pr, copywriting & social media for small business
If you’re really struggling to find a permanent babysitter or nanny, but have around US$1900, then Japanese mobile phone company, SoftBank, could have the answer. The company will start selling its multi-tasking Robot helper and friend, Pepper, in February 2015. So get saving! Continue reading “Pepper the robot babysitter”
Mental Health Week is a national event, which runs from Oct 5 to 12 and coincides with World Mental Health Day (10 October). The aim is to promote awareness about mental health and wellbeing, and equip people with the right information.
As part of Mental Health Week we have chosen to highlight the issue of Baby Blues and Postnatal Depression. Do you know the difference between Baby Blues and Postnatal Depression? Could you spot depression in yourself, a friend or partner? And if you did, would you know what to do about it?
Being pregnant and giving birth and all that it entails is a hugely emotional and life-changing experience. Hormones are raging, our body is changing and we experience sleeplessness, anxiety, acute tiredness, tearfulness and many other symptoms, which are all perfectly normal with everything that’s going on.
For one to two weeks after giving birth, many women also experience a short period of mood swings, tearfulness, anxiety and difficulty in sleeping. This can affect up to 80% of new mums and is known as the baby blues and is thought to be linked with the stresses associated with late pregnancy, labour and delivery, along with the rapid hormonal changes that accompany the birth.
Symptoms generally settle during the first week after birth, but for some women these symptoms can carry on for much longer and may be the much more serious condition of postnatal depression. It can also affect partners of new mums as well.
Postnatal or Perinatal Anxiety and Depression (PND) is thought to affect approximately 20 per cent of women who give birth in Australia – around 50,000 women each year, and 10 per cent of their partners.
Postnatal depression can affect women in different ways, but the main symptoms of postnatal depression are:
Other symptoms can include:
Left untreated, the impact on the mother, her child and other family members can be profound. Perinatal Anxiety and Depression is a recognised medical condition, the result of biological, psychological and social factors.
With celebrities such as Jessica Rowe, Gwyneth Paltrow, Courtney Cox, Brooke Shields, Elle Macpherson, Britney Spears and Marie Osmond bringing the tragic illness into the public arena on a worldwide scale, the Gidget Foundation is one of the key non-government funded organisations that work tirelessly in Australia to raise awareness of and funding for research and treatment for PND.
Postnatal depression often goes unnoticed and many women are unaware they have it, even though they don’t feel quite right, because the symptoms of are wide-ranging.
Mood changes, irritability and episodes of tearfulness are common after giving birth. These symptoms are often known as the “baby blues” and they usually clear up within a few weeks. However, if symptoms are more persistent, it could be postnatal depression.
Women who continue to feel “low” after a couple of weeks after giving birth, should go to see their GP to talk through how they’re feeling. The GP will ask the following two questions if they suspect postnatal depression:
If the answer is yes to either question, then postnatal depression is possible. If the answer is yes to both questions, it’s very likely and the GP may ask one further question: “Is this something you feel you need or want help with?” and there is absolutely no shame in saying Yes.
Some women don’t recognise they have postnatal depression, or they choose to ignore their symptoms, because they’re afraid of being seen as a bad mother.
Of course their friends and family are always supportive and would always want to help, but many women with postnatal depression feel they can’t ask for help. It becomes a very secret illness, not unlike a chronic eating disorder. And it can build up very quickly to dangerous levels, which can sadly sometimes lead to tragic consequences if left undiagnosed and untreated.
So it’s hugely important that friends and family also know the danger signs and can act if required.
If someone you care about starts to show these signs try to get help for them through your local health professional. Danger signs to look out for include:
Postnatal depression can be lonely, distressing and frightening, but there are many treatments available. As long as it’s recognised and treated, postnatal depression is a temporary condition you can recover from.
It’s very important to seek treatment if you think you or your partner has postnatal depression. The condition is unlikely to get better by itself quickly and it could impact on the care of the baby.
Treatment for postnatal depression includes:
Read more about treating postnatal depression.
The cause of postnatal depression isn’t clear, but it’s thought to be the result of several things rather than a single cause. These may include:
The following will put you at greater risk of developing postnatal depression:
Read more about the causes of postnatal depression.
You should tell your GP if you’ve had postnatal depression in the past and you’re pregnant, or if you’re considering having another baby. A previous history of postnatal depression increases your risk of developing it again.
