by Oliver Burkeman, (The Guardian )

It surely can’t be a coincidence that Peter Drucker, who died in 2005, was (a) one of the few management thinkers to talk almost unbroken good sense. Drucker, who spent several decades as a consultant and sat in on countless corporate meetings, left with this impression - “one either meets or one works”.

Drucker’s expertise was the art of managing people, but it was “by no means adequately proven”, he wrote self-effacingly, that this was even possible. A better bet was to learn to manage oneself – and 45 years ago this year, he summed up his views in The Effective Executive.

It’s striking how much modern advice on time management, productivity, “lifehacking” and suchlike are mere footnotes to Drucker: he said it already, and more concisely. Forget multitasking, he pleads, as “we rightly consider keeping many balls in the air a circus stunt”.

Be bleakly realistic about how much of your time you control – for senior executives, he argues, it’s rarely more than 25% – then do anything you can to consolidate it into big blocks: 90 minutes of focus is worth immeasurably more than six 15-minute “driblets”. When crises blow up – the territorial battle between managers, the failed launch – resist the temptation to see it as a one-off; instead, ask what deeper systemic problem it’s a symptom of. And if you’re a boss, develop the habit of asking your underlings, “without coyness”, the one question that will trigger more improvement than any other: “What do I do that wastes your time without contributing to your effectiveness?”.

But Drucker’s most valuable contribution to self-management may be the notion of “posteriorities”, as in the opposite of priorities: the things you make a point of deciding not to do. In organisations big and small, Drucker saw priorities set for all the wrong reasons: to soothe managers’ egos, or even, absurdly, to soothe the egos of things that don’t actually have egos, such as products that “deserve” to do well. A good place to start, he advises – and this also applies to life outside work – is to ask: ”If we didn’t already do this, would we start now?”.

This means more than just learning to say no – the point about posteriorities is that you specify them, creating what Jim Collins, a Drucker disciple, calls a “stop-doing list”. But this won’t be pleasant: “Every posteriority,”Drucker writes, ”is somebody else’s top priority.” Still, it’s essential, and not just for chief executives. Anyone with too much work to do is already setting posteriorities, whether they mean to or not; a stop-doing list merely brings things into the open. Might you, for example, resolve never to check your emails before a given time? Stop going to a pointless weekly meeting, even if that raises eyebrows? If you’re self-employed, start declining work from the highest-maintenance, lowest-profit clients, the entrepreneur Tim Ferriss advises. After all, you’ll never please everyone.

Effective executives are just better at choosing, consciously, whom to annoy.

This article was produced by Priority Management. If you would like to know more about how we could assist you please contact Matt Garrett on 08 8336 9041 or view our Webpage Priority Management South Australia

One line that struck me, as a personal concierge, was that being dyslexic has meant Richard Branson has learnt to delegate really well. He knew that he needed to get in people to do the stuff he wasn’t good or great at to ensure it was done and done well. I of course loved this, and could certainly recognise that doing what you love and achieving need not be hindered by other factors.

“It’s just easier to do it myself.”

However, it also got me thinking about my work as a personal concierge and to recall one of the phrases I hear a lot – “It’s just easier to do it myself.” Have you ever said this? I know I certainly have! Today I still manage everything about my website, marketing and social media, it’s all me! I know I ‘should’ delegate a lot of this to other people who have more expertise than me, or simply to create space in my schedule. Yet I don’t. Why? Because I haven’t had a huge, overwhelming reason that has meant I simply cannot not delegate this.

I know that many of our clients come to us when they are in the midst of a drama, or are anticipating the next drama, and simply can’t manage it any more. Moving house, a family illness  an emergency interstate trip………..these are the times that many of our clients call us for the first time. We get the call when it’s all too much and they simply cannot do it by themselves any more. I’ve heard stories of burnout, of stress leave, of 3 hours sleep a night.

Of course I’m absolutely thrilled that we offer a service which provides real assistance to our clients in these times of stress. Yet, I wonder how many of us fall into the trap of waiting for a major issue or drama to occur before we realise the importance of delegation? We do it all ourselves until we simply can’t.

Do you need dyslexia to learn to delegate?

Richard Branson used dyslexia, a condition he had his whole life, as a way to force himself to learn how to delegate. More than likely there were many incidents or issues that kept coming up which meant he knew he needed help. What if he hadn’t had the impetus to learn delegation so early in his career? What would have happened if he had continued to do it all himself, and something actually went wrong on one of his hot hair balloon trips, or whilst scaling a tall building? If there was no one there, prepared to pick up the pieces, much of what he has achieved may have only been wishful thinking.

