Health and Well Being

Welcome to Wellness Wednesday! It’s our mid-week wellness boost where we chat about all things related to well-being and self-care. Today we will be looking at some delicious healthy snacks for weight loss. It’s no secret that I love food! If I’m not eating I’m usually daydreaming about my next snack or meal. When I was a teen I could eat anything and not put on any weight. As I have gotten older I know that if I give in to my love for cheese, dips, chips, crackers and all the delicious snacks. Then the kilos will start to hug me around the waist and I don’t need that kind of relationship! Instead of depriving myself of delicious snacks I have embraced the concept of smart snacking. I’ve discovered some nutritious and satisfying options that I eat in moderation to satisfy my snack cravings and prevent unwanted weight gain. Here are some of my favourite weight loss-friendly snacks that I love and also have the approval of my family. Healthy Snacks For Weight Loss Greek Yoghurt Parfait This sounds super fancy but it’s simply Greek yoghurt with a layer of berries and a drizzle of honey. This creamy sweet treat is loaded with protein to keep you feeling fuller for longer. It also has the added benefit of essential nutrients and it’s low in calories but high in deliciousness. Nut Butter and Banana Sandwich Replace the usual butter or margarine with almond or peanut butter, and spread it on some whole-grain bread. Add some banana slices for an amazing combination of healthy fats, protein and fibre. Seasoned Popcorn Popcorn is a fantastic whole-grain snack and when you add your choice of seasonings it becomes a delicious healthy snack. It’s perfect for those times when you find that you are craving something savoury and satisfying. Some seasoning ideas include- Herb Seasoning: Sprinkle dried herbs such as basil, oregano, thyme or rosemary. Garlic Powder Cayenne Pepper for a spicy kick Paprika: Both sweet and smoked will add some mild heat to your popcorn Cinnamon: For a sweet twist, lightly dust your popcorn with ground cinnamon. Lemon Pepper: A zesty combination of lemon and black pepper will give your popcorn a tangy and spicy flavour. Sea Salt: Good old sea salt enhances the natural taste of popcorn minus the calories. Soy Sauce (in moderation): A few drops of low-sodium soy sauce can give your popcorn a savoury burst. Avocado If you are looking for a creamy savoury snack then why not go for avocado? Enjoy some avocado on its own for a simple and effective choice. You can also spread some avocado onto some rice cakes but avocado on its own is just as good if not better! Trail Mix If you are craving the sweet and salty crunch of conventional snacks. Create your own trail mix with nuts, dried fruits, and a small amount of dark chocolate. This delicious mix will give you a satisfying balance of flavours and it’s a fantastic healthy snack that will support your weight loss efforts. Veggie Sticks With Hummus It can be hard to let go of those potato chips but veggie sticks are a much healthier and equally delicious snack alternative. Reach for some vibrant carrots, crisp cucumbers and colourful capsicums. Dip them in creamy hummus for a delicious and satisfying crunch packed with essential nutrients. Apple Slices With Cottage Cheese Say no to calorie-dense apple pastries and go for a plate of crisp apple slices with a dollop of cottage cheese. You will enjoy an amazing crunch sensation with a good dose of protein. It’s a perfect guilt-free option! Homemade Smoothies Blend fresh or frozen fruits with Greek yoghurt and low-fat or plant-based milk for a creamy nutrient-rich smoothie. Dark Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries Chocolate cravings can be a major hurdle in your weight loss journey, however here is a healthy option that almost seems too good to be true when it comes to healthy snacks for weight loss. Dip fresh strawberries in melted dark chocolate and let them cool in the fridge. This is a perfect sweet treat that won’t ruin your weight loss progress. Hard Boiled Eggs Hard-boiled eggs are protein-packed and conveniently portable. Sprinkle a pinch of salt and pepper for added flavour. Baked Apple Chips Thinly slice apples, sprinkle with cinnamon and bake until they become crisp for a sweet low-calorie snack. Nuts Roasted nuts such as almonds, walnuts or pistachios are deliciously satisfying heart-healthy snacks. Baked Chips Opt for baked or air-fried potato chips or sweet potato chips as a lower-fat alternative to regular potato chips. Fresh Fruit Enjoy whole fresh fruits like apples, berries, or citrus fruits as a sweet, natural alternative to sugary snacks. Dark Chocolate Dark chocolate is perfect for satisfying a craving for a sweet treat. Go for a dark chocolate that is 70% or higher. Seaweed Snacks Roasted seaweed snacks are a fantastic low-calorie, salty option for when the need for a crunchy and savoury snack hits. Snack Smart! Snacking should be a joyful part of your day, and you can still enjoy a delicious treat while making healthier choices. Fresh fruit? It’s nature’s candy! Crisp and crunchy veggies? The original chips! But, here’s the catch- it’s still vital to mind the portion sizes and how often you munch on these healthy snacks. Even these fantastic healthy snacks that are helpful for weight loss can be a little sneaky if you get carried away eating too many of them.        

