I know that you have the talent and ability to create and live a good life regardless of anything I tell you or not. However now that I am a parent to two children {a daughter and a son} with wonderfully strong spirits whose presence has turned my life upside down, every day I walk the line between providing guidance and reassurance and telling them things that I know as wisdom but they hear as nagging.

Me who is you.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jo Bassett from Living Savvy is an executive and performance coach, team leader and facilitator, wife, mother of two spirited little people, big-time dreamer and idea explorer (with a Masters Degree and PhD research underway).

She founded the living savvy movement to inspire people like you to live your dream life, and to give you the tools you need to make it happen. Click here to follow her on Facebook.

I have something to confess; I live in a country known for its long stretches of sandy beaches and warm summer weather, but I absolutely adore winter. The fact I can get up from my warm, cosy bed and put on my jumper, scarf, boots and coat is a feeling that can’t be replaced by even the most delicious gelato on a 35 degree day.

Here are some of my top picks for clothes, shoes and accessories to complete your wardrobe in the cooler weather.

Looking for an outfit that can take you from a day of meetings straight to cocktails and dinner on a Friday night? Just leave a pair of ballet flats at work and swap into some heels for the after 5’s.

1/ Country Road Colour Block Dress
2/ Oroton Serena Bra & G-String
3/ Gorman Pepa Coat
4/ Oroton Serene Tote
5/ Tony Bianco Palais Pumps

Whether you prefer brunch and a stroll down the high street or an afternoon in the wineries, a comfy knit will take you through winter and out the other side without a chill in your bones.

1/ Country Road Check Shirt under Witchery Cable Knit
2/ Witchery High Rise Jean
3/ Witchery Keira Pop Aviator
4/ Samantha Wills Bohemian Bardot Necklace
5/ Seed Textured Cardi
6/ Seed Navajo Print Tee
7/ Country Road Winona Ballerina Flats
8/ Seed Phoebe Bucket Bag

Champagne, diamonds, chandeliers…ahhh there’s nothing sweeter.

1/ Karen Millen Decadent Frills Blouse
2/ Samantha Wills Lourdes Ring
3/ Witchery T-Bar High Heel
4/ Zimmermann Speakeasy Mosaic Dress
5/ Samantha Wills Lourdes Earrings
6/ Alannah Hill Tights
7/ Alannah Hill Skirt

Some things are non negotiable; sunscreen and a swimsuit in summer and boots and a scarf in winter. Put these items at the top of your shopping list.

1/ Mimco Sportivo Watch
2/ Saba Fleur Hat
3/ Mimco Long Stem Umbrella
4/ Country Road Classic Boot
5/ Seed Tribal Scarf
6/ Mimco Turnlock Travel Wallet

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

With all those bags to push, why does this bitch look so happy?

Oh, why, yes of course, due to her devastatingly good looks, the concierge is about to rush over and alleviate her plight {sound familiar Samantha Brick?} and someone has stretched her legs to kingdom come in Photoshop.

Speaking of bags, I just spent the past two days moving house. Did I handle it with the same amount of style, panache and grace as the aforementioned?

Sheesh no.

Can the moving Gods please tell me …

Why do you always need more boxes than you think you do?

Why can you never find the end of the sticky tape?

Why can’t you find the allen key to undo your Ikea furniture?

And why do the five you actually have not fit, resulting in you having to lower your bed over the balcony {whilst praying to God it will land on the ground in one piece}?

Why are newspapers so slim nowadays?

Why do supermarkets no longer carry cardboard boxes?

Why do you have so much more shit than you realise?

Why are fridges so hard to get down stairs?

Why do we choose to live on second floor apartments, knowing fridges are so hard to get down stairs?

Why are the lifts at Fort Knox so freaking slow?

Why is moving so damn stressful, no matter how organised you are?

Now, where the feck is my hair brush? Anyone?

First Published in the Teenage Girl’s Survival Guide, April 2 2012

After reading Gaynor Alder’s most eloquent post on this subject, I thought long and hard about the very stern talking-to I’d like to have with my teenage self.

There were so many things I’d want her to know: that she should never clip the tags off her Beanie Babies and hang onto them for life and also find a way to buy some Microsoft stock; that the damage born of that savage tan she was sporting now would require thousands of dollars of beauty products and services to attempt to undo; that her seemingly perfect peers had already peaked and were actually on the down-slope {she’d be able to confirm this one day thanks to a yet-to-be-invented time-suck called Facebook}; that her “best friend” was in fact a catty, jealous back-stabber; and most importantly, that her dad wouldn’t live to see 60 and she’d better cherish every precious minute she had with him while she had the chance.

But then I realised something significant: That bitch wouldn’t listen to a word I said.

Sixteen-year-old me was a stubborn little narcissist. She thought she knew everything (in stark contrast to her parents, who knew absolutely nothing), and that the daily drama of her teen life was profoundly important.

Would J. ever notice her?

Should she pad her bra a bit and if she did would anyone know?

How could she get out of PE?

Would she ever find that prom dress she saw in Seventeen?

Would she make the cheerleading squad?

Who would she sit with at lunch?

Why wasn’t her Thin Thighs in 30 Days book working?

These things actually kept her up at night. {I’m not laughing at you dear; I’m laughing with you.} There may have been a big, crazy world outside of her window, but she was too busy crushing on boys who didn’t know she existed and scrutinizing her pores in the nearest magnifying mirror to notice most of it.

If I could sit down with that insecure, misguided, brilliant-but-clueless broad, I’d simply say this: None of that shallow, petty crap matters any more, not one teeny tiny microscopic bit. I’d tell her that it was okay that she was so self-centered, but only because I knew she’d grow out of it. Oh yeah, and I’d promise her that everything would turn out even better than she could have dared to hope in the end.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jenna McCarthy is an internationally published writer, TED speaker, former radio personality and the author of five books including If It Was Easy They’d Call the Whole Damn Thing a Honeymoon: Living with and Loving the TV-Addicted, Sex-Obsessed, Not-so-handy Man You Married {Berkley Books, 2011}.

{Please note that it says the blah-blah-blah man you married, not the one she married.Her husband likes it when she points that out.}

Her work has appeared in more than sixty magazines, on dozens of web sites and in several anthologies including the popular Chicken Soup series. Jenna likes it when you like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter {although she can be quite profane so you might want to keep the kids away}. You can find out how Jenna survived tanorexia and watch the hilarious trailer for her new book by visiting her website.

