Easing my way into a Paleo lifestyle

I have been doing a lot of research lately into Paleo Diets, and have decided that I am going to ease my way into eating this way.

The reason I'm not going into it like a bull at a gate, like I usually do with most lifestyle choices?  Because I have a pantry full of non-paleo foods, and I refuse to just throw them away.  I also can't afford to be going through a major detox right now from cutting out carbs, caffeine and sugar (because of needing to perform 100% at work), so cutting these things down gradually will help with that.

So what is a Paleo diet?

Eat:

Organic, grass-fed meat;
Fish
Vegetables (no white potatoes)
Fruit
Nuts
Cook with olive oil, coconut oil and animal fats
Drink water

Avoid:

Processed food
Grains
Dairy
Legumes
Sugar

Why am I doing this??  I've noticed lately that despite eating well & exercising regularly, I still feel like shit a lot of the time....  I have terrible black rings under my eyes, I don't sleep well, I get frequent headaches, my bowel movements are shoddy, I have niggling aches and pains, and I just generally feel fatigued.  I also have the WORST PMS known to man, and I'm 35 for goodness sake.

I know that a lot of you will disagree with this, and think it's a fad, but the research out there, and the proven results from living this lifestyle speak for themselves.

I will be using this blog to document my shift to this lifestyle, including recipes and useful links.

Happy Easter!

I'm hopeless at this blogging gig.

Unfortunately, I'm fairly hopeless in most aspects of my life at the minute :/

I had something to tell you, but now that I've finally got on here, I can't even remember what....

I have no plans for Easter, I've had so much other stuff going on, I kinda tripped and fell and now here it is...  I've gone into work every day for a few hours, so at least it won't be such mayhem when I go back to work officially on Tuesday.  I've also squeezed in loadsof exercise this weekend, and rewarded myself with a pedicure this morning (OPI Dutch Tulips FYI)

I've made some bad decisions with my personal life lately.  Let go of a guy who seriously would have made a great boyfriend, because I can't stop shagging a guy who I'm totally not compatible with in any other area apart from the bedroom... Like I said to my friend, I'm just not prepared to give up the best sex of my life just yet.  And it goes to show that I'm actually not all that keen on a relationship.

So I've given up on dating for now, and am just concentrating on shagging this one guy.  Judge me all you like.  But remember three words:  Best. Sex. Ever.

For the love of cooking

For those that know me, know that I love cooking!  In fact, it's one of the things that I hate most about being single - having nobody to cook for.

I do have a pretty good arrangement at the moment with a girl at work.  She's calls me her work wife (because I'm the 'bitch in the kitchen') and I call her my work husband.  She was actually bringing me soup & lemonade while I was dying from the lurgy ;)  I make her lunch 4 days a week, she buys or makes my lunch Friday's.  She pays for the ingredients of what I cook.  So essentially, for an investment of my time, I get free lunches!  

Anyway, I've recently invested in two new cookbooks that I've been lusting after for a while.

Firstly:  Thai Food by David Thompson

This is one of those cookbooks that you read.  The first section of it is a beautifully written history of Thai food.  It teaches you how to make your own curry pastes.  I can't wait for the weather to cool down so I can get stuck into this one!!  The fantastic thing is that traditional Thai curries are actually quite healthy!  They aren't laden down with coconut creams or anything, it's basically a heap of herbs and roots all mashed together to make a delicious paste.

Book two:  The cook's companion by Stephanie Alexander

I have wanted this book for such a long time, but it is so expensive!!!  I paid $75 for my copy.  On my recent walk through Freycinet National Park, the hosts at the lodge were the most amazing cooks, used the freshest of ingredients, and I noticed almost every day, this book out on their kitchen bench being used.   I asked him about it, and he said it's the best cookbook ever.  Definitely worth the investment.

Are you a lover of cooking?  Do you devour cookbooks like I do?

Mini-tornadoes, job interviews, lots of rain.

What a crap few weeks :)

I had 4 days off work sick last week with a respiratory infection, a throat infection and both ears infected.  4 days where I didn't leave my bed, and didn't eat anything apart from chicken soup.  I'm still not 100%, still on antibiotics, so I'll need a big detox after this, but compared to last week, I feel like a new woman!

I flew to Brisbane Friday a week ago for a job interview, and knew in the first 5 minutes that I was not going to take the job.  I'm in a difficult position because a good friend of mine has heavily pushed the owner of the business to create a position for me, but the position he created is not what I was looking for.  The hunt continues, resume was sent off for another position today.  Fingers crossed :)

We had a bit of wee bad weather here night before last!  You've probably seen it on the news.  I was right on the cusp of it.  I'd been awake since 3.16am coughing my shrinking guts up.  At 5am, the amount of debris that was slamming into the big glass window right next to my bed made me and Wally evacuate the bedroom. We sat by candlelight in the lounge room wondering what on earth was going on .  Big thank you to Ergon for restoring my power so quickly, it came on just as I got home from work last night.  My heart goes out to those who have lost their homes, but I am so thankful no lives were lost.

At times like this, I always think of the animals :(  That tornado sprung up out of nowhere, so everybody's dogs (and for the irresponsible - cats) would have been outside during it :(

Well it's Hump Day for those of you that have a normal working week, so enjoy :)

Finding my personal style

One thing that I decided from my coaching sessions with Julie, is that I really need to find my own personal style.  I'm always in a plain (usually black) t-shirt and denim or plain coloured straight skirt.  

I've expanded my wardrobe recently to include a few dresses, but honestly, I just don't feel overly comfortable in a dress.  I very much have an hourglass figure, so I feel like it's much more flattered when I'm wearing something that really defines my waist.

I'm addicted to Pinterest (who isn't), and have noticed a pattern when I look through the looks that I've pinned on my style board....  

Here's a couple of examples:

Source: fashionworship.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Source: fashionworship.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Do you see it?? Plain coloured shirt, plain coloured bottom :)

So the good thing to come out of this is this:

I already have what I want to wear in my wardrobe!!  I just need to make more of an effort to accessorise.  More belts, change up my handbag, get bold with the colour of my shoes, and all the rest will fall into place.  I already have a decent selection of bright coloured bracelets and necklaces.

My first purchases:  a tan handbag, and tan belt. 

What is your personal style?

So true

Source: fab.com via Aniko on Pinterest

Just a wee update....

I've been chasing my tail since I returned from Tasmania.....

This has been due to a few things:

- coming straight back into end of month at work;

- being disorganised - I haven't grocery shopped, had a proper at home clean up day, written a to-do list so I know exactly where I'm at and what I need to do....

I haven't exercised once - actually that's not true, I've exercised twice.  That is bad...

I'm now sick with a head cold...

I've been so stressed out that I've had an eye twitch for over a week...

I flew to Brisbane on Friday for a job interview.  I got the job.  I'm not taking it.

I am currently doing all of the sums to set up my own business.  This is frightening and exciting all at the same time :)

I finished my 6 life coaching sessions with Julie Parker from Beautiful You.

I finished my arrangement with a fuck buddy.  I feel sad over this :(  Mostly because I liked him, he liked my vagina.

I am now juggling two different men, and am going on a date with a third who I already know is not worthy of my time but he is soooo cute ;)

I have been reading up a storm - so much that the books don't even make my home page, but check out my tab at the top if you're curious to see what I've read.

I set up a social group here on Christmas Eve through meetup.com.  It has exceeded my expectations, and I wish I'd had the courage to do it a long time ago.

Despite being ridiculously busy and stressed out - I feel content :)  And happy :)

Life is Good.  And it just keeps getting better.

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