Hi there friends, welcome to our second edition of Wellness Wednesday. It’s our mid-week wellness boost where we chat about all things related to well-being and self-care. Today I thought we could focus on essential women’s health check-ups. I’m referring to those vital health checks we ladies need to keep us functioning at our best. Ahem, before we go ahead I have to confess something- I’m probably preaching to myself here. Because when it comes to health check-ups I am the absolute worst! I put them off, I stress about them and I just want to hide under a blanket and never have to step foot inside a doctor’s surgery…ever! The thing is, it’s not just the tests that I’m scared of. It’s mostly the results! I get so anxious worrying about the results, that by the end I have already diagnosed myself with three months to live! Crazy I know!! But after all my nonsense and carrying on (if you know me, you know what I mean) I still manage to pull myself together (eventually) and tackle those all-important health checkups. Here is a list of the health checks I keep on top of and I’ve also got a list of some that I know are important. But I haven’t quite summoned up the courage to go and get them over with. Essential Women’s Health Check-Ups My Health Checks Mammograms Here in NSW once you turn the big 5-0 you get a letter in the mail offering you a free breast screen. Happy Birthday! I don’t know what I was dreading more when I turned 50, the breast screen invitation letter or a card with a big number 50 emblazoned across the front. A few of my friends who had this exam before warned me about what to expect. They were right it wasn’t pleasant but I can’t think of any health checks that really are. Furthermore, I knew that avoiding this health check-up was pretty silly because if you can catch anything early, then the outcome is much better. Well, that’s what all my kind friends kept telling me every time I moaned about it. Anyway, in the end, I was very brave and I went ahead and got my girls checked. Then I not so patiently waited for my results to arrive in the mail. Thankfully everything was clear and now I know that every two years I will get an email reminder to make an appointment for that important mammogram. Pap Smears I wish someone would come up with a better name for this test but pap smears it is! This test is to catch cervical cancer early, which is a good thing. Before it used to be a test we had to take every two years. Fortunately, now it’s a more bearable once-every-five-year commitment. Phew! I have a very nice and patient lady doctor who puts up with me. I just get so embarrassed! After the test, I’m pretty sure the poor doctor wonders how on earth I was ever able to give birth. Honestly, I wonder that myself sometimes! Cholesterol Screening I’m all good with this test as I don’t mind needles. It’s a blood test to check cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of heart disease. Eye Exam I have been seeing an optometrist since I was a kid because I need glasses for distance. This hadn’t changed for years and I was always able to read small writing, which almost felt like a superpower to me. If we were out with friends and they were squinting to read the menu. They would always ask me to read it out for them and I felt so special. But you know what they say ‘Pride cometh before a fall’.Well, it turns out they are spot on! Now I can’t read small writing as well as I used to because it’s blurry. Heck, Even the food on my plate is blurry these days! I know that I’m overdue for an eye exam. I’m pretty sure that I will need reading glasses as well as glasses to see distance, just like my mum had. Dental Check Up It’s important to maintain oral health with regular visits to the dentist to prevent gum disease and tooth decay.  I don’t mind a visit to the dentist too much. It’s usually a fairly straightforward check and so far I only have one filling. But I’m not a fan of all the noisy instruments and the feeling that I’m going to gag. Blood Pressure Check To catch hypertension early and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. The doctor checks my blood pressure as part of the routine exam when I visit. Health Checks On My To-Do List So we’ve covered some essential women’s health check-ups that I’ve got under control, let’s take a peek at the ones I’ve been putting off (for too long, maybe) Bone Density Test: My bestie says it’s easy peasy and not a big deal, so that’s somewhat reassuring. Colonoscopy: I had one done a few years ago but…… Heart Health Check: I had an ECG before I had my thyroid removed so that counts right?   While I can’t claim to be a fearless champ when it comes to essential women’s health check-ups. I’m well aware that I have a ways to go. I’m still giving myself a pat on the back for pushing through the fears and getting them done, eventually. Now I need to dig even deeper, summon more courage and tackle those pending health check-ups that have been lingering on my list…..ugh!      

