L'heure du The: tea time in French! From Le Style

"Dress up and feel good. Release your inner Parisian." Le Style

I absolutely love events that offer something fun and different while giving something back to others.  It's a concept which resonates beautifully with my own values and morals - a win-win for all using fun vibes to generate a positive outcome.  Add to that a touch of French allure and you have L'heure du Thé.

Well actually, L'heure du Thé is 'tea time' in French.  But this weekend it also means high tea at Sofitel Melbourne.  This will be an afternoon of French delights and entertainment, while also raising funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF). 

The soon-to-be international high tea is the brain child of travel and style mag, Le Style.  I recently caught up with Sha Anderson, Editor of Le Style and founder of L'heure du Thé, to get the low down on high tea and she has promised an amazing afternoon.

Besides getting dressed up in my Sunday best, THIS is why I'm oh-so-excited to be going, and feel very proud to be one of this year's media partners:

• Buffet-style French-menu afternoon tea  yum
• Sparkling white wine on arrival   yum part II
• Complimentary goody bag   yay!
• Manicures & hand massages   thank god someone thought of this
• Prize giveaways   I never win these things, so that's more chances for everyone else
• Entertainment   including ballet and piano performances (j'adore) 
• Raise money for charity   YES!

I should mention here too that prize sponsors are Le Petit Gateau (I believe Pierrick has been very generous) and The French Organic Company.  Fab.

If this sounds like your cup of tea, tickets are available online.  Last minute tickets have been reduced from $100 to $85 which makes it even easier to have your cake and eat it too.  Plus raise money for charity at the same time.  Win-win.


The low down on high tea:
L'heure du Thé
16th June (Sun) 1-6pm
Tea sessions: 1-3pm and 4-6pm
Sofi's Lounge Level 1
Sofitel Melbourne on Collins
Tickets: $100 $85
A percentage of ticket sales go to NBCF
Dress code: Parisian Chic (of course)

Positivity, generosity and fun!

A little thanks from a Little Miss

Little Miss Melbourne is super excited to be an official media partner of this year's L'heure du The - thank you to the wonderful team at Le Style for inviting me to be a part of this important and inspiring event.

Yours,

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo



Eat Street 2013 for Red Kite

This year's foodie fundraiser for Red Kite.


Phew - what a crazy busy time of year!  Fortunately, none of it's pointless, particularly tonight's very exciting event at the Sofitel Melbourne, Eat Street 2013.

I'm so excited about this event because it involves food, Melbourne's top chefs, signature dishes, wine, socialising - ALL FOR CHARITY!  Food doesn't feel much better than this.

This year's Eat Street will see the Sofitel transformed into a big circus top to house over 800 guests and raise funds for children's cancer charity, Red Kite.

It's kicking off at 6pm TONIGHT so keep your eyes on Twitter and Instagram for vibrant pictorials, and take some time to check out Red Kite and all the awesome work they do.

http://www.redkite.org.au/eat-street-2013

Freelancer Friday: Pizza!

Freelancer Friday is fast becoming a tradition for me (we don't get the customary office based wine-o-clock so have to invent our own...).  After a long week, myself and freelancer friend Sarah Kempson made our way to Pinocchio in South Yarra for Friday, our way.  I'd heard they offered a gluten free friendly menu and Sarah had heard that it was - quote - an "institution".  Despite all that, I'm always keen to try new pizza (who isn't?).

After a few champs at The Lyall we arrived at Pinocchio's, starving and in need of serious indulgence.  We told our waiter about our aversion to wheat and gluten and he seemed very educated about it all. 

To start we opted for the red wine braised baby octopus with Italian style chorizo sausage tossed with roasted peppers and light mint dressing ($12).  Ours came sans-chorizo as our waiter was concerned the sausage might contain gluten.  So we threw in a side of hot chips instead.  The octopus was tender, minus any chewiness, and while octopus heads do somewhat freak me out, the dressing (I would call it a sauce) was thick enough to cover the octopus well; no irkyness at all.  I can imagine it would be a fairly rich dish with the chorizo but it's not overly huge so I wouldn't see this as a problem.

Octopus - and chippies!

Prosecco and entree inhaled and it was onto the pizza and wine.  Many GF pizza bases become soggy, fall apart easily, are too sweet, or simply fail to hold an adequate amount of toppings - for all the above reasons.  As a result, GF pizza can be vastly less enjoyable than eating pizza should ever be (sacrilege).  This was not the case at Pinocchio's.  The base was crisp and firm, but not chewy, and did a good job of holding highly satisfactory amounts of said toppings (as per the images). 

