Blog

May 09
Book List – Get Organised at Home

Over the last 6 to 12 months I’ve been trying to get on top of things at home. Slowly I am going from an overwhelmed, complete mess, to a tidy home and a much more realistic perspective on the standards I should expect of myself at home. A big part of that has been some […]

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Mar 16
Are you Calendar Averse?

No, I don’t hate calendars. But there is something I hate about calendars and I’m wondering if you’re the same?

Mar 09
The 15 Minute Blitz To Get Things Done

It you often find it hard to get yourself or others motivated to get stuff done, then I want to share with you The 15 Minute blitz! It’s a favourite in our house, and I also use it for my work. f you’re looking for some extra support around home, and perhaps need  bit longer than […]

Mar 07
The Covid Undercurrent

I’ve decided to try and give a name to what many of us are feeling at the moment – The Covid Undercurrent. It’s the feeling we have simmering away, whilst we are busy trying to go back to ‘normal’ – working, studying, parenting, living. The feet paddling wildly under the water while we try and […]

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Feb 18
The Zero Inbox Rule

Have you ever had an empty inbox?! Are you sick of the overwhelm of your inbox? In this video I share how I do it, why I love the Zero Inbox Rule, and how I apply it to other areas of my life. If you’re looking for some extra support with your inbox, or anything on your […]

Jan 24
My Audible & Kindle Tips & Tricks

Anyone who knows me well knows that I’m an avid book reader. However, with a business and three young kids I was struggling to read as much a I would like. I also felt a bit of guilty buying yet another book. Yes, I know there are libraries but I just can’t help myself! And […]

Feb 24
My Top Tip for Removing Oil Stains

I had previously shared this tip on Facebook, but once again, I have been sharing it with a lot of people, so thought it needed a permanent location on our blog. I discovered this method many years ago on a random Google search, so can no longer find the original source. However, what I can […]

Feb 11
My Favourite Family Planners

Following on from my previous post ‘5 Back To School Organisation Tips’ I’ve had a request to share my favourite family planners. “Hey Abbie, do you have any planner / Calendar recommendations for all the appointments / after school activities / weekly commitments for a family of 5…” Whether you prefer digital, or love old-school […]

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Jan 27
5 Back to School Organisation Ideas

First day back to school for us! In my dream scenario, I’m going to be super organised this year! If you’re needing a bit of inspiration like me, here are 5 back to school organisation ideas. 1. Lunchbox Planner I’m not one for mixing up the kid’s lunchboxes. Honestly, it’s hard enough to find things […]

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Nov 11
Christmas Concierge Services

I can't believe I'm already talking about Christmas! But if if I've learnt anything over almost 17 years as a personal concierge, it's that it is always best to get in early when it comes to preparing for Christmas! In this video find out how we can help you avoid the Christmas overwhelm this year!

Oct 21
The ‘What’s On My Mind’ List

A few months ago, I was smack bang in the middle of overwhelm. I wasn't communicating very well. Instead of was just getting frustrated, and wishing people (namely my husband Time) would just read my mind. Unrealistic and illogical of course, but I just couldn’t seem to get on top of things.

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Apr 10
Our Review of the ABC for Kids Website

It’s my daughter Sadie’s turn to join me in a video review. In this video we take a tour of the ABC for Kids website. It’s a great option for all the kids who are currently at home in isolation. Check out the website with us, and see us play a Peppa Pig game! If […]

Apr 09
Our Review of Harry Potter at Home

My daughter Harper and I decided to take a tour of the all new Harry Potter At Home Website which J.K. Rowling has created for all the kids (and big kids) currently in isolation. Check out the website with us, and find out how well we do at the Professor Lockhart quiz! If you have […]

Mar 27
Learn At Home Resources For Adults

Not only are there lots of amazing websites for kids who are looking for learning resources while at home, there are also so many ways adults can take advantage of this opportunity to learn new things. They are a mix of paid, free or free trials. Please refer to each website for further information. I’ve […]

Mar 25
Zoos and Aquariums who are Live Streaming

If you can’t go out and about, you can at least pretend to. From the comfort of your own home, you can visit Zoos and Aquariums all over Australia and the world! Those indicated with an * are from Australia.     Zoos Victoria Live Stream* We’re live streaming our zoo so you can enjoy […]

