Thankful Thursday - Bootcamp and Group Support Make Exercising Enjoyable

My daughter and I have been attending a weekly Boot camp. It is something we both need to do for various reasons and it has become "our thing". The exercise is the main drawcard, the group is local and the personal trainer encourages you to reach and even push through your current fitness level which is a must for both of us. We both have a tendency to back off before we reach our true potential.

At first I was happy to attend, do my session through gritted teeth and head home, ticking it off my list as something I had to do for both of our well being, both physical and mental. It was on my weekly to-do list, like a chore or weekly meeting with compulsory attendance.

Somehow, and quite magically I have realised that I no longer see it as just another thing on my list. I now look forward to the hourly session, which is different each week. It is always a good workout which keeps it interesting and challenging.

I realise though that each week I am needing Boot Camp for the many benefits it now brings, whether it is the relief it brings to my Anxiety Symptoms, the social interaction of the group, or the hour dedicated to self healing.

The bonus of Boot Camp has turned out to be the group itself. 

Initiated and run by a person who walks the talk by continuing to improve her health after losing close to 50 kilos, the personal trainer wants others to feel the same satisfaction and pride in taking control of their fitness and getting the best out of life. The people that make up the group are quite a mixture in fitness, experience, age and personality. We have felt welcomed from the start and the group is strong in its belief of encouragement and is displayed each and every week, which also spills over to encouragement on social media in daily achievements. We both enjoy the group experience rather than exercising solo or one on one. Everyone has different skills and assets, and I have been continually inspired by many members in their achievements and commitment to their individual goals.

I am thankful that we have joined this group, and thankful that we feel so supported.

Miss 11 and I sporting a bit of colourful positivity

Down The Bumpy Road Together on Thankful Thursday

This week was a little bumpy in every sense of the word for our little family. The weather hit hard, I came down hard at Netball, my daughter learned some hard lessons about friendship, poor hubby was pulled in every direction, and my son and our fur babies have been pushing boundaries. Even though, I feel there is much to be thankful for this week. 

• I have been injured and getting back on my feet this week, and although it is a slow process, I know I am making progress.
• The weekend brought some chilly weather, and a batch of snow which always brings delight to our household.
  

•   My daughter had a sleepover with her bestie. This was something they had been planning for a long time, but quite a bit has happened between them in the meantime. Miss 10 has learned quite a bit about friendship, the games that can be played, and about staying true to yourself in the process. They remain friends and she had a good time at the sleepover, but I think it has been quite a big growth period for her.
• Not only did hubby attend to his poor, injured wife in her time of need and ongoing disability, he also has been rounding up the children, attending to the family animals, keeping our home tidy and our bellies fed, AND responding in less than ideal conditions to calls of distress from the community in regard to the heavy rainfall, winds and flooding in the area. On top of this, he has understandably has come down with a cold of his own!
• Not to be outdone, Mr 6 is the usual ball of energy. He seems torn at the moment, after his recent Parent/Teacher/Student meeting and School Report, between wanting to move forward with his reading and writing, and not wanting to knuckle down to do the work required. Ho hum ..... how many more years of school left?
• Our dogs which you can meet here and here, have been having a ball in the backyard together, shredding the grass, getting muddy and generally enjoying life by making a mess in the rain as only dogs can. The guinea pigs seem quite oblivious to the rain, given there raised homes, but they have been consistent to letting anyone in earshot know, no matter which side of the fence they be on, that they love their food and are always happy for more. 

 Always eventful, but always full of lesson and laughter!

Getting In Touch With My Spirit

I have long had a fascination and interest in spirit, both the spirit of others and my own. Not everyone's cup of tea, I know. I am a huge believer that there is a need to get in touch with your spirit and that you can learn so much from the spirits around us, both living and in the past. So it has been a wonderful time for me in finding a great psychic who has created an online program to not only guide you on your own journey, but to connect you to others.

