamia nuts and sunflower seeds through my Kenwood's coffee grinding attachment so they were almost floured, then put some goji berries, dried apricots and dried dates through the chopper too. Mix with natural yoghurt and add a bit of natural, unrefined honey and yummo!! Breakfast to go!! I've mixed up one bowl with yoghurt to 'soak' before eating that's now sitting in the fridge, although this morning I ate a bowl without having let it soak. Then all I have to do is spoon it out and perhaps add some fresh fruit!!
I'm excited!!

Juggling Act

Since returning to the work place, and workers comp stopping, life seems to have become a juggling act. Gone is the standard 5 day week, the reliable pay packet, the regularity of the week.

With the return to work has come an increase of time spent at work, and then the workload at work (naturally), the irregular pay packet, the reduction in pay packet and decisions about what my week should look like.
This year I've become an independent Nutrimetics Consultant - the start of a small business that my hope will become a big business. I've also had different placements each term at different schools. Actually my current placement will last all semester! Whoot! But this current placement is only one day a week, which unfortunately isn't enough to live on or keep me occupied.
So... what to do?
Answer - study! Bring on Grad. Dip. Business - Event Management. Full time...
So now my week looks like - study, work, nutrimetics business admin and parties and facials, assignments, readings, training, relief when it happens, centrelink and I can't think what else at the moment, but my first assignment is due tomorrow arvo, and what am I writing instead?? My blog.
Makes perfect sense as usual!!

Favourite Dog Quotes

"Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go with you in the car, in case the need should arise for them to bark violently at nothing right in your ear." ~Dave Barry "Did you ever notice when you blow in a dog's face he gets mad at you? But when you take him in a car he sticks his head out the window." ~Steve Bluestone "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of." ~Ogden Nash "Properly trained, a man can be dog's best friend." ~Corey Ford "If your dog thinks you're the greatest person in the world, don't seek a second opinion." ~Jim Fiebig "One reason a dog can be such a comfort when you're feeling blue is that he doesn't try to find out why." ~Author Unknown "No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversation as the dog does." ~Christopher Morley "The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too." ~Samuel Butler, Notebooks, 1912

"The most affectionate creature in the world is a wet dog." ~Ambrose Bierce "Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like never washed a dog." ~Franklin P. Jones "When you point out something to a dog, he looks at your finger." - J Bryan, III "My dog is worried about the economy because Banquet is up to $2.80 a can. That's almost $20.00 in dog money" ~Joe Weinstein "A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down" ~ Robert Benchley "If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then giving Fido only two of them." ~Phil Pastoret "From the dog's point of view, his master is an elongated and abnormally cunning dog." ~Mabel Louise Robinson "There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face." ~Ben Williams "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself." ~Josh Billings "They never talk about themselves but listen to you while you talk about yourself, and keep up an appearance of being interested in the conversation." ~Jerome K. Jerome

Blemish Prone Skin

I don't know about you, but since I hit 30, I had been noticing the continual build up of dead skin and blocked pores on my face. With the build up of the dead skin and blocked pours came an increase in black and white heads and lumpy bumpy skin. Makeup would get caught in amongst the lumps and bumps and wouldn't come off no matter what I was doing.
I was cleansing, exfoliating, toning and moisturising every day, and still the problem was getting worse, not better until...
I was introduced to Facial Peel Creme by Nutrimetics!
You use this creme every night for a month, then give it a break for 2 months. This month is my third using it, and I think I may finish the jar by the end of the month.
It works by dissolving the glue that holds the dead skin to your face, but it is also a moisturiser; so not only does it help release the dead skin from your face (by washing your face in the morning) it softens all the blockages up too, so they almost jump out of your pores! Squeezing out blackheads has never been so easy and painless, plus I'm not bruising or breaking my skin trying to get them out!
Then, following up the cleansing with toning and moisturising, meant the pores are cleaned out and then minimised.
In the last 7 months I've noticed that I have a lessening number of blackheads on my nose particularly, plus others that I've watched disappear under the build up of dead skin, come back to the surface and then come out - HOORAY!! Also, by the end of the month, my face feels a lot smoother.
I look forward to the next Facial Peel treatment month each time because I notice the dead skin start to build back up again in the off months - even though I may be doing a different exfoliation treatment.
The other reason why I love Facial Peel Creme, is because other people have noticed. Obviously when I look at my face, I'm looking really close up; but to have other people comment (within the first 2 weeks of my first month using it - without them knowing I was using it) that my face looked clearer and better, is really good proof as well as reinforcement to keep using it.

He’s Always Been Faithful to Me

With the new year starting, returning to work has always been the goal for this year.

