Wrap your ears UPDATE

A while ago I shared with you my new found love of a little internet sensation know as 'podcasts'. Ok, I know that they're nothing new, but let's be real - they've been pretty bland for the past ten years. HOWEVER there are so many fab ones that I keep discovering, it's my civic duty to share with you all.

In the beginning, I jumped on the Serial bandwagon and went from there. Admittedly, I've been drawn to lady-only podcasts. And while I'm not adverse to a good old mansplain every now and then, listening to ladies is a nice relief - especially when it's just general chit-chats whilst getting boozy. How this was not a thing before now is beyond me (but I am open to anyone interested in starting a podcast with me, for no other reason than to enjoy a bevvie or two, while taping our voices and thinking we are sooooo funny. I used to tape my voice when I was a kid - hold down 'play' and 'record' together. See? I'm a pro and it will DEFINITELY be a hit).

In the meantime, here are some fab recommendations to see you through.

Another Round - with Heben and Tracy (Buzzfeed)

I really can't tell you how I stumbled across this one - I think I was trawling through the podcast 'hit list' and liked their picture. Anyhoo, this is my latest, most favourite podcast. Heben and Tracy are hilarious - their aptly named podcast is in tune with their philosophy to drink whilst broadcasting. It's a winning formula. They then proceed to chat about what interests them, racial politics in the US, interview people and enjoy general shenanigans. They share jokes and have mock debates. Mostly, I love their open discussions of being African-American women, race politics and how life is for people of colour in the US. This isn't a discussion we'd generally know as being mainstream (especially in Australia) but it's refreshing and long overdue. It's amazing. It's hilarious. There is regular reference to 90s R'n'B. Get your ears on it now.

Call Your Girlfriend - with Ann Friedman and Aminatou Sow

'A podcast for long-distance besties everywhere'. Again, not sure how I found this one, but I love that they started a podcast because they are trying to keep in touch living in places far away from each other. They have a segment 'What's new in menstruation', which is a running theme here (and if you think about it, when has there ever been the liberty to discuss periods on the airwaves? People are prepared discuss actual shit, but somehow periods are too gross... I didn't realise how absent that discussion was, until I listened to informed women talk about it in a respectful and informative way). It's not all about mensies though - like Heben and Tracy, Ann and Aminatou are kicking back with a few vinos, chatting about things relevant to them - and a lot of ladies aged 18 to 40.

Chat 10, Looks 3 - with Leigh Sales and Annabel Crabb

If you're an ABC nerdist like myself, you'd be familiar with Leigh (7:30) and Annabel (Kitchen Cabinet), and their mostly political reporting. I've included them in this list because they offer an Australian flavour to a lot of topics (as you've probably noticed, most of my recommendations are US-centric). Being familiar with their journalism, Leigh and Annabel are so obviously wicked smart, but their podcast is a nice break from the seriousness of their professional work. They not 'on', so to speak, they are just having a yarn about stuff. Who knew that Leigh is an adorable, theatrical music nut? And Annabel's Adelaide accent is sooooooooo prominent, I just want to high-five her for being from the same state as me (it's not always about Sydney and Melbourne you guys).

Not Too Deep - with Grace Helbig

A lovely reader of this blog recommended this podcast to us (shout out to Stacey!) and Grace Helbig is really the epitome of an internet elite (aside from the Mark Zuckerburg, Silicon Valley tech types). Grace is a hilarious performer, making crazy and relatable online content. Grace interviews her friends and interesting people and asks questions that aren't 'too deep' (geddit? it's in the title) because funny questions will lead to funny answers and antics. Key life questions include: "What is the impact of the combination of our farts?" Hard hitting stuff. Get on it.


ADDED BONUS!

The Good News about PMS - Robyn Stein DeLuca (TED Talks)

Technically this isn't a podcast, just a talk at a TED conference, but I thought I'd throw it in there since I've already mentioned periods a few times. Everything you knew about PMS is wrong. Must listen, in 15 minutes your entire world will change. (I would really love to hear your thoughts about this - no matter your gender, would be interesting to see how people respond to this - leave a comment below!)

What are you listening to readers? Anthing else to recommend? Leave us a comment below, or let us know via our facebook page here.

