The Final Goodbye

This is it.

The time has come.

After 21 months and 147 posts, this will be the final post on Mum and Daughter.

I’ve spent every spare second (and some not spare ones too) over the past 6 months creating the new space where the content from this blog and a whole lot more will move to; my new online home. In amongst the wonderfully exciting and shiny newness, what I hadn’t factored in was this goodbye.

I remember now with mixed feelings the moment that I clicked “create” on the blog that you’re reading. Sitting at my desk in Sydney’s west, already with one foot out the door of a corporate life that I’d decided wasn’t for me and feeling a whole wave of emotions at once. Trepidation at what was next in my life, an overwhelming sense of relief and the distant buzz of excitement thrown in there somewhere too. I was excited for the possibilities that lay ahead and I had no idea that this very blog would become such a large part of that.

When WordPress presented me with the momentous task of selecting a name for this blog, I was stuck. After pondering for a few moments I chickened out from anything serious and typed in Mum and Daughter. In my mind it was a holding name of sorts because I had to select something, I liked the vagueness of it and quite truthfully, that’s exactly who we were.

I’d like to think we’ve become so much more than that though….

What started from a simple idea of sharing our knowledge and expertise through our great love of writing and each other, fast turned into something that people actually read.

When we started seeing people’s names that we didn’t know subscribing to our blog, commenting on our posts and sending us the most heartfelt, soulful messages I felt I’d hit the jackpot. This was what I had been seeking all those years, offering real value to others through sharing myself and my journey. It was therapy and work all rolled into one and I never knew it was possible to feel so protective and in love with the work that I did.

Breakfast: Sweet vs Savoury

What’s the deal? Which is better for you? Which assists weight management?

This, like almost everything when it comes to health & wellbeing is about bio-individuality. What works for you may not work for the next person.

However I feel passionately that the only way to know is to try it for yourself and that’s exactly what I’ve done.

6 years ago when I first visited a fantastic naturopath and nutritionist; to learn more and drop some body fat; was the first time that I ever had it suggested to me to eat savoury food for breakfast. Additionally it was recommended that I remove grains altogether in the AM and look to incorporate protein and fat before starting my day.

The truth?

I was horrified and scared. How could I live without porridge or fruit and yoghurt in the morning? I had been eating a similar breakfast for almost 5 years and I loved it.

Or was that my problem?

Lamb Meatball & Couscous Salad with Yoghurt Dressing

Meatballs are a crowd-pleasing, delicious, nutritious and easy favourite. Sometimes containing mince meat and mostly including eggs and flour, they can also be heavy and laden with unnecessary additives.

How do we make clean meatballs then? My first tip to you is to use lamb!

And not just any lamb though ask your local butcher to mince some diced lamb for you. There’s an enormous flavour and quality difference, one that’s absolutely worth a few more dollars. After that solid foundation we use fresh herbs and Mediterranean-inspired ingredients for flavour.

I must admit I’ve never been a huge fan of meatballs though I realised that’s because I’m not a fan of mince and who could blame me!? When it comes from a quality cut of the lamb though it’s an entirely different story and one which changed the way I felt about the humble meatball. On the flip side, creating something like meatballs is fast and easy, they freeze well and if you make double, can be deliciously added to tomorrow’s lunch. So cook once, eat twice = awesomeness!

As these meatballs are packed full of flavour, I wanted them to shine, supporting as opposed to overpowering them with the salad. A few delicious ingredients that ring true to Mediterranean flavours, you could almost pretend you’re away on the Grecian coastline with each bite.

This recipe is an ideal Sunday night or midweek meal idea and I have a feeling you’re going to love it…..

What To Eat After You Exercise – a Post Workout Smoothie

You’ve just worked your butt off in a cycle class, at yoga, running or even weight training and you know you need to refuel. At the same time you’re concerned about undoing all of that hard work with poor nutrition choices!

If you happen to exercise after work, by the time you finish it may be close to dinner and you reason that there’s no need to eat something else in the meantime. Or in the morning before work and you figure a good breakfast will cover your needs.

So what do you do? What’s the best thing for you post-workout?

I’m sorry to say though this is super-duper individualised. It’s dependent not only on the activity you have participated in though also your food intake as a whole. I was discussing this exact topic with a friend recently who asked me about workout nutrition and my key points to her are the same as they are to you:

1. You can't out-train a poor diet

2. Your overall nutrient intake is crucial for effective workouts and recovery

This topic is in fact what first brought me into this wellbeing world almost a decade ago when I noticed my athletic performance and recovery wasn’t improving no matter my training. Why? I had overlooked the most crucial factor – what I was eating. 

What Are You Saying To Yourself When No-One’s Listening?

I was interviewed a little while ago and asked one question that has really stuck with me, or more so my answer has.

If you could ask the women of the world one question, what would it be?

My answer?

“If what you say to yourself each day could be heard by others, would you still say it?”

Right now as you read this, think about how many times already today you’ve spoken to yourself in a way that you wouldn’t want others to hear.

Now there’s nothing wrong with chatting things out loud with yourself from time-to-time though in this instance I’m referring specifically to those silent words we speak to ourselves.

You know the ones right? They often start right first thing in the morning….

You’re selecting your clothes for work and catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror, “fat cow, nothing ever looks good on you!”

In the office when you’re prepping for a meeting and you kindly remind yourself that “you know nothing and everyone will see straight through my ideas.”

Later at lunch you wonder why the ‘perfect’ girls at work can eat whatever they like and look like they do when “you need to stick to your diet just to look half-decent!”

Later at the gym instead of throwing yourself fully into the workout, you’re distracted and say “I can’t do half of what they’re doing so why bother and everyone’s noticing my wobbly legs anyway!”

