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Rest

Today was no easy feat, it was a day of prep for a busy weekend of weddings which involved a lot of organisation and lifting heavy furniture.  It was DIFFICULT as I found myself having dizzy spells and felt lightheaded.  It didn't help that I have an oncoming cold, and a sore throat.  Thank goodness for my colleague Kim for being awesome-sauce!

This was my body's way of saying, "rest, you do too much!"

Against my better judgement, the stubborn Taurean in me persisted through a WOD yesterday.  My husband had already given me the "go home" spiel, but I wasn't having any of it.  I didn't want to miss out on 1 RM week.  That was a stupid decision.

So here I am now, on the couch, feeling sorry for myself for something that was completely preventable.  Sometimes, I just need to learn how to listen to my body and say no....

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Feeling as sick as a dog! :(

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Whole 30 - Round 2!!

HAPPY FRIDAY!!

I've embarked on another Whole30 journey, and I'm into my 7th day of clean eating!

I won't lie - it's much harder the second time around as my husband isn't doing it with me.  But, I've made it so far!! To top it all off, I've hit 2 PB's and it isn't even the end of the week!

40 kg snatch

55 kg squat clean

We're doing squats tonight and last PB was 85 kilos, I'd be happy to hit 90 kgs!  I'd like to think it's all because of Whole30 ;o)  Stay tuned for recipes I love during this process!

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Life as a Wedding Planner and Stylist

Working in the business of weddings was a dream that I've always had since I first walked down the aisle to my husband.  It was the one thing I had planned from start to finish that gave me utter fulfillment! 

Jason and I got married twice, first in the Gold Coast, and secondly in Manila.  Both times we cried, both times I loved every single aspect, including the planning!  I would have never been able to do it without the help of my mom and wedding planner! Looking back on these photos make me wish I can re-live it all over again!

Photos by Nelwin Uy

I wasn't sure what part of the business of making people happy I wanted to be in, all I knew was I NEEDED to be a part of it.  I dabbled with a few things, and ultimately became a part of the fabulous team at Sugar and Spice Events as a wedding planner and stylist.  To this day, I still find myself shedding a tear or two when I see the groom's face light up as his bride walks down the aisle; that and when they say their vows!

Working in the world of events in general isn't as glamorous as most people think it may be.  It's composed of long hours, minimal weekends off, tiered feet and knee deep in dirt.  Yes, this is the absolute truth when putting together something as beautiful as this...

But reminiscing on all the logistical obstacles that occurred on that day are nothing compared to the fulfillment it gives me when I see these photos.  I'd like to think that we've made a big impact on the bride and groom's special day, that they'll remember how gorgeous it was for a lifetime! 

The last eight months at S&S has taught me a lot about myself.  It has made me realise that it wasn't all about furthering my career.  To me at least, it was all about making connections with people.  I love creating a relationship with my bride and helping her turn her dreams of a perfect wedding as a little girl into a reality.  There's something so fulfilling about being a part of that landmark moment in their life. 

But it isn't just about my relationship with my clients, it's also the connections I have made with my colleagues in the industry.  Everyone has a story to tell, and I have my heart open to each and every one of them. 

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2013 - A Year in Review

Wow! I can't believe that 2013 has come and gone so quickly.  Time escapes me!  How I wish we could bottle up moments in time and hang them up on a hundred year old tree to pull them down occasionally, to jump back into that moment and relive it once again.  Oh if only!

Source: http://bryanstovall.wordpress.com

I've decided to go back to blogging, as it has always been a form of escape and release.  The year that has gone has definitely been a time of realisation.  As I sat on my reading chair yesterday afternoon, I went through every month on my schedule diary and every blog entry from 2013. There is definitely SO MUCH to be thankful for!

I also surprised myself, I've accomplished everything that I have set out to do on my goal list.  When I first wrote them down, I always thought that there was no way I was going to get through that very long list.  But low and behold, without even thinking of it - here I am, surprising myself. 

January and February were months of health and fitness, I joined a bootcamp in the hope of kicking my derriere back into gear!  An ex professional ballerina turned fitness goddess helped me gain my confidence back!  For that, I am forever thankful!  My husband and I also trialed the Paleo lifestyle.  We can now firmly say that this stuff works!  It may not be for everyone, but it most certainly is for us! This has given me the knowledge to be more aware about the quality of food that goes into my body.  For the first time in this lifetime, my fridge is empty at the end of every week, with close to zero wastage; and we feel great!

March introduced my husband and I to CROSSFIT!  At first, we were very much intimidated and skeptical about this new "trend" of fitness.  Later did we come to realise that it was more than that, it was everything and more that I have been looking for in a fitness regimen.  I started with the confidence of a nocturnal animal fleeing from it's predator in broad daylight.  Little did I know that this "cult" would help me overcome a lot of my fears and hesitations.  Thank you Crossfit Barrier Reef, I am forever grateful to all of you!

