It's been a while between drinks...

 

Well here I am, back! 

Where have I been...AWAY...in Europe for a few months needed a big break from everything! Have you ever felt like that?  Not sure if it was a big enough one, I'm still feeling rather restless, planning to pay the credit card off, then take off again next year....travel and freedom are now so important to me.

However in the meantime I'm here. So for now, let the blog inspiration to flow...you will notice a different take on my posts...more about health, happiness is still there, travel, saving the world, and working on my own business!

So the big changes in my life, I now work 3 days a week, as opposed to the long, stressful executive week, striving to be the best, always judged, always feeling like I'm not good enough! I have a market stall each Saturday selling used/vintage stuff...Money is only necessary to get me the essentials in life and to pay for my next trip...volunteering in a developing country is top on my list for June next year.  

Feeling so much more inspired and relaxed as I sit here in Townsville with a big glass of Sav Blanc, I begin the next chapter...stay tuned for the new me!

Exo

Be Happy NOW!

Ok so I’ve been away from blogging for a while…busy planning my big trip…I fly out next week!!!! I’m on my second last day at work and have found I’m a little too organised and have a little spare time…shhh don’t tell the boss ;)

This post is inspired by my colleagues at work…some people walk around the office always smiling, happy and with a great attitude towards others and some well not so great…wouldn’t you rather be the happy person!

Being happy isn’t a destination, you don’t have to be happy every minute of everyday. It’s ok to be down sometimes, after all our emotions are in motion always moving up and down…so go with them, but don’t dwell in the downtime too much otherwise it may take over!

I know I achieve more and overall have a better sense of wellbeing when I’m a ‘Happy Person’ …people will gravitate towards you and want a bit of what you’re having!

So what can you do to lift your mood quickly… I found these 9 Steps to feeling happy on the Daily Good website…we sometimes forget the simplest things make the biggest impact, enjoy!

1. Raise your activity level to pump up your energy. If you're on the phone, stand up and pace. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Put more energy into your voice. Take a brisk 10-minute walk. Even better...

2. Take a walk outside. Research suggests that light stimulates brain chemicals that improve mood. For an extra boost, get your sunlight first thing in the morning.

3. Reach out. Send an e-mail to a friend you haven't seen in a while, or reach out to someone new. Having close bonds with other people is one of the most important keys to happiness. When you act in a friendly way, not only will others feel more friendly toward you, but you'll also strengthen your feelings of friendliness for other people.

4. Rid yourself of a nagging task. Deal with that insurance problem, purchase something you need, or make that long-postponed appointment with the dentist. Crossing an irksome chore off your to-do list will give you a rush of elation.

5. Create a more serene environment. Outer order contributes to inner peace, so spend some time organizing bills and tackling the piles in the kitchen. A large stack of little tasks can feel overwhelming, but often just a few minutes of work can make a sizable dent. Set the timer for 10 minutes and see what you can do.

6. Do a good deed. Introduce two people by e-mail, take a minute to pass along useful information, or deliver some gratifying praise. In fact, you can also...

7. Save someone's life. Sign up to be an organ donor, and remember to tell your family about your decision. Do good, feel good―it really works!

8. Act happy. Fake it 'til you feel it. Research shows that even an artificially induced smile boosts your mood. And if you're smiling, other people will perceive you as being friendlier and more approachable.

9. Learn something new. Think of a subject that you wish you knew more about and spend 15 minutes on the Internet reading about it, or go to a bookstore and buy a book about it. But be honest! Pick a topic that really interests you, not something you think you "should" or "need to" learn about.

Some people worry that wanting to be happier is a selfish goal, but in fact, research shows that happier people are more sociable, likable, healthy, and productive―and they're more inclined to help other people. By working to boost your own happiness, you're making other people happier, too.

Happy Days... Exo

Will you dance with me?

 

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Are you in there?

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Hopeless Romantic...

I'll do anything for love... 

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...and I'm ok with that!

The sex wasn't as good as last time...

