I thought I would share with you what I keep next to my bed, just for fun and because this stuff is a staple in my life and really helping me feel a bit more human and overall better :)
- VOSS Water Bottle - A few years ago I invested in a 800ml VOSS bottle. It is made of glass and I reuse it all the time. I find drinking out of bottles to be easier because it keeps me aware of my daily intake and reminds me to fill it up!
- Sally Hansen nail strengthener - Recent illness means brittle nails, drab hair and skin. This is possibly the best nail strengthener I have ever used and I really like the natural gloss look it gives my nails. You can also apply it a few times weekly.
- Probiotics Probi Flora - A must in my opinion and I always try to take them when I have eaten too much sugar or my stomach doesn't really feel right.
- Nivea Q10 Anti Age Hand Cream - I really believe in taking care of your hands and for years I have not paid much attention to them. Now as I am getting older, I realise the importance of using a good, nourishing hand cream. I usually apply it at night and I love that it has Q10 in it. PLus my mom is living proof, her hands are gorgeous thanks to hand cream.
- Natura Rescue Remedy - Love these drops, great for stress or sleeplessness. Especially during exams.
- Nivea Pore Refining Day Cream - I keep day cream next to my bed so I am reminded to use it! This is a really awesome day cream as it has an SPF 15 in it and you really don't need a lot when applying it. Perfect for combination skin.
Except for the VOSS bottle - which you can get from Wellness Warehouse, everything else is from Clicks and really is affordable and incredible quality.
xxx
Saturday Girl SA
I have being reading a really amazing book called The Clean and Lean Diet by James Duigan. While it boasts an Really good 14-day DETOX ( have not done it myself, but have tried the recipes), the book is mainly made up of clean eating suggestions and lifestyle changes, and while its hard to follow it all and in my opinion a bit pricey to try cook and the way he suggests, but it is a great food guide.
It helps you through various food group tables with suggestions on each group, such as Bad. Better and Best options. This is super helpful if you are looking to make a few (or major) changes in your daily diet.
Again, its not a weight loss gimmick, it's more of a healthy way of life and how to make changes in poor food choices. I find it to be educational and have applied some of the principles to my own daily diet , as they run in conjunction with helping heal meningitis through good, healthy, immune boosting food.
Below is my summer health list, it's a lot longer than this, but these basics are working for me. I am not perfect and not on a diet. I am a major chocolate monster and love a good burger, potatoes, pasta etc. But for the sake of my health I am trying to cut back on those things and sugar, caffeine, meats etc as they all aggravate meningitis. I am also trying my best to make small changes, especially if I dine out. I really want to have a healthy mind and body. Taking pain medication and going back and forward to the hospital (hooked up to all sorts of drips etc) can really mess up your body. My skin, hair, body and diet have all taken a major knock, so I am on a self heeling/mending mission. Here are some of my summer health tips.
- lots of water - filtered water if possible.
- Add a squeezed lemon to hot water in the morning. Kick start your digestive system. Also great for the skin!
- Invest in a good sunblock, research what works for your skin and if it contains harmful ingredients.
- Try body brushing - best way to get rid of dead skin and stimulate blood circulation.
- moisturise your whole body daily.
- Do some form of exercise, even if you work around the block a few times.(non applicable to me, zero exercise for now)
- Keep good posture - squashing all your internal organs will hinder digestion.
- Drink tea that doesn't contain caffeine in it, try white tea.
- Eat lots of antioxidants - berries and more berries!
- Research and read about health, so much amazing information out there.
- Get breathing! proper yoga breathing that opens up your lungs and gets rid of stale air.
- Invest in a good pillow, get a good nights sleep.
- Eat dark leafy greens, the normal lettuce is water with zero nutritional value.
- Put moisturising sun cream not only on your face, but on your neck, chest and hands daily! AND your lips.
- Protect your hair from the sun when you hit the beach, invest in a good sun protection hair product and a big hat.
- Prevent swollen ankles by rotating them clockwise and anti clock wise during the heat.
- Try not eat refined sugar, rather get it from fruit, and if you must, from really yummy authentic dark chocolate.
