Sometimes, a few words can change everything.

I read something that a Perth life coach had said and it made me stop in my tracks and re-think the way I looked at life.

Jennifer Atkins, a Perth life coach and corporate coach, said that it we shouldn’t simply say that we are going to ‘TRY’ something, but rather we need to say that we’ll ‘DO’ it. There’s a huge difference between trying (which gives people a way out if it doesn’t work – they simply say that they tried) whereas if you say you’ll “DO” something, you actually commit to action. And she says change is all about committing thoughts to action, which is probably why she is such a popular and effective mind and body coach.

Her business, Jenesismindandbody, is all about providing people with the most effective life improvement methods techniques for achieving optimum results in minimum time.  Her job is life coaching for real and lasting change, and empowering people to set and achieve goals – and this could be anything from quitting smoking, relationships, career moves to losing weight etc.  And if we really think about her word in the context of making a change – like losing weight – it’s much easier to say that we’ll try and lose a few kilos than the more emphatic and definite commitment that we WILL lose a few kilos. 

But it was her sentiments about ‘trying’ and ‘doing’ that really got me going – and made me realise that Jennifer Atkins was a Perth life coach who stood out from the rest.

According to January search volumes, a staggering 16,000,000 plus online searches were conducted for the word “bra“. As an online lingerie store, this is something to get excited about.

Many people searched on phrases related to bra sizing, and the many different types of bras, including strapless bras, push up bras, underwire bras, bra straps, maternity bras, sports bras and many more.

Top brand searches were for the Triumph bra and the Playtex bra.  Bras and things appeared to be the most popular searched for a retail outlet.

Sassy Lingerie has a store in the Perth suburb of Applecross and deliveres all types of Bra’s Australia wide.

There’s something about airports that brings out intense emotions.   Perhaps it’s the tearful goodbyes, the emotional reunions, the anger at lost luggage, the joy at finding a loved one – even strangers have been seen to shed a tear when they’re exposed to the feelings of other strangers.  It’s a close, intense environment with raw emotions.  And in amongst all the emotions - some of my most memorable ‘airport’ moments have been when I’ve seen fresh flowers being given – or being received.  It added another layer of emotion – another dimension – that made the situation even more poignant.

Airport florist, Perth is ideally situated close to the airport and this close proximity makes them an ideal choice when it comes to regional flower deliveries. So if you’ve got a big moment coming up at the airport – a friend or family member returning from a trip after a long time, a greeting with a fresh flower arrangement will make the homecoming even more special.  Perhaps you want to give a special welcome to a stranger to your city – and flowers will add that personal welcoming touch.  Even if you’re saying goodbye to someone, a parting gift of flowers could be the enduring memory of your time together.

Whatever the occasion, airport flowers make those airport ’moments’ extra special.  And for fresh flower ideas for that special moment, Perth florist, Airport Florist, has all the answers.

We drove past a wedding party over the weekend where a bunch of flowers was getting married to a handsome groom.  That’s what it looked like anyway – the bride’s wedding flowers were SO enormous that they dwarfed the rest of her and it was hard to see anything except the garden that she held in her hands. 

I’d never really thought about wedding bouquets in terms of their proportions – I’d always thought about just having your favourite flowers.  When I got married, I wanted roses and clematis in a trailing bouquet – and now that I look back on it, it was plain luck that it worked really well with my dress and my body shape – it was nothing to do with any foresight or planning!     There are so many options for bouquets – from the traditional trailing one, tightly packed balls of buds, loose hand-held bunches, baskets of flowers etc – but best to plan things, not rely on lady luck.

So when I saw the bride yesterday with her wedding flowers, I realised how important it is to make sure that everything is in proportion and that your beautiful wedding dress isn’t overshadowed by an oversized bouquet.  Most florists should offer good advice on what to do and what works well etc – I know Urban Flowers of Perth, wedding flower specialists, have really good ideas on wedding bouquets and it’s always a good idea for brides to take photos, or sketches of their dress to the florist so that they can make informed suggestions. 

After all, the emphasis should be on the ‘BIG’ day, not big flowers !

Larger busted ladies – relax.  It seems that Perth swimwear retailer, Viva Swim, has hit the jackpot when it comes to designing swimwear for women with ample assets. 

And no – there’s nothing ‘orthopaedic’ about this swimwear – it’s stylish, funky, fun, fashionable and fabulous – but it ALSO gives support, comfort and coverage in all the right places.  Swimwear for the larger busted woman is often at the back of the rack (if it’s there at all), matronly and serviceable – not a good look for the beach, the pool or just for feeling good about yourself.  This swimwear is designed like a bra – proper wire support, straps etc. and then there’s the very clever idea of a swim top over that (a ruched top, halter top with a good cleavage reveal, tankini, cross over top)…LOTS of choices, and all with a matching swim pant, also with great detailing. 

It’s also chlorine-resistant swimwear, so the fabric gives great support and lasts for ages without drooping, sagging or fading.  The colours are great too, and because the styles can be mixed and matched, there’s the option of a patterned top with a solid colour on the bottom (great for minimising a larger bust).  It’s all on the website, so you can browse through from the comfort of your own home and make an informed choice. 

The swimwear has been designed with real women in mind – not waifs – and takes cognisance of how to optimise women’s good bits and play down the ‘not-so-good’ bits.   It’s great swimwear, Perth designed and manufactured, and has given thousands of women the confidence to strut their stuff on the beach and around the pool.

Some people just have it….the ability to take GREAT photographs.  Sadly, I don’t, and I always seem to be asking other people to email me their pics or regretting that I haven’t taken the time to learn the basics of photography (of course, a new camera would help… a birthday coming up?!)  Mine are very ordinary and I have been trying to get some good ones to send to family overseas.  Plan B was to get some portrait photographs of my family done, because it’s the old story – the kids grow up so fast – and before you know it, you’re sounding like your parents did, saying “Where did time go?  I can’t remember the kids when they were little!” 