Image Credit // 1

The concept for this column comes from a book called ‘ Dear Me by James Woods. He asked celebrities to write letters to their sixteen-year-old selves. “No matter how accomplished and confident they seem today, at sixteen, they were like the rest of us—often unsure, frequently confused, and usually in need of a little reassurance.”- Ed.

2. Country Road Stripe Poncho

3. Oroton Signature-O Umbrella

4. Oroton L’Hotel Sunglasses

5. Oroton Alpine Gather Hobo Bag

6. Oroton Freshwater Pearl Earrings

7. Verali Tryst Charcoal Ballet Flats

8. Saba Scarf

1. Ojay Selena Pleat Neck Blouse

2. Mimco Mahjong Barette

3. Charlie Brown Loonie Faux Beaver Fur Cropped Opera Jacket

4. Charlie Brown Daydream Embellished Chiffon Caftan

5. Robert Robert Shoes Elke Black

1. Country Road Sleeveless Openwork Knit

2. Saba Travel Wallet

3. Oroton Essentials Bow Ballet Flats

4. Oroton Origins Signature Band

5. Saba Tote

1. Palas Jewellery

2. Oroton Meridian Mini Bag

3. Mimco Gypsy Clip

4. Leona Edmiston Isabel Dress

5. Siren Mika Nude Heels

Want more? Click here to see the new Modern Woman’s Survival Guide Online Shopping Directory, where we’ve compiled a list of beauty, fashion, lifestyle, gift and book online stores. We wanted to create a one stop directory with links to all your favourite online stores, to save you the hassle of trawling the net every time you want to shop online (because we’re nice like that). We’ll be adding to it regularly, so bookmark it stat as your one stop resource for online shopping.

Streets of Swagger fashion shoot styled by Sarah Kempson for Onya Magazine, featuring Alexi Freeman, Autonomy, Bento, Bhalo, Boston Babe, Deirdre, Katie Perry, Leonard St., Livia Arena, Mercurialist, Obus, Samantha Wills, Sosume and Vanguard.

Click here to see full fashion shoot in Onya Magazine.

To celebrate the launch of Shelley Craft’s fabulous new fashion app, Hanger Nation, The Modern Woman’s Survival Guide has teamed up with The Olsen Hotel in Melbourne & Hanger Nation to offer:

• A night’s accommodation at The Olsen for 2 people (including breakfast) on the 28^th February
• 2 x tickets to the launch event of Hanger Nation at The Olsen
• Meet and greet with Shelley Craft before the event
• Champagne in the room
• $500 shopping spree

You and a friend will join Shelley and guests for bubbles, canapés and smooth tunes at the luxurious poolside of The Olsen, as she shares her favourite autumn/winter pieces (as featured on her Hanger Nation mobile app) in a ‘Winter Warmer Parade’.

HOW TO ENTER

1. Click here and like Hanger Nation on Facebook

AND

2. Click here and follow The Olsen Hotel on Twitter.

AND

3.

Leave a comment below to tell us who your favourite Australian fashion designer and why?

BONUS ENTRY

If you would like to increase your chances of winning, you can take this additional step to count as another entry. Simply copy the below and tweet on Twitter:

Win $500, a night at @theolsenhotel, meet @Shelley Craft & attend the exclusive @hangernation launch Entry deets here http://tiny.cc/nw289

Each time you tweet, it counts as 1 additional entry. You may tweet up to 5 times per day until the competition closes on the 26th of February.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

You must complete steps 1, 2 & 3 to be eligble for entry.

The accommodation at The Olsen must be taken on the 28th of February 2012 and can not be redeemed at a later date.

Entries close on February 26th at 12:00pm. The winner will be notified via email on February 26th at 2:00pm.

Shelley Craft has recently launched an exciting new fashion app, Hanger Nation. I met with her at The Olsen Hotel in Melbourne to get the lowdown on her latest project, her inspirations and just how she manages to approach life with such effortless elegance and enduring effervescence.

As a busy media personality who splits her time between filming in Melbourne and living in Byron Bay with her husband and daughter Milla, it’s no surprise that Shelley like many other modern woman can sometimes feel time poor and struggle to find the time to shop. This combined with living in a town that isn’t exactly brimming with stores with dresses to wear on the red carpet, means Shelley does most of her shopping online.

Additionally, many stores only stock certain pieces from a designer’s range, forcing fashionistas to wear out the bottoms of their ballet flats, traipsing from one store to another longingly lusting after the latest look. Shelley concurs and adds, “I’d often find a piece in a boutique that I’d really love, and then wonder if the collection had a matching pair of pants or skirt in the same fabric?”

But after running her manicured nails over her keyboard for hours, hopping from one site to another, she started to wonder why there wasn’t an online directory that listed all the designers’ latest collections in the one spot? And so Hanger Nation was born. Snaps to her, we say.

A “lookbook bookmark”, Hanger Nation showcases designers’ complete collections in all size ranges, and all from the comfort of your chaise lounge. You can either purchase it from their online store or ascertain exactly where it’s located. No more blisters born of committing footwear felonies such as wearing heels whilst endlessly pounding the pavements desperately seeking a new dress.

With a heavy focus on iconic Australian designers including Fleur Wood and Arthur Galan, HN also showcases up and coming designers to keep your peepers peeled for. Shelley is currently swooning over Mister Zimi.

“Mister Zimi is an organic evolution of husband and wife team Zoe and Jimi, who took a trip to Bali and decided to get some leather jackets made. The made to measure jackets landed on their hotel doorstep addressed to ‘Mr Zimi’ and so the seed was planted. Returning home, their friends and family clamoured over her jacket, and soon friends of friends wanted to know more. They packed up their suitcases and bought a one way ticket to Bali, returning to the tropical island, inspired to design bikinis, bags and purses. The rest as they say is history.”

I asked Shelley about the evolution of her personal style, and naturally in front of the cameras it’s been dictated by the shows she’s worked on. From cutesy colourful clothes on Saturday Disney, to trading in the heels and cocktail chic of Funniest Home Videos for cargos and steel cap boots on The Great Outdoors and The Block.

When not working, she’d like to think of herself as understated elegance with an edge of rock chick. Shelley spoke of Grace Kelly as one of her style icons, and as she did I couldn’t help but draw a parallel between herself and the Princess – a fun loving girl with a classic elegance who was a natural in front of the camera.

