‘Just because’ degustation at Eureka 89

All too often, it seems, we wait for a special occasion to treat ourselves or our loved ones. Valentine’s Day. Birthdays. Christmas. For me, I grew up in a family where we did nice things for each other all year round and the message from my mum has stayed with me into my adult life; you don’t need a special occasion to do something nice with or for a special person. 

That said, as life gets busier and the milestones come at you faster, sometimes this can be easy to forget - even when it’s ingrained in you.

So I was grateful to remember the lesson when mum and I indulged in a degustation lunch at Eureka 89. Our waiter asked if we were there for a special occasion. Well, actually, I was there to review the place and share the experience with you. But, as it happens, time with my mum is most definitely a special enough reason to spend any afternoon dining in the sky.

When you go to Eureka 89 ‘just because’, it soon enough feels like a special occasion with a red carpet welcome on the ground floor. On entering through the exclusive entrance separate from Eureka Sky Deck, you’re escorted further down the red rug beneath your feet, straight past a long line of people waiting for the deck. You’re then asked to wait for the next available lift which will take your party – and only you – up to the skydeck level. When you hit 88, you’re politely welcomed and guided through to another lift to take you one extra level to Eureka 89.

If first impressions count, this is a good way to start.

Entering the chic and sophisticated space on level 89, you know you’re in for a treat. Guided from the lift to your table, your waiter introduces themselves and offers a pre-lunch drink before the serious stuff begins.  Meanwhile,  you can’t look away from  the stunning views around you.

The degustation lunch at 89 on a Sunday offers five courses with matched wines. I’m not going to be a complete spoiler and reveal the full experience but allow me to divulge a few of the many delectable elements.

To prep, we’re presented with a delicate amuse-bouche, which suits the champagne we ordered on arrival (like mother, like daughter).

A first course of octopus comes perfectly paired with a Deviation Road sparkling rose from SA - more bubbles makes us happy ladies. I’m delighted to see that second course features in-season truffle and I’m further pleased when the 2014 Charteris Riesling from NZ does a brilliant job of cutting through the potato and leek.  

Third course had me at ‘spatchcock stuffed with foie gras’, further sold with a Shadowfax “Minnow” 2014 blend from Victoria. My favourite dish involved NZ venison, with unsuspecting pops of pomegranate and pine nuts, accompanied by a Pittnauer Pitti Blaufrankisch 2014 from Austria. This dish feels like the heart and soul of the degustation at 89.

Dessert is creative, light and inspiring, even for the ‘I’m sweet-enoughs’ amongst us. Throughout, the service is impeccable - educated about the menu and wines with the right level of warmth and attentiveness (not too little, not too much). 

My tips. If you’re looking to really admire or show off the diverse and beautiful features Melbourne has to offer, go for a lunchtime sitting. If it’s for something more romantic and sparkly to glance at in between swoons, opt for a dinner degustation; there’s something truly magical about this city from up high at night time. Eureka 89 is a fine dining affair; dress accordingly. That said this must be one of the few bathrooms where it’s entirely acceptable to take photos. The five course offering was a good size for us (we didn’t need dinner), so if you’re an average eater, five is good. If you’re a larger eater, you might prefer seven courses. Take your glasses or contacts if you’re short sighted like petit moi; you don’t want to miss out on this. Digest with a complimentary wander around Eureka Skydeck 88, if it’s not too crowded to kill your exclusive 89 vibe. And most of all, if you’re thinking it’s better to wait for a special occasion to dine at Eureka 89, it’s not. Go now. Life is special enough – and so are you.

Eureka 89 Degustation Lunch or Dinner
Tues-Thurs & Sun lunch:  5 courses $105 | + wine $160
Fri & Sat only:  7 courses $140 | + wine $220

SLEEP AT THE G AND HELP HOMELESS YOUTH

Most of us have been very fortunate to never have been homeless or without a roof over our head. We’ve never needed to concern ourselves with having nowhere to go, sleeping rough on cold nights or live in unsafe environments. Yet, over 6,000 young people in Melbourne are forced to sleep in cars, on couches and, in some cases, on the streets.

It’s a staggering figure and one that is very concerning. Youth aged from 12 -25 in Victoria are finding themselves homeless with nowhere to go – no doubt a terrifying, confronting and traumatic experience.

Melbourne City Mission is a charity helping to put youth homelessness to bed. This week, on Thursday 26th May, the annual Sleep at the G’ event will host over 1,000 compassionate people for a sleep out at the iconic MCG. It’s a special event and a great way to get a team together and join in on an action packed night of music, comedy and games.

Homelessness is one of the most severe forms of disadvantage and social exclusion that any person can experience, especially for young people, as it has an adverse effect on their health and wellbeing.

