Paula Joye launches Life Styled

If like me you’re a bit of a glossy addict, I won’t have to tell you who Paula Joye is and I won’t have to tell you twice to check out her new website.

For the rest of you (shame) Paula Joye has been a significant name in the glossy magazine market with ACP for around the last 15 years. Most recently the editor of national women’s title Madison, Paula has now left ACP and gone out on her own with online offering Life Styled. I think it is a given that ex-magazine editors (myself included) can't just give up working on magazines even if we no longer have one to work on...

It is still in its very early days, but her newsletters are well worth a look. I have received about three so far and each has been full of great fashion and beauty news as well as tips and advice from her years as an editor and beauty editor as well as tips from celebrities, models, fashionistas, stylists and make-up gurus she has met along the way. 

At the moment it is just the regular newsletter, but Paula assures readers in her latest update there will be a website up and running soon. If you haven’t already, head to www.lifestyled.com.au to sign up, it's worth the effort.

A six-figure publishing deal at 18

I've always loved writing about a good success story and there's no doubt 18-year-old Melbourne-based author Alexandra Adornetto qualifies. With the release of her new book Halo, she has secured a lucrative three book deal in the US, sold the rights to her book in over 15 European countries, and is set to begin a national book tour of America in September.


Did I mention she's just 18? Alexandra first came to public attention at the ripe old age of 15 when her first book, The Shadow Thief, was published. Did I mention this was a book she wrote when she was 13?  This is now Alexandra's fourth published novel and she has two more in the works to follow up Halo.

Here's a bit from Alexandra about her incredible experiences:

"Before I went to New York to meet with publishers, I was constantly reminded of how difficult it is to get published in the USA, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. My agent called my hotel the morning after our meeting and told me that Feiwel and Friends were offering a national publicity campaign and a national tour, which is rare for unestablished authors.

"I was so grateful that they saw enough potential in Halo to organise something like that. It still hasn’t sunk in that I’m travelling all around America in a couple of months.

"The idea for Halo came about quite suddenly. I hadn’t intended to move into YA [young adult fiction] and was working on a science-fiction novel for younger readers when I had this idea about a novel written in the voice of an angel adjusting to life on earth. I thought it would be interesting to have the heroine as the supernatural creature and the male protagonist as the human boy in contrast to the current trend. I ran the idea past my publisher, Lisa Berryman, thinking she would dismiss it entirely. I was very surprised when an email popped up in my inbox that read: “Drop everything! We’re running with this idea!”

"After that, I became totally engrossed in the Halo project. I enjoy writing for readers my own age and Halo was the perfect transition. In Halo I was able to include all the emotions and experiences that come with being an adolescent and a lot of the conversations and the relationships are based on my own real-life experiences.

"Right now, I am putting my energies into next two installments in the series, Hades and Heaven, so readers are not disappointed."

Although so thrilled for Alexandra for her incredible success I have to admit, I am jealous. Yup, I am. What do you think? Have you ever met an 18-year-old who has inspired you with their success?

Vampire spoof movie on its way

I guess it was only a matter of tine before someone decided to take a potshot and the growing vampire phenomenon. Here is the trailer of upcoming film release Vampires Suck - think Scary Movie for the current vampire film genre.

Find out more on the website www.vampiressuckmovie.com. The movie will be releasing in Perth on August 28.

Net-a-porter turns ten

I discovered Net-a-porter a few years ago at the recommendation of an art director and ever since it has become my favourite destination for window shopping (and the occasional splurge). This is one of the few high end designer fashion sites I have found that will ship to Australia and it is packed with absolutely lust-worthy items.

This site has certainly become a huge financial success and is this week celebrating its 10 birthday. The other reason I am choosing to mention it now is that if you haven't checked out the site before now is a great time to log on as they are having one of their fantastic sales where you can buy the latest designer gear for anywhere between 20 and about 60% off the normal price and I am talking great brands like Christian Louboutin (my personal favourite), Chloe, Jimmy Choo, DKNY, Burberry, etc.

Check out the sale here. Also watch their great 10 year anniversary video here.

Are you LinkedIn?

There are so many social networking platforms to choose from these days MySpace, Facebook, Twitter – where do you even start and how do you decide who you choose to connect with?

My latest foray into social networking is LinkedIn and I have to say I am quite captivated by the idea. I think LinkedIn is a great partner to Facebook for anyone who works in a profession.

Facebook is the site for you to connect to your friends, complain about your life and general keep in touch with people. LinkedIn is the business companion for all those of us who have business connections we want to keep active but who we don’t necessarily want to see that photo of us at a Pimps & Prostitutes fancy dress party.

LinkedIn is a great way to stay connected to people you’ve worked with throughout your career – after all who knows when they may be in a position to help you out in the future – or even clients and suppliers you have worked with. I find there are a lot of Perth people using this system, particularly in the media and PR industry.

Although you might get off to a slow start, persevere as I am finding the more I develop connections online, the more useful the site becomes. It now regularly suggests contacts I may know (quite accurately actually) and suggests a whole heap of relevant info, groups and connections for my industry.

