Soar Magazine - Issue 1 - Summer 2021

soar. magazine

celebrating

ISSUE 1. SUMMER 2022

25 YEARS OF INTRINSIC INSPIRATION

TIPS TO THRIVE INTO 2022

leading the way SHINING THE SPOTLIGHT ON SOUTH AUSTRALIA'S INSPIRING WOMEN. FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIAN WOMEN

drive partner

Riverland Mazda is Your home for Mazda.

A family owned business for over 111 years, we pride ourselves on putting the customer at the centre of what we do!

Whether in person or online, we can help you find your perfect Mazda!

Find us on facebook

1270 OLD STURT HIGHWAY, BERRI SA 5343 (08) 8582 1200 www.riverlandmazda.com.au www.rosenthals.com.au

SA Woman Member? Get in touch with the team to find out about the special offers available to you!

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WELCOME

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MEET AN SA WOMAN

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SA WOMAN AWARDS

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WELLBEING

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BUSINESS

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PARENTING

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GIFT IDEAS

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SAW READS

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RECIPE

welcome to soar.

Soar.

It's our mission. It's our passion. It's our purpose.

At SA Woman, we want to see all South Australian women in business and careers soar. In life, in health and wellbeing and in their businesses and careers. To be supported, to be fulfilled and to have a life of joy.

This magazine is all about this.

Articles. Stories. Journeys.

Knowledge. Inspiration. All to help you soar.

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Like all great things, it's been quite the journey to get here. But one that has come full circle. SA Woman began as a magazine back in 2016, and here we are again. Back to where it all began!

Biggest of thank yous to all of our contributors for this first mini issue.

We really hope that you love what you read and finish the last page wanting more! x Carly Founder + Editor

Photo of SA Woman Award 2021 Finalists, taken by Heidi Wolf Photographer

Carly Thompson-Barry is the founder of SA Woman, an organisation dedicated to the connection, showcase and empowerment of South Australian Women in Business.

You can reach her here: carly@sawoman.com.au

meet an ADÈLE BASHEER

Intrinsic From a handmade card, to an international business celebrating its 25th birthday! Jess McEachen sits down for a chat with the inspirational woman behind Intrinsic. // JMc: First of all, can I admit that I’m having a bit of a fangirl moment, because I’ve adored your range for such a long time now!!! But, for those who haven’t come across you yet, can you please introduce us to Intrinsic & the beauty you share with the world?

AB: For those of you new to Intrinsic, we’re a lifestyle stationery and gift brand, with a deep-seated mission to inspire and help people shine their brightest light throughout their life.

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MEET AN SA WOMAN - ADÈLE BASHEER We do that by developing beautiful designs with bold colour and soulful words onto everyday products that people can easily weave into their life. So, from your morning cuppa to your gratitude journaling at night, we’re there for you, supporting you through the good, the great and even the most challenging times. I quite often say that people who are surrounded with Intrinsic sort of have a life coach in their back pocket!

// Now, do you mind taking us right back to the beginning, because I’ve heard that the birth of your business is a wonderful ‘love story’. How did Intrinsic start?

Oh gosh – that is one BIG story! But, in a nutshell, before we began Intrinsic, my husband Jamie and I were like ships in the night, not quite connecting. We were both juggling busy careers with raising two young children, and it just wasn’t a joyful time.

Somewhere deep down, we both wanted to rediscover that deep connection that we’d lost – with each other, with life and with ourselves.

After nearly parting ways, we did ‘the work’ (on ourselves) and ultimately discovered we wanted to live and work together, around our children, and do something that made a difference… though we had no idea what that would look like! So we quit our jobs and commenced the hunt to find out what our new venture together would be.

One day (as the finances were dwindling), I was hand-making a card that had an inspiring message on it – I think it was from Albert Einstein – and Jamie said maybe we could make cards and sell them at the markets. Instead, he approached our local newsagency at Stepney and we had our first order!

We handmade over 20,000 cards before we were approached by an international card company, and we haven’t looked back.

// And, I don’t think I’d be the only one who didn’t know that Intrinsic is a South Aussie brand, through & through! I was so excited to find that out a few years back, and it’s even better to know that so many South Australians help bring your creations to life. What do you love most about being based here in Adelaide? And have you ever thought of taking Intrinsic interstate or overseas?

Hahaha yes, so many people – both here and interstate – are blown away when they learn we’re an Adelaide-based business.

But we’re in good company, with national and internationally renowned brands like Haigh’s, RM Williams and Maggie Beer paving the way, and newer brands like Kayla Itsines, Tiff Manuell and Paolo Sebastian proving you can be on the world stage and still call Adelaide home.

In our minds, Intrinsic has always transcended borders. When we first began, Jamie and I hopped in the car and drove to Melbourne to show our cards to newsagencies, then started exhibiting at interstate trade fairs in Melbourne and Sydney. We’ve built Intrinsic to be a nationally recognised brand and our largest customer base is actually in Queensland!

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MEET AN SA WOMAN - ADÈLE BASHEER We’ve also had several global licencing partnerships, from mobile phone covers and lanyards in Spain, greeting cards in the US and also translated for Russia, as well as photo albums in Germany. So we have international fans all over.

In 2019, we were invited to exhibit at an International trade fair and picked up our first US distributor.

It was exhilarating and a HUGE learning curve, dealing with different ways of doing business. We had an amazing four months before Covid shut things up, but I’m really confident of Intrinsic heading back into the world. We still have a lot of people to help and inspire.

The main thing I love about Adelaide is that our family is here. Our best friends moved to Sydney eight years ago and then our daughter five years ago, and we did contemplate moving there for a while, but it didn’t feel right leaving our Intrinsic family. I think one of the silver linings of Covid is that we’ve all learned to adapt to the changes in the way we operate and do business. Half our team are working from home and we’re still running our Monday morning huddle on Zoom.

// Now, we need to get our party tooters out & pop the champagne, because this year marks 25 years in business for Intrinsic! 25 years! That is just such an achievement & you must be so proud. I can’t imagine it’s been 100% smooth sailing, so what have you found to be the secrets to your longevity? How have you navigated the roadblocks & hurdles, and been able to stay true to your vision?

It’s a great question. I often say business is not for the faint hearted (have you noticed all of the courage and strength quotes in our collection!) but actually, it’s staying true to your vision and your values that helps you to get through those challenging times. It’s so much easier to navigate those obstacles when you’re in alignment.

We’ve had so many hurdles, but none quite as challenging as leaving our publisher of nine years and having to start our business all over again. I think getting through that and being as successful as we are now has truly cemented the belief that anything is possible.

// And of course, it’s a bit hard to ignore the global events of the past year or two. Looking at this from the inside & out…what have been the biggest lessons or growth areas for you & Intrinsic throughout the pandemic? And how have you felt called to help your customers & community?

Along with many other small businesses, we were just uncertain about what lay ahead. In the first confusing week of lockdown, we didn’t know if we would be considered an essential business, so we immediately organised plant-based milks to create gift packs with our mugs. In the end, we didn’t have to use the milk, but we kept the gift pack idea and they’ve become one of our best online products.

The second thing we did was think about how we could support our fans and retail customers. We created free online workshops, downloadables and mindful colouring pages, as well as helped our stores with marketing materials and zoom support.

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MEET AN SA WOMAN - ADÈLE BASHEER In all that uncertainty, we were really concerned with the mental health of our team. Jamie ran an hour-long weekly zoom huddle to keep everyone in the loop and connected. Every Monday he put two questions on Slack, one related to work and one more personal. It was just so powerful and wonderful to feel the connection and learn from each other. I think it brought the whole team together.

// I am absolutely LOVING the theme for your 2022 Diaries – The Year to Rise Strong. So good! Just makes me want to sit up tall, look life square in the eyes and make sure I’m doing what brings me joy. Once again, you’re helping us all out by releasing a gorgeous array of 2022 Diaries, planner pads, daily planners, calendars & more! What are your top tips for goal-setting and being productive across the year? And, how can we Rise Strong?

My top tip is to use the Intrinsic Diary of course! But don’t just take my word for it, it’s our diary fans who keep returning and letting us know how powerful it’s been for them.

When it comes to goal setting, make sure your ‘why’ is your guiding light. When there are so many things we could do, and plenty of people who’ll tell you what you should do, knowing your why and your vision keeps you focused.

As for being productive, I’m very much a last-minute person and ever amazed at what we manage to get done! What I’m able to do well is focus intently when I have to, and I’m so fortunate to have a great team who play to their strengths and we get things done.

To Rise Strong, we really need to become courageous and develop resilience to life’s challenges. It really helps to be open to change and growth.

(PS… We actually have three themes for the 2022 Diaries! The Year to Rise Strong, The Year for New Beginnings and The Year For You – something for everyone, whatever you’re going through)

// I think it’s pretty safe to call you the Inspiration Queen! I absolutely love flipping over my calendar each month and turning to a new page in my diary. Not to mention the gorgeous cards & gifts that just always have the perfect message! And, your socials are always overflowing with inspo. Where do you get your inspiration from and how have you kept the ideas & creativity flowing for a quarter of a century now?

