"TAXI!"

 Recognising good taxi vs bad taxi in Melbourne...

image source: http://www.prosper.org.au/

Of the many things I love about Melbourne, our taxis are one of them.  I love that they are all yellow.  I love that I can walk out of my apartment and not have to wait longer than 5 minutes for a cab to drive past.  I love that they are nice to you when you are nice to them.  As a city girl without wheels who is always running late, taxis (and, at times, my darling friends) are my savoir for getting around our big ole town.

Don't get me wrong - as with any service delivery, there have been moments... On my own at 3am and refused journey four times (four!) only because I was traveling to the other side of the city.  A case of a 'broken meter' so 'cash only on this ride, please'.  The old story of booking a taxi for an early flight but getting a no show in the morning.  Sure, it happens.  But many times the experience has been different - so when there's a lot of the bad, I want to recognise some of the good.

I once managed to get to a wedding in Prahran, via the city, in peak hour traffic, in 25 minutes.  The amount of times I've been reassured on the way to the airport that I'm not going to miss my flight, are too many to count.  And a driver recently gave me tips, unprompted, on how to ID and report any dodgy taxi drivers, which inspired this post.

After witnessing a mugging over the weekend and a chase that ensued by several strangers which saw the victim getting his phone back, I figure we all have to stick together.  The same goes with taxi drivers. They are just trying to a job and we are just trying to get our destination safe and on time.  Maybe the best way to help them do a good job (apart from being fabulous passengers) is reporting those who do the wrong thing and encouraging the ones who are great.

SO this is what I've picked up thus far:

• if the meter is "broken" the taxi is not considered roadworthy and thus not permitted to take passengers - get out and grab another
• drivers must always have their photo ID on show - you may want to check this before you get in
• the driver's details are always printed out on the receipt - the receipt which must be provided to you on request with all the deets of the journey
• adorable fluffy blind dogs - or 'assistance animals' - are always, always allowed.

More rights for passengers are listed on the Victorian Taxi Directorate.  You can also provide feedback on a good or bad experience on the same site, and they've got some good quick safety tips on there too.

So kudos to you, our good Melbourne taxi drivers. Thank you for getting me to my meetings on time.  Thank you for being polite even when you're having a bad day.  Thank you for always helping me with my overweight luggage, and keeping your 'office' clean and smelling fresh.  Love your work.

Yours,

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo

Got a Melbourne taxi story? Tell it!

All The Single Ladies

How I ended my 2012 as a singleton and prepared for my next romantic chapter...

2012 Was a Big One 

I'd pledged to myself that it would be a year for personal development, reflection and self awareness. I returned to Paris solo for writing inspiration, did Mindful in May and went Manically Organic, and started my own freelance writing and marketing business.

I was invited to join a panel of dating experts to discuss Melbourne’s propensity towards a hook up culture. I explored the topic of dating further on my own blog.  And I began writing a monthly column, "Paris Undressed", uncovering dating, romance and intrigue in the city of love for e-mag My French Life.

Too Much of a Good Thing

Throughout the year I needed to constantly remind myself this was a year meant for personal reflection and insight. Towards the end of a very long 12 months when I was still single and, quite frankly, all dated out I wanted to get back to me. 

I needed something to help me better understand what a year of all this dating meant about myself; my fears, my hesitations and a desire to want it all. 

Igniting My Mr Right

This something came to me through my networks and in the shape of webinar series offered by dating coach Camille Thurnherr. Over a course of six weeks, an hour a week, Camille guided a small group of us through a series using visualization, self-actualisation and affirmation to help us realise who we are, what we want and how we need to focus on getting just that. 

It seemed a small price to pay for an investment into my own happiness, development and confidence.  It was an eye opening experience which left me feeling ready and confident for new romantics in 2013.  So I wanted to share it with you.  

My favourite part of the course?  Discovering that you can have your cake, and eat it too.  Yum.

You can hear my feedback on the course in the interview below, or learn more about the course itself here.

THE NEXT WEBINAR SERIES STARTS ON THE 14TH JAN (limited places)
If you're interested in doing the 6 week course Camille is offering readers a discounted early bird price of $150 (normally $200) plus a free 30 minute 1:1 sesh with Camille after the course - just quote "LMM Love" after you've signed up online. 

