For an inspiring Speaker look no further than Robyn Moore

Need some inspiration at your workplace or school?.....look no further than Robyn Moore

I want to tell you about a wonderfully inspiring woman I met many years ago in her role as guest speaker at an event I attended. I was absolutely blown away not only by the content of her talk but the empowering way she delivered it. Her name is Robyn Moore and she was actually the voice of Blinky Bill for many years as well as many other voice over roles.

Robyn is passionate about promoting wellness throughout our communities, and as you know I am big on promoting health and wellbeing as part of my work too. I feel fortunate to be able to tell you about so many inspiring people through my Blog and my work.

So I just wanted to tell you about Robyn Moore so that you can checkout her website and /or fan page and if your workplace school etc need a high quality speaker then you can give them her name to book her. You will be very lucky to have her. I hope you get the opportunity to hear her one day, as I was lucky enough to.
Here is a blurb about what Robyn Moore does and how she may be able to help you:
" There are speakers who deliver information ABOUT your particular sector.

There are speakers who share their inspiring stories…

and there are speakers who generate the OUTCOMES the client wants for their staff/delegates/guests.

This is what Robyn Moore does!

She also changes people's experience and appreciation of the work they do...and gets them into ACTION and "back into their lives" (at work and home) no matter what CHANGES, POLICIES or CIRCUMSTANCES are coming at them during these challenging times!

Robyn Moore changes peoples' attitudes, behaviours…and their LIVES…and restores laughter, optimism and wellnessin Australian businesses, organisations, families and communities. "

Claire McFee Author and Creator Organize Your Life Organizers

Yippee I won an MCEI Marketing Award!!!!

Marketing Communications Executives International 2010 Marketing Awards

I am thrilled to have won a Highly Commended Marketing Award in the Home Based Business Category on Tuesday night for the MCEI marketing Awards. Competition was tough, with only a matter of points between the overall Winners and Highly commended recipients. In fact the winner in the Home Based Business category  - Yvette Adams of http://www.thecreativecollective.com.au/ - has such a phenomenal business she just won the Telstra Business Woman of the year Award in Queensland and is now up for the Telstra Business Woman of the year - Australia wide. Good luckYvette - it was great to meet you!

The overall winner of the night was Rick Stockdale from Brandy Creek Wines & View Cafe, who took over from Wonderful Web Women Founder Janet Beckers -pictured here on the far left.

A big thank you to Charly Leetham my Techie Expert helper from Ask Charly Leetham who nominated me (picured in the middle of Janet and I). You are a true gem and I am so excited that you won the Women In Business Award - you deserve it!  A big thank you also to the lovely ladies who wrote testimonials for me and were referees for my MCEI Award entry. Authors, Jodie Hedley Ward of the You Sexy Mother Series and Kristen Morrison of Naturally Better Kids, Margaret Saunders of Bed Time and Toilet Training Solutions. As well as Life Coach Extraordinaire Kate James of Total Balance Coaching and Melissa Groom of Toddlers To Teens TV - (launching Nov 1st - subscribe for free now to go into the draw to win an iPhone!!!)

It is a privilege to know you all and share my business and life journey with you. Thank you again for the role you played in my successful MCEI Marketing Award entry.

Lastly thanks to the herculean effort of the Organisers of the MCEI Marketing awards in particular Barbara - president of MCEI Melbourne chapter pictured with me here and her lovely husband Peter. There was an East meets West theme to the night - with vibrant Red everywhere you looked as you can see in the photos.

Till next time. Happy organizing...

Claire McFee Author and Creator Organize Your Life Organizers

Organize Your iPhone use with these Tips & Tricks

iPhone 4 tips, tricks  and troubleshooting:-

How to be organized and stay one step ahead of the telco companies and save hundreds if not thousands of dollars....
I recently got a new apple iPhone4. Not one to normally get the latest of anything just because it’s bigger brighter or shinier- it’s been funny to see other peoples reaction to having something recently released. It was time to get with the time and I was out of contract and the new iPhone is actually cheaper that having my old one that was well over 5 years old.
So it’s been a bit of a novelty – for the kids more than anyone but I must tell you of some tips and tricks to avoid you falling into the trap of having a mobile phone bill hundreds if not thousands over your normal mobile phone bill. I have had friends who had bills of over $2,000. Not a nice surprise to get in the mail!!!

