Bye, Bye Blogger...

Time to say goodbye to my Blogger Blog - on to bigger and better things!

I have found WrodPress and like it so much better - way more fun stuff to play around with, gotta move with the times!

Hope to see you at the new location :)
www.jennrankin.wordpress.com

An Angel Among Us...

On March 27th a light went out - Eva Markvoort lost her courageous battle with Cystic Fibrosis. She was an incredible human being and much too young to be taken away from her family and friends. Such an advocate for organ donation - which by the way, if you have not done so already, what are you waiting for???

Check out Eva's blog to learn more about her story and living with this gentic disease, she touched thousands of people all over the world though her online journal, http://65redroses.livejournal.com/

Let us all live with compassion and love every single day, we are truly lucky to be able to breathe and live a normal life. Amazing how such a simple act as breathing (though not simple biologically!) can be so easily taken for granted.

Eva gave love and was surrounded by so much love - we could all learn so much from such an angel. I will be holding my Asha extra tight tonight.

As Eva would say Love Love Love! Words to live by... 

It's Been A While! This Will Be A Long One :)

I cannot believe we are at the end of March 2010 already! What an incredible 90 days thus far - not short of some stress - but mostly full of fun and love!

My little cutie exploring the world on her walking legs - Jan 2010

Troy and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary on Feb 9th, we dropped Asha off at her Nana & Opa's and went and saw Avatar 3D! So awesome! And we saw it in Gold Class - even better!

  Check out the 3D goggles!

Such a fun date day :)

We went over to Sydney near the end of February - it was wonderful. can't say I loved the humidity, but still lovely! I had a SendOutCards seminar to attend, so we thought it would be a great opportunity to get a little time away for a family vacation before Troy begun work. We stayed in Coogee for 2 nights, which was lovely and Bondi for another 2 nights at a friends place. It was a great 5 days away and we returned recharged and ready to go!

 Asha sleeping on the plane :)

Coogee Baths - very European!

Coogee Beach, so gorgeous

My favorite... Mum & Babe on Beach :)

Late night walk home from Bondi beach...

Walking back from the beach, so sweet!

Our little beach babe at Bondi Baths

The new year has brought so many changes for my family (which is a good thing right?). Troy has begun his new career in real estate. He is working with a very busy agent south of the river - flat out, but loving it! I know he is finally in the right place when Troy says "it doesn't feel like I am going to work" - if you knew Troy you would understand! And why shouldn't we all find something that we love that much? I have too and I get to be around my daughter all day to boot - best of both worlds I say :)

What has been all consuming recently is my on-going journey with food! I have struggled for a long time with eating meat - but never felt a strong enough urge to do much about it except reduce my intake... until now! I have been off of animal flesh for almost 3 weeks and I have to say - what the hell has taken me so long! I feel really quite incredible these days! It has pushed me to get creative and think outside the box for what to make for dinner! It has been pretty easy for me, however Troy has not loved the idea from the start, however he is getting used to it and feels really good as well!

I have also been researching a lot about veganism and raw food, I tend to cook a lot of vegan (I started when Asha was just getting into food as I didn't want her to have any animal products for the first year), it is quite easy to substitute, just takes a little research is all! The raw food way is a whole other ball game! I love the idea and will incorporate some more raw into my diet, but at the moment going totally raw will not work as from my research, your body naturally detoxes and the toxins are excreated through the breaskmilk (and the placenta), so not good as I am still breastfeeding Asha. Once she weans herself, I will gradually add more raw into my diet. I love the idea of this way of life, however I will more likely turn vegan before fully raw and will probablly never go fully raw! It is quite interesting, I have been reading so many blogs and stuff online about this and for some it seems more like a competition to be the "rawest" of the raw! Seriously, just be concious about what you are putting into your body and make the right choices for yourself - who cares who is more raw than the next? I sure don't! I think if we can all reduce (or better yet eliminate) animal consumption and eat locally and seasonally, we will do the earth some serious good!

My next biggest challenge is to cut out the nasty SUGAR! I will fully admit I am addicted to the sweet stuff - not proud of that, but awareness is the first step! I am eating more fruit, drinking even more water (I already drink large amounts) and trying to recognize the craving cues (stree, anxiety, homesickness, etc.) and redirect my thoughts to something else... a work in progess indeed, but something that needs to be dealt with sooner than later!

