Apple Tart

Another Phoenix Lunch

2009-10-26T15:06:30+11:00

Back in February in response to Black Saturday and the bushfires that attacked so many places and people in our state (Victoria Australia), Pink Apple and two friends decided to run a fundraiser. (Yes we DID say "how hard could it be?" and learned the REALLY hard way!)

Apart from the fundraising, the event was such a social and networking success that we've been pressured by our Melbourne businesswomen colleagues to repeat (and repeat) the process!

Another Phoenix Lunch

So the latest Phoenix Lunch is now on sale. Most of you who've expressed interest, are now on our database and received personal information about the Lunch. But just in case we've missed anybody, I thought I'd let you know how to register and book for the lunch.

If you'd just like to know about the Lunch so you can make a decision, then click through to The Phoenix Lunch website and have a read.

If you already know enough and you'd like to book, here is the direct link to the registration page, don't forget to complete your registration with your payment via PayPal which will allow you to pay by credit card, debit card and EFT.

Of course, fundraising is still our objective (as well as fun and networking) and this Lunch is supporting Post and Ante Natal Depression Association (PANDA). There's a poll on our website and everyone who's read it and taken the poll has had personal experience or knows someone close who's walked through this terrifying illness! That's how significant this is to women!

One More Thing ...

There's a bonus for those who take out Super Early Bird priced tickets. There's a draw for several free seats at a workshop that we three are unning in February. Yes Pink Apple, Angela Esnouf from Creating Order from Chaos and Janet Powell the Parenting Coach from Mentor Maestro are presenting a new program called Keys to a Calmer HomeLife. But more details of that later ...

Also We're Looking for Sponsors

If you're interested in pampering our attendees then why not become a sponsor. More information about our Jade, Ruby, and Pearl Sponsors here.

If you'd just like to find out the background story, then feel free to have aread here!

Lighting Up the Night

2009-09-01T19:27:52+10:00

I received this by email today.

Needs nothing else but your eyes on it! Thanks Jeff for drawing our attention!

My sister Sarah wouldn't be here today if it were not for leukaemia research. I also started my career in leukaemia research and after 20 years I am back working in this field again; my lab is investigating new ways to help diagnose and treat kids with leukaemia.

Please help us Light the Night by making a donation towards my fundraising. I'm joining thousands of people to Light the Night. We'll carry coloured balloons each with a tiny light inside. It will be a beautiful night and with your help we can do something good; raising vital funds for patients and families living with blood cancers, such as leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma. The money I raise will be invested in critical research into better treatments and hopefully cures, as well as supporting patients during their long and tough treatment. Remember, celebrate and give hope at Light the Night by making a donation or joining my team.

Please click on the image below to sponsor me

or go to http://my.imisfriendraising.com.au/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=300091

Regards

Jeff

Jeffrey Craig , PhD, RD Wright Research Fellow, Group Leader, Developmental Epigenetics, Early Development and Disease; Honorary Research Fellow, Dept. of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne

Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, The Royal Children s Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
T + 61 3 8341 6346 F (61-3) 8341 6212 "FAO Jeff Craig x6346" ; M (61-3) 0409 517900; E jeff.craig@mcri.edu.au ; www.mcri.edu.au

Epigenetics 2009 Australian Scientific Conference: www.epialliance.org.au

I Believe in Fairies

2009-08-29T15:37:25+10:00

"Tell Nana your news Jack" says your daughter(-in-law).

"My toof's' wobbly, Nana. See ... Loook! It goes wibble wobble." Jack helpfully demonstrates!

Since becoming an Oma, I've become a bit of a sucker for all the vast array of products I now discover on the market for children.

Simple but unusual hand-made gifts are the specialty of Monique Nickalls at Your Cheeky Monkey.

I've already been off to YCM's site buying cute goodies for my baby granddaughter. In particular I am finding that her simple little TagNCuddle is a very helpful tool when soothing the separation anxiety. She clutches on to it, and it goes to bed with her in her cot at Oma's house. (At this stage after a few distraught babysitting sessions, Oma's grateful for anything that will work!)

However not all at YCM fits the young baby market. In fact, far from it!

And this one really caught my eye!

When I saw it, I knew it was a BIT premature for my 6 month old girl, even to this indulgent grandmother. However, I reckon this would be gorgeous for anyone with a 4 or 5 year old who's getting ready to shed those first baby teeth and join in the "Tooth Fairy" Fiction! After all Gorgeous Granddaughter doesn't even have any teeth yet.

