Should have mentioned....

Forgot to mentioned that I finally followed my own advice and have been oil pulling for 2 weeks now. 20 minutes as soon as I get up on a empty stomach.......
well.....I am feeling good about it,my gum that was receding on one of my teeth is growing back! I am amazed!! I never thought I was a phlegmy person but I'm coughing up the most green thick phlegm after the oil pulling....where it's coming from and where it's been hiding I have no idea! Sorry to be so graphic,but I wanted to share and maybe encourage you to try it....
This morning routine is here to stay....

and this was the scene today at home ........ cousins to look after and two, yes two packets of clemontines gobbled up....and all the bananas!

and this is how you hide unsightly marks on kiddies wall until you manage to repaint.....get them to draw lots of colourful pictures and stick em up!

Thinking back.....

A month has come and gone, a challenge completed......goals have been achieved. I gained so much from this past month,learnt alot about how I use food for emotional comfort and boredom....but pleased to say it is possible to overcome these issues and have a more balanced approach to food .I learnt to listen to my body and not eat with my eyes and overburden my body, soul and mind.
It all seemed to happen on it's own after the second week and feel I now have a good rhythm of knowing when I need to eat! I'm not bloated at all and the water retention has disappeared.Not to mention the weight loss and more energy I have......so even though I have completed the challenge I have decided to keep going without the wheat and sugar.....why would I want to stop now when I feel so good? What do you think? What would you do if you were me? Would love to hear your thoughts!

T o celebrate the end of the challenge.....a little giveaway....


A little address book and two notebooks.....please leave a comment.....and these pretty books can be yours.....look forward to hearing from you all......
giveaway ends....friday 5th March...
open to international readers


Thought for the day....

'Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments'
Jim Rohn

Tumble in the jungle...& rebounding

Three more days of the challenge left......can't believe a month has past!
I have dropped a dress size and am weighing in at 67 kilos.....which is a 5 kilo drop in weight.I am so pleased,feeling more energetic...and more comfortable in my skin......blogging about my challenge certainly helped me to keep on track so thank you all for taking the time to read my blog!
We had a tumble in the jungle this weekend! A great indoor centre for kids to run around, climb and jump in a jungle themed hall.


Of course they loved it.....got me thinking how little the kids get to run around and do exercise. Just before I got pregnant with my third child I bought a rebounder/trampoline.I kept it at my mothers house and forgot about it....until yesterday! Its back at home and I have read great things on the net about the amazing benefits of rebounding,for me and the kids! So plan for the kiddies is....5 mins each in the morning before school and 10 mins after school! Fun and so good for them!

I will be jumping too,building up slowly...to at least 20 mins a day.....
A few interesting facts I found, it's really great for our forgotten lymphatic system....

It takes only two minutes of rebounding to flush the entire lymphatic system, while cleansing and strengthening cells and lymph nodes. A further benefit to the body is that during this brief time span the white blood cells of the immune system triple in number and remain elevated for an hour. These specialized cells play a major role in the body’s defense against illness and disease. For one full hour their activity is increased as they perform their tasks of destroying and eliminating cancer cells and other toxins, expending themselves in the process. An hour after rebounding for two minutes the white blood cell count returns to normal
read more here

• Circulates more oxygen to the tissues
• Tones up the glandular system
• Helps the blood circulate
• Strengthens every muscle in your body
• Increases red and white blood cell production
• Helps move waste out of the system
• Stimulates metabolism
• It is proven to be safer than jogging since there is less impact on the joints

Studies have found that 2 minutes of rebounding is equivalent 6 minutes of running, 10 minutes of swimming and 22 minutes of walking, which is very appealing for any one with a busy schedule.

I am very excited to see how rebounding will benefit me.......hope you will try it too.

Baby has decided he needs to help out with the chores....and I am ever so grateful.



Thought for the day...

"A healthy attitude is contagious but don’t wait to catch it from others. Be a carrier."- Anonymous

the good and not so good

One more week of the challenge to go.......I'm feeling great....it's the most positive thing I have done in a long time.The cravings have subsided,weight has been shifted......a new me emerging.The break through for me has been the no sugar,I don't need it anymore and it's so empowering to not have it holding me down.Went to the party on Sunday,plenty of delicious cakes and goodies on offer,I made my own great party food to share which went down a storm,{forgot to take pics} think......cocktail sticks with mixed herb chicken ,olives ,pineapple,sun dried tomatoes...mmmmmm.......mixed houmous dips with crunchy tortilla chips.
I felt so light ,the feeling of not being bloated was so liberating.
I have been a unproductive on the exercise front.I just could not get it done last week....teething babies are such hard work and I have had many sleepless nights which left me exhausted.