A milk stop at the park - March 2010

And of course there is my sweet little Asha, who at the moment is running laps around the room and moving different items (books, balls, dolls) from one shelf to the other - I think she is a bit of a type A personality like me! She is a lovely little girl and I can no longer say baby (sniff, sniff), she is fully, absolutely a toddler!! And is learning to push all of the buttons necessary to get a reaction from Troy and I! Amazing the lesson of patience one learns when becoming a parent (or not!) - I am choosing patience, for the sake of Asha's growing curiosity and innocence. When I am really pushed, I try to remember who I am dealing with - she is not even 17 months old yet! C'mon get a grip Mum! As Conficious says, "Those who anger you, conquer you".

 Classic Pout!

She absolutely melts my heart!

And of course I cannot forget to mention The Heart Link Network! I am in my 6th month and loving it! We have topped off at 17 (that is all my house will hold!) and it has been so wonderful! Great energy, great women, great food (if I do say so myself!) and a great experieince by attendees! If you are in the US, Canada or Australia, look up a chapter close to you! www.TheHeartLinkNetwork.com

Patience, Practice & Focus

I am forever checking my attidtude and goals each and every day. If they are not clear (written down) or important, they are really not going to happen (we have all heard this time and time again). I have been working on a little activity, "My Ideal Life" - writing down exactly how my life is if I had absolute control, which I do :) It looks pretty darn good! My biggest challenge is actually visualizing it every single day, making time for this activity. I know the more you visualize, the more you create...

Another Twitter contact made a good point today, there are only 21 days until the new year - old habits can be broken and new habits can be formed in 21 days of diligent practice and focus. That is my goal and my focus this holiday season, along with the usual festive cheer!

Being a visual person, I need to have reminders written down, posters on the wall (my dream board) and then and only then - do I focus on such things. That is, until it becomes habitual. Well, up goes another reminder (I think I'll make it more of a coutdown!) - for the next 21 days, visualizing my "ideal" life and how it feels, looks, smells, tastes, etc. Sounds inviting!

Happy Holidays and a prosperous New Year!

Bring on 2010 - I AM READY!!

A Little First Step!

Asha took a little step today for the first time! How exciting! The best part was that my parents via Skype were there to "witness" it! I know it meant a lot to them to see their baby's baby reaching a milestone!

Getting Ready...

Up She Goes...

And Down She Goes!

Although she took a baby step, Miss Asha is still working diligently on standing up and staying up. It is truly amazing how each day these little people get stronger and stronger at what they are learning! One thing I know for sure is that this daughter of mine has incredible determination, something we should all keep with us as we grow and never lose :) 
This little girl of ours is such a blessings and she amazes me everyday!

The "Silly Season" Is Here!

I am doing my best to get into the Christmas spirit this year - usually this in no challenge for me (we're talking tree up and house decorated early November!). I suppose this year I haven't been reminded of the season as I am still getting used to living in a hot country during this time of year! Something about wearing shorts and flip-flops while Christmas shopping doesn't seem to register with me! I am not complaining, last year my family came here to Perth for Christmas (and a wedding and to meet their newest family member!) so it felt more Christmasy...

I am getting into the spirit for my daughter! My hubby Troy knows it means a lot to me to keep on with some of the same traditions I had growing up. I put my tree up the other day and we had to put it up high so miss Asha won't completely have her way with it! So far she has touched the branches a little, but for the most part she doesn't seem to care that it is there! But I am sure when I cantually decorate it with shiny balls she will think differently!

Australian Christmas seems to comprise of bbq's, pool party's, bbq's, cold on in hand and seafood - what, no turkey? I may try roasting a small bird on Christmas Eve as it is usually in the mid to high 30's on Christmas day! Imagine a hot oven just adding to the temperature of the already smokin' hot house! I may combine CAN & AUS - bbq the turkey! I will be starting my baking this weekend as I have all kinds of little events planned and always love to share my Christmas treats with friends :)

A New and Exciting Venture!

I am so proud to say I have recently become the Area Coordinator for The Heart Link Network - all I can say is YES to connecting with other women in my community, YES to helping others to grow the business they love and YES to putting myself out there (way out of my comfort zone!) - and I might insert here that it has not been that bad at all, not nearly as scary as I thought it would be!!

