Smile - you've just been tagged!

4^th June 2014

We can’t help everyone, but we can help someone. Ronald Reagan

Smile – you’ve just been tagged!

There’s a business sized card on my desk that says that and then it goes on to say “someone reached out to your with an anonymous act of kindness. Now it’s your chance to do the same.  Do something nice for someone, leave this card behind, and keep the spirit going!”  Visit www.helpothers.org for more ideas, info and inspiration.  

I love this idea, simple acts of kindness when there’s nothing in it for you, or even just sharing a smile with a stranger and cheering up their day, it can make all the difference to someone who’s not having a great day, week or even life…

So that’s your challenge today, you may enjoy doing it so much you make it a regular thing; it really is nice to be nice!  One of my members last night bought me a couple of slices of low ProPoint chocolate cheesecake she’d made, that was a lovely thing to do and it cheered me up, last week another member gave me a solar powered owl desk ornament that has made me smile every morning since as it sits in my office.  It wasn’t my birthday, I wasn’t expecting it but I was absolutely chuffed to bits to receive it, nothing better than something nice you’re not expecting.

Don’t forget it doesn’t have to cost money, it could be sparing some time to stop and chat to someone who really could do with a bit of company, can’t think of anything to do, there are lots of suggestions here http://www.kindspring.org/ideas/, there’s even kindness acts to yourself you can do such as cook a nutritious meal for yourself, that’d be nice, putting yourself first for a change wouldn’t it.  Why not bake healthy cakes and take them to work to share out, ooo I’ve just remembered next week in my meeting we’re doing bake a difference, if you fancy bringing some ProPointed cakes to the meeting we will ask for donations from other members to raise some money for diabetes UK charity, that’s more than one act of kindness, that’s a double whammy! 

Yeah let’s have a happy generous smiley day, the weather may be a little grey but we can be sunshine yellow, and spread some cheer.

I might bake and if I haven’t got time I’ll think of something else, but if I’ve got flour in my kitchen this morning, fresh rock cakes might be on the menu as one of my helpers has asked me to make them a few times now and what better way to start a Wednesday morning meeting than with cake!

Ooo love food, love my meetings, love being a Weight Watcher who can eat cake!

Still thinking of something nice to do that would make someones day or cheer them up in some way, here’s a few suggestions;

So, what little, simple acts of kindness can we do to pay it forward today?

1. leave a copy of a really great book you’ve read in a cafe for someone else to enjoy
2. be nice to someone who’s being mean/rude to you
3. forgive a the road rage driver who cuts you up
4. buy a homeless person a sandwich
5. make a donation
6. put a money in a meter that’s about to expire
7. compliment a stranger
8. let someone cut in front of you at the supermarket
9. encourage someone to pursue their dream
10. hold the door open for someone
11. teach a child something you wish you knew at that age
12. smile at someone who’s sad
13. smile at strangers
14. spend some time with a senior citizen living alone
15. give up your seat on a crowded bus or train
16. mow someone else’s lawn (but not on Sunday ;) gardens should be quiet on Sunday!)
17. give someone the benefit of the doubt
18. give blood
19. replace an angry or bitter thought toward someone with a loving thought (or at least try)
20. Give yourself a break!

Right I’m off to try and get my tasks done so I can make those rock cakes – if I have flour ;-) 

Have a great day and of course today BeYOUtiful and smile. xx

Ready for work ;)

3^rd June 2014

Do things that feed your soul not your ego and you will be happy! 

I’ve slept that soundly my brains still asleep this morning I think, not got any thoughts in my head to write about!  The only thing that’s remained there since yesterday is “I also have ME!”   We were having an online chat about fitting everything in and getting a work/lif balance and how some have children as well as jobs etc, one lady mentioned I may not have children but I have my mom and Alfie to spend quality time with and I replied “I also have ME!” I like to spend quality time alone it helps me recharge, I so needed this weekend doing some ‘ME’ stuff, it’s done me the world of good.  So many moms don’t get that ‘ME’ time so much because the kids are always there aren’t they, that’s why the ones I know grab an hour whenever they can, when they’re asleep or out and if they’re savvy they get someone else to look after them occasionally.  It’s not easy is it to find ‘ME’ time for so many but I still urge you to try.

Yesterday after walking Alfie, I spent the morning working finished about one, then my shopping got delivered so I sorted that out, then cooked us some lunch, we had 13pp of sea bass & gnocchi in a basil and tomato sauce with roast vegetables, very tasty it was too, although not matter how many time I try it gnocchi just doesn’t do it for me at all.  For tea we had a toasted teacake and butter for 10pp it was awesome and perfect as I wasn’t hungry so it didn’t have to fill me up, if it did I’d have needed at least one more!

I spent a lovely afternoon doing a bit of gardening, and then I had a long bath with my book followed by a couple of hours sitting up the garden enjoying the quiet, well half of it was quiet, then mom came back from her walk with Alfie.  So that was Part One of my staycation, it was lovely, Part Two is this weekend, it starts Friday with a day trip to Birmingham with my bestie and her niece (grown up version) but first a full week of work which I’m looking forward to now I’m fully recharged.

I’ve treated myself to a huge piece of salmon (well big for us anyways) it was half price, so I’m looking for a recipe to make the most of it, so if anyone has one email it me.

Right I’m off, short this morning brains still not quite alert but this pint of water is helping…

Eat Gorgeous, BeYOUtiful and remember YOU matter the most!

Is it really Monday already....

2^nd June 2014

Nothing can stop the inevitable…. Really?