So I did a bit of research, looking for a Perth portrait studio that would take portraits of the family that were natural and that captured the kids’ characters.  Not easy, given that I’ve got three sons and they’re all very different.  Anyway, I came across a studio called Freedom Photography and I really liked the work that they showed on their website.  Some interesting angles – not your run-of-the-mill ‘look at my face’ kind of portrait, but something a little bit different but not wacky. 

Trying to pin my family down to a sitting is like trying to herd a troop of monkeys, but it can be done…eventually, and I’m sure that the Perth photography studio has a whole lot of tricks up its sleeve to get the picture.

When I cleaned up my computer a while ago, I saw that my partner had been visiting a few lingerie websites and I was a bit taken aback.  Not that I minded, it was just that he hadn’t said anything and so I didn’t want to make something out of nothing, so I just left it.  Let sleeping dogs lie, as they say.  Anyway, time went on and life went on – with one of the highlights being a weekend away in celebration of our wedding anniversary. 

We went to the most gorgeous place, very peaceful and romantic and it was wonderful to spend quality time together.  In conversation, we were chatting about what we thought made our relationship special, and one of the things that we agreed was a strong point was our ability to keep things spicy and interesting.  It was only later that evening when he gave me a beautifully wrapped giftbox, in which was the most stunning set of new lingerie that I realised what he’d been up to!  Talk about keeping things interesting ! 

Anyway, I discovered that he had been shopping online for this lingerie as he wouldn’t be seen dead in an actual lingerie store – and he’d been able to find the perfect gift without having to lift a finger – actually, that was ALL he had to do!    It was so gorgeous, lots of lace, ribbon and satin and it made me feel very special.  Now I’m just looking forward to Valentine’s Day, because I’ve got my eye on some special lingerie which will be just PERFECT for that most romantic of days!

Murphy’s Law…we’ve all experienced it.  The wrong thing at the wrong time… and always when we’re in a HUGE rush.  I’m beginning to wonder who he was and where he is now, because he must be one of the most wanted men in town! My latest encounter with Murphy happened just before a major tender presentation, when our binding machine conked out and we were left with a pile of papers, not much time and certainly not much patience left. 

Anyway, after a bit of a frantic runaround on the net, we found a local company that specialises in print finishing equipment that supplies binders plus a whole lot of other equipment.  What a lifesaver.  They could not have been nicer, friendlier and more professional – plus they came to our rescue at the drop of a hat.  Laidlaw is a family owned and run business and their passion for machinery and equipment shines through. 

A binder is an office essential (have you every tried punching holes in great wads of papers ??) – so when it lets you down at the last minute, it is a major catastrophe – just not in the eyes of Laidlaw !  They were totally calm and sorted.  Seeing as we won that tender which was the scene of huge panic  - I’m now speaking to my boss about getting one of  their paper folding machines which would save me a lot of time (I may even have to go half-day!!)

Choosing your wedding bouquet is one of the most important planning decisions of your big day. 

First impressions count.  Your bouquet will be a major factor in the all-important first impression you create as you walk down the aisle.  All the guests will be looking closely but more importantly, it will be the first glimpse that your future husband will get of his wife-to-be!Choose carefully and try and imagine how it will look from far away, and from close-up.  

The bouquet will also feature in many treasured photographs which are often displayed prominently around the home – so the bouquet is high visibility.It’s a focal point and should be chosen taking all aspects of the event into consideration, including your dress, your own personality and shape, plus the theme of the event and even the time of the event.Some flowers blossom in the day, while others shine at night.

Creative ideas can come from magazines, bridal shows, friends’ weddings and the internet.It’s not always easy to know where to start when there are so many choices out there.It’s often best to start by chatting to your local florist who will be able to take your ideas and make creative and practical recommendations.To get the creative juices flowing, it’s a good idea to take a picture or sketch of your dress to the first meeting.

A more simple sheath dress can be complemented by many different designs, including cascading arrangements, clusters of flowers or loosely tied bunches.Lovely velvet ribbon or other accessories can also be used.A dress that is more ornate and voluminous needs balancing with a bouquet that isn’t going to compete with the embellishments.

There are so many types of bouquets from the traditional to the bold, modern creations.Some ideas are a basket of flowers for a country-style wedding, a round ball of tightly packed roses, a loose hand-tied bunch with ribbon, a wreath, a bouquet in the bride’s arms or a single specimen lily tied onto a wrist.It’s important to get the proportions right according to the dress. 

Some flower varieties close their petals at nightfall, so if you’re planning an evening wedding – make sure you’ve chosen your flowers as well as you’ve chosen your future !Some varieties are also better in the heat of the day, such as arum lilies, baby’s breath, carnations and daisies.  Advice from a florist who has many years’ experience in wedding flowers in Perth, Angel Flowers, is that a professional florist will have ways of preserving the life of the bouquet.   And remember, even the calmest of brides will transfer their body heat to the bouquet which could cause wilting.Take great care if using varieties such as gardenias and stephanotis which bruise with handling.

And don’t forget to give some thought to your complexion, as different flower varieties will suit pale or dark-skinned brides.Dark-skinned brides can look wonderful with bright colours and paler skinned brides should choose cream flowers over white, to avoid looking a bit washed out. 

These ideas are just the beginning.For further ideas, try florist websites such as Perth wedding flowers specialist, Angel Flowers.  Look for businesses that aren’t afraid to publish actual photographs of their work and then go and talk to the florist to translate your ideas into a beautiful reality.