The hub of home-grown inspirational women
Oh sigh. It didn't let us down. That amazing place. How I've longed to meet you, San Francisco. Travelling to the US takes a looooong time so it's well worth making a longer trip of it. We factored San Fran into the first part of a three week road trip, but we really should have stayed longer. There's just so much to oggle over and enjoy. Of course, when we arrived on the West Coast, we missed a day... when you travel with young kids and … [Read more...]
[rating:4.5] I still remember the dog-eared copy of my mum's Women's Weekly Children's Birthday Cake Book - resplendant with the hickory dickory clock and numbered cakes to careen over with delight. Well, get set post-Baby Boomers, because a whole new generation of super dooper cakes for kids is out in AWW's glossy new More Cakes for Kids tome - with 70 new recipes guaranteed to delight every one in the party-throwing family. The first thing … [Read more...]
[rating:4.5] If the stunning cover with its embossed typeface and gorgeously retro greenhouse tea party doesn't hook you in, the subtitle surely will - recipes and styling for unforgettable parties. And, yes they are unforgettable... most happily - in a good way. Gone are the days of the predictable 'dinner party' - a fad of the 80s and 90s. The noughties have brought upon us an entirely new take on what constitutes fine at-home entertaining, … [Read more...]
[rating:4.5] From the team behind yourfamilyyourmoney.com.au comes this third advice-packed manual on conquering money matters - namely, surviving the complicated and oft devastating rift that is divorce. Analaura and Wilson Luna are a husband and wife team who spend their lives counselling and supporting families on all things financial. They've appeared on A Current Affair, The Today Show, Ten News, and a cacophony of printed media and … [Read more...]
[rating:5] Let's just get to the heart of the matter. It's going to be tough to explain how much I loved this book. This may help: my heart raced every time I saw its black, cloth-bound cover (the gorgeously-styled dust jacket was, of course, packed away carefully to be reunited with said book after I had malued it to death in bed every night). And as my heart raced, a variable of other things happened to my body. My eyes misted over, my … [Read more...]
[rating:4] We all know how vital the experience of play is for children and their mental, emotional and physical development. Even the most basic playtime encases a world of wonder and advancement in children on a hollistic level, well into their tweens and even teens. It's sad, then, that as we age, we lose the capacity and desire to play... play that is unhibited and undertaken with purity and joy. Perhaps this book by Stuart Brown MD, will … [Read more...]
In 2008, my husband and I made the impetuous decision to snaffle the kids out of school and head to Disneyland. To abscond. To play hooky from life. Irresponsible? Maybe. Naughty? A little. Exciting? Oh yes! because we’re not talking Hong Kong Disney – oh no. Nor Paris, Tokyo nor Florida. Phhht. We’re talking the Real Deal. Yes folks, the place where dreams are made (note to self: pick up a few more dreams at Disney gift shop)... the … [Read more...]
It astounds and delights me when authors write first books that are totally enthralling and emotionally satisfying – as though they have been penning novels for many years and have the experience and wherewithal to rustle up something fabulous at the drop of a hat. Not one to suggest author Helen Simonson dropped her hat and quickly rustled up Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, but the effortless literary style and divine storyline of her first … [Read more...]
What do newborns need their parents to know? Well, for a start – that life will never be the same again. Oftentimes those overwhelming first weeks and months of a baby’s life is all about going back to basics for parents, and having to wade through the pages of schmaltzy parenting books that focus on the emotional and spiritual joys means little when faced with colic or projectile vomiting. … [Read more...]
Sam Stern has always been passionate about food - since he was a kid. Well, actually, he still is a kid. Or a teen. He's a Teenage Chef who published his first cookbook at fourteen and is now releasing his fifth book - Eat Vegetarian - a fresh take on flavoursome food from the youthful tastebuds of fine a young food connoisseur. Sam's first book - Get Cooking - was just the beginning of his culinary publishing journey. Wanting to create … [Read more...]
