Long time....oh the balancing act

Its been a long time since I've posted too!

Life has been good, sometimes crazy, sometimes not good, but you know me... I always bounce back!

School is busy but fantastic! I love Homeopathy! I

'm still growing my business still too! Yes I'm still loving reflexology! I'm also still at the gym! About 4 to 5 days a week I'm getting there and yes I am seeing some results!

We talk about balance all the time. Lately things have been out of balance, but I'm back on track. Life is good.

Thanksgiving

Today is the Canadian Thanksgiving and it is all about gratitude.

I have so much in my life to be grateful for I don't even know where to start. I am going to list some of things I'm grateful for into my gratitude note book. I challenge you to grab a sheet of paper (if you don't do the gratitude notebook) and write down 20 things your grateful for today. It will make you feel awesome! I promise!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Our attitude

I always talk about gratitude, because it so important, but so is our attitude. Sounds simple right? If we can choose our attitude it will adjust our mood, our out look, our life!

Our thoughts really do shape our lives. People scoff at that notion, but is so true.

Think about it.

If you obsess over fear, you only find more fear.

If you dwell on lack of money, you find more financial woes.

If you worry about things, your bring more worry and anxiety to your life.

If you believe that your life will be miserable and bleak that is how you will feel.

If you are thinking that life is unfair all the time, you will see more things around you to prove that thought right!

If you are angry you find more to be angry about!

I'm not saying that we have to be happy 100% of the time because the past few days in my life have been a definite roller-coaster of emotions, but I will come out on top!

Why?

Because ultimately I can choose my attitude and realize that what I pay attention to will grow stronger in my life!

So tonight is the "new moon" and one of my friends said Jenn thats a time for new beginnings. Sounds good to me! Every day is a new beginning, but why not start it tonight :)

dealing with ignorant people

They are out there and no matter how positive you are to them they are still INCREDIBLY rude towards you. Sometimes for a reason in the past and other times because they just deem you not "good enough" or such. (that attitude just makes me howl, by the way)

This morning I was walking when two women I know came towards me. I said "hello ladies" with a smile. The one smiled and said hello and asked me how I was, the other one looked at the ground and kept in her conversation, not once making eye contact or looking up to acknowledge anything as we walked past each other. In fact I'm sure she tilted her head the other way so she didn't have to look at me! (not kidding)

Now I know most of you are thinking, so what. Well it is a small town and I know both of them well. One through school and other through hockey. The one that didn't acknowledge me well she would fall under this ignorant people category. She often doesn't acknowledge me and trust me I'm no fool. I know not everyone likes me, but most people acknowledge me if I have said hello. (like me or not!)


The reason I'm sharing this here is because as I giggled while walking I thought to myself that behaviour could have ruined someone else day! I remember walking with a friend and something similar happened to us and my friend was pissed off for the rest of the walk!!! Her good mood turned sour all because of one rude person!

So how do we deal with it?

1. I always make a point of saying hello and making eye contact to everyone, even those like that. Kill them with kindness I suppose, but really why should I not. It takes more energy to be nasty then it does to be nice!
2. I send them light after they move on. To me sending pink light or love to them will help them not be so "hard".
   
3. I smile and keep on going.
4. I'm thankful for a handful of really good friends in my life.
   
5. I then put that rude person out of my mind.

Does it work?

It does for me.

We run into people every day in our lives that are rude to us for one reason or another.

Next time you are dealing with someone who is rude to you, try it! You never know your mood might lift and you will walk on happy! ;)

Move it or lose it??? part two

Hop on over to A Balanced Lifestyle Health and Wellness to read the rest .... here

Move it or Lose it??

A while back you will remember I started the X-weighted challenge with my husband. Well times up! How did we do?

We both lost about 10lbs, which isn't bad, but we both gained a new appreciation for move it or your going to lose it. What are you going to lose?? Your body, your health.... your well being.

My dh ended up joining a gym that he works out at about three days a week during lunch. I'm back playing field hockey and this year I was able to run and not completely suck wind! (No seriously last year I thought I might die.)