We opted for the pumpkin pizza - or eloquently put, the "Zucca": Fior di latte, wood roasted butternut pumpkin, ricotta pesto pancetta vin cotto "(R $19 L $22).  I'd describe this as fresh, buttery and light.  Seeing as the GF pizza only comes in regular size, we felt it more than reasonable to order two. 

Our second pizza was the Prosciutto: San Marzano tomato, fior di latte, San Daniele Prosciutto, rocket, parmesan and balsamic (R $20 L $24) - and we added chicken.  This one had a bit more oomph with the tomato base and sharp flavours of the stronger toppings which worked perfectly together.  The two pizzas balanced each other very nicely and we ate the lot, bar two slices (which we succumbed to taking away).

As far as ambiance goes, it was a comfortably busy Friday.  We could chat without feeling like we needed to yell; a refreshing change to some of the hot spots in town.  The interior is modern and comfortable with the right amount of lighting.  Maybe that's why we stayed until close without realising we were the only ones left...
I liked the Pinocchio figures throughout the venue too, from the walls to the plates - very classic and very cute.  Character.

Whether we caught them on a very good night or whether this is standard fare from the "new" Pinocchio I've heard about, I found it a welcoming, warming space with friendly, helpful service and fresh, wholesome food. 

No word of a lie.

Enjoy - LMM xoxo

Pinocchio
152 Toorak Road, South Yarra
03 9867 2772

http://www.pinocchiopizza.com.au/southyarrahome.html
Twitter: @pinocchiorest
Facebook

All images http://instagram.com/littlemissmelbourne

Lonely Freelancer Days - and how to fix 'em

 

I have a confession to make.  Today, I felt lonely.  All of my freelancer-business-owning friends were tied up or out of the city and everyone else works full time.  On the days when you just feel like a bit of company, working for yourself can, at times, get a little bleak.

So, like any other right minded individual would do when friends can’t give you an answer, I turned to Google.  When it comes to lonely freelancer days it seems I’m not so alone after all.  There’s a stack of material and tips on what to do when you’re still in love with your business but craving companionship.

If you like the freedom and flexibility of running your own show, but more consumed by lonesome self-pity than doing your job, here’s a collection of tips to get you going again. 

I’ve only listed points which you can still do while also being productive.  Just because you’re feeling a case of the lonelies doesn’t mean you don’t have work to do…

freelanceswitch.com lists some great, practical tips – 11 to be exact.  I found most of them quite relevant – speshly the ‘express it’ one.  Here are my faves:

Microblog. Use Twitter, Plurk, Pownce, or your Facebook status and spend a few minutes sharing your thoughts, a link or whatever. Just don’t let it get too addictive.
Chat via IM. Unlike a phone call that ends as soon as you hang up, IM software allows you a permanent background connectedness to other people. If you need to ask a question or share something, it’s easy to do, get a response, and move on.
Express it. You’re a creative person. Write about it the loneliness of freelancing, draw a funny cartoon, paint “happy” colors, take an inspiring picture or come up with a logo or web design that is uplifting. Find a way to express your feelings first, then counteract that with a positive action.

Get the rest here: http://freelanceswitch.com/working/11-ways-to-banish-lonely-freelancer-syndrome/

onepageonly.net – I loved reading this highly amusing piece written by Jan – excerpts and link below.

You may be home alone, but you’re not the only freelancer out there.  Don’t just stand there in your pyjamas. Network, stupid!
Location, location, location.  …grab your phone and your laptop, find the nearest coffee place and sit on your butt on a cosy sofa, staring at other people.
Get a wife/husband.  Ok, sorry. That’s just bad advice.
Seriously though. This may sound like a trivial thing to say, but you need to remember that you are not alone.

Read the full post (I enjoyed it): http://onepageonly.net/blog/freelancers-are-not-loners-socialize-at-work/

Freelancem.ag had lots of tips, but many of them required getting away from your job which is not always practical.  They did have some good ones though:

Send an email to a friend, client, or colleague. Reach out to someone else with a friendly, newsy email. Chances are good that they’ll appreciate hearing from you.

Connect through social media. There is some evidence that staying in touch with friends through social media can help you to feel less lonely.
Be the first one to say “hello.” One of the biggest obstacles to connecting with others is the fear of the initial action. If you make the first move, others will likely reciprocate.

If you've got more time on your hands, you might like the rest: http://freelancem.ag/freelancing-basics/lonely/

My own personal remedy?  Write, write, write.  Work from a cafe with free wifi, good food and great people watching (like 1000 Pound Bend).  And get yourself a cupcake.  Immediately.

