Procreation.

As the buzz of babies has hit the air of health house, how many people actually think about what goes in to making a great baby?

Being the alternative health option we see many people that are struggling to make a baby the way every other over worked, malnourished with food and love, couple is getting the job done; and then once you have tried for 6months with no prevail you are told that your bodies (man and woman) are not able to make a baby. So it is time to seek out the options:

Option 1: In vitro fertilisation (IVF) 
Option 2: Inuterine insamination (IUI)
Option 3: Surrogate mother
Option 4: Adoption
Option 5: Take care of yourselves!

It may seem suprising but option 5 is really that. The option at the end of the list. How about for a minute everyone forgot about the trouble in making a baby and thought about how to make the best one!

What do you need to do to make a great child?
 

Well firstly both you and your partner need to be healthy, right? But what does being healthy even mean?

Does it mean that you only eat organic locally grown fresh foods, or sleep from 9pm - 2am each and every night to catch your yin time, or does it mean that you need to start spiritually enhancing activities to ground your-self and connect with your soul and your partner on a deeper level?

Healthy could mean all of these above, but it could mean that you eat fresh food regularly, you sleep 8 hours per night, you wake feeling refreshed, you exercise enough for you, you drink enough water, you feel strong and most importantly you are happy! 

If both of you have healthy down pat and you still seem to have troubles come in and see us at Health house a few tweeks might be needed.

If you're not quite there yet give us a call and we'll give you hints and tips about how to get to healthy, starting with manipulating your energy flow. This ensures that both your bodies are ready to create the most beautiful bundle of joy as well as look after this growing being for years and years to come. 

The focus in all health care in regards to making babies should be focused on making the best ones, and giving the whole family the best chance of survival. Ponder on this for a moment..

 

Antibiotics

What are antibiotics?

Antibiotics (anti-bacterials) are a powerful medicine that fight bacterial infections. They work by moving throughout the whole system and killing or stopping the reproduction of bacteria within the body. Even though most antibiotics that are prescribed are focused on killing a specific strand of bacteria they wipe out a huge amount of good bacteria in the process.

What is the effect of bacteria in our body?

Each of us have over 1000 different types of bacteria that are growing and multiplying in our digestive tract. These bacteria are our bodies first line of defence in the breakdown of the food we consume. They are our bodies allies to help wean out the good from the bad. The initial bacteria in our body came to us from our mothers breat milk.

Our bacteria is therefore our own possibly very similar to our siblings but very much different to the neighbour or the child in another country who was not nursed on the same milk. So from the beginning, we have our very own active army of bacteria that need to remain strong to be effective. 

With the use of anti-biotics we clear out these bacteria killing off many of our own strands of bacteria that can never be reproduced like they once were. We then rely on other strands of bacteria trying to re-build the balance, it is often a tough and belligerentfete. Leaving our bodies with digestive problems that come and go as our army now battles to bring peace and harmony back into our belly.

Here are five reasons according to Dr Wendy Sue Swanson  to avoid antibiotic use when unnecassary.

1. Antibiotics can cause side effects. The reason: while you may be giving antibiotics to treat a possible ear infection, once ingested the antibiotics go to every organ in your body thus killing off some of the “good bacteria” living there. Some new research even suggests that bacteria that live in our gut affect our brain activity, mood, and behavior.

2. Bacteria do good. Throughout our lifetime we accumulate a lot of bacteria to the point that of all the cells in and on our body, 90% of our cells are bacterial! These bacteria help keep our bodies happy – assisting in digestion and keeping a good balance of colonies for healthy skin and intestines.

3. Every dose of antibiotics changes us. Each dose of antibiotics kills the normal bacteria that live in our body. The risk of taking antibiotics is not only the side effects (diarrhea, rash, or upset stomach, for example) but the risk that each dose changes who we are. Previous research from 2012 found that antibiotics, particularly when given to infants, may increase risk for chronic disease later on (inflammatory bowel disease).

4. Antibiotics change our environment. Each dose of antibiotics to our children, ourselves, or the animals we eat changes our community’s health in general. The more we use antibiotics that kill off susceptible bacteria, the more we select bacteria for survival that are resistant to known treatments. The consequence over time for us all is more resistant bacteria or “superbugs”– harder to treat infections.

