Archive for the ‘Things n Stuff!’ Category
February 19, 2010
Reviewed by Gabrielle Sutton
When someone experiences a particular difficult event in their life whether it be a death, divorce or other major life changing experience, advice is usually given to take ‘one day at a time’. What if you knew what tomorrow held? Could you change it? Would you want to change it? And what would be the consequences of changing the future?
Cecelia Ahern’s latest book, The Book of Tomorrow’, tells the tale of a young lady, Tamara, whose whole life is sent into upheaval by a death. The events that follow are outside her control, and she has no one to confide in or support her. The book is set in Ireland (Ahern is Irish). Following the death, Tamara and her mother must move from their home in the exclusive Dublin beachside suburb, Killiney, to live with family outside a remote rural town in southern Ireland.
We all live in our own reality. Cecelia Ahern’s The Book of Tomorrow’explores what happens when we step outside that reality. When we start to realise that our behaviours, expectations and relationships are formed by the very limited environment in which we live. Tamara’s new life and new friends are a far cry from those of her old life.
Cecelia Ahern, like other contemporary Irish authors like Maeve Binchey and Monica McInerney, has the ability to bring to life the unique Irish spirit and humour and rich country side, transporting the reader to Ireland. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
January 7, 2010
Watch your money grow!
I’ve recently signed up to the DailyWorth Newsletter (financial education for women in plain-English) and I’ve gotta tell you – it’s the best thing I’ve done in 2010 so far!
Check it out and if you have something you want to save for in 2010 – take the pledge and get saving.
Here’s the pledge they sent me in my DailyWorth Newsletter this morning. I love the way it’s worded – very action orientated and empowering! Join me in the pledge and make yourself proud of your saving efforts in 2010.
The Pledge
Yes! I pledge to save in 2010.
Yes! I already have a savings account that I would like to contribute to, or I will set one up. I am calling this account my (choose: Emergency Fund/Curve-Ball Fund, or anything you’d like to save toward) savings account. I will set it up by this day: .
Yes! I will automate this savings by setting up a transfer to happen on the day of every month.
Yes! I will start by saving 5% of my monthly income, or an amount that I am comfortable with, specifically $ a month.
Yes! When I am confronted by fear or hypnotized by the latest sale at (name favorite store), I will choose my future and save instead.
Yes! I will be patient with myself, and I won’t let small set backs keep me from reaching my goal of $ saved by December 31st, 2010.
—–
I’m starting 2 accounts, the first one is the sensibly titled “In Case of Emergency – Break Glass” fund – this is where I’ll be putting my 5%. The other, slightly more frivolous fund is “The Little Blue Box Account” – that’s right, I’ll be taking those savings (the money I save by halving my weekly coffee expenditure) straight down to Tiffany & Co in Castlereagh St this coming Christmas and buying myself something nice.
There’s no need for you to make your amount public if you’re not comfortable doing so. It will though help you to be accountable to your pledge if you at least tell someone, I’d suggest your least judgemental friend.
Good Luck! Might see you Christmas shopping (for yourself) at Tiffany’s 
November 10, 2009
by Angela Stewart
When LA and I decided to review these products I was waiting eagerly to see if they would live up to their enticing descriptions.
My package arrived at the end of a very busy week, so it was great timing. The packaging is simple, eye catching and very easy to read.
I was lucky enough to receive the five cologne sample pack and was impressed by the cute little spritzer bottlers and the ingenious card like packaging.
Treat yourself to these gorgeous Y-yo Ethical & Safe Perfumes online from http://www.y-yo.com.au/
All of the 5 fragrance blends more than lived up to their descriptions…
Glow
definitely is the natural, ethical “happy pill”
Flow
with the invigorating mint family essential oils and floral notes of osmanthus was every bit as invigorating and reviving as it was described Read the rest of this entry »
November 9, 2009
by Megan Faulkner
The Australian Institute of Health and Wellness (www.aihw.gov.au) has recently published (11 September 2009) health expenditure data for arthritis and musculoskeletal disorders in Australia for 2004-05.
More than 6 million Australians are effected by these conditions and direct health care expenditure was $4billion which equates to 7.5% of the total allocated health expenditure in Australia http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10699.
Osteoarthritis accounted for one third of the costs and alot of it is associated with hospital expenditure for hip and knee replacements, and medications.
As someone who suffers from mild Osteoarthritis and who is always looking for the most natural solution to the problem, Read the rest of this entry »
October 21, 2009
Interview with Terces and Matthew Engelhart by Megan Faulkner
Cafe Gratitude - San Francisco
I have always been a healthy eater, I am a vegetarian and try to be conscious of getting a fairly good balance of fresh fruit and vegetables in my diet, one of my favorite places to eat in Sydney is IKU for it’s creative raw and macrobiotic meals.
Since moving to San Francisco I have really appreciated it’s focus on sourcing local produce, much of it organically grown. I was intrigued when I first visited Cafe Gratitude, a cafe dedicated to healthy vegan and raw food meals, drinks and delicious desserts.
However, as I have discovered there is so much more to the ‘Cafe Gratitude’ phenomenon than just the food, so I was very excited to have the opportunity to interview the founders of Cafe Gratitude, Matthew and Terces Engelhart.
Tell ‘Gorgeous Things’ readers about the philosophy behind Cafe Gratitude?
Matthew Engelhart I met Terces in September 2000, and about six months later we realised we wanted to have a life together, our children were grown. We said “what’s this life going to look like that we’re going to create”, and we somehow concluded that “how about we just live our life from inner guidence”.