Select the early bird drop down option ("8/10/12"), and you'll be good for the 14th. :)

 

Go get ‘em girls.

With love, 

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo

Dating Detox

It’s safe to say that I’ve had my fair share of dates this year.  In fact, if dating is a numbers game, I should've won the lottery by now.  


In everyone's defense, lack of continuity has simply been a mismatch of perceptions and intentions, as is the nature of dating.  I am, however, now also convinced that the universe has been playing a very cruel joke on me.

Last year I was very heavily invested in other people’s lives - mostly weddings, all beautiful, all which have my heartfelt blessings.  On Christmas night I decided that 2012 was going to be a year for me; putting myself first when there’s no harm to do so, taking better care of myself, and trying to be the very best version of me.

Too many dates?

On reflection, my new found theory is that by putting this out to the universe (like the hippy in disguise that I am) it determined what kind of romantic year I was set to have; that dating wasn’t due to be on the agenda when I’d made such a conscious commitment to myself.  Reasonably speaking, I’d like to think I’ve had a nice balance of both.  But we’re all guilty of absentmindedly overindulging in the things that aren’t always good for us at the time (like pork belly baguettes and dirty martinis at 2am on a school night).

So perhaps I’ve indulged a little more than I was supposed to this year on the dating front.  And what do we do when the excesses get too much?  We detox.  As much as I shudder at the thought, a dating detox could be just what the witch doctor ordered.  Going on my track record of doing any kind of detox, I don't like my chances of success.  But nothing ventured nothing gained so I'm giving it a shot for the remaining weeks of December.

If all else fails, then laugh it up Universe.  And bring me a dirty martini.

Yours,

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo

Sleepless In The City

From a professional insomniac, here are my tips on how to cope the day after a night of zilch shut eye (including calling in a sickie)...


As anyone who's on Twitter with me will very well know, sleep is not one of my strong points. It’s nothing new so please, for the love of Louboutin, no suggestions of chamomile tea or Valerian. I've learned to cope with the insomnia curse fairly well over the years and ironically enough some of the random 4am ideas have been ridiculously successful.

Now, most people have trouble sleeping at one point or another.  But for those who are not quite the seasoned professional as some others around here, I thought I'd share a few damage control tips for when counting sheep has miserably failed to deliver a good night’s rest.

Take a sickie
If you've only got a couple of hours sleep - or none at all - embrace that sick leave you've been saving for a rainy day and let it pour. Without getting the sleep you're accustomed to having you're likely to be pretty useless at work.  Take the time you need to restore and replenish.  In fact, I was shocked to read recently that sleep deprivation “produces impairments in cognitive and motor performance equivalent to legally prescribed levels of alcohol intoxication” – drunk at work?  Save it for the Christmas party.

Try not to sleep
It's like getting over jet lag – you’ll want to snooze all day, but try not to give in until the time you would go to bed normally. Get outside relatively close to when you usually leave for work and get some morning light therapy to influence your body back into routine.  15 minute power-naps are always allowed.  Always.

Drink
Not coffee or alcohol; water and lots of it (but please don’t drown yourself).  Room temperature H2O for better absorption, maybe with some freshly sliced lemon to help neutralize your bod.  Not too close to when you’re planning to sleep again – that will just get annoying.

Walk
Nothing over the top, but a nice gentle stroll to freshen up, get some vitamin D and feel good about having the day off while everyone else is scrambling around in their lunch break.   If you’re keen, try some gentle yoga either at home or the gym – the Pocket Yoga app is pretty good for home yoga if you can spare the $2.99 download.

Eat
Fresh stuff. Apparently cherries contain melatonin but who has those lying around at home?  Note: Cherry Ripes do not count.  Go for bananas, oats, veggies and consider a vitamin B complex in the morning with some zinc and magnesium to help you with energy levels throughout the day.

Breathe & relax
Don't worry – be happy.

And finally, prepare for the new night ahead
No electronics an hour before bed, some relaxing music, caffeine free tea, a light dinner with a few complex carbs and lean protein (like a salmon and quinoa salad, mmm), and no sugar or caffeine after midday. You know all this – it’s just my chance to nag.

Happy sleeping peeps and if not, I might see you around in the twitterverse on#insomniaclub.

Yours,

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo

 

The List

When it comes to being single, it’s not uncommon for us to have a list of traits we might look for in our version of the ideal partner.  I guess this is just like setting goals which, as any self-confessed goal-junkie will tell you, helps you get to where you want to be.

After chatting with a friend about her list a couple of months ago, it reminded me of my own.  Out came the list again to act as my secretive informal screening process and invisible radar should any such traits come within the immediate vicinity.  My mental list looked a little something like this:

Confident and driven:  Tick.
Tertiary educated:  Tick.
Has lived OS: Tick. 
Shares an affliction with incorrect use of your vs you’re: Tick.
Has his own business:  Tick.
Works in hospitality/entertainment: No go. 
Over 6ft tall: No go.
Younger: No go.
Is a friend/shares mutual friends (ie it’s all a bit too ‘close’): No go.
Doesn’t enjoy copious amounts of red wine: No go. 

Even after typing it out I still feel pretty convinced that it’s spot on.  However, my dear friends, let me tell you that my clever little list has been well and truly blown out of the water of late – yet things are going miraculously ok.  Conversely, I’ve dated a few men who have met the selection criteria only to soon after rename them to 'DO NOT ANSWER' in my appendage of a phone (in other words, it didn't work out). 

As an aforementioned self-confessed goal-junkie it's been a little hard to understand these outcomes when ideals haven't worked out.  But you know what?  I’ve decided that I’m letting go and saying goodbye to the cardboard cut-out.  Instead I’m opting for something a little more lifelike. Let's see how that goes...

Yours,
Little Miss Melbourne
xoxo

This Fabulous Life

Life has a sneaky little way of twisting things around on us.

In a very short but sweet post, all I have to say tonight is that sometimes you just gotta be happy with whatever's happening right in front of you.  Even when you're having a bad time - especially when you're having a bad time - remember that life is fabulous, just like you.

Be happy.  Have fun.  Dance in a grassy field like a ballerina.  Enjoy.

Yours,

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo

Practice Makes Perfect

The girls in my last workshop became privy to the details of a date happening that evening. They wanted to hear progress updates via my blog, so ladies, here it is - with a little added sweetener.



Date & I met several months prior at the Melbourne Writers' Club, held each month at Honey Bar. We'd initially tried catching up a few times for coffee but never quite got it together. So I was surprised to hear from him out of the blue a number of months later. I did question the lapse and rather sporadic contact but succumbed to a bit of 'meh' and decided to go with the flow.

Being an avid fan of the 'flow' philosophy this was pretty much what I applied to subsequent dates post date number one (which was excellent; convo, tapas & Veuve = win). Turns out though that this laid back approach may have resulted in someone getting their own way a few too many times, ending in rather a bad outcome when they didn't. So that's the way it went, and went it did.

What the process gave me was true meaning to what a friend and fellow singleton said to me recently, of her own dating experiences; it's all practice. And this, in all it's simplicity, made sense.

Could it be that we're all practicing for something, sometimes without even realising it? Maybe all the things we go through in life - the good, the bad, the ugly - are all just preparing us for a bigger purpose. For my friend, it means dating until she finds the champion life partner she's looking for. For me and my recent experiences, I've realised I'm getting more practice in learning who I am, what I want in my life and what I don't.

In a recent quest of trying to be the best of me, this has all come at perfect timing. So girls, there it is - you got your goss and I got my philosophical gander.

With love,

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo

Just Another Date Story

Lately LMM has been playing in the world of online dating.  After all, being an online marketer, one could only assume that someone who builds professional networks and relationships online should be able to do the same in her personal life – right?  Perhaps not. 

In my limited experiences of online dating there have been some interesting connections, some very interesting dates and some downright boring ones.  So it was no surprise that the most recent situation was no different – but instead of playing me his karaoke recording, or repeatedly sneezing over me at dinner, this one chose negging as his secret weapon.  If you’re not sure what that is, Google it.  It’s not cool and girls should be aware of it and give it a big fat thumbs down at the mere hint of it starting to unfold before their unsuspecting eyes. 

To be fair, I don’t think Mr. Neg actually had it in him to understand the full capacity of what he was doing.  Regardless, attempts to further progress things, using what can only be described as suicide dating tactics, didn’t get him very far.  I’m putting that one down as a SFAR (Single For a Reason), turning my back on the online dating world and returning to dating how I like my groceries: organic.

  

Internet dating: I'm just not that into you. 

LittleMissMelbourne xoxo

Professional Courtesy and Dating - Same Same but Different

It’s official; I have a new Twitter crush.  Our beliefs and values seem to be divinely aligned and we share a strong passion for engagement, marketing and content – a match made in heaven!  Since first ‘meeting’ Firebrand Talent on Twitter I’ve been more than impressed time and time again by the quality, tone and consistency of their blog and online communications.  It’s safe to say they are doing a good job of wooing me in the world of all things marcomms and engagement (plus recruitment – my other great professional love).

One of the posts I recently enjoyed was around the delicate (and seemingly declining) topic of professional courtesy.  When you contact a potential or existing client to share a ground breaking idea or some relevant news that you firmly feel will help their business, only to never hear back from them again.  Irrespective of whether you’re a sales professional with something they don’t want or they have a lack of budget to use your services, if you’ve previously had some level of communication between you it seems only polite that they could spend the minimal investment it would take to call you back and give it to you straight.

As a self-confessed date-aholic I couldn’t help but compare it to the early stages of two people dating each other.  Guy meets girl, guy dates girl, guy or girl doesn’t really like what the other has to offer and so doesn’t feel the need to keep investing energy into something that’s not there – which typically means a break in communication.  I’m very lucky to say that I haven’t had my calls ignored after I’ve started seeing someone nor have I done that to another person - simply because it’s just plain rude.  But it seems to happen, and happen it does a lot.  In the harsh reality of the dating world, all courtesies aside, it usually just means they’re not into you.  Move on, stop investing your time into someone who doesn’t appreciate it and give it to someone who does.

The way I see it, the same applies in the professional world.  Yes, it’s rude.  Yes, it’s unprofessional.  But if a client, candidate, supplier, the Easter Bunny, are not returning your calls cut your losses, realise they are never going to call you back and move on because they don’t see value in what you are offering.  The good news is there are bigger, better things out there for you that do.

Yours,

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo

Freelancing and Peanut Butter Sandwiches

Since being “outplaced” from the corporate jungle I called my professional home for a number of years, I have found myself blissfully running my own freelance business. I’ve noticed though that other personal things in my life (the gym, dating, eating) seem to have fallen by the way side.  I mean, who has the time for grocery shopping when there are strategies to develop and content to create?  Yes, working til 1am, peanut butter sandwiches for dinner – this is LMM's new freelancing life.

For the most part, I understand it’s going to take time to adjust to my new chapter.  I’m sure I’ll sync into a healthier lifestyle in due course, albeit with a touch of scurvy along the way.  But the thing that’s been getting to me the most is my lack of attention on my own personal writing, including entries on my beloved Little Miss Melbourne blog. 

Determined to do something about it, I began to write a few posts based on plentiful observations made from a weekend wedding in Perth.  Frustratingly, I couldn’t quite get into the groove of any of them so instead switched to writing a professional post about my great love and core focus of my business, content marketing.  Words flowed, sentences formed and budda boom budda bing, a blog post was born.

This frustrated me even more for two reasons.  One – my professional website and blog is not yet live in order for me to publish this post.  Two – I still hadn’t written a piece for my personal blog. It might as well have been 1am with a half-eaten sandwich sitting next to me as I tenaciously tapped away.  Admitting defeat, I succumbed to the concept that maybe it was simply what I was meant to be writing about, right now.  After all, I’d written a piece which I thoroughly enjoyed doing and can’t wait to post on my website when it's ready.

As someone who is always telling others to be kind to themselves I decided to take my own advice and be happy with what I’d created.  I figure that maybe, sometimes, we just need to go with whatever happens to be working for us at the time.  If that means peanut butter sandwiches at midnight or writing blogs you didn't intend on writing, so be it. Low and behold, what do you think happened next?  (Hint: You’re reading it right now.)  

Don’t you just love the way things turn out? 

Love, 

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo

Social Media PDA (not a handheld device)

Recently on holiday in Paris, the public displays of affection that surrounded a Little Miss from Melbourne were nothing less than beautiful – and so very French.  New to embracing the act of a public kiss and cuddle herself, LMM felt positively cured of previous fears of PDA. That was until recently.  Something happened, forcing her into remission, and it was all thanks to a Facebook status update.

Dinner was a second date with someone who’d become a Facebook friend since the first. We’d gone to a French restaurant in prelude to Paris which felt quite fitting for a location check-in on Facebook.  But it was then that I froze.  Did I check my date in with me?  It almost felt rude not to.  Although we’d only been out once; was I ready to reveal this dining partner to my digital world?  Then I thought about him.  He might not want his very whereabouts known by his online counterparts either.  So I asked my date if it would be ok for me to check him in – and of course, it was.

We went out again. This time he checked me in. What would my friends think of this late Sunday breakfast check-in with the same man?  When one of his friends and stranger to me endorsed our activity with his “like”, I wondered the same about his mates. Who was this guy and why did it matter to him?  More importantly, why did it matter to me?  It was then, after happily and publicly kissing Mr Brunch adieu for the day, that it hit me. I had developed a fear of Social Media PDA.

Since this realisation I’ve noticed it a lot; friends who adorn their partner’s wall with messages of love - even though they live together. People I don’t know making suggestive comments to those that I do - visible for everyone to see. Online arguments taking place between two people - witnessed by hundreds. There’s no denying it; social media PDA is out there imposing on our digital space.

Ok, so it might be less committal and less confronting to write a lovey dovey sentence to another, using a very non-human device, in a very public online domain.  Although in our physical world people are usually very private when it comes to their personal life involving another.  When it comes down it, if ever there were an aversion towards openly smooching someone in public, surely it must be nothing as compared to the tailored mass communication approach of social media.

With this perspective firmly locked in place I don't think I'll be embracing social media PDA any time soon.  On the other hand, I don't see any problem with openly making out in the gourmet aisle of the supermarket. So I’ve developed a new mantra around PDA in general: kiss like no one is watching, post like everyone is.  Now, if my online friends would just do the same...

Smooches,

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo

A spin around our National Sports Museum

When unaware of something I’ve always said that we simply don’t know what we don’t know.  However, in the case of the National Sports Museum at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, ignorance is far from bliss.  Recently in the lucky position of visiting the host of our nation’s sporting past and present, the discovery of this hidden gem left me a little awestruck.  Always wanting to spread the word on good stuff in Melbourne, I thought I'd share it with you. 

On the occasions when I’ve visited the MCG, I'll admit that I haven’t noticed the NSM.  Given the thousands of sporting fans that frequent the venue for major events it’s no wonder it might get overlooked.  So it took me by surprise that it was quite literally and modestly tucked away beneath the proud standing MCG.  There by day and without the hordes of sporting fans – instead, a hub of activity from school groups, visitors, lovely volunteers and busy staff – the MCG took on a whole new light.  After a quick tour of the grounds and some impressive stats and information, we moved onto the National Sports Museum.

Walking past the ticketing booth just inside gate three, traveling through glass doors and onto a long descending escalator into the belly of the MCG, entering a colourful and theatrically lit cavernous room, with major arteries splitting in different directions from the entrance, and there we were, inside the museum.  A fun, vibrant, informative, interesting and entertaining walk through the underground giant ensued.

More than cricket, you’ll find information and displays on tennis, thoroughbred horse racing, football, gymnastics, soccer, cycling (Cadel Evans bicycle from the final day of his big win, no less), netball, golf, Paralympic games, rugby union and league, and basketball.  You’ll find cinema rooms with a holographic Shane Warne telling you about the journey of his career, and an interactive gallery to kick, catch, ride and test your own abilities.  You’ll find the Australian Football Hall of Fame and Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, changing exhibitions, and a rich insight into Australia’s role in the Olympic Games dating right back to 1896.

So there’s a lot to see at the National Sports Museum here in Melbourne.  Open daily from 10am to 5pm, tours are by audio (or Smart Auslan for deaf or hearing impaired visitors) and at your own pace which I felt was good given the range of things to see.  Tours of the MCG itself include visiting the players change rooms, media centres, the member facilities (including a beautiful library) and a walk on the MCG arena; these take place daily between 10am and 3pm, although not during major MCG events – that could get awkward in the change rooms.  For something a little different, take a look into their themed tours, too. 

You can visit one without the other for $20 a venue ($10 for kids under 15) or you can get the MCG Tour and NSM Package for $30 per adult and $15 for children.  Super convenient by tram or train as the MCG is, or limited metered parking nearby, you get hours of entertainment and historic, cultural education for a good price.  Grab a coffee and real, fresh, wholesome food at the Paddock Café to keep up the strength and you’ll have yourself a pretty awe-inspiring day.  It is definitely something worth discovering and checking out.

Find more information on the National Sports Museum online at www.nsm.org.au, www.facebook.com/nationalsportsmuseum, or engage with them on www.twitter.com/NSMNews. 

Enjoy! 

With love, LMM xoxo

Manically Organic & Mindful in May

One fine day in April as I tweeted my little heart out, one handle in particular caught my eye.  I don’t remember exactly how I came across it but with a bio that struck a chord I found myself following Mindful in May.  A ‘campaign combining meditation and contribution’, the idea generated a sense of instant awareness. 

With a busy life and lots of big changes I became conscious that I hadn’t been very kind to me of late.  The thing with self-preservation is that doesn't stop at the self; when we’re kind to ourselves it means we're in a better place to be kind to others.  As a philanthropist at heart I realised the recent lack of self-preservation quite simply wouldn't do.  In addition to being Mindful in May I’ve decided that I’m going #manicallyorganic.

I’ve heard all sorts of arguments for and against choosing organic.  But with a penchant for burning the candle from all directions and as a life member of #insomniaclub I'm up for anything that supports improved health and happiness.  Surely if it means putting fewer chemicals in and around our bods it can't be a bad thing.  So from the month of May I’m aiming to be #manicallyorganic and deliver it to you via a tweet or two.

Feel free to join in or share your fave little organic place or product below.

With love, LittleMissMelbourne xoxo

Check out Mindful in May

Be #manicallyorganic with LMM on Twitter.

Swings and Roundabouts

People come and people go. Sometimes those who come into our life for a significant amount of time are those whom we may never feel close to at all. Other times, people may visit for only a brief period yet hold with us a deep level of connection or strong influence. There seems to be no rule in life and no given as to how long someone will be a part of our overall journey or the impression they will leave behind.  The person you’re closest with now might not be so in a month, a year or a decade - there’s just no telling.

Things happen in life which shift and change our relationships for us, maybe through a realignment (or misalignment) of perceptions or quite simply a case of individual paths traveling in different directions.  For a certain period of my life this made me somewhat sceptical as to how anyone can firmly rely on another when we have no certainty of where their path is going and for how long they'll be there.  Luckily for LMM, it didn't take long to be absolved from this insecurity, surrounded by an abundance of positive influences with no lack of insightful perceptions.

What I’ve come to learn is that people come and people go, but they always leave something behind with us.  Despite the quality or quantity of time spent as a guest in our little world, the encounters we have can shape or alter the perceptions we hold - even change who we are as a person.  We may not be conscious of it, but we also leave something behind when we enter the realm of another.  Like swings and roundabouts, we go round and round in life always getting something from others, while leaving something behind, ourselves.

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo

'All Men Are Liars' Part II

Further to my previous blog, I want to clarify that I don't actually believe that all men are liars.  While one can never generalise, I've always felt that men are mostly just opportunists; this might mean trying to avoid an overly complex or conflict-bound situation as much as humanly possible should they have the opportunity to do so. 

This avoidance may not involve lying per se, but perhaps be more a case of simply omitting particular details from the truth.  Of course, if it means staying clear of a clash or another emotionally exhausting, hour-long discussion, why wouldn't you?  Enter the pragmatic workings of a man's mind which is, ironically, what I think is so wonderful about the majority of men.

The issue is of course that women don't typically work this way.  We like to discuss, explore, be open – and we want you to be involved, to listen and contribute – possibly even argue about it, dammit!  But at the end of the day, if men gave us this every time, we may very quickly implode through discussing every heart-felt emotion in crazy, intricate detail.

Likewise, I'm sure if women were as straight forward, simple and opinion-free as some men may prefer us to be, it would very soon get incredibly boring; no one to rescue, no situation to avoid, no reason to put man-think into action.

Perhaps therein lies clarity to a male friend's absurd allegation that all women are evil – women are not evil, we are just units of boundless thoughts and emotions which may, from time to time, result in actions or words that could be perceived as evil (and sometimes much deserved).

But really it’s usually just our way of dealing with a situation; a situation which you guys have cleverly (and wisely) escaped from to meet a mate for a long boozy lunch – which you never lied about…you just simply failed to mention... ;)

Evilly yours,

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo

'All Men Are Liars'

I recently had a differing of opinions with someone surrounding the theory that all women are evil.  This means influencing men to do things they wouldn’t normally otherwise do if women weren’t involved.  Well, I strongly feel that the actions of any person are explicitly of their own prerogative and thus should not be blamed on anyone else.  Of course, motivation plays a part which can be influenced by alleged ‘evil women’ but generally speaking, we tend to be in charge of ourselves and what we are doing.  

To level the playing the field with this seemingly absurd statement, my official retort - purely for argument of convenience rather than firmly held belief - was that all men are liars.  It may have been a cheeky comment said for effect, but is there truth in the alleged inability for a man to really tell it how it is - when he doesn't really want to?  Men usually like the best possible outcome in a situation and usually do whatever they need to in order to achieve this.  Does this include lying?

So, with two arguments on our hands I’m putting it over to you, dear readers, for your opinion.  Two highly likely outcomes: 1. Women may defend the allegation they are evil, while secretly enjoying the idea; 2. Men could tell us the truth – but will we want to hear it?  

Thoughts?  LMM xoxo

Read the sequel to this blog - All Men Are Liars part II

What to do with a case of the blues

There is nothing better than feeling on top of the world when everything is falling into place and running smoothly as it should.  But what about the times when it’s not so picture perfect?  Or when the future is bright but you just feel dull?  Should we grin and bear it like a 1920’s housewife, shut ourselves away from the world with a tub of icecream or just carry on so that the poor suckers around us have to adjust?  Whichever it might be I’m sure it’s not conducive to an outcome that is good for anyone involved – including your thighs. 

It’s not the stock standard hormonal blues I’m talking about.  In fact, these blues are pretty much licence to feel however you damn want at the time and good luck to anyone who gets in your way in the process - let alone the unfortunate person who actually blames it on this. 

I’m talking about the flat blues when it doesn’t matter what’s going on in your life – physically, mentally or emotionally – but when you just kinda feel...meh.  You can’t blame it on anything in particular and even if you’re having a bad week then you’re grown up enough to know you can wait it out until the beloved weekend. 

On meeting up with my bestie tonight for a vino at my favourite Melbourne bar, I felt myself on a sliding scale.  In a week that’s going swimmingly well, and with a life that one could only ever be thankful for, I still felt flat and more than a little disengaging.  I wondered if I should have just gone for a drink on my own and basked in my sense of anti-world, but where is the fun in that?

There surely must be a fine line between generally being a drip to hang out with, to just feeling flat from time to time.  Maybe those 1920’s housewives had the right idea by applying a bit of lippy and donning a big grin, if not just to make themselves feel better.  We could simply pin a badge to our shirt that reads “approach with caution: flat ahead”, or maybe just let people figure it out when they get there.

Wherever the line may lie, tonight I chose to let others figure it out.  As it turns out, it has been much better than sitting home alone devouring my own body weight in icecream.  I may have alienated my friend for the time being but he’ll get over it - much faster than my thighs ever will.  And on that note, I feel better already. 

Yours, LMM  xoxo

The small matter of settling down

Recently back and hot on the dating scene, LMM was asked where it was that she saw herself settling down.  You would think this might be a normal question in the dating world, right?  But when seemingly incapable of providing a solid answer, one couldn’t help but feel caught off guard not to mention more than a little inadequate. In a world where anything goes and anything is possible, should we still feel the need to settle down at all?



There is certainly merit in having the good old five year plan.  As repeated to death as it may be, the fact of the matter is that having goals, ambitions and aspirations really does work.  For some of the more commitment phobic amongst us, having just a 12 month vision to work to can be incredibly useful.  Whatever it is you wish to fulfill, you can still have a magnitude of things to accomplish without the need to ‘settle down’ in one place.  So then maybe the notion of settling down is a subconscious plan which many of us feel obliged to reach in order to have some kind of fulfillment, or to consider ourselves a success.

Argument could prevail that a fear of settling down might have some kind of psychological background supposedly connected to a bad childhood or divorced parents.  As far as LittleMiss is concerned, the concept of settling down is quite simply someone else’s vision.  A vision that is not about her, her very conservative upbringing or her still very married parents.  Rather, LMM has many things she wants to achieve all as part of her own plan – none of it which requires settling down in one location.  If love happens along the way, it will still be beautiful.

Next time you’re on a date and the topic of settling down comes up, try asking the same question back.  It could be more insightful than you think. 

Yours, LMM. xoxo

Freedom - Carb Free

Alright my darlings, tonight I'd thought I'd share with you my experience thus far on a two week carb detox oh so kindly suggested by personal trainer.  After one week I am going to be overdramatic and suggest that I think it might've changed my life.  So if you're looking to try a new diet after starting to clutch at straws like I have been - have a read.

As a person with a sensitivity to wheat and host to insulin resistance I generally keep clear of the carb laden foods like pasta, bread, pastry, potatoes, etc.  That is that I should have been keeping clear of these things.  Pasta has never been so bad because it is so heavy that I've always just avoided it and don't miss it one tiny bit.  But it turns out that the lures of beautifully toasted bread, perfectly baked pastry and anything that is warm and goes crunch in general (and is not a vegetable) has kept me going back for more. 

I didn't realise just how much until my first day or so into this carb detox diet idea. I'd developed a habit of taking crackers to work with my salad (but points for the salad, right?) just to satiate that crunch desire for something more substantial than rabbit food.  This led to another habit of having more with vegemite when I got home, or maybe with cheese after dinner.  Then I'd started having toast again with soup or eating the sour dough that would come with Saturday's breakfast out and all of a sudden I was ordering porridge and muesli at said breakfast outings while feeling pretty good about my choice. 

Well let me just say that it turns out that for me, and my body, this wasn't such the best choice after all.  I discovered after a bit of research that carbs (even 'good' ones) are all just a form of sugar which is one thing that I consciously go out of my way to avoid (I am one of those people that stand there for ages in the shopping aisle reading the nutrition content of food...).  So what I thought was my healthy breakfast most probably wasn't doing me any favours at all. 

I should point out that all of this effort (the PT, the diets, argh!) surrounds trying to lose that infamous 5kg that almost everyone seems to gain but can't get rid of.  I'm now one week into my carb detox and I feel fantastic.  I've lost a little bit of weight (nothing dramatic but I 'feel' lighter), my tummy is flat, and I don't have any naughty cravings - plus, I don't feel like I've been deprived for food at all.  More importantly, my blood sugar levels feel like they've sorted themselves out, meaning I only feel like eating when I'm hungry and when I eat, I enjoy, but when I'm full, I'm full.  HALLELUJAH.  After a two year battle with wondering what the hell is going on with my body I think I finally have some kind of resolution. 

Now, LittleMiss is not suggesting that this is a one size fits all solution.  My PT even declared that she tends to lose weight on a HIGH carb diet - so everyone is different.  But if you are someone who has difficult and unstable blood sugar levels (insulin resistance, polycystic ovaries, diabetes) or you have a sensitivity to gluten/wheat and it makes you feel sluggish then maybe a low carb diet could be for you too.

A few things I thought I'd add and clear up.  Yup, carbs are in vegies.  But the way that I see it is that vegies are alright because of their high fibre and nutrient content - so long as you keep away from the starchy carbs like potatoes then you're probably fine.  So I've been eating plenty of green leafy vegies, favouring the ones categorised as 'negative calorie' - food that takes more energy to digest than they contain - yippee!  It's the sugar dense carbs like fruit that you want to watch a little. 

If you love your fruit eat it with some protein and/or fat to keep the blood sugar in check, like an apple with cheese or a handful of nuts.  Lastly, in my first few days of carb free I was craving minced meat like I never have before (if I ever have before...).  My PT advised that I most likely wasn't getting enough fat in my diet.  So don't forget your healthy fats too if you get the same - avocado, olive oil, coconut oil, salmon, etc.  I'm a big believer that if you're craving something then there's usually a reason; your body is trying to tell you something.  When it comes to carbs, the more I was eating, the more I wanted.  But it also turns out that the less carbs I have, the less I want.  So maybe this was the prank my body has been playing on me.  Who knows.  I do know that I feel great and I feel light - and I am eating amazing food while I do it.  Heaven!

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo