The first two books in the Mrs Twinkle Series (for ages 3 to 7 year olds) have just been launched by my mother, Annabelle Wadsworth. “Mrs Twinkle” bridges the gap between picture books and young adult fiction. The imaginative stories follow a star and a boy as they travel throughout the world discovering animals, habitat, our heritage and relationships. Both author and illustrator, Annabelle has also subtly addressed possible solutions for low self esteem through positive reinforcement. Zoom through the air with Mrs Twinkle! www.mrstwinkle.com.au

Monday 25th February at 10.30am come join Annabelle for a reading at Woollahra Library

E-book available from:  
https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/mrs-twinkle-meets-simon-for/id585438988

Books available from:
www.littlesteps.com.au

Whether you are celebrating Valentine's Day this Thursday or trying to ignore it, it is really a reminder to celebrate the greatest love of all - loving yourself. When we give ourselves time each week to do something that we love or we're passionate about, it is a way of giving back to ourselves as well as letting go of the daily stressors and putting the zest and passion back into our lives. Even if it's only for an hour on a weekend, it allows you to let go of your tension and the mundane and gives us a sense of empowerment, bringing the joy and fun back in. Last week I started dancing classes again which I haven't done for 6 years. Of course I was rather clunky and uncoordinated at first but by the end of the class I had the biggest smile on my face and was dancing on air.

The one thing scientifically proven to make 2013 your best year yet? Boost your creativity. As quoted by Red Day Coaching www.reddaycoaching.com researchers sent 56 subjects out on a four day wilderness hiking trip without access to electronic devices or mobile phones. Upon their return, the hikers took tests to measure their creativity. The control group that hadn't been in the bush, scored 4.14 out of 10. The hiking group scored 6.08, a staggering 50% more creativity! The researchers said that this creativity boost was probably due to being in nature as well as taking a break from the stressors of work and technology. Next time you get stuck on a problem or can't concentrate, turn your mobile off and take a walk in nature or get lost in your own creative juices - leaving all technology behind!

Often in our busy, modern world it is easy to forget to incorporate the creative juice into our lives as we are tuned 24/7 into our emails and Facebook, crippling our free time which we need to explore our imagination and let our spirits fly. We've forgotten what it is to ponder and daydream, imagine and create new possibilities but we need to remember that without creativity, there is no life. Fertility is the ultimate act of creativity and whether we are using it for this or not, it is still vital that we express our creative energy in other ways. There are many ways to express creativity such as art, singing, dancing, cooking, writing, woodwork, gardening, photography, graphic art, poetry, sex and sensuality. The other benefit is that it allows you to let go of all your worries and be present with what you love. You can't think about the past or the future while you are in the midst of your creative act.

For women, our creative expression is reflected in our hormones as the function of our hormones is to create life. According to Christiane Northrup reknowned gynaecologist in USA who wrote the book, Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom, hormonal imbalances are often reflected in whether a woman is honouring her own emotional needs and creative expression. So if your creative energy is stifled or you are having period problems, then there may be an area of your life which also feels blocked. Look at where you're not expressing and using your creative energy and power in your life.

Ask yourself the following questions:
- How am I expressing my creativity in my life? What does creativity mean to me?
- What brings me alive? What am I passionate about?
- As a child, what did I love doing that I may have now forgotten?
- What are my emotional needs and do I express these?
- Do I believe that I have the power to change the conditions of my life?
- What am I most grateful for in my life right now?

Creativity is about putting the fun and play back into life. It doesn't have to take loads of time or money to have fun. So let your creative fire ignite by celebrating what you love in your life.

Great for a quick breakfast when you're on the go or as a healthy snack at work. Make a batch of these on the weekend to stock you up for the week ahead. Try different varieties by adding your favourite herbs, pumpkin or sweet potato. Otherwise at least you know you have managed to squeeze a leafy green into your breakfast.

Makes 6 frittatas Prep time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:
1 brown onion, chopped
6 organic eggs
3 Tb milk (or almond/goat milk if allergy)
6 vine-ripened cherry tomatoes, quartered
2 large kale leaves, roughly chopped
1 Tb olive oil for frying
Salt and pepper to taste

Method:
Preheat oven to 175 degrees celsius. Fry onion lightly in olive oil. Blend eggs and milk in a blender until light and fluffy (or whisk by hand if you don't have a blender). Stir in other ingredients, season with salt and pepper and pour mixture into a six-cup muffin pan. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from muffin pan and cool

We all need a sweet treat or a party dessert so here is the perfect solution to keep your health at its prime. It is free of gluten, dairy, soy, peanuts and low in sugar and yet, still tastes amazing! Courtesy of Terri Hanlon of Bodywize gym.

