EFT

Lately my good starts to each day are self-sabotaged by bad decisions regarding food in the afternoon or evenings.  My guilt over this then causes me to feel emotional and temperamental.  I am planning to deal with a few issues, the root of the self-sabotage behaviour, with a therapy called EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) and am hoping for a break through.

I have tried this therapy before when I was planning a home birth and had a lot of fear around tearing my perineum.  It worked wonderfully and everything stayed intact for that birth and the next.  I really need something to clear all this emotional crap as I constantly feel on the edge of a massive black hole - one minute stumbling in and the next find a nook to hold on to. 

Check out the website for more information, free articles and a free guide as to how to preform this yourself, http://www.eftuniverse.com/ , and I'll keep you updated as to how it is going for me.

New Record

Completed my 10 km race today and I am so so so happy with my results!!  58.12 mins.  This is a personal best and it felt really good running it, which just goes to show that I can up my pace quite easily.  I am really proud of myself for preparing and running such a good race.  Now I am tied though so it is a shower, no I haven't had one yet as I was showered on for the whole run, and off to bed.

Sugar coated facts to chew on

Found this interesting article in an old edition of 'Her Business' Issue 58 July 2005.  It all makes good sense no matter how delicious the stuff is - and how hard it is to give up!

1. One can of Coke raises blood sugar to five times its normal level for four hours.
2. The indigestibiity of sucrose means the initial buzz you feel on chugging that coke down is simply the 'fight or flight' adrenal reaction of the body.
3. Sucrose blocks digestion 'tricks' the body into accommodating ever-higher levels of contaminants and sticks to proteins like meat, forming new complexes that enzymes can't break down.
4. Sucrose destroys the 'good' bacteria (flora) in the intestinal tract producing a half-digested carbohydrate mass that seeps into the bloodstream, causing problems in joints, muscles and organs.
5. Sucrose disrupts the alignment between phosphorus and calcium, which can lead to osteoporosis, and permits calcium to solidify in the organs in the form of gall, liver and kidney stones.
6. Sucrose is also a factor in asthma because undigested sugar can lodge in the bronchioles of the lungs.
7. Sucrose depletes muscle mass because the body's elimination attempts use up valuable calcium, magnesium, and chromium.
8. Drugs, in the form of synthetic insulin have never cured anyone of diabetes: the only way to reverse adult onset diabetes - the most common type - is giving up all sucrose, alcohol included.
9. Alcohol places an enormous strain on the body because it's essentially refined sugar; bypassing the digestive system altogether, it's absorbed immediately into the bloodstream and speeds up the ageing process.
10. And finally, lest you thought is was safe to crack open the sugar substitute, consider this: two of the three core molecules that make up aspartame - the #1 food and beverage additive in the world - are aspartic acid, a major neurotoxin linked to a variety of neurological disorders and methanol (wood alcohol) which converts to formaldehyde in the body!

Food rules

Not that I advocate the use of strict rules when it comes to nutrition these 6 'ideas' are definitely worth thinking about and incorporating into a healthy lifestyle.

Taken from 'New Zealand Women's Health' April 2010

1. Don't eat anything your great grandma wouldn't recognise.   Go back to basics with simple food.
2. Avoid foods containing ingredients you wouldn't keep in the pantry. 
3. Eat only food that will eventually rot, i.e. unprocessed food.
4. Treat meat as food for a special occasion. This with help your wallet and your health.
5. Eat sweet foods as you find them in nature.  Whole fruit rather than juices are best.
6. Eat all the junk food you want as long as you cook it yourself.  Find good recipes and bear in mind the 5 previous ideas.

Almost there?

Well we've just gone back with another offer on one of the properties that we're interested in.  Fingers crossed once again!! We've started collecting for the new place - wherever that may be - and just had a massive donation from a sister that is moving house.

It is amazing how someone else's unwanted gear can be my new treasure.  Her boxes are filled with all sorts of stuff we need and I want.  We also got a great table and chairs on Trade-me which I am lovingly cleaning and sanding.  It is great!!!  A real rustic large farm one that seats 6-8.  Every time I look at it I can't believe that we got it and the chairs for $40

The garage is getting fuller and fuller with pianos, linen, pots, couches, fridges and numerous other goodies that I've yet to sort through.  Now we just need the house to put them in!

Silence is golden

When we first begun Steiner I remember reading that they didn't encourage t.v, computer games or recorded music. Agreeing whole-heartedly with the first two I had to ponder a little on the third.  What was so wrong with recorded music?  Surely it was OK to let children hear music - especially classical - and let it enrich their world.