Julianna lives in Queensland in Australia, and has a huge portfolio with her psychic connection, working with Australian Police, businesses and individuals, appearing on radio and national television. Her partner in crime and business is Nicole who specialises in Communication, Branding and Marketing. Together they have formed Psychic Julianna TV to bring together a program to share with the public.

Psychic Julianna TV brings together a great community of people with a wide range of talents and knowledge.

They discuss current events, sex & relationship, Feng Shui, body image, men's topics, meditation and healing, emotional and physical health, past lives, paranormal and supernatural, spiritual guidance, mindset and personal development, psychic reading and Tarot. The topics really are broad and interesting and there is something for everyone.

Personally, I enjoy learning a broad range of topics and believe that knowledge is power.

I have also asked many questions and been enlightened regarding my relationship with those around me, and even insights into my own behaviour and personality.

I know that not everyone has the same beliefs in spirit and even self-development, but for me, this has been insightful, entertaining and a great way to access great information.

If you are interested, hop over to the website, the Facebook page or even catch some previous shows on You tube. 

I would love to know your views on seeking guidance with self development and spirit, and respect your opinion by not passing judgement.

Disclaimer: This post is based on my own opinion and is in no way sponsored.

Huon Aquaculture Open For Fun

We love to get out as a family and explore and experience our wonderful Tasmania. We are always discovering more great things, and if its an event that is great value, for money and entertainment, then even better.

We headed down to Port Huon last weekend, just over an hour south of Hobart.

Huon Aquaculture were having an open day which promised to be fun, educational and yummy.

There were wonderful displays and very helpful staff to share the history and technology involved in producing their wonderful Salmon.

 We learned much about the way the fish are fed and housed, how they are transported and cared for. Needless to say, it is a little more involved than sprinkling fish food into a tank daily.

With all of this knowledge, we had worked up an appetite. Luckily, there were wonderful Salmon products on offer. We feasted on beautiful Salmon Burgers, and if had not been so full, we would have been tempted with a Salmon Sausage or Taco.

At 1.15pm we excitedly stood in line for our free boat cruise. Luckily, I had pre-booked our seat aboard the Peppermint Bay II, as they were many envious people wishing they had done the same. 

The boat tour took about 1.5 hours and was totally free!

We were treated to gorgeous views of the Channel, and saw first hand the huge fish farms at Hideaway Bay. We saw the cheeky seals trying to discover a way to break in to the fish farms and discovered more about the fish farming industry from our tour guide who happily answered everyone's questions.

What a great day it was. I am thankful for the opportunity to do things like this as a family.

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post!

Aboard the Peppermint Bay II

My fabulous Salmon Burger

Entrance to the Huon Aquaculture Open Day

Enjoying the gorgeous scenery of the Channel

Salmon up close

Coming back into port

Awesome car - awesome advertising!


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Embracing Life And The Journey

A lovely friend reminded me yesterday that getting something you have wished for does not always make for a grand life. We were discussing parenting and relationships, as mothers do, and the ups and downs that go with the territory.

I walked away from the conversation thinking over the many times I had reminisced of my younger days when time was in abundance, and there was such a thing as "being bored". It is quite common in my thought process, and for many others I suspect, to wish you had more time to yourself, or to wish the kids weren't jumping all over you all of the time. Instead we should be turning our mindset around and looking at all the great positives in our lives. The humps and bumps along the way are what make the journey interesting and allow us and those around us to learn.

Along with the conversation with my friend, recent events around me that have reminded me that although there are what seems to be little inconveniences and nuisances in our lives, a tragic turn of events can change life so quickly.

This week saw the tragic loss of a toddler to drowning within my township which has the whole community mourning and feeling saddened for that families' unfortunate loss.  Another family's future has been revealed this week after a long court proceeding, in which the father was involved in vehicular manslaughter of a teen. A friend is trying to cope with the sudden departure of her husband from the home, with uncertainty of his return. Two lovely people have recently been diagnosed with cancer, with one having recent surgery and both needing treatment in hope of a good outcome.......

