Sun Salutation - Saluto al Sole

© Agócs Írisz

I started taking real Yoga classes in September. I've done Yoga before but in a gym or in situations that we full of loads of people in a relatively public place and without much guidance or investment from the teacher. This time it's different because the classes are held in a private home and in very small numbers, with a huge concentration on meditation, breathing and the mind-body connection. I'm definately enjoying it more than I had done in the past and have even decided to start practicing on my own at home with a daily sun-salutation before I sit for my regular meditation. I go through the asana one by one, trying to focus on my breathing and imagine a rising sun. It's physically and mentally challenging and my mind tends to wander. I have also managed to smash my chin onthe floor more than once easing my way into the Eight Point Pose and have stepped on my hair numerous times while getting into the Warrior pose from Mountain.

I must remember either to tie my hair back or call my hairdresser for a trim! -one of the many thoughts that passes through my mind while I'm going through the sequence.

Now, while learning the sun-salutation I need some inspiration and I came across these posters by Irisz Agócs. How adorable are they?!? I love love love that the character depicted is a little chubby and that she has moments with her eyes open and closed. She is imperfect and still learning! Aren't we all?

I think I'm going to order them for my office/yogazone/guestroom in the new house. You can order your own copy here.

-

Ho cominciato a prendere sul serio lezioni di yoga nel mese di settembre. Li ho fatti nel passato, ma sempre in una palestra o in situazioni pieno di gente in posti relativamente pubblici e senza troppa guida o investimento da parte dell'insegnante. Questa volta è diverso perché le lezioni si svolgono in una casa privata e con pochi altri allevi, con un grande concentrazione sulla meditazione, la respirazione e la connessione mente-corpo. Sto godendo di più di quanto avessi fatto in passato e ho deciso di iniziare a praticare anche da sola a casa quotidianamente. Faccio il saluto al sole prima che mi siedo per la mia meditazione regolare. Vado attraverso quelle asana uno per uno, cercando di concentrarmi sul mio respiro e immaginare un sole crescente. E ' fisicamente e mentalmente impegnativo e la mia mente tende a vagare. Sono anche riuscito a urtare il mio mento sul pavmento più di una volta mentre assumo la posizione in otto punti. Poi ho calpestato i miei capelli numerose volte durante il recupero nella Guerriero posa dalla Montagna.

Devo ricordarmi di legare i capelli indietro o chiamare il mio parrucchiere per un taglio! - uno dei tanti pensieri che attraversa la mia mente mentre sto praticando la sequenza .

Ora , mentre sto imparando il saluto al sole ho bisogno di qualche ispirazione e ho trovato per caso questi poster da Irisz Agócs. Quanto sono adorabile!? ! ?Amo, amo, amo, che il personaggio raffigurato è un po ' cicciona e che ha momenti con gli occhi aperti e chiusi. Lei è imperfetta e ancora imparando! Non siamo tutti?

Penso che li compro per il mio ufficio / yogazone / camera dei ospiti nella nuova casa . Puoi ordinare la tua copia qui.

© Agócs Írisz

♥ Jess

---

Liking buonaserababy?  I'd love to hear from you! Now you can follow in so many ways!

twitter ♥ bloglovin' ♥ pinterest ♥ facebook ♥ google ♥ email ♥ instagram

Summing Up Sunday: 2014 - Week 5

At 2am last nigh we were woken up by a little scream and a shout and upon entering Sera's room found that hse had been sick all over her covers, toys and pyjamas.  She's unwell again unfortunately and we're back in infirmary mode.  It was 3am by the time she was cleaned up and medicated, had her shower to freshen up and got on her new pyjamas... she's a really little trooper when she's sick and is calm and patient and says the cutest things in the world. I hope she gets well soon.

Monday was Sera's actual 3rd birthday so before school we head off to the supermarket where they have a photobooth (the ones for id photos) and we took our monthly photo- Every month on the 27th, ever since Sera was born, we take a photo of the three of us in one of those booths. It's a wonderful collection and record of how we change month to month and a way for us to get a goofy picture of our family on a regular basis.  This is our one super-established family tradition.  I'll try to get around to showing them to you one day!