I am yet to receive a multi-million dollar job offer from a New York fashion magazine on the strength of my online connections, but I can still live in hope. If you haven’t yet checked it out, take a look now at www.linkedin.com and get connected.

New eye liner for the wish list

Although I appear to have a genetic inability to apply a liquid eye liner of any sort, I still think this new gel eyeliner from ModelCo has to go onto my beauty wish list. It's gel based and comes with its own brush and it's a reasonably priced $32.

A kimono for your feet

How adorable are these shoes? They are from a new collection from designer Amanda Fox of Dames & Divas and every pair is completely one of a kind (or is that two of a kind?). Each pair is made using organic cotton denim with vintage silk kimono fabrics from Japan.

Amanda says she likes to think of her pieces as “wearable art” and says these shoes were inspired by Japanese culture. “I’ve always had a fascination with the Japanese culture and geishas,” she says. “Each silk kimono is at least 30 years old and comes with its own history. My customers wonder about the fabric and its past life - it has a mysterious attraction.”

The collection includes a range of styles including wedges, peep toe heels, kitten heels and ballet flats and prices vary from $119.95 to $219.95. You can only buy them online at www.damesanddivas.com.au

I heart Lindsey Kelk

I occasionally enjoy the guilty pleasure of reading some mainstream chick-lit I am particularly partial to anything that involves someone who works at a magazine. I wonder why?

If you’re looking to expand your chic lit collection, check out the ‘I heart’ books by Lindsey Kelk. I bought her second book I heart Hollywood (not realising it was the second book) at an airport when I was dying for something light, easy and in English to read on the long haul flight between Milan and New York. This definitely fit the bill, it was funny, enjoyable and showed a few insights into magazine work in the US.

The ‘I heart’ series follows magazine journalist Angela Clark who moved to New York from the UK after having her heart broken. As an Australian who has visited both Los Angeles and New York, I found her outsiders perspective of these towns hilarious as I had so many similar thoughts and experiences there myself.

Lindsey’s next book I heart Paris releases in Perth on August 1. On one final note, what’s not to love about an author who is described in her bio with the line: “Lindsey likes to wear shoes, shop for shoes and judge the shoes of others.” Classic.

How to acheive your goals

How many times have you set yourself a goal — be it to make your first million, land that longed-for promotion, lose weight or find your soul mate — only to find that a couple of months down the track you’ve lost heart and abandoned all hope of achieving it?

How do billionaire businesspeople, world-famous performers and elite athletes perform at such consistently high levels? And how can you get a piece of the action?

The new book Bullseye! by Blake Beattie aims to show you how to define success in your own terms, match your goals to these values and achieve them in an optimum timeframe.

It sounds good to me, I am always fascinated by the stories of successful people and how they achieved their goals. Blake's book also covers how to break the bad habits you thought insurmountable, override your stubborn subconscious and show you how to harness the three most critical resources you have at your disposal — time, money and energy — to map out clear and achievable steps to success.

Really time, money and energy? Hopefully he can also tell me why I never seem to have any of those three things, certainly not in enough abundance to do anything useful!

Blake Beattie is a popular consultant and speaker, and founder of International Pay it Forward Day www.payitforwardday.com.

Rhino horn: part 2

Apparently Elle Macpherson has now come out and said her comments about consuming rhino horn was just 'banter'. I should have known because advocating the use of a product involving the cruel slaughter of endangered creatures is thigh-slapping funny. In case you missed it, that's sarcasm people!

Elle has confirmed she does not use rhino horn and has stated that she does not believe in promoting the use of products derived from endangered animals. Read more here.

What do you guys think? Should we give her the benefit of the doubt?

Shame on you Elle Macpherson!

It's not very often I get my rant on, but this is going to be one of those times. I just heard on the news that Elle Macpherson confessed in an interview with The Times Online that she uses powdered rhino horn. Yes, you read that right powdered rhino horn.

For a woman who has a reputation for being forward thinking and something of an environmental support, that is a shocking claim. Not only is the trade of rhino products illegal around the world, it is morally reprehensible to support the slaughter of an endangered animal.

I can just imagine women around the world are going to be googling like mad to find out how they can lay their hands on this product so they too can achieve - The Body.

Read more about it here.  If it is true, what health benefits could Elle be getting (and scientifically no benefits have ever been proven) that would make it worth such an enormous moral price?

I do know next time I am shopping for underwear, I won't be buying anything from Elle's range - just in case. Don't stay silent on this topic, I'd like to know what our Perth readers think.

What on earth is the Dukan Diet?

Aitkens was all the craze and so was the South Beach Diet, but now it seems we’re all wanting to know about the Dukan Diet. According to Google Trends, it is one of the fatest growing web searches here in Western Australia.

It always disturbs me when a diet 'trend' begins to gain traction. People begin to climb on board the bandwagon without any clue on what the diet is or if it will suit their lifestyle or their physique.  I personally feel ‘diets’ are dangerous and lead to yo-yo weight loss/gain.

