Tres Lola

How to Beat the Work or Study Blues

2010-02-07T18:13:00.002+11:00

At some point in the year we will invariably experience a slump in our usual motivation to perform our jobs or study. This is especially so after returning from holidays. With exciting memories of the weeks past filling our mind, it can be difficult to refocus our attention towards our work or study. Every day tasks seem mundane and pale in comparison to the time we spent away. New people, places and experiences, or even just the opportunity to have total control over how we spend our waking hours can fill our mind with grand ideas, exciting plans and a freshly adjusted sunny disposition and zest for life.

Photo by scui3asteveo.
The problem with this is that our inspired thoughts seem to dissipate with our return to our usual daily grind. One way to combat the back to work and study blues is to choose to own these inspired thoughts wholly and keep them in mind even after the holidays have come to an end. Identifying the way time off makes you feel and considering other ways to replicate or continue those feelings can assist greatly in bringing more positivity and motivation into your usual routine.

Here are a few ideas on how to recapture the holiday glee:

Plan your next holiday
Whether it's a European escape, a few days hiking in the nearby national park or a weekend spa escape, pencil it into your diary and give yourself something to look forward to. Planning an exciting event for each weekend is also great for maintaining motivation throughout the week - it need not be grand, but a trip to the markets, a night out with your mates, a show at the theatre, a trip to the beach, a lunch with girlfriends or any other activity that might be on offer in your town.

Get Organised
Use your day planner to make to-do lists and tick off each item as you go. Make a trip to your local stationary store to get filing trays, folders, post-it notes, notepads, pens - take control of your work or study load and equip yourself for success.

Use Words to Create an Inspiration Board
Clip magazines and newspapers with words that you identify with being on a break from your routine and brainstorm ideas on how to make these feelings happen regularly. For example, if holidays make you feel grateful, you could consider making a list of all the things that you are grateful for each morning. If your break makes you feel refreshed, consider mixing up your routine to replicate the feeling, say have freshly squeezed OJ with your breakfast or go for a brisk walk each morning. Keep the ideas you come up with close by, pinned up on your wall or in your work cubicle.

Health Blitz
This doesn't necessarily mean you must give up your mid-morning brownie, but consider smaller healthy changes such as drawing up an exercise schedule and moving towards more balanced meals. Research new activities to get into this year. Are there hula-hooping groups or a roller rink nearby? Exercising can boost your energy and help you pull yourself out of a rut. Fresh foods have a similar positive effect on your body. Check out the local farmers market at the weekend and pick up some organic vegetables and look online for a new way to use them. Teach yourself a few simple new weeknight meal ideas.

Attend Industry Events
Whether for the industry you currently work in or a studying to enter, attending industry events can be valuable for keeping abreast of industry developments, networking and getting excited about the intricacies of your industry. Use LinkedIn, newspaper community columns or local industry websites to find events, presentations or conferences happening near you.

What do you do to kick the work or study blues?

How To Celebrate The 80's

2010-02-04T08:34:00.000+11:00

The eighties were big. Big hair, big jewelery, big neon colour, big amounts of spandex, big bold makeup, big everything. While most decades tend to be easily defined, the noughties seem to be preoccupied with throwbacks to the all those fabulous decades gone before them. However, the 80's often get overlooked for their gaudiness. They could easily be defined as the era of tacky... but they were a time to be apologetically bold and fabulous too. Madonna was like a virgin, Spandau Ballet were gold, Olivia Newton-John was getting physical and Cyndi Lauper just wanted to have fun.

Photo by Kekka.

Whether or not you experienced it first hand, the 80's were a decade not likely to be forgotten. Let us celebrate them in all their colourful, gaudy exuberance!

How To Pay Tribute To The 80's:

Crimp your hair and tease it up nice and big.

Throw on some leg warmers and a headband and dance along with Jennifer Beals in Flashdance.

Jump on Youtube and revisit the Care Bears.

Hunt ebay for a vintage scratch & sniff tshirt.

Do it like Madonna: layers of pears, lacy stockings and big blonde teased hair.

Work it in spandex leggings for some ultra 80's glam.

Channel Boy George with bold makeup. Bright eyeshadow! Red Lips! Blush! Extra points: grab yourself some sequinned tails and find somewhere fabulous to party.

Dust off the Spandau Ballet records & get lip-synching to Gold & True.

Shoulder pads belong to the 80's, but the noughties brought a resurgence in this trend

Do the Nutbush.

Aerobics it up in a hi-cut leotard over neon bike shorts

Have Molly Ringwald movie marathon: Sixteen Candles (1984), The Breakfast Club (1985) and Pretty In Pink (1985).

Grab your friends for an 80's slumber party or if you're feeling brave, rock out 80's style and go public with your throw back love affair.

Now this list is just getting started on how you could pay tribute to the 1980's, that's where you come in - whats your favourite part of 80's style? What 80's music gets you going? How would you celebrate the 80's?

Weekly Words [oh-two-oh-two-twenty-ten]

2010-02-02T16:37:00.007+11:00

I'm on my second day of 4:45am wake up calls. This is because I've not yet moved into my new, much closer to college campus, apartment. This means that my daily commute is quite a long journey. I think if this sort of day continues I'm going to have to start taking Nanna naps at about 2pm. The upside to long train journeys is that I have a lot of time to read and write. However, rather than inducing enviable productivity, the morning journey occurs pre-caffeination and thus results in live-tweeting as I read The Australian, rather than clever analysis or comment for my blogs.

This week on Tres Lola I'll be talking about celebrating the 80's, beating the back to work/school blues and body image (which I also touched on a few weeks back in this article about naked and unretouched Jennifer Hawkins). In yesterdays Australian Daily Telegraph, it was reported that Australian women have the highest rising obesity rate. Which got me to thinking, why is this the case? A male commenter touched on what is probably quite a likely contributing mindset to increasing weight gain amongst women when he said "Food is fuel, it isn't recreation, eat when you're hungry, not bored ".

Earlier this week I noticed a tweet from Natalie about the fat acceptance movement and the lack of media coverage it receives (at least, here in Australia). When asking her whether she believed a movement of this sort really deserved greater media attention, she replied that she didn't believe any person deserved to be demonised based on their body type. And I agree with this sentiment whole-heartedly. I know I could never consider judging the worth of a person based upon what size pants they wear.

In saying that, on a personal level, I think that we place too much of a link between our body image or size and our self worth. But when it comes to 'fat acceptance', comfort in ones own skin can be a positive, but I must err on the side of health. We must also acknowledge that being underweight can be just as damaging as being overweight. The only questions I pose when considering my weight are: am I healthy (ie. how is my energy, have I been poorly a lot lately?) and do I feel good about me? If I can answer both of those questions with a yes, that is good enough for me. There will be more on this on Tres Lola this Thursday.

Onwards to contentious topic #2: Late last week I attended a talk by radical British climate sceptic, Christopher Monckton. I wrote an article about his presentation that you can read here. You may know, my hometown is Newcastle, Australia. Newcastle is the worlds largest coal exporter. While this is most certainly not a feat to boast of, it gives some context as to the sort of receptive crowd (consisting largely of people around my grandparents age group) Monckton met with when he addressed Newcastle. To hear so many allowing fear of a loss of traditional industry in Newcastle result in mockery of climate science, and those who lobby in favour of it, was disheartening. However, as I write this on my train journey back to Newcastle, I can over hear a mother explaining wind power to her young son, my faith is renewed and the enviro-activist in me is encouraged.

Whichever side of the climate argument you find yourself on, surely both sides can come together to agree that a move towards sustainable energy is positive for the new jobs it will create and the economic prosperity it will bring about. If we want to operate a capitalist society, the least we can do is to capitalise on natural resources, such as wind and solar rather than coal, in a way that will ensure that not only us lot in the United States, Britain and Australia are enjoying all the luxuries our industrialised societies afford us, but that we give developing nations such as Bangladesh and island nations like the Maldives a fair go too. And, if, a time comes where all the incredibly learned climate scientists and economists are proven to have miscalculated the effect of our carbon emissions on the environment, we will still have developed a new industry to bolster our economies, provide jobs for our families and ensure that even after we have exhausted our oil and coal reserves, we can still enjoy our lifestyles.

What are your thoughts? What's going on in your world this week?

Are You Pouring On The Pounds?

2010-01-30T08:15:00.001+11:00

When we consider our overhauling our diet ('diet' referring, in this case, to the type of food you regularly consume, not a crash new eating style you're trialling in order lose weight), there is often much greater focus placed on the type of food we consume, rather than the liquid proportion of our dietary intake. Given the amount of sugar and kilojoule level in a can of soft drink or a frappacino, we can not afford to overlook the key role consuming liquids can play in maintaining a healthy body.

