Crisis Heroes – Empowering every one of us to be a hero

Published on by Mrs Wilson of OzLeave a comment

It’s not often that I am truly moved at the creation of an online platform, however when I came across Crisis Heroes, I really was blown away. I immediately contacted Mark, one of the founders, and asked for an interview, to help spread the word! Turns out I couldn’t have waited for a better time to post this interview, as Melburnians face an extended stage 4 lock-down. I’m thrilled to share this superb community with you, and hope that you’ll get signed up and offer your hand to someone in need. I signed up a couple of weeks ago and was blown away when reading all the offers of help, so I hope you read this and feel empowered to do the same.

Mark Acheson – Crisis Heroes

Hi Mark! I’d love you to tell us a little bit about yourself and the team behind Crisis Heroes.

I’m a journalist, come marketer, come stranded Melburnian! I moved here two months ago from Tasmania to be closer to my other Crisis Heroes co founders Matthew Platts and Nicolas Hoban. Matt is our software engineer and Nic our designer and legal expert, being a former lawyer! 

When and how did the light bulb moment come about? Have you always been a helpful soul?

The light bulb moment came when Matt and I were forced to cut our American travels short in March this year and come back to Australia to self-isolate. I was actually on my way to work and live in the UK, a lifelong ambition of mine. I could have chosen to bury myself in my Xbox, but instead Matt and I came up with the idea of Crisis Heroes. We had our friends and family to rally around us while we self isolated, but we thought, what about those without these networks? This is where Crisis Heroes was born, to help people who are feeling isolated or are struggling in light of Covid. 

I’ve always tried to look out for the interest of others. I think we can make the world a happier place if we have one another’s backs. Life is hard enough as it is, without having people doing the wrong thing – Mark Acheson

 

What is the main aim of Crisis Heroes and what would you say to encourage people to get signed up? 

The main aim of Crisis Heroes is to empower everyday individuals to request or lend a hand. We did a quick market analysis and couldn’t find a free platform for trading goods and services. To anyone sitting on the fence as to seeking help, I say this; chances are you’ve supported someone in a time of need or difficulty, and you didn’t judge them for it. Reverse that sentiment. Never be too proud to reach out for help. There are hundreds of people waiting on Crisis Heroes to give you a hand, be it a friendly chat or running errands. 

Loneliness is a huge issue for many people during the pandemic, was this something you had in mind when coming up with the idea? Do you think Crisis Heroes is helping ease loneliness for people?

Yes, yes it was. Originally the platform was designed for people to run errands or trade services, but we then saw the need to implement a chat function. This chat function has seen the biggest uptake on our platform. It goes to show, along with national statistics, that people are struggling with the Covid-19 restrictions and the impacts of isolation. 

I know that Crisis Heroes has hit a few countries already, but what are the long term plans for spreading the love even further? How will this look post pandemic?

It doesn’t stop here post pandemic. We want to see Crisis Heroes reach every corner of the globe and help as many people as possible. What is great to see is the sense of fulfilment a person gets when they help someone else on our platform. They’ve perhaps never had a platform or the resources to help someone before. When they do, they feel overwhelmed with happiness. Not to forget the person who has received help. We had one woman in Melbourne say that she connected with a kind stranger on Crisis Heroes and their conversations were the reason she got out of bed of a morning. That’s huge!

 I’ve signed up Mark, and I was amazed at all the wonderful offers of help and support! It really does make your heart feel full. How does it feel to have created this wonderful community?

I feel very humbled to be in a position to help others. This wouldn’t have been possible without my amazing co-founders and the support of my friends and family. I just choose to keep this simple mantra: do good. 

If you’re a kind soul and would like to sign up and offer your support to someone doing it tough right now, head to Crisis Heroes You can also follow the Crisis Heroes journey on their socials (handles below). Whether it’s offering to walk the dog, grab essentials or just be available for a much needed chat, you can utilise this platform to make someones day and perhaps save someones life!

Liv xx

Book Review – ‘Be Your Own Man’ by Jessica Sanders

Published on by Mrs Wilson of Oz1 Comment

We were kindly sent a copy of Jessica Sanders latest book, the beautifully written and illustrated Be Your Own Man. When it arrived in the mail I had a flick through, and tears instantly sprang to my eyes. This is a glorious read from start to finish, and one that will cement feelings of acceptance within any young man who is struggling to feel ok with himself.

