Where the Bloody Hell am I?

I'm here gorgeous. I've just been chilling out for a bit.

I suppose you could say that I got 'burnt out'.

I needed some time out. Just living - taking in everything around me. Being grateful for my amazing wife, and gorgeous bub. And everything else my life has to offer. Away from this blog.  And boy do I feel great for it. Best thing I really could have done.

It's more than ok to take some time out just for you. In fact, I recommend it! Be kind to yourself when you do though cherub. It's absolutely fine, and we all need to do it sometimes. So embrace it!

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So I am back with drive, purpose and the fire in my belly again. I've got my goals for this blog and I want you to come along for the ride. Will you?

Its time to do some needed housekeeping around here too - tidy the place up a bit.
You will notice that things might change, not too much though love don't stress! I will still be me, posting on here but there might be a few little subtle changes going on. They might just be so subtle that you won't even notice.

I will also be taking suggestions on posts too - so if you want me to write about something please comment on here, my Facebook page, Twitter or Instagram - connect with me gorgeous!

I love hearing from you and look forward to what 2014 has in store.

xx

2014 = No More Comparing

Wow - it's been awhile since I have thought about writing a post on here. Welcome 2014, albeit 13 days late!

What a break I had. No blogging at all. Writing in my journal, but none online. Refreshing.

Why the break? Well I believe that it is not beneficial to just write something for the sake of it. I would rather truly believe what I am writing, or be passionate about it before I click Publish. And I would like it to be worthy reading. So here is my first foray for the year.

I sat down in the first few days of a fresh new year and set out my goals and things I wanted to achieve in 2014, in all aspects of my life. Health, wellness, blogging, coaching, work, motherhood, relationships. Everything. Of course they aren't all big goals, some might just be little things but they are things that I want out of this year. That I want to make happen. And I'm pumped about it.

And I thought of a post that I really wanted to get out. I needed to write this and I have needed to for a little while now.

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One of the big things I have had some trouble with in terms of writing on this blog is being authentically me. Good parts, and bad parts.  Of course this is me you are seeing, reading and hanging out with.

I mean in terms of portraying all of who I am. I am a work in progress, and although I do have green smoothies, I also eat chocolate. And not always the fantastic Pana stuff, sometimes I just grab some Dairy Milk. Hazelnut or Marvellous Creations are my two favourites, but honestly I'm not that fussy.  I LOVE trashy television, and can sometimes spend an hour or two on the couch rather than being outside getting some sunshine. I drink coffee, eat bread, normal milk - but I do love almond milk and chia seeds and cooking with coconut oil. I used to grow kale, loved it in my smoothies. Well actually, no one truly loves kale, (it's bloody bitter!) we all pretend but you get my point.

I love to feel healthy, inside and out, but I am no way perfect every day.  I would hate for you to think that, and my point is that we are all human. We can always work on things, and even though I promote living a health life, by having a healthy mind, body and soul, there are times when I feel crap about myself and start thinking negatively.  

I feel insecure and find myself comparing myself to others when I know I shouldn't be. An example of this is being a mum. My daughter has an innate ability to wonderfully throw all your plans to the wind and make you play by her rules. Some days we can not leave the house, she might not sleep at all and I might not even have a shower! I used to think that made me a crap mother, I would see photos of other mums looking amazing and out for coffee with their children looking and behaving so well. I thought I was shit, and didn't have it together. The truth is though no one is perfect, and what is working for those mums on that day - might not work the next. But you won't see that on social media because it's too real. It's actually relatable though and makes us other mums feel ok about having vomit or mushed food on our clothes and not realising when we leave the house.

We all compare ourselves and what I would love you to know, gorgeous, is that you are you and no one else does it better.  So stop comparing, get off social media and live your life your way.

Don't get me wrong, I love Instagram, Facebook and Twitter but it can lead to an obsession with comparing ourselves.  So if you find yourself doing that, switch off - and go outside. Or put the TV on and lose yourself for a bit.  Or eat some kale chips, or even Cadbury Chocolate. Whatever YOU want to do.

We need to stop comparing ourselves and just let ourselves be who we are meant to be. Of course there are always things that we can improve on, but lets not beat ourselves up about it if we slip up, or feel crap about ourselves.  Let's try super dooper hard to be positive and take the good with the bad - OK?

