If you’ve read anything I’ve posted on the blog in the last two years, the very few and far-between snippets from my life, you would know it was struggle-town over here. Population me! Anxiety was at an all-time high, sending confidence and self-esteem flying out the window and running for the hills. And if you didn’t, now you’re caught up. A genuine crisis of confidence makes it very difficult to show up a blog with a literal (e)book on the matter.
But when I started to plan to clean out my closet, deciding what could stay and what could go, I knew I needed to work out what my style even looks like now. I’m about to be 42 (where does the time go?), and it’s not holding me back from knowing what I like or want; it’s the big hole where my confidence used to be. So, I started a Pinterest board. Of course, I did; I am a millennial, after all, and I started formulating an idea of what I like and what appeals to me now. Piece by piece, I built this idea until I had a clearer picture of what I wanted and how I would move forward in the cleanout. Go me!
Except that the idea of being in photos again makes me wince full-body.
And the mortgages are mortgaging, so there’s not a lot of play money to rebuild; I’ll be relying on what I have now, some of which are in a different size from what I wear now, adding to the genuine yikes factor of moving forward. But trying not to get stuck, I keep digging through what I have. For my entire adult life, I’ve worn between a 20 and 26 in dress sizes. So, there’s flexibility there. Yes, most of my cool denim is a size 20/22, but I’ll decide what to do once I’m back in the swing of things. It’s the swing of things I’m finding difficult.
So, I’m hoping to take the time along the way not just to clean out what doesn’t fit or work for me anymore in my closet but to rebuild my confidence and nurture my self-esteem—rebuild them, too. And through that, I can find my style again and enjoy the play and joyfulness of it all. Enjoy getting dressed, going places, and spending time with people who aren’t my husband or my dogs. Maybe it’s time to review some of my old Confident You blog posts like some of you have told me you’ve been doing. Whatever it takes, I’m following the Khloe Kardashian way of thinking that the forties will be one of the best decades of my life, so it’s time to get started. Properly.
Writing a blog about confidence is pretty tough when you feel like a fraud. I should know; that’s exactly how I felt. Looking back, I knew things were really out of control when I attended an event in Brisbane, pre-Covid. In a room full of people, most I’d known for years, I couldn’t breathe. Nothing could distract or settle me. The walls were closing in, and the only thing I could do was get outside, sit and try to gather myself.
Maybe some of you were there or heard an account of it. Some people got back to me, said I was rude, stand-offish and made them feel like I didn’t care about them or anything but myself and my friends. Hard to hear, a gut punch. But I couldn’t argue with it. When you’re barely holding it together, keen to get out, I’m sure that’s exactly how it looks to others. Anxiety looks like that sometimes; I look like that sometimes; there’s no denying it.
And I was embarrassed. That I came across that way or that it would be the first impression some people had of me. Humiliated that I couldn’t take a few deep breaths and clear my head, I got stuck in the panic. I couldn’t face the blog after that. Some confidence guru I turned out to be. Not that I ever set out to be a guru; of course, I didn’t. But no one knew then how bad my anxiety had gotten, and I refused to share that.
Some days, doing ‘the best we can’ may still fall short of what we would like to be able to do, but life isn’t perfect — on any front — and doing what we can with what we have is the most we should expect of ourselves or anyone else.” — Mister Rogers
But hiding from it did nothing. It was still there when I worried about what people were saying or thinking about me. It showed up, and I felt like an outsider. Then Covid hit, and the last shreds of my chill slipped through my fingers. I embraced online groceries and deliveries and soon was buying everything online. There was nowhere to go, so I didn’t have to push myself to try anymore. There was relief in giving up. I was happy to stay there for as long as I could.
Then, in the middle of last year, things started to shift for me. I said yes to more things and let my excuses slip. Time passing had lessened the power of the anxiety that had surged so strongly through my veins in the years prior. Finally, I could see out from under my rock, and there, to be entirely cliche and sickening, was sunshine. I could breathe again, finally.
There’s no way that I ever want to resume my self-appointed confidence guru position. But confidence, self-confidence and body confidence will always be part of this blog, just as they are part of my life story and mental health conversations. So from now on, you can count on me to be honest about what is going on for me, good or bad, up or down. Who knows if you even want that from me? Maybe it will just be for my benefit and debriefing purposes, but we’ll see.
