...and a happy new year to you all

I'm still down the coast, watching TV, and ready to go to sleep. The fairy lights are on, the fireworks are due to go off soon, and from my heart to yours - all the best for a simply wonderful and shiny new year.

xx girl30*

Back to Basics

Homegrown fruit & veg, fresh from my nan's garden. How cute are the little capsicums? And how different does it all taste? Seriously, homegrown fruit and veg without all the pesticides - amazing.

xx girl30*

The simple things in life

....are often the best, so they say. And after a week of eating cheese, tomato and mustard toasted sandwiches for lunch, I wholeheartedly agree!

We've been giving the toaster a workout and isn't it amazing how filling and nice home cooked meals can be? Good for the belly, and even better for the wallet.

xx girl30*

Baby Coach

I have been trained - I now know how to sterilise bottles and also how to *ta da!* change little LaLa's nappy. Can you believe that's my first one ever??!!

xx girl30*

I'm hooked!

I am learning little LaLa's cries (I know her hungry cry) and man, has that girl's lungs grown!! She can cry enough to break your heart.

I am also pleased to say that I am not afraid to hold the precious little bub anymore : ) It's all about practice and now I'm getting the hang of it.

I'm so filled with sparkles and happiness!

xx girl30*

Cute or what?

I'm in love. Little LaLa is the object of my affections, and seriously - how can you not just fall in love with someone who has the cutest feet on earth?

It's Christmas today, we've done a lot of driving, eating, drinking, and eating again, and now it's time to call it a day.

Big love to you all. xx

Christmas Eve in Summer

I'm down the coast enjoying some time away from Sydney, and very happy to be sharing this special festive season with my sister and her family. They even have a tree - which is something I lack!

Merry Christmas dear friends, sending plenty of sparkles to you and yours.

xx girl30*

Christmas Cheers

Today it's all about wrapping up my chrissie pressies for family and friends. Last night I got little LaLa's pressie, which had me in a pickle. I mean, what do you get for a 4 week old?

Then I saw the rubber duckies and immediately knew. Can't wait to see her have a bath with them!!

xx girl30*

Scent

Incense reminds me of yoga, of teaching, relaxing, calmness.

I always have some burning when I'm at home - and it smells like 'home' to me.

Anything in particular that smells like 'home' to you?

xx girl30*

Last day of work for 07!

Hoorah! Have read the paper, had my coffee, cleaned up my desk and now, it's officially HOLIDAYS!!!

Driving to Work

Australia is a multi-cultural society, and we're all brought up to believe in equality - even if the government programs and laws doesn't support this. So excited was I this morning, driving to work, to see an Aboriginal Flag hanging on a house.... that I had to take a pic of it!

Then no less than a minute later, a news story comes on the radio about how people are trying to ban a Muslim school opening up just out of Sydney.

And as a country targeted by terrorists, this is a firey issue!

What is the answer? There is no simple answer.... but rather, lots to think about.

Peace to you all,

xx girl30*

Almost a year has passed..

It's almost been one year (minus 2 days) since the last time i was in hospital emergency with an overdose. Last Christmas life got on top of me. I'd just finished a job where the boss was hell on earth, I had a month's work in front of me, but nothing after that. I was tired, emotional, depressed and just didn't want to be depressed anymore.

I am so far from that place right now - but I will never look at suicidal people the same way.

I didn't want to kill myself, god no! But I wanted the pain to stop.

To explain this feeling to someone else - this utter helpless, tiring, feeling - is impossible. But I've been there - and if you are going through that right now, I am sending you good strong happy and healthy vibes.

Today, almost a year later, I have had a shocking day. Beyond words. But you know, I'll get up and move through it. and live to see another day. and smile..... or at least just live through it ;)

hugs to you all - no matter what you are going through xxx

ps - the pic is the view of my corkboard on my desk at work. Pics of friends and tidbits to make me smile. Cause we always need something to bring light to our faces : )

It's the last week!

