"I Love Applying for Jobs!"

Said no-one EVER.

Wouldn't it be nice? Via

At some stage in our life we all have to sever (I was going to say cut, but let's get real, no one ever fully becomes independent from their parents), the financial umbilical cord from our parents which means one thing...

JOB HUNTING! 

I'm pretty sure finding a job can actually be harder then performing the job at times!

Whether you're searching for employment in a city with one million people and you think it'll be a piece of pie to surely score a job, or in a tiny town where it's more who you know then what you know, job hunting can be tedious, tiring, frustrating and could push even a Nun to curse at the best of times!

It can feel like this at times! Via

Why is the whole process so difficult?

Wellll....

First of all of you have to work out how to 'sell yourself' without sounding too cocky. There's a fine line between confidence and cockiness and it's often difficult to balance this carefully.

How do you do this?

One thing I've learnt when writing a cover letter is to ensure that you relate everything that you say back to the job description. If you are talking about your previous experience, always say HOW you could apply these skills to the new position.

Do your home work and find out a little bit about the organisation that you are applying for. Whoever is reading the applications will find it refreshing, and thoughtful, that you have invested time into learning about the business, and besides, it will make it easier when it comes to the interview stage, and certainly if you score the job!

When writing your resume, always try to start each paragraph with a verb or a 'doing word'.

After listing your tasks and skills, create a new paragraph titled key achievements. This shows how you have used your skills to generate knowledge and information.

Via

The next difficult step? Sending in your resume and knowing how long it will take to hear an outcome. 

The process of finding a suitable employee can take anywhere from 3-4 weeks. Think about it; once the deadline closes, all of the applications are sorted, suitable applicants are contacted, interviews are conducted and then the applicants are notified of the outcome. This takes time.

But when you are desperate for work, you don't feel like you have time, you just want to find out and start right away!

Another niggling thought is whether the company already has someone lined up for the position but have to be politically correct and advertise.

You honestly never know. I guess you just have to apply for each position with a fresh outlook and hope that the employer can see your potential.

Not hearing anything.

It's frustrating when you don't hear anything from the employer. No one wants to be THAT person who rings ever couple of days to see how their application is processing. Yes, patience is a virtue, but it sure can be tested at times!

Being knocked back.

One of the worst feelings is when you know that you have the suitable qualifications for a job, you've set your heart on it, and you receive a knock back. It's also deflating if you continue receiving 'I'm sorry to say that you have been unsuccessful in this position'. 

Just how are you meant to keep your head held high during these times?

I guess it comes down to the whole, everything happens for a reason and the right job will come along in due course thing.

Easy to say, not so easy to swallow sometimes.

Via

Interviews.

A friend once told me to remember that interviews are just a way for the employers to 'get to know you'. They can see your skills, previous experience and achievements on a piece of paper, but the interview is to find out more about you, and whether your personality will fit in with the team.

But, interviews can still be very scary. The idea of a panel of people sitting there firing unknown questions at you while you try and disguise your *stunned rabbit just caught in a headlight look* can be very daunting! 

I just try to remind myself to breath, and listen to what they are asking.

It's okay to take in a piece of paper and pen and to jot down notes after they have fired a question at you, particularly if they have more then one part.

Don't be afraid to ask them to repeat a question either; it's best to answer a question correctly then to babble your way through an answer you're not even sure about!

Turning your attitude around

 Try this: I am not nervous, I am excited and stimulated.

I learnt this at the professional development course. Excited and stimulated are words that have positive connotations.

Searching for jobs is exciting; you just never know what challenge is waiting just around the next corner for you.

Try not to take rejections personally. One way that I do this is to place your trust in the panel. They know the business, and if they think that you wouldn't fit into the team, then they are probably right and you wouldn't enjoy working there.

Sometimes people just have more experience then you. Yes, the whole experience word. It can be frustrating, but hey, it's just a fact of life and there's really nothing you can do about it. 

Something will work out; it always does. It may take a little while longer then you'd hoped, you may suffer some hiccups along the way, but that feeling when you win a job will come your way, so with every knock back grit your teeth and say 'I didn't want that job anyway' haha no kidding, 'there's another job out there just right for me!'

And if all else fails.... Via

Do you have any tips for searching for jobs?

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxx

No Contribution = No Complaints

Via

What keeps small towns, sporting clubs and associations alive?

Contributors.

Yup, those can do people who put up their hand time and time again, often behind the scenes and with little recognition, just so that you can have a nice tasty snitty back at the club after training, or drills to keep you fit, or umpires stopping havoc from breaking out on game day, or a canteen that serves hot food, or fun social events to attend.