Source: Crossfit Barrier Reef Facebook Page

Ahhhhh April, May and June, you were a touch difficult.  This month saw me traveling all over Australia for a company I have poured every ounce of my belief in.  The Company-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named (ala Lord Voldemort) sent me to all the major cities and I fell in love with - Canberra.  I know, people find this odd when asked what my favourite city to visit is.  I'm a history and arts buff, so having the opportunity to visit the War Memorial and The National Museum of Australia was every bit exhilarating for me!  If anything, I was gutted that I didn't have enough time to read every single artifact description and see all the other museums around town!  I was also, able to visit my dear friend in Melbourne.  That was special!  Melbourne was also the city where work tore into my morals.  Without getting into too much detail, the lesson learned from Melbourne is; once work starts to contradict your morals; exit gracefully but quickly.  There's no use giving your everything to a company that doesn't see the value in people.  Darwin was a very picturesque city and I love the canvas that nature has painted.  It is every bit as beautiful as what everyone tells you, pictures simply don't do it any justice!  Rockhampton was the biggest challenge of them all, this was where I decided to finally exit gracefully after a long stint of traveling for the Company-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named.  After EVERYTHING that had happened in those three months, I realised that I was a damn good and hardworking individual.  I produced quality work, gave 100% loyalty and above all, found myself to be very versatile in tight situations.  Despite all the challenges that I went through, and believe me there were many; I am thankful. I wouldn't change a thing.  I have gained and learned so much from those experiences, I'm keeping it all in the bank.  So, thank you for the not-so-good-times, and for the good ones as well.  They are very much valued!!

The month of July taught me resilience and gave me new and cherished friendships.  As I bowed out gracefully from last month's disaster, a financial predicament taught me to be more resourceful than ever.  In a time of uncertainty and stress, things had a funny way of working themselves out.  As the dust began to settle, I found ourselves making new friends.  On the 6th of July, Crossfit Barrier Reef held their Birthday Beach Wars at Ellis Beach.  It was one of the most fun days I had in a very long time.  Not only was it a test of physical and alcoholic strength, it was also a great opportunity to form bonds and friendships! As if that wasn't enough, The Color Run came to Cairns and we wore the rainbow!! This was truly one fun event, one that I will look forward to joining again with Mermaid Face (i miss you)!!

August was truly heartwarming and filled with love! I flew back home for a few days as my brother got married to his girlfriend and is expecting their firstborn!  I am going to be an aunt!!!! There is nothing more pleasing and emotionally rewarding than seeing all your family come together in the same space, happy and filled with laughter.  It made it even more special as we were all celebrating the love my brother and now, sister-in-law have!  From one wedding to the next, a week later my husband and I flew to the Sunshine Coast to celebrate a good friend's marriage.  Despite not knowing much people other than those in our table, it was so pleasant to be in a room knowing that every single soul is there to wish nothing but the best of happiness for the newlywed couple.  Ah yes, love and marriage - a celebration that I always look forward to!  That, and Christmas!!

September was a month of opportunities and travel.  Just when I was starting to question my future and career once again, various opportunities presented themselves.  I traveled to Manila for my business and to Bangkok for my family's business to attend a trade fare, I was both excited and nervous as I didn't want to disappoint.  Unluckily, I was struck with a severe cold and could barely see straight.  I haven't been that sick in years!  Nervously and with sniffles in tow, I attended the trade fare and introduced myself to various suppliers.  I kept it professional and struck common ground with 2 potentials.  Despite the lack of professional appearance due to the severe cold, I learned a lot from this trip.  It made me appreciate my dad even more!  Growing up, and to this day, he travels all year round - rain, hail or shine!  I have a new found respect for him and the amount of work he has put in for our family.  Traveling vastly may seem exciting, but it can definitely present various difficulties.  I love you Dad! 

October was a month of big love and moving.  I am an AUNT!!! My sister-in-law (husband's side), gave birth to a beautiful baby boy!!!! I am more than thrilled!!! A few months ago, my husband and I had decided that it was time to move back to the Gold Coast.  I couldn't be more excited!!  Being away for 8 years from friends and family was a Mount Everest-like stretch.  We decided to hold a going away party jointly with my husband's birthday.  Not only did my heart drop to the floor, but I was very thankful for the big love we have from our Cairns family.  Yes, we were drunk.  But, all of you have a very special place in my heart!  Thank you for ALL the great times!!! The day after the party, my husband set sail for the Solomon Islands for 2 months and I flew back to the Gold Coast to meet my girlfriends for the Beyonce concert.  As we all met in our hotel in Brisbane, sipping on espresso martini's and eating pesto chicken pasta while getting ready; I had a moment and thought about how blessed and awesome it was being around a group of fabulous women!  We sang, danced and drank the night away on the train ride, at the concert and in the hotel 'til 4 in the morning.  I drove home with an hour's worth of sleep, exhausted - but with a heart bursting with so much excitement. Definitely BIG LOVE.