It appears that most people who purchase an iPhone are not told to set certain settings on their phone to off to prevent the internet being constantly updating information, particularly for the applications on the iPhone-most of which you may not even use.

Ok so onto the troubleshooting tips to prevent being overcharged by you telephone company

iPhone settings:- Go into settings, then click on Mail, Contacts, calendars.

Hidden in this obscure little place is a setting titled “ Fetch new data’

When I got my iPhone it was set to ‘on’ and I was told nothing about this 'fetch new data function' and more disappointingly wasn’t told to make sure I turned it off.

The other important function to check is under the general settings tab. If having access to the internet is not needed then dis-enabling the ‘enable 3G function', as well as turning to the offsetting the cellular tab option and the data roaming function. It says to turn this off when abroad to avoid ‘substantial roaming charges nothing about the costs being exorbitant within your own country!

You can easily switch any or all of these back on your iPhone if you happen to need access to the internet but otherwise leave them all off!!

When you are home, and if you have your home internet set up on your phone the iPhone is supposed to tap into your home internet plan, using your data allowance from there, not the usually much smaller but quicker to chew up. It seems my iPhone didn’t use out home internet package but rather the data on the iphone package – and to be honest I don’t even know how. I didn’t use it for email and rarely used to internet but low and behold in comes a bill for well over $100 most than usual for the month with dates and times for countless internet sessions I didn’t not know I had. It’s all very confusing but Telstra seem to be doing the right thing by refunding money if you call to complain/tell them it was not made clear that you would be using up heaps of data if you kept certain functions on etc.

ONE LAST iPHONE TIP
While I’m on the subject there one other tip I have picked up along the way that may come in handy to you. If you iphone stops working and freezes then to unfreeze the iphone, try holding down the on/off switch button at the top of the phone as well as the circle at the bottom on the face of the phone at the same time for 5 seconds or so and it will hopefully unfreeze it. Be careful not to hold the circular button on its own or it activates the voice control function and may well randomly call people. This happened to me before I knew much about the iphone functions and all of a sudden my phone rang some random person in my contacts and due the phone being otherwise frozen I could not cancel to call, let along turn the phone off. It did this twice much to my embarrassment having to tell people I was sorry but my iPhone was randomly calling people !!! The disappointing thing is that I had been on the phone to Telstra about the frozen screen and not one person I spoke to and there were a few! Suggested this easy tip to unfreeze the phone so I almost sent it back to Telstra unnecessarily and would have been frustratingly phoneless for a week or more!!!!

What is your experience of this?? Have you experienced overcharging by your telco, had trouble with a new iphone/ mobile?


Claire McFee Author and Creator Organize Your Life Organizers
 
NB: You can browse / view our Organize Your Life e - Organizer on your iPhone with the help of DropBox and Googlereader. Email me to find out more. Never be without your shopping list again! info @ organizeyourlife . com .au
 

Get Organized to make Banana Bread in your kitchen and learn about easy cooking with '4 Ingredients"

 4 Ingredients Book Series .......and did you know Banana Bread is the most commonly searched recipe of all time!? 

Many of you will have heard of the smash hit books series ‘4 Ingredients’ by Rachel Birmingham and Kim McCosker. I was fortunate to meet Rachel a few years ago for a one on one business coaching session.

The girls even have a fabulous gluten free version of 4 Ingredients which for anyone with a family member newly diagnosed as gluten intolerant is a must –have. We have 2 gluten intolerant kids in our household so are always open to new gluten free recipes - that actually taste good!

The girls latest book is co-authored would you believe with Deepak Chopra which is called ‘4 ingredients- Fast, Fresh and Healthy - but of course with Deepak Chopra’s name to it! Being organized in the kitchen is a must as it can so easily get out of control if you don’t keep on top of the mess by cleaning as you go.

Kim and Rachel Birmingham wrote an interesting tit bit in a recent newsletter of their about Banana Bread. Apparently Banana bread is the most commonly searched recipe in google. Rachel and Kim have a banana recipe in 4 ingredients with ..you guessed it only 4 Ingredients!!! Banana Bread is an easy recipe to substitute wheat flour with gluten free flour which is what we do at home. Banana bread is such a quick, easy recipe and practical to use up old bananas that would otherwise be thrown out and wasted. So how about baking some banana bread next time you have some old bananas that need using instead of putting them in the bin. They are a great snack and fun to make with the kids....