And from now on I promise that I will be sharing all the good stuff (the green smoothies, the raw recipes, the tea obsession etc) along with the not as good (the Criminal Minds marathon, my atrocious downward dog, and the books on my bedside table that aren't self help).

Much love
xx

My name is Nicole, and I am Multi Passionate.

My downward dog looks more like a flimsy ferret.

I meditate......sometimes.

I try to avoid sugar, but I love fruit and chocolate.

I feel like I should be a vegetarian but I love lamb so much.

I love getting outside in nature, but also love watching trashy TV.

My writings are currently just one page of ramblings.....book is traveling along quite well.

My point?

I am a walking contradiction! And I am not really good at labelling myself. I don't really like many of them.  I’m not a yogi, or an author, meditator or a vegetarian. I don’t really stick to anything, and I am forgetful. If I say I am not going to eat meat, I forget until I am chomping on a lamb cutlet bone while my dog sits watching and drooling. I say I am going to meditate each morning and do it once and that’s it. I forget and I am cool with that. I wasn’t for ages, but that’s me. I think it’s one of my great qualities. My crappy memory.

I am what they call a multi-passionate person. I like something from column A and column B.

And I’ll also see something I like in Column C, oooh Column D has some ripper stuff, and Column E has something that I want too!  Actually, screw the rest, Column F is the greatest by far. 

I see others that seem to know exactly what they want and go get it. They are happy with one thing and content. 

Me? I need a bit of everything. 

I thrive on learning new things. I absorb information like a sponge, and then lose interest after a bit, or if I find something new. 

Hence why in my garage is a surfboard, a skateboard, a scooter, a guitar, some fishing rods, gardening stuff and bikes. I love it all. Truth be told I don’t always utilise them, but I will! Come summer I will surf and ride with the baby on my bike. I do garden when I can, and we love to fish as a family. I haven’t picked up the guitar in a bit, but I have someone on hand to teach me. And the scooter? Well I had ambitions of scooting down the street to get a coffee (it would be faster than walking), but I didn’t think it through properly. How would I scoot back while trying to balance a coffee, or two. Hmm. The scooter can probably go I think. Maybe to my 7 year old cousin. Kids like scooters.

I digress. 

I am multi passionate. It’s a label I am ok with. I think it makes me interesting. Here are a few labels I like:

• Mother
• Wife
• Daughter
• Sister
• Friend
• Comedian
• Good looking (joke - see point above)

I could go on, but I won't.  The point of this post is to say it’s ok to not do something 100% of the time. Or even be super good at something. You are free to do a little of this, a little of that. It’s the beauty of life, and the world we live in. There is so much out there so if you feel like you haven’t found your one thing, it’s ok. You can have five. Or six. Or even twelve. It’s your life baby!

Are you a multi passionate person? Or have you got that one thing that you are kicking goals at?

Keep smiling 

xx

Kicking Goals

So it's been a massive week around here.

I sent out my first newsletter and got amazing responses for it. It was overwhelming, because part of me was like, what do I have to write, but I did and I am so glad.

It was a massive ticking of the box for me - because when I started this blog one of the things that I wanted to achieve was to send out a newsletter to followers on a regular basis. And it's happening. And people have signed up and read it. And they liked it. Yay.

If you haven't signed up yet - get to it! The link is on the right - and you'll get some love straight from me to you! Well via your inbox technically, but you're catching what I'm throwing.

I have reached 158 followers on Facebook too - which is huge-mungus. So stoked, it makes you get that warm fuzzy feeling inside that people get what you are saying and feel the same. It's a ripper feeling. Thanks to you!

Coming in the future::

A BIG goal of mine is to write an ebook. At the moment it is all in draft stages, but it's in the pipeline.  So exciting for me, I cannot wait till that all happens, but I want to make sure that I am totally happy with it all before I publish so it might still be a bit of a way off....stay tuned gorgeous ones!

Also I have a goal to do a video post. I'm massively scared to do so, I tend to ramble and I sound like an 8 year old - but it's something that I think would be fantastic to connect more with you! I have NO idea how to edit a video so it might be interesting but that's the fun of it. I am not sure of what I will talk about yet, and as much as I am dreading it, I am looking forward to it too. Another box to tick!
(I have done a couple of practice run throughs talking about general stuff. And, if I'm frank, I think I need just a little more practice.)