Be Your Own Man invites boys (in fact anyone who reads this) to broaden their ideas about what it is to be a boy, to feel proud of who they are and to feel like they can be anything they want to be. I would encourage boys & men of all ages to get a copy, sit down and take it all in. *All of it!!! Be Your Own Man should be handed out at maternity wards for all families expecting boys, and quotes from it chanted in the halls of all schools.

You and your body are together for life, so always treat your body like you would your best friend.

We’ve become so very good at encouraging girls to reach for the stars, be leaders, mechanics, engineers and soldiers. We reassure our daughters that girls can be who they want to be, they can strive for greatness; but for our boys, being strong and getting to the top is mostly just expected. Be Your Own Man is such a refreshing change to the selection of ‘boy books’ available, it’s a ‘Be Your Own Man’ guidebook, a life journal and a bible for boys to live by.

Boys have inherited an outdated story around what it is to be male, Be Your Own Man gives them permission to rewrite that story and embrace a new masculine identity that feels right for them – Jessica Sanders

I highly recommend you purchase 10 copies of this book and give them out to every boy you know, it has to be the Number 1 gift for boys! It’s not only a conversation starter for our little guys and their caregivers, it’s a page by page realisation that “I am ok”, “I am normal” “I want to be like this”, “I can be me”, “my body is ACE” which ultimately turns any reader into a happy, life loving, young man, who treats himself and others in the best way he can.

All you need to do is be your own boy so that you can become your own man.

In a world where men are three times more likely to die by suicide than women, and who are far less likely to ask for help, it’s time we allowed and encouraged our boys to be who they are, and not who we expect them to be.

When you’re tucking in your little man this evening, when you’re giving those last kisses of the day, the last hugs before he falls asleep, remember to whisper: “You are one of a kind, there’s absolutely no one else quite like you, and that’s amazing!”

You can buy this beautiful book by Jessica Sanders at all good book retailers (RRP $24.99) Published by Five Mile

I have to mention the RAD illustrations in Be Your Own Man as they really capture everything this book is about. Robbie Cathro is a British (*Yay*) illustrator from Bristol, and is well worth a follow! Think “illustrator that our kids will grow up with and think fondly of when they share his illustrations with their own kids!!!” THAT GOOD!!

Be Your Own Man was gifted to my son, however as always, these words are my own and honest opinion. Liv xx

Top Father’s Day Gifts for me… I mean him!

Published on by Mrs Wilson of OzLeave a comment

Let’s face it, when we buy gifts for Father’s Day, we’re really making a purchase based on it’s ‘share-ability’ right? We see the cookies #sold, we buy the recipe books so he can cook up a storm, and we drool over the menus hence we book the table! So, forget the age old ‘Top Ten Father’s Day Gift’ articles and check out my Top 6 Father’s Day Gifts for me him!

Perfect Gifts for Mama Papa

Barley & Malt

Aside from the wonderfully fine Whiskey’s you can have delivered to your door for your very own classy tasting evening, Barley & Malt also sell incredible glassware. My favourite *for Mr W. being the Tokyo Decanter and glasses set! ($100) I’ll He’ll love it! Use the code SUPERDAD until 4th September for free shipping.

Sweet Disposition

Boxes of lollies! I mean more lollies than you could shake a musk stick at!! These lolly boxes are oozing share-ability and perfect for my his Father’s Day gift! I particularly love the look of the ‘All You Can Sweet’ ($120) because there’s more than enough to share with him me!

Foxeys Hangout Wine

Gold standard wine… Say no more! I’ll He’ll pour!!! The Father’s Day Pinot Pack will make Dad one of the first to taste these three new and very special single-vineyard pinot noirs from the 2019 harvest, Foxeys first fully certified biodynamic vintage!! So much goodness for just $195 for a 3 pack! Two for Mama and one for Papa! Nice!

Chefs Eat Breakfast Too by Darren Purchese

This glorious cookbook, promises an epic collection of breakfast recipes that will ensure you go to bed early in anticipation. Perfect!! **Always remember, a cook book is a must when gifting on Father’s Day. It would be rude for him not to cook me breakfast every weekend for a month when I ‘thoughtfully’ bought the book, so.. I will have succeeded in the task of perfect gifting! Yum!