November allowed me to rekindle relationships and my dreams slowly turned into reality.  My mom and dad decided to come and visit me after I have settled into our place.  It was really nice spending quality time with them.  I have always seen my parents as strong individuals and I have admired them for that!  Our time together allowed me to see a their softer side once again.  When I was walking away from them on our final day together in Brisbane, I looked back and saw them walking with arms around each others waist.  I choked back a few tears as it made me realise how beautiful their relationship is; it also made me realise that life is truly short and I want to be able to spend more time with my family back home.  I also got to spend a lot of time with girlfriends whom I have lost touch with over the years.  And on top of that, my dreams of working in the business of making people happy was slowly becoming a reality.  November, you truly were a month of tears - the happy kind.  Thank you!

December, my absolute favourite time of the year!!! As a good friend put it, "it's as if a blanket of joy and love is spread all across the world and everyone is just happy!"  Christmas is my pinnacle of all celebrations, back home we celebrate it nearly all month long.  There's just something about this "time of giving" that just makes me want to burst into a big ball of presents to all my nearest and dearest! Instead of presents this year for my in-law's, I decided to give them the gift of Christmas lunch.  I had cooked maple chicken and ribs, 16-hour cooked roast pork tacos, thai prawn noodle salad, crying tiger beef, a trifle and a salted caramel chocolate cake.  But more than the  food, it was really nice sitting around the table chatting, laughing and simply being in each others company.  Only thing missing was my side of the family.  I remember really missing them that day.  But, the biggest present I got this year would have to be working with a dear friend in an industry that I just simply adore! Words cannot express how excited I am to dive in head first into this new venture that I know will be nothing short of AMAZING!! A couple of days later I was on a plane setting off for Cairns to spend Christmas day with my husband.  I was so happy to see him after 2 months apart!!  Beyond the presents, I was so content just being right next to him.  We had an amazing lunch at a good friend's place filled with dogs, food, swimming, alcohol and amazing conversation!  It was the best and most relaxed Christmas I've ever had!! Thank you again, we had a fabulous time!  A few days later, our good friends came up for a visit.  We had the best time at Mossman Gorge, Palm Cove, Port Douglas, Green Island and all around Cairns.  The places that we visited were only made better by the beautiful company that we were with.  We truly are blessed to be surrounded by such fabulous people!  December, as always, you never fail to disappoint.  Thank you, and I look forward to your return in a few months time!

THANK YOU 2013, you were remarkable.  I know that 2014 will be just as, or even MORE astounding.  I'll be diving in heart first, after all, this is the year I turn 30 and fabulous! xoxo

ps. Beyonce dropping an album unexpectedly on the 13th of December topped my year off the best way possible.  Thank you QueenB, you never seize to amaze me!

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Happy Mothers Day to my GORGEOUS mum @mariepazg and lola. Thank you mom for being awesome in every way possible. Missing you on this special day. Love you xoxo 😘

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May Feature: Jojo Carmody of CrossFit Barrier Reef

Mario Novak hit the nail on its head when he uttered those words.  Like a lot of women, I was wanting to do something different, something challenging, and something to be proud of.  Then I thought, the best investment to make is an investment on myself. 

When I first heard of CrossFit, it was from several different Facebook status updates, YouTube videos and countless online articles.  One word came to mind - intimidating.  It took me over a year to finally take the leap and send an email to CrossFit Barrier Reef, inquiring about how to get started and if any of my past injuries would hinder me from doing so.  I got a reply, and all systems were a go!  It was there that I met Coach Jojo Carmody.  She, and her partner Coach Tim Holdsworth are the founders of CrossFit Barrier Reef.

There are a lot of misconceptions out there about CrossFit, especially for women.  Numerous interviews and articles have been published online on how to improve an individual's range of motion, flexibility, and whatnot's.  Not enough has been said about how to get started, and how Crossfit is really suitable for anyone, at any age, or fitness level.  Coach Jojo takes us on a bit of a journey on how it all began and how you can take that leap - and try to do something remarkable...

Francesca:  Can you tell us about yourself and how you came into the world of Crossfit?

