Lucky Me

So the coffee machine broke yesterday — it literally catapulted my coffee mug off the machine, threw it on the kitchen floor, sprayed coffee everywhere and broke my favourite mug. How?? I dunno, but it did.

Thanks, Nespresso!

But still I think: Lucky me.

Lucky me that I have coffee, that I have a kitchen, that I have a timber floor, a mop to clean up. That I’m flexible enough to bend down and pick up broken glass, that I have a gorgeous dog I had to yell at to keep her out of the kitchen and out of harm’s way with her little paws.

That I have a husband who walked in and said, “WHAT THE—!!!” and a teenage son who rolled his eyes and said, “Mum, what did you DO????”

And by the way, did I tell you that a year ago I dropped a cup of coffee out of the microwave, and coffee shot upwards for 9 FEET and sprayed all over our kitchen ceiling and I had to get it repainted?

But…I’m lucky.

Even though there is the other story I could tell—the one that involves fear and lack and worry and pain and struggle—ultimately I choose over and over to say this: Lucky me.

What’s the old saying? That if all of us put our troubles on a platter and had the chance to take home someone else’s, we would all choose our own?

For me, that’s true.

Nothing here in Sydney is perfect or stress free.

Nothing is as lovely or glitzy or easy or CUTE as it seems in my photos or anyone’s on the internet. Mine or yours. And I know this is true.

Today I cleaned up the kitchen before I realised I should’ve snapped a picture of all my broken mess to show you my reality, and all my many, many mistakes…But since I forgot to do that, I’m showing you the picture I took of me with my book yesterday.

I am so very proud of The 10 Minute Fix. I hope you read it and enjoyed it. And if you have — can I ask you a favour? Would you please gift a copy to someone you love? (Buy it here in America, and here in Canada, and here in the UK and here in Australia.)

Thank you for supporting authors and cheering me on. (What you may not know is that books don’t make much money for authors — most full time authors earn under $11,000 a year from their books so…it’s about something else! It’s about love, not money.) I wrote this book because I wanted to encourage women. Today I read this review: “I wish I could buy this book for all the overwhelmed women of the world.”

(If you need encouragement and a complimentary copy just for you because times are super tough, let me know. And if you can share a copy with another woman, please do!)

Enjoy your Friday — and watch out for your own killer coffee machine!

Love Catherine x

PS. Here’s how women are sharing The 10 Minute Fix. (It posts as a letter for easy gift giving…)

• Heather shared 6 copies with her book club. Thank you.

• Leanne introduced it to her staff, and 10 people ordered a book. Thank you.

• Jen and 5 other girlfriends received it as a gift on a girls’ weekend away. Thank you.

• Sharon gave books to all her daughters. Thank you.

• Jules mailed copies around the world to her friends in Australia, England and Canada. Thank you.

• My sister Dar (“it’s time to drop that bag of rocks!”…you’ll read about her in the book) got 10 to give to her friends and family. Thank you. This is how we help each other, one virtual hug at a time.

Simple & Oh So Pretty!

You guys, are you ready for a little recommendation for something sweet this morning?

Not an #ad, but I bought myself a new little pick-me-up and I think you might like it. It’s pretty, floral and very very light…

And since I know some of you Love-Our-Agers are juggling all the hard things right now — job fear and change and disappointment and everything else — this is a win-win because it was gloriously affordable, under $10 here in Sydney.

And it’s lovely!

Surprisingly lovely!

You can find it at your local pharmacy / chemist / drugstore and all the department stores, and also online here in America and here in Australia (yes, they deliver!). I tried to find it online in Canada but it was pricey and I think you’re better off trying Shopper’s Drug Mart.

Now we can smell the same kind of delicious: simple, floral and oh-so-pretty!

(Honestly, my favourite pick-me-up is a hot shower, freshly done hair, a spritz of perfume and a slick of lipstick. Available anytime, day or night!)

Sending so much encouragement your way today.

Love Catherine x

We All Need This Question

Hi there — for fun today, here’s a gorgeous screen shot of the talented Marilyn Monroe from a film I don’t recognise.

THAT OUTFIT.

Doesn’t she look like a woman who is owning her day?

This photo makes me think so many things:

1. Why do we judge beautiful women?

2. What stops us from being a little “extra”? I mean, the nails, the bling-y jewels, that sash, the colours…everything Marilyn is wearing says, “MORE can be GOOD!” I forget this all too often, and sometimes devolve into a colourless life.

