Apple Tart

How's Your Christmas Shaping Up?

A public edition of More Than A Bite, the Pink Apple e-newsletter.

Today's More Than A Bite (Pink Apple's Enewsletter) is sliding in on a Christmas Sleigh straight to your Inbox.  So it has

• an      estimated reading      time of 2-3 mins
• these goodies
  • Save Our Christmas Sanity Messages
  • Secrets to Successful Relationship Article Links
  • Apple Tart Article links (Chris' eclectic mix of interesting       morsels)

We're still breathless after last week's whirlwind of our son's wedding over at Casa Pink Apple, so my message to you is brief.

By the way, may I just offer a warm welcome to all the new subscribers to this edition.  Glad you could join us.

Save our Christmas Sanity Messages

When you first saw the Christmas stuff appearing this year, did you have a little mental skip of excitement, or a sinking feeling (could it be dread?) about all the work ahead?

Well if you get that sinking feeling it suggests you're a Christmas Stress sufferer.   If that's the case you can get the Tips for Christmas Calm by taking a Quick Christmas Stress Test online.  This 2-3 minute test has been prepared by myself and my co-author Karen Wallace.

This year the Owen/Wallace Christmas e-book has become a published A5-size carry-around to get you through the season.

So now we offer Save Our Sanity:The Christmas Calm Manual. 

There are plenty of tips to be found in magazines and online and SOS has plenty of ways to help you solve the regular problems of Christmas.  They focus on budgeting, shopping, cleaning, decorating, relationships and self-care.

But SOS is designed to divert the causes of your stress as much as help you solve the simple problems.  We get you looking at your traditions, your perspectives and making choices that set you up for positive and joy-filled Christmases from HERE ON!

We have a shove-it-in-your-handbag book, a downladable version but we are also offering a WORKSHOP in Melbourne next week!

On top of that, Premium Christmas Coaching services are another and more individualised way to get all the help you need to shed your DREAD!

All purchasers of book and coaching gain access to the password protected area of our new site where extra resources are available.

On the Save Our Christmas Sanity site are also articles about:

• Christmas      Romance
• Tree      Decorating for Dumm- Novices!
• Shopping      Online

Secrets to Successful Relationship Articles

At Take a Bite you'll find thoughts on:

• keeping      secrets in a relationship
• controlling      behaviours in relationships

Apple Tart Articles

On Apple Tart, I've been encouraging readers to take up Karen Wallace's new online magazine The Calm Space. It even looks serene!!!!

Not only do you get lots of thought-provoking hints from my favourite Queen of Calm, but you also get the contributions of several terrific women writers (I  even include myself - modestly - in that!)

The Calm Space is a FREE magazine and Karen describes it as a virtual day-spa for the senses where you can visit for a minute or 10 and get a dose of calm in the process.  She has monthly prizes for all readers and is also currently offering readers the gift of her e-book How to Find the Pause Button for Your Life.   

Well that about sums up this More Than A Bite.

See you next time, and don't forget to pass this newsletter on and help me unveil those secrets!

Warm regards 

Melbourne Christmas Calm Workshop

Over at Save Our Xmas Sanity, we're rather excited to announce that we've been able to entice our friend and favourite Professional Organiser, Angela Esnouf of Creating Order From Chaos, to work with Chris and deliver a ...

... Make Your Christmas Easy Workshop in Melbourne.

So IF YOU:

• find Christmas spells S-T-R-E-S-S?
• are desperately seeking Christmas Calm?
• yearn to enjoy Christmas for the first time in a long time?
• want some simple no-stress powerful tips on organising your Christmas?
• know some of your Christmas traditions have passed their use-by date?
• feel ready for a laugh about Christmas?

THEN

Chris and Angela will give you an Intensive on Christmas Calm and Organisation

In just 90 minutes, you'll have some Christmas Cheer and start feeling easier and ready to face Christmas this year!

