Joyous

Hi and Welcome Wise Women

I hope you have had a joyous week.

A big THANK YOU to everyone that has sent us messages of support.

You certainly inspire and motivate us.

I’d like to start My Week by welcoming home Gigi!

Gigi has just enjoyed a fantastic holiday in the US and she is still feeling euphoric about her experience.

This week she talks about her wonderful adventure and as I learn more about her experience I reminisce about my own visit to the States about 4 years ago, I just loved it. Mr J and I spent 3 weeks revisiting our favourite tourist spots and we also took a ferry ride to Catalina Island – what a superb place to visit. The Grand Canyon is also a favourite attraction for us – what an awesome sight! Gigi and her husband flew over the canyon and the photos they took are incredible.

Visit Gigi to find out what she got up to on her holiday. Her photos of the trip are terrific.

My Week

This time of the year time just seems to fly. Or is it my age?

I’ve noticed that the stores are chock a block with Xmas decorations and people keep asking me, “Have you done your Xmas shopping yet?” To tell you the truth I haven’t even thought much about Xmas at all! I guess that confirms that I am just not a planner and this trait of mine drives my husband nuts. He is meticulous in all that he does and writes lists for everything. Unlike him, I prefer to challenge myself, refusing to write lists and just rely on memory... it’s loads more fun.

In Australia last week, we had the ‘Race that Stops the Nation’ – the Melbourne Cup.

What a day! Many women (and men) arrive at the track in the morning looking absolutely fabulous ...however... by the end of the day some of the punters look a little worse for wear after hours of swilling champagne and other alcoholic beverages. Some men have their ties loosened, shirts hanging out and a few unfortunately forget to zip up their trousers.

Some of the women can be seen barefoot with stilettos slung over their shoulders, hats with a few missing feathers and worst of all...PANDA EYES! Not a good look girls.

Melbourne Cup Day is all about having fun. It is the one time of year that many of us take a punt on the horses. This year I was lucky enough to choose the winning horse called “Shocking” and my winnings paid for dinner out that night at the local Chinese restaurant to celebrate...I was a happy girl.

UPDATE:

Good News!

I recently returned from a trip to Melbourne seeking a second medical opinion for my grandson who has a severely damaged leg (due to a pedestrian accident) and the specialist reported that in his opinion - the leg can be saved. We all cried with relief.

Festive Season

It’s time to shape up before the festive season takes its toll on our health.

If you are not already living a healthy non-toxic life, why not decide today to ditch those bad habits and opt for a healthy lifestyle. We all know that changing our unhealthy lifestyle is not easy; however, if we start now - by Xmas we will be looking and feeling fabulous.

These great Heath Tips are recommended by Gaia Health Retreat.

Start your day with an unrefined, whole food breakfast, to ensure even blood glucose, and stable mood. Choose whole grains, fresh fruit, nuts and seeds.

Extra magnesium is beneficial for your physical and mental well-being, especially when you are under stress, and this mineral can be found in nuts and seeds.
Essential fatty Acids, found in sunflower, sesame, pumpkin and flax seeds, are very important to include in your diet, as they give your brain the oils it needs to work optimally.
Keeping your blood sugar even, by eating loads of unrefined carbohydrates, such as vegetables, helps you to maintain an even mood.
As your brain uses up to fifteen times more vitamin C than the rest of your body, ensure you get loads of it from fresh, raw capsicums, kiwi-fruit, broccoli, tomato, citrus fruits and goji berries.
Have a fruit, such as an apple, with a small handful of nuts mid- morning and afternoon, to keep your thinking and mood stable.
Although a cup of coffee has double the caffeine compared to a cup of tea, replace some of your cuppa's with a variety of the delicious caffeine-free herbal teas now available.
Did you know that you eat more than you need when you are watching TV, or involved in some other activity while eating? Focus your attention on your food while eating, and you'll know when you're satisfied.
The mineral zinc is integral to creating energy from the food you eat, and keeping your nervous system healthy, and can be found in legumes, pecans, almonds, sunflower and pumpkin seeds.
Processed foods contain a lot of additives, some of which have been linked directly to impaired thinking, learning and behaviour. Focus on unrefined, whole foods instead. Visit Gaia's website - http://www.gaiaretreat.com.au/

Click here to learn more about de-toxing our bodies

Read about my stay at Gaia

Wise Authors Have Their Say

How many people have said to you, “I should write a book about that?”

Even though many of us have stories to tell, only a small minority actually take the plunge and write a book.

What motivates and inspires those people to become authors?

Gigi and I have spoken to a number of authors who have shared their stories with us.

Read what they had to say

Wise Words

God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much!

Mother Teresa

Until next week wise women – let JOY into your life and allow yourself to GLOW.