I believe the key to successful weight loss and maintenance is not to follow a diet, but to find a system of healthy eating that you can live with for the rest of your life that balances your needs, your lifestyle and your goal weight. I am proud to say using this method I (slowly) lost 12 kilos.

The Dukan diet first came to my attention when my husband asked me about it as several colleagues were following this system. When I was asked again just a few days later what I knew about it by a friend, I thought it was time to know more.

It turns out the Dukan diet is based on the teachings of Pierre Dukan and focuses on ‘losing weight naturally. The premise seems to be that French people don't get fat so this diet is really revealing the secrets to how French people really eat...

Here’s the skinny (sorry, bad taste) straight from www.dukandiet.co.uk - so don't hold me accountable for the grammar or spelling:

Losing weight when there is an abundance of food around you is not natural, is difficult and often unsuccessful. The Dukan method recommends losing weight naturally, with a return to the foods that founded the human species, those eaten by primitive man, the hunter-gatherers, proteins and vegetables, 100 foods including 72 from the animal world and 28 from the plant world. This offer also features the magic words: "AS MUCH AS YOU LIKE".

Slimming advice for losing weight naturally

One of the major advantages of our slimming method is its strong integrated support structure. If you follow our slimming advices to the letter, you will lose weight regularly.


A method for losing and stabilizing your weight in 4 phases

4 phases which occupy the dieter from day one so that they never again feel like abandoning the diet.

4 phases, from the strongest, most supported and effective, to the most open and stabilizing. 

4 phases to be carried out successively in order to reach the ideal weight target: lose weight naturally, rapidly and stabilize for good 

.

1 – A brief and headlong ATTACK phase with immediate results. During this phase, the diet is made up of 72 high-protein foods.


2 - A CRUISING phase leading to the ideal weight. During this phase, the diet alternates Pure Protein days (PP phases) and Proteins accompanied with 28 recommended Vegetables (PL phases).
3 - A CONSOLIDATION phase of 10 days per kg lost which prepares for the return to a balanced diet. Monitored freedom with a target of establishing this freshly conquered and still vulnerable ideal weight. This phase sees the gradual return of pleasurable foods with two festive meals.
4 - A definitive stabilization phase based on 3 simple, concrete, easy but non-negotiable measures. This phase is both the easiest and most essential in our slimming method because 95% of people who follow a diet put back on the weight they have lost.

By the way, if you want it in layman's terms the first 'attack' phase has you eating only protein for the first week. The second phase means you can introduce vegetables every second day. If you manage to survive these two stages you can then start to introduce odd other items back into your diet. If you make it to the final stage you can basically eat what you like as long as you have one protein only day. Sounds impossibly challenging, expensive and needlessly complicated to me!

What do you guys think? Are you an advocate of the Dukan Diet? Is there a diet you've used that worked well for you or was a complete disaster?

Toy Story 3 tops box office

Toy Story 3 delivered an outstanding box office result of $7, 405,797 for the opening weekend, making it number one at the Australian box office.



The Walt Disney Company Australia managing director John Cracknell says: “Disney – Pixar are about great storytelling and innovation and Toy Story 3’s outstanding opening weekend box office result is testament to the incredible affinity that Australian families and kids have for these characters. Toy Story 3 is a spectacular movie going experience, incorporating the latest in 3D technology and a storyline that has it destined to become another Pixar classic."

Perth welcomes its first Apple store

Last week thousands of techno-files crowded in to the new Apple store on Hay Street. If you haven’t yet checked it out, it is definitely worth a visit. The first thing that struck me (other than the hordes of customers) was the fact there were no tills.

Each sales person can process your order where they stand from what is essentially an iPod/iPhone and send your receipt to you by email. Very clever technology.

Just be careful if you are planning to make a big purchase though, I discovered my Macbook Pro was substantially cheaper just around the corner at Dick Smith (although this special offer has now ended). I found the staff weren’t really willing to talk about price matching their competitors.

The Apple Store is located at 790 Hay Street Perth and if you go here http://www.apple.com/au/retail/perthcity/ you can even book yourself a one on one appointment or an onsite appointment.

What will they think of next?

Just when I thought every possible product had been invented along comes - wait for it - the latest in thirst-quencher technology!

The Contigo drink bottle, unlike other normal drink bottles (or reused Mt Franklin bottles like most of use), this new-fangled invention are guaranteed to be 100% leak proof and spill proof and keeps hot drinks hot for 12 hours and cold drinks cold for four. Not sure who guarantees it exactly, but it sounds exciting.

If you are keen to rush out and lay your hands on one they come in a bunch of different colours and you can find a local stockist by calling 02 8884 6000.

So what cool gadgets/products have you discovered lately?

Food and wine and cooking, oh my!

If you love great food and good wine (and really who doesn’t) make sure you check out the Good, Food & Wine Show on at the Perth Convention Centre this weekend.

This is the event’s third year and there are heaps of things to do, see, buy and most importantly taste! I will be there on Sunday myself with a glass of cab sav in hand as I work my way around the 150 stalls.