The job of being mummy is so sweet yet so overwhelming.More of the good news,baby is taking his first steps and tiring of my beloved wooden toys and moving onto his big brothers animal collection.

Projects I started have been left untouched...

knitting?which knitting,I can't even remember where I put it!.....I love the idea of making and crafting.....it just doesn't happen for me.....maybe I should just stick to reading what others have made......
here's a list of things I wish I could do

• make fermented vegetables {sauerkraut...} oh so good for you
• do coffee enemas {oh so scary}
• read more {brain exercise}
  
• love more {give more attention to my kiddies,they deserve it}
  
• contemplate and worship more
• make things for my home and kids
  
  

seems easy..so why can't I do it...what am I afraid of ?..arrggggggg I can... I must... I will.....

Thought for the day...

"When the world says, "Give up,"
Hope whispers, 'Try it one more time.' "
~ Unknown

Day of gifts

Wanted to share pics of my first blog giveaway win. It arrived today.....
Won a India giveaway from the Lavender & Limes blog



pink and turquoise bangles

lovely blue tealight holder

a vintage indian throw

and a bag....

love the vibrant colours.....so excited!



and this was a lovely unexpected gift from one of the ladies from the coffee morning
the arabic alphabet painted on canvas....

so a great day of gifts.....and friendship.

moroccan dreams

End of week two of the challenge!! I am feeling really good,bit tired from a teething baby that doesn't want to sleep and another round of tummy bugs for the kids!
Amazing how different I feel,has to be a sign that the wheat and sugar needed to go ! It's so hard though to change longstanding eating habits! I think I have given my digestion a battering over the years and it needs some nourishing so I am doing the right thing.Perseverance I say....
Busy week ahead....hosting a coffee morning on Wednesday and going to a wedding party on Sunday .......for both events I will have to come up with appetising wheat and sugar free goodies to eat....I can have fun and be on a challenge!Something nice to wear has to be bought so I am rewarding myself for the second week of challenge with a nice outfit.....I love long skirts ,hippie style...the only one i could find in the shops at the moment is here....what do you think?Going to wear silver and turquoise jewelry,not sure on the top yet!
Been a bit lazy about picture taking so I thought I'd share some of the things on my I want list...hoping these will come my way via car boot sales...{yeah right} or a Moroccan holiday{double yeah right}oh well I can dream.....







that's it for now,sorry for uninspiring post.....guess we all have days like that!

Thoughts for the day...

''The successful women is supplicated for, praised by her husband ,loved by her neighbours and respected by her friends''

''A women may turn the home into a paradise or into an unbearable hell''

Pukka tea winner

The winner is........



Fruitful fusion handpicked by my son......please email me your details and happy tea drinking!

Food & moroccan inspiration

Challenge is going well ,looking and feeling better already......
Posting a few pics of what I have been eating for breakfast and lunch..

oats & quinoa porridge with stewed figs,cinnamon,yogurt & flax!

That is supposed to be poached egg on top of the veg....mmmmm need some practice!

Delicious chicken soup and salad...

Feeling positive ,although I feel in need of soul nourishing! Something I need to concentrate on, asap!
''Do not be content to have some dark areas in your life,for the light is there,all you have to do is turn it on and see it shining''

Some more Moroccan inspiration from around the house! I love this hanging tile,the colours are beautiful especially against a white wall.....I got it free at a give or take day!

This is a corner in my bathroom,mirror is not in perfect condition,more rustic but I love it and it cost me £1 !



and this has to be one of my favourite things in the house.I got this Moroccan mirror for free,yes for free ,on freecycle!......yayee for recycling and kind souls!
and this letter holder was also free from a give or take day....I love the Moroccan pattern!

Thought for the day....

''Man may regret speaking,but he will never regret silence''

Magic Onions giveaway

Yes Magic Onions is having another giveaway ,please visit her blog ,be inspired and hope for a treat! This what you can win!...ends tonight so hurry!

Pukka tea giveaway

Hi everyone! Having a little giveaway,of two of my favourite Pukka teas-

• Three Mint: to soothe and refresh the digestion
• Refresh: to uplift and balance

just leave a comment.....



giveaway open till Sunday 7th Feb......feel free to post on your blog,you'll get extra entries.Leave a link to your blog.
open to international readers