The great thing? You will never hear these people whinge and moan about the tasks that they are working on because they do them out of the goodness of their heart.

The problem?

Those who complain are usually the ones who don't do anything.

You know those ones who rarely ever come back to the club for tea because the steak is cooked a little too tough, or the alcohol is overpriced, or the beers are too cold, or too hot.

Or the ones who sit and bitch on the sidelines, finding anything that they can to pick on, yet when the call goes out for umpires, coaches, canteen rosters, bar minders and helpers, they zoom out of the room faster then a Westerner who has eaten a super hot curry in India and feels a belly rumble.

Yes, those people; the ones who the umpires want to turn around and shove a whistle up their ass to see how loud they can blow it then.

Via

These people are the ones who drive contributors mad.

The other day I heard this little saying that I think could have a huge impact if it became a club's mantra...

'If you don't contribute then you can't complain!'

How amazing is that?!

Not everyone is a can doer, and that's fine; clubs need can-supporters, and can-carve up the dance floorers, and can-chug back a couple cold ones, and can-eat a meat pie faster then the baker can make them too, to keep clubs running.

But what clubs need also is a whole lot less bitching, and a whole lot more appreciating towards the contributors!

No contribution = no complaints, and if you want to complain then contribute... I think that's fair, don't you?

Via

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxx

Don't Tell the Guests

Via

Planning a wedding is fun, particularly deciding on themes, finding THE dress that you know you are going to walk down the aisle in, and creating pinterest boards with over complicated artsy things that you'll probably never get around to making but look super cute.

But let's face it, some things about weddings can be a little tricky, and may get a little political.

Creating the guest list is one of these such things.

Just how do you decide who to share your special day with and where do you draw the line?

Do you have to invite friends partners, even if you have never met them before or you are pretty sure that they are just a bonking buddy who won't be around for much longer after the wedding anyway?

Do you invite children? Maybe to the ceremony but not the reception? Maybe only the children whose parents would not be able to find a babysitter on the night? Do you invite your millions of little cousins or just the older ones? Can you 'get away with' inviting some children without others?

And what about culling down the family? Do you invite the immediate family: grandparents, aunties and uncles, or do you also include great aunts and uncles too?

And of course, how much say do you let your parents have? Usually they will be contributing some moolah to the occasion. Does a monetary contribution entitle them to an opinion? How do you break the news to them that you don't really want Great Aunt Guntha, with the super long eye brows who always has stinky teeth to remain off the guest list?

Well, I don't really know the answers.

But I have a highly technical way that may help you decide.

Grab a piece of paper.

Draw three columns.

Label the three columns past, present and future.

Now, under each of the columns, place the names of people who have been there for you in the past, who are there for you in the present and who you know will still be there in the future.

People who exist in two columns, are likely to be those who you will invite, and not regret later on.

For example, if someone you are debating on inviting only falls into the past column, but isn't apart of your present and future, then maybe you could consider leaving them off of the guest list.

I guess the guest list also comes down to the venue that you are looking at hiring, and how many they will take, as well as your budget.

You may not be able to afford 150 people at $100 a head. 

So perhaps working out your budget, and how much you would be willing to pay per head, may also help you decide how many guests you are going to have.

Remember that it is your special day to spend with those closest to you. Sometimes you might have to compromise on certain guests, but just make sure that you have the people who you truly want there to witness your decision to spend the rest of your life with your partner!

We recently created a quick guest list on a 7 hour road trip. I think we have roughly 120 guests! We've also decided to invite kids to the ceremony but not the reception so that the parents can let their hair down! 

Do you have any tips for creating the guest list?

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxx

Why I'd Never Miss a Papsmear

My mum was 41 when she was diagnosed with Cervical Cancer.

It was a fateful recall letter from the hospital that required her to make an appointment to see her doctor that confirmed her worst fears; she had Cancer.

Fortunately, it was a Papsmear that dedicated the abnormal cells in it's early stages. If mum had've been one of the millions of women who put offtheir biannually test, then who knows what the outcome would've been.

The major cause of Cervical Cancer is the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Mum's Cancer fell under this stream, also known as the warts virus. The only warts that mum ever experienced were on her hands as a teenager.

Mum had no symptoms or signs of the illness; it was purely detected by her Papsmear.

Luckily for mum, her Cancer was caught in the early stages. After seeing a Gyneocologist, she was informed that she would need the abnormal cells burnt off with ice. 

