A Blissful Life

Brave or Crazy? Planning our trip across the Nullarbor

2019-12-08T11:58:00.000+08:00

Our plan for Christmas is to head across the Nullarbor Plain to be with BB's Dad and his family. They are great to us and have welcomed us into their family. I am so grateful that BB has them all in his life and am committed to nurturing those relationships.

The last time we went to visit them for Christmas was 4 years ago, our first Christmas back in Australia. This required us to drive over 400km to Perth airport, pay a significant sum for airport parking, fly to Melbourne, hire a car and drive another 450km to our destination. And then of course to do the same in reverse. I declared then and there that next time we come we will drive.

Well next time is here. Not only is it Christmas, it is also a celebration of DD returning to Australia to live, and BB's Grandfather will be turning 80. I decided to stick to my word and we are driving across, leaving next weekend.

Although I have lived in Western Australia and the Northern Territory for a total of 14 years and remote driving is something I have done many a time, the Nullarbor Crossing is a trip I have never taken before. I'm feeling a bit under prepared and inexperienced. I'm nervous but excited. I am looking forward to showing BB more of this vast and beautiful land, and nervous as to how he'll cope without wifi 🤣.

I spent a lot of time thinking about the ideal rig for us. For the Nullarbor trip a camper van would have been perfect, but for everything else beyond its not what we want. Long term I want something I can leave behind at a campsite and go exploring. I'm not a big fan of caravans, although we did see one at the Caravan and Camping show last weekend which had a slide out veranda which looked rather nice - that's not in our budget though, and it's big to tow. In general, a caravan to me feels very closed in - it's just like being at home, only much smaller. I feel cramped and claustrophobic. Camping for me is about getting closer to nature, about freedom, fresh air, being outside. So I decided a camper trailer was the way.

There's a few options here too. We looked at several hard floor trailers, these would be ideal in terms of ease to set up, but those in our budget weren't great quality. I've seen several, and heard of many more, cheap trailers falling apart on dirt roads throughout Central Australia and this is an area I really want us to explore. Central Australia is very close to my heart and there are many remote places I'd love BB to see.

So we've gone for the simple but sturdy option. An off road camper trailer with a soft floor. It's a bit of a challenge to put up and pack away by myself, though I've only had one practice so far and I figure I'll get better at it with time. BB will grow too, and hopefully if we get really stuck in the meantime, a friendly fellow camper will help me out.

We were hoping to have another practice trip before we go, but we've had several delays caused by work that was needed on my car. I have had to have the suspension adjusted for towing, have an auxiliary battery installed so that we can run a fridge for the trip across the desert, and my car needs a service, which has been delayed twice waiting for parts.

Our trailer on our practice run at a friend's place

BB enjoying reading by torchlight

So, we're just going to take the plunge and do it. Our next practice will be the first stop on our trip. That does make me a little nervous but at the same time, if i practice again and find its still too hard it will be worse. Plus we don't really have the option as we will be without our car during the week.

I think we have all we need now though, we just have to plan the journey, where we'll camp and what we want to see on the way. If you have any advice or must sees for the journey across the Nullarbor we'd love to hear from you.

Nurdle Hunting at Muttonbird Beach

2019-05-06T08:03:00.001+08:00

@thewiseinventor with his transect

Have you heard of nurdles?

We went hunting for them on a local beach yesterday. It was our second hurdle hunting trip. It's amazing how many small pieces of plastic there are washed up on our beaches when you take a real close look

Nurdles are small plastic pellets, slightly smaller than a lentil. They are the raw material used for the manufacture of plastic products and there a billions of them in the sea.

Nurdles- photo credit Operation Clean Sweep Australia

They are a hazzard to sea life because they look like food such as fish eggs. In addition to that they actually absorb toxins from the water, so our sea life is then not only eating plastic, but a cocktail of nasty chemicals too.

There has been several nurdle spillages over time, but a major hurdle spill in Durban in October 2017, saw almost 50 tonnes of them enter the ocean as two forty foot containers fell into the water during a storm.

These nurdles have been washing up on the WA shores over the past few months. Dr Harriet Paterson from UWA has been studying them, both on the beaches and in the stomachs of dead sea birds, and this weekend was the second time we have been out nurdle hunting with Harriet though the Young Naturalists Club.

The site for our hunt yesterday was at the eastern end of Mutton bird beach. Each group made a 1m x 1m transect using string and set to work hunting for plastic pieces of all kinds. Due to the toxicity, we were given spoons to pick them up with.

Two nurdles at the front of the spoon

Once we had collected the plastic from our transect we took it to Harriet who had a great experiment to group the plastics, by measuring their density using liquid of different density to see if they floated or sank.

Measuring the density of plastics

We enjoyed the hunt and will nurdle hunt again for sure.

The dogs had a great time too

Preparing for my SuperJuiceMe! Challenge

2019-04-23T15:26:00.001+08:00

SuperJuiceMe! 28 Day Challenge

As many of you all know, I have a long standing interest in food and health and have followed and blogged about several different health challenges I have taken on in the past, The Juicy Body Transformation, the Elimination Diet and The Whole 30, to name just a few.

