F.E.A.R

I decided that I needed to do a vlog. Me, sitting in front of a camera, talking.

Whoa.

HUGE deal. Deep breaths, slow the heart rate. Scary. 

Once I decided that I was going to go ahead with this ludicrous idea....I needed something to talk about.  Hmm what better than fear? Given that I was (and still am a little bit!) shit-scared of posting a video of myself I though that it was fitting. 

So here it is.

I talk about fear, and ways to overcome it. I hope you enjoy it. I actually had fun creating it and to post it is a massive accomplishment for me, so high five to myself for going ahead and confronting what I'm afraid of. 

Keep smiling.

xx

Kicking Goals

So it's been a massive week around here.

I sent out my first newsletter and got amazing responses for it. It was overwhelming, because part of me was like, what do I have to write, but I did and I am so glad.

It was a massive ticking of the box for me - because when I started this blog one of the things that I wanted to achieve was to send out a newsletter to followers on a regular basis. And it's happening. And people have signed up and read it. And they liked it. Yay.

If you haven't signed up yet - get to it! The link is on the right - and you'll get some love straight from me to you! Well via your inbox technically, but you're catching what I'm throwing.

I have reached 158 followers on Facebook too - which is huge-mungus. So stoked, it makes you get that warm fuzzy feeling inside that people get what you are saying and feel the same. It's a ripper feeling. Thanks to you!

Coming in the future::

A BIG goal of mine is to write an ebook. At the moment it is all in draft stages, but it's in the pipeline.  So exciting for me, I cannot wait till that all happens, but I want to make sure that I am totally happy with it all before I publish so it might still be a bit of a way off....stay tuned gorgeous ones!

Also I have a goal to do a video post. I'm massively scared to do so, I tend to ramble and I sound like an 8 year old - but it's something that I think would be fantastic to connect more with you! I have NO idea how to edit a video so it might be interesting but that's the fun of it. I am not sure of what I will talk about yet, and as much as I am dreading it, I am looking forward to it too. Another box to tick!
(I have done a couple of practice run throughs talking about general stuff. And, if I'm frank, I think I need just a little more practice.)

So as you can see - boxes are being ticked, goals are set and processes are in place to make it happen.

How about you good-lookin?  Have you put down your goals and started working towards them?
DO IT! And let me know if you're comfortable to do so - I really wanna hear about it.

Keep smiling!

Spectacular Soul - Breanna of 'The Blak Line'

So begins a new little series that will (hopefully!) appear on here regularly - Spectacular Soul.
The aim is to introduce to you to a soul who is doing something amazing, rare, inspirational or is all round Spectacular!

Today's Spectacular Soul is my gorgeous friend Breanna.  I have known Bree for many years, living in Geelong and last year she decided to up and leave us for Bali. Jealous much? Also she decided to create her own business over there called The Blak Line, while working in interior design. The Blak Line is a jewellery and accessories business. Bree sources all the materials locally, using authentic beads, leather, silk and more. She has only just started and already the line is popular and growing by the day.  Inspirational hey? She has an eye for detail and trends and her stuff is super spunky! I am proud of everything she has done (especially cause she is a young-un) and to call her my friend.

I decided that Bree was the perfect person for my first Spectacular Soul interview, so she kindly obliged even though she is super dooper shy. What a legend.

Can you explain what The Blak Line is and how it came about?

I had always dreamed of living abroad. On my travels I had the opportunity to create the concept and design various retail spaces in world-renowned locations. The Blak Line products include a range of handmade leather accessories fit for every girl's wardrobe. I draw inspiration from my lifestyle in exotic places.

What made you want to start your own jewellery and accessories business?

It's something I have always been passionate about and dreamt of doing. I guess living in Indonesia was a great starting point for The Blak Line.

Why Bali?

To call paradise home is a once in a lifetime opportunity and to escape those cold winter days that we have to deal with back in Victoria is something that I don't really miss at all!!

Tell us about a typical day in the life of Bree

A day in my shoes....well normally it's just thongs...there is no such thing as time here. When the sun beams in through my window in the morning it means time to wake up, no alarms for me. Normally I would go for a run along the beach with my dog and enjoy the sea breeze before it gets too warm.  Life here isn't busy at all, if it isn't done today then there is always tomorrow. So most of my mornings I will either go off explore the streets on the way tp Denpasar to see what treasures and inspiration I can find. Getting lost is always the best part of the day!

The afternoons consist of me having to go into work for a couple of hours which is never a problem because everyone is always so happy. Everyday the staff are smiling which puts me in a good mood. It is very true that 'a smile is the perfect medicine for life'
The evenings are normally spent at the beach after work either surfing or just enjoying the final moments of sun before the day comes to an end.

What is your favourite piece in your collection?

Millie wallet - perfect size to go in your bag, but still cute to be used on its own!

What is next for The Blak Line?

There is a new style bag to add to the collection called the Agus bag. It is a great shoulder bag for everyday use. I use mine at the moment and can't put it down. It's perfect for everything - it  even fits your laptop without getting too heavy. Also the inside lining is to die for - amazing batik prints. Look out for them because Christmas isn't too far away.......

Where do you see yourself and The Blak Line in 5 years?

5 years...oh I get nervous even thinking about it! I hope to have a website up and running successfully and have my products stocked in selected boutiques. In five years time I hope to have had children, so this would be the perfect business to run while I raise them.

What's been the biggest challenge or hurdle that you have overcome so far?

The language barrier would have to be the main challenge. My leather and tailor supplier speak 10 words together in English, and at the beginning my Indonesian was not good at all. It was interesting! When I first began I would place my orders and be crossing my fingers and toes, because I would be unsure what they understood and what they didn't. After trial and a few errors we have managed to get that sorted so it's all good now!!

Why do you have A Spectacular Life?

"Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory" - Dr Seuss.
Life is too short! You never know when your life could turn upside down. Everything happens for a reason and while you may not realise it at the time, in the future it will all make sense.
I was a young girl who had a dream. Now my dream is my reality. What more could I wish for?


You can find and order products from The Blak Line on their Facebook page.
Check them out!

  

A Question to YOU!

So, I have been thinking that I want to get my message out a little more to the wonderful community that is out there! I have made some brilliant connections and am learning so much from other amazing women that I want to share the message a little more than on the blog. Of course I have Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and you can connect with me on any one of those platforms, I would love to hear from you.

I was thinking I might start a newsletter, say fortnightly? Delivered straight to your inbox.
In it might be some inspiration, information, a little story or two and if you're lucky a little joke?

However I do not want to bombard you with something you aren't going to find useful so just putting the feelers out to see if there is any interest?

Let me know in the comments below and if a few are keen as then I would LOVE to do it. And if you have something specific you would like me to include in it then please tell me!

Thanks guys!

xx

Gratefulness

Hello beautiful!

Today's post is about being GRATEFUL for what we have right at this point in time. Leave the negatives, grab the positives and run! Focusing on what we have rather than what we don't.

We are all so lucky and we need to remember once in awhile.

I sometimes forget to do this. Guilty as charged. I get so caught up in wanting more, doing more and being more that I take for granted what I already have.

So join me in relishing what we already have NOW.  To do this I decided to start a grateful list, which I am going to print out and keep it where I can see it to remind me  of all the freaking amazing things I have in my life.

My grateful list (just the start otherwise this post would be ridiculously long) :

• My gorgeous daughter and wife. Self-explanatory really. 
• My amazing family who give me nothing but support with everything and love me unconditionally.
• My friends. New and old, some I see everyday and some not as much - but ALL OF THEM have a place in my heart.  All bring beautiful things into my life, keep me focused, call me out when I need it and most importantly make me laugh. So needed. 
• My health. Sure there are things that I can improve on my body, but I am healthy. I have air in my lungs, sun on my face and I can walk wherever I choose.  
• My house. I have a roof over my head, hot water to bathe in and heating/cooling when I need it.
• Food in my belly - and lots of the good stuff!!

Oh how I could go on! Once you start they all seem to flow. It's nice to have a list like this when you feel down about something that hasn't gone your way or ended up how you thought it would, just to remind yourself that you have a SHITLOAD going for you! Everyone is human, and we tend to focus on the negatives, but let's agree to make a pact to focus on the positives. Are you with me?

What are you grateful for? Tell me! I would love to hear babe.

Keep smiling!