I often think about this and it wasn't until the other day that I realized its value.  Always being one to have the radio or music on as background noise I've often noticed that there have been times it has been a distraction to what we are doing however I never changed my habits as I was never challenged.  Lately our house has been absent of radio or recorded noise though just to see what it was like.  At first it just felt strange then, as most things, the more it occurred the more normal it felt.  We have been playing more guitar, other instruments and singing songs with ease and without distractions.  We are now able to break into song or have a conversation at a quite volume without completing with a conflicting tune or presenters talking. The kids have been singing more to themselves or maybe I able just able to hear them more because they create the atmosphere rather than others outside of our home.

I can see that kids viewing who is making the music is far better than recorded.  It encourages them to try playing instruments and sing as their role models do.  The added benefit is that they are only listening to what is appropriate for their age group, there are no surprises that suddenly pop up.  All this said though the benefits of recorded music are in the ability to dance freely and enjoy moving, exploring space which is exactly what we all did this morning to some good old NZ pop.

Cutting back to get ahead

Well as the title says I'm cutting back.  Cutting back on blogging to get ahead in studies that is.  I've decided that every second night, my bath night's for the kids, will be my blogging night and the other, Himself's turn to bath the kids, will be when I get some study done.

I really have been procrastinating over my study and feeling a bit guilty.  Finding time when the kids aren't around or I'm not spending time with Liam is becoming increasingly difficult, especially with the house hunt going on.  I'm hoping that this plan will at least get my moving.  

I love the study and really look forward to the time that I will have my business running which means that I need to get the paperwork part completed.  Bcoming Healthy, the business,  is a long slow journey as is me becoming healthier mentally, spiritually and physically.  It is a journey I am thoroughly enjoying though no matter the pace.

Learning Gems

Seemingly out of no where our eldest began a science experiment into water levels today, comparing her drink to her brother's before and after having a drink, estimating whether it would be more or less than his after either of them had a drink.  It was fantastic to see!

Since beginning our Steiner playgroup, where they have glasses and water poured from a jug, both kids have wanted to continue this at home.  We managed to find a wee glass jug that just fits enough in for their two glasses and that the oldest can carry.  I've been impressed by the way that the youngest has managed drinking from a 'proper' glass and the way the eldest has been pouring the water at each meal time. 

Today was such a wonderful moment for me as a parent and as a teacher.  Seeing a child interested and eager to experiment was so good that it actually gave me hope for home schooling in the future.  I can well imagine that the rewards of seeing this kind of intrigue, even if it is only every now and again, would make it well worth any of the off days.  Food for thought.

Bend it, shape it

I love doing crafts with our kids, they always amaze me at how they can play for ages squashing and shaping play dough, painstakingly cutting till their hearts content or drawing over and over again.  The other week I wanted to try something a little different and found a great recipe for modelling clay.  The kids and I had a great time making little people, mice, letters and beads to bake in the oven.  Once the baking was over we all painted them and now they are presented beautifully on our shelf.  It was such a success that I'm thinking about creating Christmas presents with another batch in the form of decorations. 

Modelling Clay

1 Cup of salt
1 Cup of boiling water
2 Cup of Plain White flour

1. Slowly stir the salt into the boiling water until it dissolves.
2. Add Flour.
3. Knead on a work surface until smooth.  Add more flour if required.
4. Shape into what ever you wish.
5. Bake at 100 degrees Celsius for up to 2 hours (depending on thickness) or Microwave on high for 1 or 2 minutes. 
6. Apply paint, then protect and shine with a coat of clear nail polish or varnish.

Destressers

Sometimes life just gets on top of us and before you know it you're stress or at the very least uptight.  Try these little beauties to remove some of that stress.

1. Get moving.  Exercise is proven to help relieve stress and other negative emotions such as depression.  Any kind of movement is good so pick one that you love.
2. Have a laugh.  Laughing creates a euphoric effect that will instantly release any tension you have.
3. Count to 10.  Taking deep breathes and a wee bit of time out is an age old classic that costs nothing and is very effective.
4. Meditate.  Even 5 mins a day of meditation will help stress levels. This doesn't have to be a big deal just find a quite spot,  look downwards and with unfocused eyes clear your mind of as much as you can.
5. Essential oils.  Lavender is the most popular relaxant but there are plenty others to try.
6. Stretch.  A good stretch out can help with the physical symptoms of stress.  Try a class of yoga or even a basic stretch at your desk.
7. Flower remedies.  These can target the source of your negative emotions helping to increase the positive.

The waiting game

Well one tender has closed and while we were the only interested party and the vendor has not accepted our offer he hasn't refused it either!!??  Right now he appears to be AWOL so the wait continues. Mean while thinking that we were not going to our second first choice we have rung the agent about our second choice to put an offer in.