I have been supplementing my diet with a whole food product that gives me the phytonutrients from 33 fruits and vegetable in a capsule, for almost three years. This product has made a tremendous difference to my life, eliminating pain and increasing my energy. I think the fact that I can be consistent every day at getting such a wide variety of nutrients into my body is the key thing. I have juiced in the past. It's a challenge, it's messy and it's costly. Getting the 33 a day without much effort has made it very doable for me.

I've also done a few fasts and liquid only cleanses. These have also made me feel great. Giving the body a break from the task of digestion, giving the digestive tract an opportunity to clean itself. It also leaves more energy for healing in other areas of the body. I found I had heaps of energy (after the first few days of detox) and loved the vibrancy I felt as a result.

So, after watching this video, I have decided to combine the two and do Jason Vale's 28 Day SuperJuiceMe! challenge.

So, after sourcing a great little juicer and with Easter out of the way I am all set to start on this 28 day challenge tomorrow. I'll keep you posted with my progress.

Introducing The Wise Inventor

2019-02-28T08:30:00.000+08:00

The Blissful Boy is officially changing his name.

The Wise Inventor is a name he chose for himself when he started playing Minecraft. As we look for ways to record what he is learning about and interested in he has a The Wise Inventor YouTube Channel and also more recently, The Wise Inventor on Instagram . Please feel free to follow him

A Trip to Wave Rock and the Hippo's Yawn

2018-11-27T12:44:00.000+08:00

The Blissful boy and I took a trip to Wave Rock last weekend. We were heading to a place nearby to collect our puppy and so it seemed crazy not to go. It's somewhere I had been before, several times, but for Arthur it was his first visit.

We stayed in a small cabin at Wave Rock Caravan Park, right on site, which meant we got to see the rock at sunset and then again first thing in the morning, before the crowds arrived. The cabin was basic, but perfect for our needs. Arthur loved it.

Hello Awin

Surfing Wave Rock

As soon as we arrived we parked our car at our cabin and then headed off on the short walk to the rock. It was beautiful in the sun set and we managed to get a a few great shots of Arthur surfing the wave. We went up to the top and admired the view around, amazed at the amount of water we could see. We met an English couple at the top who were holidaying in our beautiful state and enjoyed a stroll along the top with them.

Wave Rock Cabin

Surfing Wave Rock

On top of Wave Rock

Wave Rock

Surfing Wave Rock

The next morning we were up early and walked along the base of Wave Rock, with a few little detours to the top, to the Hippo's Yawn. This was a beautiful walk, and there were great interpretive signs describing how the vegetation at the base has a high water requirement, provided by the run off of from the rock, than other surrounding vegetation.

Walking the base of Wave Rock

Wave Rock - on the way to Hippo's Yawn

Rock Pool on top of Wave Rock

Walking on Wave Rock

Hippo's Yawn

Wave Rock Facts

The wave is about 15 metres high

The rock type is granite

It is about 2.6 billion years old

Wave rock is used as a water catchment area servicing the nearby town of Hyden

Wave rock is a place of cultural significance to the Ballardong people who believe it was created by the Rainbow Serpent

Around 150,000 people visit wave rock each year
Wave Rock Caravan Park offers pet friendly accommodation - dogs must be kept on a leash

Getting evidence of learning when you follow a natural approach

2018-06-02T14:50:00.000+08:00

I am now officially responsible for the education of my son, who is just beginning Year 1. Although we have been learning from home for a while, this is the first year of his compulsory education. We are very fortunate in that we are free to use the approach that works best for us. As long as we can demonstrate to moderator that he is learning we are good. We just have to collect and present the evidence, which is not always easy to do. He's learning all the time, when he plays when we go to the supermarket, whilst we are at the beach, when he's playing Minecraft, lego, friends... How can I possibly record all that?

This is something I have been trying to master for a while. I miss so much. He creates a picture and I think "I'll keep that for evidence", but then before you know it he has recreated it into something else, or lost it, or spilled his drink on it. He says something which demonstrates a great understanding of a concept and I think i should write down what he said, but then I forget. He's incredibly good at maths but had no idea what my mum was talking about when she asked him about his sums. He does it all in his head. Sometimes he no idea how he knows an answer, he just does. He's a reluctant writer - he knows he's not perfect so he won't try. Getting him to write one word leads to a meltdown that I'm just not prepared to put him through very often. He had a bad experience at Kindy with writing. The teacher used to make them write their name over and oner on a whiteboard and then rub it our and do it again. I can see why she's want them to practice, but he hated the fact that she didn't even value what he had done and just made him do it again. I want him to write when he wants to, he loves writing in Birthday cards and he's happy to sound things out an spell them on the ipad... but of course I do want him to learn to write, and to collect evidence of where he's at with that.