So as you can see - boxes are being ticked, goals are set and processes are in place to make it happen.

How about you good-lookin?  Have you put down your goals and started working towards them?
DO IT! And let me know if you're comfortable to do so - I really wanna hear about it.

Keep smiling!

In My World - Friends

I spent a lot of my weekend with friends. Friends that I have had for a very long time, and friends that have recently come into my life. And I am grateful for them all. 

I am in a transition phase in my life and it's right now that I appreciate every single one of the beautiful people that I get to call my friend. More than they probably could ever know.

They pick me up when I'm down, push me along, tell me what I need to hear not what I want to, and never let me feel like I'm alone. My world is brighter because of each and every one of them. 

What I have realised too is that they love me for me - warts and all. Wow! Superstars.

It's important to have those people that you can be yourself around, who no matter what love you. Don't hide who you are - bring it out for everyone to see! You are great and your friends love you! They think you are pretty fine and want nothing more than to share their life with you! That's something cool hey?  Something about your wackiness they love, and you match with their wackiness too. 

Give yourself to people and they will give themselves back. Don't let time go on without telling those important to you how much you love and appreciate them. Do it now! 

Tell me what you think. Do you have those people in your life that think you're funny when sometimes you know your not? (That never happens to me cause I am funny ALL the time!) Do they know your darkest secrets and are still your bestie?  Do you need to tell them that they rock your world? Go ahead and do it then! 

Keep smiling

xx

First Mothers Day

I had the most magical day, it was my first Mother's Day. My partner and I enjoyed it together and it was so so lovely. Brunch with my mum and sister and then the whole afternoon together as a little family unit.....bliss.

Today I completely understand the love my mother has for my brother, sister and myself, and why she has never given up on any of us. I always knew it, but now I really understand it.

Because I am now a mother, and I get it.

And if I end up half as good a mother to my daughter as mine is to me, I will be kicking goals big time in the parenting arena. My mum has come through some really dark storms and shown nothing but strength and bravery. She is the strongest person I know and my absolute idol. She is the person I admire most in this world.

I really could go on all day but I won't bore you. I think you get the picture already.

I hope all you mothers out there enjoyed your special day - you truly deserve it.


Keep smiling
Xx

Honest and Ashamed

This  post is not what I initially set out to write. Something happened today that has caused me to shift my views and take a long hard look at myself.

For quite awhile now I have wanted (italicised due to the importance of this word) a MacBook Pro. Since I started blogging and getting all creative I felt like it would make me a serious writer and hipster. All the cool kids have one. So I wanted one too. ( Just to go off track a teensy tiny bit here, that is usually how I roll with things that I want. I want something, so I get it. I'm quite impulsive like that. Buy now, think later. It's not a good trait at all, and since meeting my partner I have kerbed my impulsiveness, but it doesn't stop me wanting something.  And now I am not in control of the budget at all, a very very wise move.)

Back to the MacBook Pro. I have been nagging at my partner to get me one. I couldn't get it myself you see, because that would be terribly selfish of me. New baby, bills and debts to pay - there is no way I could go and spend $1500 on a computer for myself.  Especially when we already have a great laptop, as well as an iPad (which I wanted too), and don't get me wrong I use it all the time, but now I want something else. Both of those are perfectly fine for the blogging I do, and given that I have just started they will easily do the job until I start to get a little more serious.  But if it was bought for me as a gift, then I would feel no guilt - and still get what I want.

I even tried to convince my partner to get me one today, to surprise me when I got home. I then started getting excited, thinking that she might actually get it for me. I started imagining sitting at the table at home and playing around on it. Mine. All for me. Sheesh, what a flog.

So when I realised that I wasn't getting it, even as a surprise, I felt really disappointed. I have all the logic in my head - it's expensive, I can blog without it, we have other debts to pay. But I can't help how I feel. And I felt it so strongly. I don't need one, I want one.

Something snapped me out of this deluded fantasy over a computer. A freakin' computer. Yes it would be great to have, I know that, but life would continue without it. It's a thing. Just something tangible.