Manflower Co

From gorgeous craft beers to make your own cocktails to stylish socks, these guys know how to man gift! However, this is about me sharing, so I am eyeing up the Productivity Pack ($54.95). Craft beer, fab notebooks *so handy for my his work, and I can upgrade to include some ST ALi coffee capsules. I’m He’s going to love this!! Have a browse and use this cheeky discount code TWOO10 for 10% off. Yes mama, I got your back!!

Kalea Body

All men need great body products, and lucky for him, I don’t mind sharing! I have carefully chosen the thoughtfully curated ‘Awaken your senses‘ bundle ($75) which includes all the things I he loves. Aromatherapy room & body mist, Magnesium & Coffee Body Scrub, and some Lemon Myrtle Hand, Body & Bath Wash!! Boy I’m he’s going to smell divine!!!! Free Shipping on this product!!

Always here to help!

I hope this article has given you a little extra encouragement to really share the love this Father’s Day! 😉 You deserve it mama!!

Please try and support small businesses where you can, buy one extra of something just because you care and make an extra effort to support ‘Australian’ in our time of need!!

Much love Liv xxx

Quick Malaysian Curry- Perfect winter supper

Published on by Mrs Wilson of Oz4 Comments

Weekends are all about food in our house. We plan our weekend feasts well in advance so we know we have something delicious to look forward to. Thankfully Tim is a keen cook, so I can sit back, keep the wine flowing and leave him to cook up a storm for the team. This weekend he blew me away with this Quick Malaysian Curry so I just had to share it with you. Enjoy! xx

Quick Malaysian Curry

 

Ingredients

2 tablespoons of Murray River Organics virgin coconut oil.

1 onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, grated

Thumb sized piece of ginger, grated

3 cloves garlic, finely sliced

1 tsp dried coriander

1 tsp dried turmeric

1 tsp dried fennel

1 tsp dried hot paprika

1 cardamom pod

1 tsp cinnamon

3 cloves

1 star anise

500 mls of organic coconut milk

2 cups of organic green beans

2 organic chicken breast fillets (500g) or Tofu for a plant based option, cut into 1cm strips

1 cup toasted organic cashews

Cracked black pepper, to serve

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Method

  1. Heat the coconut oil in large shallow pan over high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned. Remove from the pan and set aside.
  2. Keep the pan on the heat, and add spices to toast gently. Add the onion, garlic and ginger and cook for 4–5 minutes or until soft.
  3. Add the chicken into the pan with the softened onion, and coat with the spices.
  4. Add the coconut milk and green beans and simmer gently.
  5. In a small pan, toast the cashews until golden.
  6. Remove the Malaysian curry from heat, place into bowls and scatter the toasted cashews on the top.

Enjoy xx

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Annie and the Waves – turning the tide on drowning

Published on by Mrs Wilson of Oz2 Comments

Annie and the Waves Author Biography: Louise Lambeth 

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Louise, Peter & Isobel Lambeth

Drowning is preventable yet it is the third largest cause of accidental death worldwide.  The 2019 Royal Life Saving Drowning Report records that 276 people drowned across Australia. Additionally, 584  people experienced non-fatal drowning that can lead to lifelong medical complications.  Staggeringly, 42% of these were children aged 0-4!

Whilst community education has been identified as essential to help prevent drowning not all children are able to access surf education! As a surf lifesaver with an early childhood background Louise understands how powerful a safety message conveyed through storytelling can be! 

Louise’s journey to print has been a long and emotional one motivated by a terrible tragedy that could have been prevented: page-03.jpg

‘The biggest misunderstandings in surf safety are caused by our lack understanding of the surf environment, the risks and the safety strategies we can put in place before we go to and when we are at the beach!’ 

‘I wrote ‘Annie and the Waves’ in 2012 just before I went on my first of 4 tours as a Surf Life Saving NSW ‘Beach to Bush’ presenter, educating country primary school children on how to stay safe when they visit the beach. But it took another 6 years to publish the book!’ 

‘In 2014 my surf club was involved in the search and rescue, that all too soon became a search and recovery, of a 5-year-old boy who drowned at Pearl Beach on the NSW Central Coast. The components of risk were exactly the same that I had written in my story two years earlier…. a moment lapse in supervision, a young child on the water’s edge, a surging wave that swept him off his feet and into the deep water. The difference was that in my story there were strategies in place that ensured a safe outcome. 