Today I put back on my pedometer to see how many steps I'll take. I think I'll track it all week because today isn't a typical day. My kids are gone and I was able to go for an early a.m. walk and then I'm golfing 9 holes tonight at supper time. It will be interesting to see how many steps are taken. About 6 years ago the entire family wore these for an article/study for the Kitchener Waterloo Record. Was pretty cool. They claim that you need to take 10,000 steps a day to maintain your current weight. In order to drop you need to up your steps and squish your calories!

Oh yes calories. We'll tackle that subject (and I hate that subject... I do love my wine) another time!

Okay so who is with me? Going to see how many steps you take? You can get a simple pedometer at Shoppers Drug Mart, Winners, Walmart almost any where. Go get one. Most are under 20dollars and its well worth it to really track your steps. You might surprise yourself!

Let us know if your joining in!

jenn

The oil spill

A very good friend of mine wrote a blog article on the BP Oil spill. Its excellent.

You can check it out entirely over here on her blog "The Bold Life" (just click the name it will take you to that article).

I never thought about some of the points she brings up, yet it so true. I know not to "blame" to send light and love. I know the power of prayer works and having faith that we will find a solution!!!

She lists a bunch of ideas... go check it out. It makes for some excellent thinking!!!

Happy Monday friends.

j

New Blog....

New blog started up! Don't worry we are still blogging here too! We are just branching out! ;)

Check it out here

Gratitude...

Something annoying happened to me this morning and after talking to my dear friend (thanks Shannon) I realized that out of this situation something good came.

What was that???

GRATITUDE.

Gratitude that I love my job and love my life and my school! I can't imagine NOT doing what I do. I love it. I'm passionate about it, I know it helps people and the fact that I get paid to do something I'm totally LOVING is a serious bonus!!!!

I cannot imagine working in a job that I dread. Or there is those that work and feel a total sense of entitlement. You know. The world owes them or their employer owes them. Owe, smoe... If you don't have passion for what your doing, your not going to be truly happy.

So are you passionate about what you do? Do you love it?

If your not, can you work towards change?

Trust me I know change. I've done lots of change in my life (job wise) and now I'm back in school full time while working and have two kids that are very involved in sports. I make it work. Its a balancing act, but it works. What I'm saying is reach for dreams and do what you love. If that means going back to school, look into it.

Life is too short to not do what we are passionate about!

I know, I know I just don't understand your situation. Your right! I don't. BUT I do know that if you don't love your job, don't stay in it. Don't think that it is the "only" job you can get. With that attitude it might be true!!! Remember .... ATTITUDE IS ALWAYS EVERYTHING. You can do it!!!

Find your passion and be happy at what you do every day, all day ;) We spend more hours with our job then we do with loved ones, so why not love it.

Gratitude. Yep ... I love what I do and I'm thankful I get to do something I love!

loving life...

How are you feeling right now? Are you feeling good? Are you loving life? Yes? No?

If no, why not? Stresses? We all have them its the attitude that matters. We all have things that set us off. It is CHOOSING to say you know what my LIFE IS GOOD... I feel GOOD... it is ALL GOOD that keeps us going.

Do something right now that makes you feel good!

Need some ideas?

1. go for a walk
2. hug someone
3. have a glass of wine
   
4. read
5. turn off the tv and play a board game
6. write/blog
7. go out and sit outside
8. hold hands with a loved one
9. smile
10. dance
11. have a cup of tea/coffee (and enjoy it)
12. enjoy the MOMENT your in
13. go for a drive
14. go for a bike ride
15. go to the library
16. bake something
17. try cooking something new
18. shop
19. paint your nails
20. have a tickle fight
    

the list can on and on.... but the point is you can do to something small to make yourself feel good!

Remember... life is good!

Health tip...

So most of you know I've been on a health journey. To date I've taken 11 lbs off, still going. I found an interesting tip though the other day. That even though I thought I was drinking more then enough water daily. I really wasn't. I'm now drinking more water, we'll see how that changes my weight loss journey too!

So how much water should one drink?

General (apparently) rule of thumb: take you body weight in lbs/2 (divide by 2) = daily intake of H2O in ounces! No joke!!!!

