Body Image and Bikinis

It was on sale. A bright pink bikini with rouching in all the right places. The promise of an enhanced bust and minimised thighs. I hadn’t worn a bikini since my eldest was born, pregnancies being the exception. When I was proud to display my burgeoning belly in all its glory.

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I tried the bikini on. And judged the woman in the mirror in front of me. The slight belly. The saddlebags. The flabby bits under my arms. The dimpled thighs. The deflated breasts.  Read more

The REAL story behind my coffee addiction

From mid-September to mid-October I gave up coffee. You can read about how that went here. It was an interesting month. There were things that I expected – fatigue, irritability, head-aches. But there were quite a few things that I did not foresee. I chatted to Karina Francois, naturopath and author, about what happens when our bodies and minds are addicted to caffeine and what happens when you give those things up. I hope you find it as interesting as I did.

Please note that the below is not intended to be used as medical advice. If you have any health concerns, please see your health professional and never rely solely on the internet for your information.

Coffe Addiction - What it really means

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Holding onto Contentment

The sun rose steadily over a pink and orange sea. Promises of warmth but no sting yet. Just glorious sunlight. From the balcony of an ocean-side hotel I basked in the rays and watched the beach become busier. At dawn, the surfers arrived, shadows against the waves. Then the joggers. Then walkers with their dogs. Finally, a scattering of young families as the sun crept higher.

holding onto contentment

I sat, with a cup of tea and a neglected novel and watched. The sun rising and the people on the beach. I heard the crash of the waves. I closed my eyes and felt the warmth against my face. And I felt perfectly, perfectly happy and content.

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When Anxiety Attacks

Anxiety

The knife is slack in my hand. The vegetables I was cutting, forgotten. Terror grips my chest and I am struggling to breathe. I am paralysed.

The family dinner is now beyond my reach. I have stopped. My body has simply stopped. My mind is racing for reasons why.

This has happened once before. Years ago. Three weeks after my son died, I collapsed to my knees, unable to continue. Raw grief, emerging from shock, forcing me to floor. Demanding that I pay my dues. Telling me to pay attention to my grief. Read more

Why I don’t feel guilty about employing a cleaner – and neither should you (and a giveaway!)

It’s school pick up time and groups of mums are chatting together. Jen looks around furtively. Is anyone else in ear shot? She lowers her voice “Maree, someone told me that you have the name of a good cleaner?” Jen has gone out on a limb and is hoping for information instead of judgement. After all, she works part time and the kids are in school, surely she should be able to keep her own house? Maree does’t look judgemental. Maree looks relieved. “He’s okay,” she whispers, “but he just does surfaces, if you want a really good cleaner, talk to Deb.

Why you shouldn't feel guilty about using

I am coming clean (pun intended) – our family pays someone for a fortnightly tidy.  Many of the families I know have a fortnightly cleaner. But we all seem slightly embarrassed by it. Like we are spending money on a luxury we shouldn’t. I don’t think we should feel like that. It’s not that easy to run a household and every thing that can help should be welcomed with open arms.

Seven reasons I don’t not feel embarrassed / bourgeoisie / guilty about employing a cleaner  – and neither should you.

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