Mar 22
Home School Resources for Australian Kids

Well, it is almost a reality here in Australia. Schools may close, many are already self-isolating their families, and now we have to think about how we are going to manage this. Many schools will be providing work to students. However, if this isn’t the case, or you’d like some more options, I have put […]

Mar 18
Tools To Help Make Working From Home Work

Amidst the worldwide Covid-19 crisis, many people are now working from home. This may be very new for many of you, so I have pulled together a list of resources for you. As I learn about more options, I will update, so if you know of a tool that should be on this list, please […]

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Oct 24
Stop Wasting Your Time

This post has been republished with permission from Ruth Hovsepian of Modern Day Ruth We all do it: Texting while walking, sending emails during meetings, chatting on the phone while cooking dinner. In today’s society, doing just one thing at a time seems downright luxurious, even wasteful.  What you call multitasking is really task-switching, says […]

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Apr 30
Gifts for Mum

Mum can either be the easiest person to buy for, or the hardest. We’re here to help! Below is a fantastic selection of all South Australian gifts to inspire you. And don’t miss our Ultimate South Australian Gift Guide – full of gifts for everyone and every occasion. Scroll down to see amazing jewellery, stunning […]

Feb 06
The Systems I Use To Keep Track

One of our clients sent us the following message. I thought it was such a great question, I wanted to turn my response into a blog post for all of you to read. Hi Abbie, I’m serving a few different masters at the moment and I need a sensible way to track my time as […]

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Dec 04
12 South Australian Food & Drink Gifts

In a state renowned for it’s food and drink, you simply can’t go past a South Australian produce gift. Here’s a small selection of the amazing options SA has! A Cheese Hamper   View this post on Instagram   Still Life #stilllife On the weekend we were working with Video Producer Justin Cribbes creating a […]

Nov 28
14 South Australian Gifts For Teachers

Are you needing a gift a teacher that’s just a little bit different this year? Well we’ve got you sorted! We’ve put together a list of 14 gifts, from South Australian businesses, as featured in our Ultimate South Australian Gift Guide. {Need help finding, purchasing, wrapping or delivering your SA gifts? Get us to help!}   […]

Nov 27
10 South Australian Gifts For The Guys

Are you sometimes stumped on what to buy for the guys in your life? We know how you feel. We’ve put together a list of 10 gifts, from South Australian businesses, as featured in our Ultimate South Australian Gift Guide. {Need help finding, purchasing, wrapping or delivering your SA gifts? Get us to help!} Custom Made […]

Nov 06
The Ultimate South Australian Gift Guide

Welcome to The Ultimate South Australian Gift Guide! At Lifestyle Elements we’re on a mission to make your life easier and help you find more time. Shopping for gifts can take a huge amount of time, but we’re here to help. We’ve created The Ultimate South Australian Gift Guide! This continually evolving gift list features […]

Nov 25
Christmas Things Your Personal Concierge Can Help You With

  You can check out our past posts here, here and here for 30 ideas on how to use a personal concierge. Today however, I wanted to focus on Christmas, seeing as it’s only 1 month until the big day!   1. Putting up the Christmas Tree Finished! I’m a bit in love! ?#personalconciergelife #personalconcierge […]

Aug 21
Even More Things Your Personal Concierge Can Help You With

  First there was 10 Things Your Personal Concierge Can Help You With, next, it was 10 More Things Your Personal Concierge Can Help You With! Well, today I have even more ideas for you – so now you’ve got no excuses – you know exactly how your personal concierge can help you!    1. Nailing the dishes! Before and […]

Jun 21
10 More Things Your Personal Concierge Can Help You With

  There are just so many ways a personal concierge can help you to tick off your to-do list. However, if you’re still looking for ideas, then, following on from our previous post 10 Things Your Personal Concierge Can Help You With, here are 10 more ideas! 1. Delivered a very special birthday cake 2. […]

Jun 14
10 Things Your Personal Concierge Can Help You With

  When people first find out about the existence of a personal concierge service, they are often overwhelmed. They’re often thinking, “Yes, it all sounds amazing, but how on earth could I possibly use the service?” Ultimately, the ways you can utilise our personal concierge service is endless. However, to get you started, here are […]

Sep 24
Beautiful Kitchen Organisation Ideas

[vc_column_text pb_margin_bottom=”no” pb_border_bottom=”no” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] As our October DDIY special is ‘Kitchen Coordination‘ I wanted to create a post that might provide you some inspiration for your own kitchen. Below are some examples of all the ideas I have collected on Pinterest which I think are genius, a quick fix, or simply beautiful. I’d love to know which […]

Sep 23
Dinner for Two…Without Leaving the House!

