JulieBhosaleAchive

As we draw near the end of 2016 I cannot help but be in a reflective mood. It has been one of the most challenging years yet, though at the same time highly productive packed full of purpose, learning and growth. There is a lot for me to think about for next year. I am a firm believer in the concept of life by design. That we are in the drivers seat of our lives. Luck is not something that just ‘happens’. You create your own luck. Does that mean taking risks. Yes. Does that mean you are going to fall over. Yes. I am still I am still getting clear on exactly what 2017 will look like for me, for us. I have some time set aside of the next two weeks to create next year. However this post is actually about me making some changes even before next year arrives. A few weeks ago I experienced my first earthquake. You can read this in my previous blog here . Going through this, at a time when I was deep in the throes of work and deadlines, forced me to sharply take stock of just where I was at a...

So a small confession...I have not yet brought any Christmas presents (!!!). It is ok though right, we still have five days...ah four working days. I just have not had much mental energy to plan much past tomorrow let alone Christmas presents. Do not even think about physically going to buy something...how did our parents cope without the world of online shopping??! I know you will all be busy running around at the last minute so keeping it short and sweet with some of my favourite online gift ideas which are really practical (I am ALL about the practical!) from all our brand friends AND some great deals and discounts for you (and yes I am a little biased with some of our most popular products in there too!). 1. The Gift of Health! My amazing designing created these beautiful vouchers which you can give for any amount for ANYTHING off my website! That included events - we have my Sugar and Sleep workshop tickets for next year available and our Starting Solids tour kicking off soon too....

Life BC (Before Children)… Life with children is all our marriage knows – I fell pregnant while undergoing fertility testing about 2 months after we got married, pregnant against huge odds with sever polycystic ovarian syndrome, no period for over two years and was potentially facing three years or more of IVF. I have this vague memory of ourselves in life BC, the two years together before tying the knot, that involved a lot of breakfasts in bed, spontaneous weekends away, late night dinners (we actually used to Google cool new restaurants to go to at 6pm on a Saturday night and be out the door on the same night!!)….hour long showers and hot steamy nights….. I am sure we still fought but the above is all I remember. Life AC (After Children)…. Now we are knee-deep in parenting two young boys while juggling three business and an academic career in there too. Breakfast is coffee gulped down in the morning and if we are super lucky some scrambled eggs made with our four year old helping an...

Ice Ice Baby!! Summer is coming and so is the heat! Keeping little ones hydrated is so important when it is hot. Our current Ministry of Health Guidelines are for children to just have water or milk offered as drinks and if juice is given that this should be watered down. Sadly this is not always the case with 5000 children under the age of eight currently being admitted and going under a full anesthetic to have decaying teeth removed. The ONLY time our boys have ever had juice has been at their birthday party once a year and that is always diluted down with either water or soda. One alternative that both of them love is a cold brew herbal tea (Red Seal do a great range). At our eldest's sons four year old party this year we actually did not even have juice, rather just soda water and some herbal tea for everyone - it worked so well. For something a little fun last weekend, we had a go at making some ice cubes (in animal and heart shapes) from herbal tea and they were such a hit! T...

The worlds of business and academia are harsh and at times, unforgiving. Behind the highlights of corporate attire, trips away and television interviews is the under belly of pushing deadlines, working in the wee hours, having to call people to put off payments, and huge self-doubt. Plus, I am still a mum with all the sleep-less nights, snotty noses, scraped knees, tantrums and a truck-load of mothers guilt thrown in there too. If I said to you that I never felt like giving up – it would be a down right lie. The last couple of weeks have been especially tough. Battling the never-ending juggle of invoices, feeling the fatigue of the year and struggling with some very tight deadlines ahead of me.  I am particularly feeling the pressure with my book. And it is not just the book, it is making the jigsaw pieces fit. I know it seems like you receive a book deal and ride off into the sunset, writing away and a quiet table under the trees with a vino beside you. It is not like that, least not ...

My hubby LOVES cheese cake, it is his go to dessert. Mine is always chocolate cake, however anything with the word ‘cake’ and I am right in there too. We all have our weak spots! After many married years, I was finally successful in developing a healthy, but easy cheesecake with my new Lemon, Ginger and Blueberry Cheesecake – made with the help of the Ginger Stem Nairns Oat Biscuits...fast track from this original post and I have combined both my loves (chocolate and cheesecake)....to create a Mini No-Bake Cheesecake creation from the Chocolate Nairns Oat Biscuits. Below I have analysed both of my cheesecake creations in comparison to two popular premade options from Sara Lee and Crofters. Let us have a little look (all nutrients listed here are per 100g for comparison and you may need to turn your phone sideways to see full table). Energy (Kj) Sugar (g) Carbohydrate(g) Fat (g) Protein (g)  Mini Chocolate Cheesecake  1687  5.8  19  36  4.1 Lemon, Ginger & Blueberry Cheesecake 1529...

  Cheesecake is my husbands all time favourite dessert. I will be honest though, out of all the things to make in the kitchen, cheesecake has not been a strength of mine! When we were first together I had a couple of, not so great attempts, trying to use gelatin and then, well kids came along and cooking for hungry monkeys is hard enough without failed dessert attempts..... However, now I think I have nailed it! Well nailed a simple, healthy version that is with a little help from Nairns Oat Biscuits! I am quietly pretty chuffed with how my creation turned out especially as there is no complicated steps or special ingredients...well blueberries are pretty special actually. Even more so with the amount of nutrients I managed to pack in but keeping flavor at an all time high! This will be a great option for Christmas parties and family gatherings that are all coming around the corner. Nairns Oat Biscuits make for a really healthy alternative for the base of this cheesecake.  I have p...