I’m serious when I tell you when I gave up drinking, I hadn’t intended to. One day I was changing how I ate, looking to achieve a whole host of things, and I decided alcohol wouldn’t fit in with those changes. So, I stopped drinking. Now, It’s been three months since I gave up drinking, and I don’t miss it. Thinking about it now, I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve even given it a second thought.
Very strange for someone who enjoyed a good drink or two but here we are. Most people who have heard about this recent development are confused about why. Others, I’m sure, weren’t surprised at all. Team wine, that was me, and the frequency with which I would consume a glass or two had been growing over the years. Add in my friend, vodka, and it was becoming a free for all.
After these few months, what have I discovered when I gave up drinking; about myself, alcohol and the whole darn thing?
A small disclaimer before I get into this. I’m not a professional medical type, nor do I have any experience with addiction recovery or counselling. This is not advice, medical or otherwise, and it certainly isn’t a comment on addiction. It’s simply my experience, what I’ve noticed about my life and health since I gave up drinking after being a regular, if not heavy, drinker for decades. If you’re feeling like alcohol might be a problem for you or someone you know, try this link from Lifeline Australia.
The effects on your waistline
I learned that alcohol, such as wine and its mixer friends, have a lot of calories that seem to enjoy adding to your waistline. There are no ifs, buts, or maybes about that. Add to that general puffiness and dull skin. What’s not to love about that? She says sarcastically. But remove them from the equation; the extra weight (and the rest) leave as quickly as they arrived. Or that has been my experience anyway.
The Money Honey
Next, let’s talk about how much money I was spending! Between a wine subscription, trips to the local bottle shop and a taste for the good stuff, vodka-wise, the costs were adding up. A few years ago, I talked about how I felt entitled to upgrade my spending as our lives became more financially stable. Well, this was one area I did that and then some!
Tallying it all up in my head, I was astounded by how much money we spent on drinks. Between that and trying to kick the takeaway habit, our transaction account got cleaned up really fast! But to be fair, it’s not like I’ve saved a lot from not drinking these last few months. I have a new thing to spend my money on… plants. (How Millenial of me, haha).
Sleep and general mental clarity
That last subheading sounds serious, and it is. The biggest thing I’ve learned since I gave up drinking is that drinking ruins your sleep and mental health. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but with regular drinking comes crappy nights of sleep and the subsequent days of fogginess and all-around sluggishness.
It may be me, full disclaimer, but I’ve improved my sleep quality massively since I gave up alcohol. My apple watch/health chart-thingy has an impressive graph to reflect that. Even with my higher-than-average caffeine consumption, almost immediately, it was better. Which, if it were a weight-related thing, wouldn’t have shown any real improvement until weeks later? But there it was, an immediate spike.
Then there’s the less easy-to-track mental clarity. Based on how I feel, this has improved dramatically. My business has been booming, and I’m busier than ever. While sometimes I get tired, I don’t feel burnt out or exhausted like I once did as I poured a glass to end my day. Sure, this could be an improved mental health state, but interesting to note this upswing in brain power.
So, what now for me and booze?
In conclusion, I don’t intend to quit drinking forever. That might change; never say never, but that’s the current feeling I get. Because I enjoy a glass of wine with dinner, celebrating with my sparkling favourites or a frosty beverage at the beach. Even over Christmas, I won’t rule out a beverage or two. But this time off of the booze has completely changed my relationship with drinking.
Before, I felt like I had to drink to be social. To quiet the voice of anxiety so I could forge ahead in situations that put me out of my comfort zone. In the more difficult mental health times, even at some places in my comfort zone. But that was an excuse, short version. Drinking made those things worse in the long run. Even if I didn’t feel the effects until the next day or once the alcohol had worn off. And giving up drinking made them better, over time, with a distance between me and what my life used to look like.
Considering I was in my office this morning before 6 am, you’d think I’d be ready to roll with this email early, right? Apparently not. I got caught up making a few changes to the blog branding I had a dream about last night. Saying it came to me in a dream seems a little out there, but that’s kind of how it went.
I’ve been bringing the look of the blog and socials into 2022 and generally tinkering around behind the scenes for a while now. But I feel like I have found the final piece to the puzzle (along with some stuff I have happening behind the scenes). But why bother, right? I post sporadically at best; it hardly seems worth it.
Well, because I love it.
I love that it gave me this ‘job’ and life that I love. It’s shaped the way that I communicate and learn. So, it remains important and part of how I express myself. Something which I feel myself coming back to over and over again even as it stands quiet and neglected on the public side.
I know now, and trust, that it won’t always be the case. And sure, maybe there are not 100k likes or follows in my future, big brand partnerships or producing content for money. But maybe there will be space for me to find my feet again after a strange couple of years. Maybe there will be room for me to stretch what I know about myself and this thing I do there.
And yes, I am aware that this is a topic you’re probably sick to death hearing about.
Do it or don’t, you scream in the emails, do whatever you want, we’re good. But it is what mattered most to me this morning—sharing the spark of creativity, the bud of a blooming flower that marks the start of something new for me. It’s been a while since I felt free to express who I am.
Yesterday I posted the image above to my socials, and I meant it. I think we all do better and feel better when making something. Whether baking a cake, writing again for the first time in years (go Shae!) or finding new ways to do the things we’ve always done, it’s too easy in our day-to-day lives to get caught up in what we should do; the to-do list or workload.
But what if you gave yourself a moment to draw, paint, sculpt, bake, craft, write, sing or perform? To make something.
Thanks for always giving me the space; I hope you feel you are given the same room to create something too. If not, let me hold some open for you to fill. Consider this your challenge this week, find something that you can make, that you LOVE to make, and do it.
I was hoping you could find the time, I know your life is busy, but it will be worth every second. Express yourself, friend; it’s the only way to live this big, fully self-expressed life we’re going for over here. Go big or go home, right?
A couple of weeks ago, I received an Ask Suger talking about the changes they had been going through in their life and how they felt behind everyone else they knew. And it wasn’t that they were not getting what they wanted, feeling as if they were taking giant steps backwards. So, they wanted to see if I’d ever felt like that and if I had any advice. Phew, team, what a heartbreaker THAT was to read.
And primarily because, of course, I’ve been there. I promise you that we all have. Maybe it was as simple as changing a career when everyone else seemed to have worked out their dream job as a teenager. Or as significant as losing a partner, home or important career. For me, it was infertility and, later, tax debt that bought about my WTF moments. I’ve written about how waiting for somethingyou want changes you.
Feeling left behind as your peers move forward sucks. But what I think is really at the heart of it, for me at least, was feeling like I missed out. That someone else had what I wanted, and now there was nothing left for me. Of course, it wasn’t true; with time, I ended up in a different place altogether. But while I was in it, suffering and struggling to breathe, it sure felt like it was.
And then, there was the time we sold our home to pay off a tax debt – a big one. We’d just turned thirty, and inside of settling into this life we’d so confidently been creating, it all got stripped away. Living in my sister’s home, facing the mess that I’d made for myself (we had maybe, technically), it felt impossible that I’d have to start over. But, as impossible as it first seemed, which I think was my shame and embarrassment, it took one foot in front of another and a lot of support from those around us.
I’m wandering down memory lane like this because I promise you, we have all been there somehow. Feeling that you don’t have it together or that life is passing you by is something that happens to all of us. Sometimes it is. Yes, that’s a reality check we don’t want to hear but need to hear when it’s true. Maybe, like me and taxes, you need to try harder, create better systems or learn something.
Or maybe, you’re in the middle of getting what you want, and you didn’t even realise it? There have certainly been times when things were working out exactly as they should because I was looking for another way. Maybe those backward steps redirect you to the path meant for you all along? Perhaps you’re in one of the stages of achieving your goals and can’t see it yet? Whatever it is, know that I believe you are where you are because it’s where you’re supposed to be.
And sure, it’s not always fun and not always easy. But from here, who knows what is ahead of you and what adventure awaits? Do you know that old saying about being unable to see the forest for the trees? Maybe that’s you right now? Up to the eyeballs in trees. Hopefully, it makes you feel less alone and more supported as you move forward that we’re here with you.
There’s no such thing as the life you’re supposed to be living. No place to be or perfect ‘you’ve arrived’ moment of finality (until the end). Enjoy the ride, learn from your mistakes and have patience with yourself and what you want.