Trouble is without the vendor actually refusing our offer and the agent unable to contact him we are in limbo a wee bit.  The plan now is to sit tight on the contracts for our second choice until next week and then make an offer.  Fingers crossed we know by then!

Fruit

Thought this e-mail summed up this point just as well as I would so did a bit of cut and paste here.  ;)

We all think that eating fruit means just buying fruit, cutting it and popping it into our mouths. It's not as easy as you think. It's important to know how and when to eat. What is the correct way of eating fruit?

IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUIT AFTER YOUR MEALS! FRUIT SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.

If you eat fruit like that, it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities. FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD.

Let's say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so. In the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil....

So please eat your fruit on an empty stomach or before your meals! You have heard people complaining — every time I eat watermelon I burp, when I eat durian my stomach bloats up, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet, etc — actually all this will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. The fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas and hence you will bloat!

Greying hair, balding, nervous outbursts, and dark circles under the eyes - all these will NOT happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach.

There is no such thing that some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits, you have the Secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight.

When you need to drink fruit juice - drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT from cans. Don't even drink juice that has been heated up. Don't eat cooked fruits because you don't get the nutrients at all. You only get to taste. Cooking destroys all the vitamins.

But eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it. You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse your body. Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days and you will be surprised when your friends tell you how radiant you look!

KIWI
Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E & fibre. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

APPLE
An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.

STRAWBERRY
Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer-causing, blood-vessel clogging free radicals.

ORANGE
Sweetest medicine. Taking 2-4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessening the risk of colon cancer.

WATERMELON
Coolest thirst quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene — the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are vitamin C & Potassium.

GUAVA & PAPAYA
Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content.. Guava is also rich in fibre, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; this is good for your eyes.

Simplicity

It has really hit home today that less is definitely more.  I've noticed that the weeks where we are less busy, relaxing at home and with family are usually the most settled times for our kids.  They just seem to to be 'better' when we are at home doing things around the house with me spending quality time with them rather than rushing around.

We were talking at Steiner Play group about sensory overload and how it contributes to the occurrence of ADHD and other behaviour disorders.  Recent studies suggest that the more T.V. children watch the more likely they are to have one of these disorders or to move up the Austic spectrum.  The reason for this is the fast based nature of t.v with its constant 'changes' in order to keep the viewer hooked.  This pace is not matched by real life and so children, and adults, constantly feel that there is not enough to simulate them and hence create their own stimulation. 

I had already noticed the difference in the way our two play since stopping Play centre, where there are at least 16 areas of play out each session.  They are know much happier to play with things for longer and really get into whatever they are doing.  They also play much more with each other as we are home more often and the playgroup we do go to is small so they have to interact with each other. 

I constantly go between wanting just the basics for our kids (minimal living so that their imaginations have space to grow) and guilty feelings over the possibility that I am depriving them of all the things other kids have.  Reality is that most kids in the world have less that what ours have and at the end of the day it is about the atmosphere they grow up in, not the toys, that matters.  For us we prefer life without t.v, close to nature and together as a family.

Knit one, Purl one

As you can guess by the title I've ventured to find the knitting needles and get them click, clacking away.  I confess that I actually enjoy knitting, and any other handcraft for that matter, even though it seems a bit of a Nana thing to do.  There is nothing quite so rewarding as watching an item grow from your own handy work and then see it worn by others. 

I'm definitely not the world's greatest knitter, in fact I'm no where near that, as my skills pretty much extend to 'peggy squares' and any other item that doesn't require shaping i.e. scarfs.  I remember once as a teenager knitting a jersey with the help of my mum and feeling so proud that I had completed all the pieces.  'Man this isn't as hard as it looks' I confidently stated.  My confidence soon abandoned me though as I began to sew the said pieces together.  One arm was long and loose fitting, the other short and tight.  The front with obvious missed stitches and the back, well actually the back was pretty damn perfect!!  Anyway that was the end of my knitting until 2 years ago.

My latest project is a scarf for my youngest, the eldest got one last year, and so far so good.  I have decided that after this I will actually attempt a jersey again although this time it will  be a kid's one and the most basic pattern I can find.  Being a big fan of hand crafts and with the experience of 20 plus years since my last knitting escapade I know I've got a lot more patience to see the project through till the end and with a good end at that.

