Claire Halliday's Feature in "Madison" Magazine


Cracking open the July 2011 issue of Madison magazine, what did I spy? Veteran magazine writer and all-round nice gal, Claire Halliday, is in the list of contributors.

When I interviewed Claire for Becks and the City late last year (read the post here), she shared how she didn't know what she wanted to do straight out of high school and got her big break on an article about crime scene cleaners.

Well, she's now completed two books and written for the likes of Girlfriend, Women's Weekly, Marie Claire, and Madison, including this article, "Is the Home Ownership Dream Dead?".


Head to page 76 of this month's mag to read it. Given I've been on several sides of the housing affordability debate (unable to afford a home, working in a housing area of government and now paying off a mortgage), I'm glad Claire's brought this important issue to light.

Fabulous and thought-provoking all at once. I'd love to write this type of article.

How I Plan My Blog


The artsy purple image above is of my Smiggle notebook. Isn't it cute? Here's a sneak peek into how I use it to plan Becks and the City...

Whenever I'm sitting in a cafe or out and about and have a spare second, I pull out my notebook and indulge in a spot of blog planning. I write to-do lists of ideas for posts, goals of how many Google followers I want to reach and marketing ideas (giveaways, new widgets etc). Rather than being a chore, I really enjoy it.

These ideas don't always make it into Becks and the City as the blog evolves -- I lose enthusiasm, they become out-of-date or I'm just too lazy -- but it's exciting to dream up these concepts, as most of them become a reality.

Because I'm a visual person, I also draw little sketches of how I envisage the blog should look in the near future, like the one below from two months ago...


So far I've completed the revamped portfolio section (although I ended up using Google Documents to store my scanned articles online rather than similar service, issuu), but am still working on the other features:
  • Beautiful pictures
  • Press
  • Reaching 500 followers
  • E-magazine
  • "For Sex and the City Fans" labels
Hopefully they'll be completed soon.

What do you think? Which of the above features would you like to see in Becks and the City? How do you plan your blog?

Fabulous Fridays: 24 June 2011


Usually green repulses me, but I couldn't pass up the gorgeous emerald tones in this vintage-style picture. Here's more absolute gems...


Have a weekend that will make your friends green with envy. xx

Fabulous Fridays: 17 June 2011


Okay, I've recovered from last week's huff and things aren't really so dreadful. In fact, they're quite good considering it's Friday and it's fabulous...


Here's to sending the fabulous meters off the charts this weekend! : )

Health Words for Writers


Ready for a healthy dose of health-related words and phrases for your writing? Look no further...

Nutritious, delicious, weight loss, fitness fad, sports, biology, diet, lean, muscle, mass, gym, yoga, pilates, cardio, strain, tear, sprain, breakfast, juice, power, strong, goodness, wholesome, fat-free, glycaemic index (GI), stretch, warm-up slimming, bulk up, cool down, protein, vitamin supplement, physical, exercise, training, flexibility, dance, athletics, running, sprinting, jogging, power walking, strolling, couch potato, relaxation, meditation, wellbeing, fighting fit, skipping, muesli, transformation, eating disorder, anorexia, bulimia, healthy, self-worth, self-esteem, confidence, psychology, repetitions (reps), sets, kilojoules, calories, cholesterol, drugs, medicines, fluids, core strength, drink intake, eat, dissolve, tablets, capsules, sweat, glow, perspire, jump, genetic, overeating, over-indulging, expanding waistline, workout, hyper-extend, stiff, sore, serene, calm, pumped, hold, release, clench, straighten, bend, unfold, unfurl, tighten, loosen, grip, steady, wobbly, stability, up, down, lateral, doctor, nurse, physio, chiropractor, podiatrist, surgeon, joint, pain, stress, ligaments, tendons, curvature, body, mind, spirit, hospital, program, regime, plan, schedule, junk food, points, fats, oils, vegetables, starches, bread, dairy, calcium, dental, flu, cold, hot, menopause, menstrual, period, iron, folate, digestion, breathe deeply, improvement, goals, achieve, pivot, step, twist, bounce, lengthen, hamstring, spine, thigh, calf, bicep, tricep, abdominal, metatarsal arch, heel, achilles tendon, quadricep, shoulder, diaphragm, injury, illness, marathon, hiking, fresh air, positive attitude, mend, thin, fat, toned, emotions, natural living, hormones, ageing, routine, therapies, pregnancy, pharmaceutical, ayurveda, hypnosis, soul, energy, counselling, healing, aromatherapy, homeopathy, massage, naturopathy, harmony, science, alcohol, caffeine, fertility, care, burnout, dehydration, sleep, glasses, anxiety, depression, kilograms, tension, essence, herbs, headache, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke, buddhism, life, antioxidants, fatigue, immune system.

Got more? Send them my way by commenting below and I'll add them.

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