With the Australian bushfires burning more than 6.3 million hectares (recorded as of the 5th January 2020) and showing no signs of slowing down, the Prime Minister of Australia has declared a state of emergency in NSW. The extent of damage caused is beyond imaginable with multiple human casualties, millions of fauna lost and thousands of lives changed forever.
For those who feel compelled to help in some way or not, you may be asking where can I assist?
Financial donation is often the best way to contribute as it will be allocated to a pool of resources that will assist with the provisions necessary for the brave firefighters (most of which are volunteers), the victims of the fires and to the organisations protecting the wildlife and animals.
The Red Cross doesn't have a specific bushfire fundraiser, but it's raising money through its Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund to assist the victims who have lost everything.
Please help by donating to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund
The Salvos have launched a disaster appeal to support the communities affected by the devastating bushfires.
“Our teams are providing meals to evacuees and frontline responders, and will continue to provide whatever support is needed as the situation develops,” said Strategic Emergency and Disaster Management general manager, Major Topher Holland.
To donate to the disaster appeal, you can call 13 SALVOS (13 72 58), donate at any Woolworths checkout, or donate online.
These fires aren't exclusive to a single state of Australia and span across Australia with many fronts of 'firies' fighting to contain the fires. Donations to fire fighters directly benefit the volunteer fire fighters putting their lives at risk. To donate to each state's fire association here is a quick list:
New South Wales
Victoria
Queensland
Picture: David Caird, Source: News Corp Australia
The loss of animal life in these fires is estimated to be half a billion (as of 5th January 2020). It is estimated that 30% of NSW's koala population has been eliminated and there's a risk that many Australian native animals could become extinct. Australia has a rich diversity of mammals, with over 300 native species. The continent is uniquely dominated by marsupials and is the only great land mass to contain three major groups of living mammals: marsupials, monotremes (egg-laying platypus and echidna) and placentals.
Many animal shelters have been setup by organisations such as the NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Services (WIRES) to nurse and rehabilitate the animals that have been rescued but these shelters are currently overpopulated and under resourced. Volunteers have taken animals home and they need your help with provisions and resources to nurse these animals back to health.
To help the wildlife of Australia you can donate to the NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service (WIRES).
The news has deeply saddened everyone at Hervor to hear about the loss of lives & property and the widespread environmental damage. Apart from our private donations, Hervor will be donating 50% of all profits made in the month of January to the victims of the bushfires (via the Red Cross Disaster Relief & Recovery Fund) to assist those in need to get their lives back on track. Please give generously where we can and take care of each other.
Our thoughts are with those affected,
Jack and Emma
Founders of Hervor
When you hear the term 'Viking' you picture a muscular, shirtless, blonde, bearded man, standing in front of a hoard of others like him preparing to charge into battle. But yet, some of their most famous songs were sung about their 'Shieldmaidens', women warriors who were immortalised in Scandinavian folklore.
Born after her father's death (Angantyr the Berserker, a great Viking warrior), Hervor grew up stronger than the boys of her age and showed great skill in archery, horse riding and swordsmanship. She often dressed like a boy and wore what she wanted without much care of what everyone expected from a young woman. When she learned of the true identity of her father, she decided to follow in his footsteps and set out in search for 'Tyrfing', his legendary sword.
Legend has it that a dwarf named Dwerger was forced to forge this sword by Angantyr. The sword with gold ornaments was more deadly than any sword on earth, making its owner invincible. But it was also cursed by the dwarf in spite of Angantyr. Whenever Tyrfing was unsheathed, blood must be spilt.
Fun fact: J.R.R. Tolkien's character of Éowyn from the Lord of the Rings was loosely based on Hervor.
Hervor sailed for Munarvágr, the island where her father laid in his grave. When she arrived she shouted and summoned her father. She spoke so loudly and with such harsh words that her fathers voice could be heard pleading with her not to pursue her quest as the sword would only bring death to her clan, but Hervor would not take no for an answer and continued to demand for her rightful inheritance. Eventually, Angantyr's grave revealed itself, and with it, Tyrfing was now Hervor's to wield.
With Tyrfing in her possession, Hervor proved herself worthy of possessing such power responsibly and was victorious in all of her battles. Eventually, she settled down, married and had two sons, whilst Tyrfing laid dormant - never to reveal its poisoned steel to the world again. Until one day, both of her mischievous sons crossed paths with Tyrfing. Tempted by their curiosity they just had reveal the sword and the dwarf's curse took one of their lives - but that's a story for another day.