But your grandchild might.

I really believe in rituals to mark important occasions, and one of the first signs of growing up is when you lose your baby teeth in readiness for that adult tooth.

That's how you'd be having that conversation with Jack (or Emily.)

I reckon it's worth thinking about a Tooth Fairy Pillow. Beats those bloody glasses of water, bearing tiny teeth or shiny coins which used to get knocked over in our house! (No I wasn't a tight wad! When my little darlings were loosing teeth, the going rate was about 20-50cents!)

Anyway I suggest you head over to Your Cheeky Monkey and have a look at the Tooth Fairy Pillows and go be indulgent of your grandchild. It's better than buying 'em lollies!

5 Ways to Enjoy Life More

2009-08-09T18:27:35+10:00

Thanks to the very first Business Mums Network a couple of years ago, I listened to a terrific Keynote Speaker in Sandi Givens.

It's thanks to Sandi that I am still quoting to myself (and all I come across) "Done is Better Than Perfect!". It was just SO RIGHT for me!

Ever since, I have continued to receive Sandi's newsletters, and was so taken with a recent feature article that I emailed her for permission to reprint. (We've since got to know each other through her enthusiastic support for the Phoenix Lunches!)

So I want all my readers to have a chance to read it too! I Hope you find it as useful as I did!

5 Ways to Enjoy Life More

In the past few months, several clients have asked me to deliver my Work/Life Balance presentation and workshops for their staff. At each presentation, I've been startled by the huge number of people who seem disheartened, dissatisfied and disconnected from life. People have told me they merely get up in the morning, go to work, return home to more jobs to do (pay bills, grocery shopping, laundry, etc.) ... only to wake up the next day to the very same routine.

"I never seem to get the chance to really enjoy myself anymore! If only there was more time...". An all-too common lament.

The 'bad' news is there will never be more time. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks in the year for as many years as the cards deal to us. That's all we're going to get.
The good news is that there are ways of experiencing more enjoyment during that time. Here are five of them:

1. Commit to having time for yourself

There are 3 keys to making this work for you. The first is to schedule an amount of time that you believe is feasible. If an hour within the next week sounds totally impossible for you, what would be possible? Thirty minutes? Ten minutes? Five? (If 5 minutes truly is your limit, then I urge you to have a long holiday and give serious thought as to why this is so!) Whatever amount of time you set, you need to be able to see/feel/believe that it is truly attainable - otherwise, your lack of conviction may in fact ensure your negative belief proves to be true (ie. the time for yourself won't happen). So, set a realistic goal.

Secondly, plan an activity for this time that is truly enjoyable for you. If that's talking on the phone with a friend, gardening, exercising or shopping - fine, as long as you are doing it for your enjoyment and not because you feel you have to or 'should'!

The final key is best explained by an analogy. Recall a time when you planned to something with a friend and for very good reasons had to renege on your agreement. How did you feel? When I ask people on my seminars this, they reply with "guilty", "awful", "like a terrible friend" and other phrases along this theme. Now think of a time when you planned to spend time with yourself and for good reasons needed to change your plans. How do you feel then? Most people reply with "disappointed", "resigned" and "oh well, maybe another time".

Notice the difference? I believe it's time we feel as badly about letting ourselves down as we do when we let others down. And just as we would reschedule with our friend (rather than cancel altogether), we need to grab our diaries and block out this same amount of time next week. Be gentle with yourself - and stay committed!

2. Know your Values and Priorities

In the 'big picture' of your life, what's important to you? Family? Health? Job Security? Being creative?

Your values and how you rank them are linked to having a sense of purpose in what you do. If you value freedom and autonomy and work for an extremely traditional, hierarchical company, you may notice how 'purposeless' it feels to wake up to that alarm clock every morning. Where an individual's values are in conflict with their employer's (or the industry or profession in which they work), there is likely to be little experience of job satisfaction or enjoyment.

If this rings true for you, please don't resign immediately! Develop a medium to long term plan to move into employment and/or other activities that are aligned with your values. It may take a while, but it is well worth it.

3. Create a "Fun List"

Grab a sheet of paper (or several) and let your mind go wild! Free or expensive, easy or complex - all ideas are needed!

Maybe the idea of walking in the rain without an umbrella appeals to you. What about a long, luxurious bath? A night at home with a good video and bottle of wine? When did you last relax in a park and look at 'cloud pictures' in the sky?