The close of last year brought to an end a few things: resigning from CCC, end of Stress Leave, end of the old me. But what would the new year bring?

I had planned to drive over to Queensland and back over the Christmas holidays, and in preparation, bought the Chronicles of Narnia on audio CD to listen to on the way. I didn’t end up driving, but still listened to the CDs; by the end of the Chronicles, I had noticed that Aslan at the beginning of each story, gave the children a list of instructions but then told them to take the adventure that came to them.

I realized that God does the same thing (or rather, Aslan does the same thing that God does). He gives us a list of instructions – on how to live, but then also tells us to take the adventure that comes to us. We are told to trust and obey. Talk about stepping out in faith! And just like God, Aslan is with the children on their adventures; they can always call on him in times of trouble and when they need assistance; their needs are always provided for, and despite their successes or failings along the way, they always accomplish what Aslan told them to do.

I realized that I need to do the same thing. To step out in faith, to trust and obey and to take the adventure that came to me. I know that God has always provided for all my needs in the past, and providing beyond my expectations; so I need to trust that He will continue to provide for me in the future. This part is the hardest!

Not knowing what the future, even tomorrow holds can be daunting. Not knowing if I will get a job this year, if I’m making wise decisions and so on, even if I will get paid next week…

Some friends have been very encouraging, and have helped me remember God’s promises to Himself, and to me with this song by Sara Groves.

 He’s Always Been Faithful

Morning by morning I wake up to find the power and comfort of God’s hand in mine. Season by season I watch Him, amazed, in awe of the mystery of His perfect ways.

All I have need of His hand will provide. He’s always been faithful to me.

I can’t remember a trial or a pain He did not recycle to bring me gain. I can’t remember one single regret in serving God only and trusting His hand.

All I have need of His hand will provide. He’s always been faithful to me.

This is my anthem, this is my song, the theme of the stories I’ve heard for so long. God has been faithful, He will be again. His loving compassion, it knows no end.

All I have need of His hand will provide. He’s always been faithful to me.

Fine breakfasting in Perth?

Is such a thing even possible?
I have to say, I often find going out for breakfast hard to stomach. I’ve eaten Weetbix for breakfast nearly all my life, so starting the day with something else, particularly on a week day, seems to throw off the whole ‘feel’ of the day entirely.
That being said however, I enjoy eating out and trying new things – provided my day started right!
So then my dilemma arises. There’s always lots of different and yummy options for breakfast, but what to choose so that the rest of the day ‘sits right’? Then what if the choice was a dud? Is it worth hazarding feeling slightly off for the rest of the day just to try something new?
My brother and I went to The Imp for breakfast Saturday morning and I have to say I wasn’t that impressed.
Usually known for it’s fine food and coffee, my breakfast wasn’t all that tasty; the coffee was just above standard thankfully, but nothing to write home about.
Both my brother and I ordered their ‘Big Breakfast’, usually a good choice and quite a standard dish at most restaurants. The tomato was over cooked, the bacon under cooked and also on the plate was a small serving of baked beans… which neither of us were impressed to see. (My brother was in Perth for a wedding that day, so baked beans wouldn’t have been a wise choice for him at all!)
The coffee (I had a latte), at least wasn’t a let-down. It did have a nice thick foamy top and it wasn’t bitter. For a large latte, the size of it was ok as well. It always baffles me however, when a large latte is served in a large glass, without a napkin or collar around it at all. How are you supposed to pick the glass up and drink your coffee without burning your fingers in the process? And what’s the point of ordering coffee if its going to be lukewarm by the time you get to drink it? Then if you use the napkin that comes with your cutlery, what do you do when your food arrives?
The whole dining experience can be ruined because of the lack of a napkin when you need it.

Ode to the Cream Bun

Oh lightly browned crust
That just doesn't crumble
All over my shirt
From just one small bumble

Soft white fluffy bun
How thy insides do please
Thy texture is light
Could be caught on a breeze

A diagonal cut 'cross the top
Doth thy rift
Yet were it left empty
T'would cause more than a fit

Thy filling is quite
A delight to mine eyes
Not too much or too little
The right, exact size

White, fluffy and creamy
Only moderately sweet
Causing both sides of the bun
Together to meet

A dollop of jam
On top doth create
The right harmonization
For the discerning palate

I gently prize thee apart
And spread all of thy filling
Evenly betwixt both thy sides
Preventing the possibility of pilling

The first bite, what delight!
A smile spreads over my face
Yet fades all too quick
How often the case

Too quickly consumeth
The cream bun doest I
But savoring the moment
Till another I doest buy