People have recommended all sorts of ways to keep a track of his evidence of learning. You can get a natural learning diary, which i have bought but not used, a blank diary, a note book, there a numerous apps out there where you can tag the different topics and outcomes. They sound great, I've even downloaded a few, some of them caused our ipad phone and laptop to crash, others I just couldn't fathom, those that I did work out I still needed to make time to commit to. We also thought about having a blog just homeschooling - in fact we started one at Train School - but we never add to it. It's just another thing to do that isn't adding value to our lives or advancing his learning. He's moved on from trains too - I'm sure if I said i wanted to add to it now he's say it's Minecraft School 😂

I think we have finally got a way to make it work though. We recently set up a secret Facebook Group that we can add to as things happen. He has "gone live" in the facebook group when he has stuff to share immediately. He also loves making videos for YouTube at Arthur's Playtime

Here's our evidence for music 😂

And then Science - though he didn't actually remember much of the science once he got in front of the camera, but his personality shines through and I think he has a talent for presenting

A writing sample... he actually managed to spell all of this himself too as Ella is very similar to Emma, which he has mastered, thanks mostly to The Wiggles.

So hopefully this system is going to work for us for now. I'd love to hear what other people do though. How do you keep evidence of learning if you are following a child led natural learning approach?

Firewalking and Gratitude for Disease

2017-09-09T14:54:00.000+08:00

This week has been very different to most - with the exception of travelling from Sydney to Albany on Monday, which I admit is quite significant - I have done very little.

What does it take to make me do very little?

Disease.

I have a bad cold. A man might call it the flu.

Leading up to this I had been working like a crazy thing. I have so much on my plate at the moment, I have been juggling a lot and never quite feeling like there was even time to breathe, nevermind time to actually do everything well. Immediately prior to this week I had been away. Last Wednesday, I dropped off my gorgeous little sidekick with a friend, and drove 400+km to the airport and then flew to Sydney, where I went to UPW, an amazing 50 hour workshop in 3 1/2 days with Tony Robbins, followed by the return journey to Albany.

The event itself deserves a post of its own, but I'll give a brief synopsis here. The first day is about turning fear into power, which Tony teaches with the metaphor of a fire walk.

Yes, I did it!

No, I didn't burn my feet.

Then we went on to smashing our limiting beliefs and creating new patterns. This was super powerful. I had some very unpleasant realisations as to patterns I am repeating that I really don't want to and worked on these. The trigger for one of them has already occurred since I've been home and although I started responding the way I normally would, I found I actually couldn't do that anymore! It's amazing how it works. My limiting beliefs are a work in progress - but I'm onto it. I'm now armed with a proven strategy. I've got this! 🙌

Toward the end of the event Tony told us we would be sick in the next few days; not because we'd hugged a stranger with cooties, but because we had used a lot of energy and shifted a lot of emotions. He was right. At first I wasn't sure if I was sick because Tony said I would be, or if I was genuinely sick, but I can assure you I had no problems surrendering to the process and getting familiar with the couch. Today Arthur has gone down with it, so I guess there is a virus involved.

Now I am in the phase of rejuvenation. I have quite a bit of my energy and much of my inspiration back, and so I thought I'd write. The inspiration for this post came from a meditation I listened to last night. Although I was happy to accept that my body was purging some old beliefs and emotions and catching up on sleep and Arthur cuddles, by the end of the third day I was ready to turn my energy to getting over this disease and getting on with my new life. I ran myself a lovely aromatherapy bath, added a healthy dose of epsom salts, lit some candles and relaxed to the sounds of a wellbeing meditation I found on YouTube.

It began, "It is nice to have an opportunity to visit with you, for the purpose of tuning to your natural rhythm of wellbeing..."

It so is!

It's nice for me to have that opportunity to visit with myself. I don't think I am alone when I say I don't find it easy to make the time to tune in to my natural rhythm of wellbeing...

I am grateful for the time and opportunity to tune into my own wellbeing that disease has given me. I am grateful that my body knows best, that I was able to surrender rather than mask the symptoms with drugs. I am grateful for the time to process and reflect on what has gone before, to purge the past and make space for an even brighter future, to map out my next steps, to design the newest version of me. I am grateful that I found the 10 seconds of courage it took to purchase the ticket to the event back in January, that I didn't listen to any of my excuses as to why I really shouldnt go and for my beautiful friend and her family who cared for Arthur whilst I was gone. I am grateful for Tony Robbins and all that he does to help people transform their mindset. I am grateful for everyone else that contributed to the event, and all the people I met who shared this amazing experience.

I am grateful that my body is super intelligent, and that sometimes dis-ease is the cure!

Discovering hidden local art

2017-07-15T15:07:00.000+08:00

My friend took us to this spot in Albany, just off the Bibbulmun Track. I wasn't quite dressed for the bushwalking but hey, I managed to make it there and back without falling on my bum though! It was worth it. Magical little spot. In some ways a shame that this work doesn't get more views, but at the same time special because it doesn't.

We also explored the echoes you can hear when you stand in the middle of an enormous cylinder

Creatures of the Deep

2017-07-14T15:19:00.000+08:00

We spent a lovely morning with friends at The Vancouver Arts Centre.

