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IN THIS ISSUE 11 Ways To Take The Power Back In Your Life 5 Questions To Ask Every Day For Clarity, Confidence & Kindness
5 Reasons To Love Your Period Take Your Power Back In 3 Simple Steps
6 Feng Shui Tips To Manifest Your Dreams
Bring Positive Energy Into Your Home (House Blessing) 7 Tips To Make Your Home A Mini Mindfulness Retreat
5 OF THE BEST DRINKS FOR YOUR HEALTH
10 Healing Herbs You Can Grow At Home
19 Ideas To Start & End Your Day With Joy
The wind is tossing the lilacs, The new leaves laugh in the sun, And the petals fall on the orchard wall, But for me the spring is done. Beneath the apple blossoms I go a wintry way, For love that smiled in April Is false to me in May." - Sara Teasdale Welcome May!
Welcome to May’s edition of Design the Lifestyle YOU Desire! Magazine! I hope you’re having a wonderful start to the summer! As we reach the middle of the year, our resolve to maintain focus on our goals can sometimes waiver. At the start of the year, it was likely you said you’d allow yourself more time to focus on your own needs. When was the last time you invested in self-care? This month’s issue focuses on ways you can start to take care of yourself and begin to love the woman you are! I hope after reading it, you will start making time for you and you alone! Did you know I launched Design the Lifestyle YOU Desire’s Weekly Podcast Show? You can listen to all of them here. This magazine provides exercises and principles to help you on this journey and enables you to truly accept yourself by adopting life-changing techniques that improve self-esteem and self-confidence. If you need a little ’push’, feel free to book a #FREE 20 minute coaching session with me so you can finally accept yourself once and for all and begin living the life you really want and deserve! Join me on #MissionForMay and get inspired, motivated and empowered so you too can Design the Lifestyle YOU Desire! If you missed out on my #MissionForMarch & MissionForApril, you can find it here. Before I go, Paris was absolutely fantabulous! Until next time; Design the Lifestyle YOU Desire! and Create Wealth in ALL aspects of YOUR Life!
Kiran x
Always concentrate on how far you have come, Rather than how far you have left to go!
Listen to Design the Lifestyle YOU Desire’s Weekly Podcast Show HERE!
Rose Hill Designs by Heather Stillufsen
11 Ways To Take The Power Back In Your Life By Lauren Stahl All too often, we give our power away. We put the needs of others in front of ours. We lose sight of our ability to choose, and forget that the only way to find happiness and fulfillment is from within. Do you find yourself giving your power away to your partner, boss, friend, or job? Is your happiness dependent on the validation you get from the externals in your life? Or do your feel like you're a victim of your circumstances? If any of these are the case, you're not alone.
Here are 11 ways to take the power back in your life: 1. Stop blaming. By blaming, you diminish your sense of self. You give away your power to whatever it is you are blaming. Notice when you're doing it and take the action to act opposite. 2. Stop making excuses. Excuses mean you’re not taking ownership for your needs or desires. They mean you're not trusting yourself to live the life you want to live. Stop making them today. 3. Stop judging yourself. Many people are their own harshest critics who embrace the perfectionist mindset. Maybe you procrastinate and don’t immerse yourself in what ultimately brings about fulfillment. Let go of the judgment and embrace compassion to bring back your power. 4. Practice acceptance. Acceptance is the answer to all your problems. It's where full power and
love lies. It's where you can show up and take responsibility for your life and decisions. Practice the beauty of acceptance. 5. Connect with the present moment. The present moment is where there is serenity. It's where you can tap into your higher self beneath the noise and chaos. By connecting to the present, you're taking all your power back. The power and a life of gratitude lies in the present. 6. Recognize the power of choice. You always have a choice. It can be easy to lose sight of this when you put the needs of others in front of yours. You don’t have to do this anymore. 7. Accept that you want to change. Taking the power back in your life means change. It may be uncomfortable. Accept that this is what you want for yourself. Connect with this acceptance and embrace the power you harness within. 8. Forgive. Past experiences or events can be hard to come to peace with. They can keep many of us in the mindset of a victim. Remember that you are not a victim. You are an empowered soul that has the ability to practice compassion and love on a constant basis. 9. Take ownership over your decisions. Your decisions are your decisions. How great is that? Remember that you are behind the steering wheel of your life. 10. Start taking positive actions. Change means action. Taking your power back means you have to take the actions. It may mean writing down what you want and what your needs and desires are. From there, write down specific actions you can take to make them a reality. 11. Remember that "No" is a powerful word. Many people have the people-pleaser within who wants to say "yes" to everything. Often you can get resentful of doing things you don’t intuitively want to do. Embrace "no" today and take care of yourself.