I was so freakin' excited to see the second Sex and the City Movie...now I, like most woman my age, have grown up with these four girls...every episode was written about my life, I could always relate on some level to every episode, the men, the sex, the dramas...

Charlotte saying "I've been dating for 10 years, I'm exhausted!" or when Samantha says "Your dating Mr Big, I'm dating Mr Too Big!"... or even when Carrie said "How do they get that message, that ass is now on the menu?" 

STOP: don't read on if you haven't sen it yet and plan to...although don't waste your hard earned cash, wait till it comes out on DVD...

Now if you have seen it...I don't now about you, but I was a little disappointed with the second movie, the first kept me on the edge of my seat, it was engaging, heartbreaking, funny, beautiful, so many great scenes... when Big left her at the alter...isn't that every girls nightmare...we all felt that, we could relate to Steve cheating on Miranda and then D day meeting half way on the Brooklyn Bridge or when Charlotte saw Big when she was 9mths pregnant in that polka dot outfit...oh and how we laughed out loud when she shit her pants! 

The second movie....and I repeat...don't read on if you haven't seen it...was just a bit boring...it didn't make me feel much at all...I couldn't relate to anything, except I'd love to visit the Middle East...

I think the most nail biting thing was when Carrie leaves her passport in a Suk Market, distracted buying shoes of course, and the funniest line was when Miranda and Charlotte were bitching about how hard motherhood is...c'mon "How do woman without help do it?!" Charlotte...funniest line ever, hello, most normal mothers DO NOT have hired help!!! And what about that pathetic scene when Samantha's lust interest came bounding over the sand hills in a Jeep...and normally I love Samantha, but she was way too over the top about sex,  getting arrested...how embarrassing, I actually found her a little offensive...let alone the people of Middle Eastern culture....and Carrie grow up the fuck up, you've got what you alway's wanted...what the hell was all that dancing around Aiden then going in for the pash...argh...not even going to bother with that!

In a nutshell...there is little or no storyline, it was very shallow and it didn't really connect or make sense, it was all mish mashed and I really don't know if woman the world over can relate to it..the fashion wasn't anything to rave about and Samantha looked like a drag queen, Carrie needs to eat a burger come to think of it they all need to eat something! It was well over the top and unrealistic, the cinematography well it was like, well not great....not even going to comment about the karaoke scene...I still love you SATC, but I think I'll stick to the series!

The night was wonderful though, hanging out with my BFF, the one who's been through everything with me, the one who knows me better than I know myself, the one who never let's me down..I actually think I could come home and say I was running away with the Occult and she still wouldn't judge me...so yes we've lived through men, babies, distance and we'll always be soul mates. 

So let's drink to BFFs the world over...we can not live without them!!!!!!

Exo

Happiness...

"Happiness...some pursue it, others create it."

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Things I love around Mum and Dad's Place

Thought I'd share some little things that make home, home...

Tea at the kitchen bench, chatting with Mum and Megs...

Pink flamingos in the backyard,  all the way from Florida...

Plates, plates and more plates...my Mum is obsessed!

And another obsession...boots...

Dad says these remind him of Mum and him when they first met...LOVE!

Birthday cakes...it's always someone's birthday...

Chrysanthemums remind me of Nana...Mum always gave then to her...and now I give them to her on Mother's Day...

And The Madelyn...my niece...hmmm sitting on the dining room table watching Hannah Montana...she thought no-one could see her in the dark!

It's makes me so happy going home...to visit...

E xo

My niece and I have the same legs!

Stay in Bed and Read

"Reading is a tool in the living of a good life." Joesph Addison 

One thing I love to do to re-charge and nourish the soul and mind, is to stay in bed on a Sunday morning and read. If you're anything like me, you feel guilty about staying in bed late and not getting up to go for a run or do the housework or whatever...don't! I believe reading is exercise for the mind and it's just as important to our health and happiness as physical exercise.

Try it, take a couple of hours on a Sunday morning, pull the curtains open so you can read by the beautiful natural light, grab a coffee (or tea if that's your tonic) snuggle up, relax and escape with a great novel...you'll love how it makes you feel, re-charged, inspired and happy!