3. Is it time to add a little spice to our day?

But more than these questions, the photo of Marilyn makes me think this:

Judgement.

Same old habits.

Forgetting that I can choose a little bling, a little bright lipstick, a fun song while I’m walking.

Am I ready to let go of the way I’ve always been?

What — exactly — am I ready to let go of?

What are you ready to let go of?

(This question makes my brain buzz with possibility!)

Ohhhhh, wish you were here at my kitchen table because I’d love love love to hear your answers! Tell me, is there one thing YOU’RE ready to let go of?

Love Catherine x

Waving across the cafe...

My friends, very quickly…we’re having such a relaxing getaway and I appreciate it with my whole heart.

Wow, it was my turn for a rest. We haven’t been away from Sydney on a little family holiday in well over a year.

Solitude.

Peace.

But if I saw you this morning at the beach cafe, sipping your latte at a table with a friend, or waiting for your bacon and egg roll while chatting with your partner, or wiping the strawberry jam off the hands of a daughter or a grandchild, I would wave to you and smile.

I hope you’re enjoying your Sunday.

Love Catherine x

This Is True...

A little story for you this morning, before we jump in the car and whiz to the beach to celebrate our son turning 20!

Over the years I’ve come to know my cousin-by- marriage, Adele. Her beautiful bracelet is in this photo, above. She’s game for adventure and upbeat, spontaneous, fun and she laughs all the time. She’s also smart as a whip.

And her life looks charmed from the outside — as does mine, and maybe yours does, too. And really if we have clean water and fresh air, we are all privileged and blessed.

But there are things, right?

The things we don’t share.

Because here’s the truth: nobody rides for free.

Nobody. Whether we are healthy, with job security and loads of dough or alone and unwell with a bad diagnosis…we’re all in this same boat.

Life.

Nobody rides for free (even if it looks like we do).

I wrote it on a sticky note to remind myself that we are ALL in this together, and no matter where we’re at, there are mountains to climb. Rejection, sadness, worries, relationships that aren’t close or are close-to-broken, health scares, loss of a beautiful activity we loved, fear.

But this is true, too: we can always choose to listen to each other, and give what we have to give: our time, our love, our resources, our gluten-free chocolate brownies…

Let’s do this, my friends — let’s be here for each other on this wild and beautiful ride.

Let’s assume zero about each other. Let’s remember, nobody rides for free.

Love Catherine x

PS.

• Thank you, Adele, for gifting me this beautiful faux pearl bracelet (above). She literally TOOK IT OFF HER ARM and handed it to me when I admired it. I’m trying to be a person like that!

• And our eldest son at 1 and 3. Now he’s a man and so like his Dad. Love that look on my husband’s face…and me, at 34. I feel smarter but also somehow just the same….

Easy Scalloped Potatoes For Sunday

Hello, everyone. Fires in our beloved Pacific Northwest and the west coast, the anniversary of September 11, masks everywhere…I’m so sorry all of this is happening.

I’m a helper and from our home here in Australia, what I can give you is this: the best, easiest classic recipe for scalloped potatoes.

A few weeks ago I bought a mandolin, my first ever (because I was always too afraid a kid would slice his finger) and wow, it’s a game changer for slicing potatoes.

Don’t bother peeling — just wash the potatoes, slice, slice a white onion thinly and you’re set.

The secret?

A loooooong cooking time to ensure the potatoes are tender. Start with 40 mins at 350F / 180C but keep checking with a knife. Also: cream. That’s another secret!

• 5 potatoes, thinly sliced. (Peel if you prefer, but I never do.)

• 1 onion, sliced

• 1.5 cups of heavy cream whisked together with 2 teaspoons chicken stock powder

• 1 cup grated cheddar

• Salt to taste

Heat the oven to 180C / 350F.

• Oil a baking dish and layer with potato, then some onion rings, potato and on it goes. Finish with potato on top.

• Pour over the cream mixture.

• Sprinkle with cheese.

• Bake for 40 minutes plus. Check for tender potatoes.

Some things in life really are easy.

Good thing, too, especially when life is handing us some challenges in 2020.

I hope you love these — I don’t make them often, but when I do my husband has seconds (or maybe even thirds).

Enjoy your weekend, everyone.

Love, Catherine x

PS.

• I’ve been working quite a lot in the corporate world lately, and can’t wait to get back to some writing soon…I have a great concept for my first novel for adults and I’m super excited to test the idea with you!