21 weeks pregnant and having just stepped off the plane from Sydney, with back to back meetings until being due on set later in the afternoon, I wondered how she manages to take it all in her stride whilst continually radiating grace and emanating beauty from within. It seems love, passion, and a thirst for excitement are her driving forces. Overflowing with gratitude, she gushed about her supportive husband and family. She describes having Milla as the most incredible experience of her life, and she was never going to sacrifice the miracle of motherhood for her career.

Her beloved Byron Bay is also close to her heart, and it’s no surprise that she decided to get married there. After popping the question of marriage, her husband proposed another question. “Why aren’t we living here?” Their idyllic beach side lifestyle brings balance to their busy lifestyles, but Shelley says that it’s really more about the projects that they both work on harmonically converging as an organic extension of who they are as a couple. But even her husband knows not to bother her between 4:30 and 5:30 during her daily fix of Bold and the Beautiful.

As a teenager she wanted to be an equestrian rider or an Olympic skier, but by the time she left school she was eying off a career as an actress. She took a gap year and accepted a job at Movie World, where she was offered the opportunity to do work experience in the studio. A dream career trajectory followed, with a Production Assistant role on the Disney show before auditioning for the role of host. And it’s been all lights, camera, action ever since. 17 fabulous years later and she’s shopping for a frock for her 17th Logies.

When asked what success means to her, Shelley unequivocally responded with one simple word. Happiness. She wholeheartedly believes that you should find out what makes you happy and follow that. She acknowledges that career changes can be daunting, but instead of relating to life trapped by social limitations you should see the world as your oyster. “Why should dreams only come true in the movies?”

She’s also a passionate supporter of the sisterhood, and surrounds herself with supportive people who celebrate each others successes, and is inspired by women such as Lisa Wilkinson and Jana Wendt. She also believes that self esteem in teenagers should be nurtured, and if she ever had the chance to give her own 16 year old self some advice, she would tell her to lighten up and let it go because it won’t count.

Whilst Shelley is ever so humble and attributes her career to timing and chance, I, like the rest of Australia know better. Her unbridled joy is contagious and her talent unquestionable. She’s divine. Genuine. Gorgeous. Utterly beautiful.

Watch this space as The Modern Woman’s Survival Guide is giving two super lucky readers the chance to attend the launch of Hanger Nation at The Olsen Hotel in South Yarra on the 28th of February. They will get to meet Shelley in the flesh (you lucky doers) and stay overnight at The Olsen and shop up a storm down Chapel Street with $500 spending money. Full details of the competition will be published soon.

Visit Hanger Nation

Hanger Nation on Facebook

Hanger Nation on Twitter

By Gaynor Alder

Gaynor Alder talks with Sheri Bomb – a rockabilly, vintage, retro and western loving gal. She finds out what inspires her, where she likes to hit town with her cherry red nails and gets the scoop on her upcoming adventures.

1) You blog about Kustom Kulture, Rockabilly, Western, Vintage, Retro, Atomica; and 1930s to 1950s era pin up, fashion, music, style, lifestyle and décor. At what age did you discover your passion for this and how did it come about?

Growing up my mother was always into 50s Rock ‘n’ Roll, mostly the music. Brought up on a steady diet of this and having grown up with my own creative flair it was really only a matter of time.

By the time I turned 18 I was sick of the modern culture and just happened to stumble upon a quaint little bar one night when the in-house Rockabilly band was playing. It felt like coming home and from then I was hooked.

There began not only my love affair with The Ten Fours, but with the entire Rockabilly culture as I slowly began to discover, to my delight, every aspect of this amazing culture.

2) We love vintage glamour here at The Modern Woman’s Survival Guide. You have a particular penchant for the ’30s to ’50s. Who are your style and fashion icons from this era and why?

Of course the gorgeous sirens of the silver screen, from Marilyn Monroe to Rita Hayworth, Sophia Loren and pin ups like Bettie Page but to be honest, my main fashion heroes were the housewives.

These women always looked impeccable even when cleaning the house, cooking a meal or ducking into town for some groceries and without all the help of the modern conveniences we have today.

That is no mean feat in my book but these ladies achieved simple and stylish elegance with such flattering shapes and gorgeous fabrics.

3) Words are your weapons. Tell us more about your blog and why you started blogging?

I adore living the Rockabilly and Kustom Kulture lifestyle and incorporating it into as many aspects of my life as I can makes me extremely happy.

I have also always been interested in or affiliated with writing in some way and for years I had been saying I would love to contribute to Rockabilly/Kustom Kulture publications but had never done anything about it.

One day I just decided that the best way to combine the two was to start blogging about the lifestyle I lead and gain some writing exposure for myself at the same time. I must say, it has been effective for both in spades!

4) You mention magazine contributions, which publications have you been featured in? 

I have been very lucky to contribute to a number of national and international publications and have a few more on the horizon but so far, my main achievements include:

Cruzin – Australian hot rod magazine (#135 Greazefest Feature)

Vintage Caravan Magazine – Australian magazine (#5 Greazefest Feature)

Cruzin – Australian hot rod magazine (#132 Kat’s Kulture write up on Sheri Bomb)

Cruzin – Australian hot rod magazine (#130 Garterbelts & Gasoline Feature)

Pinstriping & Kustom Graphics – International magazine (#28 Garterbelts & Gasoline Feature)

Pin Up Perfection – International pin up magazine (#8 Bettie Page Reveals All Feature)

Plan 9 – Australian alternative magazine (#1 Iron Fist Feature)

Greazefest website – Kustom Kulture Fashion Article

Rusty Pinto Combo – Band Review (Facebook, Myspace & ReverbNation)

5) Reading your fabulous blog, I hear that music moves your soul. What music do you listen to and why does it move your soul so?

My music tastes are actually quite varied and I enjoy everything from Rockabilly to Psychobilly, Surf, Rock, Punk, Blues, Soul and (heaven forbid!) even a little Pop sometimes.

Music is quite an emotional experience for me so it’s not about what genre it is or who it’s by, it’s about the way it makes me feel when I hear it. That being said, I adore seeing music live and that is how I spend most of my weekends.

My favourite musicians or bands at the moment would have to be The Ten Fours, Mitchy & The Mayhem County Boys, Rusty Pinto, The ReChords…really I could just go on forever!

6) You’ve just recently been on holiday to Melbourne. Where were your favourite haunts and why?

