So, how did the cleanse go???

I'm at the end of the week and I have to say I'm feeling great!

After feeling pretty crappy on day two, it was fairly easy from there.
I felt really clear around day 3, and quite energetic around day 4 and 5. This weekend was a little more difficult again, not because I was feeling bad, but being the weekend I found it a little harder with socialising, eating out etc. We normally go out for Sunday brunch, but this weekend I decided to give it a miss as I wasn't sure I could pass up my usual poached eggs on toast...

Nevertheless, I have really enjoyed this week. Not only do I feel great, but I've also knocked off a couple of kilos at the same time!

Big thanks to Nat from The Pagoda Tree for not only the cleansing program, but for all of her amazing recipes - without them I think I would have really struggled staying on track.

So where to now? Well, I'm going to keep up the 2l+ of water daily- including lemon water on waking, replacing my coffee for green tea, lots of veggies, and most importantly I'm going to quit sugar. Yep, this is a big one for me! And I'm slightly freaked out by it, but I'm going to give it a crack and see how I go. I'll be writing more about it in the coming weeks.

Sweet weekend - tips to create a balanced life

Thanks to tinybuddha, I came across these 9 tips for creating balance in your life.

So often do we find ourselves pushing our minds and bodies to the limit. We juggle work with family, with friends and everything else in between. We forget to take the time for 'us', to centre ourselves and find balance.

These are some great tips to take into your everyday life.

1. Acknowledge: Take some time to really look at your life, your state of mind, and how you’re feeling. Be honest with yourself and notice the areas of your life that you’re neglecting.

2. Examine: Notice if you’re leaning more toward an internal or external focus, or if there are areas within each category that you would like to be more balanced.

3. Set Goals: Look at the outline to help you decide which ways you want to balance your life. Make a list.

4. Plan Tasks: Make a list of daily, weekly, and monthly tasks that you will need to do to achieve each of these goals. What have you tried in the past? Did it work? If not, what can you do differently?

5. Reflect: What is the most important thing you’ve accomplished in the past? How did you stay focused toward this goal? How did you handle your fears, doubts, anxieties, worries, and negative self talk? How does it feel to know that you accomplished the goal in spite of these parts of yourself?

6. Prepare: What is your inner “stuff” that will try to keep you from sticking to your plan? (i.e. fears, worries, doubts, negative self talk etc.) Can you specify the things you will say to yourself to push you off track? (i.e. “just one more bite, I’ll start eating better tomorrow”) Make a list.

7. Empower: What do you need to remember in those times? What are things you can say to that self-sabotaging part of yourself? Be kind to yourself. Balance won’t feel good if you’re cruel to yourself in creating it!

8. Connect: Is there a person or a tactic you can use to keep yourself supported, motivated, and focused in those hard times? I highly recommend connecting and sharing your inner process with someone. Find someone who can help you challenge your inner demons, and celebrate your little accomplishments.

9. Plan: Just like accomplishing any goal in life, it takes time and effort to overcome your habitual patterns and create new ones. If you stay on track with this detailed and intentional process for three whole months, then there is a good chance you will create new habits to enjoy a more balanced life going forward!

Happy weekend all! I hope you can take some time to yourself this weekend, to sit and read a book, take a bath, or go for a walk- whatever makes you happy! x

Product review - Egyptian Magic

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Slightly dodgy name aside, without the numerous glowing endorsements and positive reviews I came across while researching this product, Egyptian Magic wouldn't be something I would have rushed out to purchase initially.

But I must admit that there's more to this all-purpose skin cream than meets the eye.

So far I have used it as a moisturiser (great for rough, dry skin on elbows, knees and heels), and although there is a slightly greasy residue left when you rub it into the skin, I am pleasantly surprised.
It reminds me a little of Lucas' Paw Paw Ointment (without all the Petroleum Jelly). I can see myself using this one for many different things.

Use it as a night moisturising treatment for dry skin, a lip balm, a hand moisturiser, an eye cream, to help ease eczema and psoriasis, or to help tame frizzy hair (be careful with this one as if you apply to too close to the root it can make your hair oily).

The best part about the product? There are only 6 ingredients in total! Olive oil, bees wax, honey, bee pollen, royal jelly, bee propolis (and they're actually easy to pronounce which is always a good sign!)
And it's pretty reasonably priced too which is always a plus.

Have your tried Egyptian Magic?