Ok - I got side-tracked and blew it.
Life has moved on, my elderly Weimaraner and cat have passed on now and so it's just me and the Boxer (who is sleeping on my leg as I type).
I've moved from a city of 50,000 or so to a small village about an hour's drive from a different small city to become a Rural Health Nurse which is a mish-mash of lots of different nursing roles all bundles into one job. One day I'll be doing a dressing on a patient's arm as I stand ankle-deep in cow poo at their cattle-yards, another I'll be working with a Dr who comes up one morning a week for clinic, another I'll be home-visiting to teach a newly diagnosed diabetic all about their condition and their food choices etc. Every day is different, and I love it!
My work vehicle is a 4WD with a radio-telephone for if it's needed as there's no cell phone coverage up here. A lot of my driving is on rough gravel roads while keeping an eye out for wild turkeys, sheep, cattle, weka or pukeko wandering up the middle of the road. Needless to say, I drive very carefully!
Time to get up and organised for the day (it's a Public Holiday today)- I have a patient coming soon and I'm still in my pyjamas at nearly 11am!
Monday, 4 January 2010
Tuesday, 20 February 2007
This is thought-provoking for a spend spend world...
A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. The conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some expensive, some exquisite, and some plain-looking paper cups - telling them to help themselves to the coffee. After all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said, "If you noticed, all the nice-looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, THAT is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds NO QUALITY to the coffee. In most cases, it's just more expensive and in some cases, even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups and then began eyeing each other's cups. Now consider this: Life is the coffee...and the jobs, houses, cars, things, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life, and the type of cup we have does not define nor change the quality of life we live. Sometimes by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us. We brew the coffee, not the cups. Enjoy your coffee." Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect. It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections.
Saturday, 17 February 2007
"Be the change you want to see in the world"
One of my many goals for this momentous year is to be less of a consumer - live the "reduce, re-use, recycle" catch-phrase(to be known as RRR). I've always been a bit of a greenie (ONE of the reasons for being vegetarian, although being a "bunny-hugger" is my biggest reason) - have recycled as much as possible for a long time- but I know there's a heck of a lot more I could do. A few months ago I started using Melaleuca products which are environmentally friendly cleaners etc etc- but I've rejoined SAFE lately, and found out that Melaleuca test on animals!!!That's blown it for them-so that's the end of buying their stuff!!! So I'll start buying www.ecostore.co.nz products from now on, plus start using some of the multitude of vinegar/baking soda hints that abound on the net for making homemade eco-friendly cleaners. You'd think I was a clean-freak with all of this talk about cleaners - definitely not - am more of a "live in the mess until it's really annoying me and then do a marathon effort" type of housekeeping here.Really MUST crack open my Flylady journal (www.flylady.net) I haven't learned how to do those link thingies yet and have to put the whole website address.
Clean green RRR efforts so far: - using the compost bin for all scraps; go back to using tinned catfood instead of pouches as the tins are 100% recyclable; plan to get a "no junk mail" sign for the letterbox to reduce the paper that comes into the house; aiming to buy in glass, not plastic from now on; have bought my latest pantry supplies at BinInn (www.bininn.co.nz) , and although you fill plastic bags, I have kept the bags to take back and refill next time. You can use refillable bottles there as well for vinegar, sauces etc, so will keep a few bottles out of the recycling to use. I've been wanting to use cloth bags instead of supermarket-type carrier bags, so have bought 2 dresses ($3 each from the op-shop) to make into bags - must keep to my refashion pledge and only reuse material, not buy it new. When I get my camera, I'll do some before and after pics. The dresses are truly hideous shift dresses, homesewn from materials that have dogs printed all over them. Great carrier bag material - but DRESSES???!!! Also bought a remnant of leftover material from another opshop to make a curtain for my bedroom ($1.50), and a tablecloth/runner thingy ($2) to recover the manky looking cushions on the very old cane chairs that I've previously bought for my front porch. But now I need to find some stretchy curtain wire stuff for the curtain - blast it my sister has recently thrown some away. I want to reuse some 2nd hand stuff, so will check out SaveMart for that. Also found another shift dress at the first op shop (whoever the owner is, she's been a busy girl) ($3) and will cut it down for a skirt. I can feel the warm glow of smugness washing over me!
Feeling VERY motivated to make changes- woohooo!!!
On another positive note - weighed in last Monday and lost another 2.65kgs - total 8.6kgs in the last 5 weeks - yippee! In 2 days time I weigh in again (not expecting much after such a good loss at my last weigh-in) and I will have been V-free for 7 weeks and saved approximarely $140 by not buying the sugar-laden, caffeine-loaded green cans! I've never drunk so much water before, so that has to be good for my health and help keep the wrinkles at bay (no sign of the wrinkles lessening so far - but I'm ever hopeful, lol)
Tuesday, 6 February 2007
This is what started my blog...