THE DESIRE MAP WORKSHOP – LEVEL 1 is a program for clarifying what you truly want in every area of your life, and using that powerful awareness to guide your choices from now on. You will leave this workshop knowing your “core desired feelings” – a guidance system for your decision-making. A GPS for your soul. We’ll look at our perceptions around “feelings” and goal setting. We’ll examine how we drive and strive, and see where in our lives we experience freedom — and where we want more of it.
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5 Questions To Ask Every Day For Clarity, Confidence & Kindness By Hannah Braime A well-timed question is the key to powerful transformation. If you’d like greater clarity, confidence and self-compassion in your life, here are five questions that will encourage you to change your perspective and cultivate self-trust. Whether you handpick the questions that resonate with you or work your way through them in sequence, they're most effective when you make time to sit down and journal through your answers. 1. What's working well in my life right now? As humans, we’re natural problem-solvers. While this has its advantages, we often end up focusing on what we feel we should fix at the expense of recognizing the things that are working in our lives right now. 2. What's one thing that would have the biggest positive impact on my life if I STARTED doing it today? Small, consistent changes are more likely to stick than one-off grand gestures. What one action would you like to take today? 3. What's one thing that would have the biggest positive impact on my life if I STOPPED doing it today? We all have nagging habits and behaviours that we’d rather not indulge. The best way to tackle these with compassion (and without overwhelm) is to choose one action at a time and be as consistent as possible with changing that before moving onto the next. 4. What advice would my 70-year-old self give me about my life today? This question encourages us to connect with our “inner mentor”: the wisest, most knowing version of ourselves. She shows us that even during challenging times or foggy issues, we have all the answers we need if we’re willing to dig deep and listen out for them. 5. If I were 5% kinder to myself today, what would I do differently? No matter where what’s happening in our lives right now, we can think of ways to be 5% kinder to ourselves. Five percent is enough of a difference to impact how we feel, but not so big that it requires us to overhaul our lives. Over time, however, these 5% increments add up to significant, lasting change. What questions do you ask yourself for clarity, confidence and kindness?
Rose Hill Designs by Heather Stillufsen
5 Reasons To Love Your Period By Tova Payne
Rose Hill Designs by Heather Stillufsen
From the time girls hit puberty, we’re taught to hate our periods. We’re taught to hide it (just shove a tampon in),complain about it when it comes and dread the cramps, cravings and cranky moods. Well, here's a thought: imagine we were taught to embrace — even love — our periods. Imagine if we saw our periods as something lucky, a unique opportunity we get to experience once a month? Imagine if our periods were celebrated and honoured instead of dreaded and cast away as an unnecessary evil. Well I have come to see "that time of the month" as a sacred time, and here are five reasons you should love your period too: 1. It's a natural time for detox. As women, we are exceptionally lucky to have a monthly detox built into our biology: each month, we get to through a physical shedding of the old. During menstruation, we not only shed the lining of our uterus but often women talk about finding their bowel movements to be more frequent. While this detox happens on a physical level, it can also be thought of as a mirror to what’s happening on the emotional and spiritual level too. Your period can also be a time of "emotional detox" — a window for introspection, self-care and emotional catharsis. 2. It's a great time to rest. Western society is particularly well-trained to be constantly in Go-Mode. This is not only exhausting, but it’s not really all that natural. We need rest, and often more than we allow ourselves. That's why our monthly cycle is a reminder to slow down. The physical weakness we may endure as we lose blood (our vital life force) is also a voice telling us, "Hey, take this time to slow down!" The truth is every person on the planet could benefit from taking a monthly time out: a few days a month where we are gentler with ourselves and cut ourselves a little slack from the constant push of daily demands. Our period is can be thought of as an obvious voice reminding us to take these few days and invite deeper relaxation, and