I was checking Facebook to distract myself from the bitter disappointment I felt (cringe) and I saw a picture that a friend had shared from the Boston bombings on my news feed. You might have seen it, it's all over the news. It's of a guy who was running for charity and lost both of his legs in the blast. The uncut picture is very graphic and I happened to see it.

It's a good thing I did. It snapped me back from being a douche bag  Here I was, wanting a computer, when this guy can possibly never walk again.

It put things into perspective and made me take a long hard look at myself. How pathetic I am. I know that life sometimes deals us curve balls and everyone goes through things, but it's time I start appreciating what I have instead of wishing for more. Be thankful and grateful that I can wake up everyday with a roof over my head, kiss the people I hold dear and breathe. So what if I don't get another computer. Is it really that important? The disappointment I was feeling was gone. My chest started hurting and I felt terribly upset. I was guilty. Not guilty for wanting it really, but guilty because I was so upset that I wasn't getting it.

Time to re-evaluate and focus on nothing but positive things. As embarrassed and ashamed as I am about my desire for something trivial and disappointment at not getting what I want, I needed to share this because sometimes we all need to take some perspective on things. We need to appreciate the little things more, and what we have. And be thankful.

I know I am. I'm thankful that I can walk everyday - and thankful that the man in the picture had people supporting him and getting him to safety. I feel so sad about the bombings, but my happiness for the people that have helped others when they didn't have to and therefore put themselves in danger way outweighs that. Focus on the good things. Of course it is perfectly fine to be upset, in fact you need to get it out to deal with things. Then you need to pick yourself up and focus on what's good in this world. Focus on the good things in your life. Some people are bad, but more people are good.  And it's the goodness in people that makes this world such a brilliant place.

Sorry for the rant and the seriousness, but part of this whole blogging process is to be honest and put myself out there. It's to make me become a better person and I feel that this is a big step forward. It's ok to want things, everyone does. But the learning curve was more about HOW upset I got when I didn't get what I want. That is what I am going to change. Starting now.

To everyone involved in the Boston bombings, my thoughts are with you.

Soul Music

I love music. I don't really care for heavy metal music, but apart from that I will listen to almost anything once. And if I don't like it then I can at least say I tried, and everyone is different. I really like songs I can sing to, which might not be a good thing for others, but I enjoy it!  I seem to have an uncanny ability to remember song lyrics to most songs I hear. I only need to hear them once or twice and I seem to be able to sing them. And I don't really forget them....I don't know how I do it.  I think that skill shows how much music really means to me.

I think my love of music came from my Dad, when we were growing up we would listen to music at nights rather than have the TV on. All different types. I blame him for my eclectic music tastes - he loved most genres too so we got exposed to quite an array.

Even now if I'm home the TV is off and the music is playing. Since his passing, I will often listen to songs that I listened to with him - they bring back so many memories.

Why is music so good for the soul? There is quote by the rapper Frank Ocean that I think sums it up:

'When you're happy you enjoy the music, when you're sad you understand the lyrics.'

It's so true. Music has a way of touching us no matter what the situation. It can get you boogying on a dance floor, get you through a break up, give you strength when you need it, get across a message that you otherwise couldn't, and bring people together. It really is such a powerful communication tool. It can have such impact, it can make you laugh, cry, hurt, heal and find strength when you needed it.

And so brings me to the point of this post.

A friend of mine asked me the other day:

If you had to choose a song to describe your life, an anthem, what would you choose?

Wow.

I was pretty much floored. Like I said above, I like most types of music and therefore my music collection is quite extensive. So to choose one was beyond difficult.

I tried so hard to find just one, and  I couldn't do it. And then I thought that I didn't want to choose only one song.  So I decided that I would choose songs to reflect certain times or things in my life, after all our lives change so much so why shouldn't our anthems too?

So far I have come up with three, that mean something to me. They either reflect how I feel now, or how I have felt at some stage.

They are:

• Songbird - Eva Cassidy
• Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield
• What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong

That's the three so far....there will be more to come no doubt, depending on what life decides to give me!  I also think I might add songs that I have memories about, either good or bad.  I think once I have a few more I am going to create a playlist so that I can listen to them all at once. Hopefully it's a good experience, I am looking forward to seeing how they all make me feel! Kind of like a musical photo album! 

Why don't you give it a go? Think of an anthem (or three, forty or six hundred and eleven!) It's your life, they're your anthems and you can have as many as you like!

I'd love to hear them

Keep smiling! 

xx

When Creativity hits...

I usually think of a post idea at the least opportune time. Like when it's 11 o'clock and I really have to go to sleep in order to function as some sort of human the next day. Or when I am on the treadmill and my mind is wandering. As well as my mind being completely inconsiderate by thinking great thoughts at the wrong times, it's also a tad forgetful. So not only do I think these things, I promptly forget them.

Something great can be in my mind one minute, then gone the next. Given that I am only 31 (32 soon - eeek) I doubt it's my memory failing me - so I have taken to keeping a notebook* on me all the time to record these thoughts as soon as they pop into my head. In case you are wondering, it's in my gym bag when I am on the treadmill. Promise. It's handy and so good to go back and reflect on what I was thinking at a certain point in time.  As I work full time, I can't post right when I think of something. I usually post in my lunch break, like I am now.

Not everything that I think of is worthy of a post, but it shows me just how amazing our minds are. Even just to look back in time. And I have found that now that I know I can put my thoughts down on paper, I am thinking more freely.  I am not sure why it has happened exactly. But it has, and I freakin love it.  I mind map too....I think the process of drawing helps the creativity. Plus I love playing with different colours. I still have my complete set of 72 Derwent pencils I had when I was 14, which may explain this. It may not be the case for absolutely everyone, but it definitely brings out my creativity.

I have also found that by writing things down more, I am more positive. I am appreciating what my mind can do and how powerful it is. I am no longer cursing myself for forgetting something, I am reading my little notebook and smiling. Giving myself credit and getting excited at what lays ahead and where my thoughts will take me.  And I believe that these positive thoughts create more positive thoughts and the flow on effect is ace!

You don't have to have a blog to do this, I think it's still a great idea. Unless you have a brilliant memory and can remember everything. And if that's you, well you are definitely one of the lucky ones. Yay for you! If not, then give it a shot - I hope you find it as helpful as I do.

Keep smiling!

* I say notebook, but of course it can be some sort of device also. A laptop, iPad etc. I just like notebooks because I more mind map my ideas, but it really doesn't matter.....and for some of you it might be easier to read on a screen rather than having to decipher your own handwriting!

My notebook: (not as many colours as I usually do - but a perfect example of what I mean)

Rebranding

I'm back!

I'm not too sure if a blog can be rebranded if there have only been 7 posts....but I decided to do it anyway.

After a brief hiatus I'm back and rearing to go! Bring on the posts.

I am now looking at writing more about the beauty of life in general, so I decided that A Spectacular Life as a title seemed a little more appropriate and welcoming.
So welcome!
I wish all of you A Spectacular Life, and I hope you enjoy my posts about my journey to achieve that myself. So often we take things for granted and dwell on the trivial rather than focusing on the things we should be thankful for.
Do something you love every day.
I will be back soon with more info on living a spectacular life.

Stay smiling.

About Me and Wednesday's Wisdom

I just added an About Me page to the blog - a little late at 6 posts in....however it's there for you to refer to whenever you feel the need.  I missed my post yesterday, had a crazy day at work and then netball trials. 

I have been reading up on many blogs and love that there is a whole little blog world out there, with so much support for everyone who is just putting themselves out there. Its terribly daunting, scary but wow - so great and liberating. 

I remember when I was younger I had a diary and I would write in it what I was feeling, but would then go back and cross it out in case someone read it and didn't agree. So in the end I was writing what I thought someone wanted to read, rather than what I wanted to write. I am making sure to remember NOT to do that with this....and I welcome all feedback, good and bad. I can only be me, and I am on the path to working out who she is, what her values are and what beliefs and opinions she holds. For so long I have been so careful to make sure I don't offend people, and avoid confrontations, but that doesn't help me in the long run. It's not good for the soul. So here I am, laid bare. Not bare as in naked (thank god!), but honest. Honesty is something that is a little new for me, but I will get there. I am already on my way!

On a side note - I thought I might start a weekly post called Wednesday Wisdom. So much pressure for the first post - oh my giddy aunt!

Here you go -



Source: InspirationBosot.com


Something to ponder.
Keep smiling, thanks for coming!