How to follow this blog!

Hello!

Hope everyone had a great week and you gave yourself some you time. :-)

A number of people have asked me how they can follow me on this blog.

So I thought I would share with you how to follow my blog this week! It’s very simple. See below on how to follow me and it will then notify you each time there's a new post!

How to Follow this Blog

We have added a "Follow me" icon on top of the screen, so all you need to do is enter your email address and it will then notify you each time there's a new post!

Oh, and if you think this blog is worthy, please please please share my blog on Facebook or Twitter.

Have a great day!

Thought for the day: “One small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.”

Sharon x

Ever wondered why are massages are so good for you?

It’s funny how we all see getting a massage as a luxury. Well I guess it is, but what about the health benefits for us? And how good do we feel afterwards? We think nothing of buying those shoes or maybe some hair products, which, mind you, I have an entire bathroom draw of! I always get sucked into how to control the frizz…anyway, side-track.

There are some real health benefits in having a massage. When our muscles are overly tensed, circulation is reduced throughout the body. This reduction blocks the absorption of oxygen and nutrients into our body, making us feel sluggish and tensed!

Regular massage, on the other hand, loosens up the muscles, releases tension and anxiety, increases circulation, and brings oxygen and nutrients back to the area of tension.

Massage may also release stored toxins, which might explain the sense of wellbeing you feel after a massage. Having regular massages could be just what you need: some you time, doing something nice for your temple, your body!! Let’s face it: I’m sure all of us could manage our daily stresses and life’s challenges if we just took some more time out for us!

I’ve said it before: it seems when we do have that little bit of extra time in our lives we end up giving it to somebody else, not ourselves. There’s nothing wrong with giving yourself to others, and it’s important that you do; it’s a good feeling. But sometimes you need time out to fill up your cup so you can be a better mother, wife, friend, or employee.

I know I can over-commit to social functions or work. Life is constantly going; one day just rolls into the next. BUT you have to listen to your body and have a moment to yourself to recharge your batteries! (Mind you that’s not always easy.) Having a massage can help you relax and truly release your tightness in your neck and give you a sense of wellbeing.

I have the great pleasure of seeing the difference in both women & men when they’ve walked out after they've just had a massage. By owning my own day spa (www.aquavitspa.com.au), I see them walk in all flustered, speaking quickly, busting to use the toilet, true! And then after their massage, they walk out like a new person: calm, relaxed, centred.

Don’t underestimate the health benefits a massage can bring to you. Read our reviews and see what our clients say about us!

Sharon x

Healthy Recipes

How did it go for you last week??

Did you make two small changes in your life? I would love to hear about them! So leave a comment below about what you’ve done, your achievement, or any challenges you faced. Together, we can help inspire and motivate each other!

One change people often want to make in their lives involves healthier eating! But sometimes its not always easy planning & preparing meals in advance. Hence, it can be very easy to grab the wrong foods!

We are very lucky these days with all the healthy food options we have, and there are tons of resources on the Internet to help. So, this week I wanted to share with you one of my favourite recipes from the healthy chef, Teresa Cutter!

Teresa Cutter is an AMAZING healthy chef. One of my dear friends Lesley Marchioro put me onto her and if I'm looking for a healthy recipe I often turn to Teresa. She has Gluten free & Paleo recipes as well.

Ready for that amazing recipe? Take a look at this!

Egg white Zucchini Frittata!

http://www.thehealthychef.com/2012/06/egg-white-greens-frittata/

This recipe is easy to make and great for a healthy meal option. When I make this recipe, I pour the mixture into muffin trays, making it so simple to grab for lunch, to have with a salad, or just to eat as a healthy snack!

If you try this recipe this week, let me know how it goes and how you like it! Also, feel free to share your favourite recipes and healthy food websites in the comments below! I can’t wait to hear what you all do to enjoy healthy eating.

Bon appetite!

Sharon x

Small Changes

Ok…so how did last week look for you??

In my last blog, I talked about getting a better balance in life with work, exercise, healthy eating and getting back into some kind of routine. I’m posting my second blog so this is good start!