Another component that we tend to overlook when it comes to our diets, purposely or otherwise, is the kilojoule content in the drinks we consume when out on the town, and the effect they have on our health. Frighteningly, we can overshoot our recommended daily kilojoule intake in just a few hours on a Friday evening on cocktails, beer or wine.

Photo by tonx, Doblonaut and balaam.

As with the food we eat, drinks like frappacinos or cans of soft drink are okay in moderation. You wouldn't eat a take out burger followed by a chocolate brownie every day, so why consume a similar level of kilojoules, fats and sugars in liquid form? It is important to be conscious of exactly what it is we are ordering when out and about so that we can make smarter choices.

So which drinks taste great but also work for observing a healthy, balanced diet?

For Get Up & Go - In The Morning

Espresso is the best choice when it comes to coffee, but an americano is not far behind. If you like a milkier alternative, try a flat white (or latte) but opt for skimmed or soy and go easy on the syrups, sugar or honey - become a coffee purist!

The er, confidently named, Pussy, is an all natural canned energy drink.

Berocca provides the boost you need, minus all the stuff that clogs arteries and adds inches!

To Enjoy At Anytime

Green Tea contains loads of antioxidants and is delicious!

A cup of Rooibos Tea has a nutty yet mildly sweet flavour and contains zero calories.

Iced Water or better yet, water with flavoured ice cubes. Get a little fancy and make up a tray of minted ice cubes or fresh fruit ice cubes to pop into a pint of water.

Flavoured mineral water is an option where we are quite spoiled for choice in the range of flavours available, what about trying apple and ginger or lemon and lime?

When Out On The Town

Spirits contain fewer calories than beer or wine. Enjoy neat or over ice. If you need a mixer, choose fruit juice rather than soft drink.

What do you choose to drink when keeping in mind a healthy, balanced diet?

Tips On How To Prevent Jet Lag

2010-01-28T08:00:00.001+11:00

Photo by Surat Lozowick.

Traveling can bring with it some of the best life experiences a person can have, but with the exciting merriment that is travel comes long haul flights and the consequent jet lag that so often follows. Jet lag is a form of fatigue caused when we cross timezones, our body wants to keep kicking with the old schedule even when we arrive at our new destination. The best advice one can take on board (!) is to be grateful for the experience and privilege of travel. It is incredible that in less than a day we can journey from the Middle East to England or from Canada to Mexico.

Once you've got the gratitude established, here are some practical tips to make the long haul journey a little smoother and ease jet lag at the other end:

If you are flying out late in the afternoon or evening, it is a good idea to sleep in, or ensure a full nights sleep, prior to the day of your flight. A lot of people have trouble sleeping, or getting quality sleep, while on a flight. By ensuring you a well rested prior to flying, you will better prepare you body for the journey.
Try to get into an immediate habit of keeping with the new timezone that you enter (struggle through the day if you must) but have an early night. If you sleep when the city sleeps and rise when it rises, you'll find yourself getting used to your new time zone much sooner.
One good way of observing the previous point is to select a flight that arrives some time in the afternoon or evening local time. This way you need only stay awake for a few hours before getting some proper down time in a real bed, which is always welcome after a long haul flight.
Don't drink alcohol while on a long haul flight, instead, keep hydrated with water & fruit juices. Also try to limit caffeine intake while on the flight as it too can cause greater dehydration.
Eat you meals. The hostesses will serve them on a schedule that will make sense for the destination you are arriving into. For example, if you're flying into London and arriving in the evening, the last meal you are served will be dinner. By eating your meals, you can assist in getting your body clock in shuffling on into your new timezone.

What's you top tip for avoiding jet lag? More importantly, what exciting destination were you heading for when discovering your pearl of advice?

Weekly Words [twenty-five-oh-one-twenty-ten]

2010-01-26T00:46:00.003+11:00

Sometimes when writing Tres Lola, I am just bursting with the urge to tell you about all the stuff that's kind of fabulous to me, which I often do, on twitter, but sometimes I'd like more than 140 characters. For this reason, once a week, I'm going to take a wee break from the usual style of articles and share more. After much pondering, I've come up with the rather uncreative title of 'Weekly Words'. But don't let my not-so-hot title writing skills put you off, I'll try and keep the post full of fabulous to make up for the lack-lustre title. This will be a space for me to share the motivation behind my posts. It will also be a place for me to share the stuff that has been playing most heavily on my mind and going on in my world. I'd love to hear about what's been going on with you too.

So here it is, the inaugural Weekly Words, feedback is appreciated, so do let me know if you believe this feature to be utter rubbish, though telling me it's not too rough would also be awesome...

I don't know if you guys read Problogger and Zen Habits, but I do and recently I listened to an interview Darren of Problogger conducted with Leo Babauta from Zen Habits. When it comes to blogging, Darren and Leo know their stuff. Leo was speaking about where he gains his inspiration for blog posts. What he said was something that I think really resonates and sums up what is true for most bloggers and certainly for me, "My life is my fountain of ideas...you can never really run out of ideas when you look at your own life, what works and what doesn't and what you can share with others".

This week I posted my second article on how to wear harem pants, the first post I did on harems is one of the most popular posts on Tres Lola and the post I did this week is a follow up that talks about how to style harem pants both casually and a little more formally. I followed my own advice and got into the casual harem look when I popped into town for a coffee this week (see image above left). I also wrote this week about relationships, how to get over break ups by focusing on rebuilding self-esteem and also how to know if it's time to give your best buddy the flick. The post about toxic friends elicited a surprisingly strong reaction in the comments, on twitter and in emails which got me to thinking - when it comes to friendships, we've all had our fair share of bad experiences, but we've come out the other side with greater tenacity and confidence.

Speaking of friendships, I'll be making my way to Sydney's north shore tomorrow to celebrate Australia Day by the pool at a BBQ hosted by one of my Sydney best girlfriends. I'm sure our soundtrack for the day will be Triple J's hottest 100 countdown - an annual music poll that catalogs the hottest 100 songs from the past year according to the listeners and an Australia Day tradition. But as the nation pauses to enjoy a day away from the office, indulging in BBQ's and sunshine, the plight of the Aboriginal people won't be far from my mind. Many Australians refer to January 26th as Invasion Day, and with good reason. History recognises that Captain Cook colonised Australia in 1788, but long before he arrived, the Aboriginal people called Australia home. Our history is full of shameful occasions of abuse against the Aboriginal people typified by experience of the stolen generation of Aboriginal children. While we now live a much more harmonious existence, I'll continue to believe we white folk have a lot to learn from the traditional owners of this land.

Before I sign off, I must turn my attention to Haiti. By now, most of us have contributed what we can afford to one of the many campaigns to help earthquake devastated Haiti. What I'd like to ask each of you to do will not cost anything and it won't take more than 2 minutes of your time. Long after Haiti ceases trending on twitter, Haitians and those working with them will be continuing to rebuild their nation. The road ahead is long and the path to full recovery is many years off. To give Haiti a real chance, we need to ask that the International Monetary Fund drop Haiti's $641 million debt. It's a roadblock in Haiti's road to recovery but by coming together we can demand real justice for Haiti. Let's give Haiti a chance - to add your name to the list of thousands who have already signed on pledging their support, please click here.

"...even as [donations] flow in, Haiti is sending money out--to pay off national debts run up by corrupt governments in years past. Haiti should not be worrying about debt to the International Monetary Fund as families are digging through rubble. At a moment like this, global financial institutions won't be able to ignore a worldwide outcry. Help lift a massive burden from Haiti's ability to rescue, recover, and rebuild -- let's raise a million voices for emergency debt relief for Haiti." Avaaz

This ridiculously long post was written on a slow train to Sydney made pleasant with a soundtrack of Queen, Peaches, Florence + the Machine, Lisa Mitchell and the Prodigy.

What's been going on in your world this week?

Is It Time To Ditch Your Best Mate?

2010-01-24T08:48:00.004+11:00

Throughout our lifetimes we will encounter thousands of people. Some of these people will become our best friends, soul mates and life partners, others nothing more than a kind stranger that inspired a thought. Be it our teachers, fellow students, flatmates, travel buddies, baristas, fellow commuters, hairdressers, preachers, bosses; the people we encounter will offer us words and experiences that will help shape us in a myriad of ways.