Hi friends and welcome to Wellness Wednesday. Life gets crazy busy, right? And sometimes taking care of ourselves ends up at the bottom of our never-ending list of things to do. So I thought why not have a special day just for us? Wellness Wednesday is all about finding simple ways to feel good, both inside and out. I’m excited to share personal tips, stories, and little things that can make a huge difference. I hope to keep it going regularly and it can be our midweek wellness boost. Ready to dive in? Today I’m sharing my own experience about my quest for lower back pain solutions that came in the form of an unlikely saviour-a podiatrist! Dealing With Stubborn Lower Back Pain A few years ago I had the most annoying and persistent lower back pain. The dull pain would shoot down my right leg and knee. It basically made my life a misery….Ugh! The pain would go away if I sat or lay down and I was always pain-free first thing in the morning. But sure enough, as the day went on the pain would creep in and then settle in for the whole day. And of course, working in childcare meant that I was on my feet all day long. Sometimes the pain would get so bad that I would have to lie down on the deck in the preschool playground to stretch my back. The kids thought it was hilarious but I was just trying to make it to the end of the day! No Luck With The Physiotherapist I went to see a physiotherapist who worked on my back weekly for about two months and still, I got no pain relief. Now don’t get me wrong I think physios are great. Years ago I had a back spasm and the physiotherapist did wonders for me and the treatment really did the trick. But this time around my pain just didn’t improve. Just by chance, I met another physiotherapist at my husband’s swim club and I told her all about my woes and she suggested that I might have spondylitis, which is an inflammation of the vertebrae. When I got home I googled spondylitis then panicked and pictured myself in a back brace forever. The Unexpected Turn: A Focus on Orthotics for Lower Back Pain Solution It was my husband who suggested I visit his podiatrist and I was so sceptical! I was convinced that there was no way a podiatrist could offer me any solution. After all, I thought they just dealt with feet and my feet were fine (or so I thought)! My back was the problem! But by then the pain was really getting me down and at that point, I was willing to try anything. The amazing podiatrist I saw took the time to examine me thoroughly and delivered the final diagnosis. It turned out that my nagging lower back pain was all due to the lack of proper arch support in both my feet, with my right foot being the main culprit. He explained that the discomfort on the right side of my lower back was a result of my right foot’s tendency to roll inwards with each step I took. This in turn caused my right knee to be misaligned, which then sent pain signals to my lower back. It was like a chain reaction of discomfort! Orthotics The podiatrist prescribed custom-made orthotics, he took moulds of my feet using plaster and then special orthotics were made just for me based on these moulds. I went back a couple of weeks later once the orthotics were ready and I honestly didn’t expect any great results. I was full of doubt and seriously sceptical. But guess what? They worked like a charm. Once I put them in my shoes and started walking things changed almost immediately. The pain went away and it was like a mini miracle! Who would have thought that something as straightforward as orthotics turned out to be the answer I needed? Take a look at my orthotics. If you look at the bottom picture you can clearly see that the right one provides more arch support compared to the left. And that is exactly what I needed-that extra arch support on the right side to tackle the pain in my lower back, leg and knee. The podiatrist advised me to wear the orthotics mainly during working hours. So now all I wear to work are comfortable shoes that will fit my orthotics. As you can see they may not be the most glamorous, but comfort is boss! In a nutshell, that’s my story. Wearing orthotics during work hours and opting for shoes that accommodate them has been a total game changer. Their impact on eliminating my back pain is undeniable. So if you’re grappling with back pain, consider consulting a podiatrist. It could be a worthwhile option to explore!    

I have always been really interested in one fascinating aspect of human nature – our sleep patterns and styles. Some people have the knack and enthusiasm for greeting the light of day with joy and energy. While there are others (like me) who thrive at night when all is still and quiet. I guess you could almost say that it’s like we have two sleep teams: morning people and night owls. I have often asked myself. Why does this happen? So I have been doing a bit of reading on this topic and this is what I have come up with. Sleep Patterns And Habits The Internal Clock Ok so apparently we all have an internal clock called the circadian rhythm. This helps our bodies know when it is time to be awake and alert and when it is time to rest and sleep. It follows a 24-hour cycle and affects things like our energy levels and body temperature throughout the day. This rhythm helps us to stay in sync with the natural day-night cycle. We get sleepy at night and feel more active during the day. You could describe it as having a timekeeper inside of us that guides our sleep and wake-up schedule. This internal timekeeper has some flexibility so this accounts for why we have different sleep styles. Genetics Interestingly our genes also play a huge role in determining whether we are morning people or night owls. It’s in our DNA! So if you have early risers in your family then chances are you might be carrying the same wake-up-at-the-crack-of-dawn genes. Lifestyle Another interesting point is that the environment and daily habits also shape our sleep style. For example, work schedules, social commitments and daily routines can influence whether we become morning people or night owls. Society’s Influence Our ancestors had it easy because they were able to maintain a more natural sleep routine. Their sleep aligned with the rising of the sun and the setting of the sun. But in today’s fast-paced and technology-driven world, our sleep patterns have become quite irregular. And this is due to the constant availability of artificial light and the demands of a busy lifestyle. Finding Balance With Adequate Sleep Now it’s important to address something important – sleep! It really doesn’t matter if you’re a night owl or a morning person. What is crucial for our well-being is that we get enough sleep. Adequate sleep helps us stay focussed, alert and healthy. So go ahead and embrace your unique sleep habits guilt-free but just remember to get enough sleep. And consider the following tips to make sure that you get optimal sleep regardless of whether you are a morning person or a night owl. Stick to a Routine: Be consistent with your sleep schedule so that it aligns with your internal clock, promoting healthy sleep patterns. Wake Up Happy: Begin your day with a peaceful morning routine as it will set the tone for the rest of the day Sunlight Exposure: Get some natural sunlight in the morning to help regulate your natural sleep patterns. Sleep Environment: Make sure that your bedroom is cool, dark and quiet. You really want your bedroom to be conducive to sleep. Gradual Adjustment: If your commitments or work schedule change and you have to adjust your bedtime or wake-up routines. It’s best to do this gradually for a smoother transition. Respect Your Rythm: Whenever you can, listen to your body’s natural sleep style and let it guide your daily plans to perform at your best. Why I Embrace My Night Owl Vibes Recently I decided to just go with it and embrace my night owl tendencies. But it wasn’t always this way for me. I used to feel guilty about not being a morning person but now I have just let go of the guilt. I stay up late being productive and then I sleep like a champ. Who knows maybe one day this will change. But for now, I am totally ok with being on team night owl and I’m enjoying the magic and serenity of the night. So no matter what sleep style you embrace, remember to prioritise adequate sleep – it’s a real game changer for better sleep patterns!  

Hey, there lovely friends! Wow, it feels great to be back and saying hi to all of you after a few days away. I’ve missed you guys and am super excited to catch up with all of you. So, in case you have been wondering where I have been. Well, I’ve just undergone a total thyroidectomy, and let me tell you. I’m so glad it’s all over! Thyroid Problems A few years ago I went to my doctor about a sore neck. And she found some nodules on my thyroid. This unexpected and totally unwelcome discovery led me down a path of incessant worry and anxiety for years. You can read all about it here, anyway in March this year I finally had enough. I plucked up the courage and made an appointment to see an endocrinologist. And when he examined me in May he immediately recommended that I get a total thyroidectomy. He said that I had three nodules and a cyst. If I didn’t do anything about it now, the cyst was bound to give me problems in the future. Once he told me this I just agreed to go ahead with the total thyroidectomy. I was done with worrying and resigned to getting it over and done with asap! So it was a huge relief to book the first available surgery date-15th of June. Thyroidectomy So the day that I had dreaded and worried about for what feels like forever finally arrived. And early Thursday morning Steve drove me to the hospital. And I tried really hard to act like a brave grown-up even though I felt like a scared kid. I’m just no good with any medical stuff. The last time that I had surgery was when I was about four years old to get my tonsils removed. We waited for ages for the nurse to come and finalise my hospital admission. See the scans in the brown bag? I joked to Steve that I guess I’ve reached that time in my life when I have now started to collect these. Anyway, the nurse was really lovely, she asked a bunch of health-related questions and she assured me that everything would be fine. She could tell I was clearly super anxious. The nurse led me to my hospital bed and gave me a blue gown, compression stockings and non-slip socks for me to get changed into. I liked the blue and pink colour combo, they used to give out bright red ones. (My mum had quite a few red ones from all of her procedures) But I think that these are much prettier! I said bye to Steve and after he left I burst into tears. Yep, I had run out of bravery by then! The sweet nurse gave me a cuddle and I will forever be grateful to her for her kindness and understanding. The rest is a bit of a blur but I remember being wheeled to the operating theatre and thinking about all those medical shows that I really wished I had NOT watched. Then I spoke to the anesthesiologist, said hi to the surgeon and his lovely assistant and then it was nighty night for me. The Surgery Was Finally Over I think I went into surgery around 11 or 12 and I woke up around 3 pm. Later in the day another kind nurse gave me something to eat and she helped me get changed out of the blue hospital gown and into my pyjamas. I had a drain thing sticking out of my neck so I needed help, plus I felt so groggy and sore. Groggy, sore but oh so relieved that it was over! My wonderful boys came right up to my room once they heard I was moved to the ward, they had been waiting around at the hospital. My cousins also came to visit and I got so many lovely texts and messages from kind friends. Steve, Sam and Luke stayed until the end of visiting hours and we watched an episode of Dr Who and an episode of Star Trek on Sam’s laptop. Haha, I have absolutely no clue what happened in either show! I was still floating in the world of anesthesia. Before the boys left to go home my surgeon came around to see how I was doing and he asked me if I wanted to see a photo of my thyroid that was removed. I had signed some paperwork at his office giving permission for them to take photos to show medical students. So I said yes! I did indeed want to see it and so did Luke and Sam, even Steve who gets easily grossed out agreed. Well, after seeing that photo I am so happy that I underwent a total thyroidectomy. I could see the large nodule that had been visible on my neck. But I was so surprised to see that it was nothing compared to the size of the huge ugly cyst that had been growing on the right lobe of my thyroid. Oh my goodness I don’t know how that thing sat inside my neck but it was certainly taking up a lot of space! Thyroxine Early Friday morning I took my first-ever thyroxine tablet. And now that I don’t have a thyroid anymore, I will be taking this little tablet daily for the rest of my life. Thyroxine, also known as T4 is a synthetic hormone that I now have to take to make up for what my thyroid used to do naturally. Thyroxine will ensure that my metabolism stays balanced and my energy levels remain steady. Home! Steve picked me up from the hospital on Saturday morning and I was so happy to come home. Sushi kept meowing and meowing when I walked in. I think she might have missed me. I am just so incredibly grateful for the unwavering kindness and support from my family and friends during this time. Their calls, texts, and

Hey friends I thought I’d jump on the blog and give you a health update and share about my appointment that I had today with an endocrinologist to finally get an answer as to what to do about my thyroid nodules. That dreaded appointment has been hanging over my head like a massive weight for a couple of months! Thyroid Nodules But first I’ll backtrack a bit and fill you in. About five years ago I had a really bad cold that I couldn’t shake. I coughed so much that my neck was really hurting badly and so I went to the doctor. It must have hurt a lot because I try and avoid anything to do with doctors as much as possible. Don’t get me wrong, I do all the sensible required check-ups but anything medical always sends me into a real panic. Anyway, the doctor felt my neck and told me should could feel nodules on my thyroid. At this point, I really regretted having gone to see her because she wasn’t meant to find anything! My very thorough doctor sent me for scans and then when she got the results she suggested I get a fine needle aspiration just to check that one of the nodules… nodules…she said nodules!!! Not one, but multiple!! She wanted to rule out cancer. Well, that was the last time I went to see her! (dumb right, I know). A long while later I went to see another doctor who told me what I wanted to hear. Let’s just monitor them and see if they grow. Yes, let’s.. that’s perfect! I’m down for monitoring instead of biopsies. Excellent! So for the next couple of years, I monitored and worried…. a lot. Instead of ruling out cancer with a simple fine needle aspiration. I just worried and consulted Dr Google…great plan. Fine Needle Aspiration Two years later the follow-up scans showed that something in one of the nodules was a bit suspicious and I really should get a fine needle aspiration. I cried, prayed and hyperventilated, I had a panic attack in my car. But I went ahead and had the FNA and the result came back. No cancer….phew! So I was sort of relieved but not really because the nodule at the front of my neck was bigger and obvious. Two more years passed and one ultrasound later showed that the nodules had indeed grown slightly. Sigh! Then one day I was talking to a work colleague and she said “Hey what’s that tumour on your neck?” Holy cow! Not really a great thing to hear. And I really think that maybe some people need to remember to be less blunt! Obsessing Those words “Hey what’s that tumour on your neck” sent me into a spiral of incessant worry and self-consciousness. Every time I looked in the mirror there was the nodule. Every time I walked past a window and