The rest of the week was really all about working on Hick.  I have a new strategy. Instead of making lists and then ticking things off them I just DO THE WORK and then write down what I've gotten done in a sitting.  It's so much more productive because I'm not wasting time making lists and feeling bad when I don't accomplish things. Instead I have a nice long list of accomlishments at the end of the day and can feel proud of what I did manage to do.  It's also a huge motivator for the next day. I even worked on Saturday this week!

I have so few photos this week because my phone is still busted but I'm hoping to get a new one with a shiny new camera this week so I'll do better next week!

I've entered a competition to win a huge collection of 20 Washi Tapes. You an also join by heading over to Anabella's blog MyWashiTape and entering the competition. Fingers crossed!

-

Alle 02:00 di stanotte siamo stati svegliati da un piccolo urlo e un grido ed entrando nella stanza di Sera ha rilevato che era stato male sul tutte le copertine, giocattoli e pigiami . Purtroppo siamo di nuovo in modalità infermeria. Erano le 03:00 quando è stato ripulito e medicato.  Lei è davvero un piccola soldato quando sia amalata. Calma e paziente e dice le cose più simpatico del mondo . Spero che si guarisce ben presto .

Lunedi è stato il terzo compleanno della Sera, così,, prima della scuola, ci dirigiamo al supermercato dove hanno un photobooth ( quelli per foto id ) e abbiamo preso il nostro foto di mese- Ogni mese , il 27 , da quando Sera è nato , prendiamo una foto di noi tre i in una di quelle cabine. E ' una collezione meravigliosa e una registrazione di quanto cambiamo mese in mese. E' un modo di ottenere un ritrato buffo della nostra famiglia regolarmente . Questa è la nostra una tradizione super- famiglia . Io te li mostro un giorno!

Il resto della settimana era davvero tutto di lavorare su Hick . Ho una nuova strategia . Invece di fare le liste e poi cancellarli quando completi,  adesso devo solo fare il lavoro e poi scrivo quello che ho completato . E 'molto più produttivo, perché non sto sprecando tempo faccendo delle liste e non devo sentirmi male quando non realizzo le cose . Invece ho un bel lungo elenco di accomlishments alla fine della giornata e posso sentire orgoglioso di quello che sono riuscita a fare. E 'anche un grande motivatore per il giorno successivo . Ho anche lavorato su Sabato questa settimana !

Ho così poche foto questa settimana perché il mio telefono è ancora rotto ma spero di ottenere una nuova questa settimana così farò meglio la prossima settimana!

Ho inserito un concorso per vincere una vasta collezione di 20 Tapes Washi . È un unirvi anche per dirigersi verso MyWashiTape blog di Anabella e partecipare al concorso . Incrociamo le dita !

• Mandarini at friends - Mandarini con amici
• Rainy Day - Pioggia
• Sera's 3rd Birthday - Terzo compleanno

---

Liking buonaserababy?  I'd love to hear from you! Now you can follow in so many ways!

twitter ♥ bloglovin' ♥ pinterest ♥ facebook ♥ google ♥ email ♥ instagram

Chestnut Gluten Dairy Free Pancakes

Ever since I started the AIP/Paleo diet I've been at a loss for what to eat for breakfast. I've had a load of smoked salmon and roasted vegetables in the past four months. Luckily I've recently been successful with reintroducing both eggs and nuts to my diet (which are restricted on the AIP) and the world of pancakes has reopened to me due to nut-flours available on the market.

These pancakes are a cinch to mix up and are really naturally delicious. They have no added sugar and are completely dairy free as well!  Protein never tasted so bready!  I served mine with pomegranate-raspberry jam (cause I'm pomegranate obsessed!)

♦

Da quando ho iniziato la dieta Paleo/AIP ho problemi decidere cosa mangiare a colazione. Ho mangiato tanto salmone affumicato e verdure arrosto negli ultimi quattro mesi. Per fortuna ho avuto successo con la reintroduzione sia delle uova che i noci (che sono limitate sul AIP) e il mondo di pancakes è tornato sul piatto.

Queste pancake sono semplicissimo e sono davvero deliziosi, naturalmente. Non hanno zuccheri aggiunti e sono completamente privo di latticini.  Ho accompagnato i pancackes con la marmellata di melograno e lamponi (perchè sono ossesionata di melograno!)

♦

Ingredients........................................................ 2 eggs 2 tablespoons of almond flour 2 tablespoons of grated coconut 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 cup almond milk 1 cup chestnut flour pinch of salt coconut oil

...............................................................Ingredienti   2 uova 2 cucchiai di farina di mandorle 2 cucchiai di cocco grattugiato 1 cucchiaino di bicarbonato di sodio 1 tazza di latte di mandorla   Farina di castagne 1 tazza pizzico di sale olio di cocco

♦

Preparation.................................................
Beat together the eggs and almond milk. In a seperate bowl mix together the dry ingredients.  Carefully mix the dry ingredients into the egg mixture being careful to avoid lumps. Heat up a large frypan and grease slightly with coconut oil. Spoon the mixture into the pan forming small pancakes. Flip as soon as small holes appear on the surface of the pancake in 40 or so seconds. Serve with your favorite jam, maple syrup, honey or fruit.... or make them into fun little bears with bananas and raisins!  Delicious!  Makes roughly 22 small pancakes.

Come si fa?.......................................................
Sbattete insieme le uova e il latte di mandorla. In una ciotola separata mescolare gli ingredienti secchi. Mescolare accuratamente gli ingredienti secchi nella miscela dell'uovo facendo attenzione ad evitare grumi. Riscaldare una padella grande sciogliere un noce di olio di cocco. Con l'aiuto di un cucchiao versare il composto nella teglia formando piccole pancake. Capovolgere ogni pancake appena piccoli fori appaiono sulla superficie, dopo circa 40 secondi. Servire con il tuo marmellata preferita, sciroppo d'acero, miele o la frutta .... o trasformarli in simpatici orsi con banane e uvette! Delizioso! Rende circa 22 piccole frittelle.

♥ Jess

♦

Liking buonaserababy?  I'd love to hear from you! Now you can follow in so many ways!
Se ti piace buonaserababy seguimi o lasciami un commento!

twitter ♥ bloglovin' ♥ pinterest ♥ facebook ♥ google ♥ email ♥ instagram

Paleo-AIP progress, four months on

Bacon wrapped apricots with sage

Back in September I started a pretty restrictive Paleo-AIP diet in the hopes to find some relief from several autoimmune diseases I suffer from. That meant I could no longer eat any grains (gluten or gluten-free), dairy, legumes, nightshades (tomato, potato, eggplant and peppers), eggs, seeds or nuts. In theory I should have also excluded alcohol, chocolate and coffee, but never did. (I'm a bit of a coffee drinking chocolate indulged wino it seems)

The main concern I heard from friends and family was that I would lose too much weight on the new diet. I'm thin as it is and have, when I've been unwell, come to look quite sickly when I lose a kilo or two.  They were worried that by excluding carbohydrates from my diet (something that happens quite naturally when you remove grain) that I wouldn't have any energy and would not maintain any fats.  I do have to admit that I have lost a few kilos since starting the diet, but my energy levels are an all-time high (just have a look at my other posts!) and even though I weigh a bit less I'm not looking sickly because of it. It's as if my body has found its ideal state.  I am also careful to make sure I'm eating enough healthy fruit and vegetables so I can maintain some kind of carbohydrate intake as well as fibre.

SCD & Paleo Vanilla Granola

Four months on and I'm still very very happy with the changes I've seen in my health.  I have more energy and less pain and swelling. I'm sticking to it!

I did fall off the waggon a few times, only to be reminded by my body, quite aggressively, that this diet is the best thing for me right now.

At Halloween I ate a load of Sera's candies and ended up with the worst pre-period acne I've had in years. That month the amount of refined, processed sugar I had consumed really messed with my hormone levels and triggered a big PCOS flare up. No more candies for me!

Then a few weeks back I made a spinach sformatino (eggs in the oven essentially) and ended up with terrible terrible stomach cramps from the cheese I added. Since I had experimented with hard cheeses and didn't have adverse reactions I decided to try out softer cheeses and it was a fail.

BLT Zucchini 'Pasta'

I'm still playing around with figuring out what I can and can't eat without getting sick.  This morning I had yogurt and haven't felt unwell but will have to wait to see if it triggers inflammation in my joints in the next few days.  It's a super-interesting process and I'm pleased to say I've reintroduced eggs and nuts without much trouble.

I've been cooking loads as well and would love to direct you to some of the best recipes I've been using over the past 4 months and some I've just discovered!

-Cauliflower Fried Rice from Mickey Prescott's cookbook Autoimmune-Paleo
I eat this at least 5 times a week. I like this version because of the turmeric and ginger but you can search for other versions on line. There are loads of options!

-SCD & Paleo Vanilla Granola from Danielle Against All Grain
I've only just recently whipped up my first batch of this stuff but breakfast tomorrow is going to be heavenly! Yum!

-Taco Lettuce Boats

-BLT Zucchini pasta from Ali at Inspiralized
This stuff is heaven sent and really sticks to your insides... I just leave out the tomato!

-Bacon wrapped apricots with sage

These are lovely appetisers for a party! You can do the same thing with prunes or perhaps figs wrapped with prosciutto!

-Lebanese Kebabs from A Clean Plate

Yum yummy Yum!

Since starting this foodventure I've been lucky to find how many foods I enjoy that I'd never even tasted in the past!  I can't believe I went 34 years without discovering pomegranate! I'm now in love with the fruit and eating it 3 times a week (while it's in season). 

I have a lot to be thankful to this diet for. If you're reading this and you also suffer from any sort of an autoimmune disease I suggest you run out right now and try it!  Oh, and get well soon!

♥ Jess

---

Liking buonaserababy?  I'd love to hear from you! Now you can follow in so many ways!

twitter ♥ bloglovin' ♥ pinterest ♥ facebook ♥ google ♥ email ♥ instagram

Summing Up Sunday: 2014 - Week 2

Monday was Befana and therefore another holiday here in Italy. Fabri had the day off so we did some family stuff like going to storytime at Viridea. I took advantage of the christmas stuff being on sale and picked up a whole load of new crafts materials.

The rest of the week we've been trying to get back on schedule. Sera went back to school and I'm glad to say isn't crying when I leave her.  I've been trying to get the house back in order and get back to a million projects I have in my to-do list as always.

We had a date night on Thursday and went to go see Cirque Eloize...It was amazing! Check it out if you get a chance.

Went to the eye doctor on Saturday and checked that my eyes aren't getting into trouble because of the Plaquenil. I hate pharmaceuticals specifically for the side effects. How can something that's supposed to make me feel better also be so potentially damaging for my eyesight? Luckily, so far so good and I don't have any problems. Let's hope that keeps up!

Running around to car dealerships again. I have something similar to prosopagnosia (disorder that impares the recognition of faces) when it comes to cars. I can only normally recall the colour and manufacturer of a car as soon as it's out of my line of vision. If you spin me around and then show me three cars the same colour I wouldn't be ale to tell you which was which. It even happens with my own car. It's really embarassing. I normaly have to memorize licence plates to recognise a car, so car hunting isn't really my thing. I do like new car smell though!

Saw friends on the weekend and went to a great restaurant called Amnesia. It was a kind of bar with loud music and fantastic steaks so I was quite glad to go.  The food was really really good and they had 6 different kinds of salt on the table. I did a bit of chair dancing and was reminded that dancing in a bar that doesn't have a licence for dancing is vietato (forbidden!!).

A few photos from the week:

• storytime with a Maggi on Befana
• spring is blooming in our bathroom
• getting back on track with Hick!
• making paleo granola
• Cirque Eloize 
• making baby tutus
• a new knitting project
• dialated eyes after eye doctor's
• car brochures

---

Liking buonaserababy?  I'd love to hear from you! Now you can follow in so many ways!

twitter ♥ bloglovin' ♥ pinterest ♥ facebook ♥ google ♥ email ♥ instagram

Understanding how to Go with the Flow

Yoga lessons started anew last night with a very satisfying hour and a half with Aldegonda. We tried a lot of new poses and I really enjoyed quite a few of them, especially those that stretched out my pretty compressed, rounded spine. I woke up this morning feeling a lot more bendy and with less upper back pain.