• Drink one to two cups of fluid at least one hour before the start of exercise.
• Drink four to eight ounces of fluid every 10 to 15 mins or so during exercise.
• Drink an additional eight ounces of fluid within 30 mins after exercising.
• Drink two cups of fluid for every pound of body weight lost after exercise. (darn eh)
• Both caffeine and alcohol can have a diuretic effect, so be sure to compensate for this additional water loss. (drink at least an equal amount of water)
• When travelling on an airplane, it is a good idea to drink eight ounces of water for every hour you are on board the plane.

Just noticed... (giveaway)

We just passed our 100th post!

100!!!!!

Pretty sweet!

In honour of that I have a little give away to do! A little hard back book called "Inspirations"

So post a comment here by friday and that evening I will do a draw!!!

jenn and shann

What do you do when your too busy???

SLOW DOWN... and smell the flowers! ;)

Slow down!!!

Yeah seems obvious, but its true. Do something for 5mins that you love. Slow down. Have a glass of wine on your deck, porch, enjoy the sun, the moonlight! WHATEVER but slow down. Book yourself a massage or some reflexology!!!!

It always amazes me when clients walk in talking about 50miles a min and to see the change in them as the session of reflexology begins. I'm no different. My reflexologist could tell you that (right Kate! lol)

Slow down and smell the flowers!!!

Life is busy, but it is only as busy as you make it. Find those few mins to read something positive, write an email to a friend, have a coffee, tea, glass of wine.

Just do it (as nike would say)

Back to food....

Yesterdays post was rather heavy, so today I thought we'd switch gears and go back to that topic of food. Food that is good for you, slow food!!!!
I think one of the things we lack in most diets is fruits and veggies. Most of us are great at carbs and protein, but not so much on the other two.
Simple breaky.

1/2 cup of yogurt (whatever flavour you want)

then some berries (about a cup to a cup and 1/2 worth)
-raspberries
-strawberries
-blueberries
-blackberries-mandarin orange segments (if I had some left over)
-banana slices
-kiwi
-melon
- what ever fruit you enjoy

- few small pieces of crystallized ginger cut up
- 1/4 cup of granola that you like

Just add your fruit to a bowl and sprinkle with the ginger. Top with the yogurt and granola and enjoy!!!

Letting go...

Inhale ...

exhale...

inhale...

exhale ...

repeat.

Keep repeating.

I mentioned the other day that I had a bit of melt down and my friend help me turn it around. I realized a few things since then.

1) My PMA (positive mental attitude Hill and Stone) was shot. I had been running on NO sleep, poor nutrition since my NYC trip and when this happens, it is easy to loose your PMA.

2) I have to let it go. (again thanks Marissa and Minda for some guidance)

Let go of what you might ask?

Let go of someone ... of the competition with them or always trying to be above them or one up or the same, always trying to be in your face kind of behaviour, you get the picture. Yes not my normal behaviour at all. As I type this it feels good. I have forgiven myself and I am moving forward. I did not even realized I harbor this kind of attitude towards this person.

I have been hurt so many times by their words towards me I think I built this barrier, but in doing so I actually attract their behaviour I detest towards me! Why? Because its the kind I'm putting out. When your wishing someone karma to come get them, it only attracts that to you. Make sense? Maybe not to some, but its clear to me what I have to do.

I am letting go. Letting go of them and changing my attitude. It starts now. I can do this.

After all attitude is everything.

Here's to a new start.

Remember, attitude is everything and that is a life lesson we all need to keep doing, repeating and practicing!

attitude is everything

We keep saying that on here and we do believe it! AND yesterday during a meltdown moment for me (jenn) I realized it. It took my friend Marrissa to snap me out of it! (thanks girlfriend). Sometimes it is hard to not had down that path of frustration and anger. Things around you are making you upset, lack of sleep and whammo it all adds up.

Crazy, but it is life.

So what happened??? I was mad, very mad. I posted a few choice words on my personal twitter account and my dear friend messaged me right away. We chatted and she was able to help me put things into perspective.

Sometimes that is all we need. I trust her. She is part of my group of a few people that know a lot about me (as in the ups and downs) and I go to her. We've talked about having this close group of friends before. Yesterday I realized how important it is.