The Octopus - Arthur's idea but made by mum -
we were challenged by the lack of sticky tape

Boat made entirely by Arthur

A closer look at some of our sea creatures

2017-02-19T15:22:00.000+08:00

We went out to Whalers Cove today for our first trip with the Young Naturalists

Officially Off The Couch

2017-02-13T16:04:00.000+08:00

I'm officially off the couch!

Regular readers will know that I have been on a bit of a health kick for a while. I've spent several years trying to find out what works for me nutritionally and finally feel like I am getting somewhere. I've been flooding my body with a high quality whole food supplement for 7 months now, my systemic inflammation has gone, my pain has gone, my energy is up and my weight is going down. I even look like a different person.

I've set some goals for the year ahead, and running in the Albany City to Surf is one of them. I plan to run the whole 4km option. Not huge I know, but for me it is. It has been a very long time since I ran. I used to try and do a 5 km every year - just to be sure I still could, but I have never ran any further than that.

A long time until know that is. Last week I managed to break out into a little trot a couple of times whilst I was walking on the treadmill, and today I finally took the leap and started the Podrunner Couch to 5k . It was good. I managed the whole session which I am proud of myself for. I was even feeling so good that I was thinking that maybe I should set a stretch goal and try for the 12km... but that could be crazy. Next year though...

Running on a treadmill is new to me but my only option really as a single mum. It's going to take a bit of getting used to. I need to remember that when the interval has ended and its time to go back to walking I also need to slow the treadmill down! I'll soon learn.

Although I did wonder about looking for a new program and some new music, I ended up going back to the same interval series that I have used in the past. It brought back lots of memories, so I was simultaneously running through the Telegraph Station in Alice Springs at the crack of dawn trying to beat the scorching sun, and along a canal path in the UK trying to dodge the rain drops, and on a treadmill in Albany. It was nice. I feel so grateful that I have had the opportunity to experience life in so many different places.

And it feels good to be able to run again.

If you want to know more about the products and the JBT lifestyle program that I used to turn my health around please get in touch here

A New Year in Home Learning

2017-02-02T07:04:00.000+08:00

So it's official - we are now really home educating.

It was a day of mixed emotions yesterday as many Arthur's friends started school. He had moments when he wondered if he should have chosen school. I did too. I am a single parent trying to do it all. I have no support whatsoever from anyone. I have a business to build a home to run and money to earn. Can I really do it all?

We chatted for a while about it. He decided that school would probably be like kindy as kindy is getting you ready for school. I said I thought he might be right about that. He concluded that it would be fun if he just went for about an hour a week. Unfortunately schools don't seem to be so flexible. He concluded that the activities we have planned with the home school group, and swimming and circus and tennis and garden grubs and young naturalists was a much better option.

I got over my pity party too. I just have to be organised. I'm not the first person in my situation - people have been successful in this business while homeschooling 10 kids. I love the freedom that we have. We can be where we want whenever we want, without the restriction of school hours or terms, or work hours and limited holiday. I get to raise my child instead of an institution. It's hard, but the benefits make it all worth while.

First day of Pre-Primary - Home Ed Style

So we're two days in. Yesterday we spent the day sorting though all our resources and creating learning space. The we went for a swim at the pool for the first time in ages. We've been to the beach a lot this summer and it was amazing to see how much more confident he was in the water. The we played a letter game.

Today we've written the shopping list, been to the local produce shop and the supermarket for the rest. We met a friend at a cafe, played in the play ground walked on the beach, learned a few words, did two science activities as the opportunity arose, and made a train out of rubbish.

And I got all my work done and even had a little me time.

We can do this!

Planning our Clean Christmas Menu with the Juicy Body Transformation

2016-12-19T07:40:00.000+08:00

I've been on this health journey for a while now. I've learned a lot about the foods that serve me and the foods that its best for me to avoid, but that's so hard to do all the time, especially when you eat out, or when enormous challenges like Christmas get in your path. It can make me dread Christmas.

There are so many deliciously tempting things to eat during the festive season. I know I'll love them at the time, and regret them shortly after. I also know that it can take me weeks to get back on track after. Wheat and sugar are so addictive for me. I have mentioned many times I just have to get off and stay off.

Its exciting for me that during this year I have discovered The Juicy Body Transformation. And even more exciting that the JBT Christmas Volume has recently been created too. It's full of amazingly delicious recipes. The author, Kira Westwick, has totally kept to her word with regard to healthy choices not requiring any deprivation! I would much rather eat these foods than your normal Christmas treats.

JBT Christmas Recipe Book

So far we have decided that we are having roast chicken, with superfood stuffing, potatoes and beans. I am getting excited about a couple of the delicious looking salads and Arthur is equally excited about the Snow Balls and Christmas Cookies. That's not to mention the pavlova!

So what's on your menus for Christmas?

If you're interested in creating your own JBT Christmas please contact me

Morning Routines for Busy Mums

2016-12-17T05:33:00.000+08:00

What does your morning routine look like?

Are you the master of your mornings, or are they the master of you?

As I thought of the title of this post I had to laugh. Are there any mum's out there that aren't busy?