Sleep at the G’ is your opportunity to make a change to homelessness in your very own city. Sleep on a cardboard box and get together with some friends, family or colleagues to raise vital funds to support Melbourne City Mission’s life changing work.

As Melbourne City Mission say, we’re on a mission – so let’s put youth homelessness to bed.

To register or donate, please visit www.sleepattheg.com.au

SLEEP AT THE G
THURSDAY MAY 26
MCG, MELBOURNE
 

MUST-TRY MELBOURNE MARKET EATS

The Markets of Melbourne are an important part of Melbourne’s food history and culture, not to mention the wonderful experience of shopping at the market’s and speaking to traders who love their produce and have great knowledge to share.

Here are some of Melbourne’s top markets dishing up some amazing eats after a bit of appetite building meandering and shopping!

MAKER & MONGER, Prahran Market  

Trading from a beautifully restored French food cart in the Harvest Hall, Maker & Monger is the brainchild of world class cheese-monger, Anthony Femia. Their trademark bites include the famous American grilled cheese sandwich, and the traditional Swiss raclette served over potatoes and pickle. Enjoy a rotating seasonal offering and Mork iced chocolate, with enough cheesy goodness to keep you satisfied all year round.

Cheesy goodness at Maker & Monger

SIMPLY SPANISH, South Melbourne Market

The perfect spot for fun loving tapas, where you can sit back, relax and enjoy some delightful food and fine wine or homemade sangria. Go for their famous paella, cooked in big pans on Cecil Street. Delicious!

Simply Spanish at South Melbourne  

BRATWURST SHOP & CO, Queen Victoria Market

Well known for their brat on the go, Bratwurst Shop & Co’s grilled bratwurst comes served in a white or wholemeal roll. Choose from mild, spicy, cheese, weisswurst, black pepper, chorizo or chicken & mushroom with your selection of mustards, sauces or sauerkraut – this is the classic market experience!

A brat hit at Queen Vic Markets 

DANDEE DONUTS, Dandenong Market

If you’re a sweet tooth, you can’t go past hot jam donuts in Melbourne’s winter! One of Dandenong Market’s most popular and iconic stalls, Dandee Donuts draws people from all over Melbourne with their delicious, freshly made and cooked in-house donuts. They’re also egg free, dairy free and have no additives, using Australian grown ingredients and an original recipe developed in the 1950s.

WIN TIX TO YOUR PERFECT DAY

If you’re currently immersed in the world of wedding planning (or know someone who is), you’ll know that it involves a LOT of time on Google, oodles of appointments and mountains of meetings. But what if you could meet a selection of Melbourne’s top wedding suppliers, all in one place on one day?

That’s what Your Perfect Day is all about – making it as fun and easy as possible to plan your own perfect day, whether that involves a glam ballroom and vintage cars or a converted barn and food trucks. 

Happening at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on 25 and 26 June, you’ll find all the suppliers you need to help bring your dream wedding to life, at Your Perfect Day. There will also be fashion shows, workshops, classes and a Taittinger champagne bar (because wedding planning is thirsty work!).

WIN. I have two double passes to give away to Your Perfect Day – just head to Twitter or comment below in 25 words or less what your perfect day looks like. Entries close 5pm Sunday 29th June. Good luck!

Your Perfect Day
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
25 and 26 June
10am-5pm

WITH AUTUMN COMES EAT STREET 2016

Is anyone else wondering how on earth it can possibly be May already? The good news is that with May's shorter days and cooler nights comes one of Melbourne's biggest and best foodie fundraisers at Sofitel Melbourne on Collins.

Yep, it's nearly time for the 2016 Eat Street, in what will be its 17th year of bringing together some of Melbourne's best chefs and restaurants all in the name of charity (and some darn tasty food). 

If you like the idea of cocktail attire, a silent auction, signature dishes from our finest local talent, live entertainment from Ali McGregor, event styling that will have you in awe while you sip on Australia's top wine and beverages - for the all-inclusive price of $160 per person - then you should really get to Eat Street this year. 

Besides completely and utterly enjoying yourself, you'll be helping raise money for kids in need through Variety Victoria (and we all know how much Variety loves a good party for a good cause).

Buy your tickets online, find something fabulous to wear (perhaps with an elasticated waist...) and join us on May 24th for the 2016 EAT ME DRINK ME themed Eat Street. 

Eat Street
Tuesday May 24th, from 6pm
Sofitel Melbourne on Collins

Here's a sneak peek of who you can expect to see there: 

Botanical Bottega, Calendar, Captain Baxter, Char Dining, Clamms, Coombe - The Melba Estate, CSHG, Cumulus Inc, Dutchess, Estelle Bistro, Ganache Chocolate, King Island Dairy, Le Petit Gateau, Long Story Short, No35, Pei Modern, Saint Crispin, Scugnizzo, STKBB, Syracuse, Taxi Kitchen, The Baths, The Point, Tonka & Coda.