Elouise x

Ivy Shed - an interview

I am so excited to be able to bring the first in what will be a series of interviews with fabulous women doing really cool stuff. Megan and I are fortunate to know some pretty talented ladies who have know how and insider tips in a range of fields that we can share along with you all.

I am especially thrilled to kick the series off with an interview with Debrah, founder and operator of Ivy Shed at Stirling in the beautiful Adelaide Hills. 

This interview is close to my heart for a few reasons: Deb is a long time close friend of my parents and I've been lucky to have her in my life. Deb was also the genius behind the flowers at my wedding last year - what she created was simply stunning and left me speechless (in the literal sense - I forgot to thank her in the speeches).

The beautiful garland created by Deb for my wedding last year - a million times, thank you
(image credit: Aunty Sandra c/o facebook)

Debrah's passion for floristry has not only enabled her to build a respected career, but led to some amazing business enterprises spanning 20 years. Before her recent return to Adelaide, Debrah established Rococo in Sydney's Darlinghurst, which became a prominent feature of Sydney's eastern suburbs. Rococo quickly became not only an institution, but also the preferred floral design of retail establishments and various celebrities around Sydney - a point that Deb is quick to play down, which emphasises her passion for her work and is a true reflection of her professionalism.

Deb's exciting new venture is Ivy Shed - bespoke flowers and eceletic gifts. This beautiful shop is located in Stirling in the Adelaide Hills (a stone's throw from the city) and is a charming space. Surrounded by natural beauty, Ivy Shed is situated among other thriving businesses such as Patch cafe/ restaurant, which creates a sweet outlook. The shop itself is a converted stone barn that is perfect for the florist space, but can easily been adapted for other ventures - which Deb is eager to explore and expand on. Deb is so graciously sharing with us what inspires her work and how we enjoy and include blooms in our everyday lives. 

Why did you decide to return to Stirling and establish Ivy Shed?

When I came back to Adelaide, Stirling was an obvious choice for what I wanted to create. Stirling has a village appeal and I'm surrounded by enthusiastic and passionate gardeners. I feel like I'm amongst the nature I'm inspired by and a cooler climate suits me perfectly.

How does this space suit your aesthetic?

Ivy Shed is a space that suits my visual nature, and there are many local people who appreciate the relaxed and rustic style. Nature is the best background for what I try to create and this space is a reflection of the Adelaide Hills - the Adelaide plains is quite built up, whereas the Hills still have a country sprawl.

How would you describe your style? What is your inspiration?

I tend to focus on creating practical pieces that can be enjoyed for a long time, that last longer than a moment. I'm not tied to a certain style or look, but I'm constantly inspired and changing. I often use muted or nude colours, but I also love discovering new colours. I like to create clusters of flowers, then add interesting foliage such as herbs or autumn leaves to achieve a tonal palette that I might have in mind. I often look to nature and I aim to enhance what is already naturally occurring to ensure that what I've used in an arrangement compliments each other. I am inspired by people's gardens, especially flowers in nature. I like to spend time in gardens to draw on those natural elements that I love. Getting my hands dirty and getting back to the earth, doing jobs like raking or sweeping - it's mundane loveliness that I relish.

What are common mistakes people make when it comes to buying flowers?

It's a good idea to speak with your florist when buying arrangements, but common mistakes people make are transferring flowers straight into a vase. It is SO important to recut the stems! When flowers are wrapped, the bottoms seal over and they need to be reopened. Also, regularly change the water with a few drops of bleach to keep flowers fresh. Always wash vases between use with bleach and don't add sugar - it encourages fungus. Choosing the right vase is important to achieve the florist's intention for an arrangement and ensure it falls into place. 

What are some simple things people can do to maximise their floral purchases?

It all starts with your choice of container or vase when arranging flowers at home. People tend to buy big vases that need a lot of flowers to fill it. It is much better to use small vases with blooms that have big heads, as bigger headed flowers create a greater proportion than you actually have. Also, be creative with containers and use alternatives to vases, such as olive oil tins when they're finished. This will achieve something interesting to look at and paired with foliage from your garden can be very effective. It's very important to buy seasonal, as it is often cheaper - winter is my favourite season because all the spring blooms come early in floristry: tulips, bulbs, jonquils, narcissus, hysteria - growers are able to grow what would usually come up in spring, making the prettiest flowers available in winter. 

What are you hoping to achieve at Ivy Shed?

What I am doing at Ivy Shed is stepping back from 'high end' to a style that is relaxed and focuses on interactions with people. I found that the bigger the enterprise, the process and focus changes and becomes driven by a different agenda. I want to be driven by creating beautiful things that are in line with the vision that clients have for what they want to achieve.  I have the opportunity to work with smaller growers and local people, which is an important part of my process. People sometimes cry at how beautiful the shop is, which is so lovely and encouraging - it reminds them of their childhoods or a special place. I love it when people bring cuttings or flowers from their garden, and would love for every single person with a garden in Stirling to be my suppliers, so that I wouldn't even need to buy from wholesale growers. This space is very special and is available for people to use, such as a dinner party or exhibition - a beautiful outlook for a special occasion that I can adapt and dress to suit individual style.

Deb is available for creating blooms for an event, bespoke arrangements and everyday gifts. Ivy Shed is also available for private hire throughout winter. For more information, you can visit the Ivy Shed Facebook page here.

I hope you've enjoyed Deb's beautiful creations and Ivy Shed - please 'like' the Ivy Shed page for updates and leave a comment below or at our Chaotic Favourites Facebook page.

with love and chaos

E x

Mad March

Hello readers!

You may have missed us, but we were on short hiatus these past few weeks - for various reasons for the two of us (Megan in particular had a very lovely addition to her life, but which I will let her share with the world). For me, it was the usual whirlwind of catch ups, work and general busyness. My parents went to Portugal and reunited with my sister who is living in London (without me) and I got the lucky job of taking care of their dog. There were weddings, long weekends, work conferences, a trip to Melbourne - isn't it amazing how days turn to weeks and then a whole month is gone? Such is life (slow down please!). BUT, I did manage to catch up with people I haven't seen in a while - which was awesome (and convenient, because it was my resolution for March).

So while this post isn't about anything particular, here are some snaps for you to enjoy!

Ah Melbourne... hello South Bank, you are extraordinary

A must for people who visit us on the Peninsula - an early morning fish (you might be able to see the tiny bodies in the water, waiting patiently for the fishies to bite)

When the agricultural show comes to town... of course it needs a parade!

The Easter moon rising... and a picnic on the beach

Theo! Look at that face! Keeping me honest and making me go for walks.

Environmental crusaders- tree planting day to stop 4WDs and bikes destroying natural habitats and significant Aboriginal heritage sites.

And to finish, a bonfire - the official start of cold weather and winter.

Hope you had a lovely break with all your loved ones readers! Would love to hear what you got up to - leave us a comment below or on our facebook page.

E x 

Good Reads

A few months ago, I compiled a Summer Reading Guide to get you through what was (hopefully) a well-rested holiday break. How did you go? Get through a few that tickled your fancy? Or perhaps you're waiting for the movie? *wink wink*

Well, if you're like me and continually on the hunt for something good to read, I've got a few titles to add to the list (and if you're like me in another way, you might have three to ten books on the go at the same time, depending on what you feel like reading and/ or if something else good comes up).

Before I start my reviews, I would like to mention that there is a bit of a theme: both books are written by female authors and largely discuss the female experience - however this is not to the exclusion of men. In fact, I strongly encourage men to read these books, they are very insightful (and if we are going to get political about it, women have endured male authors for centuries for similar insights into human psyche, so naturally woman have insights that are just as valuable).

The Confidence Code By Katty Kay & Claire Shipman 

I discovered this book through a website that is based on how to make ideas happen. This book is brilliant for identifying what barriers impact on ideas reaching their full potential - in particular the neurological factors that will impact on decisions individuals make in their pursuit of getting ideas off the ground - or in everyday life generally. 

