'a month of me time' update

Today's update, day 6 'a month of me time'.

When Karen's email came through I instantly felt a strong curiosity, what inspiring words of wisdom will Karen direct to me today. As I began reading I began to smile. Day 6 is all about coffee, my indulgence, a true love in my life. There was a time it was almost an addiction which I needed to curb and curb it I have. In the past, I drank it so heavily as a matter of habit, there has been many a day when I have felt so physically exhausted I've turned to my companion to see ME through the day.

The message from Karen at The Calm Space .

Life is too short to drink bad coffee (or instant coffee).
Make your morning cuppa an event.
Brew freshly ground coffee to perfection.
Drink it in a beautiful cup or mug.

'The Calm Space' also encourages you to stop in at your favourite cafe. This is something I do after the morning school drop off. The local cafe sells the best coffee around, in these parts.

If you're a tea drinker, invest in a nice teapot, use loose-leaf tea (apparently, tea drinkers can taste the difference) and drink out of a beautiful china cup.

Remember to simply breathe, be aware of your surroundings. Really taste what you are drinking. Savour and appreciate every sip.

Relishing your morning (or afternoon) cup is taking time for ME.

These days I try very hard to stick to 1 to 2 cups of coffee each day. Tell me, are you an over indulgent coffee drinker? How many cups do you sip on each day? When you order your coffee, what do you order? My order is a skinny weak latte with one sugar please :)

'a month of me time' update

Today is day 5 of 'a month of me time'. For 30 days, I'm concentrating on me, as simple as this may sound and even seem. What a total inspiration Karen Wallace and The Calm Space is.

Karen, I'm finding your 'simple daily actions to nourish my soul' truly amazing. Each action does seem quite simple on the surface, it seems easy enough to achieve. This is definitely not the case for me. I'm finding myself making a concentrated effort to sustain these actions as part of my 'new' daily routine, where I actually take time for me. I love how 'a month of me time' is forcing me to focus my attention on me and how I carry about my daily business and actions.

I'm ever so slowly accepting the fact that taking time to stop, means I am taking time for me.

The focus for day 4, take time to just sit, to just sit and simply be.

Forget about that never ending to do list. Forget about anything else you think you 'should' be doing.

A simple message, a simple action, take 5 minutes for you each day.

Sit. Breathe. Relax.



The focus for day 5, fill your home with fresh flowers, there is nothing nicer.

Don't wait for a special occasion or for someone to buy you flowers. Go out and treat yourself to a small bunch or a single bloom. I love having a vase of fresh flowers in the house. They change the room completely with their delightful appearance and scent.



Ladies, Karen's message is very clear, simply take time for you each day! You owe it to yourself and those around you, to find pockets of tranquility in your busy world.

Ladies a very big thank you for leaving such encouraging and motivating comments against my 'a month of me time' posts :)

cherish you! challenge

I have to share this with you, quickly tonight before the clock strikes midnight! Before time runs out. I'm sorry about the short notice.

Karen Wallace over at The Calm Space is running for the first time, the FREE, 5 day, 'Cherish You! Challenge'. It starts tomorrow, Tuesday 16th February. You'll need to register before Tuesday in your time zone to be in!

If you're feeling a little unloved, unappreciated or under cherished why don't you take part in the 'Cherish You! Challenge'. The challenge is all about learning to love yourself one step at a time. Over 5 days the 'Cherish You! Challenge' will challenge you with 5 small, simple steps towards a life where your cup is overflowing with love, appreciation and caring.

Please click here for full details.

It's FREE. It's only 5 days. You could learn something, you could learn alot. Your life could improve a little, your life could improve alot. What have you got to lose?

I'd love to hear if you decide to take the Cherish You! Challenge .

this week's charity

It's Monday again! I really like Monday. I feel so good when I wake on Monday morning.

Why? I hear my lovely new 'followers' question. Firstly, a very warm welcome and thank you for taking the time to read 'life and the memoirs'. I hope you enjoy your time here.

Now back to why each Monday in the year 2010 is shaping up to be such a fabulous start to my week. 7 weeks ago I stumbled across Thea and her brilliant idea and blog My Year of Giving. Thea has committed to donating $5 to a worthy cause or charity every week for this whole year. Each Monday Thea posts her cause or charity choice for the week. I simply follow her lead and match her $5 donation. So simple and so easy!

$5 may not seem much, but it definitely goes along way in helping to make a difference to someone's life, someone who is in desperate need of help or support.

This week a friend of Thea's on Twitter suggested Hug For Hearts™ which coincides with Valentine's Day. Hug For Hearts™ is supporting the Heart Foundation, Australia's leading heart health Charity.

If you're in a position to support this week's charity please click here .

You can expect me to post 'this week's charity' details each and every Monday! Stay tuned :)

'a month of me time' update

Today is day 3 of a 'month of me time'. For the next 30 days, I'm concentrating on me, as simple as this may sound and even seem.

Each evening Karen Wallace, Founder and Editor of The Calm Space, forwards me an email, detailing a tip to nourish my soul. This is so inspiring. A gentle reminder to guide me ever so slowly. To support and help me refocus on me!

The focus for day 1, taking time to drink water! Drinking water is vital to our health and vitality, getting through a busy day requires plenty of both.

Friday night I was feeling so inspired, I drank a litre of water. I need to consistently remind myself to drink water, and lots of it! Naturally I don't crave water nor do I often suffer extreme thirst.



The focus for day 2, listen to good music!

Following in my father's footsteps, I love a variety of music. Great music can inspire, uplift, motivate and even calm.

When I'm home I often have music playing in the background. Before going to sleep I enjoy a relaxing CD which does a great job in assisting me to unwind and switch off from my day and my thoughts.



The focus for day 3, book a check-up with the Doctor! What a great reminder. Taking care of our health and physical well being is taking time of ME.



These tips are a fabulous reminder on how I can take time out for me. How I can start to look after me!

Are these 3 tips part of your day already? Do they come naturally or like me do you need to refocus your attention and actions, to shift your focus more towards yourself?

life is busy

A very short post from me today. I'm still here, I'm not going anywhere. This end of the week is always 'busy' over at our place, particularly with me working a couple of late nights along with a few hours spread across the weekend. Once we factor in precious family time, it's Sunday night before we know it and we're planning for another week! In Victoria, term one will finish in just six weeks, holidays are around the corner yet again! Short term this one, eights weeks.

What's on the agenda this weekend? For me, I simply can't wait to enjoy some much longed for cooler weather. It's going to be bliss. Oh and a mini sleep in, just what I need and I'll be reading the weekend newspapers over a coffee or two and working.

I'll be posting over the weekend, at some stage. You know how much I'm loving this blogging thing. I'll be sure to fill you in on the beginning of 'a month of me time!'

Until then, enjoy your days :)

tomorrow, day 1, a month of me time!

We are well and truly into the swing of 2010. Christmas and the extended summer holidays seem such along time ago now. School has started, I'm mum to primary school aged children, for goodness sake! It's now time to invest time into ME! For the past 7 years the majority of my life has focused on my adorable family, I now have approximately 30 hours a week for ME! Some of the time I'll use domestically, some of the time I'll work, some of the time I'll study, some of the time I'll socialise and some of the time I'll use simply for myself, writing, reading, relaxing, simply enjoying time out and my own company.

Now, I tend to get a little carried away at times surfing the net, losing myself in endless snippets of information, news, blogs, the list goes on and on. Today I found a site at the most perfect time and stage of my life. The timing couldn't have been more spot on! I found "The Calm Space".

"The Calm Space is an online magazine that is like a virtual day-spa for your senses… decadent, informative, relaxing. A real no-mobile-phones-allowed kind of escape where you can chill for a minute or an hour and emerge refreshed and ready to face anything your day throws at you!

It’s a rare woman who doesn’t succumb to chaos and madness at some stage during her busy week. Whatever your particular life situation, and no matter how your day is going, you will find respite within "the calm space".

"The Calm Space" is not just about chilling out! It also focuses on taking action, moving out of stress and chaos, and moving towards a happier, calmer life."

The blurb above instantly captured my attention, I was hooked immediately! Wanting to read more and more.

How divine that I should find "the calm space", talk about excellent timing! Now is the time for ME, time to indulge myself!

I'm excitedly anticipating "A Month of Me Time", a free e-course which is aimed at inspiring ME to take better care of MYSELF! Each day for the next 30 days I shall receive an email on the importance of taking a little time for MYSELF! I'll receive simple daily actions to nourish MY soul.

I can't wait to be inspired to take better care of MYSELF! If I'm honest with myself, myself has been slightly neglected, this is not good for any member of our family, least of all myself.

Little steps commence tomorrow. No more running on empty! Now is the time for ME! Tomorrow is day 1, the beginning. I'm certain I was meant to find the calm space today.

I'll share my simple daily actions with you. You may even feel inspired to join yourself!