I know that once people start using our services, delegation becomes a habit. Things they previously wouldn’t have dreamed of delegating to another person are simply sent through on the email – done! It really is about making delegation a habit in your life, both at home and at work. I’ve written about complete delegation here, and encourage to you take a look at this concept. It will help your delegation err on the side of success rather than failure.

A, M or D?

For now however, if delegation is not your forte, you really need to take the first step – to start getting into the habit! Today I encourage you to write down a list of all the tasks you do on a day-to-day basis, add to it throughout the day. Then at the end of the day, I want you to mark each one an A, M or D. A – it absolutely has to be me, no one else can do this task, truly. M – maybe I could delegate this tasks but I will need to take a bit of time to prepare. D – Delegate it! Do it now! Or as Richard Branson says, “Screw it, let’s do it!” Your goal is to have at least one, yes only one (but if you have 10 or more, go for it!) item on this list that you can delegate right now. You must have at least one item on this list because you are going to delegate it, you are going to start your delegation habit!

So, what are you going to delegate?

On my list to delegate is the design of some new graphics for an email series I am developing. I have been putting this on the back burner because I knew I needed to take time to focus and get it right. However, if I spent half an hour today preparing a brief and posting it to elance.com or odesk.com, then this job, which is potentially going to be ongoing each month, will get done with very little input from me! Can you imagine!

So, what are you going to delegate? I encourage you to share in the comments below, on facebook or via twitter to @lifestylelement using #delegateit, the one (or 10!) things you are going to delegate. Make it public, make yourself accountable, and get your delegation habit started!

Our Balance Beam profiles are published on a semi-regular basis, placing focus on organisations from Australia, New Zealand and around the globe who are implementing a variety of work life balance initiatives into their organisation. Our aim is to inspire you to seek greater work life balance inside and outside your business.

Like Your Organisation Profiled? If you would like your organisation profiled on our blog we would love to hear from you. Please scroll to the end of this post for further information.

Don’t forget to share this post with your followers and friends! 

Title: Marketing & Communications Manager

Company: PLUM

Country: Australia

State/Province: NSW

Years in business: 48*

Number of staff including business owner: 7

Website: www.plumcollections.com.au

* The business has been around for 3 generations. The business was established in 1965 by Bob and Nell Pepper, and run for many years by Rob Pepper, and is today owned and managed by Bob’s grandson Shane Pepper and his wife Eugenie, who with their 2 young children, Tommy and Chloe, fully understand the needs of today’s parents.

1. What are some of the work life balance issues your organisation faces?

We are a small business and at times we can get very busy and there never seems to be enough hours in the day. Many of our staff including Shane and myself have young children so we realise it is important for us to be flexible to enable our staff the have a good work life balance particularly those with children.

2. What work life balance initiatives do you have in your organisation, big or small?

We understand the requirements of working parents. Our designers being mums do not work full-time and have the flexibly they need it. We finish at 2.30pm on a Friday. We also start early in the morning so we do not work late. We are always home in time for kid’s dinner and bath time. I work from home, which makes life even easier. Once a month on a Thursday we will leave work at 4.30pm for a staff get together at our local pub. This meeting time means we get to catch up with the team and discuss how things are going and chat about any news and updates in a casual environment. We have a fun time and it builds team morale and relationships.

3. What have been the main benefits to your organisation of these initiatives?

We believe in the importance in having a harmonious balance between work and personal life. Plum has a warm, caring atmosphere. Our office is a fun place to be. Having happy work environment contributes to everyone working better, which in turn helps business do better.

4. Have there been any obstacles or issues in implementing your work life balance initiatives?

The challenges of work life balance are being a working parent with young children. Young children are often unwell and unable to attend school or kindy.  It makes it difficult if to get work done if you have a sick child. My son had been home from kindy off and on for the last 3 weeks. I have been working from home but also taking him into the office when I have had to do a few things important things that could not be done from home. It becomes hard to squeeze everything in the day.

5. Do you conduct any regular surveying or evaluation of your work life initiatives?

Being a small business we can take a holistic approach to the way the business is run. We have a small team and we are very approachable for staff to freely discuss their needs anytime. We are always open to their suggestions.

6. What are some of your own personal work life balance and/or time management tips?

I have a great balance although sometimes it is tough squeezing everything I have to do. It is really important to work efficiently to work smarter because being a parent your time is very precious so every minute spent working and away from you family has to count.