Prep-time: about 10 minutes
Makes: 12 mini cheesecakes or one 8 inch cake

Almond Crust:
- 1 cup almond meal
- 3-4 medjool dates
- pinch of sea salt
- 1 tsp vanilla

Directions:
Place all of the above ingredients into a food processor and pulse till combined. The crust should have a slight sticky consistency. Press the almond crust into the oiled or lined cheesecake pan with your fingers. Set aside as you make your filling.

Chocolate Filling:
- 2 cups cashew nuts
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 3/4 cup raw cacao powder (or cocoa powder)

Directions:
Soak cashew for about 10-15 minutes (optional) then rinse well. Place cashews into blender with maple syrup, vanilla, and water. Blend until creamy. Next add in your cacao powder and coconut oil. Keep blending till creamy. You may have to scrape down the sides a few times. Continue blending till it is smooth. Pour the filling into the cheesecake pan and set in the freezer for a few hours. You can top it with crushed pecans or cashews, slivered almonds and fresh raspberries.

Yummy!

This can be achieved with simple goal setting techniques. We often create goals for our career and work but we forget or think it is unimportant to create goals for our personal lives as well. Setting goals gives you a clear focus for the year ahead. It also sets the intention in your mind and subconscious to find ways of creating this. On a bigger energetic level, it also sends a message to the Universe of what opportunities we want brought to us. Whatever we focus on, we create in life as we direct our energy towards it whether intentionally or not. Let’s use this universal power for manifesting the best in our lives.

Start to look at your goals in all areas of your life:

       1. Personal
       2. Family
       3. Hobbies/sport
       4. Financial
       5. Career
       6. Spiritual

Next is to actually write them down which helps you clarify and crystallize them as a real possibility in your life. Then write a specific time frame next to them that you would like to achieve these in the coming year. It may be easiest to break them up into categories of 3 months, 6 months, 12 months or end of 2013.

Allow your imagination to run wild - you are worthy of it all so have fun with it but be careful that you do indeed want what might well come your way!

Finally keep your list next to your bed and look over it briefly every morning or night, visualize these things coming into your life and what it will be/feel like. Keep the energy and picture alive—don’t just stuff it in a drawer never to be seen again. Make this year rewarding and fruitful for you!

My colleague Sami Ziyeh is running art workshops in 2013 for adults as well as parents and their children to enhance wellbeing, rekindle their creativity and strengthen their relationship. Workshops are facilitated by highly experienced Art Therapist and Cultural Facilitator, Samiramis Ziyeh, who offers a supportive environment to enhance wellbeing with emphasis on the process rather than the end product. Classes start early February at E J Ward Community Centre 189 Underwood St Paddington 2021.


For more information and bookings contact:
Sami 0499 888 024
shami.ramzi@hotmail.com

A banana smoothie with a difference! For a fast track breakfast or a healthy snack my sensational smoothie is packed full of energising nutrients to keep you firing well into the New Year. Bananas provide energy and magnesium which prevents muscle cramps. Healthy Omega 3 oils are found in the avocado, almonds, chia seeds and flaxmeal. Fibre in the almonds, chia seeds and flaxmeal will keep your bowels regular. Cinnamon controls your sugar cravings and increases circulation which keeps your brain alert. Antioxidants to prevent disease and ageing are packed full in the superfood chia seeds and the green leafy spinach. Believe it or not, this actually tastes delicious!

Ingredients:
- 1 ripe banana
- 1/2 medium-sized avocado
- 1 cup of water
- 1/2 cup of almonds
- 1 tsp of chia seeds
- 1/2 tsp of cinnamon
- 1 large leaf of spinach or silverbeet
- 1 Tb of flaxmeal or ground flaxseeds
- If you want more protein, add 1 scoop of a good quality whey protein or 1 cup of milk if you can tolerate dairy.

Cosmopolitan Pregnancy Magazine is in the know about natural beauty. Check out stands for the December issue of Cosmopolitan Pregnancy Magazine that interviews me for my advice on chemical-free beauty and skincare products in both pregnancy and for babies.

15 January Bondi Junction Move

02 9389 3689

I wish you and your families a joyous Christmas season, a happy and healthy New Year and a wonderful summer. Thank you for all your support throughout the year in rekindling my business into the thriving and vital life it is today. In January 2013 I will be moving my Bondi Junction clinic next door to Better Health Clinic which have better facilities so I can provide improved service to all of my clients. There will be full time reception making it easier to book appointments, collect herbal medicines and supplements, make postal orders and Hicaps health fund rebates.  I will be practicing from Better Health on Tuesdays 8am - 6pm and Thursdays 10am - 8pm. I will still be practicing in  the city at The Jocelyn Centre on Wednesdays 2pm - 7.30pm. Better Health Clinic is located next door at 40 Grosvenor St Bondi Junction on 02 9389 3689. I hope you all have a relaxing and joyous holiday season and I look forward to seeing you in 2013.