As a single mum I have to do everything. I am the cook, the cleaner, the gardener, the maintenance team, the mum, the dad, the taxi driver, the wiper of bums, the washer of clothes, mopper of tears... and one that my son would have first on the list - always there for cuddles. Now that we've made the decision to home educate I can add teacher to that list, and of course we need money to survive, so I am now busy creating my own business from home.

It's a juggle to say the least. A juggle that I know many mums are familiar with.

In a way as home educators the pressure is off a bit - we don't have to be up, dressed, breakfasted, school bag packed, homework done and out of the door by any particular time. But we do have the challenge of making sure we get everything done in our day. Without a structure is easy to think you have all day and then suddenly find the day is done.

Whatever your family situation, I think its safe to say that usually, the thing that takes the lowest priority on the list that you hardly ever manage to get to, is taking care of yourself.

I am so guilty of this. I know the importance of it. I facilitated parenting classes for a while and that was what it was all about. As the mum you are the most important thing in your child's life. You need to be well taken care of, well nourished in both body and mind, happy, stable, grounded. It would be awesome if we could just do it for ourselves, because we deserve it, but if we can't bring ourselves to do it for us, lets at least do it for our families.

As someone in the first year of a new business, I have done a lot of research and training about how to be successful. There are lots of busy people out there that have created successful business from home around their families. Rather than trying to reinvent the wheel, I've been looking in to how they do it. I have found an incredibly common theme. They all have a morning routine.

Lots of people are really specific. They do exactly the same things, every day, in the same order, at the same time, without fail. Their routine goes something like this.

Wake up

Be grateful that I have another day - thank you for the new day

Get up

Pee

Wash hands

...

That seems excessive right? But it seems that the most successful people often are that specific. One of the elements of this which is really significant is that you are in control of your morning. You know whats going to happen. A morning that starts like this has an entirely different feel to one that begins with a screaming kid pulling the covers off you demanding breakfast and a costume for World Book Day, today!

Other elements of the morning routines I found were around the practice of gratitude, meditation, setting intentions/affirmations/visualisations, and investing in the body and mind. Exercise is something that I find it difficult to make time for. Personal development and training is essential if I want to stay sane and develop my business, meditation is something that was part of my daily life until motherhood, and then became almost impossible.

My Miracle Morning Room

So, a couple of months ago I decided I'd create my own morning routine. It's taken a bit of fine tuning, and I've added a few bits in. It has flexibility in that some mornings I may just stretch and others I might do a yoga session, I always get on the treadmill for a bit, but the time varies between 15 and 45 minutes, depending on whether I did yoga or not.

It's great. I am really enjoying it. Some days it takes commitment to get my ass out of bed. I have thought about letting myself have one day off a week, as that is what has generally happened, but I think at this stage I am going to try and make it my intention to do it every day. It's very satisfying to get to 7 am and know that i have already invested 1 1/2 hours in myself. It does set me up for more productive days.

For those that want to know - here is my morning routine - complete with when I pee! Sorry if that's TMI, but I've heard it said many a time "if you want to be successful, do what successful people do" so I'm giving it my best shot!

5.30	Wake up and be thankful for the new day
	Get up and be thankful that I have no pain
	Pee
	Wash Hands
	Weigh self
	Record Weight
	Cleanse and moisturise face

	Walk to Kitchen
	Stretch and gratitude practice whilst oil pulling with coconut oil
	Drink a glass of water with lemon and ACV
	Take wholefood supplements with another glass of water

	Walk to miracle room (the room that i used for massage prior to homeschooling has been re purposed - I’ve made it into a lovely space for me)
	Light candle
	Turn vaporiser on
	Meditate for 10-15 mins (have downloaded a few different ones)
	Stretches / yoga / other exercises

	Walk on treadmill for 15-45 mins Affirmations Listen to a motivational / inspirational / training podcast

	Write down anything that has come to mind

	Shower
	Moisturise
	Dress
	Breakfast Smoothie
	Make Coffee

7.00	Turn phone off flight mode and enjoy a productive two hours of work before the learning time with my son begins

If I wake up early, and can't get back to sleep I get up and start early. I have extra time for me on those days as I still don't start work until 7am. Bonus me time.

I am far from perfect. I definitely haven't got this totally licked, and I am not at the stage where I just do everything automatically without thinking. I have to be stricter with myself over the flight mode thing and not get distracted by social media. On some mornings I have switched my phone on to search for a new meditation and that's it - notifications come in, I'll just respond to that one... and half an hour can easily disappear. So I'm still working on disciplining myself.

What I have found so far

I am calmer
The overwhelm at having so much to do and so little time is being eased
I am being more productive in the time I do work
I have some great ideas whilst I am going through the process (that's why I had to introduce the writing down anything that has come to mind stage) . I am eager to get started on whatever I have thought of and actually have to control myself from doing that and get showered dressed and breakfasted first
I do feel more control over my life
I feel healthier and have more energy
I have lost a bit of weight through doing the fasted cardio exercise every day
I feel organised and proud of what I am accomplishing
My son and I are getting more quality time together
I am in a better space to be present for others and to help them
I feel grounded and happy
Even though it has all these benefits, it still takes effort and discipline to stick to the plan each day

A great book if you want to know more about this, and maybe implement your own morning routine is Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod - more info here http://www.miraclemorning.com

Mango Gratitude

2016-12-12T08:13:00.000+08:00

I'm sharing now because I found last night's gratitude conversation quite amusing. We had eaten mango for dessert after dinner. It was a very delicious mango. Our conversation went something like this. We definitely had more than three things each. Arthur started it, and ended it!