Record all ideas that come to mind. Put the list somewhere you can see it every day and commit to doing at least one thing from this list once a week (or once a fortnight - remember, it has to be feasible for you). Ah ... pure joy! (By the way - if you have a partner, this can be a great activity for you to do together.)

4. Add Pleasure to Activities

We all have things in our life that definitely wouldn't be on our Fun List - but they still need to be done!

Explore ways of making these things more enjoyable. I don't mind ironing too much if I can watch a good movie while I do it. Music to match my mood (or my desired mood!) invariably accompanies the ritual of bill-paying.

Pleasure can also be added by 'doing a deal' with yourself. After 30 minutes of working on your Tax Return, allow yourself to relax with a book for 20 minutes. Finish that report for work, then enjoy a coffee with a friend. The more your reward is something you wouldn't normally treat yourself with, the more motivating this can be.

Similar to this, permit yourself to do those bigger (or really unpleasant) tasks in bite-sized chunks. I confess - I used to be a very "all or nothing" kind of person. If I can't complete all that filing in one 'sitting', I'm very resistant to even start it!

My husband taught me the 'chunking approach' to housework. I used to go crazy seeing the vacuum left in the hallway with only 2 rooms cleaned - and discover him reading a book on the sofa! Now if you visit our home and find cleaning materials in the lounge, it's just as likely me who left them there!

5. Perform Random Acts of Kindness for Others

We know how wonderful it feels to receive an unexpected bit of helpfulness. Good hotels do this well. On a recent business trip, I was having breakfast in the hotel restaurant for only the second time. What a delight when the waiter came over and poured some tea for me, remembering my preference from the day before.

It's equally (if not more) delightful to initiate these pleasantries. Want to surprise someone? Here are some ideas that might help you get started! Put money in an expired parking meter. Hold a door open for someone struggling with parcels. Help someone get a product from a high shelf in the supermarket. Let someone who appears in a hurry go in front of you in a queue.

Got the idea? As you can see, random acts of kindness need not cost a cent. But they can be virtually guaranteed to add value to the receiver's day and pleasure to yours.

A wise person once said "I may not be here for a long time, but I am definitely here for a good time!" So do your best to enjoy all that you do!

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Sandi Givens - Professional Member, Past President (Vic) and Speaker of the Year 2004 (Vic),                             National Speakers Association of Australia
                Author, Facilitator and Executive Women’s Coach
                Leading expert in Teams & Leadership, Attaining Work/Life Balance and Women’s Development.

For more details, free information and to preview Sandi as a speaker for you and your team, please visit www.sandigivens.com.au

It's All About Me - Becoming Oma

2009-07-20T09:00:00+10:00

This time last year I was reeling. My son LovableGeek and his wife Ms GG had announced impending parenthood.

At first I was so busy answering questions for the gobsmacked pair that it didn' really hit me. I'd stepped into professional mode, helping a young couple who had questions. In a former life, I had spent many years as a midwife and Infertility nurse so pregnancy is an area of expertise! Apart from having borne three of my own, that is!

But then It began to dawn.

Visions of wrinkles and white hair danced before my eyes. (No I don't mean wrinkles like mine and a few stray gray hairs!)

I'd been throwing out hints for years and assumed My Three Sons were keen to help me out.

That must have been why I was still grandchild-less and happy to be that way.

Well actually they weren't really hints. They were probably a little less subtle than hints. And it's not like I was making it all about me or anything.

"Don't you DARE make me a grandmother yet! I'm not ready!" Of course, I'd say it gently and I'd only ever say it whenever I saw them, so I wasn't banging on about it or anything!

"I'm too young to be a grandmother", was my endless lament. Obviously My Three Sons agreed, and were working hard to keep me happy. That would be why, wouldn't it? Sons make that kind of sacrifice for their mothers don't they? Don't they?

So anyway back to last year!

And the big announcement! I thought they were coming around to show us their new car.

Lovable Geek knew he had a problem on his hands so started by helpfully suggesting I should sit down!

Stupid Idiot! That's what his brothers used to say when the school wanted a "chat", or when there was a bloody big hole in the wall that we were going to find when we returned from a weekend away!

SIT DOWN! They were words that sent a shiver down my spine!

I'm sorry dear, you just can't do that to me!

Anyway!

Let's move on. In March the call came! "We're in the hospital and they haven't sent us home", he said helpfully! Surprisingly enough, hospitals don't usually send women home when they're in established labour!

And a short few hours later, along came Oma's Girl.

