Girls Night In

Last night I held a Girls Night In fundraiser for the SA Cancer Council. I was expecting 15 people. but only ended up with 6. However, we had an absolutely incredible night and raised over $200. There was Zumba, Belly Dancing, Karaoke, wine, great people and lots of laughs. Here are a few snaps of the night.

A Friends Achievement

Yesterday I was lucky enough to be able to go and watch my good friend - the Shrinking Sheep - cross the finish line for her very first Half Marathon! What an amazing atmosphere, people lining the finish line, cheering as they saw their friends come over the last hill and head towards us. SS was absolutely amazing and I was so proud to see her coming over that hill and running up the final stretch. I was completely inspired and am more eager than ever to get over this long-lingering injury so I can get back into my activities.

Other than that I have really just been unpacking and sorting and tidying. Got the first load out of the storage shed. It is actually not as bad over there as I thought. A lot of it is camping gear and Ross's computer stuff. I am sure we will have it emptied out in no time.

Today is Day 6 on Fly Lady (I skipped over Day 5 as it was about writing down your feelings about your house???). So today was to identify your hot spots and tackle one of them for 2 minutes. A Hot Spot is a place in your house where mess and clutter accumulates. I have identified several and did my requisite 2 minutes. You can actually do quite a lot in 2 minutes if you are focussed on one small area. This now becomes part of my daily routine - 2 minutes in a Hot Spot.

The other part of Fly Lady is the daily emails. Each week a specific area of your home is targeted, and each day you are given a 15 minute part of that area to tackle. As I am still doing the "Intro" I have not really been doing that, but I decided to look at it today. I am home sick (gastro) but started feeling better so thought why not. This weeks area is the Front Porch/Entrance/Dining Room. And this is todays "mission".

"Today you are to sweep your front porch area around your front door.

Shake out your welcome mats and wipe down your front door. This

makes a huge difference in how your home looks. We have a tendency

to neglect this area and yet it is the first thing that people see

when they come to your home."

This did not take 15 minutes. My front door was actually filthy, it was on my list to clean it. I don't think the previous tenant ever cleaned it. But now it is lovely. The front porch is small, but it got swept. I was actually quite pleased when it was done.

Now I am making a lentil and barley soup which is smelling delicious. I am sure I will be well enough to go back to work tomorrow.

xox

10 for 10 Recap

I had an awesome day yesterday. :)  It started with a walk through the Botanic Gardens with my mum. We both took our cameras and wandered around snapping away.

We finally stopped for a coffee and relaxed in the shade watching the ducks.

From there we stopped in at Cathy's house to pick up a gorgeous gemstone necklace and earrings that she has made for my Greatest Shave raffle. I will post a pic when I take one, but I tell you, it is stunning, :)

We spent the afternoon just hanging out at Mums trying to stay cool. It was really nice.

From there I made my way back to the city to meet Megan for a coffee. And by "coffee" I do not mean Gelati and Iced Chocolate... :)  I got there a little late and when I got there Megan was NOT playing Smurfs on her iPhone... LOL

We talked, and talked, and talked. Then got up to leave and talked, and talked, and talked... LOL It was such a fun night!

Today has been pretty restful. Quick trip to Spotlight this morning but other than that, I have done pretty much nothing.

I thought I had better do a round up of my 10 for 10 challenge. I have been avoiding it as I thought I had pretty much failed, but having a look I did okay.

1) Run/walk the Mothers Day Classic in May
Done. Ran the 4km in 38 minutes

2) Ride at least 3000kms
Nope. I stopped counting around the 1200 mark because it came so late in the year and I was injured so I knew I wouldn’t get there.

3) Finish the knitted blankets
Done. I finished in September.

4) Lose 30 kilos
I only lost 2.…


5) Be in a financial position to sponsor a World Vision child
Done - we have a 3 year old sponsor child from India.


6) Send at least one childrens story to a publisher
Actually I sent 2 off, one of them to 2 publishers. Both rejected, but at least I was brave enough to send them.

7) Run/walk the 12 km at the City-Bay in September
Nope - I was injured


8) Start my novel
Well and truly started. I am up to about chapter 8.


9) Go on an overnight hike (first stage of Heyson if funds permit)
Cancelled as I was injured. Tentatively re-booked for May 2011


10) Keep in touch with my interstate friends in the old fashioned way - by writing actual letters with pen and paper.
Sent a couple of letters. 

Not a bad effort.  Next week I will be posting my 11 goals for 2011. :)

100 Days of Gratitude


Day 44
Yesterday I was grateful for a great day. Everythig was brilliant and I was just generally grateful.


