I'm on the move

Hello there

I'm on the move.....

I've created another blog and will not be adding to Apple Thoughts anymore.

.......with each blog I grow, with each blog I change, with each blog I have something different to say.

Go to: http://reasonstostaypositive.blogspot.com/

.....to hear what I have to say now.
xxxxx

Happiness

I find retaining happiness quite a challenge, it comes and goes like the wind.

Today I am skipping from one happy moment & feeling - to the next...riding high on a cloud....delicious!

Other days I find i'm heavy footed, plodding and I seem to have forgotten to open my eyes to the small happinesses around me....

The sun, the dog smiling at me in the morning, my first cup of hot drink for the day, the warmth of my fella's morning kiss, the music in my car on the way to work....

Seriously life is good and i'm starting to realise that the good life is a life full of small happinesses.

Amen to that!

Today I say:     Search out your own small happinesses.... your world is full of them - honest!  

Home grown is the way to go

I just had the most delicous salad for my lunch - I threw in the normal spinage leaves, celery, cucumber, orange pepper and beetroot - but the ooh-ba delicious parts were the stuff people gave me that they had home grown:

- Rocket leaves
- Cherry tomatoes
- Corgette
- Carrott
- Green beans

VERY scrummy indeed with lots of fresh bouncy vitamins for my little body to enjoy too!

Today I say:  Eat, taste and enjoy home grown - you can't beat it!

Lets remember Mary Poppins

Did you know?

That the Mary Poppins character was created in a little Town in Australia?
That the character was created close to 100 years ago?
That the small Town of Bowral, where she was created, are trying to decide on a commemorative statue?

Have your say of what statue they choose by going to:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mary-Poppins-Birthplace-Statue/136011166439373?v=wall

Then click onto the link on left had side of sceen after the description.

I voted for concept one - I wonder which one you will choose!!

Today I say:  I hope you have a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious weekend!

Text of the day

I got sent this text today, silly I know but brought a tear to my eye.....

A strong person knows how to keep their life in order.
Even with tears in their eyes, they manage to say "i'm ok" with a smile.
Karma saw your sadness and said the hard times are now over.

Then is said the blah, blah, pass it onto 10 people stuff - but essentially, aren't the words wonderful

Today I say: Keep strong, keep smiling and keep going!

I've not been eating enough apples!

Hello there

...think i'd better go shopping at the weekend and purchase some apples as  i've been away from my blog for so long!!

Well,what can I say?  I think to be fair i've been totally pooped out with life... working a dual role job, finishing a management course and the normal home life that's included pain & joy!  ...got me into a bit of a tired spot.

These last two weeks have been different though - I won't bore you with the whys and wherefores but this week has been pretty peachy..... putting aside the stupid tension headachs steming from pain in my shoulders and neck that is.

So, life is doing it's thing and i'm trying to let go of the rails to enjoy it!

I'll write again
xxxx

Joke time!

Paddy gets a letter in the post this morning
it lands on the floor and it says on the envelope:
DO NOT BEND
He's still wondering how he's going to pick it up!

Today I say:  Share a crappy joke every day, they're brilliant!

Look at that - it's still light at 7.45pm

Well at first I was miffed at the clocks going forward because it meant I had one hour less holiday time from work, as i'd got the week off - but what the hell did I know..... here we are at 7.45pm monday evening and it's still light out there - how delicious is that!

Definately worth loosing one hours holiday over - lol

Today I say - always remember to look at the bigger picture!

Last day of my week off - boo!