Shopping-wise I spent up big at the Benefit counter in Myer, the Soap & Glory wall in Kit, Rubi and Betts Shoes in Chapel St, Gasoline Queen also in Chapel St and Faster Pussycat in Fitzroy – all quite self-explanatory I believe.

As far as nightlife goes I really didn’t journey too far from The LuWow. Aside from heading to The Espy one night, we pretty much set up camp The LuWow. It’s an AMAZING tiki cocktail bar in Fitzroy that really has to be seen to be believed but it offers the best atmosphere, décor, tunes, cocktails and dancing a girl could ever ask for – I never wanted to leave!

7) You hail from Queensland. You’ve just painted your nails in your favourite shade of cherry red. What next? Where should peeps interested in the same things as you head to when visiting the sunshine state?

We’re very lucky up here in that there is usually always something to go to every weekend. Generally rockabilly gigs at some of the usual haunts like the Black Bear Lodge, the Joynt, the Beetle Bar and Morningside RSL.

However we also get spoiled with a lot of regular festivals, weekenders and big events like the Twilight Hot Rod Show on the Australia Day long weekend, the Garterbelts & Gasoline Nostalgia Festival over the May Day long weekend, Greazefest on the first weekend in August, the Johnny Cash Tribute in October and the Rockabilly Christmas Party in December, not to mention plenty of ‘big name’ gigs throughout the year.

You mention the GB&G Nostalgia Festival, a quick glance at your blog tells us you’re playing a role in this year’s festival. Can you tell us more about that, any scoops?

I’m very lucky to have been named the Official Blogger for this year’s festival so I’ve been involved in a lot of promotion and social media in the lead up however I’ll also be Assistant Pin Up Coordinator over the actual weekend of the festival. Aside from what has already been publicised, I can’t give too much away but suffice to say that THIS year is shaping up to be even bigger and better than LAST year – and I didn’t think that was even possible!”

Held at the top of the beautiful Mount Tambourine, the 4-day long festival brings together the best of the Rockabilly and Kustom Kulture. From rockin’ tunes and both national and international bands, to a heart-stopping hot rod show, vintage soap box derby, low brow art show and of course the infamous pin up competition judged by none other than the world famous US pin up photographer Mitzi Valenzuela.

9) What advice do you have for women of style and substance yet to be discovered?

Stop waiting to be discovered and make yourself known! It’s only a very lucky few people in this world who actually get ‘discovered’. Most of us have to work hard to get where we want to be, be persistent and find every way possible to get your name and skill set noticed. Any woman of style and substance has the class, strength, confidence and intelligence to find a way to make it happen.

I know from experience, I sat waiting to be ‘discovered’ for too long. As soon as I actually started to be proactive and do things, my blog and my writing quickly took off. You don’t have to know exactly where you’re heading or how you’re going to get there, the important thing is to just take the first step.

10) What’s next for Sheri Bomb and your blog?

Sheri Bomb is going through some very exciting changes at the moment. I’ve just registered for an ABN, have moved from a blogspot address over to my very own domain and am currently in the process of having the blog completely redesigned, which means saying goodbye to the western theme.

As much as I love my western theme, I feel like the blog has been lacking the punch and colour that reflects my personality. So the new design will still be sticking to my Rockabilly/Retro roots but will feature a lot more colour and fun. But never fear, I’ll still be the same old Sheri Bomb and my words will still be my weapons.

W: www.sheribomb.com.au
E: contact@sheribomb.com.au
T: @SheriBombBlog
F: facebook.com/SheriBombBlog

Nina from The Proper Lady has a thing or two to say about what it means to be a proper lady in our modern times. And whilst she loves white gloves and pearls, it’s more about what you cultivate from the inside and how you treat others. – Ed.

Throughout my time writing The Proper Lady, I’ve gotten emails from women who seem to believe that one needs to live like a Victorian in order to be a lady. This may be true on certain sites that discuss how to be ladylike, but not mine. There are some traditional values that I admire and embrace, such as my role as the pillar of the family, however I feel that it’s unreasonable (and silly) to hold onto all traditional values in a modern world. One needs to adapt to the changing times. After all, a lady (at least on my blog) is more than elegant and well mannered. She’s also smart with a healthy dollop of common sense.

So what does it mean to be a 21^st century lady? The first time someone described me as a “lady,” I was sixteen years old and volunteering in a museum. “You’re a young lady,” the security guard said to me. At the time, I wasn’t so sure about how to take his comment because I also viewed ladies as wearing white gloves, being prudes, and having way too much time and money on their hands. I soon realised that I had in mind what being a lady meant in the 1950s, and not in the 21^st century.

Certain traits will always remain ladylike, no matter the century. They are timeless, just like a lady is. Those traits are kindness, dignity and virtue, and intelligence.

I believe that the amount of kindness and consideration for the feelings of others a woman possesses is the greatest measure of how much of a lady she is. A lady thinks about others and how they may feel before she acts.

She has consideration for those around her and does not want to do anything that may hurt them: she thinks about others and aims to make people feel better about themselves and about where they come from. Her aim is to make her friends feel cared for, to make strangers feel welcome, and to make her romantic partner feel respected.

A lady also has a sense of dignity and virtue. What does this mean? This means that she has self-respect, self-confidence and she acts like a woman of value.

My personal view on sex is that it is no one’s business but your own (and your partner’s). I personally take a more traditional stance, but I respect those who do not share my beliefs.

Although kindness is crucial to being a modern lady, I also feel that if a lady is wronged, she will politely put the person in their place. It’s not rudeness if the other person is being cruel; it’s justice and self-respect. Not only would a lady be respectful of other people and of their belongings, but also she will restrain those who aren’t.

I also feel that it is very important for the modern lady to be intelligent. A modern lady will read newspapers (or news sites), she will read non-fiction, and she will make herself well informed. She will be aware of world events, of what is going on domestically and abroad, and of the world’s crucial historical events.

A modern lady will be knowledgeable enough to stand on her own two feet, to be independent, and to be intelligent enough to hold a conversation, however she will also understand that there is an appropriate time and way to display her knowledge and academic accomplishments and that there is also an inappropriate time and way to display her opinion.

Being a lady isn’t a defenestrated concept. Ladies will always be present and always be respected by both men and women for their grace, their dignity, their consideration, their compassion, and their intelligence.