It’s not about strategising how to get to the beach with a Pina Colada and a retirement nest egg, but what if we just followed inner guidence and surrendered to that.
One of the first insights we got was to invent a board game. This board game was to train people in what we call ‘the being of abundence’, to extract people from the ’scarcity paradigm’, not enough money, not enough time, not enough beauty, not enough love, not enough, not enough, not enough….that human beings have found themselves in.
So we spent a year kind of just sitting down at a blank canvas so to speak, with some dice and some index cards, and we spent a year creating this game. About a year into that we got the idea to develop a workshop around the game, to write a book around the game, then finally because we saw how difficult it was to inspire people to take time to do a workshop…everyone has to eat, lets have a gaming parlour where people come and have coffee, eat a croissant and play this game.
In the mean time we tried to experiment with a raw food diet on Terces insight. We tried it for thirty days and felt so good and so alive, and so clear that we said “Oh I guess it’s going to be a raw food gaming parlour. I would say that’s the humble beginnings.
So the Cafe actually started out of the game?
Terces Engelhart Yes, we created the game first
And the name of the game is…?
ME ‘The Abounding River’. That game and there is also a book with a 42 day practice in it that are for sale on Amazon and CafeGratitude.com.
Is a raw food diet safe?
October 12, 2009
In a single moment I felt the deep inner wisdom of what it really means to be a woman. The moment was a simple interaction between myself and an incredibly charming man - and this simply is how it went.
I was part of a group who’d been listening to the aforementioned gentleman speak on a subject he seemed incredibly passionate about. At the end of his presentation I decided to go over and personally thank him for sharing his knowledge in such an inspiring way. He saw me approach him and smiled as he put his hand out to shake mine – I could feel the energy build between us as I approached and decided I’d just smile and continue to breath calmly and fully. I chose to be present – and I now actually know what that really means.
As our hands touched and our fingers folded to clasp firmly, I met his gaze at closer than usual quarters, then thanked and praised him for his presentation. He beamed a warm smile and thanked me for coming along. At which point it would have been quite natural for him to release my hand and acknowledge the person behind me waiting to thank him also. Instead we stood for a moment, held each others gaze and seemingly enjoyed the exchange of energy.
Now I don’t know what you’d call that in the Tantric world but to me it was something quite beautiful. A passionate, present man, standing together with a calm, present woman – now that’s an experience I will cherish and re-create at any opportunity.
I felt like a woman – that’s the only way I can describe it.
“Thanks Martina…it was something special to be part of your Day for Women…and without a doubt – a life altering experience.”
Related Posts
www.gorgeousthings.com.au/blog/waaaaay-outside-my-comfort-zone/
www.gorgeousthings.com.au/blog/natural-way-to-better-sex/
October 5, 2009
THE MOTHER OF ALL RALLIES
by Angela Stewart
Homebirth Rally 7 September 2009, Canberra ACT
Recently, on a very cold, wet and dull Canberra day, my close friend, her four year old daughter and myself joined more than 2000 others to protest against federal government plans that would see homebirthing effectively made illegal.
Our participation began listening to Fluer Magick, an Indigenous woman, perform a special welcome ceremony at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, in front of Old Parliament House. Despite the weather the mood was determined and jubilant amongst the crowd. It was amazing to be part of this energy.
We then marched up the hill to the lawns of new Parliament House, and gathered – under a sea of umbrellas – Read the rest of this entry »
September 28, 2009
- Want to know how to get luscious locks without all the chemical nasties?
- Maybe you have sensitive skin that reacts to conventional beauty products?
- Or, perhaps you want to know how to bring your abundant inner beauty to the outside?
Here’s 32 Tips & Tricks to do all of that and so much more!
DOWNLOAD NOW – PDF (500kb)
32 Natural Beauty Tips & Tricks from Gorgeous Things
Hey there pretty lady! While you’re here – why not join the Gorgeous Things Facebook page and mailing list for regular NEW TIPS & TRICKS
September 26, 2009
In the name of possibly life-changing research and leading the way forward for all you gorgeous women who’ve ever thought – ‘Tantra…isn’t that just about multiple orgasms and something Sting and his wife always go on about in Women’s Weekly’? I’m putting myself on the line, stepping way outside of the suburban sensibilities of my lower middle class up-bringing and delving into the world of Tantric practice. Wish me luck!
You may recall, I met the lovely Martina Hughes, Founder of Tantric Blosso
ming at the Mind Body Spirit Festival in Sydney some time ago. Martina recently wrote an inspiring post for the Gorgeous Things blog as a bit of an introduction to Tantra.
It might interest you to know - Martina’s post was the most read item of our Newsletter that month. So I know that many of you are interested in the subject and learning about the benefits of connecting with yourself and your partner on a much deeper level.
Your interest and my own curiosity has lead me to sign myself up for a Tantric Blossoming course and I’ll be sharing my experiences with you here on the blog. Read the rest of this entry »
September 12, 2009
I’m sharing this very personal little story with you because I was surprised at how many of my girlfriends have experienced something similar and never shared their experience – with me or anyone else. We all have our secrets but there are some secrets that when shared, become a source of joy and acceptance rather than shame and judgement.
How does that song go…
“Those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.”
Join the Gorgeous Things Facebook Group - FREE Ebook on Natural Beauty Tips & Tricks for Facebook Fans – Coming in September!
Read the rest of this entry »