Being in control your work-life balance can make a huge difference to morale and quality of life. I have 3 dedicated days for working when my 4 year old and 2 year old are at kindy. I work odd hours when I can if I need too for example, if I wake up at middle of the night and cannot sleep I will do some work. I work from home so this also helps with flexibility as I can put on a load of washing in between what I am doing for work. On the days I have the kids at home I try to focus on my kids. I do find it hard not to respond to emails and phone calls and sometimes it is important and cannot wait.

7. What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I enjoy spending time with my family, going to the beach, swimming, going to parks and bbq’s with friends and get togethers all the kid’s cousins.

8. Tell us about your organisation. What are the key services of your organisation and what is your target market?

PLUM has a long history creating quality kids clothes. Plum is one of Australian’s most loved and trusted children’s and baby brand – we offer an extensive range of high quality Australian designed children & baby fashion, swimwear, baby sleep bags and baby accessories.   As well as baby and children’s fashion and baby sleep bags we are also very excited to be launching our new PLUM SWIM WEAR collection. Plum exports products all over the world including the UK, New Zealand, Middle East, Asia USA and UK.

We have always wanted to do some thing to give back to the community and the way we are doing this is through out partnership with SIDS and Kids. SIDS and Kids is dedicated to saving the lives of babies and children during pregnancy, birth, infancy and childhood and supporting bereaved families. They do this through research, evidence based education and bereavement support. Plum supports the national Safe Sleeping Education campaign through the funding of selected safe sleeping education materials. SIDS and Kids together with Plum also launched the Safe Sleeping free iPhone application and most recently a DVD that goes to all pediatric offices & hospitals nationally.

9. What is your role within the organisation?

My role is marketing and promotions. I also work on getting publicity for the business and running our events and photo shoots. I am also manage our Facebook page, twitter and pinterest. I also responsible for the merchandising of our stock in the major stores such as David Jones, Toys R Us and Baby Bunting. 

Abbie’s Comments: ”Sick children can be a very challenging aspect of work life balance. Working from home makes this juggle a lot easier, but I do wonder how it impacts those who don’t currently have that option?”

As we get older, it becomes more important for our bodies and general health to stay active. Some studies have claimed that over half of the symptoms of old age may be attributed to inactivity and loss of fitness. 30 minutes of physical activity each day can help to reduce your risk of heart disease, depression, decreased mental function, and loss of muscle mass.

It may seem like a gym workout is the only option for maintaining a youthful and active body. For many of us, gyms can be intimidating and daunting places. Our discomfort and sometimes the inflated cost of gym memberships can give us another excuse to put off exercising.

Being active doesn’t always mean weights, step machines and spin classes. An active lifestyle can be achieved by incorporating a range of fun and social activities into your weekly routine. Being active can be enjoyable as well as getting the body moving, blood pumping and calories burning. Also,  trying new activities and staying socially connected can help with retaining brain function.

1. Dance classes.

There are many different dance styles and classes for all experience levels. Joining a dance class is a great way to stay social and enjoy an active evening. Whether you try salsa, Bollywood, ballroom, ballet or hip hop, dance can be a low impact way to get moving. Dance can affect your general health through improving cardiovascular condition, muscular strength and tone, improving coordination, flexibility, motor fitness and strengthening bones. Classes are also a great way to meet new people or bond with a partner.

2. Paddle boarding.

A new exercise trend popping up at beaches and rivers around the country is paddle boarding. It involves sitting, kneeling and standing on a board and propelling yourself with the use of a paddle. Its popularity is due to the ease with which it can be picked up. The basics of paddle boarding can easily be learnt in a one-hour lesson. Paddle boarding is great for balance, cardio fitness and muscle tone.

3. Rock-climbing.

It may seem like this one is only for adrenaline junkies but indoor climbing centres cater to all levels of experience. Beginner walls allow those of us who have never climbed to test out climbing using safety gear with a qualified instructor. Many centres also have beginner days where you can meet other beginners and try climbing. Rock-climbing is great for improving cardiovascular health, flexibility, muscle tone and weight loss and an hour rock-climbing session can burn 400 calories.

4. Circus lessons.

Ever wanted to run off and join the circus? If you are still feeling a little adventurous, now you can sign up for circus lessons. There are a range of circus related activities on offer from juggling, trapeze, contortion, clowning and tumbling. Circus classes can help to develop physical abilities such as coordination, muscle strength, flexibility and fitness but a study through Newcastle University shows circus skills also help with creativity and social interaction skills. Lessons are available at a range of locations, with ‘one off’ tasters for beginners and longer courses for enthusiasts.

