The Day I Became A Hipster

In the past, I have been referred to as a Corporate Barbie; and a 1950's Housewife.

But yesterday I became a hipster.

I drew my inspiration from the below images; then took the plunge last week and ordered a new pair of glasses.

I picked them up yesterday and became an instant hipster.. EEK!!!

And they don't count as a June purchase.. Coz I paid for them last week when it was still May!

xx

Images here

June Challenge : Update #1

Isn't it ironic how certain blogs, people, advice come into our lives at just the right time??

Today I'm sharing an excerpt from a blog I came across this morning (after launching my No Purchases June Challenge). 

"Spend your money on what brings you joy and be frugal with everything else that doesn’t."

I love it when someone writes down exactly what I needed to hear (and action)!

I combed through what I am spending my money on and put them into categories:

BRINGS ME JOY 
(food, hello!)

SUPER IMPORTANT MUST HAVES
(home and contents insurance) and

NEITHER.

Everything in neither was then either eliminated completely or pared back to its most basic (frugal) form.

Read the full blog post here

Makes 100% sense to me.

When I decided to commit to the No Purchases in June challenge, I set my own rules.
Well.. just one rule really. No buying unless it's food.

This is about being conscious of my spending habits.

I am a serial shopper..

Feeling sad? Retail therapy!
Feeling happy? Buy new things!
Bored? Go shopping.
Celebrating? Mark the occasion with something new!

No Purchases June is about realising that I don't need stuff.
I shouldn't rely on things to make justify my feelings.

It's about LIVING.
So experiences are perfectly OK.

They are in that first category - IT BRINGS ME JOY.

And who doesn't want a little more joy in their lives!?

xx



image here

June Challenge

It's the FIRST of JUNE tomorrow.

I just want to give you a moment to let that sink in

.

.

.

. 

Because if you're anything like me, you're probably still wondering what happened to April; let alone May.

But this post isn't about time - whether fast or slow. 

It's about me setting a challenge for myself. And the beginning of a new month and the start of a new season seems an apt time to give it a shot.

Let me start with saying - I don't think this will be easy by any means. But I am going to see how it goes.

If it works - Good for me!

If it doesn't quite happen - well, that's OK too.

The Challenge??

No new purchases for a month.

I know it's not a new idea. Infact, there's a website dedicated to the concept.

http://www.buynothingnew.com.au/home/

But it's new for me.

I once came across a blogger who did this for a YEAR.

To her I say - Congratulations!

But to you, I say - For me that would be absolutely IMPOSSIBLE.

So the time frame is a month.

The first rule of Fight Club is : You do not talk about Fight Club

Not only is this true.. But it's amusing to me too since I work in advertising...!!!

But the light bulb moment for me was looking in my beautiful bowl from Brown Button Trading and noticing that it had somehow become a place for my receipts to live.

And my, were there a lot of receipts in that bowl!

Keeping your receipts : Good idea or fodder for that post-shopping spree guilt?!

So at the end of June this bowl should be empty and my bank account should look happier.

Oh, and just incase you're wondering - Food is not included in my challenge. 

(Hey - it's my challenge, so I get to make the rules!)

By purchases I purely mean "stuff I could live without" and food just doesn't make that list.

I suppose it's lucky that I bought a new winter blanket last week huh?!

Wish me luck or play along at home!

xx

Choosing Happy

When you choose your happiness, you become 

infinitely more productive, useful, and magnetic

to those around you. You enable yourself to

truely be of service.

xx

Blogging, French and Yoga

It's been a long while between blogs.

This morning on my walk with Emmy I tried to come up with reasons why I haven't blogged recently that didn't include "I've been busy".

I think that's a lame excuse. It's lazy. Everyone's busy. 

Sometimes busy doing nothing.

My thinking of late has very much been - 

"If it is important to you, you will find a way. If not, you will find an excuse"

It's not that I have been making excuses for not blogging.. It's just that it hasn't been a high priority for me.

Am I uninspired?

No.. not really.

But as I have witnessed in the wider blogging community, other social media (think Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram) allow me to share things with others so my need to blog decreases slightly..

But today I had a legitimate "That's going on the Blog" moment.

Let me first explain that I have always wanted to go to Paris; And at the beginning of the year, I told a friend in casual conversation that I would like to learn French this year.

Well... Let's just say that it's May and this ambition is still very much in my distant future.

So far, I haven't actively made any attempts to pursue this dream.

Until now.

It's a little step. But it's a step.

I have 'liked' a French Word A Day on Facebook.