I'm just about to start reading "The Toss of a Lemon" Padma Viswanathan

 What are you reading?

Happy Reading,

E xo

Market Days with Megs...

Audrey says...

Happy Hearts this week...

 Getting up early enough to make coffee at home before I skip off to work...

Wearing my red lipstick...whilst driving with a dancing pink flamingo...

Painting the town with I love Herb stickers when drunk...

(Herb is little Brother)

Breakfast made by little brother, coffee in pretty tea cup by Megs...

(Megs is said little Brother's soon to be wife and blogger by night)

Circus tent cupcake at Rozelle markets...

Old fashioned market roses.

Yes it was a very happy heart week! 

I hope your heart is happy this week...remember happiness comes in the littlest of things.

Exo

Explore. Dream. Discover.

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“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

Well I'm so excited this week...I'm off on a jet plane in July, not sure when I'll be back again!!! Yes I'm off to explore, dream and discover the world!  Oh my gosh I've resigned from my position and will be having a career break for at least 6mths or until the money runs out...everyone at work have been so supportive, family and friends are so excited and I just can't believe I'm actually going to realise my dream!

So stay tuned....

Exo

When I got home...

Tonight this talented, fabulous single girl drives home from having drinks with one of her best friends, plus her boyfriend, feeling rather melancholy, not sad or depressed, but yes feeling a little alone.

Now don't get me wrong, I had a wonderful time and I am so so happy for my friend, she really does deserve to have met him...so so so much...and I do love her! But you know, it does get even the most independent, confident girl down sometimes...why haven't I met someone? At times you can feel so so alone it really does hurt!

Just when I was dragging myself inside thinking "I'm just gonna wash my face and slump into bed and wake up to a happy day", I found this little ray of happiness waiting to warm my heart... 

Noah you are God's little miracle.

Now this melancholy, talented, single and fabulous girl is reminded that there are people in her life that just love her for who she is, and she is so blessed to have them and yes some nights are lonely, but you know what, you are never alone...

You can read all about how Noah came to bless our lives right here

E xo

Change...

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Change is making my heart happy today, as well as a little fearful and emotional...today I've made one of my dreams one step closer! I'm 34yrs old and have been through a season of change these past few months and have realised that sometimes you need to take a leap of faith and follow your heart...material things are good but how can you compare them to all amazing experiences there are out there? 

I'm blessed by so many wonderful people around me, my family, my friends and the people I work with...it means so much to me to have their support and positive energy around me, that my heart could just burst! 

Yes I'm getting a little soapy? I meant soppy...but hey a girl needs to just say it sometimes...right?

So here's to CHANGE!!!! 

(bring it on!)

Exo

Are you spending wisely?

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Lust List

Dream...

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This is the perfect room for my ladies to have lady dates...

Happy Hearts this Week...

This week has been one of those weeks where I've really had to make the effort to notice when I'm happy...now not to be too negative but I have been a little melancholy this week...feeling a little bit alone, I've found myself yet again the only single one in the group...everyone is pairing off...argh...anyway enough of that here's what did make my heart happy this week...

 

My little ray of sunshine...my niece Madelyn came to stay over on Saturday and boy did we have fun, children bring so much joy!

Sipping Moet on the balcony with the girls...heart you pink champagne!

Hearting painting my nails with 'Lincoln Park After Dark' - I love love this colour and can't get enough of it!

Reading in bed, while drinking coffee and eating chocolate,  I'm currently reading 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' Love it!

Dreaming about visiting Paris again... one of my favorite cities and being the hopeless romantic that I am, it just inspires my heart and mind...I just adore the colours in this pic!

Listening to the Cure 'Why can't I be you?!' while walking in the evening my iPod on shuffle and this came on...oh how I love how it makes me sing out loud...Robert I love love you..."Everything you do is irresistible, Everything you do is simply kissable, Why can't I be you?"

New butterfly scarf with love from my red headed Aunty!

Getting take away dinners in paper bags...

Yumminess in a big bowl...prawn laksa warms the soul!

Looking forward to the week ahead! 

Exo