Unplugging

Source: Pinterest Penelope Ellefson

I am a complete and utter switched on, connected to the minute addict. Most evenings you can find me texting, typing, talking and watching TV all at the Very. Same. Distracted. Time.

But this weekend for one day I am going cold turkey my friends. I am going to unplug computers, turn off the Ipad, switch the phone off and just hang.  I cannot wait to see and feel what happens.

Have you ever unplugged? Do you make a habit of doing it regularly?

The month that was

In the month of March, I loved

doing less but getting so much more by just hanging out and laughing with my boys, my wonderful family in Melbourne and myself.

buying things that have a story, that create art like this divine odette birthday bracelet from my husband.
Or having the confidence to do "fashion" in discount stores. Thanks Target for my $40 of the moment boots.

being nutured and inspired by the wisdom of some wonderful girlfriends I am grateful to call friends.
All in all not a bad month hey!

When I grow up I want to be?

source: http://artsmoothie.wordpress.com/2011/09/

My nearly four year old has decided he wants to be a astronaut. We are over the moon (sorry had to be done!) Actually it is pretty NASA-like at our place at the moment as the astronaut in training wants to know everything about space so we are reading up on asteroids, the temperature of the sun, standing next to trees to get extra oxygen! and after three long years of swimming lessons and not alot of freestyle, someone had decided to swim because astronauts train in water (this is actually true, I know 1500% for sure as I have read the space book 1500 times and counting.)

Not sure how long this space thing will last but apart from revisiting my knowledge of planets and milky ways and intense questioning on toilet conditions in space, my son's passion for being an astronaut has got me thinking.

When do we stop believing and focusing on having a career/job/passion that we love?

So I am off to frame a print I just ordered to put up in the house for my children, for myself and for everyone who visits. Find Something You Love and Excel at It.

Not bad advice for anyone in this universe or beyond!

Please stop worrying

Source: http://tinfoildinosaur.wordpress.com

I have a confession to make. I am a reformed A-grade worrier.

Yep, the previous me was a real turn your hair grey, wake up in the middle of the night, bite your nails world champion medallist in worrying.

But then I stopped.

I stopped because worrying does not allow me to truly be the grateful, happy person I like being. I stopped because it paralyses your mind and does not allow you to move forward to reach your goals and I stopped because I learnt how to.

What I learnt was:

a) Write (this is vital) down what is worrying you

b) Then note what is the worse possible thing that could happen

c) List all the possible ways you can try and prevent the worse from happening

d) Move forward with the chosen way and do not look back, do not change course, do not but and ifs and maybes.

e) and live every day, every single one as a present experience. Not regretting the past or wishing for the future. Living and breathing in the day that is.

Simple stuff but I am loving it and I am so thankful to Dale Carnegie's Stop Worrying and Start Living audio book (and to somehow 'loosing" the Cars2 Theme Song CD in the car!)

What do you think of the above approach? How do you stop yourself from worrying?

My days of stalker shopping are over!

Source: Mashable.com

Confession: I hate shopping for me. Online, Offline, On Sale, I just can't bear the effort of it all and the fact that about a third of what I think it so amazing in the shop ends up on ebay. How smart am I when "loveabargin" wins my $300 BNWT dress for $20 and then quibbles over shipping fees.

So to date the way I shop is what I call "stalker shopping". I'm that crazy woman chasing you through Westfield to ask you where you got your great shoes, jacket, haircut (yes sad but true). Or that person staring at you way too long in a restaurant, conference, doctors rooms. Or the follower constantly hitting refresh on your fashion blog.

Until I discovered Pinterest.

Pinterest if you have not had a look is a website community full of online "pinboards" of anything and everything people love - great food, great clothes, great furniture... and the beauty of it is that you are there to stalk, sorry I mean follow. So finally, me the crazy non-shopper has found a home and with it I have in 3 short hours sorted my autumn wardrobe wishlist.

Look me up if you join in. Seriously I welcome a good stalk!

15 minutes of your time - you won't regret it.

I am not sure if you have heard of Sheryl Sandberg but with the IPO of Facebook and her role as its COO she is about to become one of the richest self made women in the world.

But none of that really matters because the reason why I ask you (very very nicely) to spend just 15 minutes watching the below is her thinking about women and how we conduct ourselves in the workforce and what we want for our future and our children's future (both male and female) is so spot on. Google her (if you have any other spare minutes) as she has other great things to say like that the most important career choice you can ever make in is your choice of life partner......interesting!!

PS. Below video is low grade, if you want to view full screen best to go to ted.com

Lesson from losing a phone

Image: XpressFix.com

Boo Hoo! I lost my phone on Friday.

By now it is probably in the clutches of a pre-teen laughing their way through my corny app choice and even cornier pics (thank goodness I never had any Paris or Scarlett desires to take pics of my bum!) I loved that phone but I have also realised it was a drug that fed one of my habits that is getting way out of control. The need to constantly be multi-tasking.

I am not sure who deemed that women were programmed to multi-task but the other day when I was stirring a pot, whilst feeding the baby a bottle, whilst running a bath and whilst explaining what Poker Face meant to a 3 year old (he has a thing for understanding song lyrics) I realised the universe was trying to tell me something. Especially when the dinner burnt, the baby started crying and the bath had to be rerun. I didn't listen hard enough that actually it is sometimes quicker, less stressful and (wait for it) more enjoyable to do less things at the same time and so on Friday when I was pushing the pram, pulling down the sunshade, emailing on my phone and thinking about a couple of serious issues, I lost the phone. Yes universe, lesson learnt!