I've signed up for a 6 month pledge at the refashion site http://www.nikkishell.typepad.com/wardroberefashion/
The Pledge
I pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 2 / 4 / 6 months. I pledge that i shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoated, recylcled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftyness brings! Signed__________________.
The Rules
1.
No buying new! (handmade is excepted; So this allows for Etsy purchases etc!!) All clothing must be Recycled, Renovated, Preloved or Thrifted, or Handmade only for the term. Employment related and special needs clothing (ie sports, school), shoes and undies are excepted from the rules, although you are encouraged to have a go at making these.
2.
In extreme circumstances, maybe a special event, or the worlds greatest and most amazing never to be repeated sale that you simply can not pass up, you may use the Get out of Refashionista Jail Free card. You are able to use this card once during the 2 month part of your contract; ie 1 for 2 months, 2 for 4 months etc. Of course you need to fess up on the blog and display the button!
3.
You must post on the blog at least once a week to let the community know what you've been up to. This will not only give you brag points, but inspire and encorouge others! Of course you need to display the button on your blog and have copied the pledge in at least one post, and provide a link to your pledge under the button.
4.
You need to be honest and admit when you've fallen off the Refashionista Wagon! Go directly to Refashionista Jail, do not pass GO and do not collect $200! Apply for parole once there.
The Pledge
I pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 2 / 4 / 6 months. I pledge that i shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoated, recylcled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftyness brings! Signed__________________.
The Rules
1.
No buying new! (handmade is excepted; So this allows for Etsy purchases etc!!) All clothing must be Recycled, Renovated, Preloved or Thrifted, or Handmade only for the term. Employment related and special needs clothing (ie sports, school), shoes and undies are excepted from the rules, although you are encouraged to have a go at making these.
2.
In extreme circumstances, maybe a special event, or the worlds greatest and most amazing never to be repeated sale that you simply can not pass up, you may use the Get out of Refashionista Jail Free card. You are able to use this card once during the 2 month part of your contract; ie 1 for 2 months, 2 for 4 months etc. Of course you need to fess up on the blog and display the button!
3.
You must post on the blog at least once a week to let the community know what you've been up to. This will not only give you brag points, but inspire and encorouge others! Of course you need to display the button on your blog and have copied the pledge in at least one post, and provide a link to your pledge under the button.
4.
You need to be honest and admit when you've fallen off the Refashionista Wagon! Go directly to Refashionista Jail, do not pass GO and do not collect $200! Apply for parole once there.
Aaaargh - just created a blog.....
*runs around squealing girlishly* how cool is that??
I never thought of creating a blog until I happened upon a couple of wonderful internet sites by chance. There I was a few days ago, procrastinating about doing the vacuuming or some other mind-numbing chore by browsing a site called www.simplesavings.com.au . Well I don't usually join up to pay-for sites, but I figured $47 Australian works out to be $53 Kiwi - and that's only $1 a week for the year and about 1/3 of that cost to renew for the 2nd year!!! what a bargain!
Then on one of the discussion threads someone mentioned http://www.nikkishell.typepad.com/wardroberefashion/ and I took the wardrobe refashion pledge, and most of the members have a blog, and so here we are!!!
*takes a deep breath after all that burbling* -but lets go back to New Years Day 2007 where the year that I turn 50 is about to start. I had 3 NY resolutions - 1)Give up my daily addiction to V (a Kiwi energy drink that is much nicer tasting than Red Bull in my opinion) 2) Give up dairy products (no mean feat for a cheese-loving lacto-ovo vegetarian)and 3)start baby-stepping my way back to feeling healthy. The V had to go as it was costing at least $20 per week and is sooo unhealthy, and the dairy makes me snotty, headachey and windy *blushes*
WEEK 1 2007
Well anyone who has gone cold-turkey on caffeine would probably sympathise with the next few days of pounding headaches (despite copious amounts of pain relief) and sleepiness. Luckily work was closed for the holidays, so that by the time we reopened on January 8th, I felt like a whole new person (and so I should after basically sleeping for a week!) (V savings $20)
WEEK 2 2007
- weighed in at work (ouch) as a starting point for the lose weight/get healthy campaign. Now that V and dairy was out of the way it was time to work on healthy habits. Habit number 1 was getting my water intake up to at least 2 litres every day. Habit number 2 was cut out the junk food, and keep a food journal to keep me honest about what was going in my mouth! (V savings $40)
WEEK 3
weighed in Monday morning and yippee I was 2.75kgs lighter. The water habit and healthy meals were going well, and I was feeling so much more alert in the mornings now that the caffeine addiction had been broken and I'd "detoxed (V savings $60)
Week 4
another .8kg off - total 3.55kgs
I realised that I had been disorganised and was buying a vegetarian wrap most work days from the cafe across the road (I work 4 days a week) and I could do it more cheaply and yummier by getting back into making my own lunches. In the interests of morning laziness I bought a bag of mixed nuts (brazils, pecans, cashews, hazelnuts and walnuts) and keep them in the work fridge and bring along homemade coleslaw and dressing and have a very tasty and yummy lunch. I put pumpkin seeds, almonds and tahini that we get at work through the salad as well - delicious! Can this be me, eating so healthily? Daily water intake between 2.5 and 3 litres daily- the puffiness is finally going out of my feet. (V savings $80)
WEEK 5
only .25kgs off (total 3.8kgs)
- could have someting to do with me not having a stop button when I have fresh apricots and nectarines in the house (I LOVE summer fruit)- yes I ate my way through truckloads the previous week - I guess I need to watch quantity of food, not just quality!! Able to breathe again in my uniform pants :o)
(V savings $100)
which brings us to yesterday - the beginning of week 6.
WEEK 6
1.85kgs off yesterday - which makes a total of 5.65 kgs in 4 weeks - feeling very pleased about that!
I never thought of creating a blog until I happened upon a couple of wonderful internet sites by chance. There I was a few days ago, procrastinating about doing the vacuuming or some other mind-numbing chore by browsing a site called www.simplesavings.com.au . Well I don't usually join up to pay-for sites, but I figured $47 Australian works out to be $53 Kiwi - and that's only $1 a week for the year and about 1/3 of that cost to renew for the 2nd year!!! what a bargain!
Then on one of the discussion threads someone mentioned http://www.nikkishell.typepad.com/wardroberefashion/ and I took the wardrobe refashion pledge, and most of the members have a blog, and so here we are!!!
*takes a deep breath after all that burbling* -but lets go back to New Years Day 2007 where the year that I turn 50 is about to start. I had 3 NY resolutions - 1)Give up my daily addiction to V (a Kiwi energy drink that is much nicer tasting than Red Bull in my opinion) 2) Give up dairy products (no mean feat for a cheese-loving lacto-ovo vegetarian)and 3)start baby-stepping my way back to feeling healthy. The V had to go as it was costing at least $20 per week and is sooo unhealthy, and the dairy makes me snotty, headachey and windy *blushes*
WEEK 1 2007
Well anyone who has gone cold-turkey on caffeine would probably sympathise with the next few days of pounding headaches (despite copious amounts of pain relief) and sleepiness. Luckily work was closed for the holidays, so that by the time we reopened on January 8th, I felt like a whole new person (and so I should after basically sleeping for a week!) (V savings $20)
WEEK 2 2007
- weighed in at work (ouch) as a starting point for the lose weight/get healthy campaign. Now that V and dairy was out of the way it was time to work on healthy habits. Habit number 1 was getting my water intake up to at least 2 litres every day. Habit number 2 was cut out the junk food, and keep a food journal to keep me honest about what was going in my mouth! (V savings $40)
WEEK 3
weighed in Monday morning and yippee I was 2.75kgs lighter. The water habit and healthy meals were going well, and I was feeling so much more alert in the mornings now that the caffeine addiction had been broken and I'd "detoxed (V savings $60)
Week 4
another .8kg off - total 3.55kgs
I realised that I had been disorganised and was buying a vegetarian wrap most work days from the cafe across the road (I work 4 days a week) and I could do it more cheaply and yummier by getting back into making my own lunches. In the interests of morning laziness I bought a bag of mixed nuts (brazils, pecans, cashews, hazelnuts and walnuts) and keep them in the work fridge and bring along homemade coleslaw and dressing and have a very tasty and yummy lunch. I put pumpkin seeds, almonds and tahini that we get at work through the salad as well - delicious! Can this be me, eating so healthily? Daily water intake between 2.5 and 3 litres daily- the puffiness is finally going out of my feet. (V savings $80)
WEEK 5
only .25kgs off (total 3.8kgs)
- could have someting to do with me not having a stop button when I have fresh apricots and nectarines in the house (I LOVE summer fruit)- yes I ate my way through truckloads the previous week - I guess I need to watch quantity of food, not just quality!! Able to breathe again in my uniform pants :o)
(V savings $100)
which brings us to yesterday - the beginning of week 6.
WEEK 6
1.85kgs off yesterday - which makes a total of 5.65 kgs in 4 weeks - feeling very pleased about that!
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