YAY, I lost 1/2lb chuffed with that, I won’t lie I’ve not been 100%, I’ve not gone crazy either, so any loss is a good loss, add to the fact I’m the lightest I’ve been since pre Christmas therefore I’m really happy with those results;

Healthy and happy - slow and steady

It’s about more than just numbers!  For me it’s about eating tasty food and having an enjoyable life, you can do both and not gain weight! 

I really have had a lovely relaxed weekend, I’m half way through my book, it’s a thick on, 650+ pages, I hadn’t realised but I’m loving it, we sat up the garden yesterday enjoying some of this sunshine, most of the hard work got done last year so I’m just enjoying looking at my garden this year.  I did my supermarket shop sitting out there too, it’ll be delivered this morning, now that’s so much easier than a drive and a walk round the store, instead Alfie and I went for a couple of walks; I find moving more is so much easier when the sun is shining.

And who’d have thought that a nice mug of tea would be the liquid of choice on a sunny afternoon in the garden and not a can of lager or a glass of chilled white wine, to be honest it never even entered my mind this weekend, I’ve just looked and it’s 8 weeks since I bothered, just the thought of the hangover would make me think twice I have to admit.

I’m actually going to do some work today; I really needed a couple of days away from it all though I have to admit.  I couldn’t work out why I was as drained and tired as I was until I woke up yesterday with a dry, inflamed throat, it feels a little better today so I’m hoping I’ve managed to avoid full blown lurgy by resting.  I would love to spend another day doing nothing but nice things but I really do need to get a few hours done before I even contemplate the other stuff, if the sun shines like yesterday I will partake of the garden, I know some of you go to work today but I manage to fit 40/45 hours in between Tuesday and Friday because of working in the evenings so don’t sit there thinking ‘lucky cow’ I do the hours trust me, I don’t stop for air midweek.  I’d love to finish my book but I think that’s pushing it, I need to write up my uni work – it’s got to be hand written, I have awful handwriting, so I need to concentrate.  I should really do some housework, but really that’s not gonna happen is it, that’s for rainy days when there’s nothing else to do!  My rocking chair project will have to wait till the weather ain’t so great too, can’t be wasting sunny days indoors if I have a choice.  

I’ll come clean I haven’t done a meal plan still for this week, although I have got some meal ideas ready and I will type them up as I have them so that I have ideas for future weeks, this was how last week’s meals turned out;

Right I’m off to get started because the sooner I start the sooner I get done! 

Have a great day BeYOUtiful.

Today I feel like celebrating amazing ladies!

1^st June 2014

Don’t ruin a good today by thinking about a bad yesterday!  Let it go…

Yesterday was a great day, this time last year we were in Wales for the week, as we’re not having a holiday this year, yesterday I decided to have a ‘ME’ weekend and forget about everything work related for a few days, of course I never switch off 100% because my members ask me questions and I can’t ignore them.  However I really did enjoy my day, I spent some time on my Winnie the Pooh rocking chair, that’s coming along nicely – slowly but nicely.  I enjoyed a bubble bath to help get the glue off from the rocking chair project, whilst listening to the radio. I then downloaded a book which Graham Norton mentioned on Radio 2, called “The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair”, and I decided I’d read that on the afternoon just as soon as I got back from my massage at the Chi Rooms which was amazing as always.  After a quick walk round the Co-op for a few odds and ends (I still haven’t finished my online shop, I wanted to see if I could use up the stuff in my freezer first), I made us a delicious lunch of southern fried chicken pieces (I wasn’t in the mood for a curry after all) with salad and roast vegetables.  I then went and sat up the garden enjoying the calmness whilst reading my book, I love sitting out there watching the birds and the bees (no pun intended), it was so peaceful.  Eventually I came in, then Alfie talked me into a long walk along the canal, then we finally sat down and watched a bit of tv with mom before having an early night, falling asleep with my book in my hands.  I have to be relaxed to read, I find it hard to concentrate, but I’ve managed to get through 132 pages which is really good for me, only another 12 hours of reading according to my kindle (it’s a thick book apparently!).

Today will be pretty much the same as yesterday, doing whatever takes my fancy, we may not be having a holiday but we can have some chilled out, work free weekends, we all need to find a balance don’t we because life really is short, it’s too precious to waste, just a couple of people who aren’t doing that spring to mind this morning, the first would be Natalie, you remember the remarkable young lady who got cancer earlier this year and had to have an hysterectomy, she’s not 10 weeks clear and because instead of wallowing she decided to do something positive, she’s now raised to raise £1,421 for Cancer Research UK!

I know sometimes people wonder if there’s any point in all this fundraising as Cancer still kills, but this research helps to save more and more people every day!

One lady who constantly makes me smile with her love of life is a lady called Liz, she’s tireless, here’s me in the praise of slow whereas Liz is all about ‘what next…” and fair play to her;

Liz is living proof you can be a long term survivor of cancer, now in her 40s, she’s been 23 years clear and has a beautiful daughter and has lived a very full life.  Even though this year hasn’t’ been great for her for personal reasons, she’s fighting through those troubles and her strength will see her through the other side. 

She’s even a little bit of a superstar these days as she’s in this week’s copy of Woman magazine talking about getting her bikini body, almost 50 and looks like this (amazing);

Yeah however you choose to live your life, because whether you like to admit it or not we all live the life we choose, make sure it’s the one you want.  If you’ve just realised it isn’t – then it’s time to decide how to change it! 

Enjoy your day BeYOUtiful. xx