Clients of Lifestyle Elements are always coming up with new and fun ways to use our services and keep us busy and just last week, I completed a task for a client that was over a month in the making! This client (who will remain un-named for privacy!) was due to celebrate her 15th wedding […]

Sep 08
My Wardrobe Makeover – The Konmari Method

The De-Clutter History We are all aware of my long-term desire to finally declare my house a clutter free zone! I have blogged about my grand plans and followed them up with some progress thoughts, but still the battle continues in my house! I recently discovered the “Konmari Method” for de-cluttering and organisation and am […]

Aug 26
Handmade Gifts for Father’s Day

Father’s Day is just around the corner, so we have put together a list of the best Father’s Day gift ideas that you and the kids can make yourself! For the “Foodie Father” These handprint tea towels are very cute and would be a great gift for a dad who is handy in the kitchen! […]

Aug 10
How She Does It by Rebecca O’Rourke

I often am asked how I manage my business and a young family and love sharing my tips. ~ Do what works for you and your family. There is no cookie cutter approach. ~ Get the right support and outsource time-consuming tasks such as cleaning and shopping. You can’t do it all! I use Lifestyle […]

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Jul 10
Can I Really Just Say No?

An article on Mind Body Green caught my attention over the weekend. It was titled “The People Pleaser’s Guide to Saying No”. I have always been a people pleaser and not very good at saying “No, I can’t do that.” I was very interested to see what little tips and tricks lay hidden in this […]

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May 26
Winter – At Home To Do List

After four years living in my current home, there is a noise that my ears have trained themselves to hear louder than any other. At 3am on Tuesday morning I heard that noise…above the sound of the rain on the roof, I could hear the sound of water dripping THROUGH the roof and onto the wooden […]

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May 14
The Ultimate Don’t Do It Yourself

This week sees me exactly 10 months away from my wedding day! It is incredibly exciting to imagine the day to come – family and friends, pretty dress, future-husband at the end of that aisle – however for the first time in my life, thinking of an event 10 months in the future feels like […]

May 05
My Dream Mother’s Day

This post is in no way a hint for Tim (although feel free to review!). What I wanted to do was explore what my dream Mother’s Day might look like, as a way of finding out what is most important to me as a mother. As I started the process, I thought other mothers out […]

Apr 13
My De-Cluttering Progress

{NEW SERVICE Clutter Courier – At The End Of This Post!} A few weeks ago, I wrote about the Space Stress that is affecting so many couples around Australia (myself included!). With the help of some informative articles, I armed myself with a roll of rubbish bags, some great upbeat music and a very thick skin. […]

Mar 31
5 Non-Chocolate Easter Gifts

Easter Traditions Every family has their own holiday traditions that build and grow as their family does and Easter is absolutely no exception to this! When my siblings and I were little, the Easter Bunny came to do his rounds however, it was not just chocolate that he carried. Along with the chocolate eggs the […]

Mar 24
4 Tools To Get Rid of The Clutter

A recent article on Glam Adelaide by Hannah Pendlebury suggested that clutter in the home is the reason that many couples fight. Unfortunately, this rang a little bit too true for me! Oh-so Naive My fiancé Nick and I have been living together for nearly six years. When we first moved in together, I had […]

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Mar 18
The Non-Traditional Office Space

The work that we do at Lifestyle Elements makes for a very ‘non-traditional’ office setting! We are constantly in and out of the office and we all work from our own home office spaces, getting together to troubleshoot, brainstorm and work as team when required. I found a great article on Mind Body Green shared […]

Mar 06
The Women In My Life – Abbie

In our second post celebrating International Women’s Day on Sunday 8th March, we acknowledge the achievements that women have accomplished throughout the years and also embrace the opportunity to re-assess where gender equality still poses an issue around the world. This year’s theme is #MakeItHappen, “encouraging effective action for advancing and recognising women.” Following on […]

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Mar 05
The Women In My Life – Carly

Sunday 8th March is International Women’s Day – a day to celebrate the achievements that women have accomplished throughout the years and also to re-assess where gender equality still poses an issue around the world. This year’s theme is #MakeItHappen, “encouraging effective action for advancing and recognising women.” I have been so lucky in my […]