Plus: 
Airoldi Fine Wines, Angove Wines, Birra Moretti, Coke, Cru Wines, De Bortoli Wines, Fine Wine Partners, Graillot, JING tea, Mezzanine, Nestle Professional, Pizinni Wines, Rob Dolan Wines, Tellurian, Heathcote, Vino Bambino, YarraLoch Wines.

Hot Cross (gelato!) Buns

How good is Easter? We get four days off, there's still a hint of summer in the air, and NOW we're being treated to hot cross buns with gelato inside... *GASP*.

The popular kids at Pidapipo have been scheming with the tasty and talented Baker D'Chirico to create a limited edition Easter treat: Pidapipo's Crema and Jam gelato encased in one of Daniel and Allona's sticky sourdough hot cross bun. YES. 

You can get your soon-to-be-sticky hands on these Easter babes at the Carlton Pidapipo store between the 24th of March and Easter Sunday. 

This Easter, hop to it, my furry, gelato, hot cross bun loving friends!

Hot Cross Gelato Bun
Pidapipo Carlton
Limited time only - March 24 - March 27

Can an Ecosa mattress save the insomniac day (or night)?

Most people suffer from insomnia at some stage in their lives. For others, such as myself, it can be a lifelong curse. While one can become a seasoned pro at functioning on very little sleep, it starts to take its toll mentally and physically after a good, oh, 30 years or so. I’ve tried almost everything from herbal tea to light therapy to expensive contour pillows and Chinese medicine remedies. In fact, just about the only thing I hadn’t tried was replacing my mattress – which may seem like an obvious solution but one that would need a large investment of time and money for potentially very little pay off. What do you do with a mattress that doesn’t ‘work’ the way you want it to once you’ve bought it and got it home? 

My chance to try a different mattress came when I returned from an extended workation overseas and was in the market for a new bed after selling mine before I left. As it happens, the Ecosa mattress landed on my radar and soon after I’d moved back into my Melbourne apartment one also landed on my doorstep. In a box. With wheels. Very cute and convenient. 

I recruited some muscly help to take it out of the box using the supplied knife to cut open the packaging and soon enough the latex gel memory foam slab was atop my new bed frame.  Once the mattress had fully expanded it was ready for some horizontal action. By that, I mean sleep, and sleep I did. Quite firm at first, it has softened up a tad over the last month and I am ecstatic to report that I’ve been enjoying positively more sleep than normal.  

It feels good waking up in this bed. It feels fresh. I feel fresh. I don’t want to get out of it in the morning. With a latex layer on top and pin-core holes to make it breathable and spongy, a gel memory foam layer underneath evenly distributes your body weight across the mattress. The added bonus is a cover that’s fully removable and machine washable for when it’s ready for a refresh and you don’t need to flip or rotate your mattress - ever. 

For the first time in my life, I’ve indulged in a king size and it’s positively divine waking up after a good night’s sleep while strewn across the expansive cushiness. This may be a bold statement from a seasoned insomniac, but I (finally) love my bed. 

If, like me, you’re concerned about investing in a mattress when there’s potential you may not actually like it, these guys offer a 100 day trial for you to test it out and return it with a full refund if it’s not your cup of tea. Speaking of cups of tea, you can let that rest on the bed in the morning too because there is no real referral movement across the mattress. Great for light sleepers who share a bed.   

Ecosa mattresses are available online at www.ecosa.com.au where you can quickly and easily see the price and specs of this one mattress available in six sizes. The hardest decision you’ll have to make is whether to get the queen or king. And you’ll already know what I recommend. 

Happy slumbering, 

Little Miss xoxo

Wake up calls for life

Wake up calls come to us in different shapes and sizes. For some, it might be a medical result to kickstart a healthier way of living. It might be falling out with a friend that teaches you more about others or yourself. Or, in the case of the small hours of White Night this weekend, it might be having your phone and wallet snatched from your hands as you text your life away, completely unawares of what's around you.

Melbourne is wonderful. But it's a big city that's getting bigger and as with any big, wonderful city there comes the inevitable darker side of crime. Naturally, if you put yourself blatantly in the path of this crime, you face becoming more susceptible and vulnerable to it. Point in case at 4am Sunday morning as I walked down a darker, quieter part of Little Collins St under the false security of a city alive with activity. 

Complacency can creep in when you live in the lucky country. I'm always incredibly cautious when I travel overseas and it's usually with a sigh of relief when I return back to the comforts of Australia. But we are not bereft of our own increasing societal issues and the fact of the matter is that walking home at 4am on one's own is generally not a good idea in most cities. Sure, in a perfect world we should be able to walk home at whatever time we like without fear of consequence. Alas we do not live in a perfect world.