Well I don’t know about ‘Inspiration Queen’! I’m really just an ordinary girl who likes to help people, and has created a business that allows me to do just that. But gosh a quarter of a century – that sounds soooooo long!

Inspiration is always around us. The challenge is to take that inspiration and manifest it into something that’s useable, appreciated and makes a difference. I find inspiration in global events, a story I’ve read, or even what’s happening to the people I love or me personally.

There’s no shortage of ideas, but honing those ideas takes craftsmanship, and that’s what takes time.

As a team, we have yearly immersion weeks where we pull everyone from design, marketing, sales and even the warehouse in to brainstorm ideas and themes for products. Our team are brainstorming legends – we actually have more ideas than we have space to fill them!

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MEET AN SA WOMAN - ADÈLE BASHEER // Bit of a cheeky question & this might be like asking someone to choose their favourite child…but what’s your favourite Intrinsic saying or message at the moment?

Yes, I do feel like they’re all my children, but there are times when certain quotes really resonate with me deeply. Right now, there’s a particular message I wrote for one of the diary covers that feels like a personal pep talk…

“Bring your bold heart and fearless spirit, it’s time to pull down the wall of uncertainty and play in the field of possibility” I just love this message, especially after the last two years, and it’s a reminder that with passion, vision and a brave heart, anything is possible.

// I know that you’re someone that absolutely walks your talk. Can you tell us about some of your favourite rituals to help you move through the day, week & year?

Well, you’ve probably heard the saying “we teach what we most need to hear…” I like to put into practice what we put out there but I’m still, and will always be, constantly learning, growing and evolving. There are however some do’s and don’t do’s that I find really helpful for me.

Over the last few years I seem to have morphed from a night owl into a lark, and as a morning person, I now love getting up early and having me-time for a run or a meditation before the day starts.

We’re a gratitude-practicing family. Even since the kids have left home, we still do ‘three good things’ at the dinner table whenever we’re together or over zoom. Gratitude is a daily habit.

Journaling and particularly the guided questions in our diary and journals really help me to stay grounded and in tune with my intuition.

Using the habit tracker in our diary is my daily mood booster… I just LOVE ticking those little round circles. My longest streak began earlier this year when I decided to give up alcohol for the month of May, but just kept going. I’m now over six months alcohol-free thanks to my habit tracker and a few habit hacks to help.

One thing I’ve stopped doing this year is looking at the news in the morning. In fact, I only catch up on news once or twice a week. It’s wonderful for mental health! If there’s something important, I’ll hear about it from someone in the studio.

ABOUT ADELE BASHEER, INTRINSIC Intrinsic combines beautiful design with positivity to create inspiring stationery, gifts and homewares that make a difference in people's lives.

Follow on FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM

Head to the Intrinsic website here:

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Be Bold.

Bring your bold heart and fearless spirit, it’s time to pull down the wall of uncertainty and play in the field of possibility.

Adèle Basheer

"This is no ordinary diary.

It's a planner, a journal and guide book that will light you up and keep you inspired and on track all year long.

Inside, you'll find life-enhancing tools and strategies at your fingertips, to strengthen your spark and enrich your mind, body and spirit.

You'll discover new-found wisdom and build resilience that will help you bounce back from setbacks.

This year, it all begins with you.”

Adèle Basheer

Unpacking 2021-

a journal ritual!

Intrinsic has been lovely enough to offer SOAR readers a sneak peek into their 2022 Diary, with the below excerpt straight from the diary’s pages, to help you reflect on the year that was.

The purpose of this ritual is to get an aerial overview of the past twelve months, to begin investigating what works and what doesn't work for you. This view allows you to honour all of the good stuff - your achievements and strengths, magic moments and the people who made you smile, as well as any disappointments, challenges or setbacks you may have experienced along the way.

Let's guide you through an exercise to reflect on the year that's been...

Head to the next page to get started.

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Unpacking 2021-

a journal ritual!

step 1.

Allow some quiet time to yourself: aim for 20-30 minutes, but take as long as you need. Find a comfy spot and play some soothing tunes that will get you into a peaceful and reflective state of mind.

step 2.

Reflecting on the last 12 months, think about the events that impacted you, recalling both highlights and happy moments, as well as the sorrows or disappointments.

Use the journaling pages in your Intrinsic Diary (or your own notebook) to dive in and write your experiences, recording whatever flows through you. Spark your thoughts with the journaling prompts on the next page.

step 3.

Once you've finished unpacking and reflecting, continue to the Silver Linings section in your Intrinsic Diary and answer the guided questions to channel your learnings and prepare for a new kind of wonderful in 2022.

Don’t have the diary yet?

We’re offering SAW members a discount to get their hands on all the magic and more!

Simply use the discount code at www.intrinsiconline.com: SAWOMAN

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Unpacking 2021-

a journal ritual!

your intrinsic journalling prompts.

Looking back to 2021, recall the moments that made you feel most proud or accomplished.

What's something you did that you previously thought impossible?

What habits/rituals/routines energised you and lit you up? Which activities depleted your energy or made you feel less-than?

What's one word that would best sum up your year?

meet an BELINDA RIGNEY

Complete Admin + Bookkeeping It was a redundancy that set Belinda on the path to owning her own business. From admin manager, to Virtual Assistant to bookkeeper. Belinda, has the depth of experience and eye for detail that means she is an asset to all the businesses she works with.

She has a coffee with Carly to touch on where she has come from and what she credits to her success.

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MEET AN SA WOMAN - BELINDA RIGNEY BOOKKEEPER AND ADMIN EXTRAORDINAIRE IS HOW I LIKE TO REFER TO YOU, BUT TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS, HOW LONG YOU HAVE BEEN IN OPERATION AND WHAT YOU DO… Firstly, thank you! Complete Admin & Bookkeeping celebrated its 8th birthday in October 2021 and has grown from a dream of providing administrative support to other small businesses to now be a business with a purpose to work closely with other small to medium enterprises to work through their pain points, whether it be transaction processing of their finances/bookkeeping (which could include anything from payroll to bank reconciliations or invoicing and accounts payable) to business support. I like to work closely with my clients and listen to what they need, what will make their life easier and build systems around that.

WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOUR BUSINESS? WHAT MADE YOU PUT ON THE CAPE AND TAKE THE LEAP? In October 2013, I was made redundant from my role as an Administration Manager for a major wine company based south of Adelaide. When I was notified that I was going to be redundant I was at a cross road – we were a FIFO family with 2 primary school age children and I wasn’t keen to take a position elsewhere, especially if I would have to commute to the CBD. A fellow employee at my previous employment suggested to look into starting a VA (Virtual Assistant) business, so I looked into that further and started my business doing VA work before obtaining my qualification as a Bookkeeper and registered BAS Agent.

BUSINESS IS FULL OF MOUNTAIN HIGHS AND VALLEY LOWS. HOW DO YOU NAVIGATE THROUGH THE CHALLENGES? It most definitely is! Navigating through the challenges can test you and have you doubting yourself and your ability but the way I find best to get through it is by planning things out. I have systems in place to make sure that I stay on top of everything I need to (yes, I love ClickUp!) and I also believe that having a good support network around you is also important especially if you primarily work on your own.

I am beyond grateful for the support of my husband Steve, he is my biggest supporter and a great sounding board for many of my ideas/changes that I have made.

It is also important to have other people you can reach out to – a supportive friend, a fellow business owner and even a business coach. I have a great business coach who can always put things into perspective for me and helps me to believe in myself.

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MEET AN SA WOMAN - BELINDA RIGNEY YOU HAVE AN INCREDIBLE ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND PULLING TOGETHER SYSTEMS, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN YOUR SUPERPOWER? OR SOMETHING YOU LEARNT OVER TIME? Thank you! I think I have always been fairly organised whether it be in my work or personal life and find that I work better with a system in place and planning out my time and tasks as much as possible (there is nothing like a list when you are feeling overwhelmed by things!). I take the time to plan out each quarter, month and week, not just for myself and my business but for my clients and this helps me to keep on top of everything that I need to do. Over the past few years I have also refined the process for not only onboarding clients but managing their workflow. I also like to follow a few influencers that are renowned for their organisation skills and have implemented some of these in our home and my business.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LESSON IN BUSINESS THAT YOU COULD PASS ON TO HELP THOSE JUST STARTING OUT? The greatest lesson for me has been believing in myself and not feeling like an imposter. When I take time to reflect on where my business is today to where it all started I sometimes have to pinch myself. I am beyond proud of the evolution of my business and what I have created. It has been hard work and at times frustrating and challenging, but I have kept going and will continue to keep going.

HOW HAS BEING PART OF A COMMUNITY, LIKE SA WOMAN, HELPED YOUR BUSINESS TO THRIVE? The community that is SA Woman is such a big part of my business. The community is inclusive, welcoming and supportive, all things that are so important, especially for me as a sole trader. The friendships that I have formed with a variety of women in SA woman is something that I treasure. The business network and clientele base that I have the pleasure of working with through SA Woman is something that I don’t take for granted.

ABOUT BELINDA RIGNEY COMPLETE ADMIN AND BOOKKEEPING We provide Bookkeeping, BAS Agent Services, Business & Administrative Support to small and medium sized businesses right across Adelaide and Australia. Whether you need our expertise for a one-off project, or regular assistance, we’re here for you.