• Next week, I’ll be blogging from my favourite beach in the world — yay! We’re celebrating our first son turning 20 with a weekend getaway. People always say the years fly by, but for me…I was there for every second and they didn’t fly. The years waltzed or jitterbugged: from the worn out knees on my jeans to endless endless endless batches of cookies, washing all those school uniforms, Sunday dinners, rowing driving before 5am, all of it. A long and beautiful family waltz…and I’m grateful!

Your 'car to bar' shoes! :)

Come on, ladies, we ALL have them…the beautiful, uncomfortable shoes we’d love to wear.

If only they didn’t hurt.

If only we could walk in them properly (still).

But they do, and we can’t so we don’t. And that sometimes makes me feel sad.

These are our ‘car to bar’ shoes — hehe — and I’m pretty sure you have a pair (or seven) in your closet, too. So since Covid was getting me down and I’ve been working from my home office, my shoe wear is normally a lot like these cuties:

Super comfy Skechers, and because I love you all… (not an #ad or a #sponsored post but just to be helpful) you can buy them here in America, in Canada (similar) and in Australia. So comfortable and yes, cute.

But maybe not inspiring?

So this is what I did on a rainy Wednesday. I wore my ‘car to bar shoes’ to work in my home office. It perked me RIGHT UP and it was so fun. And comfortable.

I know, I know…I’m a little silly. You may not all agree with me. But I say this: if you’ve GOT it and it’s fun to USE it, then why not?

Why not enjoy your beautiful things in a way that actually works?

Wear that bling down to the dining room in your villa (I see you all, Saskatoon ladies and my sweet mama!). Wear your favourite dress in the house on a Sunday afternoon. And wear your ‘car to bar shoes’ to work, while you’re sitting on your backside at your desk anyway.

Life is so short, my friends.

We all know this.

Haul out your treasures today, look at them, wear them and enjoy.

Let’s love our age together,

Catherine x

PS.

• I need to work on my posture, especially forward head thrust. These exercises from a rehab team in Brisbane look really good. The tennis ball? That seems do-able. Swipe right for all exercises.

Fallow Ground

Happy Sunday, and to all the Australians, Happy Father’s Day!

In our family, we’ve got a rack of ribs planned, and scalloped potatoes (I have the best recipe — will share soon!), corn and quinoa salad and chocolate dipped strawberries ready for dessert. Guy food, to celebrate our favourite person. Our boys are going to love it.

But right now I’m curled up in my leather chair with the music on, thinking about rest and fallow ground.

Will you give yourself permission to rest a little today?

Introverts and extroverts rest differently, of course, but do you know how YOU rest best?

There’s buffering rest, where I’d do anything just to shut off my whirling brain — and then there’s real rest:

• planned

• healthy

• good for me

• peaceful.

We need the fallow ground before we can plant again and get growing.

I come from a family of do-ers, where rest isn’t much of a thing. We LOVE to be productive and busy, and I’m proud of being a hard worker.

But sometimes ‘productive’ turns a corner into a tired that feels bone-deep.

I popped some fresh jasmine on my desk this week, then draped it over my (repaired!) laptop so I could take a photo.

I rested, and thought about spring.

Like I wrote on Instagram, 2020 feels like a baby that WILL NOT SLEEP, a fussy baby we’re passing from one pair of arms to another, up all night, rocking.

Today, I hope you find your version of rest.

Sometimes the little things — the scent of jasmine, a perfectly poached egg, real mint tea — can deliver a little pocket of peace in this crazy world.

Enjoy your day. I’m thinking of you.

Love Catherine x

PS.

• My fun blouse from Friday — you guys are loving it!

• I’m teaching again! Did you know I was a high school English teacher in my 20s? In October I’m teaching Book Bootcamp via zoom, where new writers learn to write their NONFICTION books (sorry, not memoir). 4 Sundays / Mondays in October for 3 hours. Want to learn more?

Look What I Found!

Hello! Did you miss me??

I had a total computer failure on Sunday and I nearly went bananas. You guys, my laptop IS MY WHOLE WORLD. It’s my nonfiction & fiction writing. It’s my copywriting business. It’s my blogging. And though my sweet husband whipped in with my 10 year old laptop as a backup and all my documents are stored in the cloud, I’ve spent the week watching that beachball go round and round while everything was so s-l-o-w.

Panic stations!

But yesterday, the Apple Store called and my repair was free (even thought it should have been $997) and it’s the third day of Spring and it’s going to be 28 degrees today so I’m back, baby.

Happy, regular old me!

And on my way to the parking garage at 6pm, I found a shop still open at the mall and discovered the lovely leopard print sheer blouse above for a very cool $10.

Cute, right? I popped a camisole underneath and opened the three top buttons.

I hope you’re doing well today. I really value being consistent and I missed ‘chatting’ with you all on Sunday. In fact, I was thinking…how fun would it be to zoom sometime, for whomever can make it?

Would you like to meet each other virtually?

The only thing that’s stopping me is this absolutely STUPID fear that I will be the only person who turns up to my zoom party.

Stay tuned…maybe I’ll get brave and send out an invite. We could all perk each other up and cheer each other on.

Enjoy your day,

Catherine x

PS.

• If you want to have your own black leopard print sheer blouse like mine, go for it! Link is here and they deliver. Wait…it also comes in Forest green! Size up, you guys. The cut is a little on the small size.

• Hey…if you have a sister or a friend who might like to join us here on Love Our Age, please forward this email. xo.

Seriously Good Coleslaw (not kidding)

My friends: you need this coleslaw recipe.

You need it even if you don’t like coleslaw. Trust me on this!

Why?

Fresh lime juice (or lemon, but lime is better), cilantro, a tiny bit of honey, jalapenos, good quality mayo and a whole lotta love.

This is PERFECT with fish tacos — I’ll share those another time. But the coleslaw is everything good. It’s hard to take a pretty picture of coleslaw, but this is the finished product and it’s WONDERFUL.

Please give it a go!

Seriously Good Coleslaw

• 1/2 head purple cabbage (yes, you need this. Please don’t use prepackaged shredded cabbage)

• 1 bunch fresh cilantro, washed and chopped

• 1 small red onion, minced

For the dressing, combine with a whisk:

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise

• 4 Tablespoons lime or lemon juice (lime is BEST and fresh is BEST)

• 2 Tablespoons honey

• 4 minced jalapenos (pickled ones in a jar)

The rest is easy!

• Grate the purple cabbage in a bowl. Yes, yes, yes, you have to buy the head / half-head and grate it, guys. If you cheat and shred it or use the prepackaged shredded cabbage mixture it’s just NOT GOOD. I warned you, and you’ll see…it doesn’t taste great. Just don’t, okay?? Get the grater out. It’s not that hard.

• Mix in the chopped cilantro and minced red onion.

• Pour on the dressing and mix through the cabbage.

Maybe it doesn’t sound or look sensational, but honestly this Coleslaw is fabulous with fish tacos, any kind of roasted meat or chicken, great in a taco, fantastic on its own as a salad.

HAPPY FRIDAY! I know things are tricky out there in so many ways, so here I am with a quick selfie hug from my study to say…bring your wow, not theirs to Friday.

“Your wow, not theirs.”

— Merilyn Beretta

Love this idea! I’m older AND lovelier, more fun, more myself. I hope you are, too.

Let’s LOVE our age,

Catherine x

PS.

• To everyone one of you who showed your love & support by buying copies of the The 10 Minute Fix for your sisters and mothers and friends….I want to thank you with my whole heart!

• It makes a sweet gift, and so easy to post as a letter — it’s slim enough! Available in Canada, America, the UK, and Australia at Beachside Bookshop and online at Booktopia or Amazon Australia.

Help For Your Feet!

Happy Friday!

It’s a busy one for me — work meetings, book promotion, a teen to shuttle around, and through it all…laundry! I’m at the lucky stage where work from home is productive and my kids are older. I can appreciate how hard it might be for you in Canada and America with back-to-school routines happening (or not!). Or if you’re in shelter-in-place in Australia!

Oh, Covid, when will you ever leave us?

My go-to stress relief is walking, walking, walking. I’ve always loved it. After a running injury and some genetic problems, though, my feet have been hurting.

If you’re like me — painful foot probs — this can help. A lot!

Yoga Toes.

Ahhhhh….the relief. For me, it feels like someone has actually given me the kind of foot massage I want but never get.

Yoga Toes are hard to put on (pro tip: start with your little toes and work toward the big toe), but they stretch the front of my feet and offer so much relief. (It’s more about relief in the front of my foot than in my toes. Apparently it’s also good for plantar fasciitis…if you have this, you’ll know.)

You can get the newer model, Yoga Toes Gems, too. Links are here if you’re interested.:

• In America

• In Canada

• In Australia (I’ve never shopped online at Dick Smith, but that’s the only place I found them in Australia! Plus free delivery…)

Hope you can spend some time this weekend putting your feet up!

Thinking of you all as the world turns and we walk forward.

Love Catherine x

PS.

Feedback, please!

• Can you tell me if you write in a journal? Just a quick yes / nope will do!

Why I Went Gray at 49

Hello!

Let’s start with a happy disclaimer: I believe we should all have the freedom to look any way we want to. For me, that’s gray hair. For you, maybe not.

But since a few of you at Love Our Age are gray-curious, I thought I’d tell you my story: why I chose to go gray at 49.

I LOVE my gray hair. Are you intrigued? Want to see my transition? (I’m not trying to convince you at all…I just thought I’d share my journey.)

I went gray s-l-o-w-l-y. I just stopped colouring at 49 and waited for my blonde hair to grow.

It looked okay at first, almost unnoticeable in the sun, and the wide strip of roots really didn’t bother me. But since my hair grows super slowly, and I wanted time to get to know myself as my true colour shone through, I finally reached a point where I probably looked like I was letting myself go.

And because I was the only person I knew going gray, I spent a lot of time explaining to whomever would listen that I was growing into my gray hair, blah blah blah, and why.

Honestly, I felt like I had to apologise for myself.

Apologise for my own hair freedom! Stupid, right?

I also felt the teeniest bit that by making this choice for me, I was somehow perceived as judging other women. And that felt blech…because it wasn’t true. In my heart, I am ‘You do you and I’ll do me!’ but when the conversation came up — and it did — women universally told me I’d look older and “age myself.”

Well, I agree.

I look older than women my age who colour their hair.

But for me, that’s okay.

Here’s why looking older doesn’t bother me. I am gray. I was gray underneath the blonde anyway…so I felt more like myself when I let the silver shine through.

The half and half part wasn’t lovely, but it wasn’t terrible. I mean, terrible is being unwell or worrying about family or having disasters, right? Terrible isn’t HAIR.

Finally, after about 18 months of slow growing, I looked like this. This is me, ‘young but gray’ and YES, I think I look older than other 54 year olds, but I LOVE MY HAIR. Soft. Silky. Silver. I don’t feel that the gray really registers…I just think I look like myself.

One upside is that I’ve gained hours and hours and dollars and dollars of my life back from not being in the stylist’s chair every six weeks, then four weeks, then three weeks…and I will never have roots again.

But that’s my choice. Yours might be totally different and I know you’re rocking your look!

As for you, my friends, you should do exactly what YOU love! But if you want to explore going gray, let me say this: it’s actually FUN. It’s so much fun to see what colour your hair truly is! And anyone can transform back to blonde (or brunette) in an hour. But I never will :)

Enjoy your journey as you grow older and lovelier. Love your age however you want to…and thank you for listening to my story!

Catherine x

PS.

• Hope that answers the “gray hair questions” from new readers! I feel weird posting a whole bunch of photos of me, me, me!

• Last night I made these to take on a hike with some new girlfriends! (Dessert in the middle of hike? That sounds exactly like me! Ha!) Recipe is here…Raw Brownie Bites, gluten and dairy free.

I'm changing. Here's how.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about COVID and all the changes it’s brought. In our house it means that two of us now work from home. We’ve always cooked our meals and rarely ever do take-away, so that hasn’t changed. And we love our own company, so we don’t feel too isolated.

But there’s this: I don’t want to shop anymore.

Do you?

In Sydney, shops are open but people are cautious. I’m sorry that retailers are having a hard time, here and around the world. I wonder if all of us are feeling grateful for what we do have, unwilling to venture out, and focused on more important things.

I’ve never been a shopper as entertainment since I’ve been married and a mum. There are so many other pursuits I want to do with my time, and all of them involve learning. Being in the mall isn’t fun for me.

That makes me think of a tiny, important message in The 10 Minute Fix: do you know what YOU find fun?

It’s Friday and we’re all heading into the weekend. Can you be intentional about adding a little of your kind of fun into your weekend?

Like last week, I’m really tempted to do this again:

Celebrating life always feels fun to me!

Gathering my family and putting on some music, tea, sparkling water or drinks, a special plate of food and good conversation — that’s my fun. Can you plan to do some of yours?