So today I'm back with a "yes" attitude (thanks Jeffrey) and I'm looking forward to the long weekend!!!

Ways to achieve simplicity

Below are just "some" ideas to bring simple into your life!!! Not always an easy task, but some of these points listed ARE easy. Try a few, try many! Let us know what you do and how it goes!!!

1. turn of the tv
2. read more (and not the newspaper)
3. be honest
4. go for a walk
5. work from home if it is an option
6. say "no" once in awhile when people ask you to join things
7. de-clutter your home/car/office
8. donate
9. cook at home instead of eating out
10. follow your passion (it just might lead you to an amazing career)
11. eat a balanced diet
12. yoga
13. dance
14. walk to work
15. buy yourself some fresh cut flowers
16. get a good nights sleep
17. drink green tea
18. love more
19. relax
    
20. enjoy the moment

These are just a FEW ideas.

Now its your turn!!!! What do you do to make things simple??

Simplicity

Simplicity is the ultimate in sophistication.

I bought a mug with that on and on the other side it says "life is good". That is my fav saying!!! I bought the mug because after my weekend in NYC After pondering about that statement of "simplicity is the ultimate in sophistication" I realized it can take on more then the material side of things.

There is no doubt in my mind that a simple life is a good life. Yet do we live simply? No not really. Most of us strive for a balanced life and most days we succeed, but we wouldn't always say it is simplified!We all have responsibilities and obligations, but sometimes we just take on too much. Always saying "yes" every time we are asked to do something or go some where. It doesn't matter if it is just one more sport for your child to play this season (yes I am guilty of that) or saying yes to another council/fun day at your child's school or your church, work, whatever. I would consider myself a juggler of many activities between myself, husband and two children, but in recent years I figured out the key of this "simplicity/balancing act"..... others can live with out my help. It is okay to say no and enjoy a simpler life. We don't have to be involved with everything.


Simplifying can also be done in our every day life. We don't need to buy everything our kids or ourselves want. We don't have to "jonsie" with the neighbours or friend/family. If we can, work from home, certainly can help simplify things! Of course this is not an option for everyone, but if you can do it! Go for it!

What are some ways you can live a simpler life style?


Tomorrow I will back with some other ideas to simplify your life!

Simplicity is the ultimate in sophistication!!!

Happy Mother's Day

Just taking a moment to wish all the moms out there a very wonderful and happy Mother's Day!

Especially to my dear blog partner in crime Shannon. She will be a moma to three anytime!!!! :) And to my mother....thanks for teaching me that I can truly do and be anything. I love you for that mom! That attitude got lost for awhile, but its back!!! xo

Happy Mother's Day!!!!

being happy...

Learning to be happy right now where you are can be one of the hardest things. Some people are always looking ahead. Looking back. Looking anywhere but right now in the moment. I always says that it is called the present moment because it is a gift to us! A "present" for us to enjoy!

Are you happy with the "right now" in your life? It isn't always easy to relax and enjoy the moment but it something we can all do. Different ways to help.

1. Gratitude. Find something to be thankful right this second in your life! Focus on it! Those good happy feelings that the gratitude bring make it easier to be in the moment (and happy)

2. Smile. Nothing like a smile that change your in the moment feeling/attitude.

3. Do something for you. Read, shop, exercise. Do something YOU love. Put some music on and dance!!!

4. Spend time with a pet. It has been proven that pets enrich our lives. They make us happy, feel loved.

5. Get outside, even in the rain. It doesn't matter the weather, just go out and enjoy the rain, sun, wind :)

6. Develop your faith. It might seem crazy to some, but when you develop your faith, your happiness increases!

7. Take a bubble bath. Come on how doesn't even reading that make you happy???

8. Keep a journal. Mine is a gratitude journal where every day I write down a few things that I"m grateful for and make me happy!

9. Start a creative hobby. Scrapbooking, sewing, cooking, art. Something that allows you to express your joy and happiness.

10. Just embrace the moment and learn to be happy. Happiness is ultimately a choice.

What is your happiness today?