Now that you know the tale of Hervor, you can see why we named our brand after her - a woman who didn't let society's gender expectation limit her abilities, nor her sense of fashion.
]]>As a premium watch brand, we often receive requests for vegan leather straps or whether we offer alternatives to leather. We're an environmentally conscious brand and we love that you are too. Instead of just answering this question up front, let's take a deeper look into vegan leather, what it takes to produce it and our reasoning behind our choice of material for our straps.
Vegan leather is marketed to the world as the ethical alternative to leather as no animals or animal products are used in the production of it. In fact, vegan leather isn't new and has been around for a while as the cheaper alternative to leather, ever heard of 'pleather'? The term vegan leather had only come to rise recently with the growth of the vegan lifestyle. The correct term for this material would be artificial leather.
Artificial leather is created to look and feel like leather, but isn't. It is made from a mix of plastics, typically polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyurethane (PU). In production, PVC produces harmful dioxins and uses a highly toxic chlorine. It’s not hard to see why it has been dubbed by Greenpeace as the “single most environmentally damaging type of plastic”. These harmful chemicals and by-products are disposed off in landfills as they are not biodegradable nor recyclable, unlike leather.
Our decision to use genuine leather instead of 'vegan leather' is that the production of PVC and PU, and its release of toxic by-products is more harmful to the environment, to animals and to humans. The reality is, 'vegan leather' is far from the ideologies of the vegan lifestyle.
Yes, it's a fact that leather is a material sourced from animals which isn't the vegan way and we totally understand where they're are coming from. Animals live, breathe and feel too! But the harsh reality is that the overflowing meat industry produces leather as a by-product and we feel that it's definitely better to use it than waste it. When asked, vegans who still use leather products that were purchased before they adopted the lifestyle mentioned that throwing it out would render the animals' lives even more worthless and add to the overflow of waste produced by the western world.
Brands behind the use of 'vegan leather' are either uneducated behind the production process of 'vegan leather' or are riding on the reputation and love of the vegan lifestyle which is recently trending on social media.
To us at Hervor, we feel that our material selections is ethical and eco-sustainable as the preservation of our environment and well-being of those inhabiting it are our primary concern. Our leather straps are vegetable tanned and come from small Italian artisanal tanneries where traditional methods are used so there's no nasty chemicals used in the process.
We're constantly on the lookout for new materials and technologies that is more sustainable and eco-friendly. There is new techniques around the corner that uses vegetable oils instead of petroleum for artificial leather and we'll be keeping a keen eye on this! Additionally the advances of stem cell technology also allows to grow cow leather in a lab but it's still early days. For us, quality is pinnacle in our products and we'll offer only the best materials to you.
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With Mother's Day just around the corner (Sunday 12th May for those playing at home), we know you've already got plans to show your appreciation to the special Mum(s) in your life! But if you want to add a little more flavour and spice, we've picked a handful of local Perth boutique labels and businesses that'll really show them just how much they mean to you. Here's our rundown on our top picks for all budgets:
These luxurious candles not only look great, but they smell even better. Stone Lux & Co. candles are set in hand-carved vessels made from Italian marble ensuring that no two pieces will ever be the same.
They use soy wax, which makes for a greater scent throw and a vegan friendly homewares item. To top it off, they've incorporated a crackling wooden wick for a 40+ hour burn time. Once the candle has finished burning, the vessel can be reused in many ways.
Available scents: Very Vanilla, Coconut & Lime, Peony Blush or Creme de le Mint.
You can pickup a Stone Lux & Co. candle:
We all know mothers go through a long day, so why not let the Purist Collection soothe her soul with a blend of relaxing essential oils including Lavender, Lemon and Roman Chamomile. Epsom Salts enhance magnesium absorption, allowing for muscle relaxation, pain relief and a sound sleep. Pure Himalayan Sea Salt replenishes and balances the body. Calendula and Coconut Oil soften and repair skin.
*Please consult GP before using if pregnant.
You can purchase these soaks:
For the mothers who are always late. She'll love the soft sweet tones and the classy bold looks of the Tyrfing watch. They are made from scratch resistant sapphire crystal (for those clumsy mothers out there) and are water resistant so she can have the peace of mind that she deserves when she's busy going about her day.
They come in a gift set with two straps which are designed to swap easily & quickly so she can get different looks for different occasions. Look no further, she'll fall in love with the watch the moment she opens the box.
