Sunday 22 February 2015

Take Just Half An Hour

Don't know about you but mornings in our house can be fractious affairs. Three children needing to get ready, eat breakfast and out for school means fun and games .

 All talking/shouting/asking questions at once like "where's my games kit mum", "where's my book,I need it first period", "there's  no shampoo left", "mum I need £2.50 for my trip".. and it goes on. I've tried changing my name; it didn't work. I've tried hiding; that didn't work either. 

Then there's breakfast to be made, Nat's lunchbox to be prepared, showers to be had, clothes to put on, teeth cleaning...
And all before 8.15 in the morning. 

By the time I've dropped them all off at school (I know they should walk, but realistically this happens three times a month) I feel like I've done a days work, and literally the first time I've taken a conscious breath since waking up. 

I then have to put the house back together before I can actually start my work (the Only downside of working from home). 

That was before I discovered my Daily Power Half Hour. It's Me Time Extraordinaire, and I love it. It sets me up for my day with a positive mindset ,and I can help my children start theirs the same way, it means I can put everything into perspective, it means there is way less shouting! Result. 

All I have to do is get out of bed half an hour early, before 'they' do. Yes I know this is the hard part (and sometimes the urge to roll over gets the better of me, but that 80/20 rule is there for a reason I find), but believe me it's so worth it. 

I snuggle into my fluffy White Company bath robe (the only one worth having I find) and put the hood up. The hood bit is crucial because I can kid myself I've not really fully woken up), and potter down to the lounge. 

Here I dim the lights, put out my yoga mat, and put on some soothing music. If I'm mega organised I'll do this the night before. I light candles and joss sticks to clear the energy in the room and I'm ready to begin. 

For the next half an hour I'll do yoga flow style Energy exercises*,  creating space inside, activating my parasympathetic nervous system- the body's brakes,  loving and being kind to me. I'll also do meditative breathing exercises. It all works. I feel energised. I feel chilled, and this doesn't come natural to me. Now, in this relaxed but vital state I can move mountains; well I can at least be effective and on task in assisting my children where they need it. 

Over breakfast we often have time for a laugh and a joke, I'll treat them to some of my dance moves whilst they cringe, we listen to Lauren's latest playlist, Nat and Lauren will even do some colouring, and when we leave there's no bomb gone off in the kitchen. 

 After drop off, I get fresh air with my mum, walking Millie, still in my chilled state. Then My day can begin... 

If any of the chaotic morning state resonates with you, why not try a Power Half Hour just for you. It's comes highly recommended. 

Have a great day. 
Rx 

*I learnt Energy Exercises and heaps more besides to create Energy balance within as part of the Energy For Life Wellness Coaching Course, with Caroline Shola Arewa. 
If you'd like to learn how to feel more energised, and use your energy in a great way, daily, contact me for more details. 

Monday 9 February 2015

Energy- It's Everything

I'm posting today because I'm so grateful I wanted to share it.. I'm giving big thanks for where my life is right now compared to where it was just a few years ago. 

This morning I've taken my children to school, walked Millie, the dog my mum looks after, at the Ings- one of my favourite places in the world, bumped into two lovely friends and chatted, done some washing, researched some recipes, rebounded for half an hour outside in the sunshine (#savemyknees) , and had lunch outside too, with my beautiful black pussy cats. Perfect start to the week! 


It's easy to take it for granted when you can leap (well maybe get) out of bed each morning and do all that you need to do in your day. I'll never take it for granted again, as a few years ago I  couldn't get out of bed, my body, mind and spirit were so fatigued that everything was an effort. My energy had upped and left... 

I was suffering with adrenal fatigue; after years of pushing myself day in, day out, eating badly, drinking abit too much, stressing over everything, running around after my three children, not resting or sleeping properly, and my body decided I needed to listen to the subtle messages it had been giving me, that I'd ignored. 


I had zero energy, and it's taken a change in my thinking, and my lifestyle to get it back to anywhere near normal. Even now I have to be careful to monitor how I use and abuse my energy. Too much abusing it and I have to pull back, rest, and look after me. 

Using energy in the right way is so important- eating good, nutritious food, drinking the right fluids (water/herbal tea) , exercising, getting fresh air, being in the now, dealing with stress in the right way, resting, and sleeping well for 6-8 hours a night. If you have more of this going on in your life than stress, lack of exercise, a poor diet, little or poor quality sleep, living in your head, too much coffee and other stimulants , worrying.... then  you'll have all the energy you need. If not maybe it's time to re-evaluate your life, before you have no choice. 

Just keeping a diary of how you're using and abusing your energy is a great start. It'll highlight the parts you need to change for sure. 

Make those changes now, little by little is my advice. Adrenal and chronic fatigue are rapidly becoming really common modern day 'diseases' because of our fast pace living. It's really ok to stop and smell the roses sometimes. In fact it's a necessity. 

Have a great energised day. 
Rx

Thursday 5 February 2015

RAW Bounty Squares

Wow such great feedback this week from my Sweet Enough Tasting Club.. And especially to the Raw Bounty Squares. 

Bounty has always been my favourite sweet treat, I'm sure I've consumed several hundred in my youth (let's not go there shall we?!) . These days I'm more aware of what's in processed chocolate bars and so avoid where possible;  occasionally I succumb, but that's the 80-20 rule we all live by, right? 

Anyway, after googling and researching how to make them from scratch I finally made my own by adapting several other recipes out there. 

It worked a dream, is very easy to make, and gives a sweet 'hit' minus the chemicals, and refined stuff we need to avoid.

So here you go : 

Recipe :
1/4 cup Coconut Oil
4 Tbsp Raw Honey
2 cups Toasted Dessicated Coconut
2 TbspCoconut Cream
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract

Method : 
Melt the coconut oil, with the honey gently. 
Stir in the coconut cream and add the vanilla extract. 
Add the coconut and stir  to coat it with the liquid. 
Line a baking tin with baking paper, and pour the coconut mixture in. Level off, and place in the fridge until set. 

Raw Chocolate For The Top
Half a cup of coconut oil
Half a cup of Raw cacao
2 tbsp Raw honey 
Pinch of sea salt 

Method : 
Melt the coconut oil very gently in a Bain Marie and add the honey.
Stir in the salt and raw cacao until completely mixed together. 
Pour over the set coconut mixture and place back in the fridge. 

Cut into squares before devouring! 
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. 
Enjoy. 
Rx