I'd spent the whole pregnancy in denial! "You haven't got a cot or a car seat yet?" said other horrified grandmothers at the Baby Shower. Why would I do that you silly woman? I'm too young to be a grandmother!

We dutifully turned up to the hospital a few hours later.

And that wicked girl, Ms GG wouldn't let me TOUCH MY GRANDDAUGHTER.

Just because she was worried and protective or something! (Actually maybe she thought I might do something stupid! Hadn't thought of that!)

Unfortunately for me, I'd forgotten about a greater force than me. (Yes hard to believe a greater force than me exists, isn't it?)

Babies have mysterious mechanisms. One Look Wonder I call it. I've seen it happen at myriads of deliveries.

It happened with Number One Son. "If it's a boy it's going over the cliff ", I'd declared persistently all the way through my pregnancy. "Boys are just naughty and snotty-nosed, I'm only keeping a girl!"

Then came the One Look Wonder and I was blabbing on about how gorgeous he was. Disgusting really, the way we mothers give in so easily!

Well Oma's Girl saw the return of the One Look Wonder.

One bloody look and I'm besotted!

Monkeying About

2009-07-18T16:26:01+10:00

Since the arrival of Oma's Girl back in March, the old Apple Tart has entered into the joys of children's wear shops and all things baby!

(What? You hadn't caught up on Apple Tart turning into Oma? Well more about that on Monday!)

Back when I was a Yummy Mummy ... (Hmm - that's one thing we 'self-indulgent baby-boomers' would never have dreamed of calling ourselves.)

Anyway! Back when I was a Yummy Mummy, there was no internet. There were barely any baby shops, and even more extraordinary was the look of astonishment I received because I restrained my baby's carry basket while driving in the car!

In the Noughties, shopping takes on a whole new meaning.

The Joys of Girlie Shopping

Especially when I have the delicious excitement of shopping for a little girl (after all those years of testosterone in my world) and I can do it at any hour of the day or night sitting in my office, or in front of the TV with laptop on knee!

There are an abundance of businesses owned by stay-at-home-mums and focused on their own target market. Many of them are to be found hanging out in places like Real Mums or on Twitter.

As I shop, I intend to share my discoveries with you. After all if I have to be a grandmother at my incredibly young age (more about that on Monday!) you all have to share the journey!

New Discoveries

The first one I found has been Your Cheeky Monkey run by the delightful Monique Nickalls. I recently won a voucher for the site and now my little Oma's Girl has a gorgeous TagNCuddle of soft fabric with myriads of bright little ribbons and tags to grab hold of while I change her nappy!

And while I was shopping there I also bought the cutest little hand-knitted Tiger finger puppet so we can continue to indoctrinate Oma's Girl into following Daddy and Oma's AFL Team the Tigers. And of course I did buy a few other odds and ends.

YCM makes beautiful Handcrafted products for baby showers, new babies, and children, and fun practical items for the special child in your life.

Being the generous soul that she is, Monique seems to have another competition going. This time it's for a soft Whimsical Cat. Don't bother entering the competition as I intend to win that one too!!!

By the way, can anyone recommend any other places for an indulgent Oma to visit?

Now don't forget to watch out for Monday's post about Apple Tart becoming Oma. After all, it's all about me!

Have You Been Calmed?

2009-07-16T18:42:24+10:00

Don't know about you, but my life is one endless whirl.

(I'd love to finish off that sentence with "of parties" but unfortunately my life is far too boring for that!)

But let's not get distracted by my lack of social life!

As I was saying, when my own thoughts so rudely interrupted me, my life seems to be whirling along at a pace that I'd rather put some brakes on.

How often do YOU feel like that?

Fortunately each month Karen Wallace takes pity on us all and brings us The Calm Space.

Before I go on I must confess my bias. I am a contributor each month with my musings on the Relationship Space. (This month - Truth and Lies in Relationships: Are You Perpetrator Victim Or Both?)

However I'm telling you about it, because I get heaps out of reading the online mag's other great articles.

Karen describes her little virtual haven like this:

The Calm Space is an online magazine that is like a virtual day-spa for your senses… decadent, informative, relaxing, a real no-mobile-phones-allowed kind of escape where you can chill for a minute or an hour and emerge refreshed and ready to face anything your day throws at you!
It’s a rare woman who doesn’t succumb to chaos and madness at some stage during her busy week. Whatever your particular life situation, and no matter how your day is going, you will find respite within the spaces here.

What I love is:

the great themes for each month's articles. July = Truth, June = Kindness May = Work April = Conversations
zeroing in on Karen's (@karenwallace) own infectious Calm in the Serenity Space
getting some insights into organising from Angela Esnouf (@creatingorder) of Creating Order from Chaos on the Organising Space
tapping into my spiritual side with Annie Hutton's challenges on the Spiritual Space
pampering myself (well at least in my dreams) at the Spa Space
Reading the most exquisite prose about all things Nature from Amy Palko (@amypalko) at the Nature Space
Filling my books wishlist from the fabuloso Marj's Lim's (@SlimInkMarjorie) suggestions on the latest good books in the Reading Space
Swallowing my dose of financial medicine from the gorgeous Grant Wallace on Money Space (Alright I confess sometimes I'm a bit scared to go there, but always end up glad I did.)
There's even monthly prizes (tho i don't get to be in that prize draw for obvious reasons!)

So when I need a bit of chillin' I go to The Calm Space.

Does it help you like that?

Melbourne: City of Coffee Heaven

2009-07-15T18:57:19+10:00

I don't think I could ever go live somewhere that didn't have great coffee shops. Not that I'm a coffee connoisseur or anything. In fact, my temptations are tea and hot chocolate. But cafes that make great coffee and pride themselves on that, also make my experience a joy as well!

When a barista knows how to make great coffee he/she also knows how to make lush chocolate as well. They wouldn't dream of delivering thin froth that loses it's oomph a few seconds after making it to the table! They listen to your order and deliver exactly what you want!

Anyway, I digress!

Today SweetP and I went to visit a coffee shop in Malvern in Melbourne's inner southeastern suburbs.

Right opposite Monash Uinversity Caulfield on Dandenong Rd is the start of Waverley Rd with a weird-coloured pub on the corner! Opposite the pub and at 49 Waverley Rd Malvern East is a little coffee shop called Shango Cafe.

My Melbourne Friends, I cannot encourage you ENOUGH to go taste the delights of good coffee there.

Buzzy feel, great mix of old shop with funky modern fittings, lots of light, magazines and newspapers, and an area out the back with plenty of room for prams and a sandbox to keep the kids happy! The slices and muffins were yummy. The panini looked delicious and the place is obviously popular with the locals!

SweetP tells me his coffee was thick luscious and great! My hot choc (and I'm fussy and find I rarely get what I've asked for)was tall luscious and heaped with dense well-developed froth and gorgeous coffee art as well!

Dom the owner tells me the customers vary according to the time of day. I saw mums and kids, business people tapping on laptops and working through agendas, as well as some of the retirees who like a good coffee!

My friends get thee to Spango asap! You deserve it!

Food for Thought

2009-07-09T13:39:27+10:00

Received this from a friend recently!

You are driving down the road in your car on a wild, stormy night, when you pass by a bus stop and you see three people waiting for the bus:

An old lady who looks as if she is about to die.
An old friend who once saved your life.
The perfect partner you have been dreaming about.

Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing that there could only be one passenger in your car?

Think before you continue reading.

This is a moral/ethical dilemma that was once actually used as part of a job application.

You could pick up the old lady, because she is going to die, and thus you should save her first. Or you could take the old friend because he once saved your life, and this would be the perfect chance to pay him back.

However, you may never be able to find your perfect mate again.

YOU WON'T BELIEVE THIS...

The candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants) had no trouble coming up with his answer. He simply answered: 'I would give the car keys to my old friend and let him take the lady to the hospital. I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the partner of my dreams.'

Sometimes, we gain more if we are able to give up our stubborn thought limitations. Never forget to 'Think Outside of the Box.'

Food for thought really!

Tips from Canberra

2009-02-23T09:08:33+11:00

For those of us who have watched the Black Saturday disaster from the sidelines wishing we could feel less hopeless and do something USEFUL, please find attached a great article printed in the Canberra Times on February 11th.
Liz Tilley, a survivor of Canberra's terrible fires in 2003, has written a piece including advice for us all, survivors and observers alike. Full of intensely practical tips, on what little items survivors need and hwo to rebuild the relationships as much as the houses and their contents. It's worth the few minutes it will take you to read.

Download Tips from a bushfire survivor is a Word version of the article.

The direct Canberra Times link is a little harder to read but just work around the links and ads that are inserted early in the story.

Don't forget you can also connect with me by following me on Twitter. @Chris_pinkapple