Study Tips for Parents (Sponsored)

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Thanks to Careers Australia for sponsoring this post.
Words and opinions are my own.

Parenthood has a profound effect on every part of our lives. Including our careers. Sometimes we choose to close doors when we become mothers. Sometimes the doors are closed for us.  But I also believe windows of opportunity open.

study tips for parents

The average person will have a number of different careers within their lifetime. There are natural stages in life when we seek a different direction because priorities and perspectives change. And often that change in direction will necessitate new learning. Early parenthood is certainly one of those times. Many mothers choose to study whilst their children are small.

But how do you do it?

How do you manage a household, look after your kids, potentially hold down a job AND study? It is a very different looking set of challenges to what you may have faced fresh faced out of high-school, in your first year of univeristy.  Read more…

Turning a flight into a luxury mini-break: My top travel tips

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Turning a flight into a luxury mini-break

This post was written as an entry to the ProBlogger Virgin Australia competition.

I love flying. For me, the allure of plane travel has never waned. Airports themselves still fascinate me. The bustle of people. The palpable emotions. The excitement of either returning home or discovering somewhere new. I still get a thrill when the plane leaves the tarmac. So, when an opportunity came up to fly to Melbourne and back for the day, sans family, I was as excited about the plane flights as I was the event itself.  Read more…

Make your wardrobe work and play with Philosophy Fashion

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Making your wardrobe

Philosophy Fashion Australia generously gifted the clothing in this post.

When I worked full-time in a conservative office my clothing choices seemed easier.  A pencil skirt or tailored pant, a button-down shirt, killer heels and discrete jewellery. My weekend wardrobe was relaxed and casual. My party pieces were fun, short and generally bejewelled. Needless to say, these three separate wardrobes seldom hung out together. My different identities were neatly compartmentalised and so was my closet.

After having children, those identities became muddled. A different lifestyle (less party, more park), working from home (less pencil skirts, more PJ pants), children (less ironing, more stain tolerance) and suddenly my wardrobe needed to behave differently. I don’t have three separate wardrobes anymore. Closet space is at a premium and every piece of clothing taking up room needs to pay rent. I want pieces that I can wear in different ways for different occasions.  And I love it when brands understand that. One such brand is Philosophy Fashion Australia.  Read more…

Making smarter food choices – it’s not so hard after all

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Making healthier choices

As a twenty-something year old I was a poster girl for good health. I didn’t smoke. I didn’t dabble in drugs. I drank, but the total number of benders could be counted on one hand. I had the disposable income and time to spend on yoga and Pilates. My vegetarian lifestyle  meant my diet was full of fruit and vegetables. I was pretty lousy with sunscreen application, but all in all, my vaguely boring lifestyle made for good health.

As a thirty-something mother, my poster girl status is looking a bit tired and tattered. Bit like me really. I still don’t smoke, do drugs or drink in excess but I don’t think I can claim any brownie points. My exercise is now limited to chasing after my children, although I do try to squeeze in some classes. My now pescetarian lifestyle has left me pasta-rich and iron-poor. The yearly dental, optical and doctor check-ups often slide. My three meals a day tend to consist of my childrens’ left overs and the thought of making another sandwich for lunch leaves me a little ill. And through all this I am acutely aware that I need to lay solid foundations for healthy living for my sons.  Read more…