1. Birthday celebrations
We kicked off Ramai’s birthday celebrations on Saturday morning at The Beach Shack – check out that view! – where we indulged in corn fritters and banana smoothies and I whipped up a makeshift “HB” (Happy Birthday) sign made from sugar packets. Ramai’s phone was going off all morning with lots of birthday messages as you can see!
That night, I took my b’day boy for drinks at the new Stingray Lounge (terrible name, great bar) and afterwards we dined upstairs at Bazaar. The cocktails rocked, the food was delightful and the night was, all in all, thoroughly enjoyable for Team R & R!
2. Chia seeds
Chia, chia, chia! Healthy as anything and packed full of nutrients, these little seeds sure do pack a punch – they’re nature’s highest plant-based source of complete protein and an awesome source of Omega-3. Sarah Wilson has more detail here. I add them to my raw bliss balls, and have them in a glass of water each day and have definitely noticed a difference in my skin (on my face) since I started including them in my diet again. More smooth/ glowy, less dry and wintery and ugh. Are you on the chia train?
3. Thrown together meals
There’s something super satisfying about pulling out all the unused vegetables you have in the fridge the night before your next grocery shop and throwing them together with whatever else you you dig out of the pantry. We do this often, and on the menu this week was a lentil and sweet potato “lasagne” with a bunch of veggies, tomato pasta sauce and a sprinkling of cheese on top. Yum!
4. Getting Off My Own Back
Seriously. Who ordered the gigantic Pressure Pie with a generous helping of Pressure on top?
Oh. Me?
Right.
Seems full-time blogging, full-time jobbing, full-time trying to have a life-ness and part-time wedding planning has taken over the controls in my brain a little lately and despite me knowing better, I’ve convinced myself that I need to fill every waking moment with doing more, more, MORE! Problem is, squeezing more into an overscheduled life leads to imbalances and inconsistencies and it means the output is often not at the desired level. Energy gets scattered, tasks take 10 times longer than they should and the liquid gold doesn’t flow smoothly from that mental tap – it comes out in spurts and bursts. And then it drips dry.
So this week – considering all this pressure has been completely self-created – I got off my own back and I felt relieved and really, really happy.
In truth, it took me about five days to do this properly. I planted the seed by talking to Ramai and a few friends about my overflowing cup. There were a few totally convincing (* cough *) and utterly vague things said (by me) like “Yep, definitely taking some time on the weekend where I just do nothing.” Sure, could see that happening. Never. It took me a couple more half-hearted pep talks with my inside peeps before I decided to get serious, thinking about ways I could tackle the Pressure Pie bit by bit, rather than diving in and smooshing it all over my face, then complaining that I felt overwhelmed. Of course I did. I had pie all over my face.
Here’s what happened:
1. I decided that if there were weeks where I was exceptionally busy (like the last month has been) I’d allow myself to post less than I have been posting. And I wouldn’t beat myself up about it, because you’re all awesome and understanding, and hey, I’d probably find the time to do the article I thought I couldn’t fit in anyway. But I wouldn’t have to. That’s the key.
2. I decided that weeknight catch up’s with friends just don’t work for me, as much as I want them to. Dayum. We’ve been averaging three nights a week out at the moment, on top of socialising on the weekend, and I end up feeling guilty that I’m distracted (thinking about the “make up” work I’ll have to do) or just plain tired. I want to be 100% there for the amazing people in my life, and plus, being a 5:30am riser I really need to be asleep by 9:30pm. I had an awesome sleep one night last week and the difference it made to my energy and motivation the next day was extraordinary.
3. Finally, I decided that it all had to begin with me changing my story and changing the words that have been tumbling out of my mouth lately. My two targets: “I’m so busy” and “I’m overwhelmed.” Gosh, how easily do these words roll off the tongue? “How have you been?” “Busy, busy.” ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, sista!