Arohanui
Y
www.becominghealthy.co.nz

Valuable Vinegar

A few weeks ago my Mum gave me a book 'Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary things' which has fantastic tips for both saving the dosh and the planet.  After deciding to put more effort into creating the life I want i.e. more sustainable, less waste, back to basics, as natural and organic as possible I've browsed this book with great interest.  My most recent decision is to start making my own cleaning products and found that vinegar and baking soda are the key ingredients.  White Vinegar has so many uses (180 at least) that I just couldn't resist sharing some of them here.

Vinegar around the house:

Get rid of smoke smells, and other strong odors, by placing a shallow bowl, about 3/4 full,  of white or cider vinegar in the room where the scent is the strongest and the smell should be gone in a day.

Unclog and deodorise drains with a combination of vinegar and baking soda.  Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda followed by 1 cup of vinegar down drain and when the foaming subsides flush with hot tap water.  Wait 5 mins then flush with cold water.

Erase ballpoint pen marks by wiping them  off with a sponge and full strength vinegar.

Remove carpet stains with a mixture of 2 tablespoons of salt dissolved in 1/2 cup of white vinegar rubbed into the stain.  Leave to dry and then vacuum.

Disinfect chopping boards by spraying with undiluted white vinegar after each use.

Get rid of ants by pouring equal parts of water and vinegar into a spray bottle and spraying around areas you see ants. 

Clean windows with a mixture of water and vinegar in a spray bottle.  For best results wipe of with newspaper.

Have a go!

Stink!!!!

Well we missed out on our top pick - STINK!!!!  We are a bit gutted to say the least but we were beaten by nearly $100,000 so there is no way that we were even in the running.  I'm a big believer in things  happening for a reason so obviously this just wasn't the right place for us.  Onwards and upwards to the next possibility.

Fingers crossed

Well we have finally submitted a tender on a property!!  After 4 months of searching each weekend we have found a place that we like, and can imagine ourselves in, within our price range.  It is a very nerve wrecking experience - finding out all the information, assessing how much we could spend, working out how much we actually want the property and there for how much we are willing to pay, filling out all the documents, getting the deposit cheque and now waiting till the tender closes to see if we have it.

It is a good size property so we have great plans for it.  It would be an awesome in between step from residential living to lifestyle block.  Ultimately we want to get a few acres but for now half an acre in the 'burbs' would be great.  We have done a bit of WWOOFing in our time so we're keen to get into this again, only as a host this time.  Checking out the requirements it isn't something that we can do straight away, more of a down the road plan once we have extra accommodation set up and know what we are doing.  I love this stage though - endless planning without any of the restrictions.  My trouble is the action after the plan.  Luckily this is where himself comes in as he is great with just getting on with things.

The budget will definitely be tight, that is half the fun.  Working out how we can create what we want on a shoestring, recycling were possible, getting our hands dirty and seeing our dreams become reality.  Anyway before I get too excited about the whole thing we have to win the tender!! Fingers crossed that after 3pm tomorrow it is ours.

Internal workings

Today we ventured out early without breakfast in order to get a scan for my oldest after she has be complaining of and waking up with abdominal pain.  It was all fairly painless, except for the gnawing feeling in our tummies, and was interesting having a reminder of where all the organs are.

After a discussion with family about all the abdominal complaints they have suffered from and more to create a list for myself I thought I'd outline the purpose of some main organs.  Remember though this is a very basic and incomplete outline.

Appendix - aids in immune system, stores useful bacteria for colon
Gall Bladder - aids digestion and stores bile produced by the liver. 
Heart - pumps blood around the body
Intestines - absorbs nutrients and water.  Breaks down molecules that body has not been able to
Kidneys - filter for blood, removes wastes, part of urinary system, important in balancing blood pressure
Liver - vital organ which amongst other things detoxifies, synthesises proteins and produces bio-chemicals for digestion
Lungs - transport oxygen into the blood stream and release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Pancreas - creates important hormones such as insulin and digestive enzymes.
Spleen - important part of immune system, removes old red blood cells, recycles iron in the body

Back in the swing

Finally got myself out of bed in time to have a morning run and it felt great.  The weather has been so horrible lately that I haven't had the courage to venture out in the rain.  My 10km race is only 3.5 weeks away now and while I am running that distance each weekend the lack of weekday runs is taking its toll.

It is amazing how starting the day with a run makes me more motivated to do other things during the day and today was a good example.  Not only did the kids and I entertain guests, make bread, soup, sausage rolls and pizza bread we also finally collected the Playcentre guitar.  It felt like such a productive day that even the rain couldn't dampen it.  The muesli bars are in the cupboard, the nappies on the line (the rain will add to absorbency) and I've only had only coffee - truly a day of miracles.

As himself mends the guitar, we got another more loved one than the one I was using, I am looking forward to finishing my book and having a delicious liquorice tea.  Life is good!