On the topic of cooking / baking in the kitchen...

When I bake / cook with the kids I am sure to get them to clean up as they go, so they learn to keep the mess to a minimum. Otherwise it’s easy to become overwhelming and harder to tackle all the mess and dishes at the end. If you leave it until the end, lots of people feel ready for a break and tell themselves they will do it later..often the next day which only makes it worse. Waking up to a messy kitchen is the worst thing!!!

My mum taught me to clean up in the kitchen as I went and I am so glad she did. Considering a lot coupes share the cooking and washing up..it’s not great for the washer to have to clean up after a messy cook has been in the kitchen. It can be like a bomb has hit it!! It’s easier for everyone all round and a good lesson to pass onto our kids. For more kitchen organizing tips check out more organizing articles on our website below. Here is a popular recipe for banana bread / banana cake or turn it into a banana muffin recipes if you prefer.

BANANA CAKE RECIPE from TASTE.COM.AU

Preparation Time

10 minutes

Cooking Time

45 minutes

Makes

10-12 slices

Ingredients

• 1 cup (150g) plain flour  (simply swap with gluten free flour if need be)

• 1/2 cup (75g) self-raising flour (simply swap with gluten free flour if need be)
• 1 cup brown sugar

• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

• 125g butter, melted, cooled

• 2 eggs, whisked

• 3 ripe bananas, mashed

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease and line the base and side of an 11 x 21cm x 6cm deep (base) loaf pan.

2. Combine flours, sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl. Whisk butter and eggs together. Stir in banana. Spoon into prepared pan. Smooth the surface.

3. Bake for 45-50 mins or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Set aside in the pan for 10 mins before turning out onto a wire rack. Serve warm spread with butter.

Remember to get and stay organized in the kitchen to cook more calmly and ultimately have a better finished product cooked with more love and less angst!

Claire McFee Author and Creator Organize Your Life Organizers

Sunrise TV Show clip of one of my favourite Authors for her great new book - You Sexy Mother - the Body Bible

You Sexy Mother  - The Body Bible

You Sexy Mother Author Jodie Hedley Ward has written another great book, this time with co-author - Fitness Guru and personal trainer to Terri Irwin - Kelli Johnson.

See this TV clip from Ch7 Morning show with the Jodie and Kellie  talking abut YSM -The Body Bible and how it can help you.

In this Sunrise clip the girls talk about the importance of a good diet and being organized enough to fit in some exercise to stay in shape - most of all for yourself. As Larry and Kylie added - a lot of it is about your mindset and this book will help you get your head around shifting your mindset and regain control of your life post motherhood.

Staying fit obviously helps you physically but also helps you mentally...and we all know the better we feel emotionally the better able we are able to keep on top of our busy lives, stay organized and be content...well most of the time!

"Jodie Hedley Ward's You Sexy Mother Book Series are full of warmth, compassion, honesty, realism, inspiration and motivation."

To get a copy go to You Sexy Mother website and get yourself some great life changing tips while you're there.


Claire McFee Author and Creator Organize Your Life Organizers

Organize Your Life Organizing Articles

Organize Your Life Organizing Articles

Don't forget we have almost 100 organizing articles on our website for your to get organized from A-Z. whether it's organizing your garage, organizing your closet, organizing your kids toys, organizing your kitchen pantry, organizing your pregnancy, organizing your wedding, organizing a garage sale organizing your holiday -you get the picture.
come on over and visit our website and if you like what you read please feel free to  share the love and make a comment.

with thanks,
Claire McFee
Author and Creator Organize Your Life Household Organizers
www.organizeyourlife.com.au

Realistic Parenting with Cocktails at Naptime

Cocktails at Naptime

I have just started reading  yet another great book to review called Cocktails at Naptime - 'A woefully inadequate guide to early motherhood." And even though I haven't even finished I wanted to say how much I love ti already    - it is so funny and true.

From the girls Cocktails at Naptime Blog:-

 "Cocktails at Naptime is a laugh-out-loud, utterly realistic examination of all the things that can happen to your mind, your body, your partner and your relatives after the birth of a new baby."