If you keep your GP informed, they’ll be aware that postnatal depression could develop after your baby is born. This will prevent a delay in diagnosis and treatment can begin earlier. In the early stages, postnatal depression can be easy to miss.
The following self-help measures can also be useful in helping to prevent postnatal depression:
Read more about preventing postnatal depression and the self-help measures you can take. But the most important thing is to seek help. Talk to a partner, friend, family member or professional.
Click here for an amazing video on Dealing with Post Natal Depression from PANDA: “Behind the Mask: The Hidden Struggle of Parenthood”
Source:
The Gidget Foundation raises funds and awareness for perinatal. Founded by the friends and family of vivacious Sydney woman, “Gidget”, following her suicide as a result of “post natal depression”, the Gidget Foundation exists to promote awareness of Perinatal Anxiety and Depression (PND) amongst women and their families, their health providers and the wider community to ensure that women in need can receive timely, appropriate and supportive care. They have a dedicated outpatient clinic – Gidget House – in Sydney.
PANDA (Post and Antenatal Depression Association)
Written and published for CareforKids.com.au http://www.careforkids.com.au/newsletter/2014/october/8/pnd.html
Everything You Need For An Active, Healthy Lifestyle
It’s time to clear out all the unnecessary, old and unhealthy makeup from your cosmetics bag and concentrate on natural products that require minimum time for maximum nourishment and effect. Ere Perez Natural Cosmetics has some beautiful, healthy multi-taskers to the provide the perfect natural makeup arsenal for a busy, active life on the go. Continue reading “Natural Makeup Multi-taskers”
Get this fabulously fun and fruity look with dip-coloured wicker pendant lights
A lot of crafty seventies interiors trends are making a comeback at the moment and at Eco Chic we’re wild about wicker! One of our obsessions is pendant lights. In a kitchen, dining room, living room, hallway, kids room…we can’t get enough of them, so combining pendants with a fun take on retro wicker is win-win in our book! Continue reading “Wild About Wicker!”
Celebrate The Perfect Coastal Christmas With Eco Chic
At Eco Chic we love making creative use of all things unloved and washed up! So what better use of Australian driftwood than to create some fabulous festive decorations for a delightfully coastal Christmas? Continue reading “Natural Driftwood Festive Decorations”
Give a homewares gift with a conscience
Elegant, unique and eco friendly homewares gifts don’t need to cost the Earth. If you’re stuck for ideas this Christmas, Eco Chic, the online homewares and furniture emporium for the eco stylish, has some really beautiful ideas for the perfect gift with a conscience.
Handmade Istanbul and Agate Coasters
Coasters are a brilliant way to add a bit of colour and style to a room in a very subtle way. They’re also a must have if you want to avoid marking your beautiful furniture.
The Ist
anbul coaster collection will add a splash of divine international charm to your table. Craftsmen make these beautifully colourful, handmade coasters from tumbled limestone, using designs from ancient Turkish frescoes, transferred onto each piece by hand – which means each coaster is unique. To protect your furniture, the bottoms of these pieces have cork backing. They’re heat resistant and can be easily wiped clean.
Each coaster is 10cm x 10cm. $90 set of 4.
The Agate coaster collection is perfect for dad’s den or a modern city pad. Add a splash of organic style with these unique hand-cut coasters, cut from slices natural Geodes (spherical rocks). Agate is a variety of silica, characterised by its fineness of grain and brightness of color, usually found in volcanic rocks.
The bottoms of these pieces have soft bumpers so they will stay in place and not scratch. There are two different colours: Grey with natural edges or Charcoal with 18 carat gold edging for a bit of extra bling!
Each Agate coaster averages 8-10cm diameter – all are different. $120 for set of 4.
New Eco Chic Beautiful Bone Photo Frames
Get into an eco frame of mind this Christmas with our new 2015 collection of beautiful frames made from intricately hand-worked bone. While some may associate bone with outlawed hunting practices, our bone frames are hand made from genuine cow bone that is an abundant by-product of the cattle trade and encourages use of the entire animal product.
The bone is lovingly hand-worked by skilled craftsmen who carve and hand-dye the bone to create the most gorgeously coloured, individual designs, which will provide a wonderful home for your photos, while adding colour and style to your home. Given their handcrafted nature, each frame is unique.
Eco Chic features many furnishings that are handmade by artisans and craftsmen, which provides the dual benefit of creating jobs for people (not machines) and promotes historical and cultural handicraft techniques.
Holds a 4″x 6″ photo. Overall dimensions are 17 x 23cm. $80
Ceramic Soap Dispensers Give a Stylish Twist to Christmas Toiletries!
