Hayfever

The hayfever season is looming and I for one aim to reduce its negative influence on my life.  Last year I did quite well.  I have just spring cleaned the bedroom. 

Stripping the bed and hoovering the whole lot:

• Ceiling
• Walls
• Bed Base
• Mattress
• Tops of wardrobes
• Behind Chests of drawers

I damp dusted everything:

• Pictures
• Inside Draws & Wardrobes

I emptied everythin out:

• Drawers
• Wardrobes
• Under the bed

I washed the bedding and curtains.  I treated myself and my DH, (see FlyLady under my favourite websites), to a new duvet and pillows.

I cleaned the windows, doors and radiators.

I cleared clutter from everywhere in the room.  I feel better for it. I feel lighter.  I feel energised.

I sprayed a mix of Tea Tree oil and water over the bed, bedding, mattress and curtains.  Dust mites don't like Tea Tree oil.

Some people with sever hayfever, rhynitis and asthma do this sort of thing more often.  I tend to just do the full monty once every spring.

It has taken quite some time to do it all, but I broke it down into manageable chunks.  15 minutes here and 15 minutes there, the FlyLady way.

The other major thing I do to thwart hayfever, is to drink copeous amounts of water.  At least 8 glasses (2ltrs/4pints), per day.  I use tap water, sometimes filtered.  I drink it at room temperature, as I believe this is most suitable for the stomach to handle.  If it is hot or cold then the stomach has to hold on to it until it is the right temperature to pass to the rest of the body.  Hot or cold adds stress to the body and can adversly affect the immune system, therefore agrivating hayfever and other symptoms.

So folks.  Have a good summer.

Clearing My Clutter 14

Today I lightened my load. I answered a wanted add on FreeCycle and the young lady came to pick up my lawn scarifier, which I have not used for about 6 years. She got more than she bargained for, as I took the opportunity to off-load more Clutter. She was happy to also take a TV stand, CD player and a few other bits. She would have take the plastic garden chairs, but she ran out of room in her car. I hope my Clutter becomes treasure. That's a bit more room in my garage. Maybe I will have my car in it by this winter.

I have signed up to FlyLady e-mails and I find there are lots of great ideas to help clear my Clutter. One particular message struck home. FLYLADY: Are You Having Anxiety Attacks Getting Rid of Clutter?

My Tip of Hope here is - Go to: http://www.flylady.net/ and see for yourself. It has helped me to just give clutter away. The clutter is doing me no good and the time and effort waisted in trying to sell is just not worth it. It is still a slow process for me, but I'm getting there.

Hayfever - Apple Cider Vinegar

Yes my fellow hayfeverers. The time has come for handkerchiefs and Vaseline, snuffling and sneezing. The time has come for puffy eyes and runny noses. The time has come for hiding from the sun and being miserable. Summer is upon us. Whoopee! Yes we wish we could enjoy it like normal mortals, but we are super mortals and hide behind our disguises.

There is some relief to be found and some do find it. I have a little tip to ease those itching eyes, but it is only temporary, but a relief still. Dab a little Apple Cider Vinegar onto a folded tissue and wipe around closed eyes. It is most cooling and I believe the acid effect helps to reduce mucus for a little while. It can sting a little if you have already allowed yourself the pleasure of a good rub and made the surrounding skin raw, but hey, that's life.

Moon Time Fasting

Full Moon today. I should have eaten a light diet today, but we lunched out at 'The Admiral Rodney' on sandwiches & coffee. Tomorrow I will be working until lunchtime and l intend to do a light diet then, as Christmas day will be full of indulgences. At new moon and full moon times, it is good to do some kind of fasting. If you are not accustomed to this, then perhaps just eat lightly. I will be eating fruit and drinking plenty of water, and having homemade chicken soup for dinner.

After a full moon and during the waning phase the cells are able to release toxins and other unwanted materials, which the body no longer requires. It is also a good time to give up old unwanted habits, while the moon's influence is waning and you gain a stronger will power.

After a new moon and during the waxing phase the cells are more able to take in and store nutrients and take on new thought patterns, so this would be a good time to start new habits, like new life style routines.

Happy Christmas

Cold Sores and Shingles

Today I noticed, what might be the start of a cold sore. I have only recently started to suffer with these. I always keep a pot of L-Lysine handy, so I began a course this morning, along with increasing vitamin C (2 - 3 MG per day and more if I thing a cold is coming on). L-Lysine is an amino acid, which is used to kill off the zoster virus in cold sores and shingles. Stress is a causative factor, as the virus takes a hold when the body is below par, which is why cold sores develop when you also have a cold. I regularly take multi-vitamins and echinacea to improve my immune system and support my liver in the cleansing process. I cut down on the sugars in my diet and drink lots of water (at least 8 full glasses per day - 2 litres).

Clearing My Clutter 2

Two weeks in to Clearing My Clutter and I'm still going strong, despite the time of the month arriving and the coming of a full moon. In the run up to either of these I usually get very tired and lose the energy and inclination to do anything. It is a time when I seem so accumulate more clutter and in a sense I have, because I have been ordering books from Amazon as if they are about to go out of business, (which of course they are not!). Then again it is also the run up to Christmas and I have been preparing; by buying presents and fun games to keep everyone amused around the Christmas dinner table.

One very good table/party game is called 'Nose Aerobics', you'll have to try it, but I have just bought the last one from http://www.amazon.co.uk/ : Not sure when they will have them in again, so if you're interested try www.hawkinsbazaar.com, where I have just ordered more sets. The story goes: Christmas 2006 around the dinner table we had all had our fill of Christmas fayre and where resting before diving in to Christmas pud etc... I got out the 'house' present. As I donned the special glasses everyone looked puzzled. They are "very silly, but there's nothing wrong with that! The special glasses have 13cm protruding stem to which the other components can be attached to play all sorts of ridiculous games and activities using only movements of the head. Nose Hoola-Hoop and Basketball requires skill and practice, the Ball Bearing puzzle patience and subtlety whilst vigorous head shaking is usually sufficient to operate the Clackers. At least one set should be purchased for any gathering of young or mixed ages; everyone can join in, have a go and look completely ridiculous". (passage taken from Hawkin's Bazaar). It was Absolutely Hilarious! Everyone was crying with laughter. I intend to take a set on a night out with friends next week so watch this space.

Back to Clearing My Clutter. At week-ends I normally have a nap in the afternoon. However, over this last two weeks I have been clearing my clutter and other exciting things, which I won't go into as I may get distracted again and the point of clearing my clutter is to become more focused. I often run headlong into new projects (typically Arian), and later when I get the gist of it, I loose interest. This is a project I will continue for the rest of my life. I am also ensuring I use positive affirmations while writing my blog and in all other aspects of my life, but that's another distraction for another day.

Last week-end I went around my house opening all the windows and doors. I also opened all cupboards and drawers. After opening the last drawer I left them all open for half an hour. I felt this was a good way to freshen up the place and assist with my clutter clearing. It invigorated me and helped me to see into all the spaces in my home. I was able to decide on the next course of action; which was desk clearing. Alhough there are still things on my home desk, at least I can now see my desk!

This last couple of weeks I have cleared out a few drawers and whisked the clutter off to charity shops and recycle centres. I have parted with a few gifts that I felt guilty for not wanting, even though I liked them and appreciated receiving them. I have sold some unwanted books on Amazon, which will help make up for books I have bought!

I have made a start on updating my address book in preparation for printing labels for our Christmas cards, and will be fetching the cards we bought a few weeks ago from the loft, as well as some left over from last year. 'Waste not, want not'. So long as the energy keeps flowing.

I have become aware of the 'clutter' places around my home and which parts of my life they are affecting. My garage is a biggy and so is the loft. I will be tackling these a stage at a time, so I don't get overwhelmed, which is something I used to do quite often. Each time I find myself thinking of too many things at once and start to make a mental 'to do' list; I check myself and either write my 'to do's' down or put the ideas on the back burner and if they are really important I know they will surface again, or I decide they were not attainable and ditch them altogether. I'm learning how to say no to my mental clutter.

I have made a firm date with my brother to take him some of my clutter, which he will find useful. 'One man's rubbish is another man's treasure'. I now ask my Angels to help me, also take my old fridge to my brother next Saturday.

Today I will once again venture into the murky depths of my garage and salvage some 'InnerTalk' CD's. InnerTalk are a collection of positive affirmation CD's, which can be played while you do other things. I will write more on these in another posting, as I am also intending to sell them on Amazon. I have a set for my own use and no longer need the rest.

That's enough jobs for now. I will post more developments another time. Breakfast calls.

Clearing My Clutter

I have just discovered this brilliant little book: 'Clear Your Clutter' by Karen Kingston and I fully recommend it to anyone who finds themselves running round in circles and never quite getting all that they want out of life. I find it difficult to completely relax in my wakeful hours, so I am always very busy or asleep. This is part due to my clutter, and by this I mean physically - around my home, garden and garage; in my unattended commitments to family, friends, colleagues, neighbours and other associates; unfinished projects, courses and professional business. Then there are all the new ideas that pour into my head, which I am unable to act upon because of my clutter. In the past I have been a starter and not a completer. Well! Now I am a completer thanks to 'Clear Your Clutter'. I have only had the book a week and have offloaded one car-full of clutter and have the car full again; waiting to go to the local charity shop.




I am also clearing clutter, which has been lying around my workplace for years, and sapping all my creative energy. I bought the book 'Clear Your Desk' by Declan Treacy, which is recommended by Karen Kingston in her book. This too is a brilliant read and has enabled me to make a start on sorting my desk and office space.




If any of you have read 'The Celestine Prophecy' by James Redfield, then you will know what I mean about coincidences, when I tell you that while clearing my clutter of books I came across my April 2007 issue of 'Natural Health' magazine. On the front cover it advertises one of it's articles on Feng Shui Secrets, so I read it and found it had just the sort of basic ideas I need right now to spur me on further.



I am working towards my job promotion at present and using my new 'Clear My Clutter' skills.

I sent a copy of 'Clear Your Clutter' to my cousin, whom I have recently visited and is an even worse hoarder than me. She phoned me up and excitedly told me how she had cleared two corners of her lounge and found a new owner for an old TV & stand she kept in her bedroom.
SHE HAD ONLY READ UP TO PAGE 20!

I get most of my books from http://www.amazon.co.uk/

I better get back to clearing my clutter. Instead of doing just fun stuff; I can do fun and useful stuff!