Feb 26
Complete Every Task in 10 Minutes or Less

I came across an article a week ago that seemed crazy to me at first. The author, Michelle L Bryant, stated that the key to success and effectively managing your time is to only ever spend 10 minutes on every task that you undertake. My first reaction was to scoff and close the browser window. […]

Dec 04
The Ultimate Teacher Gift List in Pictures

After having such a great response to our Ultimate Teacher Gift List from many teachers, as well as parents, I wanted to put together a visual list of gifts, including prices and links to purchase them. Most of the items we have selected are available in stores so you can pick them up over the […]

Dec 04
Abbie, is it really that easy?

This week I attended our South Australia Telstra Business Women’s Awards Alumni Christmas drinks. I stood talking with Kym from Tour Barossa, whom I’ve now known for a number of years. She knew what my business was. She’d seen my Christmas promotion on social media. She is a busy woman who crammed a lot into […]

Nov 24
The Ultimate Teacher Gift Guide

UPDATE: Check out The Ultimate Teacher Gift List In Pictures! I have a lot of teachers in my life. At the end of each school year they often get quite a variety of gifts from their grateful students. Many times Tim and I are the beneficiaries of a selection of chocolates at his parents house […]

Sep 23
Book Review – On Becoming Fearless by Arianna Huffington

Arianna Huffington released her book ‘Thrive‘ earlier in the year. When I went on maternity leave, I wanted some books to read whilst I waited for baby number two to arrive, so I jumped online and searched for Arianna Huffington. I was pleased and surprised that Arianna has written numerous books. I had a bit […]

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Sep 09
3 Reasons Work Life Balance Isn’t The Answer

  “Work-life balance is a flawed concept. I don’t know a single successful person who feels like they have mastered the equation. Yet the myth of the perfectly balanced life haunts us.” Lisa Earle McLeod, Huffington Post   1. Work and life aren’t separate: No matter how hard we try, we can’t separate our work […]

Sep 02
3 Tips To Start Outsourcing

  Emma Isaacs, CEO of Business Chicks, is a huge fan of outsourcing. She says “I don’t understand why people wouldn’t outsource as much as they could – there’s no benefit in being a martyr. Even if it means losing out financially, what you gain – time with family – is worth much more.” I […]

Feb 19
Success On Your Own Terms

[vc_column_text pb_margin_bottom=”no” pb_border_bottom=”no” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] [/vc_column_text] [vc_column_text pb_margin_bottom=”no” pb_border_bottom=”no” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] Christine M. Riordan recently ended her article ‘Work Life Balance Isn’t The Point‘, with the quote I’ve included above. I was immediately struck. In those 30 succinct words, Anna Quindlen is able to express exactly what I was trying to say in […]

Feb 12
The Identity of Busy

[vc_column_text pb_margin_bottom=”no” pb_border_bottom=”no” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] [/vc_column_text] [vc_column_text pb_margin_bottom=”no” pb_border_bottom=”no” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] “So, how have you been?” “Flat out!” I know I do it. I’m sure you’ve found yourself doing it too, at least once in a while. When someone asks you how you are, you’re almost bursting to tell them how busy you […]

Feb 05
Time Management Doesn’t Come Naturally to Beyonce Either

[vc_column_text pb_margin_bottom=”no” pb_border_bottom=”no” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] Pssst….you can buy this mug here. [/vc_column_text] [vc_column_text pb_margin_bottom=”no” pb_border_bottom=”no” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] Recently there has been a quote floating around the internet which says “You have the same amount of hours in the day as Beyonce.” Now, there are always cynical people out there who like to comment […]

May 14
Be Bleakly Realistic About How Much Of Your Own Time Your Control (Guest Blog)

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 […]

May 08
Do you need dyslexia to delegate?