And if you’re a celebrity stalker like me, you can watch live cooking demonstrations from a virtual plethora of celebrity TV chefs (if a group of crows is a murder, what’s a group of chefs a coronary?). George Calombaris, Gary Mehigan, Matt Moran, Manu Feildel, Dominique Rizzo and Tobie Puttock will all make appearances, which should excite even the most jaded reality-show lover.

It’s open Friday from 10am to 4.30pm and again for an After Dark session from 6pm-9.30pm. Or check it out Saturday between 10-6pm or Sunday 10-5pm. Adult tickets are $30, kids (6-16) $22. Children younger than five are free.

Make sure you wear your stretchy pants!

Spring cleaning? Already?

I have to say I visibly shuddered when I received an email entitled Spring Clean Your Home - 3 Simple Projects. It is the middle of winter, close to zero degrees when I get up in the morning and I am struggling just to clean my house let alone spring clean, so I found this suitably depressing.

However, when I did gather up the nerve to read on I realised these three tips from Howards Storage World are pretty handy (albeit promotional) so I will pass them on to do with what you will.

Project #1       Get the laundry sorted

Speed up the process of sorting through piles of dirty clothing, bedding and other items with a 3 Divider Laundry Cart. You’ll not only save time, you’ll also maintain the condition of your much-loved pieces by giving them correct care.  Available in large or small (from $89.95).

Project #2       Kitchen clean up

Take a sustainable approach when clearing out your clutter with a recycling bin. Designed to separate recyclables from other rubbish, Howards’ Twin Pedal Bin is available in 2 x 24L or 2 x 30L from $159.00, making it easier to reduce your household’s carbon footprint.

Spring cleaning is the perfect time to sort out that space beneath your kitchen sink – and turn it into a well organised cleaning cupboard. Create more space for products and tools with an Expandable Under Sink Organiser ($49.95), which adjusts in length and fits around pipes to provide additional shelving.

Project #3       Linen cupboard bliss

Pack away quilts and blankets and maximise storage space by storing them in a Space Bag Cube Pack ($29.95). Space Bags triple storage space by deflating to a third of their original size using a vacuum cleaner.

Finally…to achieve your spring clean projects, invest in some key tools of the trade. The Howards’ Ultra Caddy ($22.95) keeps all your products with you as you move around the house, avoiding costly double ups and unnecessary trips to and from the cleaning cupboard.

Fast & Furious return is confirmed

There are no details available yet, but Universal Studios has confirmed Fast Five aka Fast & the Furious volume 5 will be released in Perth this time next year.

On June 9, 2011 the fifth installment of this popular high-speed franchise will be back, but no word yet whether the original stars will be revisiting the series or if new cast will be sought like with Tokyo Drift. Watch this space...

WA author releases parenting guide

I have to admit I nearly overlooked this book, it didn't immediately grab me as something exciting enough to blog about - that was until I noticed the author was actually from rural WA.

Jo Jackson King lives on a remote station called Austin Downs near Cue, Western Australia. In addition to being a writer, she is a farmer and occupational therapist who works with remote bush communities. She has three children, whom she educates from home with the support of School of the Air.

All of these things would make her new book Raising the Best Possible Child an interesting read. Jo's last book, The Station at Austin Downs, was a bestseller but Jo says when she had kids, she found parenting books offered contradictory and confusing advice.

Jo's book includes her assessments of the three main branches of current early child development science in a bid to find the best advice for parents.According to the promotional blurb, Raising the Best Possible Child you teach you how to:

• Ignore parenting myths and be guided by the most up-to-date information on all aspects of child-rearing, including childcare, breastfeeding, leaving to cry, sleep, nutrition, discipline, physical and mental milestones and education.
• Teach your children how to navigate their own and others’ emotions, manage stress and stay focused — all key factors for becoming happy and successful adults.
• Be a confident, thoughtful and responsive parent.
• Encourage your children to make the most of their natural temperaments and endowments, so you can enjoy raising happy, emotionally savvy children who will become happy, successful adults.

So what does everyone think? Does this sound like just another parenting guide or are you excited to see a local WA perspective on the issues? I am a firm believer in promoting anything from WA, so if you are rushing out to buy a self-help book - why not support a local author with your choice?

On sale July 1, $35 rrp

Time for a new toy!

It's true, I have a new toy and I am using it right now to update this blog. Yes, I have succumbed to Apple fever again and although it is not a new iPad (the purchase du jour at the moment) it is an Apple Macbook Pro. Now it means in case I don't feel like blogging from my PC, or my iPhone I can sit across the road in the park and keep you updated on the latest media happenings in WA. Or, more likely, I can blog and watch repeats of Sex & the City on Foxtel (I refuse to confirm nor deny that Miranda just purchase a new home in Brooklyn as I wrote this).

So time for some sympathy sharing. Am I the only Apple/techno junkie out there or are there others of us and can we form a support group exclusive club?

Declare your support, Edward or Jacob?

I figured since most of Australia was in the mood to declare support for either K-Rudd or Julia Gillard this was a great opportunity to get our readers to declare their support on the other most hotly contested rivaly at the moment - are you Team Edward or Team Jacob?

I am a huge Twilight fan and I like to think I have a special place in my heart for both men (the bad boy and the best friend) but I think my preference is slightly skewed by the fact it seems a bit wrong for a 30 year old woman to declare her undying love for Jacob. Taylor Lautner (the muscle-bound Adonis who plays Jacob) is actually only 18, which means when the last movie was filmed he was only 17. Hmmm.

So tell us what you think - are you Team Jacob or Team Edward and why and if you are ready to declare your preference in public - you can't go past one of these Lola&Bailey tote bags proclaiming your preference. $49 from www.lolaandbailey.com

The first female PM

I think I am going to stay away from the hoopla today about our first woman Prime Minister, I think there are far too many others out there (far more qualified than myself) providing plenty of interesting commentary on this already.

If you want to know more I suggest you check out these great sources to get the facts and the opinions!
www.mamamia.com.au
www.thewest.com.au
www.news.com.au
www.cnn.com

Feel free to share your thoughts here though. Do you feel sorry for K-Rudd? Are you thrilled a woman has the top job? What do you think of Julia, would you have voted for her?

Until debt do we part?

According to a survey released by truebride.com.au the average West Australian wedding costs $29,794. This fact isn't quite as disturbing to me as their finding that many Aussie brides and grooms are putting themselves in deep debt to pay for their dream day.

I have to admit my wedding wasn't exactly a slap up BYO affair in a backyard, but it was a wedding my husband and I could afford quite comfortably. Had we not had the funds, we would have scaled back our plans.

According to True Bride, some couples take years to pay back their wedding debt and on average weddings run around 15% over budget with an average Aussie wedding budget looking like this:

Photography: $3320
Rings: $450
Reception: $11,219
Beauty: $828
Gifts: $326
Flowers: $1041
Honeymoon: $5600
Cars: $675
Ceremony: $950
Bride's attire: $2330
Groom's attire: $282
Stationery: $675
Miscellaneous: $450


Three months on from my wedding it still amazes me how much emphasis people place on the wedding day, isn't it the marriage that really matters? Now it's time to share your wedding story. Did you blow the budget yourself or do you think this kind of over spending is out of order? Did you plan your dream wedding but sacrafice your health, happines or future financial stability to get it? Would you do the same thing all over again?

Ken's dating tips #3

The foods destroying your teeth

I remember a few years ago being absolutely horrified when I saw a mum pushing her baby in a pram, while the baby was sucking whole-heartedly on a baby bottle full of what looked like Coke.

Yes, I drink Coke Zero more often than is probably healthy. I even have the occasional Red Bull, but I am also an adult and make my own choices about my body and my health – even if they are bad choices. Babies and small children rely on their parents to make the right decisions for them.

I am not a parent myself so perhaps I shouldn’t judge, but I just can’t think of a situation where it is excusable to feed a baby or even a toddler foods that is so obviously unhealthy for them.

But what about foods we think are healthy? Working with the Australian Dental Association's Victorian Branch, consumer association CHOICE has compared the sugar content and acidity of 85 processed foods and drinks and categorised them as high, moderate or low risk.


CHOICE spokesman Brad Schmitt says the survey found some surprising results. "While it's no surprise the usual suspects such as fizzy drinks and lollies are in the high risk category, unfortunately a number of products that are promoted as healthy snacks for kids' lunchboxes are also high risk and can contribute to tooth decay and erosion," he says.

“These products aren't only full of sugar, they also have high acidity levels which can directly damage the enamel surface of teeth."

According to CHOICE examples include Kellog's Nutri-Grain bars, Uncle Tobys Apricot Muesli bars, Golden Circle Orange Juice and fizzy drinks such as Pepsi and market leader Coca-Cola.

Making the high acid category are two caffeine-loaded sugar-free energy drinks Red Bull and V Energy and several sports drinks including Powerade (no sugar) and Staminade Lemon Lime Fusion. Such products may be free of sugar but all have a higher acid reserve than most other fizzy drinks.

"Tooth decay is on the rise and dentists rightly blame our increasing consumption of sugary snacks and drinks, including fruit juices and fruit drinks," Brad says. "But there are many other foods and drinks that are potentially harmful for our teeth, so the advice is consider high-risk foods and drinks as a once-a-week treat and regularly brush and floss your teeth.

"And if you really want to avoid a visit to the dentist, try drinking milk or water instead of Coke or Pepsi."

Finding love at 40

I was lucky enough to find the love of my life at a young age, but can’t help but wonder how hard it must be for friends who are still ‘out there’ in their 30s or even 40s. I genuinely don’t know if I would have the energy for dressing up and heading out to bars and other public places in hope of meeting the one over a casual cocktail.

I can certainly see the appeal of online dating for busy and older professional men and women. In fact, I know several couples in committed long-term relationships who met online. According to social dating website, Oasis Active, men and women over the age of 36 years make up over 30 per cent of those signed up and looking for love online.