caught my reflection there was the nodule. Whenever I was talking to someone I would put my hand over my neck or use my hair to discreetly cover my neck. Some days I was just so tired and fed up feeling constantly worried, obsessing and feeling self-conscious. I got to the stage where I thought why don’t I just go ahead and draw a couple of eyes and a smiley face on my nodule, give it a name and introduce it to my friends as my new twin growing out of the front of my neck! I’ve spent so long hiding my thyroid nodules that I didn’t have a pic to show you. So I snapped a quick one. See that guy in the middle of my neck? I think it looks bigger in real life. I Got Brave……Finally! Then one day this year I finally had enough! So I got brave and went ahead and made an appointment to see an endocrinologist. I waited a couple of months because the doctor was fully booked but finally, today was the day of my appointment. The doctor was efficient and I felt comfortable and confident that he would finally give me a solution. He checked me, asked questions and did an ultrasound on my neck. To my surprise, he told me that the obvious nodule at the front of my neck is not the problem! Nope apparently I have many nodules but there is no cancer. I loved hearing those words ‘no cancer’. I could almost breathe again when I heard him say them. Even though I had been told that the nodules were benign a couple of years ago. Hearing this from the endocrinologist was extra comforting. But he said that I do have a large cyst on my thyroid and that’s the problem because it’s going to continue growing and never going to go away. He said it will cause pain and problems, especially when I get a cold or a cough. Apparently, coughing can cause the blood vessels to burst and make the cyst bleed internally. Ugh! Surgery So he recommended that I have my thyroid removed. Yep hasta la vista thyroid! And do you know what? I have never felt so relieved in my whole life! I have been worried for so many years that now even the thought of surgery doesn’t feel as bad. Crazy right? My husband was with me and he was looking at me all shocked and I was like YES! Let’s do this asap!! So I have an appointment to see the surgeon on the 14th of June and then have surgery on the 15th of June. Both are the first available appointments and I jumped on them! I know that as the day of the surgery gets closer I’ll be shaking like a leaf. The thought of going under anesthesia makes me feel uneasy. I haven’t had surgery since I was 4 when I had my tonsils removed. I am scared. But today for the first time in years I am not

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner so it’s the perfect opportunity to show your special person just how much they mean to you. But it’s not just about the gifts, it’s also about how to keep the spark alive in your relationship. So today I have put together a few tips that we can all use to help keep our relationships strong and healthy. How To Keep The Spark Alive In Your Relationship Communicate Good communication would have to be the most important element in any relationship. So make time to listen to your partner, be open and honest and express how you feel. Communication is key to making sure to address any issues that come up. Keep in mind that consistent communication will keep your relationship strong. Long working days and the general busyness of everyday life can make it hard to keep the lines of communication open. Therefore sending texts to your partner throughout the day can be a simple and effective way to stay connected. A simple sweet message expressing affection is a great way to show love. And even a short message like “hey how’s your day” can show your partner that you are thinking of them. Be Polite Sometimes when you have been together forever. It can be easy to slip into the habit of taking each other for granted and forget to be polite. So don’t forget to say ” please” and “thank you”. And genuinely complimenting your significant other can go a long way in making them feel appreciated and valued. Being polite and respectful in your everyday interactions is an important aspect of maintaining a healthy and happy relationship. And will be sure to keep the spark alive in a relationship. Try New Things Together Plan some new activities that you can both experience together. This is a great way to keep things alive and exciting in a relationship. Remember back when you were first dating and you couldn’t wait for the next fun date that you had thoughtfully planned out? Keep the spark in your relationship by planning and exploring new experiences together. This is a great way to help bring you closer. And who doesn’t love having a fun date to look forward to? Keep The Romance Alive Holding hands or cuddling can help keep the spark alive by creating a sense of closeness and intimacy. Physical affection is an essential part of maintaining a strong emotional connection. Express Your Love To Your Partner In Their Love Language Showing your partner love in their love language is a meaningful way to make them feel valued and appreciated. If your partner’s love language is words of affirmation then compliment them or express your love through kind words. If their love language is physical touch then try giving them long warm hugs or holding their hand. If they appreciate acts of service and this speaks to their heart then do something that will make their life easier. For example, you could cook or clean for them. If your partner’s love language is gifts then surprise them with a meaningful token of your affection. Kindness Show your partner how much you care for them by surprising them with thoughtful gestures. Acts of kindness are the best way to intentionally communicate how much you love and appreciate them. Take A Trip Down Memory Lane Reliving some of your favourite