Find out more on how you can work with Belinda here: 16

meet an JAMIE STOTT

Ecolateral With a passion for protecting our planet and creating a better world, it was a privilege for Jess McEachen to sit down with proud Ecolateral owner, Jamie Stott. Jess had the champagne ready, to congratulate Jamie on opening her fourth store!

Hi Jamie! You’re a great example of a local retail business who hasn’t just survived, but has managed to grow throughout the pandemic!

Huge congratulations on opening your fourth location on Charles Street in the City, just off of Rundle Mall...

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MEET AN SA WOMAN - JAMIE STOTT ...WAS THAT ALWAYS ON THE CARDS OR AN OPPORTUNITY TOO GOOD TO PASS UP? I was one of the many people who were sad when Oxfam closed their fair-trade store in that location.

But, never one to pass up an opportunity I went to have a look at the space in the last week Oxfam was there. Although I really would have loved to do something at the time we had only just opened Brighton and I needed to ensure we laid some solid foundations in the community around that store before we embarked on another reach goal.

Fast forward two years, I’d been walking past the empty Oxfam space at least a couple of times a week thinking we could do something very special in there, when my partner suggested we make an enquiry. One thing led to another and they agreed on a lease arrangement I just couldn’t refuse. And, given the fact that the fit-out was already perfect for us, the cost to establish a new store there was much less that if we had to build from scratch. A Flagship CBD store was always on the cards, but this space and this opportunity allowed us to achieve it sooner

HAVING 4 STORES NOW IS EXCITING, BUT I IMAGINE THERE’S BEEN SOME ROADBLOCKS & HURDLES THESE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR BIGGEST LESSONS & GROWTH AREAS THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC? Don’t panic, and when things get tough … step up. When news of the pandemic broke we already had a written pandemic plan in place and after a few days of strategic planning with my leadership team we launched in to that plan. But, the further we got in to 2020 the more uncertain everything became and there were days I wanted to stay under the doona and not face the world. I had responsibility for three stores and the livelihoods of 12 employees at the time and I felt that weight of responsibility.

I remember a key point that I decided that if we were going to go down I was going to go down fighting, and so I pushed back against the fear, shut the negative news out, rallied the team and stepped up. The result saw growth in our three suburban stores and online as we pivoted to meet the needs of a large number of people stuck at home considering their impact on our environment. You could say we were the right team, in the right place at the time … we just learned to turn a s*storm into sunshine.

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MEET AN SA WOMAN - JAMIE STOTT CAN YOU TAKE US BACK TO THE BEGINNING, BECAUSE I THINK THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WOULDN’T KNOW THAT ECOLATERAL IS AUSTRALIA’S OLDEST ECO STORE! HOW DID THE ECOLATERAL WE SEE TODAY FIRST COME INTO BEING, AND WHAT’S A SHORT VERSION OF YOUR LONG HISTORY? AND FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN’T COME ACROSS ECOLATERAL, WHAT SUSTAINABLE GOODNESS CAN THEY FIND ONLINE & IN-STORES? Our business has a fascinating history that began in 1994 when the current owners of Flourish founded a refill shop called Waste Not Want Not, which many people know from its time at Goodwood. They were ahead of their time and sought to appeal to the environmentally minded in that area. Then in 2006 Ecolateral was established in a different corner of Adelaide as a sustainable living store. The founders of Ecolateral wanted to go beyond refills and offer a wide range of environmentally friendly products including clothing and giftware. It was their vision that gave birth to the carefully curated range we offer today.

The current Ecolateral group has come together in the past three years, firstly through the purchase of Waste Not Want Not (Ecolateral Blackwood), and then Ecolateral Sustainable Living Products (Ecolateral Magill). We rebranded to Ecolateral and then opened Brighton in 2019 and Adelaide City recently.

Our current range offers over 5000 different environmentally friendly and fair trade options for people wanting to reduce their impact on the planet. Our refill range consists of around 55 personal care and household cleaning products. Other categories include high quality natural skin care and makeup brands, reusables (think coffee cups, water bottles & stainless steel bento boxes), personal care (such as dental & menstrual products), sustainably sourced natural fibre clothing, fair trade gift ware and much more.

ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL FRONT, WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT BUSINESSES ACROSS SOUTH AUSTRALIA CAN BE DOING TO LESSEN THEIR FOOTPRINT? The two key areas we’ve noticed businesses focussing on lately are their carbon footprint and their reliance on single-use plastics.

Whilst carbon-offsetting is a great way to offset the carbon footprint of a business and its supply chain, reducing the causes for that footprint are very important as well.

Moving to an energy provider that offers renewable energy, or installing solar panels to have renewable energy available onsite is a great way to reduce reliance on carbon releasing fossil fuels.

Businesses that rely on transport can switch to renewable energy powered vehicles, or switch to more local suppliers to reduce the carbon footprint created by products that travel long distances to get to them.

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MEET AN SA WOMAN - JAMIE STOTT We are seeing some positive action by Australian State Governments with plans to phase out single use plastics. In South Australia we’ve just entered another consultation phase seeking opinion from the community as to what single use plastics should be banned next. There are already many businesses taking proactive steps to reducing their use of single-use plastics. Many cafes and hospitality businesses are seeking Plastic Free SA endorsement by eliminating plastic take away containers & other items (straws & cutlery have already been banned) and some manufacturing and freight businesses are looking at alternatives to fossil-fuel based plastic pallet wrap in favour of compostable options.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2022 NOW – WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO? WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING TO HELP YOURSELF & YOUR BIZ TO RISE UP NEXT YEAR? We have a big year planned for next year, and the success of our new city store and growth of our online business has meant that I’ve been able to bring some plans forward. Planning for three more store locations in SA are already underway and we are in early exploration for the first two of our interstate stores. We will be officially launching our own range of Ecolateral branded sustainable living products by March.There is another very big announcement that I’d love to share … but I’m told we have to keep that under wraps for now.

Personally? I’ve pledged to continue to learn and grow, understanding that even though I can provide the vision and direction I can’t do all the work and I don’t have all the answers. Whilst I’ve been in business for a long time now I realise that mistakes I’ve made over the past three years have made the journey harder than it should have been. I’ve learned to delegate better and have let go of responsibilities that are better suited to others, and where we don’t have the skills in-house I’ve learned to be better at outsourcing. Assuming that society doesn’t descend into a pandemic-induced zombie apocalypse, 2022 is looking like a very exciting year for us.

ABOUT ECOLATERAL Roughly 27 years ago in the regional South Australian town of Murray Bridge a small shop popped up seemingly out of nowhere. Ahead of its time this shop introduced the tools and resources to help aspiring ecowarriors of the time to walk the journey of reduce, reuse and recycle.

Our products are carefully selected to ensure they strictly support the sustainable use of our earth’s resources while possessing quality and style for today’s modern living.

Find Ecolateral online here: 20

Our 2021 Winners RISE UP - BEC HARDY, BEC HARDY WINES Bec Hardy Wines is a family-owned wine business based in McLaren Vale & their premium wines are enjoyed across the world.

EMERGING WOMAN IN BUSINESS EMILY BENNETT, THAT HASHTAG GIRL Emily helps businesses navigate social media and the whole world of hashtags so they can drive their business further!

FIRST NATIONS WOMAN IN BUSINESS REBECCA WESSELS, OCHRE DAWN Founder. CEO. Peramangk & Ngarrindjeri Proud. Former computer whizz turned creative dream maker. Committed to turning the everyday into a celebration of story and art.

QUIET ACHIEVER - CHLOE COCKS, ROAR SPEECH Roar Speech are here to support & nurture children to become confident communicators, so that they can ROAR.

REGIONAL WOMAN IN BUSINESSSANDY DAVIS, DAVO'S DELI We aim to provide all the community needs, from everyday takeaway and groceries to external catering and then we’ve also got the local post office services as an added bonus.

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Our 2021 Winners MUM IN BUSINESS - MAGGIE DMOCHOWSKI, ADELAIDE BAKES The most supportive & engaging baking & decorating classes encouraging you to develop your skills, confidence, & individual style.

YOUNG WOMAN - EMMA DUNCAN, HALO HAIR COLLECTIVE Halo Hair Collective – a sustainable, professional salon with a team culture like no other.

DISABLED WOMAN IN BUSINESS KELI DOUBIKIN, SPIRAL COORDINATION Spiral Coordination pride themselves on helping people living with a disability, their family & the community to navigate the NDIS & live as independently as possible.

BACKBONE - JODIE HAWKES, BOWHILL ENGINEERING Bowhill Engineering build heavy & complex structures that matter – 15 bridges on the North-South Expressway & 4 steel-hulled ferries for the River Murray – contributing to the success of our region & our state.

INNOVATOR - YOVANKA LORIA Yovanka Loria is a multi-faceted company, comprised of a boutique salon, signature line of luxury hand-tied hair extensions & exceptional education.

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Our 2021 Winners ALLROUNDER - LIBBY TRAINOR PARKER, EXPRESSIONS MEDIA Libby is a writer, speaker, performer, venue manager & women’s health advocate who is dedicated to educating, informing & empowering through entertainment.