Mum was required to have monthly Papsmears after she went into remission to check to make sure there were no more abnormal cell growths.

Now, 8 years later, mum is back to normal biannually Papsmears.

I still remember when mum told me that she had Cancer; I was in Year 11. While I didn't fully understand what Cancer was, I knew that it had the potential to take a life if it wasn't detected and treated in it's early stages. I remember walking down to mum's room in tears one night, pushing on her bedroom door, and asking her if everything was going to be okay. I was scared of losing my mum. 

My mum is one of the lucky ones who is still here to tell her tale.

So please, make sure that you keep track of and have regular Papsmears, or encourage your partner to do so, for you never know what could be lurking beneath the surface.

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxx

Facebook: Friend or Foe?

So this really important thing happened to me and I was dying to share it on Facebook and 'nek minute, I had 50 notifications, with 45 likes and 5 comments pop up in my news feed. Before I knew it, people were nudging me, and inboxing me to express their sympathy, and sharing my status to spread the word.

Sound familiar? 

When has sharing important information come down to the number of likes and comments you've received on a status...and by who? A girl you went to school with years ago but no longer keep in contact? A friend of a friend who you met once at a party? Do you really want all 1,000 of your 'friends' knowing the most personal of your details?

Don't get me wrong, I'm a Facebook addict. I check my phone at least 10 times a day for notifications.

After recently moving away from many of my close friends I thought that I would become even more of an addict, trying to Facestalk to see what they'd be up to, to check out their pictures and to be able to chat for free, but the opposite has happened.

I realised that if they are my good friends, then I should be picking up the phone and telling them the important information instead of having them read it via a Facebook status.

And then I found myself questioning the whole idea of Facestalk Facebook.

How did we used to communicate before Facebook?

Well, to organise an event we'd ring or text our friends, so yes, maybe Facebook is better for that so that you can keep a list of whose coming, any changes to the venue, and what other people are bringing...but then it brings into question, what events should and shouldn't be shared on Facebook? Is it socially acceptable to invite people to your birthday via a Facebook event? What about your wedding? Why the difference?

How did we used to share holiday photos before Facebook? We'd invite our friends around for dinner and show them on the laptop...which okay, is fine if you're friends live close, but how about if they live far away? Again, a reason Facebook can be useful.

How did we used to communicate the important stuff, like someone's had a heart attack? 

We'd call grandma, who'd call Aunty Ange, who'd call Aunty Trudy...ohhh yeah... the scary thing with Facebook now is that it's almost "easier" to post something on there, in fear that someone else will spread the news first via a status update, making other relatives and close friends furious that they found out on the internet.

Which brings into question what information should and shouldn't we share on this social network. Too often now it seems like there's some race to have the juicest gossip, without really realising whose juicy gossip it is to share.

Is it OK to write congratulations on the birth of your daughter bla...before the parents have? Is it okay to update photos of a wedding, on the wedding day? Is it okay to share photos of other peoples children on your Facebook?

After some serious thought on the topic I decided that I probably have to be a little more mindful of what I should and shouldn't post on Facebook. How far is too far? Would I want my 600 Facebook friends knowing something that I'm itching to share before I've had the chance to tell my close friends in person, or even worse, after they've logged on and seen over 50 people like the status who they had never heard you speak of and be the 6th to comment?

I do think there's a time and place for Facebook, but I also never think, that in my eyes, that Facebook should replace good old personal conversations between two people.

What do you think?

Is Facebook a friend or foe?

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxx

The Love For a Little Person

By far one of the greatest joys of growing up is seeing those around you become parents.

It's truly insane how much you can love a little person.

As I was hanging out with my favourite little two year old man making wave and whirl pools last night, I almost burst with pride and love. The little man I was seeing with such personality, cute little giggle, saying my name, and toeing me around by my feet, was the same little man who came into this world 12 weeks early at a tiny 900gms just over two years ago!

My heart melted.

I can already hear my friends making the clucking sound as I write this, and they're probably right; I can't wait to have our own little half Mick and I running around!

Seeing one of our best mates cuddle his son and hearing the little man say I love you daddy was another tear jerker.

Wow.

It really is crazy how much you can love a little ankle biter!

I think your love, respect and admiration for their parents, whether they're your friends, brothers, sisters or extended family, also grows and strengthens, for they are the ones raising the little champion.

So today's post is for all those little people out there, and the inspiring parents who go through sleepless nights, nappy changes, cracked nipples, spew covered clothes, bags under their eyes, grey hairs and all, to produce cute little cherubs for us to love!