However the modern lady has a greater place in this world than the ladies of a bygone era. She not only understands the modern society that she lives in, but she understands her role in it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The Proper Lady is where Nina records her studies on being classical, elegant, lovely, generous, kind, warm, feminine, charitable, cultured, knowledgeable, and worldly.

http://theproperlady.blogspot.com/

By Pia Andersen from Art of the Cocktail Hour

• RSVP before the due date. A good host will send out invitations well in advance, leaving you plenty of time to respond. So return the favour and reply promptly. It’s tardy to have the host chase your reply.
• Ask what you can do to contribute to the evening. A bottle of spirits or a plate of food is a welcome gesture, as is a small token of appreciation for your host, such as a box of sweets or a bouquet of flowers. It needn’t be extravagant to make an impression.
• Be fashionably late. It’s courteous, not impolite, to arrive 10–15 minutes after the designated start time, as this will allow your host a few extra moments to finalise last-minute preparations. But if you’ll be any later than 30 minutes, be sure to call or send a text message to your host to let them know.
• Lend a hand. You don’t have to make a grand gesture; passing a plate around to other guests or simply returning an empty plate or glass to the kitchen is easy and your host is sure to appreciate the extra help.
• Don’t wait to be asked if you’d like another drink. It’s acceptable to help yourself, just be sure to offer other guests and the host a drink when you’re getting one for yourself.

Click here to read the rest of the article in Art of the Cocktail Hour. Follow Art of the Cocktail Hour next week, when Gaynor Alder provides with you tips for styling yourself for your cocktail hour event.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pia Andersen is a singer, stylist and vintage culture aficionado who is intent on decorating the world with a touch of vintage glamour.  She’s also the beauty and brains behind Sydney’s Vintage Allsorts, a performance based events, entertainment and styling agency.

A ladies handbag can be used for many things. It holds the basics like our wallet, keys, sunglasses and diary, but often it turns into a home for our makeup, tangled jewellery, pens, and old receipts. If you’ve ever asked yourself  ‘where do all the bobby pins go?’, check the bottom of your handbag, you never know what you find down there!

If you’ve got a less-than-organised handbag, then Borne Naked has the competition for you! All you have to do is snap a photo of your messy handbag and you’ll be in the running to transform it into a beautifully organised one, thanks an $800 prize pack featuring Pink Corp, Moxie, MOR Cosmetics, Tipsy Toe and more.

There are four ways to enter:

1. Email a picture and your name to competitions@BorneNaked.com

2. Post your picture on the Borne Naked Facebook page with the following comment “I have Australia’s most unorganised handbag!”

3. Post your picture on Twitter and tweet “I have Australia’s most unorganised handbag! #BorneNaked”

4. Create a video of your ‘Messy Handbag’ and post on YouTube.

Entries close 2nd November.

Every week someone will also win a Borne Naked handbag liner valued at $24.95.

For more information go to www.bornenaked.com

 Q: Why did you decide to become a life coach?

Becoming a life coach was a natural step for me, an extension of what I had been doing for over a decade prior. My background is in Occupational Therapy and as a life coach I draw upon my  experience working with government, non-government and not for profit organisations in a variety of roles including team leader, facilitator, consultant and educator.

I have worked in senior clinical positions in mental health services where I focused on working with young people with a mental illness.  I also established an employment agency that specialised in supporting people who experienced a mental illness find or keep employment and lectured at the University of Queensland and Griffith University.

I was keen to move away from working within “sickness” models and use my expertise to support a wider group of people achieve what is important to them and create meaningful lives. I was inspired to start Living Savvy through my work as a coach and a consultant where I have come to know many fabulous women.

As I listened to their stories, I began to recognise the key characteristics that distinguished those women who were fulfilled, happy and truly successful. Of course, each story was different – some women were very rich while others lived incredibly simple lives, some had families they loved dearly while others treasured complete independence, some had endured tremendous struggle and loss.

I wanted to create a place where these stories could be shared.  I believe that women learn through storytelling and that it is difficult not to hear a story and not be moved in some way. Story telling is a magical gateway through which we can connect with others  and emerge educated, enriched and perhaps even a little enlightened. This is why I created Living Savvy has a place where people can come and be inspired and entertained by the stories shared.

Q: What does it mean to live savvy?

When you are living savvy you are living your life with an understanding and awareness of what you have in life, what you desire and the pieces that are missing.  Living savvy is how you create your dream life – one that is fulfilling, satisfying and joyful.  What does your dream life look like? Who’s in it? How do you spend your time and energy? What will you leave behind?

The answers to these questions, and the vision of your dream life, is as unique as you are.  Living savvy is not about fixing something that is ‘broken’ and it’s not about radically overhauling your life.  Living savvy is about the choices you make every day to create a life that is fulfilling, satisfying and joyful.

Living savvy is about being well-informed – not just consuming quality information but taking also taking the next step to creatively apply new ideas to your life.  Living savvy is about living consciously, forming meaningful connections with others and valuing the process as much as the outcome – savouring the moment as much as the final success.  Living savvy is about the small changes you can make to your daily life, your habits and your mindset to produce amazing results – fine-tuning the ordinary to live extraordinary.

http://livingsavvy.com.au/living-savvy-jo-bassett

Q: Can you tell our readers about your approach to your clients?

My coaching is centered on the belief that everyone has the right to access or create  opportunities that allow them to be the best they can be.  It’s about always seeking to be the best you can be, not about being labeled as ‘broken’ nor trying to implement unsustainable life overhauls.

As a coach I provide a safe and supportive environment in which issues can be honestly explored and clients can find answers to important questions: What am I creating? What do I believe? What will I commit to, to deliver my best? Self responsibility and accountability are the values that underpin all of her coaching conversations.   I have created the 5 steps to Living Savvy Ask, Do, Discover, Commit and Celebrate.

Step 1 Ask: The first step to creating your dream life is to ask yourself the big (and sometimes difficult) questions, and to be prepared to receive the honest answers.

Step 2 Do: To dig deeper, and find your own unique answers to the living savvy questions, it often helps to experiment with different activities and forms of creative expression.

Step 3 Discover: A core characteristic of living savvy is being open to new information, ideas, people and experiences. We learn by making connections – with others and their stories – and by creatively applying what we learn to our own lives.

Step 4 Commit: Living savvy is about committing to change. Make a choice, try something new, take action and see what works and what doesn’t.