LEADERSHIP - DEB PENALUNA, DEWC PTY LTD DEWC Services is a defence consultancy organisation providing sovereign capability within the STEM domains of ISREW, where our passion is helping the ADF achieve mission success and bring defence people home safely.

HEART DINAH THOMASSET-HEARN, VILLAGEHOOD AUSTRALIA Villagehood Australia is a not-for-profit centre for mothers located in Adelaide with the aim to expand nationally (first in different locations in SA then interstate).

Thankyou to our 2021...

category sponsors Pottering Around Kelly Hody Mkt Etc Bully's Meats Angela Pickett Copywriting Warida Wholistic Wellness Your Estate Lawyer

The Carers Place The Growing Space ActivOT Webb Software Wine Angels Australia

partners

Riverland Mazda Adelaide Hills Flower Studio Heidi Wolff Photography Evolve Pro Australia Jess McEachen Copywriting

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Survive the festive season -

five tips to help you thrive!

By JULIE TAYLOR, LIVE ONCE FITNESS 1 – Food is Fuel The average person puts on approximately 1 – 2 kilos of weight over the festive season and some don’t lose it after. My top tips – Remember moderation is the key, avoid sugary and fatty foods and keep your eye out for healthy options. Treat food as fuel and be mindful, Christmas Day is that day of the year you really should be able to enjoy without guilt, but you don’t need to blow it to have fun.

2 – Keep Moving It’s not hard to forget to move during the festive season and ironically, you need to move now more than ever (remember food is fuel). Exercising for 30 minutes each day will help you kick those Christmas calories and give you an endorphin kick that boosts your energy and brings all the good feels. Program this in, get moving early in the day during our beautiful mornings for a win this festive season.

3 – Connect with a Buddy Organise to meet your workout buddy – connect for a walk, jog, or get to your favourite class together.

Having that buddy increases accountability (let’s face it, we won’t let our friend down). Commit to move with your buddy and you’ll be ahead of the game as we tick into the new year.

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SURVIVE THE FESTIVE SEASON 4 – Alcohol

Fun Fact #1 - When alcohol is consumed, it's burned first as a fuel source before your body uses anything else.

This includes glucose from carbohydrates or lipids from fats. Let that sink in for a minute, all that food you eat, won’t get used if you haven’t moved so where does it go? It gets stored for later.

Fun Fact #2 – During the festive season is Australia, the weekly alcohol consumption rate triples!

The solution? - Have a glass of water or soda in between your alcoholic drinks, you’ll be able to pace yourself and stay hydrated this way. Choose lower calorie beverages, like gin and soda, white wine, prosecco, or light beer. I’ve been using these tricks for years, I still have lots of fun without the hangover, which means I can train the next morning.

5 – Relax Christmas can be a stressful time, but it’s also an important time to relax, have fun and kick back. If you’re taking time off work. Enjoy yourself and use this as a time to rest and recharge for the next year.

You earned this break, take it without guilt.

The Final Word Don’t beat yourself up if you overindulge a little, you forget to stick to your routine, you don’t exercise, you sleep in or you sit around in your PJs for a day or two. This down time is as important as the time you’re in the grind. Tick as many healthy boxes as you can, relax and enjoy that time with your friends and most importantly, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

ABOUT JULIE TAYLOR, LIVE ONCE FITNESS Julie is a Mindset and Movement Coach who's been working with individuals and groups since 1986.

A qualified Counsellor, Fitness Trainer and Wellbeing Coach. Julie has a wealth of knowledge and tools to support her clients. You can find Julie in her studio, in the park or she can come to you!

Find out more on how you can work with her here:

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My Favourite places in South Australia

By KATE HOLLISTER, PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATE

to photograph

Middleton, Fleurieu Peninsula This coastal town is very special as it is where I spent many wonderful family holidays as a child but also for how beautiful it is. Glorious beaches with rolling hills near by.

Adelaide Botanic Garden As a close up photographer, there is so much to photograph here. Lovely walking paths take you to many different areas that offer a wide variety to see and photograph.

Woorabinda Bushland Reserves, Stirling With a reed and tree lined lake to towering eucalyptus tree forests, there is something for everyone. One of my all time favourite photographs was taken at this lake.

- MAYA ANGELOU ABOUT KATE HOLLISTER, PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATE Photography by Kate was started out of a love for South Australia's beautiful landscapes and wanting to bring this beauty into people's lives. I create Adelaide made products like greeting cards, note cards and prints that help you connect with loved ones and with nature.

Find out more about Kate and purchase her products here: 26

So you're thinking about skin treatments?

Here's what you need to know!

By PETTA DAY, ENHANCE SKIN COSMETIC CLINIC

Injectibles. Fillers. Botox. Skin treatments. It's a whole new world of opportunity out there to embrace your skin. But what do you need to know to before you get started?

Petta, an aesthetician in her own business Enhance Skin Cosmetic Clinic in Adelaide's West, shares more with us!

“If you feel good about yourself, why can’t that be attributed to looking good too” Injectables can be a daunting and an anxious subject to some people and thankfully because of the new and improved generations, this topic is becoming a forefront for anti-aging. The medications used for Aestheticians has been scrutinised, researched, and used for over 70 years with still so many wonderful uses still coming to fruition, including migraine, hay fever, muscle tension, bruxism and anti-aging uses.

One of our missions is to break the stigmatism of cosmetic injectables being about changing who we are but to focus on bringing our inner beauty to light. So here is my advice to anyone looking or even considering Aesthetic treatments. Research is an absolute priority, here are some of the things to check out when choosing your Aesthetician: Does the clinic have good reviews? Do you have friends who have been treated there before? Check their google or Facebook reviews. Search their social media. Reach out to friends for recommendations of where they have been happy with. It’s so important to do your research. Don’t be afraid to reach out to multiple clinics and get a feel for which feels right for you.

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SO, YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT SKIN TREATMENTS WHAT IS THE AESTHETICIANS BACKGROUND AND STUDIES? DO THEY HAVE UP TO DATE EQUIPMENT AND CONTINUING EDUCATION? Ensure any aesthetician you use is qualified. With over 15 years in the Nursing field, I have become increasingly aware of how each and every client and their needs can and should be treated, through experience, passion and extended education I can do my best for my clients. I love that through my own business, I no longer have to have a revolving door or patients like in my previous roles in Public Health.

As well as my love for pleasing my clients, increasing their self-love, self-esteem and decrease their ageing rate. I spend many hours looking into research of new treatments, upskill and refreshing my knowledge in facial anatomy and patient safety, a recent study reported that 98% of clients (110 in study) would receive injectable treatments again, this included clients who’d never been treated before.

All of our machines, rooms, instruments, information and education is of the upmost professional standard with a results driven focus in mind. These are all things I believe is something I believe is extremely important when seeking your aesthetician.

DO THEY GIVE YOU ALL NECESSARY PRE AND POST INFORMATION? This includes preparation and after care. We offer an unbiased complimentary consultation for both skin and injectable treatments with no hidden add on’s or intentions. Seeking a clinic that provides this ensures you are receiving what you truly will benefit from, not add ons for the sake of it. I also go well beyond this and take the next level of care for our clients, through an extensive consultation to ensure their full wellbeing.

Of late, a big part of social media lives has been filtering and photo editing, which has helped and contributed to the increase in cosmetic surgeries to emulate the filtered version of themselves, these ‘needs’ and ‘concerns’ of the clients has highlighted Body Dysmorphic Disorder more than ever and has encouraged Aestheticians to consider their clients mental health when advising and listening to client concerns and wants.

Because of this, I preform a rigorous consultation with over seeing clients needs, wants and desires, listening to every word of their concerns, listening for triggering words that may perhaps be deemed as a spark for them being an unsuitable candidate for aesthetic treatments. It’s about taking that next level of care for the whole wellbeing of the client I am treating.

ARE THEY A GOOD FIT FOR YOU? AND IT’S OKAY TO SEEK ADVICE AND CONSULTATIONS FROM A FEW CLINICS. What feel are you after? What experience in the clinic? My goal is to empower clients not to become overwhelmed with trends but to stay true to their own inner beauty & focus on what makes them feel good.

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SO, YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT SKIN TREATMENTS Helping clients achieve their own enhanced or refreshed version of themselves by applying my medical experience for the best results is the reason I am so invested in what I do. Enhanced Skin Clinic has been created as a retreat for clients to share their concerns whilst allowing my team to offer treatments to enhance their natural beauty.

DO THEY ALIGN WITH YOUR GOALS? You want to feel comfortable that what you are heading into is what you will receive, and that you won’t be pushed for treatments you aren’t wanting.

For us personally at, Enhance Skin Cosmetic Clinic, we are doing away with the one size fits all for Skin and injectable treatments, we offer a bespoke and holistic skin treatment plan that allows for each of our clients concerns to be fulfilled, no matter how small. My aim is to bring the focus of beauty & cosmetic injectables back to our own ideals of what helps us feel good.

Finding a clinic that meets your goals is important for building trust and gaining the best results.

PETTA DAY, ENHANCE COSMETIC SKIN CLINIC Petta is the owner and experienced Nurse at Enhance Cosmetic Skin Clinic. With 15 years experience in a traditional Nursing environment including Emergency, Mental Health, Geriatrics and Clinical

Facilitating,

Petta

brings

her

wealth

of

medical

knowledge to her position as a leading Cosmetic Specialist in Adelaide.

Along with her extensive career in Nursing, Petta has completed further qualifications in Aesthetic nursing ( AACDS) and a Graduate Diploma in Dermal Cosmetic Nursing. With her knowledge of facial anatomy, clinical training and expertise in cosmetic injections, Petta is able to deliver flawlessly enhanced results for every client. As both the medical and beauty industries progress with new technology and education, Petta is very active in keeping up with the latest developments to ensure her clients receive the best treatments on the market. You can find Petta in her beautiful clinic on Jetty Road at Largs Bay.

Find out more on how you can work with her here:

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Tips to get through the Christmas hype,

and enjoy life now!

By AILSA ROBSON, WALK + TALK THERAPIST

It's almost December and I'm feeling pressure to put up our Christmas tree. I've noticed a slightly queasy feeling in my tummy; the all familiar Christmas angst. I know I’m not alone. Most of us have uncomfortable moments during the lead up to Christmas. Even if you love the season, you may still feel uneasy about how your life and experiences are stacking up against the picture perfect images we are bombarded with. We all know that the 'perfect' Christmas is just an illusion, but still the need to meet expectations can cause us stress and stop us noticing what might be going on under the surface.

Often what we’re experiencing is loss and grief. The loss of a loved one, or a relationship, loss of health, loss of connection due to the pandemic, or we may simply be grieving the fact our life isn’t as we’d imagined it would at this stage of our lives. Then our old foe perfectionism shows up to keep us distracted, and we start to dissect and judge all the 'problematic' parts of our lives. Sound familiar?

Being gentle with yourself is never more important than at this time of the year when we're all weary. It's vital to recognise your feelings and acknowledge how you can compassionately care for yourself through the Christmas season.

Notice where your thoughts are leading you and counteract them with a healthy dose of reality - this is a tough time of year, but you are doing your very best!

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TIPS TO GET THROUGH THE CHRISTMAS HYPE

These are the five things I accept and believe at this time of year.

You are most welcome to try them on for size for yourself too x 1. Christmas comes and goes (quickly!)

2. Family dynamics are often difficult but can be navigated, and even diffused with clear boundary setting and great communication.

3. There is no such thing as a perfect Christmas; including perfect gifts, the perfect meal, the perfect table setting or the perfect Christmas outfit (as the saying goes; why are we all sitting around looking fly as f*ck in Nan's kitchen anyway?! ha).

4. People matter, not things. Don't let unrealistic expectations take the joy out of being present in the moment with your loved ones.

5. You do YOU...say yes to the things you love, and no to the things you don’t.

Whilst you're doing that sprinkle lashings of gratitude around like baubles and tinsel! Look for the good in each situation- even if it’s just that the situation will eventually ease and pass.

In saying that, refer back to number 5 at all times, and take care of YOU. It’s normal to have mixed feelings about Christmas celebrations. Often talking about what's coming up for you whilst considering ways of honouring your needs throughout this time is helpful.

So here’s cheers to a perfectly imperfect festive season, filled with some happy and some sad moments. May you enjoy those glittering moments and take extra care of yourself in the difficult times. Love and blessings, Ailsa.

ABOUT AILSA ROBSON, WALK AND TALK THERAPIST Ailsa is a professional in the mental health field with a Masters Degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy, an author and Health At Every Size® provider. She specialises in helping savvy, capable folk who feel stuck in certain aspects of their lives, and provides compassionate, heartfelt, person-centred counselling that is uniquely tailored to her clients whether in clinic or on the walking trail. You can find Alisa in the Adelaide Hills and Glenelg.

Find out more on how you can work with her here:

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Embracing & Celebrating our bodies...

By LIBBY TOZER, SHE IS SEEN MOVEMENT

through photography!

Here are a few of my top takeaways from photographing almost 500 women with no clothes on.

1. All shapes and bodies are kind of marvellous.

It’s so easy for us to get hung up on our perceived flaws. Standing in front of a group of women with no clothes on, the conversations can be mind-blowing, humbling and, most definitely, life-changing in a good way.

2. Every shape is unique and wonderful.

This sounds so trivial, but, seriously, when you look upon a person unique being, their body starts to talk.

The stories of their life often laid out upon their skin like a road map of beauty and mystery. Why would we want a flawless canvas when the marks can be as fascinating and beautiful as the sky is alive.

3. Flawless bodies don’t exist and why would we want them to?

Because the truth is: There is no such thing as “normal”. And if there was perfect or flawless skin, is definitely is not normal. I have photographed a lot of bodies and I don’t think I’ve ever seen it, except on this little screen in my hand, or images in books or on the TV or in magazines and even in movies - ah it’s everywhere and it’s what our kids are being fed too. But it’s not real. It is manipulated. I’ve photographed about 500 women with no clothes on and I’ve yet to see a flawless skin on a grown woman.

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4. Be nice to you and the rest will follow. And, if all else fails, fake it until you make it.

Show up as you are! It creates space for others to do the same and helps shift the dialogue that says you need to change before you can be worthy of being seen. Showing up as you are in this moment is powerful. It’s how we normalise the perfect imperfection that lives within all of us. It’s how we stop buying into the story that says buy more, do more, be more before you can be you; before you are worthy of taking up any space.

Just own it all and, in case you need a reminder:

“I hope someone told you today that you are glorious, that your “imperfections” are actually incredibly beautiful and that, even if it’s only for a moment, you feel all of these things and of course allow yourself to be seen”. - Libby About these images - So this right here, these woman are magic because they are real, raw and free to be in this moment as they are, even though it was uncomfortable for some.

This image has not been smoothed, enhanced or completely changed and yet, to me, I see incredible wisdom and beauty. These women are a glimpse into the magic that dwells within each of us. Imperfection is incredible.

It shows us, and teaches our kids, what real bodies actually look like - setting relatable and realistic perceptions of what bodies are.

Libby Tozer is an author, photographer and the founder of the She Is Seen Movement. She Is Seen is a movement with the intention of shifting shame by sharing stories by flooding both print and social media with images of what women actually look like and their stories. Real. Raw and Wild.

Find and follow Libby @sheisseenmovement, listen to the She Is Seen Podcast and join the movement.

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still, i'll rise.

- MAYA ANGELOU

Is your website working for you?

It's time for a website audit!

By CHRISTINE MIDDLETON, ELEVATE DIGITAL BOUTIQUE

So you have this shiny website that makes you look good, but is it really working for you as much as it should be? Does it just sit there looking pretty rather than being utilised as a beneficial business tool? If your answer is a resounding Yes!, then here are a few things to check on your website which will help you to determine things that might be hindering (and helping) its visibility in search engines.

INTRODUCING – THE WEBSITE AUDIT A good website audit takes into account all the factors that can influence your website’s success: From your perspective, your customer’s, and Google’s. It can turn a good website into an excellent one!

A website audit will give you a lot of great information on the health and performance of your site, such as: if your site is simple enough for your visitors to use if your site meets expectations of the latest technologies (e.g., mobile experience) if you’re doing enough to achieve search visibility if you’re consistent in your messaging and using the right messaging to speak to your ideal audience if your social media is getting enough traction and driving referral traffic if you have gaps in content, based on off-website traffic data if your content marketing tools (like your CMS) sets your team up for success if your site has any technical issues.

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IS YOUR WEBSITE WORKING FOR YOU? There are 5 key parts to check as part of an audit, but first you need to get an understanding of where your site is right now. There are a few free tools you can use to achieve this, such as Hubspot Website Grader or the Google Search Console, which will give you the current score out of 100 and where its performing best.

THE 5 PARTS TO CHECK ARE: The technical performance such as: does your site have an SSL certificate does your site use a content management system to make updates easy have you got a secure login page do you have good site security practices such as denying access after xx login attempts does your site render on all browsers and mobile devices does your site use Google Analytics does your site have a Facebook Pixel are your themes and plugins recently updated do you have regular (eg daily) backups performed do all of your forms and social media integrations work are there any technical errors The SEO on each page (on-page), for instance: are key-words, titles and meta descriptions available of every page?

Does your text content contain key words and is substantial and informative for your industry Does your site have a clear privacy policy and terms of service Have you logged your sitemap with Google Do you use keywork enriched URL structures Do your pages include header tags Are your images optimised for keywords The Off-page SEO Do you have many backlinks to your site Do you have backlinks on your site Are there any broken backlinks Is your site getting social media mentions The Content and Assets Do all major content pages include relevant, engaging visual elements?

Do all major content pages include attractive social sharing buttons?

Are your landing pages fully optimised with one page per product, service or offer Is your content helpful, informative and relevant to your industry Are your images all the correct size and fully optimised.

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IS YOUR WEBSITE WORKING FOR YOU? Your User Experience This is critical if you want your site to be helpful and persuasive, and gives users a level of confidence with your business Do your pages load in less than 3 seconds Do you have an easy to navigate menu Is you advertising or pop-ups minimal so as to not interfere with viewing Is your site responsive on all devices Does your site have a lot of unnecessary back-end coding

WOW, I KNOW THAT’S A LOT TO LOOK AT, BUT TRY NOT TO GET TOO OVERWHELMED! Doing an audit manually can take some time, and there are many different (paid for) tools you can use to conduct one too. Ideally, it is a good idea to do this kind of audit every 6-12 months, and it will get easier with time. Checking the steps above will put your site in line with digital marketing best practices, and get your site ranking!

Complete your audit with a list of issues and fixes, get them done and then run your score again to see the improvements!

And, of course, I offer this service over at my agency Elevation Digital Boutique, so feel free to contact me for a consultation. Happy auditing!

ABOUT CHRISTINE MIDDLETON,

ELEVATION DIGITAL BOUTIQUE Elevation Digital Boutique is a technical design agency focussed only on getting you results. Chris and her team will help set up your business ready for the online world, and ready to dominate your industry with leads and sales.

Find out more on how you can work with Chris here:

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How to motivate yourself for bookeeping..

Secrets from a bookkeeper!

By SARINA ABBOTT, FESTIVAL BOOKKEEPING

You lean over and turn off your computer after a full day of work. You feel relieved that another day is done. Your mind turns to what you’re going to have for tea and whether you’re going to need anything from the supermarket. Then out of the corner of your eye you spot a couple of receipts partly folded and starting to fade that are placed precariously on top of a pile of other papers. Sigh….you still haven’t done your bookkeeping. Another day has gone and you didn’t get around to it like you promised yourself you would. Again.

If you don’t run your own small business, this scenario might seem a little trivial. It’s just entering a few dates, names and numbers, right?

Well I’ve lost track of the number of small business owners that have confided in me how bad they feel about being behind in their bookkeeping and how much it’s affecting their personal life and business life.

This is what I hear a lot: “My partner is getting frustrated with me because I don’t know my figures” “My tax return is overdue and I’m sure I’m going to get a big fine that I can’t afford” “I’m sure I will need to register for GST soon, but I don’t know what my income is. It’s really worrying me because I know I have to do something about it soon” “My business coach keeps asking for my figures – but I don’t know them” Now you would think I’m going to tell you that you should outsource to a bookkeeper or buy this new, beaut software. But that’s not what this post is about.

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SECRETS FROM A BOOKKEEPER! This post is to genuinely share methods that small business owners can use themselves, in order to gain the motivation to get their bookkeeping done. These methods are what I use myself when motivation is low, or overwhelm is high. They are not expensive or difficult and I’m sure that if you use even a couple of these methods, you will get your bookkeeping done or at the very least make great progress.

1. USE A TIMER This can be an online timer, your watch, or even try an old-school method. Set the timer for a short period of time – 40 minutes is fine. Commit to 40 minutes of bookkeeping only. Smash it out and feel great about the progress you just made. Maybe that’s enough – you’ve achieved what you set out to do. Turn off your computer and forget about it for today. Now maybe the time went quickly for you and you feel you’ve got another 40 minutes in you. You’re on a roll. Go off and step out into the sunshine for 5 minutes or make a cup of coffee to reward yourself. Go back to your computer, set the timer for another 40 minutes and smash out another 40 minutes of bookkeeping.

2. WORK SOMEWHERE DIFFERENT If you’ve got a laptop, move it out of the office to the dining room table. Or move it from the dining room table to the bedroom. Personally I would have difficulty working outside, but if that works for you, then go for it. Go to the library (I get phenominal amounts of work done when I work from the library – however it’s usually business development work and not accounting, as I don’t want to risk others accessing my accounting information because I’m using a public internet connection). Go to your parent’s house. Book a once-off day to work from a co-working space. Just change up where you’re working from, because sometimes just the thought of sitting down at that same spot that you’ve already spent hours at can be depressing.

3. TREAT YOURSELF Buy snacks for yourself that you wouldn’t normally buy – specifically for bookkeeping. Treat yourself with something nice, so that sitting down to do your bookkeeping is a positive experience.

4. DO SMALLER AMOUNTS OFTEN Now you might not realise that this is one of the reasons you put off your bookkeeping. But if you’re only logging into your software or opening up your spreadsheet every few months (or even longer), then you’re probably forgetting how to do a lot of it. Decision fatigue is a thing! If you have to keep stopping and deciding what to do next, or are trying to remember how you did something last time, then you’re wearing yourself out without even realising it. By doing it more regularly, everything will stay fresh in your mind.

5. EAT THE UGLIEST FROG FIRST This has been one of my most helpful business mantras since I discovered it about 5 years ago. If I’ve lost you here, check out Brian Tracy. I’m thinking bookkeeping might be your Ugliest Frog. So eat it first!! Practise a bit of tough love on yourself and do your bookkeeping before you do anything else that day. You can even try getting up 40 minutes earlier, for the sole purpose of getting bookkeeping done. The rest of the day will feel SO good for you that the decision to then get up and do the same thing the next day will be even easier. Your day will flow a lot better and you’ll become much more productive in general. You can use this concept for anything in your personal or business life.

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SECRETS FROM A BOOKKEEPER! 6. LISTEN TO MUSIC This seems a bit obvious, but how often do you actually make the effort to put on music while you work at your computer? Or if you are doing your bookkeeping first thing in the morning, have music on while you’re in the shower before you start. Similar to the special snacks you treat yourself with, you will start to look forward to doing your bookkeeping because you’ve made a fun ritual for yourself.

7. Start tracking your monthly income This doesn’t need to be fancy. Start writing down your total sales each month. Each time you get another month’s bookkeeping done, record somewhere separately what that monthly sales were.

Some months it may be less than the month before – that’s okay. You just motivated yourself to kick butt that bit more in the next 4 weeks. Some months it will be more than the month before – congratulations! Something you’re doing is working – the proof is in the numbers. It’s quite addictive once you start tracking your numbers – you will find yourself automatically motivated to get your bookkeeping done.

8. Just turn on the computer In my early 30’s I used to run a lot. There’s a trick with runners to keep motivation up – they say just to “put on your sneakers”. It really works. Once those runners are on, it’s that much more easier to just step out the door and do your run. Do this trick with your computer. Get up and turn it on! Before you get dressed. Before you make your coffee. Before you check your phone. When I have a particularly overwhelming and large client job to do, this (oh so easy) tip works every time.

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SECRETS FROM A BOOKKEEPER! 9. POSITIVE MINDSET I know it’s easy to get into the mindset that bookkeeping is boring. Bookkeeping is pointless.

Bookkeeping is hard. Or thinking “numbers aren’t my thing”. Well I challenge that mindset. You’re not going to love everything in business – if it was easy, then everyone would be doing it and doing it successfully, right? Having a positive mindset helps in all areas of your business and personal life. You can choose to keep thinking bookkeeping is horrible – and continue to avoid doing it – and continue to beat yourself up over not doing it. Or you can choose to re-frame your thinking around it.

For example: I can’t wait to get that 40 minutes of bookkeeping done, because then I’ll be on track to get my tax return done early this year. Gee that’s going to feel good.

I feel like my sales are up this month – I can’t wait to check my income spreadsheet to see if I hit $5,000 in sales finally.

Woo hoo – another month’s bookkeeping done. Time to hit the pub. Okay – so these might seem a bit corny, but you see what I mean. Your bookkeeping is what you tell yourself it is. You get to choose your attitude.

WHY WOULD A BOOKKEEPER SHARE THESE TIPS? I don’t mind sharing these tips with small business owners. There will always be business owners that don’t want to outsource their bookkeeping. There will always a point in time when it makes sense for a small business owner to do their own bookkeeping. When it’s time to outsource – it’s time to outsource.

The cons of doing it yourself will outweigh the pros and you will (probably with relief I’m thinking) hand it over to a professional bookkeeper.

In the meantime, I just know there’s a tip or 2 above that you can implement straight away. My wish for you is that you no longer feel bad about being behind in your bookkeeping and get to experience that feeling of relief that comes with being up to date very soon!

ABOUT SARINA ABBOTT, FESTIVAL BOOKKEEPING Sarina Abbott is the owner of Festival Bookkeeping. She’s a registered BAS Agent and Xero adviser who has previously worked in the legal and conveyancing industry, as well as for registered training organisations. She lives in Adelaide, South Australia with her husband, 2 sons, a dog and a rabbit.

Find out more on how you can work with her here:

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Set up your business for a

financially fabulous 2022!

By, JODI FACY, FACY & CO.

Do you want to earn six figures - fast - in 2022?

Did that big, sexy money talk get your attention?

I'm going to give you some real talk; if you want to earn (and keep!) the big bucks, you need to take your business financials seriously.

Sticking your head in the sand may seem like the easy option, but the most successful entrepreneurs are those that learn to love their numbers and have regular and consistent financial habits, which they stick to over many months, years, and decades.

I could write a book on this topic, but because numbers make many business owners run for cover, I have narrowed it down to three easy-to-implement financial goals to help you get your numbers in ship-shape ready for a financially fabulous 2022.

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FINANCIALLY FABULOUS 2022!

1. REV UP YOUR REVENUES It is easy to get stuck in a revenue rut where you charge the same prices for the same products or services and never step back to consider ways to increase your income.

Here are a few ways to help you step up to that next level of income.

Review your pricing I'm just going to put this out there; if you are undercharging, you will never have a profitable business.

You will never make enough to pay your expenses, pay yourself, and have money left over to reinvest in the business. It is just mathematically impossible. So, what are some of the telltale signs that you are undercharging?

People say you are too cheap, a bargain, or good value Everyone you put a proposal to says "yes."

You are at (or beyond) capacity and have a waitlist You are working more and more, fully booked out but still don't have the profits to show for your hard work Hire or outsource There is only one 'You,' and You only have a limited number of hours in your day, and what this means is that you will eventually hit a capacity limit when you provide 1:1/done-for-you services. This capacity limit will lead to a revenue plateau, and there is only so much you can increase that plateau with price rises. The solution here could be to employ someone else to do the client work for you. Ta-da! Your 25 'sellable hours' per week suddenly becomes 50 hours per week with another person on your team.

Introduce a scalable revenue stream The keyword here is 'scalable' – this means that you can increase your revenues without having to spend loads more time or money to generate those revenues. An example of this could be digital products like an e-book or templates that you can sell. You create once and then can sell this product to either 1 or 1,000 people with pretty much the same input of your time.

2. DETOX YOUR EXPENSES Have you ever heard that famous quote from Benjamin Franklin; "Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship." This could not be truer when it comes to small businesses.

The companies I see in financial distress often have no idea where their cash goes daily as they have nothing significant to show for the money draining out.

Small, thoughtless expenses add up quickly, and whittling away your cash flow on things that aren't strategic or adding value to your business can be a disaster.

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FINANCIALLY FABULOUS 2022!

Here are a few ideas to get you started on plugging any leaks in your financial ship: Review all your direct debits and see if anything you have forgotten about and don't use could be canceled.

Could you use the free version of your paid I.T. subscriptions, or at least reduce the level of your paid plans? I.e., Xero, Canva, Zoom.

Commit to being realistic about what you sign up for. If you buy a course or program on a whim, but you just *know* you aren't going to have the time to get the most out of your investment, re-think it.

Look at your phone plans, utility providers, and insurances. You can make significant savings on these things with just a couple of phone calls.

Do you have equipment that is not efficient and is costing more to maintain and run than it would just to lease or buy a newer, more efficient item? An example of this might be an old printer with cartridges that cost a bomb, which takes forever to print. If you consider the efficiency of a larger printer, higher quality ink, and fewer breakages, you will quickly see that the efficiency savings will soon outweigh the additional 'cost.'

REMEMBER - Just because an expense is tax-deductible – it doesn't mean it is FREE money! Don't buy all the things to bring your profits down. Fewer expenses = more profits = more pay in your pocket.

3.

PAY YO'SELF – BECAUSE YOU'RE WORTH IT

This may sound obvious, but if you are self-employed and you don't pay yourself a regular wage from your business – my challenge to you is to set up a direct debit to your personal account from your business account and pay yourself a fixed, fair wage without fail every week, fortnight, or month. And once you get comfortable with that amount, increase it. And then raise it again.

Even if you start at $50 per week and work your way from there, there is something so powerful about the act of paying yourself.

And suppose you don't actually have any money left over to pay yourself from your biz? In that case, I think it might be time to go back to the beginning of this article and implement some strategies to Rev up your Revenues and Detox your Expenses, which will leave you more profit to pay yourself.

ABOUT JODI FACY, FACY & CO. Jodi is a Internationally recognised CPA who helps give you absolute clarity around where your business will be in the future. She helps guide your strategic direction and run your numbers so you can make the best business decisions. She works with entrepreneurs and small to mediumsized businesses in an external, virtual CFO capacity.

Find out more on how you can work with Jodi here: 44

Social media into 2022...

let's get back to basics!

By SIMONE DOUGLAS, SOCIAL MEDIA AOK

Inevitably this time of year Social Media Managers and Agencies everywhere are trying to get their heads around what the big focus should be for 2022 and how to drive success. My advice this year is get back to the basics.

If we start by focussing on where the user base is when it comes to social and digital there are still no surprises.

FACEBOOK sits at number one with 17 million monthly active users and has held steady for most of the year. This means it’s time to start planning a Facebook strategy that includes all the bells and whistles relevant to your target customer and their journey from awareness through to purchase.

Things to do: + Set up or health check your Facebook Store eMarketer predicts social commerce will be an $80 billion industry by 2025. It’s riding the coattails of equally massive e-commerce growth (an increase of 18% in 2020 alone) If I can shop where I play you are losing dollars you could have in the bank Don’t worry about getting your whole inventory up. Focus on curating the items you think your page followers will like best. + Get your head around what the customer wants from Facebook Messenger and start thinking about a social media customer service strategy.

In a Nielsen survey commissioned by Facebook, 64% of people said they would prefer to message rather than call a business. And ​according to Gartner, 60% of all customer service requests will be managed via digital channels by 2023.

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SOCIAL MEDIA INTO 2022 + Have you made it easy for me to book an appointment with you if you are a service-based business? Look into having direct booking options through your Facebook page.

YOUTUBE sits at number two with 16.5 million Unique Australian Visitors per month so start refining your video strategy. What content are you creating and why? Short form video continues to own the digital landscape so start experimenting with different lengths and formats. Whatever Video you do create make sure you put it on YouTube as well as posting it natively to the other relevant channels.

INSTAGRAM has come a long way this year although numbers remain stable at 9 million monthly active users. It’s time to get your head around reels and stories if you haven’t already. Review your highlights and ask yourself what you are telling your customer. Health check your bio and make sure you are using a Link tree to make it easy for us to find the key pages you want us to engage with.

Activate Instagram shopping if you are selling products.

LINKEDIN. Lastly if you are playing in the business-to-business space don’t forget to give some love to LinkedIn with 6.5 Million users in Australia it has come a long way and it’s integration of many facebookesque features means that people are now on the platform more often and using it for direct messaging rather than email. This means your profile should be optimised to speak to your ideal clients and the content you are posting in turn should do the same. Also look at the creator mode features and consider posting video natively here too.

The important thing across the board is get clear about who you are trying to engage with on the different platforms and why, start by considering what you need to achieve for your business first from a sales perspective and from a client/customer retention perspective.

From there you can start to build out a strategy across your platforms that’s designed to both start conversations and progress them.

Social in 2022 needs to be personal, as a society we are now more than ever craving engagement and if your business can deliver on that then you are going to be in the drivers seat.

ABOUT SIMONE DOUGLAS, SOCIAL MEDIA AOK Simone is an author, publican, BNI Executive Director, multiple award winner and the founder and force behind, Social Media AOK. Simone and her team, support, manage and propel their clients social media strategy.

With over 15 years of business experience and significant knowledge of the social media sphere, Social Media AOK can manage your social media needs, provide training and support and more.

Find out more on how you can work with Simone here: 46

The importance of play

for children and their parents!

By PHEOBE DONALDSON AND RENAE PLUECKHAHN, PLAYTHERAPY SA

Play is often so seamlessly woven into the lives of children, and can seem so free and meaningless at times, that it is easy to forget the depth and importance that play provides in so many areas of children’s lives.

As we venture into adulthood adults often move away from play - but for children, play is an essential puzzle piece in development. As well as being fun, play facilitates connection, stimulates creative thinking, regulates emotions, and allows children to practice skills and conquer fears.

It is through engaging with children through play, that we are able to see the world through their eyes most clearly. Play gives us the opportunity to gain an understanding of how children see the world, what the issues closest to their heart are, and what their wishes are. How children choose to engage in play is motivated by their inner processes, anxieties and desires - so by entering into a child’s play, we are provided with a window into their world.

In our busy adult lives, it can be hard to know how to make time for child’s play. For ourselves as well as our kids, it is important to make space to bring playfulness to our lives - not only to connect our children, but also to ourselves.

Ask yourself this question: How does your inner child find joy? Is it through being barefoot in nature? Through painting or creating? Do you find joy in playful movement such as dancing, bike riding or even hula hooping?

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THE IMPORTANCE OF PLAY When we make more time for these playful experiences, we tune into what our body and mind needs as well as connecting us to finding what lights us up.

There are many ways that we can bring more playtime into the lives of children, and return to play ourselves.

Here are some suggestions to bring more playful connection to your life: designate playtime...

transitional play...

Set aside a designated time each week to have playtime with your child where they are completely in the lead. Put away your phone and focus on being present in the play. Get down on your child’s level and show your presence and interest in their play by making observations about their play, without asking questions or leading their play. For example you could say ‘Oh, so that one goes right there’, or ‘You have made that so big, and that one is so small’. This is a great way to fill our children’s ‘cup’ so that they feel seen and is one of the best ways of fostering connection.

Bring playful moments into transitional activities! Transitions can be hard for children, particularly when they are moving from a desirable activity to a less desirable one.

Bringing play into these moments, such as bringing silliness into putting shoes on (Become the shoe by saying ‘Oh I am so lonely, I just want a foot to cuddle’), racing to pack the toys away, singing funny songs or putting on different types of walks (How many tiny mouse steps can you take to get to the car?) can provide a helpful distraction for children and help them transition more easily.

seek play...

bedtime calm...

Simple objects from around the home can be used to foster connection with kids too. We can use couch pillows to make a sandwich on our child’s back, adding layers before eating them all up. Use foil, toilet paper, or cardboard to make funny hats or a robot costume, or make a basketball hoop out of our arms and use newspaper as the ball. The opportunities are endless when we look around with a lens of playfulness!

At bed time, you can give your child a back rub that describes the daily weather. Try different movements and pressure to represent the clouds, sunshine, rain or wind. Listen to your child’s feedback and be sure to change the pressure or movement to ensure they are comfortable.

nature time...

Get out in nature! Nature play has been shown to increase children’s resilience, self-confidence, initiative, and creativity - as well as providing valuable sensory experiences.

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THE IMPORTANCE OF PLAY One of the things that stop parents playing with their child is the tantrum or complaints for when the play time is over, they are craving connection and don’t know when it will come again! The best way to combat this is structure – set a timer and explain that when it goes off ‘mum needs to go back to work’ and as the end gets closer pre-empt it by saying things like, ‘two more turns left, or there are two more minutes left’. Your child may still not like the ending but with consistency and following through on promises to play again it will get easier! Reflect the child’s feelings too, this shows them that you understand and they don’t need to ‘show’ you anymore saying things like ‘ you’re angry our play time is over’, or ‘ you love us playing together, we can play again tomorrow’.

Playing doesn’t always come naturally, especially if your parents didn’t play with you as a child. You may have to make a special effort to play, and these school holidays will be the perfect time to do so!

Connect through play, it’s worth it!

If you still need help connecting with a child in your life and would like some further help, reach out to a Play Therapist! It’s what we know best!

ABOUT PLAYTHERAPY SA Play Therapy SA, offers a range of therapeutic modalities to help children and families live the best lives they can. Renae and her therapists are trained in a range of interventions, working both with children directly and with parents and caregivers. You can find the PlayTherapySA team at Gawler, Salisbury & Payneham.

Find out more on how you can work with them here:

"We bring a yum hug to the door!

Perfect portions of homemade, nostalgic treats as a way to brighten someone's day!"

Order Online!

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Tips for surviving the festive season...

with a baby!

By EMMA GLENN, ADELAIDE POSTPARTUM CARE

Tis the season to…be busy! This time of year can be a little hectic with a baby in toe, but I have put together some of my top tips to really enjoying a low stress Christmas with a baby.

BE A BIT SELFISH Particularly if your baby is very little, this is a time when you still really need to put your needs first and have realistic expectations on how much you can actually do, this may not be the year you make it to all the extended family if it is to much, or it may be the year they come and visit you… with food.

PLANNING Just as you would plan the food you need for your baby, planning for their sleep needs is just as important. Making sure you have all the things you would usually use at home from a swaddle/sleeping bag, white noise, comforter and even a block out blind can be a great way to have them settle in an unfamiliar place.

AWAKE WINDOWS While this time of year can send a good routine flying out the window just knowing your babies awake windows and using them along with their tired cues can be a great alternative to a tight routine.

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SURVIVING THE FESTIVE SEASON USE YOUR MOBILE NAP TOOLS Napping on the go is something that is important in everyday life to, but at this time of year using every tool in the tool kit is a must to making things as calm as possible as a stressful xmas is not fun for anyone. Using car naps, pram naps, a baby carrier and naps in arms are all great ways to help your little one get the sleep they need during the day so you are not fighting a overtired baby at night.

Even if sleep is in shorter blocks than usual.

GO WITH IT You may be used to having a good routine and things flowing well from day to day, this time of year things can get a bit busy, so expecting things to go a little off course and being prepared can help you roll with some craziness and enjoy a Christmas time with your family with just the right amount of crazy.

ABOUT EMMA GLENN, ADELAIDE POSTPARTUM CARE Emma Glenn is the founder of Adelaide postpartum care, she is a mum of two a wife and passionate about supporting women on their journey into motherhood. A postpartum doula providing support in the home and specialising in breastfeeding, infant sleep and a certified massage therapist Emma will make sure you are supported in every way when you bring your new baby.

Find out more on how you can work with Emma here:

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Dear Self

i know you are doing the best you can. i believe in you. keep going. don't give up.

Love, Me.

Gift Ideas this Christmas

+ beyond!

Letter Cushions, from $69 Perfectly Pear Shaped

Personalised Note Cards, set of 10, $39 Daisy Chain Stationery

Short Stories Photography Session Gift Voucher, $380 For Abel Photography

Christmas Eclairs, Box of 12, $75 Sucre Patisserie

900ml water bottles, $30 Sea Salt Creations

Personalised Signs, from $50.

Custom Steel Appeal

Dragon Notebook, $20 Part of Things

All things Fairys, from $2.50 Fairy Garden Hahndorf

Gift ideas for everyone from $4.50 Luxah Gifts & Homewares

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holiday reads ...

sawers in print

Covid Tales Introducing The COVID Tales: a tribute to the strength, courage and resilience of Adelaide business owners during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rachel Sharp, The Little Oak Studio

Rural Business Women Rural Business Women - Inspiration and advice to grow your business from regional Australia.

Featuring Steph Schmidt, Act for Ag and Susie Williams, Fleurieu App

Dementia Can't Take Everything Wendy Hall brings together those passionate about improving the lives of anyone impacted by dementia, raising the bar of expectation within the dementia care field. She shares her own insights and ‘light bulb’ moments in the hope that other will be inspired to do the same.

Wendy Hall, Dementia Doulas.

Hello Abundance Determined to get rid of money guilt for good, Shona spent years transforming her relationship with money, and she vowed that as she learned and mastered this, she would share it with as many women as possible.

Shona Gates, Sexy Selfish

Disability Rights in Real Life In Disability Rights in Real Life aims to provide the disability community with information on their rights and to know when they might need a disability rights lawyer. It is no substitute for legal advice, but it is a great place to start to have good conversations with your lawyer about disability rights.

Natalie Wade, Equality Lawyers

Humans of Kangaroo Island In this thoughtful book, Kangaroo Islanders of all ages reminisce about what makes their island home so special and why they can't imagine living elsewhere.

Sabrina Davis, Humans of Kangaroo Island and Living Stories

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Healthy Carrot + Walnut Cake Recipe

By MARIANNE ROBERTS, Whole Vitality Healthcare Most weeks I make a healthier cake for a morning snack for the family and the most popular one is this carrot and walnut cake.

The original recipe I found on the internet from a not so healthy version of carrot and walnut cake, but I've modified the ingredients, so it is a healthier alternative to store bought cake that all the family still love!

This cake is now packed full of some nutritious wholefoods that are delicious, satisfying ingredients.

INGREDIENTS 2 cups Organic wholegrain spelt flour 2 tsps. Aluminium free baking powder, flat 1 tsp Aluminium free baking soda, flat 1 tsp organic mixed spice 1 tsp ground Ceylon cinnamon 1 cup Changing Habits rapadura sugar 2 cups grated carrot (2 large carrots) 1 cup chopped Australian or Organic walnuts 1 cup Organic unrefined sunflower oil 3 free range eggs, lightly beaten * 1/2 cup water if needed to make the batter slightly smoother.

FROSTING 125g Paris Creek Quark or Biodynamic yogurt (the yogurt has to be strained first) 2 to 3 tsps. finely grated lemon rind, unwaxed 1 1/2 cups Rapadura sugar, ground to icing sugar Walnuts to decorate

Find out more about Marianne here:

DIRECTIONS I use a Thermomix to make this cake but combining ingredients in a mixing bowl and blending thoroughly works well too.

- Walnuts can be chopped first in the Thermomix, 5 seconds speed 6.

- Place the grated carrot, walnuts, and Rapadura sugar into the mixing bowl.

- Add the spelt flour, mixed spice, Ceylon cinnamon over the top of the carrots, walnuts and Rapadura sugar and give the bowl a shake to start and move it through the bottom ingredients.

- Evenly pour the sunflower oil over the spelt flour and then pour the eggs into the bowl.

- Mix on reverse for 15 seconds, speed 2. While mixing add in water if needed to make the mixture slightly smoother (you don't want the mixture to be too runny) but still a thicker consistency.

- Slowly increase the speed up to 6 for 20 seconds, as you're mixing you should see the mixture slightly change to a lighter colour but if it doesn't that's fine because the spelt flour can vary in colour which gives the mixture a different colour to begin with.

- Preheat oven to 180 deg. C. Oven settings on bake not fan-bake. Using compostable brown paper, line a 20inch square cake pan, pour the mixture into the pan and bake for 40 to 50 min or until a skewer comes out clean. Leave cake in pan for 15 min before turning out.

FROSTING DIRECTIONS - Mill Rapadura sugar in the Thermomix bowl, speed 9, 20 to 30 seconds.

- Add the remaining ingredients into the Thermomix bowl and blend 20 seconds speed 6 or until the mixture has a smooth consistency.

Yields - 16 servings Prep time - 15min Cooking time - 40 to 50min Difficulty - Beginner

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Personal growth & organisation is easy, with Intrinsic's inspirational 2022 diaries & calendar, full of motivational quotes by Australian positivity queen Adèle Basheer.

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Thankyou to our 2021 Partners...