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LEARNING THAT GROWTH CAN BE A DANCE

No matter how much work you've done on yourself, you can still snap back sometimes. So be easy on you. Growth is a dance.

FROM THEN TO NOW

Life is a journey - I think we all know that, and I hope we're all progressing in a forward direction (even if it's two steps forward and one step back at times). I've shared quite a lot about my life journey here on the blog and last year I spent several months working my way through the trauma of my awful job imploding on me, my subsequent resignation, and the journey to finding myself again.

One thing I realized the other day is that we shouldn't expect ourselves to completely recover from a major trauma overnight. It can take months or years before we feel like it's finally behind us - we think we've moved on, but then we encounter something (or someone) and we're reminded that it's a process and not a done deal.
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SUPER EASY 2 EGG PAVLOVA

An easy two egg pavlova that you can whip up in no time. No fuss and one bowl to prepare.

INTRO

Last month I began my super easy recipe sharing with lemon/orange drizzle muffins. I'd been wanting to bake some for a while and when I mentioned it here on the blog, others asked me to share my recipe. I'm a very basic "chef" so it was safe to give my friend's recipe away - guaranteed no-fail - because if I can make it, then anyone can! 

Today I have my favourite super easy Christmas dessert to pass on to anyone who's interested in trying their hand at a classic Aussie favourite.
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CRESTING THE HILL AND ENJOYING THE VIEW

What's in a blog name? Is it important to spend the time choosing well?Here's why I chose mine and how it's panned out over the years.

CLIMBING THE HILL

A few weeks ago, some blogging friends and I were discussing hiking and how you approach those difficult hill climbs. My friend Jo from And Anyways commented that the secret is to tackle the climb with a positive attitude because you know it's going to be hard, but it will be even harder if you're complaining and miserable every step of the way. Her example was pushing through a challenging section by singing "Paradise By The Dashboard Light" (a great Meatloaf flashback there for those of  us who loved "Bat Out Of Hell" in the 70's - and that darn song was stuck in my head for weeks after she mentioned it!) with a fellow hiker and being able to laugh about it later when they'd conquered that section.

Her story reminded me of a quote that I often think about when I look at our journey through life:

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FINDING PEACE IN THE BEAUTY OF BECOMING

When life turns out differently than expected, we can fight it or we can embrace the uncertainty of becoming someone new.

WAITING AND WONDERING

A few weeks ago I wrote a post about how unsettled I was feeling. Since then I've been trying to figure out what it is at the heart of things that's causing me to feel this way. I've dithered back and forth trying to dig down to the crux of it all and to try to bypass all the little distractions that seem to be the reason but are just symptoms rather than the cause.
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SUNSHINE, LOLLIPOPS AND RAINBOWS - WHAT'S MAKING ME HAPPY #2

In times of uncertainty it's good to focus our thoughts on the things that bring joy and remind us of how blessed we are.

IT'S TIME TO BE HAPPY

Last month I decided to change my end of month catch-up from a virtual cuppa to sharing some  "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows" ..... Sunshine - what's been happening to make me happy, Lollipops - silly things and memes that gave me a smile, and Rainbows - what I'm grateful for this month. So without further ado - here we go with September's Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows.
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SAVOURING THE HIGH NOTES

Life is a constant cycle of ups and downs - it's up to us to choose the positives in every situation.

HIGH NOTES AND LOW NOTES

This year I chose "SYMPHONY" as my word of the year. I thought it was a wonderful way to sum up the idea of making the most of the years that lie ahead. Creating my Midlife Opus - and encouraging others to share their stories about making the second half of life great. Then on top of all of that came COVID-19 and all it brought in its wake.
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LIFE AFTER A MID-CAREER MALAISE

You're not alone if you're feeling fed up with your job - here's three ways to respond and move forward.

CAREER CHOICES IN THE 1970's

I really admire people who choose a career in their teens and then stay the distance until they retire in their mid sixties. I'm not one of those people. Originally I had plans to be a teacher.  For a lot of young women back in the 70's, teaching, nursing, or office work were the main choices - but teaching didn't pan out for me because my parents didn't want to support me for those extra years of university - after all "women just get married and have babies, so it'd be a waste of time and money" (my dad's words). Fortunately times have changed for the better these days and young women can be whatever they choose.
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SUPER EASY ORANGE DRIZZLE MUFFINS

 Super easy muffins - with a lovely sweet citrus drizzle - perfect for afternoon tea.

INTRO

I don't know about you, but a lot of the recipes I see online these days are waaaay out of my cooking comfort zone. They all seem to have mile long ingredient lists - usually including things I've never heard of, or that are hard to source (ie: freshly whipped butter from the milk of a himalayan mountain goat - churned at dawn on a Thursday......)
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CANVAS PRINTS FOR A SUREFIRE EMOTIONAL BOOST

Easy on the wallet, simple to order and quick to arrive, photo canvas wall prints are a great way to create a positive Spring vibe.

INTRO

I don't know about you, but sometimes it feels like COVID has sapped little bits of my peace and happiness, and the only place I feel truly safe and calm is in my own home. Keeping my surroundings peaceful and lovely soothes my soul, and I've found myself looking for little extras to reinforce that feeling. I'm a minimialist at heart, but one new item can really lift my spirits and give me a little boost for the week.

Recently I was approached by a company who make beautiful wall art out of photos - your own or those you love from elsewhere (I particularly love the copyright free sites like Pixabay and Unsplash). Today's collaborative post is about their beautiful products and includes some lovely examples and how to create your own.

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LEARNING THE ART OF SAYING "NO" GRACIOUSLY

We all have to learn to say "No" for our mental and physical wellbeing. Let go of people pleasing and look after yourself.

WHEN YOU SEE YOURSELF IN OTHERS

A friend shared a link to another blogger's brand new blog the other day with the thought that I could leave an encouraging comment to help start her on her new journey. It was no problem at all to pop over and read her beautifully written post, but I find that life can sometimes show us a little bit about ourselves when we least expect it  - and this was one of those occasions.
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