Consider your friendship circle. Some of us adore being surrounded by large groups of people, not all similarly as close, but all of whom would comfortably be referred to as a mate. There are also those who are more than happy to count their friendships on one hand, opting for a close knit and more intense style of friendship group. Then there is a third group, those who fall somewhere in between, quite close to 1 or 2 friends while maintaining that large extended chosen-family. However you choose to structure your friendships, one universal rule remains relevant – that is to ensure quality friendships are nurtured and toxic ones are purged.

Photo by saaam.

It's important to choose friendships, rather than merely allowing them to prosper out of convenience. Our friends are so influential and we need to ensure that the relationships are predominantly positive, affirming, inspiring and healthy.

If you feel that a friend has been acting out or has callously hurt you on numerous occasions, the most important question to ask when considering their spot in your social network is:

Is their negative behaviour out of character?

If it is, it's time for some one on one time to try and nut out the problem. Chances are your mate is really needing a friend right now. However, approaching a friend to chat about out of character behaviour should be done with care - your friend may not have realised they were acting any different to usual and may feel offended if you boisterously accuse them of doing so.

Try spending some time speaking about how they've been recently, chat about their work, studies, partner, other friends or any family to attempt to uncover any issues that may be impairing their usually fabulous demeanor.

However, if someone in your life is consistently dragging you down and bringing negativity into your life and unwilling to relent in this type of behaviour – the best step is to acknowledge that while the friendship may once have been something amazing and complimentary, it is no longer so, and it is consequently time to farewell the toxic friendship. You owe it to your self to pursue only relationships that are mutually healthy and rewarding.

Photo by CakeFace Originals.

Not all relationships are meant to last forever, but from each relationship we will gain insight and wisdom important to propelling us closer towards being our best self. Part of being the best person you can be is about surrounding yourself with the best people for you. So take the time to consider your friendships, have the important conversations and make the tough decisions.

We are the sum of our experiences, good and bad, and our friends are key players in our script, that is why we must take stock of who we keep close to us.

Have you ever had to work through a tough time with a mate? What about culling someone from your life all together? How did you manage?

6 Ways To Get Over A Break Up

2010-01-22T08:52:00.005+11:00

The break down of an intimate relationship or close friendship causes our self esteem to be dealt a substantial blow. We are often left feeling disorientated about our place in the world and we can forget how we ever existed before the relationship. We struggle to decipher a path to move forward because the person who would once have been our key support through tough times is now the reason we are trying to heal. With our confidante estranged, we must rally mates, make new ones and for some part, go it alone.

Photo by Martha.
We should take this opportunity to reestablish our concept of self, build up our self-esteem and make up for opportunities that we may not have acted upon while in a relationship. It's important to focus on self-confidence and self-love. Relationships and friendships break down for any number of reasons: from life priorities and key interests being too different to clashing personality types or simply from growing apart.

Break ups don't happen because we aren't good enough, a break up is about two people, not one. However, focusing merely on the idea that we are still fabulous despite, losing our closest ally, isn't necessarily going to lift the cloud of gloom that is not doubt rubbishing our self-confidence and making the world seem like it's spinning in gray-scale. Feel fabulous is hard when you don't believe you are, in fact, fabulous.

There are a number of ways we can recapture the awesome that is us without a plus one, here are a few ideas:

1. Rebuild up your self-esteem

Do something you are good at but haven't had time to do in a while: running, creative writing, baking, theatre, making music, sewing your own clothes, knit a scarf.

Do something people will thank you for: volunteer your time, teach or tutor, bake for someone.

Learn a new skill: play the guitar, take ballet classes, learn to ice-skate, take Spanish language lessons.

Set a goal and start working towards meeting it: train and run a marathon, write an outline for your novel, make a fundraising goal for your favourite charity and organise a fundraiser to meet it, book a stall at the markets and start making stuff to sell.

2. Enjoy sunshine and fresh air

Plan a weekend getaway.

Get up and walk each morning.

Sit outside with a glass of wine and watch the sun set each evening.

Commit to lunch time in the park each day.

Walk to work instead of taking the bus.

Lay in the park to write.

Have you morning coffee in your garden rather than kitchen.

Use the time out in the fresh air to think, be thankful, gain clarity and look to the bigger picture.

3. Focus on your health

Be conscious of the food you are putting into your body: try increasing your energy by upping your fresh fruit and veggie intake. Have a flick through cooking magazines or recipe websites and find a new way to cook your favourite food. If you feel your current diet isn't working for you, try a new way of approaching food - would vegetarianism or more raw food work for you? Trial a new style of cooking and eating, even if only for one day a week.

Use you gym membership or get outside & move more: it is widely acknowledged that the best and most sustainable way to maintain a healthy body is to eat well and move more. In the aftermath of a relationship break down, you undoubtedly have more time to spend focusing on yourself, you should use this time wisely and start an exercise program. Get to the gym four times a week, join a netball team, start dance classes, go jogging. Figure out what sort of physical activity works best for you. A positive and sustainable work out routine is one that you feel happy and excited to get into.

Photo by dotbenjamin.

4. Do something you never thought you could

Love dancing, vintage knickers and Dita Von Teese? Why not take a burlesque class or create your own routine?

Are you in awe of those marathon runners? Get training, register for a half marathon and keep working up to complete your first full marathon. Do it as a fundraising event for charity if you require extra motivation.

Do you bake fancy cupcakes every weekend? Why not apply for a stall at your local market and give selling your creations a go?

Are you a wonder with a knitting needle? List a few of your items on Etsy.

Do you write short stories? Why not put together a plot outline and start work on a novel?

Do you have a killer small business idea? Take a business course or find a mentor and make the first steps towards making your plan reality.

Fancy yourself an adventurer? Put down a deposit on that adventure holiday you've always dreamed of and open an account to start saving the rest of the money you'll need.

5. Avoid couples traps

Acknowledge that some places won't be happy places for you right now. Avoid them for a little while, or be bulletproof with a best mate at your side.

Don't do brunch if that was your 'us' thing. Do coffee and do it somewhere new, do it with your mate, do it with a copy of Vogue. Do it 'you' style, not 'us' style.

Don't go to a romantic comedy and expect it to make you feel warm and fuzzy immediately post-breakup. It won't. All of the couple moments will make you want to cry or throw things and all of the desperately-unhappy-single-girl moments will resonate and help you wallow in self-pity. Be smart, avoid the couple stomping grounds, for now.

6. Let there be change

Your routine will alter, but you need to accept that a different way to spend a Saturday won't ruin your life. Better still, try and accept that it may be even more fun than before.

Your circle of friends may change, it may not work to see some of the mutual friends and you need to work out who you need to spend time with in the post-break up period. You may feel lonely at first, but space away from reminders of your ex partner or bestie will give you time to decide what kind of friend is most important to you.

Your priorities may change and you need to ensure you are focusing on what is most important and best for you. You can listen more closely to your dreams & desires... and act on them.

Give yourself examples of the tried and true. Consider times when change has made your life far better than ever anticipated. Realise that it can and will happen again.

Remember that you don't need to make massive changes to start fresh after a break you. Your best you is still there. You need to recapture the parts of you that may have let slide or act on those little desires you ignored or relegated to the 'one-day' part of your mind when you were comfortably coupled up. You need to grab hold of all those shining qualities you exhibited in your relationship: caring, giving, loving, generous, self assured - all of the great characteristics that make you YOU don't get pushed into relationship purgatory at the end - they are still there and able to be harnessed into the rebuilding of a fabulous single version of you.

Over to you, what works for you after the break down of a close relationship? How do you pep up and move forward?

How To Take Harem Pants From Day to Night

2010-01-20T21:17:00.004+11:00

sounder3
Originally uploaded by Idhren

Harem pants are an adaptable pant that can very easily take you from schlepping about the markets during the day to hitting a wine bar in the evening. By simply changing your choice of footwear, adding a blazer or accessorising, you dress up harem pants in just a few minutes. This versatility makes harem pants the perfect choice to pack when traveling, or as your outfit of choice when you're not sure where the day will take you.

Here are some ideas about how you can convert your harem pants from casual day wear to sophisticated evening attire:

1. Shoes: Go with simple flats for day wear and ankle boots or patent heels for the evening.

Photos by Nathan Branch and Creations Look Divine.

2. Accessories: Keep accessories minimal for daytime, some chunky wooden bangles or a necklace should do. For the evening you could wrap pearls around your neck, wear big hoop earrings, fix a fascinator to your hair or try wearing a vintage lace collar to smarten your look.

Photos by r0b1 and Wedding Fascinators.

3. Jacket: A button down cardigan works well for the day time, but when evening strikes, try a leather (or faux) bomber jacket or a cropped blazer.