Day 45
Today I am grateful for chocolate. No particulr reason other than I love it and feel grateful it was invented. LOL


xox

Xmas Wrap Up

Well, it has been a really good few days. Ross is back at work today, but I have until next Tuesday off, which is great (for me). :)

Xmas Day was spent with family. Often, this can be a trial, but it wasn't too bad. The kids were in a great mood and ran around like little nut-bags. They got water guns for Xmas so everyone got soaked. Considering how hot it was, no-one really minded. :)  The food was great - mostly healthy but lots of it. Ross & I got some new chickpea burgers that made us both a bit gassy. It was a bit uncomfortable (and smelly) but it meant we were still feeling really full and didn't eat dinner. LOL Note to self:- Never buy those chickpea burgers again...

Boxing Day we made our way down to the Bay for lunch with Em.  Em moved to Roxby Downs a few month ago so it was awesome to see her again. Glenelg was one of the only places open in Adelaide so it was insanely busy, but we still had a good time. Lunch was delish, and the company was great. Unfortunately she has already headed home so we have to wait for her next visit to see her again.

That night we headed to Thebarton to the West End Brewery for their annual Xmas Lights. It is always packed in the lead up to Xmas but going on Boxing Day was a good plan as there were a lot less people there. We had a really good night and have decided to make it a Boxing Day tradition.

Yesterday was Ross's last day off. The weather was great so we got out the bikes and headed out for a ride. I can't remember the last time I went riding for fun rather than just to get somewhere. We had no destination and no timeframe in mind. Just us and the bikes.  We ended up down at Seacliff where we stopped for ice cream.  We slowly made our way home along the foreshore.  By the time we got home we had done 27kms. Not a massive ride, but the longest I have done since I hurt my Achilles.

When we got home we celebrated the ride with a couple of drinks...

The Achilles held up really well which us great as it means I can get back into the cycling without having to worry that I am doing damage. I am really pleased about this as I have something to train for (which I will share details of in the new year) so I know I can get started now. :)

The rest of me didn't fare as well. It has been too long since I have gone riding and it hurt.  My butt bones feel swollen today! LOL  I was so exhausted when we got back I feel asleep on the couch. I pulled up okay today though - other than the swollen butt bones that is... LOL

This morning I headed to the Gym. Now that felt weird. It has been forever since I have been in a gym. Since the ride went so well I decided to see how walking up a slight incline went. I have only walked on flat surfaces for months.  I set the speed at a moderate pace and did a couple if stints at 1% incline. Not a lot, but something. My Achilles was fine until towards the end where I felt it starting to pull. Not hurt, I could just feel it. I stretched it out afterwards, and went for a short bike ride. When I got home I took some anti-inflammatories and iced it. Now it feels pretty good. A little tight, but pretty good.

This afternoon I am watching Sex & The City on DVD, and will be doing a little sewing later. Very relaxing. :)

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 43
Today I am grateful that I was sensible enough to follow the Physio's advice and look after my Achilles. The fact that it is clearly healing is incredible, and I am starting to see there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

xox

Old Friends

Last night I had dinner with one of my closest friends, M.  M lives in the Northern Territory.  She moved up there a few years ago to do Nursing in remote Aboriginal communities.  She comes back once or twice a year and we try to catch up.

I am spewing that I forgot to take a photo of us together though. I usually do.

Anyway, we had dinner and talked and laughed and even cried a little bit.  It was absolutely incredible to see her.  Makes me realise just how much I do miss her.

It made me think a lot about old friends.  Many of my friends live great distances away.  Some in Qld where I used to live.  But many have just moved away as life has taken them down different paths.

How lucky are we to live in a age where staying in contact is as easy as logging on to the internet or picking up a telephone to call or text. Or even catching a 4 hour midnight $99 flight to visit.  It makes our long distance friendships that much more alive.

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 12
Today I am grateful for friendships that last the distance, both figuratively and literally.

xox

Weekend of Camping

I have had the most amazing weekend. It was brilliant.  And I know I usually share everything, but for some reason I feel like keeping a lot of this weekend to myself.  I had a few personal epiphanies and breakthroughs over the course of the 2 days, and I am still sorting through what a lot of it means. I also received several very loud messages (thank you butterflies, I understand) that I need to work through.

However please believe me when I say it was an amazing weekend.  The 2nd night we actually slept outside under the stars, something I have always wanted to do.  We also spent Saturday afternoon with two very dear friends who live not to far from the Forest that we camped in.  We went wine tasting (and bought several very yumscious wines), and just talked and laughed and truly enjoyed each other.  We haven't seen them in quite a while and it was incredible to reconnect.

My only issue with the entire weekend (aside from having to come home) is that I could not go hiking with Ross.  I actually went a little stir crazy, and spent this morning walking laps of the car park for over an hour just to try and get it out of my system. LOL My Achilles held up beautifully on the walk.  If I keep this up I should be able to hike again come January! YAY!

Here are some pics...

A very rare photo of me in a  very dorky (but very warm) hat. :o)

The nearly full moon shining through the trees.

Ninja Ross with his chiller scarf tied around his head.

Ross chillin' by the tent.

Ross stargazing, beer in hand, dork light on head...

We set up our beds outside Saturday night and slept the entire night out under the stars. The only problem - mozzies don't sleep and we left our mozzie bands home...

Sun rise through the trees. What a beautiful way to start the day.

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 6

I am grateful for amazing friends who love me and support me no matter what.  I am truly blessed to have these amazing people in my life.

xox

Dinner with Mel

Last night Ross & I were lucky enough to have dinner with the amazing Mel from Tri Hard to Triathlete.  We went to Montezumas.  Vego options for me and Ross and meat for Mel.  :o)  It was such a fun evening.  It was so amazing to hear Mel talk about her HIM training and events, as well as her preparation for the full IM next year.  If you think she's inspiring to read, you should talk to her!

I did get a minor butt kicking.  She was very gentle about it, but the butt kicking was there, nonetheless.  I have a lot to think about.  I know that everything she said was spot on, but I need to absorb and integrate it.  Mel, I will take a lot of it on board, I just need to do it in my time.  :o)

Tonight I am off for my 2nd run.  I promised the coach of the Start Running Group that I would do 2 runs between each Thursday session.  I have my new sneakers here - look, I have 'pinked' them up.

And I will head off from here before going home.  The plan is - walk to my 2km start point, shuffle-run the first km, turn around and alternate proper running with walking on the way back.  I'll report in tomorrow.

This weekend the plan is to do the detox I was talking about last month.  It is a 7-day detox and is based on eating whole unprocessed foods for a week.  It's dairy-free (no cheese :o( ), caffeine-free, alcohol-free, meat-free, gluten-free, processed-foods-free.  I will sit down over the next couple of days and plan what I will eat, then start either Thursday or Friday.

xox

Cancer Council Biggest Morning Tea

This morning I held my annual "Biggest Morning Tea" for the SA Cancer Council.  But first things first...

Last night Ross and his mate decided we should all go bowling.  I'll be honest, I didn't want to go, but I am glad I did.  We had a great night.

Ross used to bowl in a league so it was a great chance for him to dust off the bowling ball and strut his stuff in the lanes.  I am terrible at bowling, always have been.  I have a funny shaped thumb and struggle with the ball.  But I did okay and even ended up with a 94 in the last game, which I thought was pretty good.  The guys had a great night though and I think it is going to become a regular thing.

This morning was out Biggest Morning Tea.  We decided to make it different from last year so we had it in a park.  Luckily it was a beautiful autumn day and the sun was shining. There was so many yummy eats to choose from...

It was a great morning with great friends

And a couple of dogs! 

My niece Larissa enjoyed the food...

It was a really fun morning and we raised $90 for the SA Cancer Council which I was super stoked with.  Not quite as much as last year, but still a great effort considering how many people were there.  We had a few games with some lovely wine for prizes, but mostly just sat and chatted and ate some lovely food.  I really enjoy these morning teas, but I will have to think of something new for next year so that they don't get boring.

This afternoon I am going to relax for a couple of hours then Mum is coming up for dinner.  Ross has made his Tiramisu for dessert and I am making a Lentil Pilaf with a fresh green salad.

xox

Back in the Kitchen!

Last night our good friend Megan came over for dinner and we tried out one of the recipes from the cooking class.  It was the Roast Vegetable Fritatta.  We changed it a tiny bit to put our own spin on it, but it truly was delicious.

The veggies we used were roast potato, roast sweet potato, roast capsicum and baby spinch.  Threw in some fresh basil and Yummmmmmmoooooo!  I'll get the recipe up over the weekend.  Megan brought devine pineapple mousse for dessert that she is going to give me the recipe for as well.  I love good food.

We had an awesome night.  Although it was late.  We were chatting away, I looked up at one point and the clock read 22:45.  Holy Crap!  I had no idea it was that late - and on a school night too!  LOL  But worth it.

xox