to allow a softer approach to our overbooked schedules by mindfully scheduling in more downtime. 3. Sensitivity can also be thought of as heightened intuition — and that's a good thing. What many women blame as crankiness or pass off as PMs-ING can actually be thought of as a time of heightened intuition. Right before and during our period, our hormones fluctuate, which often means we tend feel more emotionally sensitive. We don't often think in these terms, but heightened sensitivity is basically a state of heightened awareness, a keener sense about things we experience — heightened intuition. So if a certain person or place is bothering you more than usual — don’t just pass it off as PMS. Recognize that your senses are stronger and your intuition is speaking to you a little louder. Listen to it. 4. You have an awesome excuse to want chocolate. I’m not kidding. During our period our uterine muscles are undergoing a lot of work: a lot of muscular contractions and you know what helps muscles relax? Magnesium. And pure dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa) can be the perfect dose of magnesium in a very enjoyable way. 5. It's a great time for reflection. It’s common to wait for New Year’s to reflect on your life’s goals and dreams for the year ahead. Unfortunately, if you want to see progress, waiting for New Year’s to reflect on your goals and direction of life doesn’t cut it. Your period is the perfect time to reflect on the month that’s passed and assess what you want to let go of, and what you want to bring anew. Just as your body is physically releasing the old and preparing for the new — so should you. And since your intuition is at its peak, it’s the perfect time to journal about and visualize what you want more of in your life, and how you want to bring in your new month. Yes — your period marks your own personal new month. It’s a perfect time to reflect, and sharpen the vision for creating your dream life. It’s time for women around the world to embrace our period as a welcome monthly experience where we are reminded to nurture ourselves, listen to our inner voice, and create a better life each and every month.
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This course helps you answer the question ‘How good am I to myself’, your values and how to prioritise to create more time and energy. There are no right or wrong answers, so just answer however appropriate for you right now – and see what you learn about yourself!
19 Ideas To Start & End Your Day With Joy
By Katie Dalebout
Rose Hill Designs by Heather Stillufsen
For any ritual to become habitual, it has to be something you look forward to and consistently enjoy. Experiment until you find your groove and switch it up with the seasons, weather, and how much time you have. Here’s a buffet of 20 steps for morning and evening bliss that will drastically change your life. Remember, take what you like, and leave the rest!
The Morning Buffet:
1. Practice gratitude. Starting the day with gratitude and intention will make your entire morning better and seep into the rest of your day. (This works great in the evening, too.) Write down five things for which you are grateful. It seems simple, but it’s a game changer. Focus on the good; abundance breeds abundance. 2. Try oil pulling. Sometimes I oil pull, sometimes I don’t. I used to be real dogmatic about this, beating myself up if I didn’t do it for one day. I try to make sure I do it at least a few times a week, but I don’t stress if I’m travelling or have to be up super early. 3. Drink warm lemon water. Hydration first thing in the morning will drastically change your day. We all know we should drink water, but we’re busy and we forget. So at least hydrate in the morning—that way if all else fails later in the day, at least you’ll have done that. 4. Meditate. Taking a few moments to cleanse the mind can be as beneficial as taking a shower. Perhaps just listen to a favourite song, close your eyes, and breathe in the morning. Maybe it’s one minute, maybe it’s 20, just do it. 5. Get moving! Moving your body first thing in the morning will be energizing and signal to your body it’s time to be awake. This doesn’t need to be a tough workout each day; it could be as simple as a few yoga poses, some stretching or twists, a brisk walk outside acquainting yourself to the temperature of the air, or just dancing to your favourite song.
6. Eat breakfast. Make breakfast a mindful practice regardless of what you’re eating. Eat whatever you feel like, but take the time to sit and enjoy it, because nourishing yourself for a successful day is key. Eating on-the-go is unavoidable sometimes, but as much as possible take time to be present and enjoy. 7. Get dressed. Sounds simple, but for me putting on real clothes (not just yoga clothes), even if you’re working from home will automatically make you feel more put together and help you be more productive. 8. Make your bed like you're Martha Stewart. Really get into it with the throw-pillows and enjoying every little part of it. I do this every morning and this practice reminds me everyday to approach everything with a “beginner’s mind.” The sets the tone for the rest of my day and I try to infuse that same intention into every act. 9. Journal. Getting the thoughts you wake up with out of your mind clears space so you have room for new creative ones. Whether it’s fears you woke up with, an abundance of ideas, or a funky dream, getting it out on paper is simple yet revolutionary. The Artist’s Way suggests three pages every morning, just write and see what comes out. 10. Make your first task a creative one. When you begin your work day, try to start with the task that you’re looking forward to the most. Perhaps sending an email to someone you’re mentoring or answering comments on your blog.
