Monday, November 28, 2011

On My Bookshelf: Daddy Long Legs





Title: Daddy Long Legs
Author: Jean Webster
Genre: Fiction

This was my favourite book as a young girl. I reread it a couple of years ago and still loved it. It is about a young woman who is an orphan and has a mysterious benefactor. The book covers a lot of humourous correspondence between her and this gentleman. It is full of hope and fun and growing up. I can't believe it was written in 1912 and I've just discovered there was a sequel and movies made! It is available as a free book now as it is out of copyright. Enjoy!

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Week in Review 19 - 25 Nov: Working Lessons Hmmm


Well my dears, I have (temporarily) returned to the world of the office. To earn some extra funds towards the end of the year I've taken on a casual admin job. I've been there since Wednesday and it was only supposed to be for a week and a half. They've asked if I can extend to mid December and I have accepted.
This process has already taught me a few things. The main one being that I have already shifted my mindset from that of an employee to that of an Entrepreneur. It has been quite difficult to not be in control of my time and organising my own priorities. But I know this is only a short term thing so I have taken a deep breath.

The people are lovely and I am being very efficient in my tasks. So I feel productive and that I am contributing to the end result. It has also been nice to receive praise on the job I am doing (that is something that doesn't happen so often when you work for yourself!). So while I'm there I am doing what I can for them, in the best way I know how. 

But I have to admit I'm looking forward to being my own boss again!

Here is my week in review:

Went to World Toilet Day party where we had a fun time and $914 was raised towards sanitation in developing countries. Unfortunately we didn't stay long enough to pay the $1 to use the toilet...
Completed T Harv Eker's Millionaire Mind Intensive course
Installed Zander's new doggie door
Miss C came over for an impromptu catch up
Received email from Mum that she fell over while visiting Macchu Picchu and has a fracture in her leg (she's ok!)
Wrote insurance post for 10thousandgirl
Started a casual temp work position in an office (gasp!)
Accepted extension of said position...
Took minutes for a meeting...Not my strongest skill
Had a date night with The Man
Cancelled a Vodaphone mobile broadband account I wasn't using
Minimised my iPad data account to only what I use
Browsed a bookshop to gauage ideas
Committed publically to writing two books (more to come)
Attended fun Christmas party at a Greek restaurant (smashing plates and all!)
Celebrated my Aunt's last night in Sydney with an Indian feast

How about you? What did you attempt, complete, attend to this week?

Make it as you wish SSSs,
Arienne xo

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

10thousandgirl Post: A young woman's journey through insurance

Life Insurance Young Women 10thousandgirl

Hi All, here is another post I've written for the 10thousandgirl Campaign. Enjoy!

I am on my insurance journey. Not quite the same as an ‘Eat Pray Love’ sojourn but enlightening nonetheless. It is something I never really paid much attention to besides the compulsory insurances that come along with having a car or traveling to far off places but I feel now is the time to find out more about what I don’t even know.

Insurance is a topic that can get lost in our priorities due its daunting and seemingly boring nature. Normally an upbeat and optimistic individual, I’m learning that I need to be proactively responsible for my life and my interests (and the interest of those close to me) and look at the potential risks that can happen in unforeseen circumstance. Have you thought about the consequences to your future and your significant ones if something (not so nice) happened to you?

Insurance is an empowering thing to have. You are proactively looking after yourself, your family and your interests in the midst of uncertain futures. We can do as much as we can to build bright prospects and put action plans in place but sometimes life happens and we need to have a safety net in place. Insurance is like having those extra rolls of toilet paper you didn’t need at the time but have now come in handy in an emergency – it makes an uncomfortable situation more manageable.

We are working towards everything working out fine, but protecting ourselves as much as possible against events that are probably out of our control is a responsible thing to do. Mitigate your risk. You don’t plan to have an accident that puts your back out for 6 months. You don’t plan for an illness that may come in and knock the energy out of you.  If something happened to you would your partner, children and family be able to cope financially with debts or other obligations you have? Hopefully these things never happen. But if they do, having the right insurances in place can be life changing and give a better quality of life for you and those impacted.

TYPES OF INSURANCE
There are two broad areas of insurance that you should consider: General and Life.

General insurances are the ones you are probably most familiar with and have had or used to some extent. They include car, health, home & contents and travel insurance.

Life insurances on the other hand you may be less familiar with.  They have to do with policies that come into effect with death, illness, disability or temporary injury. Someone once told me that as young people, our biggest asset is our potential to earn money over our lifetime. As this is the case with most of us, shouldn’t we do something to protect that potential? That’s where different types of life insurance come into play:

  • Life Cover (also known as life insurance or death cover): pays a set amount of money to the policy’s beneficiaries when the insured person dies.
  • Total and permanent disability (TPD) insurance: covers the cost of rehabilitation, debt repayments and the future cost of living if you are totally and permanently disabled.
  • Trauma Insurance (also known as critical illness or recovery cover: provides cover if you’re diagnosed with a specified illness or injury that will make a significant impact on a person’s life (such as cancer or a stroke).
  • Income Protection: replaces income lost through your inability to work due to injury or sickness.
Everyone’s needs are different and you need to determine what is right for you. None of these may be applicable at your stage in life. Maybe it would be wise to have them all. Do your research, talk to others and seek advice from a financial planner if you need help.

One of the reasons I’ve started looking at these things is that I share a mortgage with my sister. If something happened to me that I couldn’t pay my half, I wouldn’t like to put her in the position of being responsible for the full amount. If you have financial obligations or debts it would be wise to investigate your insurance options.

Another instance would be if you have dependents. If you have children or others that are dependent on your income for their needs (housing, care, food, education etc) would they be looked after if you weren’t able to provide for them?

With all insurances, you need to take the time to analyse what your needs are, understand the types of insurance available and if they are applicable to you and compare different policies. If you find your situation complicated or you are not sure what you really need, it may be a good time to visit a financial planner or talk to some expert about your circumstances.

Do some research and find out a bit more. Start with sites such as www.moneysmart.gov.au or www.mozo.com.au for overviews, tips and comparisons.

Insurance tips (with help from www.moneysmart.gov.au )
  • Shop around. Get quotes from different insurers and compare what they offer. Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions.
  • Choose carefully. Write a list of the things you need (i.e. what you want covered) and pick the policy that meets your needs.
  • Renew your insurance. Do this when your old policy expires or as your circumstances change.
  • Work out how much you need. Do this when you start or renew your policy, so that you don't find yourself significantly underinsured. Insurance company websites have tools to help you work this out.
  • Check exclusions. Always ask what is and isn't covered by your policy. Learn these lessons from what other people have experienced (Queensland floods…)
  • Check the costs. You will pay a regular fee, known as a 'premium', for your cover. And when you make a claim your payout will be reduced by an amount, known as the 'excess'. Don't sign on the dotted line until you know all the costs.
  • Be honest with your insurer. Tell it like it is because your 'duty of disclosure' means you must tell the truth when you apply. If you leave details out, any future claim may be denied.
Where to go to get insurance?
You can buy insurance directly from an insurance company, through an insurance broker, through your superfund or a financial planner. There are pros and cons of buying insurance through your Superannuation fund and you may already have some form of insurance through them. See more about this here.

When should I review my insurance requirements?
You should do this once a year or when your circumstances change (ie marriage, having children, getting a mortgage).

So that is personal life insurance in a nutshell…Do take some time to investigate your options and requirements. Talk to your spouse, your family, your friends and/or a financial planner and see what you may need to have in place. It could make a big difference to you. I hope you never need to make a claim, but if you do, be thankful that you thought ahead.

Make great things happen. Live well. Live big. Live bold!
Arienne

Arienne Gorlach is 10thousandgirl’s content manager. She has some insurance. She used a financial planner she thinks is quite cool. Arienne writes regularly on her own blog Savvy Sassy She.

Monday, November 21, 2011

On My Bookshelf: The Success Principles






Title: The Success Principles: How to get from where you are to where you want to be
Author: Jack Canfield
Website: http://www.thesuccessprinciples.com

Genre: Non-fiction: Success

Jack Canfield is well known for co-creating the series of 'Chickensoup for the Soul' books. He is well worth a read in this book covering 64 Success Principles under the areas of The Fundamentals of Success, Transform Yourself for Success, Build Your Success Team, Create Successful Relationships, Success and Money and Success Starts Now

It is inspiring, motivating and shares some real, tangible activities, mindsets and techniques to become a bigger dreamer, action taker and successful in whatever way you want to be.

It is a gem that you can refer back to time and time again as well as worth a reread on a regular basis to pick up new nuggets of wisdom or to apply to a particular situation.

Week in Review: 12 - 18 Nov Workshops and Reconnections


Doggie Date with Zander's best friend Oscar the miniature Schnauzer :)
Ran my first solo workshop in Geelong 10thousandgirl Workshop
Had great coffee at Mr Hyde
Created photo wall
Caught up with friend from Theta healing course I did
Lunch with old Uni work friend
Saw author Susan Duncan speak about her life and work at Balmain Library
Caught up with lovely Melbourne couple and discovered the awesome Shady Pines Saloon in Darlinghurst
Booked tickets for Dad and I to Mary Poppins in Sydney
Accepted 1.5 weeks of casual admin work to line my pockets with
Did the first day (of 3) at T Harv Eker's Millionaire Mind Intensive - take what you need and leave the rest
Caught up with friends visiting from London and people we've not seen for ages!
Wrote post for 10thousandgirl about letter writing :)

How was your week SSSs?
Arienne xo 

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

The London Wrap - Part 1


Spending almost a month in London was A-MAY-ZING! I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to spend this extended amount of time in such an interesting place and to have happy sister time with my two little sissies Liane and Tatiane.

Here are a few of the highlights of the trip:

THE TUBE: What a fabulous way to get around! I love the easiness of the transport in London. Yes it can be crowded and people are rude and it is occasionally weirdly, tropically hot on some trains and you get this slightly gross warm wind tunnels in some of the stations, BUT, you can get anywhere so easily. And you only have to wait 3 minutes if you miss one. Transport Website

Turnham Green was our station as Liane lives in Chiswick.

BOROUGH MARKETS : A gourmet food market full of fresh and super appealing produce. We bought fresh fish, pickled garlic, huge artichokes, cheese and created a feast that evening. Borough Markets Website

 

PORTOBELLO MARKETS: Portobello markets is definitely one of the places to go if you're into your vintage threads. It is also home to that place from Notting Hill and has a delicious Hummingbird Bakery! Portobello Markets Website
 Tatski is a big fan of artist Banksy so was chuffed to spot an original!



BRICK LANE: Brick Lane is an area well known for its curries and drinking holes. Unfortunately while going there twice we just shopped, ate one of their famous salt beef bagels, visited Rough Trade Records, and the Renegade Craft Fair while soaking up the sights.




CAMDEN MARKETS: These are huge! And hectic but fun if you can get through the crowds. Great souvenirs, clothes and lots of novelty experiences - we had liquid nitrogen ice cream from Chin Chin while sitting on their swings - Yum! Market Website




PRIMROSE HILL: We had a great walk back from Camden to Maida Vale through places like Primrose Hill - a great vantage point to view London from.

ABBEY ROAD: We also briefly passed over the zebra crossing made famous by the Beatles. We didn't stay too long as there was a huge crowd trying to get the perfect shot individually while I felt sorry for the cars trying to get through the area!


Part two will be up soon - we did a lot in Ol' Blighty!



Monday, November 14, 2011

My Picture Wall


It had been in my mind and in the works for months. I was just waiting for the time and inspiration to hit. Well that motivation came out of the blue on a Sunday evening!

I have some very neglected, boring walls at home. Ones that I have felt guilty about leaving empty.

Part of it was that I couldn't decide what to commit to hanging there - so I made the choice of not making a choice.

The other part was that I felt I didn't have the time to spend on beautifying my surroundings (though I know it is something that gives me pleasure). Other things tugging at me were more important - and so that wall remained empty for years...

After a while I decided to change my perspective. I thought that doing something on this blank wall was better than doing nothing. Every time I was looking in that direction (which is often because it is right next to my work desk and the kitchen/dining area) that guilt effected me - this decision to not do anything was actually costing me a lot of energy.

So I decided to create a picture wall. I put some time aside to choose photos to put up. I changed them all to black and white. I went to get them printed out. I started a collection of different frames.

And then they sat in the cupboard...

Why was I resisting?

Then I noticed a pattern. I often don't do some of these smaller household tasks because I feel I will make the wrong decision so I ultimately don't do anything (and maybe this pattern was even invading other aspects of my life...?). I reflected on this and made an empowering choice. I didn't need to commit to one thing forever. I could always change it if it wasn't 'right' or didn't turn out especially good. I just needed to do something!

And so I have! And I am so happy :)

This was the boring, energy draining wall before

 I started to put the pics in frames.

I came up with a rough layout on the table.


 Then started hanging them with those removable hooks

 This is the less boring wall!

 Ignore the mess around it!

So now this wall gives me pleasure. It makes the room feel more 'homely'. It is energising. I can see pics of my loved ones. It looks pretty! And I know that my creativity built it.

What are you putting off that is a subtle but constant energy drain? Make a decision, take some action and plug that leak! You will feel better for it.

Make it as you wish SSSs!
Arienne xo

 

On My Bookshelf: Hip Tranquil Chick


Title: Hip Tranquil Chick
Author: Kimberly Wilson
Website: http://www.kimberlywilson.com/books.html

Genre: Non-Fiction

Another one of my favourites! Kimberly Wilson is one of my top mentors from afar. She speaks about life and yoga in a really fun and approachable way. Her blog is one that I refer to on almost a daily basis.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Week in Review: 5 - 11 Nov Sydney Sights and Delights

The Sissies in Bath
 
Had a doggie date and Zander met his new girlfriend
Girlie and family catch up at the dog-friendly London pub in Balmain
Went over to fab friends new place
Had final formal Steering Committee meeting - great last module in the Personal Finance Program previewed!
3x hot yoga - feel great
Went into the 10thousandgirl premises and was an office girl again for a day
Friend bonding time over coffee
Renewed the SSS domain (website to come in a few months!)
Sipped cups of tea from my London souvenir teapot
Phone reconnects
Had a fresh vegie and fruit juice everyday
Caught up with Sisters on the Phone after our London extravaganza
What did your week look like?

Make it as you wish SSSs!
Arienne xo

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Arienne Loves...TiLT #8

What am I grateful for today?
<3 Kisses <3 Hot yoga <3 the phone to catch up with friends <3 Doggie dates <3 Crafty People <3 We Heart It (where I source a lot of my images from <3 Scented candles (currently burning Coconut Lime from Ma Butter) <3 Mind over matter <3 My puppy <3 Skype <3 A clean courtyard <3 Gala Darling <3 Coloured pens <3 My organiser <3 '21 days to change a habit' pad from Kikki-K <3 Parking spaces <3 Kisses <3

What are you grateful for SSSs?

Make it as you wish!
Arienne xo 
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