The Old Wives Tale

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I'm feeling rather crappy today.
The last couple of days I've had a red, sore throat and general exhausted feeling- completely annoying because I don't have time this week (actually more like this month) to get sick, which made me think about all the random cures that float about and I'm wondering if they actually work?
My mumma is a classic for sprouting out random cures for things, including sticking a sliver of garlic up your nostril to help clear up a cold and using 1,2,3 whenever you start to cough. Both are equally as smelly, but I have been know to mix up a batch of 1,2,3 when a cough gets particularly bad. It is simply 1 part methylated spirits, 2 parts vinegar and 3 parts water mixed together and then rubbed on your chest...it seems to work, although after a quick google search I can't find any supporting evidence!!
My grandmother swears by Betadine- no matter what your complaint she will suggest and produce a bottle in a matter of moments. It is a running joke (with love of course) that Vanaema's love of Betadine is the same as the Grandfather in My Big Fat Greek Wedding love for Windex.
Other good tales I can remember hearing is the great one that if you swollow your chewing gum it will stay in your stomach for 5 years!! and that masturbating can cause blindness if performed too often...which I'm sure can't be true...lol!
But I suppose in the case of my sore throat drinking some hot water and honey can only help me...and perhaps some rest at some point :)

Do you know of any great Old Wives Tales?? Or any good suggestions on how to shake my sore throat??
xx Lauren

Creating Goals

To date I have lost just over 35 kilos since February this year. One of the things that have helped me get this far has been setting lots of small, achievable goals- especially back at the beginning when it all seemed so hard and far away.

Weekly I set myself goals like:

• Go to the gym 6 times during the week
• Perform a plank on at least 3 different days and hold for at least 1 minute
• Drink 2 litres of water everyday
• Eat no bread for one day
• Increasing the pace/incline on the treadmill and maintain

I don't reward myself for these types of goals, apart from the satisfaction & gratification that comes from completing something I set out to do .

I also have 5 kilo weight loss goals, making sure that I reward myself in someway with every 5 kilos I lose. To look at the end result number I am after is rather daunting, so breaking it up into smaller amounts not only makes its feel more manageable but it is also good to feel like I am being successful, even though I still have a long way to go.

To keep up the momentum of training and healthy eating I have also set some bigger goals to be accomplished over a longer time frame:

• Run the City-Bay in 2012
• Lose another 35 Kilos 
• Be able to perform chin-ups unassisted
• Be able to do push-up on my toes

Along with these bigger goals I have written down a plan on how to achieve them, including using the c25km training program and working with my personal trainer, that way I am full accountable and there is no excuse as to why they can not happen.

I am relishing setting goals and achieving them, it makes this long process almost enjoyable.

Do you set goals? Not only in weight loss and fitness, but in everyday living too?? Do you have any tips for me?
xx Lauren

Today: I am here

Outside my window...Its cloudy and the sun is beginning to set

I am thinking...that I need to get up and shower and go to bed...so very tired tonight

I am thankful for... being healthy

I am wearing... gym pants, sports tops, t-shirt & polar watch

I am going to...go find a dress tomorrow

I am currently reading... You'll be sorry when I'm dead

I am hoping... that Qantas behaves and I'll get to Sydney next weekend

On my mind... blogging...and my lack of it...so many ideas, so little time

From the kitchen... nothing- had early San Choy Bau for tea

Around the house... mess...I really need to clean
One of my favorite things...the gym, feeling fit and strong

A few plans for the rest of the week... work, gym, prepare for market on the weekend, baseball & Sebastians birthday, and a friends 30th on Saturday night

One photo to share..

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 xx Lauren

Pinterest Friday Finds: Friends

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I am very lucky to have people in my life who will do this with me.

Very lucky indeeed!
xx Lauren

My OTT Christmas Wishlist...

Totally self-centered and all about me...my over the top, ultimate christmas wishlist!

A pair of Nike Free Run+ 2 Shoes...

A 3G Kindle Touch

Simply Peppermint Blythe <3

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Some Neroli & Jasmine Eau de Toilette

Mascara & Illuminator from Benefit

New bras & undies!! (I need these really bad!!) Do you hear me Mumma??

Whats on your ultimate OTT christmas wish list??
xx Lauren

Moving On and Moving Up

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Its been bothering me a bit lately that I haven't been 100% happy with my life. In fact there have been many moments where I've found myself wondering why I was even bothering to breathe. I felt like I was failing at being a friend, being a sister, being me, going through motions but not being fully there.
Then consecutive weekends I had similar things happen which made me realise that I needed a swift kick up the arse and to start living for myself again. It is time to move on, grow up a little bit and live life to its absolute fullest. Time to stop worrying about pleasing everybody, about keeping peace just for the sake of it, about making sure that everyone is happy but me and that it is ok to move on.

So from now on I pledge to spend time with people that make me happy, to do things for myself, to be healthy, to smile and most of all live my life to its absolute fullest, because as someone reminded me just recently you only live once!