Now: time to get back to being a fabulous freelancer.

Yours,  

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo

Expect nothing but the best

Disappointment is a bitch.
Be it a relationship, friendship or online shopping gone wrong, anything failing to live up to expectation leaves us with that awful lackluster taste of discontent tinged with resentment. 

I once believed that if you don't have any expectations, particularly of people, then you won't be under threat of dissatisfaction later down the track.  “Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed”, said poet Alexander Pope.

Really though - that all sounds a little bit sad.

Why shouldn't we expect good things from people, life and the elements in it?  Expectations are based on what we feel we deserve, and often based around our values and beliefs -  perhaps even our goals.  Surely it's not being unrealistic or over the top to feel entitled to a certain level of fulfillment with our preconceived ideals. 

Of course, as is life, we don't always have control over the external factors which influence our expectations.  When you're hungry, you order something offered to you on the menu.  It's not being unrealistic to expect your meal to be satisfying, but it might end up being anything but.  So while some say that avoiding disappointment is a matter of setting realistic or lower expectations, sometimes it's not that straight forward.

Expectation gives us hope.  It may have the possibility of leading us to discontent, but it makes us believe - in people, in ourselves, in life's future possibilities. 

Maybe, in divine irony, the antidote to disappointment is to set new expectations; don't settle for anything less than you deserve and never shortchange your own values. 

Sure, people and events let us down.  We let ourselves down.  Disappointment can be a bitch - but so can life.  And when life gives us lemons, we should make lemonade - and expect it to taste fantastic. ;)

With love,
LMM xoxo

Westfield's The Festival with Jo and Colette

If you didn’t catch my post over the weekend, let me fill you in on the activities out at Westfield Southland for The Festival.  It all started last Thursday night with a launch that incorporated popcorn, champagne, a Bellabox (love) and a showing of Confessions of a Shopaholic.  Aka LMM heaven. 




It’s ironic how a movie about shopping too much, can make you want to shop even more - but it was an excellent start to four days of retail therapy. 


Lucky for us, The Festival offered prizes, giveaways, makeovers and free style workshops showcasing Autumn/Winter collections from various stores within the walls of Westfield.  Lucky for me, I headed to Westfield Southland on Sunday to co-host the Colette by Colette Hayman accessories workshop with lovely Westfield Stylist, Jo Blankfield.  Jo showed us how it’s done when it comes to colour coding, chunky accessories, necklace length, when more is more, and when more is - well, too much.

Stylist Jo Blankfield mixing it up.

Meanwhile, I had the chance to ask Jo the questions that were on everyone’s lips…can blue and green really be seen?  (Yes) Should the belt width you choose be dependent on the size of your waist?  (Yes - larger waist, use a skinner belt – and visa versa).  Can black accessories work on black evening wear?  (Yes)  Does an oversized tote work on a 5ft tall LMM?  Seemingly not.  The Colette range showed us that vibrant is in and block colours are still doing their thing.  

I had accessories, a microphone and new heels.  I was a happy lady.



The Festival might be over but you can still get fashion tips and insights with Westfield’s Style File.  I must admit, I like the Cost Per Wear calculator which I normally do in my head as I’m trying to justify the purchase of something expensive which I don’t exactly ‘need’. 

The Cost Per Wear calculator not only does the math for you, but also takes into account what investment you need to put back into purchase for maintenance such as drycleaning & repairs.  A little less biased than my inner-brain workings which simultaneously scream “JUST BUY IT, YOU KNOW YOU NEED IT!”. 

I just worked out that a $500 coat which I wear for two months of the year, keep for two years, and have dry cleaned every six months, will cost me $4.83 per wear.  I think I need a new coat.  There’s also a body shape calculator and you can book a session with a stylist if you want to get your look in check.

All in all, everything you need to get your fashionista beautiful self up to speed just in time for winter.  Fab.

Check out the Style File and see this season’s vibrant offerings from Colette by Colette.

Fashionably yours, LMM xoxo

Fashion and Fun at The Festival

Right now I'm in a (slightly erratic but highly friendly) taxi, heading for Westfield Southland to join Stylist Jo Blankfield in the wonderful world of accessories.


Jo's showing us how its done with getting our wardrobe up to date for the Autumn/Winter season - by simply updating our accessories.

She'll be using pieces by Colette by Colette Hayman in the free workshop, while I try to get a few insider tips of my own.

It's all part of Westfield's Fashion Festival; four days of Fashion, Beauty & Lifestyle.  In other words, fun!