I've been thinking a lot about the nature of the self and soul. In yoga, from what I understand, prana is air, but also the universal energy that flows through everything and can get blocked and stuck in some ways. (I'd love it if you'd correct me if I'm wrong!) Yoga helps to unblock those channels and allow you to experience that energy more fully.

I have also recently read 'Power, Freedom and Grace' by Deepak Chopra and in it he also talks a lot about the energy of the universe. In fact, he goes so far as to claim that we ARE the universe and even more confusingly that our minds and bodies are creations of our soul. He says that as soon as you can get your ego out of the way you will naturally draw positivity towards you, your life's work will flow from you as easily as the water down a river, choosing the easiest path and all your desires will be realised.

I think I need to re-read the book again at a later date to completely understand what I want to take away from it. Surely I want my life's work to have no obstacles in its realisation but when I think that the greatest obstacle to my work is in fact my own personality, it's hard to get my head around. How do. I remove myself (or my current perception of myself) from the work? I do know this particular problem to be true however. I know for a fact that if it weren't for my fear, insecurity and hesitation my short film would have been finished ages ago.

What I did enjoy and I do see about all these ideas is the idea of flow. You cannot let any form of energy flow by holding onto it. It only disturbes he natural predestined path of least resistance. Can you direct energy? Sure, can you harness it? Sure, but you cannot keep it. You need to let it go.

I write this from my bed cause though I'm more bendy this morning my own energy is telling me it's best not to push. Fabri was lovely and took Sera to school so I could feel a bit better and recharge before picking her up after lunch.  I normally get really down about my low days, but today I just feel lucky that I have been so creative in this past week, that I have a wonderful family and that I can enjoy the bit of rest these few hours will give me.  I will be grateful as well when my energy does return and I can continue onto other things I've been wanting to do.

I guess that's what they mean by 'going with the flow'. I smile when I think of how many years I have either been trying to swim upstream or catch the river in a series of inadequate buckets.

Voices Choices

Words have so much power... Especially those well chosen.

I am not one of those calm, centred people who takes the time to choose their words well when in conversation. I try to, but often forget or speak too soon or don't get what I really mean to say across. I'm too quick for my own good. I don't have a window of a few seconds to consider, ponder, choose.  I also believe that when I get into this frenetic mode of non-choosing I end up not listening either. It's really something I should work on.

One of my friends whom I admire very very much is a master at choosing her words. She speaks slowly and clearly and it seems as if every sentence that passes her lips is the best possible option for that moment in time. Sometimes there is even a palpable delay in conversation with her, but then what follows is always pleasant and thought through.  By result she is one of the kindest, most compassionate and wisest women I know. She is also a fantastic listener.

I'm better on paper, obviously due to the time it takes to write and the possibility of editing what I say.  On paper I also don't have to listen to anyone at all and my opinions can hang in the air, unedited and unaltered. Gee, writers can be egotists can't they?  That said, Most of the important relationships I have had have been created or cemented through written correspondence. There's a beauty in having all that time to choose my words.

The past two weeks have been an interesting experience in choosing words in my everyday life.  As a side effect of the flu I had in Canada I have been almost completely without a voice and therefore have been mostly living my life on mute.  Laryngitis is an inflammation of the vocal chords that prevents them from vibrating properly and the only cure is rest. Every time you speak you are prolonging your recovery, so choosing not to speak is the best medical decision.

Sometimes not speaking isn't an option though. right?

"Sera don't jump on the couch!" "Sera finish your peas!" "Sera get upstairs to bed now!" 

Wait a minute! I'm a nag! 

These weeks have taught me that indeed I do nag too much and don't choose my words with my daughter properly but also that I have other options when parenting... I don't have to talk all so much as I do at all! Instead of asking her not to jump on the couch I can simply go over an propose some other activity... Not eating her peas? Well, I can just take them away. It's not really an issue (and how would I feel if someone was nagging me to eat something on my plate anyhow?). Not going upstairs to bed? I can give her my hand and lead her up instead.... All this nagging was hurting more than my vocal chords.

And not being able to talk has also let me choose the things that really ARE important to say. 

"You did a good job." "Thank you." "I love you."

Aren't those the things worth saying every day? Laryngitis or not? Just in case someday I'm not able to say them anymore?

I'm going to take a lesson from this temporary lack of a voice, and from my friend with her slow talk and from my own internal author to be a bit more careful in he future with what I say... Maybe I'll talk less and listen more. And I'll certainly try to say much more of what's important for the people I love to hear.

All this of course, provided my voice ever decides to return!

Winter in Canada

We just got back from our holiday in Canada.


Before we went I had all these wonderful intentions about swimming everyday in my mom's pool, meditating for extended periods and building snowmen in the garden... along with continuing my blog and keeping you all up to date.

Unfortunately, destiny had other plans for me this trip and despite my fantastic form leading up to the trip, Sera and I promptly caught the flu on day three of being in Montreal. We were still ok for the first day and a half at Mont Tremblant where we took advantage of an indoor swimming pool and I had a soak in the outdoor hot tub.

Of course, soaking in a hot tub in -4°c isn't the best thing for the flu (which I still didn't know I had yet) and it then promptly turned into pneumonia.  105°f fever and chills along with a crazy cough and running nose. Aches and pains... you name it! Lucky me!  Spent a fortune at a walk-in clinic in Toronto only to be told I was super-contagious and needed anti-biotics. The doctor also said that if it was 105 the thermometer was broken... well, that's a relief!  We fled Toronto the next day for fear of getting my little nephews sick, that would be the worst! Spent more time driving there and back than actually in Ontario, but I guess even 20 minutes with family is better than nothing.

The rest of the trip in Montreal was a marathon of chicken soup, onesies pyjamas and Sherlock on Netflicks. I can't say it was all bad, cause aside from the cough and laryngitis when else would I get to spend 5 days in pyjamas straight while someone else plays with Sera and keeps her entertained?

We're back home now and preparing for our next trip.  Heading off to Puglia on Saturday to spend time with the Italian family. I hope that at least this time I'll be on my feet and be able to enjoy things a little bit.

Getting healthy is a priority and as soon as I do I promise I'll be back at blogging regularly!

Highlights from the trip:

• playing in the snow
• the hottub, despite its consequences
• spending time with grandma
• watching my nephew Max teach Sera how to make tea
• impromptu dinner at my best friends' house
• Tommy Hilfiger outlet shopping
• Seeing Frozen in English in theatres
• Watching Sera eat sticky maple syrup on snow

THEWONDERFUL Ali : Amazing Spiralized Meals

It's Not Pasta!

Ever since starting an AIP-Paleo diet I've had to be more creative about my menu planning. With the lack of grains, legumes and starchy carbohydrates like potatoes to lean on I've had more than my fair share of eating salads and grilled chicken breast. While delicious at times, 5 nights in a row can only lead you to boredom.

Just as I was about to start pulling out my hair from missing pasta Ali and her fabulous blog Inspiralized came to my rescue!  Her blog is packed to the brim with dish after dish of gorgeous looking and absolutely delicious recipes which are either already Paleo-AIP or with teeny tiny modifications can be!

The concept is easy... spiralize vegetables and use them in place of pasta in your recipes.  What's spiralizing? Ali can tell you. How can you do it? Ali can tell you. What's for dinner? Ali can tell you!!

I haven't bought my own spiralizer, but I am using a food processor with a julienne function and it's working out great! I had Ali's BLT Zucchini pasta for lunch without the tomato and it was just gorgeous!

Ali herself is also an inspiration to me as a blogger. She quit her job in June to follow her dream of being a food blogger and in these few short months she's taken both the blogging and food world by storm!  Everyday there are fantastic new posts on her blog and her photography is wonderful (and self-taught!) Her e-cookbook is being released this month and will surely be on my holiday gift-list!  She's a real wonder-woman!

Head on over to her blog or more recipes, inspiration, and inspiralization!
Buon Apetit!