Yoga in Bloemfontein

Ruth's yoga Centre on Yalwa

If you are looking for a Yoga Centre in Bloemfontein, give Ruth's Yoga Centre a try.

The studio is located in Park west Bloemfontein, and Ruth has years of experience.
I attended class there in 2005, and I would love to go back, just as soon as I clear some time in my schedule.

For now, I am attempting to do yoga at home, using DVDs. It is definitely easier going to class where a professional can guide you and there are no interruptions.

Women's Health | Filling Low-Kilojoule Goodies

Women's Health Filling Low-Kilojoule Goodies

Summer is around the corner, and we are all trying to get bikini ready before the December Holidays. Here are some healthy choices when you crave a snack. No more chocolates for me!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Today kicks of Breast Cancer awareness month. I hope everyone, especially all the ladies, are wearing pink today. I gave my husband a pink ribbon to pin to his shirt, as I know I will never get him to wear a pink shirt.

Breast cancer is a leading cancer faced by South African women with one in 29 women diagnosed each year with this disease. The good news is that if you detect and treat breast cancer in its early stage, you have a very good chance of fully recovering.

There are different types of breast cancer, and there are different risk factors. Some risk factors include gender, family history and age. There is nothing we can do about these risk factors.  

There are however other risk factors we can manage. Have a look at the list:

• Not having children or having them later in life: Women who have had not had children, or who had their first child after age 30, have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer.
• Use of birth control pills: Studies have found that women who are using birth control pills have a slightly greater risk of breast cancer than women who have never used them. Women who stopped using the pill more than 10 years ago do not seem to have any increased risk. It's a good idea to talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of birth control pills.
• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), has been used for many years to help relieve symptoms of menopause and to help prevent thinning of the bones (osteoporosis). It has become clear that long-term use (several years or more) of HRT increases the risk of breast cancer and mayincrease the chances of dying of breast cancer. The breast cancer may also be found at a more advanced stage.There are few strong reasons to use HRT other than for short-term relief of menopausal symptoms. Because there are other factors to think about, women should talk with their doctors about the pros and cons of using HRT. If a woman and her doctor decide to try HRT for symptoms of menopause, it is usually best to use it at the lowest dose that works for her and for as short a time as possible.
• Not breast-feeding: Some studies have shown that breast-feeding slightly lowers breast cancerrisk, especially if the breast-feeding lasts 1½ to 2 years.
• Alcohol: Use of alcohol is clearly linked to an increased risk of getting breast cancer. CANSA suggests limiting the amount you drink to one drink a day, if at all.
• Being overweight or obese: Being overweight or obese is linked to a higher risk of breast cancer,especially for women after change of life and if the weight gain took place during adulthood. Also,the risk seems to be higher if the extra fat is in the waist area. The link between weight and breast cancer risk is complex. CANSA recommends women maintain a healthy weight throughout life.
• Lack of exercise: Studies show that exercise reduces breast cancer risk. The only question is how much exercise is needed. CANSA suggests women exercise for at least 30 minutes every day.
• High fat diets: Studies found that breast cancer is less common in countries where the typical diet is low in fat. CANSA recommends eating a healthy low fat diet that includes 5 or more servings of vegetables and fruits each day, choosing wholegrain products and limiting the amount of processed and red meats.
• Tobacco Smoke: A possible link to breast cancer is another reason to stop smoking and avoid being around secondhand smoke.
• Night Work: A few studies have suggested that women who work at night (nurses on the nightshift, for example) have a higher risk of breast cancer. This is a fairly recent finding, and more studies are being done to look at this issue.

These risk factors are controllable, and we can decide to live a healthier life my making some lifestyle decisions, and remember to do your BSE (Breast Self Exam) regularly. If you notice any changes in how your breasts feel or look, contact your doctor immediately. My motto is, rather safe than sorry.



Go to
http://www.cansa.org.za/cgi-bin/giga.cgi?cmd=cause_dir_news_item&cause_id=1056&news_id=52620&cat_id=822 for breaking news on breast cancer.

Thank you to http://www.cansa.org/ for all the wonderful work they are doing.
You can contact them TOLL FREE on 0800 226622.

I Love Kimmidolls!

Have you seen the adorable Kimmidolls Collection? These Japanese inspired dolls have beautiful names, and each one comes with an inspirational description of what the doll stand for.


One of my favourites, is Mio. (Beautiful Cherry Blossom). "My spirit brings beauty and holds promise. You release my power by nurturing your gifts and talents so they may grow to fulfill their promise. Let your spirit blossom and ornament the world".

How cute is that, I just love it. I found my Kimmidoll keyring at my local Cardies store. I hear you can also find them at Exclusive Books countrywide.

There is also a Kimmidoll Junior site, you will find the link on www.kimmidoll.com
Here is Paige, one of the Junior Dolls.

 

Anthony Hopkins

I decided to see how many movies of Sir Anthony Hopkins I have seen, and I was shocked to see how little of his movies I have actually seen.

Here is a list of all of his movies:

• 84 Charing Cross Road
  A Bridge Too Far
  A Change of Seasons
  A Chorus of Disapproval
  A Doll's House
  A Married Man
  Alexander
  All Creatures Great and Small
  Amistad
  Arch of Triumph
  Audrey Rose
  August
  Bad Company
  Blunt: The Fourth ManBram Stoker's DraculaChaplin
  Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas
  Freejack
  Guilty Conscience
  Hamlet
  HannibalHearts in AtlantisHoward's End
  HunchbackInstinctInternational Velvet
  JuggernautLegends of the FallMagic
  Meet Joe BlackMission: Impossible 2Mussolini and I
  Nixon
  One Man's War
  People I know
  Proof
  Red Dragon
  Shadowlands
  Siegfried and Roy - The Magic Box
  Strangers and Brothers
  Surviving Picasso
  The Bounty
  The Bunker
  The Dawning
  The Desperate Hours
  The Edge
  The Efficiency Expert
  The Elephant Man
  The Girl From Petrovka
  The Good Father
  The Human Stain
  The Innocent
  The Legend of Zorro
  The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case
  The Lion in
  The Looking Glass WarThe Mask of ZorroThe Remains of the Day
  The Road to WellvilleThe Silence of the LambsThe Tenth Man
  The Trial
  Titus
  War and Peace

Sadly, I have only seen the ones in bold, I might have seen a few more, and forgotten the titles.




So I will be on the lookout for these titles on TV and @ the Video store. It will be a truly sad day when this brilliant actor passes away. He was born on 31st December 1937 in Whales, which makes him 71. I hope he acts in many more movies.





Here is a memorable quote from Hannibal Lecter:” I do wish we could chat longer, but I'm having an old friend for dinner.”

New Herb and Veggie Garden

With the start of spring, I decided that it is time for a new project in the garden.
And with rising food costs in South Africa, and the emphasis on healthy living and organic produce, a veggie and herb garden makes perfect sense. We do have an existing herb garden filled with Chives, Onions, Parsley, Mint, Rosemary, Thyme and Oregano. But I want to include a few extra herbs, and definitely loads of veggies.

So hubby started with the building the new garden yesterday, but I don't expect to start planting before end October. The building will still take a while, and then we need to add the soil and the compost.

I am having trouble deciding what I want to plant. There is such a big variety,and I can't plant everything on my list at once.

So here is by list, I will have to pick a few favourites to start off with and expand the garden from there.

Herbs:

• Flat leave parsley (we have curly)


• Coriander


• Basil


• Dill


• Fennel (I'm not sure if this is a vegetable or a herb)


• Marjoram


• Sage


• Savory


• Tarragon

Veggies:

• Red Onions (we have white)


• Tomatoes


• Carrots


• Beans


• Peas


• Spinach


• Brussels sprouts


• Celery


• Leeks


• Rhubarb


• Potatoes


• Red peppers


• Cucumber


• Lettuce


• Patty Pans


• Courgettes


• Chickpeas


• Asparagus


• Beetroot


• Ginger


• Parsnip


• Sweet potato


• Chillies


• Chicory


• Peppadews (a South African discovery, see the link provided)

I cant wait to start sampling my fresh produce, but a lot of work, watering, and waiting still lies ahead! Wish me luck.

And please send suggestion on what to grow.

My Mom's foolproof cheese scone recipe

This recipe uses very few ingredients, is super easy and tastes great.

• 1 Cup All purpose Flour
• 1 Cup Milk
• 1 Cup grated cheese of your choice, I use cheddar
• 1 Tsp Salt
• 1 Tsp Baking powder

Add all the ingredients to a mixing bowl and mix until combined. Don't over work the dough. Spoon the mixture into muffin pan which have been sprayed with Spray and Cook. Sprinkle some paprika on each muffin.
Bake in a 180 degree Celsius oven for 15 Minutes or until golden brown on top.
Allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving. These scones are really yummy with Marmite and real butter.