Come down and enjoy - and look out for my post on the event later next week! LMM xoxo

A month and a food box later

Close to a month since I got back from overseas, it's also nearly a month since I received my March delivery of the AgendaSelects subscription, with a box of goodies from various suppliers, perdominantly from around Victoria.


This month's selection was the uTaste box; let me tell you that almonds have never tasted so good as when you're sleepless and hungry at 3am after returning home from Paris.  But besides jet lag, almonds and the thrill of getting surprise food delivered to your house, the box  has been handy and fun to have around for the last few weeks.

Here's a snapshot of what it came with:

Where to start?  Ok, let's go with the packet of nuts and seeds from Sami's Kitchen.  As opposed to the likes of your average salted nut mix, eating this actually made me feel quite good - the thyme, sesame seeds, almonds, kri kri and pepitas make for a yummy, healthy snack (or 3am dinner). The only thing about the packet is that it's not re-sealable so you easily make your way through the whole pack in one sitting when you might not actually need to - completely a first world problem, but there you have it.

The Farmer Jo burnt fig and cinnamon almond toasted muesli was amazing, I had it with fresh raspberries and strawbs plus a dollop of of vanilla yoghurt - heaven! So glad I only used half the pack because I was seriously full post breakfast and it meant I had more to use for tomorrow's breakfast. Tick.

With the muesli, I also tried the 'popcorn' tea - or genmaicha - from Perfect South.  This is a blend of sencha leaves with roasted brown rice which gives it a slight taste of popcorn - seriously.  It was really warming and quite comforting so it'll be great on these cooler days and as Melbourne moves into Winter.

The green can of "eff"came in handy while I was packing to move house recently. Don't be fooled by the shape of the can also used by a few hideous energy drinks, this refreshing hit is effervescent fruit juice using 99% real fruit and perked me up while I was between boxes. Impressive.

In addition to the above, the gluten free rocky road was sweet and squishy like any good rocky road should be and the chili chocolate sauce is surprisingly nice.  I don't have the biggest sweet tooth in the world, so I imagine I'll use this with a quirky dessert when I have people over for dinner.

Over the Easter long weekend I used the Ausnat dried fruit (with chocolate and yoghurt - yum) on a platter for my visiting parents and it was perfect with a few other nibbles - something sweet and different to balance the plate:

Tomorrow night I'm looking forward to making chicken curry for a few friends using the Mussaman Thai Curry sachet from No Worries Curries which will simmer for about 45 minutes...mmm!  I'll comment on the post and tell you how it tastes.

So the uTaste box lasted me a whole month and has been a life saver in some parts and an added surprise in others.  I'm looking forward to getting the next one and seeing what else I'll discover which I wouldn't normally consider.  I'm definitely hooked on the burnt fig muesli...!

Check it out for yourself.

Thanks for keeping it fresh, AgendaSelects :)

Jus Burger Lovin'

Roo Burger @ Jus on Chapel

It's no big secret that I'm a fan of the odd burger here and there.  Fortunately for little me, this wonderful city we call Melbourne has become home to a mecca of burger joints all over the city.


Always in search for gluten free goodies, my most recent burger visit took me south of the river to Prahran to check out the gluten free offerings from Jus Burgers. The service is laid back and friendly, resonant with its Perth heritage, but it's all Prahran in the vibey restaurant on Chapel (complete with fake grass).

The menu is part conservative, part creative so you can pick and choose depending what mood what you're in.  Rather than my usual fail safe cheeseburger option, I went with the Roo Burger to celebrate being back in Australia for a week, post-Paris.  The burger had subtle flavours of kangaroo rather than being too gamey, and the horseradish slaw & green chili jam balanced it very well.   

The gluten free bun was maybe a bit too chunky but I was told they're in talks with their baker to slim them down a little and reduce the amount of bread.  I never seem to eat the whole bun anyway so this was not about to perturb me from enjoying my roo.

All in all, it was pretty tasty so I'm keen to go back and live out my beloved cheeseburger tradition.  I liked the space.  It's licensed and, despite their name, they also do salads and other items.  If you're stuck at work mid week and hankering for some lunch time burger lovin' I believe Jus Burgers may even deliver.  Champions. 

Jus Burgers are at 364 Chapel Street, Melbourne 
  

www.instagram.com/littlemissmelbourne

“DATING IS DEAD”

The words were printed in large bold font, published in the Herald Sun yesterday.  An article on the current status quo of our global dating culture, the verdict: dead.  The premise of the piece was that, given our technological gadgets and the ease of communication they bring, traditional dating is about as alive and convenient as dial up internet.

