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