At 50-something, Australian psychologist Andee Jones headed out to the world wide dating web looking  for companionship with a view to love, but not marriage. The result was Kissing Frogs – a true but cautionary tale of the pleasures and pitfalls of the online dating scene.

So, what advice does Andee have for the thousands of Australians who reportedly sign-up to social dating websites each month? “I wish everyone well in the lottery,” Andee writes. “Watch out for danger signs – losing track of the hours and days spent glued to the profiles, trawling in the wee small hours, forgetting to eat, palpitations, and so forth.

“Tip? Meet the BigBoys and the Blonde-nurseys in the flesh sooner rather than later, and on safe ground.”

Check out this extract from Andee’s book Kissing Frogs. Well worth a read:

I leave a voice message for him. So do eighty or so other women. Mr Former tertiary lecturer contacts every woman who leaves a half-decent message and meets more than thirty. He’s taking the idea seriously. Mr Former tertiary lecturer—‘Call me Mitch’—phones and suggests we meet for a cuppa. I recommend a certain laid-back bayside café with an upstairs balcony overlooking the water. ‘I’ll be in jeans and a white T-shirt,’ says Mitch. I’ll be sporting a red scarf.

I get there early, sit out on the terrace, eyeing the skittering yachts and watching for Mitch’s arrival, scanning all possible entry points including amphibious. This is my first dinky-di date since 1967. So, I muse, how did I meet the other men in my life? I met my one and only hubby at school, we got pregnant, married, had two children, and separated in the space of four years. Dating simply didn’t occur among my set in the seventies—we just hung out together at a handful ofcommunal houses and social happenings and fell in and out of love. If a man was interested in you or—praise be for the seventies—vice versa, you just kept turning up at the other’s group house and edging in closer until something happened one way or the other.

Up on the terrace I can’t sit still, want to run away, but somehow stay, sit, attend fitfully to my book, fine tune my scarf. Should I appear to be lost in Bridget Jones as Mitch arrives or should Bridget lie casually, calmly, coolly closed on the table? Should I wave my scarf in greeting or pretend I haven’t noticed his approach? The book lies. I wave. Too late to walk away. The man who waves and smiles hello couldn’t look more at ease with himself, with the world, with dating. Tanned and taut of body, attractive of face and manner, fabulous smile, Mitch has an open-faced dignity about him, a lowkey quietly confident demeanour, Adonis’s gift, perhaps, to the older woman. Introducing himself, Mitch shakes my hand.
‘What a lovely spot;’ he says, sitting down next to me, ‘thanks for choosing it.’

Looking out over the bay, we while away a few hours and cappuccinos, chatting about books, philosophy, politics, families. I’ve confessed to Mitch that I’m nervous on this first date in forty years and he has put me at ease. He tells me the more dating one does, the easier it gets. He should know. I’m roughly his thirtieth this month. Mitch admits to being eight years older than he had advertised, a pensioner, and partly disabled by a chronic ailment. He’s an engaging man, a first-class communicator, genuine, kind, intelligent, generous. A feminist in philosophy and, as far as I can tell, in action. I can imagine him in his nineties still beating ’em off with his walking stick, good company in or out of a walking frame. Mitch and I part warmly, neither of us mentioning the idea of meeting up again. With thirty dates on the scoreboard and marriage in his sights, Mitch has some weighing up to do, and I’m pleased just to have survived my first foray into the game.

Are there, I wondered after meeting Mitch, lots of engaging Mr Former tertiary lecturers out there? Why not place my own ad? ‘Former tertiary educator,’ I write [it had worked for Mitch], ‘artistic, smart, open-minded, looking for winter escape from televised sport into conversation and laughs….’ Six weeks of advertising, eight respondents max. The first one, inarticulate with rage, splutters, ‘Cor… you’re so far up yourself; I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone so far up herself! Cor….’ The second guy doesn’t say a lot either, merely, ‘You say you’re open-minded but I don’t care whether your mind is open; are your legs open?’

Mitch invites me to a movie at The George and dinner in Fitzroy Street. I’m chuffed to have made Mitch’s short list, but we both know he wants to marry in haste and that I’m just beginning this game. Over the scaloppini and Shiraz I tell Mitch about the two replies to my Personals ad. Glowing in the candlelight, Mitch commiserates with me. ‘How disappointing,’ he says, ‘it wouldn’t have happened had you been a man. No woman would dream of being so rude. Don’t be disheartened.’ As you would say if you’d been dating thirty attractive, appreciative women. Mitch and I say goodbye, wishing each other well in our respective searches. No doubt some lucky woman is pleased she carted home The Age that Saturday. I imagine Mitch met his match, and I meant to meet more Mitches…

Andee is a Melbourne-based psychologist, writer, and former academic. The book is currently being adapted for the stage by AFI-award-winning actor Annie Byron. Available July for $24.95 rrp.

Ken's dating tips #2

Part 2 of dating tips from Ken. The doll that is. Keep checking in for more in the coming weeks!

Am I an email-aholic?

Email is a wonderful thing. Sometimes I wondered how I survived without it. Even this blog is simple through the joys of email as every day new and exciting products and news pops into my inbox.