This morning I was at a Business Chicks breakfast with the amazing Sir Richard Branson. He regaled us with stories of getting a “bloody bum” when jumping off a roof in Las Vegas, and how the movie The Hangover is almost certainly based on a night he partied after the Melbourne Grand Prix! One line […]

Feb 14
Balance Beam #21 – PLUM

Welcome to our first ‘Balance Beam’ work life balance profile for 2013! This post is brought to you by Eugenie Pepper from PLUM. 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 […]

Jan 23
4 Fun Activities Without Hitting The Gym – Guest Blog

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, […]

Jan 21
8 Techie Tips to Staying Organised at Work – Guest Blog

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 […]

Jan 16
Top 5 Posts of 2012

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 […]

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Dec 06
10 Christmas Gift Ideas Under $25

We’re in December, and it’s the time when present shopping urgency starts to ramp up! 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! [hr] […]

Nov 06
10 Christmas Gifts for the Ladies

Buying gifts for the women in your life is either the easiest thing (most women think so!) or the hardest thing (I’m sure the men would agree) to buy at Christmas.  Today I want to offer you some ideas and inspiration – plus I will be directing you to some wonderful websites with many other […]

Oct 24
10 Christmas Gifts for Toddlers

With Christmas rapidly approaching (yes as of the date of publication there are only 61 days to go!) we are focusing on making Christmas as convenient and streamlined as possible. 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 […]

Oct 23
What I Would Have Said

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 […]

Oct 08
3 Retention Secrets for a High Performance Environment – Guest Blog

High performance environments are stressful workplaces, to say the least. When results are king, mediocrity is disdained and failure intolerable. Some employees burn out in the struggle to consistently meet the high expectations typical of these environments. Meanwhile, the individuals who thrive in these environments have intense ambition–and are always on the lookout for greener […]

Oct 02
Top 5 Mobile Apps for Small Business – Guest Blog

Apps have become a huge part of my business.  I use all sorts of apps for various aspects of my daily routine and I’m not sure I could survive without them.  I am able to have apps on various mobile devices and even on my desktop and they all save me time and allow me to work […]

Sep 10
Creating A Healthy Workplace – Guest Blog

In the workplace, a total of 3.2 days per worker are lost each year through workplace stress*, so it’s important that business leaders are mindful of work/life balance for the optimum mental wellbeing of their employees, and the creation of a healthy workplace. Mental wellbeing in the workplace continues to be a major issue for […]

Sep 05
6 Tips To Keep Your Star Performers Happy & Motivated – Guest Blog

You work hard to find your best employees, so don’t let them get away! Use these tips to keep your star performers happy and motivated. Jane was a successful senior executive working for a large insurance company. She was the person that you wanted to have when things did not go well. Everybody loved her […]

Sep 03
Lawyer Turned Author Finally Finds Balance – Guest Blog

Many of us have a love-hate relationship with work. It defines us, it gives purpose. Without it we are in trouble; and yet it can be so difficult to control. As a barrister in the North-east of England for fifteen years I thrived on the adrenaline, the camaraderie, the clients and – yes, okay – […]

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Aug 22
Work / Life Balance? – Guest Blog

Is there really such a thing as work/life balance? I don’t know. What I do know is that a balance is usually between two things that are quite different to each other. Some would have it that it’s a balance between opposites. If that was the case, then we should rename work/life balance the death/life […]

Aug 01
So, You Think You Are Too Busy – Guest Blog

Perhaps you’ve heard this story. Imagine you’re sitting in a class. It’s one of those big classrooms, with tiered seating, able to accommodate hundreds of students. The class is assembled in eager expectation; what will the professor do today? At exactly 8 o’clock, he strides in and without acknowledging the classes’ presence, reaches under the lectern and produces a […]

Jul 30
Is Stress Making Us Stupid? – Guest Blog

While researching my personal effectiveness program, and looking at the issues that make it hard for us to manage our time, I stumbled across a fairly lengthy – but very intriguing – research report about how stress impacts our ability to think and act. Sustained stress can have a lasting, dulling effect on our intellect […]

Jul 26
10 Tips To Do More In Less Time – Guest Blog

How to play with time, and make time work for us! There are only 24 hours in any given day for everyone. It is how we choose to use those hours, which draws the line between the procrastinators and those who manage their time wisely.  Instead of stressing yourself out, there are some simple ways […]

Jul 23
How To Drop Out – For Just A While – Guest Blog

Over a coffee recently, a group of my friends was discussing a new “what the heck am I doing?” trend emerging among our cohort of working parents. The topic was sparked by one super busy-professional-mother-of-young-children friend who was continually interrupted by her not-so-subtle vibrating iPhone. Did I mention that she, like the rest of us […]

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Jul 18
Dealing with Anxiety – 6 Tips from an Anxiety Survivor – Guest Blog Post

Anxiety in its many forms is very common in today’s society and it can become extremely debilitating. I suffered from anxiety after the birth of my daughter but have managed to control it to the point where it only impacts upon me in a very minor way. I achieved this by taking the following steps: […]

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Jul 12
On Having It All – Part 2

Following on from ‘On Having It All – Part 1’, Abbie discusses some ideas for the future of work life balance and how we can move this debate forward. [hr] Anne-Marie Slaughter’s article ‘Why Women Still Can’t Have It All’, has certainly stirred a now bubbling work life balance pot. From her perspective “the women who have managed […]

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Jul 11
On Having It All – Part 1

I was thrilled to be featured in the Sunday Mail article ‘Work. Life, Family And All That’, written by Genevieve Meegan (along with a gorgeous photo of myself and my daughter Harper, left). I was in very good company, sharing the page with Gale Edwards, Christine Zeitz, Suzy Reintals, Natasha Scott-Despoja and Antoinette Jones. The article […]

Jul 10
Wisdom From Gwyneth

  A beautiful quote which we can all take to heart. From Gwyneth’s interview with Harper’s Bazaar. You can also visit Gwyneth Paltrow’s website www.goop.com

Jul 09
Technology To Save Time In Your Business – Guest Blog

Work related employee expenses are almost unavoidable in terms of running a business better, the act of keeping on top of piles of crumpled receipts, reimbursing, tracking and approving employee spending is a complicated and time-consuming task. We know it’s complicated and we like to make being an employer easy, so we made it easy […]

Jul 06
Top 5 Tips for Feeling Good About Yourself – Guest Blog

Let’s get honest here, most of us treat our family and friends better than we do ourselves and many of us spend most of our day beating ourselves up with a big stick and flood our minds with negative thoughts about how we feel not good enough or feel we ‘ should have’ done better. […]

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Jul 04
How to do more by doing less – Guest Blog

Wouldn’t that be great? Here are some of my favourite tips to maximise your time for best results (so that you have more time to enjoy doing the things you love!)  1. Delegate more. No matter how multi-skilled and efficient you know yourself to be, there are some things that you’re doing that someone else around […]

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Jun 27
Why I Love Online Shopping

Ok, so that title makes me sound a little bit like a shopping addict, which I’m not. I don’t shop all that much online but when I do I love it! Why do I love online shopping? It goes hand in hand which what I love about being a personal concierge – saving time! Online […]

Jun 22
What’s Manipulating Your Life?

For my birthday Tim treated us to dinner and a night at the movies. We decided to go and see The Hunger Games, even though I had really wanted to read the book by Suzanne Collins beforehand – it’s just a general life policy I have to try to read the book before the film! However, this wasn’t […]

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Jun 20
Balance Beam #20 – Rachael Bermingham Books

Welcome to our latest ‘Balance Beam’ work life balance profile, brought to you by Rachael Bermingham from Rachael Bermingham Books. Often we are so caught up in our busy lives we don’t take a step back to see what is going well and how we might improve. Our Balance Beam profiles aim is to inspire you to […]

Jun 13
Spoil your staff …. A lesson in reward & recognition – Guest Blog

When one of my Consultants left after 7 years I was excited for her. She was taking a big leap of faith and pursuing one of her life long dreams of becoming a paramedic. It was at her farewell when it hit me how important it is to reward staff on a random, yet regular […]

May 30
Balance Beam #19 – iBare Giftware

Welcome to our latest ‘Balance Beam’ work life balance profile, brought to you by Magda D’Abaco from iBare Giftware in Victoria. We have had such great feedback to our ‘Balance Beam’ posts. It is wonderful to have an insight into what other organisation’s are doing and be inspired to think more about what we can do. Do you […]

May 29
Lessons Learned From My Mother About Being A Daughter – Guest Blog

My grandmother’s wisdom has taught me many things. Her sayings will be with me forever. “Your family is the most important relationship in your life” “If you make one good friend in your life, you’ve done well.” Both have held true, and I live by them. But there is another that she has said more […]

May 23
Balance Beam #18 – Galafrey Wines

Welcome to our latest ‘Balance Beam’ work life balance profile, brought to you by Kim Tyrer from Galafrey Wines in Western Australia. We have had such great feedback to our ‘Balance Beam’ posts. It is wonderful to have an insight into what other organisation’s are doing and be inspired to think more about what we […]