Journo, Jessica Brinton, raises several suggestions.  That we no longer need dating as a way of getting to know each other.  That a text conversation can now be considered the equivalent to a date.  That your Facebook profile renders any need for actually getting to know each other in person and over time (bye bye mystery).  That we are so in love with the convenience of communicating via technology that we no longer need to make an effort with each other.  “It’s convenience romancing, made easy by modern technology”, says Brinton.  

So what does this mean for the advocates of boy meets girl “in real life”, or for the more romantic at heart among us?

I, for one, am not in a fan of online dating and while I will admit that, yes, it is a portal to an endless sea of potential matches, I am caught up with the romance of meeting organically rather than joining the online hunt.  Maybe that’s why I’m still single.  Sure, there’s part of me that screams “wake up girlfriend and get with the times!” but it just aint my cup of tea.  

Ok, so it does make life easier.  And technology certain opens the door to other possibilities previously unconsidered or inaccessible.   But isn't love meant to be worth the effort?  Isn't there supposed to be a level of intrigue that makes you want to go back for more?  Shouldn't dating be more than alive and kicking?  

I don’t believe that dating is dead.  

I do believe that traditional dating, in the long run, is actually easier than relationships developed through technology.  You know straight up whether you click (more important than reading what industry they work in) and it’s easier and faster to learn whether or not you can really spend any real time with this person.  The streets are filled with new people to meet every day - yet we still fall back on technology in the search for compatibility.

When it’s so easy to form and break connections online, without the need to even see or speak to each other, have we become as inhuman as the devices we use?  Maybe the traditional, organic dating rituals of getting to know each other through real life catch ups - instead of online or over text - could actually save us from becoming desensitised to how we behave towards and communicate with others.

When broadband internet goes down, we revert back to the safety of reliable dial up. It might seem slow - but it comes to the rescue when more modern technology fails.

L'Amour (or less) - real dating stories on film

If you're interested in the topics of dating and romantic interludes with the French, or enjoy a good laugh at someone else’s previous expense, you’ll love L’Amour (or less)... 

Lately I had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with Jennifer Geraghty for Paris Undressed with My French Life.  Jennifer is a New Yorker in Paris and the creator and producer of a new series of short web films, L'Amour (or less).  

As the name suggests, the series has more (or less) to do with love, in particular, dating.  In fact, dating in Paris, between expats and the French.  L'Amour (or less) is set to re-enact real-life stories of actual romantic interludes, filmed on location in Paris with talented actors and professional equipment.  Tres pro.  

This is going to be a fun series (their web promo below is hilarious) but they need some extra help to bring it to life.  They've turned to Kickstarter to raise at least $60,000 before the 17th of March but without hitting this goal, they don't receive any funding at all.

If you'd like to see more and you can spare a donation, L'Amour (or less) will love you forever.  Pledges start from just $5 and each level comes with its own incentive to say *thanks* for your support.   

Find L'Amour (or less) online, back them on Kickstarter, and follow them on Twitter.  They'll love you for it. 

Valentine's Day My Way

So all of a sudden it's Valentine’s Day.  Sure, as if I haven’t known that it's coming for several weeks already.  I've written about it for My French Life, I've been interviewed about it with SBS French Radio, but I must confess that this year I am single and dateless *gasp!*

I have to also admit that, in the past, I wasn't the biggest fan of Valentine’s Day.  I think largely in part due to the implied obligation, especially on the man’s part, to woo and impress on only one particular day of the year.  But my perspective around this has changed.

Despite extensively talking about Valentine’s Day over the last week or so, I’m not bothered that I’ll be date free this Valentine's Day.  Instead, I’m choosing to feel the love for all the good things that I have going on in my life, and appreciate all the people who I love surrounding myself with.

I love my friends, I love my job, I love that I’m going to Paris on Saturday, I love this wonderful city we live in and, of course, I love champagne.  The thing that I personally like about this perspective is that there's no implied obligation whatsoever - just recognition and gratitude.  And while we could practice this every day, Valentine’s Day seems the perfect reminder to reflect on all the things we do have, rather than focus on what we don't.

So, coupled up duo, or dateless singleton, enjoy Valentine’s Day in your own way.  Have fun.  Snort when you laugh.  Do whatever you want, and love it.

With LOVE!
Little Miss Melbourne xoxo

Picnic, Anyone?

Easy Picnicking In Melbourne...


This summer, I've been in love with picnicking in Melbourne.  Friends, food and fun in the sun; it's one of life's simple pleasures to lounge around for the afternoon on a highly unfashionable plaid picnic blanket.

They can take a bit of organising though, so after a particularly full on week with energy at an all time low, myself and a friend enjoyed a picnic prepared by someone else.  Melbourne independent, Bird and Plane, flew to the rescue with a pre-packed ready-to-go picnic hamper; ideal for when, like us, you don't have the time or energy to DIY - or you're looking to impress *wink*   
 
For our boxed up hamper, Bird and Plane went to the effort of accommodating a pair of gluten haters.  Our gluten free picnic box came with Just Yummy GF Herb Focaccia, Thomas Chipman GF crisps, some Love Nuts (they're cashews btw), Milawa River Gold cheese (amaze), the tastiest strawbs I've had in a long time, delicious vanilla bean fudge and some eco friendly plastic cutlery, disposable plates and wine cups.  

For $40 with delivery (in and around the CBD) we felt it was pretty good value for money.  For everyone else who doesn't have a problem with wheat, you might like The Baguette Bird, with drool worthy baguettes from Melbourne institution, Earl Canteen.

If you are looking at a picnic for romantic purposes, I think this is a nice idea.  Everyone's in a good mood, your date can protect you from AWOL footballs and a prepared hamper means the only thing you need to worry about is looking good (and not losing your keys in the park). 

For Valentine's Day, Bird and Plane have got The Valentine Bird which you can pre-order online.  You'll also find them at this year's Harvest Picnic at Hanging Rock on the 24th of February - get a pre-order discount on their Bird and Reyne Picnic Hamper then just pick it up at Harvest on the day; easy. 

As far as location goes, we have some beautiful picnic spots in Melbourne.  Only Melbourne have listed a few of them here but my personal fave is Carlton Gardens; it's close and convenient for city dwellers and I love how relaxed the park makes me feel.  Throw in a game of pink scrabble and a bottle of champs and LMM is in picnic heaven. xoxo

 Picnic lovers, share your favourite spot in Melbourne.

"TAXI!"

 Recognising good taxi vs bad taxi in Melbourne...

image source: http://www.prosper.org.au/

Of the many things I love about Melbourne, our taxis are one of them.  I love that they are all yellow.  I love that I can walk out of my apartment and not have to wait longer than 5 minutes for a cab to drive past.  I love that they are nice to you when you are nice to them.  As a city girl without wheels who is always running late, taxis (and, at times, my darling friends) are my savoir for getting around our big ole town.

Don't get me wrong - as with any service delivery, there have been moments... On my own at 3am and refused journey four times (four!) only because I was traveling to the other side of the city.  A case of a 'broken meter' so 'cash only on this ride, please'.  The old story of booking a taxi for an early flight but getting a no show in the morning.  Sure, it happens.  But many times the experience has been different - so when there's a lot of the bad, I want to recognise some of the good.

I once managed to get to a wedding in Prahran, via the city, in peak hour traffic, in 25 minutes.  The amount of times I've been reassured on the way to the airport that I'm not going to miss my flight, are too many to count.  And a driver recently gave me tips, unprompted, on how to ID and report any dodgy taxi drivers, which inspired this post.

After witnessing a mugging over the weekend and a chase that ensued by several strangers which saw the victim getting his phone back, I figure we all have to stick together.  The same goes with taxi drivers. They are just trying to a job and we are just trying to get our destination safe and on time.  Maybe the best way to help them do a good job (apart from being fabulous passengers) is reporting those who do the wrong thing and encouraging the ones who are great.

SO this is what I've picked up thus far:

• if the meter is "broken" the taxi is not considered roadworthy and thus not permitted to take passengers - get out and grab another
• drivers must always have their photo ID on show - you may want to check this before you get in
• the driver's details are always printed out on the receipt - the receipt which must be provided to you on request with all the deets of the journey
• adorable fluffy blind dogs - or 'assistance animals' - are always, always allowed.

More rights for passengers are listed on the Victorian Taxi Directorate.  You can also provide feedback on a good or bad experience on the same site, and they've got some good quick safety tips on there too.

So kudos to you, our good Melbourne taxi drivers. Thank you for getting me to my meetings on time.  Thank you for being polite even when you're having a bad day.  Thank you for always helping me with my overweight luggage, and keeping your 'office' clean and smelling fresh.  Love your work.

Yours,

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo

Got a Melbourne taxi story? Tell it!

All The Single Ladies

How I ended my 2012 as a singleton and prepared for my next romantic chapter...

2012 Was a Big One 

I'd pledged to myself that it would be a year for personal development, reflection and self awareness. I returned to Paris solo for writing inspiration, did Mindful in May and went Manically Organic, and started my own freelance writing and marketing business.

I was invited to join a panel of dating experts to discuss Melbourne’s propensity towards a hook up culture. I explored the topic of dating further on my own blog.  And I began writing a monthly column, "Paris Undressed", uncovering dating, romance and intrigue in the city of love for e-mag My French Life.

Too Much of a Good Thing

Throughout the year I needed to constantly remind myself this was a year meant for personal reflection and insight. Towards the end of a very long 12 months when I was still single and, quite frankly, all dated out I wanted to get back to me. 

I needed something to help me better understand what a year of all this dating meant about myself; my fears, my hesitations and a desire to want it all. 

Igniting My Mr Right

This something came to me through my networks and in the shape of webinar series offered by dating coach Camille Thurnherr. Over a course of six weeks, an hour a week, Camille guided a small group of us through a series using visualization, self-actualisation and affirmation to help us realise who we are, what we want and how we need to focus on getting just that. 

It seemed a small price to pay for an investment into my own happiness, development and confidence.  It was an eye opening experience which left me feeling ready and confident for new romantics in 2013.  So I wanted to share it with you.  

My favourite part of the course?  Discovering that you can have your cake, and eat it too.  Yum.

You can hear my feedback on the course in the interview below, or learn more about the course itself here.

THE NEXT WEBINAR SERIES STARTS ON THE 14TH JAN (limited places)
If you're interested in doing the 6 week course Camille is offering readers a discounted early bird price of $150 (normally $200) plus a free 30 minute 1:1 sesh with Camille after the course - just quote "LMM Love" after you've signed up online. 

Select the early bird drop down option ("8/10/12"), and you'll be good for the 14th. :)

 

Go get ‘em girls.

With love, 

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo

Dating Detox

It’s safe to say that I’ve had my fair share of dates this year.  In fact, if dating is a numbers game, I should've won the lottery by now.  


In everyone's defense, lack of continuity has simply been a mismatch of perceptions and intentions, as is the nature of dating.  I am, however, now also convinced that the universe has been playing a very cruel joke on me.

Last year I was very heavily invested in other people’s lives - mostly weddings, all beautiful, all which have my heartfelt blessings.  On Christmas night I decided that 2012 was going to be a year for me; putting myself first when there’s no harm to do so, taking better care of myself, and trying to be the very best version of me.

Too many dates?

On reflection, my new found theory is that by putting this out to the universe (like the hippy in disguise that I am) it determined what kind of romantic year I was set to have; that dating wasn’t due to be on the agenda when I’d made such a conscious commitment to myself.  Reasonably speaking, I’d like to think I’ve had a nice balance of both.  But we’re all guilty of absentmindedly overindulging in the things that aren’t always good for us at the time (like pork belly baguettes and dirty martinis at 2am on a school night).

So perhaps I’ve indulged a little more than I was supposed to this year on the dating front.  And what do we do when the excesses get too much?  We detox.  As much as I shudder at the thought, a dating detox could be just what the witch doctor ordered.  Going on my track record of doing any kind of detox, I don't like my chances of success.  But nothing ventured nothing gained so I'm giving it a shot for the remaining weeks of December.

If all else fails, then laugh it up Universe.  And bring me a dirty martini.

Yours,

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo

Sleepless In The City

From a professional insomniac, here are my tips on how to cope the day after a night of zilch shut eye (including calling in a sickie)...


As anyone who's on Twitter with me will very well know, sleep is not one of my strong points. It’s nothing new so please, for the love of Louboutin, no suggestions of chamomile tea or Valerian. I've learned to cope with the insomnia curse fairly well over the years and ironically enough some of the random 4am ideas have been ridiculously successful.

Now, most people have trouble sleeping at one point or another.  But for those who are not quite the seasoned professional as some others around here, I thought I'd share a few damage control tips for when counting sheep has miserably failed to deliver a good night’s rest.

Take a sickie
If you've only got a couple of hours sleep - or none at all - embrace that sick leave you've been saving for a rainy day and let it pour. Without getting the sleep you're accustomed to having you're likely to be pretty useless at work.  Take the time you need to restore and replenish.  In fact, I was shocked to read recently that sleep deprivation “produces impairments in cognitive and motor performance equivalent to legally prescribed levels of alcohol intoxication” – drunk at work?  Save it for the Christmas party.

Try not to sleep
It's like getting over jet lag – you’ll want to snooze all day, but try not to give in until the time you would go to bed normally. Get outside relatively close to when you usually leave for work and get some morning light therapy to influence your body back into routine.  15 minute power-naps are always allowed.  Always.