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxx

Fiji Versus Thailand

Without a doubt one of the BIGGEST decisions that we ever have to make is where to go on holidays! Let’s face it, we only get 4 weeks a year so we want to make sure that wherever we choose rocks our socks!

There are three main reasons that I travel: to open my eyes to new cultures and ways of living, to break all forms of routine (and to escape domestic duties!) and for some good old rest and relaxation.

So where is the ultimate place for some r’n’r? I instantly think of somewhere with sandy white beaches, blue water, hammocks, delicious tasting cocktails, shirtless male waiters, I mean, friendly people, and somewhere where I can kick back and firmly plant my bum into a comfy location, with little to no effort, thinking or planning required.

Which countries tick all of these boxes? Well, we have Bora Bora of course, if I’m happy with my holiday costing me an arm and a leg…no thankyou. So perhaps we need to think of somewhere more affordable. Bali? Fiji? Thailand? Hawaii? Mauritius? Vanuatu? The list goes on…

Fortunately for me I have had the opportunity to travel to both Thailand and Fiji and let me tell you, both places ticked all of my boxes and rocked my socks but for different reasons.

So let’s compare.

COST

Thailand is incredibly cheap, I’m talking $6 for an hour massage in Bangkok cheap, and no, I’m not talking some lame, airy fairy massage, I’m talking climb on your body, releasing those knots type massage.

While Fiji was still cheaper then Australia, it was more expensive than Thailand.

For example.

$8 Australian dollars in Thailand bought you this for dinner (cocktail included):

 

In Fiji, $16 Australian dollars bought you this for dinner:

DISTANCE

Fiji is closer to Australia than Thailand so you arrive at your tropical location a lot faster if you choose a Fijian holiday. From experience, Fiji (Nadi) is roughly 6 hours from Adelaide: 2 to Sydney and 4 from Sydney. In contrast, Thailand (Phuket) is roughly 10 hours: 8 from Adelaide to Singapore, and 2 from Singapore to Phuket.

SHOPPING

Thailand was definitely a retail therapy paradise with markets, handbags, rip of Tiffany and Co jewellery, sunglasses, cheap clothes, tasers, you name it, they had it. After awhile it got a bit “same, same but different” but there were definitely many bargains to be had, especially if you are an avid barterer like me!

Fiji on the other hand wasn’t amazing for shopping.

On the flipside, less shopping in Fiji meant less people to pester you with “you buy, you buy”. “You do me good price I do you good price.” “Come this way, I show you a bargain!”

I guess in that sense, Fiji was more relaxing than Thailand because you could sit on the beach and sip your cocktails without being hassled for your moolah. The only people asking you to buy something is the waiters checking up on you to make sure that your cocktail is full!!!

CULTURE

Without a doubt, Fijian and Thai people are both passionate about their culture. It truly is amazing to see how these people live, celebrate their culture through dancing and singing, and seem to be the most relaxed, happy people on earth.

A Kava Ceremony in Fiji.

Fijians LOVE dancing and singing! Showing a Fijian how we do it in Australia!

Thailand certainly wasn't lacking in culture, but we just chose to sit and sip cocktails instead of doing the touristy culture activites.

BEAUTY

Both Thailand and Fiji are gorgeous both above and below the water. The snorkeling is amazing at both, although I would say that the snorkeling off of Turtle Reef in Fiji was better then on the Phi Phi Islands in Thailand.

The beaches were both gorgeous, with white sand and crystal clear water.

Mana Islands – Fiji

Phi Phi Islands – Thailand.

Based on my experience I would have to say that Fiji is the ULTIMATE relaxation holiday. The Fijians always have the BIGGEST smiles on their face – they will do everything for you from climbing a tree to bring you a fresh coconut, to dancing up a storm! It’s closer to Australia, the food is amazing, and you can sit and relax on the beach without being pestered to buy things.

However, if you’re also up for a bit of retail therapy and you’re on a tighter budget, than Thailand has a little bit of everything all rolled in to one. It’s a little bit further from Australia but it’s way cheaper then Fiji (think $2 for cocktails!), you can have the adrenaline rush of bartering with the locals and the kick of retail therapy if you wish, massages are dirt cheap ($6 for an hour), the pineapples rock your socks, and it really does open your eyes up to another way of life!

Fiji? Thailand? Let’s face it – both are beautiful and both sure beat being at work!

Have you been to Fiji or Thailand or both? Which would you prefer? Would did you love about these countries?

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxxx

Do You Believe in Valentines Day?

I think it's easy now on jump on the Valentines-Day-is-over-commodised-therefore-we-don't-believe-in-it-bandwagon, but I think it's important to remind ourselves why valentines day was created in the first place.

Let's face it, we don't stop celebrating Christmas because of gift giving and we certainly don't give up Easter egg hunts at Easter time...so why should Valentines Day be any different?

While I searched the internet for the history of Valentines Day, a similar story began to arise: a Saint named Valentine married young soldiers in love, who were defied marriage by the law because single men were thought to make better soldiers.

Another version states that Saint Valentine, who was imprisioned, fell in love with his captors daughter, and sent one final love letter to her, signing off with from your valentine.

Whatever story you believe, it's clear that the day represents love, and appreciation for those you care about in your life.

So whether you interpret that as a day of giving flowers, chocolates or teddy bears holding large red love hearts, writing a cute little note to your partner, or blowing it off because you don't believe in it, just think back to the origins of Valentines Day: it's your choice whether you make it commodised or not.

PS, Mick won't be getting flowers, beer or love heart shaped cupcakes, but he was sent a lovely text telling him how much I appreciate him!!!

What do you think about Valentines Day?

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxxx

Does It Really Exist?

Via

Climate change: another political football kicked back and forth from party to party, with no real general concensus ever formed. Does it exist? Doesn't it exist? How should we reduce our carbon footprints? Carbon taxes? Mining taxes? The list goes on.

Climate what?

Changing climates is a natural phenonemon. Over the past Quaternary (2 million years), the world has been experiencing times of glacial (cold) and anti-glacial (warm) periods. The reason that scientists and geographers are worried, is because in the last 10,000 years (known as the Holocene period), the rate of climate change has been  unprecendated in the past.

What does this mean?

Maybe the simpliest way to describe climate change is to create an image.

Think of a deserted island out in the middle of the sea. The island is home to many ecosystems, including many differnet types of plants and animals. The shape of the island changes over time as the tides and currents erode the sand.

Pirates discover the island and decide that there is enough food, water and shelter for it to be sustainable for human life. They start cutting down trees to build homes, capturing animals in nets to eat, and building fires to cook on. As the pirates become smarter, they start to build roads, and sand traps to maintain the sand on the beach.

Over time the landscape changes. The natural flora and fauna ceases to exist. Introduced species, like parrots, feral dogs and rats start to take over the landscape.

Even though the island would've changed over time without human interference, there's no question that the introduction of human life would've bought about different, and faster rates of change.

The question is, how does this changing landscape with the reduction in the number of trees that turn carbon dioxide into oxygen, the changing tides with the introduction of man made sand traps, and the burning of fuel, affect the climate?

Via

I don't think we can really argue that humans AREN'T having an impact on the environment.

Maybe we should be placing more energy, time, money and resources into practicising ways of reducing our damage to the natural environment, instead of fighting over whether climate change really exists.

There are very simple ways to reduce your individual footprint by recycling, choosing to install solar panels, turning powerpoints off when not in use, using blankets and jumpers in winter instead of the heater, using food scraps to make compost, walking instead of driving eveywhere, picking up your rubbish, planting trees, the list goes on.

Does climate change really exist?

I'll let you decide, but while you're arguing for or against climate change, I'll be taking steps to reduce my impact on the environment, so that my children can enjoy their future.

What do you think about the climate change football? Could we be doing more to reduce our footprints? What could the government be better spending their time, money and resources on instead of fighting for or against climate change?

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxx



Change

Change; a word that is so heavily loaded with different connotations.

Some people embrace change, new innovations, moving forward, grabbing life by the balls, going with the flow, and adapting to scenarios over time.

Others prefer to tread on the air of caution, sticking to old routines, what they know, and how they've always done things in the past.

The thing is, change is inevitable: things aren't always going to be the same, and we have to choose whether we are going to adapt to these changes, or whether we'll hold on to what's familiar.

I truly believe that it's only once we've stepped out of our comfort zones that we realise our own strengths, goals and dreams.

Having just been someone who has given up a permanent position to become unemployed, who has left a newly renovated home to move back to one that needs a lot of TLC, and someone who has left behind strong friendship groups for the unknown, I know how scary change can be.

But I also know how exciting it is to meet new people, take on new challenges, use your skills in new jobs, and truly focus on what you and your partner want for your future, and that's what makes change all worth it.

So whether you're thinking of a change, or currently going through one, try to remain positive and go with your guts.

You never know what's waiting for you just around the corner.

And my favourite motto is 'grab life by the balls and go for it'. 

I'm looking forward to my new chapter, go grab yours!!!

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxxx