Monique's Delicious Balls

Well, I'm not too prudish to openly admit that I love Balls. Now keep it clean Cherubs.....

Growing up in a foodie household (my mother is a Cooking Teacher and my dream was to grow up to be Alison Holst), I have a LOVE of food. However, I'm also domestically challenged.  It's taken me 3 months to work out how to poach eggs, so anything that's easy to make wins my vote.

I'm also a fan (having lost over half my body weight in excess fat, gaining part of it again, losing it again, gaining it, losing it....well you get the idea....) of trying to find healthy alternatives that serve my health, help me maintain a healthy weight and most importantly, TASTE GREAT! There's nothing worse than having to eat something that you KNOW is going to be good for you but tastes like the bottom of a rabbit hutch. 

Finding Happy - ASK ME ANYTHING WEEK!

Hi there!  Monqiue Bradley here. I've been getting a lot of questions lately from people looking at different ways to change their lives and amp up their happiness levels, so I thought I would use this as the topic for this weeks VLOG. I'm interviewed in studio by Co-creator of GET A LIFE and Chief Techomaniac Pete Ward who asks the questions YOU have submitted!

This week we cover: Weightloss and dietary changes, dealing with people you don't gel with, self sabotaging or self limiting beliefs, personality styles, dealing with conflict, values, fear and SO MUCH MORE!!

Success Story - The Power Of Conscious Choice - Avalons Story

This is Avalon: an amazing singer, conservationist, house vice captain, great friend and kind hearted soul.

I first met Avalon in Browns Bay on Aucklands North Shore when I was singing on stage during their local market day. Singing is one of my passions - something I started at the age of 4 years old, began professional training at the age of 11 and have used as one of my JOY TRIGGERS. It's helped my confidence and self esteem and I always get a beautiful buzz when I perform a song that people love!

As I looked out into the crowd, I saw a beautiful young lady smiling - and I nearly had an out of body experience! I could have sworn it was me as a child looking up at ME on stage. I got chatting with Avalon and mum Tracie (also a talented singer) and they asked about singing lessons. At the time, I said no, however this sweet wee girl stuck in my mind and some weeks later, I was back in Browns Bay singing again. This time I decided to take her on board and see if we could develop her voice and confidence as a singer.

Hi there!  It's Monique Bradley here and today I'm sharing my top tips on how to spring clean your mind and get ready for an empowered and exciting life!

I always get very excited at this time of the year as I see the buds start to poke their heads through their winter cover, birds chirp earlier in the mornings and blossoms start to appear!  It really is a time to start fresh and for me is more vibrant and exciting than the celebration of the New Year!  We've endured the colder winter months - always a great time of hibernating, reflecting and reviewing - so now as the weather starts to warm up again it's the perfect time to clear out the inner junk and get ready for the next new and exciting evolution of you! Hello Butterfly! Are you ready to spread your wings??

Here's some of my top tips to help shake off the winter blues, shed the old stories, lose the excuses and get ready to have the most exciting NOW that you can!

So let's start: GET HONEST

Healthy Insides - The Key To A Healthy Outside!

Hi there! It's Monique Bradley here!  Having grown up with a Father who was a homeopath and naturopath, I understand the value of everything we ingest as food, drinks and medicines.  Yes folks - having healthy insides, I believe is the key to having healthy outsides!  It's a no brainer really...I mean - look at all the data that has been released regarding the effects of processed foods, chemicals, colourings and additives that affect the behaviour of children for example!  It makes my mind swirl! 

Well it just so happens that another dear kindred of mine is trying to make a difference: Introducing Shannon Simpson - Creator of Nana Annes Home Remedies!!  

Hello! Monique here. I saw an advert on TV this morning about tablets you can take to boost collagen production which helps your skin look younger and make your hair shinier. But I wondered if there are natural ways to do this? Here's what I found:

Collagen is a protein that combines with keratin and elastin to make your skin strong and elastic. As you age, the production of collagen in your body also slows down. This results to the aging of the skin, which is characterized by signs like thinning, wrinkles, lines, age spots and dullness. When this aging process begins, most women seek solutions in the form of beauty products–jars of cream, tubes of gel, bottles of lotions and the like. Even though some of these products work, most of them don’t.

If you wish to preserve your youth by buying products that claim to contain collagen, you’re better off saving your money. Collagen simply cannot enter the body throughyour skin. Instead, it needs to be produced inside the body. Here are some foods that you might want to add to your diet if you wish to boost your collagen production.

http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/take-the-10-day-pledge/

I think in the spirit of healthy eating and self improvement i might give this a try. Anyone want to join me?

The idea is to cut out processed foods from your diet which i think is great.

The only problem i might have is sourcing locally raised meats that are budget friendly. Please let me know if you have any ideas for that.