Do you ever wonder though if we are a bit email crazy? I have to admit I have about half a dozen email addresses. I have the one with my mobile phone account, one with my internet account, one for work and one for my business. And of course, my hotmail. Not to mention twitter and facebook!

I can also access these accounts from home, from work or even on my iPhone and I do - compulsively. I am starting to wonder is there such a thing as too much connectivity. What do you think? Do you let email rule your life or are you in control?

So how did I get on to this topic? Yes, there was a reason. It was all because of the new Kodak Pulse Digital Frame. This new piece of technology is a touchscreen-enabled frame equipped with Wi-Fi and even has its own personal e-mail address. Yes, I will say that again – it has its own email address. You know the world has gone a little bit mad when even your home fixtures have their own email address, but I have to admit I was excited about the idea.

Kodak product manager digital capture & devices (how’s that for a title) John Hatzimanolis has a persuasive argument. “Picture this: you live in NSW,” he says. “Your parents live in WA. You just had a baby, so you give your parents a PULSE Frame to ensure that they can share in every moment of your child’s life.

“You can send pictures by email from your smartphone or even through Facebook or Kodak Gallery. With the Pulse Frame, you always have something to look forward to as the frame refreshes with new pictures.”

OK now I want one, yup I do and I don't even have baby pictures to share. Just make sure you’re careful who you give that email address too, would be kind of embarrassing if you were in the middle of a dinner party with your in-laws and a friend decided to email your frame a picture of that time you puked on the carpet/did a nudie run/something else completely inappropriate.

If this is now a must have item for you, they are available now in Australia for $179 rrp through Kodak Express.

An inspiring video about work/life balance

I just watched this video on Mia Freedman's blog Mamamia and I just had to share it as I found it very thought-provoking. Nigel Marsh is the author of books Fat, Forty and Fired and Overworked and Underlaid and he is speaking at a Sydney event about acheiving work/life balance.

I was particularly inspired by his comment about working to buy things we don't need to impress people we don't like. I think that one struck a little bit close to home.

Watch the video (it goes for about 10 minutes but goes so quickly) and comment and share your thoughts. Do you agree with what he has to say? Do you have work/life balance and if so how did you get it?

Home Beautiful July now on sale

It's time for your monthly fix of soft furnishings, renovation ideas and lust-worthy homes to admire - the new edition of Home Beautiful has just hit the shelves. This issue is stacked with decorating and renovation ideas to get you inspired for some weekend DIY projects.

101 DECORATING TIPS
The experts in every field, from retailers to renowned designers, share their decorating wisdom.

GARDENS
Step out of the dark and into the light with Jamie Durie's illuminating outdoor lighting ideas. From ground lights to underwater lights, discover the tricks to giving your garden light appeal.

RENOVATION RESCUE
Step behind the scenes to reveal the inspiring ideas, hard-won lessons and the real costs behind renovation rescues. Case studies, budget breakdowns and more!

KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS
Choose the perfect kitchen floor for your space and budget, be it tiles, concrete or timber, plus revitalise your bathroom in a flash with our 10 quick fixes.

OUR HOMES
This month the magazine features over 60 pages of homes with a refreshing take on classic style. From a bold Melbourne home inspired by the earthy tones of the Australian landscape to a whimsical English cottage.

Ken's dating tips #1

After the popularity of our last interview with plastic dynamo the Ken doll, we decided to take it one step further and publish Ken's tips for dating. Check back for regular installments of advice from the man we all dreamed we were going to marry one day...

Brought to you thanks to Toy Story 3 in cinemas June 24.

Irrational? Who me?

I am sure I am going to upset some readers when I say this, but I there are times when I think it is my right as a woman to be irrational. To be angry just because. To randomly change my mind with a moments notice. To get irrationally obsessed with a movie start/TV show/film/book. Granted I try my very best to be a rational, logical person at work - but when I get home I reserve the right to be stark raving nuts.

So I was quite excited to discover there may be a positive side to irrationality. Author and behavioural economist Dan Ariely is releasing a book called The Upside of Irrationality which looks at a heap of topics dear to my own heart including what we think makes us happy but what actually does, why learning more about people can make us like them less, how to motivate people at work and why we are motivated by revenge.

On sale July 1 for $35.

To solar panel or not to solar panel

I've often wondered if solar panels are worth the investment. I am keen to be green but is the outlay really worth it? According to consumer association CHOICE if you buy a solar panel you could be waiting a long time for your investment to pay off.

The Alternative Technology Association calculated approximate "payback times" for a 1.5kW solar system in each state. The verdict is anything from five to 45 years, depending on where you live.

"Several companies advertise payback times of two to three years for small systems but such claims are misleading as they ignore a number of potential costs and changes," CHOICE spokesman Brad Schmitt says. "For example, no allowance is made for the decline of a panel's output over time or the likely need that at some stage key equipment such as the system's inverter will need replacing."

