The past few weeks have been hectic with everything coming at once. As most executives take their leave over Christmas my usually busy world of account management turns into total life take over as I try and get all of the contracts sorted prior to calm of Christmas holidays. Add to that Christmas shopping, social engagements and a few birthdays for good measure and life is pretty busy! So when you are feeling exhausted and looks as much it’s good to have a few go to products. So I thought this week I would share a few of my favourite things. I don't like to break the budget on beauty care so most are fairly affordable but work wonders. Dermaveen Daily Nourish - Soap free wash I use Dermaveen to wash my face day and night. As I have battled with Rosacea I have to be very careful of what I can use on my skin. A lot of products although natural or organic, do not have a neutral pH and will cause irritation. Dermaveen feels beautiful and silky when applied and leaves my skin feeling super clean. It comes in a handy pump bottle and lasts a good 3-4 months, so it's a pretty good buy at only $17.95 Original Source Bodywash Made from natural plant extracts and authentic fragrances the Original Source range is a fantastic everyday product. They have a wide variety of combinations from Pineapple and coconut oil, mint and Teatree (my favourite, it brings back the best memories of holidays in Inverloch where the tea trees are everywhere) to Zesty lime (my DH's favourite for the early morning zing). They have just released a limited edition, Hibiscus and pomegranate which is definitely on the shopping list. Available at Coles for only $7. C Lab & Co - Coffee scrub with coconut Women for years have been using ground coffee as a homemade body scrub to work out imperfections in skin tone and help erase stretchmarks and cellulite. This natural remedy has been packaged along with the addition of coconut by C Lab & Co to take away the hassle of DIY. This product is messy! You are literally taking handfuls of ground coffee and coconut and applying it in a circular motion to the skin. Application is done post shower (but while still in the shower, when the skin is wet). You leave it on for a couple of minutes to allow all the goodness to sink into the skin and then rinse. Afterwards your skin feels thicker, smooth and slightly oily. Almost like you would post moisturising but not quite as sticky. The thing I love most is they do a travel sachet size so I buy these for when I travel for work. This product is 100% natural and available at Priceline for only $9.95 for the travel pack. Gernetic Synchro Cream For a long while I really struggled with moisturises as I found a lot of creams irritated my rosacea. A friend of mine suggested I try this Synchro cream and it is by far the best I have tried. I used this just as a flare up was on the way to recovery as I do avoid putting creams on when things are at their worst but since then I haven't had it come back. It is an extra thick cream which I like because it means I apply once and I feel it holds for the whole day, plus my skin can feel very dry and needs the hydration. Because of its consistency it does leave the skin dewy. I don't ware foundation so I like the appearance it gives my skin, a natural glow but Synchro can be applied day or night so if you are concerned about the shine factor it still may work for you. Some great things to note about Synchro is that it is anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-fungal and was originally designed for skin burns. You can pick up a 50ml jar from Amazon for $89 + shipping MooGoo Skin Milk Udder Cream MooGoo are an all Australian company that makes natural and gentle products. It’s all started from cream that farmers use to put on cows udders for milking (how very Aussie). It has been adapted for human skin as it was all a bit too thick to begin with and the results are fantastic. I have a tube of this in my handbag if I am feeling I need a little something extra and in my travel bag. It’s great for people who suffer from Eczema or have irritated skin. It’s a bit more economic too in comparison to Synchro at only $11.90 a tube. The Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask So this product has about every buzz word on the planet in it. Himalayan. Tick. Charcoal. Tick. Purifying. Tick. Glow. Tick. I think this product is fun. I wouldn't use it when your skin is highly irritated but when everything is going well it's worth adding to your regular routine. My job takes me out to some pretty awful places, a lot of dirt, dust, fumes, and god knows what. I come home and feel like I really need to detox what’s gone into my skin and this product makes you feel like your skin has been cleansed deeply inside and out. Charcoal & clay are in a lot masks at the moment to remove pollutants from your skin. Sounds good right? The thing I like most about The Body Shops product is in the clay you can feel and see little particles of what I can only guess is the bamboo charcoal and are it really works away at your skin. You apply in a circular motion to exfoliate and then leave to let it work deep into your pores. Again a little messier than other clay mask products but worth trying if you need a skin detox. Only $39.95 for a 75ml tub Hopefully this post inspires you to try a few new products and change things up. Even if you have some staples that you enjoy using, it can be really good for the skin to mix things up once and a while as it has been shown that over time the skin can become lazy to ingredients that are used frequently. If you have any questions about your own skin conditions or products I have mentioned please use the comment section below.
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Thinking about Susan Kiefel made me think a lot about all of the inspiring women in my life, I know with no doubt that this quote by President Adams is a true refelction of them.
Yesterday Australia's Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, announced the appointment of Susan Keifel as chief justice of Australia's high court (replacing retiring Robert French). Keifel will be the first woman to hold this position which will mark a milestone in Australia's constitutional history.
I love seeing women succeed in their careers, expanding the minds and possibilities of young girls everywhere. I think back to when I was just a girl and I can feel the constraint of my own dreams. See without seeing people who resemble you, whether that be gender or race, its easy for your subconscious to scrub things out. I don't recall thinking I couldn't do something because I was a girl, I just didn't think at all about having a thriving career fullstop. I was blessed with a mother who cared and loved so deeply but she only knew being a stay at home mum, as was most of her friends, that was my exposure. Yes it is a win that Susan Keifel has been appointed but she was the most skilled for the role and had already had a few 'first woman' roles prior to reaching the position she now holds. She was simply the best candidate. Keifel holds a similar view as when PM Turnbull called and asked "How she felt about breaking the glass ceiling" she responded noting it was more 'natural progression'. Most large organisations today have diversity programs, equal opportunity policies ensuring women are present on boards and in positions of senior leadership, I think society has recognised the benefit's of diversity and shun those that don't follow. The challenge companies are faced with is the lack of female candidates. Its almost impossible to get a 50/50 split of applicants so the likeliness of hiring a man over a women continues. This I believe is where the significance of Susan Keifels position really sits. We need more women to think more openly about what is possible, and put themselves on paths to be the most suitable candidates. We need organisations to be able to accommodate careers and parenting as this is society's issue not just a female issue. We need to be able to get girls to believe in a bright future, get the skills and then stay in business while families are being grown. When we look at the gender balance at university's its encouraging news with the national average being 55.5% female, with Education and Health bringing in the largest numbers respectively. The next challenge is moving past entry and mid tier positions and keeping women 'naturally progressing' post children. When discussing her working life Keifel remarks "I have been very fortunate to have found my path very early in life and then to be able to follow it and be supported and encouraged at every step" Susan Keifel was Queensland's first female queen's counsel in 1987 and the first women to get a seat on the state's supreme court. Photo: AAP/Andrew Sheargold There are lots of things I love about Christmas, the excitement, the build up, the community buzz, the food and family coming all together. I do love to give gifts, I think the part I most enjoy is the wrapping and placing them under the tree, the mystery of what could they be, and the participation of seeing joy on the faces of those that I love. Because this part of Christmas is something I dearly love the stress of picking the perfect gift does get to me and for many 'the hunt' can cause a lot of anxiety. To help I put together a quick list of gifts that I have seen that would appeal to many. This is particularity focus on the ladies, I will put up another list on things to get for the men in our life. Fashion+Wearable AccessoriesIt is always fun to receive new jarmies and I love the sleepwear range from Gingerlilly. This slinky chemise is chic and feminine. A flattering cut and on trend fabrics with navy and floral. Any lucky lady in your life will love!. Buy online from Gingerlilly for $59.90 I am obsessed with these sandals. Metallics are still big this season and these gorgeous slip ons will go with just about everything in your wardrobe. Match them with shorts and a tee for a casual lunch at the local cafe or on a hot summers night dress they dress up any maxi. Buy in store or online from Witchery for $99.95 For the modern Boho chic, this Mimco scraf pairs geometric, tassels and metallics. Available in black + gold, White + gun metal grey or my favorite, pastel pink 'pancake'. Scarfs are great gifts for women of all ages so wether its your wife, sister, aunt or mother-in-law she will love the Mimco Muse scarf. Available in store or online from Mimco for $79.95 If you are looking for something small, a stocking stuffer, or working to a tight budget how about these on point drop earrings from Forever New. A filagree gold disc with white and tan bead tassels will accentuate any healthy summer tan. I love that these are really light so you can wear them all day and are made to be hypo-allergenic so suitable for the most sensative of skins. Feminine with a touch of boho, perfect! Available in store or online from Forever New for $12.99 HomeI love adding to my home and expressing my style, interests and personality. I especially love it when I receive gifts from those special to me that I can display and have as reminders of cherished friendships and moments in my life. Artwork is something personnel and can be overlooked in a home. This poster also brings in my love of peonies. The combination of simplicity and femininity makes me want to share this photo with all of my loved ones. Add a frame in either black, gold or white and really see these Peonies pop! Available online from Immy+Indi for $29.50 A2 size (plus frame) I think candles are fairly universal. When I am giving a gift and a bit stuck on what to get someone I usually buy candles for this reason. They can fit in to any budget and a range of designs to work well with any persons style. A lantern really ups the anti and brings an additional layer of luxury for any candle addict. I have been coveting this paneled glass lantern for quite some time, with the art deco style pattern it is definitely on Santa's list! Available in store or online from West Elm for $139.00 (Medium) I am totally addicted to throws. I think they are a fun way with the help of a few cushions and accent items to totally change the feel of a living room. I can change my living room from Scandi to coastal and over to Romantic Lux with a quick swap around of textiles. Give your loved one this faux fur chevron throw to transform their living from lazy Sunday to opulent evening in. Available in store or online from West Elm for $99.00 I find Mums are the hardest to buy for. They do so much for us through out the year and they never want anything in return! My mother and mother-in-law are complete godsends they do however have everything they need and want so you really have to give it a lot of thought. I wanted something of a high quality, would fit in with the flow of the home as it has many decades of memories within it and was a bit over the top they would never buy for them self. Made from natural agate and brass this simple but elegant tray is perfect. Hopefully my Mums aren't reading today, because this is what I have under the tree for one of my life saving Mums. Available in store and online from Pottery Barn for $199 AccessoriesBeauty accessories are great stocking stuffers for girls and women of all ages. I travel a lot for work and don't like taking my good brushes with me as I have a tendency to be a bit forgetful so I loved this set. With quality brushes, the mint green and laser cut pattern add an extra something special for a great Christmas buy. Available from Forever New for $39.95 When I moved to Australia I lived in Queensland, in the picturesque town of Mooloolaba. I became a beach towel junky and love my whole collection. I believe everyone needs a really decent beach towel, and love buying them for my friends and family. The Epoch collective have a beautiful range with a unique edge of being round. My favorite is definitely the Aquatic Lotus with is Mandala style print. Lux in Velour perfect for the hard to buy for! Available online from Epoch Collective for $99.00 And finally, for those that you love and have already blessed them with a luxe beach towel why not turn the dial up with the gorgeous Jute Majorelle 'The Beach People' bag. Again the Mandala print adds a hint of boho across the hessian style bag. A good beach bag should be large enough to house all of the essentials, sturdy to handle the sometimes harsh environment and a mixture of fun meets glamour. Tick, Tick, Tick. Available online from Revolve for $30.31 Hopefully this list has helped inspire you with your Christmas lists this summer. Why not share what your favorite gifts to buy in the comments below!
I thought this was particularly felicitous following on from post relating to career changes and finding out what it is you really want to be doing. Whatever your line of work is or becomes it should still challenge you. Work should always push us, make us slightly uncomfortable in some way. Not consistently but definitely regularly. This is the only way we grow and evolve as people. So make sure you continue to stretch yourselves.
I've been doing a lot of thinking of late about what it is that I enjoy doing and how I can do more of that. For some people they are really lucky and have clear passions or interests but I think for most people this is not quite the case. When people ask you if you could be anything or what is your dream job its not actually that easy to answer. What you enjoy doing and what kind of lifestyle you want to be able to afford are two very different things. Somewhere in between those two, some times extreme (a coach potato addicted to reality TV vs a McMasion on Sydney harbour) responses lays the best plan for your unique life. To get to this you have to peel off a lot of layers from the old metaphorical onion to know what is best for you.
I am still not quite there yet but I have found these questions have helped me so far to start drawing circles and seeing patterns around my general interests. What parts of my working day do I enjoy the most now? Really try to make this as granular as possible and you can build back a bit from there. Try not to focus on jobs that align with that just yet. At this point your trying to understand what is it you actually like. For me I found that I really enjoyed putting together presentations or spreadsheets and thinking about how to articulate a message in a clear and concise way that will lead to the outcome I am seeking. I also really enjoyed helping my team learn new bits of information and skills, challenging their thinking styles to see other view points. I enjoy the social interaction within the office but on my terms as I currently can come and go as I please. I could get closer to this and go into detail about what programs I like to use to articulate my messages or if there were messages I particularly liked to work with. Did I enjoy it more if the audience was internal or external? How did I like teaching my team, verbally one on one or in groups? Were there times I didn't enjoy it and if so why? What types of conversations did I like having with my colleagues, personal day to day chit chat or strategies, ideas and office politics. Keep asking yourself more and more questions till you have totally stripped it back. What parts of my working day to people compliment me on? What I my strengths viewed by others? So here totally forget if you enjoy doing something or not, and just think about the times people have praised you. If you were to ask your colleagues or customers what would they say? And again try and strip it back as much as possible. For example a colleague may say Louise is really good at big picture thinking but not so much on the finer details. That's fine, what scenarios of big picture thinking it is the overall customer experience, or the negotiation in play, is it the company's strategy or an individuals strategy. Think about the time in particular and what it was that made them say that about you, what actions drove that response? When you were a child what did you enjoy doing? I found this question to be really thought provoking. I had a great childhood and have a lot of happy memories so it was fun for me. It may be more difficult for others but I think most people can recall what made them happy as a child. I remember I was obsessed with making cards. I liked drawing pictures on the front, I used to quill paper so I would make pretty flowers and whatnot's on them and then I would set up a little stall in our family room and make everyone buy them off me. I enjoyed the creative process, being a maker, and I liked the purpose. So from this I know that to create I need to know the outcome of what I am trying to achieve. I also liked handling the money in monopoly or playing the shop owner when playing groceries with my friends. In all of my favorite childhood memories I am creating or constructing something. Be it cards, houses made out of hay, huts and Plasticine figurines. Spend some time on this question and try see your childhood back through your inner child's eyes. As adults we learn to be quite dismissive of child's play, it has shaped you greatly as a person so stop and reflect. What absolutely has to go? All jobs will make you slightly uncomfortable. There will always be something that makes you a little tight in the chest when you think, oh I have that on tomorrow. But there are other things, at least I know in my current job there is, which I really stress and dread over. It rolls over and over in my mind and it makes me feel awful, trapped almost. Understanding whats just a pain in the ass and whats really causing you to suffer will help you not overlook opportunities that could be really fulfilling and rewarding Once you have taken the time to think these through hopefully you will have a couple of buckets to refine. I am interested in creative therapies, small business ownership, writing, and business services. From there finding a few books that can give you more insight into the day in a life of can be really helpful. For example if I was interested in doing anything around therapy I would require some additional education. One quick easy way to see if this is just a romantic dream or something you actually want to do is to find out what the first year textbook list would be and purchase one (second hand will do) and read through the text. Finding something that keeps you interested enough to motivate yourself is the key. With writing I try to write something everyday. Most days this is fairly easy (as long as I have a purpose), if it felt like a chore every day then it probably wouldn't be for me. If you need a bit more help honing down the buckets try Strength Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath. I will be reviewing this book later this year. Ii was once told that there a four very different things - a hobby, a job, a career and a vocation. A hobby is an interst, something you enjoying doing just for fun, a job gets you paid, a career is a path that you may not always be doing the role that you want but are moving up the ladder in the right direction to it and finally a vocation is what you were put on this earth to do, it sings to you. Not all of us will have or want to have a hobby, career or vocation but we all need a job so don't throw the baby out with the bath water and try not to stress too much. In the meant time I would love to hear what has worked for you to find your career path particularity around career changes please respond in the comments section below. I went looking for quotes on female friendships this week and was saddened by the amount of negative or passive aggressive quotes on the beauty of female friendships. I truly believe that as women we thrive together and there is a desire in all women to have deep, meaningful, nourishing friendships with each other. That these kinds of friendships are in deed the norm. Be careful of what you post to social media, something that seems sweet or inline with your beliefs can also suggest that everybody else indeed does not share your values. We should all make an effort to remove the generalisation from society that woman are nasty, competitive, or backstabbing to each other. Our relationships with each other is one of the truly wonderful things about being a woman. #ImWithHer
I am always amazed by people who read, listen and watch so much content throughout the year. I love a wide variety of genre and story telling styles but really struggle to get through everything that peaks my interest. Although the fact that Christmas is only 5 and a bit weeks away makes me nauseous the one thing I am really looking forward to is finally getting to enjoy all the podcasts I've saved, books I've scribbled down on countless pieces of paper and TV shows jamming up my Foxtel IQ. (After compiling this list I realise a lot of my podcasts fav's link in to books - I will write a follow up blog soon with what you should be reading this summer!) Podcasts have deffiently been my go to this year as I have increased the amount of travel I do for work, particularly a lot of long distance driving. I struggled to find radio enjoyable anymore as so much of it seems to be quite negative, judgemental and attention seeking. I thought I might share what podcasts I have had a chance to enjoy if you are looking for something to keep you laughing out loud, pondering a few deeper issues or some light self development. Quiet: the power of introverts with Susan Cain. A short series of nine 25 minutes episodes. The overall discussion is around raising an introverted child as an extroverted parent. Although not a parent myself I am indeed and introvert who many people believe is extrovert. I found I have struggled accepting myself in the past as society does put extroverted traits up on a pedestal so I think her key points and unpacking of this topic around parenting really spoke to my inner child. It's empathetic, funny, interesting, informative and full of really partial advice. If you enjoy this and find you an relate or understand one of your loved ones better she has also written a book called Quiet which is a fantastic read. ssons with Elizabeth Gilbert. In 2016 author of #1 best seller Eat, Pray, Love Elizabeth Gilbert released her much anticipated book big Magic. Now I will be upfront that it is on my holiday to read list. I've been really excited about it but just haven't been able to fit it in so I skipped ahead and thought I would listen in to the podcast she hosts, also called Big Magic and it is pure joy!! I am chomping at the bit to get stuck in to the book itself but for now let's go over the podcast. Firstly I find Elizabeth's voice just my own aspiring creative New York fantasy wrapped up in a sound so I new I was on to a winner to start with. It's always difficult when you enjoy the subject matter but can't move past a particular pitch or tone of voice to enjoy it so I hope you too get lost in her deep no holding back New Yorker charm. Every two episodes relate to one query. So the first is just Elizabeth and some everyday Jane (or Joe) who has gotten in touch with Gilbert via Facebook seeking help on something related to releasing creativity. They talk through the particular issue and Elizabeth gives them advice on what she thinks they could do. It would be really easy here for Gilbert to keep plugging her book but she doesn't reference it much which makes the overall conversation much more authentic. The following episode will feature Gilbert talking to someone else well known in the creative space going over what the caller could do to resolve the query. Guest stars include Cheryl Strayed from Wild (if you haven't read this add it to your list immediately!) Life - Rebecca Dettman and Jane Donovan This is a secret pleasure of mine and won't be for everyone. A bit of spiritual guidance, some self help, a sprinkle of relationship advice and just a hint of a psychic. They push the boundaries of my beliefs and occasionally go down a path that's not for me but the overall general discussion I feel has something in it for everyone. Each week they release a 30 minute episode on a topic usually provided by their 'tribe' on facebook. The topics are broad from family dynamics, to boosting self-discipline, and coping with world tragedies. The relationship Jane and Rebecca have really makes it different from a lot of other self help/spiritual style podcasts and I feel the advice and discussion is inspiring and thought provoking. I usually tune in to these guys in the morning if the day before has been particularly dramatic. Its a great reminder on how much control we have on our experiences in life and how we respond and react to every day life challenges. Jane and Rebecca are both based in South Australia and available for one on ones should you want to take your learning to another level. Mamamia Outloud - The Mamamia network A weekly podcast for women, made by women. The whole range of podcasts within the Mamamia range are fabulous but Outloud has probably the most in it for everyone. The usual trio of hosts are Mia Freedman, Monique Bowely and Jessie Stephens but they do change it up with guests fairly frequently. Each episode is around 1 hour long and nothing is off the table of discussion. It can move from current affairs, feminist views, who's dating Prince Harry, what everyone had for dinner and what the latest fashion trends are. The thing I like most about this podcast is the feel of friendship. These women could be anybodies bestie and when you travel a fair bit or a living remote its provides the comfort of home and socialisation that you could be craving. These ladies are also intelligent, strong, funny and empathetic so I find a lot of inspiration and push to be a better human in general. Warning: You will laugh A LOT!! I hope you give 1, 2 or all of these podcasts a go this summer and find something that makes you , laugh, reflect, pulls you to action or just give you pure joy. I have a whole list of new podcasts that will be added to my playlist and will share a few reviews with you a bit later on. For a quick sneek peak I have listed some of them below.
Love, LH xx There are women everywhere today who sit in complete disbelief. Horrified by what they have witnessed. On a day that should of been a victory for women everywhere, another monumental crack in the glass ceiling, a memory to savour and share with your daughters and granddaughters in years to come, America voted, and America got it wrong.
This whole election has been a gross campaign of the over indulged, entitled, elite white male. His comments and beliefs about women, our rights, our roles in society, our bodies and our overall equality are sickening, I feel deeply saddened for America. That times are so tough that they have lost a sense of humanity. That somehow they have forgotten the years of rebellion that has led to the free world that they so lovingly chant. That the shame of their prior behaviours have been overlooked and a sexist, racist, bigoted celebrity is who they turn to. I don’t understand the 52% of white women who voted for Trump, I wonder what has gone on in their lives that they have put their very own respect, rights to their bodies and right to equality as second priority to whatever it is they think Donald is selling. I wonder how they turn to their daughters and grand-daughters and say I voted that this behaviour is better than the America we live in today. I am aware that employment is a key issue. That this hate that is being spruiked to Mexicans, Muslims, Chinese and all races, even their own the Black American, is because people are afraid. The global economy has changed and we have seen the rust belts of America suffer. I hope that it is from lack of education that America voted, that they genuinely believed the promise of jobs and a stronger economy could actually unfold from the ridiculous proposals put forward by Trump. For those middle class men and women who went to university, who understand the global market place and the realities of what is about to happen, shame on you. Trump’s acceptance speech was of a different line then what he has been vomiting throughout this campaign. There was slightly more reason and sensibility within it. But I don’t think anyone should be fooled, that his views that relate to his humanity and decency as a person are still the same Donald Trump we have seen for the last 20 years. So as women we need to rise above this, it is business as usual, one old white male is not stopping this train. The sisterhood is alive and well. #ImWithHer Today my faith in humanity, and more explicitly the sisterhood, was renewed. It was a beautiful day in Melbourne today so I was really excited to get in to some of my summer wardrobe. I put on my favorite red Cue skirt, a cute summer blouse and a great pair of peep toes heels that I haven't had the chance to wear in months. As I was early for a client meeting I decided to visit a cafe close by. The cafe looked like it would serve great coffee (being a Melbournian I am sadly the cliched coffee snob) with a modern decor, concrete floors and hipster looking wait staff. I was feeling really good and swept through the cafe with my Ted Baker tote in one arm and laptop in the other. As I approached the bench seat at the back the polished concrete floor suddenly felt like I was walking on ice and down I went. Crashing to the floor with a twist to my knee. Horrified and in a state of shock I stayed on the floor looking at my strewn handbag, completely confused and what had just happened. Two ladies who were chatting at a table close by quickly checked to see if I was okay. The waiter came over to help me back up and made comments such as 'that was very unfortunate for you' all the time avoiding any apology to not claim blame to the event. As I sat there with aching knees and grazes that I cant recall having since I must of been about ten years old, I glared at the overly polished concrete, There must be justice I thought. The surface is dangerous, not only did it injury me but it also significantly dented my confidence and upbeat mood. One of the ladies congratulated me on being able to save my laptop and I smiled back politely. I ordered my coffee and went on with my morning, trying to put the incident to the back of my mind. Time passed, the ladies left and I called the waiter over to order a green tea. The waiter then informed me that the ladies had paid for my coffee! I was so touched I almost got a bit teary. Oh that is so nice I gushed. "I know thats what I thought" piped the waiter. An we both smiled a warmly at each other. To me that is exactly what the sisterhood is about. You see another woman take a tumble figuratively or literately we should be there to help one another up. That kindness those women showed immediately eased my anger at the cafe and my embarrassment and I went on with my day seeing the day in all its glory and ready to embrace whatever came from it. In a time where people are filled with fear because the world is changing I really want to encourage women every where, you are not against one another, we are all for each other. Do you like receiving compliments? How about giving compliments, are you an every day'er or does something have to really impress you to speak up? How about with your friends, do you regularly share or is it for only certain friends? Does it always feel good to tell someone they are looking great, or is there that girl in the office you bite your tongue on? When I was in my early 20's I worked for a well known jeweller. The business had a very rigid 8 step sales process. The 2nd step was to walk past the customer and compliment them in a "I am busy doing shit but had to stop because that is just so eye catching' kind of way. While it was excellent practice at finding something lovely to say to most people, it was also incredibly artificial and has made me cringe a bit when receiving compliments. When you receive a compliment that feels contrived it leaves you feeling the opposite, that this top doesn't look great on you, actually its showing an abundant amount of back fat that you are pretending is not really there. A close friend of mine who is very beautiful recently observed that she rarely receives compliments from other women. She herself always takes the time to stop and tell someone they look great if she truly believes it, but she can watch a room of women compliment each other but somehow not one comes her way. And it made me think, what do compliments say about us? I thought about my own behavior and how it feels to compliment someone. I do enjoy seeing someone's face light up, and it makes me feel really good about myself. I can hear my mothers proud voice 'You are such a nice girl' and ten year old me is on cloud nine. I notice that I don't compliment as much as I could and I think this goes back to the days at the jeweller, not wanting to come across as a fraud. Other reasons for not receiving compliments could of course be because of our dear friend jealousy. By saying something nice about you it makes me feel small. Or a fear of exposure and lack of trust in that person. If I say your arms are looking great does that mean you now know I really hate my own arms. And by you knowing that will I get hurt? Sometimes it can be passive aggressive and almost a form of bullying if you ensure you hand out your warm fuzzy compliment gifts but leave out the girl you perceive to be queen bee. That by someone withholding your love for her killer jacket reduces the 'gap' you have in your mind. What about the person in your life who has the most visible confidence, to a point where you think it might be a bit too much confidence, do you compliment them? And if not, why not? As we know the people who come across as the most confidence are the ones with the most self doubt, to afraid to show any vulnerability. The thing people forget is that compliments are extremely powerful. As the compliment-er it gives you a lift, you feel wonderful doing a good deed, you strengthen your relationships with friends and acquaintances, people are drawn to others who make them feel good. As the receiver it energizes you. All day you go about your day-to-day with the reminder in the back of your head that you look great. Suddenly you know what your going to wear, because you got a compliment in that top, skirt, jacket, whatever. That one compliment can make a difference hours, days, weeks, months after it was received. So I call on all ladies everywhere to embrace the compliment. Make an effort today to find something beautiful in a friend, colleague or someone random in the street and TELL THEM. A compliment wont cost you a thing, but it can make a massive difference in someones day. LH xx This week's quote was selected as I was looking for inspiration for making key decisions in my life. I fell in love with the words and the image and thought its was just the little bit of inspo I needed, a nudge in the right direction. Enjoy! x
Its that time of year again ladies. Spring carnival is one of my favorite times of year. Not only does it mean we are moving out of the wet and into the glorious sunshine. But it is also one of the biggest fashion events on the calendar. Melbourne comes to life this time of year and you can see it on the faces of the people all around you. We get to don the fascinator, drink far to much bubbly and sticky break whats in the know according to our celebs, Below are a snapshot of my favorite looks and trends from the adults silly season.. Channel E! Host Ksenija Lukich in black and floral print lace. I love the contrast of the feminine pastel floral and simple black mesh. Bell sleeves and choker neckline are also ticking the boxes for me. Australian fashion royalty Jen Hawkins showed us exactly how it is done in these two classic numbers. The stunning Misha Collection jumpsuit was perfect for Melbourne Cup in a bright shade of red with matching accessories. Clearly the Jumpsuit is still very much a must have for the summer.. Her Oaks day ensemble was much more restrained in Talulah with laser cut lace and off the shoulder sleeve. E! News Anchor Maria Meounos turned up the heat her little black dress. Keeping it current with below a midi hemline and off the shoulder neckline. One of my favorite trends is the resurgence of colour blocking. It's simple and elegant, bright and vibrant. Nadia Bartel shows it off with these ridiculously fantastic sleeves, while Mel Singer shows us all why we love a good tailor. About 7 years ago I was battling through the highs and lows of my 20's. I had split from my long term boyfriend a few months before and had just had my heart broken by a very stereotypical rebound. I woke up one morning and discovered my chin was a very angry shade of red, with little lumps that were dry and scaly. My skin looked like it was peeling off. Horrified, as any woman would be, with my years of inexperience with skin conditions (I was pretty lucky as a teen despite my naturally oily skin complexion) I painted on as much foundation as I could. Determined that if I could just build up enough layers you wouldn't be able to see the murder scene underneath. Of course this didn't work, within an hour the condition had escalated and my face looked like an archaeological dig. The foundation highlighting every line of the peeling skin beneath. In my particularly fragile state of mind I burst into tears. My boss at the time, a very blokey bloke had no idea how to deal with a crying young woman, kindly let me head on home. I went straight to a girlfriends house who was home from university. She took one look at me and took be to the bathroom. She got rid of all the make-up and applied some soothing moisturizer. Instantly there was an improvement, but it was still a major issue. I was young and couldn't cope so I ended up going to my local GP. In all my time Dr. King at the Sunny Coast medical clinic was by far the best. She was always kind but firm. Thorough but in a gentle way. She diagnosed me with Rosacea and provided me with a cream call Rosex. A firm warning was also given that this is may not be the final time I come up against Rosacea. Six years pass with no repeat. I sort out where I am going in life and move to Melbourne. I meet an amazing guy, do a bit a of travelling and get a pretty good job. Post travelling life got pretty overwhelming. My father unexpectedly passed away, Tim and I decide to by our first home at the same time as I got promoted at work. Eight weeks in two my new jobs and my Rosacea has returned but morphed into a much scarier beast. The tiny red bumps swell over my chin, around my nose, my smile lines, creeping up my cheeks and a couple heading down my neck. I am put onto antibiotics for a month and again prescribed Rosex which sadly didn't work.. A year has now passed and my skin is no where near as bad as it was 12 months ago but I'll admit its still present on a daily basis. Just one spot here or there. Its nothing that stops me from enjoying my life but did hit my confidence pretty hard early on. It's important to understand that there is no 'cure' for Rosacea and there is no definitive answer on what causes it. So each case is unique to that individual. Certain things have shown an improvement in the majority of cases but no guarantees I am afraid. Below are a few things I've changed that I believe have made a noticeable difference. 1. Reduced my stress levels - I believe stress if my biggest trigger. Knowing that to begin made me stress out about stressing so I had to take a few measures early on to overcome it. I tried a number of different styles of meditation and incorporated what worked for me into my daily life. I make sure I get regular exercise, even if its just walking the dog and I put balance first. Learning how to switch off and making up for travelling more by being present in the moment when I am with my loved ones. 2. Soap-free, pH neutral face wash. - I have binned all my previous facial cleansers. Before I knew too much about Rosacea I tried a number of acne washes, masks, corrector's, the lot. If you was to continue to use a face wash which going through an episode of Rosacea it is important to ensure the product is pH neutral and soap free. Most acne washes have a high level of acid based ingredients that will only aggravate the symptoms. I use Dermaveen on a daily basis. It's $17 a bottle but lasts a good 3 months. it leaves my skin clean and reduced the redness. 3. Avoid overheating - This one was really hard for me. I love being cosy. I like to have 2 doona's on the bed and my showers are always extra hot. The problem here is this does make your skin flush which increases the redness and will have long lasting affects across the day. Try stick to a warm water temperature, particularly when washing you face and try get the bedroom nice and cool while resting. 4. Sunscreen - Connected to my point above the sun and it's powerful UV rays are like cryptonite to Rosacea. I am a complete summer bunny, when the sun's shinning and I am outside I am at my happiest, so obviously I didn't want to eliminate something from my life that gives me such joy. So now i use an light SPF 30 sunscreen everyday and where a hat if I am planning to get extensive exposure. I chose to use a standalone sunscreen over a moisturiser with sunscreen in it for two reasons. I found most day creams irritate my skin and the SPF max was typically only SPF 15 which isn't really enough for the Australian Sun. 5. Moisturise at night - Following on from the above I moisturise my face at night. I found night creams to not irritate my skin like day creams have. I currently use Garnier Miracle night cream and only put this on my skin where the Rosacea is not present. 6. Diet & Alocohol - This was one of the harder steps. As I mentioned Rosacea is unique to each person but there are some common foods that can cause a flare up. Because of this I choose not to eat/drink the following. On saying that this is not written in stone. I will occassionally cheat this but on a regular basis I make a choice to avoid: Yogurt, Chili, Coffee (decaf seems okay in moderation), Wine (red and white) and dried fruits. I used to have a glass of red wine every day when I cooked. I have now changed this to a 3 times a week habit and swap wine for Gin & Tonic. Its actually a nice refreshing change although I suspect when winter comes around again I will be craving the red wine again. 7. Water - Last but not least water is so important. Keeping hydrated keeps your skin soft and healthy, able to repair itself quicker and keeps your body temperature down. Don't underestimate the difference hydration can make to your Rosacea. There are some pretty expensive products on the market attesting to cure the symptoms of Rosacea. Through my experience if you are more mindful about what you expose and put on your skin as well as in your body you will see the best outcome. At the end of the day if everything persists talk to a Dermatologist. But also remember this could be a life lesson in resilience and loving yourself. Beauty is so much more then your skin. LH X As I have mentioned previously, I recently made a mistake that has impacted the timeliness of certain things in my future. I have endeavored to find the positive within the situation, which isn't always easy, but important none the less. What is clear to me so far is that I am so very lucky to have a supportive partner, who always wraps me in kindness, warts and all. I am none the less unhappy about the debacle and in an effort to turn my continual frown upside down, have taken up a photo challenge. The challenge is to take a photo of something that inspires me, makes me happy or takes my breath away with beauty every day, For at least 7 days. I was nervous at first that I would not be able to find something worthy each day, I live what I would call an ordinary life. I go to work, come home exhausted during the week and see friends and family over weekends. My life is not, what Instagram so kindly tells me, a photogenic life should look like. It is now day three and I have taken a good 30 photos so far. There is so much that is around me that gets my creative juices flowing or makes my heart sing. It is Autumn in Melbourne which is probably my favorite season. I always thought it was summer but a warm day in Autumn really is like no other. I love the bright green trees that look almost illuminated by the sun, the golden yellows,ruby reds and aubergine leaves that provide such a beautiful contrast to the shinning blue sky. The noise of crunching and childlike glee as you stomp through the fallen leaves. The beautiful breeze in the air, bringing such a delightful relief from the summer heat and warmth from the cool change, that stirs in the in-between season. Watching my beautiful pup stand still while the wind envelopes him, eyes closed, ears blowing, just enjoying the sensation, We have such good food in Melbourne. We are blessed with flavorful produce and juicy meats. I made a Risotto the other night and it was magic in my mouth, like all of Italy had a magnificent party right there, in my mouth, with every bite. Pleasure. Happiness. Love. It is all around us, it can be found in so many different ways. Its how you embrace it, how you open your eyes and accept it that will give you the most joy. Flows and Ebbs, Hills and valleys, I am always grateful for my life. |
AuthorWoman. Lover. Fur Mother. Creative Archives
December 2016
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