I also decided, if getting to the gym were too difficult, I’d set my alarm earlier and get up and go for a run. The alarms goes off at 6:00 am, and trust me, I'd rather stay in bed! But my goal was to at least do some kind of exercise each day with no excuses!

There’s something about the mornings; it truly is such an amazing part of the day. What I like is that it’s a new day. I get to choose my mood. I say to myself, “I choose to be in a good mood today” and it really works. :-) I see it as my time and I get to think about the day ahead and how I’m feeling. I take some deep breaths and feel lucky I’m healthy and alive! So many of us really do sweat the small stuff and put more worry on ourselves than we need to.

Every one of us has their own little story of what might be happening in their lives or what has happened in our lives. Some of us share our story with friends or our partner, and some of us just keep it to ourselves, trying to figure out what we truly want and why we feel the way we do.

Spending time on your own and taking some you time can be really therapeutic. Give yourself some time just to be you and ask yourself what's really important to you and how do I want to feel?

I do this often and put my thoughts into the universe. And trust me, some things have come back to me. My Nana (whom I adore) always told me, “If you don't believe you won't receive”. Such wise words from a woman who is now 94 and was married for 68 years!

On that note, I truly hope you are having a great week and have made your own small changes. Good for you if you have!

Here’s my challenge to you for this week: think of two things you'd like to change, big or small. These changes could be about yourself, the way you treat others, exercising, meal planning, or just your general outlook on life! You are in control. Don’t let others crush your dreams or get in the way of what's important to you.

Sharon x

Hello!! I’m back :-)

I started writing my blog Living Life by Sharon Templeton back in July 2013 and really enjoyed sharing my ramblings and life’s experiences with you all!

However, I got side tracked along the way, with running my own business, spending time with my family, and social commitments. I'm sure some of you can relate to this! You know its funny, I talked about achieving balance between life and work only a few blogs ago, and then I got so caught up with everything that I lost my own balance!

Where does the time go?! Seriously, it’s just been Christmas and now Easter eggs are out. I really shouldn't sound so surprised; I swear I say that every year!!

Anyway, what I really wanted to share with you is that now the festive season is over, and if you're anything like me, you want to get back on track. I've made myself a promise that I will be posting a weekly blog, so if I don’t be sure to give me a little nudge! Leave a comment!

Did you start eating healthier and exercising last year? How good did you feel?

Sometimes life just catches you in its whirlwind and can make it very difficult to get to the gym. Or maybe, there are social functions you need to attend and before you know it, you’ve had a few wines or perhaps overeaten and now you're worried your diet is out the window! Hey, we've all been there. The best advice I can give you is don't beat yourself up.

If you have a blowout, start eating well again the next morning. I could say you should go to your social functions and drink soda water with a slice of fresh lemon, but hey lets face it, a nice cold glass of bubbles or a good red is a great way to treat yourself and get some release from our hectic lives! I'm not saying you have to drink to have a good time and neither way is wrong, but the reality is for some of us, its much nicer having a balance in life and still enjoying yourself at the same time.

I wonder what this week will entail.

Shaz x

Vinegar – It’s For More Than Poaching Eggs

Healthy living is about more than getting to the gym every day of the week or maintaining a 10-step daily skin regimen!! It’s about caring for your body, yes J but also your mind and peace of being…..

To me, this meaning changes by the day… Some days it is about squeezing in that extra yoga session to feel relaxed, one with my mind and body, and awake. Some it’s about a productive, positive day at my spa. And yet other days, it’s about the little things – a perfectly cooked healthy meal or a smaller win, like finding five minutes to get the vacuuming done.

Earlier this week, I found my peace over a late breakfast…. As I took to a mission of cooking a perfectly poached egg, I realized how strange it is that a capful of vinegar of all things keeps the egg together!! J My chain of thought went a bit down the rabbit hole with curiosity as to exactly what else vinegar is used for – it turns out that there is quite a list. Below are just a few of my favorites.

   ·       Burn remedy – A dash of white vinegar on a cloth, laid over a kitchen burn or sunburn soothes the pain and removes the heat

   ·       Un-over salt – If you have added to much salt to a recipe, add a dash of vinegar to balance it back out

   ·       Cleaning – Vinegar combined with salt (one tsp. vinegar to two Tbsp salt) makes a beautiful kitchen cleaner – it shines up even the most dulled or lime-stained chrome fixtures in a snap

   ·       Sparkling glasses – Add ½ c. vinegar to your dishwasher’s rinse cycle to make dishes and glassware sparkle

   ·       Stain removal – Add a teaspoon each of vinegar and a mild liquid detergent to a gallon of hot water to remove non-oily stains from carpeting

   ·       Facial toner – Mix equal parts vinegar and water for a great DIY facial toner

   ·       Body freckles – Rub full-strength vinegar over body freckles to lighten them

   ·       Age spots – A daily splash of 1:1 onion juice and vinegar can overtime reduce age spots

   ·       Lasting polish – Extend the life of nail polish by wiping nails with vinegar-soaked cotton balls before applying polish

   ·       Bug bites – Stop the itching from bug bites by dabbing bite marks with undiluted vinegar

   ·       Flower power – Extend the bloom time of cut flowers or liven droopy blossoms by adding two tablespoons vinegar and one teaspoon sugar to a quart of water, then use to freshen flowers’ water

Sometimes to achieve daily peace, we simply need to take a step back and appreciate life’s little wonders – whether it be the way vinegar holds the whites of an egg together to create a beautifully poached egg or a rainbow after a summer storm. The world is full of surprises – taking a moment to enjoy them helps put your mind at ease and bring joy to your day.

I hope that you are able to take a few minutes out of your day to enjoy peace, reflection, and one of life’s little wonders.

Shaz x

Finding Balance in a Busy World

Is the world getting busier or is it just me?

We are working ridiculous hours at our jobs, washing, ironing, cooking, doing household chores, paying bills. Looking after kids, spending time with husbands (wives) and family, caring for pets – the list goes on.

How many times have we said, “Tomorrow I’m going to start going to the gym,” or, “I’m going to catch up with our friends,” or, “do ‘this’ or ‘that.’” We are constantly running from one thing to the next, feeling uptight, getting stressed, losing patience – no wonder we‘re so tired all the time.

There are so many things involved in our everyday lives that it seems we focus on all of the tasks to complete without ever dedicating anytime to ourselves.

Think about it – we are always doing something for someone or something because it needs to be done; why is it that the “someone” is never ourselves? I realize that when I actually have spare time, I usually give that time to somebody else! Sound familiar? I think we are all able to relate to this because we are all soooo busy and left searching for that balance between work (whatever that work may be) and life.

So what exactly does it mean to find balance?

To me, it means simply taking time out to recover, recoup, recharge, distress, wind down, or do the things that help us cope with life – it’s allowing ourselves time to indulge in the activities that ultimately make us happy.

Life will go on if the vacuuming is not done or the car is not cleaned or the papers you have piled on your desk are not attended to at this very moment.

I love coming to work every day, running my new business Aquavit Spa & Wellness ; however, it has been very taxing on me and my family and I find it especially hard to find time for me!

When talking to Frank about finding some time for myself, he reminded me of some ‘activator’ thing we all have tucked away in our brains – the thing that alerts you to keep an eye out for something. Like when you’re thinking about buying a particular type of car and suddenly they are everywhere on the road and you’re astounded by how many are actually out there!  

Well those activators are very good at helping us find the gaps in our day/week where we can take time out. You just have to tell yourself that you’re going to find time to do… (you fill in the blank). Write it down…, “I WILL FIND TIME THIS WEEK TO (FILL IN THE BLANK WITH AN ACTIVITY JUST FOR YOU).”

Place the reminder in your purse or wallet or on the fridge…anywhere front and center to remind you of your goal.

My release is the gym; I go there and train hard with my girlfriends and feel totally invigorated and recharged. Usually I’m there five days a week, but lately that hasn’t been happening. I've made a goal for next week to allocate two days to the gym. I just looked into www.bikramyoga.com.au – there are so many great benefits to yoga http://bikramyogamemphis.com/2011/05/13-extraordinary-benefits-of-bikram-yoga/.   

I hope you all look at your day or week and think about how you can just do one thing for YOU...even if it’s just an hour a day. That's all... your body is a temple... look after the place you live...

Shaz x