CHOICE found NSW and the ACT have the shortest pay-back times (5-6 years), largely due to a "gross" feed-in tariff incentive where households are paid for all the electricity their panels produce, irrespective of their domestic power consumption. In the other states and territories, "net" feed-in tariffs apply where you're only paid for surplus electricity fed into the grid after domestic use is subtracted.

Under the Federal Government's Solar Credits Scheme, eligible households also receive rebates for Renewable Energy Certificates."On the basis households are currently paid five times the REC market price, you can receive as much as $6500 in sunny locations such as Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney or around $5460 in Hobart and Melbourne," Brad says.

"When you add that to the less generous tariff system that applies outside NSW and the ACT, the payback time for Tasmania is estimated to be as long as 45 years."

If you already have solar panels share what you think of them. If you don't, does this report change your mind at all?

The woman who fell from the sky

I love hearing about new books coming out and this one in particular caught my eye as one that will have to go on my 'to read' list. Read on to find out more about Jennifer Steil's The Woman Who Fell From the Sky.

Yemen is the worst country in the world in terms of opportunities and resources for women, according to the 2009 World Economic Forum, so it was always going to be a challenge for a 30-something single woman from Manhattan to take up the position of editor-in-chief at The Yemen Observer in Sana’a, one of the oldest and most conservative cities in the Middle East.

But Jennifer Steil is no ordinary woman. When she was offered the chance to train young journalists in Yemen, best known to many Westerners as the heartland of Osama bin Laden’s followers, she didn’t hesitate even though she knew no Arabic and had never taught a class in her life.

For their part, her students plagiarised articles from the Internet and had trouble distinguishing opinion from news, but they were desperate for training and eager to learn. Never before in her career had Jennifer felt so useful.

It was when she took on the role as editor-in-chief for a year that she faced the real challenges of living and working in a conservative Muslim country. Learning to cover herself from head to toe was nothing compared to the frustration of dealing on a daily basis with the male editor she replaced and coping with the untrained reporters, the constant electrical outages and water shortages and trying to set deadlines when the answer was always ‘Insha’alla’ (if God is willing). Not to mention the obligatory self-censorship so as to avoid having the building bombed.

The usually calm and collected journalist lost her temper and wept in front of her boss. Her Western ways caused problems such as spilling a bottle of bootlegged vodka on the office carpet and causing a major uproar with customs when a friend sent her a vibrator (which they referred to as an ‘artificial man’). She also made friends for life and learned far more than she could ever teach, including the surprising comfort and advantages of the anonymity provided by the voluminous folds of a black abaya. And then when she least expected it, she fell in love.

Jennifer lives in Sana’a, Yemen, with her fiancé, Tim Torlot, the British Ambassador to Yemen, and their baby daughter.

Black glass the new trend for kitchens

Having spent 22 years at the top of the kitchen wish list, the stainless steel oven and cooktop now facing competition from the latest trend – black glass.

Black glass finishes are being touted as easier to clean and just as stylish as stainless steel and is generally made from a single sheet of tempered glass. If you like the look black glass finishes are available for cooktops, ovens and rangehoods.

The black glass appliance pictured is from the Omega range and local stockists can be found online at www.omegaappliances.com.au. So what do you think? Would you consider black glass for your next reno?

Mad Men inspired cufflinks

Label LOLA&BAILEY have just released a range of unique shadow puppet cufflinks for men. These quirky accessories are apparently inspired by the hit TV series Mad Men set in a 1960’s New York ad agency and I think they’re definitely a different gift idea for the man who has everything.

The cufflinks are made from enamel and are available in six different animal shadow puppet designs including wolf, goose, bear, hare, butterfly, giraffe and dog.

Available online at www.lolaandbailey.com for $55.00 a pair.

Review of The A-Team

This movie is absolutely over-the-top, completely unbelievable and full of ridiculous stunts and huge explosions – and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Growing up in the 80s with an older brother I think I spent far more time watching Transformers, Knight Rider and The A-Team than I did watching their more girly counterparts (although She-ra was a firm favourite) so I guess there was a bit of sentimentality with this film.

Like the Transformers movie, The A-Team is a re-imagining of the original storyline and introduces a whole new audience to The A-Team and how they formed. Naturally it is updated for today’s society and the group become Iraq war vets who are framed after a mission goes wrong, but the same idea is still there.

I was a little disappointed BA Baraccarus lost his signature bling (not a gold chain or flashy ring in sight) but otherwise the casting was great and I think UFC fighter Rampage Jackson did a good job in the party. Liam Neeson was a great straight man playing the military commander down to a tee, I thought Bradley Cooper was great as ‘Face’ the womanising pretty boy of the group and Sharlto Copley’s portray of the insane pilot Murdock injects a lot of humour to the film.

If you are looking for a dose of reality, this film isn’t for you but if you love over-the-top explosions, cunning plans and the old good versus evil conundrum, you will definitely enjoy this film – particularly if you enjoy a dose of nostalgia.

I have to say I did feel quite old when I was talking to a colleague in her early 20s and quickly realised she thought the movie was something completely new and had absolutely no idea the TV show even existed.