Step 5 Celebrate: It’s so important to acknowledge and celebrate our efforts and achievements.

http://livingsavvy.com.au/5-steps-to-living-savvy

Q: What can clients expect to achieve by hiring a life coach?

Life coaching is about using questions to think differently, which leads to behaving differently and, ultimately a different result. If you have a goal of changing something about your life, life coaching is a process that will help you make that change. For life coaching to work for you, you need to be willing to engage, willing to share and ready to change.

Are you open to ideas and new information that may lead to a different thinking and behaving? Are you ready to commit to what’s important to you? If the answer is yes, then you will benefit from the life coaching process. Life coaching creates a space (dedicated time) to think about life, what is important, and what you want to achieve.

Many people report feeling the benefits of having a coach, who acts as a sounding board, to share ideas, talk through decisions and to offer them different perspectives.  A coach’s role is to keep you focused, committed and accountable.  Each person gets something different from coaching.  However during and after coaching you most likely will:

• find that you are able to be present for those you love the most, and also pursue your personal dreams
• define your own success and realise your full potential
• create a life that is fulfilling, satisfying and joyful
• do all this without being busy and stressed.

http://livingsavvy.com.au/how-life-coaching-can-help

Q: You were recently interviewed on The Circle about mentoring. Can you tell us more about the role mentors can play in our lives?

A mentor will offer new perspectives, ask questions, share ideas and (if you are really lucky) challenge you to go places you may have never dared to go.  Creating mentoring relationships is a valuable way to discover, one of the steps to Living Savvy.  I believe that creating a network of mentoring relationships work best for women (instead of the traditional  “male” model of a mentor who wants to mould his mentee  into an image of himself).  The network of relationships better reflects the diversity of life roles women have as they move through the various stages of life.

http://livingsavvy.com.au/life-coaching-mentor-the-circle

Q: Tell us about Monday Bites and Champagne Friday on Living Savvy?

Sometimes the world in which we live spins so fast it seems like it is on warp speed.  Champagne Friday and Monday Bites are designed to slow us down, live mindfully and recognise what we have, what we have done and what we can do.  Champagne Friday complements the discover  (step 3) and commit (step 4) of Living Savvy.

Having a Champagne Friday moment each week is important to me in my quest to live savvy, it is my way of capturing insights and discoveries that without this ritual I  would register for a moment only before my attention gets swallowed up by something else.  Writing this post each week is my way of staying connected to my life, insights, hits and misses.

I have never been one to journal (I know a life coach who doesn’t journal, shocking isn’t it), writing random thoughts and ideas down on sticky notes is as close as I ever got, until 18 months ago when I created Champagne Friday.  It’s so important to acknowledge and celebrate our efforts and achievements, this is what Champagne Friday is all about.    Monday Bites is the post the kicks off the week at Living Savvy and captures what Living savvy is all  about  – not unsustainable overhauls but the  small changes we can make to create a life that is a little more fulfilling, a little more satisfying and a little more joyful.  Each Monday I share three simple ideas I have to fine-tune my own ordinary to live extraordinary during the upcoming  week.  I keep it simple and usually all about me. 

Q: How do you live savvy in your own life?

Simple things like burning all natural scented candles in the office and bedroom, fresh flowers in the house, time spent with friends, sharing the love with my fella and our children), a run in the sunshine, putting a conditioning treatment into my hair, having  ABC classical radio on in the background during our family dinners, my Thursday night yoga class, having my nightly cup of tea made for me (not by me), creating space to watch my favourite TV shows (the best way for me to unwind), a book to read for a few minutes before I go to sleep, being asleep by 10.30pm.

Q: What are the challenges you believe modern woman are facing today?

We modern women live in interesting times so many opportunities and yet life doesn’t seem to be getting any easier and in fact if you believe research we are becoming less happy and more stressed.  We have so much information available to us that it can be overwhelming when making a decision.  There is immense expectation that we get our decisions right and not make a mistake, we live in risk averse times.  We are expected to make major life decisions and achieve all major life milestones (travel, study, career, marriage and family if that is your cup of tea) by the time we are forty. We are raised to be independent with an expectation to cope with anything that life throws up with asking, accepting or buying in help is seen as a sign of weakness or incompetence.

I have coined the term “airbrushed lives” and recently wrote about this phenomenon. http://livingsavvy.com.au/airbrushed-lives-unhappiness

Airbrushing lives is when we are presented with stories of women living the perfect life in the media, the goal is to maintain the appearance of the ‘perfect’ life and conveniently edit out anything that doesn’t meet the standard (or else find a way to use any difficulty as part of an inspiring tale of triumphing over tragedy), I believe this type of air brushing is just as damaging to our self confidence and happiness as airbrushing photos.

The challenges faced by the modern woman is perfectly illustrated in this response by  Germain Greer to the reporter Ellen Fannings, in a the channel 9, 60 minutes programs that featured a story called Housewife Superstars (http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/stories/824791/housewife-superstars)

ELLEN FANNING: What do you think of the fact that women are coming to the conclusion, even some of the ones who are doing it, this is just too bloody hard, this juggling?

GERMAINE GREER: I agree. When people say to me, “Nowadays young women have it all, what have you got to say to them?” And I say what I’ve got to say to them is, “They’ve got all the work, that’s the only thing they’ve got all of.”

Q: Who is Jo Bassett, the Woman behind Living Savvy?

My life coach “bio” describes me as … executive and performance coach, team leader and facilitator, wife, mother of two spirited little people, big-time dreamer and idea explorer….this is me. I am genuine, I don’t pretend to be something I am not.  The personal is the professional.

At Living Savvy, I write honestly about my lack of perfection, my quest to discover the answers to the big questions in life and the challenge to sparkle bright every day.  I  believe my relationships are the essential nourishment for my soul and spirit. This means I choose to create time and space to spend time with the special people in my life.

I believe that a strong and healthy body underpins everything. This means creating the space in my life to exercise and move is a priority.  I also believe in fairness, authenticity, credibility and optimism. So when I interact with others I always do my best to understand the world from their perspective, and to be genuine and honest in my interactions.

Do I live true to my values perfectly every day? Definitely not, I am human after all! But being clear on my beliefs and aware of who I am and how I am (or am not) reflecting them in my activities and behaviour, gives me the energy and motivation to keep living my life true to me.