Jojo:  I moved to New Zealand, and I was looking into finding a change.  When I had finally moved, I gained about 10 to 15 kilos - it was the heaviest I've been in a very long time.  I then started working for Globo Gym, and lost a bit of weight doing all the classes, but not quite enough.  One of the instructors approached me and said that they thought I would be a great Pump instructor, and so they put me through the course.  The big bosses over at Globo Gym wanted me to get leaner and gain more muscle prior to becoming an instructor.  Because of that, I hired a personal trainer who had just began doing Crossfit.  I then started doing Crossfit with him and saw results, I felt amazing! I didn't want to become a Pump instructor anymore. 

At the time, he didn't have any female coaches.  They said that I'd be great at Crossfit and they needed more coaches that are women, real women - rather than just girls who have always been athletes, since I've never been an athlete.  Then it all just flowed from there.  I started to perform really well and realised that I've always had that blatant athleticism that everybody has within them.  There's something in Crossfit that everyone's going to be good at.

Francesca:  Was it from here that you decided to bring CrossFit Barrier Reef to life?

Jojo:  Well, I started working for one of the biggest Crossfit gyms in New Zealand, and I didn't want to leave.  I was happy to work for them as I've been on the ground level, opening a few Crossfit gyms.  I decided that I just wanted to enjoy this and work, rather than worrying about the complexities of running a business.  I just wanted to commit myself to living it.  I loved it!

Then, I fell pregnant and decided that I wanted to live close to my mum in Cairns.  Tim was actually my intern, and we decided to move and then started doing Crossfit classes out of our garage with just one on one clients.  Once we were affiliated, it was as if the floodgates had opened.  We went from 10 members, to 50 members in a span of 2 months.  Today, we're close to a hundred members. 

Francesca:  Your growth has been exponential! 

Jojo:  Yes, it's not what we had planned.  I had to start coaching when Mia was 2 weeks old. 

Francesca:  The best part is, you're doing something that you love, something that you're passionate about.

Jojo:  That's right, it's something that I love to do.  And people ask me if I worry about the baby with all the noise that happens at Crossfit.  But, she loves it!  This (Crossfit) is going to be part of the rest of her life.  And that's the wonderful thing about being in this business.  I chose health and fitness in the beginning, because I thought it would be something that we could have the opportunity to have a family one day and work around it.  Fortunately, Tim and I can coach with Mia here. 

Francesca:  What would you say would be your favourite thing about Crossfit?  How did it change you?

Jojo: It has changed my perception of how a body should look like.  Before, I struggled with my body image for so many years.  With Crossfit, I'm the heaviest I've ever been in my life, it's more about what my body can do.  That has been the biggest mental shift for me, it doesn't matter how my body looks like or how much I weigh, it's what I can do. 

Francesca:  What other benefits does Crossfit have when compared to other fitness regimes?

Jojo:  The major difference is, the results are much faster.  Faster than anything I've ever seen.  If you come three times a week, you'll see results faster than going to a regular gym.  It's because your body doesn't have a chance to adapt or plateau, the workouts are high intensity and there's something different everyday.  I think it's two-fold, another aspect is accountability; someone's going to notice if you don't show up.  But also, you quickly form bonds with people.

Francesca:  There are a lot of misconceptions out there about Crossfit that intimidates beginners to give it a shot - women especially.  Would you care to squash those misconceptions?

Jojo:  I completely understand, you see the online videos of really strong women throwing heavy weights overhead.  What people need to understand is that it has become a form of a sport.  Crossfit is now being broadcasted on ESPN, and those videos that you see are of the highest level.  It's like playing social touch football, you can't compare it with professional rugby league.  It's a sport and a community.  We're more about keeping things accessible to everybody. 

Intensity is subjective, your idea of hard work is not going to be the same as mine.  It's not going to be the same as the lady that walks through the door and hasn't exercised for a while.  We're all about finding that relative level of intensity and pushing to your own personal best. 

Francesca:  How would you define beauty in women?  How has Crossfit changed your view? 

Jojo:  Beauty in strength, and that's how I see it.  Whether it's physical strength, knowing that a girl can do a pullup or lift as much as a guy.  Or, seeing the physical and mental strength of  a woman that worked 60 hours that week, she's got 3 kids and hasn't slept; but she still comes in and pushes herself to the limit. 

Francesca:  Why should they go to Crossfit Barrier Reef?

Coach Jojo:  Our kind of Crossfit is not for everybody.  Tim and I coach with a baby, it's very family oriented.  If you have a family, and you've got kids, and you know what it's about, then you'll understand.

We're also very inclusive, we want all of our members to compete in the Crossfit Games.  Only a small contingent of our members are not competing in the games.  We want everyone to know that it is accessible to them. 

For us, we're about keeping it real.  It's not about the being the toughest, the strongest, the biggest, the fastest.  It's about making sure that you are pushing yourself as hard as you are capable of.

Francesca:  Can you tell our readers about Rookie Camp?