A: I'm grateful for the amazing mango

E: I was going to say that! I am grateful for the person who picked the mango

A: I'm grateful for the mango tree that grew the mango

E: I'm grateful for the person that planted the mango tree that grew the mango

A: I'm grateful for the sun for ripening the mango

E: I'm grateful for the rain that the mango needed to grow

A: I'm grateful for the ground that its roots went in

E: I'm grateful for the farmer that looked after the tree

A: I'm grateful for the truck that brought it to the shop

E: I'm grateful for the plants that lived many years ago that made the fuel to go in the truck that delivered the mango

A: I'm grateful for the shop for selling the mango

E: I'm grateful that we had money to buy the mango

A: I'm grateful that we bought two mangoes! [spoken with glee!]

Here he is, showing his appreciation to the second mango

when he woke up this morning!

Love this kid!

Gourmet Cleanse - from The Juicy Body Transformation

2016-12-12T08:06:00.000+08:00

The Gourmet Cleanse from the Juicy Body Transformation

Gourmet Cleanse - JBT

It might not be what most people are thinking of two weeks before Christmas, but I decided to have a week of really getting back into some healthy eating by following the gourmet cleanse from the Juicy Body Transformation.

The gourmet cleanse is an optional part of the JBT. You can choose how long you do it for.

The Reset Cleanse is the shortest, perfect for beginners or if you just want to get yourself back on track, give yourself a health kick or an energy boost

The Gentle Cleanse if for 7 days, and this is what I am aiming for this time. Its recommended seasonally for those that love a good clean out. That's me!

There are also 14 and 21 day options if you want to get really serious.

Each option has a an ease in phase and an ease out phase, as well as the actually detox itself. This is designed to minimise the symptoms that you can sometimes get with a detox, and to minimise stress on the digestive system as you reintroduce other foods.

The guide comes with lots of amazing recipes over 60 of which are suitable for the detox phase. There are also some great meal planning templates. Anyone that has read my blog for a while will know that I love the idea of meal plans but never really manage to stick to them. I started this today and it's already gone wrong. In a good way I guess. I made the amazing Mexican Salad for lunch and it was easier to make the full recipe than work out what to do with half a can of kidney beans - so that means tomorrows lunch is prepped already. I'll save the broccoli salad until Wednesday.

JBT - Mexican Salad

If you'd like to join me on a pre Christmas cleanse please don't hesitate to get in touch. The program is available online so we could get you started straight away no matter where in the world you are. Or if you think this is something you'd like to do after Christmas to kick start your New Year in a way that you mean to go on, let's talk about that too.

Right - off to make the best dahl ever...

JBT - Best Dahl Ever

Then to get prepped for an indulgent detox body scrub

Contact Me for more information

JBT Daily Rituals

2016-11-30T11:22:00.000+08:00

JBT Rituals

By Kira Westwick

For the BEST day EVER every day, these are the JBT rituals I live by....

Start your day with lemon water, and drink another 8-12 glasses of filtered water throughout the day. A hydrated body is a healthy, happy one.

Add a nourishing smoothie full of super foods and healthy fats to your diet each day- it's the easiest and cheapest insurance policy for your health! I love our Complete powder for extra protein and super foods such as spirulina, broccoli and radish sprouts, pumpkinseeds, pomegranate and more! Eating foods full of life and vitality will make you FEEL full of life and vitality!

MOVE your body EVERY day. Life is movement. Energy begets MORE energy.

Start your day with GRATITUDE. When you acknowledge the abundance and blessings in your life it's pretty hard to have a bad day!!

The secret to a happy and fulfilled life is contribution. Ask yourself each day 'who can I add value to today'. It may be as simple as doing something KIND for someone you love or a stranger.

Listen to an empowering podcast- wether it be meditation, personal development or business development. A growing human is a happy one.

I challenge you to commit to these rituals for just 7 days and see the magic unfold in your life. You have nothing to lose and SO much to gain!

For more information about the Juicy Body Transformation please book a time to chat with me

5 Foods that Boost Energy

2016-11-23T11:25:00.000+08:00

By Kira Westwick

JBT is all about feeling and being the best version of you! Here are 5 energy boosting foods we recommend adding to your diet on a regular basis.

Sweet potatoes - a fantastic source of complex carbohydrates, as well as iron, magnesium and vitamin C - all essential for energy production!

Spinach and other dark leafy greens - spinach is high in magnesium and potassium which are important for nerve and muscle function. It's also loaded with iron. Iron transports oxygen needed for energy production.