5. Unnecessary antibiotics cost money. When an infection is caused by a virus and we treat with antibiotics, it’s an unnecessary drain on our pocketbook. Simple as that. TLC (tender love and care) isn’t free (days out of work, tug on our heart) but for viruses, our TLC can be one of the most powerful things we provide our children as they heal and recover.

While the development of antibiotics over the last 100 years has certainly helped us cure many diseases, we are only beginning to understand the relationship between our bodies and the bacteria that live within us. Antibiotics can kill many of these bacteria and we are starting to learn about the substantial unintended consequences that can result.

- Dr. Matthew Kronman, pediatrician and expert in infectious disease

Makes you think what will they find is affecting us in more bad ways then good next! 

Allergies... Why we have them and our grandparents didn't!

Wonderful information from Catherine Crow
 

1) They ate seasonal real food.

Food came from farms and small markets in the early 1900′s, and because food preservatives were not widely used yet, food was fresh. Because of the lack of processed food, their diets were nutrient dense allowing them to get the nutrition they needed from their food.

For babies, breast milk was valued and it was always in season.
 

2) They didn’t diet, and play restrictive games with their body and metabolism. They ate food when food was available.

Our grandparents did not fall victim to fad diets, food marketing, calorie counting, and other detrimental dieting habits that are popular today (in part because the marketing infrastructure didn’t exist yet). Because of this they had a healthy metabolism, and ate according to their body’s needs and cravings.

3) They cooked food at home!

Buying processed food was not an option, and eating out was a rare luxury. Lucky for our grandparents these habits actually increased their health.
 

4) They didn’t eat GMO’s, food additives, stabilizers and thickeners.

Food was not yet treated with additives, antibiotics and hormones to help preserve shelf life and pad the pockets of food producers in the early 1900′s at the expense of the consumer’s health.

5) They ate the whole animal that included mineral richbone broths and organ meats.

Animal bones were saved or bought to make broths and soups, and organ meats always had a special place at the dinner table. These foods were valued for their medicinal properties, and never went to waste.

6) They didn’t go to the doctor when they felt sick or take prescription medications. Doctor visits were saved for accidental injuries and life threatening illness.

When they got a fever, they waited it out. When they felt sick, they ate soups, broths and got lots of rest. They did not have their doctor or nurse on speed dial, and trusted the body’s natural healing process a whole lot more than we do today. Their food was medicine, whether they realized it or not.
They took responsibility for their bodies and their own healing!

7) They spent lots of time outside.

Our grandparents didn’t have the choice to stay inside and play on their phones, computers and gaming systems. They played on the original play-station:  bikes, swing-sets and good ol’ mother nature!

And what do these things have to do with food allergies?

Nutrition affects EVERY cell in our body. The health of our cells is dependent on diet and lifestyle. Cells create tissues, tissues create organs,  and we are made up of a system of organs. If your nutrition is inadequate, the integrity of each cell, tissue and organ in your body will suffer, thus you may be MORE sensitive to certain foods.

NOTE:

Never fear, because now you have read this you can implement these activities into your lives and see how adequate nutrition can really help and heal the body! :)

 

Acupuncture or Dry Needling

People often don't realise that acupuncture and dry needling differ considerably. As of July 2012 using the word ‘acupuncturist’ in Australia is now an entitlement given only to those who are nationally registered with the Australian Health Practitioners Registration Association (AHPRA). This is the same registration all medical professionals (doctors, nurses, pharmacists and psychologists) practicing within Australia are regulated by.

While acupuncture is considered very safe in the hands of well-trained practitioners, it has also been associated with a range of complications, some of them very serious. Dry needling is a form of acupuncture where the practitioner need only a day to a few weeks training course to claim qualification.

It is important to note that acupuncture is a continuous journey of ongoing education and practice, just like any other doctor, what you knew on your first day of practice is generally only half the story. It is important to be aware that an acupuncturist in Australia is now regulated just like your GP. They are both working hard to help you, whilst maintaining a high level of professionalism and best care. 

Be aware of who you entrust your healthcare needs to. Know that there are people that are trained specifically to bring the balance back to your life using this plentiful technique. There are also those who place needles in points of pain and claim it to be something very different. 

The depths of acupuncture knowledge and its mysteries are limitless to the naked eye, be sure to choose the person who can see beyond!

Ever wondered...

Ever wondered why you always wake up between 1am and 3am?

From an ancient Chinese/'Taoist' perspective, between 1am and 3am is Liver time. It is said that during these hours the function of the related organ is at its peak ie. The Liver is working its hardest during 1am and 3am every night. So during Liver time the middle of the night everything should be resting and the mind should be completely turned off. So why is yours not?!

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The Liver is the yin organ of the wood element and each element pertains to a certain part of the cycle of life on large and small scales. For example the season of the wood element is Spring which also heralds the beginning of all life.
Wood can be bent or straightened and is likened to being strong and flexible hence its body tissue is the sinews/tendons. Its emotion is anger and includes feelings of frustration, irritation, and resentment. Its sound is shouting, its colour is green, its taste is sour, its sense organ are the eyes, its climate is the wind and its yang organ is the Gall bladder. The Liver in particular has a very important function of ensuring the smooth flow of qi (energy). This smooth flow of energy affects all parts of the body. As with all things in Chinese medicine there is always a relationship between cause and effect, so for example when the smooth flow of qi is hindered there is dysfunction.

The next thing to note is how we live, everyone is slightly different but in general most people in the western world live like this.

We live in a world where we focus on the 'to do' list. We spend all day rushing from one thing to the next with no interest on our natural state of being. Our energy starts to falter and we don't have enough time to finish what we must. Instead of slowing down we pump ourselves full of sugar, fear and adrenalin and push on, getting as much done as physically possible before we decide to set our head down on the pillow. Physically tired, emotionally exhausted and completely drained.

Now that you are aware of the connections between the time (1am-3am), all of the main correspondences of wood, and how you currently function, we can delve a little deeper into understanding why it is this time you wake up.

From a very basic understanding when the energy of a particular element is not functioning properly you will find that you experience signs and symptoms from that particular element. So for example when we have over indulged in our Liver energy we become frustrated, irritable, and moody, our bodies are inflexible, you may feel very up and then very down, have pain over the sides of our bodies, , have eye problems, feel gasy, hear borborygmos, women may have irregular periods and we may just wake up between 1am and 3am! 

If any of these are happening to you the first thing to do is breathe. Then remember these are helpful warning signs suggesting that something needs to change, and if you decide to leave it now just prepare yourself for illness later.An easy second step is to stretch! So often people pump serious iron at the gym or do fitness classes that work you to the bone, but never stretch properly afterwards. Take up a yoga class once a week to start, it works you inside and out and is so good for those muscles and tendons. Long gone are the days where people think that stretching makes your muscles weaker. Check out Alexander Keralin a world famous Greek roman wrestler that could do the splits and a full back arch in his prime of winning 3 olympic gold medals. Here below is a flexible strong man!

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                                                                                              Strong flexible man!

If you want more information or more tips contact Health House, or AACMA for a reputable Chinese medicine practitioner in Australia.

The best lover is the kind that takes out the rubbish without being asked!

Valentine’s Day is coming and people are starting to show how much they love one another.

For people in relationships there is always the problem of deciding what to do or what to give her/him to show them how much you love them? The day in itself is almost like NewYearsEve or Christmas or any other big holiday that has become an international celebration; too much hype and not enough real love. 
The best part about Valentine’s Day is it is focused around love. So even if you are giving ridiculously and it's not truly from the heart, the love of the day somehow creeps in and makes everything rosy coloured.

Now instead of thinking too much about what to give or where to go out for dinner with every other loved up couple in your town, think about the little things.

For example like the love you feel for your other half when: 

• ....you come home and dinner is ready.
• ....you can see the dishes need to be done and you know that it's your turn and they just get up and start doing them.
• ....you get an extra kiss or a tighter hug.
• ....you get to play your favourite game without being questioned.
• ....you feel hopeless and stressed and they give you the better pillow.
• ....your clothes have been on the living room floor for 2 days and they havn’t told you to pick them up, but you know they've noticed.
• ....you know your favourite tv-show/game is on at the same time as theirs and they agree to watch your tv-show/game without you even asking.
• ....they make time to have sex even though they feel tired.
• ....they take your good news to a whole other level by congratulating you and asking you all about it.
• ....they use the toilet brush after they are finished.

These are all little victories, little signs that love really exists, little signs that show they love you and that they are willing to do the little things. These are signs of a keeper.

If these aren't your little victories spend some time on Valentine’s Day writing down a list of the little things you see as victories. It is quite common that your other half has no idea what it is you wish they did, and even though we think it's awesome when someone reads our mind, it really is difficult and can be very stressful for both parties. On the side, do not focus on the reason behind the deed, next time you question why they did something so sweet just know it is the love and go on with your happy loving day. 

Feel the love every day, and remember to treat everyone the way you want to be treated and your little victories will be endless!

Food shopping.

We are so tough on ourselves when it comes to making 'good', 'healthy' food. It need not be that hard. The first step is to make good educated decisions about what you are going to put in your body. Where do you start? You start with what you buy at the shops.

Here are a few tips that have been said time and time again but if you're here maybe now it's time to start acting.

1. Fresh is best: This means buying fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, herbs and seeds that still look like they are vegetables, fruits, nuts, herbs and seeds. (If you want to deface them later do it yourself!) Be well aware too that fresh foods these days aren't necessarily what you think they are. Buy from a local green grocer or start your own garden! (Future post to come about how to create your very own garden from the grower of The Phillipine Organic Garden Project.)
2. Eat something before you go shopping! Or drink a glass of water.
3. Make a list and check it twice: How many times have you gone to the shops, realised you're not sure what you want except for "dinner" you then find yourself being rung around 'their' (the shops) little finger being persuaded by pretty colours and flashy things. Before you know it you have more plastic in your trolley then food.
   So, when you head to the shops have an idea of what it is you are going to eat for the next 2-3 days and then take time to write the list of fresh ingredients that you need. An easy way of writing a list is to write down what you need for each meal, aiming to use most of the ingredients you buy within the 3 days.
4. Make things yourself: It is shockingly really not that hard. I used to go straight for the tzaztiki that I knew and loved without ever thinking what was in it or that I could make it myself and it could actually taste awesome! Find recipes. Check out FitFeeds or search pinterest.com they have pretty pictures and you get such a range of different things.
5. Know what you are buying: If you must buy things that are packaged choose things with ingredients that you understand. If you must, and there are more than 3 code words make an educated decision that you are killing yourself faster.
6. Herbs and spices are key to taste: Being a terrible cook is a thing of the past. Use fresh herbs and spices, possibly check a recipe or use trial and error. The more you try the better you become. The feeling of satisfaction after mixing all sorts of things together and it ends up tasting great is unquestionably one of the best feelings.
7. Don't scare yourself into eating what you are supposed to. It is so important to find what is good for you. What is going to create the best energy for your mind, body and soul? It might not be what your best friend tells you is good for her. This is something that makes you feel great, not something that makes you hate yourself afterwards. Something that actually makes you feel energised. Remember the whole reason we eat is to keep our bodies energised. 
8. Enjoy eating well. Making time to eat smaller portions, eating better food more often, and keeping yourself away from nasty unnecessary extras can really change the way you view yourself from the inside out.

Now go and really enjoy your next meal!

The Union - The business behind getting high.

Something a little bit different. 

This post isn't just about maintaining health but about being aware and conscious in this world. I've never been much into the movement of making marijuana legal but after watching this documentary "The Union" and realising that there seems to be one common denominator with every thing not quite right in the world I thought it would be indecent of me not to mention it.

The one thing that is not quite right you ask?
Is this, big business controls whatever it needs to, to be just that BIG business. How do they maintain being big business you ask? By making too much money! What human quality do you need to want more and more unnecassary things for yourself? GREED! 

Now, Which is the big business that is majorly contributing to not legalising marijuana you ask? You would be right if you thought it was the the biggest business in the whole world!

Pharmaceuticals! 

All because pharmaceutical companies could possibly lose millions of unnecassary dollars, due to a cheaper pain reliever with minimal side effects, if used in moderation.
 

I am not an advocate for the use of marajuana but I am not against it. I am all about making concious and well educated decisions for your life and your health. Being aware of the 'scientific evidence'  might make you think twice about who is the real enemy? But also question why we are so caught up in this the age of scientific evidence anyway.
Stay true to yourself and open your mind a little bit more. Don't close yourself off to what science tells us is. If you want to know the real answers trust yourself and the cycles of nature that have come and gone over and over throughout the ages.