Jojo:  It goes for 45 minutes to an hour long, 3 days a week for 3 weeks. The idea is to get you proficient in all the basic movements that we go through here, as well as gaining the basic proficiency in the Olympic lifts.  So, when we take you into our regular classes and put you under a bar, it's not going to be dangerous.  Putting an individual in a regular Crossfit class without that basic level of understanding of the moves can be physically dangerous.  It's not a joke, it's an intense exercise, and the bars are heavy.  It is dangerous, if it isn't done properly.  The idea behind the three weeks as well, is we slowly increase the intensity of the workout so that coming into the regular class you will have a nice basic understanding of the movements. 

It's also a good opportunity for us coaches to assess how everybody moves, to see if there are any muscular issues.  We have connections with good physical therapists and chiropractors that can assist an individual with any issues that need to be dealt with, because it does help with injuries later on.  Over the three weeks, we see how you move and we can watch what goes on and we look at assessing what needs to be done.

Francesca:  How does one sign up for Rookie Camp?

Jojo:  Secure a spot by giving us a phone call and pay a deposit.  It's $200 for Rookie Camp, slots fill up fast so give us a ring as soon as you can.

Francesca:  What should a graduate from Rooke Camp expect after?

Jojo:  After Rookie Camp, you then join the main classes.  You're not just thrown to the deep end.  Everyday, our workouts are split into two, there's the Workout Of the Day (WOD) and a Strength and Conditioning WOD.  Strength and Conditioning WOD focuses more on technique and the smaller parts of what makes up the bigger lifts.  For instance, instead of performing a snatch, you'll be performing a snatch dead lift, or an overhead squat.  So we  breakdown each movement and slowly test you.  As you progress, it could be in 2 weeks, 3 weeks, or 10 weeks - we will then suggest for you to move into the main WOD.  Or, if there's something that you're really good at, we may suggest for you to do that particular workout that you performed really well.  

Francesca:  The great thing I've noticed here is that everyone is so encouraging of each other. 

Jojo: That's part of the accountability as well.  Here, if somebody see's that you're about to quit, they'll run out with you and make sure you make it to the finish line.  We're not going to let you quit.  It's not just a gym, it's a family.  

We're also going to soon offer mum friendly classes at 9:00 am.  If you wanted to bring your kids at anytime, you can, just as long as you are responsible for them.  We've got a kids room that we've started to set up, so that at any class at any time of the day, if your children are over the age of five you can pop them in the kids room. There will also be a creche service available soon.

CrossFit Barrier Reef Address: 20 Dillon Street, Bungalow, Cairns QLD Phone:  0450 664 818 Website: http://www.crossfitbarrierreef.com/

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A Perfect Life?

I  came across a beautiful quote by Aristotle today that resonated with me....

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of both highs and lows.  I haven't had much of an opportunity to blog, as my inspiration and motivation took a blow.  In saying that however, last weekend has reopened my eyes to be thankful for today, and relinquish my negative thought process.  Just like you, I'm still learning (everyday) to be stronger, braver and smarter.  Instead of putting the things that I love to a halt, I am committed to embracing them even tighter in times of uncertainty.  Life in general is a constant strive to be better than what we were yesterday.  In my eyes, there is no such thing as a "perfect life," because the day you settle for what you may think is "perfect," is the day you stop trying to be better than what you were yesterday.  So in times of uncertainty, worry, stress, or heartache I have always stood by....

Your ability is LIMITLESS.  Just when you think you've given it your all, dig DEEP - you are stronger and smarter than what you give yourself credit for.  Aim high!

I hope that mantra helps you, as much as it has helped and continuously helps me.  ;o)

On a lighter note, our weekend was simply BEAUTIFUL!  Saturday came and we decided to go island hopping around Cairns.  First stop, was Green Island - just gorgeous!  It was a tad crowded with all the tourists, so we decided to make our way to our next destination after a quick bite to eat.  We then headed to a sandbar in the middle of the ocean called, Vlassoff island.  Now this, was SPECTACULAR!  There were only 2 other boats when we arrived - perfect scenario.  Vlassoff almost felt like our own little private paradise.  The water was so clear, you could see everything.  There were numerous sea cucumbers, star fishes, coral and fish around.  As the tide was low, we couldn't really snorkel around without grazing a knee or elbow.  It didn't matter though, it was simply beautiful laying out on the beach with great company, the sun, sea and sand.  As we packed the boat back up to head back to the mainland, the ladies sat on the bow of the boat - the water conditions were so perfect that it made for a smooth and picture perfect trip back home.  As the sun was setting to my right and the beautiful breeze of the ocean tousled my hair, I then had a thought.  Despite all the uncertainty around me, at that moment I was deeply thankful for how truly lucky I am to be living the life that I'm living.  It may not be "perfect," but it's definitely a work in progress.  ;o)

I hope you've had a great week so far!  Not to worry, the weekend is in sight - there's more to celebrate than there is to commiserate! I leave you with a few photos taken from Vlassoff Island....  xoxo

  Jason making sure we don't hit the reef - approaching Vlassoff

Vlassoff Island

Vlassoff on another angle

Teresa, Lucy and Joel

Jason and I - Aloha from the Great Barrier Reef

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Dedicated to All of You in Boston

Today’s blog post is dedicated to those of you that live in Boston.  Whether you were a race goer, spectator, bystander, or even a local… my heart and thoughts go out to each and everyone of you. 

The heinous act of these bombings do not make any sense. I’d still like to believe that we live in a world wherein all of us can live together in peace and harmony.  Nobody deserves to walk down their neighborhood in fear of what might be. 

I may receive some flack for saying this but, for those that were responsible for this, may you find the courage to look at yourself in the mirror and find it somewhere in your heart to come to terms with the reality of what you have done and find it in you to seek repentance and forgive yourself. 

I’m a firm believer that the world can change - one person at a time.  On this somber night, share a hug with those around you and reignite their belief in the good of humanity.

Source: Music video by John Mayer performing Waiting On The World To Change. (C) 2006 AWARE RECORDS LLC

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Paleo on The Road

I'm BACK!!  And it's great to be home!

I do apologise for the lack of posts whilst on the road.  Work was quite busy and by the time I got back to my hotel room, my bed was pretty much all I could reach for.  Rest assured, we have a lot to tell you ;o)

From the time I took off from Cairns, it has been a whirlwind of airports, food, meetings, audits, reports, and whatnot.  It was difficult to stay Paleo when I was having dinner with colleagues and friends.  However when I was alone, the food choices were simple and easy.  My typical day looked like this:

Breakfast:    Omelet with onion, snow peas, tomato and mushroom    And a cup of coffee

Snack:    A piece of fruit or    Protein shake

Lunch:    A roast chicken from the supermarket; and    A single serve pre-packed salad, minus the dressing. Snack:    Small handful of cashews and    A piece of fruit

Dinner:    A steak or roast chicken and    A salad or steamed veggies.

It was relatively easy to stay within the above mentioned routine.  A lot of the hotels that I stayed in didn't have any cooking facilities, I relied heavily on the trusty pre-cooked food from Coles and Woolworths to feed me. 

Staying fit proved to be a challenge as well.  I was staying in hotels that had gyms, you'd think that would be a bonus.  Unfortunately, all of them opened at 6:30 am.  I had scheduled my workouts for 5am, as I had to leave for work at about 7:30 am.  Luckily, my CrossFit coach told me to bring a skipping rope.  I didn't make it to the gym, but my hotel room became a sauna at the end of every workout.  I'll be honest, I only did about 3 workouts per week while I was away.  I wish I did more, but I was exhausted and I continually found excuses for myself.  *wrist slap*  I know I'll be paying for it this week at CrossFit, I honestly welcome it.  Call me a sucker for punishment, but it's as if my body's screaming for some movement. 

Not to mention, Melbourne was a REAL temptation in the food department for me.  My best friend lives there locally, and my oh my - Dorothy wasn't in Kansas city anymore.  The sparkling and glittering lights of various eateries (non-paleo), eluded me to divert from the lifestyle.  In some ways, I'm glad I was only there for 4 days.  Any more, I would've had a food comma ;o) 

It's great to be home, I missed my husband and my dogs too much.  The trip took it right out of me.  Last weekend was spent mostly in bed or preparing for the work week.  As tiring as it was, I had a great time. Melbourne and Canberra were my two favourite locations.  I'll be writing more about why in the coming blogs.  The airport on the other hand, was always a welcome reprieve.  I love being amongst the hustle and bustle of people within the airport.  Everyone has somewhere to be, someone to see and something to experience.  It's a place of both happiness and sadness, noise and silence.  For me, it's a place where you can go completely offline and it's a hundred percent okay.

I hope you're having a wonderful Monday :o) Sunshine Coast

Melbourne

Canberra

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Good morning Melbourne! Bring on Autumn! #ootd #cold #weather #fall #igers #iphone #iphone4 #instagood #iphonography #instagram #photo #picoftheday #melbourne

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Happy Easter from the Herrings ❌⭕❌⭕ #igers #iphone #instagood #iphonography #iphone4 #instagram #ootn #love #anniversary #easter #picoftheday #photo

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Paleo Som Tum Salad

Our kitchen turned into a wannabe Thai sidewalk when we had a craving for Som Tum, otherwise known as paw paw (papaya) salad.  It must be because my sister-in-law is currently lounging on the beaches of Phuket, sipping on tropical cocktails with her partner.  Can you tell I'm a bit jealous? ;o)  This dish is so simple, falvourful and healthy that we need to make it more often. 

If you LOVE your Thai food, I promise this recipe is a keeper.  ;o)

Som Tum (paw paw salad)

Ingredients:

1 paw paw

birds eye chilli

garlic cloves

limes

fish sauce

coconut sugar

crushed cashews

1 punnet of cherry tomatoes (sliced in halves)

Recipe:

Shred your paw paw into julienne sized pieces.  The easiest way to do this is by using a mandolin with its julienne insert.  Or alternatively, you can also use a grater.

In a mortar and pestle, start grinding down your chillies.  Now, this part is flexible.  In our recipe, we've used 6 birds eye chillies.  You can tone this down however much you'd like.  Add your garlic and keep grinding.

Add in 4 dessert spoons of fish sauce to your mortar and pestle.

From here, add the lime juice and coconut sugar.  There is no set rule as to how much ime juice and coconut sugar to put in. Start with small quantities and work your way up, have a play with it until you reach a flavour that you're happy with.  Stir the mixture until well combined.

Pour your sauce into your julienne-sliced paw paw.

Add crushed cashews for texture and and your cherry tomatoes for a good balance of flavour (I should rather say, reprieve from the explosion of spice).

Serve with a side of seafood.  Delicious!!

We had grilled Spanish mackerel wish a splash of lemon.  It was the perfect combination.  If you do make this recipe, I highly suggest grilling a good quality fish and serving it with this salad.  My husband wanted me to especially make mention that the Spanish mackerel was his catch from a fishing trip a few weeks ago.  He's a tad proud, and so am I of his awesome catch :o)  You can read about that HERE.

I do hope you're having a wonderful Easter.  Bisous! xoxo

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A Movie, Crossfit and Beauty

It bucketed down in Cairns today, it was fabulous!  As I sit in my office, Sinatra's playing in the background and there's a cool breeze coming through my window from the mountains.  Beautiful.  Fall is here, and I welcome the change wholeheartedly.  I've been abuzz with work in the office, trying to get the last bits and pieces together for my trip.  I'm excited, nervous, and curious all at the same time.  At about 4pm, I got a surprise message from Telstra saying that I have $10 movie tickets as a "thank you" for my patronage.  I immediately messaged my husband a one liner, "$10 movie?"  To that he responded, "5pm Earlville."  With that I was thrown into excitement by our impromptu date night.

;o)

Tomorrow is our last day of Rookie Camp with CrossFit Barrier Reef.  I'm a bit sad, but truly excited to push myself to physical levels that I never thought this piglet could ever do.  Snatch, push press, box jumps, AMRAP, WOD, handstand push ups, clean & jerk, dead lifts, wall balls - these words were never a part of my vocabulary.  In fact, if you read the last sentence back to me a month ago, I'd be running for the hills.  But no longer, this piglet has a new found confidence and drive.  I may even dare and say the word 'passion,' but not just yet.  All I know is, I've started to love this.  Who knows, maybe it isn't new, it's probably just been sitting dormant inside of me all this time, just waiting for the right clean & jerk to shake me awake.  ;o)

My perception of beauty has changed so much in the last month as well, and I'm liking the view.  Let's just say, I won't be buying fashion magazines for a really, really long time.  Strong is definitely the new beautiful!  I shouldn't say that.  Really, it always has been.  The media has turned society to question women's "perfect" body shape.  From one woman to another, love you for you - feed and nurture yourself the way nature has intended.  The rest will follow.

With that, I bid you goodnight with a photo of the end result from the heat rollers I used last weekend, you can find that article HERE.  I loved the look of my weave, but unfortunately, my ridiculously straight hair and the Cairns humidity won after a couple of hours.  I need a good hairspray that will hold.  Any tips?? Would totally appreciate the advice.  xoxo

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Lamb Backstrap with a Pumpkin and Pine Nut Salad

For 'Terrific Tuesdays' I've decided to share an adaptation of a paleo recipe from a good friend of ours, Todd.  He wowed us with his cooking prowess yet again on this one.  If you're reading this Toddy, can you make this over Easter again please!?!? :o)

I had the privilege to do an interview this morning with such an inspirational woman.  Stay tuned, she will be my Easter Feature. That started my day off in such a high note, I was almost shuffling.  It's exhilarating and humbling to be around women that believe in other women.  I'm a firm believer of propping each other up, and helping each other out in both times of wine-filled laughter and tear-shedding heartache.   

My 2 week trip interstate for work commences straight after Easter.  As previously mentioned HERE, I will be attempting to stay paleo 80-90% of the time.  I'll be sure to document my adventures and misadventures.  I've got so much in store for the blog, I'm just bursting at the seams with excitement.  It's going to be an exciting April!! I hope your today was fantastic and your tomorrow is just as beautiful. xoxo

Lamb Backstrap with a Pumpkin and Pine Nut Salad This cut of meat is exquisite!  If it happens to be on special in your neck of the woods, I strongly suggest you grab one.  If you do, let me know how your recipe turns out.

Ingredients:

Coconut oil

2 (250g each) lamb backstraps

1 tsp each ground cumin, ground coriander seeds, turmeric and paprika

half a butternut pumpkin

2 tablespoons of pine nuts

5 - 8 pieces of whole, peeled garlic cloves (we LOVE garlic)

A salad pack of rocket leaves

Olive oil

Balsamic vinegar

wholegrain mustard

Himalayan pink salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Procedure:

Turn your oven on to 180 F

Rub your lamb backstrap with the ground cumin, ground coriander seeds, turmeric and paprika.  Season with salt and pepper.  Refrigerate for half an hour to an hour.

While your lamb is marinating in the fridge, get your salad together.  Chop your butternut pumpkin in small cubes and place on a baking sheet, along with the pine nuts and garlic.  Drizzle with a bit of coconut oil, season with salt and pepper. Toss until combined. 

Bake in the oven until roasted and browned.  Approximately 3-7 minutes, depending on your oven.  Ours can be temperamental on some days.

Place your rocket leaves in a salad bowl, and prepare your dressing.  As this is an adaptation and not what Todd exactly uses, I am using a teaspoon of olive oil, a tablespoon and a half of balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper.  Mix well until combined.

Once your pine nuts and butternut pumpkin are roasted, leave them out to cool.

Time to get to serious business - the lamb.

Using a cast iron pan or grill, pour your coconut oil in until the pan is well coated.  Once the pan temperature is about medium to high heat, cook your lamb for about 3-4 minutes on each side.  This should give you a JUICY, medium rare result.

Don't forget to rest your meat for 10 minutes, cover loosely with foil.  While the meat is resting, toss all your salad ingredients together - rocket, dressing, pumpkin, and pine nuts.  Season with salt and pepper.

Once the meat is ready, slice diagonally.  Serve with a side of the salad.  Voila!  A very easy and exquisite meal, enjoy!

Tip:  If you aren't too sure about how well your lamb is cooked, you can always use a temperature gauge, approximately 140 F at the thickest part of the meat is what you're after.

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Feel Good Mondays

How was your weekend?  Mine was half spent in bed due to a pulled back muscle.  No fun at all!  It was as if the heavens knew exactly how I felt and poured bucket-loads of rain to match.  Thanks to my trusty husband, I was well-soothed by heat packs, heat gels and back rubs.  Should you encounter the unfortunate event of a pulled muscle, I swear by these:

Goanna heat gel and The Wheat Bag

I came out victorious from my back pain and enjoyed what was left of my weekend.  I felt robbed, but I was determined to make the most out of it. 

On Sunday afternoon, I went to a Body Shop party.  The host was fantastic, the food was good, and the people were great conversation.  Interestingly enough, the coordinator is a young mom that get these women together to sell Body Shop products and have a party.  If you live in Cairns and love your beauty products just as much as I do, you just HAVE to give Shannon Weir a call to organise your next Body Shop party.

Not only will you be purchasing sustainable, eco and animal friendly, fair trade products; part of the proceeds goes to independent consultants like Shannon.  The next time you're thinking of purchasing Body Shop products, give Shannon a call instead. Not only will you feel good about your purchase, you'll feel good about helping another mum out.  Us women need to stick together ;o)

It's a great excuse to have all the girls together for a fun night of beauty, food and wine. 

Did I mention she's also a certified beauty therapist?  Get in touch with Shannon and you won't regret it.  Tell her I sent you :o)

Shannon Weir of "Beautify Yourself" Mobile: 0402 654 467 Email: shannon_weir411@hotmail.com

Here's hoping you had a great weekend, and an even greater week ahead.  After all, the long weekend is just 4 sleeps away *spinning high five!* Got any plans?  xoxo

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To The Better Version of Me....

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my not-so-little sister!  I love you to past the Milky Way and back!  It seems as if 20 years ago was merely just yesterday.  I still remember drawing a "Welcome Home Mom and Francine" banner at the entryway of the house in Greenmeadows at the time you were born. 

You grow more beautiful each year that passes!  Not a day goes by that I think of how proud and blessed I am to be your sister.

The beauty that you shine from within radiates love and light.  I love you, I miss you, and I've always got your back!

Enjoy today! You deserve everything exquisite the universe has to give. xoxo