I love your vibrant personality and positive attitude, what is the secret to living a happy life?
Find the silver lining – every time.
What makes you truly happy?
A hot shower (for ages!). Seriously though lots of things make me happy but the most exceptional things are spontaneous laughter or hugs from my kids, the hilarity and happiness of time out with my closest girlfriends, travelling – really travelling and exploring with new eyes and open hearts and challenging myself by learning new things. Brad and I always had this theme of learning a new thing every year – rock climbing, scuba diving, horse-riding, etc. It’s fallen a little by the way-side since we’ve had our beautiful boys so now it’s more about learning with them – taking them skiing, learning to surf with them, travelling with them.
How does working with colour make you feel?
Energised.
Which colours make you most happy?
Pink and red. I have a poster of a red Coco Chanel handbag in my walk in wardrobe with a quote from Fashion Designer Bill Blass – “When in doubt, wear red”. I don’t always follow it literally but I do in spirit – “if in doubt – be bold!”
What wardrobe staples can you not live without?
This is a tough question for me as I love fashion and since fashion changes so do the staples. When I think about the things that have been in my closet forever and get rolled out year after year I have to say a crisp white business shirt, the best fitting in-fashion jeans you can find and a killer black jacket. From there I add colour and accessories and I’m ready for almost any occasion!
What are a few of your favourite beauty staples?
At the moment, eyebrow powder and a light dusting of blush. With those two and nothing else I’m ready to go.
Favourite food?
Butter. Seriously I absolutely LOVE Butter. I try and stay away from it but we buy that indulgent butter from Haromonie or Lurpak and I spread it thick as often as possible.
Favourite quote?
Seems like the theme for me is ’this changes’ but really my favourite quote does change depending on what’s going on for me at the time. When I was younger it was “Carpe Diem” from my favourite movie “Dead Poets Society” and I really do feel I sucked the marrow out of life, particularly all through my 20s.
I love quotes like “keep your heels and your standards high’ by Coco Chanel because I love high heels and it’s a fun quote but the most important part is ‘keeping your standards high’ and I absolutely agree with that. I try and live the mantra of ‘Be the change you want to see in the world’ on a day to day basis in little ways but the quote I love the most right now is “ The women I admire for their strength and grace did not get there because stuff worked out. They got that way because stuff went wrong and they handled it. They handled it in 1000 different ways on a 1000 different days but they handled it. Those women are my superheros” Elizabeth Gilbert. Out of interest the quote that shaped my life is one from my Dad. He said ‘you have to look yourself in the mirror every night, so make sure you took the actions and made the decisions that when you do that – you’re proud of who’s looking back’.
Favourite read?
I re-read the “Power of One” most years.
How do you keep your mind, body and soul inspired?
Again it’s a journey, it changes. I used to be inspired by the BIG ideas and the BIG changes that the world needs to make, nowadays little things just make me want to cry because the world can be so fabulous. A post about a random act of kindness, watching younger people listen so intently and avidly to an elderly person – knowing they really can learn from them, being part of the community I live in rally around someone in need! I used to be a dancer – danced all the time and loved it. Now I save that for a girls night out and instead try to get off to a weekly yoga and pilates class and a couple of times a week I run. I actually hate it most of the time until it’s over and then I think – “ok that was cool…I feel better mentally as well as physically”…so I do it again…and at first – hate it.
What is your favourite room in your house?
My walk in wardrobe and my shower! Then after that my back deck looking at my neighbours jacaranda tree.
Do you have a favourite travel destination/s?
Too many to mention – I love NYC, I love London, I love Italy and France. I love Mexico and the rest of Central America. I really want to spend quality time in South America, want to see Canada again and I’ve never visited Spain.
Do you have any advice for our readers who are seeking helpful tips on how they can live a colourful and happy life?
My advice is to decide to, then go from there.
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