Photos by Idhren.

4. Top: During the day a great way to balance your baggy harem pant is with a fitted tshirt. For the evening, however, a lace collared cotton shirt or ruffled front button down with a waistcoat to add shape will formalise and sophisticate the outfit.

Photos by kT LindSAy and Sorrowfree.

If you enjoyed this article, you may also be interested in How To Wear Harem Pants.

How do you style your harem pants?

5 Incredible Trips to Start Saving For

2010-01-12T12:40:00.002+11:00

Whether you go it alone or jump on a tour bus, traveling is an adventure that will create memories that last a lifetime and change the way you view the world. You'll meet an eclectic mixture of people, see breathtaking scenery, do things that remind you you're capable of anything and you'll see things that give you purpose beyond doubt.

The world is riddled with incredible locations: the bustling bright lights of cosmopolitan cities, the narrow cobbled lane ways of European towns, the rainforests of South America, the mountains of Tibet, the glaciers of New Zealand's South Island and the lakes and mountains of Canada. With such boundless opportunities and with so much to see, what better opportunity to begin saving for future adventures than the turning of the decade and the commencement of a fresh year.

Here are some ideas to excite you into opening a savings account called 'My Awesome Adventure':

1. Peru
Home to the Amazon rainforest, Lake Titicaca, Machu Picchu, Inca Trail and Colca Canyon - breathtaking nature and ancient ruins make Peru a must see destination for anyone heading to South America.

Early morning in Machu Picchu, Peru. Photo by pedrosz.

2. Europe
A diverse offering of culture and sightseeing: romance the Eiffel Tower in Paris, tour the red-light district and canals of Amsterdam, marvel at the ancient Colosseum in Rome, visit the beer halls of Germany, go island hopping in Croatia and ride a gondola in Venice.

San Pietro, Rome. Photo by Giampaolo Macorig.
3. Tibet
Tibet is an ancient land, steeped in culture and home to the mountainous scenery of the Himalayas. Visit the UN World Cultural Heritage site of Potala Palace, home to many Tibetan historical treasures. Tour the ruins of Guge Kingdom. Visit Samye Monastery, the oldest Tibetan temple and the first Buddhist monastery built in Tibet. Enjoy the physical beauty of the land with a journey to the Northeast ridge route to Everest base camp and Rongbuk Glacier.

Gonkha, Tibet. Photo by reurinkjan.

4. New Zealand
Aotearoa, the land of the long white cloud, unique for it's diverse abundance of natural beauty. New Zealand's South Island is home to some of the most breath taking natural landscapes you'll ever have the pleasure of laying eyes upon. From Queenstown's snow capped mountains and vast lakes, to the glaciers of the West Coast, the serene beauty of Milford Sound to the sea side charm of Kaikoura, the thermal hot springs of Hanmer to the pretty Lake Wanaka. Continue your travels across to the North Island where you'll kick-start your time in windy Wellington, continue upwards where you'll find the countries largest lake, Lake Taupo, Rocky Horror fans should stop off in Hamilton to pay homage to the Riff Raff statue on the main street before continuing onwards to the countries biggest city, Auckland. There is something for everyone in New Zealand.

Queenstown, on New Zealand's South Island. Photo by treslola.

5. Canada
Take the train through the Rocky Montains and explore their tranquility and natural beauty that is abundant in Canada. Go hiking at Whistler, stand in awe of Maligne Canyon, visit the stunning Lake Louise or bath in natural hot springs while surrounded by snowy peaks in British Columbia.

Lake Louise, Canada. Photo by ahisgett.

What is at the top of your list of must-see destinations?

Are You Wearing the Wrong Bra?

2010-01-10T08:53:00.003+11:00

Oprah recently revealed that only 2 in every 10 women are wearing the correct size bra. Wearing a bra that doesn't fit can not only detract from your appearance but the can also lead to heath problems such as backache and poor posture. Uncovering the rules of intimate apparel, answering the questions you feel you should probably already know the answers to, here are some tips on how best to be caring for your bras:

Photo by Daquella manera, HippolyteBayard.

How long should I keep my bra?
This depends on how you care for your bra and how often you wear it. The generally agreed time period amongst experts is around 6-12 months. This is because beyond this period of time, the elasticity can deteriorate and it's likely that your bra will no longer be offering you the support that you need.

If you hand wash your bras, you can expect an extended life when compared with bras that have been machine washed.
If you wear one bra several times a week while keeping another for special occasions only, it is more likely that you will get more life out of that special occasion bra.

How often can I wear my bra?
As a rule, you should try not to wear a bra for more then 2-3 days at a time. Sports bras should be washed after every wash. As a bra is intimate apparel, it is important to keep it clean, particularly if you feel sweaty or dirty such as may be the case during the warmer months. It's also important to ensure you are giving your breasts the best possible support by rotating and caring for your bras regularly. The more often you wear a bra, the more likely you are to need to replace it sooner as the support becomes worn out.

How should I wash my bra?
Hand washing your bra will extend the life of the bra. If you machine wash your bra, run a delicate/gentle cycle using cool water. Also be sure to fasten the bra clasps and use a lingerie bag to protect your bra during the wash. You can pick up a wash bag in the lingerie or hosiery section of most department stores.

Why does it look like I have four boobs/back fat?!
You're wearing the wrong sized bra. If the bra is too small, it can have the same sort of effect on your upper body that a pair of too-small skinny jeans can have on your mid-section (hello muffin top!). The same goes for the lumpy look that occurs when your bra cup is too tight across your breast, causing you to look like you have four lady lumps, rather than two. These problems can be easily solved by ensuring you are wearing the correct sized bra. For best results, get a professional bra fitting.

Why is wearing the right bra size important?
Wearing the correct bra size can improve your posture, offer greater support, improve your shape and provide a higher level of comfort. Lumpy and saggy boobs are just some of the problems that plague us ladies in way of our appearance when we wear the incorrect sized bra. The good news is that it's an easy problem to correct, next time you find yourself in the vicinity of a lingerie or department store, speak to one of the staff about being fitted for a bra. They will be more than happy to help you out and the benefits outweigh any embarrassment you may feel about stripping your t-shirt off for a few minutes.

Which bra sins are you guilty of? What's your number one tip for looking after your bras?

25 Ways to Program Your Environment for Success

2010-01-08T08:18:00.001+11:00

"Program your environment for success" Dr Phil
Dr Phil says it best, if you want to achieve success in whatever it is you set out to do, you must first enable that success. Take a look at what you're doing. Decide what works, and importantly, what doesn't. Shake things up, try new ways of doing what you're doing, make goals and make them measurable (ie. I'd like to write 1000 words on my novel by the end of the week, not I'd like to work more on my novel by the end of the week). Here are a few ways you can make your physical space more conducive to encouraging personal and professional success.

Desk

have what you need within reach
throw out pens that don't work, sharpen pencils that are blunt, and no, you do not need 25 pen and pencil options, simplify
have a recycle bin for waste paper
keep it simple, don't distract with too much 'personal stuff' ie. photographs pinned up behind the computer, papers that don't relate to the work you're trying to achieve
adjust your chair and if it just isn't working or you, invest in one that does
keep a jug of water close by

You can't have the mountains, you can have the Tibetan prayer flags. Photo by nickgoesglobal.
Apartment / Bedroom

put up a calender, use it
clean: vacuum, dust, wipe and put stuff where stuff belongs
declutter: make places for everything and put everything in it's home
have stuff that inspires positive thinking: framed photos, Tibetan prayer flags, vogue fashion spreads, bobble head toys, photos of orangutans, lace drapes, fresh flowers, glow in the dark stickers on the roof, fairy lights, twister doona/duvae cover, words like 'success' or 'triumph' or 'prosperity' or 'victory' scrawled in lipstick on your mirror
make a space for work and a space for rest/play etc
clean out wardrobe: unworn for months? donate/sell
open the curtains and the windows, let in the natural light and fresh air

Computer and Online

clean up your desktop, make folders, use them, update your wallpaper, create a notepad file on your desktop for recording random thoughts and information
clear your email inbox, reply to everything that requires response, set up folders/tags and file or archive important notes
make a contact list or add contact details to your address book so that you have access to important email addresses in one location
use your Google calender, sync it with your phone (if it has the capability)
make a list daily, keep focus, tick it off as you go
streamline your social media accounts, make sure your avatar is the same across all
clean up your internet presence, if you don't check in on myspace anymore, save what you need to and delete the account (be aware of where you exist online and what potential impact old accounts/blogs have on what you're trying to do online now)
spell and grammar check your blog posts

Plan your week with a weekly moleskine. Photo by Arwens Abendstern.