It made me think; What if my book had been published and this family had read it, could this tragedy have been prevented?

g3DUcUzs.jpegFrom that moment on Louise was determined to discover how to publish a book … It was a huge learning curve but in November 2018, Annie and the Waves was endorsed by Surf Life Saving Australia and finally published.

The book is now in its third print run there is still so much more to do! Annie and the Waves has been reviewed and endorsed by teachers and librarians and the positive feedback from children, parents and grandparents keep Louise committed to finding ways to provide books to children, early learning centres, schools and libraries. 

With a background in research Louise has undertaken a pilot study to investigate whether ‘Annie and the Waves’ increases children’s knowledge of the key safety messages found in the book. She presented the results at the 2019 World Drowning Prevention Conference in Durban South Africa and at the 14th Australasian Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Conference in Brisbane on 26th November 2019.

Louise is also committed to providing alternate book formats to children with disabilities and an audio version is now available.

‘One of my lifesaving roles is as an inclusive nipper buddy working with children of various abilities. It’s really rewarding and a lot of fun. Our Seagull Nippers, who include children on the autism spectrum, love and respond to having ‘Annie and the Waves’ read to them. I have also worked with children with a vision impairment through Guide Dogs ACT and NSW. I want to make ‘Annie and the Waves’ as accessible to as many children as possible including: 

  • People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds as the books simple words and engaging illustrations by Carissa Harris are helpful in explaining beach safety bfFxnAFw.jpeg
  • Children with dyslexia. The font and choice of matt paper for the book was chosen to be dyslexia friendly 
  • Children with vision impairment or a text disability. An audio version is being made especially for them 
  • Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who are 160% more likely to drown than a child not on the spectrum! Reading about surf safety in a child’s own home or school before coming to the beach will help to provide a pathway for transitioning to the beach environment 

Louise’s wish or goal for Annie’s story

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Louise is developing a series of books called ‘Safety by Story’ with the first series focused on water safety. 

My goal is to help prevent drowning! There are many reasons people may not access surf safety programs. These include location, access to transport, culture, cost or other challenges. I would love for all Australian children to have access to read ‘Annie and the Waves’, in their home, a local library, their childcare or their school. 

But there are also more stories to tell….. in fact I have 6 more water safety story ideas for children aged 0-12 and their parents! 

 

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Annie and The Waves is beautifully illustrated by Carissa Hariss and is a book that will undoubtedly save lives. If you have children, if you’re a teacher, an educator or carer you need this book.

To find out more about Annie and The Waves please check out the website and social media channels.

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Simone Marshall-Motivating women with YOGi Active

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YOGi Active may be the new kid on the block, however Director Simone has big plans for this beautiful brand designed to inspire, empower and motivate all women to be more active and live a healthier lifestyle. I need all the help I can get and am all over this. Minimalist and stylish activewear that can be worn all day is right up my street and I cannot wait to kit myself and my tween out! I caught up with Simone, the creator of YOGi Active this week and had a chat about how YOGi was born.
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Simone Marshall – YOGi Active

Simone Marshall

Hi Simone, thanks so much for sharing your story with us. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

My name is Simone Marshall and I am the proud mother of 3 teenage (1, actually a tween!) girls. I am an active, healthy 48 year old. I’ve always wanted to be a strong role model for my girls by living a well- balanced, active lifestyle. For me this involves eating well, regular exercise, balancing work (as best I can) and taking time out whenever possible. 

What was it that inspired you to create YOGi Active?Yogi_Active_Web_Lifestyle-11.jpg

My inspiration for starting YOGi was my teenage girls. 2 of my daughters are only a year apart but have very different body types. One is an elite athlete with a very petite frame, who found it impossible to buy the activewear and clothes that her peers were wearing. My other daughter is more inspired by fashion and therefore looking and feeling good in her activewear is very important to her. Hence YOGi was born.
Delivering performance infused with fashion, our collection blends flawlessly into any wardrobe – Simone Marshall – Director

Has YOGi Active been impacted this year with more people training and staying at home?