Take a look at the documantary! Make up your own mind.
http://www.theunionmovie.com/TheUnionWeb.html

The purpose of life.......

A thirteen year old is well aware of how happiness and health are the two most important parts of our adult lives. Why are we missing it? Why do we constantly strive for the things we don't have and in the long run don't need?

Education is the key, love is the glue and people are the force. 

Force + love + keys = a very sticky explosion of awesomeness! 

Go find your keys, build your love from the inside and feel the force from the love on the outside. Take a moment to come back inside, close the doors and sit with yourself. It is almost crazy how hard that is for most of us.

But what can I do?

An easy solution to get yourself back there is to take up yoga! Find the right teacher and class for you remember we are all quite different in the way we think and perceive things. You need not think about what you are doing at the beginning but before long you will find you have reconnected with yourself. Through a yoga class you remain concious the entire time as you twist and stretch and mold your body, you stay connected with your breath and centre your mind on the job at hand.

Before you know it you have worked harder then you ever thought possible. You have sweated more then ever and you have stretched all those ligaments allowing for a problem free 'healthy' ride.

Get yourself into gear and enjoy yourself today from the inside out.

The recipe to limitless great possibilities just like an iced-chocolate cake only healthy!

Preparation time: 15 minutes + 40mins

Perfect for just any old day, this is a great recipe for an easy, foolproof wonderful day. It’s marvelous and fudgy and will keep well for one whole day.

Ingredients

For the day

• 1 well slept head (8-10hrs)
• 50gm of I have two eyes that are happy to open 
• 1 raw mind
• 1 dose of positivity
• 1 large serving of I have all my limbs and they function
• 1 tall glass of warm water
• 1 wedge of lemon and/or 1 tsp of natural honey
• A working mouth and voice
• Heaps of love and compassion

For the icing on top

• 40 minutes of leisurely walking with a friend
  AND/OR
• 40 minutes of yoga!

Preparation method

1. Preheat the body to a comfortable temperature (lucky for you our hypothalamus has got that covered) 
    
2. Take your 50gm of I have two eyes that are happy to open and test them, flutter them 10 times if they seem a little rigid, even wipe your whole face with your hands to make sure you still have everything
   
   
3. Lift your hands above your head and reach your feet towards the end of the bed as far as you can. Hold them long and lengthened until you feel the energy flowing.
   
   
4. Smile so big that the muscles in your mouth start to contract bedsmell, and prepare to sit up
   
   
5. Release any toxins and nasty’s your body has worked hard to clean out through the night
   
   
6. Add the warm water to the tall glass, a little at a time, add in your lemon to cleanse and clear; or your natural honey to sooth, stir until smooth. Now sip don’t skull!
   
   
7. Divide the mind into two parts, throw away the negative and hold onto the positive!
   
   
8. Take up your dose of positivity and chant “Today is going to be a great day" then tell those close enough to hear that you love them and hope they have a great day too.
    
9. Decide between your walk or yoga and spread evenly
    
10. Once you are finished with the icing re-fuel with a satisfying and energy-full breakfast
     

Transfer this new found energy to all and voilà there you have it the perfect start to every day!

Beginning with a cleanse.......With my findings..

All night your body works hard to clean out all the dirt you put in it during the day. So why not help it clear it. Give your body a huge thankyou by drinking a glass of warm water with freshly squeezed lemon in it! 

Some of the benefits include:

• Boosts the immune system; thanks to the amount of vitamin C in lemons
• Balances your pH
• Helps with weight loss
• Aids in digestion
• Clears skin
• Hydrates the lymph system

Findings....

After this post I realised I don't do this every day. So to ensure I was really practicing what I was preaching I spent the next 4 weeks drinking lemon water every morning.
I used 1/8th of a lemon in a tall glass of warm water. I drank this before I did anything else every morning.

My initial findings:

• I felt much fresher after my lemon water in the mornings
• The harsh sleep taste was exterminated in just a few sips and I became kissable!
• My bowl motions were consistant and comfortable
• I felt 100%, no niggling colds or sickness
• I lost a kilo or two 
• I felt alot more calm
• My skin became dry and tight especially on my face

Most of my findings were great and really gave me and myself a fresh and wonderful start to the day.

But dry skin demonstrated that although it was clearing out all the nasties it was also washing away things that I needed too. So I have opted for warm water with a teaspoon of honey most mornings and lemon water twice per week or as a cleanse for  5days a month.  I'm still gaining the great benefits and my skin has gained its lustre again.

It is so important to remember that everything you do, you do for you. When you try something new or different be aware of the changes it has on your body inside and out. Then make an educated decision about what works best for you! 

2014

2014 is fast approaching! The new you is here. Time to clear out the cobwebs and not waste another minute contemplating. Do what it is that makes you happy and remember it will be worth it. Listen to nothing that makes you doubt yourself. 

Get out there and do, be more honest to yourself and make the most of this life!

JUST DO IT!

Now

Ever noticed yourself focusing on the clock, watching every day tick by with that list of To-Do's just getting bigger and bigger, and slowly seeming further and further away from being completed.

Ever noticed the clock, maybe more on Fridays or Mondays when you start trailing back through your memories feeling like last week went by so fast and now you're here again starting or ending a week. With those To-Do's and possibly should haves. It starts to feel unsettling even nerve racking when you think about it. Questioning is it all worth it!? Where am I actually going? What am I really gaining?

Then the keyword hits you... 

The answers to those questions don't really matter now. 

As the now that was is already long gone, so the now that is, is all you have and that is worth captivating. So take a deep breath and free yourself from the fear of not doing it. Get it done take the leap. You have the power and you are ready.

Utilise right now and most importantly enjoy every minute of it! 

Don't wait long, feel what is right and work it out now!

Listen to your heart.

Listening to your heart is the purest way to find the best answers for you. Some people call it that gut feeling that generally lets you know when you are making a bad decision. Others know it as a feeling that lets them 'know' when things are good or bad. 

Focus inwards on your choices. Become closely connected with yourself and trust those feelings.

Your heart is pure, no matter how much baggage you carry around with you. It is the centre and holds a direct connection with nature. So utilise these answers, and then lead the best path for you!

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Play.

Remember when you were a child and you could just play. You could play and it made you smile and made you feel so happy. Remember the simple pleasure of just having play time, it was the best time of the day.

Go and find the bubbles, or the hopscotch, or the swings, or the game, or the musical instrument, or the crayons, find them and play. Let your inner child have the power again. Play with others, laugh and smile, enjoy this simplistic happiness again. 

If you're not convinced, there is research now that shows that playing is just as effective as going to the gym in relation to weight loss. The added bonus is that it makes you smile during the process.

Playing was where the fun began. So don't neglect your inner child any longer, they might throw a horrible tantrum if they're not attended to soon!

Don't think silly thoughts!

It seems like a joke when you are told to think about beautiful things and good things will come.
Thing is this is not a joke!
With every worrying thought you have planted a seed for more worry. For every angry thought you have evoked anger and turmoil within you that shows more on the outside then you may think. We all have bad thoughts it is almost engrained in us to victimise ourselves one way or another or put others down because we don't understand. 

But today when the bad thoughts come, and they will come, turn them into a positive. You will be suprised at how effective this is. Try it. Right now!

“All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is what shapes us, what we think, we become.”

— Buddha

Just breathe.

The most important human action is to breathe. 

Breathing is the process that moves air in and out of the lungs to oxygenate the body. Oxygenation in the body is when oxygen travels through the air and into the blood. Oxygen then enables the cells of the body to release energy that has been stored from our food. In turn, allowing the body to use that energy to keep us alive and our bodies functioning as a whole. Once the oxygen is used it leaves us with carbon dioxide a chemical waste.

Take a deep breath in, hold it, now breath out for as long as you physically can.................... every last bit.................Take another deep breath in, hold it, and breath out again the same way.

Feel how much more your lungs can take in, how much more 'waste' it can get rid of. Think how much more energy could be released, think of how much more productive you could be!

When life throws you curve balls.......

Take a smile and carry on!
There is a key part to healing that many of us forget or ignore and that is to connect our energy with our body. So take a smile, keep it with you always. It is fact. Proven by someone at some point in time that smiling helps us heal. So smile and be healthy! :)