Hello there

Well it's the last day of my week off, which is always a dam shame - but I have to say that i've had a really fab week:

Monday
Me, myself and I day - totally brilliant to give some love to my home and myself by doing some much needed house work and giving myself some beauty treatments and a long soak in the bath with a good book!
Tuesday
Study day (need I say any more!)
Wednesday
Should of been a study day but spent most of the day avoiding it!  I especially enjoyed the afternoon nap that I had, swoon!
Thursday
Morning with Karen and Harry at Moove (soft play place in Trowbridge).  In the afternoon I had another afternoon nap, delish!
Friday
Morning, long doggie walk with Scoot and then took mum shopping in Frome (stopped for coffee) and then went to Clayton's (nephew's) birthday party at Pizza Hut (15 six year old's in total!) - fab fun
Saturday
Study in the morning (thought i'd better get some more done!) had a sleep in the afternoon (could get used to these) and then out in the evening with friends (7 of us in total) to 3 Horse Shoes at Chapmanslade for meal.  Food was hubba, hubba and company was brilliant.
Sunday (today)
We're off to Wincanton Races with friends and will stop for lunch on the way - should be fun!

Today I say - Afternoon naps should be compulsery, they really should...

Happy Birthday Clayton!

Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear nephew
Happy birthday to you

Hope you've had a brilliant day and thank you for inviting me to your Pizza Hut party yesterday - I had a fab time.

Lots of love
Auntie Michelle, Uncle Kev and Scoot
xxx

Today I say:  Family first!

Quote of the day!

Today I say:  Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...but about learning how to dance in the rain!

I'm back!

Hello lovely people, i'm back!

Had a slight set back with me little ole blog as i've been too darn busy at work - i'm seriously going to have to sort that out ya know.  Today is the Thursday of my week off and after a few days rest I actually feel like me again, phewie!

Incase you're wondering 'me again' feels like bubbly pink champagne, cute huh! tee-hee.

I'm off out with a dear friend today and her son to an indoor kiddy play park thingie called Moove.  The lovely British weather won't allow us to do parkie n picinic today.

Today should be a fun day, i'm looking forward to it.  I hope your worlds are treating you well?!

In case I don't see you........good afternoon, good evening and good night!
(yup, caught a clip of The Trueman Show the other night....)

Today I say:  Make room for the important things in life and for goodness sake learn to slow down sometimes.

Long time no blog!

I've got blumin RSI in my right wrist and arm - nothing to do with the fact that I have been:

- Going on facebook
- Dealing with my e-mails
- Writing this blog
- Doing assignments for my course
- Working longer hours at work
- Having computer training at work
- Sending texts

mmm..... hence my disappearence from my little blog for a while!  Hope to come and play again at the weekend.

Today I say: Rest my wrist god dam it - end of!

What is your real age?

Oprah's doctor, Dr Oz has got a website which of course is also recommended by Miss O.  It is also now recommended by me too! 

On the website you are able to take a FREE on-line questionnaire that questions all areas of your life, fitness, health etc and works out how old your body actually is compaired to your birth age!

I couldn't wait to test mine - when I did it told me my real age is 37.8 years old.  I'm actually 35.5 years old!

Then based on the answers you give in the questionnaire, the site provides you with tips and advice that are specific to you of how you can improve your real age.  You are also congratulated on what you are doing right too, which I love! The advice is terrific, it really is!

Go to: http://www.realage.com/

Today I say: Take your real age test and find tips to actually become younger!

Heeding my own advice!

I just had to tell you that i've needed to heed my own advice today. I've found this week to be a real tricky one (lots of reasons) so last night I was so sick of feeling tired and emotional that I had an early night and woke up today and told myself - today is going to be a good day - and do you know what..... it's 11.48am and so far it's been pretty brilliant!

Did study first thing, put dish washer on, had breakie, saw a deer & stag in the field behind my house (lush), took dog on long walk in the sunshine, hoovered downstairs, put bedding on for a wash, tidied lounge and kitchen. ...and i'm now having a much needed cuppa char. scrummy!  I'm feeling better now than I have all week, phewie!

The rest of my day will be study, but i'm determined to cram in a chick flick DVD before Kev comes home from work today. (sofa time, yummy!)  Spag bol and crap TV for this evening - sorted!

Today I say: NEVER forget to heed your own advice, it's usually spot on!

Did you know?

Did you know that elephants sleep standing up?