moments together by looking at old photos and reminiscing about the good times. Is a sure way to reignite the spark in your relationship. Schedule Regular Date Nights Make time for each other and plan regular date nights. You can choose to go to a fancy restaurant, pack a picnic, or spend a cozy night at home. It really doesn’t matter. The most important thing is that you focus on each other and spend uninterrupted quality time together. And now for the fun part, Valentine’s Day gifts! If you are running short on time and ideas then get creative. Surprise your partner with a special date or a staycation. Spend the day together and do something that you both enjoy. Maybe a picnic, hike or even a cozy movie night at home. It doesn’t really matter what it is as long as you both spend time doing something you love. Cook a romantic meal together and enjoy dinner for two by candlelight. Give each other meaningful gifts that show how much you care. Write your partner a love letter or choose a cute card that they will appreciate. In conclusion, keeping the spark alive in a relationship takes effort and intentional actions from both partners. Whether it’s finding new ways to show love in your partner’s love language, trying new things together, or making time for each other by scheduling regular date nights. The key is to never stop investing in your relationship. So spend some time reflecting on what makes your relationship special and unique. And remember that a strong and healthy relationship needs ongoing attention and nurturing. Putting in the effort to keep the spark shining bright is so worth it!   Related Articles Stay-At-Home Date Night Ideas  

Hi friends, I am really happy to be linking up with Shay and Erika for this month’s edition of “Let’s Look”. Today we are talking about how we all keep healthy. Thanks so much for stopping by to have a read, I always appreciate each and every one of you! And I am always so grateful for your comments. So let’s jump right in and look at how I keep healthy! Eat Healthy Food Thankfully I am not a fussy eater and I can pretty much eat anything. I love food and if I’m not eating, then I will probably be daydreaming about my next meal. Like I’ve said before I try to keep my diet pretty healthy during the weekdays. But then on the weekends, I am more than happy to indulge in some yummy (not so healthy) treats. During the week I will usually pack myself a salad for my work lunch. Then add some protein like tuna, grilled chicken breast slices, or a boiled egg. I also like to eat avocado and salmon because….hello high cholesterol!! I also have a piece of fruit in the mornings at around 11 am. We have a pretty strict healthy eating policy at preschool for the children. So I will always eat a piece of fruit with the kids when they have their morning “fruit break”. Doing this sets a good example for them and it’s healthy for me. Plus they always get very excited when they have the same fruit that I have!! They’re so cute! For dinner, I like to cook meals (usually from scratch) that will always include either a salad or vegetables. We don’t eat much take-away food and I am always conscious of nasty hidden additives and preservatives in ready-made sauces etc. That’s not to say that I never buy them because I do. Working full-time means that it’s a good idea to have a plan B. So I will keep a jar of some kind of ready-made sauce in the pantry just in case. I Keep Company With Good People I don’t like drama or gossip! So I make sure to stay well away. I have a few very good, kind, and treasured friends. I keep healthy by spending time with these friends, they make me laugh, we have fun, share similar interests, and we can count on each other during the hard times too. I Have The Necessary Check-Ups This one is a hard one for me as I DO NOT like going to the doctor. But I do go to get the necessary check-ups and yearly blood tests. Ugh!!! Self Care I really try hard to incorporate some self-care into my day. Whether it’s something small like taking time to enjoy a cup of tea, stretch or do some breathing exercises. If I am able to then I really like to set aside some time to indulge in things like doing my nails or spending twenty minutes on the lounge with a face mask on. Self-care is definitely one of my favourite things I do to keep healthy. Stay Active Working in a preschool means that I am active all day long! Which is a good thing because I don’t go to the gym. I used to do Zumba which I absolutely loved but I don’t anymore because our fun instructors stopped holding the classes about two years ago. I can’t seem to sit still for very long and I am always doing something around the house. I like to have music playing when I’m doing my chores. If I’m home alone then I like to bust out and do some dance moves while I’m cleaning. Haha, but that’s only if I’m home alone!! Last term I started walking home from work. But that was only out of necessity because we were down to one car after my husband had an accident. I’m on winter break at the moment but I think that when I go back to work I will make sure to walk there and back more often. It’s a good twenty-five-minute walk and I found that I did enjoy it a lot last term. Be Sun Smart I also keep healthy by making sure to wear sun protection. The children at preschool have to wear a hat when they are playing in the playground and so do the staff. I wear a wide-brimmed hat, apply sunscreen and try to remember to wear my sunglasses all year round. I really want to avoid harmful UV light that can lead to nasty things like cataracts and macular degeneration. Drink Water I try really hard to make sure that I drink enough water! It’s a challenge and some days I am better at it than others. But I do try! I Brush And Floss Nothing feels better than a nice fresh mouth with clean teeth. I make sure that I brush morning and night as well as floss daily. Up until last year, I had no cavities and I was very happy with myself. But then a dentist check-up revealed that I had one small cavity…boo!!! ********** These are some of the things that I do or try to do to keep healthy. I’m sure that I could do plenty more. There is always room for improvement and I look forward to hearing any suggestions or comments. I really hope you have a great day and stay healthy! 😊  