Walking. Sitting down at the piano. Grabbing your ukulele. Kitchen dancing. Waking up to see the sunrise. Preparing an old favourite family recipe. Zooming a relative from far away. Beach walk or sending a card in the post to a friend. Using the good dishes for afternoon tea. Fun earrings!

No matter what, we are so lucky.

Enjoy your weekend!

Love Catherine x

PS. Recipe is here if you missed it (more hints and tips than ‘recipe’ but worth a read if you want perfect strawberries). And little Grace…our cute Aussie 4 year old who needs a wheelchair, we’re helping her get there! Check out Grace’s page here. Thank you!

Hooray for Strawberries!

Welcome to the weekend!

In Australia, we have one month of winter left, but strawberries are heading into season so it’s definitely time to dip them in chocolate. Right? Right!

Everybody makes this “recipe” but it’s easy to have a less-than-perfect result. Here are my 5 tips for perfect strawberries:

1. Wash and dry the strawberries well. Make sure they’re completely dry, right up to the leaves (which you gently pull upward). Chocolate won’t stick to damp berries.

2. Don’t cheat and use your microwave! Heat the chocolate in a double boiler. Just bring an inch of water to simmer in a pot, and place a bowl on top. Toss in the chocolate. Make sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water.

3. Add oil. Break up one block of baking chocolate (or chocolate chips). Add to the bowl. Then add 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil — this is what gives the beautiful sheen. Stir until melted.

4. WAIT. Don’t dip too early. Let the chocolate cool and thicken a little before you start dipping. This may take 10-15 minutes. Line a tray with baking paper for the dipped strawberries. If the chocolate is cool, it won’t pool as much at the base of the berry.

5. Cool at room temperature, then pop in the fridge. Leave the dipped berries to cool for at least 5 minutes on the bench top. Then put them in the fridge to harden. The chocolate won’t crack off the berry when you take a bite.

Tip #5 is the most important!

So easy and so delicious. Enjoy…

Love Catherine x

PS. Cuter than Olivia Newton John and just as Aussie! 

• Today, I want you to meet my little neighbour Grace. She’s four, smart as a whip, bubbly, beautiful — and her family is never ever going to give up on finding a cure for Grace’s ADCY5-familial Dyskinesia. It’s a very rare disorder that affects Grace’s ability to move and speak…but inside and outside, Grace is fully, beautifully FOUR. So funny and sweet. So smart.

• Grace’s mama, Emma, is a trained nurse and a tireless self-motivated (unofficial) researcher and advocate for this rare disorder. Grace’s nan, Jenny, is my very very dear friend.

• We can help with wheelchairs! It’s time for Grace to be wheeling around on her own and I’d love us to help. Grace’s wheelchair fundraiser is here. Please can you click through and make a donation? ($345 is raised out of a $67,500 target.)

• You can watch Grace on TV here :) Grace on Youtube!

If You Need A Break From The News...

So much is happening and people are hurting and I’m not sure how to encourage anyone this week… but, like you, I’m sending thoughts around the world to Beirut and Covid-struggling nations, and also here to our own island home of Australia.

Let’s take a deep breath. I truly hope things improve soon. If you need a little break from the news, please read on for something fun…

---

Here’s a tiny break for you!

Can we focus for a moment on something silly and girly? I’ve decided to drop in here at Love Our Age and talk about an extremely FUN experiment I tried this week.

It’s about hair.

It seems like everyone I follow on the internet is trying this weird big brush / blowdryer, and everyone is saying the same thing:

“It looks like I’ve been to a salon.”

That was enough enticement for me to try it out. I ordered mine here in Australia, but if I were in Canada I probably would have purchased the Revlon one. (We don’t get the same level of choice Down Under.)

Here’s my honest review: “It looks like I’ve been to a salon.”

It’s a little bit cumbersome and my wrist got tired—plus it was awkward as anything to take a photo for you while drying my own hair—BUT I found it easier to use than a blow dryer plus round brush.

The result? For hair with longer layers (maybe 4 inches plus?), or hair to your chin or longer, this blowdryer brush is a DEFINITE YES.

I love it.

I have no idea why, but it magically looks like I just spent $65 getting a fresh blow-out at a salon. Highly recommend.

If you try it, let me know what you think. (My hair is fine and super silky now that it’s grey instead of coloured, so I’m not sure if you’ll get the same result. Yours may even be nicer! I would say for the price, it’s totally worth it.)

One thing — the brush dryer is huge. Look at it in relation to my hand. I think it looks even bigger in real life. Mine has three speeds: low, medium or high. I used medium and it took about 10 minutes. Ha! Another 10 Minute Fix!

Hope this is fun for you to try!

I’m just over here in my corner of the world doing what I can to make people feel as good as possible, given the circumstances. Take care of yourselves out there.

Love Catherine x

PS. So funny! Tonight my husband said, “Did you go to the hair salon today??” Nope. Here’s where you can find it online:

• In America, on amazon here or for a little less try this one.

• In Canada, try this one — it looks like mine.

• In Australia, I bought this one at amazon.com.au and I love, love, love it!

And if you’re looking for free, beautiful books, please check out this giveaway…so easy to enter! My cousin and I are giving away books this weekend. Hurry, enter before Sunday!

Fleur de Sel Caramels

Hello! Today, my friends, I’m spilling all my best secrets on my blog, starting with this: absolutely to-die-for Fleur de Sel Caramels — salted caramels!

A tiny bit fiddly, and you need to make them with love, but ooooo la la, they make a beautiful gift. I hear this a lot: “Will you make your Fleur de Sel Caramels as my birthday present?”

Let’s get started!

You’ll need a trip to the shops to get these key tools:

You’ll also need butter and heavy cream and white sugar. You can substitute any salt (I sometimes use pink Himalayan) but sea salt flakes make it special, and a box will make many, many batches of caramels.

Trust me: these are worth it! Recipe below…

And here’s the pep talk: you will NEVER REGRET learning to make these caramels and everyone loves them. So special for a holiday or as a gift, or if you want someone to adore you!

Also — you have to take the pan off the heat at 248 degrees F on the candy thermometer or the caramels will be too hard / overcooked or too soft / unset. So yes, you need one.

Some things are a little hard, right?

But hard things are usually WORTH IT.

Sending love and encouragement to you all today, whatever you’re facing or celebrating. I’m truly thinking of you.

Love Catherine x

PS. Need to feel a little (or a lot) better? A 10 Minute Fix update is coming next week! I love this book, and love that it’s floating around the world, helping women feel more like themselves. Available in Canada, America, the UK, and Australia at Beachside Bookshop and online at Booktopia or Amazon Australia.

Martha Beck's Secret to Life

Hello there!

In case the world feels a little crazy to you right now, I thought I’d share a quote I heard this week and absolutely loved.

“If there’s a secret to life, it’s this:
Find people you like, and do stuff with them.”

— Martha Beck, bestselling author and speaker

Simple and absolutely true.

Have you found your “people you like”? For me, 100% it’s my own family. I love (but also really really like) my sons. The older one is precise and analytical — a reader, a thinker, a talker, a breaker of chains. I can’t wait to see what he’ll offer the world. The younger one is warm and street smart — a reader of people, a creator, a builder, the one who draws together a circle of friends. He’s the glue everyone needs. And my partner is my truest friend — so smart, with wisdom to make the long shots I can’t even see, a foundation and a bridge for hundreds of people at work (and for us, too).

The family I chose and made …those are “my people.” It’s a little insular, but there’s nothing I love more than spending time with them. If you read my new book, you’ll know my favourite time of day is twilight. This photo captures one of my favourite memories with my people — dusk at Hyams Beach, three kilometres of deserted white sand, just us, laughing and running. There was a good dinner ahead of us, spaghetti bolognese cooked by me, a family movie night, beds to snuggle into, warm baths, clean sheets. This little trio — husband, son, son — is my greatest joy.

Today I’m thinking of Martha Beck’s secret to life.

Choose your people. Choose well. And do stuff with them. That really is the secret.

Happy Friday, everyone. I know things are tough out there, so that’s all the more reason to hang on to the people we love. Or this — go and find “your people”. I know they’re out there.

Enjoy your Friday.

Love, Catherine x

PS. It’s time for 31 Crush, and Victoria (the creator) is “the Victoria” in Chapter 2 of my new book, The 10 Minute Fix. She’s a creative dynamo, so lovely and so much fun! You can be coached by Victoria for the month of August — pay what you can — to fall in love with a new activity, habit or pursuit in August. Email Victoria to learn more. I did 31 Crush last year and it was magic!

Is This Something You Do?

It’s a rainy winter Sunday for us in Sydney. My older son just got back from a two hour hike (packing 30 kilos of weights) in the bush; my younger one is sleeping in after a late-night skateboarding session in the garage with a mate.

I’m up with coffee and candles, lamps on, watching the early morning rain.

Resting.

Is this something you do? Do you prioritise rest?

Do you give yourself permission to slow down and actually enjoy resting? I’m bad at this but I’m trying to get better. I’m learning that rest needs to be deliberate and planned in order to feel like a break (for me). Now that work has spilled over into our home lives in the past decade—and even more so during COVID—it’s important to decide when we’ll rest.

We’re trying to take Sunday as a rest day.

No work. No emails. No sneaky copywriting to get ahead for the week. No book writing.

Are you going to rest this weekend? Can you plan a rest you actually enjoy? (Coffee, candles, a good book. A nap, a walk, some time to daydream.)

I’m sure you deserve it.

Love Catherine x

PS. Thinking of you all as the world turns and Covid surges back and forth. I hope you and yours are well. If work is a problem, I hope you find a way to create something new. I’ve been there during the Global Financial Crisis and it’s so hard…when you’re stressed and worried and can barely think through all that fear. Reach out if you need a little encouragement. I’m here.

Fab Sneakers and a Cute Girl

Today, let’s talk about sneakers!

Everyone’s wearing them now that the world’s turned upside down, and my stylist-author friend, Jules, recommended that I buy a pair, so I did.

These Zanerobe cuties are from Target, and they come in white and black. Unfortunately they’re sold out online, but I also tried these on and they are SO comfy. Take a peek!

If you need to run around and be comfortable, sneakers are the best. Today I got up and got cracking, picked up one teen from a sleepover with his mates, said goodbye to another teen who was sleeping over here, put the laundry in and started working. Popping on a cute pair of sneakers and a fun outfit always makes my day feel better…

Orange jumper, white jeans, sneakers — done! Happy Friday.

I hope something amazing happens to you today!

Love Catherine x

PS. Jules Van Mil is also a debut author, and her new middle grade novel hits the shelves this week. Take a look — you can buy it in bookshops in Australia, at Booktopia or online here in North America (Kindle). I was lucky enough to read an advance copy. It’s fantastic! Age 9-12.

Best Raspberry White Chocolate Cookies & Fun Fixes

Happy Sunday!

These aren’t just ANY jam drops. Nope. These are the best, most delicious cookies I make. Raspberry White Chocolate Shortbread Cookies. Trust me, you need this recipe. So easy.

Cream together in a mixer:

• 1 cup butter

• 2/3 cup white sugar

• 1/2 tsp almond extract

Add 2 cups + 2 tablespoons plain flour. Mix.

Roll into balls and indent with your beautiful thumbprint.

Add raspberry jam. I use a piping bag to do this. (The trick: warm up the jam a little or stir it well to make sure there are no lumps.)

See? So pretty.

Bake at 180F / 350 F for around 12 minutes. Cool. Then melt some white chocolate. I use about half a bag of Nestle White Melts. I can’t remember if you have those in Canada or America! Oh man, I’ve been in Australia for 23 years. I’m nearly Half & Half now (but I still sound 100% Canadian).

I pour the melted chocolate in a ziplock bag and snip the end. Then I drizzle over cooled cookies and wow, suddenly everything is elevated to SENSATIONAL. So easy.

Cookies are best when they’re made with love, right? These ones are going to be served to some beautiful women near Cronulla Beach today. We’re doing a tiny, social-distanced book event at Anna’s Shop.

I’m excited to dress up, drive down and share my stories from The 10 Minute Fix.

Three friends are hosting 10 Minute Fix bookclubs with their crew, and if you’d like to do the same, please invite me on Zoom! I’ll bring the virtual cookies (at least the recipe) and see your faces and hear what you think. You can email me here.

My favourite fix this week is #61:

(Yep, just like I wrote in the introduction, I need my own book! I still read it at night before bed.)

Enjoy your Sunday. If you’re baking cookies, these are the best.

Love Catherine

PS. Please—if you love it—spread the word about The 10 Minute Fix. It’s helping people feel better, and we all need more of that! Under $20 for so much “feel better now”…worth it. E-book is $9.99.

• For Canadians: on amazon.ca here.

• For Americans: on amazon.com here.

• For the UK: on amazon.co.uk here

• For my Aussies: Order from an independent bookshop in Avalon NSW at Beachside Bookshop here! Or amazon.com.au or Booktopia.

• For free delivery (but a higher price!) on Book Depository.