Where?            Vermont South
When?             Thursday December 6th
Time?             7.30-9.15
Cost?               $50
Bookings?         Angela or phone 0403 164 468
                       Chris or phone 03 9877 1469

All who attend will receive take-away tips sheets and to-do lists.

will be available for sale.

There'll also be some SECRET giveaways!

Book now as numbers are strictly limited

Do you keep secrets?

I was having an interesting conversation with a few gorgeous men the other day.

We were talking about secrets and half-truths (lies). 

There were divided opinions on the degree of truth that it was important to share with our partner, or anyone for that matter!  Appropriate percentages were batted around!

Having watched people I cared about destroyed by the discovery of family secrets like adoption, I tend towards seeing secrets as destructive. 

I think the very fact of hiding something influences our every behaviour and every word.  And subtly the people we deal with can tell, and distrust just grows!

So when I saw this article by Karen Salmansohn author of Be Happy Dammit, I thought you might be interested!

"If right now you are not telling someone the truth about a particular something, and you think you're being dishonest to spare their feelings, chances are you're being dishonest with yourself! Most people would rather know [more]

By the way, those blokes included my darling SweetP and the soon-to-be-bridegroom, my son Lovable Geek!  And of course they're gorgeous!

 

Christmas Calm to replace Christmas Stress

The old Tart here!  I told you last week about soxs morphing!

We've already told you that you can have our Tips for Christmas Calm just by checking out your Stress levels in our 2-minute Stress Test quiz!

Thanks to those who've already given us feedback on the Tips, we're glad you're liking them!

NOW you can pre-order a copy of Save Our Sanity:The Christmas Calm Manual and you'll get some bonuses.

1. The "At the Printer" Special Price of $39*
2. No postage costs
3. Delivery to you as soon as it hits our hands!
4. Our money-back guarantee!#

* Australian dollars and including GST
# We're so sure that you will save money by using Save Our Sanity: The Christmas Calm Manual, that if you don't save double the price you pay for the book, we'll gladly refund your purchase price!

We're having it printed in a neat little A5-sized spiral-bound copy - just perfect for sticking in your handbag and taking to the shops!

The printer tells us we'll have them by end of month.  That's just in time for preparing CALMLY for a new-style Christmas Season during November and early December.  Thanks to Save Our Sanity. 

You can find out more or purchase your copy at the Special Price by clicking through to here.

Of course, we're about to start writing regular articles full of tips and resources at the SaveOurChristmaSanity blog.  So why not go over and browse through previous articles and subscribe to receive new articles by email or RSS?

Can soxs morph?

Well we reckon they can!

Whose we?  Karen Wallace and your old pal, the Apple Tart, reckon that soxs can morph! 

What's SOXS? 

SOXS or Save Our Xmas Sanity, our 2006 book aiming to save frazzled women one Christmas at a time, is morphing, as we speak, into Save Our Sanity: The Christmas Calm Manual.

While these highly technical and eerie and spooky efforts take effect (ie while the website changes and the printers get rolling) why not take the Christmas Stress Test and receive in return our Tips for Christmas Calm.

We'll let you know when the printer's finished and the website changes are done, but in the meantime get some starter ideas for not just managing your Christmas Stress this year but positively enjoying the whole thing over at www.SaveOurXmasSanity.com!

And we KNOW there are women out there who don't believe that!  But we have women who've read and used this book and who now SWEAR by it!

Imagine just for a moment if Christmas was pleasant and joyful like it's meant to be!

That's what Save Our Sanity: The Christmas Calm Manual is offering YOU!

After some Calm Space?

The Apple here at Apple Tart is endlessly seeking ways to soothe her frazzled nerve endings.

When I get asked that question, you know the magic wand one, I always say "If I had a magic wand, I'd like to be serene!"

Friends say that if I was serene I wouldn't be me, and I suppose that's true and maybe even fair enough.  But the occasional bit of serenity wouldn't go astray!

So to help in my endless quest, I make it m business to seek out methods for achieving a calmer me, and people who have serenity about them.

That's probably one of the qualities I like most about my friend Karen Wallace over at The Clearing Space.  She has an infectious calm and serenity about her, even when things are whirling wild around her!

So it's only right that Karen's latest venture -an online monthly magazine - would be called The Calm Space.

It even looks serene!

Along with an array of contributing authors focusing on organising, spirituality, the digital world, reading, relationships and even breathing, the Calm Space is like walking into one of those wonderful indulgence havens.

Karen describes The Calm Space as

... like a virtual day-spa for your senses… decadent, informative, relaxing, a real no-mobile-phones-allowed kind of escape where you can chill for a minute or an hour and emerge refreshed and ready to face anything your day throws at you!

It’s a rare woman who doesn’t succumb to chaos and madness at some stage during her busy week. Whatever your particular life situation, and no matter how your day is going, you will find respite within the spaces here.

The Calm Space is an online, monthly magazine – written by a team of amazing, real-life women who are living their passion with a purpose and a focus.

What you see in this magazine is not ‘reporting’. It is information, hints, tips and inspiration direct from those in-the-know. We write in our own unique voices, and tell it like it is.

Now I'm letting MY Readers in on the secret of The Calm Space very early!  It was only launched last night with the odd glass of bubbles!

Subscription is FREE though I doubt it will remain that way!  There are also monthly prize draws,  This month's is a gorgeous coffee-table book, by the equally gorgeous-looking landscaper extraordinaire Jamie Durie.  The book is called  INSPIRED – The Ideas that Shape & Create my Design

And for a very limited time, there is also a chance to receive for FREE, Karen's e-book How to Find The Pause Button For Your Life.  Having read Pause Button, I can DEFINITELY recommend it to you!  And you MUST go get it now, because I know that it will be selling on the site VERY soon.  It's one of the benefits of being an Apple Tart reader that you get to know about this very LIMITED OFFER!

I don't see ANY disadvantages to popping over to The Calm Space, taking a deep intake of Calm and registering for competitions, e-books and to receive the monthly mag in YOUR Inbox.

Don't say I didn't warn you!

Networking by Blog

There are times when I just wish I could draw!

I'd especially love to draw cartoons.  That instant visual is a so much more succinct capture of an idea than words will ever be!

Today, if I COULD draw, you'd be seeing a squished person desperately trying to lift a big piece of concrete off her back and get out! 

That's me at the moment!

So while I've got a million things I want to write about, I don't have lots of time so I'm going to let you know about some urgent time-sensitive ones that you need to hear about. 

In fact none of these are anything to do with me or the Pink Apple business.  Except of course I know all these people and can vouch for their integrity and commitment to service!  So this is really networking with you, and letting you know about things of interest, via Apple Tart.

1. I've talked before about the brilliance of Professional Organiser Angela Esnouf of Creating Order From Chaos.  Well just in case you need her assistance, she's got another Effective Time Management Workshop [Download TM_Workshop_200907.pdf ] scheduled for September 20th here in Melbourne! 
   
   Do you wonder what happens to all the precious minutes that dribble out of YOUR day and lead to frustration and angst?  Then you need to talk with Angela. 
   
   The topics to be covered include: setting priorities, conquering procrastination, dealing with interruptions, and time mapping!  If I can make the time I might even be there myself!!
2. If you use humour in your presentations or work or aspire to introduce humour into your world then BJ Seminars International's Humour Adventure at the Zoo may be just what you need.  Early Bird reservations close in 2 weeks so go and check this intriguing seminar!
   
3. Richard of Beaumont and Partners now has a regular newsletter on marketing.  His most recent one was a good, quick read. [Download enewsinsight_sept_07.pdf]  Contact Richard and ask to receive your own copy.
   
4. My mate Pete Aldin of Great Circle and Freaked Out Fathers (always good for a laugh) has a bit of a theme going on over at his blog, on How The War Was Won.  Seeing we all battle with minor and major wars every day, I like his style and that of all his guest writers!  I'd love to have been writing for him, but when have I had time lately?
   
5. Finally, and most excitingly, my pal Karen Wallace (helping women who do too much) is nearly due to launch her new online magazine The Calm Space.  Email her to be advised as soon as it's up. 
   
   "It's a virtual day spa for the senses!  Real but Enticing, Informative but Inspiring.  You can escape to chill for a minute or an hour!" 
   
   Now doesn't that sound like bliss!

Creative? That's Me!

I used to say how unlucky I was!  But these days, I seem to have luck falling my way regularly.  With such a strong Irish heritage, (Irish grandparents all round) it must be the luck of the Irish has come to bless me at last!

I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.
Thomas Jefferson

Maybe old Tom's not too far off the mark, it IS a case of making your own luck!

However before I go all philosophical and nauseous on you all, let me tell you about my latest bit of luck.

The lovely Anne Maybus of Tall Poppy and Diva Days has honoured me with a Blogging Award. Anne has awarded me a Creative Bloggers Award  that has been commenced by Christy Z at Writers Review where the rules for sharing these awards can be found.

Pink Apple from Apple Tart deserves many awards. Today I have chosen the Creative blogger award. Here it is Chris, all yours in recognition of the wonderful humourous spin you put on things. I love to read your wicked words!

Anne, you've given me a gift that I can use to help quell those nasty destructive self-doubt demons.  I need every weapon available, in my battle with those dastardly demons! So Thank You for being there supporting and nurturing me and even finding me wicked!

The bigger task for me lies in my new-found nomination rights!  So here goes!

My nominees are:  (have you got your Oscar frocks on?)

Courageous Blogger:  Pete Aldin of Great Circle and Freaked Out Fathers 

A man with a strong but quiet integrity and a man not afraid to fight injustice where he sees it! (but might not want to frock up!)

Inspirational Blogger:  Tina Forsyth of Online Business Manager
and co-author of Money, Meaning and Beyond.

Another quiet achiever who quietly but expertly gets people on the right path.

Thoughtful Blogger:  Amanda Cox of Diary of a Mad Cow.

Underneath a tongue dripping in acid and an hysterically satirical spin, lies a woman using humour to help other Mums realise they're not alone and there's always something to laugh and share about.

Chris Owen and the Shiny Apples Curse

Now isn't that a title that J K Rowling would be proud of?

Pete Aldin see where you've taken me?  (No not turning into JKR - I wish)  Or maybe it's just I've been reading Harry and The Half-Blood Prince, with my venture into Deathly Hallows just ahead of me!

But let's not diverge!

Some time ago Pete from Great Circle tagged me with a great topic for sharing.  But as I've said before tags/memes are really a Curse!

So it is with great pleasure I share with you my Best of ... series, where I present 10 of my earlier posts that best sum up what Pink Apple is about.

That was actually quite challenging because that old Self-Doubt Demon (I really must come up with a name for it!) was doing its best to convince me I wouldn't find any!  But, in fact, while time-consuming, I was quite surprised with what I found in the archives that I can summon pride in again sharing with you!

If you're a regular reader, you've probably worked out I have lots of interests

• supporting and nurturing women,
• staying sane at Christmas
• small business,
• books and reading, and
• networking,

But my BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) is to help couples discover the many and endless moments of joy in their relationships.  I'm doing that by sharing the Secrets of Successful Relationships.

So the articles that best sum up Pink Apple fall under that category.

Here are links to 10 of my favourites.  They're in no particular order, except occasionally chronological!

Not the Kitchen Sink.

It's very tempting when we're angry with someone, be it our partner, colleague, or the Indonesian government, to avoid letting all our peripheral or past judgments, come into the debate.   [more]

Bad Apples

Isolation and alienation is a big part of the bully's toolkit. Unfortunately, psychological bullying is more likely to be the domain of women.  Women's skills with relationship-building have a flipside in the female bully's capacity to alienate.  Other tactics might include:  [more]

Listening, Waffles and Spaghetti

Firstly, they point out what listening is NOT.  Guys, I think you might sigh with relief as you read these! [more]

When the Honeymoon's Over

Little does she know, as she rests in the dewy-eyed wonder of her new marriage, that disillusionment is ahead.  How will she manage when the sheen rubs off the relationship? [more]

Domestic Bliss?

Because one of the perennial problems that couples find most hard to get over, is the issue of the sharing of chores!  On the surface, it would seem a simple enough problem to solve. 

But it's like a wartime ocean, filled with depth charges and silent, drifting bombs just waiting to explode! [more]

Soulmates

As Doug reminds us, just because you find your soulmate, doesn't mean you can take the foot off the pedal, in terms of your efforts and input into nurturing the relationship.  "The great danger of the soulmate myth is the accompanying belief that the relationship will be easy over time. Relationships decay when someone puts their feet up."   [more]

Bad Language

We can also confuse our LOVERS with our language!  And I don't mean abusive language; or even "talking dirty", for the more risque of my readers!

"I just feel so distanced from him.  It feels like he's pushing me away"

This client "hears" love in the language of positive affirmations.  If her partner criticises her, then, no matter how lovingly the criticism is delivered, she's likely to read that criticism as rejection, and even evidence of loathing. [more]

A Matter of Choice

Now, I dare any of you to tell me you've got the perfect partner!  I even dare any of you to tell me you've got the worst partner in the world!  There's no such thing!  All there is, is "good enough" or "bad enough" to prompt us to make choices.  [more]

Restraint

As I listen to some of my clients, I am sad to hear them relate stories of failing to restrain themselves when it might have helped.

When the fight is on, and it's far from fair, (and in fact downright dirty), THAT'S the time for restraint. [more]

Respect & Goodwill

One of the key secrets to successful relationships is a simple value that our Mums and Dads probably taught us - Respect and Goodwill. 

What turns that head-over-heels love into a belief that Your Adored One is always "out to get you"?  What would make you think that a nasty attack is the best form of defence?  Where has that mean spirit come from and how long do you want to live with it?

For some reason slowly and painfully respect and goodwill have leaked out of the "lovin' feeling"  [more]

 

Can't seem to immunise myself against memes

Ages ago, my Melbourne mate Pete Aldin of the Great Circle and Freaked-Out Fathers "tagged" me.

The "in thing" these days in the blogging world are tags or memes.

Some bright spark will come up with an infectious idea for everyone to give their personal opinion/experience of.  The starter author writes their own piece, then nominates a number of mates to pick up the thread/tag.  It's a little like the old games of chasey/tag/tiggy/"it" that we all played in the school ground.  Once named, you are "it" until you can write your story and shift the tag onto someone else. 

These memes spiral (viral) around blog communities like a dose of the Black Plague through medieval London!

When I receive a tag, it usually leaves me with a sense of dread and horror, and the mental conversation that snottily starts with "Oh Great!  When I am ever going to find time to do that?  Thanks PAL!"   (Ungrateful tart, aren't I?)

Unfortunately my sticky-beaky curiosity, and eternal desire to be "in" anything, gets the better of me.  So, I go and read a few other tagged responses, and next thing I know my mental conversation has meandered off into ... "Gee, that does sound interesting, I wonder what I'd say IF I was to respond!" 

See?  It just gets you suckered in and infected.  The only cure is to write and shed the burden elsewhere!

So having mentioned Pete Aldin at the beginning of this post, I'd better tell you that at last I'm about to get around to picking up the ball and running with Pete's meme!   And yes Pete, I did curse you!  But yours  was definitely one of the most constructive memes that have been tossed my way!

You'll hear more in my next post!