Etc

create schedule (for bloggers this could be for when you post and when you use social media, for those studying at university it could be when you fit in uni work around your social activities, for runners it could be setting out when to jog and when to focus on resistance training as well as taking breaks), set out rewards for meeting set schedules (a day off, a meal out, that necklace you spied on etsy, or a trip to the cinema perhaps)
take a look at your budget, or create one, see if you could be saving more, set fiscal goals
if you own or want to own your own small business, research business planning and start working on your own
find role models and learn about how they achieved success, work towards emulating admirable qualities and build on them with your own style
check your diet, have any Christmas eating habits stuck with you and found their way into the new year, are you eating excess food that you would not ordinarily (ie. chocolate covered after dinner mints, salted nuts)?

Now open a blank page in word or your paper journal and write the introduction you'll give when you meet someone new at an industry conference in 5 years time. Who are you? What is your job/role? What do you do every day? Why do you do it? What have you achieved? Why are you so great? What's working for you? What's next?

Create your first set of measurable goals. Those you will have completed by the weeks end. Write a second list that is for monthly completion. Now do what you'll achieve this year. Make each list measurable. For example, if you are considering your blog, rather than stating "I will gain more readers", try "I will gain 500 subscribers", if you're considering your school, instead of stating "I will study more", try "I will achieve Distinctions".

If you found this post to be useful, you may also enjoy Your Work Environment: Creating Physical Balance in an Offic e.

What are you doing to enable yourself for success? What's your goal for this week?

How to Make Stuffed Mushrooms

2010-01-06T14:09:00.000+11:00

What you need:

portobello mushrooms

tomatoes

falafel mixture

cheese

rocket leaves

tomato relish

Method

01. Wash mushrooms. Cut stems out.
02. Dice tomatoes (and any other vegetable you'd like to add, ie. capsicum, carrots)
03. If you're a bit of a whiz in the kitchen, you could whip up your own falafel (instructions here). Otherwise, pick up a packet mixture from your local middle eastern grocer or supermarket. Follow pack instruction to make up falafel mixture
04. Spoon a layer of falafel mixture inside of mushroom, then add diced tomatoes, your top layer should be cheese. Sliced bocconcini works well.
05. Place on baking tray or foil and bake in oven for 10-15 minutes to grill mushroom and melt cheese.
06. Garnish with rocket leaves and relish.
08. Serve as an entree or as a main with a side of hand-cut potato chips or a fresh salad.

What ingredients would you put into a stuffed mushroom?

Is Jennifer Hawkins A Positive Role Model?

2010-01-04T23:42:00.003+11:00

What happens when you put a former Miss Universe, now model and television presenter, on the cover of Marie Claire magazine, naked and untouched? You stir up a national controversy (and quite probably sell a hell of a lot of magazines, but let's leave that point be). On the eve of the February edition of Marie Claire hitting the shelves, those images of Jennifer Hawkins are warranting a myriad of attention and are bearing the brunt of a lot of angry outbursts of criticism. Woman are cranky. As the discussion continues on news websites, blogs and twitter, there seems to be a two key points of view that are garnering the most attention from those engaging in this debate:

1. A whole lot of women across Australia are outraged at Marie Claire, editor Jackie Frank and some media commentators for insinuating that Jennifer Hawkins could be indicative of a 'real' woman, and that in turn, this cover should inspire positive body image. Their opinion is that it's her job to look slim and healthy and thus this is not only far from groundbreaking, but it's insulting. Why not use an unknown 'real' woman, they cry? In fact, a poll on the website of Australian news program, the 7pm Project indicates that 71% of women do not believe the Jennifer Hawkins photo shoot promotes positive body image (accurate at 11:31pm, 4 January 2009).

2. There are woman worked up on the other side of the argument too. They argue that Jen may be slim, and a model, but she is foremost a person, a woman. She clearly observes a healthy lifestyle to maintain her body, but why should she be exempt from the category of 'real women' just because of her occupation or popularity?

Marie Claire editor Jackie Frank spoke with Melissa Hoyer about the unfolding controversy, Frank admitted "Yes, Jen is genetically blessed" and went on to pose the question "...but no one has considered the point that Jen has made a living out of her body and that makes it even braver to put herself out on a limb imperfections and all?".

It seems people, women in particular, are more interested in drawing comparisons than applauding what is quite clearly a step in the right direction for woman and the magazine industry. The key comparisons coming out of the debate are:

Between the average size for Australian woman (it's a 16 by the way); is it ok to justify our size just because it is the national average, or should we perhaps be concentrating more on how appropriate our weight makes us feel and how healthy it is for our height and lifestyle?

Between Bianca Dye's recent nude photo-shoot which appeared in Madison magazine. Bianca criticized Jennifer and Marie Claire saying, "Jackie Frank is one of the most respected editors in the country and I am in shock that they would say Jennifer Hawkins is a natural role model. Its like we've taken 20 steps backwards.", Jennifer may not have a pot belly, but she stands to represent all the other slim women who, despite their lack of womanly curves, are just as 'real' as the rest.

And finally, women have been drawing the comparison between Jen and themselves. Some women are happy to deem Hawkins 'brave'. While others are more interested in slamming her for her size, Marieke Hardy tweeted, "I'm appalled that they're putting someone with a model's bod on the cover and calling her 'real'.".

The purpose of running this cover was to draw attention to the issue of re-touched (photoshopped) images and to open up discussion on body image and the link between our physicality and our self esteem. We can argue that the two should not be linked, but that's not going to solve the fact that for so many young women, how we look directly correlates with how good we feel about ourselves.

So is a magazine responsible for the self esteem issues that young women have relating to dissatisfaction they feel about their bodies? Not entirely so, but some accountability should be placed on the part of magazines similar to Marie Claire. These magazines are aimed at us as women, to sell us stuff and to sell us ideas. For this reason, it is absolutely a magazine editors responsibility to ensure they are not actively promoting images that are unattainable, as the ideal body. We need a balanced representation of women in all parts of the media, including the magazines we read. But let's not turn this into a magazine slating session: there has certainly been a marked improvement in the inclusiveness of the range of women represented in the pages of our favourite magazines. Do they have a way to go? There is always room to improve, no doubt.

The intensity of this argument begs the question, why are woman so hard on each other? Are we our own worst enemies? Why did Bianca Dye slam Jennifer as a role model? Why is anonymous commentary all over the internet calling Jackie Frank out and saying all she wants is to sell her magazine? As women, we need to restore the sisterhood: tell the girl with the pretty dress that you love how she wears it, don't snidely remark that she is a slut or a bitch. For more on our seemingly innate need to judge each other, see Detrimental Female Behaviours: Judge & Compare.

Over to you, what do you think of the Marie Claire cover? And what about how women judge other women, how can we stop doing this? Are you happy with you body? If not, what are you doing about it?

Rooibos Tea, the Herbal Infused Wonder Tonic

2010-01-03T23:37:00.006+11:00

First things first, let's talk about pronunciation. The 'rooi' in rooibos is derived from the Afrikaans word for red, 'rooi' (via @clifico). It is pronounced roy-boss, a girl must know how she is to ask for that which she so desires. Preferably prior to stumbling over the pronunciation at the counter of her local tea house.

Rooibus tea (which, by the way, is not actually a tea, rather, it is a herbal infusion) is widely acclaimed for it's mildly sweet taste and many health benefits. Once brewed, the tea is deep red in colour, earning it the nickname red tea, and while we are on the topic of rooibus aliases, it's also know around some parts as bush tea. The flavour of rooibos is delicate and most often described as nutty. It can be sweetened using a teaspoon of honey or as is often customary, with a slice of lemon and sugar.

Rooibus Tea with a slice of ginger.
Photo by max_thinks_sees.
One of the health benefits of rooibos tea is its antispasmodic properties that allow for digestive relief as well as the assisted alleviation of nervous tension and insomnia. It is also said to be useful in treating allergies such as hay fever. Being a herbal tea, rooibus is naturally caffeine free and antioxidant rich. Due to it's lower level of tannin, rooibos tea it allows for better absorption of iron than black teas. This is particularly useful for those on low-iron intake diets, such as can often be the case with vegetarian or vegan diets. Some parts of Asia take the health benefits even further, claiming it has anti-aging abilities!

Rooibos is prepared like any other tea, however it is most often enjoyed without milk. There are many ways to enjoy the rooibos flavour aside from as a simple tea. Some of these other rooibos recipes include:

Rooibos Liquer
Red espresso
South African Fruit Cooler
Rooibos Chai
Rooibos can also be used as a liquid replacement when cooking and as a glaze on sweet/fruit pastries.

Now, ladies, if you're yet to be sold on the merits of rooibos, hold on to your hats for this next fact: rooibus tea contains zero calories. So there you have it, the concoction to fill your 2010 tea breaks with a mellow kind of glee.

Over to you, have you tried rooibus tea?

Classic and Bizarre Hangover Cures

2010-01-01T16:50:00.006+11:00

With only receipts and embarrassing photographs to remind us of just how many drinks we ordered last night... and thumping head to indicate the number was more than 'a couple', one turns to pondering the best way to cure a hangover. It's too late for an aspirin before bed, or a vow to drink a pint of water in between cocktails, so instead of lecturing on the perils of excessive alcohol consumption, let's take a look at some of the tried, true and even a few of the more bizarre methods of overcoming a painful hangover.

Veggie Brunch at Giraffe, UK.
The Tasty

Cooked Breakfast/Fry Up
Why this works: It boosts your blood sugar levels and speeds up your metabolism which assists in ridding your body of alcohol more quickly.

The Bizarre

Deep-Fried Canaries
Why it works: Who knows! Perhaps because they're less likely to awaken you with their song if they're deep fried and awaiting consumption? Whatever the reason, deep-fried canaries was said to be a hangover cure that was used by the ancient Romans.

Irn Bru
Why it works: The science is still a little fuzzy, but ask any Scot and they will swear by the magical healing properties of this fizzy orange drink.

The Health Conscious

A teaspoon of Bicarbonate Soda in Water
Why this works: It neutralises the acidity that occurs in our bodies as a result of drinking alcohol.

Peppermint Tea
Why this works: Peppermint tea works with our body, the gall bladder in particular, to ease nausea and vomiting that is often associated with a hangover.

Berocca
Why this works: It is jam packed full of B vitamins and in effervescent form also increases your H20 intake, assisting your bodies re-hydration.

The Brave

Hair of the dog: consuming another alcoholic drink the morning after, often a Bloody Mary.
Why this works: more alcohol intake gives your body a temporary reprieve from hangover symptoms by delaying your bodies ability to process the toxins that come from drinking alcohol.

The Sensible

Sleep it off: when you wake, assist your dehydration with a pint of water and boost your blood sugar with some breakfast or a glass of fresh juice before going back to bed.
Why this works: during sleep is when our body is best able to restore and heal itself, so hit the sack and let your body get on with the job! Learn more about the benefits of sleep here.

What hangover cure do you swear by?

Reflection, Forgiveness and Being The Best in 2010

2009-12-31T16:45:00.001+11:00

Pink Balloons
Originally uploaded by D Sharon Pruitt

As the year draws to a close, it is easy to become swept up in new years eve festivities: good food, pretty shoes, friends, family and firecrackers. However, it is important to recognise the benefit of taking some quiet time out to reflect on the year that was. By considering our achievements as well as our lessons learned, we are able to better focus on moving into the new year with greater pride and stronger resolve.

It has been a tough year for so many with the global financial crisis saw many losing jobs and struggling to make ends meet. In the news we have heard of ongoing conflict in Congo, we have seen more soldiers committed to efforts in Iraq and we too have heard of Tamil's displaced from their traditional communities in Sri Lanka. We have seen our world leaders fail to come together and create an ambitious and legally binding commitment on lowering carbon emissions at Copenhagen. Some of us have had loved ones become ill and some of us have experienced the death of someone close to us. All of us were touched by the tragic loss of the Prince of Pop, Michael Jackson in June.

Despite any injustice and loss that we may experience, we must not become consumed by negativity or discouraged from fighting for what we believe to be right. Each step we make towards reaching personal or community goals creates change, no matter how inconsequential it may seem. Remembering that we can all create positive change is a thought we need to take into the new year. Resolve to seek greatness, not mediocrity. However, we must be kind to ourselves and be reasonable in the goals we pursue.

Overcoming Discouragement
1. Instead of being overwhelmed by the lack of commitment at Copenhagen, why not read as many books and articles as you can get your hands on and arm yourself with the knowledge you need to campaign for change and educate those around you?

2. Instead of beating yourself up for not losing the weight you pledged to lose at the turn of the last new year, why not create a fitness plan you know will work for you? Incorporate activities like hula hooping, skipping, rollerblading or touch football. Don't aim to lose weight, aim to get fit & have fun.

3. Instead of making a new years resolution to become 'rich' or 'famous', why not consider what it is that you are good at and strive to achieve success within your field? With success, financial reward and recognition will follow.

By changing the way we rate our achievements and reconsidering the need to berate ourselves for goals not reached, we put ourselves in a position to better find success and contentedness.

Actions Moving into 2010

Make a list of the hurt, loss, pain, discouragement that you felt in 2009. Beside your list, write a few words that form the action you're going to take to turn things on their head in 2010 and make your world a better place to be.
Write down your achievements from 2009, no matter how big or small. Now write how you plan to build on them in 2010.

A year ago I spoke about The Only New Years Resolution You Really Need, that resolution was:

I will be the best I can be.
And going into 2010, this resolution is still the only one you truly need. It covers all manner of success and encourages the reaching of goals in good conscious. As you contemplate the year that was, be kind to yourself, forgive any transgressions and focus on actionable solutions.

For more tips on new years resolutions see, How To Make 2009 Your Year and The Only New Years Resolutions You Really Need in 2009.

How was 2009 for you? Do you have resolutions for 2010?

Girls Guide to Packing for a Summer Festival

2009-12-26T22:19:00.002+11:00

It's summer festival time in the southern hemisphere and amongst all of the excitement of choosing which bands make your must-see list, it's easy to forget the essentials when it comes to pre-festival packing. This is especially so when you're planning to be camping on-site for a multi-day festival. Despite best intentions, we inevitably find ourselves throwing things into our rucksacks at the very last minute and forgetting those bits and bobs that we really hope not to forget, like loo roll & a toothbrush! To make your festival experience a little more care-free & assist in ensuring you're truly and utterly prepared for your next summer festival, why not follow this easy to use festival preparation guide?

Photos by Ian Wilson and Bérenger ZYLA.
1 week out

Make sure your ticket has arrived in the post, or is available to pick up upon arrival. Chase up if necessary!
Have you booked transport? If not, get organising: car pool, bus, train - book it now.
If it's been a while since you last pitched your tent, give it a trial run in the yard. This will ensure your festival home still has all of it's poles and pegs.
Check you own both gumboots and thongs. You won't know which you need until you arrive. It could quite possibly be that both are required.

2-3 days out

Do a load of laundry, most importantly, be sure to include enough sets of knickers to see you through each day of the festival. Also include in your load, a towel, swimmers (these double as underwear or a top depending on need and weather!), jeans, socks and singlets.
Check the state of your sleeping bag. Air out or put in the washing machine if necessary.

The Day Before

Pack your clothing, towel and shoes you won't be wearing on the day you leave.
Pack loo roll (this is important), wet wipes, hand sanitizer and a bunch of plastic bags.
Get together all of your camping gear: torch, tent, sleeping bag, mozzie spray, sunscreen, plates, cutlery, mug & food if doing your own cooking.
Do a supermarket run. Pick up extra batteries for your torch as well as snacks like chips, rice crackers, muesli & nuts. Save your dosh for the over-priced beer in plastic cups.
If you don't own a watch, pick one up from the chemist or local servo. Depending on how long the festival lasts, chances are come mid to end, your phone battery will have died and a watch will make finding the right stage at the right time a much simpler task.

The Morning of

Pack your bathroom bits and pieces: any makeup you use, shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothbrush and toothpaste.
Double check you have your ticket (for both the festival & your transport). Have fun!!

For more tips on preparing for the summer festivals, see the Girls Guide to Festival Fashion.

What is your must-have festival item?

8 Ideas on How to Spend Christmas Eve

2009-12-23T21:54:00.001+11:00

It's nigh on Christmas Eve and it's well and truly time to get into the spirit of Christmas. Whether you are Christian, or simply cherish the opportunity the holiday season gives you to spend time with loved ones, Christmas is a most magical time of year. The lead up to Christmas can be a manic rush of gift shopping, food preparation and long overdue catch-ups with loved ones, but come Christmas Eve it's time to slow the pace and enjoy the season. How will you be spending your Christmas Eve? Here are a few ideas:

Christmas Carols
Outwardly you believe them to be tacktastic seasonal gimmicks, but don't you secretly love them? There is something for everyone when it comes to carols: from Hi 5's version of Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, to Elvis Presley's Here Comes Santa Claus. Then there is Bruce Springsteen with Santa Claus is Comin' to Town and Bing Crosby's White Christmas. For tunes that the whole family will love, The Jackson 5 have covered the classics and so too have some other Motown legends like Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. Pick your favourites, turn them up loud & sing-along. What's your favourite Christmas carol?

Photo by 1Happysnapper.

Dips & Chips
If you're not off to Christmas mass, then chances are you'll be sat around the telly watching Carols by Candlelight or re-watching Love Actually (and trying to figure out once and for all whether Colin Firth is the man for you, or is Hugh Grant more your style?). What better than a few pre-Christmas treats? Corn chips with dip are perfect seasonal snacks, here are a few ideas:

Corn Dip: Mix a jar of corn relish with some Philadelphia cream cheese and serve in a bowl with corn chips.
Guacamole: mix an avocado or two with a diced tomato and dollop of sour cream, add salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon to taste. Serve with corn chips or water crackers.

Inexpensive and super simple but both dips look kind-of-fancy & taste delicious!

Wrap it up
Take some pride in your wrapping this year! It may be last minute but give it a real go anyhow: paper, ribbons, gift tags, bows - the whole deal.

Pick a colour theme and stick with it, eg. gold gift wrap, ribbons & pen on your gift tags.
Be original and eco-chic by using old newspaper or your favourite pages from magazines as wrapping paper (hint: the fashion spreads would work a charm). Add a little extra pizazz by using pretty fabric or ribbon to tie a big bow around your gift.
Using some coloured cardboard and crafting scissors, cut out some tags for each of your presents and hand write a short message on each.
Curl ribbons by cutting a length and running your scissor along the edge swiftly, like this.

If you don't have anyone you can give a gift to, or even if you do and you still have a few dollars left, why not pick up an extra gift and leave it with a charity that assists families at Christmas? You'll often find bins for donations outside department stores, alternatively, pledge a few dollars online at your favourite charity, this time of year can be a financial stretch for so many non-profits.

Dress Up
'Tis the season to be jolly, or so the saying goes, so why not bring a little joy with a pretty frock or ribbons in your hair? Have a dig through your wardrobe for any red, green, gold or silver and piece together a few seasonal outfits for Christmas Eve & Christmas Day. Try:

Hair ribbons, bows or headbands
Knee socks and heels
A big skirt or dress with a satin sash
Tacky dangly seasonal earrings or a big santa brooch
Scarves, tied around your neck, used as a belt or as a head scarf

Be sure to take some outfit photos and post them on flickr to share.

Photo by treslola.

Cider
Alcohol or non, cider seems all the more merry at Christmas time, so grab a bottle, pour a glass & enjoy the sparkling apple goodness.

Write a letter
The holidays tend to take us away from our usual jobs and give us a little more time for sentimentality. Take 20 minutes to sit down with a pen and paper to write a letter to someone you think is simply marvelous. Tell them they have made your year wondrous & that you're thinking of them this Christmas. Decorate the letter with coloured pens, glitter, magazine cut-outs & stickers. Pop it in an envelope and stick it in your purse, send it on it's way next time you pass a letter box.

Set the table for Christmas lunch
Before turning in for the evening, why not throw the table cloth down, set the cutlery, crockery & glass wear. Decorate the tables centre with bon-bons and candles. Give yourself a head start on Christmas lunch by ensuring all is in order at the dinner table.

Enjoy the season, be it Winter or Summer
If you're in the southern hemisphere you will have spent the past month basking in what has been day after day of 30 degree temperature and upwards. Make the most of the weather by getting down to the beach or lake, going for a picnic under a big tree, eating a Callipo, making iced tea, having a beer on the deck, wearing a sun-dress, rollerblading or cooking up a BBQ lunch (mushrooms, tomato, guacamole & chips, pineapple!). If you're currently enjoying Christmas version winter wonderland, get snuggly under your doona for a screening of Love Actually or pop on some gumboots and go stump in settled snow & puddles, drink mulled wine and head to the winter markets for roasted nuts and fairground rides.

How will you be spending your Christmas Eve?

Universal Truth: I See U, U R Beautiful, I Love U

2009-12-22T11:40:00.004+11:00

Sometimes street art is the positive reminder you need to shine a little brighter, push a little harder & smile a whole lot more - have you seen any great street art or public signs that have made you smile recently?

How to Use Root Ginger

2009-12-15T00:53:00.001+11:00

From medieval and prevailing medicinal usage to seasonal biscuit recipes, the ginger root is a soothing therapeutic spice as well as a zesty flavour for many a culinary delight. In Eastern cultures, ginger is most often used to add flavour to savoury dishes like stir fries and curries while Westerners have traditionally added it to sweet recipes such as gingerbread and ginger ale.

Available year round, ginger is one of those versatile wonder products that makes you look a little bit fancy when purchasing and adding to recipes as well as making you feel ever-so prepared when someone moans of feeling under the weather, only to have you whip up some 'from scratch' ginger and honey tea.

Using fresh ginger root is preferable to store bought pre-crushed and bottled ginger, even if it does require that little extra effort. Ginger root holds a stronger, more aromatic flavour, as well as being of greater benefit for medicinal use.

To use a fresh ginger root, gently peel the skin from the root and chop or grate before adding into your recipe. The ginger root can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. It should be wrapped in cling wrap or a paper bag (go for the bag, the environment will smile on you).

Some of the health benefits of ginger include:

overcoming appetite loss
aiding indigestion
easing motion sickness
anti-inflammatory relief (studies have shown ginger to be useful in pain reduction for people suffering menstrual & arthritic pain)
easing nausea & vomiting (studies too have proven ginger to be a safe & effective natural remedy during pregnancy)
assisting overcome many other ailments as it contains immune boosting components

Ginger is often used:

to add flavour to stir fries or curries
in tea. Why not try brewing tea using fresh root ginger and honey?
seasonly to bake gingerbread. Make your own with this video tutorial or check out this recipe.
to make Ginger Ale. Learn how to make your own ginger ale here.
as a supplement in fruit smoothies. Pop some crushed ginger into the blender with your next fruit smoothie.
store bought crystallized, candied and pickled.

How do you like to use ginger?

How You Can Mark International Human Rights Day

2009-12-10T15:14:00.003+11:00

The 10th of December is Human Rights Day and in 2009 the focus is on non-discrimination. 60 years ago the United Nations established the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. You can learn more about Human Rights Day and what is happening around the world here.

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights"
UN Declaration of Human Rights

So what about some of the simple ways we can make constructive contributions to supporting human rights for all? Here are a few ideas:

Attend a lecture, seminar or event in your community to learn more about a pertinent social justice issue. Check for event listings in your local newspaper. Learning is a catalyst for creating powerful positive change.
Instead of walking by the charity collector outside your train station or supermarket, donate your lose change.
Instead of skimming over the world news, have a read about what's going on in Iran.
Pick up a copy of your favourite national newspaper and write a letter to the editor in response to an article on a national or international humanitarian issue that was covered in the paper ie. Tamil asylum seekers on route to Australia or reaching a fair and binding deal in Copenhagen.

Photo by isafmedia, simminch.

Wear a badge, patch, bag or create your own slogan t-shirt showing support for a humanitarian cause. Craft a succinct, non-patronising response to give when you get asked what your badge, patch, bag, t-shirt is about.
Instead of buying a latte or bottle of coke today, donate a few dollars to a charity such as Oxfam who are currently assisting the survivors of Myanmar's 2008 cyclone to rebuild their communities.
Help sponsor Jeanima in Haiti. An initiative by one clever blogger that allows us to come together to provides Jeanima with food, clean water, medical care, and fees for school.
Visit the websites of non-government organisations and read about what's happening around the world. Find out about how you can get involved in eradicating human rights abuses. Amnesty International's How You Can Help page is a great place to start.
Spread the word of a cause you feel passionate about by tweeting from act.ly, or you could even start your own twitter petition campaign for others to join with you in a call to action.
Support the work Oxfam International does in seeking social justice for all by choosing a truly unique Christmas gift from the Oxfam Unwrapped catalog.

Causes that need your support right now:

What will you do to mark Human Rights Day 2009? What humanitarian cause (in your own country or abroad) concerns you most at present?

How To Improve Your Reality

2009-12-08T22:31:00.003+11:00

Whether you're stuck in a rut of routine or if you're actively focused on how you would like your life to be as oppose to how it is at present, we can all benefit from continually striving towards positive self-improvement. By acknowledging the things that make us happy and learning to harness the motivation offered by these triggers we can not only transform our own reality but that too of the world around us.

Maintaining balance is important in all areas of our lives, including self-improvement. Attempting massive change of any kind will inevitably prove unsustainable in the long term. A method by which to feel greater self-improvement is to focus on one part ourselves at a time.

Photo by ianqui.

Try focusing on your mind, body and outward actions separately at first. As you establish new positive behaviours in one of these areas, move onto the next before combining the new behaviours and continuing to focus on overall achievement of a more positive self.

The key to maintaining greater positivity in our lives is to focus on transforming behaviour from the inside out and taking ownership of our ability to choose. We must acknowledge that we have ultimate control over how we experience the world. Our reactions as well as how we spend our time are what make up our reality and only we have the power to control these things.

Inner Self
Start a collection of things that trigger positive thoughts: a box of magazine cut outs, photographs pegged on twine, a tumblr full of images & words, art framed and hung on your walls, souvenirs from your travels, newspaper articles, beautiful fashion or an inspiration board combining all of these things.

Find your mantra: song lyrics, a quote, poetry. Find words that truly speak to your desire to be the best you can be. The right combination of words can rouse hope & optimism in the midst of the most difficult of times. Write your mantra in your diary, frame and hang it on your bedroom wall, write it in lipstick on your mirror, make it your laptop wallpaper, pin it up on a post it note at your office, make stickers to leave in random spots and share it with the world.

Quiet time: find a few moments to reflect on your day, or your intentions for the day to come. Try allowing a few moments of actively engaging in your plans for the day while showering in the morning or over coffee. You could also make use of the time you have during activities such as yoga, pilates, running or commuting. Spend time considering what you've done, what you'd like to do and how you'll get there. Use quiet time to bring consciousness to your daily thought, emotions and actions.

Photo by Purple Vintage Space Princess Photography.

Body
Often depressive moods and lack of energy can be symptomatic of our body not getting the nourishment and care it requires. By ensuring we focus on our health and presentation we are able to unify our external self with internal resolve to lead a more positive lifestyle.

Food and Drink: eat fresh vegetables rather than frozen, cut down on carbonated drinks and instead choose fruit smoothies, snack on strawberries or unsalted nuts rather than crisps and chocolate, if eating takeaway go for subway or sushi rather than a burger. And drink water! if you've already had a meal and feel yourself craving snacks, drink a pint of water before turning to the box of biscuits, it could be that your body is feeling dehydrated.
Exercise: You know your body and you know your food intake, adjust your levels of physical activity so that it suits your personal needs. Exercise will give you more energy, keep you trim and maintain your health. If traditional exercise is not your game, try incorporating more physical activity into your days: walk to the grocery store, cycle to work, do resistance training while watching television. Another alternative is to look beyond treadmills and cross trainers- why not try hula hooping, rollerskating, skipping, dance classes or martial arts.
Clothing & Presentation: how we look can be indicative of how we feel about ourselves. Think about how you would like for the world to perceive you. Now think about how you currently present yourself and whether it is in line with how you feel about yourself. Consider when you feel most confident and comfortable. Look to those whose presentation and style you admire most. Spend some time considering your personal style and commit to presenting your best you each time you dress. Wear things that make you feel beautiful and confident. Go through your wardrobe and get rid of anything ill-fitting or that doesn't make you feel good about yourself. Hit the markets of local op-shop and pick up a few pieces that you might not ordinarily choose but would quietly covet. Don't look at others and wish to dress as they do, find what you love most and just do it! Create a style journal with outfit ideas, photos of your favourite looks and style tips that you find useful. Also see 14 Items To Enhance Your Daily Style.

Outwards Actions & External World

Learn: read every day, newspapers, blogs, books, graffiti, tweets, press releases, journal articles, statistics. Seek information actively. It will not only allow you to learn about the world around you but it will also give you a greater sense of perspective.
More on Perspective: check out the websites of NGO's, Oxfam, Amnesty International, the United Nations. Read case studies and go through national statistic reports that your government departments complete. Watch world news rather than just local news. If you're a college student in the United States, make it your business to find out what someone your age is doing in Kenya or Russia or China. Allow yourself to become aware of what is happening outside of your reality and allow it to better shape how you appreciate your own circumstances or react to occasions in your day to day.
Participate: be active in your community, visit markets, campaign & demonstrate, attend talks, volunteer, grocery shop locally at independent stores, go camping or hiking in local bushland, contribute to your local newspaper or write a letter to the editor. Allow yourself to be moved by new knowledge and share your own thoughts with others. Start respectful conversations. Expand your horizons beyond your usual set of acquaintances and learn from the people you meet.

What do you concentrate on when readjusting to a more positive outlook?

Good Deeds That Don't Involve Extra Cash

2009-12-03T21:54:00.003+11:00

It can be easy to become trapped into wondering how we can help and make a difference in the world when we don't have a lot of money to throw at a cause. Money certainly goes a long way towards improving the social standing of disadvantaged individuals, families and communities but so too do other contributions. In times when money is tight it's important that rather than discounting the opportunity to contribute to a charitable organisation, we rather take a fresh look at the ways we can contribute.

So how can progressive & positive change be achieved when money is not something we have in abundance? Let's take a look at just a few ways:

Donate clothing, books, cd's, movies, homewares. The old saying is true: one mans junk is anothers treasure. Don't throw out your old belongings if they still have some life in them. Charity stores are always looking for new bits and pieces to sell and raise funds for their cause, without donations these sorts of stores would not be able to operate. Try and take a look around your house quarterly. At the beginning of each season, look at what you may have that has sat in your apartment collecting dust for the past few months. Ask yourself if someone else would find greater value in the item? And while you're at the charity store donating your goods, why not purchase a few items that you may require. Buying at charity stores is eco-chic and charitable too!

Donate time. To local school, charity stores, outreach programs. Life can get hectic and charities often have difficulty filling volunteer slots at their organisations. Look for charities that operate locally and see if they are looking for help - even a few hours a week can make for a valuable contribution to the life of an individual or group that is at present less fortunate.

Swap your purchases. Instead of buying Marie Claire buy The Big Issue; instead of shopping at Top Shop try the British Heart Foundation charity store.

Photo by rofanator.

Spread awareness. Chances are there is a social issue that makes your stomach churn and conjures up exciting thoughts in your mind. Think about the topics that rile up passion and anger and leave you with an urge to set things right. Put your thoughts to paper, or screen. Blog it, submit a piece to your universities magazine, write to your member of parliament, organise a fundraising event, speak to your friends. Be a conversation starter! Words create ideas, ideas become actions and actions change the world. It all starts small, but someone needs to start it, why not be that someone?

These actions are just as important as giving big sums of cash, your time is valuable, as are the possessions you no longer require. Don't underestimate how important what you have can be to someone else.

What are your good deed ideas?

6 Ideas To Bring Your Old Calendar Into The New Year

2009-12-01T00:10:00.003+11:00

As the end of the year draws nearer, it's almost time to take the used calendar down off the wall and replace it with a fresh, yet to be flipped through, scrawled all over or glanced upon new calendar: 12 fresh months of opportunity, hope & beauty! But before tossing your used up calendar into the recycling pile, why not consider refashioning your favourite months pages?

Calendars can hold awe-inspiring photography and humorous imagery & anecdotes. They may also be home to your scribbled notes from exciting and hectic months or funny quips in the not so busy months. Some pages are simply too good to throw away. Pull out your favourite monthly images, quotations or calendar notes and consider bringing them into the new year with a new lease on life.

Photo by Sarah Parrott

01. Make home made Christmas or New Years cards. Cut a portion of the image and affix to a piece of folded card. To embellish, try trimming the edge of the image with pattern edge scissors or use white-out pen to scrawl your own message over the image.

02. Laminate and affix your favourite months accompanying image to your work space. For extra points, make a note of a memory from the year past using just a few words to jog your mind, such as 'tea for two' or 'getting amongst it' or 'camping in the country'.

03. Using wooden pegs and a length of twine, peg the images to the twine and hang the line across a room in your home.

04. Design a DIY postcard, made & sent with love. Glue a postcard sized snipped of the calendar image to a piece of card paper, write your message, pop on a stamp and post away.

05. Create a wall hanging. Add your favourite motivational quotation to accompany the image. When done with your reincarnated calendar image, frame your work and hang upon your wall.

06. Cut a portion of the image, back with heavier card paper if necessary and laminate to use as a bookmark.

Have you got any ideas on how to reuse your old yearly calendar?

If you enjoyed this post, you may also be interested in How To Get More Value Out Of Magazines.