When I shared the Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls announcement post over the weekend, I was hoping for a little more opportunity to talk about this show, maybe even rave a little about it. I’ve seen it twice, some napping occurred the second time around, and I had so much fun watching it—short version. But there was more to it than that. It got me thinking about this blog and why I started sharing myself here.
When this blog became a style blog over a decade ago, it took something for me to embrace this new online space I had created. I had to push myself, face up to myself and learn a lot (usually through failing). In its current incarnation, starting this blog felt a lot like facing the challenges on the show week after week, actually.
Except that we all know, or should by this stage know, that I don’t dance. Shuffle maybe. Sway, yes. But dance, no.
It reminded me how the old Aussie Curves challenges would push me week after week to get out of my comfort zone and show up. It worked that way for so many of us. With the support of others in those challenges, I would have the safe space to take a long hard look at myself. Then, when I felt I’d discovered something, I’d share that.
It changed how I felt about sharing myself and my body online. It pushed me to talk about my relationship with my body and how others related to it. Over time, I discovered myself in those challenges, found my voice and stood for who I am.
And I think that’s why I loved this show so much.
2012
2016
2019
2021
Because when people see the big girls showing up online, they can’t believe we can do it. They can’t believe that we can be and often are happy, living life, loving, succeeding and growing. Sure, it would be nice if the world as a whole got its head out of its ass and just let us live. But we are changing minds even if the community has (quite literally) shrunk in the years following that challenge.
I know in a lot of ways, I lost my voice. Sick of being spoken for by women who don’t know, who inhabit smaller bodies and are lucky enough to be still considered acceptable. I found it hard to speak up when after a decade, the problems, especially online, felt like they were getting worse.
Sure, we have seen some progress made, but for whom?
It’s still almost impossible to shop for a body larger than a size 20/22 in this country. God-forbid if you’d like to do so in-store. Brands shout inclusion and clothing for everybody (and “every-body”) at us from every angle than call a size 20 a 3XL in their limited extended sizing. New offerings pop up promising larger size ranges soon! Then the months go by, and those promises seem long forgotten, replaced instead with an ad budget to drown out the voices of those left behind.
For the most part, we continue to be represented by people who don’t know or see our experiences. Every single woman on Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls says at one point she wished she’d seen a person that looked like her anywhere when growing up. And while I saw plenty of white women, even a chubby one here or there, I know a small portion of that longing. And this show reminded me of that.
It reminded me that I show up for myself first.
To remind me of my worthiness and willingness to grow, live proudly and change something. Next, I show up for my nieces and second cousins, great cousins etc., who will grow up in a body like mine. A body that, for all the progress we are told is being made, is still wrong. I show up so that they will see someone who reminds them just to be themselves. It’s the only thing there is to do. Exist comfortably in the skin you’re in.
And then, last but certainly not least, I do it for you and anyone else out there that looks at my size 24/26 (give or take depending on the year) self with my broad shoulders, big chest, deep voice, long torso, loud laugh, and big feet and sees something of me in yourself. Through me, I hope you find a way to sit comfortably with who you are inside and out. Through sharing my struggles, I hope you know that you’re pretty great, just as you are; inside and out.
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Thanks for coming to my Ted talk, haha. Have you seen the show? Let’s talk about it!
A little while back, I thought it would be fun to do favourite things kind of post. Feature books and products, homewares to skincare—stuff I’ve seen on the interwebs in a roundup style post. But then, from memory, it was Afterpay Day. And the very idea of sending out a post flogging stuff, even if it was for entertainment, was a no thanks.
But, some time has passed, and I’ve found more interesting things. I added an extra book and some sunscreen, an old favourite brand has a new offering, and some new-to-me products popped up. And since I feel a little better about the scale of emails in my inbox, I thought it was time. So, here they are, the many things that caught my eye on the interwebs lately; let’s do this.
12. Mr Consistent Mixers are refreshing, delicious and just as good alone or with soda water. Yum yum.
What have you discovered this month, team? I’d love to hear more about what is landing in your cart. Big or small, silly or serious, I’m sure some retail therapy has been helping us all through these weird and wonderful times. Enjoy the post, and as always, shop responsibly.
