This blog has relocated

A new year, and a new focus on weight loss and feeling healthier and fitter - I have started a new. For those interested in looking - the address is:

http://www.diaryofawobblywoman.blogspot.com/


Cheers :)

Im Back.....after a year or so

Things just got away from me this year - and blogging took a back seat. We'll see if I can become more regular at making entries...no promises.

Christmas is almost here, I go home to Dunedin on Sunday (Anthony follows on Wednesday...he is still working..he he) to spend Christmas with my little family. It has been three years since I last had Christmas in Dunedin (when I was full of glandular fever), and this will be the first for Anthony and I together spending it with the Savages. I generally always like going home - Mum and Dad live on the peninsula, its quiet, a lot more chilled out than Wellington and I get to see family and friends that have known me most of my life!

This time - my best friend Frances is now 3.5 months pregnant and hopefully is feeling better than when I last talked to her - bad morning sickness.

Lets hope the weather comes to the party!

Anyway - I found this on the net and thought it would be cool to share - How to achieve some happiness, or more happiness if you are already cheery!


10 Things Science Says Will Make You Happy


In the last few years, psychologists and researchers have been digging up hard data on a question previously left to philosophers: What makes us happy? The emerging field of positive psychology is bursting with new findings that suggest your actions can have a significant effect on your happiness and satisfaction with life. Here are 10 scientifically proven strategies for getting happy...

1. Savor Everyday Moments Pause now and then to smell a rose or watch children at play. Study participants who took time to “savor” ordinary events that they normally hurried through, or to think back on pleasant moments from their day, “showed significant increases in happiness and reductions in depression,” says psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky.

2. Avoid Comparisons While keeping up with the Joneses is part of American culture, comparing ourselves with others can be damaging to happiness and self-esteem. Instead of comparing ourselves to others, focusing on our own personal achievement leads to greater satisfaction, according to Lyubomirsky.

3. Put Money Low on the List People who put money high on their priority list are more at risk for depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem, according to researchers Tim Kasser and Richard Ryan. Their findings hold true across nations and cultures. “The more we seek satisfactions in material goods, the less we find them there,” Ryan says. “The satisfaction has a short half-life -- it’s very fleeting.” Money-seekers also score lower on tests of vitality and self-actualization.

4. Have Meaningful Goals “People who strive for something significant, whether it’s learning a new craft or raising moral children, are far happier than those who don’t have strong dreams or aspirations,” say Ed Diener and Robert Biswas-Diener. “As humans, we actually require a sense of meaning to thrive.” Harvard’s resident happiness professor, Tal Ben-Shahar, agrees, “Happiness lies at the intersection between pleasure and meaning. Whether at work or at home, the goal is to engage in activities that are both personally significant and enjoyable.”

5. Take Initiative at Work How happy you are at work depends in part on how much initiative you take. Researcher Amy Wrzesniewski says that when we express creativity, help others, suggest improvements, or do additional tasks on the job, we make our work more rewarding and feel more in control.

6. Make Friends, Treasure Family Happier people tend to have good families, friends, and supportive relationships, say Diener and Biswas-Diener. But it’s not enough to be the life of the party if you’re surrounded by shallow acquaintances. “We don’t just need relationships, we need close ones” that involve understanding and caring.

7. Smile Even When You Don’t Feel Like It It sounds simple, but it works. “Happy people…see possibilities, opportunities, and success. When they think of the future, they are optimistic, and when they review the past, they tend to savor the high points,” say Diener and Biswas-Diener. Even if you weren’t born looking at the glass as half-full, with practice, a positive outlook can become a habit.

8. Say Thank You Like You Mean It People who keep gratitude journals on a weekly basis are healthier, more optimistic, and more likely to make progress toward achieving personal goals, according to author Robert Emmons. Research by Martin Seligman, founder of positive psychology, revealed that people who write “gratitude letters” to someone who made a difference in their lives score higher on happiness, and lower on depression -- and the effect lasts for weeks.

9. Get Out and Exercise A Duke University study shows that exercise may be just as effective as drugs in treating depression, without all the side effects and expense. Other research shows that in addition to health benefits, regular exercise offers a sense of accomplishment and opportunity for social interaction, releases feel-good endorphins, and boosts self-esteem.