Drink
Not coffee or alcohol; water and lots of it (but please don’t drown yourself).  Room temperature H2O for better absorption, maybe with some freshly sliced lemon to help neutralize your bod.  Not too close to when you’re planning to sleep again – that will just get annoying.

Walk
Nothing over the top, but a nice gentle stroll to freshen up, get some vitamin D and feel good about having the day off while everyone else is scrambling around in their lunch break.   If you’re keen, try some gentle yoga either at home or the gym – the Pocket Yoga app is pretty good for home yoga if you can spare the $2.99 download.

Eat
Fresh stuff. Apparently cherries contain melatonin but who has those lying around at home?  Note: Cherry Ripes do not count.  Go for bananas, oats, veggies and consider a vitamin B complex in the morning with some zinc and magnesium to help you with energy levels throughout the day.

Breathe & relax
Don't worry – be happy.

And finally, prepare for the new night ahead
No electronics an hour before bed, some relaxing music, caffeine free tea, a light dinner with a few complex carbs and lean protein (like a salmon and quinoa salad, mmm), and no sugar or caffeine after midday. You know all this – it’s just my chance to nag.

Happy sleeping peeps and if not, I might see you around in the twitterverse on#insomniaclub.

Yours,

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo

 

The List

When it comes to being single, it’s not uncommon for us to have a list of traits we might look for in our version of the ideal partner.  I guess this is just like setting goals which, as any self-confessed goal-junkie will tell you, helps you get to where you want to be.

After chatting with a friend about her list a couple of months ago, it reminded me of my own.  Out came the list again to act as my secretive informal screening process and invisible radar should any such traits come within the immediate vicinity.  My mental list looked a little something like this:

Confident and driven:  Tick.
Tertiary educated:  Tick.
Has lived OS: Tick. 
Shares an affliction with incorrect use of your vs you’re: Tick.
Has his own business:  Tick.
Works in hospitality/entertainment: No go. 
Over 6ft tall: No go.
Younger: No go.
Is a friend/shares mutual friends (ie it’s all a bit too ‘close’): No go.
Doesn’t enjoy copious amounts of red wine: No go. 

Even after typing it out I still feel pretty convinced that it’s spot on.  However, my dear friends, let me tell you that my clever little list has been well and truly blown out of the water of late – yet things are going miraculously ok.  Conversely, I’ve dated a few men who have met the selection criteria only to soon after rename them to 'DO NOT ANSWER' in my appendage of a phone (in other words, it didn't work out). 

As an aforementioned self-confessed goal-junkie it's been a little hard to understand these outcomes when ideals haven't worked out.  But you know what?  I’ve decided that I’m letting go and saying goodbye to the cardboard cut-out.  Instead I’m opting for something a little more lifelike. Let's see how that goes...

Yours,
Little Miss Melbourne
xoxo

This Fabulous Life

Life has a sneaky little way of twisting things around on us.

In a very short but sweet post, all I have to say tonight is that sometimes you just gotta be happy with whatever's happening right in front of you.  Even when you're having a bad time - especially when you're having a bad time - remember that life is fabulous, just like you.

Be happy.  Have fun.  Dance in a grassy field like a ballerina.  Enjoy.

Yours,

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo

Practice Makes Perfect

The girls in my last workshop became privy to the details of a date happening that evening. They wanted to hear progress updates via my blog, so ladies, here it is - with a little added sweetener.



Date & I met several months prior at the Melbourne Writers' Club, held each month at Honey Bar. We'd initially tried catching up a few times for coffee but never quite got it together. So I was surprised to hear from him out of the blue a number of months later. I did question the lapse and rather sporadic contact but succumbed to a bit of 'meh' and decided to go with the flow.

Being an avid fan of the 'flow' philosophy this was pretty much what I applied to subsequent dates post date number one (which was excellent; convo, tapas & Veuve = win). Turns out though that this laid back approach may have resulted in someone getting their own way a few too many times, ending in rather a bad outcome when they didn't. So that's the way it went, and went it did.

What the process gave me was true meaning to what a friend and fellow singleton said to me recently, of her own dating experiences; it's all practice. And this, in all it's simplicity, made sense.

Could it be that we're all practicing for something, sometimes without even realising it? Maybe all the things we go through in life - the good, the bad, the ugly - are all just preparing us for a bigger purpose. For my friend, it means dating until she finds the champion life partner she's looking for. For me and my recent experiences, I've realised I'm getting more practice in learning who I am, what I want in my life and what I don't.

In a recent quest of trying to be the best of me, this has all come at perfect timing. So girls, there it is - you got your goss and I got my philosophical gander.

With love,

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo