I'm shaking the winter blues..

Can you believe that is it nearly the 1st of June?  Half of 2012 is gone and soon we will be on the tail end of the year. 

Did you have any big plans for the year..or 'resolutions'? Are you yet to achieve them or have you already outdone your expectations?

I personally don't ever plan any big goals..sure I have goals but they are not set in concrete at the start of the year.  I kind of go with the flow and like to see where things take me.  It has been this way since kids anyway.  Planning and kids can leave me a little frustrated at times so I tend to shy away from it.

I do tend to get a lot of things done in summer and use winter as a 'maintenence' period.  Cold weather and I just don't get along that well.  I try to see positives in this time of the year but struggle sometimes to enjoy the shorter days and colder mornings.

According to my iphone, these are some of the small things that brought a smile to my face this month.

+ Blue skies - this month was the first probably since last year we have had consistent blue skies for more than a few days...

+ Acai berry bowls and smoothies - my new indulgence and obsession.

+ Trips to the park - summer brings heat that I just can't bear when it comes to pushing swings but at the moment it is actually nice to get out and feel the warmth of the sun and crisp air. 

Are you a winter or summer person and what makes you enjoy one season over another?

My husband's version of blogging

Well, I am spent.  The girls are finally in bed and I am not far behind them.  It is now 7.10pm on Sunday night.

An 1.5 hour SUP paddle race into the rising tidal current will do that to me.  Luckily I have something up my sleeve I can easily blog about...my husband played around with some video taken from my surf on Saturday and put it to music.  It looks kinda cool.  I have tried many a times to get him to post something on my blog, so in a way this is it. His version of a blog post....

I was playing around on my new 12'6 board in the smallish waves and just trying to get a feel for the new shape.

I hope you all have a great week!

Life lessons from the past...

I often have days when the girls are pushing all my buttons. I can wake up relaxed and then BAM! before you know it, I have lost my cool over something the girls are doing and my shoulders up are near my ears. 

It used to be easy to block out other people's attitudes and moods but when it comes to your own family it is a bit different - that invisible thread lingers. 

Families were invented to teach us unconditional love.

It doesn't matter what they look like or what they give us, we learn to appreciate them for who they are and accept their shortcomings.

I found this little paragraph in a book I was reading to one of my girls.  The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams used to be a favourite book when I was little so I am enjoying reading it again.   When the skin horse is trying to describe to the rabbit (both are toys) what it is like to feel unconditional love this is what he said.

" Real isn't how you are made. It's a thing that happens to you.  When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become REAL...it doesn't happen all at once.  You become. It takes a long time.  That's why it doesn't often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or have to be carefully kept.  Generally, byt the time you are REAL, most of you hair has been loved off and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby.  But these things don't matter at all, because once you are REAL you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand"

As I have grown older I now see a different perspective on this paragraph. 

Do you remember this book? Do you have a fave childhood book that shares a lesson on life?

My 5 tips that may help you NOT fall victim to the winter lurkies

It's that inevitable time of year again, where every second person seems to be falling victim to a cold flu or some other unknown winter lurky.

If it's not your own kids sniffling, it is the kids at kindy or your work colleagues that are harbouring a whopper and ready to share the love..And, as you know once it enters the house it is like rampid wildfire and it feels like you are playing the waiting game, to see who it is tagging next.

There is only so much you can do to avoid the spread of germs without feeling like a total social outcast.  As I see it you have two options.

1. Rely on the nutrients from your food and immune system to guide you through or
2. Be proactive and support your body with supplements and a little bit of caution

I prefer no. 2...

+ I must confess that I am an antibacterial hand wipe fiend and have been known to have 4 packets on the go at one time. The car, the handbag, the house, the change table - as I see it, if I can prevent one less illness a year, I have done my job. Some might say I am inhibiting the natural immunity of being in contact with some germs....good on them, they can have them, all of them!

+ My mother always used to say that the flu spreads at our yearly state 'Ekka" exhibition - highly populated crowded events, and she is probably right.  I try to avoid them and anything else crowded.

+ We are big on olive leaf extract - if I see a special on these bottles I grab 4.  This is liquid gold and with it's high potency levels of antioxidants it is said to be 400% higher than Vitamin C.  Everyone in our family gets a swig of this at night. Great as a throat gargle as well.

+ You can't expect your body to ward off incoming enemies if your not eating correctly.  Add garlic to your bakes and meals and extra veggies. Top up on your good bacteria (probiotics) which can be found in yoghurt or supplements. 

+ Try to stay on top of things - stress, lack of sleep, just too much of anything can leave us vulnerable.  Burning the candle at both ends at this time of the year is not the wisest move to make. 

I find it hard to afford the time to be sick while I have little ones demanding my attention so with a little bit of diligence hopefully these tips can bring one less sore throat or cough into your household.

In the meantime, I do have the vaposteamers at the ready...touch wood!!

So I am interested to know, tell me, what are your tips and tricks to staying healthy over winter?

PS. I have drawn the winner of my BSc prizepack and the winner is Trudi Davies, Trudi, please email at ironmumkarla@gmail.com with your address details and I will have the pack sent out to you!  Congratulations

Go mum!

I was going to write a post on how cool it is to be part of one of the fastest growing sports in the world....but have since decided not to.  I will save this one for another day.

As soon as I downloaded my camera shots onto the computer I couldn't go past sharing this little bit of cuteness....

This is my cheer squad spuring my on during the final part of my paddle today.

The SUPSA 2012 Creek to Creek SUP race, was run in perfect conditions, and saw many first timers giving it a go. Magic day.  The race course was set from inside Currumbin creek and finishing inside Tallebudgera creek via an ocean paddle (about 8km). 

I had actually done a bit of training before this event, so felt really strong the whole way. The race was handicap system so we were sent off at intervals with the times being adjusted at the finish.  With a 3rd place in my class, I am totally stoked, with most of Australia's top paddlers also competing.

The race also set a record as being the biggest in Australia at 90 competitors.

Anyways I have a few more coming up in the next few weeks and am super excited. 

SO. MUCH. FUN!

A rediscovered 'happy place'

My mum, brother and I with dad sporting one of his fave shirts

Yesterday, I dropped into my parents for an ad lib visit.   Mum was walking the dog before she hit the gym and dad was in his bike kit ready to peddle off to his new found hobby.

When I say new, I don't mean brand new but more so rediscovered.  Dad now volunteers his time and skills to teach special need kids how to sail.

From early as I can remember we used to spend many a weekend down at the beach watching and waiting for dad to compete in catamaran racing. He was good at it too, and probably where my passion for competing to win and the surf began

Anyways, today presented itself with the perfect opportunity to go and watch, so Summer and I jumped in the car and met him out there. By the time we arrived he was already set up and sailing with co- yachtsman on board.

Dad sailing yesterday

I got talking to the organiser on the bank about the program and how some of the kids have represented Australia at the Olympics.  Then he said something that made me stop. "Your dad is enjoying seeing the change he can bring to the kids day".  This touched me and filling me with warmth.  I felt so proud of him.

I could have stayed there for hours just watching him, it was so peaceful and relaxing. I fully understand why dad loves it. I am so thrilled to see him out there enjoying the sport of sailing while helping out.

Later in the morning I text a photo of dad sailing to my husband, and his reply was "He loves it".  I replied back with no hesitation "It is his happy place".

To me your 'happy place' is defined as somewhere you feel at ease with the world and where your troubles are left behind for a while. It can be imaginary , but like my dad, my happy place is the ocean and feeling the flow and energy it brings.

Do you have a happy place, is it real or imaginary?

Have you entered this week's giveaway yet?  Hurry, I am drawing it on Monday!

Looking hot when it's cold outside!

I have been quite a sight at my morning workouts of late, I absolutely demise feeling cold and will do anything in my power to keep warm.  This does not necessarily mean I am making a fashion statement by any means, ooooh no!.  The main objective is to block out the chill but still be able to somewhat achieve a training session without feeling like the michelin man!

Apart from running, standup paddling with a local group has brought out my finest getup.  On go the boots, gloves, beenie, wetsuit tights, singlet and thermal top.  This is all good of course as long as there is no tippage into the water!  I do warm up eventually and I end up with a little pile on the beach at the end of the session.

In the spirit of looking good this winter, I found some cute little pieces that would go down very well with anyone brave enough to endure a winter workout.

 Oh how hot are these long sleeve tees from Lululemon . Perfect with the built in gloves!

I love tights and have been know to wear them all day long, how nice are these from Lorna Jane?

The extremities can't be forgotten and with neck warmers, nonslip socks and gloves, it should make for one toasty little workout!

What do you wear to keep warm during winter workouts?  Do you have any quirky little fashions you would like to share?