For more interesting facts about sleep go to: http://www.abc.net.au/science/sleep/facts.htm

Today I say:  Every day I am reminded of how much there is still to learn about life

Mimi up-date!

My life at the moment is really busy and it's making my head spin and want lots of sleep!

1) Management course - working on my final (big) report - deadline 14th Feb
2) New computer system install at work (Westbury) training staff, learning the new system myself, ironing out issues with new system, trying to still do the day job AND while trying to maintain my 'other' job at Bradford on Avon!
3) Being skint and working with what we have.  (...and knowing we can't afford a holiday away again this year - boo!)
4) Healthy Eating - Since 1st Jan I have been on a mission to eat more healthly, which of course takes more time to purchase and to make.  Loving the outcome but it's certainly pulling on my time!
5) Doing the best I can to support my lovely fella while he deals with lots of old and new work things

mmm..... i think that pretty much sum's me up right now.  Inside I am happy but on the surface i'm a tired baby girl.

Today I say:  I love my man, my family and my friends who make me stop when I need to stop and who make me smile when I need a chuckle.  I'm a very lucky girl.

Love Mimi
(ie: me, me - it's all about me!  tee-hee!)

Congratulations!

MASSIVE congratuations go to my lovely Cousin Claire who gave birth to a baby boy yesterday.

 - Alexzander 8lb 2oz

They are both well and healthy - such terrific news!

Today I say:  Nothing like a new life to deliver a lovely bucket of joy into so many peoples lives. xx

RIP Adam. xxxx

My love is with his parents, Kim & Teresa, his brother Jake and his wife Ellie and the children.
....i went to the funeral today.

Teresa read out a loving poem she had written and Kim said some lovely words. 
They were so brave, Jake was so proud and strong.
RIP adam.
xxxxxxxx

Joke time!

Paddy is in the airport with two sacks over each shoulder.  All of a sudden he gets stopped by customs and they search the two sacks.  They find loads of mobile phones in them.  Customs officer asks Paddy "Why does he have all these phones?
Paddy replies "well, while I was on me travels in America, I got a phone call from me mate Murphy in Cork.  He told me that he is starting up a jazz band...........and could I bring back two saxophones"

Today I say:  Share a crappy joke everyday, they're brillliant!

Avatar - the movie!

Last Saturday Kev and I went with a group of friends to watch Avatar in 3D.  The film was totally FANTASTIC!  So brilliant that it's even made its way to my top 5 films of all time!!!

To watch the trailor go to: http://www.avatarmovie.com/

Today I say:  If you only watch one film at the cinema this year choose this one in 3D - absolutely terrific!

I'm so excited

I have just heard that my most favourite book in the whole wide world (Eat, Pray, Love) is being made into a film starring Julia Roberts (out in October 2010). AND the author, Elizabeth Gilbert, has written a follow-up book called 'Committed' which is out now.

OH MY GOD! ........I know where i'm going tomorrow - off to the shops to pick up my copy, oh yes!

If you haven't read Eat, Pray, Love - you really must -it's the most self affirming, warm, funny, empowering and spiritual book you'll ever read (well I think so anyway).

Today I say - Don't forget the little things that you love in life!

Easter Island

Last night I got told for the first time about Easter Island (in the south Pacific ocean). I found it to be so interesting that I found some video clips to learn some more.......

The island has 887 moai statues on the island which are made out of compressed volcanic ash (from it's extinct volcano) and took 5-6 men one year to hand carve by using stone chisels. These statues represented human figures of the islands ancestors and were built between the years 1250 and 1500. They have overly large heads that are three-fiths the size of their bodies.
.

Between 1722 and 1868 the statues were toppled (face down) by the islanders. This is thought to be due to the deadly conflict between the once harmonious islanders.

During the time that the statues were made and erected the island was a growing and thriving community. The island was covered mainly by rain forest, the soil was rich & furtile and the ocean provided plenty of fish.

