The Other Side of the Desk: Lessons From Running My Own Small Businesses
From counting stock on the lounge room floor to chasing missing deliveries, running my own small businesses reminds me how many hats business owners wear. This week, I'm sharing how life behind my craft desk helps me better understand the people sitting on the other side of my accounting desk.
Not Just a Button: Creating Little Gifts That Mean Something
Sometimes a creative idea doesn't work out the way you planned. Four years after arranging a heart of handmade buttons, I've found a new purpose for them and a reason to return to markets.
Why Are My Lips Still Dry When I'm Using Lip Balm?
Dry lips aren't always caused by dehydration. From weather and ageing to lip products and everyday habits, let's talk about what might be making your lips uncomfortable.
Cash Is King - Especially When the Tax Bill Arrives
The ATO is about to stop accepting credit-card payments. But the bigger lesson for small business isn't really about credit cards - it's about cash flow, tax obligations and setting up good money habits from the very beginning.
What If You're Already in the Room?
We’re often told we need to get in the room to be seen, heard and included. But what happens when you’re already there and still don’t feel like you belong?
When the Colour Carries You
Sometimes having one small thing to do can make more difference than we realise. From 366 days of buttons to 30 days of Liptember colour, this week reminded me why our smallest routines can sometimes be the ones that carry us through.
When Did You Last Check In With Yourself?
We’re told to check our blood pressure, blood sugar, hormones, skin and breasts. But what happens when you check your mental health, realise you’re not okay and ask for help? After seven years of Liptember, I think I finally understand why I keep coming back.
The People Who Teach Us to Show Up
We learn so much simply by watching the people around us. This Father's Day, I'm reflecting on the practical lessons, community spirit and little quirks I've inherited from Dad and why showing up for the people in our circle matters this Liptember.
The Grief We Carry That Nobody Sees
Grief doesn't always look like grief. It can sit quietly alongside work, laughter, family, plans and everyday life. After a week filled with very different kinds of loss, I've been thinking about the grief we carry that nobody else can see and why that makes conversation, connection and kindness matter.
Before Buy Now, Pay Later, We Had Lay-by
Before Buy Now, Pay Later and Pay-in-4, there was lay-by, handwritten budgets and sometimes simply waiting until you could afford something. An old notebook from 2003 reminded me that perhaps some old-fashioned money habits are still worth keeping.
Maybe We Were Never Meant to Fit In
We spend so much of our lives wanting to be accepted for who we are. But perhaps one of the gifts of getting older is realising we don't need to fit neatly into anybody else's box. We're allowed to change, grow and make room for every version of ourselves.
Where Did My Tax Refund Go?
Tax time used to come with an almost automatic expectation of a refund. These days, that's far from guaranteed. Let's look in plain English at what's changed, why deductions don't give you dollar-for-dollar refunds, and a few practical things you can do before next tax time.
Nobody Starts on the Podium
The Commonwealth Games have been on my television all week, and while Australia has celebrated an incredible medal haul, it's the stories behind the medals that have stayed with me. They reminded me that nobody starts on the podium.
What's Hiding in Your Tax Return?
After preparing tax returns for 27 years, one misconception still surprises me every July: people think their accountant already has everything. Here's what we actually receive, what we don't, and why good records still matter.
When Everything Starts Feeling Like a Chore
Not every week is exciting. Some weeks are simply about showing up, getting through the to-do list and giving yourself permission to rest. This week's Sunday reflection is for anyone who feels like even the things they love have started to feel like work.
The Photos Don't Show Everything
After a week away and a camera roll full of ocean views, rainbows and family memories, I was reminded that photos capture moments, not whole stories. Behind every beautiful image are the ordinary, awkward, difficult and wonderfully imperfect moments we don’t always see.
Investing in Future You
July feels like the perfect time to pause and reset. Discover simple ways to invest in your health, finances, home and wellbeing, because Future You will be thankful you started today.
Finding Joy in the Ordinary
For six years, June has meant going pink for breast cancer awareness. This year I realised the colour pink had become more than a fundraiser. It had become a reminder to slow down, notice life's ordinary joys and look after what matters most.
The Things We Carry
This week reminded me that life doesn't become difficult because of one big thing. Sometimes it's the weight of carrying lots of small things at once. A reflection on work, family, health, worry and the seasons of life.
The View From My Own Lane
This week I found myself looking sideways at other people's success and wondering if I was doing enough. A reflection on comparison, ambition, gratitude and learning to appreciate the view from my own lane.