The Evening Buffet:
1. Prepare. By getting ahead, packing your lunch, setting out your clothes or creating a to-do list, you’ll set yourself up for success and not have to rush in the morning, leaving time for other things (ie. from the above list). 2. Light candles. There is something really soothing and relaxing about candles that can really calm us down, and by dimming the lights, it signals to your body that it's bedtime. 3. Give yourself an electronic curfew. Set a time a few hours before bed when you won’t check email,
Instagram, or even TV. In addition to the blue light from those gadgets being stimulating and messing with your sleep patterns, it’s so easy to get sucked into work or emails if you’re on your phone, which can cause extra stress or keep you up late. 4. Treat yourself to a late night snack. This can be a good idea, especially if you had an early dinner and it’s a few hours before bed. Going to bed starving is never fun. Just have something that digests super easily; chia pudding is the perfect evening snack and I’ve even read that chia has been known to induce lucid dreaming. (Nice!) 5. Listen to music. Music can calm you down or amp you up. Choose the right tunes, something relaxing that you love and that will wind you down. I listen to the same album nightly and it's a signal to my body that it’s evening and time to chill-out. 6. Read. While watching TV can be super-stimulating and may negatively affect your dreams, reading a book is an ideal way to fill the hours before bed. Preferably something so you’re not thinking too hard, but able to mindlessly enjoy the writing and get lost in a good story. 7. Make washing up like a spa date. I used to dread getting ready for bed and I'd put it off until the last moment, until I changed my mind and decided to enjoy this routine. Now I brush my teeth with intention, cleanse my face in a soothing, massaging way with beautiful smelling natural products, and put a warm towel over my skin, which simultaneously pulls out toxins and calms the mind. 8. Make a nourishing nightcap. End the evening with a bedtime enjoying some warm water with lemon, ginger (helps with digestion) and cayenne, chamomile tea, or warm almond milk with vanilla, cinnamon, and stevia. Something you like that will warm you up and calm you down. 9. Write a To-Feel list rather than a To-Do list. To-do lists are overwhelming! If you want to feel whelmed with intention, excitement, and childlike joy, try ending the evening by writing down how you want to feel the following day. Just write down the first word that comes to mind: loved, supported, happy, joyful, productive, spirited, intuitive.
Take Your Power Back In 3 Simple Steps By Jennifer Kass The moment we look outside of ourselves for the answer, or love, or safety, we give our power away to whatever it is we're reaching for, and we disconnect from the truth that we have all we need inside of us. This means that when we go within, we find the love, and all of our answers; it's from this internal space of abundance and power that we manifest and create our desired external reality. After spending the first three decades of my life looking outside of myself for the love and attention I desired in relationships, I'd lost myself and felt so powerless, I tried to control situations and outcomes and lacked any level of faith or trust in my future or myself. I lived in a fearbased reality where I felt powerless to make the healthy life changes I knew were best for me. We give our power away in different forms. While I gave away my power in relationships by looking for happiness and love outside of myself, I always had an inner rebel when it came to the mainstream thought systems around what is right, what is real, what is truth. This inner knowledge led me to the path I'm on now, empowering others to use their inner truth detector and find their answers within rather than reaching outside of themselves to others. From a larger perspective, we give our power away every time we think the media, the "expert," celebrity, or scientific study knows what's best for us or is of more value in some way. We make idols of other people, and from a spiritual perspective, we believe in a false illusion when we do this because there's no "better than" or "worse than" when it comes to humans. And the moment we put someone on a pedestal, we disconnect from reality and truth of who we are — all one, all equal, all worthy of love.
Rose Hill Designs by Heather Stillufsen
Take back your power now, with the help of these tips: 1. Make sure your thoughts are aligned with love. Observe your thoughts consistently, and cultivate self-worth and selflove through this practice. From a spiritual perspective,the ego is based on fearful illusions, which come in throughout the day and look like judgment, blame, attack, confusion, worry and all negative emotions. Most of the time this incessant voice is directed toward ourselves, and other times it will attack others. The more we choose love and release fear, the more we choose reality and release the illusions that keep us in our self-imposed prison. 2. Go deeper and identify limiting beliefs and core fears. These old, outworn ideas are the root of what holds us back, and they keep us from being who we really are. They keep us in the toxic relationship, the job we hate, the addiction, the fear of stepping out into our true life's purpose and our heart's passions and desires. Get honest with yourself and bring them out into the light so you can move forward and start living. 3. Begin to practice self-trust. Now that you've cleared the ego's loud voice and are able to listen to your inner guide, the answers to what you need to eat, where you need to go, what job to take, when to step out of the relationship will begin to come easily. We begin to take empowered action from this place of intuitive knowledge, and the more we check in with ourselves, the less we need to depend on the external world for all of our answers. When we're willing to take responsibility for the choices that are going to change our lives, we have fully stepped into our power. We are no longer in a state of confusion, making excuses, looking to others for our answers, or feeling like a victim of our circumstances; we have spiritually grown up and stepped up to the plate to follow the path that is aligned with our highest truth, our soul, and our freedom and authentic happiness.
Rose Hill Designs by Heather Stillufsen
6 Feng Shui Tips To Manifest Your Dreams By Dana Claudat Feng shui has been linked since ancient times with the idea of manifesting dreams. My clients tend to be looking to manifest something that’s eluded them: money, love, peace, more of something vital that seems to be slipping through their hands. I don’t deal in quick fixes or magic cures — no talismans or lucky charms — but there are lots of seemingly magical shifts that happen when you clear away obstacles weighing you down and bring your life more into alignment with the things you want. Your home is a mirror of your life. That’s a big feng shui principle that I’ve seen hold true time and time again. When you look around your place right now with this idea in mind, you might see things that you didn’t notice before. Does the art on your walls make you feel good? Does the style of your space reflect your style? Are you cluttered in ways in your home that are mirrored in your life … like clutter in your kitchen that mirrors a diet you can’t seem to stick with? When you make some positive changes in your space, you’re often prompted, reminded and motivated to start making changes in your life. If you're stuck in a series of negative relationships, for example, overhauling your bedroom can reveal the ways that you’ve been attached to past disappointments or upsets that reveal ways you may be stuck in the past. I’ve seen many closets full of clothes with bad memories attached to them, broken headboards, even divorce papers stored under beds! Clear away the blocks mirrored in that stuck space, rebuild a more positive vision of a bedroom that supports love and you can get unstuck. You may find the relationship of your dreams, or you may find the motivation and help to confront deeper issues that are blocking you … and then more love arrives. One way or another, when you change your space you clear more of a path to what you need and want. You become more adept at “manifestation.” You start to create and accept; you find more of what
you need and want. Here are a few ideas to shift your space to manifest more of your purpose and greatness … right now! 1. Ditch the energy-draining personalities. People are also a part of your environment. Anyone who sucks the life out of you isn't likely to help you manifest more of your purpose in life. There are enough obstacles in life that just pop up; you don’t need to cart around people who exhaust you with endless drama or suck the life from you. 2. Spruce up energy-draining spaces. Start by brightening dark rooms. Opening more windows, adding an extra lamp or even painting rooms a brighter colour can make a huge difference. When things are bright, it's easier to keep your attention on what makes you happy! 3. Keep things free-flowing. I was reminded recently about taking the “path of least resistance.” Rather than fighting life, why not flow with it? In a home, if you have lots of clutter you may be blocking the easier paths for yourself! A clutterclearing project can help you find easier ways to flow through your space. Clutter clearing also tends to create lots of inspiration and focus that makes for great results in life! 4. Make more art. Art is therapy, expression, creative fuel and emotional power in a space. When you actually make art, you infuse your home with your personal style. The act of creating art begets more ideas and more creativity. That momentum helps you to create tons more of what you want in all of life 5. Get organized. I was recently at lunch with several very successful businesspeople, and the conversation turned to raving that the life coach they all shared was completely transformational. Turns out, they referred to their stellar housekeeper as their life coach, since each of them had become dramatically calmer, more focused and more optimistic thanks to the organization that entered their lives. 6. Try feng shui for yourself in a bigger way. Some people may think that it takes special knowledge or a personal assistant to put feng shui principles into practice, but that's not the case! I've developed an online course, called Your Guide To DIY Feng Shui: Change Your Space To Change Your Life, to help you overhaul your approach to the world. So check it out and start manifesting today!
Rose Hill Designs by Heather Stillufsen
MY UNIQUE HOME
Because everyone deserves a Healthy & Happy Home :)
Bring Positive Energy Into Your Home (House Blessing) By Jayme Barrett
House blessing is an ancient tradition that invites positive energy into your home. Your home is an extension of your body and spirit. As you give to your home, you give to yourself. As you might have experienced, your space reflects and affects your inner life. If you bless your home and lavish it with love, it becomes a gracious holder of your dreams. During a house blessing, you can imbue the space with love, harmony, health, happiness, and prosperity. It is especially potent to do a house blessing after cleaning the physical rooms and performing a space cleansing. You should always clean before you energize. Blessing your house is akin to energizing it with prayers and positive intentions. You can do a house blessing before you move into a new space or when you want to bless a space you already inhabit in a new, purposeful way. For example, you may do a house blessing when a new spouse moves in or a baby comes into your life. You can also do one after you clear clutter and want to invite fresh energy into your home. You can perform a house blessing by yourself or with family and friends. The more positive intentions you invoke, the better. If you invite like-
minded friends to participate, you might ask them to bring a special prayer, poem, or ritual to share. Below are five steps from "Feng Shui Your Life" to create a harmonious house blessing.
1. Set the tone by playing sacred music and ask everyone to stand in a circle.
2. Welcome and thank your friends and family for being a part of this special occasion.
3. Light a pink candle (pink brings the energy of love and kindness) and pass it to each new person, who then shares a blessing.
4. You may also walk to different areas of the home stating specific intentions for each room as a way of consecrating it for a special purpose.
5. When the house blessing comes to an end, place the pink candle in the centre of your home to burn for at least one hour. Open all East windows and doors to invite the life-giving energy of the rising sun into your home. There are many house blessing prayers, so feel free to research one that feels right to you and your family. Below is a prayer that I use and suggest to my clients. Feel free to edit it to make it your own. "To the Divine Spirit (or Universal Energy, Supreme One etc), in lighting this candle we summon love, harmony, peace, and prosperity into our home. May we be blessed with good health, happiness, success, and abundance. May this home be a sacred dwelling for us and our children. May those who visit us feel peace and love. We decree that this home is now shielded from harm, illness, or misfortune. Thank you for bringing divine light, love and energy into our hearts, rooms, and endeavours. With tremendous gratitude, we thank you. In full faith, so be it and so it is!"
7 Tips To Make Your Home A Mini Mindfulness Retreat
O
nce a month, I conduct my very own mini-mindfulness retreat at
home with a day of mindful activities, in total silence. A day of at-home mindfulness offers the opportunity to be with ourselves and our emotions, in a place that feels safe. It retrains the mind to be present and gives the body time to unwind.
The benefit to having a retreat at home is that it's free and you can repeat it as often as you like. The only downside is that you will be surrounded by the regular distractions of your home, so you will need to exercise a certain degree of willpower. I usually give myself the luxury of a weekend retreat which I start on a Saturday (I drop my daughter off at her grandma’s house after school on Friday and come back home in the evening). I switch off my phone, tablet and laptop. I start my morning with a glass of warm water with freshly squeezed lemon juice while standing in the door breathing in fresh air. I then go for a quick run :) Once back, I spend rest of the morning meditating — sometimes spending periods of time looking out of the window sipping a cup of my favourite tea (Earl Grey!) and noticing the colour of the flowers, the sounds of the birds, the shape of the clouds. For lunchtime I always prepare something that will nourish my body. I sit at the table to eat mindfully, and stop eating when I am full. After lunch, I might do some journaling, play my piano or do some gardening. I don’t read much, so this can easily lead to too much thinking. So to counteract that I'll do a session of mindful yoga, focusing on my breath. Come 3.30-4PM, I start preparing dinner—in this case comfort food. One of the things I LOVE about cooking is that cooking a meal is one of the most personal and intimate things you can do. The speciality about a home cooked meal is the feeling of abundance it provides, everything you have and need is right in the front of you within arms reach. Once I have indulged in my dinner, I go for a long walk while listening to a podcast or something inspirational. I come home, make myself a healthy dessert and watch a movie (did I say I LOVE movies?) One hour before bed-time, I transform my bedroom into a SPA (got an en-suite), I put on tranquil music, light a SPA candle and treat myself to facemask, manicure, pedicure and so on. Want to have your own mini-mindfulness retreat in your own home? On the next page are seven tips for a day (weekend) of mindfulness —->
.1 Wake and stretch. When you wake, stretch your body and when you get up really feel your feet connecting with the earth, the temperature of the carpet against the soles of your feet.