We postponed our launch due to COVID. We felt it was insensitive and wanted to wait until things settled down a little.
Thankfully, training at home hasn’t stopped people from buying activewear, and they’re continuing to look for options that make them feel & look great!
We create ready to wear garments that are made to last – Simone Marshall -Director

I am not your average size 10. In fact I am the proud owner of a chunkier thigh and a *much rounder bottom. Will I be able to wear the gorgeous YOGi Active collection?

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Yes you will! Our sizing starts at size XXS (12yrs) – L (size 14+). Our collections are available in matching sets and our separates are all trans-seasonal; this means that here at YOGi we will always ensure to bring our customer the most comfortable yet versatile pieces, ensuring that they can effortlessly transition from workout to everyday wear.

I love that YOGi Active is designed in Australia,  can you tell us why that was so important to you?

That’s simple. Because I am Australian, I live in Australia and I am the designer!

YOGi Active is still fairly young isn’t it? What is one thing that you have learnt since starting the journey?

Believing in your dreams and hard work can pay off. I think it has been such a great lesson for my daughters to see me working in every area of the business. They see my passion, they see me tired, sometimes stressed, but most importantly they see the times of sheer elation, the times where I feel really proud of my achievements.
I will always support their ambitions.
Delivering performance infused with fashion, our collection blends flawlessly into any wardrobe – Simone Marshall – Director

What would be your one bit of business advice to someone out there with a fab idea?

Mia Freedman runs the Lady Startup business course. I would have loved to have done it but I was too far down the line by the time I found out about it.
I think the one thing I would advise if you are looking to turn your idea into reality is to make sure you surround yourself with a great team of people.

YOGi Active

 

 

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Rollin’ with Georgia from How We Roll Co

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I grabbed a cuppa with Georgia this week, the brains behind How We Roll Co. How We Roll Co. is the marvellous eco friendly biz selling tree free & plastic free alternatives to supermarket household products, currently taking Australia & the US by storm! I particularly love that HWR are paying it forward every time we shop, by planting trees in bushfire devastated areas within Australia…. oh, and that they have enabled dog mamas like me buy my tree free TP and my 100% biodegradable and compostable dog poop bags in just a few clicks. #winningatlife

Introducing Georgia

Georgia
Tell us a little bit about yourself and what it was that inspired you to create How we Roll? 

Heya 👋 My name is Georgia and I’m the founder of How We Roll Co. I’m also a crazy dog person much like yourself and spending time with my two boys – Twister and Mac is my fave thing to do – when i’m not selling TP of course! I’m originally from Adelaide and have a background in ecommerce and fashion – so being in the TP game is a little how-we-roll-recycleddifferent for me but part of a bigger sustainable picture I have in the works.  How We Roll came about as the first of a few brands I plan on rolling (pun definitely intended) out over the next 18 months – each with a sustainable focus and charitable aspect. Although the launch of How We Roll may seem timely with toilet paper being the hottest product of 2020 it was well in the works before Covid hit and the team and I are in this for the long term – hoping to create small sustainable changes in everyday lives.

Does being in the toilet paper biz mean 2020 has been a good year for you?
Haha I mean as far as starting businesses go it wasn’t a bad product to be launching! We do like to think of How We Roll as a long term choice for people in making those small changes into their everyday lifestyle. Since launch we have also rolled out compostable bin liners and biodegradable ‘dogo bogo bags’ to make sure your furry friends are also covered!
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We have recently rescued a beagle and I am head over heels. I have officially become one of those “dog people”. The fact that I can add eco friendly dog poop bags to my order got me over the line. Have your extras been popular?
Yes they have! Which has been great – we are even launching a cheeky new product in a few months which we are super excited about! I think people love the convenience of being able to purchase a few items from the one store – and having the option to receive these items on a monthly basis via subscription! This means people can spend less time at the supermarket trying to find eco alternatives and more time doing the things they love.
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I love that HWR is super eco friendly and environmentally aware. Can you tell us a little bit about your partnership with One Tree Planted and why you chose them.
We wanted to partner with a charity that aligned with our brand – seeing people are saving trees not wiping with them when people use How We Roll it seemed like the perfect fit. Along side of this the fact we can plant trees in bushfire impact regions of Australia is amazing! HWR-colour0270
What is one thing that you have learnt since starting How We Roll?
That customers really do care about the impact on the environment in regards to what products they use. It’s great to have been able to chat to customers with the same passion as us!
What would be your one bit of business advice to someone out there with a fab idea?
Go for it! However also be realistic – business is super competitive these days – find your edge and stick to it and grow that. Make sure you do your research especially when it comes to eco friendly products as customers really do care and want to know

 

Wanna know how you can roll?

