Archive for: July, 2010

Letting Go of Guilt

Jul

2010

Mary from A Merry Life wrote about Food Guilt recently and I’ve been itching to weigh in on this, because it’s definitely been an issue for me in the past. Most of us grew up in some sort of formalized religion where guilt played a prominent role. We joke about Catholics and guilt and Jews and guilt, but let me tell you, us Calvinists are major players in the guilt-game. I am no longer religious in the traditional sense of … Read More »

Posted in Living and Learning 11 Comments

Am I getting this right?

Jul

2010

Two weeks into “my new life” (the blog and the job) and I think it’s time to see how I’m doing with regards to balance… I don’t want to not notice that I’m slipping and end up in tatters in a heap. It helps that I love, love, love my new job and feel 100% comfortable in the environment. Landing this job and then being able to “make it my own” so quickly have given me a huge boost in … Read More »

Posted in Living and Learning 6 Comments

Recipe: Vegetable Goulash

Jul

2010

This is one of our favorite meals. I usually serve it with wholewheat wraps, but it’s delicious with ribbon noodles too. To make this recipe vegan, you simply need to substitute the sour cream to a vegan equivalent. Vegetable Goulash 1 Tbsp coconut oil 6 cups assorted vegetables (carrots, cabbage, mushrooms, leeks, zucchini, bell peppers, celery, etc), chopped 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 large tomato, chopped 3 Tbsp flour 3 Tbsp paprika 1 cup vegetable stock 1 cup sour cream … Read More »

Posted in Healthy Recipes 2 Comments

When I know better, I can do better

Jul

2010

Weight loss is, like just about everything else in life, a learning process. We start off by “knowing” that we need to eat less and move more. As we go along, and especially in the blogging community, those truths get refined and redefined as we go along. We learn that a calorie is not just a calorie, that it’s not so much the quantity, but the quality of our food that matters (and the same goes for exercise!). We learn … Read More »

Posted in Living and Learning 9 Comments

Reason #552 why I love blogging

Jul

2010

Blogging is a lot like prayer… You post a problem on your blog in the evening, go to bed and wake up to a mailbox full of solutions. I love it! Thank you for suggesting that I walk on the wine estate! I can’t imagine why I hadn’t thought of that. I have to say that there is no way I would do this at lunch time (which is only 30 minutes anyway – I eat my lunch then), since … Read More »

Posted in Random Stuff 9 Comments

It’s all relative…

Jul

2010

Remember the contract job I had and how bitterly I complained about having to get up at 5am? Well, with this job I won’t be getting up much later, but because I love the job, the drive and the setting, I have not complaints at all. Lesson learned: Do what you love! Now, instead of moaning about the problems, I am motivated to find solutions. Let’s take exercise for instance… While I was doing the contract I got no exercise … Read More »

Posted in Living and Learning 4 Comments

First day at my new job

Jul

2010

This is just a quick update to tell you about my first day at my new job… I loved it! I just know that I will be very happy there. It’s exactly what I’ve envisioned for myself. Sure, there are some challenges, but just enough to make it interesting. The lady from whom I’m taking over did a great job and she’s prepared a very comprehensive handover, so I think the transition will be fine – for me and for … Read More »

Posted in Random Stuff 9 Comments

Recipe: Sweet Potato & Spinach Soup

Jul

2010

It’s been a cold and rainy weekend, so soup was definitely on the menu. This is one of my favorite recipes, not only because it’s tasty, but because it’s quick: SWEET POTATO & SPINACH SOUP 1 Tbsp coconut oil 500 g (1 pound) sweet potatoes, diced 2 medium onions, chopped 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 tsp ginger, grated 1 Tbsp medium curry paste 2 cups vegetable stock 1 can coconut milk juice of 1 lemon ¼ tsp chili flakes 4 … Read More »

Posted in Healthy Recipes 4 Comments

Keys to Success: Planning & Organization

Jul

2010

Thank you for the lovely words of welcome! I start working again on Monday (Financial Manager for a boutique hotel on a wine farm). And unlike my last working stint, which was just three months long and gave me only three days in which to prepare after not working for three years, this time it’s (hopefully) for keeps and I had about 10 days to prepare. To be fair, I knew that I was going to be working again soon, … Read More »

Posted in Living and Learning 8 Comments

The “What” and “Why” of Ordinary Abundance

Jul

2010

Welcome to my new blog! Kick off your shoes, grab a drink and a snack and take a tour of my new home. It’s very much a work-in-progress, but you can get the general idea. I’m entering into an exciting new phase of my life, with new challenges and the opportunity to apply the skills and lessons I’ve learned in my lifetime, especially over the last three years. First the name: I really wanted to have the word “abundance” in … Read More »

Posted in Featured, Living and Learning 18 Comments