Woman

One of the best paragraphs I've read in a long time.  I know that goop can polarise the masses but it often raises some worthy topics.  I just loved this article.

"Every woman needs to work on her own playing big, and that doesn’t mean simply her ego’s ambitions but rather a pursuit of her heartfelt dreams for her life and her real passions. When she’s given herself full permission to do that, to work on becoming the woman she longs to be, when she’s respecting her own dreams, she can be supportive of other women doing so, too.

When you feel jealous of other women, find yourself gossiping, or wanting to take away from another woman’s success, ask yourself, “Where have I gone astray from allowing and pursuing my own aspirations and what do I need to do to get back on my own side?” It’s about you and your path. It’s not about her."

Travelling my way

I know that the "this is how you should pack your suitcase" blog posts and articles can get under peoples skins but I secretly love reading them.  Vogue magazines traditionally publish the most envy inducing snippets, favourite destinations and must pack essentials of the jet set crowd and I devour those articles every single time.  I have a fair bit of travel experience, including with baby and toddler so here go my thoughts-

1. Anywhere warm and beachy is my go to.   Noosa!  The weather is balmy and the water SO warm.  
2. I love to wear white on holidays.  All the pieces match and white looks awesome with a bit of a tan (mostly fake for me these days).  I am a devout fan of Ecotan.  
3. I obsessively pack everything separately.  I'm a sucker for anything travel sized and I have several small bags for make up, hair products, skincare etc which makes it easier to pack and unpack both at home and away.
4. Muji is my best friend.  I use this tote for toiletries and hair products and I own a gazillion of these squeeze tubes that I pour moisturiser, shampoo etc etc into and keep topped up and ready to go.  They're easy to label with a marker.  As soon as I return from a trip and begin to unpack I refill everything so it's ready to go for next time.  I also refill zip lock bags with cotton tips and pads and headache tables as they are always so easy to forget to pack and a pain to have to go and buy at the destination.  Who needs a pack of 50 cotton pads when you just want 5? Mesh zip cases are also great for the small bits and pieces - lip balms, pens, coins and so on as the contents are visible.  They have saved me digging through the bottom of an endless pit that is a large tote bag on many occasions.  
5. The key to travel with a toddler is novelty.  On many occasions the flight cards and the meal tray will keep them busy for hours but some new stickers, small toys and favourite books never go astray.  We currently love the Apples to Pears Farm in a Tin.  
6. When travelling with a baby or a toddler always pack an outfit change for the both of you.  Chances of them spewing are higher when you don't have a spare outfit... 
7. Take those exercise clothes and use them!  I love to do some stair runs early in the morning to get the blood flowing and there will never be as many leisure hours at home as there is on holidays.  

Party time

Well the holiday party invites have started coming in, hot and fast at my end. The office alone is having three, not to mention the many client parties and lunches that go with it. And as the holiday season in Australia coincides with summer, it’s also wedding season. With gifts to buy, trips to take, parties to host and attend, the nightmare of what to wear is sure to dawn on us all. And it doesn’t help that I’m loathing everything in my wardrobe, or finding it inappropriate for the soirées that I have to attend – from BBQ picnics to cocktail parties. I’m in major distress.

Since I’m not made of money (and would prefer to spend what I do have being pampered at Jari Minari in Bali, anyway), I am not making any major purchases! Here are my tips to make work what’s already there. For a couple of hundred dollars, you can be party ready. The big trick? Don’t be afraid to wear the same outfit twice, especially if you’ll be wearing it amongst a completely different crowd of people. Nobody will know!

Get your hair trimmed! Get rid of the split ends, invest in a moisturising treatment and get yourself a bottle of Moroccan Oil. I think grooming is the key during the party season. No matter how simple or fancy the outfit, make sure your hair is clean and neat and you WILL look and feel a million dollars. Take an extra 20 minutes to blow dry it the morning of the event. Guaranteed to make you feel fabulous.

Look after your nails. Keep them short and tidy. Cuticles neat. Whether you paint your nails or not, having nice hands and neat nails and nail polish that isn’t chipped while holding a glass of champagne always looks chic. In summer I get a weekly manicure and fortnightly pedicure.

Invest in a new lipstick. It will completely change your look and won’t break the bank. This summer I intend to make full use of my MAC – Russian Red. I might even treat myself to one of Tom Ford’s new lip colours.

Dress appropriately for the occasion.  If you're with co workers or clients, dress like you would for work and dress it up with accessories, a clutch bag and said new lipstick rather than a mini skirt.  Chances are you see these people once or twice a year, yet speak to them daily, so ensure that you dress and act appropriately.  That's the impression they'll have of you for the rest of the year!

Don’t be afraid of sequins.  When else will you be able to pull of sparkles than during the holidays?

Statement shoes. You know how I feel about that. Nothing I love more than a simple dress and amazing shoes!

Moisturise! Slather your skin in a rich cream for soft, supple skin.

Drink lots of water! The champagne can be drying on your hair, skin and kidneys!

all images via tumblr