Nuts such as almond, Brazil, peanut- nuts are nutrient and energy dense foods that satiate Hunger and provide a sustained energy release.

Quinoa - this super food is actually a seed. It's high in complex carbohydrates, protein and fibre, which give your body a steady stream of energy throughout the day.

Bananas- rich in potassium and B vitamins and healthy carbs, bananas are a great option for a quick energy boost. Pair it with some nut butter for longer lasting energy.

For more information about The Juicy Body Transformation please book a time to chat with me

5 Foods for Happy Thoughts

2016-11-18T11:28:00.000+08:00

By Kira Westwick, creator of The Juicy Body Transformation (JBT)

The JBT program believes lifestyle and nutrition choices strongly influence healthy brain function or lack thereof. When we fuel our brain with the right foods that boost and balance brain chemistry, we replenish our neurotransmitters which influence our moods. Here are some foods that can help bring balance to our mental and emotional state...

Chia seeds- full of plant based omega 3 - an essential fat that plays an important role in brain health. Deficiency in this fat is linked to fatigue, mood swings, memory decline and depression.

Avocados - loaded with vitamin E which helps cognitive function, and of course super brain boosting healthy fats.

Coconut oil- a natural anti inflammatory food which contains MCT which has been proven to improve cognitive function almost immediately upon digestion.

Free ranging organic Eggs- a great source of B12 and other key brain boosting vitamins such as choline and inositol. They are an excellent source of mood enhancing omega 3 fatty acids. These can also help prevent memory loss.

Dark chocolate and raw cacao - gives an instant boost in mood and concentration, reduces stress hormones and improves blood flow to the brain helping you feel more vibrant and energised. The darker the better!

An extra tip- sunlight is an important soul food and the best source of Vit D which is crucial for making endorphins for health and happiness. Ensure you get at least 15min of sun exposure each day.

For more information about the Juicy Body Transformation please make a time to chat with me

Becoming a mumpreneur

2016-11-17T11:42:00.000+08:00

As a single home educating parent, one of the major hurdles I had to get over to make it happen was the financials. I've tried a lot of things. Blogging has bought me in a few $ in the past, but in all honesty if you were to work out the hourly rate I have earned from my blog you would have a very small figure. I worked as a Virtual Assistant for a time too - trading time for money at an hourly rate. This was a little better perhaps, at least I knew there'd be some money, but I still had no real control over how things developed, my rate was poor, sometimes there was lots of work and I was getting up in the middle of the night to get it done, sometimes there was none. I got to know how other people's business worked (or didn't work!) but I had no control over it, my opinion didn't count, I was working harder on someone else's dreams than they were themselves, for peanuts. I started doing natural therapies from home. This nurtures my soul a lot more, I love giving the treatments, but really I can't do this with a 5 year old at home. Organising childcare is hard, he doesn't like it and the profits left at the end of all that make it a hobby rather than a serious income generator.

Through a series of best laid plans going wrong, I actually stumbled across the thing that was right. I now run an international business online. I am completely my own boss, working my own hours, as much or as little as I like. I can work from anywhere with internet access and need nothing more than my phone to do it. I frequently work from playgrounds and beaches, from my sofa and my bed, in coffee shops and restaurants. We have travelled overseas and interstate. I have created a job that fits around our life and gives us the opportunity to go more places and do more things.

I can earn from anywhere and my son can learn from anywhere.

I have stepped into my dream and have become a world schooling solo mumpreneur.

I am now at the stage in my business where I have started helping other people to do this too. If you like helping people and have the desire to improve your financial situation and create more time freedom please get in touch and I can tell you more. I do not charge for this service and there's no obligations, so if you're curious contact me

Down on the dairy farm

2016-11-17T11:33:00.000+08:00

Today we went on a visit to a local farm. A small little diary farm just outside of Albany, Yard 86 . We have tasted their milk before - it is amazing. More expensive than your supermarket milk but so much more tasty. We're not huge milk drinkers, and the mass produced supermarket milk doesn't seem to suit us very well, so we don't mind paying for the a small amount of good quality moo juice.

We were welcomed onto the farm like we were family and got to see how the cows are milked and how the milk is gently pasteurised and bottled. We also went out into the paddock to see the happy cows and to investigate the silage which they are fed in the summer when the grass doesn't grow so well.

Yard 86 have just 17 cows. All are known by name. Their family history is understood and the personalities too. They have been selected for producing delicious milk rather than for the volume. They certainly seem like very happy cows.

We were very happy humans too as we got to drink the coffee and chocolate milk

Getting ready for our official homeschool life

2016-11-14T11:46:00.000+08:00

Although we're not officially home schooling yet (schooling is not compulsory here for Arthur until next year) it has been on my mind that we need to get some kind of routine and structure in place that will allow us to juggle all the things we have to accomplish. I am in the early stages of creating a new business which is taking a lot of my time. I also have to do everything in the house and the garden, create some healthy meals, get some exercise and routines in to keep me healthy so that I can be the best mum I can be, and of course ensuring that my son gets the opportunity to learn, explore, create and discover above and beyond what he would experience in a traditional educational institution.