I’ve always loved the glossy pages of a magazine. Not literally, the glossy pages drive me nuts with fingerprints, but you know what I mean. Whether it was about fashion or home decor, far off adventures or food. A lot of why I wanted to be a writer when I was a child was because of magazines. Later, the ads captured my attention just as much as the stories, and it led me to university for Marketing and Advertising. Not that I ever finished that degree, but that’s another story. Haha.
As my Marie Claire was jammed into the mailbox, partially ripping the cover, again. I muttered to myself that it’s no wonder no one subscribes to magazines anymore. Which is a misdirected criticism of magazines that should be directed at the delivery service, for sure. But it got me thinking, wondering as I do.
Do they? Do you subscribe to magazines anymore?
When I restarted that forgotten Marie Claire subscription, it kick-started something in me. Since then, I added Frankie and Peppermint to my regular deliveries to make a grand total of three. As we get closer to renovating the house, more may be added to that list. But why them and not my former favourites like Vogue? It’s pretty simple. Like many magazine readers, I’m tired of the content that I ingest not being relatable. I wanted something made closer to home with stories that were relevant to me.
And so, month after month, as they arrive at my doorstep, filled with inspiration to write, to take photos and to make stuff, I smile. Because sure, I could go to their website and get a lot of the same vibes. But there is something about having that physical magazine in my hands that I love—especially the creamy, matte paper pages of modern magazines.
Ten points for being able to read with snacks. Haha.
So, I flip through the pages, soaking up the article, photos, and people and their stories. Broadening my perspective through others sharing theirs, learning to see things differently. Which has to be part of growing up and essentially staying in a small town like mine. Growing up was easy enough. But, learning to think critically and develop self-awareness and empathy for others doesn’t always come easily.
Without that widening of my interactions, it would be easy to become closed off, fixed in the ways of the people around me. Magazines (and books, too) have been a way to expand beyond what is in front of me. It could happen to you anywhere, I’m sure. Small towns cop the brunt of the stereotype. But I love my people and town, but that will never mean I have to think the same way as anyone else. That’s why I read all I can, from as many different people as I can, as often as I can. What about you?
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The Queensland floods hit the peppermint magazine offices. Please consider supporting them in this challenging time through visiting their website, sharing their content or subscribing to the magazine; head over here to get started.
Starting the year out rushing to get back to work with emails flooding my inbox wasn’t ideal. I was overwhelmed, and on the brink of panic most days, I got on with things. And when asked? Of course, I was fine. Tired, but fine. Busy, but fine. I know all about being fine.
Being fine is such a default response for so many of us—especially the busy, doing it all types who are juggling many balls in the air. I’m fine, you’re fine, we’re all FINE! Who doesn’t remember Ross Geller and his squeaky fine in that margarita fueled episode of Friends. So why do we do that?
Why do we say we’re fine when we aren’t?
Look, short version, I don’t know. Here’s hoping there’s a professional out there that can tell us all. So, I’m learning to identify the moments that I’m not fine and use my words to express that instead. To say that I’m struggling or articulate what I need. To be clear and do my best not to try to determine whether the other person is judging me and my request or not.
It’s not always possible. Sometimes that flight, fight or freeze instinct kicks in, and I’m stuck in the moment of fine. Honestly, I think women are taught to nod and smile our way through almost anything, often to our detriment. As we’ve seen lately with local and international personalities, speaking up is often met with criticism. No one wants to be the one to bring the room down or look foolish.
But the other side of that coin is that when we break through the “fine” and share what’s real, the results are empowering, engaging and can be a relief to those around us. We must acknowledge that finding the words to declare ourselves not fine is a win. It’s the work there is to do for a lot of us. To stop and consider your answer for a moment when asked.
Ummm, excuse me, internet, but have you heard about Lizzo’s new show? “Watch Out For The Big Grrrls” is coming, and I’m not sure we’re ready, to be honest. It’s a dance competition for a chance to win a spot on Lizzo’s World Tour.
Now, I don’t know much about dance. My experience ended when I sized out of the ‘girls’ tutus around 9 or 10. But I know that dance hasn’t been kind to women who live in large bodies—deeming us incapable, unable or unworthy in varying degrees. So to see this opportunity for big girls to dance played out in a TV show, celebrating diverse women, bodies and personalities, well, I’m excited to see it.
For me, Lizzo brings plus-size representation to music and entertainment with style and unwavering nerve. But I understand that by existing in her body, she has no choice for the most part in the society we live in. Held aloft for all to see, judge and discuss. That can’t be an easy position to be in at all. So, I appreciate her hanging herself a little further out on that limb for all of us who need representation in media. For those of us who might need a reminder to go after our dreams.
Check out all the details on Lizzo’s Instagram, eeekkk!
And since March 25th is the day after my birthday, I think Watch Out For the Big Gurrrls presented by Lizzo will be an excellent addition to my birthday week celebrations. Don’t you think? Thank goodness I already have Amazon Prime. Haha.
Planners? Handwriting? But what about digital calendars? I admit it; I’m a paper-and-pen kind of girl. Especially when it comes to planning and scheduling my LIFE. I’ve often failed with digital planners and calendars (RIP Google Calendar) and keep returning to a good old fashion, usually hefty, planner. However, I’m starting to book into the new year now, so it’s time for me to choose and buy one. Wanting to try something a little different, I turned to Instagram for some suggestions.
And boy-oh-boy, you guys delivered!
By last night I had over 30 replies with either suggestion for places to get diaries and planners or requests to share the details when I got the one I am using. Here we are. The more I checked out the links and businesses, the more I decided it would have to be a post. Have a blog and will use it, right? So I’ve visited each seller and narrowed it down to a decent selection of planners and diaries that I loved the look of or idea behind. Let’s get started, shall we?
Planners and Diaries you Recommended
Write to Me
I love the focus of the Write to Me planners; the idea that you can take the things in your life, your schedule, your kids or your family schedule and move them to a planner is something I agree with. Highly recommend it for any time you feel anxious or overwhelmed; write it out. They offer a great selection of week-to-view 2020 planners (you won’t know this yet, but I’m a day-to-view kind of girl). And the cover designs (image above) are stunning. These planners are aimed at those juggling a family with excellent month view and planning page options.
Simplified by Emily Ley
Simplified by Emily Ley are an excellent day-to-view option and a beautiful, functional-looking planner. This one was SO attractive to me, as I often feel that planners can be overdone in the layout, which makes me feel like I’m writing in a novel, and well, I’m not about that defacing book life. This planner came SO highly recommended by the team on Instagram, and I can see why. It made my shortlist, but in the end, it lost out because I’m not into the wire-bound thing. I’ve done it before, but I’m a bit rough on planners, so it always ends up bent and busted. But if you’re more of an adult than me, I recommend checking this one out.
Saint Belford
I hadn’t heard of this brand before, which happened a lot. But there is a lot to love about the Curation planner. If you want more of a journal-style planner with so much room for planning, including savings goals, self-care plans and heaps more, this is for you. Despite my best intentions, I don’t tend to use those pages in a planner as much as I do the diary/schedule pages. That said, maybe this year will be different, right? Haha.
kikki K
A bit of an O.G. in the planner world, kikki Khas been doing their thing with planners for YEARS. My first planner was from kikki K, and I always check out their new offerings before deciding which planner to get every year. I love that they sell refill packs so you can top up rather than buy a new planner; that’s a great option. That sort of thing comes in handy if you spill coffee in the second half of your year and need to replace it… In case that kind of thing happens to you. Just me? Okay, awkward.
Leaders in Heels
The Leaders in Heels plannerscame highly recommended by women who own them. I can’t argue with that. And while the name’s whole ‘girl boss’ vibe isn’t my style, this is one hefty (love) planner with some excellent planning, goal setting and inspiration pages. This one made the shortlist of planners that I looked at buying for that reason. So if you want something that goes above and beyond, look at this one.
Kmart
This cheap and cheerful option came up a few times. I know that spending $80 on a planner isn’t how you try to pay for your life. The good news is that you won’t have to with Kmart and their cute 2020 range. Kmart is similar to Typo planners and diaries, which are also great. I picked up a monogrammed one for my sister for Christmas one year, which was beautiful.