You can pickup one of these beautiful watches from:
It's getting chilly in Perth so why not warm her up in style with this Taupe Shadows Ribbed Jumper by Jonté Designs. Fashionably edgy, whilst still being cosy and relaxed, she'll love wearing this over leggings paired with over the knee boots for a statement look!
This jumper is available:
These beautifully crafted necklaces by Bianko will quickly become her favourite. The double chain layering brings a touch of elegance and its simplicity will stand the test of time.
Treat your mother with a Bianko jewellery piece available:
Sometimes a grazing table is a bit overkill, especially when it's just you and Mum so Willico Creations have brought out a grazing platter that is just as spectacular and even more generous!
If you really want to make it spectacular, why not organise the whole family to share an outdoor (or indoor) graze complete with cushions, blankets, teepee and of course drool worthy platter with a little help from Wild and Free Teepees.
You can contact Willico Creations on Facebook or email willicocreations@gmail.com.
Last but not least, we need a card for her! We all know Mum wants go be cooler than she really is, so why not give her that moment with a hip hop, pop culture inspired Mother's Day card by Greet Yoself. These hilarious not only bring a laugh, they may even bring some confusion if they're not down with it so you can have a laugh at her expense too.
You can pickup one of these cards on etsy or in stores at:
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Hong Kong is truly a kaleidoscope of life. Where Eastern culture is shared alongside the West. It is an authentic gateway for those looking to visit China without jumping into the deep end. We recently spent 24 hours in Hong Kong and jam packed our day with plenty to see and more importantly to us, plenty to eat!
Though Hong Kong is under Chinese rule, they continue to operate their own currency, the Hong Kong Dollar (HKD), and their main language spoken is Cantonese though English is very common due to its historic British rule. We're not going to give you the history of Hong Kong because you can simply google that.
We're going to give you an account of Hong Kong through our eyes and what we think is worth telling you about. We'll give you tips and tricks to feel less touristy and to immerse yourself into what Hong Kong has to offer. For the typical tourist attractions you're better off checking TripAdvisor and its top 10 things to do.
Hong Kong Street Art located in Sheung Wan / Central
The Octopus Card
When you land at Hong Kong airport, you're going to want to get one of these currency cards. The Octopus Card is a universal credit system primarily used for their public transport but some vendors also accept this card. To purchase an Octopus card, you'll have to visit an ATM (located just after passing Customs) as they only accept cash at the airport kiosk. The kiosk is located nearby the ticket machines for the Airport Express trains. It'll set you back $150 HKD but you'll get $100 HKD credit and you'll be refunded $50 HKD when you return the card at the end of your trip to the same kiosk. These cards will provide you with better prices over purchasing single public transport rides and offers the convenience of not having to continually visit a vending machine.
We'd advise to load extra credit when purchasing your card as the trip into Hong Kong itself could cost you $100 HKD. If you're denied exiting at a station due to insufficient funds, don't panic there is always a nearby counter/machine for you to top up your card. Otherwise, you can top up at any Seven Eleven or vending machine located in the MTR stations. Make sure you're prepared with cash as the machines only accept $50 or $100 HKD notes.
Airport Express
Don't bother catching a taxi unless you're you're in a large group where it becomes more economically viable. It's far cheaper to jump on an Airport Express train and get into the heart of Hong Kong within 20 minutes. It'll cost you at most $100 HKD for the one way trip into Hong Kong whereas taxis may set you back around $350 HKD. The Airport Express will take you to 3 stops
If your hotel is nearby these stations, you may be able to catch the free Airport Express Shuttle-bus. To check if your hotel is on the list checkout the MTR website. Otherwise, you may decide to use further public transport, hail a cab or walk to your hotel.
When you're leaving Hong Kong you can catch an Airport Express train back to the airport for the same fare at the relevant stations.
Amazing Food
Hong Kong is renown for 'Dim Sum' which is typically eaten for brunch. We're not going to go into exactly what Dim Sum is but if you google it there's plenty of information out there. Instead we'll show you where to get the best Dim Sum in Hong Kong.
Tim Ho Wan - Tim Ho Wan is now an international brand best known for their delicious dim sum. If you believe that original is best, then you can't go past where it all began right here in Hong Kong. In 2010, Tim Ho Wan earned a Michelin star in the Hong Kong and Macau Guide and since then, the restaurant has been dubbed as "the world's cheapest Michelin-star restaurant". There are four Tim Ho Wan restaurants around Hong Kong located in Olympian City, Fuk Wing St, Hong Kong Station and Wharf Road. Use Google Maps to find the nearest one to you.
Hello Kitty Restaurant - If you're 'foodstagrammer' then this is a place for you. By no means will it be as delicious as Tim Ho Wan but you'll appreciate the presentation of the dishes. Every plate is instagram worthy, especially the custard buns which is decorated in Hello Kitty fashion.
Hello Kitty Custard Buns from the Hello Kitty Restaurant located 400m from the Jordan MTR station.
Hong Kong Egg Tarts - You can find one of these delicious local snacks nearly everywhere in Hong Kong for about $3 HKD at a local Chinese bakery. You can also get them made to order at restaurants so if you're planning on a visit to a dim sum restaurant you may as well knock two things off this list in one visit.
The crust is flaky, tender and buttery whilst the centres are smooth and rich. One bite of these treats will leave you wanting more.
Tsim Chai Kee - If dim sum isn't for you, you must try the wanton noodles at Tsim Chai Kee. Located at a brisk walk away from the Central MTR station and minutes from the Pottinger Street Markets, Tsim Chai Kee has a very limited menu but don't disregard this restaurant for its lack of choices because what they do, they do very well. Also holding a Michelin star, you'll be to sample their world class dish for as low as $29 HKD.
Places of Interest
Man Mo Temple - Located nearby the Tsim Chai Kee restaurant, this temple is a place of worship for the civil/literature god, Man Tai, and the martial god, Mo Tai. These two gods are popularly patronised by students seeking to advance their study and do well in their exams. The temple is free to visit but do respect that it is a place of prayer for locals. Taking photos are allowed.
Inside the Man Mo Temple
Choi Hung Estate - Located in Kowloon suburbia, the Choi Hung Estate is a public housing estate that has drawn many instagrammers from around the world. Choi Hung is Cantonese for 'rainbow' and you'll see exactly why it's called this when you walk onto the centrally located basketball courts.
The estate is located right next to the Choi Hung MTR station. When you walk into the estate, you'll see a multi-story car park and the courts are located on the top level of this car park. The best time to visit are during school hours as you'll get the place to yourself.
You'll won't be able to put your camera down at the Choi Hung ("rainbow") estate.
Instagram Pier - The Western District Public Cargo Working Area is a pier located on Hong Kong Island on the waterfront of Sai Wan. This pier is also known as 'Instagram Pier' for its picturesque photos often published on Instagram, and it's best to visit just before sunset.
Though technically not a public space, access restrictions are relaxed and you'll find signs warning of trespassing but nobody is reinforcing them. Accessing Instagram Pier is easy, the closest MTR station is Hong Kong University (HKU). From there, head north following Hill Road and you'll find yourself walking along the wharf. When you get to the end of the wharf there should be a gate that is open to access the pier. You'll most likely see crowds of others holding cameras heading in this direction so following them is usually a safe bet.
Instagram Pier gets its nickname for obvious reasons
Sai Wan Swimming Shed - The Sai Wan swimming shed is Hong Kongs oldest and only surviving swimming shed. What use to be bustling with families looking to cool down from the heat has now become a piece of Hong Kong history. The swimming shed is located west of Hong Kong island approximately 1.2 km from the Kennedy Town MTR station.
Along Victoria Road you'll notice and entrance with two white sign boards with Chinese writing, this is the entrance to the swimming shed and jetty. The Jetty is popular amongst photographers especially during sunset and makes for a different Hong Kong experience away from the concrete jungle.
A local swimmer still utilises the historic Sai Wan swimming shed
Sheung Wan / Central Street Art - The Sheung Wan and Central districts are Hong Kong's main business districts. Amongst the hustle, there are beautiful works of street art tucked away in side streets nearby the high rise offices and shopping malls. It is worth taking a stroll through the district as you'll find not only amazing street art but boutiques and snacks.
Montane Mansion - This is another famous Instagram spot located in the suburbs of Hong Kong Island. The Montane Mansion is a housing estate that is popular amongst photographers for its symmetrically densed architecture. Within the courtyard of the estate, the magic happens when you look up.
Look up! Hong Kong has more high rises per area than any other city in the world.
Getting to Montane Mansion can be tricky because it's hidden amongst the urban facade of Hong Kong. The closest MTR station is the Quarry Bay and the estate is located about half a kilometer south east of the station along King's Road. The address is listed as 1028 King's Road and you'll see a building with two entrances signed with "Montane Mansion" and "Oceanic Mansion". Both of these entrances lead to the courtyard. Please be respectful of the area as it is easy to forget that people live in these stacked apartments and you're merely a guest.
Other Things to Do in Hong Kong
We've curated a list of places you may be interested in during your stay in Hong Kong. Most of these attractions are easily researched via google so we won't go into any detail with them.
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Yes, we totally caught you eyeing off that rose gold bangle, but what is it about rose gold that makes it so popular?
Leatrice Eiseman, a color expert and executive director of the Pantone Institute, the semi-deified experts on color, may be in the know. "There's a lot of research that goes into what color means," she says, "and how it makes a statement to most people." Rose gold has the same effect on almost everyone. "When we get to the rose family, we get these same kinds of verbiage: Compassion, composure, warmth, something that draws you in that has great appeal."
Then there's also the theory that its striking colour is easily paired with all skin tones, particularly those on the paler side of things (you're not alone hun). We found that this is pretty true, as yellow gold is often terribly contrasted against lighter skin (which is why we designed our gold watches to lean more on the champagne tones, but more on that another day).
With this in mind, we've curated a list of rose gold must haves for every girl to project her feminine confidence whilst simply looking just down right glamorous.
We all know that Tiffany & Co. is all about sterling silver, so instead of going all rose gold, we prefer the mix metals approach with one of the double heart pendants in rose gold. This gives you a distinct and unique twist to the traditional Tiffany & Co. look.
This clutch pouch is a staple in our wardrobe, the size is perfect to have your necessities. We love the shine of the black leather finished with the large rose gold Mimco button in the middle. If you don't have this already, we highly recommend getting one.
Sneakers are everything right now, bringing together style and comfort, the Superga 2750 Cotmetu Trainers come in a metallic rose gold leather that will really grab attention. We love that Superga has kept the white laces to contrast against the metallic look of the shoe.
For those who prefer their rose gold with less pink tones and more copper, the Hervor Tyrfing rose gold watch is a MUST HAVE in your collection. Hervor watches are Australian designed to the highest standards and boasts water and scratch resistance to give you the peace of mind you deserve. All time pieces comes with an additional interchangeable leather strap in the colour of your choice and screams luxury and class without breaking the bank.
We love the fact that electronics and computers are now becoming more and more attractive with their sleek and minimalist designs but also because they're not considering colours! The new apple macbook 12" comes in rose gold and it's pretty as! If you're a work on the go kind of girl, this is a must have!
When you're out and about and can't stop the music, why not look amazing?! These Beats by Dre wireless headphones in rose gold really set the tone. Throw these on at the gym whilst doing some squats and you'll be Instagram ready #instafit !
Here is one of our all time favourites. Accessorise your nails with NARS nail polish in pastorale (rose gold) and you'll look a million bucks! You can say they really 'nailed it' with this one!
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We want to believe that we live in a free and equal society but often we still hear about sexual harassment, pay inequality and other gender related issues that a cause a difference to life. There are plenty of these issues debated and discussed in the media today but they all bear a negative cloud and can often be difficult to speak out about. We encourage women and men of all ages to stand for what's fair and just - you all have a voice and the right to action.
Today we celebrate those women who have taken action to do incredible things. Things that span beyond gender, societal standings and borders. We've curated a small list but need to acknowledge that there are millions of others fighting not only for womens rights, but for humanity.
Nominated for Flex Appeal, a campaign known for pushing flexible working to encourage businesses to look at productivity over a bums-on-seats mentality. Anna believes this will prevent 54,000 pregnant women a year from being made redundant.
At just 18 years of age, Malala is the youngest ever winner of the Nobel Prize for her incredible work as an activist for women’s rights & child education. Surviving an assassination attempt issued by the Taliban, Malala has gone from strength to strength to ensure her powerful message is heard. She is fighting for education for all children around the world and equal rights for men and women. From blogging for the BBC to her social media movement #BooksNotBullets, Malala is a shining example of a young female standing up to those in power to make a change for the greater good.
“If not me, who? If not now, when?”. The powerful words of Emma Watson from her address at the UN Headquarters in New York last year, launching HeForShe and advocating gender equality. Most of us know her as Hermione from Harry Potter, but her wizardry skills pale in comparison to her female rights activism, which has lead to arguably her most important role yet, as UN Women Goodwill Ambassador. She’s got the whole “I’m not bossy, I’m the boss” thing happening & we are totally in awe of her meaningful message to the world.
Edna was born in Kenya and was raised during a time of drought which resulted in starvation across her community. Also during this time, girls were not prioritized to attend school. But Edna’s mother knew she wanted her daughter to receive an education, and Edna side-stepped starvation thanks to the meal packages she was receiving at school. When her eyes caught the text on the side “FROM THE UNITED STATES” as a fifth-grader, she resolved that one day she would travel to the US to send food back to kids like her. Well, guess what she’s doing now?
Edna is now in Raleigh, NC, working as the Chief Impact Officer at Rise Against Hunger, a global social impact organization. She has a Masters in Social Work, and her methodologies have been put into practice and folded into the UN’s sustainability agenda to end world hunger by 2030. Also, in 2008, Edna was part of a group of that testified before Congress to promote the Feed the Future initiative. She advocated on the benefits of local food procurement as well as the importance of promoting food security in developing countries. Eight years later, this ultimately resulted in the Food Security Act.
Sophie works for Survival International, the global movement for tribal peoples’ rights. She helps them defend their lives, protect their lands and determine their own futures.
Her work focuses on campaigning for the rights of tribal peoples living in Asia, including in India, Indonesia, West Papua, Siberia, Malaysia and Bangladesh.
A young woman's last words of advice, shared to the world by her family hours after cancer took her life is something everybody needs to read.
'A bit of life advice from Hol:
It’s a strange thing to realise and accept your mortality at 26 years young. It’s just one of those things you ignore. The days tick by and you just expect they will keep on coming; Until the unexpected happens. I always imagined myself growing old, wrinkled and grey- most likely caused by the beautiful family (lots of kiddies) I planned on building with the love of my life. I want that so bad it hurts.
That’s the thing about life; It is fragile, precious and unpredictable and each day is a gift, not a given right.
I’m 27 now. I don’t want to go. I love my life. I am happy.. I owe that to my loved ones. But the control is out of my hands.
I haven’t started this ‘note before I die’ so that death is feared - I like the fact that we are mostly ignorant to it’s inevitability.. Except when I want to talk about it and it is treated like a ‘taboo’ topic that will never happen to any of us.. That’s been a bit tough. I just want people to stop worrying so much about the small, meaningless stresses in life and try to remember that we all have the same fate after it all so do what you can to make your time feel worthy and great, minus the bullshit.
I have dropped lots of my thoughts below as I have had a lot of time to ponder life these last few months. Of course it’s the middle of the night when these random things pop in my head most!
Those times you are whinging about ridiculous things (something I have noticed so much these past few months), just think about someone who is really facing a problem. Be grateful for your minor issue and get over it. It’s okay to acknowledge that something is annoying but try not to carry on about it and negatively effect other people’s days.
Once you do that, get out there and take a freaking big breath of that fresh Aussie air deep in your lungs, look at how blue the sky is and how green the trees are; It is so beautiful. Think how lucky you are to be able to do just that - breathe.
You might have got caught in bad traffic today, or had a bad sleep because your beautiful babies kept you awake, or your hairdresser cut your hair too short. Your new fake nails might have got a chip, your boobs are too small, or you have cellulite on your arse and your belly is wobbling.
Let all that shit go.. I swear you will not be thinking of those things when it is your turn to go. It is all SO insignificant when you look at life as a whole. I’m watching my body waste away right before my eyes with nothing I can do about it and all I wish for now is that I could have just one more Birthday or Christmas with my family, or just one more day with my partner and dog. Just one more.
I hear people complaining about how terrible work is or about how hard it is to exercise - Be grateful you are physically able to. Work and exercise may seem like such trivial things ... until your body doesn’t allow you to do either of them.
I tried to live a healthy life, in fact, that was probably my major passion. Appreciate your good health and functioning body- even if it isn’t your ideal size. Look after it and embrace how amazing it is. Move it and nourish it with fresh food. Don’t obsess over it.
Remember there are more aspects to good health than the physical body.. work just as hard on finding your mental, emotional and spiritual happiness too. That way you might realise just how insignificant and unimportant having this stupidly portrayed perfect social media body really is.. While on this topic, delete any account that pops up on your news feeds that gives you any sense of feeling shit about yourself. Friend or not.. Be ruthless for your own well-being.
Be grateful for each day you don’t have pain and even the days where you are unwell with man flu, a sore back or a sprained ankle, accept it is shit but be thankful it isn’t life threatening and will go away.
Whinge less, people! .. And help each other more.
Give, give, give. It is true that you gain more happiness doing things for others than doing them for yourself. I wish I did this more. Since I have been sick, I have met the most incredibly giving and kind people and been the receiver of the most thoughtful and loving words and support from my family, friends and strangers; More than I could I ever give in return. I will never forget this and will be forever grateful to all of these people.
It is a weird thing having money to spend at the end.. when you’re dying. It’s not a time you go out and buy material things that you usually would, like a new dress. It makes you think how silly it is that we think it is worth spending so much money on new clothes and ‘things’ in our lives.
Buy your friend something kind instead of another dress, beauty product or jewellery for that next wedding. 1. No-one cares if you wear the same thing twice 2. It feels good. Take them out for a meal, or better yet, cook them a meal. Shout their coffee. Give/ buy them a plant, a massage or a candle and tell them you love them when you give it to them.
Value other people’s time. Don’t keep them waiting because you are shit at being on time. Get ready earlier if you are one of those people and appreciate that your friends want to share their time with you, not sit by themselves, waiting on a mate. You will gain respect too! Amen sister.
This year, our family agreed to do no presents and despite the tree looking rather sad and empty (I nearly cracked Christmas Eve!), it was so nice because people didn’t have the pressure of shopping and the effort went into writing a nice card for each other. Plus imagine my family trying to buy me a present knowing they would probably end up with it themselves.. strange! It might seem lame but those cards mean more to me than any impulse purchase could. Mind you, it was also easier to do in our house because we had no little kiddies there. Anyway, moral of the story- presents are not needed for a meaningful Christmas. Moving on.
Use your money on experiences.. Or at least don’t miss out on experiences because you spent all your money on material shit.
Put in the effort to do that day trip to the beach you keep putting off. Dip your feet in the water and dig your toes in the sand. Wet your face with salt water.
Get amongst nature.
Try just enjoying and being in moments rather than capturing them through the screen of your phone. Life isn’t meant to be lived through a screen nor is it about getting the perfect photo.. enjoy the bloody moment, people! Stop trying to capture it for everyone else.
Random rhetorical question. Are those several hours you spend doing your hair and make up each day or to go out for one night really worth it? I’ve never understood this about females 🤔.
Get up early sometimes and listen to the birds while you watch the beautiful colours the sun makes as it rises.
Listen to music.. really listen. Music is therapy. Old is best.
Cuddle your dog. Far out, I will miss that.
Talk to your friends. Put down your phone. Are they doing okay?
Travel if it’s your desire, don’t if it’s not.
Work to live, don’t live to work.
Seriously, do what makes your heart feel happy.
Eat the cake. Zero guilt.
Say no to things you really don’t want to do.
Don’t feel pressured to do what other people might think is a fulfilling life.. you might want a mediocre life and that is so okay.
Tell your loved ones you love them every time you get the chance and love them with everything you have.
Also, remember if something is making you miserable, you do have the power to change it - in work or love or whatever it may be. Have the guts to change. You don’t know how much time you’ve got on this earth so don’t waste it being miserable. I know that is said all the time but it couldn’t be more true.
Anyway, that’s just this one young gals life advice. Take it or leave it, I don’t mind!
Oh and one last thing, if you can, do a good deed for humanity (and myself) and start regularly donating blood. It will make you feel good with the added bonus of saving lives. I feel like it is something that is so overlooked considering every donation can save 3 lives! That is a massive impact each person can have and the process really is so simple.
Blood donation (more bags than I could keep up with counting) helped keep me alive for an extra year - a year I will be forever grateful that I got to spend it here on Earth with my family, friends and dog. A year I had some of the greatest times of my life.
..’Til we meet again.
Hol
Xoxo'
Let's get Holly's message out there and share this with your friends and loved ones. May you rest in peace Holly and thank you for the gentle reminders on what's really important in life.
To connect with Holly's post on facebook follow this link.
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As we prepare to count down the final minutes and seconds of 2017, it’s always good to look back and reflect on everything that’s happened.
For us, the biggest moment was the launch of Hervor in November. After a year and a half of hard work, our business had finally come to life and we could share with everyone what had been in the works since mid 2016. We spent around 6 months designing the product, then a further 6 months prototyping and testing to ensure we could produce the highest quality of products for you. In August we could say we had succeeded this and manufacturing had begun. In parallel to the manufacturing, our marketing team kicked things off with photoshoots and content creation for our website and social media. This eventually lead to the launch of our website in November, where we took pre-orders and dispatched them in late November for you to receive them in time for Christmas.
And now, we’re on the verge of saying goodbye to what had been an amazing year to us and we’re so excited to see what’s ahead in 2018 and beyond.
But one thing we want to share with you is the pain and struggles we’ve also had along the journey. The multiple issues we’ve faced between each of the events listed above were the real challenges and not the tasks themselves. Issues such as missed deadlines, unforeseen errors and setbacks, miscommunication between teams and on top of everything, the sacrifices we’ve made in our personal lives to keep the watch ticking (excuse the pun).
At this time of the year, I’ve seen many friends say how bad of a year they’ve had or how they can’t wait for 2017 to end but we shouldn’t be erasing the hard times from our memory. Instead use it to drive what’s ahead. Take the lessons learned and see more confidence in yourself knowing you had pushed through the hard times. It’s what we do with these challenges we face that sets the glue between each of those amazing events we’ve had throughout the year and ultimately, we can then look back and realise how great of a year it really was. Recognise that you were strong enough to overcome these obstacles and take that lesson into 2018 knowing that you’re well equipped with meaningful experiences in life.
Life isn’t just about the good times leading to more good times, it’s a roller coaster ride of emotional and physical strain. As you leave 2017, know one thing. It’s alright to have a bad year, just make the most of it and take what you need to develop yourself into a better YOU.
Happy New Year and stay safe over your holidays!
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1. Watch a Christmas movie
What other way to get into the spirit of Christmas than to jump on the couch and throw on a Christmas movie. There's really only one option for the girls... Love Actually. No matter how many times we've watched this, every year it seems to be our number 1 goto tradition on Christmas Eve. Nothing warms the heart more than a Christmas themed romantic comedy just before Santa arrives.
For the dads and kids, the Macaulay Culkin classic Home Alone is one that'll never get old. Dads will remember it as kids and today's children MUST experience this comedy gold.
2. Dust off the board games
It's often rare to spend quality time as a family but often it'll lead to quiet moments of awkwardness whilst the temptation of pulling out the phone becomes very real. Put the phones and ipads away, dust off an old time favourite board game (or purchase one if you haven't already) and get the laughs going! Our favourites include Cluedo, Guess Who and Speak Out.
Are you a little bit more tech savvy? Ellen Degeneres' Heads Up available for Apple and Android devices will keep you entertained for hours especially after watching those embarrassing replays.
Don't have kids around? Then nothing beats a round of red wine and multiple games of Cards Against Humanity.
3. Head out to your local Christmas Eve venue
For those of you who dread Christmas Day and prefer to hit the town with your friends, you'll often find local bars that are absolutely cracking on Christmas Eve. Every capital city in Australia has that one venue where everyone knows to go on Christmas Eve and for us here in sunny Perth, it's the Left Bank Christmas Eve party!
4. Drive around looking for Christmas Lights
We all know that one house nearby that is loaded with Christmas lights and decorations so why not take a moment to stop by and appreciate all the effort put into these seasonal masterpieces of art. Make a tradition of it with the family by planning ahead so you can tick off as many houses as possible!
5. Opening one but only one present
Yes we're one of those impatient people! But, if you have kids you'll thank us for this one as it'll hold them over until Christmas morning. Of course, kids are the excuse right?
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Have a safe and festive holiday season! Remember there are always Christmas orphans around so reach out to those without families to join your Christmas celebrations to really embrace the spirit of these holidays.
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Time is a resource that seems unlimited, but the more we use it, the more we realise how scarce it really is. In my younger years, I’ve found myself with too much of it. Dying for it to pass by. Willing to forfeit this precious gift so I could time travel to that next moment of fun!
With every passing day, I’ve taken a step towards being ever so wiser than the previous day. With every passing year, I’ve come to realise how quickly years become decades and the present becomes history. There isn’t a reset button or anything we can do to make up for lost time, and there isn’t a need for regret because at some point you did what you did because you wanted it.
The only thing we can do is look ahead. Look down the road where the future is in the palm of your hand. At this moment, it is you who decide what you do with your time. Whether it is to work to build your dream, to form and expand relationships, to learn something new or to travel and expand your world. Whatever it is, make that time worthwhile.
I write this blog, along with the rest of the team from Hervor, in hope to ignite the flame of curiosity in you to take your passions to the next level. To find new passions and to live a life rich not in wealth but in experiences and knowledge that will enrich others beyond yourself.
Enjoy your time, no matter how slow or fast it may be.
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