Which leads me to…
5. Magical Reminders
On Sunday night, I filled up the calendar on my phone with a bunch of positive reinforcements that I knew would make me smile during the week. I set alarms for each day (at random times, so that the reminders would be unexpected) and alternated these two affirmations:
“I am the luckiest girl in the Universe” and “I am relaxed and at ease.”
I should explain my thoughts on luck. I believe luck is self-created. Pure and simple. Being ‘lucky’ is a state of mind – believe you are blessed and you are. It’s about being open to the possibility of luck, or good fortune, and appreciating it when it arrives (and where better to count your blessings than in the comments on this post!)
Anyway, after my first reminder went off on Monday and I read the words “I’m the luckiest girl in the Universe,” I got a call from Ramai who told me that I’d be getting back $1500 more than I expected in my tax return. Hip hip hooray!
5 More Magical Morsels:
1. Feeling super grateful that this blog allows me to document/ bring my attention to the lessons I’m learning as I cruise the path of life
2. Sydney this weekend – which could mean less posts next week, will see how I go!
3. Outdoor pilates with the sun beaming through the trees (read: bliss)
4. The support and unbelievably kind words about In Spaces Between from old friends and new friends (plus all my new readers – HI!)
5. Reaching a target we’d set for ourselves for our savings… well before we thought we would.
+ And that’s me, sweet thangs! What about you, what’s on your gratitude list today?
Chia seeds are the best! Favourite way to eat them: http://ohsheglows.com/2010/04/08/easy-vegan-overnight-oats/
Yum! Definitely going to try this out, thanks so much Laura xx
Oh I love this!!! And I love the random phone alerts idea!!!
Making me happy this week… waking up to cuddles from my puppy, the new gratitude app I installed on my iPad, and the return of nicer weather!
I love your list. I’m so glad to hear you are going to get off your own back. I firmly believe that there is a greater need for people to be nicer to themselves. That was one of the best things I learnt in the last five years. Having just turned 30 it excites me that more personal growth like this will continue. Lots of things are making me happy this week, but I’m thinking of putting them all into a post as I haven’t done a summary like that in a while. I hope you have a lovely day and rest of the week.
Bree: yay, love your list! A gratitude app sounds amazing, what’s the name of it? Great idea!
And LI, thank you so much for sharing and a big happy birthday for your recent birthday! Would love you to share the link for your list here too once you get around to compiling, I’m sure everyone would enjoy reading what’s making you happy xx
Look how long your hair is getting rach – gorgeous! that ‘thrown together’ vege lasagne looks AMAZEBALLS, warm and perfect for winter but good for you! brilliant. xxx
Rach, whats making me happy is your constant reminders to us to think about what makes us happy and focus on that!! :) Also making me happy at the mo is: the smell in the air that summer is on its way, getting up at sunrise every morning to exercise and feeling great all day as a result, my brand new attitude at work where I look at things way more positively (and surprise surprise, I am so much happier at work now and things dont get to me as much) and the first mini crop of snow peas from our new little vegie garden!
Liz: it’s getting there, must have had a growth spurt! The dinner was such a “last minute throw together” job but a good way to use up everything that would have gone to waste otherwise. And sweet potato + anything is amazing in my eyes! xx
Sarah: Thank you so much! I feel soooo good after our morning sessions (everyone, this is my wonderful training buddy!) and it so nice to hear that changing your words/ story around work has made you feel happy and positive about the whole experience. Easy to read about it or tell yourself you’ll do it, but you actually have taken action, which is rad.
And finally, I didn’t know about your pretty peas… perfect for summer salads. YUM! Thanks for commenting lovely! xxx
I simply love chia seeds!
Following on from Laura’s link to the vegan overnight oats, here is my chia + birchir oats brekkie combo..
Mix together: oats, 1 grated apple, chia seeds, goji berries & cinnamon, plus I also add 1 tsp slippery elm powder (for digestive health) and 1 tsp maca powder (for hormonal balance and energy). I cover mine with water (or you can use juice or milk) and I soak overnight. Then in the morning I top it with a bit of yoghurt + berries.
Yummo!
xxx
Ah you’re amazing! Another post filled with awesomeness & positivity! LOVE IT! xxx
Oh and I’m loving your sky blue nails! So SPRING!! x
I think I need to move to OZ for a few months of the year, this Irish weather is not cool. In the past week I’ve felt the helium go out of my balloon completely! I was not expecting so many changes in 1 week – However, thanks to all the lovely comments on here, I’m gonna invest in some Chia seeds (can they be used on porridge?!) I’ve downloaded a Gratitude App (thanks Bree!) & using your idea Rach of setting reminders in my phone. I’m signing up to my Handicraft course tonight & I’ve Fitsquad from tomorrow (fun times in the rain, yeeeessssss!!!) It’s all about injecting some va-va-voooom! back into things.
So I’m giving all my gratitude to In Spaces Between this week, it’s the best tonic ever & I love dropping by :) La grá, Jennifer xo
Connie: um, DELICIOUS! Trying this for sure, thanks a million for the recipe. I’ve been meaning to add maca into my diet as well, have heard such great things about it so thank you for the reminder & of course, for stopping by & sharing your knowledge with us all! xx
Kate: Oh thank you sweets! And yeah, the blue is nice & fun… and totally spring-y as you say! xx
Jennifer: Sorry to hear that you’ve had a bit of a flat week… a run of bad weather can always bring up the “blahs” (I second your thoughts on coming to Oz!!)
I reckon the difference between an optimist and a pessimist isn’t just that one is always ridiculously happy and the other is perpetually negative — optimists experience the ebb & flow of moods and emotions, and get the blues as well, but they tend to bounce back faster. And they know how to bounce back, they don’t have a defeatist mentality.
From all your amazing comments on In Spaces Between (& I look forward to your energy every week on the Making Me Happy posts!) I can tell you are one happy-go-lucky, positivity-spreading lady love, so I know with a few little tweaks, some inspirational words, chia (yep, you can add to porridge) and all the other great stuff you have planned, you’ll be back! Sending you some Aussie sunshine & big smiles xxx
I must admit my chia seeds have been sitting in the back of my cupboard, I really should get back into eating them!!
Nice to hear that you have given yourself a break, I know how easy it is to feel guilty if you haven’t posted on your blog and I definitely fall into the trap of talking about how busy I am rather than being positive and getting things done, but I have come to realise that my blog is a fun thing and a hobby, so it shouldn’t be a chore or anything I feel guilty about. There are things that take priority in life (eg. study, cooking, exercising) and for me lately, spending time with old friends is probably the one that falls by the wayside… though it is when I have the most fun and laughs so it really is something I should schedule in more often.
Having time to yourself where you really are thinking about nothing and just doing what makes you happy is so important, so it is great to hear that you are making time for that! And congrats on your saving target… fingers crossed I get news like yours from the tax man… and I will, because I am a very lucky person :) (positive affirmations all the way!!!)
Jasmine: Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment, I love how you always take the time to leave fantastic comments that really add to the conversation! As you say, it’s so easy to fall into that trap of thinking that firstly, we have to juggle a million balls at once, and secondly, that everything we do has to be at what is really an unachievable level. It’s such a nice feeling to give ourselves a break (figuratively and literally)!
Good luck with the tax man —- keep those positive affirmations up & you’ll be rolling in it! xxx
I know how hard it can be working full time and running a blog. You find times where you just can’t blog as much and its hard to not feel guilty about that. I find it is even harder now ot blog then a few years back, because of all the other distractions of social media and email.
we dont mind if you cant blog as much. i will just read your old posts for inspiration :)
Aww, thank you, that makes me feel better Liss! So true, it’s the social media stuff and the emails that are the time suckers…. I’m going to “get back to basics” and try and write (at least the main points) of my articles in my notebook… I feel like my thoughts are so much clearer when I do that anyway. There are some apps that you can use on your computer that “freeze” access social media for a while — we should look into them! xx
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