It is written by two lovely ladies Gillian Martin and Emma Kauffmann who don't hold back any punches and write with such humour and wit. The girls aptly describe how tough motherhood can be a times - as much as we love our children of course! - and how we sometimes just need a break from it all.

Stuff perfectionism or attempting to be perfect. There's no such thing and it is downright unhealthy. We are all different - with varying coping skills - all you can do you best at any given time  - and this book allows you to embrace this concept wholeheartedly.....I can't wait to read more of cocktails at naptime. Laughing is good for the soul and there's plenty to giggle about in this book that's for sure!

 Claire McFee Author and Creator Organize Your Life Organizes - Your Life in Lists

Organizing Book Review and upcoming competition 'The other side of Organized' by Linda Samuels

Linda is the author of The Other Side of Organized, and has been featured in The New York Times, Woman’s Day, Ladies Home Journal and Bottom Line Personal. Linda can help your readers find the “balance between chaos and perfection” in their lives, as she is a Certified Professional Organizer in Chronic Disorganization. And, hey, if your readers can’t look around their homes and claim some room ‘chronically disorganized,’ then more power to them!

For a chance to win a copy of 'The other side of organized' by Linda Samuels - Principle of Professional organizing business 'Oh, So Organized' - sign up the the Organize Your Life Newsletter at our website.


This book is a really worthwhile read. Here is my review:
 

“The other side of Organized is Oh, So eloquently written – not only about all things organized but on inter-related topics on the nuances of life...and how to live it to the fullest. Linda pinpoints how to appreciate the beauty that is all around us by being ‘present’ to it, as well as by being better organized in a fluid way that is real and achievable.” Claire McFee Author Organize Your Life

The book 'the other side of Organized'  is available for purchase at Amazon.
 
Happy organizing,
 
Claire McFee Author and Creator Organize Your Life Organizers

Bump & Grind: Survival Guide for getting pregnant - Review and Link to interview on TV's The Circle on Channel Ten

Bump & Grind: The A-Z survival guide for when you're trying to get pregnant and sick of being told to relax!

By Genevieve Morton Finch Publishing

"Bump and Grind: The A-Z Survival guide for when you’re trying to get pregnant & sick of being told to relax is a wonderfully written book on a heart-rending topic. It has the perfect mix of facts; relatable personal stories; tips and the clincher – and just the right dose of humour sprinkled throughout to help you let go of the angst surrounding the often elusive baby making process. Having trouble TTC (Trying To Conceive) can be a lonely and isolating and this book makes you feel like there is hope and support to get you through it no matter what the outcome.”
Claire McFee Author & Creator Organize Your Life

To see Genevieve Morton discuss her great new book Bump & Grind on Channel Ten's The Circle click here.

Till next time,
Happy Organizing,
Claire McFee
Author Organize Your Life

National Depression and Anxiety Awareness Month October 2010

National Anxiety and Depression Awareness Month October 2010

Well it's that time of year again when Depression and anxiety are on the agenda and you see many more news items about Depression and anxiety.

Boy times have changed in the last few years. Suffering from depression and anxiety is no longer the completely taboo topic it once was, with scores of media personalities opening up about their struggles with Depression and/or anxiety helping raise the issue for the rest of the population.

I would like to think that in some small way, no matter how small that I helped decrease the stigma around depression and anxiety with the 6 part Documentary I made that aired on TV a while back. It was about the importance of being open about having depression or anxiety - as doing so can help with recovery rather than trying to hide and suppress what is really going on in your life. I certainly found it helpful when I finally admitted that I had depression after keeping it a secret for many years.

I have been able to overcome the depression I had - in part due to no longer worrying what other people think. In fact I am writing a book on the topic and the other little known strategies I used to overcome depression. There are so many pieces to the puzzle when it comes to being well and staying well. I look forward to being able to share my findings with others in due course.

Beyond Blue CEO Leonie Young tells us, "Around one million people in Australia live with depression and a further two million have an anxiety disorder, yet less than half seek help. So it's important to encourage people to talk openly about their mental health." National Depression and Awareness Month is a great initiative to tackle the issue. If you or anyone you know struggles with Depression or anxiety then check out these websites for more info.

Beyond Blue and Mental Health Victoria or the National Institute of Mental Health in America

 

Don't suffer in silence! There is hope. Be well.

Claire McFee Author and Creator Organize Your Life Organizers