Follow the links to explore, shop and be a ‘better’ human!

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Winter just got seriously good

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Winter has always been a tough one for me when it comes to food

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Winter sees me spending the entire 3 months craving carbs and all the bad stuff. I could quite easily hibernate and eat all the food. Not only does this make me look tired, it makes me feel yuk. Having an auto immune disease means that making the wrong choices wrecks me. A moment on the lips is at least a week of feeling terrible. This winter I have started adding bone broth into my diet, and I have managed to stave off the cravings whilst giving my body a serious hug from the inside out! Bone Broth is great for weight management, gut health, arthritis and joint health. This delicious broth, full of goodness helps repair your gut which leads to stronger and healthier hair and nails too! Win win!!! Here’s a beautiful recipe from Liquid Gold Bone Broth for you and your family to enjoy.

Chicken Noodle Soup

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 small onion, finely chopped

1.5 L Liquid Gold Chicken Bone Broth (can use 500 ml of water instead of 500 ml bone broth, but recommend using all bone broth)

3 cloves garlic, finely sliced

1 stalk celery, sliced

100g spaghetti, broken into lengths (can use gluten free spaghetti for GF version, or zucchini noodles for low carbohydrate version)

2 chicken breast fillets (500g), cut into 1cm strips

2 cups (40g) baby spinach leaves

Cracked black pepper, to serve

Method

  1. Heat the oil in large sauce pan over high heat. Add the onion, garlic and celery and cook, stirring, for 4–5 minutes or until soft.
  2. Add the bone broth and water and bring to the boil. Add the pasta and cook for 5 minutes or until just starting to soften. (if using zucchini noodles add these after the chicken, require short cooking time)
  3. Add the chicken and cook for a further 4–5 minutes or until cooked through.
  4. Remove from heat and stir through the spinach. Sprinkle with pepper and divide between bowls to serve

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Photo credit – Donna Hay

 

You can order Liquid Gold Bone Broth to be delivered direct to your door. Check out their website and socials for all the glorious details.

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Liptember- Perk up your pout and help out!

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You’ll know by now that I am an avid supporter when it comes to mental health awareness. I have shared my journey through parenting a child with severe anxiety and PTSD, a journey that has opened my eyes to what support is available and what isn’t. Hence why I am taking part in Liptember 2020!  Even if I’m still stuck at home, with biscuit crumbs in my hair, dog tired of remote learning, I’ll be doing the whole of September in my brightest lippy to raise much needed funds for mental health charities!!! 

What is Liptember?

Liptember, if you haven’t heard, is a campaign dedicated to raising funds and awareness for women’s mental health, harnessing the true potential of the collective, encouraging and inspiring people to listen, share, and learn.

Helping start the conversation off by popping a little colour on; individuals are encouraged to register online and seek sponsorship from family, friends and co-workers for committing to wear lippy throughout September.

Funds raised during the month of September are donated to the Centre for Women’s Mental Health, Lifeline, Batyr, The Jean Hailes Foundation, The Pretty Foundation and The Magpie Nest Women’s Program.

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It’s so easy for you and your gals to get involved in Liptember. All you need to do is, decide whether you’re going to smash this as a team or go it alone and take all the glory! Then you need to register, commit to wearing a fabulous bold lippy for a day, a week or even the whole month of September (**Yes you can) and show your support to women who need it most!

Become a part of our community and help raise funds to positively impact women’s mental health across Australia- Liptember

It’s as easy as this:

lipsPurchase a Liptember lipstick from any Chemist Warehouse, My Chemist or My Beauty Spot store.

lipsRegister online and start fundraising to add to the $2million already raised.

lipsRock your lippy throughout September! **Wooohoooo!! (As if we need to be asked more than once!)

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So grab your gal pals, create your plan, buy some of the most insanely gorgeous lippy you can get your hands on and support women’s mental health!

There are some great ‘Fundraising Resources’ here!