Amelia Lane Paper
The best part I found about the Amelia Laner Paper planners is that they offer a few options for their planners in both week and day views. I’m usually a day-view kind of girl, but I had difficulty deciding which of these I preferred. They have desktop options (so chunky) right through to compact and half-year versions. The covers were feminine and exciting without being too much, and all in all, I loved these. In the end, I threw caution, and my budget, to the wind and went with the chunkiest of chunky girls, the Desk Day view option. I can’t wait for it to arrive (though I’ll have to, because I didn’t pay for express shipping because saving that $5 was important, apparently. H.A.).
Emma Kate Co
If you’ve been around the Australian blogosphere for a while, this name will be familiar. The brand was a blog first (and still is a beautiful blog, a must-read for those who love personal musings and stunning photography) based in beautiful Melbourne. So, if you want to get behind a local woman in business, this could be an excellent option for you (there are others on this list too, but this feels personal because I’ve read the blog for so long). Anyyyywaaaaay. The planner, right? Well, Emma Kate Co is one of the best I’ve seen; beautifully designed, has a great layout and journaling pages, and has a decent amount of heft. (Did I mention I was into such things? I like a planner to be hefty enough to hold its own).
My Mindful Year
I feel that I was gifted a My Mindful Year planner a few years ago. There is something familiar about this unique planner with its hand-drawn and illustrated interior. This planner is designed to be an exercise in mindfulness, and I love that. They offer a great week to view layout (even this day to view girl was a fan) and lots of room for activities and planning. If this planner is your choice, they contribute to charities with every planner sold; find out more on their website.
Plum Paper
I am not finding what you need. This last year (2021/2022), I’ve been using the Plum Paper brand from the U.S. with fully customisable pages, monthly tabs, and more. I took a recommendation from someone on this blog and found that there were offering blogging pages, planning and money pages. All the things I wanted and needed. Which most of them, you can add one set or add them to your monthly tabs. It’s a great option if you want a simple planner with many custom elements. So head over and play with their customisation prompts; build a planner style on their website here.
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There we go, team! Thanks so much to everyone that offered suggestions for planners or joined the conversation on Instagram. (Not following me, WHAT are you doing, lady? Go here). Did I feature YOUR preferred brand? Tell me all about it. I know many people out there are also looking for planners. Let me know in the comments if YOU still use a paper planner or have gone digital.
It’s been big news around here. The kids’ YouTube channel finally (fiiinnnnaallllyyy) reached 100 subscribers. We are all pretty pumped to achieve this first milestone. Especially as a channel made for kids with no specific purpose and, thanks to me, sporadic videos. It was level 100 excitement around here when the number ticked over. And because kids know what is what and they decided to celebrate.
Let there be cake!
And so we did, they talked about it, asked about it, and prompted me until we finally had a celebratory cake sitting in front of us, talking about what we love about making videos. It was a celebration of our win and something I know that I need to get better at. Maybe you do too.
A couple of years ago now, around this time, this blog turned ten years old. And there was little more than a blog post to mark the occasion. Which is, even now, disappointing. That kind of longevity and milestone deserved better than that. But at the time, I think I was too caught up in day-to-day life to acknowledge that.
Then, because time waits for no woman, the moment was gone.
Opportunity missed, another moment passed me by, lost to the sands of time. Which may, and probably does, sound dramatic. What can I say? That’s the way I look at it now. No, it doesn’t change the actual milestone. We still managed to keep this blog world afloat for ten years, and that can’t be taken away from us. But that was a win that deserved to be celebrated; for you and me.
And that’s the crux of it, I think. Where I was, mental health-wise, at that time wasn’t the best. Things I used to love to do were washed out, colourless versions of their former selves. I didn’t take the time to celebrate because I didn’t think I deserved it. It didn’t feel important enough to celebrate myself and my achievements for no other reason than I said so; it felt like a stretch.
But I was wrong, it was worth celebrating! I am worth celebrating.
And you, my friend, are worth celebrating as well. I know I needed to hear that and maybe right now, you are waiting for a similar kick in the pants. Too often we wait for those milestones society tell us are a celebration. Things like weddings, graduations, babies. But I’m becoming a firm believer that we shouldn’t wait for these things.
Firstly, because some of them may not happen for you. Weddings and babies especially are tricky things to ‘make’ happen. But also because if it means something to you, you should celebrate it. Don’t wait! Order a cake, pop a bottle of champagne or take a day off. Celebrate your wins and remind yourself and those around you that you’re worth it.