Sharon Freeman is a freelancer who writes about Shoulder Surgery and health information for companies like Kaliper Orthopedics. She loves to write about health, nutrition and ways to prevent injuries, medical services and improve your lifestyle. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find her in her garden or playing with her dog.

If you find that you’re stressed out and overwhelmed at work, now may be the time to brush up on your organisational skills. Getting and staying organised can help you know what you’re supposed to do and when you’re supposed to do it. The best way to get organised and stay organised is to stick to a schedule. Plan out all of your meetings, ­assignments, and appointments and keep them written down in more than one place. A wall calendar is great to jot down quick ideas and information, but what if you’re not at your desk? Here are some helpful tech tips to get you organised so your work day will be a breeze:

1.      Invest in a Good Business Laptop

Keep everything work related safe on your work laptop and have a separate work email so you don’t have to worry about important documents or programs getting mixed up by the kids at home. Make sure your family knows that your laptop is only used for your job.

2.      Use an Online Calendar

Search online for a calendar application that fits your needs. Personalise it with color coded days and times for work items and other miscellaneous engagements. Some email programs come with a calendar to help you schedule things.

3.      Keep Notes at your Fingertips

There are several online note-taking websites and phone apps. The best thing is that most of them are free. You can create your own profile and even send your notes to other devices or as an email to a group of people.

4.      Set Up Task Alerts

You need an organiser that has the ability to notify you of upcoming events, and appointments. Search for a task manager online and easily download it to your desk top, handheld tablet, or smartphone. Setting an alarm will keep you on track and you’ll never miss an important interview or board meeting.

5.      Use Web Conferencing

Did you know you can collaborate on a specific project, layout, or proposal with your whole team? There are many web conferencing programs that can easily communicate with other the important items that need to be shared, linked, and saved to your computer. This helps the whole department stay organised when everyone has the same information in front of them and can access it at any time.

6.      Systematise Research

Researching for a project can be time consuming and productive but without an organised system in place for your notes, working on these projects can be frustrating. To stay better organised at work and with project notes, use a computer system that allows you to systematise your research on the Cloud. This means you can access your notes easily in an organised space with absolutely no fear of notes being lost, displaced or ruined.

7.      Keep Tabs on Your Finances

You can take your money skills to the next level. Use apps and programs for your grocery shopping lists, bank or credit union, or investment portfolio. These apps can help you manage your personal life, leaving more room to be organised and focused at work.

8.      Manage Your Time

Studies have found that through online time management programs, employees are more productive and organised when working on tasks. If your employer does not have a time management program, you can download one yourself to see how much time you take working on specific projects, in meetings and doing daily work. This can help you streamline your processes and help you become more organised.

What tips do you have for staying organised at the office?

Brian Jensen works with Dell. In his spare time he enjoys traveling, cooking and spending time with his family. He has a passion for learning and writing about all things technology.

January is often a time of reflection, and for Lifestyle Elements it is no different.

Although 2012 was quite a challenging year for us, it was also very exciting as more and more people discovered how a personal concierge could help them.

Our blog was a big focus last year as we shared insights from a wide variety of people. Today I have listed our Top 5 Posts for 2012. Take a look and don’t miss Abbie’s favourites at the very end!

We will continue to provide a variety of articles to you in 2013 to help with that constant juggle of work and life. If you’d like to contribute, we would love to hear from you!

Top 5 Posts of 2012

5 Great Road Trips Between Adelaide & Melbourne – Guest Blog by Kristy Alexander

A post that is slightly out of the norm for our blog was easily the most popular post of 2012. Obviously there are a lot of travelers out there among our readers!

A Great Relationship Is Like A Great Pair of Shoes – Guest Blog by Jayson Mair

It seems that shoes as an analogy for relationships really struck a chord with many of you!

Today Show’s Lisa Wilkinson on Work Life Balance by Abbie Allen

Lisa Wilkinson’s work life balance wisdom shows us that even ‘celebrities’ have to cope with the issues of daily life, just like the rest of us.

Super Giggle & Super Hoot – How Super Are You? by Abbie Allen

The influences of life with a 1 year old (now 2!) played a big part in the writing of this post. Not only is there a catchy song, but a motto that applies to all ages – “every little thing can be a super thing!”

Spoil your staff …. A lesson in reward & recognition – Guest Blog by Nicole Underwood

Nicole shares a real life story, as well as giving us 5 ways to reward staff – and it’s not all about money! In fact, it’s not really about money at all.

Abbie’s Favourite Posts

What I Would Have Said by Abbie Allen

The speech I wrote as a finalist for the SA Telstra Business Women of the Year awards.  It was a great way to reflect and focus on what is important. I highly recommend entering the awards, or at the very least, write your own acceptance speech!

5 Productivity Tools I Actually Use by Abbie Allen

A lot of people assume I am naturally organised, but it is a learned skill that I have to always keep on top of. This post is a bit of insight into how I do it.

The Perils of Outsourcing? Really? by Abbie Allen

My response to a news article in the Sunday Herald Sun that got me a little stirred up.

The 7 Types of Busy – Guest Blog by Emma Grey

My favourite guest blog post of the year. I’d still say I’m a bit ‘Badge of Honour’ busy. How about you?

We hope you’ve enjoyed our blog posts this year. Is there something in particular you’d like to read about? Would you prefer some videos, interviews or case studies? Let us know in the comments below.

Today we have a mixed bag of ideas for you to help you get that list ticked off.

Do you have some other suggestions? Please comment below, and let us know what’s on your list – for yourself and others!

KeepCup – Design Your Own (Medium) - @ keepcup.com.au - $14

A barista standard reusable cup, KeepCups are made from plastic so they are lightweight, easy to carry and are BPA free. KeepCups are dishwasher safe, microwavable and splash proof, plus they fit into most car cup holders and bicycle bottle holders. The best part – you can design your own!

Small Blackboard @ The White Shed – $21.95

Gorgeous small white blackboard. Perfect in your kitchen or kids room, but also a great party styling accessory. Why not display some carol lyrics on it this Christmas! 38xm x 22cm.

Marvis Cinnamon Mint Toothpaste @ Brown Button Trading – $11.95

“Tasting Notes” – an unusual. aromatic mixture that emits the tropics’ luminosity. An original aroma that captivates at the first taste. Italian style and quality at its best – in a toothpaste! A chic addition to your own bathroom or a unique and beautifully packaged gift for someone. Also comes in, Aquatic, Classic Strong, Ginger, Jasmine, Whitening and Licorice!

Gator Tote @ From Little Things – $13.95

These funky Gator Tote bags are ideal for outdoor or indoor play or storage. Made from easy-clean, strong yet soft polymer and featuring drainage and airing holes, the bags are perfect for toys or swim gear.

Outliving Robot by @ SheShopped – $16.95

Wind-up robot. Outliving Robot is a beautifully handcrafted piece that comes with a key that winds up the robot, enabling it to walk.Outliving Robot is a great collectors item for lovers of robots or anything quirky and fun. 

Scrabble Fridge Magnets by General Pants Co. @ Westfield – $14.95

Play a game or send cryptic messages, these Scrabble fridge magnets are practical and fun!

Collapsable Pet Bowl by Dexas @ Chalet – $16.95

Dexas International’s Popware Pet Bowls expand for use and collapse for transport or storage. Collapses to less that 3/4 inch thick. Great for travelling, camping or everyday use.

Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay @ Bookworld.com.au – $14.39

Recently voted number #10 in the First Tuesday Book Club’s 10 Aussie Books To Read Before You Die, Picnic at Hanging Rock, the story of vanishing schoolgirls is eerie, haunting and thrilling – an Australian classic. Introduce this story to a loved one with this gorgeous edition from Viking. 

Rubik’s Cube Mug by Australian Geographic @ Westfield – $19.95

For a retro flashback, this ceramic mug is great for coffee, tea or a hot milo!

Glass Purse Hanger by Jens Studio @ Etsy - $18.00

This purse hanger will keep your lovely handbag or purse off the ground and safe while you have dinner at a restaurant, have a drink at a bar, or sit at a conference table. It is compact and light, weighing only 55 grams. 

Running out of time to do everything? Don’t forget you can take advantage of our Dasher & Blitzen Christmas packs. Click here to find out more.

Today I want to offer you some ideas and inspiration – plus I will be directing you to some wonderful websites with many other great gifts for sale.

Do you have some other suggestions? Do you have a product we might like to feature? Please comment below or email abbie@lifestyleelements.com.au

Ok, here we go!

Aqua Chevron Salad Bowl by Escape to Paradise @ From Little Things – $59.95 plus P&H
Made from environmentally friendly bamboo and hand painted. Great for summer entertaining plus salad servers are sold separately.