Ceramic is an ancient and eco friendly process that utilizes readily available and renewable resources like clay and people have been creating both practical and ornamental homewares from it since time immemorial. Eco Chic’s beautifully decorated French style ceramic soap dispensers are both practical and ornamental. Handmade, handpainted and fired these beautiful soap vessels will add a little je ne sais quoi to every bathroom!
Pretty, practical and easy to use – add a fresh, floral fragranced soap to complete the effect and you have a very stylish take on the “Christmas toiletries” theme. Perfect for mums, grannies, aunties and friends.
Soap Dispenser Size: 11cm wide x 6cm deep x 23cm high. $70
Picture Your Own Pet Cushions!
The next best thing to snuggling up to your furry friend, these cushions feature your very own pet on a handmade, natural linen cushion that comes with an insert fill made from recycled PET (geddit?!) drink bottles.
These cushions make the perfect gift for anyone who loves their pets as much as the Eco Chic team, whose sample cushion is in memory of Bess. And for any cushion you order, Eco Chic will donate $10 to the Animal Welfare League. We’re keepin’ it Furry, friends.
Just send in your high res image and Eco Chic will make a custom cushion you will treasure forever. Shipping Time. Approx 3-4wks; Accent Cushion Size: 40cm x 40 cm.
For more information and to view everything in store at Eco Chic, go to www.ecochic.com.au.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITOR:
For more information, pricing, photography or product, for shoot, or for interviews with Cris Bucknall or Paula Breckman, please contact sophie@prchicks.com.au.
The young wildlife warrior shows Aussie teenagers how to look young, fresh and age appropriate!
Wow! Little Bindi is all grown up and we love her look. Always a great ambassador for Australia, Bindi is a class act as a teenager, showing her personality and edginess, but maintaining a healthy, natural look. If only all Australian teens would take her lead on how to look young, fresh and age appropriate!
All our products are healthy, nourishing, free from all nasties. They’re designed to let the skin breathe, so they’re perfect for young skins.
Get Bindi’s look with the following:
Look up all of these great makeup must-haves on our shiny new website. www.ereperez.com
Casa Callistemon is a unique and beautiful village property, consisting of a large main house and characterful cottage. It is set in the heart of Chite (pronounced ch-ee-tay), a gorgeous little white-washed village, surrounded by the orchards and stunning scenery of the beautiful Lecrin Valley, just south of Granada. EUR375,000.
LOCATION:
Hugely convenient for a rural retreat with all the benefits of the city and the coast, Casa Callistemon/The Lecrin Valley is mid way between the largely unspoilt Costa Tropical and the historic and incredibly beautiful city of Granada. Both Granada city and the costa are 25 mins drive. Granada airport, 35 mins; Malaga 1.5 hours.
PROPERTY:
The property is like a village oasis. You won’t believe the space until you walk through the big portico gate! Hidden inside are two beautiful houses: The main house and the casita, which between them have 5/6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 kitchens, a beautiful garden and plenty of outdoor terraced sunbathing and seating areas. There’s also a large pool, pool-side WC, a fully equipped outdoor kitchen with built in BBQ/Pizza oven and electric cooker/gas hob and an abundance of fruit trees. You’ll never go hungry!
The main house, Casa Callistemon is very spacious, cool, light and airy with high ceilings and double glazed heat deflecting glass and persianas. Downstairs, the huge open plan living room has french doors leading to an outside gravelled seating area, whie the big eat in kitchen, leads onto a smaller terrace overlooking the orchard – perfect for breakfasts and lunches. There is a good size utility room, downstairs bathroom (shower) off it and a lovely sunroom that overlooks the garden and pool area.
Upstairs the house boasts four large bedrooms and a bathroom/dressing room with linen cupboard. Each bedroom has built-in wardrobes, remote ceiling fans and a door to the wrap around balcony with spectacular views down the valley to lake Beznar. One bedroom has its own vine covered private balcony overlooking the orchard trees.
The cottage, or “Casita”, is the converted and extended coach house/stables of Casa Callistemon, with gorgeous old doors and the traditional blue shutters that are typical of the village houses. It has amazing views across the valley to lake Beznar and up to the snow on the top of the Sierra Nevada.
On the ground floor there is a large open plan kitchen/dining and living area, with a lovely fire place (and new woodburner).
On the first floor are two very spacious, light and airy rooms with shuttered windows overlooking the garden and terraces and out to the beautiful countryside beyond. These rooms are set up as a huge master bedroom and upstairs living room. Each room has a door to shared bathroom (shower). Just let us know what you need in terms of beds and configuration before you arrive.
A fantastic first floor terrace provides a fabulous private area for breakfast or evening drinks and leads up onto another (roof) terrace which has amazing views across the rooftops and countryside and is a great suntrap for sunbathing.
The gardens and terraces are truly beautiful with loads of relaxation areas, colourful flower beds and bountiful fruit trees, including tangerines, nisperos, caquis, grapes, pomelos, lemons, avocadoes and of course oranges!
And for outdoor dining you can’t get better than the fabulous summer kitchen, with BBQ/pizza oven, cooker and gas hob and huge seating area close to the pool’s pump house and convenient poolside WC!
CONTACT: Danielle Gouwens at At Home in Andalusia.
At Home in Andalusia
Avenida de Andalucía 10B
18658 Restabal (Granada)
Tel: +34 678 41 97 32
http://www.athomeinandalusia.com
The house website is here: www.casacallistemon.com and we’re also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/casacallistemon.
My daughter has always been a great one for delay tactics. For everything. Her favourite and most used word is actually, “wait”! It really is. She uses it as a general punctuation now without even thinking.
Children learn the art of delaying very early on; around about the same time they learn to play their parents off one another and get their certificate in advanced negotiation skills.
They do it before they can even talk. And as they get older, their excuses and reasons for one more minute get more and more creative. These are some of my current favourites:
By Sophie Cross for CareforKids.com.au. Posted: http://www.careforkids.com.au/newsletter/2013/june/26/delay.html
At Eco Chic we’re crazy about copper!
It’s one of our favourite metals. Colourful, textured and beautiful, in its pure state is incredibly malleable. It’s simply the perfect metal for artisans to work with.
Copper is also very lightweight, corrosion resistant, and weatherproof, so it’s great for all sorts of indoor and outdoor uses.
And like aluminium, this amazing metal is 100% recyclable without any loss of quality. In fact it’s estimated that 80% of the copper ever mined is still in use today.
The beautifully warm tone of copper gives a cosy glow and depth to spaces. It’s a bit of a chameleon and has lots of different colours in its various states; from bright polished orange to burnt dark auburn, brown and blackened and green when it’s used outdoors in the damp.
So whether it’s used as a piece of cookware, decorative plate, pendant or table light or inlaid into a piece of furniture, it will look as at home in a traditional gentleman’s club as it does in a modern warehouse conversion!
PRISMA SIDEBOARD
An absolute showstopper, this buffet is as practical as it is beautiful. The geometric doors are made from hammered copper inlayed into mahogany. It makes a fantastic statement in an entry or as a servery in a dining room.
The warm rustic finish combined with sleek lines lets it mingle with traditional and modern furnishings alike. The Prisma Buffet is part of our Boyd Blue collection, which only uses suppliers who engage in fair trade practices and in most cases they have education programs for the surrounding communities.
Made from Mahogany Veneer, Mahogany Solid Wood, Hammered Copper Doors. Buffet Size: 178w x 51d x 81cm high. AU$4,135
MARCEL PENDANT LIGHT
These divine Ma
rcel copper pendant lights are so very warehouse chic and will compliment any space! They look stunning over a dining table or in a group of two or three. With their black oxidised outer finish and shiny interior, they come in a narrow cone shape and wide conical Asian hat shape.
Hammered entirely by hand out of sheet metal, with lots of gorgeous imperfections these lights are handmade by artisans and craftsmen, which provides the dual benefit of creating jobs for people (not machines) and promotes historical and cultural handicraft techniques.
Narrow AU$380 and Wide AU$415.
AVA TABLE LAMPS
An elegant lamp with classic proportions, The Ava lamp features a polished copper base in either a bulb or amphora shape and will add gleam and sophistication to any room setting.
This incredibly tactile and pleasing lamp works beautifully when matched as a pair on bedside tables, but can equally hold its own as a feature lamp in a hallway or living room. All lampshades are made in natural fabrics from sustainable fibres like linen.
Bulb shape base AU$680 and Amphora shape AU$635.
For more information and to view everything in store at Eco Chic, go to www.ecochic.com.au.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITOR:
For more information, pricing, photography or product, for shoot, or for interviews with Cris Bucknall or Paula Breckman, please contact sophie@prchicks.com.au.
The Word Bird 