Yesiree! It's the last week of work! So that means time to clean up all those last bits and pieces of work, to clean up the inbox, the desk, and work station and... um... the car floor!

Yes - as you can see, my car has become an extension of my living room - there's yoga mats, mags, water bottles and paper here there and everywhere.

Oh well - things could be worse ;)

xx girl30*

Stairs + Workout = HARD!

Can you believe that at my gym, there are 4 levels of stairs to walk UP and then back DOWN before you get in and out?

Yikes!

I tell you, there have been many many times the legs were jello, pure and simple, by the time I reached the bottom. Thank god for hand rails!

(what were they thinking?!)

xx girl30*

Babe!

Little LaLa is growing up, and I'm in love : )

Chrissy Par-Tay

well, the 'red team' no longer exists - but it was fun while it lasted.
bless ya, and have a merry chrissy everyone! xxx

Blue

It's not been a fab day in the slightest. I am in a funk, and need to focus on happy smiley, things around me.

Like candles in the bathroom when I'm having a shower. Candles in general. Cups of tea. Lying on my bolster and breathing deeply. Early nights. And the blue sky on my drive home from work.

: )

girl30*

Go aussie, go!

Homebake is a fab all day music event in the Sydney Domain, that features just Aussie and NZ artists.

There's 20000 people there, fantastic music, and I love love working there. Hoorah!

xx girl30*

Sometimes you get lost...

And wouldn't it be lovely to think someone out there is looking for you?

I am happily single, but sometimes it would be so nice to come home to someone who just lights up when you get home.

One day.. one day...

xx girl30*

The best way to start the day

... is with a beautiful yoga class.


Teaching yoga is a true gift. Personally, I have always found it a struggle to do a home practice - I find that when being a student in a class I can just completely let myself go and immerse myself in my feelings and breath. But teaching is still wonderful because while I can't get carried away in meditation, I still get to stretch and breathe and MOVE!


And today I taught a beautiful class right in the middle of the City with the sun streaming into the studio.

Seriously - the BEST way to start you day : )
xx girl30*

Time for a clean

I dig doing great pranayama (breathing exercises) in yoga - they really get the energy moving around your body, and you can do some great cleansing techniques.

Speaking of cleaning.. the view from the platform where I teach on Wednesday nights is beautiful, but the mat definitely needs a clean, hey!

xx girl30*

Finding beauty in the little things

+ potplants in window sills

+ facials in the middle of the week for no reason

+ yummy salads for lunch

+ carrot, apple, ginger and beetroot freshly squeezed juices with ice, chill!

+ red shoes

+ hitting 'the wall' and realising I have the power to change how I feel

+ cancelling outings for a night, doing some washing, lighting some candles, fresh bedsheets, folded clothes and a smile

xx girl30*

Fruit, fruit, the magical fruit

I am endeavouring to eat at least 2 pieces of fruit a day and don't find that hard at all.... during the week. But on the weekends I fall down - that is, until now.

I love summer fruit and I couldn't go past this cute little mousepad either - so I honestly can't forget at work about my healthy pledge!!

xx girl30*

Summer in the City

I love that song by Regina Spektor. However, I'm not so much in love with the funk I'm in at the moment. Yes - big big funk.

So I'm embarking on a 2 week Health Challenge with a dear friend of mine, just 2 simple weeks to bring it all back to basics, chill out, eat healthy fresh foods and start moving my patooti (or is it cahooti? anyway...)

So the way to do it is to WALK in my lunch breaks, even if that means for 5 mins to get some fresh air. It will happen by having 3 gym sessions this week. And by having completely cut back takeaway. Home cooking all the way!

Sometimes it can all seem like way too much so I'm chilling out for a bit and focussing on just the next 2 weeks, then the world is my oyster.

xx girl30*

Happy Week Old Day!

Luca has turned a week old and I had to celebrate the occasion with a cute purple singlet. She's doing well, keeping on keeping on.

Me? I am well too. Tired - oh so tired, but well. Doing a lot of thinking about things. And accepting my part in things. And trying to figure out how to move forward with things.

xx girl30*