He's not cut out for school - he hates being "taught" by me just as much as he hated his kindy teacher setting defined, closed, controlled and specific tasks. He is creative. He has his own mind. He doesn't enjoy sitting down and tracing the letter A multiple times, but he will happily write when there is a purpose, or if he wants to. I found him sitting at the kitchen bench with paper and pen the other day, using video titles on the iPad to write down all the names of the engine from Thomas and Friends. He will teach himself before he'll let anyone else teach him.

He is inspired by real things. Complex topics. He asks questions and explains things way beyond you would anticipate a 5 year old would or could. With all my experience of education, Arthur is proving the theories that I frequently espoused. We learn best when we have a purpose, and in a real authentic context, when we want or need to know. I am trying to go with that, to follow his lead and to make the most of his curiosity, for every question and experience is a learning opportunity.

It is necessary to create a space for all that to happen though. We need time to be together exploring the world. He also needs to be left alone to work on things himself. We need to have a variety of activities and experiences to learn from. I also want to use events that are happening - like the supermoon tonight.

He has previously been uninterested in reading, but now he's asking me to show him how. We do have some early readers which we are looking at each night, and he loves rhyming sounds and creating silly songs.

He loves doing craft

I guess we'll figure it out and find our way.

I am nervous and excited

Visiting the home of Sir Isaac Newton

2016-10-14T11:53:00.000+08:00

One of the Blissful Boy's favourite things we did in the UK was visit Woolsthorpe Manor, the home of Sir Isaac Newton. We got to see the Apple Tree, and to go into Newton's home. The place does a great job of telling you what life wold have been like for Sir Isaac.

Apparently he was a student at Cambridge University, where they didn't care much for him as he held different opinions about things to his lecturers. They thought he was getting things wrong - he knew they were!

The university was closed for a period when the plague affecting the country. At his home during this time Sir Isaac was free to think for himself and described gravity and experimented with light in his bedroom

Under Newton's Apple Tree

The room Sir Isaac was born in - on Christmas day 1642

There is a science room with some great interactives for kids (and adults)

We came away with "Sir Isaac" as Arthur's new hero. He really wanted a postcard with Sir Isaac on - which I let him have. We also bought a prism and a miniature Newton's Cradle so lots of lessons to come in the future too.

Clean Chocolate Orange Hearts

2016-09-08T11:59:00.000+08:00

Clean chocolate orange hearts

I adapted this recipe from the chocolate recipe in the Juicy Body Transformation Guide

Ingredients

1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup cacao
1/4 cup rice malt syrup
a few drops of doTerra Wild Orange essential oil

Method

Melt the oil, add the other ingredients and whisk together
Pour the mixture into a silicon ice cube tray and place in the freezer to set
Take them out of the mould when frozen solid
Store in the freezer of the fridge depending on how firm you like them

The Abundance Factor - Movie

2016-07-31T12:17:00.000+08:00

As you may have heard, there's a new movie out called "The Abundance Factor"... which thousands are already calling "better than the secret."

I have just watched the movie and it's great. So many little gold nuggets of wisdom about appreciating what we have and moving through our own individual barriers to success. This move fits right in with my mission to create the life I want to live.

And the best part is, you can watch it for FREE right now:

Riley Dayne from Mapmaker Studio, went on a quest to learn the answers to the questions, like:

"What Is The Abundance Factor?"
"How Can We All Live Our Dreams"
"What Is The Key To Happiness?

He interviewed some of the BIGGEST thought leaders, authors, and experts on the topic of abundance in all its forms.

Check out this line-up!

The film features:
Vishen Lakhiani,

Bob Proctor,
Dr. Bruce Lipton,
Carol Tuttle,
T. Harv Eker,
Joe Vitale,
John Assaraf,
Katie Hendricks,
Lewis Howes,
Lynne McTaggart,
Margaret Lynch,
Shawn Achor,

... and many, many more!

Riley asked these experts for their BEST tips on how to make more money, be happier, and live the dream. The answers will surprise you!

Alexi Panos - The Abundance Factor

Bob Proctor - The Abundance Factor

Dr Bruce Lipton - The Abundance Factor

Carol Tuttle - The Abundance Factor

Dana Wilde - The Abundance Factor

John Assaraf - The Abundance Factor

Joe Vitale - The Abundance Factor

IKE Allen - The Abundance Factor

T Harv Eker - The Abundance Factor

Dee Wallace - The Abundance Factor

Lewis Howes - The Abundance Factor

Mindle Kniss - The Abundance Factor

Vishen Lakhiani - The Abundance Factor

Sean Stephenson - The Abundance Factor

In this movie, you will discover:

- How you may be blocking abundance and not even realize it;
- "Do-able" ideas for bringing wealth into your life from 20 top thought leaders;
- The secret to abundance. Why some people get rich, and others don't;
- The Abundance Factor. What is it?
- ... and much, much more!

So here's the deal:

For a very limited time Riley is letting all of you guys watch this brand new movie for FREE right now... all you have to do is click here:

Be sure to let me know what you think!