Mr White Wall Clock by Karlsson @ The White Shed – $179.95

This steel wall clock with numbers is light and bright with a simplistic design that will compliment any decor. Large: Diameter 51cm, H. 7cm

Phoebe Lamp @ From Little Things – $

The Phoebe lamp is a truly original concept. It is designed in a way that allows you to change its appearance. It comprises an insert panel held in place by two pieces of plastic. By inserting any paper, poster, photograph, map, news-clipping, or even fabric, you can transform your lamp into a new look in minutes. 66cm tall with a diameter of 18cm. Or you can get the A3 size that is 30cm tall with a diameter of 14cm.

Pink Deer Hook @ Brown Button Trading – $22.00

A dear little Deer Hook….. Easy to attach to a wall or the back of a door. Screw and plug is included. Also available in black, white and red.

Jaipur Painted Metal Jug in Mehndi & White @ Brown Button Trading – $49.95

Gorgeous painted metal jug to team with matching tumblers and tray – or mix it up a bit and fill with flowers perhaps? Jaipur is a capital city in India, also known as the ‘pink city’. Also available in pink, indigo and cornflower blue. Height – 18cm

Turf Paperweight by Danielle Rickaby @ SheShopped – $98.00
Now for something a little bit different a turf paperweight!  It is all made of glass. Great gift for office space or a coffee table conversation starter. Great for someone with a green thumb. 

Photo Wallpaper Mural by Canvas this @ SheShopped – $POA
Use an old picture and have it blown up as wallpaper. What a sentimental way to bring instant character and warmth to a space!

A-Z Bookend Set @ The White Shed – $54.95

A-Z Bookend Set. Style your bookcase or desk with these funky bookends. Height 14cm

World Coin Earrings by Palas Jewellery – $39.60

Each coin has been hand selected by Palas for every piece of jewellery in the world coin range. Each jewellery item will be set with a different world coin. Coins are from countries including Italy, France, Greece, Denmark, China, Indonesia, Spain, New Zealand, America, India and Japan. 

Featured Sellers

Palas Jewellery is an international Australian jewellery brand. I have the pleasure of designing the complete Palas Jewellery collection with love, sincerity and passion. My designs are beautifully translated into handcrafted pieces by expert silversmith in Indonesia. Palas is available in over 600 beautiful jewellery, lifestyle and fashion stores throughout Australia, New Zealand and Japan and continues to grow!

She Shopped provides it’s loyal followers with the best of the web. How do they do it? They spend their days trawling the Internet for the best stuff (tough job but someone has to do it), then they share it with you and show you where to buy it. In short they are all your favourite online stores in one spot.

from little things, where you will find all things stylish for the little people in your life. As a family run business with 4 gorgeous children in it, they know just how busy life can be. Their aim  is to bring you items they have fallen in love with.

Brown Button Trading is an opportunity for lovers of exquisite home wares, quality stationery, perfect gifts and stunning jewellery to shop online. So whether you are currently searching for a gift in your lunch break at your desk, doing a spot of shopping late at night after getting the kids to bed, or in a remote location void of any opportunity to otherwise shop for something special…… thank you for letting me share with you a few of my favourite things xx

Thus, I have decided to write a series of posts highlighting some gift ideas for a variety of people in your life. I will also introduce you to some wonderful business, most of them South Australian, and most of them with the convenience of online shopping.

Today we’re going to get started with the toddler category – mainly because it is close to home with a 2 year old in our house. Take a look at the great gift ideas below PLUS make sure you visit the websites of each business – I’ve given you an overview of each at the very end of the post.

Do you have some other suggestions? Please comment below, and who knows, we may have to publish a second toddler post! Enjoy!

Teaching Clock by Pintoy @ From Little Things - $39.95 plus p & h

This Pintoy wooden teaching clock with stand is an excellent educational toy for children learning to tell the time. It has brightly coloured removable numbers and moveable hands. 

The Very Hungry Caterpillar 2 Sided Floor Puzzle @ From Little Things- $34 plus p & h

Featuring the popular Eric Carle character, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, this is a 2-sided floor puzzle with 36 pieces, measuring 64cm x 92cm.

Animal Parade – 2D Puzzle @ Brown Button Trading – $16.50  

Lots of fun – 12 animals that can be cut out of 9 x 10cm sheets and assembled into your own animal parade. Swedish Design (equals uber cool) – these cardboard animals with a core of plastic foam are a gorgeous gift for little people 3 years and over.