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You can follow my journey this September by clicking onto my socials. If you’re a kind soul you can also support my Liptember fundraising here!

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Covid and the accidental author

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Charlie Golding is a mum on a mission to help children better understand the world we are living in right now. When The World Went Inside is a beautifully written children’s book, perfect for starting conversations with our little ones about life inside a pandemic. Charlie shares her story here xx

It was an ordinary bike ride in an extraordinary time.

At least that was what I was aiming for. If I could get out of the house.My 3 year old clung to the door frame, crying and refusing to leave; as I wrapped him in my arms and felt his heaving wracking sobs against my chest it dawned on me that this was no ordinary tantrum. This kid was frightened. As I held and shushed him, he finally started to talk. As the mumbles became more coherent it dawned on me what was going on. And with that realisation came a bolt of ice through my heart.IMG_2239

He was scared of COVID-19. 

At just 3 years old he was unable to discern between a virus which he could manage and control, and a monster which was hiding behind the bushes, just waiting to leap out and grab him!

This was March 2020, and COVID was just starting to get real in Victoria.

I had missed the memo about Doomsday prepping. In February I was living my best life as a working Mumma to three glorious dirtbags. I simply popped my proverbial fingers in my ears every time someone mentioned the dirty C-Word. Whilst I definitely enjoyed the virus memes and toilet paper jokes, all of that was safely contained within the internet. I was living in the real world – and it wasn’t going to affect me. 

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And then one day I walked into the supermarket and came eye ball to eye ball with a terrifying figure in a full HAZMAT suit and gas mask. I looked around me and the aisles were empty. My core chilled and I wanted to cry. Except I couldn’t, some bastard had just made off with the last box of tissues.

Suffice it to say that I didn’t handle the start to COVID well. However, as I sat in my hallway holding my sobbing baby boy, I realised that whatever I did next – I had to aim higher for the kids. 

At this stage of the crisis very little existed to help children understand COVID-19. Hell, there was very little out there for the adults. But I dug deep and came up with a Tumble Science podcast. The kids reacted enthusiastically and we listened to it again and again. They loved the science behind it – learning how the virus had mutated and where it came from meant something to them.

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But you can’t cuddle up with a Podcast. In our family we use bedtime stories as a springboard to deeper conversations; I’ve used fictional books to cover topics on history, sex, gender, race and equality. The story never covers everything there is to talk about but provides a baseline that propels the conversation forward. Naturally, my first instinct had been to go looking for a friendly family text; but being so early in the pandemic one didn’t yet exist.

Believe me, my immediate reaction was not to put my hand up to write one! I had a job, and a family and a crisis to deal with, after all! However, COVID-19 was dominating our conversations. I realised that the more we spoke about it, the more reassured we all felt. I communicate openly, it comes as second nature to engage children in honest yet challenging conversations. However, my locked-down friends were telling me that they weren’t sure how to have these talks. How much information to provide and what to withhold? After all, what information do little brains need? Can we damage inherent innocence by laying it all out too honestly?Microscope

My experience tells me that children will only absorb what they are ready to hear. If you talk confidently and provide facts reassuringly then you can trust kids to take from that conversation what they need. 

When The World Went Inside is our lockdown story.

It’s an illustrated book for children that emerged from our lived experience. It’s a powerful story told simply, written with the hope that children would see their own experiences mirrored within the pages and feel less alone. 

Hot on the heels of this global health crisis, is a mental one. There’s a lot that 2020 has asked of our little ones – from stopping and starting school, to living life as never before. Thankfully, they’re resilient little critters. 

Every time I hear from a parent or teacher about their child’s reaction to the book, my heart soars. Parents we’ve got this!!!

The creative world has stepped up and there’s now a toolkit of resources out there to help guide your conversations with your children; maybe my book will be one of them. However, my purpose for writing this is to plead with you to prioritise your mental health, whatever that looks like. Our children need us happy, healthy and whole. With us standing strong by their side they’ll continue to thrive, no matter what the world has in store.

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About When The World Went Inside

Learn how to stay safe and keep having fun in a world with COVID-19. This fun and beautifully illustrated book is best for kids aged 3-10 years old. If you’re parenting in a pandemic then join in the chatter in the socials!

www.whentheworldwentinsidebook.com

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Tumble Science link: https://www.sciencepodcastforkids.com/blog