10. Give It Away, Give It Away Now! Make altruism and giving part of your life, and be purposeful about it. Researcher Stephen Post says helping a neighbor, volunteering, or donating goods and services results in a “helper’s high,” and you get more health benefits than you would from exercise or quitting smoking. Listening to a friend, passing on your skills, celebrating others’ successes, and forgiveness also contribute to happiness, he says. Researcher Elizabeth Dunn found that those who spend money on others reported much greater happiness than those who spend it on themselves.

29 Days to go...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Tis the holiday season......and soon it will be the wedding season. Christmas was good around at Joans, fairly low key, the funniest part of the day being when Brad (Anthony's nephew) locked himself in the toilet after snapping the key in the lock. No fights even! Nanna kept to herself, not the most social but was amped to watch the Queens Message. Lots of food and drink.....suffering from a food hangover, and now in my detox phase and have started eating healthy. Amazing how much Ive been craving vegetables!

Today: 29 days to go

So far....

Approximately 66 people have RSVP'd to come to the reception

The hens invite list has been passed on to the bridesmaids

Im now understanding how important the seating plan can be (and glad I'm at the bridal table)

My family is not causing problems, Anthony's has a few.

I have an awesome torselette.

I still have to go for my final dress fitting.

The groom and bestman have their suits sorted.

Still seems there are many things to do, after New Years it's all go.

About time for a blog

Another slack blogging month.....facebook is less effort I guess.

A great weekend. Housesitted for a night and got freaked out by possums scratching (or something) on the roof - honestly sounded like a party was going on. Funny how that freaked me more than the usual police sirens, drunken youths, boy racers, ocaasional explosion and petrol station sounds. Im not really a rural chick I guess.

We have more baby birds - born on Friday - we had to remove the other slightly older babies as they were picking on the poor blighters. We have a total of 21 birds now. Never used to like birds much, but now realise how much personality they can have. My fave is still Bluebelle - the lazy fat budgie - she has character.

In the last month, things have been busy - holidays came and went. I went down home to Dunners - sorted out wedding stuff, caught up with a few friends and family and then home again. Weather was nice apparently better than Welly.

Once back, not long until back to school - took Ed shopping - quite proud of my efforts, lots of clothes, shoes, even cologne from Kirks. And you always know a good friend when you can act like posh old people in Kirks when having a spot of tea at the Kirks Cafe.

School is back, now into the third week - that time of year when seniors start giving a damn about their exams and expect you to teach them the whole course in a couple of weeks. Busy times. The countdown is on till November 14th, the last day at school for seniors! Steve Rodger started working at UHC this term, teaching Maths. Good to have him back! Hasnt really changed much either, except for the touch of a slight British accent. Also good to have a mate to stir trouble with ;)

Wedding plans are coming along nicely - reception and ceremony pretty much sorted now. Have found some bargains over the weekend! Invites not long off now...weee! More info in our wedding blog. Highlight lately - setting up a wedding register at Briscoes - like a wish list - sooo much fun!

I also finally got my 10% goal star from Weight Watchers.....big grins! To date now Ive lost 18.8kilos. 1.2kilos till my new sketchers - they will be so worth it too! Ive started the hard core part of my diet - lots of protein, cutting out a lot but not all carbs - struggling a little for energy - but the first week is always a detox - cant wait for the energy buzz to hit!

Another day off tomorrow - one of my two days in lieu for the term.....nice! Hopefully its as nicer day as today was.

Babies!

A long time since blogging....I know.

School holidays! Yay! Ive been hanging out for these for so long now. Im down in my ol' home town for 10 days. A good day to arrive as I left Wellington in a misty raining state. Dunedin while a little chilly on 9 degrees at least was dry.

A blog entry to show the new babies that have arrived into the world over the last couple of months. I totally agree with the baby boom theory.

First off.....Miss Jane Madeline Young, daughter of Andrea and Dave. Born 1st July 2007.

Second.....Miss Chilli Hill, daughter of Andrea and Mike (can't remember her middle name at present) born July 12th 2007.