Peek, Seek and Find Bags – by Little Beginnings @ From Little Things – $26.95 plus p & h

Great little fabric sealed bag, filled with beans hiding little things to find! Perfect for keeping fidgety little people happily occupied and encourages quiet time. Peek through the vinyl window, you’ll never lose a piece of these puzzles! The helpful velcro detachable list of items is attached to the reverse side so little people know what to look for.  Adults or older children can join in the fun by detaching the list and asking the seeker to find the hidden objects Coated in a safe acrylic water-based coating which means they can be wiped clean easily. Size approx 22 x 22cm. From Abbie – this is on our list for Harper!

PersonalisedWooden Name Puzzle - @ TinyMe – $26.95 for 3 letters then $3 per additional letter

Our classic wooden name puzzles were our first ever product and now, over five years and many, many thousands of name puzzles later, they are still one of our most popular products. How about no more lost pieces… a storage box where the integrated slide-in lid becomes the puzzle base! You get the idea. Our name puzzles are about the right mix. A mix of high tech and plain old hard work. A mix of traditional quality and design innovation. A mix of education and fun. Is wood. Is good. From Abbie – we bought this for Harper & her cousins last year. The hilarious thing, they bought her one in return!

Sing-A-Long with Elmo FD - $39.95

Personalised with your child’s own name, Elmo & Sesame St characters sing 23 tracks. With over 1650 names to choose from “kids go nuts when they hear their name!”

Indoor Toddler Trike by Pintoy @ From Little Things – $149 plus p & h

Gorgeous Indoor toddler trike with carry-basket in back.

Ribbon Wands @ Sweet Desires - $7.95 ea

Our beautifully handcrafted ribbon wands are fabulous for lots of twirling fun! Great for kids parties, gift add-ons, and stocking fillers for Christmas time. They come in a range of beautiful colours – pink, yellow and bright pink. 30cm wooden stick with a 25mm wide ribbon x 2m long

Rainbow Counting Bean Bags - $30 plus p & h

10 custom made number counting rainbow bean bags all sewn by myself using my trusty Singer sewing machine and by hand. Each bean bag is carefully filled with cannelini beans and the numbers are attached by using applique. They measure approx 9cm wide and approx 1cm deep, a fantastic staple for any child’s home the possibilities are endless for hours of imaginative educational fun. They promote active play along with logical thinking as they can be used to help with learning numbers and colours, recognising numbers on a keyboard/calculator, catch, piggy-in-the-middle, stacking towers, throwing into hoops/baskets, adding and subtracting for older children…… the list goes on (see blog post here for inspiration!: http://2plus1dotme2.wordpress.com/2012/07/18/number-bean-bags/)  

Imaginabox @ From Little Things – $19.95 plus p& h

The simple, but practical toy that turns any cardboard box into a toy – Oven & Car for sale – perfect for all those unused cardboard boxes this Christmas!

Featured Sellers

from little things, where you will find all things stylish for the little people in your life. As a family run business with 4 gorgeous children in it, they know just how busy life can be. Their aim  is to bring you items they have fallen in love with.

At Sweet Desires, we LOVE parties!!! But we also understand that trying to shop for such occasions with small children in tow can be quite a nightmare! So our mission is to provide you with a one stop shop where you can browse in the leisure of your own home, when your children are tucked up in bed or playing happily, so you can relax with a cuppa and enjoy browsing and planning the party for your special ones.

Brown Button Trading is an opportunity for lovers of exquisite home wares, quality stationery, perfect gifts and stunning jewellery to shop on line. So whether you are currently searching for a gift in your lunch break at your desk, doing a spot of shopping late at night after getting the kids to bed, or in a remote location void of any opportunity to otherwise shop for something special…… thank you for letting me share with you a few of my favourite things xx

Once upon a time 3 young dads (who happen to have 13 kids under 9) combined a whole bunch of geeky high tech machines, some generous dollops of cuteness, a slightly loopy team of people and mixed them together with the world wide webby thingy. The result was amazing…. a comprehensive range of affordable, premium quality, designer personalised products for kids. All custom made and shipped to you in a jiffy.

 
etsy is the world’s handmade marketplace. Their mission is to empower people to change the way the global economy works. They see a world in which very-very small businesses have much-much more sway in shaping the economy, local living economies are thriving everywhere, and people value authorship and provenance as much as price and convenience.