Following this charming and positive day of both brutal words and self-loathing you then decide to ditch the stir-fry plans that you had and instead say “I’m ordering pizza – I earned it after the day I’ve had!”

And so the cycle continues…

Watermelon, Haloumi & Mint Salad

Summer has almost arrived in my part of the world and once again its’ seasonal fruit becomes the long-lost friend that you forgot how much you love.

Watermelon is a summer staple in our house. Eaten in big juicy wedges (and all over your face too!), with a spoon straight from the fruit, in juice, iceblocks and best of all; in salads.

The only rule is – it must be cold.  Warm watermelon is simply not doing it justice.

In Australia, this delicious fruit (which is approximately 92% water by the way) is synonymous with summertime. We think of long days with friends at the beach, even longer summer afternoons that become balmy summer nights and fresh, light, juicy salads taken along to a weekend BBQ.

Or is that just me?

My all-time favourite watermelon salad recipe is on quick-draw for me as soon as the season arrives – you can find that one here – though this newbie that I’ve been enjoying over the past 2 weeks, does not disappoint.

3 ingredients.

Now it doesn’t get easier than that!

How To Do A Burpee

It’s no secret that I love to move my body. However and whenever, it just feels good, well actually it feels amazing.

After years of training, competitive sport and an impressive PT of a Mum, I certainly have had my fair share of workout experience.

As I’ve shared with you in the past here, here and here I love functional training or in other words, I love to move my body in ways that support my actual day-to-day life; that assist how I functionally move.

This is how I approach my training and second only to feeling strong for me is feeling athletic.
It may actually be the greatest feeling when it comes to movement. It isn’t about a particular sport and it isn’t about comparing yourself to others, its simply about you, feeling agile, fit and capable all at once – ready for anything!

One of the best ways to access your own athleticism is using interval; and particularly HIIT training. My favourite and go-to movement when it comes to these workouts is the burpee.

Super efficient, functional, commonly mis-performed and almost always hated, this simple movement has incredible benefits and is actually kind of fun (bear with me).…

Green Omlette

Sometimes you just know that you need to eat more vegetables. Especially of the green variety right?

As the weather warms up in the southern hemisphere, the layers come off however the remnants of heavier eating in the cooler months often remain. It seems a fairly accepted truth that vegetables are easier and more enticing to consume in warmer weather + they help with those winter body leftovers…

Less heavy / more light. It’s also a time when fast, simple and fresh meals ring true.

Enter >>> My Green Omlette.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner or anything in between; this 5-minute wonder is a go-to recipe for me all year-round.

It’s tasty, fast, satisfying and insanely good for you. In one easy recipe you have protein and healthy fats from the eggs combined with endless vitamins, minerals and complex carbohydrates from the vegetables.

Use whatever green veggies you love/have in the fridge though make sure not to skimp on the herbs as they really bring this dish to life! If you are attempting to bring more greens into your life, this is a fantastic place to start!

Any recipe where you don’t even realise how healthy something is, can’t be bad! Serve it with bread if the mood strikes, hummus, pesto, fresh vegetables and you’re set.

Inspiration Insider | Lee Sutherland

Welcome to this edition of Inspiration Insider, a series that always sees me super excited to share with you the story of someone who is living their dreams in the wellbeing world, kicking goals, inspiring me and no doubt will inspire you too!

Lee Sutherland has a simple philosophy – Move. Live. Nourish.

Through her work (as Director of Fitness In The City), Lee utilises her qualifications in Natural Medicine and Nutrition, Personal Training and Health Coaching to inspire others to find their own groove. This West Australian health & fitness blogger now calls Sydney her home where her dazzling smile and relatable nature is genuine and totally charming. 

Her business came to be from feeling frustrated at the lack of both fitness and health options available that interested her. In Lee’s own words, “I wanted a form of training that made me want to get out of bed in the morning and one that motivated me to lace up my sneakers after I left work. Most of all I wanted to feel supported and encouraged- not just while training but away from training when my motivation levels dropped.”

I had watched Lee’s work from a distance for some time and was always impressed at the variety of her knowledge in the wellbeing world. Meeting and speaking with her in person has absolutely confirmed that this talented lady has a whole lot to offer so let’s hear more…

What does your day on a plate look like?

This changes everyday depending on how early my first client is or if I have a back-to-back session but usually it’s something along the lines of this….

I’m a Bachelorette Again

Well kind of…. This past week I’ve been living alone once again.

With my incredible husband jetting off to live his dreams (doing the below – yes these are his incredible photos) I have 10 days in the house, just me, myself and I. Up until 3 years ago, this was daily life for me. Coming home to a dark quiet and empty home and you know what?

I freaking loved it!

Living alone as I did for 3 years was awesome. It taught me more about myself than anything else ever has and allowed me to feel ultimate self-strength; I could always rely on myself.

Tippy booked this trip earlier in the year so I knew it was coming and I planned accordingly. I reset my outlook and was not-so-secretly looking forward to it. Even though I consider myself independent; living and partnering with someone undoubtedly means that you start to lean on them. You know those little things like leaving the rubbish which you’re totally capable of taking, for them and asking for a lift to dinner with the girls when a bus will do just fine?

Sometimes you even start to develop bad little habits whether that be eating a little more than you need because you serve him that amount or maybe not doing that last set at the gym because you want to get home to see him. The reality is that these things are all good and perfectly normal. Of course we want to spend time with the ones we love, they want to help and support us and who the heck likes public transport over private cars anyway…

It’s just that the “we” sometimes becomes more powerful than the “me” and this isn’t so helpful.

I was looking forward to and have enjoyed re-affirming my own life. Being together and being a happy duo doesn’t mean checking out from yourself, though how many of us do this exact thing?! Don’t we all have that friend who you never hear from now that she’s loved up? Or perhaps we are her?