And third, Miss Zara Billie Smith, daughter of Catherine and Max. Born September 11th 2007.(apparently Osama wasnt as option for baby names)

My trainer Clayton and his wife Christina also had a little girl, Georgia. And my cousin is due in November.

As for me and Anthony, well we have got two baby zebra finches now with feathers on them but still tucked away in the nest. We also bought a baby budgie (Peaches), and two canaries - Scarlet and Buzz. We have farewelled two budgies, Lil' B and Sploge and Kate the zebra finch who died recently.

A little milestone for Cassie

I finally lost 15kilos. Last Saturday it was 15.9, but went to WW tonight and I put on 900g. A tad gutted to say the least. I love how the ladies there go oh you are doing so well, think of the big picture, it may be that time of the month yadiyadiyah. Doesn't change the fact it is still there. Anyway...just came back from a walk to Waterloo and surrounding areas....next week is another week.

My trainer has given me a challenge to lose 20kilos by September 22nd, a month away. I was confident last week, however it will take a lot of work. Diet and exercise big time!!!!!!!

Hopefully my insomnia period is almost over. I have had a few good nights sleep now. Not wanting to go to the doctor, I went to the pharmacist who gave me REM sleep a herbal supplement with the same stuff in it that turkey has that makes you sleepy....not a wonder drug but has helped. A reliever at school also gave me a list of tips that helped him when he had it. Stress not so bad this week, wedding stuff a bit more planned and guest list basically finalised now...thank God.

Not a lot else has been happening really. Saw Die Hard 4 in gold class - so worth it! Lazyboys with electric recliner buttons, push buttons for service, all you can have soft drinks and popcorn and lots of space! Awesome experience. Movie was cool too. Lots of action, a bit a story and Bruce Willis as you expect it. Yippy Kai Yay MotherF***ers!

Also saw Knocked Up.....funny too.

The zebra finch breeding programme is coming along. All three females have made nests (that includes Kate and Ange) - now waiting for eggs.

All friends with babies are doing well - Andreas baby does wicked farts ;) even with a slight smile. Catherine Smith is now due in a couple of weeks and is glowing. Yay for babies....all girls too.


A beatiful day today - even brought out the 3/4 pants - I need a tan on my legs badly!


Kate - keen for a catch up? Havent seen you for agggggeeeesssss!!!!


That is all - Hope all is well with one and all.

A boy's weekend

I hung out with the boys this weekend....it was fun.

Friday after finally getting to the pub after school with the collegues, and Saturday nights......with Ant and Aaron. Joined in with them after they had been drinking for a few hours, but was sooo much fun. Wrestling, karate kid impersonations, dolls houses raining with beer, more boys wrestling.....and general gutter talk. I still am such a tomboy.

Sunday, caught up with Ed, which must do more often. Had afternoon tea at the Ballroom in Newtown, bringing back memories of when I lived in Newtown. Saw many pics of Europe including - Turkey, Italy and others from his Wellington College trip. Im jealous. Finally saw casa de Ed and Ryan plus their more precocious flatmate who I yet to meet. A bit flasher than ol' Oak Grove but still no sound proofing, Ryan will attest to that. Ed has the gimp room with an internal window to the lounge (weird). Ryan and I suggested that he could put on shows like they do in Amsterdam for money...he didnt quite see the funny side ;) Ed and I also propose a nice dinner out possibly this weekend...whos keen?

On other things.....Sooty and Sweep our zebra finches have set up nest and may be breeding soon.....very exciting. They look very cute in their nest too. We may have to buy some more males for Kate and Ange our other two zebra finches. Still waiting for the budgies to get it on.

Had the day off today, have really bad insomnia at mo, felt a bit crap so decided in best interests to stay at home. While still no sleep, I feel a little more relaxed. Made a fantastic guiness stew for dinner...mmmm mmmm.

Wedding plans continue. Stressing a little bit....got to get onto invites etc. I see why people have wedding planners. The guest list is a worry, its getting bigger and bigger. How do you not offend people? Everything costs money aswell, and the mention of a wedding makes it more expensive. Argghhh!

Anyway......make sure if you dont know already the wedding is on January 26th at 3pm...SAVE THE DATE :)