Hi There

I think by now that you may have guessed I have fallen off the 365 project.  This was my second time around participating, the last time I finished and found it quite rewarding to see the year in photos and watch my photography progression. This time round I had lots of enthusiasm for the first half of the year and then I started to loose my mojo.  Things around home required more of my attention and so my desire to take photos disappeared.  I am a little disappointed in myself for not finishing what I started but with my heart no longer in the project I decided to not pursue it for now.  As I type this I am not discounting coming back on a more regular basis to share photos because it makes me happy. And the more I think about it the more I need to do a few more things for myself, things that light me up.  So here is a collection of some photos from the past month.  I hope you enjoy them and I hope to be back again soon.

217-224/365 The week that was

I had all the thoughts about continuing my Well being series but I didn't quite get there.  I actually had a few that I wanted to share with you including the first two photos I took. Firstly my bed and a big bowl of delicious strawberries.  I think that they are both pretty self explanatory but I think they are a big factor in maintaining over all well being.  Sleep is something that I am constantly working on and I don't seem to be very disciplined with.  I really should be getting to sleep much earlier than the 11 pm that I do.  I don't know why I don't get to bed earlier, is it the rebellious me that sees it as a great chance to have some more me time, probably and it's also a bit of a bad habit.  The other big key to well being is also an abundance of fresh food.  Food that is as close to nature that means organic and try to eat a rainbow each day.  You will feel better for it and your body will love you for giving it life force.  The rest of the photos are how my days have looked over the past week.  I hope that you enjoy them and that you have all been keeping well.  Thank you all for stopping by and for those who take the time to comment.  I have been trying to reply to each comment so if you have any questions I am happy to answer them there if you like.

216/365 Computer Free

Like most of us I really love my computer and probably spend too much time on it if I am being honest.  I never used to spend a lot of time on my computer I think once I discovered blogging and then when internet access started to become more affordable then being on the computer weaved it's way into my everyday life.  I don't like the amount of time I spend on the computer and would rather spend more time with my family and being creative and giving my mind some space.  So I have recently, say in the last few months, implemented a computer free day every week.  At first I was just reserving it to instagram but the last couple of weeks I have also added the computer to it.  I still find it a little hard, it's like an itching feeling that you really want to check your phone to see what exciting things have been happening but you can't.  When I do log on Monday morning quite often there isn't anything in particular that has happened that I have missed out on which I knew would happen.  Isn't it interesting these feelings that you have, that technology is designed to make you want to keep looking for the next thing to interest you.  I think in time I will try and reduce the amount of time each day I spend on my computer and still keep the Sunday free, it seems to be working for me.  Do you have a computer/technology free day each week?

215/365 Creating

Another area in my life that I believe contributes to my well being, health and happiness is being creative each day.  It doesn't have to require lots of time set aside, a little each day seems to be enough to give me time to relax and a sense of accomplishment.  I used to find it hard to only do a little bit at a time and could get a little frustrated with how long a project would take to complete.  But I try to remember that a little time on a project each day does add up quickly.  The things that I like to create involve crochet; sometimes sewing; my photography; card making; baking; making home made cleaning products for our home and gardening.  I feel that in each of these areas I am being creative in some form.  Do you carve some time out each day to be creative?

214/365 Meditating

My first introduction to meditating was when I started yoga probably 5 years ago.  My lovely neighbour encouraged me to go along with her and I am so glad I did because I still do yoga.  I didn't meditate at home regularly until last year when I did an online course.  I had read many books that spoke of the benefits of meditation but it was the course that prompted me to form the daily habit.  So I looked on my phone and bought an app that suited me best, found a guided mediation and just started.  It was hard at first making the time in my day but once I found a time that suited me and each day made the effort to meditate it became a habit.  I must confess that since the school holidays I haven't been sitting in my usual spot to meditate.  It is a little cold and I have formed a bad habit of lying in bed and meditating.  The benefits of mediation include reducing stress and anxiety; improves sleep and improves concentration to just name a few. So I will be getting back into a good habit of sitting down in my sacred space to do my meditation because the benefits too important not too.  Do you like to meditate?

213/365 Skincare

I have a very basic skincare routine that I perform each day. Using products with simple, minimal ingredients that are as close to nature as possible.  For me it is important to use organic ingredients, I am very passionate about this. Our skin is our largest organ and I only want organic/natural ingredients being absorbed into my body. So what does my routine look like? In the morning I simply splash my face with cold water, pat it dry, spray some rose water on and add a drop of rosehip oil to my hands and massage into my face.  At night time I use my homemade oil cleanser and a bamboo cloth to wipe my face clean.  It does take some time getting used to an oil cleanser as your face doesn't feel squeaky clean but it does feel lovely and soft.  I again use my rose water as a toner, a drop of rosehip oil and dab it under my eyes and use the other oil to moisturise my face and neck. As a body moisturiser I will often use coconut oil, jojoba oil or a lovely body butter I make. As far as face masks I am not as routine with them but do have a lovely one by Mokosh that I try and use once a month.  Have you tried to make your own face or body products before? Do you have a skincare routine you follow?

212/365 Books and my favourite reading material

When I was young I loved to read.  I remember getting book club at school and the excitement of choosing a book from the catalogue which was a bit of a treat.  As I went through my teenage years I don't recall my love of reading fiction continuing only my love of teen magazines.  As I grew older I continued to read magazines and lacked the commitment to reading a novel.  I'm not sure what started my love of non-fiction books but I am hooked.  It's funny to purposely choose a book to learn from but I feel empowered by what I read.  I love to learn about my physical health and mental health.  I have contemplated doing another degree relating to health but the assignments.... With this new knowledge I share and apply it to my family which they mostly love... As a nice calming routine each evening, 30 minutes before bed, I like to read and sip on a night time herbal tea.  It helps to wind me down and even though I am learning I still feel relaxed.  Do you have a reading routine?  Are you predominately a fiction or non-fiction reader?

211/365 Hydration

As part of my morning routine, I kick start the day with a glass of lemon water.  I just squeeze half a lemon into some warm water and enjoy.  It is important to either drink this with a straw (metal, glass or paper) or swish some water in your mouth so as not to damage your teeth enamel.  A few of the benefits of lemon water first thing in the morning are:
* aides digestion and get the bowel moving
* supports the immune system
* repairs the skin
* balances ph levels
* promotes healing
* detoxifies the liver

Lemon water is a great way to start the day but it is also important to hydrate throughout the day.  And adult body compromises of 60% water so drinking sufficient amounts ensures our body functions efficiently. Delivering oxygen to the body, lubricating joints, regulating body temperature, and preventing headaches are just a few of the health benefits of water.  If you don't like the taste of water on it's own flavour it with pieces of fruit like blueberries, orange and even cucumber.  You can also try herbal teas which provide all kinds of health benefits too and there are many different flavours to choose from. If you choose herbal teas, look at the ingredients list, I do notice that they often contain sugar which you probably would prefer to avoid if you are doing a good thing like drinking herbal tea. Do you drink enough water?

210/365 Sparkling

and shining.  I love giving my car a wash and making it look new again.  I don't quite give it the attention that I should like I would have pre children but that's what happens, priorities change.  I am sure those jobs that I once did regularly will be done again.

203-209/365 Just like that another week

has flown by and my hopes for blogging everyday have gone by the wayside.  I really did want to pop in here each day but the photo taking and the uploading and the writing and the can't be bothered when the time rolls around each evening got the better of me.  A new routine for blog writing really needs to be set I think, change it up and blog in the morning rather than the evening when I don't feel it might help this lack of daily posts.  This past week has been a little busy with my birthday and another family member celebrating their birthday, as well as a friend meant for lots of card making and birthday present buying.  Next month is a quiet month for birthdays which will be nice.  I did do the usual baking; we have had a little visitor belonging to our neighbours roaming our backyard which has escaped and is proving difficult to catch; pretty flowers; my little visitor painting and a lovely time spent with my friend.

What I was thinking of was maybe doing a series of posts that relate to some topics that I am passionate about like maybe cooking, organics, health, making, organisation etc.  What do you think? Is there anything that you would like to ask me or curious to know about any of those topics?  

Thanks so much for popping in to visit.

200-202/365

Sweet flowers that captured my eye, another year around the sun for me and still more birthdays this month so another card made.  Here is a little quote that I loved and thought I would share with you,

"Gratitude is the fairest blossom that springs from the soul."

by Henry Ward Beecher

190-199/365 Long time no see

Sorry about the silence here on my space and on instagram.  The school holidays always seems to make me step away and be more present. So what has been happening around here?  I've been doing a little office yoga; treating myself to some flowers and admiring the flowers in the park when we stopped for lunch; making birthday cards and birthday cakes; frosting mornings and time with family celebrating; garden walks and beautiful new reading material and afternoons spent sitting in the sun to keep warm.  How have your holidays been?

184-189/365 Holiday Life

We haven't been up to much this school holidays but when you have a busy term I think  holidays with not much to do are just what you need.  We have had a visit to the river with friends for morning tea; a trip to the gardens for lunch; I have had lots of cups of tea on these cold days; the chooks checking me out to see what I was up to; another selection of books and bit of crafting a teen boy card. Have you been having a nice school holidays?