I am holding monthly meetings in my home (complete with dinner, dessert and lots of fun female bonding time!). We get together to meet, share, learn and connect! FANTASTIC! I could not be happier to have found this amazing network that is purely based on what women do best - networking with heart!

After attending a networking event a while back that made me more nervous than the first day of highschool (and my goodness that was nerve racking!), I had to race through with 30 seconds on the clock to let everyone know what I was passionate about - are you kdding me? It was so difficult and felt so rushed. I thought there has got to be a better way to do this! Funny how when you put these things out into the universe amazing things happen... Enter a conference call that mentioned the HLN and so I investigated and thanks goodness I did as I found we have nothing quite like this here in Perth so I immediately signed up! And I am so glad I did! My first event was Nov 18th and with 10 (including me) in attendance, it was so wonderful! Amazing connections were made and will continue to blossom! I am so happy to be taking on the role of helping women connect and grow professionally and personally, myself included in the personally growing part :) YES to serving others!!

Another Long Pause Between Entries :)

It has been a while! I have told myself time and time again to make blogging more of a habit - something that must be done frequently in order to be come part of my routine :) I'm working on it...

My priority lies upon being Asha's mum, the most important job of all! She has just turned 1 earlier in the month (Nov 2nd) - WOW how the year has flown by! And not that it hasn't been uneventful, never a dull moment with my precious angel.

Some other things I am working on mastering are setting my goals, really determining my "why" and making every moment count. Some mornings I awake and do not want to wake (tired!) - however I quickly remind myself how blessed I am to be where I am and in the company I am in (Troy & Asha). Even after a long night nursing my daughter or comforting her with that new tooth coming in, I put that all behind me and move forward - another day, another opportunity to be happy and spread happy-ness :) After all, my daughter is one happy child and has no time in her busy little day for clouds...

I am not sure how much sense this blog post really makes, however, I am feeling very contemplative at the moment. Life is what I decide to make of it, so I decide to make it FANTASTIC!

Attached below are some pictures of Miss Asha at her birthday party down by the river, such a fun day with family and friends (not including Canadian family, there in spirit!)

Here is a picture of my attempt at a 1st Birthday cake - not so pretty, but actually quite nice on the palate :) I made a vegan cake with beetroot icing for Asha, yummy and moist!! And a very naughty chocolate cake with a choc-coffee icing, PURE SIN!!!

Anyways, life is GOOD, life is GREAT! I am ever thankful for all of the many blessings in my life and everyday as I send out happiness and positive vibes - I feel the wave of joy returning back! I am trying hard to not use the words "I", "mine", "me", etc. as I (oops!) am reading Eckhart Tolle's "New Earth" and working on defeating the ego that is inside - I know awareness is the first step and I am AWARE!!

How precious is that little face? I am sure all Mum's will say the exact thing! I am so proud to be Asha's mama :)

Life is Good, Life is Grand, But What About Social Networking...

I love blogging and I seriously don't allow myself enough time to do it! Okay note to self: when baby sleeps, mama blogs, gets connected, checks email, works, sends her daily cards, laundry, cooking, cleaning, yoga - wow, I AM a jack-of-all-trades :) But I am not complaining! I am grateful for all of the many blessings I have around me, my husband and daughter first and foremost!

"Whatcha cooking mama?"

I have just added another social networking tool to my belt - Twitter! How fun! I held back for a while but am having lots of fun connecting with all kinds of different people on there. Follow me on twitter.com/jennmrankin if you feel so inclined!

Social Networking is a wonderful thing, however it can be really easy to get caught up in it all and never pick up the phone or connect through more personal ways (ie. sending a heartfelt greeting card to someones doorstep!). My life has been changed and become even more abundant since I started sending cards to those that are in my life and those that come into my life. Amazing stories are being created every day! Wow life is good!

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy all the different ways we can reach out to people - but when it comes down to it, nothing beats something a little more personal!

Off to yoga and feed my wee babe (well not so wee, she is almost 11 months!)

Asha and her mama checking out the chickens at a vineyard down south!

Swinging, swinging, swinging!

How sweet is Asha's hair?