And I found the first word kind of appropriate.

Along with my yoga practice, I am learning that self control comes in many forms. My teacher often speaks of discipline and truthfulness.

Self control is relative to the mind, body and soul.

I am trying to be more mindful of this concept.

So there it is. A new blog post. Because I wanted to. Because I control my life. Because I have self control.

Relating blogging, French and yoga - It's a tenuous link. But it's there.

That's just how my brain works sometimes ;)

xx

An Elephant Mind

I am a multi-tasker.

I like to think this makes me super productive; but studies have shown that the opposite might infact be closer to the truth.

"People who multitask are actually less productive than people who focus on one thing at a time"  

 - -  University of Utah

Hmph!

I am terrible at doing one thing at a time.. 

Likely Scenario #1

Watching TV and playing on Pinterest on my laptop and texting someone or scrolling through Instagram on my iPhone;

Or

Likely Scenario #2

Preparing lunch, cooking dinner and baking a tray of cookies with the stereo blasting (which implies kitchen dancing) and checking Facebook on my iPhone.

So when my yoga instructor was explaining the concept of an 'Elephant Mind' to me in class this week, it resonated with me particularly because I am terrible at turning off the brain chatter because I am never concentrating on one thing only.

I even listen to music when going to sleep. 

My house is very rarely silent.

My brain doesn't understand the concept of noiselessness.

Stop it Brain

Anyway, back to the Elephant Mind - 

Explained to me as a herd of elephant stampeding through the mind.

Hardly a vision of serenity or meditation.

As Yogis we are supposed to quiet the brain chatter, calm the elephant mind, and simply be.

We are encouraged to be alert throughout the day, rather than moving through tasks and processes on auto-pilot.

"When was the last time you went for a walk and enjoyed your surroundings?" the instructor asked.

Ummm... probably never. My morning walks are full of constant mental reminders for the day ahead and plans for the weekend, thoughts of breakfast, or lunch, and probably dinner.. recapping conversations with friends, thinking about the latest family drama and wondering what's going to come next.

Chatter chatter chatter..

Sure, if there's a pretty view or a gorgeous sunset I'll probably notice it. 

And I'll have whipped out my phone and snapped a photo before you can say 'Instagram'!!

Mind Full, or Mindful?

It's hardly mindful.

This is a foreign concept to me. Something I need to work on. And that I can see will be a constant battle.

Wish me luck.

xx

Paleo Banana Bread

If you follow me on Instagram; You will notice that my entire life is about food and Miss Emmy.

Seriously.

That's a pretty fair summary.

But honestly? Once you've tried this Banana Bread, you'll want your whole world to be about eating too.

Paleo Choc Chip Banana Bread

Give it a try.

You can thank me later.

Ingredients

3 eggs, separated (keep the yolks and whites separate!)

4 tbsp honey

4 tbsp macadamia oil

3 mashed bananas

1 tsp vanilla essense

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

2 cups almond meal

1 cup walnuts

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.

2. Cream the egg yolks and honey in a large bowl until light and fluffy.

3. Add the oil, vanilla, and mashed banana to the bowl, mixing well.

4. In a smaller separate bowl, mix the cinnamon, baking powder and almond flour and sift well. 

5. Add the spice mix to the bowl and stir well.

6. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Stiff peaks are vital.

7. Fold the egg whites into the banana mixture.

8. Add walnuts and stir well.

9. Pour into greased (or lined) bread loaf pan.

10. Bake for 40-45 minutes.

ENJOY!!!!!!

Oh what?? Dark chocolate chips? You must have snuck in when I wasn't looking.

By the way - the little flowers on my plate? Banana.

Super cute, right?!

xx

Recipe here

The Latest in Canine Fashion

The clouds have descended and the rain is relentless.

Summer is officially a distant memory and already it is a struggle to get out of my warm bed in the morning.

Luckily (although sometimes it doesn't feel like it) there's a certain look Miss Emmy can give me that not only convinces me to get up but also brave the outdoors. brrrr!

On a morning walk this week, I realised the inequality in our relationship - she wears a raincoat and gets to go back to bed when we get home.

It' a tough life for a spoilt pooch!!

Think it's going to be a looooong winter.

xx

Down the Rabbit Hole

It's my 2nd Blogiversary and what better way to celebrate than with a little rebranding?

Here

I don't have a set path in mind for this little blog, but I do know that the possibilities are limitless.

All I have to do is leap down the rabbit hole..

Imagine where my imagination could take us.

xx