 Jo Bassett | Creator

Living Savvy Lifestyle Program

m 0419 020 873 | e jo@livingsavvy.com.au | w livingsavvy.com.au

1. You are currently the editor of  ’Chasing Aphrodite’. Can you tell our readers why they should start chasing Aphrodite on your site?

We all need a dose of the beautiful and the lovely, and sometimes, living the goddess life doesn’t have to be something for myths and fables. In the modern day, women are juggling a bit of everything, Chasing Aphrodite is a site where we can find something to cheer us up – a sneak peak into another woman’s closet, a beauty product to buy, a restaurant to try, a destination to dream about, an experience to add to our life-list, or even, something to add to our shopping wishlist.

Chasing Aphrodite indulges the frivolous things that make life a tad more exciting. As we mention on our site, it can be everything from silk pillowcases to delicate cupcakes and the perfect pink champagne. We put on our rose-tinted glasses, reveal all the latest and greatest products, and chase the stuff that makes our life bigger, better and sweeter, in the hope that we can translate it to you. The aphrodite life is a treasure, and we chasers are the Indiana Jones equivalent of treasure hunters.

2. Can you tell us about the Aphrodite in your life?

3. You have a real flair for writing. Can you tell us about your writing background? What other sites and publications have you written for?

4. For me, I write because I must write. It’s what gets me out of bed everyday and it’s also a cathartic release, otherwise my mind as Judith Lucy so eloquently put it, “is like a cross between a fly blown chop and question time at Parliament House”. Why do you love to write?

6. What are your favourite holiday destinations and if you can live anywhere in the world where would it be?

I love the big cities, and the super-small towns. Paris and New York have been my favourites of late, but I also love Santorini, and my parents’ village in Northern Lebanon. If I could live anywhere in the world, it would probably be Paris, but I think NY has a better foodie scene.

First Published in Art of the Cocktail Hour | By Zoe Ritch & Billie Shenen

“Spring has sprung!  Well, at least it has in the southern hemisphere. Shake off winter and head outdoors for a cocktail party in the sun. Take inspiration from an English garden party or channel a Great Gatsby, Long Island vibe.  For a dapper do like this, choose cocktails with floral overtones, make some fresh, simple canapes, slip on a pretty lace dress and you’re set for a cracking afternoon.”

Visit Art of the Cocktail Hour to view Zoe & Billie’s other mood boards and inspiration to create a thoroughly modern cocktail hour reminiscent of the golden ages.

By Gaynor Alder

I interview Paula Joye and get the lowdown on Life.Styled., discover her style icons, snare expert beauty tips from her time working with supermodels and get advice for up and coming writers who want to break into the industry. Bet you didn’t know she cooks a mean pavlova?

You were the Founder & Editor of Madison (04-10), Editor-in-Chief of Shop Til You Drop (02-10), Editor of Cleo (98-04) and Editorial Director for Cleo and Cosmopolitan (07-09), so it goes without saying that you are intrinsically in touch with the modern woman. What do you think are the main issues facing women today?

Choice. There is so much on offer. Too much I think and it can make life tougher. I’m a firm believer that you can’t have it all – certainly not all at the same time. The biggest issue for women is finding space in their lives (forget balance – that’s impossible). I have yet to crack the code.

What inspired you to create Life.Styled.?

When I create something, it’s a direct response to not being able to access what I’m looking for elsewhere. Not terribly scientific, but I figure that if I’m looking for it then others must be too. I was passionate about learning and understanding new media – getting my hands dirty and building something from the ground up proved an excellent teacher.

Tell our readers about Life.Styled. Why should they bookmark it stat and make it their go-to destination for all things beauty, fashion and lifestyle related?

It’s an edit of all things stylish – a daily hook-up of news, inspiration and shopping. I’m currently working on the second generation of the site and it’s going to have some fun bells and whistles.

What are the main differences between being an editor for print and online publications?

It’s not that different really. The biggest change is that the web allows you to work in real time and have conversations in the moment. You’re not running with a two month lead time, and if something happens you can respond. The thing I loved most about magazines was the incredible people that I worked with. My editorial teams were filled with talented, funny, fabulous women (and a couple of top blokes) and I really liked making something new each month – something tangible.

As a style icon yourself, who are your style icons and why?

You’ve jumped the shark on that! I’m not a style icon. But my own top five style heroes echo the five kingdoms in my wardrobe – Carolyn Bessette, Debbie Harry, Grace Kelly, Kate Moss and Carine Roitfield.

You offer beauty advice on Life.Styled. What expert beauty advice would you give to our readers? We all know we need to drink more water, slather on SPF 30+ and cleanse, tone and moisturise like a demon, but do you have any other advice for our reader’s beauty regime, including any beauty products that you can’t live without?

Keeping out of the sun, exercise and sleep truly are the king tips but …. white eyeliner will make the tiredest eyes look awake, tangerine blush will make you look healthy (I love Stilla and Shu Umera), fake eyelashes make you feel like a movie star and speak to your GP about a prescription vitamin A and an antibiotic for pimples (every supermodel I’ve worked with had it in her handbag).

As a former editor of Cleo, what did you think of ‘Paper Giants – The Birth of Cleo Magazine’? Personally, I have a new-found appreciation for Ita Buttrose and what she did to empower women in the ’70s – not only for her readers, but also for women professionally.

I loved the show – loved it. It was such an honour to edit Cleo. I had so much fun on that title – there was a lot of freedom to push the envelope and we did. Ita is remarkable – she’s been nothing but kind and nurturing. She’s the real deal.

As an editorial guru, what practical advice would you give to budding writers wanting to break into the industry?

• You can do it.
• Make sure you really want it (because it’s hard) and then dig your heels in.
• Work experience is essential and your first job is likely to materialise that way.
• Start a blog or website as an outlet for your writing – it also becomes your CV.
• Don’t forget it’s not just magazine, online and newspapers – there is film, television, book editing – throw the net wide and see what you can catch.

What are three things our readers may not already know about Paula Joye? Go on, spill it.

I am a music nerd, my pavlova is legendary and I’m possibly the clumsiest person you’ll ever meet.

Visit Life.Styled. for style inspiration.

Follow Life.Styled. on Facebook.

Stalk Paula Joye on Twitter.

Image Credit: Carolyn Bessette taken by Vanity Fair.

