Motivational Monday || #HappyTummy with Activia Fibre

 Aloha Sprinklerinos,

Golly, I've know I've said it already but I can’t quite believe that 2015 has crept up on us so quickly and here we all are - getting ready to implement this year’s resolutions in hope to beat the January blues. I hope Christmas was wonderful to you – I’d love to hear all about your festive time in the comments :-)

Today’s usual Motivational Monday is coming at you with not one, but TWO posts. And this one is going to have a slightly different twist – whilst most of us will feel full on happiness during Christmas, it’s a slippery slope to maintaining a positive mind and body in the next few winter months for us ladies.

There are heaps of contributing factors – be it the colder weather, going back to work etc. but for me, a big part of that is down to the amount of rubbishy food we consume over the Christmas period. It’s just part of the package isn’t it? And I do think it’s something we should be able to enjoy, but that doesn’t mean that when January rolls around we’re not feeling lethargic and demotivated. Not to mention that horrible rubbishy tummy feeling. Damn you sweeties and stuffing.

It’s a tricky business. When you’re not feeling good on the inside, you simply don’t feel like making the most of all the wonderful little moments in everyday life. It’s hard to get the juices flowing, you know?

So when Activia got in touch to tell me about their new Happy Tummies Movement, I let out a squeal of joy because well, the name is brilliant.

Titles aside, let me give you the lowdown…Activia recognise all of the above, that January makes us all quiver with fear and generally feel a bit rubbish. So instead of us wishing it away they want to help us all feel a little bit brighter – by helping you make the most out of those little moments with their new Activia Fibre that can help your digestive well being* - A plain yogurt and a cereal topping with wheat bran fibre.

2014 was one of the busiest, craziest, most wonderful years of my life – and it took up heaps of energy. I couldn’t simply run on empty, I had to have things in place to keep me moving, keep me motivated. And trying my upmost to be healthy and happy with it (shout out to #GlitterGetsFitter), was one of those things – and of course what’s mine glitter bugs, is yours – so here are some handy tips on how you can achieve a #HappyTummy, too:

1. Less isn’t more. Eating a yoghurt or apple for breakfast, lunch and dinner doesn’t qualify as a balanced diet or a full meal. Introduce lots of healthy foods in to your daily routine – it’s important to keep that tummy full. Being healthy isn’t eating less, it’s changing the way you see food.

2. Drink your daily allowance of water. It’s bloomin’ difficult, but I find carrying round a litre bottle of water means I’ll always finish it, and then anything else is just a bonus!

3. SLEEP. It’s so important to allow yourself downtime.

4. Don’t set yourself unachievable targets. For example, ‘I want to lose 10 pounds’ is really quite specific. Instead maybe go for something like ‘this week I’ll try and walk to work 3 times and bring a healthy lunch each day’. Way less scary.

Following those 4 simple steps not only left me feeling great, but it's also aided towards one of the best years of my life. It just goes to show how much more you can achieve when you have a #HappyTummy – no pun intended :-)

Self-motivation can be hard though, so the good eggs at Activia have set up some super lovely treats for us to keep keeping on – Daily giveaways in-store and on their Facebook page will be running to win a ‘Happy Tummy hamper’ which will have lots of products that contribute to our general wellbeing. Once a week they’ll also be offering a luxury retreat to encourage you to get up and at ‘em in January! Which sounds like absolute bliss, if you ask me.

So Sprinklerinos, join the #HappyTummy movement this January! Share your stories via Twitter and Facebook using the hashtag and show how having a #HappyTummy can help you get so much more out of your day.

Toodlepip!
xx

*Activia Fibre contains wheat bran fibre that contributes to an acceleration of intestinal transit.
The claimed effect is obtained with a daily intake of at least 10g of wheat bran fibre.
Enjoy as part of a healthy balanced diet and lifestyle

**This blog post has been sponsored by Activia, as always opinions are my own

Motivational Monday || Adventure

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

Merry Monday to you. A new week, a new month, a new year- a triple whammy today. Much excite!

(Source)

Today had no choice other than to be about new starts. 