So really, I am thankful for my busy, hectic life full of events and endless demands and questions. Things can change so quickly, leaving us reeling and unsettled with the changes. What was once a hassle in life can be the thing you wish to return, like having to get up each morning to go to work, when you have been laid off and are now unemployed.

I need to embrace the complexity of life and look at the whole scenario as a huge positive.

The alternatives are much less desirable.

How are you visualising your life right now???

I am joining the lovely bunch over at

and also

Thankful for Not Falling On My Face

Today I did great things .... at least by my standards. I had my monthly health assessment with The Personal Trainer, and she always gets the best out of me, whether I am doing boxing, routines with weights, treadmill or aerobic routines. I never know what to expect, as she is always pumped to get me moving and likes to mix it up.

I really think The Personal Trainer has been well worth the money My Workplace is paying her. If you want to know how this came about, then read here. My first assessment is here, and my post explaining what works for me is here.

So I am steadily losing weight, which is ideal, and I can feel I am so much fitter than 5 months ago. This is showing in my Netball games where I have moved positions, and am now enjoying playing two thirds of the court instead of struggling to cover one third. Also, there is no way I could achieve my milestone today, without my improved fitness.

We worked with some 1.5kg dumb bells today, doing a series of of squats, pumps and burpees. This is itself is a good workout. Here is the twist! Between each set with the weight, I got to have a quick drink before jumping on the Treadmill and jogging for 2 minutes. You heard it here first - I RAN ON THE TREADMILL! Wooooo Hoooo!

There is something about a trainer standing beside you, talking you through every step, encouraging you to go a bit more, and praising your achievements. I must tell you, there were a couple of high fives in the room.

Who gives you the confidence to try things? When have you thought yourself incapable, and been encouraged to push harder?

Thankful for .... A Hole to fill

I am at a loss. I have been in turmoil all day, having learned in writing that an important part of my life will be no longer. I am thankful to have had the chats, the connection and the benefits of our acquaintance, but it is time to part from a significant influence in getting through my Anxiety bouts.

I am so sad, beyond words, that I received a letter in the mail this week. I had no warning, and actually opened it with anticipation, thinking it would bear good news. Alas, it did not!

Thankful for ... the skills to cope

It was our decision, and it was not made lightly. At the end of the day it was the personal benefits our family would receive from this decision that counted (it certainly was not the benefits, or lack thereof, from the government).
Would we do it again? Absolutely! But living on one wage with little outside assistance is not for the faint hearted.

image source

There is much talk lately about what people expect they could live on per day. According to a survey relevant at the time of writing this, the Australian Institute discovered that most people said they needed $65 per day. The current Newstart allowance in Australia is apparently nearly half this amount.

With the nightly news brimming with stories on escalating crime, I wonder how the government has got the idea that people are coping? I was witness to the theft of petrol just the other day whilst I was filling up my car. Some people are doing it tough.

Whilst we far from committing out own crimes, we certainly have our belts nice and tight. It helps that hubby is a bit of a scrooge most of the time. He has taught me to question the need of a purchase before going ahead, something that I hardly did before.I do love a good sale sign, which makes hubby cringe.

We have shopped around and enquired about discounts wherever we could for our big bills. We buy things we need when they are on special and keep to our shopping list. We holiday at a family holiday house or go camping. I cut hubby's hair and colour my own at home. We deposit any money refunded at tax time against our mortgage to lower interest rates, and redraw it through the year, if necessary on our bigger bills. We cook in bulk and freeze meals for later. We try to keep expenses to a minimum and life simple, to stay within budget.

There are many little things we do that make a difference. It really does help to do a budget and try to stick to it, and know what to expect before the bill comes in the mailbox. There are many facilities you can now use online to gauge your usage/consumption.

It's important too, to not wear blinkers and beware of future changes to your situation and your bills. Many families are feeling the crunch with increases in interest rates, petrol prices and groceries. If you listening to any advice from the many finance advisers out there, you would be silly to think this will get better anytime soon.

How are you coping? Do you have any tips for easing the financial strain?

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