If you are what you eat, today I am…

Mars Bar slice! I know, it sounds rich and it is. A Mars Bar is a snack on its own, when you add it with more ingredients- like chocolate and butter; you get extra choco-licious. I know Christmas is officially over, but as we have not yet hit the New Year, I am including my junk eating under the single banner of ‘festive season binge’.  Tomorrow I hope to be a spinach and egg white omelet… at least that’s what I aspire to!

On the topic of food, we can’t dismiss the French. No-one can deny that French are the epitome of food. But, I do wonder how they really get away with the ‘French Paradox’. My husband is French and when I see him eating his croissant (which is 99% butter) and then adding butter on top, I wonder how he gets away with it. Technically he has just eaten 120% butter- I can almost hear the arteries screaming from across the table! And I’m not just talking Sunday breakfast, this is a daily occurrence. Maybe I’m just jealous…

They say French obesity is around 10% compared to about 20% in Australia. So maybe we do need to take a leaf out of the ‘Frenchies’ book. In a nutshell the ‘French Paradox’ is:

-          Eat rich food, but smaller portions

-          Only eat 3 times a day- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

-          No snacking

The great thing is that a French meal always consists of a starter, main and desert. So technically you are eating nine meals a day, with breakfast consisting of croissant, butter and coffee to make up the 3 part meal.

There is a famous book called ‘Why French women don’t get fat’ and it’s based on the ‘French Paradox’. I read it many years ago and I can honestly say that I didn’t really take the advice on board, well at least not enough to eat my way slim. Instead, I took a different approach- I ended up married to a French man. Now, I ask myself- has that made me any slimmer? In fact not, but maybe it has made me a little closer to becoming a Frenchwomen…  Well at least the closest I could ever get, seeing as though I am Australian!

In summary, if you love food- start eating like the French. Now, if you can’t cook, dine out- everyone loves a good restaurant, everyone except your budget that is! Or, you could try another approach and go on the search for a French partner… Even if they can’t cook, when they pronounce the food, it will sound French and get you in the right frame of mind! There’s nothing wrong with being a wanna-be-Frenchie!

Now that I have digressed slightly (which is a blog 'no, no')  To tie back into my original statement about ‘you are what you eat’, ask yourself:

What am I today?

It’s a scary thought isn’t it?

One word that can change your life:

No, I’m not talking about love, marriage or babies – I’m talking about the ‘B’ word. Yes, that’s right- BUDGET….

I know it's something that everyone should do, but it just makes me feel a little queasy. It doesn’t make it any easier when your partner comes home with a software package that has computerized envelopes that show you the balance of cash for the month. This is a new world for me, how will I survive?!

So, what do I do? I panic, and of course, I agree. I commit myself 100% to stick to the budget, inside I am freaking out a little- but I convince myself that the long term benefits should out way the short term pain. Well, at least that is what I’m telling myself!

Unfortunately the saying that ‘money makes the world go round’ is actually true. But, is money something that can really make you happy? I would say Yes and No. Money provides freedom and freedom definitely can make you happy. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not all about money and I certainly hope I never become like that. I am simply saying, that whatever you have, regardless of how much- if it is managed well and under control, then this will provide you freedom.

Which brings me to my next point, why do we spend more when we make more? It sounds both logical and illogical at the same time. Ask yourself; were you happy with what you had on your previous salary? If the answer is yes, why do we find ourselves wanting more? Is that really part of human nature or is it just pure greed? Instilled in us by the ways of world? After all, we live in a globalised economy where consumerism is ripe. First we find ourselves wanting a new bag, then the bag turns into a car, then the car turns into a house- all of which we buy because we like the look of, we like the feel, we like the ambiance. Sometimes, just sometimes we buy things that we think will make us fit in, conform, impress others and make us feel good. But, the problem with all of this, is generally NONE of it fits into a bloody budget.

So there, the wheel turns around full circle. We start with a good idea, sometimes even a great one. It begins well and the envelopes stay full, until one day we cannot resist the temptation and we dip in- deeper than we have before. We become a statistic of modern day consumerism and boy, does it feel good! That is, until you get the bank statement, load it into the budget software- the envelop turns red and then your husband comes home to see the damage. Just another day in the life of…

Are we born lucky, or do we make our own luck?

When someone says that people are born lucky, what do they really mean? Is it that they know this person will one day win the lottery, or win a ‘boystown home’ from a $2 raffle ticket? No, it means the perception is that because of the family life the person was born into (which generally means money) - they will have everything they want for in life. But, is that really luck or just opportunity…?

Opportunity is the key to all luck and the best thing about opportunity is that you can create your own, or at lest try to.

As an example: I am a big believer in ‘car park etiquette’. I was at the plaza the other day (along with the rest of the coast) heading to the shops. Partly to get out of the torrential rain and secondly to hit the sales (or is that the other way around?!) Anyway, with 20 cars lined up in front of us, we drove in.  I saw a lady walking with her child in the direction of what I assumed to be her parked car, so, I wound down my window & asked her where she was parked. She happily pointed me in the direction, told me where to wait and even said she will keep an eye out for our car to ensure we get the spot. Now, how simple was that! Satisfaction was clearly evident on both sides, we spent less than 2 minutes looking for a park & the lady waved us of with a smile that said ‘my good deed is completed for the day’! A true win - win situation. I guess that is why it’s called luck, when a good opportunity arises and you get to take it, you do feel like a winner.

Anna’s not so secret, but always a good to be reminded- tips for making your own luck:

Speak up. If you really want something, don’t be shy about it- you may just get it if you ask. Also, the more people you speak to, the more opportunity you are exposing yourself to. 

I try and use this point a lot at work. Each time we have a manager in the office or even a new employee, I make an effort to introduce myself. They may not be interested in my position- but, they will always remember the person that had the confidence to introduce themselves.

Persist. Try, try and try again- take more risks. It is said that people learn more from failure than they do from success. So, that means, each time you try again- you are improving your odds. At least I think that’s the logic…? (Note to self: take own advice for this point!)

Be positive. The power of the mind is an amazing thing. If you start to think like a lucky person, you may well just become one! A smile is an international language, it makes you feel good and it makes people more approachable. It has the power to turn your whole day around.

Whatever you do, don’t get caught in get rich quick schemes, don’t forward ridiculous chain-emails promising you love or cash by the end of the week and don’t take my advice too seriously; I’m not a qualifier ‘luck-maker’, yet.

The Sugar Jar

I started this blog as I always seem to have a lot to say (& I really mean 'a LOT'). But,  in the cyber world- I found myself thinking 'what will I write about?' So, here goes- my first post, let's call it a mini one. Short and sweet (pardon the pun).

On Boxing Day, a friend asked me for some sugar in his coffee. When I pulled the flimsy paper wrapped packet of sugar from the pantry, everyone laughed. Then I realised- it must be the only thing in my house that is not in a container, the one thing that does not have a home, the little thing that makes me a real person!

I was sort of relieved as I often feel a bit guilty that people might look at me and think I have everything. Now, I can officially say that I do not... as I do not have a sugar jar. Maybe I will never buy a sugar jar. I might leave the missing sugar jar as a reminder in my life that I do not have everything & I do not need everything.

Sugar jar or no sugar jar, I still have a great life & I look forward to sharing some of my 'Anna moments' with you!