Whoa. This is beautiful.

Hi everyone, and hello new friends — it’s Catherine from The 10 Minute Fix and Small Steps Are Perfect (new book!) dropping by on your weekend.

When I get newsletters, I like to SEE who is writing to me…so I took a dozen selfies for all the new people, but when I went to pick one where my eyes weren’t closed — ha! — my photo roll was FULL OF NATURE and I had to share.

• a jacaranda tree and Jacaranda Snow (my first picture book!)

• a red bottlebrush (called Grevillea)

• white flowering something-I-don’t-know

• bush walk in our suburb down a sandy path

I am so lucky.

Nature. Does it recharge you, too?

Deep breath, my friend: today is an excellent day to open your front door and look around. Notice what you’ve been given:

• a city streetscape

• an ocean view

• a back garden

• christmas lights

• snow

• A rainy Sunday?

I used this inscription to begin Small Steps Are Perfect — it’s Van Gogh, and his words are every bit as beautiful as his paintings.

It’s time to appreciate where we are.

Tiny little things matter.

Holidays are a perfect time to look carefully at what’s right in front of us. I hope you have time to enjoy what you see outside your own door, and chat with or hug the people you’ve been given to love. We are so lucky to be here, aren’t we? Very small things are the best.

Happy (peaceful) Sunday. I’m thinking of you.

Love Catherine x

PS.

• Remember Jacaranda Snow? Link is here!

• These beautiful words of Byron Katie to ponder: “No two people live in the same world.”

• A funny poem by Ogden Nash (the American poets again!!): A Word to Husbands.

• Happy Thanksgiving, Americans! Did you know that Aussie pumpkin makes the best pumpkin pies? Here’s an Aussie Sweet Spiced Pumpkin Pie recipe.

Checklist for a Fun Sunday

Hi everyone, and welcome new people. It’s time for Sunday Funday around here…despite lockdown and feeling a little crummy from my vaccine on Thursday.

Here’s a checklist to make your weekend fun:

1. Afternoon tea: this is always a good idea. Fresh scones, cream and jam, put on the coffee or the tea. Perfect even if you’re on your own. Aussies have the most fun lemonade (7-Up) scone recipe.

2. Kitchen dance: by yourself with your earbuds in, or crank up the tunes. I loved rediscovering David Bowie this week… “Turn and face the strange ch-ch-changes…”

3. Make a dessert with Sunday dinner. These Lemon Pudding Cakes look amazing.

4. Go for a walk in the starry evening. Learn the story behind Van Gogh’s Starry Night.

5. Remember your favourite story as a kid: I loved The Little Red Caboose and “The Twelve Dancing Princesses.” Which stories have stayed with you your whole life? Remember them now for an instant happiness hit.

6. Polish your nails? See how often you take pleasure in noticing your hands. I love this Essie Lovie Dovie nail varnish! What a fun colour.

7. If you can, treat yourself to a little something-something. You know what you love: flowers, down time to relax, a delicious treat. Here in Australian winter, I’ve been cutting camellias to enjoy!

8. Give someone a compliment. Grab your phone, send a text now…3,2,1 go!

9. Remember your feet! Lotion, give yourself a foot massage, do some foot stretches. Our feet hold us all day long and need a little TLC and respect.

Enjoy your weekend, wherever you are.

We’re still here, we’ve got some people to love and really, that’s all that matters.

Love Catherine x

PS.

• How are you doing? Really, how are you? (I hope someone asks you in real life today, and takes the time to listen…)