First Published in Art of the Cocktail Hour | By Gaynor Alder

We all need divine (fashion) inspiration at some point, and Melbourne Spring Fashion Week not only delivered the latest in runway looks, but there was an abundance of beautiful cocktail hour attire.  After immersing myself in fashion all last week, I’ve come up for air and have outlined three key trends.

Smouldering Sophistication

Show stopping, jaw dropping gowns with feathered trim, exquisite detail and beautiful beading. Debut one of these stunning dresses at a high-class cocktail hour in honour of a special event, such as an important birthday, anniversary or engagement. Don’t forget your false eyelashes for movie star glamour.

Read full article in Art of the Cocktail Hour.

What are the struggles you have faced when transitioning from an independent single woman to that of a mother? 


Before we had children, I thought I would definitely want to be a stay-at-home-mum, but after my first maternity leave I realised I wasn’t quite ready to leave my professional life so I returned to work four days a week.

When our second child was born I felt differently; there was so much to juggle with two children and a job and a long daily commute from our home to my job in Dublin. With school looming for my eldest, I had started to think about how long I would continue working. Finding the right work/family balance is a very real dilemma for many mothers.

As a mother, how do you carve out time for yourself? Or is that an unachievable and whimsical fantasy?


It’s tough! In terms of my writing, I’m not sure I could say that I organise my writing time; it’s more a case of grabbing it when I can! I’m lucky to have a wonderful attic conversion which I disappear to when the boys are both in bed or before they wake up. This is where, and when, I have done most of my writing.

I can see that as the boys grow older, and are both at school, it is going to get a little easier for me to have scheduled time to write. For now, it really is a case of stolen time. As a freelance writer, it’s difficult to predict when a piece will be commissioned so when I do get a deadline, I have to re-focus and get my head down.

My blog occasionally gets completely neglected and as for writing my novel, I grab any time I can and try to get as many words written per day as is humanly possible. Sometimes it’s zero; occasionally it’s thousands. My ‘leisure’ time has definitely been sacrificed for my writing. I don’t lounge around on the sofa channel-surfing and I, equally, don’t go to a gym or go running.

I now regard my ‘free time’ as the evenings after the boys are in bed and I use that ‘free time’ to write – sometimes I write for pleasure (i.e. my fiction novel) and sometimes it is for work (i.e paid articles etc). Of course, the boys often want my attention when I’m working – any time I am trying to have ‘me time’ will always be difficult for them to accept at the moment. As I am trying to write this, I have one child sitting on my knee asking me to put his shoes on and the other asking for a drink and both of them needing various other things – it is a fairly typical scenario!

Despite a good G&T, what advice do you have for mothers to stay sane whilst juggling their career with motherhood?


The G&T definitely helps! I think for many mothers juggling careers and family life, we end up feeling constantly guilty – about the children, the house, or our career which, in my case, is my writing. Over the last two years I have become much more realistic about what I can achieve and am better at leaving my writing when I have to, because ‘real life’ takes over.

Society in general, the world over, puts immense pressure on women to be the perfect mum. Modern mums are expected to be all things to all people and the endless coverage of celebrity mums in the media adds to the perception that we, too, should be a size 8 immediately after the birth of our baby and be immaculately presented wherever we go. The reality is very different.

As a result, we put ourselves under enormous pressure which often leads to feelings of failure or inadequacy. My advice is to be the best mum you can be and be comfortable with your parenting skills and decisions; good, bad or otherwise! For me, becoming a mother did result in making a decision to step back from my professional career, but in a roundabout way, it is because I am a mother that I am now in my second career – as a writer – and I couldn’t be happier.

What do you love about motherhood?

For me, being a mum is a whole package – the laughter, the tears, the pride, the frustrations – I don’t think you can separate things out when it comes to being a parent, so I guess I love everything about motherhood: the entire experience. Through my blog and writing career, I’ve fortunately managed to turn redundancy into a great new opportunity which allows me to work at home and have this time with my boys while they are young and still enjoy my kisses and cuddles!  I feel extremely lucky. My children are my inspiration and the basis of most of my subject matter. If it wasn’t for them, I simply wouldn’t be writing.

Do you have any other writing projects in the pipeline?

Always!! The most exciting thing happening RIGHT NOW is that my fiction novel is currently being read by an Irish publisher. It is a complete departure from the blog, parenting or anything to do with my life as a mother which has been a challenge and a fascinating journey. I am keeping everything crossed for a publishing deal – what a dream come true that would be!

Find out more about the ebook ‘Hot Cross Mum – Bitesize Slices of Motherhood’

Read her fabulous, hilarious and honest account of motherhood on her blog, Hot Cross Mum.

Stalk Hazel on Twitter & Facebook.

First Published in Art of the Cocktail Hour | By Gaynor Alder

Spring has sprung and fashionistas are flocking to Melbourne Spring Fashion Week to celebrate the changing of the seasons. As a major sponsor of the event, Cointreau has created Art of the Cocktail Hour inspired hospitality suites for guests to enjoy prior to the runway shows. Last night, I attended the Manhattan nights inspired room before viewing the first 7pm show of the Designer Series.

The stunning ambiance of the suite was off set by vases of beautiful spring blooms, sitting against a backdrop of paintings from the historic Melbourne Town Hall.  Guests were treated to culinary delights and Cointreau cocktails, including the Cointreau Blush, which was fresh and sublime.

I spoke with Dom Bagnato and Yeojin Bae, two of the designers featured in the runway show, and asked them about their collections and whether as designers they were inspired by the vintage era. Dom said that he definitely references past eras in his collections, and Yeojin is drawn to ‘20s and ‘30s fabrics, as a starting point for her feminine designs.

Click here to view full article at Art of the Cockail Hour

Want to win a VS Sassoon Goddess Slimline Hair Straightener valued at $156? Well, we here at The Modern Woman’s Survival Guide want to know who inspires you and why?

The Modern Woman’s Survival Guide is passionate about showcasing women of style and substance - fabulous women, past and present, whose spirits move and inspire us. From Coco Chanel, Audrey Hepburn, Edith Piaf, Tamara De Lempicka, Florence Broadhurst, Billie Holiday to modern day marvels.

They follow their hearts.

They express a beauty from within.

They have a clear defined sense of self.

They have grace and style.

They have unstoppable spirits.

They push boundaries.

They live by their own rules.

They have an immeasurable strength.

They are real.

To enter, simply leave a comment below telling us who inspires you and why?

This weekly competition closes on Friday the 9th of September. Click here to view other competitions.