Stellar LifeStyle Management

Article about Stellar LifeStyle Management - Cleo: September 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Melinda McCallum) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:47:00 +0000

Dear All,

I just wanted to share the latest article written about Stellar LifeStyle Management in the September 2008 issue of Cleo.

Enjoy!

September%20Issue%20Cleo%20Article.pdf

Cookbooks.. worth it? or a waste of space?

noreply@blogger.com (Melinda McCallum) — Wed, 14 May 2008 05:48:00 +0000

We all like to be the Martha Stewart of our homes and feel that we can reach for one of our many cookbooks and whip up a 3 course meal.

But how often do we do this?

Peter Walsh - Master Declutter of the Oprah Winfrey Show, has made a fantastic comment about cookbooks in his latest newsletter:

" If you have too many cookbooks for your kitchen, try this simple test. For the next six months or so, every time you use a recipe from one of your cookbooks, mark the page with a Post-It note. At the end of six months (or a year, if you prefer) sell, donate or give away any cookbooks that have no Post-It notes in them. Most recipes can now be found online so ask yourself, “Am I really using the limited space I have in the best possible way with all those unused cookbooks?” "

Another space waster when it comes to receipes are magazines which feature receipes, a common habit we have is to dog ear or mark the page we want and then stash it in the kitchen. A good way to handle these magazines, is to tear out the page with the reciepe on it and then store it in a clear plastic sheet (to protect it from spills!) and then store them in a lever arch folder.

These can be organised by type of cuisine, cooking time or ingrediants to help you find the recipe quicker next time and saves you valuable space in your kitchen.

Happy space saving!

Wedding Themes - How important is it?

noreply@blogger.com (Melinda McCallum) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 04:53:00 +0000

An important element of any wedding is its theme. A well thought out theme can ensure your wedding is remembered for years to come.

As a wedding planner, I always use a selection of wedding magazines to research new ideas when it comes to themes and new concepts with every wedding I organise.

To come up with a theme, ask yourself the following questions:

What time of the year am I getting married in? Bright Spring, Russian Winter etc
What emotions to do I want my guests to feel? Cheery, Classy, Relaxed etc
Is there an era I relate too? Victorian, Bohemian etc

Once you and your partner have brainstormed some of these things a theme should become apparent, do some research using wedding magazines, wedding specific websites, decor magazines and then STICK TO IT!

Your theme should then extend to the following items /services at your wedding:

Stationary including; invitations, rsvp cards, order of service, place cards, menu's, guest gift cards etc
Colours of fabrics and flowers used
Flowers and arrangements
Ceremony and Reception decorations
Style and feel of venue/s
Transportation during the day
Style of clothing for the bridal party
Guests gifts
Entertainment & music

As well as pretty much everything else you can think of when it comes to a wedding!

Interested in knowing more about themeing a wedding? - Contact Stellar Management via email and we will send you the complete article.

Elope or not to Elope? That is the question...

noreply@blogger.com (Melinda McCallum) — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 05:16:00 +0000

With the frenetic nature of today's society (and the expense of it!) many couples are deciding to elope and combine their wedding and honeymoon in one. Their are many pro's and con's when thinking about eloping.

Pro's

1. No expensive receptions - you don't have to fork out money for meals, entertainment, venue, decorations etc for every person you have ever met.

2. You can have your wedding and honeymoon all in the same place

3. You can spend more money on your honeymoon (or more conservative things - like mortgage's, deposits, paying off debts etc)

4. Perfect for a couple that has been together for a long time and may already have kids, a family home etc and a big fan fare of a wedding is the last thing on their mind.

Con's

1. You'll have to put up with potential backlash from your family and friends, about why you made the decision to elope and that they feel "left out"

2.You only get married once (in most cases) so wouldn't you want people around you, that you love and cherish, to celebrate with?

3. As the saying goes "will you regret it in the morning?" once its done, its done.

Unfortunately eloping is not as "spontaneous" as it is in the movies - believe it or not, it actually requires some careful planning.

1. You must have all your paperwork completed one month and one day before you intend to marry. For more complete and reliable information please take a look at: Australian Government Website

2. The wedding must be carried out by a registered celebrant or minister authorised under the Marriage Act 1961 to marry.

3. If you get married overseas, you may need to prove their is no impediment to you getting married. The NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (each state has their own Registry) can provide you with a "Single Status Certificate".

Take a look at the FAQ for NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages for more information about marrying in Australia and abroad

Getting married is a serious matter and needs to be done correctly, as marriage is lawful binding of two people, so regardless of whether it is celebrated in a church, park, backyard or beach with 10 or 1000 people it needs to be done correctly and legally.

Getting Married? Well then... LOOK AFTER YOURSELF

noreply@blogger.com (Melinda McCallum) — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 04:45:00 +0000

I came across a recent article regarding pre-wedding health.

The information included in this article included many common sense steps, however it occurred to me, how many Brides actually look after themselves - inside and out - before their wedding? Especially as this is one of the biggest day's of their lives!

That's why, articles like these, are extremely beneficial in reminding us that health - especially prior to our wedding day - is of the up most importance.

Like the old saying goes: "The three most stressful things a person can do in their life are:
1. Buy a house (and have a mortgage)
2. Lose a loved one
3. Plan a wedding (and getting married)!

The article discusses areas like, eating well, exercising, getting adequate sleep, boosting your immune system, my personal fav - eat chocolate and one that will certainly get your partner more involved in the pre-wedding planning - HAVE SEX!

So.... why not take a moment out of your hectic schedule, that is, planning a wedding and look after number one - YOU.. I mean at the end of the day, a wedding day is ALL about the Bride and and if she shows up with a cold sore on her lip, a pimple on her forehead, a runny nose and bags under her eyes, you can guarantee that when the guests say "oh look at the Bride.. isn't she...um pretty?" you'll know their lying!

So grab a cup of coffee - I mean a glass of water, sit down for a few seconds and have a read of this article. You just might learn something.

Welcome to 2008!

noreply@blogger.com (Melinda McCallum) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 04:33:00 +0000

Most people by this stage have made New Year's Resolutions and some of us have already broken them, but one thing we can all concentrate on trying to accomplish this year is having a clutter free lifestyle.

This doesn't just include our home and office but also our souls, heart and faith.

Do you need a more organised home?
A great tool to help you keep organised (and hence clutter free!) is called a Household Notebook, this is a notebook that the whole family can contribute to and use as a reference guide when it comes to chores, schedules and handy hints. Everything and anything you can think of to help make your Home and Life run easier can be found in this notebook.

To construct a Household Notebook you can use this website (http://www.householdnotebook.com/) as a starting point. This is wonderful website that includes header pages, dividers and resources to put into your notebook, as well as examples and tips on what to include.

Alternatively if you would like Stellar LifeStyle Management to make one for you, just contact me via phone or email and we can discuss how to get you organised for 2008!

Are you getting married in 2008/2009?
An important element of any wedding is its theme. A well thought out theme can ensure your wedding is remembered for years to come.
To come up with a theme, think about the following things:

What time of the year am I getting married in? Bright Spring, Russian Winter etc
What emotions to do I want my guests to feel? Cheery, Classy, Relaxed etc
Is there an era I relate too? Victorian, Bohemian etc

Once you and your partner have brainstormed some of these things a theme should become apparent, do some research and then STICK TO IT!
A common mistake a lot of people make is getting side tracked by all different services provided to the wedding industry. Remember there are A LOT of great ideas out there for weddings, but they don't all match your theme.

All the best in 2008 and I look forward to helping you along the way.

How to choose a Wedding Photographer

noreply@blogger.com (Melinda McCallum) — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 08:55:00 +0000

Choosing a Wedding Photographer is risky business, because when you think about it, after the day passes you by in a flash, all you will have left to remind you of your day is your photography and videography (if you choose to have one!)

Every family will have a family member, family friend, distant relative or next door neighbour who has is claimed to be a "fantastic photographer" or has a niece, nephew or son/daughter of a friend who needs to get their foot in the door of photography and will "give you a great bargain" for the opportunity to "do" your wedding. My advise is say "NO!"

Always go to a reputable company who can show you plenty of Wedding Albums and has an array of different photographers to choose from. Why is this important? Well consider this, you have chosen your dream photographer and two days before your wedding they call to inform you that they have been struck down with pneumonia and can't do your wedding! Then what? Most companies will be able to offer you another photographer in their place, whereas if you went with a one-man-band then who will take those magical photo's?

So here are some tips when choosing a Wedding Photographer.

When looking at albums , choose the one you like and ask if that particular photographer is available as you like their style.
Always go to a reputable company with several photographers
Don't be afraid to spend a hefty portion of your budget on your photos, its all you will have left!
Don't feel obliged to use family friends or amateurs to save money, this creates un needed stress and potential heartache!
Ask if the negatives are included and if not, at what cost?

noreply@blogger.com (Melinda McCallum) — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 02:57:00 +0000

De-Clutter Your Life!

You may think that everything in your house is essential but it's not!

Get rid of clothes you haven't worn for years, declutter shelves, cupboards and under the beds, take the contents of you attic or garage to a car boot sale and you may even make some money.

Most of us hoard things and stash them away - whether it's old clothes, letters, newspapers or plastic carrier bags. But you know it's time to organise or declutter your home when you're spending far too much time looking for things and realise that you're living in a chaotic sea of clutter, most of which is of no use to you on a day-to-day basis. In the long run decluttering will save you time and stress and help create a more relaxing home.

Stellar's Top 10 Declutter Tips

1. START NOW! Putting off the task off decluttering is the number one obstacle to a more organised home.
2. START SMALL whether it's your bedroom, spare room, kitchen cupboards or wardrobe. That way you won't panic at the enormity of the task.
3. SET A DEADLINE for each room to act as an incentive to get it decluttered by a certain date.
4. DON'T EXPECT OVERNIGHT RESULTS decluttering is a slow job and short cuts will be counterproductive.
5. BE REALISTIC will it really come in handy one day or is it just gathering dust?
6. DON'T TRANSFER CLUTTER to another room - you will only have to deal with it properly another time.
7. BE SENTIMNTAL BUT SELECTIVE by choosing to keep the most important items (and memories) but getting rid of the rest.
8. INVEST IN NEW STORAGE ITEMS such as a new bookcase, filing cabinet, shoe rack, photo album or letter box.
9. PUT UNWANTED CLUTTER TO GOOD USE. Before you throw things in the bin, make sure they can't be recycled, given to charity or sold at a car boot sale or second-hand clothes shop.
10. CALL STELLAR LIFESTYLE MANAGEMENT. Dont have the time to do it yourself? Then call Stellar to do it for you!

Staying De-Cluttered

Decluttering is a way of life, not a one-off chore. To stay decluttered you will need to adopt new habits such as 'one in, one out' - every time you buy something new then make sure you let something similar go. Even simply establishing a routine for when you come home - so that you hang your keys in a certain place and deal with junk mail by putting it straight in the recycling bin - will help you stay clutter-free.

A new direction to becoming an Employer of Choice?

noreply@blogger.com (Melinda McCallum) — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 02:36:00 +0000

Some interesting information coming out from the USA and Canada is about offering something "more" to their employees to create a better working environment.

It is generally understood and appreciated that people that work in a management role or high pressure environment have very little time to dedicate to personal tasks and cultivating a Work/Life Balance.

A service that is becoming increasingly popular both overseas and locally is providing a personal concierge service to employees to offer one or more of the following to their staff:

More time to focus on work related activities
Increasing the bottom line
Happier, more relaxed working environment
Higher employee retention

Australian Recruiting outlines the benefits of becoming an Employer of Choice and makes an important point that all employees are motivated differently so it is important that you offer a range of benefits for employees. Long gone are the days of financial incentives and "best in class" rewards. Employees want to feel rewarded just by being "part of the team"

KMPG Canada recognises personal concierge services as an important part of their company culture and offers it to their employees. Read more about that here.

I feel it is a matter of time before Australian companies take hold of this service and utilise it within their company and begin to reap the rewards!

Roll up for a triple 7 Wedding!

noreply@blogger.com (Melinda McCallum) — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 01:47:00 +0000

A recent article featured on RedOrbit discusses the popularity of the up and coming date of the 07/07/07 as a lucky date to get married on.

"Richard Markel, head of the 800-member Association for Wedding Professionals International, said group members first began noticing extra interest in the novelty date last year."

His thought as to why it is becoming an increasingly popular date is because people are becoming more interested in numerology.

Website ezinearticles.com states that western cultures believe that 777 "symbolizes health, a clear conscience and connection between body and soul; clarity if you will."

The Japanese also consider that 777 is a lucky number and in Japan pokie/slot machines which feature 777 are the most popular.

However if you are Chinese, 777 is perceived as an unlucky number. The Chinese regard 666 and 888 as the luckiest combination of numbers... so does that mean we will see a similar trend amongst the Chinese population for 08/08/08?

The unfortunate thing about getting married on a so called "lucky date" will increase demand and therefore potentially increase costs of your special day.

But what price do you place on being married on potentially the luckiest day of all?

Welcome to our Blog

noreply@blogger.com (decoder) — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 14:09:00 +0000

Welcome to the Launch of the Stellar LifeStyle Management Blog.

From here we will be keeping you up to date with the latest Stellar news and events as well as tid bits on personal organisation, home management and helpful hints.

Stay tuned for helpful info and please feel free leave your comments on anything posted here.

Thanks,

The Stellar Team