I am always optimistic at the start of the year. I feel like the air changes and there is a very tangible sense of change for the better. People cast away the sorrows or hardships of the past 12 months and try again. For me, it's a little bit magical. 

I spoke last week about all of my resolutions and how excited I am but I would like this week for you to take a moment to think about what you want out of this year. You don't need to write it down or share it with anyone, just take a couple of minutes out of your day to focus on exactly what you want. 

Is it to spend more quality time with people? Gain qualifications? Save up? Travel somewhere? Add to your family? Whatever it is, think about it, visualise and commit to yourself that you are going to work towards it. If you want it hard enough, you'll find a way to make it happen.

I have great faith it in you and so do all your Sprinklerino family. If you'd like to share, feel free in the comments. Also, don't forget to support each other in the comments too. It can really make all the difference to someone's day. 

Previous Motivational Monday - Fight or Flight. 

Toodlepip!

xx

Good Morning 2015, Let's Be Friends

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

It is a new year and a new start. A fresh leaf, a blank slate. I am excited about this.

Every year I make and break resolutions and this year I suspect will be no different.

This year I have made a LOT of resolutions. Partly because I need to but mostly because I'm excited and motivated. I think that's a good thing.

Louise's 2015 Resolutions

The Littles

No more fizzy drinks. Last year I cut them out for about 6 weeks and really felt better for it. I drank so much water and felt a big difference in my skin and eye brightness.

More exercise. A classic. I'm not specifically aiming to drop pounds (although I'd be pleased if I did loose a few), but I would like to tone and increase general fitness levels. #GlitterGetsFitter woo yeah!

Tan more often. Very vain I know but when I tan (I never use sunbeds, only false at home from a bottle stuff), I feel much more confident. It's the little things!

Be braver without makeup. I would like to worry less about little things like eyeliner and bronzer and embrace my natural beauty, instead opting for fun lipstick colours and a lick of mascara.

Declutter my life. I love staying in hotels because they are mess free and I only have what I use and use what I have. I feel so much more productive in a hotel. I'm going to make my home like this!

Schedule better. I am a self proclaimed free spirit and as such tend to float through a day ticking things off a never ending list. This year I'd like to be a bit stricter with myself and use time and resources more efficiently.

Try new things. As you know, I'm not one for change so I won't be going totally wild but I want to give little things a go. Things like pencil skirts, facebook video, exercise classes and full floral crowns.

The Biggies

Give more. I am very passionate about sharing and giving and this year I plan to launch #GlitterGives (thank you to everyone in the comments of THIS video who suggested that hashtag, I like it). Each month I want to do a different giving project, talk about it on Sprinkle of Glitter and hopefully encourage some of you to try the same. Now that Darcy is aware of more things, I am keen to teach her to grow with a giving heart and for her to know how lucky we are and how much we can do for others. I also know that with such a large Sprinklerino community working together, a lot of good can be done.

Take opportunities. As Oprah once said, 'Every outing is an opportunity'. I will spend 2015 with my eyes and heart open for opportunities to give (as above), work or experience new things. I find that when you are aware of hoping for new opportunities, lots come your way!

Love on people. Hopefully by scheduling my life better I will have more time to spend with the people who matter most to me. I have a family holiday booked in March (which the Bitsandclip clan are joining us for- yay yay yay!) and would like to put more minibreaks and friend visits in my calendar. I'll be sure to vlog some or insta the others!!

Reach my creative potential - even if there is a financial cost. Quite often I have a big idea for a video and then because I am technologically limited, I don't carry it through. In 2014 I met so many skilled people that I think if I wanted to try something big, I could enlist their help (and pay them of course) to assist in making something really exciting. I am by no means saying I could make a short film or animation, but I think I would occasionally like to push myself more than what I do now. I'm excited for the challenge!

And there we have it. A big ol' list of things I'm aiming for this year. I am all too aware that not all of these will happen or that some will only happen to a degree but I'm a believer in lists and so to have that written down is a huge motivator for me. 

I am so excited to start this year with so much positivity I could burst! If you have a blog, insta, facebook or other (there are too many social media platforms to keep up with these days!), feel free to use this picture and list your own resolutions. Please do link back here if you do use it- thank you!

Toodlepip!

xx