- Prepare your meals, make an effort to pamper and care for yourself daily.
- Don't forget how important it is to stress less, stay clam and don't push too hard.
- When you eat fruit, add a few nuts to prevent sugar levels from spiking.
- Take a good vitamin
- Try go organic with fruit and veg check out my post on Wild Organics they supply locally and it will change your life!
Saturday Girl SA
I would love to own a Billabong Girls Surf Capsule Wetsuit they are so feminine and rad! Love that they come in such awesome colours and a variety of styles that work in different climates and temperatures. Over all I just think they are so cool and most definitely aspire to own one!
Other links: http://scoutandharlow.com/category/featured/page/15
How beautiful are these clouds? Took this picture last week from my boyfs place. Was so blown away. They look like balloons almost :)
These are some personal lessons I have learnt lately. I like to share them, maybe they will help you too. When I say you, I really mean me in this list, Lol
- Stop taking everything so personally
- No need to be sensitive, it's not always about you (duh)
- Don't lose faith in yourself. You would not have gotten this far in life if you were not hopeful
- Don't expect answers from others, find your own
- Strength comes from within. Really it does, not just a cool saying, you gotta dig deep!
- Make proper time for people in your life, a call, a coffee, a face to face conversation
- Less stressing about things days away, more enjoying NOW
- Make you time, pamper time, chill time
- Don't let the past year stress and pain bring you down, its the past for a reason
- Don't paint nails or eat chocolates on top of bed white bed linen. Never a good idea
- Give others compliments on their achievements and take an interest in their hobbies and activities more
- Be more considerate. Stress is universal
- Listen more speak less
- Don't be so petrified
- Less phone time
- Laugh and smile, it's all good :)
- Gratitude and grace - always
Since I am super useless with makeup it was nice to find this cool guide explaining makeup brushes! Check out THE BEAUTY DEPARTMENT for other awesome tips
Appears to be a lovely looking crumpet right? Wrong :) This is a galette. A friend of mine is on the Dukan diet (I would not last 5 hours, she has been doing it for months, majors respect to her). One of the things she mentioned for a good alternative to bread/carbs are these. Galettes are made with oats and super easy and inexpensive to make. I made this batch the other day and popped them into a container and into the fridge. Today I ate three with a scrambled egg and baby tomatoes, wow, super yum and very filling, which is what you want to feel. Ultimately they are very bland, but if you put avo, nut butter or any other healthy spread, or simply add it to a meal, it's really tasty!
Galettes
2x eggs/egg white
3x tbsp oat bran (I use jungle oats oat bran)
3x tbsp Greek yoghurt (they say 0% fat, I could not find it)
You then whisk it or liquidise it all together, slightly grease a frying pan and there you have it! If you give them a go please let me know what you think and if you enjoyed them :)
xxx
xxx
So this is an unedited, unistagram view from my bed. It isn't something you will find on some super stylish site for bedroom inspiration etc. But it is mine, all mine. My space and my view.
I have had to spend a lot of time here. Fun fact about viral meningitis - it can't actually be cured with medication (expect anti medicines) the only real cure is rest.
Yes, as in no exercise, not even walking far to your car or round the shops or popping around the corner to a friend for a cup of tea. ZERO (like major rest from normal daily life kind of stuff).Nothing like forced rest to make you realise how much you do in a day, how busy life is and how as humans we are pretty incredible creatures. Also a reminder that your head and brain take a lot of strain. It is so frustrating not being able to do basic normal things without experiencing pain. I am a self confessed overachiever and don't like being told I can do stuff, even basic stuff. All of this has again reminded me we take small things for granted, reading, writing, driving, walking, completing basic life tasks like cooking, sleeping, going to a birthday or for dinner.
Having to listen to a neurologist is pretty scary, I mean the man is no joke and with the thought of lumbar puncture number two looming in the background I have made sure I take the doctors orders, as difficult as they are. If anything I have learnt so far this year, it's that we are a million times stronger than we think we are, we can do so much on our own and are crazy independant, but boy oh boy, is it awesome to have people who care and support you in times like this, wow, they truly rock!
I am not superhuman, or perfect, and if one more person says "wow you have been sick a lot, or you're always sick hey?" I may suggest they be supremely grateful for their health and suggest they level with me and try a lumber punter before commenting (joke). I think people often forget, you don't need to physically look like a sick mess to be actually sick. You can look pretty normal and be sick too.
Be kind to others, sick or not. Be patient if you are ill, be nice to yourself, respect yourself and reflect. Nothing like lying in bed, by choice or not and reflecting. Look at all the things you don't usually bother with. Use the time you are given in life, that allows you down time to really and truly think, rid yourself of worry and anxiety, feel appreciation and respect for the life you have been given, the bed you sleep in and your health.
xxx
As you would have seen at some point in my blog, I was busy at varsity with a 5 week project called brand challenge. The entire college (except 1st years) from all the different courses and degrees come together to work on a real company/brand.
This year brand challenge was separated into two groups - 2nd year together and 3rd/honours together. In a nutshell, its truly an awesome experience that gets you involved with creatives, strategists, multimedia, copywriters etc and forces you to work together and get a feel for what it will be like working in the industry.
Our group was mainly made up of strategy and creative, and our brand was Missing Children South Africa. Such as incredible NGO and really rewarding to work with. I can honestly say it was one of the best experiences and if anything, brand challenge has made me want to work harder, learn more and get involved!
Our team won the junior debut brand challenge which was so awesome!
Our gift was a really cool book, Welcome to the Real World!
Written by two past pupils from Vega, this book should be something everyone starting out in the big wide world should have!
"Practical advice on topics including travel, accommodation, studies, employment, finance and personal health and safety, and written by two young women who have been there, done that, no one about to leave home for the first time should be without it."
A must for cool christmas gifts :)
xxx
Save up and spoil yourself.
Sometimes its really nice to spoil yourself a little. I ordered these amazing, affordable, locally made beauty products from Hey Gorgeous check out the site. I think you will be very impressed and really swoon over the amazing natural products!
Get some animal love.
Nothing like a cuddle with a cat or dog to lift your mood. Animals are so soothing and truly the most loving, kind creatures. This is show pony Tess. She belongs to the boyfs family. Whenever I see her she gently puts my hand in-between her teeth and then takes me for a walk. lol
Read more about things that interest you.
I recently bought this book after wanting it for a long time. I am becoming more interesting in surfing. Not any good at it, but I would like to give it a go and not give in too easily. Since I cant exercise for awhile, I decided I can at least start researching and reading up on it.
Remember to thank the ones that do so much.
The boyf has truly being an incredible support in my life. He and my mom as well as a wonderful group of friends, have truly stuck by me and supported me. I need to remind him and them, more often how much I appreciate them, their time, patience and unconditional love.
xxx
So I went straight out of brand challenge to basically straight into hospital. It really is not my year. Seems I landed up with viral meningitis, which took almost three weeks to diagnose and then I still had to endure two trips to hospital (and two stays) as well as a lumber puncture, neck pain and awful head pain. I am out now. The not so ideal part is now having to recover. It can take up to 6 months to fully recover and in the mean time.....no exercise for nearly three months. eek. Once again, its a major wake up call to how important health is. Stress less - so hard to do, but so important.
The more we push our bodies and do everything to the max, we are asking for trouble. It is so important to stop and listen to what your body is telling you sometimes. I really had a big shock and wake up call. Stress brings about a low immune system which makes you more vulnerable to catching viruses. Oh, and not sleeping that's a biiiig problem. Pulling all nighters to get work done and functioning on empty is NEVER ok.
Since I can't exercise, not even yoga (sad sad sad) I decided to look at another aspect of yoga that is vitally important. Breathing
There are many different and complicated techniques that you can use. I focus on a more basic form of breathing (see picture below). Yoga breathing allows for a greater sense of spiritual and mental enlightenment. It includes a variety of health benefits and allows for the body to stay centred and focused. Especially when you are at your most stressed and anxious.
Going to be making a big effort in the next few months to really focus and try not push myself. Its hard to be patient when you want to exercise and go nuts. I think this is the perfect time to focus inwardly and work on keeping my mind, body and soul, calm and at ease.
xxx