You don't need to be a die-hard retro fashion fan to enjoy this stunning new book by Christine Boydell, showcasing the ground-breaking fashions of the Horrockses label of the 1940s and 50s. Horrockses Fashion was one of the most respected ready-to-wear labels in the UK. The Horrockses company was actually founded in 1791 in Preston, and in 1946 the Fashion branch of the business was born, creating stunning designs utilising the cotton … [Read more...]
I have a serious love affair with Phaidon, who consistently release some of the most coveted books on the reader planet, and this latest addition is yet another book to teeter on the covetable pile. Creole cuisine is a frontrunner in the world’s historical collection of fusion foods. One of the first to combine European food with African influences and ingredients native to the West Indies, this flavour-packed cooking style is known for its … [Read more...]
Emma Davidson may be ‘just’ a young Australian mum of three young children, doing the regular stuff Australian mums do but she is also a quiet force when it comes to the world’s continuing injustice over unfair trade practice. Emma runs Brindabella Baby – an online and retail boutique based in Canberra – which supports local and international businesses with eco-friendly, fair trade and sweatshop-free philosophies. She first began … [Read more...]
Best selling romance writer Valerie Parv will be popping the bubbles this week. Each year, Valerie mentors an aspiring writer under the Valerie Parv Award (VPA), named in her honour by Romance Writers of Australia. After working with Valerie, many previous winners of the VPA have gone on to have their work published, and this year, several writers have hit the jackpot. The enormous, 10,000-member Romance Writers of America has chosen … [Read more...]
Barack Obama's appointment as President of the United States has, of course, been one of the pinnacle moments in modern history, carving out an entirely new direction for the future of one of the world’s superpowers, and subsequently, the world. Like the moon landing, September 11’s horrific events, and the day Princess Diana died, many of us will remember the heart-pumping moment Senator Obama stole the political sceptre from GWBII, and … [Read more...]
If you're anything like me - baulking over every family dinner you ever cook - you'll be thrilled to know you can now slip Nigella Lawson into your hip pocket and whip up a culinary nightly storm in the kitchen. Renowned and admired for her simple, quick as a flash, unpretentious meals, Nigella is a busy mum's dream in the kitchen. Not wanting to spot her gorgeous cookbooks with the odd splash of meat sauce, I'm loving the idea that I can app … [Read more...]
With mother's day only weeks away, it's time to sort the perfect gift for Mum. While flowers and bling are always appreciated, it's often a good old book mums crave on those rare occasions that time is found (or made) to read. This perfect blend of books covers many a genre, and is sure to have mum swooning over her breakfast tray come Sunday 9 May. Get shopping! Oh - and don't forget the home-made card and breakfast tray. Bling optional. The … [Read more...]
I remember watching Julie Goodwin face the judges in the final round of MasterChef, revealing what kind of cookbook she would write if she became Australian's first MasterChef winner. It was when she talked of a family cookbook that celebrated her love of food and her desire to connect with and nourish her loved ones, that I knew her win was in the bag. There was much controversy over Goodwin's MasterChef win. Many lamented the fact that a … [Read more...]
Nothing like a little romance to soothe a weary soul... or even a not-so-weary soul who thrives on a fantastic read with loved-up themes! This batch of tempting books is just the thing to get your heart racing - with enough variety to satisfy the many romantic stylings within us all. Marriage and Other Games by Veronica Henry British author Veronica Henry began her writing life as a television scriptwriter and this may explain her uncanny … [Read more...]
Over 50% of Australian mums are struggling to provide nutritionally balanced meals to their families, according to the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). Major food company Nestlé recently ran a study involving 16,579 Australian women which showed that 53% found mealtimes challenging, and that knowing what to feed their kids for a healthy, balanced meal was difficult. While these statistics are alarming, they are not surprising … [Read more...]
During desperate times, we call on desperate measures - and author Melanie Tait - a journalist and broadcaster with the ABC - certainly weaves a tale of weight loss desperation in her new book Fat Chance - My Big Fat Gastric Band Adventure. From the chuckle-worthy title alone, you soon get the sense this book has been penned with humour at its core - I mean, if you can't get a serious belly laugh ('scuse the pun) over the quite serious issue … [Read more...]