Kay and Shipman are journalists who have spent time producing work that centres around how women can and should achieve success in a range of domains. What is fascinating about this book is that it focuses less on what action people can take in life, but more on what factors are influencing them at an psychological level and specifically, the role of confidence. Confidence is one of those character traits that often we (falsely it turns out) assume is inherent in some but not in others - either you have it or you don't. Throughout their research, Kay and Shipman have investigated genetic, biological and environmental factors, all of which affect confidence. It's amazing. 

What I love most about the book, is that Kay and Shipman have written in such a way that that they avoid suggesting that failure to achieve success is because of effort. This is often what I find frustrating about some self-help and motivational books. Mantras like 'follow your passion' and 'think positively' or 'stop wishing, start doing' are counterproductive. They are not helpful for people in developing an understanding of their sense of self - what it is that ticks in each of us to either enable or inhibit our process for achieving (which is obviously different for everyone). Whereas The Confidence Code is actively identifying how our neurological and psychological processes are effecting so much more that we ever truly realise. When we know what is happening psychologically to ourselves, only then can we implement strategies for how to move forward and get where we want to go.

**Strongly recommended if you've ever second-guessed yourself. EVER.

The Fictional Woman by Tara Moss

You may or may not have noticed that there has been a lot of media focus with regard to women and the women's movement. If you follow Daily Life or Mamamia online, you are probably well aware of modern feminist issues, equality and feminism generally. If you read Mark Latham or listen to Tony Abbott ever, you will probably understand a lot of the fuel that fires robust (and important) discussions about gender equality. Also, you may either be encouraged by it or completely sick of hearing about it. If you are one of the latter, before you roll your eyes, I want you to consider the cover opposite. 

Your immediate thoughts may be 'pretty', 'ugly' or 'nice lipstick', but for a mo' just forget the face and instead consider the words and think about this - would you ever see a book cover with a male face with similar labels written on it? Would such a book about a man exist?

Simple answer is, not really. Men are just men. They might have labels, sure - and I'm not arguing that they don't, but what is important to consider is that labels for men have less of an impact on society's view of who they are and who they should be, than labels have for women and how society view them, their actions and what their part in society should be. Tara Moss is exploring this theme in her book, though her own experience and her observations of women in our everyday culture.

To clarify another point, I am not necessarily advocating a particular position on feminism, but I do believe it's important to understand that women have an experience different to men and what that experience looks like - Moss herself is an excellent example of how labels do impact perception, and usually in a negative way. A timely memoir, it's a valuable insight we can all benefit from.

**Strongly recommended if you like to be informed on issues beyond facebook.

Happy reading! If you have any titles you can recommend, please leave a comment below!

E x

My Maternity Shoot

Today instead of being the stylist on the shoot I was on the other side of the camera for my very own maternity session. I wasn't sure if it was something I wanted to do at first as I'd seen some maternity shoots that didn't take my fancy. You know the photos I'm talking about, they're really staged, often with awkward poses of the couple hugging the baby bump. That just wasn't for me so I'd discounted having a maternity shoot altogether...that is until I saw Renee Trubai's work! reneetrubai.com.au

Beautiful, relaxed, bare-foot-and-back-to-nature style photos that really capture the essence of carrying a child rather than just a portrait-shot taken in a studio. Renee is a mother of two herself & she absolutely loves being apart of this special time in her client's lives. Her calm & kind demeanour have you feeling at ease from the get-go because trust me, at 35 weeks you're feeling huge & not your usual self so encouragement & direction during the shoot go a long way.

Renee & I also had the pleasure of working with florist Deanna from Distinctive Blooms who supplied the stunning floral crown. She not only picked flowers to match the colour of my dress but the flowers she used all had special meaning (see below)

After a few snaps in the park we headed back home for some relaxed "at home" style shots with my husband (and dogs!)

Ladies, I can't thank you enough for helping me capture this special time in our lives xxx

I've shared a few of my favourite pics from this morning but the rest are yet to come once Renee has the film developed. Yes! Film! 

If you like what you see please give Renee and Deanna's facebook pages a "Like" for me :)

Your stylist,

Megan

Carnation - Endearment and Beauty, they also symbolise a Mother's love
Rose - in general is for love - the colour peach is for appreciation, pink rose buds is for new love
Fern Leaves - Sincerity
Rosemary - remembrance
Lavender - Grace
Gum symbolises protection