2. Shower mindfully. When you shower, notice the sound of the water, the temperature, the scent of your soap, the feel of your hands on your skin, the texture of the towel as you dry yourself.
3. Dress with awareness. When you dress, notice the colours you choose, the feel of the fabric against your skin, the movement of your limbs as you pull your clothes on.
4. Cook with love. Preparing food should be a pleasurable experience. Notice the temperature of the water as you wash your salad, hear the sound of the knife as it slices through peppers, feel the texture of the lettuce as you
shake it dry.
5. Savour every bite. When you eat, take the time to sit at a table. Look at your food as if seeing it for the very first time. How does it smell? Chew slowly, maybe using a different side of the mouth or teeth than what is habitual. And of course, stop eating when you are full.
6. Meditate. During a silent mindfulness day you should try to avoid speaking. When you take time for meditation, you can use a recorded, guided meditation if you need to. Otherwise, meditate in silence for as long as you like.
7. Move with mindfulness. You could practice yoga or go for a walk in nature. Try using a faster or slower pace than what is usual for you to help heighten your awareness of the present moment. Begin your retreat without expectations or goals. There is nothing to achieve. See what happens for you without casting judgement. If you feel tired afterward, don’t worry, this is normal after a period of time spent sitting with your emotions and allowing your mind and body to rest.
ONLINE INTERIOR DESIGN COURSE
Passion for Food One of the things I LOVE about cooking is that cooking a meal is one of the most personal and intimiate things you can do for someone. You're literally providing plated nourishment made with your own hands and creativity - even if you're following a recipe, you picked the recipe and planned the meal didn't you? The speciality about a home cooked meal is the feeling of abundance it provides, everything you have and need is right in the front of you within arms reach. The fragrance of garlic, the crackle from the skillet, end the sight of perfectly roasted bird coming out from the oven....DIVINE! Cooking speaks to all of my senses. It's a joy I'm so proud to know!
5 OF THE BEST DRINKS FOR YOUR HEALTH BY JAMES COLQUHOUN As our bodies are made of up to 80% water, it’s critical that we get enough during the day to function properly! Water is a great foundation, but our top 5 drinks combine hydration with added health benefits!
1. Lemon Water Waking up to a glass of warm water with fresh lemon aids digestion and supports natural detoxification by helping the bowel to flush out waste more efficiently. It also provides a gentle immune system boost with vitamin C, and helps to freshen your breath by acting as a natural antiseptic killing off bad bacteria in the mouth. Sayonara chemicalladen mouthwash!
2. Herbal Tea Drinking herbs and spices in tea not only helps to cut down on caffeine, it boosts your nutrient intake! There are so many amazing herbs with all kinds of health benefits including antibacterial, antiviral, immunestrengthening, energy-boosting or calming properties. Many are rich sources of antioxidants fighting free radical damage in the body too! Each herb has unique health benefits but we love peppermint, lemongrass and ginger for settling the tummy; chamomile to calm, and lemon myrtle, spearmint, turmeric and cinnamon to ward off cold and flu symptoms. It’s medicine in a teacup!
3. Kombucha A fermented tea beverage rich in probiotics. Consuming a delicious glass of kombucha each day comes with a myriad of benefits! The natural healthy bacteria in kombucha helps to aid digestion, fight candida overgrowth, manage bloating, and due to the gut-brain link, even improve mental clarity and help stabilize your mood! Add in turmeric or ginger for even more gut soothing, anti-inflammatory benefits!
4. Green Juice A cold-pressed green juice is the quickest way you can load your body with easily absorbed nutrients that your body’s cells crave. Rich in phytonutrients that nourish your body, naturally energize, support detoxification and cleanse your body. It all comes down to what you put in the blend! Our general guide is 3-4 vegetables per 1 piece of fruit to make sure you’re not just getting a sugar rush. We love kale, cucumber, zucchini, celery, spinach, and broccoli thrown into our mixes!
5. Coconut Water Coconut water is nature’s natural rehydration drink. It’s an isotonic beverage providing the electrolytes calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium and potassium. Pure coconut water has no artificial additives or sweeteners and is low in naturally occurring sugars. It also contains a variety of vitamins and minerals including zinc, selenium, iodine, sulfur, manganese, boron, molybdenum, ascorbic acid and B-group vitamins! Perfect post-workout, or for rehydrating anytime of day!
10 Healing Herbs You Can Grow At Home By Jess Ainscough
Herbs are among the best and easiest things you can grow at home. You don’t need a large space, and by having herbs on tap, you’ll be able to pick them fresh for all of your juices, smoothies, salads and other dishes. Plus, growing your own is way cheaper than buying them and you won’t end up with a fridge full of wilted leftover herbs.
BASIL Basil leaves contain essential oils that have potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Basil is also a great source of iron and vitamin A. Add to salads and stir fry.
SAGE Sage is anti-hypertensive, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial. Plus it helps cleanse your blood and may even prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
Sheep’s Sorrel This herb is fantastic for anyone healing from cancer. It has a diuretic action and can be used to remove excess fluid from the body, and as a tonic for the urinary tract and kidneys. The leaves are also rich in vitamin C.
Coriander This is an awesome chelation herb, which means that it helps the body to detoxify heavy metals and supports the liver in this process. I add this herb to salad, stir fry, curry, green juice and green smoothies.
Herb Robert Herb Robert works to increase the immune response and the body’s ability to regenerate. It has a very unique ability to oxygenate the cells, making it another awesome herb for those of us healing from cancer. Drink as a fresh herbal tea.
Lemon Balm Great in salads, this herb soothes nervous tension and anxiety, promotes sleep, and speeds the healing of cold sores.
Parsley Of all of the herbs, parsley is the one I’m least fond of when it comes to taste. However, I eat it because it’s so good for us. It’s great for the immune system, helps flush excess fluid from the body, heals the nervous system and tones the bones.
Rosemary Rosemary contains caffeic acid and rosmarinic acid, both of which are potent antioxidants as well as antiinflammatory agents. Rosemary is also a good source of antioxidant vitamin E (alpha tocopherol) and other important antioxidants. Adding rosemary to your cooked meat will help reduce carcinogens.
Mint This is such a versatile herb. I love it in salads, stir fry, smoothies, juices, and desserts. Mint is awesome for digestion and is a great mouth freshener. Mint grows like wildfire, so always keep it in a separate pot to your other herbs.
Mother of Herbs Containing vitamins A, B, C and minerals like calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron. This herb powerful when it comes to healing the digestive system. Click here for a post and video about growing Mother Of Herb. This herb is yummy as a tea.
Gluten-Free Pastry Those on a gluten-free diet need not miss out on the delights of pastry. Adriana Rabinovich will teach you to make the perfect gluten-free shortcrust, choux, hot water crust pastry and pâte sucrÊe. Each recipe has been thoroughly tested and engineered to give the taste and texture of traditional pastry. With Roast vegetable quiche; Cream-filled profiteroles; Sausage or vegetarian pasties and a Classic glazed berry tart on the menu you will be amazed at what you can achieve glutenfree. What is included: Refreshments on arrival A recipe booklet All ingredients provided and weighed out for you in advance Assistance from the Leiths teachers A delicious lunch of your own making with wine, or a Leiths ploughmans. We do the washing up! Please note, recipes may change
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RRP ÂŁ89.85 Available from Amazon and Robert Dyas The Activ8rlives Body Analyser Bluetooth 4.0 smart scales determines your weight and visceral fat index. In addition to calculating your Body Mass Index (BMI) and Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), it calculates your percentage of muscle, fat and water, so that you can see whether your exercise or weight loss programme is removing fat (good) or losing muscle (bad), allowing you to monitor and adjust your regime. It sends information to your private personal FREE Activ8rlives account via your Bluetooth 4.0 enabled Smartphone or Tablet (not included) so that you can see how well you are doing and keep track of your health and wellbeing. You can stay committed to your goals by forming groups with other members of your family, club, school or by joining our online communities. By working together in groups, we are more successful in achieving our health goals. Activ8rlives is designed to help you achieve this.
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