I was recently honoured to be on of the finalists at this year’s Telstra SA Business Women of the Year awards. It was a thrill to be one of 3 finalists in the Marie Claire Young Business Women’s category, along with the winner Carmel Siciliano of Stile Interiors, and finalist Amy Van Dyk of ABT Advance Behavioural Training.

Unfortunately I didn’t have the opportunity to deliver the speech I had prepared – Carmel had that honour on the day! However, one of the other amazing finalists (a winner in fact, and one of our clients!) suggested I share my speech anyway. Although I was a bit apprehensive about this, I realise there are people I would still like to thank publicly, and parts of my journey I would like to share with you.

I have cut and paste the speech below, exactly as I would have delivered it on the day.

Abbie Allen – Marie Claire Young Business Women’s Award

Abbie being presented with her certifcate by Kelly Baker-Jamieson of Edible Blooms

I am thrilled and honoured to receive the Marie Claire Young Business Women’s Award. This has been one of my top personal goals for the last 10 years, as I was so inspired by the many business women who have gone before me. To have actually achieved it, and be standing on this stage today, is quite overwhelming.

Thank you to Telstra, Marie Claire, and the many other sponsors of this wonderful event.

When I started Lifestyle Elements over 8 years ago, at the age of 23, I particularly identified with the term “young business woman”. I felt very young, quite unsure, but also enthused and excited. Even though every step was daunting, I discovered that I was able to use my youth to my advantage. I had nothing to lose and no one expected me to know what I was doing. I could ask as many questions as I liked, and if perhaps I worried my questions were a little naive, well it didn’t matter. I was young. I wasn’t expected to know. And of course, I could always go and get a “real” job if I needed to.

I was inspired to start Lifestyle Elements by a passing comment – it really was one of those light bulb moments. It wasn’t until later that I found out that this business idea actually had an industry, the personal concierge industry. Lifestyle Elements is a personal and corporate concierge service.  We help busy people who never have enough time, tick of their to do list. I wonder how many of you out there feel like this? On any given day our team could be  grocery shopping, meeting a plumber, walking a dog, or wrapping Christmas presents. We are helping people who are going through major life changes, and people who simply feel there must be a better way to manage their daily juggle.

It has been eight years since I started Lifestyle Elements and I get more excited about what we are achieving every day. The majority of our clients have been with us for many years, some have stuck with us right from the start. Every time I tell people what Lifestyle Elements is all about they get excited, they love the idea, and often list off two or three jobs they could get me to do right there and then!

Although I am still fortunate enough to be in the Young Business Women’s category, I now know that the real benefit isn’t just being a young business woman, but in simply being a business woman, and thus  a part of this amazing community of women. Women naturally share; knowledge, ideas, tips and referrals.  In this room is a network of business women who are making real differences in their own areas of expertise. Plus, whether they know it or not, they are making a real difference, to the lives of others, in particular young business women, who look to them for inspiration, motivation, and the confidence to take a chance. When I started Lifestyle Elements, I was eager to read and learn from other women who had strode ahead of me. At that time I looked to Naomi Simson of Red Balloon and Janine Allis of Boost Juice, both award Alumni. Now I seek women less far afield, right here in South Australia. Without Awards such as these wonderful Telstra Business Women’s Awards, many women from South Australia would not be recognised for their amazing work – we are often very quiet when it comes to promoting ourselves and our successes.

However, if the achievements of this state’s women were not recognised, then young women like myself and my fellow finalists Carmel and Amy, would miss out on the wisdom and encouragement needed to help us get started and pursue our business dreams.

I have many people to thank as I have pursued my own business dreams. The guidance from my mentors and supporters, including Allison Ashby, Nicola Milne and Nicole Underwood has been invaluable. Our many clients who have believed in what we are doing and fully embraced the service we are providing, mean we can get up daily and make a difference in their lives. My wonderful team, my husband Tim, Emma, Ashleigh, and past employee Mathilda have embraced what Lifestyle Elements stands for and are committed to delivering a quality, unique service.

I would especially like to thank my family, Mum, Dad and Tim who have always trusted and supported me even when I’m sure they didn’t quite understand my vision or what a personal concierge even was! I also need to thank my nearly two year old daughter Harper, who has attended many a business meeting with me, has been loaded into the car while Tim and I run errands for clients, or is happy to watch Play School on her…. I mean, my iPad, while I tap away at the laptop.  I hope that she, as a future young business woman, will be able to recognise and appreciate why I’m doing what I’m doing. Maybe, one day, she’ll even seek me out for business advice!