During the time that the statues were toppled the majority of the trees had been felled (it's wood over used by it's people) there was heavy soil erosion (mainly due to over farming and the lack of trees) and 5 species of birds became extinct, again due to the lack of tree's. The fish supply had started to disappear too. These facts helped push the islands into conflict and into disregard for their traditions.

By the 19th Century only 100 or so natives had survived the strong waves of attacks, widespread diseases and destruction.

The island provides us a stark example of what could happen if we do not respect the circle of life or the natural resources that mother nature gave us.

....obviously tree's for example help us breath (by cleaning the air of carbon dioxide), they keep the soil rich and furtile, they help maintain a healthy Eco system (animal, insect, bacterial life, etc) - by thoughtlessly felling them the islanders, in essence, ended their own lives as they knew it!

For more info on this, watch a 7 minute clip of David Attenborough's documentary on Easter Island: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hO-vCPuuQQ

Today I say: For me the Moai statues represent the respect we need to show this earth because if it is not cared for it's beauty and abundance will be lost.

Did you know?

Did you know that cow's are one of the main contributors to the hole in the ozone layer because of the gas they release?

To find out why - go to: http://didyouknow.org/animals/cows.htm

Top facts eh!

Today I say - Mother nature, you've gotta love her!

Treat yourself

Yesterday on the way home from work I trotted to the local shop to pick up food for tea. Not very exciting I hear you say - well, this is where the story gets interesting...... (kinda!)

Once at the till and my goods were being wizzed passed the bleepy thing and I glanced across to the flowers for sale and thought to myself, you know what, I'm gonna treat myself to some flowers!

Went across and chose a nice bright bunch for just £3.00. Bargain! When I got home I stuck them in a vase in the kitchen and didn't see them again until the morning.

I tell ya......what a treat it was getting up this morning and seeing them smiling at me. The same happened when I got home from work too. So lovely! They have now been up-graded to the lounge so that I can see them more.

I've made a decision - I'm definately going to buy myself flowers again, it's such a treat!

Today I say - Treat yourself to something inexpensive & different - it's lovely feeling so spoiled.

Sleep please

I feel really tired today, so tired that it's making me feel cranky! Why is it that I can sleep like a baby all week and then have a fairly busy weekend and end up feeling like I've not slept for a month! What's all that about!?!?

.

What I wish for is to have a 'sleep bank'. One that I could put any extra hours of sleep that I manage to snatch into. Then when feeling as knackered as I do today, I could dip into this 'bank' and use up some of my sleep credits so that I could feel sparkly again. I like it!!

.

........this would be particularly perfect for those of you with young kiddies, who like to keep you up for nights on end when poorly. Wouldn't it be great to tap into your 'sleep bank' and top up your levels, especially once you get to the match stick stage at 3am? ....if only eh guys!

Today I say: Make the most of your sleep when you get it, coz as soon as you have a bad night's kip you'll soooooo feel it!

Results!

Thank you to those of you that voted in the 'fruit & veg' survey.

The results showed 60% of you voted that you ate more than 5 portions of fruit & veg a day and 40% of you eat 3-4 portions.

Well, well, well, I do have some healthy friends now don't I ...and I totally thought the result would be lower than that - shame on me for doubting you all. tee-hee.

Today I say - munch on a stick of celery, all your friends are doing it!

Assignment result

Well I be damned, I just found out that I got 79% in my last assignment - whoop, whoop!

I'm doing a Primary Care Management Diploma, which I started in March 2009 and will finish in May 2010. Boy will I be glad when it's finished! The course has been tremendous in that I have learnt and grown so much, but what with doing a full time job, or should I say more than a full time job - it's been one hell of a self motivator test to get the assignments done.

This weekend i'm doing an assignment on Medical Ethics, which show's how not all the assignments are of a 'sexy' subject! Once i've done this one it will be the end of the assignments, yipee! ....and i'll just have the main project of 10,000 words to complete and an oral presentation to give in May. Lucky me!

Today I say: Test yourself by learning something new and get out of your comfort zone, the self satisfaction is terrific!