A New Year, a new way

Posted on 02/01/2012 | 10 Comments

So, as many of us prepare our New Year’s Resolutions (and I was right on board as I am every year, glutton for punishment that I am), I serendipitously found myself reading a blog post from 2008.

 

 

 

 

A couple of years ago I was lucky enough to win a copy of Gretchen Rubin’s best selling book, The Happiness Project, in which she documents her year-long adventures in trying out different ways to find happiness.

And so fast forward to yesterday when I stumbled on a blog post she wrote that is a twist on our normal resolutions. And since I wanted to forge a new new NEW path this year, I decided I would start with her idea for Twelve Commandments – read her post, and see if you are as inspired as I was…

My Twelve Commandments

  1. Be Anjanette
  2. Relax & breathe
  3. Find the fun
  4. Be grateful
  5. Live & love with my whole heart
  6. Recognise opportunity
  7. Live in the now
  8. Accept love
  9. Let go of guilt & obligation
  10. Be kind, first to myself
  11. Under-think, not over-think
  12. Go with my gut

Rather than set myself up for failure with, let’s face it, impossibly huge tasks  like “Eat clean” and “Exercise every day”, I wanted to put something down that would speak more to me as a person. I wanted something that I could take to remind myself each day to truly live authentically. This hit the spot…

I’ll be working through the book, on this and other projects that take my fancy throughout the year…care to join me?

 

 

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Posted in Anj writes about..., Choosing Joy

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This post is part of a Blog Hop called At War With Four…check out the other brilliant posts!

 

If you have a 4 year old you probably have a story like this…

Walking down the road with Mr4, he has a smile on his face, excited to get on the ferry for our daily trek to the city where he goes to preschool and I go to work.

He takes a quick breath an asks, “Hey, mummy, you’ve got my fake teeth, haven’t you?”

“Oh no, sorry sweetie, they’re back up in the apartment, we’ll get them later.”

“NO!” his face crumbles and it’s as if the sun has suddenly been blotted out with inky clouds. “You get them NOW!” screeches mini-dictator. At 7.00am, in the middle of the street, at the top of his lungs.

I hiss, “Shhhh! We have to catch the ferry, you’ll get to have your teeth as soon as we get home” His body rises up and he begins to virtually prance down the street. But it’s a mad, angry, annoying prance. And I think, Oh god, people are staring at us. I am the worst mother. They know I can’t control my mini-monster.

He has long had the ability to go from Delight to Disaster, but now that he is four, his opinions – and confidence – mean that he approaches life with a certainty that only a four-year-old-going-on-fourteen-year-old can muster.

“Seriously, kid, cut the attitude.”, I hiss desperate for him to stop. “I do NOT have an attitude, mummy…YOU have an attitude!”, he responds with a whine.

The rest of our walk is a combination of shushing, distraction and bribery. And my mini-dictator keeps me on my toes until the moment I drop him at preschool.

Next stop? The corner cafe for a very large coffee…

This post is part of a Blog Hop called At War With Four…check out the other brilliant posts!

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Posted on 30/10/2011

A girl and her shoes

Posted on 18/10/2011 | 14 Comments

So the romance between a girl and her shoes is not a new story.

But despite my obsession with looking at beautiful shoes, my budget does not normally stretch to allow me to own the shoes I most covet.

Enter the fabulous website StylingYou and a very generous giveaway from Habbot Studios…

When I got notice I’d won one of the two pairs of gorgeous handmade Italian leather shoes I whooped so loudly that I frightened the people working in the office next door! NEVER have I owned a pair of shoes as beautiful, as comfortable or as well-made.

Annie at Habbot Studios was not only generous in her giveaway, but epitomizes everything that is good customer service: friendly, quick and that extra special personal touch.

When my shoes arrived, I immediately slipped them on…and again said thanks for my incredible luck.

If you are looking for a pair of shoes that don’t just look good, but will last and last, your money would be well-spent at Habbot Studios. You’ll thank me…

Oh, and that’s me attempting colour-blocking with my new shoes… I happened to wear this outfit to watch the France v Wales match, so I guess I was barracking for France!

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