E-book piracy is becoming a serious issue for publishers worldwide, particularly now that e-book purchasing is beginning to rival hardcopy sales. When Dan Brown's blockbuster novel - The Lost Symbol was first released in September 2009, Amazon sold more digital copies for its Kindle e-reader than hardback editions, in the first few days of sale. Is this astonishing result indicative of a major shift in book purchasing consumption? Whilst … [Read more...]
Ho hum and carrot sticks. Diet books seem to be ten-to-the-fried-egg dozen right now, coming out of every fat-gobbling orifice - as usual. Sure, it's because Australia is officially one of the fattest nations on earth, but it's also because so many of us want to feel good again. No greater testament to this was the no sugar, wheat, dairy, alcohol, carbs-after-6pm Challenge I recently undertook right here on AWO. Whilst my Challenge was … [Read more...]
Health is a holistic concept. It’s also something you cling to for dear life as you drive steadily up life’s hill and down the other side. Running out of gas? These four amazing books will invigorate your body, mind and heart - and perhaps even your place in the world. The 10 Secrets of 100% Healthy People by Patrick Holford Can anyone really be 100% happy? Probably not, but surely many of us can be a good sight happier than we are … [Read more...]
Updated 17/11/2012 It’s true. Parenting starts at conception. And no, it doesn’t end at retirement (sorry). This lifelong commitment certainly runs the gamut – and until our little ones fly the coop, it’s always nice to reach out for a little guidance along the way. This brilliant collection of books covers many an aspect of parenting from pregnancy through to the birds and the bees. Take heed. Eating for Two by Kathleen Gandy This … [Read more...]
When American writer Dallas Clayton decided to write a book for his young son, he knew the book’s theme would be on dreaming big. Penning the text in 10 minutes and taking 6 months to complete the illustrations, Clayton may have chosen a big dreams theme for his story, but he surely never dreamed how big his book would become. Truly one of the most inspiring literacy stories of the past decade, Clayton self-published An Awesome Book a little … [Read more...]
One of the reasons women are doing so well in business is their ability to connect with clients. When Zuraida Ariffin built her business – Zuraida Ariffin Wealth Creation – around strong client relationships and personalised financial advice that focuses on the individual, she knew she was onto a winning formula. Indeed, her professional efforts were recognised when she was selected as the 2007 NSW/ACT state winner in the Financial Planning … [Read more...]
Occasionally we love a read that makes us think, that moves us and challenges our understanding of the world and our stance upon it. These four remarkable books may contain subject matter that is diverse - the Sahara desert, the world of endangered animals, the secrets of one of the world's greatest literary talents and the Holocaust - but all them share something in common - passion and humanity. Hetty by Hetty E Verolme This remarkable, … [Read more...]
Well. I made it. Two weeks of no sugar, no alcohol, no dairy and no wheat. It had its ups and downs, but it was also totally do-able, and I'm so happy I made the time to try this programme, inspired by Anna Richardson's Body Blitz Diet*. Today, Day 14, my last day, was a breeze. Recovered nicely from food poisoning episode (24 hours of my life wasted, thanks staphylococcus) and, much to my utter delight, I woke almost as bright, healthy and … [Read more...]
If these three books don’t fire you up and get you inspired to really work your business in 2010, then you’re probably on vacation. Anyone with a knack for business, be they conglomerate, cottage or entrepreneurial, these new releases are sure to set the business wheels in motion. Fast motion. … [Read more...]
Was it unlucky number thirteen that did it? Today I didn't have to worry about my diet in the least, because I spent most of the day throwing it up, not shovelling it down. Sorry to be graphic, but it's the truth. You may recall I went to dinner with some lovely friends last night, and how good I was? No wheat, dairy, sugar or alcohol? Well, apparently the salmon and prawn skewers were NOT good and I've paid for it with a sleepless night, … [Read more...]
Oh my God. What can a single glass of wine do to the body? I'll tell you. A lot. Woke feeling seedy again this morning, for the first time in days and days, and I knew it was the wine with dinner last night. Because my system has been so 'purified', I was also stunned at how tiddly I felt after that glass of wine last night, when it would normally take three G&Ts before I felt a little cross-eyed. Just goes to show - the more we drink - … [Read more...]
Okay - a little advice. Do NOT plan a hot date in the hours following a cabbage dinner. Enough said. Woke feeling great and not ravenously starving, as had no desire to pig out before bed last night (thanks to sating cabbage dinner). Again, no exercise today because I had to work in the morning, then guests arrived for the night at 3pm. Did tear around house like frenzied tornado doing last minute cleaning job, so that probably equated … [Read more...]
Woke feeling deflated about rice cracker blow-out last night. Got on the digital scales and YET AGAIN my weight has not fluctuated a single gram. Banged scales with my first and gathered weighty supplies to hold and re-test weight to see if scales were broken. Alas, they were working perfectly. Cursed my sedentary career choice and got the kids their breakfast. My breakfast was oats, nuts, pepitas, sunflower seeds and a scattering of dried … [Read more...]
Uh-oh. Day Nine became blow-out day, alas. It all started well. Woke tired but not at all 'hungover' or headachey. Just sleepy. Felt motivated but also wary that I'm not losing a single gram. Could have been the no-sugar chocolate bar (ok, it was only around 50g but it has to add up) I wolfed down last night to make myself feel better. Have to keep relying on the fact that my clothes are getting looser and that although I've stepped up the … [Read more...]
Woke on day eight feeling good. I feel lighter. No hungover feeling. My whoozyness and headaches have stopped. Husband is waking me at 6.30am - half an hour earlier than usual - and I start the day in front of My Workout on the tele or on the treadmill. NOT missing dairy. NOT missing wheat. I think it helps that I ate hardly any wheat to start with. Honestly, you can replace bread with so much - think corn and rice and rye. Also, once … [Read more...]
One week down! Had a terrible night's sleep. Now, this may not seem unusual to some, but I never have a bad night's sleep, so it's unusual for me. Hoping it's all those vitamins and minerals going crazy and making me healthy. Or maybe it was due to thoughts over my upcoming dentist appointment... Honestly feel so much tighter in my muscles; it's bizarre, as it's only been 7 days of a little more exercise and better eating. The shape and … [Read more...]
Lynette Mattke may have conceptualized PicPocket Books only a year ago, but her pocket business is already growing into something grown-up size. Wanting to bring quality picture book literature to digital media, Lynette’s fabulous vision now allows children aged 2-8 to take their favorite picture books on the go—especially practical for travel, where it’s impractical to bring cumbersome and heavy books along. PicPocket now has 20 titles … [Read more...]
Day Six and I cannot even begin to express to you how glorious it feels to wake up NOT grumpy! Still the occasional snappiness, though. My sense of humour is returning. Heavens to Murgatroyd! The white coating at the back of my tongue has vastly improved. Morning breath still a little acidic. Didn't feel seedy this morning. Nor headachey. Joy! Felt bright-eyed upon waking and much more willing to exercise than yesterday. My body … [Read more...]
What do we want for our children other than a lifetime of health? Confidence and happiness, of course. As parents, it's probably all we could ever wish for, most especially because these two elements form the basis for so much else - like fulfilment, achievement, success (whatever your definition of 'success' may be). Written by Anthony Gunn, a psychologist and father of two who specialises in empowering people, this book is a little … [Read more...]
Get your 14-day Free Trial to Weight Watchers Online 2013 – no obligation, cancel at anytime! Sometimes with our busy lives it can be tricky to plan 30 minutes out of your day every week, or you might prefer to self-manage your weight-loss. So as an alternative to attending meetings, Weight Watchers offers you the option to follow the ProPoints Plan and the new Weight Watchers 360° Online. … [Read More...]