My Ten Winter Essentials! This week has been so cold, rainy, and windy! It was raining so hard the other day when I got home, I had to put up my big umbrella just to get out of the car and go inside the house. I was trying to save my hair from getting wet and frizzy because you know…….#priorities. Well, I kid you not when I say that I nearly got blown away!! It was actually funny and I couldn’t stop laughing, I was holding on for dear life, getting blown here there, and everywhere. I must have looked like a nut!! Aussie Winters I know that compared to many other countries. Australian winters are actually quite mild. Recently I saw a news article about a TickToker who thought it was hilarious seeing Aussies wearing The North Face jackets and woolen coats when it was 16C and sunny. Well, I was one of those ones wearing a wooly coat and gloves! I wasn’t laughing, I was freezing!! The thing about Australian winters is that it’s just three long months of being cold and this year very wet, thanks to La Niña. We also don’t have a fun festive season to look forward to either like they do in the Northern Hemisphere. I mean we sometimes celebrate Christmas in July but it’s just not the same. So I’m not a big fan of winter and I much prefer summer. I also haven’t yet found my love for “all things fall” or Autumn as we call it. Give me warm spring or even better, hot summer temperatures all year long! My husband thinks I’m crazy, he can’t stand the heat. Winter Essentials To Beat The Cold This year I am working on being more positive about winter even though this past week has been extra challenging because the weather is just so miserable. Plus, according to the bureau of meteorology, we have ten more days of solid rain coming up. Sigh! Anyway, enough whinging! I am trying really hard to focus on the nice things about winter because there are many. This year I am determined that winter is going to be all about being cozy and not just about being cold!! So I have put together a list of my ten winter essentials. These ten winter essentials are actually helping me to enjoy the winter months this year. And I thought that if you are anything like me and struggle with the cold weather. Then you might hopefully find this list helpful. 1. Nice Steamy Hot Drinks Find a mug you love. This year I am using a cute pink mug that my cousin gave me and it makes me so happy. I love the size, the chunkiness of it, and how I can wrap my hands around it to warm them up when I am drinking something hot. Yes, I really am having a love affair with my special mug this winter. Once you have found a mug that you really love then all your winter drinks will taste so much more satisfying. Trust me! Another thing that I have been doing is enjoying some of my favourite go-to hot drinks like Herbal Teas Camomile- for calmness and relaxation Ginger and Tumeric- The ginger adds an element of spice and mild heat. While the lemon tea is full of delicious citrus zing. Recently I was fighting off a cold and these teas were so soothing. Chai- Chai tea is my favourite winter tea. It’s so comforting to drink a delicious steamy cup of chai tea on a cold day. I really love the gorgeous aroma of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom. Mmmmmm!!! Hot Chocolate Winter is a perfect time to enjoy hot chocolate! I usually just use the Jarrah sachets but I recently discovered Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate sachets and oh my word. They are just divine!! Coffee I prefer tea but some mornings I like a cup of Moconna coffee with a splash of milk. If I feel like adding some sweetener to my coffee then I will add a dash of hazelnut syrup. I also really like these Moconna cappuccino sachets. They are creamy and velvety with just the right amount of froth. 2. Invest In Warm Clothes For years I shivered through playground duty in the coldest playground ever! I layered up but only ever wore a short thin hooded jacket over the top. And it just wasn’t enough. This year I was determined to find a more appropriate jacket. I thought about buying a down jacket from Uniqlo but I wasn’t too keen on the style or the price. Luckily I managed to find a really nice long Calvin Klein jacket this year. It has a nice shape as it inches slightly at the waist. But aside from how cute I think it looks, this jacket has quite literally changed my life. It is just so warm!!! Playground duty doesn’t make me want to cry this year. Because when I wear my jacket I feel like I’m wearing a quilt! 3. Enjoy Comfort Food I love cooking up delicious comfort food like beef stews, chicken casseroles, cottage pies, roasts with creamy mashed potatoes, veggies, and lots of gravy. Soups are also great for lunch or dinner, especially pumpkin soup! I truly think that probably the best thing about winter is all the delicious comfort food you can cook up and enjoy!! 4. Light Candles Lighting candles just cheers me up! So candles are one of the most important winter essentials for me. I love a scented candle, tea lights, or even just a plain old white candle. It starts to get dark outside at around 5 pm so that’s usually the time when I start lighting some candles. A couple of years ago I bought some candles from Pottery Barn and these clever battery-operated candles have a timer. I have set them so they automatically turn on every afternoon at 4.30 pm. 5. Read