My mother taught me about personal safety from a young age; being conscious of your surroundings, not putting yourself in the line of danger, listening to your inner voice. However, a few too many wines, a fun night with trusted friends in a trusted city, added crowd comfort from a big event, and the distraction of a world on the other side of your vortex of a phone, can be enough to momentarily forget these essential life skills passed down.

So it's a time like now that acts as a good reminder and wake up call that, actually, we do live in a major city that has real and increasing potential for serious danger.

My little run-in with the city over the weekend could have been infinitely worse and it's a chilling, sad reminder of lessons that can never be learnt for innocent victims like Jill Meagher, who also simply chose to walk home along an often traveled path under the faux comforts of a busy Friday night around her and CCTV cameras.

I'm sharing this with you as a friendly reminder to never, ever get complacent when it comes to your personal safety or that of others. It's a wake up call that I want you to benefit from too, without you having to lose your phone, credit cards, confidence - or worse.

I do not agree with the advice from police for women to never walk alone. That is neither practical nor helpful. Being conscious of what's around you, assessing your surroundings and situation, and avoiding putting yourself clearly in harm's way, however, are absolutely doable. 

Correction: they are essential. 

From your resident city girl, stay safe Melbourne. Keep an eye out for you and others. 

LMM xoxo   

The Brownie Bar pop up - ends soon

We do love a good pop up here in Melbourne and this one is extra gooey and tasty. The Brownie Bar in all their delicious glory have set themselves up in the tucked away Hub Arcade on Little Collins Street near popular neighbours Chuckle Deli. 

Let me fill you in on just some of the reasons why this pop up rocks: 

• The brownies are delicious.
• You can get them gluten free. 
• They like to get creative, like Nutella & pretzel brownies
• You can also get icecream and milkshakes including spearmint flavour - my favourite.
• They are from just $4.50 each.
• The people are lovely (which just makes it that little bit sweeter really). 

This slice of chocolate heaven is going to be wrapping up in just under two weeks on the 13th February.

But don't despair - they will not be gone for good. You can continue to order them for events, you may spot them at independent cafes around Melbourne, or you can follow them around the market circuit. Find them online for more information. 

In the meantime, I highly recommend getting them while you can from the heart of the city til mid February. 

You are here - remembering the art of mindfulness

I have a new wallpaper on my phone. It’s to serve as a reminder, and says, simply, 

YOU

ARE

HERE

Since November, I’ve been overseas on workation and as business travel tends to go, I've been mentally two steps ahead of every move.

Before leaving Melbourne there was wrapping up to do; put my stuff into storage, book what I could in advance, pack for winter, leave an "out of the country 'til 2016" voicemail.  

After leaving, my mind was on where I was going next; where am I staying, who am I meeting, how much currency should I exchange, what food will I eat (very important), when on earth will the Australian dollar become stronger...  

Now, my mind is on what happens I get back to Melbourne; move back to my apartment, get stuff out of storage, sell old furniture that I no longer like, buy new furniture that I have a crush on. (Insomniac hours have been filled with online sofas, dining tables, bed frames, prints, colours, and all the things one doesn't particularly need to be thinking about when without permanent place of abode.)

While surrounded by the beauty of London, Marseille, and Paris in the winter, I’ve caught myself focusing more on the future and where I’m due to be, rather than where I am.

Mindfulness is the art of being aware and open to what’s around you at the very present, and all the things it can bring. I call it an art because it takes regular practice and commitment to attain and maintain.

But as cliché as it may sound, so much can be gained by living in the moment. Because regardless of where you are in the world, there are things, people and places around you to enjoy, learn from and appreciate - right here, right now.  

As I type, the Eiffel Tower has come alive in an array of sparkles right in front of where I'm sitting in Paris. And it’s another reminder that I am here. Where are you?

image via hyperterritories.wordpress.com

Melbourne BBQ Festival - we meat again

You have just under a month to stretch that stomach again after Christmas and get ready to sink your teeth into the Melbourne BBQ Festival. After last year's success, the festival will be back on Saturday February 6th for an entire day of meat sweats with BBQ food stalls, demonstrations, equipment and live entertainment. 

The event will run from 10am to 10pm at Flemington Racecourse with tickets starting from $20 and kids under 16 free. 

If you prefer a more intimate affair with your meat, Fancy Hanks BBQ Joint are holding a BBQ Festival dinner on the 4th February, featuring Chris Lilly of Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q and Fancy Hanks' own Mike Patrick. 

Enjoy a four course sharing degustation of smoked meats, BBQ classics, Yak Ales and Pepperjack Wines for $95pp. Last year was a sell out so if you're mad keen for the BBQ, get in sooner than later. 

Nab your tickets for both events from www.moshtix.com.au and meat your mates at the BBQ. 

Work hard, play hard, stay healthy

Despite the fact that we have increasing work choices, life still seems to get busier. We have flexible working patterns, and many people are turning to freelancing. However, most people you talk to seem to be working more hours and have less time to spare. The nine to five job with an hour’s lunch break is a thing of the past.

When life becomes one big to-do list, it’s easy to lose sight of your health, happiness, and wellbeing. The schedule rules and there can be no deviations. When life is so busy, what can you put in place to stay healthy and happy?

Physically

Your health should be your bottom line. It makes sense. You have to get this right before anything else will follow. If you’re unfit, unwell, and unhappy you’re less likely to function at your best. Start with the absolute basics and ask yourself whether you’re properly hydrated. A high percentage of people don’t drink enough water each day. Adults should aim for 1,500 – 2,000mL/day. To save on bottled water, consider asking your boss to install water filters. They can also be installed in your home.

Review your diet. One of the many downsides of a busy life is that we’re often too tired to cook or prepare food. So we reach for unhealthy processed options that spike our blood sugar, and the cycle continues. Putting the right nutrients into your body far outweighs the extra time the food takes to prepare. And of course, there are options to assist in this area. For example, home delivery services that provide ingredients and recipe cards each week. All you have to do is make the meals. Typically preparation times are less than thirty minutes.

Take packed lunches to work rather than grabbing a sandwich on the go. Again, you can control exactly what goes into it. Bento boxes are great a idea and not just for children.

Exercise is a big part of achieving a healthy body but finding the time can be challenging. The little and often approach is useful when you have a busy lifestyle.

• Use a fitness app to record your activity

• Take the stairs instead of the lift, or perhaps combine the two

• Get off the bus one stop earlier than usual and walk the rest of the way

• Walk instead of taking the car

• If you have a desk job, stand up, stretch and walk around every hour

• Plan several sessions of 10-minute yoga stretches instead of planning a full hour

• Take your full lunch break and use part of it to go for a walk in the fresh air

Mentally/Emotionally

Do you feel tired for most of the time? Are you irritable and on edge? Do you constantly feel anxious and rushed? What’s the point of flexible working if you’re feeling like this? There has to be a balance. The first step is to review your workload. If you’re constantly working overtime, there’s a problem, and you need to speak to your boss. Explain the situation clearly and calmly. Be prepared to let him/her know what you will accept and what is too much. For example, if you stay late two nights a week, the rest of the week you should leave on time. If you agree to stay late, stipulate how late and make sure you keep to it.

Meditation is a great way to clear your mind, reboot, and refresh. You can achieve great benefits from just ten minutes each day. If you feel you don’t have time to meditate, that’s a good indication that you should be doing it.

Being constantly busy is a slog. It’s a mental drain as well as a physical one. So it’s important to have other things going on in your life. Find out what fires your soul. What’s your passion in life? Work it out and do it. Over and over again.

Work patterns may not be changing anytime soon. But you can adjust your attitude to work and put strategies in place to stay healthy and happy.

Melbourne's new addition to the rooftop bar collective

It's Murphy's Law that whenever I leave Melbourne, something new and exciting happens. Although maybe that's because there is always something cool happening in Melbourne. On this occasion, it's a new addition to our rooftop collective of bars in the city - and it looks utterly sublime. 

As Melbourne's third oldest pub, The Imperial Bar on the corner of Bourke Street and Spring at the Paris end of town is no stranger to the neighbourhood. Now, it's set to go UP in popularity with its new rooftop space overlooking Bourke Street, Parliament House, and in fact, all of the city with 360 views of our glorious town.

Open and ready for business, the Imperial rooftop is offering local and international drinks for summer sipping like Little Creatures IPA, James Squire Pear and Apple Cider, Stellar Artois and Hoegaarden. 

Expect to find some dude food with character like the Kevin Bacon (chips with cheese and bacon) or jalapeno poppers with cream cheese and raspberry sauce. 

Other good bits include free entry on New Year's Eve (hello awesome fireworks view!) and an entirely smoke free rooftop so you can really breathe in that fresh summer air. 

Yes, Murphy is a cruel guy, but I'll look at getting my own back on return to Melbourne when I hit up this new CBD rooftop bar. 

In the meantime, you'll just have to enjoy it for me! 

Little Miss xoxo

ICE-CREAM DONUT POP-UP COOL DOWN

Let's throw a few words around:

     Ice-cream. Donut. Sandwich. 

                            Crispy. Dark. Chocolate. 

                Turkish. Delight. Cheesecake. 

         Matching. Beer. 

Yup, ice-cream donut sandwiches are what you'll find this summer for three short, long days at the Ice-cream Donut Pop Up, melting in Melbourne from Friday 18th December.

For 12 hours each day from 10.30am you can get your hands on one of these beauties plus matching brews from East Brunswick's Temple Brewery, including the New World Order American Stout, the Rye Hard IPA and the Bicycle Summer Ale.

The bonus of something being around for such a short time is that there's greater justification to eat more. Try all the above flavours plus a peanut butter ice-cream donut down Driver Lane in the CBD between The Strand and the back of H&M.

Brought to you by the team behind The City Lane (also responsible for September's Nutella Pop Up), this is one cool and very Melbourne way to enjoy summer: sipping beer and licking ice-cream donuts down a city laneway. BYO hipster beard. 

Ice-cream Donut Pop Up
Driver Lane, Melbourne
10.30am to 10.30pm
Friday 18 December - Sunday 20 December

Support local at Melbourne's Christmas Shopping Night

If you're like me and swear black and blue every year that you're going to have your festive shopping sorted before Christmas eve, today is the day to make that happen!

Hang back in town after work tonight and get your Christmas shop ON until 9pm, all while you shop local and support our unique, city dwelling small businesses. 

Meander through Degraves Street, Centre Place, Bourke Hill (towards the Spring Street end) and its surrounding laneways, plus Russell Place, Hardware Lane, Causeway and the Nicholas Building for a local Christmas treat that will get you in the festive mood. 

Sip on some complimentary Norda water while you peruse the artistic talent on show at the Nicholas Building, or grab some at La Vita Buona and Sole Devotion down Degraves Street.

Keep your ears and eyes out for Smooth FM too, and say hello to your City Precinct retailers as you soak in the festive vibe.  

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, from tonight in Melbourne CBD. 

Yours, LMM xoxo

Changing course and creating yourself

It has to be said; I've been a tad remiss of my 52 of You duties the last couple of weeks. But I have good reason. 

A month ago, my lease was due to come to an end and the lovely tenant in my apartment wanted to stay on, which I was more than happy with. So, with no rental commitment for the first time since I moved to Melbourne five years ago, I thought it the prime time to exercise my #virtualoffice from elsewhere around the globe.

This wasn't such an easy decision at first. I toyed with the idea of getting another lease, buying new furniture and really satisfying a niggling desire to 'nest' - but I knew that would set me on a completely different course and I wasn't sure if I was quite ready for that just yet.

After much talk, no action and getting increasingly frustrated with my indecisiveness, I looked up flights at 3.30am on a Sunday morning when I couldn't sleep, discovered a ridiculously well priced premium economy flight through Qantas, and booked two months away on the other side of the world from Melbourne.

I woke up the next day in shock. What the hell had I done? Eight weeks?! Where was I going to stay? What was I going to do with all my stuff? Why had I chosen to go to a country just entering winter, and, more importantly, which coat was I going to take? The questions poured out and I was relieved to go to brunch later that day with two gorgeous friends who brought me back down to earth. "You make it a good time," said one. "You can spend some time in Marseille," said the other. My decision was starting to feel much better. 

The week that followed was a stressful one. Nothing felt like it was falling into place. People who should have been responding to me, weren't. I didn't have anything booked for my arrival to London, which was getting scarily close. I needed to have everything packed up for storage in 10 days, but it was too early to get started. There was a wedding to attend, and be excited about. I had an interstate friend coming to stay with me, while I had stuff everywhere. My 35th birthday was about to happen, and I hadn't planned a thing. People were asking questions, to which I had no answers. 

For the first time in my life, I experienced real anxiety. Breathless, nothing-pressing-but-everything-urgent panic. Have you had, or do you ever have, that feeling? It is awful and I feel for those who experience anxiety on a regular basis. 

On the day of my birthday, something changed. 

It was a busy but beautiful day full of messages, catch ups and phone calls, which I insisted on taking despite my current borderline sanity. If someone is going to take the time of day to call you on your birthday - in their own busy lives wrought with complexity - you take that call. Amidst the madness, I found some peace and come the evening, surrounded by my best girfriends, I relaxed and let go. 

There's a school of thought that says every seven years, you change. You start a new course of direction; a new chapter. In those weeks wrapping up a seven year space, I certainly felt my old chapter closing and I was pleased to let go of a few things (Melbourne not being one of them, FYI).

Interestingly, the first week in London threw a few challenges at me and I witnessed how old behaviour can creep in and how much you have to actively choose not to follow that course, mostly through a solid dose of self awareness (firmly assisted through the support of friends). For me, that marked the shedding of old and commencement of new. 

Tonight I took myself out for dinner and a spot of writing to The Garrison, a gastropub on London's Bermondsey Street. At the front of the pub was scribed on a blackboard a George Bernard Shaw quote; "Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself".

I believe it to be a mixture of the two. Often, it is in the creating, that you find yourself. 

Creatively yours, 

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo 

You might also like: 
Living Your Life By Design
Let's Jump!
Dealing With Overwhelm
Giving Zero Fucks 
 

Boizel bubbles into Australia for summer

For 180 years the Boizel family has been producing delicate, complex wines from their vineyards in the heart of the Epernay region of champagne. 

Now they're about to spend their first year here in Australia, launching across the country from November. 

The Brut Reserve - Boizel's most famous and popular champagne - blends chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier to deliver an elegantly fresh and fruity number with notes of candied fruits and acacia honey, tapering off gently and progressively. 

Partnering with Crush Fine Wines to introduce the family to our country, Boizel is also gracing our presence with its Grand Vintage 2004 and a beautiful Rose which, I can assure you, is going to go down a treat over summer. 

Having sampled the wines myself, this bubbles aficionado extends a very warm and thirsty welcome to Boizel into the Australian market. 

Put this one on your radar over the festive season in Australia; it will bring a touch of French grandeur to any table.  

Bisous, 

Little Miss xo 

Dealing with overwhelm

The lovely Dara Simkin is my guest contributor to 52 of You this week; she's a certified Life Coach and accredited behavioural analyst - but much prefers to be seen as someone who loves supporting the greater good. That's probably why we get on so well. Dara has written about the feeling of overwhelm, which strikes a chord because after I took my own advice on my last post, I now only have one week until I head off on an extended workation overseas. AND I AM FEELING OVERWHELMED. There is SO MUCH that I still have to do, SO MANY things to organise, and with my lease ending, I also need to pack everything up and put it into storage. Pass me the brown paper bag already, because breathing properly has become a new challenge. Here are Dara's insights on why we experience overwhelm - and what to do about it. 

We live in a world riddled by choice – in the first world, that is. There is so much opportunity at our fingertips; it makes decisions sometimes seem impossible.

How do I know that I’m making the right choice? What if I miss out on something? What if I make this decision, and it blows up in my face? We can drown ourselves in questions, but until we actually take the plunge, we’ll never know what’s on the other side.

I believe overwhelm comes from too much choice. Nausea and stomach cramps and clammy hands; intense fear and indecision that makes you want to scream, “I QUIT!”

Too much choice leads to overwhelm and indecision, which leads to self-doubt, which can then spiral out of control into anxiety or worse, depression.  Most of the problems we create are out of sheer boredom. Our lives are too easy and too convenient that we end up catastrophising the smallest things, creating big, scary monsters that make us feel out of control.

For the most of us, we’re no longer simply surviving. We have the luxuries of readily available food, entertainment and technology. We’re so efficient in our communications that we detach ourselves more and more; the more we connect on social media, the more we disconnect. The more we ‘share’ what we had for lunch, the less likely we’re actually enjoying with someone face-to-face and being present in their company.

But, what if all of our decisions were perfectly packaged in a way that gave us all the details, the outcomes, the risks? No chance. This is life - full of failure and fuck-ups that can make your stomach turn. When you fall down, you pick up the pieces and keep going. You embrace the bad times because you know you need them to appreciate the good times. You welcome failure, vulnerability and uncertainty even though it makes you feel like shit because you know you need it to come out of the other side.

It might sound crazy, but we need to be grateful for all the shitty times. I’m not talking about being thankful for the new pair of shoes you bought; actually feeling and experiencing true reverence for all of the hard stuff that got you where you are today.

We need those challenges to grow. The good times don’t push us out of our comfort zone or help us evolve into a better version of ourselves. It’s the bad and the ugly that improves our self-awareness and self-acceptance.

Building self-awareness allows us to make the hard choices and stick to them.  There are no bad decisions, there are the ones we believe in and the ones we don’t.  Here are some ways you can increase your self-awareness to overcome your overwhelm:  

Breathe. It seems simple, but we often forget. Long, slow deep breaths. It grounds us in times of uncertainty. The breath is our anchor to presence. Breathe in, hold, breathe out, each for a count of four. Leave a post-it note somewhere you can see it to remind yourself to just breathe. 

Write. It doesn't have to be the next New York Times best seller or even make sense. When we're overwhelmed we don't think clearly and our emotions can often become erratic and all over the place. When we take those erratic emotions and throw them onto a page, we can then look at them as an outsider looking in - from a different perspective. Write down the emotions you're feeling, how they're manifesting in your body and what you're thinking about, for about 15-20 minutes. Take time to reflect and think what you can do differently next time. 

Prioritise. Make a list of what matters most. This will help you decide what really needs to happen now and what can wait. We can't do everything at once. We think that we're really good at multitasking when we're just giving ourselves the opportunity to fuck up more than one thing up at a time. The One Thing by Gary Keller is a great resource for this topic.

Trust – and accept failure. It's important to build enough courage to pick yourself up after you’ve fallen down. You're overwhelmed because you can't make a decision. Just make one and go with it! The circumstances don't change, we either believe in the choices we make or we don't. This is a great TED talk on How to Make Hard Choices. 

Say no. Our fear of missing out has us saying YES when we should be saying NO in order to fulfil expectations we put on ourselves, or the fear built around letting someone else down. It's important to be authentic and self-aware when identifying the right times to buy in or bow down. Brene Brown said it best, "Every time we say yes because we're afraid of missing out, we say NO to something. That something may be a big dream or a short nap. We need both." Replace FOMO with JOMO - The Joy of Missing Out. 

Fart with your mouth. When we're feeling overwhelmed we are mostly caught up with ourselves. We sometimes need to get over ourselves and the best way to do that is to break your state of mind. Make a farting noise with your mouth or just do something random and fun to get yourself out of your head. 

Dara 

Check out Dara's website for more info on her Mindset Programs, Work-Life Balance Package and upcoming workshops. Or email her with any burning questions you might have about life, love and growth - dara@darasimkin.com | @darasimkin

Storage in Melbourne CBD

In 2014, Victoria was recognised as the fastest growing state in Australia with a population rise of in excess of 95,000 people. We must be doing something right because in August this year, Melbourne was crowned the World’s Most Liveable City for the fifth consecutive year in a row. Yay for us!

But with population up and space down, the problem for businesses and residents in the city is the matter of finding enough room for all our stuff. I mean - have you seen the size of some of the newest apartments in Melbourne? I rest my case.

Since I moved here in 2010, I’ve moved six times. Each time I’ve needed to re-evaluate my furniture and possessions to fit them into the next space. Typically, I sell a lot of what I have for considerably less than what I bought it for, and then buy new things all over again. Yup, six times. In retrospect I could’ve put a few things in storage for the next inevitable move and keep recycling what I still actually own!

That said, when I recently researched putting some items in storage for an upcoming two month workation, I was quoted a whopping $800 for two months of storage. With the dollar the way it is at the moment and much spending to do overseas, this didn’t really work for me.  

So I kept looking. And I was quite amazed at what I found. 

Tucked away in Melbourne’s jam-packed central business district is an unsuspecting storage space - and loads of it. Hidden at the end of Little Collins St, 120 metres from Southern Cross Station, is this silent achiever amongst a noisy cluttered urban environment. 

At CBD Storage Place you’ll find five floors of clean, uncluttered storage units, offering spaces as small as a linen closet and as large as a double garage, right above where you probably walk past on a regular basis.

The business is headed up by well-known CBD personality, Kane Bell and has been providing storage solutions to businesses and residents like petit moi for over 25 years. Their drive is to create innovative and cost effective storage options for people and businesses in a space challenged world. 

The best part is that their service is flexible, clean, professional, convenient and cost effective - and is the only storage facility in Melbourne CBD, accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

As if this wasn’t already ticking all my city girl living boxes, then I found out there’s also an on-site document destruction service and a large boardroom, for clients to use for up to 12 people with a whiteboard, free wi-fi, tea and coffee plus full catering options available too. Now this also ticked my business owning freelancer boxes too.

Everyone knows the magic of Melbourne’s CBD often lies within its hidden alleyways and sidestreets.  The CBD Storage Place is one of those hidden gems that you need to discover for yourself. For the long term good of that record collection you’ve been hoarding or the vintage full length coat you can’t bear to part with (but won’t use all summer), this place offers a cost effective solution.

I was so excited about finding this gem right in my urban backyard that I wanted to share it with my CBD loving pals. I’ve also made a new contact in Kane Bell who I’m positive will take very good care of you – especially if you mention you heard about them through Little Miss Melbourne - *wink*

The best bit? I don’t even need to leave the city. Winning. Give Kane a call on 03 9629 7787 to chat about your storage.

CBD Storage Place
601 Collins Street
Melbourne CBD
www.cbdstorageplace.com.au

Let's jump!

In the quest to find, regain or retain your ultimate balance - and your healthiest, happiest version of you - sometimes you need to take a leap of faith. 

Forget New Year's resolutions. Forget waiting for the 'right time'.

Your time is now. 

If you've found yourself talking about the same idea over and over again, without taking any SERIOUS action, whatever change you may have been thinking of, small or large, there is a huge amount of power in letting go and allowing yourself to JUMP. 

Book that trip, take that job, make that move, start that business; take a leap of faith and see where you might land.

Sure, you might fall - but you have so much potential to soar.

Let's jump!   

Much faith,
LMM xoxo

image via a beautiful print by Milk and Honey Creative via ETSY