Melancholy post over.
Sorry about that!
xx Lauren

Friday Pinterest Finds: The Next Chapter

One of the things I find uncanny about Pinterest is how often you will come across a pin that totally speaks to you. Reaches into your inner thoughts and says exactly what you are thinking/feeling/or imagining.

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I suppose its mostly just a case of what you read into things, but I like it when a quote comes along that I need right now.

Happy Friday,
xx Lauren

Bon Jovi- It's My Life

Being sick this week has left me with lots of thinking time, combine that with some poignant discussions I've decided its time to change the way I have been living my life. Funnily as I was driving across town Bon Jovi came on the radio and it is DEFINITELY fitting!

"It's my life
And it's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
It's my life" 

 

Good things are ahead!

xx Lauren

Friday Pinterest Finds: Wish Upon a Star

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Seeing as today 11:11 11/11/11 occured it seems kind of fitting come across this on pinterest.
I'm big on making wishes, on dreaming and hoping for wonderful things to happen.
I wished for many things, some possible others completely impossible, but I believe that its always good to keep wishing.

Do you make wishes??

xx Lauren

Lest We Forget

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 In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

-Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD

..............

At the 11th hour,

of the 11th day,

of the 11th month

We Will Remember Them

Lest We Forget

Culture Club- Karma Chameleon

Its my guilty pleasure.
Always turned up loud, always sung at top voice and always dancing around the room.
Its a silly song and Boy George, well he is just plain interesting isn't he.
Regardless from the first notes, Karma Chameleon will always put the biggest smile on my face.

" Desert loving in your eyes all the way.
If I listen to your lies would you say
I'm a man without conviction,
I'm a man who doesn't know
how to sell a contradiction.
You come and go, you come and go."

Do you have a guilty pleasure song?
xx Lauren

P.S I've set up a facebook page for A Little Bit of Me, pop on over here to visit me :)

Proud of you!

I have a little sister.

Jess is 19, beautiful, incredibly creative, an amazing hairdresser, kind, loving, generous, very sensitive and an all round fabulous person whom I am so proud of.
Next week she will finish off her last tasks to be a fully-qualified hairdresser- something which I know she has battled through and worked hard to complete. I am seriously excited that Jess is completing a goal and setting into place some wonderful plans for the future.
There is a 6 year age gap between us, which is something that I constantly forget, along with the fact that she doesn't know all the things that I do. But in the last 6 months it has been incredibly obvious to me that Jess has grown alot, learnt lot and I love being in her company. She is a wonderful friend.

I am so very lucky to have Jess as my sister (and the free hairdo's that come with her!!). I am so very proud and can't wait to see what the future holds for my little sister.

Love You Jessie xoxo

xx Lauren

I Am Famous

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The coolest people really do smile- so go on and get you're smile on people!!
Today I am smiling , because after a bit of self-indulgence/ego-inflating I bought my domain name and successfully mananged to direct my blog through it. Whoop!! I'm feeling pretty clever...and famous!

You can now find me at www.laurenboase.com
I am a dotcom! How cool! and now I am all sorted for when I become famous- just need to work out how I'm going to do that...any ideas??

Have a fabulous day and smile for me,
xx Lauren

The Chicken Schnitzel that wasn't

Recently I tagged along with Tatum to a lovely bloggy dinner with Glow, Georgia,  Kellie, Bianca, Fi, Jodie and Alyce . We put on our heels, traipsed down Hindley Street for 2 minutes before sensibly jumping in a cab for the $7 drive to the Benjamin on Franklin. It is a very cool pub, refurbished with lots of vintage/antiquey bits and an amazing art installation of cut glass bowl and glasses.
I spent a while analysing the menu deciding what I wanted, before finally settling on chicken schnitzel with pepper sauce. I became pretty excited by my choice- its been a while since I indulged in a schnitzel, I think my mouth was literally watering at my upcoming meal.

I didn't get a schnitzel.
Instead, in my sleep deprived state I ordered the Teriyaki Chicken Burger with a side of Peppercorn sauce. Seriously why did no one question me when I ordered a schnitzel topping with my burger?!? I can't even work out how I managed it and I am still a little bit stuck on the fact that I didn't get my schnitzel...
A very sad affair indeed.

Token bathroom selfie

Regardless of my schnitzel-less meal, it was fabulous to meet such lovely girls, discuss a little bit of blogging and have some fantastic, much needed laughs.
So now you really know what a goose I am...and I am still craving schnitzel!
xx Lauren

Blog Silence

Melbourne Cup 2011

I haven't posted here in a week, and I've missed it.
A couple of times I've opened up the post page and watched the cursor blinking at me before closing the window and walking away. I decided to go with the 'if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all' approach and this week I was inexplicably snarky with lots of whinge, whine and moan about.
That's not to say I didn't have a nice week, I did, and I had some cool things to share, I just couldn't find nice ways to share them. Sad, I know.
So onto better, nicer and happier thoughts this week.

Nothing like discovering a random, free photo booth in the City

How was your week??
xx Lauren