May 17
Make Time For Your Teeth – Guest Blog

If you’re a busy mum, or anyone, you might think it’s impossible to take care of your teeth, between the kids, work, and school, when do you have time for proper dental hygiene? You brush your teeth in the morning, but that’s about it. Fortunately, there are ways for you to take advantage of your […]

May 16
Balance Beam #17 – Wealth By Design

Welcome to our latest ‘Balance Beam’ work life balance profile, brought to you by Christie Rigg from Wealth By Design. We have had such great feedback to our ‘Balance Beam’ posts. It is wonderful to have an insight into what other organisation’s are doing and be inspired to think more about what we can do. Do you […]

May 11
Today Show’s Lisa Wilkinson on Work Life Balance

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the Crows Foundation Ladies Luncheon. The room was full of energetic, happy, generous women; it was a wonderful afternoon. The lunch was chock full of action, including an auction, a Liza Emanuele fashion parade, and a silent auction (which we were proud to contribute to). The highlight for me however, was […]

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May 04
5 Productivity Tools I Actually Use

I sit at my desk, iPad to my left, laptop in front of me, and a large monitor to my right. My iPhone is also at the ready, next to my physical notebook. Yes, I’m a bit of a gadget geek. I love testing out new software, having the latest Microsoft Office suite or trying […]

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May 02
What Mum Really Wants For Mother’s Day

Last year was my first Mother’s Day. I wasn’t sure what to expect. I think I was just looking forward to breakfast in bed or some chocolates or a nice lunch out (incidentally I was given a great book by Adelaide author Jane Paech, A Family in Paris). I got something even better. What I felt […]

Apr 18
What Time Is On Time? Guest Blog

As the guest blogger for Lifestyle Elements today I wanted to touch on time management with an etiquette spin and under this umbrella there is one of the most commonly asked questions I get: What time is on time to arrive for a meeting? There is a saying I love “On time is late” and […]

Apr 16
The Modern Woman – Guest Blog

I’m always interested when I hear women talking about how little time they have for the everyday things … especially themselves! Of course, I come from an era when women always had time! Although I do remember my mother rushing around to organise the house for when my father got home; she used to go […]

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Apr 13
Crazy Life Goals

We all have them. Or, if we don’t, we should get busy getting some. Yes, those crazy life goals where, on the one hand, you don’t believe will ever come true, and on the other hand, secretly can’t wait for! Yes, you know, those goals. I have them. Do you? My first goal is to […]

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Apr 10
Top 5 Healthy Dishes for Busy People – Guest Blog

I don’t know about you, but after a busy day, I just don’t have the energy to spend a few more hours preparing dinner. Today we’re all so frantic dashing between family, work, keeping up with our blogs and social media profiles, and trying to keep fit and healthy, that cooking tends to take a […]

Apr 05
Dear Sixteen Year Old Abbie

This post is inspired by Lana’s blog Dear sixteen-year-old me at Mamamia which features the book ‘Dear Me: More letters to my Sixteen year old self’. Dear Sixteen Year Old Abbie, I know you worry, a lot (“that’s an understatement”, I hear you say).  I just want to say that worrying is a real waste of time. The […]

Apr 04
A Great Relationship Is Like A Great Pair of Shoes – Guest Blog

How so you ask? Let me explain.  Now I know the girls will get this straight away, but guys, this can relate to you as well. Shoes come in so many different shapes, sizes, colours, and designs. They can be pointy, wide, long, or short, high-heeled or flat, boots or shoes, etc. Some will look […]

Mar 30
5 Great Road Trips Between Adelaide & Melbourne – Guest Blog

1. Adelaide to Naracoorte Adelaide to Keith Keith to Padthaway Padthaway to Naracoorte Adelaide is full of tours and picture perfect scenerywhere memories are made.  You can visit the Adelaide Central Market, which is open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. This market is the largest produce market in the Southern Hemisphere. This wonder is sure to take […]

Mar 29
Setting Time Boundaries

I recently read a great post and video blog, ‘Why Setting Boundaries Is Key On The Road To Job Happiness’  by Jenn Korducki Krenn of the website Dream Champs. It immediately resonated with me and reminded me of my earlier working life. How many of you have experienced the situation of sitting at your desk until 6, […]